Our guest today is an award-winning pain specialist with decades of experience helping patients with chronic pain achieve a better quality of life. Dr. Andrea Furlan is a specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto, and a Staff Physician and Senior Scientist at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute. In her new book, 8 Steps to Conquer Chronic Pain: A Doctor’s Guide to Lifelong Relief, Dr. Furlan shares scien...
Mar 08, 2023•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 220
The story of our guest today, Dr. Sharon McDowell-Larsen, is one of perpetual movement. A plant-based athlete and former Coach at the Center for Creative Leadership, she’s lived on multiple continents and competed in IronMan triathlons, mountain bike races, Ultra Trail races, and Nordic ski races, just to name a few. Dr. McDowell-Larsen has a PhD in exercise physiology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and she has guided some of the world’s top leaders to peak performance in health and in...
Mar 01, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 219
What does it take to become a successful vegan entrepreneur? Today’s guest can tell you. Lauren Joyner grew up, like so many people, eating a diet rich in meat, dairy and processed foods. For her family, queso was a staple on the dinner table. However, as an adult, working as a tech startup designer, something changed. She made the switch to a plant-based diet and began taking an interest in creating delicious, nutritious plant-based alternatives to the comfort foods she ate growing up. Fast for...
Feb 22, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 218
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...
Feb 17, 2023•1 hr 27 min
Our guest today, Michelle Slater, is a true testament to the enduring power of the human spirit. She suffered symptoms from late-stage neurological Lyme disease for six years, symptoms so devastating, so utterly debilitating, that after exhausting every possible treatment—from allopathic to holistic—she actually considered assisted suicide. But in the face of seemingly impossible odds, she had the courage and resolve to take one final leap of faith, traveling all the way to Siberia, of all place...
Feb 15, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 217
Today’s guest grew up, like so many of us, on the Standard American Diet. But after watching the seminal documentary, Forks Over Knives, Dr. Steven Lome charted a new course in his life, both personally and professionally, by adopting a vegan diet, losing 100 pounds, and spreading the message about the healing power of plants. Dr. Lome is a board certified cardiologist, the founder of the Plant Based Nutrition Movement, and a member of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, where he ...
Feb 08, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 216
Today’s guest was on Episode 43, and we’re so happy he’s on again to talk about his upcoming book and new documentary! From the rough-and-tumble streets of Ferguson, Missouri, to the tropical shores of Miami, Florida, Vegan Badass John Lewis has an inspiring story. Growing up on a diet practically devoid of fresh fruits and vegetables, and weighing in at over 300 pounds when he was just thirteen, John decided to make a change. He immersed himself in basketball and football excellence, changed hi...
Feb 01, 2023•57 min•Ep. 215
Our guest today knew her calling at a much younger age than most of us. A fitness enthusiast, environmentalist and outspoken animal rights activist before she was even 15, Ella Magers is today a fitness coach, an author, and the founder of Sexy Fit Vegan. She’s been on a personal quest to help people change their attitudes toward food and wellness, and she has the international following to prove it. Ella was named one of the top 50 trainers in America by Shape magazine and Trainer Of The Month ...
Jan 25, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 214
With childhood obesity reaching epidemic proportions, our guest today, Dr. Leigh Ettinger, aka Dr. Herbivore, is a pediatric nephrologist who has seen firsthand the benefits of a plant-based diet for children. Dr. Ettinger is board certified in General Pediatrics and received his medical degree from Tufts University. He also received his certificate in plant-based nutrition from eCornell in 2016, and in 2019 he became a Diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine. He has a telemedicine p...
Jan 18, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 213
Our guest today is functional medicine practitioner Dr. Peter Kozlowski, and for those who aren’t familiar with functional medicine, you’re in for a real treat. Dr. Koz practices getting to the root of disease rather than treating the symptoms, while also addressing mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Doesn't that make sense? Dr. Kozlowski has authored two books: Unfunc Your Gut , in which he tackles gut health and the immune system, and his new book Get the Func Out , where he addresses de...
Jan 11, 2023•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 212
To talk to today’s guest, you may not guess he’s an extremely accomplished mixed martial artist. Modest, thoughtful, and incredibly insightful, Mac Danzig is a true maverick – a warrior poet and animal rights proponent who defies stereotypes and can wax philosophical about anything from human nature to photography, even skateboarding. A 2nd-degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, he came to prominence while winning season six of the Ultimate Fighter and made his mark in the ring as a dominant ...
