
PLANTSTRONG Podcast
People become curious about whole food, plant-based nutrition for a multitude of reasons. Maybe you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes, heart disease, cancer, obesity, or another chronic disease and you know (or you’ve been told) that this is your best shot at healing your body. You may be an athlete looking to maximize your performance and recovery with the power of plant-based nutrition, or you’re a parent who wants to escape the processed food aisle and start feeding your children real, nourishing foods. Perhaps you are concerned about climate change and the profound negative impact that animal agriculture has on the planet.
The problem? A whole food, plant-based diet can seem overwhelming, confusing, and, yes, expensive. You’ve been told it will make you deficient in something, or that you won’t get enough protein. You think it might be a boring way to live, or that it is so extreme you’ll alienate yourself from friends and loved ones.
Well, here at the PLANTSTRONG Podcast, we’re not afraid to be extreme - extremely positive, extremely helpful, and extremely well-researched. Each week on the show, host Rip Esselstyn talks to medical experts, authors, athletes, and people just like you who are not just surviving on a plant-based diet, but THRIVING.
As founder and CEO of PLANTSTRONG, Rip Esselstyn is a wellness advocate, former professional athlete, firefighter, and NY Times best-selling author renowned for his dedication to promoting vibrant health through plant-based nutrition and active living.
Over twenty years ago, Rip rescued several of his fellow firefighters with whole, plant-based foods following the groundbreaking research of his father, Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr., author of Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease. The results were so dramatic that Rip wrote the bestselling book,The Engine 2 Diet, to spread the word. His subsequent works, including Plant-Strong, The Engine 2 Seven-Day Rescue Diet and The Engine 2 Cookbook, further solidified his reputation as a leading voice in the plant-based movement. Rip was also featured in the documentary Forks over Knives and served as an executive producer of The Game Changers film; a revolutionary documentary that shatters the myths about meat, protein, and strength.
Rip’s mission and the mission of the PLANTSTRONG Podcast is to make plant-based living accessible and approachable, and to further the advancement of all things within the plant-based movement. We share the scientifically proven benefits of plant-based living and envision a world that universally understands, promotes, and prescribes plants as the solution to empowering your health, enhancing your performance, and restoring the environment.
You won’t be weak if you’re eating strong food. PLANTSTRONG food.
We welcome you wherever you are on your plant-based journey and we’re thrilled you’re here.
Latest episodes

Aug 11, 2022 • 1h 31min
Ep. 156: Dr. Dawn Mussallem - This Plant-Based Physician Survived Two Death Sentences To Become a Real Life Wonder Woman
Dr. Dawn Mussallem is a board-certified Lifestyle Medicine Physician at the Mayo Clinic Jacoby Center for Breast Health where she works with breast cancer patients during and after their diagnosis to heal and thrive using the pillars of lifestyle medicine alongside their conventional cancer treatments. Dawn has many remarkable stories of patient recovery, but the biggest recovery story of all is her own. You see, in addition to being a physician, teacher, wife, and mother, Mussallem is also a cancer survivor, 2021 heart transplant recipient, and as of February 2022, she's also a marathon finisher! It's a story you simply have to hear to believe and her passion and positivity will leave a lasting impact. Not only does she acknowledge her family and faith in this decades-long journey, but she also credits her whole foods plant-based diet with her ability to thrive and train with a renewed sense of purpose and boundless energy. It's a life force she brings both to her life and the lives of the patients she works with on a daily basis. Episode Resources PLANTSTRONG