PLANTSTRONG Podcast

What if the foods you love most—the ones tied to family, culture, and comfort—could also help you heal?

In this powerful and deeply personal conversation, Rip sits down with Javant Benton, creator of Healthy Vegan Eating and author of Make Your Own, to talk about food, family legacy, self-love, and breaking generational cycles of disease.

Javant shares how a frightening health wake-up—pre-diabetes, pre-hypertension, and a suspected lymphoma diagnosis—forced him to confront the way he was eating and living. What followed was a slow, intentional journey through paleo, pescatarian, and ultimately whole-food, plant-ba...

What if your breakfast could power you through the entire morning—without cravings, crashes, or hunger an hour later?

In this episode, Rip sits down with Molly Patrick, founder of Clean Food Dirty Girl, to dive deep into the breakfast bowl that has become a cult favorite. Molly shares the story behind her hearty, nutrient-packed “Hippie Porridge Bowl”—a recipe she spent nearly eight years perfecting after realizing her usual steel-cut oats weren’t keeping her satisfied.

The result? A powerhouse bowl built from a diverse mix of whole plant foods—grains, lentils, leafy greens, seeds, fruit...

At just 43 years old, Charles Gassenheimer was 75 pounds overweight, pre-diabetic, struggling with joint pain and memory loss, and taking high-dose cholesterol medications. His doctors were managing his decline — not reversing it.

Then one conversation changed everything.

After meeting cardiologist Dr. Robert Ostfeld, Charles committed to a whole-food, plant-based lifestyle. The results were extraordinary: he lost over 70 pounds, came off medications, reversed his cardiovascular risk markers, and returned to running.

Today, Charles has completed over 15 marathons — including running the New York City Marathon faster in his 40s than he did in his 20s — while raisin...

What if your health wasn’t just shaped by what you eat—but by what’s hidden in your medications?

In this episode, Rip sits down with pharmacist-scientist Dr. Sachin Shah, a leading voice in medication transparency and patient safety. Together, they explore why food truly belongs at the center of health, how modern medicine sometimes misses the human in healthcare, and why knowing what’s inside your pills can be just as important as knowing what’s on your plate.

Dr. Shah also breaks down alpha-gal syndrome—a tick-bite–triggered condition that can make people allergi...

What does it look like when plant-based living moves beyond personal choice and into real systems change? This episode answers that question in a big way.

Rip sits down with longtime friend and food policy powerhouse Rachel Atcheson, founder of Food Policy Pathways, for a wide-ranging conversation about how food policy can transform public health, reduce chronic disease, and make healthy eating the default — not the exception.

Rip and Rachel unpack how initiatives like Meatless Monday and Plant-Powered Fridays in NYC public schools, plant-based default hospital meals, and lifestyle medicine clinics became reality — reaching millions of p...

In this deeply grounded conversation, Rip sits down with Jan Liband — a former college athlete, longtime plant-based advocate, and expert in food and environmental sustainability. What began for Jan as a single pamphlet exposing the environmental toll of animal agriculture became a lifelong commitment to plant-based living nearly 40 years ago.

Jan shares his journey from a meat-centered, “healthy by 1980s standards” diet to discovering how plant-based eating dramatically improved his energy, recovery, and athletic performance.

Along the way, Rip and Jan tackle some of the biggest barriers to change — especially for men — including cultural conditioning, fear of ch...

It’s been way too long since Jackie Akerberg (@jackfruitfulkitchen) was on the podcast, and this episode is a true catch-up in every sense of the word. Jackie is a plant-based cook, creator, and community builder who brings joy, honesty, and seriously good food into everything she does.

In this conversation, we talk about how Jackie went plant-based and never looked back, how her health completely transformed, and how she’s grown an incredibly engaged online community by keeping things real—both in the kitchen and in life. We also get into big life changes, moving across the co...

Firefighters are trained to run toward danger — but too often, their own health is what’s at risk. In this episode of the Plant Strong Podcast, Rip sits down with fellow firefighter Andy Schaefer of Avon, Ohio, whose journey into plant-based eating began with a life-altering decision: donating one of his kidneys to his brother-in-law.

