Podcast · Health

PLANTSTRONG Podcast

by Rip Esselstyn · English · Health

The PLANT STRONG Podcast is for people who want real answers about food, health, and longevity—without the noise, fear, or extremes. Maybe you’ve been diagnosed with a chronic condition and want a path forward that actually supports healing. Maybe you’re an athlete looking to fuel performance and r

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 59 min
Latest: 8 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

8 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 17 min

Ep. 374: Mark Sisson - Stop Chasing the Health Hacks. Want to Live Longer? Start with Your Feet.

Rip sits down with longtime friend, former triathlon coach and Primal Kitchen founder, Mark Sisson, for a wide-ranging conversation about biohacking, longevity, chronic cardio, walking and foot health. Rip and Mark go back more than three decades — and although their nutritional philosophies couldn't be much more different, Rip has always admired Mark's entrepreneurial spirit, curiosity and willingness to take risks. In this episode, Mark explains: - Why he calls biohacking “the day trading of health” - Why he believes the basics should come before gadgets and supplements - His problem with…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

S4 · E373 · 1 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 16 min
Ep. 373: Dr. Gary Sanchez - Willpower is Temporary. Your "Why" Power is Permanent.
Who are you—and why do you do what you do? Most of us spend our lives answering questions about what we want to accomplish, what career we should pursue, and what steps we should take next. But Dr. Gary Sanchez believes we’re asking the right questions in the wrong order. Gary is the founder of The WHY Institute and the creator of a system designed to help people discover their WHY, their HOW, and their WHAT—the personal operating system behind how they think, communicate, lead, make decisions, and find fulfillment. Before becoming known as Dr. WHY, Gary spent decades as an accomplished…
S4 · E372 · 24 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 10 min
Ep. 372: Carleigh Bodrug: No Time to Cook? PlantYou Quickies to the Rescue!
New York Times bestselling author, Carleigh Bodrug, is back with PlantYou: Quickies , her third cookbook, packed with more than 140 fast, approachable plant-based recipes designed for busy, real life. The idea for Quickies came during an especially challenging season. After losing her mother, becoming pregnant, and welcoming her son Weston, Carleigh suddenly understood what it felt like to simply not have the energy to cook. That led to one of the biggest themes of this conversation: Maybe people don't have a motivation problem when it comes to eating well. Maybe they have a time problem. So…
S4 · E371 · 17 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 10 min
Ep. 371: Plant Powered Seniors: How to Stay Strong, Sharp, and Independent as You Age with Brenda Davis, RD & Vesanto Melina, RD
Getting older may be inevitable. Getting weak, frail, and sedentary? Brenda Davis and Vesanto Melina say absolutely not. In their new book, Plant Powered Seniors , these longtime plant-based nutrition experts explore how to stay strong, healthy, and independent as we age — and they’re living proof. At 84, Vesanto still takes fitness and yoga classes regularly, while Brenda, 67, runs trails, does push-ups, and climbs on the monkey bars with her grandkids. In this conversation, Rip, Brenda, and Vesanto dig into what changes nutritionally after 50, including: protein needs sarcopenia and bone…
S4 · E370 · 10 Sep 2026 · 44 min
Ep. 370: Neal Barnard, MD: Why He's Is Suing The Federal Government Over the New Dietary Guidelines
Dr. Neal Barnard is back on the PLANTSTRONG Podcast — and this time, he and the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine are taking the federal government to court . At the center of the fight? The new Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Neal says the government tossed aside the work of a transparent scientific advisory committee and instead moved forward with recommendations shaped by a nine-member panel that operated largely out of public view — with members he says had significant ties to the livestock, dairy, and low-carb industries. And that matters. A lot. These guidelines don’t…
S4 · E369 · 3 Sep 2026 · 59 min
Ep. 369: Lisa Wargofchik - How to Make Healthy Choices Without Relying on Willpower
Rip sits down with Certified High Performance Coach and author Lisa Wargofchik to talk about her book, Remarkable Routines: How Daily Habits Shape a Life of Intention and Fulfillment , and why those small, seemingly ordinary choices can add up to something pretty extraordinary. Lisa spent nearly 40 years in the employee benefits and wellness world, including leadership roles at Fortune 100 companies and consulting with organizations across the country. Today, she helps people gain more clarity, build more energy, and live with greater purpose — both at work and at home. And here’s the big…
S4 · E368 · 27 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 4 min
Ep. 368: The Fountain of Youth Is Movement: Rip Esselstyn on Fitness, Fun, and Community
Originally recorded for Complement 's Plantapalooza in 2024, this timeless conversation with CEO, Matt Tullman, explores how sport, community, fun, and whole plant foods can support lifelong fitness. Rip shares his journey from elite swimming and triathlon to pickleball, mountain biking, family adventures, and master’s swimming. He also explains how accountability partners, simple routines, and the pillars of Plant Strong nutrition can make movement more joyful and sustainable at any age. His closing invitation is simple: find a way to move and give yourself the opportunity to feel reborn.…
