At age 26, identical twins Nina and Randa Nelson are strong voices in the plant-strong movement. In their early 20s, both were struck with severe acne that left them depressed, confused, and out of work...just as they were pursuing careers in the entertainment industry. Not wanting to settle for traditional antibiotics and powerful medicines with terrible side-effects, Nina and Randa refined their already-clean diet even more to remove excess oils and toxins. Within days, the acne started to cle...
Mar 12, 2020•52 min•Season 2Ep. 33
“Heaven forbid, you get a heart attack or a stroke. It's only you in that hospital bed. It's not the people at work. It's not your daughter-in-law. It's not the people you go out to dinner with. It's you. You're a grown man. You're a grown woman. It doesn't matter what people think at this point and you don't owe anything to anybody. It's nobody's business what you order for lunch.” Not many people tell it like it is better than Dr. Michael Klaper. As a revered member of the Plant-Strong retreat...
Mar 05, 2020•47 min•Season 2Ep. 32
Whenever we introduce this lifestyle to a new group, the most common question we get is, “What in the world are we going to eat?” The preconceived notions about how “limiting” a whole plant-based lifestyle can be are so incredibly erroneous. In this episode, you’re going to get a primer on what to eat directly from the Mother Source - Rip’s Mothersource. Who better to whip up some culinary creativity than Ann Crile Esselstyn, along with Rip’s sister, Jane Esselstyn? Together, these two have amas...
Feb 27, 2020•1 hr 9 min•Season 2Ep. 31
Robby Barbaro is a seeker. After being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 12, Barbaro set off on a quest to optimize his health, buck conventional beliefs and thrive in spite of his illness. His drive for truth has become his life’s work. “It’s not the banana’s fault,” he stresses, when it comes to the confusion and lack of understanding around eating fruit and managing diabetes. Barbaro is the co-founder of Mastering Diabetes , a comprehensive program developed to help people both understand...
Feb 20, 2020•1 hr 1 min•Season 2Ep. 30
Jesse Itzler does not negotiate his goals. He’s the author of the New York Times bestsellers, Living with a Seal and Living with the Monks , the cofounder of Marquis Jet, the world's largest private jet card company which he and his partner sold to Berkshire Hathaway/NetJets, and he also partnered with Zico coconut water, which he and his partner sold to The Coca-Cola Company. On top of everything else, he’s also an owner of the Atlanta Hawks NBA team! Clearly, Itzler has never shied away from p...
Feb 13, 2020•1 hr 8 min•Season 2Ep. 29
After attending a lifestyle medicine conference, Dr. Michelle McMacken changed her philosophy about patient care overnight. Now, she routinely prescribes plants over pills in her practice and, through compassionate consultations, opens wide the door to change. At Bellevue Hospital in New York City, McMacken is the lead physician on a plant-based pilot program designed to provide people with education and support. During the launch in 2019, overwhelming interest forced McMacken to set up a “Brocc...
Feb 06, 2020•1 hr 5 min•Season 2Ep. 28
"Behavioral change is the holy grail of medicine," said Dr. Robert Ostfeld at the recent Monmouth University screening of The Game Changers hosted by the Hockhockson Farm Foundation. "We all know that eating kale is good for us, but getting ourselves to do it is the hard part. Behavioral change is challenging, which is why documentaries like The Game Changers are so vital in continuing the dialogue around the power of a plant-based diet. On November 17th, 2019, that discussion extended across an...
Jan 30, 2020•40 min•Season 2Ep. 27
"I hate being lied to," says James "Lightning" Wilks, when asked why he was compelled to make The Game Changers documentary. Together, with a vast array of experts and science-based research, Wilks set out to answer the question, "What does the evidence and the science show in the search for truth in nutrition, especially as it relates to athletic performance and recovery?" The result, after seven years of research and filming? The Game Changers documentary. Rip and James caught up with each oth...
Jan 23, 2020•47 min•Season 2Ep. 26
Welcome back to part two of our conversation with the remarkable and influential plant-powered couple, Jon and Tracey Stewart. If you haven't already, be sure to go back and listen to Episode Two for the first half of this conversation where they share stories of their plant-based journey and recount the serendipitous story of how they met. In today's extended interview, we pick up the conversation from Hockhockson Farm Foundation , their animal sanctuary in New Jersey dedicated to promoting hea...
Jan 16, 2020•55 min•Season 2Ep. 25
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 health and provide resources for many. “The solution was simple,” she wrote in a blog post after the I...
Jan 09, 2020•34 min•Season 2Ep. 24
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 against the grain. On the Plant-Strong podcast, our mission is to drown out all of the noise and provi...
Jan 02, 2020•33 min•Season 2Ep. 23
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 your own journey goes a long way in keeping you on the path; therefore, our line-up includes first re...
Dec 26, 2019•4 min
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 doing what you love to do. And, of course, remain plant-strong. Support for this week's episode comes f...
Sep 10, 2019•42 min•Season 1Ep. 22
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's door to doing a triathlon in six months!" . But before we dive into the pond with Joe, we share pa...
Sep 03, 2019•38 min•Season 1Ep. 21
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 Family Farm to prepare for and complete a triathlon together. In Part One of this two-episode bundle, we'...
Aug 27, 2019•31 min•Season 1Ep. 20
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 training runs, rides, swims before heading to the station. At the age of 19, Duffy tragically lost a brot...
Aug 20, 2019•35 min•Season 1Ep. 19
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 and Eat Clean . Dr. Robynne Chutkan is an integrative gastroenterologist and the author of Gutbliss ,...
Aug 13, 2019•36 min•Season 1Ep. 18
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 convenient and inspiring? The Plant-Strong Meal Planner offers 1000s of recipes customized to your preferences...
Aug 06, 2019•40 min•Season 1Ep. 17
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 program. It's the program outlined in Rip’s third book, The Engine 2 Seven-Day Rescue Diet and it’s al...
Jul 30, 2019•48 min•Season 1Ep. 16
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 finally found a way out by learning to fall in love with the process. He consistently started making ...
Jul 23, 2019•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 15
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 favorites that will help you kick up your own kitchen skills. And this week, we've done the homework fo...
Jul 16, 2019•45 min•Season 1Ep. 14
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 and key plant-strong ingredients to practical kitchen utensils and tools, Chad dishes on his favorites...
Jul 09, 2019•52 min•Season 1Ep. 13
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 milk at home! Enjoy a $50 discount and free shipping with code PLANTSTRONG. Seeking a solution for mak...
Jul 02, 2019•1 hr 11 min•Season 1Ep. 12
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 rest of his life as his body continued to deteriorate. Refusing to be buried by this diagnosis, Adam...
Jun 25, 2019•44 min•Season 1Ep. 11
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 the same way that you can go several thousand miles without a proper oil change and maintenance, you ...
Jun 18, 2019•47 min•Season 1Ep. 10
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). But at what cost? Dr. Klaper has been practicing on the front lines of medicine for almost 40 years...
Jun 11, 2019•46 min•Season 1Ep. 9
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 why he adopted a plant-based diet and what it’s meant to his health, and his efforts to save the ver...
Jun 04, 2019•50 min•Season 1Ep. 8
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 countless times to lose weight. Any success he achieved was short-lived as the weight came pouring back on an...
May 21, 2019•37 min•Season 1Ep. 7
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 sugary, salty, fat-laden, food-like substances. For many, including Joe, the drive-thru is a powerful si...
May 16, 2019•36 min•Season 1Ep. 6
“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 clear five-step plan to improve sexual health: Go Fork Yourself, Sexercise, Go Offline, Detox, and Sno...
May 14, 2019•34 min•Season 1Ep. 5