Episode Webpage Watch the Episode on YouTube Become an Organ Donor Mayo Clinic News Network Story on Dawn Dawn's Journey from Cancer Survivor to Heart Transplant Recipient Running to a New Beat - Heart transplant recipient to mark 1-year anniversary with marathon 11th Annual Plant-Stock - Reserve Your Ticket Now! To stock up on the best-tasting, most convenient, 100% PLANTSTRONG foods, check out all of our PLANTSTRONG products HERE. Give us a like on the PLANTSTRONG Facebook Page and check out what being PLANSTRONG is all about. We always keep it stocked full of new content and updates, tips for healthy living, delicious recipes, and you can even catch me LIVE on there! We’ve also got an Instagram! Check us out and share your favorite PLANTSTRONG products and why you love it! Don’t forget to tag us using #goplantstrong 🌱💪 Want to live your best PLANTSTRONG life? Join our exclusive PLANTSTRONG Community of friendly, plant-loving peeps! This is a goldmine of resources, recipes, and incredible support to feed your PLANTSTRONG life. Theme Music for Episode

Aug 4, 2022 • 1h 5min
Ep. 155: Sailesh Rao - A Grandfather’s Pinky Promise to Heal the World
Imagine a world where we can all come together to heal…heal ourselves, heal each other, and heal the planet. I know, it sounds virtually impossible, but it isn’t, and that time is now with the leadership of Sailesh Rao, founder of Climate Healers. Sailesh Rao is one of the most intelligent, compassionate, and passionate people on the planet. Dr. Rao is actually one of the brains behind the high-speed internet and high-def communication we enjoy today. But, in 2006, after hearing Al Gore speak of our climate crisis, he switched careers and became deeply immersed, full-time, in solving the environmental crises affecting humanity. Through his organization, Climate Healers, he invites us all to become V.E.G.A.N. – that is, Vitally Engaged Guardians of Animals and Nature. And, here’s something that parents and grandparents can relate to. In 2010, Sailesh made a pinky promise to his granddaughter to do whatever he could to put an end to animal cruelty and to heal the climate – by 2026. But, he can’t do it alone. He invites all of us to come together and help spread the message that all life is ONE family, and like a caterpillar emerges from its cocoon as a gorgeous butterfly, it’s time for us to also emerge and evolve into something as beautiful – for the sake of our planet. Episode Resources Episode Webpage Watch the Episode on YouTube Climate Healers Website Unity Stew Recipe V-COP Details To stock up on the best-tasting, most convenient, 100% PLANTSTRONG foods, check out all of our PLANTSTRONG products HERE. Give us a like on the PLANTSTRONG Facebook Page and check out what being PLANSTRONG is all about. We always keep it stocked full of new content and updates, tips for healthy living, delicious recipes, and you can even catch me LIVE on there! We’ve also got an Instagram! Check us out and share your favorite PLANTSTRONG products and why you love it! Don’t forget to tag us using #goplantstrong 🌱💪 Want to live your best PLANTSTRONG life? Join our exclusive PLANTSTRONG Community of friendly, plant-loving peeps! This is a goldmine of resources, recipes, and incredible support to feed your PLANTSTRONG life. PLANTSTRONG Sedona Retreat - October 10th-15th, 2022 - Dr. Doug Lisle - the esteemed evolutionary psychologist and co-author of The Pleasure Trap - is attending our upcoming Sedona Retreat to give three of his paradigm shifting lectures that help us understand all the forces working against us in our quest to live plantstrong. Once you SEE the system we live in - you can’t UNSEE it. And Dr. Lisle is a master in giving us language and tools to set ourselves on a permanent path to success. And great news! Our Sedona retreat has been approved for 21.5 CME credits for physicians and physician assistants. And 21.5 Nursing Contact Hours for nurses…. And 2.2 CEUs for other healthcare professionals as part of the registration fee for our PLANTSTRONG Retreat. Theme Music for Episode

Jul 28, 2022 • 44min
Ep. 154: PLANTSTRONG Snackables - What's Up with That Asparagus Pee Smell?!
