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 recovery. Maybe you’re a parent trying to escape the ultra-processed food aisle and feed your family real, nourishing meals. Or maybe you’re simply tired of being confused about what “healthy” actually means.
The challenge? Eating more real food can feel overwhelming. You’ve heard warnings about protein, cost, or restriction. You’ve been told it’s complicated, boring, or socially isolating.
This podcast exists to change that.
Each week, host Rip Esselstyn sits down with leading doctors, researchers, athletes, authors, and everyday people who are proving—through lived experience and science—that eating more whole plants and moving your body consistently can deliver powerful, lasting results. We’re not interested in perfection or dogma. We’re here to be extremely practical, extremely evidence-based, and extremely encouraging.
Rip’s work began more than two decades ago, when he helped transform the health of his fellow firefighters using simple, whole foods—guided by the groundbreaking research of his father, Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn Jr. That experience launched a lifelong mission to help people reclaim their health through real food and active living, and ultimately led to the creation of PLANT STRONG.
Today, the podcast is an extension of that mission: cutting through misinformation, challenging cultural norms, and showing what’s possible when you fuel your body with food that actually supports it.
You’ll hear conversations about:
Preventing and reversing chronic disease
Strength, endurance, and recovery
Gut health, inflammation, and longevity
Behavior change that actually sticks
How to build habits you can sustain in real life
You’ll also hear about REAL30™—our simple, powerful framework built around consistency, not restriction:
30 days
30 minutes of movement a day
30 different whole plants each week
REAL30 is often where listeners turn inspiration into action—and it’s a recurring thread throughout the show.
This podcast isn’t about being perfect. It’s about eating real food, building real habits, and getting real results. You won’t be weak when you eat strong food.
Welcome to PLANT STRONG.
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Ep. 373: Dr. Gary Sanchez - Willpower is Temporary. Your "Why" Power is Permanent.
Season 4 · Episode 373
Thursday, October 1, 2026 • Duration 01:16:15
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 dentist. He continually invested in education, technology, and training, yet struggled to explain what made his practice different from every other dental office. His search for an answer eventually led him to the concept of WHY—and to a new understanding of himself.
Gary discovered that his own WHY was to find a better way and share it. His HOW was to clarify, and his WHAT was to simplify.
That discovery transformed his dental practice, but it also revealed that dentistry was no longer the work he felt called to do. After a life-threatening internal bleed gave him a second chance at life, Gary finally walked away from his practice to pursue the work that gave him energy: helping other people discover who they are.
In this lively and deeply personal conversation, Rip and Gary explore the nine WHYs, the difference between the golden rule and the platinum rule, and why your family, career, or business may be important to you without necessarily being your underlying WHY.
Gary also walks Rip through his own results. Rip’s WHY is to contribute to a greater cause and make an impact. His HOW is to challenge the status quo and think differently. His WHAT is to create trust and become a source others can count on.
They also examine how purpose can support lasting health behavior. Instead of relying only on rules, discipline, or temporary motivation, Gary encourages us to understand why being healthy matters and what our health will allow us to contribute, experience, and accomplish.
His memorable conclusion: Willpower is temporary. WHY power is permanent.
You’ll also hear why successful entrepreneurs can feel lost after building businesses that no longer need them, how knowing a child’s personal operating system can transform family conversations, and why it is never too late to choose a path that better reflects who you are.
Ep. 372: Carleigh Bodrug: No Time to Cook? PlantYou Quickies to the Rescue!
Season 4 · Episode 372
Thursday, September 24, 2026 • Duration 01:10:00
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 Carleigh set out to make healthy eating easier and truly quicker - making sure a 20-minute meal really could be made in about 20 minutes.
Rip and Carleigh dig into smart kitchen shortcuts, frozen vegetables, pantry staples, crispy tofu, tahini, dump-and-bake dinners, speedy pastas, plant-powered desserts, and her clever “Got This, Make That” guide for using what you already have.
If you've ever wanted to eat healthier but thought, “I just don't have the time,” this one's for you.