S4 · E367 · 20 Aug 2026 · 56 min
Ep. 367: Menopause Is Not the End: Dr. Jessica Shepherd on Hormones, Plants, and Thriving in Midlife
Rip sits down with OB-GYN, women’s health expert, and author of Generation M , Dr. Jessica Shepherd, for a candid, empowering conversation about perimenopause, menopause, hormones, nutrition, sex, sleep, strength, and what it really means to thrive in midlife and beyond. For too long, menopause has been framed as a decline — something to dread, hide, or simply suffer through. Dr. Shepherd is here to change that narrative. She explains that menopause is not a failure of the body , but a natural biological transition — and one that deserves far more education, support, and celebration. In this…
S4 · E366 · 13 Aug 2026 · 55 min
Ep. 366: What Your Cholesterol Numbers Aren't Telling You: Dr. Daniel Chong Explains ApoB, Lp(a), Plaque, and Disease Prevention
Dr. Daniel Chong has spent years helping patients understand their true cardiovascular risk and take meaningful action to prevent heart attacks and strokes. In this episode, Rip and Dr. Chong dig into the confusing, often polarizing world of cholesterol and heart disease. Is LDL cholesterol really important? How low should it go? Is ApoB a better marker? What about calcium scores, lipoprotein(a), statins, saturated fat, and the growing noise around keto and carnivore diets? Dr. Chong offers a grounded, practical, and highly nuanced perspective. He explains why standard LDL cholesterol is…
S4 · E365 · 6 Aug 2026 · 52 min
Ep. 365: Kendale Ritchey, DPM - A Podiatrist’s Own 30-Year Mystery Illness Solved with Plants — and the Devastating Effects of Diabetes on Your Feet
Dr. Kendale Ritchey is a podiatrist in Knoxville, Tennessee, a former University of Tennessee swimmer, and a self-described “recovered barbecue-aholic.” For nearly three decades, Kendale lived with recurring episodes of intense abdominal, chest, and joint pain, along with fevers and debilitating inflammation. Then, after watching Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead and Forks Over Knives with his wife Connie, Kendale decided to try a whole food, plant-based lifestyle. Within weeks, he noticed something extraordinary: the episodes were milder. Then they stopped. In this conversation, Rip and Kendale talk…
S4 · E364 · 30 Jul 2026 · 55 min
Ep. 364: Micah Yu, MD - A Doctor's Own Joint Pain Wake-Up Call and His Top Supplements to Help Your Chronic Inflammation
At 17, after adopting a high-protein diet filled with meat, milk, protein powder, and processed meats, Dr. Yu experienced his first gout attack. The pain was so intense that he still remembers waking up at 4:00 a.m. feeling as if someone had slammed a wooden board into his toe. But gout was only the beginning. Over the years, Dr. Yu developed recurring, mysterious inflammation throughout his body — jaw, shoulders, wrists, fingers, knees, toes, hips, ankles — along with fatigue and irritability. Even while in medical school, he struggled to find answers. Eventually, he was diagnosed with…
S4 · E363 · 23 Jul 2026 · 51 min
Ep. 363: Melissa Mondala, MD - Why So Many Women Feel “Off” In Midlife— and How to Feel Better
Dr. Melissa Mondala joins Rip to talk about women’s health, autoimmune disease, anxiety, perimenopause, metabolic health, hormones, and the power of whole food, plant-based lifestyle medicine. A family medicine and lifestyle medicine physician, Dr. Melissa shares her personal journey from struggling with GERD, IBS, fatigue, and serious health challenges to discovering the transformative power of plant-based nutrition during her training at Loma Linda. She also shares how meeting Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn and Ann Esselstyn helped shape the way she practices medicine today. Rip and Dr. Mondala…
S4 · E362 · 16 Jul 2026 · 55 min
Ep. 362: Why You Eat When You’re Not Hungry — and How to Stop with Dr. Jud Brewer
Ever eat when you weren’t really hungry and wonder why willpower wasn’t enough to stop you? This week, Rip talks with Dr. Jud Brewer - neuroscientist, psychiatrist, and author of The Hunger Habit - about cravings, emotional eating, and the science behind food habits. Rip and Brewer explore the difference between true physical hunger and what researchers call “hedonic hunger” — eating driven by emotions, stress, boredom, celebration, cravings, or cues in our environment. Dr. Jud explains why ultra-processed foods are engineered to hit the “bliss point” of sugar, fat, salt, crunch, and…
S4 · E361 · 9 Jul 2026 · 57 min
Ep. 361: The Whole Truth: Nelson Campbell on the Hidden Agendas Behind Decades of Health Misinformation—and What to Do About It
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 resistance from industry, government, academia, and the medical establishment. He and Rip also discuss the parallel journeys of the Campbell and Esselstyn families, the courage of Dr. Campbell and Dr.…
S4 · E360 · 2 Jul 2026 · 43 min
Ep. 360: Real 30, Real Food, Real Results: Meet Barbara Court - A Plant Strong Success Story
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, increased her daily steps, and found a renewed sense of motivation. In this conversation, Rip and Barbara talk about weight loss, calorie density, plant diversity, arthritis, movement, simple meals,…
S4 · E359 · 25 Jun 2026 · 44 min
Ep. 359: Dr. Kim Williams Breaks Down the New Heart Health Guidelines (and it's Great News for Plants!)
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 these updated cholesterol guidelines mean for everyday people. Dr. Williams explains why cardiovascular risk is no longer just about one cholesterol number. Instead, clinicians are being encouraged to…
S4 · E358 · 18 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 4 min