We are thrilled to welcome Jessica Hegarty back to PLANTSTRONG Snackables after her maternity leave. In addition to being a new Mom to her beautiful daughter, Ellie, Jessica leads product innovation for the PLANTSTRONG food line, so she always has the latest trends, food ideas, and tasty tidbits right on the tip of her tongue! Today, Rip and Jess talk all things asparagus. They dish on this veggie that was once known as, “The aristocrat of veggies” and the “food of kings!” You’ll learn about: The three different types of asparagus Why it’s so darn healthy Ideas on how to grill and season this nutritious veggie Tips for storing and keeping it fresh An explanation of why (if you’re one of the lucky ones) it makes your pee smell…well…unique! Of course, it wouldn’t be a Snackables episode without a new recipe and Jessica whips up a delicious PLANTSTRONG hollandaise sauce - perfect as a topper for your next family meal or cookout that features the almighty asparagus. Episode Timestamps 1:45 Rip welcomes Jess back from maternity Leave 8:50 What’s up with that smell?! 13:15 Rip’s history of asparagus 17:48 How many types of asparagus are there, and what are the differences?! 22:00 Tips for storing asparagus to keep it fresh and crispy 23:45 How to choose the freshest asparagus in the market 25:40 How does Rip grill his asparagus? 26:45 Tips on seasoning your asparagus 30:45 The proper way to eat asparagus 31:20 Jess’s WFPB Holy Cow Hollandaise recipe and demo! Episode Resources Watch the Episode on YouTube Episode URL for full recipe and video To stock up on the best-tasting, most convenient, 100% PLANTSTRONG foods, check out all of our PLANTSTRONG products HERE. Give us a like on the PLANTSTRONG Facebook Page and check out what being PLANSTRONG is all about. We always keep it stocked full of new content and updates, tips for healthy living, delicious recipes, and you can even catch me LIVE on there! We’ve also got an Instagram! Check us out and share your favorite PLANTSTRONG products and why you love it! Don’t forget to tag us using #goplantstrong 🌱💪 Want to live your best PLANTSTRONG life? Join our exclusive PLANTSTRONG Community of friendly, plant-loving peeps! This is a goldmine of resources, recipes, and incredible support to feed your PLANTSTRONG life. PLANTSTRONG Sedona Retreat - October 10th-15th, 2022 - Dr. Doug Lisle - the esteemed evolutionary psychologist and co-author of The Pleasure Trap - is attending our upcoming Sedona Retreat to give three of his paradigm-shifting lectures that help us understand all the forces working against us in our quest to live plantstrong. Once you SEE the system we live in - you can’t UNSEE it. And Dr. Lisle is a master in giving us language and tools to set ourselves on a permanent path to success. And great news! Our Sedona retreat has been approved for 21.5 CME credits for physicians and physician assistants. And 21.5 Nursing Contact Hours for nurses…. And 2.2 CEUs for other healthcare professionals as part of the registration fee for our PLANTSTRONG Retreat. Theme Music for Episode

Jul 21, 2022 • 1h 4min
Ep. 153: Howie Jacobson - You CAN Change People. Here's How!
We’ve all heard the phrase, “You can’t change others. You can only change yourself.” It’s really frustrating when the people we care about are behaving in self-defeating ways (especially with their health and well-being), and when we try to talk to them about it, we just make things worse. Our guest today, Howie Jacobson, is here to tell you, you CAN change people - not by force, shame, or guilt - but by becoming a supportive ally. You may know Howie as the long-time host of the Plant Yourself podcast, and he’s also the co-author of some groundbreaking books including Whole by T.Colin Campbell, Proteinaholic with Dr. Garth Davis, and Sick to Fit with Josh Lajaunie. His most recent book, “You CAN Change Other People: The Four Steps to Help Employees, Colleagues—Even Family—Up Their Game,” co-authored with Peter Bregman, outlines four steps to helping people change. If you care about people around you who are eating poorly, not taking care of themselves, or not reaching their potential, Howie is here to help. Episode Timestamps 11:22 People don’t resist change. They resist BEING changed. 12:55 What does it mean to really help people change their behavior? “We can use techniques and approaches to allow people to make different decisions.” 