Martha Carlin
Episode Description:
When Martha Carlin’s 44-year-old marathon-running husband was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2002, she applied her auditor’s mindset to examining the evidence behind this “old person’s disease.” What followed was a remarkable 20+ year journey from studying food toxins to pioneering targeted probiotic therapies. In this episode, Martha shares how she discovered the connection between gut bacteria and Parkinson’s symptoms, developed probiotics that significantly improved her husband’s condition, and is now working on therapies for Crohn’s disease and post-antibiotic gut restoration. She also reveals the hidden dangers of glyphosate, explains why the “magic bullet” approach fails for complex diseases, and discusses the future of microbiome medicine.
Listen to the episode on Spotify here or on your favorite podcast platform and check out the Urban Monk Academy here.
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Podcast show notes:
Key Topics Covered
Martha’s Background & Journey (00:00 – 04:00)
- From accounting auditor to microbiome researcher
- Husband’s Parkinson’s diagnosis at age 44
- 10 years studying food toxins and environmental exposure
- Discovery of the microbiome connection in 2014
- Founding a sample bank for global microbiome research
The Microbiome-Parkinson’s Connection (04:00 – 10:00)
- Two phenotypes of Parkinson’s distinguishable by gut bacteria
- Moving from 16S sequencing to functional genomics
- The importance of microbial “teams” vs. single strains
- How mannitol-producing bacteria stopped protein aggregation
- Clinical trial results: UPDRS score improvement from 35 to 20
- Reducing LPS endotoxin through ecosystem changes
The Science of Targeted Probiotics (10:00 – 13:00)
- Restoring anaerobic gut environment for beneficial bacteria
- Role of Leuconostoc mesenteroides in oxygen removal
- Exopolysaccharides as “artificial mucin”
- The glycocalyx and its role in Parkinson’s and COVID damage
- Understanding tremor-dominant vs. posture-gait phenotypes
Environmental Toxins & Parkinson’s (13:00 – 20:00)
- Lifetime toxic exposures: air pollution, golf course chemicals, dry cleaning fluids
- Body-first vs. brain-first Parkinson’s theories
- The critical role of glyphosate in disease development
- The shikimate pathway and essential amino acids
- 3,900 secondary metabolites affected by glyphosate
- Glyphosate as mineral chelator depleting soil nutrients
Soil Probiotics & Agricultural Solutions (20:00 – 22:00)
- Ancient Organics Bioscience and soil restoration
- Probiotics that break down glyphosate
- Challenges entering the agricultural market
- Why it’s not “gluten OR glyphosate” – it’s systems biology
Expanding Applications (22:00 – 27:00)
- Autism research with Sugar Shift product
- Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s as “Type 3 Diabetes”
- Antibiotic Antidote for post-antibiotic gut restoration
- Fecal matter transplant (FMT) research and limitations
- Small bowel importance often missed in testing
The Future of Microbiome Medicine (27:00 – 31:00)
- Functional medicine leading the way
- Why mainstream adoption is a decade away
- Specific probiotic strains and their functions:
- Leuconostoc mesenteroides (oxygen removal)
- Pediococcus acidilactici (protein breakdown)
- Lactobacillus ruminins (prevents pathogen attachment)
- Lactobacillus plantarum (glyphosate breakdown)
- Bacteriocins: targeted antibiotics against pathogens
- Upcoming Crohn’s trials with Dietzia strain
Skin Microbiome & Beyond (31:00 – 35:00)
- Soil-based organisms and transdermal applications
- Mother Dirt and Nitrosomonas eutropha
- Micrococcus luteus: UV protection and DNA repair
- Why Martha only washes her face with water
Key Takeaways
- Parkinson’s requires ecosystem-based treatment, not “magic bullets”
- Total toxic burden matters more than single exposures
- Targeted probiotic teams can shift metabolism and reduce inflammation
- Glyphosate disrupts essential amino acid production and mineral availability
- Detoxification must be gentle in sensitive Parkinson’s patients
- The microbiome should be treated like an ecosystem to restore
Resources Mentioned
- BioticQuest.com – Martha’s probiotic company
- Martha’s Quest Blog – Parkinson’s, alternative health, mindfulness
- Martha’s Quest Substack – Environmental factors and Parkinson’s research
- “The Parkinson’s Plan” by Dr. Ray Dorsey
- “Missing Microbes” by Dr. Martin Blaser
- Ancient Organics Bioscience – soil probiotic formulas
Connect with Martha Carlin
- Website: BioticQuest.com
- Blog: Martha’s Quest
- Substack: Martha’s Quest
This episode is for educational purposes only and not intended as medical advice. Consult with qualified healthcare practitioners for personalized guidance.
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