

Stay Off My Operating Table
Dr. Philip Ovadia
I was a morbidly obese heart surgeon.All through high school, college, med school and surgical training, I followed the U.S. dietary guidelines for both diet and exercise. Yet nothing I did kept the weight off. I just kept getting fatter and fatter.Each day in surgery, I would split open the chests of people just like me. I knew I was heading for the operating table myself if I didn't find solutions that worked. In 2016, I finally found a way to lose 100 pounds and keep it off. Now - in addition to doing heart surgery - I work to help people just like me get healthy, lose the weight and keep it off. I'm Dr. Philip Ovadia, the rebel M.D. and cardiac surgeon who is working to keep people off my operating table.http://ovadiahearthealth.com/whitepaper/Any use of this intellectual property for text and data mining or computational analysis including as training material for artificial intelligence systems is strictly prohibited without express written consent from Dr. Philip Ovadia.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 29, 2025 • 55min
BONUS: The Smarter Way to Get Strong: Dr. Phil Maffetone on Workplace Fitness and Sustainable Health
World-renowned endurance coach and bestselling author Dr. Phil Maffetone joins Ovadia Heart Health Director of Employee Wellness Krisna Hanks for a special Employee Wellness livestream on Monday, June 2 at 5:30 PM ET. Known globally for The Maffetone Method—a low-stress, highly effective training system used by elite athletes and everyday individuals alike—Dr. Maffetone brings decades of clinical and coaching experience to the conversation. His philosophy? A “kinder, gentler” approach to fitness is often the most powerful. In this session, Dr. Maffetone will share workplace-friendly insights from his latest book Get Strong, offering practical strategies for building strength, reducing stress, and improving long-term health—without carving out hours for the gym. Whether you’re leading a team or looking to upgrade your personal health, this is fitness that works—for real life, and for the long run.Send Dr. Ovadia a Text Message. (If you want a response, you must include your contact information.) Dr. Ovadia cannot respond here. To contact his team, please send an email to team@ifixhearts.com Pre-Order Stay Off My Kitchen Table at Amazon. Like what you hear? Head over to IFixHearts.com/book to grab a copy of my book, Stay Off My Operating Table. Ready to go deeper? Talk to someone from my team at IFixHearts.com/talk.Stay Off My Operating Table on X: Dr. Ovadia: @iFixHearts Jack Heald: @JackHeald5 Learn more: Stay Off My Operating Table on Amazon Take Dr. Ovadia's metabolic health quiz: iFixHearts Dr. Ovadia's website: Ovadia Heart Health Jack Heald's website: CultYourBrand.com Theme Song : Rage AgainstWritten & Performed by Logan Gritton & Colin Gailey(c) 2016 Mercury Retro RecordingsAny use of this intellectual property for text and data mining or computational analysis including as training material for artificial intelligence systems is strictly prohibited without express written consent from Dr. Philip Ovadia.

Aug 26, 2025 • 54min
#212: Cancer as a Metabolic Disease: Dr. Nasha Winters Challenges Medical Dogma
Dr. Nasha Winters shares her extraordinary journey from being diagnosed with terminal cancer at age 19 to becoming a pioneering force in metabolic oncology. Given just months to live and unable to receive chemotherapy, she embarked on a quest to understand cancer that led to groundbreaking insights about its metabolic and mitochondrial origins.Winters challenges the conventional genetic theory of cancer, explaining how our bodies' "terrain" - influenced by nutrition, stress, toxins, and lifestyle - creates an environment where cancer either thrives or struggles. She details how modern life's rapid changes overwhelm our mitochondria, potentially leading to cancer when these cellular powerhouses can't properly process information.Most provocatively, Dr. Winters reveals how aggressive cancer treatments can sometimes strengthen cancer by killing weaker cells while allowing stronger ones to thrive. She advocates for a balanced approach combining targeted conventional treatments with strategies to strengthen the body's terrain.The conversation explores her innovative projects including a metabolic cancer data platform, specialized supplements, a research laboratory, and plans for an integrative oncology hospital on an organic farm in Arizona - all designed to revolutionize how we understand and treat cancer.BIG IDEACancer isn't simply genetic bad luck but rather a metabolic disease influenced by our environment, nutrition, and lifestyle - and by understanding these factors, we can dramatically improve prevention and treatment outcomes.Narsha Winters contact info•Website: https://www.drnasha.com/•Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drnashawinters/•X: https://twitter.com/drnashawinters•LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nasha-winters-796374b6/•Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drnashainc•YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrNashaInc•Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drnashawinters•Book: The Metabolic Approach to CancerSend Dr. Ovadia a Text Message. (If you want a response, you must include your contact information.) Dr. Ovadia cannot respond here. To contact his team, please send an email to team@ifixhearts.com Pre-Order Stay Off My Kitchen Table at Amazon. Like what you hear? Head over to IFixHearts.com/book to grab a copy of my book, Stay Off My Operating Table. Ready to go deeper? Talk to someone from my team at IFixHearts.com/talk.Stay Off My Operating Table on X: Dr. Ovadia: @iFixHearts Jack Heald: @JackHeald5 Learn more: Stay Off My Operating Table on Amazon Take Dr. Ovadia's metabolic health quiz: iFixHearts Dr. Ovadia's website: Ovadia Heart Health Jack Heald's website: CultYourBrand.com Theme Song : Rage AgainstWritten & Performed by Logan Gritton & Colin Gailey(c) 2016 Mercury Retro RecordingsAny use of this intellectual property for text and data mining or computational analysis including as training material for artificial intelligence systems is strictly prohibited without express written consent from Dr. Philip Ovadia.

