Imagine living life in constant physical pain, not knowing whether it will get better or worse the next day. Living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) isn't always easy. Everyday chores can become a challenge as the disease progresses. Fortunately, there are various treatments and strategies to better manage the condition. Today's guest developed rheumatoid arthritis at age 31, becoming incapacitated by the disease. It was food poisoning that set him on a true healing journey. Clint Paddison is an A...
Mar 09, 2022•1 hr 32 min•Ep. 168
Many people still believe that what they eat, how they live, their experiences, and even who they share their life with has no impact on their physical health. Today's guest is out to dispel that. Dr. Matthew Nagra is a Naturopathic Physician, and in case you're wondering if a Naturopathic Physician is a real doctor, Dr. Matthew Nagra is a health practitioner who treats people holistically. He follows a scientific and evidence-based approach to treating ailments. Dr. Matthew Nagra practices Inte...
Mar 02, 2022•1 hr 35 min•Ep. 167
What image comes to your mind when you think of the word “healthy”? What do you think a “healthy” person should look like? Your views about health and body image are deeply rooted in a mindset you’ve been conditioned into from internal and external influences. Every day you struggle with choices, especially with food and what diet is right for you. What if there's a way to challenge diet culture and have a more peaceful relationship with food and your body? Wouldn't you want to know about it? Th...
Feb 23, 2022•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 166
According to WHO, cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide , accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020, or nearly one in six deaths. Many cancers can be cured if detected early and treated effectively. Studies have shown that an anti-cancer diet is an important strategy you can use to reduce your risk of cancer. To help us understand the role of food in preventing and curing illnesses, specifically cancer, we have Dr. Shireen Kassam, a certified Lifestyle Medicine Physician and co-auth...
Feb 16, 2022•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 165
Jessica Strathdee worked on a typical dairy farm in New Zealand. The animals were not intentionally abused, and they had access to the open green fields so often associated with the pastoral practice of dairying. However, Jessica’s retelling of her experience on the farm is horrifying. It’s not the farm she worked on—it’s the system. There is no way to obtain cows’ milk for human consumption without participating in truly exploitive acts. Jessica is not an animal-lover, nor is she a bleeding-hea...
Feb 11, 2022•58 min
Food addiction is one of the biggest addictions on the planet. To some degree, everyone has experienced a struggle with food addiction. But we can't just stop eating. We need food to survive. The question is, what type of food do you consume? Think of your body like a computer and the food you eat as the software. Would you put malware inside your computer? Today's guest is Fraser Bayley, a former butcher turned vegan health coach. Fraser looks at bloodwork markers to gauge a client's health sta...
Feb 09, 2022•1 hr 42 min•Ep. 164
As human beings, we are addicted to animal products, and it will take a lot of time to make a change. But today’s guest is a creator with a purpose and joins me this week to share their inspiring journey towards making lasting change. Robbie Lockie is a brave soul filled with grit, determination, and the desire to see real change happen. They are the co-founder of Plant-Based News, an outlet that provides free access to information on responsible consumerism, environmental activism, and plant-ba...
Feb 02, 2022•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 163
Today on the show we have the incredible public health hero Dr. Daphne Bascom. Dr. Daphne has decades of meaningful public and population health work under her belt. If you haven’t heard of population health work before, have no fear! We discuss what it is exactly and why it is important with the doctor herself. Dr. Daphne is the Vice President of Population Health at St. Luke’s Health System in Kansas City and heads the community engagement program that is changing the world, one individual at ...
Jan 26, 2022•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 162
It doesn’t take a mighty act of willpower to change your life for the better, and David Wegener is proof of that. Dave is a visual arts teacher at a high school in Washington. He grew up overweight and packed on the pounds into adulthood. He identified as a volume eater and loved McDonalds, eventually tipping the scale at over 300 pounds. When his doctor tried to put him on medication for high triglyceride levels, Dave was shocked into action. He started with simple changes—eating a salad here a...
Jan 19, 2022•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 161
What really happens every time you put food into your body? What is the microbiome? How does it affect us? How important is fiber? What about pre and probiotics? Dr. Will Bulsiewicz answers these questions and more in this riveting episode all about the gut. Think of it as Microbiome 101. Understand the science behind this multifaceted system then learn how to put it into practice by picking up a copy of Dr. Bulsiewicz’s new book, Fiber Fueled. What we discuss in this episode: - Dr. Bulsiewicz’s...
