PLANTSTRONG Podcast
Rip Esselstyn
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.
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Feb 11, 2021 • 41min
Ep. 70: Dr. Irminne Van Dyken - What do Nitric Oxide, Sulforaphane, and Humming All Have in Common?
What do nitric oxide, turmeric, sulforaphane, and humming all have in common? Your health and longevity, of course! You’re going to be humming with joy after you listen to this episode today with Dr. Irminne Van Dyken. Dr. Van Dyken is a general surgeon based in Hawaii, and she is also a cutting-edge researcher and plant-based advocate who teaches others how to optimize their own health and microbiome through diet and lifestyle. Get ready to have fun and think a little outside the box because this interview is packed with quick hits on topics that she is most excited about these days. If you enjoyed Episode 5 with Doug Evans on sprouting a couple of weeks ago, you’ll definitely love our continued talk around this new word - Sulforaphane. It seems to be everywhere these days! What is it, what are the benefits, and where can I get it? Dr. Van Dyken also shares her expertise on the importance of nitric oxide and why it’s a good thing that our tongues are textured like a shag carpet! And speaking of tongues, she also discusses the health benefits of humming...yes...humming for health! So simple, right? Finally, she touches on her favorite spices: Curcumin and Turmeric - and the vast health benefits of each. This is a jam-packed episode of helpful advice from one of our favorite doctors. Dr. Iminne Van Dyken may have gotten into surgery to fix things, but as you’ll hear, she’s more interested in helping you achieve optimal health long before you ever need to go under the knife! Episode and PLANTSTRONG Resources: PLANTSTRONG Meal Planner - use code: STARTFRESH for a 14-Day Free Trial. Yes, you have to enter a credit card - but you won’t be charged if you cancel before the trial ends and that’s a click of a button. Enjoy the test drive and get cooking! Order Your Chef's Garden "Repair and Rescue Leafy Green Box" PLANTSTRONG Foods - Pizza Crust is Back in Stock. Bookmark this page for upcoming food announcements! Theme Music for Episode Promo Theme Music Your Love by Atch SoundCloud: bit.ly/AtchSoundCloud Instagram: www.instagram.com/atchmusic License: Creative Commons License - Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) Music promoted by Ohzum Beats: https://bit.ly/ohzumbeats
Feb 4, 2021 • 48min
Ep. 69: Jennifer and Rodney Barrett - Farmers of a Different Feather
Meet Rodney and Jennifer Barrett of Barrett Family Farm. Jennifer and Rodney have been poultry and cattle farmers in rural Arkansas for almost 20 years. But, after a series of major health setbacks, financial hardships, and moral crises, they finally decided to give it up. No longer could they reconcile their work with a greater purpose and as Rodney says, “You wouldn’t think we’d be doing something for so long that was detrimental to our own health.” But, like most of us, they just didn’t know...until they sought the real truth. Today - those chicken houses that would breed over 100,000 chickens every 52 days? They’re now giving birth to thousands of nourishing mushrooms. And the cattle? They’re like children. This is their courageous, ethical, and compassionate journey from poultry to plants. Episode and PLANTSTRONG Resources: Join our Mystery Valentines Day Dinner with Chef's Garden - All the Ingredients Delivered Directly to Your Door Barrett Family Farm Facebook Barrett Family Farm Instagram PLANTSTRONG Foods - Pizza Crust is Back in Stock PLANTSTRONG Meal Planner - Discover the easy way to eat PLANTSTRONG Theme Music for Episode
Jan 28, 2021 • 1h 6min
Ep. 68: Doug Evans - The Sprout Wizard
Doug Evans is the Sprout Wizard. After decades of living, eating, and working to excess and burn-out, Doug Evans had his "come to plants" moment. In 1999, he literally went from eating a greasy, fatty duck in New York's Chinatown, to eating a raw vegan diet overnight. This personal galileo moment came as he considered his devastating family history of western disease that included heart attacks, stroke, and diabetes. Was he destined to this same fate, or could he break the cycle? He chose to break the cycle "cold cucumber," and has since set his sights on exploring and sharing the world's most nutritious superfoods. In April 2020, Doug Evans released The Sprout Book: Tap into the Power of the World's Most Nutritious Food. Almost instantly, everyone started talking about the simplicity and fun of sprouting your own foods. I’m sure many of you had the same questions I had. Aren't sprouts the hippy-dippy garnish you throw on a salad or in a wrap? Is it complicated, time-consuming, and expensive? And, really, how nutritious can sprouts be? Well, as you’ll hear today, this conversation opened my eyes to the possibilities of sprouts. They aren’t just an afterthought to add flavor or crunch. They are powerhouses of nutrition and the best part is that you can begin sprouting right away on your kitchen countertop with just a few seeds, water, and a mason jar. Get the whole family involved in this beautiful nature experiment and learn how to sprout a new hobby with life-long benefits for everyone Episode and PLANTSTRONG Resources: The Sprout Book: Tap into the Power of the Planet's Most Nutritious Food Join our Mystery Valentines Day Dinner with Chef's Garden - All the Ingredients Delivered Directly to Your Door. PLANTSTRONG Foods - Pizza Crust is Back in Stock PLANTSTRONG Meal Planner - Discover the easy way to eat PLANTSTRONG Theme Music for Episode Sprouting Companies Mentioned By Doug: Sproutman True Leaf Market
