Advocacy and Support for GLP-1s with Amanda Bonello

The GLP-1 Collective supports individuals using GLP-1 medications by removing barriers to access, offering financial assistance, educating and empowering patients, and building a community where no one feels alone in their journey. Website: https://glp1studio.substack.com/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amanda.bonello?lang=enInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanda.bonell0/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/glp1collective/posts/?feedView=allThis conversation was recorded May 2025, therefore some details may be outdated. However, the lessons learned and resources shared are still impactful and important. Searching for help during a GLP-1 shortage, Amanda Bonello ran into a maze of half-truths, stigma, and unsafe workarounds—and decided to build the resource she couldn’t find. We sit down with Amanda, CEO and founder of the GLP1 Collective, to explore how a patient-led movement is taking on barriers to safe, affordable access while giving people a trusted home for education and support.We unpack the stakes behind the headlines: when insurance cuts coverage without warning, many patients don’t chase “summer abs”—they fight to walk without pain, keep inflammation in check, and hold onto hard-won health. From black market peptides and DIY mixing to cross-border pharmacy runs, scarcity pushes vulnerable people toward risky choices. We talk through why access is a health equity issue, how stigma keeps treatment underground, and what patent thickets and prior authorizations mean for real lives.There’s real progress here, too. The Collective’s petition has drawn tens of thousands of signatures and national media attention, and a HIPAA-compliant prescription access program is ready to launch once it meets a $20,000 funding threshold. The model is direct and accountable: verify a prescription, load a restricted-use card for pharmacy medications, and keep patients on therapy safely. Alongside that, the team offers monthly support groups, live Q&As with obesity specialists and dietitians, practical “newbie kits,” daily updates via Discord, and a fall advocacy trip to Washington, DC to put patient stories in front of decision-makers.If access, safety, and dignity in obesity care matter to you, this conversation is a roadmap and a rallying cry. Subscribe, share this episode with someone who needs it, and leave a review to help more listeners find evidence-based metabolic health guidance.👩🏼‍⚕️ Live in Missouri? Want to be my patient?Telehealth clinic: https://missourimetabolichealth.com🥑 Have questions you want answered on the podcast? Email [email protected]✨Freebies✨Anti-Obesity Medication OptionsHow To Prevent DiabetesHealthy Habits WorkbookPreventative Health Checklist🤗 Socials:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.lindsayogle/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr..lindsay.ogle?_t=8prC4VUQZ5i&_r=1YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMV0X6U0JLZgRMiNwGtmpeg