The Plant Yourself Podcast

Thoughts on the episode? Let us know. In a world in which we have virtually no control, how do we assert control in a useful way? Click to subscribe to the Mindset Mastery Memo. Support the show

Thoughts on the episode? Let us know. Those of us who have survived difficult times - physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual - have a gift for the rest of society: the knowledge that we can handle what seems unmanageable, and grow from what seems diabolical. Let's share those gifts now, to counter all the fear and panic and despair out there. Click to subscribe to the Mindset Mastery Memo....

Thoughts on the episode? Let us know. A special Covid-19 Lockdown Edition of the Plant Yourself Podcast. Halfway through I realized I was using the wrong mic. If that's the worst thing that happens today, cool! Now is not the time to indulge in crappy food choices, even though we may be stressed and cooped up and grieving. We have an army inside us - our immune system - that does its best to...

Thoughts on the episode? Let us know. Michael B. Rothberg, M.D., M.P.H. is the Vice Chair for Research in the Medicine Institute of the Cleveland Clinic and Director of the Center for Value-Based Care Research. He joined me on Skype to talk about the current state of knowledge about Covid-19, and what we can and should do as individuals and a society to save as many lives as possible. Click to sub...

Thoughts on the episode? Let us know. Shane Williams, MD, has been practicing plant-based (or as I would say, evidence-based) cardiology in Canada for nine years now. With hundreds of patients and lots of experience with what works and what doesn't in terms of advocacy, education, and support, Dr Williams is a valuable resource for plant-based physicians everywhere. Click to subscribe to the...

Thoughts on the episode? Let us know. Don Larsen died this month, at the age of 90.He played baseball professionally from 1953 to 1967, and had a less than stellar career. As a pitcher, his lifetime record was 81 wins and 91 losses. He played five of those years with the powerhouse New York Yankees during their dynastic heyday in the 1950s; his record for lesser teams was a dismal 36 wins and 67 l...

Thoughts on the episode? Let us know. Justin Luria now lives what he calls a "muggle" life, managing on online bookshop. Before that, he trained as an energy healing and shamanic practitioner, and immersed himself in many of the spiritual practices of the "New Age," and learned from many contemporary spiritual teachers: Byron Katie, Eckhart Tolle, and others. He also actively p...

Thoughts on the episode? Let us know. If you've adopted a new good habit today, you're probably very excited and motivated. What about tomorrow? Will you be motivated then as well? Fingers crossed... Click to subscribe to the Mindset Mastery Memo. Support the show

Thoughts on the episode? Let us know. In this episode, I share a personal coaching session that I conducted with Ian Lawton, host of the Workshed Podcast. Click to subscribe to the Mindset Mastery Memo. Support the show

Thoughts on the episode? Let us know. When I was in 11th grade, I came in 3rd in the New Jersey Science League Chemistry II competition. Which was odd. I wasn't one of the best chemistry students in the state, by far. I wasn't even close to being the best chemistry student in my high school. Hell, I wasn't close to be the best chemistry student in my chemistry class. Click to subscr...

Thoughts on the episode? Let us know. Aaron Spitz, MD, is the director of male reproductive and sexual medicine at Orange County Urology Associates. He's served as president of the California Urological Association, was the lead urology delegate to the American Medical Association, and has been an assistant clinical professor at UC Irvine's Department of Urology for the past decade and a...

Thoughts on the episode? Let us know. There's a logic puzzle, well-known to those of us who never dated in high school, about an island that's inhabited by two tribes - the Liars and the Truthtellers. As you might guess, the Liars always lie, and the Truthtellers always tell the truth. It's impossible to tell them apart by looks. Click to subscribe to the Mindset Mastery Memo. Suppo...

Thoughts on the episode? Let us know. Colleen Patrick Goudreau is author, most recently, of The Joyful Vegan. It's a book about joy, yes, but joy as a strategic imperative in a world that is relentless in trying to undermine our resolve about living compassionate and brave lives. While steadfastness and willpower and outrage can provide bursts of energy for our journey, Goudreau asserts, it&a...

