PLANTSTRONG Podcast

Last fall, Tracey Stewart attended a five-day Plant-Strong Engine 2 Immersion in Asheville, North Carolina. Even as a compassionate animal advocate, and author of Do Unto Animals , Tracey, like many of us, still felt frustrated and stagnant in her plant-strong journey. The invigorating retreat, however, ignited a passion and turned on her science-based megaphone with which she could reclaim her he...

Within each of us lies the Heart of a Hero.  Whether you realize it or not, by striving to embody the best version of yourself, you are a hero to those around you - your friends, co-workers, and loved ones. This season, our theme of the podcast focuses on celebrating the heroes among us - those leading the charge with brave and bold research, and everyday heroes- first responders and those going a...

Welcome to Season 2 of the Plant-Strong Podcast. Host, Rip Esselstyn, is the author of The Engine 2 Diet and founder of Plant-Strong by Engine 2 . This new season of the podcast celebrates "The Heart of a Hero." Throughout, we'll showcase both heroes in the plant-strong movement as well as everyday heroes going against the grain by making their health a priority. We know that staying inspired on y...

In this BONUS episode, we peek into Rip’s own transformative journey this year to break the 200m backstroke world record for ages 55-59. He talks about why this was such an important goal for him, how he went about his training in order to succeed, and how this success is a lesson for all of us. His biggest piece of advice? Find something you love and embrace a community of others who are also doi...

In this season one finale, Rip guides listeners through Joe Inga's triathlon and shares the celebration and jubilation of crossing the finish line. This race and this journey, however, has been so much more than just completing a triathlon. . Joe is proof that you can be a hero to yourself, your family and an inspiration to anyone who is craving a lifestyle change. As Joe says, "I went from death'...

Joe Inga had no idea initially that he would become the focal point of Season One of the Plant-Strong Podcast.  He definitely received more than he bargained for - being pulled into the spotlight and having his life put under a microscope.  But he rose to the occasion and kept his promise - to himself,to his family, and to the listeners. . This week, Joe, Rip and others gather at the Esselstyn Fam...

New York firefighter, Kevin Duffy, was recently awarded the 2019 sexiest vegan title, He was also featured about two years ago in a New York Times article entitled, “Two Ironmen, a Garage and a Vegan Agenda.” In addition to working in Yonkers at one of the busiest fire stations in all of New York City, he's also an incredible IRONMAN triathlete and endurance runner who gets up at 4:00 AM for train...

The Engine 2 Team is on-site at the 2019 Plant-Stock this week, so we’re bringing you a special edition of the podcast featuring a live presentation directly from the stage of 2018 Plant-Stock featuring Dr. Robynne Chutkan. Our microbiome is next frontier in health and vitality and Dr. Chutkan’s no holds barred lecture entitled Guts, Germs, and Stools will educate and encourage you to Live Dirty a...

This special episode features a live lecture entitled, "How Not to Die" from the 2018 Plant-Stock stage featuring the ever-popular Dr. Michael Greger. Support for this week's episode comes from Nutramilk  - the easiest and fastest way to make your own plant milk at home!  Enjoy a $50 discount and free shipping with code PLANTSTRONG. Seeking a solution for making the plant-strong lifestyle convenie...

Download the Seven-Day Rescue Road Map If you’ve never had a chance to see Rip Esselstyn live at your local market, this is a chance to hear him riff on the seven pillars, dispense myths and rumors about the foods we consume, and inspire change in his no-nonsense effective way.  This special episode is a primer on the Engine 2 Seven-Day Rescue Program and the seven pillars that go along with the p...

If You are the Cause, you CAN be the Solution. Today's conversation with Adam Sud shines a bright light on some of the dark and often unspoken mental barriers that prevent making a change.  Adam's internal and external health hurdles were significant.  Saddled with hundreds of extra pounds, numbing himself with prescriptions and fast food, and a self-dialogue that was brimming with self-hate, Adam...

This week, it's Part 2 of our discussion with vegan Chef, Chad Sarno. We talk go-to dishes, sauces and easy meals that will wow any guest or friend.   Cooking plant-based can be intimidating for some, but Chef Chad Sarno keeps it simple, practical and delicious for all taste buds. From meal prep planning and key plant-strong ingredients to practical kitchen utensils and tools, Chad dishes on his f...

