Thrive on Plants

In this episode of Thrive on Plants , Dr. Daphne reconnects with Coach Valarie Swanson, plant-based runner, author, and founder of Running on Carbs, to explore her incredible journey to mastering the marathon at age 52. After recovering from a femoral neck stress fracture, Val trained smarter than ever, embracing strength, patience, and purpose to cross the finish line stronger than she started. ...

Is the number on the scale really telling you the whole story? In this episode of Thrive on Plants , Dr. Daphne is joined by Adam Kadela , co-founder of DexaFit , to explore why traditional health metrics like weight and BMI fall short, and what you should be tracking instead. They discuss the science of DEXA scans , visceral fat , appendicular lean mass , and why understanding your body compositi...

Discover how plant-based nutrition and strength training help women thrive during menopause, featuring Dr. Brooke Bussard, author of Outsmarting Menopause. In this episode of Thrive on Plants, Dr. Daphne Bascom sits down with Dr. Brooke Bussard, author of Outsmarting Menopause, to uncover the science (and soul) behind thriving in midlife. Together, they decode how hormones, metabolism, muscle, and...

In this episode of Thrive on Plants , Dr. Daphne Bascom sits down with award-winning nutritionist, researcher, and menopause advocate Andrea Donsky , co-founder of Morphus, to explore what it really means to thrive through perimenopause and menopause. Andrea shares her deeply personal journey, from a surprise first hot flash in her late 40s to becoming a leading voice in women's health. Toget...

In this episode of Thrive on Plants , Dr. Daphne sits down with legendary ultramarathoner and plant-based athlete Harvey Lewis. Harvey shares the mindset, lifestyle, and nutrition habits that have fueled his success and longevity in one of the world’s most demanding sports. Whether you're training for a marathon or just trying to stay motivated, this conversation will inspire you to challenge...

When board-certified oncology dietitian Alison Tierney told patients "food is medicine," she believed it, but she never expected to test that belief against her own breast cancer diagnosis. Having witnessed cancer's impact in her own family, Alison dedicated her career to helping patients heal through nutrition. Her personal journey led her to plant-based eating, which unexpectedly...

Cardiovascular disease is the #1 killer in the United States, but it doesn’t have to be your destiny. In This Episode of Thrive on Plants join Dr. Daphne Bascom and Coach Marc Hayes as they sit down with Rick Kelly, a devoted father, athlete, and Vegan Superhero Academy client,  who shares his extraordinary journey of reversing high blood pressure, improving cholesterol, and reclaiming his health...

In this episode of Thrive on Plants , Dr. Daphne sits down with Coach Gemma Schofield, a strength and mobility expert with a rich background in biomechanics, nutrition, and competitive football. Gemma shares her inspiring journey from elite athletics to holistic coaching, where she empowers women to move out of pain, rebuild posture, and unlock their true strength through plant-based living. Toget...

In this episode of Thrive on Plants , Dr. Daphne talks with Coach Kiana Wilson, a former world-class acrobatic gymnast, certified personal trainer, and plant-based nutrition scientist. Kiana shares her journey from restrictive eating and performance-driven pressure to building a sustainable lifestyle grounded in plant-based nutrition and strength training. They address common misconceptions about...

In this conversation, recorded live at our recent Vegan Superhero Academy retreat, Dr. Daphne welcomes Coach Sarah Antonie, a longtime vegan and IFBB figure pro, to share how plant-powered training, mindset, and empathy shape her coaching. Sarah opens up about transitioning to veganism in 2012, earning her pro card in 2019, and the real work behind sustainable physique goals. They explore building...

In this episode of the Thrive on Plants Podcast, Dr. Daphne Bascom sits down with Coach Nicole Mitsigeorgis, a nutrition and fitness coach at The Vegan Gym. Nicole opens up about her powerful journey from competing in Taekwondo at the international level to facing burnout, disordered eating, and RED-S, then finding healing through plant-based nutrition and mindset shifts. Nicole shares how she tra...

In this episode of Thrive on Plants, Dr. Daphne Bascom welcomes world-renowned cardiologist Dr. Joel Kahn, known as “America’s Healthy Heart Doc.” Together, they unpack the critical connection between women’s health, hormones, and heart disease prevention. You’ll learn: ✔️ How menopause impacts vascular health and cardiovascular risk ✔️ The key lab test results everyone should know for heart disea...

