We joke today that there are three things that plant-based eaters must face – death, taxes, and the dreaded question, “Where Do You Get Your Protein?!” Well, today, we tackle the ever-popular topic of protein with two of the authors of a recent book, Plant Powered Protein. Vesanto Melina and Cory Davis dispel the myths and misconceptions about plant-based protein - and - (and this is the part we love) make the science understandable and digestible. Let’s put to rest that you can’t get enough protein at various stages of life including pregnancy, infancy, childhood, adulthood, your senior years, and even for the athlete population. You can get plenty of protein and this book shows you how with easy-to-follow protein recommendations and recipes so that you never feel deprived or deficient. Let’s also put to rest those myths that plant protein is somehow weaker or not complete. Whole food plant-based sources of protein are not only superior to our animal sources, but also have a  lighter carbon footprint and the ability to reduce the risk of chronic diseases. It’s time to eat strong food. Episode Resources Watch the Full Episode on YouTube Order Plant Powered Protein Plant Powered Protein Website with more resources To stock up on the best-tasting, most convenient, 100% PLANTSTRONG foods, including our all new chilis, check out all of our PLANTSTRONG products HERE. PLANTSTRONG Meal Planner - use code: STARTFRESH to receive free two weeks Join our PLANTSTRONG Sedona Retreat - October 9-14, 2023 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, and 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 🌱💪 Theme Music for Episode

Sgt. Vegan, Bill Muir, has always had a “think outside the box” attitude – from being a straight-edge punk rocker to going vegan in 1992, and then joining the military just after 9/11 where he served as a US Army Paratrooper. And all of this - YES - as a hardcore vegan. Needless to say, it wasn’t easy, but he was (and is) so convicted and grounded in his values that he made it work. Today, Sgt. Vegan chats with Rip about: How he became a hardcore straight-edge vegan Why he joined the military to give back How he made it through basic training as a vegan What it took to procure his own food and remain grounded in his values Why he’ll never eat chili again and what he eats these days Today, he is a Registered Nurse at a VA Hospital in LA, where he continues to stand up for those who need assistance. Whether it’s helping humankind, animals, or our planet, Sgt. Vegan is ready to serve. Episode Resources Watch the Full Episode on YouTube Sgt. Vegan Website Sgt. Vegan Instagram @sgt_vegan PLANTSTRONG Meal Planner - use code: STARTFRESH to receive free two weeks Join our PLANTSTRONG Sedona Retreat - October 9-14, 2023 To stock up on the best-tasting, most convenient, 100% PLANTSTRONG foods, including our all new chilis, 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 🌱💪 Theme Music for Episode

In a world that is littered with false information and blatant lies, especially when it comes to health and nutrition, it is so important to seek the truth.  Matthew Rees is a treasure trove of facts and commentary about food and health at his website, foodandhealthfacts.com. As a longtime journalist, speechwriter, and author, Rees has written for such esteemed publications as The Economist, The New Republic, and The Wall Street Journal. His writing has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, Reader’s Digest, and more.  He’s also co-authored several books, but his personal passion lies in nutrition. He pulls information and research from recent scientific studies, interviews, books and more, and makes them all easily digestible nuggets of truth on our toxic food culture and how it’s contributing to massive rates of disease and death throughout the country. It is his mission to help us better understand how consuming unhealthy foods leads to the mess of chronic health issues we’re facing today as a society, but also provide understanding and solutions.  Episode Resources Episode Website Watch the Full Episode on YouTube Visit and bookmark foodandhealthfacts.com PLANTSTRONG Meal Planner - use code: STARTFRESH to receive free two weeks Join our PLANTSTRONG Sedona Retreat - October 9-14, 2023 To stock up on the best-tasting, most convenient, 100% PLANTSTRONG foods, including our cereals, granolas, pizza kits, broths and soups, 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 🌱💪 Theme Music for Episode

In honor of Mother's Day weekend, we're thrilled to feature everyone’s favorite PLANTSTRONG Woman Warrior - Ann Crile Esselstyn. In late Spring, Rip and Ann did a Facebook live where she took questions from the audience and that's what we share today. They run the gamut of subjects today including: The foods and ingredients that are exciting her most these days Her current favorite meals Advice for those at the beginning of their plantstrong journey How to navigate unsupportive loved ones Exercise and how she's building a 40-day habit with her Peloton bike How she gets her leafy greens Her go-to quick and easy salad dressing And... her favorite thing about being 87 years young! As always, Ann holds nothing back and we wouldn’t want her any other way! Episode Resources Watch the Full Episode on YouTube that Aired on March 31, 2023 Order Be A Plant-Based Woman Warrior: Live Fierce, Stay Bold, Eat Delicious Join our PLANTSTRONG Sedona Retreat - October 9-14, 2023 To stock up on the best-tasting, most convenient, 100% PLANTSTRONG foods, including our cereals, granolas, pizza kits, broths and soups, 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 🌱💪 Theme Music for Episode

