PLANTSTRONG Podcast

Nelson Campbell joins Rip Esselstyn for a deeply personal and powerful conversation about his new book with Dr. T. Colin Campbell, The Whole Truth: The Hidden Agendas Behind Decades of Health Misinformation—and What to Do About It . Nelson reflects on growing up as the son of one of the most influential nutrition scientists of our time and watching his father’s groundbreaking discoveries meet resi...

Barbara Court is almost 75 years old, full of humor, full of heart, and living proof that it is never too late to get Plant Strong. After joining PlantStrong’s free Real30 Challenge, Barbara committed to eating 30 different whole plant-based foods each week and moving her body for 30 minutes a day. In just a few months, she lost nearly 15 pounds, brought her A1C out of the pre-diabetic range, incr...

The newest AHA and ACC guidelines for treating dyslipidemia are here — and according to Dr. Kim Williams, they mark a powerful shift toward prevention, earlier testing, and whole-food, plant-based nutrition as the foundation of cardiovascular care. Rip welcomes back Dr. Kim Williams, past president of the American College of Cardiology, for a practical and deeply encouraging breakdown of what thes...

Rip sits down with Terri Edwards — founder of EatPlant-Based.com — to talk about the recipes, habits, and simple food swaps that helped her completely transform her health. After years of struggling with joint pain, high cholesterol, insomnia, adult acne, and weight gain, Terri discovered the power of whole-food, plant-based nutrition after watching Forks Over Knives in 2013. Within weeks, she not...

In this special episode, Rip shares a preview of Vital Signs: Real Food. Real Medicine. Real Change. , Plant Strong’s upcoming CME-focused conference for healthcare providers who want to bring the power of whole-food, plant-based nutrition into real-world clinical care. This is not just another conference. Vital Signs is about helping doctors, nurses, dietitians, health coaches, and medical profes...

Rip welcomes back Dr. Alan Desmond, consultant gastroenterologist, lifestyle medicine advocate, and author of the new book, What Your Doctor Isn’t Telling You About Food . Dr. Desmond explains why food is one of the most important — and most neglected — conversations in modern medicine. It’s not that doctors don’t care. As Alan shares, many doctors simply receive very little practical nutrition tr...

What if the real goal isn’t simply living longer… but staying healthy, capable, sharp, and independent for as long as possible? In this fascinating conversation, Rip sits down with researcher, educator, and author Scott Fulton to explore the rapidly growing world of healthspan and longevity. Scott is the author of Whealthspan and his newest book, Function: Turn Your Blind Spots Into Strengths , wh...

Rip visits with Bruce Friedrich, founder of the Good Food Institute and author of Meat , to explore the future of protein—and why alternative meat could reshape our global food system. Bruce breaks down the science and differences behind plant-based, cultivated, and fermented meat—and explains why innovation, not restriction, may be the key to meaningful change. From global hunger and climate impa...

What happens when almost 500 firefighters get a full health screening—and many discover hidden risks they never saw coming? Rip sits down with Deputy Chief Jayme McConnellogue and Lieutenant Ian Elliott of the Colorado Springs Fire Department to explore a groundbreaking department-wide health initiative—and the life-changing results. From undiagnosed cancers to widespread cardiovascular risk, the...

Rip sits down with lifestyle medicine physician Dr. Chris Miller to explore why some people struggle when transitioning to a high-fiber, plant-based diet—and how to fix it. While fiber is one of the most powerful tools for preventing and reversing chronic disease, not everyone experiences immediate benefits. In fact, some people initially feel worse. Dr. Miller breaks down the science behind this...

Rip sits down with integrative neuro-ophthalmologist Dr. Rani Banik to explore how nutrition, lifestyle, and daily habits shape your long-term eye health. From macular degeneration and glaucoma to digital eye strain and screen overload, Dr. Banik breaks down what’s really happening inside your eyes—and what you can do today to protect your vision for life. We’re talking about the foods that protec...

What if one simple blood test could reveal a genetic risk factor for heart disease that affects 1 in 5 people worldwide? Rip sits down with physician, endurance athlete, and author Dr. Akil Taher to talk about a critical—but often overlooked—marker for cardiovascular risk: Lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a). Despite decades of research linking elevated Lp(a) to heart attacks, strokes, and aortic valve disea...