In this episode of Thrive on Plants , Dr. Daphne Bascom sits down with best-selling authors and performance experts Drs. Juliet and Kelly Starrett to explore the real reason we need to move more: to build resilience for the inevitable challenges life brings. They discuss powerful insights from their book Built to Move , including the 24 Hour Duty Cycle, the underestimated benefits of walking, how...

In this Thrive on Plants masterclass, Dr. Daphne Bascom sits down with Dr. Darren Candow, a leading creatine researcher and professor of kinesiology, to explore one of the most studied supplements on the planet. We learn what creatine is, how it works, and why plant-based women, especially those over 40, may see the most significant benefits. Dr. Candow shares the latest evidence, practical dosing...

In this heartfelt conversation, Kate Galli sits down with Daphne to share her powerful evolution from an “angry vegan” to a joyful and compassionate advocate for plant-based living. A personal trainer and vegan health coach, Kate opens up about the pivotal role her mother played in reshaping her outlook on life, how grief became a catalyst for growth, and the inner work that helped her become a be...

In this episode of Thrive on Plants, Dr. Daphne Bascom sits down with Coach Valerie Swanson, founder of Running on Carbs , to explore the transformative power of embracing a plant-based lifestyle and a love for running, no matter your age. Val shares her journey of switching to plant-based nutrition after a wake-up call from What the Health , her late start in running that led to half marathons an...

This week on Thrive on Plants, host Dr. Daphne Bascom welcomes OBGYN and women’s health advocate Dr. Teresa Diaz for an honest, courageous, and deeply personal conversation. Dr. Diaz’s journey began in the South Bronx, navigating childhood adversity, family instability, and trauma – experiences that fueled her lifelong mission to heal herself and empower others. Her path through single motherhood,...

In this powerful episode of the Thrive on Plants podcast, host Dr. Daphne Bascom sits down with entrepreneur and herbalist Ashley Rocha, founder of Ladywell, to discuss her 20-year battle with PMDD and how she transformed her life through natural hormone support. Ashley shares how she went from relying on 20 Advil a day to finding real hormonal balance with herbs, adaptogens, and holistic practice...

In this episode of the Thrive on Plants Podcast, we are joined by Dr. Brooke Bussard, physician, personal trainer, plant-based health coach, and author of Outsmarting Menopause. Together, we dive into a conversation every woman deserves to hear. We’re rewriting the narrative around menopause. This is not the end, it’s your power phase. And you absolutely CAN outsmart it, with the right tools, the...

In this solo episode of Thrive on Plants, Dr. Daphne Bascom explores what it truly means to fail forward, not the polished, social media-friendly version, but the raw, uncomfortable kind of failure we all face. Daphne reframes failure not as something to cause shame but as a vital teacher, offering insights into growth, resilience, and transformation. She introduces GRACE, her mindset and self-lea...

In this evidence-packed episode of Thrive on Plants , Dr. Daphne Bascom sits down with Dr. Neal Barnard, renowned researcher, author, and founder of the Barnard Medical Center, to explore how simple dietary changes can dramatically reduce menopause symptoms. Dr. Barnard shares the origin story behind one of his most impactful studies, inspired by a single woman’s dramatic improvement through three...

These three simple words hold the key to creating real, lasting transformation, and in this solo episode of Thrive on Plants, we're diving deep into what they really mean. Whether you're just starting a health journey, struggling to stay consistent with your habits, or ready to level up your mindset, this episode offers a realistic, empowering framework for growth that works with your li...

This week on Thrive on Plants, host Dr. Daphne Bascom sits down with nurse practitioner, Gulf War veteran, and lifestyle medicine advocate Laura Valero for a deeply personal and wide-ranging conversation. Laura’s path has taken her from Air Force intelligence and pandemic planning at the FAA to rural clinics and Spanish-language health equity initiatives. But beneath that remarkable résumé is a wo...

Ever wondered how simply adding weight to your walk could transform your health? In this episode of the Thrive on Plants Podcast, Dr. Daphne Bascom unpacks the power of rucking and weighted vest training, two simple but science-backed strategies to build muscle, protect bone density, and boost metabolic health. You’ll learn: • What rucking really is (hint: it’s more than walking with a backpack) •...

In this solo episode of Thrive on Plants, Dr. Daphne Bascom invites you to lean into the edge of fear, discomfort, and growth. Inspired by the powerful concepts of Misogi and Colin O’Brady’s 12-hour walk, Daphne explores what it means to take on a challenge so bold that it redefines your sense of what’s possible. She shares moving stories from the 2025 Momentum Retreat in Zion, moments of cold plu...