14:05 Step 1: Shift from a Critic to an Ally - "I’m here to help you if you want my help." -empathize -express confidence in them -ask for permission 22:50 Be prepared for them to say, “No thanks.” 25:25 Step 2: Find the Positive Outcome - What would you like to happen? What would it look like? 31:30 Step 3: Find a Golden Opportunity - What can you do right now? 41:06 Step 4: What’s the Plan? Episode Resources Watch the Episode on YouTube Episode Web Page Order You Can Change People: The Four Steps to Help Your Colleagues, Employees—Even Family—Up Their Game Plant Yourself Podcast Ask Howie - Business Coaching Website To stock up on the best-tasting, most convenient, 100% PLANTSTRONG foods, check out all of our PLANTSTRONG products HERE. Give us a like on the PLANTSTRONG Facebook Page and check out what being PLANSTRONG is all about. We always keep it stocked full of new content and updates, tips for healthy living, delicious recipes, and you can even catch me LIVE on there! We’ve also got an Instagram! Check us out and share your favorite PLANTSTRONG products and why you love it! Don’t forget to tag us using #goplantstrong 🌱💪 Want to live your best PLANTSTRONG life? Join our exclusive PLANTSTRONG Community of friendly, plant-loving peeps! This is a goldmine of resources, recipes, and incredible support to feed your PLANTSTRONG life. PLANTSTRONG Sedona Retreat - October 10th-15th, 2022 - Dr. Doug Lisle - the esteemed evolutionary psychologist and co-author of The Pleasure Trap - is attending our upcoming Sedona Retreat to give three of his paradigm shifting lectures that help us understand all the forces working against us in our quest to live plantstrong. Once you SEE the system we live in - you can’t UNSEE it. And Dr. Lisle is a master in giving us language and tools to set ourselves on a permanent path to success. And great news! Our Sedona retreat has been approved for 21.5 CME credits for physicians and physician assistants. And 21.5 Nursing Contact Hours for nurses…. And 2.2 CEUs for other healthcare professionals as part of the registration fee for our PLANTSTRONG Retreat. Theme Music for Episode Promo Music: Your Love by Atch License: Creative Commons License - Attribution 3.0

Jul 14, 2022 • 1h 19min
Ep. 152: Cathy Fisher - The Queen of SOS-Free, Plant-Based Cooking
Feeling stressed in the kitchen? Not sure how to prepare healthy meals while still keeping them delicious and flavor-filled? Have no fear! This week, we're sending you an SOS-Free lifeline in the form of Cathy Fisher, culinary instructor at True North Health, the McDougall Program, and author of the book and blog, Straight Up Food. SOS-Free cooking means preparing meals without added salt, oil, or sugar. Of course, that doesn't mean that you're losing out on richness, sweetness, or flavor. It just means you're getting them from whole plant foods and creative spices. Doug Lisle says, "Cathy's simple but flavorful approach is exquisite," Chef AJ touts, "Cathy's food is among the best that I have ever tasted," and nutritional guru, Jeff Novick says, "I call her work elegant simplicity." Today, she shares her experience with: Her personal health journey as a "delicate" and often sick child raised on a farm How one simple change of eliminating dairy made a world of difference in her health The Dr. McDougall Program discovery that finally set her on the path to health and vitality SOS-Free cooking - How she helps her students and clients "keep it simple" through consistency and repetition Her own favorite meals and rotating breakfast grains Her response when people say, "Cathy, it's just too hard to make a change!" How to cook without oil - Yes! It's possible! How to create more flavor in lieu of added salt Developing "health courage" in restaurants and around loved ones when you're afraid of being the "oddball." A deep dive with Rip into Cathy's favorite recipes and salad dressings from her book, Straight Up Food As Cathy says, no one can determine what you put into your body. If you're ready to explore a refreshing new approach with cooking or if you want to clean up your diet to become even more SOS-free, visit straightupfood.com to learn more and order her book of the same name. More About Cathy Fisher Cathy is a culinary instructor at two health centers in Santa Rosa, California: the McDougall Program and TrueNorth Health. She started working at the McDougall Program in 2006 and TrueNorth in 2010 and also gives classes at veg-related conferences and for private groups. She started her blog, Straight Up Food, in 2010 to offer