Jan 21, 2021 • 1h 12min
Ep. 67: Dr. Monica Aggarwal - A Doctor's Prescription for Happiness is Plants
What happens when the confident doctor becomes the desperate patient who, like the rest of us, feels powerless when we get sick? This is the moment that board-certified cardiologist, Dr. Monica Aggarwal, describes as her moment of truth when she was diagnosed with a devastating form of rheumatoid arthritis shortly after the birth of her third child. In an instant, she went from being an avid runner, busy doctor, and engaging parent to someone who could barely move. Anger, blame, denial...you name it...she had it. She also had the answer -- a radical change to her diet and lifestyle. Our bodies have miraculous ways to heal and Dr. Aggarwal shares her prescriptions for joy, vitality and health from her book, “Body on Fire: How Inflammation Triggers Chronic Illness and the Tools We Have to Fight It.” We know this is one prescription you’ll love to take. Episode and PLANTSTRONG Resources: Dr. Monica Aggarwal Website and Book Information Join our Mystery Valentines Day Dinner with Chef's Garden - All the Ingredients Delivered Directly to Your Door. PLANTSTRONG Foods - Order your favorites! PLANTSTRONG Meal Planner - Discover the easy way to eat PLANTSTRONG Rescue 10X Program Theme Music for Episode
Jan 14, 2021 • 53min
Ep. 66: The Chef's Garden - A Veritable Wonderland of Vegetables
Recently, we were introduced to a produce farm just outside Cleveland, Ohio, and quickly learned that this longstanding family-run business is as passionate about growing vegetables as we are about eating them. So we flew to the Chef's Garden farm, so we could film this magical visit and let you experience it firsthand with us. The Chef's Garden has been delivering specialty products with optimum shelf life, quality, flavor, and nutrition direct from the farm to the world's most discriminating chefs for over 30 years. This vast playground of vegetables is also host to the Culinary Vegetable Institute, which provides the world’s most forward-thinking and creative chefs with a place to exchange knowledge, experiment with new ideas, and discover cooking and growing techniques using the canvas of the most flavorful, colorful and nutritious vegetables on the planet. While there, we learned so much about regenerative farming—what it is, what it means for our future, and why we should care. Farmer Lee and Bob's passion was contagious and we are excited to share it with you. Their mission, through their beautiful growing techniques, is to deliver the freshest, most nutrient-dense, tasty vegetables directly to your door, and as Farmer Lee says, "Healthy soil makes healthy vegetables, which makes healthy people." We're proud to support this family farm and hope you will too. Join us for our Mystery Valentines Day Dinner for two complete with fresh produce delivered directly to your door from The Chef's Garden. Episode and PLANTSTRONG Resources: Chef's Garden Website and Social Channels Join our Mystery Valentines Day Dinner with Chef's Garden - All the Ingredients Delivered Directly to Your Door. PLANTSTRONG Challenge Starts January 9th, 2021 PLANTSTRONG Foods - Order your favorites! PLANTSTRONG Meal Planner - Discover the easy way to eat PLANTSTRONG Rescue 10X Program Theme Music for Episode
Jan 7, 2021 • 1h 7min
Ep. 65: Dr. Kristi Funk - Fighting Breast Cancer with Plant-Based Nutrition
Dr. Kristi Funk is a Board Certified Breast Cancer surgeon and physician, a bestselling author of the book, Breasts: The Owner's Manual, an outspoken women's health advocate, a regular feature on shows like Good Morning America, and best-known as the breast surgeon who treated both Sheryl Crow and Angelina Jolie. This passionate doctor's mantra is "God, family and kill cancer," which she wrote to empower women to understand the role they play in their own health. For the majority of her career, she thought she was doing all she could to help women fight the battle against breast cancer, but 18 years into her practice, she found herself confronted with a new truth. She learned that nutrition, specifically plant-based nutrition, undisputedly plays a huge role both in a person's predisposition to get breast cancer and in their ability to fight it. And once she discovered the truth, she wasn't afraid to do an about 180, both personally and professionally, and she literally emptied her fridge and changed her patient protocols to advise a whole food plant-based diet as the best means to live optimal lives and to thrive. This interview will empower you with facts and research, and it will debunk so many of the myths that we hear all the time, like what about soy or alcohol or underwire bras. Dr. Funk not only embraced the truth, but she has also been on a mission to share it with the world. Please share today's episode with one of the millions of people that you know that have been touched by breast cancer. Episode and PLANTSTRONG Resources: Pink Lotus - Dr. Funk's website and resource library PLANTSTRONG Challenge Starts January 9th, 2021 PLANTSTRONG Foods - Order your favorites! PLANTSTRONG Meal Planner - Discover the easy way to eat PLANTSTRONG Rescue 10X Program Theme Music for Episode