Kathy Stevens founded the Catskill Animal Sanctuary in 2001 with 80 acres of land that she turned from a virtual trash heap into an idyllic sanctuary where rescued, abused, and forgotten animals can live their final years filled with the love, care, and respect they so richly deserve.  In her work and in her exquisitely written books, Kathy describes the essence and personalities of these animals – and today, she shares some of the most poignant stories from those souls she has had the privilege of caring for through the years.  Every animal has a rich emotional life and they want to live. Like humans, they have pain and fear, but can also learn to trust with the right interactions.  Thank goodness for humans like Kathy Stevens and places like Catskill Animal Sanctuary who bring love and care to animals, while also making the world a better place for all of us.    Episode Highlights 11:05 When and how did she get the property to start Catskill Animal Sanctuary? 17:02 How does she acquire her sanctuary animals? 22:25 Animals of the stories, starting with Rambo the sheep 37:30 Polly, the cockfighting rooster 41:35 Buddy, the Blind Horse 48:25 What Kathy knows for sure about all of her animals 51:20 Dino, the only survivor of a fire that killed 22 other horses 54:10 The special pig/human relationship 58:30 Mealtime is the magical time at Catskill Animal Sanctuary 1:01:10 How has our current climate affected sanctuaries? 1:05:10 What makes her most proud about her work? 1:06:50 How does she say, “hello” or welcome a new animal to the sanctuary? 1:09:45 How do they say, “goodbye” to these precious animals? "I believe that in all of us is a good and pure knowing that beneath the surface of things, beneath gender and skin color, religion and nationality, social class and sexual preference, and yes, beneath species, we are all the same. This book is dedicated with love and hope to that good and pure knowing in you."   Episode Resources Watch the Episode on YouTube Catskill Animal Sanctuary Website and Resources - including public tours and donation information Order Where the Blind Horse Sings Join our PLANTSTRONG Sedona Retreat - October 9-14, 2023 To stock up on the best-tasting, most convenient, 100% PLANTSTRONG foods, including our cereals, granolas, pizza kits, broths and soups, 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 🌱💪 Theme Music for Episode

Kim Campbell is the Director of Culinary Education and Development at PlantPure and the daughter-in-law of T. Colin Campbell known, of course, for authoring The China Study and his work in Forks Over Knives. Together, Kim and her husband Nelson Campbell run PlantPure Nation, where they provide support and resources to help people experience the benefits of a whole food, plant-based lifestyle. In December 2022, Kim released her latest cookbook, PlantPure Comfort Food, which features over 100 plant-based and mostly gluten-free recipes from cultures and ethnicities across the globe. These family meals pack the flavor without all of the oils you often see in the traditional recipes and this book proves that the possibilities for healthy, delicious plant-based eating are endless and know no cultural bounds! Episode Resources Watch the Episode on YouTube Order PlantPure Comfort Food PlantPure Nation Website Join our PLANTSTRONG Sedona Retreat - October 9-14, 2023 To stock up on the best-tasting, most convenient, 100% PLANTSTRONG foods, including our cereals, granolas, pizza kits, broths and soups, 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 🌱💪 Theme Music for Episode

When Ann Crile Esselstyn, tells you to do something, you do it! So, when she told me I had to interview today’s guest, I didn’t hesitate. Ruth Morley is an adventurer. She’s rarely at home in Cincinnati because she’s usually found on a hiking trail. I’m talking about the Appalachian Trail, the Florida Trail, the Buckeye Trail, and Kilimanjaro…just to name just a few.  She’s even ridden her bike 3,000 miles across the country and competed in dozens of marathons and triathlons.  Oh, and did I mention that Ruth (known by her trail name, “Ruthless!”) is 70 years old and 100% PLANTSTRONG?  Today, she tells us how she prepares all of her food for these multi-week adventures and shares the details of her equipment and intricate logistics as a solo hiker.  This conversation is inspiring, informative, and downright motivational – not just to do these super-long hikes - but to do anything that is out of your comfort zone.  Her slogan? “Make plans, not excuses.”    Episode Highlights 