Jan 04, 2023•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 211
Today’s guest is an example of how veganism can have a sweeping impact on your whole life. Born on the beautiful island of Puerto Rico, Fit Vegan Chef Natalie Matthews began surfing professionally at the age of sixteen. But when she started experiencing hypoglycemia, extreme fatigue and severe acne from dairy consumption, Natalie and her husband George were galvanized to learn the transformational health benefits of a plant-based diet. In just one year they were both thriving and free from illne...
Dec 28, 2022•58 min•Ep. 210
She’s a self-starter, she’s an activist, she’s a multi-hyphenate. Today’s guest, Jasmine Leyva, made her directing debut with the groundbreaking documentary The Invisible Vegan , which highlights her own journey with veganism while exploring the unknown history of plant-based eating directly linked to African roots. If you haven’t seen it, do yourself a favor and watch it immediately. Vibrant, eloquent and no-nonsense, Jasmine has appeared in front of the camera, starring in commercials for such...
Dec 21, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 209
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...
Dec 16, 2022•1 hr 15 min
Ever wonder why some people who get exposed to colds or the flu get really ill while others experience mild symptoms or don’t get sick at all? Fortunately, today’s guest is here to provide answers to this mystery. An authority on the “microbiome,” Dr. Robynne Chutkan is here to tell us all about the remarkable flora residing in our intestines, and how feeding it the right foods can promote health, prevent disease, and even help us with our weight. Dr. Chutkan is a board-certified gastroenterolog...
Dec 14, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 208
Dr. Dawn Mussallem is a board-certified Lifestyle Medicine Physician at the Mayo Clinic Jacoby Center for Breast Health, where she works with breast cancer patients during and after their diagnosis to heal and thrive using the pillars of lifestyle medicine alongside their conventional cancer treatments. Dawn has many remarkable stories of patient recovery, but the biggest recovery story of all is her own. You see, in addition to being a physician, teacher, wife, and mother, Mussallem is also a c...
Dec 07, 2022•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 207
Who says you have to be defined by a type 1 diabetes diagnosis? Who says your life can’t continue to be just as rich or fulfilling? Certainly not today’s guest. Lauren Plunkett is a registered dietitian, a diabetes education specialist, a fitness instructor, a dynamic national speaker, a plant-based nutrition advocate, and a shining beacon of positive energy, exemplifying how to live your best life with type 1 diabetes. And she does it all with so much empathy, a keen intellect, and a smile so r...
Nov 30, 2022•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 206
Okay, today’s guest has an incredibly compelling story. He’s someone who truly knows how to turn adversity into opportunity. Uber-successful serial entrepreneur, David Israel, has owned, among other things, a nightclub, a jewelry store, a chain of upscale pawnshops, and a maintenance company. But what’s most interesting, is that in 2011, while enduring the most personally challenging period in his life, he founded POP! Gourmet Foods, taking the snack industry by storm and forming partnerships wi...
Nov 23, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 205
Our guest today is an expert on all things related to the penis and male reproductive medicine. Although many folks are uncomfortable talking about issues related to the penis, Dr. Arron Spitz normalizes important conversations around it and sexual health. He specializes in male fertility and is a board-certified urologist who has a broad practice that includes nutrition-sensitive intervention. He’s outspoken about common problems like erectile dysfunction and delivers important information to u...
Nov 18, 2022•1 hr 8 min
Our guest today, Dr. Sheil Shukla, practices internal medicine at Northwestern Medicine in Illinois, but within him beats the heart of a true artist, and it’s apparent in everything he does – whether it’s treating patients or photographing mouthwatering meals that he’s prepared for his 60,000 followers on Instagram. Dr. Shukla is also a contributor at the culinary publication – Best of Vegan. He’s been featured in VegNews, Forks Over Knives, and THRIVE Magazine. And now, with his new book, Plant...
Nov 16, 2022•55 min•Ep. 204
* Trigger Warning: I will be discussing weight/size and some tough concepts. This information may be triggering, may lead to cognitive dissonance, and bring up uncomfortable feelings* In this special episode of Veggie Doctor Radio, I discuss weight stigma and weight bias to raise your level of awareness around this important topic. I’ve opened up one-on-one coaching spots for a limited time! Sign up for a free discovery call: Doctoryami.com/coachme Disclaimer: The information on this blog, websi...