Aug 22, 2025 • 21min
Bonus: Restoring Heart Health: Insights from a Cardiothoracic Surgeon and Practice Manager
Join Dr. Philip Ovadia and Practice Manager Cherish Thompson for a compelling conversation on cardiovascular disease (CVD) and the path to restoring health and quality of life. They’ll explore the importance of early diagnostics, working with a cardiothoracic surgeon, and addressing key factors like metabolic health, LDL cholesterol, and lifestyle changes. Gain valuable insights into tackling heart disease and making impactful changes to achieve long-term wellness.Send Dr. Ovadia a Text Message. (If you want a response, you must include your contact information.) Dr. Ovadia cannot respond here. To contact his team, please send an email to team@ifixhearts.com Like what you hear? Head over to IFixHearts.com/book to grab a copy of my book, Stay Off My Operating Table. Ready to go deeper? Talk to someone from my team at IFixHearts.com/talk.Stay Off My Operating Table on X: Dr. Ovadia: @iFixHearts Jack Heald: @JackHeald5 Learn more: Stay Off My Operating Table on Amazon Take Dr. Ovadia's metabolic health quiz: iFixHearts Dr. Ovadia's website: Ovadia Heart Health Jack Heald's website: CultYourBrand.com Theme Song : Rage AgainstWritten & Performed by Logan Gritton & Colin Gailey(c) 2016 Mercury Retro RecordingsAny use of this intellectual property for text and data mining or computational analysis including as training material for artificial intelligence systems is strictly prohibited without express written consent from Dr. Philip Ovadia.

Aug 19, 2025 • 60min
#211: Beyond the Scalpel: How Two Surgeons Are Fighting Diabetes Before Surgery - Dr. Lily Johnston
In this compelling discussion, vascular surgeon Dr. Lily Johnston joins Dr. Philip Ovadia to share her journey from traditional surgical practice to metabolic health advocacy. After years of amputating limbs for diabetic patients who received poor nutritional guidance, Dr. Johnston couldn't unsee the devastating consequences of our healthcare system's approach to metabolic disease. She explains how surgeons fix anatomical problems without addressing the underlying metabolic dysfunction that causes blood vessel disease throughout the body.Dr. Johnston discusses how therapeutic carbohydrate reduction, hormone optimization, sleep quality, and stress management create better outcomes than surgery alone. She shares personal insights about her own health transformation through low-carb nutrition and her decision to create a practice balancing surgery with preventive care. The conversation reveals how traditional heart and vascular surgeries are temporary fixes that don't address root causes, leaving patients vulnerable to recurring problems.This interview bridges the gap between conventional medicine and functional approaches to metabolic health, offering hope for those looking to avoid major surgical interventions through targeted lifestyle modifications.BIG IDEASurgeons like Dr. Johnston and Dr. Ovadia have recognized that vascular and cardiac surgeries are temporary fixes—like placing buckets under a leaky roof rather than repairing the roof itself—and are now focusing on metabolic health interventions that address the root causes of disease.Lily Johnston MD contact infoWebsites: www.vascularhealthinstitute.orgnexushealthspan.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ljohnstonmdSend Dr. Ovadia a Text Message. (If you want a response, you must include your contact information.) Dr. Ovadia cannot respond here. To contact his team, please send an email to team@ifixhearts.com Pre-Order Stay Off My Kitchen Table at Amazon. Like what you hear? Head over to IFixHearts.com/book to grab a copy of my book, Stay Off My Operating Table. Ready to go deeper? Talk to someone from my team at IFixHearts.com/talk.Stay Off My Operating Table on X: Dr. Ovadia: @iFixHearts Jack Heald: @JackHeald5 Learn more: Stay Off My Operating Table on Amazon Take Dr. Ovadia's metabolic health quiz: iFixHearts Dr. Ovadia's website: Ovadia Heart Health Jack Heald's website: CultYourBrand.com Theme Song : Rage AgainstWritten & Performed by Logan Gritton & Colin Gailey(c) 2016 Mercury Retro RecordingsAny use of this intellectual property for text and data mining or computational analysis including as training material for artificial intelligence systems is strictly prohibited without express written consent from Dr. Philip Ovadia.