5:00 She had lunch with Ann?? 7:15 From depression to a game-changing moment - What inspired Ruth to go plant-based? 11:45 What immediate effect did it have on her emotional and physical well-being? 13:20 Where does this adventuring spirit come from?  15:15 How much does her backpack weigh? 16:30 Her athletic journey from runner to triathlete 18:30 Why she stays in “cheap” hotels and loves to hike alone 21:25 Self-supporting her hike on the Buckeye Trail  27:30 What a LASHer! How many major trails has she hiked? (Patagonia, Asia, Kilimanjaro, Appalachian Trail, Buckeye Trail, Florida Trail)  33:00 All about the food and prepping meals for these massive hikes! https://excaliburdehydrator.com/ 41:50 Her preferred tent: https://durstongear.com/ Backpack: https://www.ula-equipment.com/product/circuit/ Sleeping Bag: UGQ https://ugqoutdoor.com/  Shoes: Topo Athletic https://www.topoathletic.com/ and Altra https://www.altrarunning.com/ Outdoor Research Hat https://www.outdoorresearch.com/us/  49:05 Hikers Midnight - How long does she sleep and how does she make her daily hiking schedule? 52:00 Who's the most interesting person she’s ever met on a trail? 54:05 What was her hardest moment on the trail?  1:02:00 What does she say to people who need the inspiration to eat better and move more?   Episode Resources Episode Webpage Watch the Episode on YouTube Ruth's Blog Join our PLANTSTRONG Sedona Retreat - October 9-14, 2023 To stock up on the best-tasting, most convenient, 100% PLANTSTRONG foods, including our cereals, granolas, pizza kits, broths and soups, 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 🌱💪 Theme Music for Episode

Every so often, a new brocstar bursts onto the scene and just blows our PLANTSTRONG socks off with their passion, personality, and unique approach to plant-based eating. Today’s guest, Max LaManna, is one of those people. He has over a million followers on social media and, for one year, Max asked his audience which foods they threw away the most. Using the tens of thousands of responses, he narrowed down a list of thirty of the most commonly wasted ingredients and those were the inspiration for his new book, You Can Cook This! We’re talking about peppers, potatoes, onions, beets, grains, carrots, leafy greens, and bananas - all of the things we love most here at PLANTSTRONG. Max and Rip dig into some of these fun recipes today and talk about how to prepare and store your food to maximize its freshness and extend its shelf life. No more throwing away those perfectly good banana peels or potatoes, let’s put them to use! Max inspired all of us at PLANTSTRONG and we know he will inspire and transform the way you cook, eat, and save your food. Episode Highlights 8:20 Growing up in the food industry and thinking his parents were “foodies” 10:35 How he went from zero followers to over a million talking about zero-waste 16:10 Wait. We waste HOW much food each year here in the US? 17:00 How his audience inspired his latest book, You Can Cook This! 19:00 Max shares his story of going vegan twice 26:15 Tips for food storage and avoiding waste for all types of food Don’t fill up the fridge too full! You can put tomatoes in the fridge to extend their shelf life Why do you never want to store potatoes and onions together? The trick for using and cleaning bell peppers Freezing asparagus, leafy greens, and other veggies are a-ok. Take a look at what other veggies are in the freezer section at the grocery 44:45 A Deep Dive into the Recipes of You Can Cook This! 1:25:00 Rapid Fire Questions with Rip Episode Resources Watch the Episode on YouTube Max LaManna's Website with Recipes and Links to all of his Social Channels and Resources Follow Max on Instagram @maxlamanna Join our PLANTSTRONG Sedona Retreat - October 9-14, 2023 To stock up on the best-tasting, most convenient, 100% PLANTSTRONG foods, including our cereals, granolas, pizza kits, broths and soups, 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