Nov 09, 2022•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 203
From the sultry jungles of Vietnam to the golden dunes of Morocco, to the enchanting café terraces of Paris, today’s intrepid guest has seen it all. And after years of personal and professional experience, World Vegan Travel cofounder, Brighde Reed, wants to share her vast knowledge with you. As a passionate vegan activist, chef, and travel enthusiast, Brighde and her partner, Sebastien, have created a travel company that takes vegans (and anyone curious about veganism) on these incredible tours...
Nov 02, 2022•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 202
We’re super excited to introduce today’s guest! Debbie Adler is the very definition of a renaissance woman. She’s been a Wall Street accountant, an actress, a comedienne, a playwright, and a television development executive. But sixteen years ago she found her true calling, as the creator of the very first vegan, sugar-free, gluten-free, and allergy-free bakery in Los Angeles. Sweet Debbie’s Organic Cupcakes caters to everyone from studio heads to Hollywood A-list entertainers. Debbie is also th...
Oct 26, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 201
We are so fortunate to have a guest who was with us when it all started. He was our very first guest on the Switch4Good podcast, so it’s only fitting that he should join us for our very special 200th episode. You will even see him on our Switch4Good staff page, that’s how closely we work with him. We’re so thrilled and truly honored to have with us, the esteemed Doctor and vegan activist, Dr. Milton Mills! For those of you who missed our first episode, Dr. Mills earned his medical degree from St...
Oct 19, 2022•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 200
No matter what your relationship to food is, we all live in a world manipulated by an addiction business model. We’re constantly confronted with ads for foods that have been designed to make us want more, and it began when the tobacco industry started buying up brands like Nabisco and Kraft Foods. Dr. Joan Ifland is an expert in processed food addiction, and her research is both eye-opening and appalling. This is a gripping conversation about the intersections of human behavior, evolution, and m...
Oct 12, 2022•1 hr 31 min•Ep. 199
“In fact, there was a great study that showed that, in the long term, young children and adolescents who consumed minimally processed soy products had a lower breast cancer risk later on in life than those who did not consume soy products. And I thought that was a great thing to point out because this means that it’s actually healthy throughout the lifecycle, not just when you’re in those years around menopause, but even as children and adolescents it can help set you up for a healthier lifestyl...
Oct 05, 2022•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 198
Born and raised in East Los Angeles and forged in the fires of adversity, cookbook author Chef Babette Davis burst onto the culinary scene with her renowned vegan restaurant Stuff I Eat in Inglewood, California, where the soul food platter is one of the many, many must-try dishes. An ageless paragon of fitness and vibrant health, Chef Babette has legions of social media followers who love seeing her posts of this incredibly fit 71-year-old working out or cooking or even in a bikini. If she’s not...
Sep 28, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 197
Rip Esselstyn is a world record holder, former pro triathlete, best-selling author, firefighter, and founder of Plant-Strong—an organization helping people lead healthier lives through plant-based nutrition. After a career as a pro athlete, Rip transitioned to firefighting at the Engine 2 firehouse in Austin, Texas. It was there that after a friendly competition, he realized one of his co-workers was on the brink of major health issues. As the son of the prolific Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, Rip coul...
Sep 23, 2022•1 hr 20 min
Julie Piatt, a.k.a. “SriMati,” is a mystic, yogi, musician, artist, chef, author, and healer. She is also the mother of 4 children and finds the divine in all experiences in life, beautiful and challenging alike. Julie has created over 300 plant-based recipes for a series of bestselling cookbooks and is the author of the plant-based cheese bible, “This Cheese Is Nuts!”. She also co-authored the internationally acclaimed books “The Plantpower Way” and ``The Plantpower Way; Italia” with her husban...
Sep 21, 2022•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 196
Our guest today, Nidhi Gupta, was born and raised in India, but her passion for helping people took her on an expansive journey. After 16 years of rigorous medical training across two continents, she has offered her dream job in 2018 as an attending physician at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, in Nashville. As a physician, she saw the severe consequences of wireless mobile devices being overused by her patients. She noticed obesity, sleep disorders, and mental health issues, and realized t...
Sep 14, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 195