Aug 15, 2025 • 28min
BONUS: How To Stay Healthy Until The Day You Die (a heart surgeon's take)
We all want to live healthy for as long as possible. Join Dr. Philip Ovadia for a tour through what he does himself to maximize his health span, and what he tells patients to do so they can be healthy and happy for as many years as possible.Send Dr. Ovadia a Text Message. (If you want a response, you must include your contact information.) Dr. Ovadia cannot respond here. To contact his team, please send an email to team@ifixhearts.com Pre-Order Stay Off My Kitchen Table at Amazon. Like what you hear? Head over to IFixHearts.com/book to grab a copy of my book, Stay Off My Operating Table. Ready to go deeper? Talk to someone from my team at IFixHearts.com/talk.Stay Off My Operating Table on X: Dr. Ovadia: @iFixHearts Jack Heald: @JackHeald5 Learn more: Stay Off My Operating Table on Amazon Take Dr. Ovadia's metabolic health quiz: iFixHearts Dr. Ovadia's website: Ovadia Heart Health Jack Heald's website: CultYourBrand.com Theme Song : Rage AgainstWritten & Performed by Logan Gritton & Colin Gailey(c) 2016 Mercury Retro RecordingsAny use of this intellectual property for text and data mining or computational analysis including as training material for artificial intelligence systems is strictly prohibited without express written consent from Dr. Philip Ovadia.

Aug 12, 2025 • 59min
#210: Why Your Pain Won't Go Away: The Metabolic Connection with Dr. Gurpreet Singh Padda
Dr. Gurpreet Singh Padda shares his groundbreaking approach to chronic pain management that centers on fixing metabolic dysfunction rather than simply masking symptoms with medication. Drawing from his background in anesthesiology, pain management, addiction medicine, and technology, Dr. Padda explains the underlying connection between chronic pain and metabolic inflammation. He details how his patients achieve extraordinary results—85-90% of type 2 diabetics resolving their condition within three months and dramatic reductions in pain medication needs within weeks—through targeting the root metabolic causes rather than treating symptoms.Dr. Padda challenges conventional medical approaches, revealing how our healthcare system's perverse incentives often work against patient healing. He discusses how vegetable oils contribute to inflammation, reduced bonding hormones, and fertility issues, while explaining why pain management must address insulin resistance, omega fatty acid imbalances, and mitochondrial dysfunction. His innovative assessment tools help patients visualize their health status and track improvement, creating a path to healing that addresses the true causes of chronic pain.BIG IDEAIn 99% of chronic pain cases, the reason pain recurs is that the underlying issue of metabolic dysfunction hasn't been fixed—not because patients have a deficiency of pain medication.Gurpreet Singh Padda Contact InfoLinkedIn: -paddaPadda Institute Website: https://painmd.tv/Send Dr. Ovadia a Text Message. (If you want a response, you must include your contact information.) Dr. Ovadia cannot respond here. To contact his team, please send an email to team@ifixhearts.com Pre-Order Stay Off My Kitchen Table at Amazon. Like what you hear? Head over to IFixHearts.com/book to grab a copy of my book, Stay Off My Operating Table. Ready to go deeper? Talk to someone from my team at IFixHearts.com/talk.Stay Off My Operating Table on X: Dr. Ovadia: @iFixHearts Jack Heald: @JackHeald5 Learn more: Stay Off My Operating Table on Amazon Take Dr. Ovadia's metabolic health quiz: iFixHearts Dr. Ovadia's website: Ovadia Heart Health Jack Heald's website: CultYourBrand.com Theme Song : Rage AgainstWritten & Performed by Logan Gritton & Colin Gailey(c) 2016 Mercury Retro RecordingsAny use of this intellectual property for text and data mining or computational analysis including as training material for artificial intelligence systems is strictly prohibited without express written consent from Dr. Philip Ovadia.