Jan 14, 2022•1 hr 3 min
For Simon Hill, the proof is in the plants. This physiotherapist-turned-celebrity-nutritionist roots everything in science, and he’s established a brand that helps to educate and empower people to live their best lives through an active and plant-based lifestyle. Simon has coached stars such as Chris Hemsworth and worked with professional Australian football teams, but today, this serial entrepreneur and nutritionist is sharing his best tips and explaining the science behind them. Motivated by a...
Jan 12, 2022•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 160
Our guest today is living proof that anyone can change their life. Alishea Basson was a mom of four and creeping into dangerous territory in regards to her health by the time she was 30 years old. Severely overweight and plagued with seizures and high blood pressure, Alishea decided she couldn’t live with her emotional eating self any longer. She educated herself on how to eat healthfully and exercise, eventually adopting a whole foods, plant-based diet. While her family didn’t support this choi...
Jan 05, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 159
Are you stressed? Not taking care of yourself as well as you should? Feeling a bit unfulfilled? It’s time for a detox. You don’t have to jump into a juice cleanse or book a 10-day meditation retreat. Our guests today are here to guide you through the first steps and help you be more receptive to living consciously. Hosts of the longstanding PBS and Amazon prime docu-series, “Conscious Living,” Michael and Bianca Alexander are experts when it comes to injecting a little namaste into the everyday....
Dec 29, 2021•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 158
Hop on your bike, because this episode is a wild ride. Leah Goldstein is an incredible human who knows no limits. Most recently, she gained fame as the first woman to outright win Race Across America (RAAM). She also happens to be 52 and a plant-based athlete. Before Leah’s decorated pro cycling career, she was an elite commando instructor for the Israeli Defense Force, and prior to that, she became a bantamweight national kickboxing champion at age 17. This woman can endure, but she’s also not ...
Dec 22, 2021•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 157
Today on the show we have the legendary athlete, podcast host, author, and all-around wonderful human being, Rich Roll. Rich is a father and husband, but most of you will recognize his grounding voice from his weekly masterclass in personal and professional development—the Rich Roll Podcast. From a promising Stanford swimmer to a desperate entertainment lawyer caught in the vicious cycle of alcohol abuse, Rich hit rock bottom and used the power of plants and endurance to catapult his life into o...
Dec 15, 2021•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 156
Charlie Engle has run across the Sahara. He’s served time in prison. He’s remained sober from a debilitating alcohol and drug addiction for 26 years. Most of us can’t relate to the feats Charlie has accomplished, but we can all learn from his experiences and his wisdom. In the time of COVID-19, we could all benefit from a bit of self-evaluation. Charlie’s advice is sound, attainable, and immensely helpful for anyone who is struggling to overcome a challenge or is simply stuck. Life is a collecti...
Dec 10, 2021•59 min
From raising vegan kids to concerns about GMOs, James Marin is back to provide answers to all of your nutrition questions. James is a Registered Dietitian and an Environmental Nutritionist as well as a dad to a six-year-old. This conversation dives into both kid and adult nutrition as well as the environmental factors we often don’t think about when deciding what to eat. James also stays on to answer our listener questions, so stay tuned through the end! What we discuss in this episode: - Bioacc...
Dec 08, 2021•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 155
According to Glen Merzer, Al Gore needs to step it up. The comedian-turned-screenwriter has authored several books that center around the plant-based diet and its many benefits. Merzer’s first works focused on health after collaborating with Howard Lyman to write “Mad Cowboy.” In more recent years, Merzer has turned his attention toward animal agriculture and its disastrous effects on climate change. His newest release—”Food Is Climate—” stresses the fact that world leaders, corporations, and mo...
Dec 01, 2021•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 154
Dr. Carolyn Ross, MD, is an eating disorder and addiction specialist. Her approach is unique—trauma, she claims, is the root cause of adult behavioral disorders such as addiction and eating disorders. Two-thirds of Americans experience at least one childhood trauma, and that can manifest itself later in life as binge eating, bulimia, anorexia, and/or drug and alcohol addiction. For Dr. Ross, it’s not about the food at all—it’s about the trauma and how to heal from it. This conversation breaks th...
Nov 24, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 153
Got gut issues? We’ve got a doctor on call. Dr. Alan Desmond is a general practitioner and gastroenterologist based in the UK. He incorporates whole, plant-based nutrition to treat the problem, not the symptoms, and he’s seen remarkable results with hundreds of patients. He’s also the author of “Plant-Based Diet Revolution: 28 Days to a Happier Gut and a Healthier You” and serves as an ambassador for Plant-Based Health Professionals UK. If you’ve got tummy troubles—from basic bloating to more se...