Determined to be as healthy and resilient as possible, Andy adopted a whole-food, plant-based lifestyle more than five years ago — and the results were undeniable. Faster recovery, dramatically improved biomarkers, more stamina on the fireground, and a renewed sense of purpose. Today, Andy i...

In this episode, Rip sits down with Jet, a 66-year-old husband, father, hiker, and former keto devotee whose health collapsed despite doing “everything right” according to low-carb gurus. After a terrifying calcium score, debilitating angina, and near-widowmaker blockage, Jet found himself out of breath, unable to hike his favorite mountains, and feeling an impending sense of doom.

A reunion — and one shocking scar from a friend’s open-heart surgery — jolted him into action. Jet pivoted from years of high-fat keto eating to a whole-food, plant-based, SOS-free lifestyle inspired by Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn. Within weeks, his symptoms vanished. Within mon...

What does it mean to live intentionally?

In this inspiring conversation, Rip sits down with endurance athlete and author Joe Gagnon, who shares how he shifted from chasing external success to living with deeper purpose and awareness. Joe explores the mindset and habits that fuel his growth — from building strong health pillars and saying “yes” to new challenges, to embracing discomfort as a teacher.

Through endurance racing, reflection, and a plant strong lifestyle, Joe has learned that intentionality, courage, and consistency aren’t just traits of high performers — they’re the foundation for a fulfilled life.

...

Inflammation is running rampant — and it’s not starting in your joints or your arteries. It’s starting in your gut.

This week, Rip is joined by world-renowned gut health expert Dr. Will Bulsiewicz, aka “Dr. B,” author of the book Plant Powered Plus. (Release Date: January 13, 2026) Together, they break down why chronic disease, fatigue, weight gain, autoimmune disorders, and even emotional burnout so often trace back to what’s happening inside your microbiome.

Dr. B reveals his powerful three-phase gut-healing plan, explains why fiber is the undisputed MVP of human health, and shows how plant divers...

Eating healthier shouldn’t feel confusing, overwhelming, or impossible to sustain—and if it ever has, you’re not the problem. In this 30-minute REAL30™ webinar, Rip Esselstyn and Laurie Kortowich introduce a simple, science-backed framework designed to help you eat more real, whole plants and stay consistent without turning your life upside down.

The REAL30 is built on three approachable pillars:

You’ll learn why plant diversity matters—especially f...

This episode originally dropped in October, 2024

Dr. Dawn Mussallem joins Rip for an enlightening discussion on the vital role of personalized precision lifestyle medicine in breast cancer prevention and recovery.

They dive deep into the importance of nutrition, emphasizing whole food plant-based diets, supplements, and the power of social connections in enhancing health outcomes.

Dr. Mussallem shares her insights on various supplements, including the benefits and risks associated with Vitamins D, B12, and the impact of iron during cancer therapies, alongside the benefits of herbs and spices like turmeric and ginger in supporting...

Rip sits down with Andrea Freeman, James Beard Award-winning author of Ruin Their Crops on the Ground. Drawing on more than 20 years of research, Andrea unpacks how food, race, and class have shaped America’s food system, exploring the historical roots of inequality that still influence what ends up on our plates today.

Their conversation takes listeners on a journey from the Trail of Tears to contemporary food policies, revealing how government decisions and corporate interests have systematically marginalized communities, perpetuating cycles of poor health and limited access to nutritious food. Andrea’s insights illuminate the ways in w...

Rip welcomes Chuck Carroll — once a “fast food junkie”- now a beloved voice in the plant-based movement and host of the Exam Room Podcast.

While plant-based eating helped normalize his blood pressure, stabilize his weight, and restore his vitality, Chuck also shares a vulnerable part of his story: despite doing everything right, he’s now navigating a complex chronic illness with no clear diagnosis. His honesty underscores a truth many people quietly carry — that health journeys aren’t linear, and sometimes illness arrives without explanation or fairness.

Still, Chuck shows that healing isn’t just physical...