Whether you’re new to plant-based cooking or looking to elevate your current cooking methods, we're filling the next two episodes of the Plant-Strong Podcast with great kitchen tips and techniques that, in our opinion, every cook should know!  Cooking plant-based can be intimidating for some, but Chef Chad Sarno keeps it simple, practical and delicious for all taste buds. From meal prep planning a...

This week's podcast episode features a candid conversation with ultrarunners, Scott and Jenny Jurek.  Scott's record-breaking run of the Appalachian Trail is chronicled in his latest book North: Finding My Way While Running the Appalachian Trail , and in the upcoming film The Game Changers . Support for this week's episode comes from Nutramilk  - the easiest and fastest way to make your own plant...

If you think one person can't make an impace, think again. In 2016 at the young age of 54, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams listened as his doctor gave him a grim diagnosis of Type II diabetes. Sadly, he felt it was an inevitable fate because of rampant family history. What didn’t sit with him was relinquishing control of his health and realizing that he was going to be on medication for the...

In part two of this continued exploration on the pitfalls of the popular paleo and ketogenic diets, we enlist the expertise of Dr. Michael Klaper as well as Dr. Doug Lisle, clinical psychologist at the TrueNorth Health Center, on why these two popular diets are nothing more than a physiological parlor trick you play on your health. Like a trusty old car, the human body is amazingly resilient. In t...

This week on the podcast, Rip dives head-first into the paleo-keto debate after he and Joe discussed how popular the meat-centered and carb-limiting diets are in firehouses across the country. I bet it's taking over in your circles too.  At first blush, it may seem hard to debate the merits when the paleo diet does result in weight loss and the ketogenic diet does reduce blood sugars (temporarily)...

Change is a Choice. Paul de Gelder wasn't given a choice the day he was attacked by a shark as a clearance diver in Sydney Harbor.  But he did choose how he would react. Using the mantra he’d been taught in the Army to "Improvise, Adapt, Overcome,” Paul was able to fight back from life-threatening injuries and to create a life that exceeds his most wild dreams. In this episode, Paul shares how and...

This episode is NOT sponsored by Taco Bell.  Fast food is highly addictive and in this week's episode, we meet a man who overcame the siren song of the drive-thru and is using plants to stay the course. At just 5 feet 6 inches tall, Chuck Carroll weighed 420 pounds before radically changing his life.  He was taking a long walk off a very short pier. Like so many others, he tried and failed countle...

When you're going plant-strong, it seems the world is working against you.  We can't turn on the TV or drive down the street without being tempted.  We live in a cultural mindset of "everything in moderation" - giving us the green light to indulge at every turn as long as we put in extra time at the gym.  And we know marketing campaigns are scientifically designed to trigger us - making us crave s...

“If we can’t get [men] with concern over their heart or concern over cancer, we can probably get them with concern over their penis.  A plant-powered penis is the key to a plant-powered person. It is the gateway organ,” shares Dr. Aaron Spitz in this eye-opening and *ahem* uplifting conversation giving straight answers on the topic every man cares about, but is too afraid to ask.   Dr. Spitz has a...

Achieving real change in your life starts with losing before you can win. As the creator of The Biggest Loser on NBC, J.D. Roth built an empire giving people the tools they need to shed their identity and turn on the light switch to finding their ‘beast mode’.   Listen as Rip and J.D. talk about the mental resiliency of a true “loser” and why we all should aspire to be one. Joe’s been gaining an a...

Getting a good night’s sleep at a fire station is like trying to do homework at a rock concert. Dream on!  For most of us, sleep can be elusive, interrupted, and hard to come by in our tech-heavy, fast-paced world.  But good sleep is crucial for brain health, allowing our main operating system to repair and reboot. This week, Rip introduces Joe to husband-wife neurologists Dean and Ayesha Sherzai,...

Eating plant-based, especially in a firehouse, can be challenging.  In this episode, Rip introduces Joe to his mom Ann Crile Esselstyn, and serves up a dose of her unbridled enthusiasm. Thriving in her 80’s, Ann is a true force of nature and embodies the many benefits of plants. She’s learned many tricks-to-the-trade since starting this lifestyle in 1984 - hear how she keeps inspired, joyful, and...

Plant-Strong’s inaugural season marshals together an all-star line-up of some of the world’s most renowned physicians and inspirational leaders to help Bronx firefighter Joe Inga change his life. An near fatal accident on the job forced Joe, a 34-year-old husband and father of two, to face his own mortality. Instead of falling back into old destructive habits, Joe decides he wants a different outc...