You'll hear:
Why Quickies was born during one of Carleigh's hardest seasons
Why time — not motivation — may be the biggest barrier to eating well
Simple shortcuts that make plant-based cooking faster
Why frozen produce, canned beans, and pantry staples can save dinner
How Plant Points encourage greater plant diversity
Easy ways to make tofu crispy, shredded, or peeled
Dump-and-bake meals with just minutes of prep
Edamame pesto pasta, Bang Bang Broccoli, tahini dip, and more
Plant-powered chocolate mousse and secret-ingredient chickpea cookies
How “Got This, Make That” can help reduce food waste and grocery costs
Learn More About our 2026 Live PLANTSTRONG Events: https://plantstrongevents.com/
Ep. 371: Plant Powered Seniors: How to Stay Strong, Sharp, and Independent as You Age with Brenda Davis, RD & Vesanto Melina, RD
Season 4 · Episode 371
Thursday, September 17, 2026 • Duration 01:09:35
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 health
calcium, vitamin D, B12, and omega-3s
why progressive resistance training is so important for preserving strength
They also talk about appetite changes, how loneliness, affects eating, building community, purpose, and why healthy aging is about much more than just nutrients alone.
And their message is clear: it is never too late to improve your health.
Start where you are. Eat more plants. Lift something. Stay connected. Keep moving...and always keep it Plant Strong.
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 just sit on a government website collecting dust. They help shape nutrition policy and what gets served in schools, hospitals, correction institutions, military facilities, and other federal food programs.
Neal is especially fired up about the push for more protein, more animal foods, full-fat dairy, and even beef tallow. His point? Most Americans — including kids — are already getting plenty of protein, and piling on more animal protein can also mean piling on more saturated fat and cholesterol.
But here’s the key: PCRM isn’t asking a judge to decide what the perfect diet should be.
They’re asking whether the government followed the law.
Rip and Dr. Barnard dig into:
• Why PCRM says the new Dietary Guidelines were created through a flawed process
• The industry ties Neal says existed among members of the advisory panel
• Why this lawsuit is about transparency and process — not asking a judge to settle nutrition science
• Why school meals are one of Neal’s biggest concerns
Ep. 369: Lisa Wargofchik - How to Make Healthy Choices Without Relying on Willpower
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 idea: routines aren’t supposed to box you in. They can actually set you free.
When the good stuff is already built into your day — movement, healthy food, time for reflection, sleep, learning, even a little fun — you don’t have to keep negotiating with yourself. You don’t have to wake up every morning and ask, “Am I going to do this today?” You’ve already made the decision.
Rip and Lisa talk about how we fuel our bodies, how we start and end our days, why movement matters, how to protect our time and energy, how to shape your purpose, and how a few simple routines can help keep us grounded when life gets messy.
Learn More About our 2026 Live PLANTSTRONG Events: https://plantstrongevents.com/
Let Us Help Your PLANTSTRONG Journey
Learn More About Our Corporate Wellness Program: https://liveplantstrong.com/corporate-wellness/
Ep. 368: The Fountain of Youth Is Movement: Rip Esselstyn on Fitness, Fun, and Community
Season 4 · Episode 368
Thursday, August 27, 2026 • Duration 01:03:34
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.
Even the healthiest plant-based diets have blind spots, nutrients like B12, D3, iodine, and omega-3s that whole foods alone often can't fully cover. Essential closes those specific gaps in one clean daily formula, with everything you need and nothing you don't, so the diet you've worked hard to build actually delivers everything it promises.
Learn More About our 2026 Live PLANTSTRONG Events: https://plantstrongevents.com/
Let Us Help Your PLANTSTRONG Journey
Learn More About Our Corporate Wellness Program: https://liveplantstrong.com/corporate-wellness/
COMPLEMENT: Use code PLANTSTRONG for 30% off at https://lovecomplement.com/pages/plantstrong-special-offer
Ep. 367: Menopause Is Not the End: Dr. Jessica Shepherd on Hormones, Plants, and Thriving in Midlife
Season 4 · Episode 367
Thursday, August 20, 2026 • Duration 56:02
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 conversation, Rip is joined by PLANTSTRONG Podcast producer Carrie Barrett, who, at 53, brings her own lived experience in perimenopause to the discussion. They eplain why estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone affect far more than reproduction — influencing the brain, bones, heart, muscles, metabolism, skin, sleep, and sexual health.