What happens when a company decides to put real food at the center of employee wellness? In this powerful episode, Rip sits down with the team at Central Garden & Pet, a 7,000-employee organization that has taken a radically forward-thinking approach to improving the health of its people. Their partnership with PLANTSTRONG by Metabite has produced clinical-level outcomes — without drugs, deprivation, or pressure to “go vegan.”

Rip is joined by Dawn Hutchins, Central’s Director of Plant-Based Nutrition, who shares how the program was born, what she learned from a year of research and focus groups, and why this isn...

Today, on what is a day of Thanksgiving here in the United States,  we want to take a few minutes to honor three extraordinary men—Dr. John McDougall, Dr. Baxter Montgomery, and John Robbins—who we’ve recently lost. These weren’t just leaders in the whole food, plant-based movement—they were trailblazers, mentors, and fearless advocates for health and hope.

Dr. McDougall taught us that food is medicine and that living your principles matters more than pleasing critics. Dr. Montgomery showed us the power of compassion in medicine and the importance of giving everyone access to real, whole...

Rip Esselstyn welcomes back beloved plant-based author Dreena Burton, who is stepping into an exciting new chapter with Fascia Flo — her movement program designed to unlock mobility, reduce pain, and support healthy aging.

Dreena shares her personal journey with injury and how it led her to discover fascia, the body’s connective tissue network that plays a key role in movement, posture, and emotional well-being. She breaks down the science in simple terms and explains how small, intentional movements can make a big impact on how we feel day to day.

Rip and Dreena also talk...

What happens when a doctor becomes the patient? In this inspiring episode, Rip talks with Dr. Sunny Sharma — a lifestyle medicine physician whose life took an unexpected turn when he was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor. That experience didn’t just change his health; it completely transformed how he practices medicine.

Dr. Sharma shares how his journey deepened his empathy, strengthened his belief in prevention, and led him to embrace the six pillars of lifestyle medicine: plant-based nutrition, movement, sleep, stress management, avoiding harmful substances, and connection. He’s now helping patients heal from the inside out —...

In this inspiring episode, Rip sits down with Lauren Bernick, host of the podcast, Age Like a Badass Mother and creator of WellElephant.com.

At age 46, Lauren was blindsided by a diagnosis of advanced heart disease, despite believing she was eating a “healthy” diet. Faced with the prospect of lifelong statins and the threat of a heart attack, she took matters into her own hands—turning to Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn’s Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease approach.

Now, more than a decade later, Lauren shares how she not only transformed her health but also found freedom...

What happens when you mix humor, authenticity, and a love for peanut butter hacks? You get Nikki Boes — a vibrant voice in the vegan community (@vegan_af_) who’s showing the world that you don’t have to be a “perfect vegan” to make an impact.

In this lively and laugh-filled conversation, Nikki opens up about:

In this powerful before and after episode, Rip and Dr. Laurie Marbas introduce us to, Marlene Skiver, who’s goal is to reclaim her health through the power of plants.

Marlene has faced her share of challenges — from pre-diabetes, high cholesterol, and Hashimoto’s disease, to the stress that followed retirement and the loss of loved ones. But instead of giving in, she’s choosing to fight back — fork in hand.

Together, Marlene and Dr. Marbas explore the root causes of her chronic disease, including insulin resistance, and what really happens when you stop treating symptoms a...

We all know the saying, “the body keeps the score,” and this week’s guest, Dr. Tila Kansagra, has lived it — and now helps others heal from it.

A UK-based general practitioner and lifestyle medicine physician, Dr. Kansagra brings compassion, lived experience, and evidence-based practice together to help her patients move beyond symptoms and toward true wellness.

In this conversation, we dive into her personal journey with familial trauma, her passion for plant-based nutrition, and how the six pillars of lifestyle medicine — nutrition, movement, sleep, stress management, connection, and avoidance of risky substances — can transform lives.

In this episode, Rip sits down with Chef Tara Punzone, founder of Pura Vita—the first 100% plant-based Italian restaurant in the U.S.—and writer Gene Stone, co-author of Vegana Italiana. Together, they dive into the passion and purpose behind their brand-new cookbook, which transforms beloved Italian classics into bold, satisfying vegan dishes.