Nov 17, 2021•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 152
Your therapist is probably counseling you wrong. According to Dr. Jennifer Howk, Ph.D., your past experiences have little to do with the way you are. Dr. Howk practices evolutionary psychology which emphasizes the role of nature in the development of one’s personality. As a former staff member of the prestigious True North Health Center, Dr. Howk is an expert when it comes to the psychology behind weight loss. She challenges popular beliefs surrounding human behavior and makes us reassess our de...
Nov 12, 2021•1 hr 9 min
In this episode, we get political—in a good way. Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams joins us to discuss his journey to the plant-based lifestyle, his meaningful work as a public official, and the responsibility he feels toward improving the wellbeing of his constituents. As a Black leader and former type 2 diabetic, Adams serves as an example that the plant-based lifestyle is not a “white person” thing, but an accessible choice everyone can make to live healthier, more fulfilling lives. We al...
Nov 10, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 151
“We knew the Taliban was going to regain power … we just didn’t know when,” Pen Farthing told us in this episode. A British-soldier-turned animal welfare hero, Farthing founded and managed Nowzad—an animal shelter and clinic in Kabul. He and his staff (many of whom were Afghani women) spent years rescuing dogs and cats, running animal education programs, and administering spay/neuter operations and rabies vaccinations for Kabul’s strays. Farthing made headlines when the Taliban took over, transp...
Nov 03, 2021•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 150
We are back for round two with Dr. Monica Aggarwal. If you haven’t listened to the first episode (#148), go back and listen to her origin story. Dr. Aggarwal takes a different approach to heart health than most cardiologists. Instead of stents and blood-thinners, she uses lifestyle and nutrition as a patient’s first line of defense. Named a New Generation Innovator by Cardiology Today, Dr. Aggarwal is helping people live longer—not just masking the symptoms of heart disease. Everyone has some le...
Oct 27, 2021•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 149
Dr. Monica Aggarwal is the perfect example of what can happen when you don’t take care of your body … she’s also the perfect example of what can happen when you do take care of your body. Living under the constant pressure of defined gender norms in a subspecialty medical profession, Dr. Aggarwal strived to be perfect. After finishing school and experiencing several miscarriages, she had three children in four years and tried to be Super Mom along with her full-time job as a cardiologist. Ultima...
Oct 20, 2021•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 148
When dieting doesn’t work, it’s time to stop dabbling in healthy eating. Dr. Joel Fuhruman is a highly respected physician who has made his mark by focusing on nutrition. He is the founder of the Nutritarian Diet which is based on whole, plant-based foods that have been scientifically shown to reduce cancer risk and extend longevity. In his seven bestselling books, you won’t find “cheat days” or “moderation,” and he explains why in this riveting episode. Fuhrman educates us on the fundamentals o...
Oct 15, 2021•1 hr 5 min
For someone who had no idea what to do with their life after graduating high school, 25-year-old Calen Otto has more purpose and passion than most people twice their age. What started out as a year in Chile as a foreign exchange student led to a ravenous travel bug. At 19, Calen crossed the US on a bike and supported themself by working as they went. They've been to 25 countries, mastered the art of vegan traveling on a budget, and do whatever they can to be an advocate for the animals—whether t...
Oct 13, 2021•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 147
How do you know if a product is cruelty-free if you can’t trust the label? According to Kim Paschen—Program Manager for Leaping Bunny—there is no regulated definition for cruelty-free. That means companies who use this label are not held accountable and may very well include ingredients that have been tested on animals. When it comes to compassionate cosmetics that are truly animal-free, things get complicated, but that’s where Leaping Bunny comes in. The certification organization upholds compa...
Oct 06, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 146
How does a 12-year-old start a non-profit? Haile Thomas will tell you. Now 20, Haile is accomplished beyond her years. Extraordinarily articulate and composed, Haile has been featured on The Food Network, Good Morning America, The Dr. Oz Show, the Drew Barrymore Show, and a dozen other talk shows. She’s the founder of The Happy Organization—a non-profit that empowers kids to embrace self-care and plant-based nutrition. She’s also the author of Living Lively—a cookbook with 80 plant-based recipes...
Sep 29, 2021•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 145
There are doctors who like to point out your problems and use medication as a bandaid, and there are doctors like Melissa Sundermann . A double board-certified DO in internal and lifestyle medicine, Dr. Sundermann combines Western medicine with a holistic approach to help her patients heal. She’s friendly, empathetic, and empowering. Join in on our delightful conversation with this Michigan-based doc to learn more about lifestyle medicine, tips to implement it into your routine, and how to help ...
Sep 22, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 144