her students more gluten-, salt-, sugar- and oil-free plant-based recipes. It is now read by people from all corners of the globe who are seeking a more healthful way of eating. Episode Resources Episode Website with Full Transcript Watch the Episode on YouTube Straight Up Food Blog Order the Straight Up Food Book on Amazon or Directly from Cathy’s website PLANTSTRONG Foods - shop our official unsalted broths and our growing assortment of other delicious products made without oil, added sugar, or excessive sodium. To stock up on the best-tasting, most convenient, 100% PLANTSTRONG foods, check out all of our PLANTSTRONG products PLANTSTRONG Sedona Retreat - October 10th-15th, 2022 - Dr. Doug Lisle - the esteemed evolutionary psychologist and co-author of The Pleasure Trap - is attending our upcoming Sedona Retreat to give three of his paradigm shifting lectures that help us understand all the forces working against us in our quest to live plantstrong. Once you SEE the system we live in - you can’t UNSEE it. And Dr. Lisle is a master in giving us language and tools to set ourselves on a permanent path to success. And great news! Our Sedona retreat has been approved for 21.5 CME credits for physicians and physician assistants. And 21.5 Nursing Contact Hours for nurses…. And 2.2 CEUs for other healthcare professionals as part of the registration fee for our PLANTSTRONG Retreat. Visit plantstrong.com for all PLANTSTRONG Resources, including books, recipes, foods and the PLANTSTRONG Coaching Programs Want to live your best PLANTSTRONG life? Join our exclusive PLANTSTRONG Community of friendly, plant-loving peeps! This is a goldmine of resources, recipes, and incredible support to feed your PLANTSTRONG life. Theme Music for Episode Promo Music: Your Love by Atch License: Creative Commons License - Attribution 3.0

Jul 7, 2022 • 1h 21min
Ep. 151: Dr. John McDougall - Health and Healing on a Starch-Based Diet
Dr. John McDougall was drawn to medicine because of his own health “fate.” At 18, he suffered a massive stroke and was an anomaly to the doctors in Michigan who wanted to explore “why” and “how” this could happen to someone so young. This health scare inspired his own journey to become a doctor, which eventually led McDougall and his wife, Mary, to Hawaii to practice medicine on a sugar plantation in Hawaii and service over 5,000 residents. What he saw there changed the course of his medical practice forever. The healthiest people on the island, the first-generation elders who had come from China, Japan, Korea, and the Philippines, were the healthiest and most vibrant people…still active, with no medications, and still in bodies fit for movement. It was their children and grandchildren, however, those second and third generations, that were struggling. Why? They had adopted a western diet of meat, dairy, and processed foods. The secret, Dr. McDougall discovered, was STARCH. Those healthy islanders subsisted on a diet comprised mostly of rice, potatoes, vegetables, and fruits and THAT inspired the work he does today through his McDougall programs and education. Beyond diet, the McDougalls are also dedicated to informing citizens about the positive effects of dietary therapy on chronic disease and our Planet. Animal agriculture, as we’re learning, is also one of the main culprits contributing to climate change and we discuss all of his “four deadly dietary deceptions” outlined at mcdougallfoundation.org. It’s an inspiring conversation from one of the legends and it was an honor to sit down with Dr. John McDougall. Episode Timestamps 6:00 Rip introduces Paul 10:04 Dr. Nathan Pritikin - Dr. McDougall’s inspiration 12:05 The health incident that changed his life forever 16:50 We all suffer from food poisoning - animal foods and vegetable oil 19:00 99.9% of humans are “starchivores” 25:30 Why 1980 was a turning point for nutrition, food research, and technology 32:00 Pioneers and mentors of Dr. McDougall in the early days, including Henry Heimlich 34:30 Four Deadly Dietary Deceptions - #1 Protein 35:20 #2 Calcium - Osteoporosis is an excess of protein?! 40:33 #3 Omega 3 fatty acids - Where do the fish get them? Plants! 