The Health Feast

RAK Your POtential: Dr. Rak on Confronting Cancer and the Power of Letting Go. In the first of a new series on 'The Health Feast,' Dr. Rak opens up to Po about his family's tumultuous journey through his wife's breast cancer diagnosis. From the initial shock to the ongoing treatment, he shares their story of resilience, the emotional process of letting go and finding strength in the present. Dr. R...

In this compelling episode of 'The Health Feast,' we start by unraveling the multi-layered journey of Dr. Daphne Bascom. From her early days in medical school to her current role as a certified health coach and Coaching Team leader with The Vegan Gym, Dr. Bascom's story sets the stage for a conversation that goes beyond the surface. We delve into the uncomfortable reality of financial incentives i...

In this enriching episode of The Health Feast, Dr. Rak and Po welcome Julie King, a transformative figure in the world of parenting whose work has had a profound influence on Dr. Rak's own approach to parenting and his relationship with his kids. Known for her books 'How To Talk So Little Kids Will Listen' and 'How to Talk When Kids Won't Listen,' Julie brings a wealth of practical insights into e...

In this episode of "The Health Feast," Dr. Rak and Po are joined by the remarkable Meg Donahue, a woman whose life and family stories embody the transformative power of a whole food plant-based diet. In this episode, Meg dives deep into her philosophy on life, emphasizing the importance of surrendering to life's unpredictability and finding peace amidst challenges. She shares profound insights on...

In this inspiring episode of The Health Feast, hosts Dr. Dr. Rak (“rock”)  and Po sit down with Sam Poueu, a man whose journey to health and wellness is nothing short of extraordinary. Sam Poueu, a former contestant on 'The Biggest Loser', shares his incredible story of transformation, resilience, and determination. Sam lost over 150 pounds through the show, but his journey didn't end with the sho...

In this episode of The Health Feast, Dr. Rak and Po engage in a compelling conversation with Darrell Moon, CEO of Orriant and founder of The Aspirational Health Care Conference. With a wealth of experience in the healthcare industry, Darrell brings a fresh perspective on how employers can approach healthcare. The discussion centers around the current healthcare model, which Darrell describes as "d...

In this episode of The Health Feast, Dr. Rak and Po discuss the influence of gratitude on mental health. They share personal experiences, Po recalling his humble background and gratitude for life's simplicities. At the same time, Dr. Rak highlights how shifting focus from negativity to gratitude can enhance mood and mental health. The conversation delves into the importance of mental fitness and m...

In this episode of The Health Feast, Dr. Rak and Po welcome Dr. Yashoda Bhaskar, an experienced internist, Lifestyle Medicine specialist, certified coach, money mindset expert, and Deputy CMO at Mora Medical (mora.com), where she works alongside Dr. Rak providing Lifestyle Medicine care. Dr. Yashoda also serves as co-chair of the AMWA coaching committee.   Dr. Yashoda shares her inspiring journey...

In this episode, Dr. Rak and Po delve into motivation, and specifically, they talk about self-determination theory, in addition to a discussion on controlling our food environment.    Self-determination theory is a psychological theory that focuses on the motivation behind human behavior and the importance of fulfilling innate psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness in achiev...

When Melinda Joyner became a single mother as a young teenager, she took the experience as an opportunity to grow and help others.  As a result of understanding the difficult task of being a single mother, Melinda created a safe community of assistance and resources for other young single mothers in her community of Jackson, MS. She organized many events in the community to provide education and r...

Po starts the conversation by sharing his experience getting infected early in the pandemic before there were vaccines and therapies.  Dr. Rak shares his experience caring for hospitalized patients with COVID for the first two years of the pandemic.   They discuss the protective effects of a plant-based diet on getting moderate to severe COVID.  The article Dr. Rak references can be found here: ht...

Dr. Rak and Po start their conversation by exploring what The Health Feast signifies and means. “It’s a mindset.” The two explore how The Health Feast mindset can be applied to exercise as an example. Many people turn exercise into a health chore. The two also discuss the illusion of challenges in our life.  There is an illusion that we are in control.  Life happens, and we can either experience i...

On this episode of The Health Feast, Dr. Rak and Po welcome their first guest, Jay Chodagam.  Jay is a good friend and spiritual teacher of Dr. Rak. Jay's story really exemplifies the unexpected nature of our lives and the power of meditation in changing the trajectory of our lives. If you've contemplated starting a meditation practice but don't know how to start, this conversation is for you.  Be...

Happy New Year from The Health Feast! After a regular mind-body-soul/spirit check-in with Dr. Rak and Po, they first take an opportunity to thank their growing audience and reflect a little more on why they started The Health Feast.  Then they get into today’s topic of New Year’s Resolutions.  Dr. Rak reviews some of the stats around resolutions and how most are unsuccessful.  The two discuss why...

Welcome back to The Health Feast, hosted by Dr. Rak ("rock") and Po.  After our regular mind, body, and soul/spirit check-in with Dr. Rak and Po, we get into motivation this episode- inspired by Po's feelings of lack of motivation in his life. Does motivation even matter? Where does it come from, and how can we tap into intrinsic motivation to aid our habits? Dr. Rak reviews the three sources of i...

For our second episode, Po interviews Dr. Rak! We learn about Rak's upbringing and how this shaped his relationship with food and his body image. We also learn about why Dr. Rak made big changes to his lifestyle habits after a difficult conversation with his wife, ultimately leading him to adopt a whole-food plant based diet.  He shares he has lost over 70lbs over the last 5 years and reversed his...

In today's conversation, we take a deep dive into all things Tupotu.  We talk about Po’s childhood in American Samoa and how this shaped his early relationship with food.  We talk about Po’s relationship with his body image and being a “big person” and how that has shaped his identity and career path.     And we’ll get into Po’s struggles with his weight and his health, and his history with dietin...