You know those times when you see someone and you just think, "WOW, You look incredible! What are you doing?!" That happened with today's guest, grammy award winner, and multiplatinum recording artist, Richard Marx. We at PLANTSTRONG saw recent photos and videos of Richard lighting up the stage in Australia and just had to know the secret to his vitality and energy.  Well, wouldn't ya know, Richard Marx is PLANTSTRONG, baby, and, together with his wife Daisy Fuentes, they share a passion and advocacy for this lifestyle.  Of course, you know Richard from some of his biggest hits, “Hold Onto The Night,” “Endless Summer Nights,” “Don’t Mean Nothing,” and “Right Here Waiting,” BUT, in addition to those timeless chart-toppers, he is also a crazy accomplished songwriter – having written hits with stars like Keith Urban, Kenny Loggins, Madonna, NSYNC, Luther Vandross, and so many more.  Today, we talk about his colorful and illustrious musical journey and the emotional moment he and Daisy looked at each other and said, “We’re going all in on plant-based living.”  His only regret? They didn’t do it sooner.  That’s ok, Richard and Daisy. We’ve been “Right Here Waiting for You.”   About Richard Marx Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, producer and best-selling author Richard Marx has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide, landing a #1 song on the charts (for himself and others) in each of the past four decades. He remains the only male artist in history whose first seven singles reached the Top 5 on the Billboard charts. A father to three grown sons (all are musicians), he lives between LA and Miami with his wife Daisy Fuentes. Marx is active in many charitable organizations, including the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the American Cancer Society, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, and Mercy for Animals.   Episode Resources Richard Marx Website - https://richardmarx.com/ Richard Marx Instagram - @therichardmarx Watch the Episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/-lNOUqKP-TM Join our PLANTSTRONG Sedona Retreat - October 9-14, 2023 To stock up on the best-tasting, most convenient, 100% PLANTSTRONG foods, including our cereals, granolas, pizza kits, broths and soups, 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   Episode Highlights 5:45 Richard is a fan-boy of Dr. Esselstyn! 7:15 Touring and eating plant-based around the world - Yep, he loves his Happy Cow app!  9:30 Getting paid for the 22 hours he’s not on stage 11:30 What was the pivotal moment when Richard and Daisy went all-in on plant-based eating? 21:00 Why he loves playing small towns 22:19 The magical moment when Lionel Richie invited Richard to his studio 27:50 How Richard inherited the best traits from his Mom and Dad  35:04 Hitting the son jackpot and some of his legendary musical collaborations with Kenny Loggins, Kenny Rogers, Burt Bachrach, and more! 44:00 How ego goes out the door when collaborating with other songwriters 45:40 “How a Man Thinketh” - how this book helped him clean up his thoughts and shift his life for the better 48:56 Any routines of suspicions before he hits the stage? 53:05 Does Richard have insurance on his voice? 54:40 A love child of Rod Stewart and Bryan Adams?! 58:50 Richard and Rip’s favorite features about themselves 1:01:55 Becoming a hip grandfather who’s digging TikTok! 1:07:10 The experience and romance of cooking with Daisy 1:08:10 His favorite breakfasts and his favorite beans (Yep - he’s a bean dude) 1:12:10 Why it’s important for them to be vocal advocates of this lifestyle 1:17:20 His current favorite TV shows 1:21:00 What does he think happens to us when we die?    

Imagine someone telling you that they would only give your diet a "B-" when you've been eating whole foods, plant-based for over 35 years?! Well, that was the average grade Rip Esselstyn's diet received from today's guest, Dr. Doug Graham. Doug is most known for developing and authoring the 80-10-10 Diet Book; which is when 80% of your calories come from carbohydrates in the form of raw fruits and vegetables, 10% comes from plant protein, and the last 10% comes from fat. Not only does he live this way, but he actually wrote the book about it back in 2006. No doubt, Doug has unconventional opinions and data on topics like whole grains, beans, oats, protein, and even mono-eating, but it was wildly educational and eye-opening. You'll learn about the history of why we eat what we do, why cooked food may not be all it’s cracked up to be, and how you can level up your own plate each day.   Episode Highlights 10:30 What exactly is 80-10-10? 13:30 isn't that many carbs bad for you? Don’t we need more protein? 22:30 Doug’s Biggest Fans in the plant-based world 23:30 What does he love so much about raw fruit, and why is it so important? 26:05 So THAT’s why they call it a “sweet tooth!” 29:00 What are examples of Doug’s breakfast and lunch? 33:30 The case for eating mono-meals 36:25 Why isn’t he a fan of cooked foods, including beans, and potatoes? 37:45 What do the five GENS have to do with our longevity and health? (Think: CarcinoGENic) 45:15 Are all these GENS being created in beans and potatoes as well? 47:30 “Don’t Eat the Paste.” What in the world is he talking about? 50:10 What did Dr. Nathan Pritikin get wrong? 53:00 Rip gets a B- on his diet?? Are you serious? 57:10 How does he feel about frozen fruit? 57:50 This sounds freaking expensive  1:03:30 Is he a fan of drinking water?  1:04:35 How does he recommend people make this transition? 1:06:30 What’s his take on fiber?  1:12:15 Protein - Why does more not necessarily mean better? 1:23:00 what age should you start 80-10-10?   Episode Resources Episode Webpage Watch the Episode on YouTube Doug Graham's Website: https://foodnsport.com  Join our PLANTSTRONG Sedona Retreat - October 9-14, 2023 To stock up on the best-tasting, most convenient, 100% PLANTSTRONG foods, including our cereals, granolas, pizza kits, broths and soups, 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