49:05 #4 Starch - Why has is become so vilified? Starch does NOT make you fat. Here’s why. 1:06:40 Dr. McDougall addresses the myth - As we age, we just get fatter and sicker 1:08:00 Myth #2 - A well-balanced diet is the best 1:10:00 is Dr. McDougall optimistic about the future of our health and planet? Episode Resources Watch the Episode on YouTube PLANTSTRONG Foods - shop our official unsalted broths- and our growing assortment of other delicious products made without oil, added sugar, or excessive sodium. PLANTSTRONG Sedona Retreat - October 10th-15th, 2022 - Dr. Doug Lisle - the esteemed evolutionary psychologist and co-author of The Pleasure Trap - is attending our upcoming Sedona Retreat to give three of his paradigm-shifting lectures that help us understand all the forces working against us in our quest to live plantstrong. Once you SEE the system we live in - you can’t UNSEE it. And Dr. Lisle is a master in giving us language and tools to set ourselves on a permanent path to success. And great news! Our Sedona retreat has been approved for 21.5 CME credits for physicians and physician assistants. And 21.5 Nursing Contact Hours for nurses…. And 2.2 CEUs for other healthcare professionals as part of the registration fee for our PLANTSTRONG Retreat. PLANTSTRONG Meal Planner Visit plantstrong.com for all PLANTSTRONG Resources, including books, recipes, foods and the PLANTSTRONG Coaching Programs Join the Free PLANTSTRONG Community McDougall Foundation Website Dr. McDougall Website Meer.org Theme Music for Episode Promo Music: Your Love by Atch License: Creative Commons License - Attribution 3.0

Jun 30, 2022 • 44min
Ep. 150: Paul Young - This Firefighter Responded to His Own 911 Alarm Call with Plants
Paul Young is a hero. He's a husband, father of three, and has been a firefighter in Southern California for 17 years. He LOVES his life and his job. Imagine his surprise when he had his annual firefighting physical and received results that frightened him: 243 total cholesterol, 173 LDL, and a heart calcium score of 104, which put him in the 90th percentile in his age for a cardiac event. As Paul says, he thought he was healthy and had dabbled with whole-food plant-based nutrition but, after thoughtful consideration, realized he was still consuming too many processed foods, cheese, and seafood, and wasn't "all-in." Earlier this year, Paul went ALL IN and, in just a few short weeks, the results astonished even his Doctor. It inspired Paul to reach out to Rip. Paul graciously shares his story with Rip, his "why" wanting to improve his health, his doctor’s reaction when those follow-up tests came back, and what this means for his life and his family now. I can promise you - there’s no turning back for this firefighting brother who ditched the meat-and-potato firehouse culture for tofu and broccoli! Episode Timestamps 6:00 Rip introduces Paul 11:14 Almost 90% of his calls are medical calls and not fires! 13:10 What happened at his annual fire department physical? 15:07 Why he didn't want to take statins 16:21 The pitfalls of moderation 17:30 The results speak for themselves! 21:30 Feeling empowered and in control, despite a family history 22:50 A day in the life of Paul's diet 25:00 Reactions from the firehouse and the family 28:45 What happened when he found out his white blood cell count was low 31:15 What's next for this firefighting athlete? 35:40 Paul's advice for fellow firefighters Episode Resources Episode Webpage Watch the Episode on YouTube PLANTSTRONG Sedona Retreat - October 10th-15th, 2022 - Dr. Doug Lisle - the esteemed evolutionary psychologist and co-author of The Pleasure Trap - is attending our upcoming Sedona Retreat to give three of his paradigm-shifting lectures that help us understand all the forces working against us in our quest to live plantstrong. Once you SEE the system we live in - you can’t UNSEE it. And Dr. Lisle is a master in giving us language and tools to set ourselves on a permanent path to success. And great news! Our Sedona retreat has been approved for 21.5 CME credits for physicians and physician assistants. And 21.5 Nursing Contact Hours for nurses…. And 2.2 CEUs for other healthcare professionals as part of the registration fee for our PLANTSTRONG Retreat. PLANTSTRONG Foods - shop our official unsalted broths- and our growing assortment of other delicious products made without oil, added sugar, or excessive sodium. PLANTSTRONG Meal Planner Visit plantstrong.com for all PLANTSTRONG Resources, including books, recipes, foods and the PLANTSTRONG Coaching Programs Join the Free PLANTSTRONG Community with over 26,000 members Theme Music for Episode Promo Music: Your Love by Atch License: Creative Commons License - Attribution 3.0

Jun 23, 2022 • 49min
Ep. 149: Dr. Melissa Sundermann - This Doctor Googled Her Way to a Dream Job
