Gut & Grit

Honest conversations. Practical wisdom. Always improving.

Gut & Grit is a long-form interview medical podcast hosted by Dr. Chris Dainiak, a gastroenterologist, endurance athlete and entrepreneur. Through thoughtful, unscripted conversations, Dr. Dainiak explores the intersection of medicine, resilience, performance, and meaning. From digestive health and longevity, to leadership, adversity, and personal growth, each episode goes beyond surface-level advice to uncover what truly shapes well-being.

Guests include physicians, surgeons, athletes, innovators, and individuals with extraordinary life stories, all united in a commitment to excellence and authenticity.

Whether you are a patient seeking clarity, a medical professional striving for purpose, or someone pursing a stronger mind and body, Gut & Grit delivers insight grounded in science and strengthened by lived experience.

The Making of a Doctor

Dr. Ronald Schneebaum is a retired pediatrician, educator, and author with more than 40 years of clinical experience helping children, families, and medical trainees navigate both physical and emotional health.

Additional Resources

BIGGER HEARTED

Helping Families Through Grief

David Phillips is Co-Founder of Friends of Aine, a New Hampshire based nonprofit dedicated to providing free peer-to-peer grief support for children and families.

Additional Resources

Friends of Aine

Overcoming Addiction

Dr. Dainiak talks with Fabian Schmidt, a lawful permanent resident of NH that was detained by ICE at Logan International Airport on March 7, 2025 after visiting family in Europe.

Part 1

Part 2 Additional Resources

NIDA.NIH.GOV | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

FindTreatment.gov

Held by ICE: Fabian Schmidt’s Story of Detention, Resilience, and Hope

In this powerful second installment of the Gut & Grit Podcast, Fabian Schmidt shares the extraordinary and deeply personal story of his detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after returning from a trip to Germany.

Fabian immigrated to the United States as a teenager and has spent nearly two decades building a life in America. A legal permanent resident, husband, father, master electrician, and mentor to individuals struggling with addiction, Fabian considered the United States his home. After traveling to Germany to visit family, he expected a routine return to Boston. Instead, he found himself pulled aside at Logan Airport and thrust into a complex immigration process that would ultimately lead to weeks of detention.

During the conversation, Fabian describes the confusion and fear he experienced when immigration officials flagged a decade-old misdemeanor case stemming from a 2015 incident in California. Although the matter had long been considered resolved, changes in immigration enforcement procedures resulted in his detention while authorities attempted to determine his legal status.

Fabian recounts spending five days in detention at Boston Logan Airport, where he says he endured harsh conditions while suffering from influenza. He describes uncertainty about his future, limited communication with family, and repeated pressure to voluntarily surrender his green card. Throughout the ordeal, his greatest concern was not for himself but for the people he loved—including Bavani, who was dealing with significant health issues at the time, his daughter, and his family.

The story then shifts to his transfer to a Rhode Island detention facility, where he was housed among individuals facing serious criminal allegations despite having no history of violent crime. Fabian provides a firsthand account of life inside detention, the emotional toll of isolation, and the challenges of navigating a legal system that often seemed unable to determine why he was being held.

What makes this episode particularly compelling is not only the story of detention itself but also the extraordinary support that emerged around Fabian. As news of his case spread, community members, attorneys, elected officials, journalists, and representatives from the German consulate became involved. Public demonstrations were organized on his behalf, and legal teams worked tirelessly to revisit the California case that had triggered the detention.

Ultimately, attorneys successfully reopened the original case, revealing significant procedural issues and leading to its dismissal. After weeks in custody, Fabian was released and reunited with his family.

Rather than allowing the experience to leave him bitter, Fabian reflects on the lessons he learned during one of the most difficult periods of his life. He speaks candidly about gratitude, resilience, personal growth, and the importance of maintaining compassion even in the face of adversity. He discusses how the experience changed his perspective on freedom, family, and the everyday moments that most people take for granted.

Throughout the episode, Fabian emphasizes that his story is not about politics but about people. It is a conversation about dignity, due process, perseverance, and the human consequences of bureaucratic systems. Most importantly, it is the story of a man who emerged from a life-altering experience with a renewed sense of purpose and a desire to advocate for others who may find themselves in similar circumstances.

This episode offers a rare firsthand look into the realities of immigration detention while exploring broader themes of courage, hope, and the enduring strength of the human spirit. Based on Fabian’s remarkable journey, listeners are invited to reflect on what it means to belong, to persevere, and to find meaning in adversity.

Listen to the full episode of Gut & Grit to hear Fabian Schmidt’s unforgettable story in his own words.