Tara shares her journey from growing up in a big Italian family in New York, where food and tradition were always at the center, to making the choice to go vegan at just twelve years old. Listeners will hear how she managed to honor her...

He’s back for the fourth time!

Dan Buettner—National Geographic fellow, explorer, longevity expert, and creator of the Blue Zones—returns and this time we’re diving into his brand-new New York Times best-selling book: Blue Zones: One Pot Meals.

Dan and Rip roll up their sleeves and go page by page through his delicious new recipes—from savory Tex-Mex breakfast skillets to mushroom walnut bolognese, roasted cauliflower, creamy mac ‘n cheese, and even chewy oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.

They talk about:

Think plant-based cooking takes too much time? Rip Esselstyn and producer Carrie Barrett are here to prove otherwise. In this energizing mini-episode, the duo dismantles one of the biggest myths around a whole food, plant-based lifestyle—that it’s complicated and time-consuming.

With a mix of personal stories and practical strategies, Rip and Carrie show how to make plant-based meals fast, fun, and family-friendly. From the “bowl build” method to frozen food shortcuts, they reveal how simple tweaks can transform cooking into an easy, joyful part of your day.

What You’ll Learn:

What if the only thing standing between you and your true potential… is you?

Rip welcomes Kori McClurg, author of the new book Get Out of Your Own Way. Kori’s journey from self-loathing to self-love is one of courage, vulnerability, and the transformative power of plants.

Like so many, Kori spent years battling the weight of diet culture, mental health struggles, and a body that reflected her inner turmoil. But through honesty, self-compassion, and a shift to a whole food plant-based diet, she discovered a new path — one that nourished both her body and her sp...

What happens when you grow up in a Mexican steakhouse, but later discover the healing power of plants?

For Dora Ramírez, the journey from sizzling meats to vibrant, plant-based cuisine was nothing short of transformative. Raised in Ciudad Acuña, Mexico, Dora feared giving up animal products would mean giving up her culture. Instead, she found that beans, grains, veggies, and spices didn’t just replace her favorite dishes—they enhanced them.

Now, as the author of Comida Casera, Dora is sharing her fresh, plant-strong take on everything from tamales and mole to street food a...

This week on the PLANTSTRONG Podcast, Rip sits down with the legendary Kathy Stevens, founder of Catskill Animal Sanctuary, as she prepares to step away after more than 20 years of rescuing animals and inspiring people to live with compassion.

Since 2001, Kathy has been leading with love—creating a safe haven for thousands of animals and cultivating a culture that welcomes everyone, no matter where they are on their journey. In this heartfelt conversation, she reflects on her legacy, the lessons learned from her four-legged teachers, and the future of Catskill Animal Sanctuary.

You’ll hear:

If you’ve ever been told that 'carbs are the enemy,' or if you think type 2 diabetes is a life sentence, Adam Sud is about to blow the lid off those myths.

He’s a certified insulin resistance and food addiction coach, and returns for his fourth appearance on the podcast to clear up the misconceptions and set the record straight about what really causes diabetes.

He shares the real root causes of insulin resistance, the role of fat vs. carbs, how movement and muscle can be your secret weapons, and the simple, sustainable chan...

At 38, Tyler Dodge was battling anxiety, erectile dysfunction, and extra weight—but instead of turning to medication, he turned to plants. By embracing a whole food, plant-based lifestyle, Tyler shed 50 pounds, lowered his blood pressure and cholesterol, and reclaimed both his physical and mental health. His powerful story proves that real men eat plants—and thrive.

This is a must-listen—especially for the men in your life—especially because Tyler talks openly about the things most guys never say out loud.

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In this week’s episode, Rip talks with Dr. Luella Jonk, a seasoned relationship coach and psychotherapist, about how to keep your relationship strong when you’re on different pages.

Drawing from 25 years of experience, Dr. Jonk shares the core pillars of lasting partnerships, including trust, unity in parenting, financial alignment, and the quiet power of “silent connection.” She explains why marriage is a covenant, not a contract, and how to lean into partnership over individualism to build deeper connection.

Whether you’re navigating lifestyle divides, parenting challenges, or the everyday distractions of modern life, this conve...