After practicing medicine for several years and raising two children who were officially off to college, Dr. Melissa Sundermann decided it was time to pursue her own passions and expand her knowledge and scope of practice. While she loved being an internal medicine physician in Ann Arbor, Michigan, she wasn’t fulfilled by the revolving door aspect of the system - quick appointments, multiple patients, and prescription-based treatment. So, Melissa did what we all do when we’re searching for an answer - she went to Google. Lo and behold, she discovered Lifestyle Medicine and knew instantly that she had found her calling - helping people treat and prevent diseases through the six pillars of lifestyle medicine: movement, restorative sleep, stress management, avoidance of risky behaviors, positive social connections, and of course a whole-foods plant predominant diet. In this episode, she shares some of the advice and resources she gives to her patients who come in for lifestyle consultations and the great impact she is able to make in her patients’ lives. She also talks in-depth about the benefits of a whole food plant-based diet and the pillars of lifestyle medicine for women in perimenopause and menopause, and how she puts these pillars into practice in her own life. Dr. Sundermann helps patients reach their health and longevity potential at any age and I know you’ll love her enthusiasm and zest for life. She is living her dream so that you can live yours. Episode Timestamps 3:20 Dr. Sundermann’s Introduction and a House Transitioning! 5:10 Dr. Sundermann’s inspiration for becoming a Doctor 8:30 What exactly does an Internal Medicine do? 13:45 Google to the Rescue! 22:20 The Pillars of Lifestyle Medicine - #1 Nutrition 23:05 #2 Movement 24:05 #3 Restorative Sleep 28:14 #4 Avoidance of Risky Behaviors - Smoking, Alcohol 29:10 #5 Stress Management - Managing Cortisol with Breathing Exercises 31:25 #6 Social Connection 32:40 Bonus #7 FRESH AIR 33:15 Promising research and advice for treating symptoms related to the perimenopause and menopause transition Episode Resources Watch the Episode on YouTube PLANTSTRONG Foods - shop our official unsalted broths- and our growing assortment of other delicious products made without oil, added sugar, or excessive sodium . PLANTSTRONG Sedona Retreat - October 10th-15th, 2022 - Dr. Doug Lisle - the esteemed evolutionary psychologist and co-author of The Pleasure Trap - is attending our upcoming Sedona Retreat to give three of his paradigm shifting lectures that help us understand all the forces working against us in our quest to live plantstrong. Once you SEE the system we live in - you can’t UNSEE it. And Dr. Lisle is a master in giving us language and tools to set ourselves on a permanent path to success. And great news! Our Sedona retreat has been approved for 21.5 CME credits for physicians and physician assistants. And 21.5 Nursing Contact Hours for nurses…. And 2.2 CEUs for other healthcare professionals as part of the registration fee for our PLANTSTRONG Retreat. PLANTSTRONG Meal Planner Visit plantstrong.com for all PLANTSTRONG Resources, including books, recipes, foods and the PLANTSTRONG Coaching Programs Join the Free PLANTSTRONG Community with over 26,000 members Theme Music for Episode Promo Music: Your Love by Atch License: Creative Commons License - Attribution 3.0

Jun 16, 2022 • 1h 1min
Ep. 148: Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr. - How to Build an Endothelial Fortress and More
In honor of Father’s Day, we're thrilled to welcome Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn Jr. back on the podcast to answer YOUR questions. He answers questions related to cholesterol, exercise, sodium, fat, atrial fibrillation, the best diagnostic tests, and – of course – how to build an ENDOTHELIUM FORTRESS. The best Father's Day gift is sharing the wisdom and knowledge of this pioneer so let’s get right to it. Episode Timestamps 4:50 It’s Showtime! 5:55 I’m 100% plant-based, but have high cholesterol. Do I still need statins? 8:30 What is the best diagnostic test to see if my arteries are clogged? 9:52 Question about sodium consumption. The data is so confusing! 12:50 What are the best heart health tests I should take at 50? 14:15 LPa - What is it, and how can I improve it? 16:00 How do I build an endothelial fortress and lower my triglycerides? 18:15 Atrial fibrillation - Can it be reversed via diet? 21:45 Could I potentially have familial hypercholesterolemia? 