What happens when a 37-year-old father of six suffers a stroke with no clear cause? For Ali Essig, it became a wake-up call that changed everything. In this powerful conversation, Rip sits down with Ali—creator of PlantWhys —to talk about how her husband’s stroke sent their family on a journey into whole-food, plant-based eating. What started as a search for a “heart-healthy diet” quickly became a...

Rip sits down with Dr. Elizabeth George and Chef Nick Iula , co-authors of Healthy Eating Adventure , to explore how whole food, plant-based eating can transform health and lives. Dr. George helped launch the Healthy Eating Adventure program more than 15 years ago, helping hundreds of participants reverse chronic disease through nutrition. Chef Nick Iula joined the program after decades in profess...

For over 50 years, Dr. Michael Klaper has practiced medicine. And today, he says something that stops you in your tracks: “I am profoundly embarrassed to be a physician in America today.” Why? Because most doctors are never trained in the most powerful tool available to prevent and reverse chronic disease: nutrition. In this deeply personal and wide-ranging conversation, Rip sits down with Dr. Kla...

What does it really mean to be “forever fit”? Rip sits down with fitness coach and author Maxime Sigouin to explore sustainable strength, whole-food plant-based nutrition, and the mindset required to stay fit for life — not just for a season. It’s all in his new book, Forever Fit. Maxime shares his personal journey from loss and hardship to helping thousands of people transform their health throug...

Rip sits down with Peggy Kraus , a clinical exercise physiologist and diabetes care specialist with over 30 years of experience in cardiac rehab. Peggy shares how she moved beyond conventional nutrition advice to embrace a fiber-centric, whole-food, plant-based approach—helping patients reverse type 2 diabetes, lower A1C levels, lose significant weight, and reduce or eliminate medications. They di...

What if the foods you love most—the ones tied to family, culture, and comfort—could also help you heal? In this powerful and deeply personal conversation, Rip sits down with Javant Benton, creator of Healthy Vegan Eating and author of Make Your Own , to talk about food, family legacy, self-love, and breaking generational cycles of disease. Javant shares how a frightening health wake-up—pre-diabete...

What if your breakfast could power you through the entire morning—without cravings, crashes, or hunger an hour later? In this episode, Rip sits down with Molly Patrick, founder of Clean Food Dirty Girl, to dive deep into the breakfast bowl that has become a cult favorite. Molly shares the story behind her hearty, nutrient-packed “Hippie Porridge Bowl” —a recipe she spent nearly eight years perfect...

At just 43 years old, Charles Gassenheimer was 75 pounds overweight, pre-diabetic, struggling with joint pain and memory loss, and taking high-dose cholesterol medications. His doctors were managing his decline — not reversing it. Then one conversation changed everything. After meeting cardiologist Dr. Robert Ostfeld, Charles committed to a whole-food, plant-based lifestyle. The results were extra...

What if your health wasn’t just shaped by what you eat—but by what’s hidden in your medications? In this episode, Rip sits down with pharmacist-scientist Dr. Sachin Shah , a leading voice in medication transparency and patient safety. Together, they explore why food truly belongs at the center of health, how modern medicine sometimes misses the human in healthcare, and why knowing what’s inside yo...

What does it look like when plant-based living moves beyond personal choice and into real systems change? This episode answers that question in a big way. Rip sits down with longtime friend and food policy powerhouse Rachel Atcheson , founder of Food Policy Pathways , for a wide-ranging conversation about how food policy can transform public health, reduce chronic disease, and make healthy eating...

In this deeply grounded conversation, Rip sits down with Jan Liband — a former college athlete, longtime plant-based advocate, and expert in food and environmental sustainability. What began for Jan as a single pamphlet exposing the environmental toll of animal agriculture became a lifelong commitment to plant-based living nearly 40 years ago. Jan shares his journey from a meat-centered, “healthy...

It’s been way too long since Jackie Akerberg ( @jackfruitfulkitchen ) was on the podcast, and this episode is a true catch-up in every sense of the word. Jackie is a plant-based cook, creator, and community builder who brings joy, honesty, and seriously good food into everything she does. In this conversation, we talk about how Jackie went plant-based and never looked back, how her health complete...

Firefighters are trained to run toward danger — but too often, their own health is what’s at risk. In this episode of the Plant Strong Podcast , Rip sits down with fellow firefighter Andy Schaefer of Avon, Ohio, whose journey into plant-based eating began with a life-altering decision: donating one of his kidneys to his brother-in-law. Determined to be as healthy and resilient as possible, Andy ad...