The Proof with Simon Hill

In Episode #191, I sat down with Stanford University Professors Dr Christopher Gardner and Dr Justin Sonnenburg to talk about fermented foods, fibre, gut health, and immunity. This conversation was organised following the results of their latest randomised controlled trial, ‘gut-microbiota-targeted diets modulate human immune status’, which was published in Cell Press in 2021.   Listen to this epi...

In Episode #190, I sat down with Professor Stuart Phillips to discuss the importance of exercise, nutrition, and recovery in building muscle and improving strength: a pursuit that’s important not only to bodybuilders and athletes but to all of us wishing to maintain a high quality of life as we age.   In this episode, we covered the importance of fitness and resistance training for healthy ageing,...

In Episode #189, I sat down with Gemma Newman, MD, to talk about all things menopause. This episode covers what menopause is, its stages, why it occurs, its common symptoms and associated symptoms (such as bone mineral density loss and cardiovascular disease), and lifestyle changes that can help with menopause symptoms. For example, we discussed how to reduce symptoms with diet; the importance of...

In Episode #188, a throwback to previous episodes, we hear from neurologists Dean and Ayesha Sherzai on building a lifestyle that promotes brain health. Topics covered include the optimal daily routine for brain health, nutrition for brain health, healthy fats and the ketogenic diet, depression and the importance of a lifestyle approach, and tips for reducing stress and creating clarity for your m...

In Episode #187, I sat down with Megan Lee to talk about food and mental health. Megan is a career researcher, scientist, and academic at Bond University on the Gold Coast here in Australia. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychological science (with honours) and her PhD in nutritional psychiatry is currently under examination. She has published research on food and mood, body image, disordered eat...

In Episode #186, a condensed throwback to Episode #15, we hear from chef Derek Sarno. Derek is the co-founder of Wicked Kitchen – a food company offering plant-based food in major grocery outlets throughout the UK, Ireland, and the USA. Wicked Kitchen also has thousands of plant-based recipes available online. For more insights and reflections, visit The Proof website for the full show notes.    E...

In Episode #185, I sat back down with Nimai Delgado to continue our ongoing conversation about training, nutrition, supplementation, and life in general.   We chatted about Nimai’s current workout routine, how to choose an appropriate weight, how to train for failure, how to find the techniques that work for you, and optimal training for building muscle. We also covered the importance of protein i...

In Episode #184, a condensed throwback to Episode #13 in 2018, we hear from Max La Manna on his decision to adopt a plant-based diet and why we should care about food waste.    Enjoy, friends.   Simon Want to support the show?  The best way to support the show is to use the products and services offered by our sponsors. To check them out, and enjoy great savings, visit theproof.com/friends. You ca...

In Episode #183, I sat down with the iconic and eloquent Ed Winters, aka Earthling Ed, to chat about all things plant based. In this conversation, we covered Ed’s time holding university debates, how he stays calm in his conversations, and what he thinks about a more aggressive approach to activism. We also discussed Ed’s journey from vegetarian to plant-based eating, factory farming, our relation...

In Episode #182, a condensed throwback to Episode #54, we hear from Erin Ireland about transitioning her business to a plant-based company. This episode covers how Erin started a successful bakery business from her apartment, why she started her plant-based lifestyle, her experience feeding her daughter, the cost of vegan food, and how to go vegan. For more insights and reflections, visit The Proo...

In Episode #181, I sat down with physician and lipid specialist Dr Spencer Nadolsky to talk about cholesterol, ketogenic diets, and cardiovascular disease. We discussed what lipids and lipoproteins are, what causes atherosclerosis (a condition involving the build-up of plaque within the arteries), the difference between apolipoprotein B and low-density lipoprotein, and how these proteins relate to...

In Episode #180, a condensed throwback to Episode #32, we hear from chef Gaz Oakley on why he changed his diet and his approach to cooking. In our conversation, Gaz shared how he found his passion for cooking and how cooking traditional food has helped him to create vegan recipes. You’ll also hear about how he was able to quit his full-time job to work on the Avant Garde Vegan Instagram and YouTub...

