RD Exam Ready Podcast

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak breaks down Full-Time Equivalents (FTEs) and staffing calculations, a topic that often causes confusion in foodservice management. You’ll learn how FTEs fit into the management functions, how to calculate FTEs per day, week, and year, and how to account for relief employees and adjusted FTEs. Zak walks through common exam-style scenarios, highlight...

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak reviews the major types of bariatric surgery and the nutrition considerations you need to know for the RD Exam. You’ll learn how each procedure changes digestion and absorption, what vitamin and mineral deficiencies to watch for, and how these concepts show up in exam-style questions. The episode wraps up with practice questions to help you apply t...

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak breaks down fixed, variable, and semi-variable costs in a clear, exam-focused way. You’ll learn how to identify each type of cost, avoid common points of confusion, and apply these concepts to calculation and break-even style questions. This episode is designed to help you think more confidently through foodservice finance questions on exam day. 📺...

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak focuses on one of the most important skills for passing the RD Exam: QUESTION STRATEGY. You’ll learn how to approach every question with confidence using process of elimination, smart calculation techniques, and structured thinking for more complex clinical scenarios. This episode is all about improving performance on questions—not just memorizing...

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak breaks down the organizing function of management in a clear, student-friendly way. You’ll learn how managers group tasks, delegate authority, structure organizations, and manage staff through concepts like organizational charts, line vs. staff authority, span of control, and centralized vs. decentralized organizations. The goal is simple: help you...

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak breaks down stress, inflammation, and the labs you’ll see in acute illness. Learn how acute phase reactants work, how to interpret albumin, prealbumin, transferrin, and CRP, and why inflammation—not nutrition alone—drives many lab changes in hospitalized patients. This episode helps you connect inflammation, metabolism, and nutrition care with conf...

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak walks through common gastrointestinal disorders and the nutrition therapy used to manage them. You’ll review conditions affecting the esophagus, stomach, and intestines, with a clear focus on understanding etiology, signs and symptoms, medications, and nutrition interventions. The episode wraps up with practice questions to help you apply what you’...

YOUTUBE LIVE: 12/17/25 at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time  [VITAMINS WITH Q&A] Link: https://youtube.com/live/za_riY2HouY?feature=share   In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak breaks down behavior change and educational theories you need to know for the CDR Exam. Learn how major models explain patient motivation, readiness to change, and counseling strategies—without getting lost in the det...

Episode Description: In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak breaks down the key equipment and facility standards you’ll need to know for the RD Exam. From understanding equipment requirements and dishwasher basics to lighting standards and common exam traps, you'll learn how to identify what matters most on test day. The episode wraps up with practice questions to help you apply and rei...

Episode Description: In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak breaks down the major types of research you’ll need to recognize for the RD Exam. You’ll learn how to distinguish descriptive vs. analytical studies, understand common designs like case–control, cohort, cross-sectional, qualitative research, and RCTs, and use simple examples to keep them straight. The episode wraps up with prac...

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak covers the essential employment laws and union concepts you’ll need for the exam. Learn his proven method for identifying Pro- and Anti-Employee acts, then put your knowledge to the test with focused practice questions designed to reinforce what you’ve learned. IG: @rdexamready YT: @RDexamready

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast , Zak breaks down medical nutrition therapy for critically ill patients. You’ll review the metabolic stress response and how to identify the ebb, flow, and recovery phases, along with key nutrition considerations for patients with sepsis and major burns. Zak also covers calorie and protein prescriptions, when to use predictive equations, and why early e...

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast , Zak breaks down Carbohydrate Counting for Diabetes in a clear way to apply to your exam day. You’ll review how to calculate carbohydrates in common meals and snacks, and what to know about starches, fruits, dairy, and non-starchy vegetables. Zak also walks through lean, medium-fat, and high-fat proteins to help you see how they fit into diabetes meal...

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast , Zak reviews the key ingredient functions tested on the CDR Exam. From flour, eggs, and fats to sugar, salt, and leavening agents, you’ll learn how each ingredient contributes structure, flavor, stability, and tenderness to baked goods. Zak also breaks down common baking issues — like low volume, fallen centers, and tunneling — and explains how ingredi...

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak reviews the key concepts of infant nutrition you’ll need to know for the CDR Exam. From growth assessment standards and nutrient needs to feeding recommendations, you’ll learn what’s tested and how to apply it. Topics include energy, protein, fat, vitamin D, iron, and fluoride requirements, along with how to interpret WHO growth charts for infants....

In this episode, Zak reviews the biochemistry of fats — what you need to know for the CDR Exam. From fatty acid structure and saturation levels to digestion, absorption, and metabolism, this episode breaks down how fats move through the body in both fed and fasted states. You’ll learn how triglycerides, phospholipids, and sterols function — and how to connect these concepts to real RD Exam practic...

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak reviews key leadership and management theories tested on the CDR Exam. From Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and Herzberg’s Two-Factor Model to Expectancy Theory, Reinforcement Theory, and McGregor’s Theory X & Y, you’ll learn the essentials of how each theory explains employee motivation and management styles. The episode wraps up with practice que...

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak reviews the key herbs and botanicals you’ll need to know for the CDR Exam. From garlic, ginseng, and gingko to St. John’s Wort, valerian root, and more — you’ll learn what each claims to do, their risks, and the food–drug interactions that are most testable. The lesson wraps up with practice questions to help you apply the material and sharpen your...

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak tackles the physical and chemical properties of water — the very first topic on the CDR Exam outline. You’ll review the essentials for exam day, including freezing and boiling points, cooking applications, and how water behaves in different circumstances. Dive in (no pun intended) and solidify your understanding of this core food science concept.

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, we break down the renal system from the ground up. Zak covers kidney anatomy and function, filtration and absorption, and how the nephron maintains fluid, electrolytes, and pH balance. You’ll also learn about GFR, the RAAS system, and why nutrition is so critical in kidney disease. We finish with practice questions to help you connect the physiology to...

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, we unpack the biochemistry of protein in a way that actually makes sense. From essential vs. non-essential amino acids to protein digestion, absorption, and metabolism, Zak breaks down the big processes like transamination and the urea cycle into exam-ready takeaways. To finish, we put your knowledge to the test with practice questions so you can know...

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, we break down the key nutrition surveys and surveillance systems you need to know for exam day. Zak reviews NHANES, What We Eat in America, NHIS, BRFSS, YRBSS, FSANS, TDS, and FLAPS — focusing on their acronyms, populations, and purpose. We’ll highlight how to differentiate between them and then reinforce the material with practice questions to help yo...

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, we explore the major structures and functions of the GI tract, the key enzymes driving digestion, and the hormones that regulate the process. Zak breaks down complex physiology into exam-focused takeaways — then applies the material to targeted practice questions. Happy Studying RD2Be! 

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, we take a focused look at nutrition during pregnancy. Zak reviews key physiological changes, macronutrient and micronutrient needs, and pregnancy weight gain guidelines — all aligned with what you’ll need to know for exam day. Then, we apply it all to targeted practice questions using process of elimination to help reinforce your learning and boost you...

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, we break down the pathology and Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) for Heart Failure. From medical management to diet prescription, we cover it all! Learn about what you need to know about Heart Failure for your Exam Day! Subscribe to the RD Exam Ready podcast  Youtube: @RDExamReady Instagram: @RDexamready Practice Questions:  1. A patient is being discha...