Thoughts on the episode? Let us know. After the third consecutive night of no sleep, I was starting to lose it. Our newborn daughter, who had looked so sweet and angelic in the moments right after her birth (9 on the APGAR - you go, girl!) had morphed into a demonic nighttime presence. She needed less sleep than any human I had ever encountered. And when she did snooze, she did so with hair-trigge...

Thoughts on the episode? Let us know. Brad Stulberg returns to the podcast to discuss his latest book, The Passion Paradox, co-written with Steve Magness. They wrote the book mostly for themselves, which is how a lot of great self-help books begin. Basically, they had learned a lot of weird and contradictory lessons about passion and how to harness and incorporate it into their lives. On the one h...

Thoughts on the episode? Let us know. I'll never forget my daughter's first birthday party. On a chilly February afternoon, a bunch of friends and relatives gathered at our house to share the joy of the event. We had decorations, presents, singing, and of course birthday cake. Everything went well, until the cake. Click to subscribe to the Mindset Mastery Memo. Support the show

Thoughts on the episode? Let us know. Carolyn Raffensperger has been advocating for the environment since 1982. She's currently executive director of the Science and Environmental Health Network, and a tireless proponent of the Precautionary Principle when it comes to balancing economic and environmental impacts. Click to subscribe to the Mindset Mastery Memo. Support the show

Thoughts on the episode? Let us know. When we adopt a new habit, we often experience a honeymoon period. Partly it's our enthusiasm and motivation at the first flush of hope and desire, and partly we've chosen this time to start because it's particularly convenient or easy. But the universe will test our resolve not too long after that. It can feel like slamming into a brick wall at...

Thoughts on the episode? Let us know. Kelly McGonigal's latest book, The Joy of Movement, is both a work of science and a love letter to the human body/spirit. I admit, when I ordered it, I thought I knew what I was going to read: a well-researched, engaging tale of how exercise improves our mood and our brain functioning. I was delighted to be surprised by a treasure trove of ideas and philo...

Thoughts on the episode? Let us know. The public health crisis was going to be unprecedented, and catastrophic. As the Americans clumsily extricated themselves from the Vietnam War in the early 1970s, tens of thousands of US troops would be returning home. And by some estimates, 90% of them had become addicted to heroin during their tour of duty. Click to subscribe to the Mindset Mastery Memo. Sup...

Thoughts on the episode? Let us know. Michael Greger's latest book, How Not to Diet, is just stunning. It's a love song to science: its potential, its process, even its limitations. There has never been a more comprehensive, accessible, and evidence-based look at our current knowledge of how to get to and maintain a healthy weight. Click to subscribe to the Mindset Mastery Memo. Support...

Thoughts on the episode? Let us know. Matt Buckner's low point came one day about 9 years ago, when he was 41. He was getting ready for an international business trip, and realized that one of his key medications, tramadol, was going to run out during the trip. The drug, which Matt took for the back pain caused by his morbid obesity, was one of five meds that he consumed every day. The others...

Thoughts on the episode? Let us know. Myq Kaplan is a stand-up comedian who also happens to be vegan (or is it the other way around?)He's performed on the Tonight Show, Conan, the Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Seth Meyers, the Late Late Show with James Corden, in his own half-hour Comedy Central Presents special, and in his own one-hour special on Netflix and Amazon, Small,...

Thoughts on the episode? Let us know. Rich "Raz" Razgaitis is on a mission to get water out of plastic, and plastic out of water. As co-founder and CEO of FloWater, which aims to reduce and ultimately end our dependence on single-use plastic water bottles, Raz has become an impassioned advocate for public health and environmental sanity. His message: bottled water is the new cigarette. A...

Thoughts on the episode? Let us know. Jim Loomis, MD is Medical Director of the Barnard Medical Center, and one of the stars of the blockbuster documentary The Game Changers. Dr Loomis' journey to plant-based practice for himself and his patients began with a viewing of Forks Over Knives, at a time when his own health was starting to fail. Once he discovered and benefited personally from Life...