In Episode #179, I sat down with Doug Evans, serial entrepreneur and author of The Sprout Book, to chat about his journey in business – specifically his time building Organic Avenue and the rise and fall of the highly publicised Silicon Valley start-up Juicero. We also discussed how Doug discovered a passion for sprouts and cold-pressed juices, his family health issues and his diet prior to switch...

In Episode #178, a condensed throwback to Episode #112, we hear from Harvard-trained psychologist Dr Melanie Joy about food ideology and speciesism.   This episode focuses on effectively communicating the message of following a plant-based lifestyle from a psychological perspective. Melanie shared her insights into cognitive dissonance, why people may react negatively to the plant-based message, a...

In Episode #177, I sat down with filmmaker Sanjay Rawal to talk about his film Gather, which documents the growing movement among Native Americans to reclaim their spiritual, political, and cultural identities through food sovereignty. In our conversation, we covered the story behind Gather, the evolution of the food system and how it has affected indigenous communities, the exploitation of the na...

In Episode #176, I sat down with world-renowned chef, agent of change, and entrepreneur Matthew Kenney to talk about his journey and how chefs are in a prime position to help the world make better food choices. I hope you enjoy the episode. For more insights and reflections, visit The Proof website for the full show notes.    Enjoy, friends.   Simon Want to support the show?  The best way to suppo...

In Episode #175, environmental scientist Nicholas Carter returns to give us an update on the health of our planet, explain what COP26 is, and suggest what we may actually need to consider if we are going to create a brighter future for humanity. He poses the question, what if tackling the world’s biggest problem – climate change – is not actually the world’s biggest problem? What if solving happin...

In Episode #174, a condensed throwback to Episode #119, we hear from climate scientist Dr Jonathan Foley on the current state of climate change and what we can do to help the planet heal. We discussed where we are headed if we don’t address climate change, what we can actually do about it, and the biggest areas of focus for immediate change. The episode also covers topics such as how climate chang...

In Episode #173, I sat down with Danny Lennon to discuss the effects of coffee on our health. If you’re curious about the relationship between coffee and blood lipids, cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative diseases, anxiety, depression, IBS, and the microbiome, listen to this episode.   We discussed what coffee actually is, what its interesting components are, how it affects our metabolism, an...

In Episode #172, a condensed throwback to Episode #95, we hear from Whitney English on navigating nutrition during pregnancy and infancy. Whitney is a registered dietitian, the co-founder of Plant-Based Juniors, and co-author of The Plant-Based Baby & Toddler. For more insights and reflections, visit The Proof website for the full show notes.    Enjoy, friends.   Simon Want to support the show?  T...

In Episode #171, I sat down with Aviva Romm, MD, to chat about her new book, Hormone Intelligence, and an evidence-based diet for optimising fertility. Listen to find out what infertility, sub-fertility, and sterility are and whether infertility rates are rising. Aviva also shares her insights into animal-based foods and fertility (dairy, organ meats, bone broth, fish, eggs, etc.), plant-based die...

In Episode #170, a throwback to Episode #77, we hear from Rip Esselstyn, author of The Engine 2 Diet and founder of PLANTSTRONG, about his work empowering firefighters to take control of their health.    Enjoy, friends.   Simon Want to support the show?  The best way to support the show is to use the products and services offered by our sponsors. To check them out, and enjoy great savings, visit t...

In Episode #169, I sat down with Paul Shapiro, author of Clean Meat and the CEO and co-founder of The Better Meat Co., to chat about the future of food. We discussed the problems with our existing food system that need addressing, what clean meat is, the various names used to describe clean meat, and the current status of the industry. And if you’re curious about precision fermentation and mycopro...

In Episode #168, a condensed throwback to Episode #94, we hear from Robby Barbaro and Cyrus Khambatta – New York Times bestselling authors of Mastering Diabetes. What are the underlying mechanisms that cause insulin resistance? Are fruit and fructose bad? How should we eat to improve blood sugar control? Listen to find out.    Enjoy, friends.   Simon Want to support the show?  The best way to supp...

In Episode #167, I sat down with Stanford Professor Christopher Gardner to chat about his recent SWAP-MEAT trial that compared plant-based meat to animal-based meat.   If you’re wondering how healthy plant-based burgers and sausages are relative to their organic animal-based counterparts (yes, he compared against organic animal products), then I am sure you will find this episode interesting and t...