26:39 Talk about the role of fats in a plant-based diet. Aren't some fats healthy? 31:30 What is your opinion on meds for clotting and atrial fibrillation? 33:30 Could I impact familial hypercholesterolemia with a whole foods plant-based diet? 34:14 Opinions on cardio exercise? Can too much be bad? 37:00 Can my HDL be too high? 44:05 How can I best treat mild atherosclerosis? Episode Resources Watch the Episode on YouTube Order Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease by Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr. Dr. Esselstyn’s Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease Program Website PLANTSTRONG Foods - shop our official unsalted broths- and our growing assortment of other delicious products made without oil, added sugar, or excessive sodium. PLANTSTRONG Sedona Retreat - October 10th-15th, 2022 - Dr. Doug Lisle - the esteemed evolutionary psychologist and co-author of The Pleasure Trap - is attending our upcoming Sedona Retreat to give three of his paradigm-shifting lectures that help us understand all the forces working against us in our quest to live plantstrong. Once you SEE the system we live in - you can’t UNSEE it. And Dr. Lisle is a master in giving us language and tools to set ourselves on a permanent path to success. And great news! Our Sedona retreat has been approved for 21.5 CME credits for physicians and physician assistants. And 21.5 Nursing Contact Hours for nurses…. And 2.2 CEUs for other healthcare professionals as part of the registration fee for our PLANTSTRONG Retreat. PLANTSTRONG Meal Planner - Save $10 off the annual membership with the code: PLANTSTRONG Visit plantstrong.com for all PLANTSTRONG Resources, including books, recipes, foods, and the PLANTSTRONG Coaching Programs Join the Free PLANTSTRONG Community with over 26,000 members Theme Music for Episode Promo Music: Your Love by Atch License: Creative Commons License - Attribution 3.0

Jun 9, 2022 • 1h 1min
Ep. 147: Shane Martin - A Mississippi Dude Turned Plant-Based Blogger
I’m excited to introduce you to a PLANTSTRONG brother, Shane Martin. A southern boy through and through, Shane was a football-loving kid, who was born and raised in Mississippi with stints along the way in Nashville, Georgia, Alabama, and other areas as a musician. Life’s demands and raising five children superseded his health and, over a span of several years, he found himself overweight, desperately out of shape, and miserable. He knew he needed to make changes but just wasn’t ready. Doctors even gave him plenty of warnings, but most went ignored. All of that changed when he watched “Forks over Knives” and read The Engine 2 Diet book. He went “cold kale,” picked up the plants, and transformed his life and career. Today, he is the founder and creator of recipes at his site shaneandsimple.com. As he says, “I’m just your average, ordinary guy who makes plant-based cooking casual, easy, and delicious. I don’t use fancy equipment and I don’t use fancy ‘chef speak.’ I’m a normal dude who loves to cook and eat good food that happens to be completely plant-based. Well, this “ordinary dude” has done some extraordinary things for the whole-foods, plant-based revolution. Episode Resources Watch the Episode on YouTube Episode Webpage Shane and Simple Website PLANTSTRONG Foods PLANTSTRONG Sedona Retreat - October 10th-15th, 2022 - Dr. Doug Lisle - the esteemed evolutionary psychologist and co-author of The Pleasure Trap - is attending our upcoming Sedona Retreat to give three of his paradigm-shifting lectures that help us understand all the forces working against us in our quest to live plantstrong. Once you SEE the system we live in - you can’t UNSEE it. And Dr. Lisle is a master in giving us language and tools to set ourselves on a permanent path to success. And great news! Our Sedona retreat has been approved for 21.5 CME credits for physicians and physician assistants. And 21.5 Nursing Contact Hours for nurses…. And 2.2 CEUs for other healthcare professionals as part of the registration fee for our PLANTSTRONG Retreat. PLANTSTRONG Meal Planner - Save $10 off the annual membership with the code: PLANTSTRONG Visit plantstrong.com for all PLANTSTRONG Resources, including books, recipes, foods and the PLANTSTRONG Coaching Programs Join the Free PLANTSTRONG Community with over 26,000 members Theme Music for Episode Promo Music: Your Love by Atch License: Creative Commons License - Attribution 3.0