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Re:Thinking with Adam GrantRe:Thinking with Adam Grant

Why your fart smells awful and how to cure it!

You’ve probably experienced a “gut feeling” before—that sense of uneasiness in your stomach that tells you something is off, but your brain hasn’t quite worked out what it is yet. But can you really trust what your gut tells you? In this episode, Adam is joined by Harvard gastroenterologist Trisha Pasricha to decode what’s really going on between your mind and your stomach. Trisha breaks down the science behind brain-gut communication and offers tips for when and how to listen to your gut when making decisions or assessing a new environment. She also seeks Adam’s advice on helping doctors empathize with patients’ pain and invites him to rethink his position on poop. Building on her book You’ve Been Pooping All Wrong, she explains what your bowel movements can tell you about your overall health, how to experience “poophoria,” and why you shouldn’t bring your smartphone to the bathroom. Join us in person at a TED conference: https://tedtalks.social/events Become a TED Member to support our mission: https://ted.com/membership Subscribe to a TED newsletter: https://ted.com/newsletters Follow our podcasts! Podcasts: https://www.ted.com/podcasts Fixable: https://www.ted.com/podcasts/fixable How to Be a Better Human: https://www.ted.com/podcasts/how-to-be-a-better-human ReThinking with Adam Grant: https://www.ted.com/podcasts/rethinking-with-adam-grant TED Talks Daily: https://www.ted.com/podcasts/ted-talks-daily TED Business: https://www.ted.com/podcasts/ted_business TED Health: https://www.ted.com/podcasts/ted-health TED Tech: https://www.ted.com/podcasts/ted-tech The TED Audio Collective is a collection of podcasts for the curious. The TED Audio Collective videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives (or the CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with our TED Talks Usage Policy (https://www.ted.com/about/our-organiz...). For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), please submit a Media Request at https://media-requests.ted.com.

Adam GranthostTrisha Pasrichaguest
Apr 9, 20260mWatch on YouTube ↗

CHAPTERS

  1. 0:00 – 0:04

    Can you actually fight fart smell? Setting up the myth vs. reality

    Adam Grant tees up the core question: whether fart odor is something you can meaningfully reduce. The conversation frames odor as a solvable problem rather than an unavoidable embarrassment.

    • •Central question: is it possible to reduce fart odor?
    • •Challenges the assumption that bad smell is inevitable
    • •Sets up a practical, science-based explanation and fix
  2. 0:04 – 0:19

    Why most gas is odorless: the '1% sulfur' culprit

    Trisha Pasricha explains that nearly all intestinal gas has no smell, and that the offensive odor usually comes from a small fraction containing sulfur compounds. This reframes the issue as targeting specific chemicals rather than stopping gas altogether.

    • •About 99% of released gas is odorless
    • •Roughly 1% contains sulfur compounds that create odor
    • •Odor control can focus on neutralizing sulfur-related smells
  3. 0:19 – 0:34

    The simplest fix: bismuth subsalicylate (e.g., Pepto-Bismol) to neutralize odor

    Trisha highlights bismuth subsalicylate as a straightforward tool for odor reduction. She positions it as an as-needed intervention rather than a daily habit.

    • •Bismuth subsalicylate can neutralize fart odor
    • •Commonly found in products like Pepto-Bismol
    • •Not recommended as an everyday, lifelong routine
    • •Goal is reducing embarrassment without overmedicalizing a normal function
  4. 0:34 – 0:38

    Normalize the reality: how often people fart

    To reduce shame, Trisha provides a baseline: farting is common and frequent for most people. Knowing typical frequency helps listeners feel less singled out.

    • •Average person farts about 10–20 times per day
    • •Farting is normal and widely shared
    • •Normalization can reduce anxiety and embarrassment
  5. 0:38 – 0:57

    Strategic use for 'high-risk' social moments: timing and expectations

    Trisha suggests using odor-neutralizing medication selectively before situations where confidence matters. She notes that odor can be addressed, though sound is a separate challenge.

    • •Use case: high-stakes social events (e.g., meeting in-laws, close quarters at work)
    • •Suggested timing: take it a day or two beforehand
    • •Outcome: can reduce/neutralize odor
    • •Caveat: sound control is a different issue

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