Ep. 358: How Terri Edwards Reversed Her Joint Pain, Lost 50 Pounds & Transformed Her Health with Comfort Foods
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 noticed major improvements in her joint pain and energy — and never looked back. Today, she teaches thousands of people how to make plant-based eating approachable, affordable, and delicious. Rip and…
S4 · 16 Jun 2026 · 48 min
BONUS: Your Doctor Needs to Hear This — A Vital Signs Preview
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 professionals build confidence in the evidence so they can walk into the exam room and talk about food with clarity, conviction, and hope. And here’s why that matters: most providers see roughly 1,000…
S4 · E357 · 11 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 8 min
Ep. 357: What Your Doctor ISN'T Telling You About Food with Dr. Alan Desmond
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 training, leaving them without the confidence or tools to guide patients through meaningful dietary change. Alan talks about the urgent gap between lifespan and healthspan, and why so many people are…
S4 · E356 · 4 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 4 min
Ep. 356: How Well Do You Want to Age? with Scott Fulton
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 , where he challenges the way we think about aging, movement, purpose, brain health, and everyday function. Together, Rip and Scott unpack why America continues to lag behind the rest of the world in…
S4 · E355 · 28 May 2026 · 1 hr 9 min
Ep. 355: How Alternative Meat Could Replace Industrial Animal Agriculture with Bruce Friedrich
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 impact to food security and economic opportunity, this conversation connects the dots between what’s on our plate and the future of humanity. Key Takeaways: Why meat consumption continues to rise…
S4 · E354 · 21 May 2026 · 56 min
Ep. 354: Cancer. Heart Disease. High Cholesterol. Inside One Fire Department’s Wake-Up Call
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 findings were shocking. But what followed is even more inspiring: a grassroots movement toward better health, fueled by education, vulnerability, and the power of plant-based nutrition. Ian shares…
S4 · E353 · 14 May 2026 · 59 min
Ep. 353: Why Fiber Sometimes Backfires (and How to Fix It) with Dr. Chris Miller
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 paradox, including insights from a groundbreaking Stanford study showing that up to one-third of people may experience increased inflammation when rapidly increasing fiber intake. Together, Rip and…
S4 · E352 · 7 May 2026 · 1 hr 13 min
Ep. 352: Beyond Carrots - Here are the Best Foods For Eye Health with Rani Banik, MD
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 protect your vision, what screen time is really doing to your eyes, whether sunglasses are helping or hurting, and how stress and sleep might be silently impacting your eyesight. Key Takeaways The top 3…
S4 · E351 · 30 Apr 2026 · 58 min
Ep. 351: The "Evil Cousin" to LDL - Why Everyone Should Know Their Lp(a) Number with Dr. Akil Taher
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 disease , fewer than 2% of Americans have ever been tested. Dr. Taher shares his remarkable personal story—from heart disease and bypass surgery to becoming a marathoner and mountain climber in his…
S4 · E350 · 23 Apr 2026 · 1 hr
Ep. 350: Ali Essig - Six Kids. Her Husband Had a Stroke at 37. Why She Chose Plants to Help Her Family Heal
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 lifestyle shift that improved his cholesterol, triglycerides, and overall health. But Ali’s approach isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress—90% plant-based, practical habits, and real food for…
S4 · E349 · 16 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 6 min
Ep.349: Food as Medicine - Dr. Elizabeth George and Chef Nick lula Share How Whole Food Plant-Based Eating Reverses Disease
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 professional kitchens and, after he changed his own diet, he experienced a dramatic health transformation — losing weight and eliminating multiple chronic conditions. Together, they combine medical science…
S4 · E348 · 9 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 20 min
Ep. 348: Dr. Michael Klaper - Disease Reversal Is Real When We Start Moving Medicine Forward
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. Klaper to discuss his new book, Moving Medicine Forward: What More Doctors Should Know About Nutrition and How It Can Save Your Life. Dr. Klaper shares: How witnessing violence in a trauma unit led him…
S4 · E347 · 2 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 25 min
Ep. 347: What It Really Takes to Be Forever Fit with Maxime Sigouin
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 through his Forever Fit framework. They also unpack the misunderstood topic of body recomposition, protein myths, stress, self-sabotage, and why loving yourself enough to care for your body is the real…
S4 · E346 · 26 Mar 2026 · 58 min
Ep. 346: Erasing Diabetes - Peggy Kraus’s Fiber-First Rescue Plan
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 discuss why cutting carbs misses the point, how fiber stabilizes blood sugar, the role of movement after meals, and why community and accountability are essential for long-term success. This episode…

About PLANTSTRONG Podcast

PLANTSTRONG Podcast is a English health podcast from Rip Esselstyn. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Rip Esselstyn
Language: English
Category: Health
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 59 min
Latest episode: 8 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1458774193
Rights: 2024

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