Aug 8, 2025 • 54min
BONUS: How To Stay Off My Operating Table with Dr. Philip Ovadia
Join heart surgeon Dr. Philip Ovadia and his clinical team to learn how you can prevent heart attacks. We'll dive in to lab work, CACs, what to do when your PCP is pushing unwanted drugs, and which numbers really make the difference.Send Dr. Ovadia a Text Message. (If you want a response, you must include your contact information.) Dr. Ovadia cannot respond here. To contact his team, please send an email to team@ifixhearts.com Pre-Order Stay Off My Kitchen Table at Amazon. Like what you hear? Head over to IFixHearts.com/book to grab a copy of my book, Stay Off My Operating Table. Ready to go deeper? Talk to someone from my team at IFixHearts.com/talk.Stay Off My Operating Table on X: Dr. Ovadia: @iFixHearts Jack Heald: @JackHeald5 Learn more: Stay Off My Operating Table on Amazon Take Dr. Ovadia's metabolic health quiz: iFixHearts Dr. Ovadia's website: Ovadia Heart Health Jack Heald's website: CultYourBrand.com Theme Song : Rage AgainstWritten & Performed by Logan Gritton & Colin Gailey(c) 2016 Mercury Retro RecordingsAny use of this intellectual property for text and data mining or computational analysis including as training material for artificial intelligence systems is strictly prohibited without express written consent from Dr. Philip Ovadia.

Aug 5, 2025 • 54min
#209: You Can Have Anything You Want, Just Not Everything You Want: Life Lessons from an Unlikely Champion - Ed Latimore
What happens when a physics graduate from the projects decides to return to professional boxing at age 40 after a nine-year hiatus? Ed Latimore's story defies every expectation you might have about both academic achievement and athletic excellence.In this candid conversation, Latimore shares the brutal realities behind his comeback fight, the hidden health issues that were sabotaging his performance for years, and the scientific approach he used to optimize his body at an age when most athletes have long retired. From discovering his thyroid was working against him to uncovering respiratory problems that mimicked COPD, his journey illustrates how even the healthiest among us can have invisible barriers to peak performance.But this isn't just a boxing story. Latimore articulates a philosophy that cuts straight to the heart of human limitation and choice. His insights about sacrifice, priority, and the mathematics of achievement apply whether you're trying to lose weight, build a business, or simply live with more intention.The conversation weaves through his upcoming memoir "Hard Lessons from the Hurt Business," his transition from fighter to writer, and the biomechanical insights he gained that revolutionized his understanding of athletic performance. Along the way, he demonstrates why sometimes the most efficient path isn't the best path for creation, and how constraints can become the foundation for extraordinary achievement.This is raw storytelling from someone who has lived at the intersection of intellectual rigor and physical combat, offering perspectives that challenge conventional wisdom about aging, health optimization, and what's actually possible when you refuse to accept limitations as permanent.BIG IDEAYou can have anything you want, you just can't have everything you want.Contact Info: Ed LatimoreTwitter:https://x.com/EdLatimoreInstagram: https://instagram.com/edlatimoreLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edlatimore/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EdLatimore1WebsiSend Dr. Ovadia a Text Message. (If you want a response, you must include your contact information.) Dr. Ovadia cannot respond here. To contact his team, please send an email to team@ifixhearts.com Pre-Order Stay Off My Kitchen Table at Amazon. Like what you hear? Head over to IFixHearts.com/book to grab a copy of my book, Stay Off My Operating Table. Ready to go deeper? Talk to someone from my team at IFixHearts.com/talk.Stay Off My Operating Table on X: Dr. Ovadia: @iFixHearts Jack Heald: @JackHeald5 Learn more: Stay Off My Operating Table on Amazon Take Dr. Ovadia's metabolic health quiz: iFixHearts Dr. Ovadia's website: Ovadia Heart Health Jack Heald's website: CultYourBrand.com Theme Song : Rage AgainstWritten & Performed by Logan Gritton & Colin Gailey(c) 2016 Mercury Retro RecordingsAny use of this intellectual property for text and data mining or computational analysis including as training material for artificial intelligence systems is strictly prohibited without express written consent from Dr. Philip Ovadia.