What happens when a seasoned cardiologist realizes that prescriptions and procedures aren’t enough?

You get Dr. Jami Dulaney—a board-certified cardiologist who transformed her practice (and personal life) by embracing plant-based nutrition and lifestyle medicine.

Motivated by her own family history of heart disease and a desire to do more than simply manage symptoms, Dr. Dulaney shares her transformative journey from practicing traditional cardiology to building a lifestyle medicine practice that focuses on the healing power of whole food, plant-based nutrition and movement.

You'll hear how she made this bold shift in her...

In this unforgettable episode, Rip Esselstyn sits down with Nancy Wells, whose near-death experience at the Glass City Marathon turned into a life-saving wake-up call—and a triumphant return to running and living with purpose.

While racing last April, Nancy collapsed from a massive heart attack—a"Widowmaker." Thanks to the quick actions of a retired nurse and fast-acting paramedics, Nancy survived. But surviving was just the beginning.

Now, joined by Rip and cardiologist Dr. Brian Asbill, Nancy shares her gripping story: from waking up in the hospital scared and confused… to discovering a powerful new pa...

It’s hard to believe that one of the safest places to be when we’re sick can also be one of the deadliest. That’s right - a hospital stay. Despite massive amounts of training and new technologies, preventable harm in healthcare is one of the leading causes of death here in the U.S.

This week on the podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Julie Siemers, a patient safety consultant and critical care nurse who has spent over 45 years on the frontlines of healthcare. She brings a message that everyone needs to hear: preventable harm in hospi...

Doug Evans is back on the PLANTSTRONG Podcast—and he’s sprouting with wisdom! It’s been over four years since Doug’s first appearance, and his passion for sprouts has only intensified.

Rip and Doug dig deep into the nutritional superpowers of sprouts, the simplicity of growing them at home, and the transformational impact they can have on your health, your plate, and your life.

Doug shares his deeply personal journey, the origins of his obsession with sprouts, and why they are one of the most sustainable, accessible, and under-appreciated foods in the plant-based world. <...

We are turning up the heat and diving fork-first into a true celebration of the tropics—a culinary carnival of color, culture, and compassion!

Rip welcomes Ellen Kanner—a Miami native, award-winning writer, and the powerhouse behind the new cookbook, Miami Vegan.

This book is more than just a collection of recipes—it's a flavorful journey through the heart of Miami, infused with bold Latin and Caribbean influences, and reimagined through the vibrant lens of plant-based living.

Ellen shows us that we don’t have to give up the flavors we love to eat food...

Let’s face it—choosing a plant-strong lifestyle can sometimes feel like swimming upstream. Whether it’s side-eyes at the dinner table, skeptical coworkers, or relentless comments from “nutrition experts” on TikTok, the pressure is real.

In this episode, Rip and his producer, Carrie Barrett, share that it's not just doable—it’s empowering.

Drawing on decades of personal experience and thousands of conversations in the PLANTSTRONG community, they offer real-world strategies, mindset shifts, and a big dose of confidence to help you stay strong, no matter what’s coming at you.

They share:

Rip is joined by Brandi Doming, the creative force behind The Vegan 8 and the brand-new cookbook, Vegan Wholesome. Brandi’s plant-based journey began as a deeply personal mission—to support her husband’s health. What followed was a total transformation in their kitchen and a powerful ripple effect that’s now helping thousands of people embrace simple, nourishing, and oil-free plant-based meals.

Brandi shares how her fitness and dance background shaped her approach to health, why she’s obsessed with keeping recipes as simple as possible, and how plant-based eating became a path to healing—not just for her husb...

What happens when a doctor realizes that pills weren’t healing her patients—but plants were? You have the makings of a wonderful interview with triple board-certified physician Dr. Regina Ragasa.

As a specialist in obesity and lifestyle medicine, Regina opens up about her transformation from a conventional doctor (aka - “drug dealer”) to a fierce advocate for whole food, plant-based nutrition.

You'll hear how a single conversation with a colleague sparked her interest in reversing chronic illness through diet—ultimately leading to a life-changing shift in how she practices medicine.

Dr. Ragasa breaks dow...