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Why Whole Foods Founder John Mackey Is Tackling America’s Health

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Aug 20, 2025

Guest

John Mackey

John Mackey, co-founder of Whole Foods Market and founder of Love.Life, discusses his transformative journey into health and wellness. He touches on how psychedelic insights influenced his view on consciousness. Mackey emphasizes the importance of conscious capitalism for creating win-win scenarios in life. He also highlights the role of community in fostering health transformations and shares steps to break free from poor health habits. By advocating for holistic living with purpose, he reinforces that true health springs from love and connection.

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ANECDOTE

Psychedelic Awakening Sparked Whole Foods

John Mackey describes a life-changing LSD experience that dissolved his ego and revealed unity and purpose.
That trip led him to vegetarian communes, natural foods, and founding Whole Foods Market.

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ANECDOTE

From Safer Way To Whole Foods Success

Mackey recounts starting a vegetarian store called Safer Way, later renamed Whole Foods Market after merging and expanding offerings.
The relaxed, pragmatic changes—adding meat and common goods—made it a rapid success within months.

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ADVICE

Test, Plan, Track With A Care Team

Test comprehensively, build a personalized plan, and track progress with a care team and wearable data.
Use gut, blood, DEXA, VO2, CGM and regular follow-ups to guide actionable interventions.

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Journey to Health and Consciousness

05:18 • 11min

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Embracing Opportunities for Holistic Health

16:32 • 4min

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Comprehensive Wellness and Biohacking Solutions

20:12 • 3min

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Unlocking Brain Health: The MTHFR Connection

23:26 • 7min

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The Role of Community in Health Transformations

30:43 • 17min

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Nourishing Health and Transformative Love

48:00 • 3min

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Choosing Love in a Divided World

50:49 • 13min

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A Heartfelt Conclusion and Invitation for Connection

01:04:17 • 2min

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#19069

• Mentioned in 2 episodes

The Moosewood cookbook

Mollie Katzen

The Moosewood Cookbook is a vegetarian cookbook with simple and wholesome recipes. It features a wide variety of vegetarian dishes with an emphasis on natural ingredients. The book is known for its approachable style, making vegetarian cooking accessible to home cooks. It promotes healthy eating through delicious and easy-to-follow recipes. The cookbook embodies a communal cooking style.

#416

• Mentioned in 43 episodes

A Course in Miracles

Dr. William Thetford

Dr. Helen Schucman

A Course in Miracles is a three-volume set consisting of the Text, Workbook for Students, and Manual for Teachers. It aims to undo the illusion of separation from God and others by teaching forgiveness, releasing the past, and cultivating higher guidance. The Text presents the theoretical foundation, the Workbook provides 365 daily lessons to change the student's mind and perception, and the Manual for Teachers addresses practical questions and clarifies key terms. The course emphasizes the importance of spiritual vision, the unity of all, and the correction of misperceptions to achieve inner peace and happiness.

#53486

Firms of Endearment

How World-Class Companies Profit from Passion and Purpose

David B. Wolfe

Jagdish N. Sheth

Rajendra Sisodia

This book explores the concept of 'Firms of Endearment', companies that earn powerful loyalty and affection from their stakeholders by aligning their interests and delivering emotional, experiential, and social value. It highlights how these companies outperform others by focusing on passion and purpose, and provides practical guidance on transforming relationships with customers, employees, partners, investors, and society. The authors argue that these firms are part of a fundamental transformation in capitalism, moving beyond traditional corporate social responsibility to build sustainable success and leave the world a better place.

#2585

• Mentioned in 11 episodes

The Whole Story

Adventures in Love, Life, and Capitalism

John Mackey

The Whole Story is more than just a business success story; it is a tale of a retail, cultural, and dietary revolution that has forever changed the industry and the way people eat. John Mackey shares never-before-told tales of the people and passions behind Whole Foods, including the colorful cast of idealists and foodies who formed the company’s DNA, the many breakthroughs and missteps, and the narrowly avoided disasters. The book delves into Mackey’s spiritual journey, from Christianity to New Age mysticism and Eastern wisdom, as well as his political and intellectual development from a countercultural co-op dweller to a libertarian and Conscious Capitalist. It also explores his personal passions, such as long-distance backpacking, and his philosophical and ethical awakenings, particularly regarding animal welfare and industry practices.

#12190

• Mentioned in 3 episodes

The Lazy Man's Guide to Enlightenment

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Thaddeus Guscinski

Thaddeus Guscinski's "The Lazy Man's Guide to Enlightenment" offers a concise and accessible approach to spiritual awakening. The book emphasizes the importance of non-resistance and acceptance as pathways to inner peace. It suggests that enlightenment is not a distant goal but a present state of being, achievable through simple practices. The author encourages readers to let go of striving and embrace the present moment. The book's brevity and directness make it a popular choice for those seeking a straightforward guide to spiritual growth.

#2060

• Mentioned in 13 episodes

Conscious capitalism

Liberating the Heroic Spirit of Business

John Mackey

In this book, John Mackey and Raj Sisodia argue for the inherent good of both business and capitalism. They illustrate how well-known companies like Whole Foods Market, Southwest Airlines, Costco, Google, and Patagonia use four tenets—higher purpose, stakeholder integration, conscious leadership, and conscious culture and management—to create value for all stakeholders, including customers, employees, suppliers, investors, society, and the environment. The authors advocate for a more cooperative, humane, and positive future by advancing capitalism toward its highest potential through these principles.

#75

• Mentioned in 132 episodes

Moby Dick

Herman Melville

Moby-Dick is a novel that tells the story of Captain Ahab's maniacal quest for revenge against Moby Dick, the giant white sperm whale that bit off his leg. Narrated by Ishmael, the story follows the crew of the whaling ship Pequod as they embark on a journey that explores themes of obsession, man vs. nature, and the existential questions of good and evil. The novel is rich in detailed descriptions of whale hunting and life aboard a culturally diverse crew, and it has become a cornerstone of American and world literature.

In a world where healthcare often focuses on treating illness rather than promoting wellness, what does it really take to live a healthy, vibrant life? In this episode of The Dr. Hyman Show, I sit down with John Mackey, co-founder of Whole Foods Market, to explore his journey from building one of America’s most iconic food companies to rethinking health, purpose, and consciousness. We talk about his new venture, Love.Life, and how it fits into a bigger philosophy that includes conscious capitalism and living with meaning.

You can catch our full conversation on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts. We unpack: • What psychedelic insights can teach you about health and consciousness • How conscious capitalism can create “win-win-win” outcomes in your life • Steps you can take to break free from habits driving weight gain and poor health • Why building the right community accelerates your health journey • What living with purpose can do for your well-being at every stage of life This conversation reinforces a belief we both share: that true health comes from love, community, and a comprehensive approach. View Show Notes From This Episode

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