Aug 1, 2025 • 58min
Bonus: Carnivore: Cutting Through the Noise and Clearing Up Misconceptions with Amber O’Hearn
Amber O’Hearn isn’t just a long-time carnivore diet advocate—she’s one of its original thought leaders. With an academic background spanning math, psychology, and evolutionary biology, Amber brings a rare depth to the discussion around metabolic health and lifestyle transformation. In this wide-ranging Employee Wellness conversation with OHH Director Krisna Hanks, Amber reflects on 15+ years of personal and professional exploration. What’s still misunderstood about carnivore? How should employers approach it? And what do Vitamin C, fiber, and gender have to do with it all? Get ready for a grounded, research-informed perspective that cuts through the confusion.Send Dr. Ovadia a Text Message. (If you want a response, you must include your contact information.) Dr. Ovadia cannot respond here. To contact his team, please send an email to team@ifixhearts.com Pre-Order Stay Off My Kitchen Table at Amazon. Like what you hear? Head over to IFixHearts.com/book to grab a copy of my book, Stay Off My Operating Table. Ready to go deeper? Talk to someone from my team at IFixHearts.com/talk.Stay Off My Operating Table on X: Dr. Ovadia: @iFixHearts Jack Heald: @JackHeald5 Learn more: Stay Off My Operating Table on Amazon Take Dr. Ovadia's metabolic health quiz: iFixHearts Dr. Ovadia's website: Ovadia Heart Health Jack Heald's website: CultYourBrand.com Theme Song : Rage AgainstWritten & Performed by Logan Gritton & Colin Gailey(c) 2016 Mercury Retro RecordingsAny use of this intellectual property for text and data mining or computational analysis including as training material for artificial intelligence systems is strictly prohibited without express written consent from Dr. Philip Ovadia.

Jul 29, 2025 • 58min
#208: From Skeptic to Champion: How This Doctor Reversed Diabetes in 73% of His Patients-Dr Stephen Riggs
In this riveting conversation, Dr. Stephen Riggs shares his remarkable journey from conventional primary care physician to pioneering metabolic health specialist. After 30 years of traditional practice, everything changed when his wife handed him "The Obesity Code" by Dr. Jason Fung. Initially skeptical, Dr. Riggs tested the low-carb approach with his patients and witnessed transformations that defied his medical training: patients reversing type 2 diabetes, coming off insulin, and experiencing substantial weight loss in mere months.Dr. Riggs reveals how he built a comprehensive metabolic health clinic within a traditional healthcare system by meticulously tracking patient outcomes and demonstrating remarkable cost savings—over $550,000 annually in medication reductions from just 220 patients. He discusses his "Low Carb Bootcamp" program that achieves a 73% diabetes reversal rate and how his team approach incorporates health coaches, nutritionists, and food addiction specialists.Perhaps most fascinating is Dr. Riggs' observation that 95% of patients with food addiction see their addiction resolved within 8-12 weeks on a ketogenic diet—without specific addiction counseling. He offers practical insights on protein requirements, implementing lifestyle changes in America's heartland, and navigating resistance from colleagues and insurance companies.This conversation offers a powerful glimpse into how evidence-based nutritional interventions are quietly revolutionizing healthcare from within the system, bringing joy back to medicine by truly healing patients rather than merely managing their decline.BIG IDEA"Nutrition went from being basically irrelevant to me—I got almost zero nutritional training, what little I did was probably wrong—and now it's the biggest tool in my toolbox by far."Stephen Riggs, MD Contact InfoPersonal Website:www.livingbyDesignKetonutrition.com Metabolic Clinic Site:MercyOne.org/LivingbyDesign Send Dr. Ovadia a Text Message. (If you want a response, you must include your contact information.) Dr. Ovadia cannot respond here. To contact his team, please send an email to team@ifixhearts.com Pre-Order Stay Off My Kitchen Table at Amazon. Like what you hear? Head over to IFixHearts.com/book to grab a copy of my book, Stay Off My Operating Table. Ready to go deeper? Talk to someone from my team at IFixHearts.com/talk.Stay Off My Operating Table on X: Dr. Ovadia: @iFixHearts Jack Heald: @JackHeald5 Learn more: Stay Off My Operating Table on Amazon Take Dr. Ovadia's metabolic health quiz: iFixHearts Dr. Ovadia's website: Ovadia Heart Health Jack Heald's website: CultYourBrand.com Theme Song : Rage AgainstWritten & Performed by Logan Gritton & Colin Gailey(c) 2016 Mercury Retro RecordingsAny use of this intellectual property for text and data mining or computational analysis including as training material for artificial intelligence systems is strictly prohibited without express written consent from Dr. Philip Ovadia.