Jan 1, 2021 • 44min
Ep. 64: Dr. Michael Klaper - Looking Through the Lens
I can empathize with Galileo of knowing how when you know a truth and you know it to be true, you can't turn your back on it. It just won't let you sleep with good conscience. You just can't pretend. They say once you look behind the curtain, you can't pretend you don't know what's behind the curtain. And, those of us in plant-based nutrition, we've seen these diseases go away with a plant-based diet. We know. We've looked behind the curtain. So now it's a matter of getting that word out and helping our colleagues wake up. - Dr. Michael Klaper Season 3 of the PLANTSTRONG Podcast explores those Galileo Moments, when you seek the real truth about your health and dare to see the world through a different lens. This season, we honor those courageous seekers who have paved the way for all of us, which is why there could be no more perfect guest to kick off this season than Dr. Michael Klaper. Dr. Klaper, of course, went to Medical school, but also minored in Astronomy, marrying his lifetime fascination with the nighttime sky and the world according to natural law. His own Galileo moment came in 1981 when he was an anesthesiology resident in Vancouver. He would put patients to sleep so that surgeons could open up their patients' chests. What he saw inside those arteries was unforgettable - yellow gunky atherosclerosis caused by the foods and the high-cholesterol diets they were consuming. He could no longer deny the truth. He looked through the lens. Not only did Dr. Klaper change his diet to a whole-foods plant-based diet right away, but he also changed his own area of focus in medicine, from anesthesia to plant-based lifestyle medicine. That was almost 40 years ago and he's been going strong ever since, helping to clear those arteries and get his patients off medicine rather than performing these massive avoidable surgeries. His goal now? Help others, including aspiring physicians, to peel back the curtain and seek the truth about the real cause of illness in our society. "It's the food, it's the food, it's the food." Episode and PLANTSTRONG Resources: Dr. Michael Klaper Website- Moving Medicine Forward PLANTSTRONG Challenge Starts January 9th PLANTSTRONG Foods - Order your favorites! PLANTSTRONG Meal Planner - Discover the easy way to eat PLANTSTRONG Rescue 10X Program Have you had your own ‘Galileo moment’ that you’d like to share? What happened when you stepped into the arena and shed the beliefs you thought to be true? We’d love to hear about it! Email us at hello@plantstrong.com to submit your story Theme Music for Episode
Dec 29, 2020 • 2min
PLANTSTRONG Season 3 Trailer: Courageous Truth Seekers
Season three of the PLANTSTRONG Podcast explores those Galileo moments - when you seek the real truth about your health - and dare to see the world through a different lens. This season, we honor those courageous seekers who have paved the way for all of us. So, grab your telescope, point it towards your future, and let’s get PLANTSTRONG…together. The PLANTSTRONG podcast is hosted by Healthy Eating Advocate and Author, Rip Esselstyn. To learn more, visit: plantstrong.com
Oct 27, 2020 • 23min
Ep. 63: Transformation Tuesday: Ken Lander - New Heart...No Surgery Required
The tale of how Ken Lander and Rip met is nothing short of astounding. In 2017, at 430 pounds, Ken was diagnosed with a battery of lifestyle diseases, including major heart disease. When he found out, the first thing he did was Google “reverse heart disease.” Of the 200+ books that came up, he randomly picked “Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease” by Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn. Literally, at the exact same time, and unbeknownst to everyone, Ken had a mutual friend who was trying to connect him to resources at Engine 2. It’s FATE - wouldn’t you agree? The rest...as they say...is history in the making. Ken is now three years into his new life and has a new beautiful heart -- without the need for surgery. From his coffee farm in beautiful Costa Rica, Ken shared his transformation story at the recent Kitchen Rescue Primer Event. Today, we share it with you. Episode Resources: Engine 2 Meal Planner Take Advantage of our Free 14-Day Trial Period! Redeem your free two week trial with the code: TWOWEEKS Theme music for episode
Oct 20, 2020 • 25min
Ep. 62: Transformation Tuesday: Karen Drexler - Find a Way to Make it Work
We know that when you’re seeking inspiration and motivation, it often comes directly from those who are living this lifestyle with passion and newfound purpose. Who better to feature than our Plant-Strong/Engine 2 advocate, Karen Drexler?! Karen started her plant-strong journey three years ago and, in the process, has lost over 80 pounds, recruited her family to get on board, and has even become an official advocate on the Engine 2 Seven-Day Rescue groups, serving as speaker and moderator. Today, this busy mom of three shares her seven tips for starting and maintaining a plant-strong life. Episode Resources: Register for the Plant-Strong Kitchen Primer on October 23rd-24th, 2020 Engine 2 Meal Planner Use code: HEALTHNOW for $20 off yearly membership Theme music for episode