And because this is Plant Strong, they also dive into the power of nutrition. Dr. Shepherd emphasizes that food is one of the most important tools in the menopause toolbox, especially during the 10–12 year perimenopausal window. A colorful, plant-centered diet rich in beans, greens, whole grains, berries, legumes, soy foods, fiber, and fermented foods can help support heart health, gut health, metabolic health, inflammation, muscle maintenance, and long-term vitality.
This episode is not about one magic fix. It is about building the full toolbox: plants, movement, resistance training, sleep, self-advocacy, and, when appropriate, hormone therapy. As Dr. Shepherd reminds us, women deserve agency, options, and the chance to live their 70s, 80s, and 90s with strength, clarity, and confidence.
Learn More About our 2026 Live PLANTSTRONG Events: https://plantstrongevents.com/
Let Us Help Your PLANTSTRONG Journey
Learn More About Our Corporate Wellness Program: https://liveplantstrong.com/corporate-wellness/
Ep. 366: What Your Cholesterol Numbers Aren't Telling You: Dr. Daniel Chong Explains ApoB, Lp(a), Plaque, and Disease Prevention
Season 4 · Episode 366
Thursday, August 13, 2026 • Duration 55:25
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 only part of the picture, why ApoB and LDL particle number may provide a clearer view of risk, and why cardiovascular disease is never about one single factor. Instead, it is about the full internal environment: inflammation, endothelial function, blood flow, plaque stability, lifestyle, and diet.
Rip and Dr. Chong also explore the limits of coronary artery calcium scores, the risks of relying on a “zero” score too early in life, and why soft plaque can still pose a serious threat even when calcified plaque is not detected.
They also discuss saturated fat, heme iron, blood viscosity, hydration, testosterone therapy’s potential effect on red blood cell count, and the fascinating protective layer inside our blood vessels known as the glycocalyx.
This conversation is a reminder that cardiovascular prevention is about building a body that supports vitality from the inside out.
You’ll Learn:
LDL cholesterol matters, but ApoB and LDL particle number may offer a more precise picture of cardiovascular risk.
The longer LDL particles remain elevated, the greater the potential risk over time.
Saturated fat can interfere with the body’s ability to clear LDL particles from the bloodstream.
Coronary artery calcium scores can be useful, but they do not detect soft, non-calcified plaque.
A calcium score of zero does not always mean “clean arteries,” especially in younger people.
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
Season 4 · Episode 365
Thursday, August 6, 2026 • Duration 52:28
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 about his years of unexplained pain, his eventual discovery of Familial Mediterranean Fever through genetic testing, and why a plant-based lifestyle became the turning point in his health.
They also discuss Kendale’s work as a podiatrist and the devastating toll of type 2 diabetes on the feet, including neuropathy, poor circulation, infections, and preventable amputations.
You’ll hear:
Kendale’s background as a swimmer at the University of Tennessee
The construction accident that may have triggered decades of inflammatory episodes
What Familial Mediterranean Fever is and how he eventually discovered the diagnosis
The documentaries that changed everything for Kendale and his wife Connie
How whole food, plant-based eating helped calm his symptoms
His 60-pound weight loss and renewed energy
What he eats now and how he makes the lifestyle work
Why type 2 diabetes is so devastating for the feet
The connection between blood sugar, circulation, nerves, immunity, and amputations
Why Kendale now plants seeds with his own patients about food and lifestyle
Ep. 364: Micah Yu, MD - A Doctor's Own Joint Pain Wake-Up Call and His Top Supplements to Help Your Chronic Inflammation
Season 4 · Episode 364
Thursday, July 30, 2026 • Duration 54:52
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 gout, pseudogout, and spondyloarthritis, an autoimmune arthritis often treated with immunosuppressive medications.
But Dr. Yu had a feeling that diet was part of the story.
Inspired by his wife, Dr. Melissa Mondala, as well as Forks Over Knives and Dr. Michael Greger’s How Not to Die, he decided to try a whole food, plant-based diet. Within two to three months, he noticed his joint pain beginning to disappear. At his follow-up appointment, his C-reactive protein — a key inflammation marker that had been elevated for years — had normalized.
Today, Dr. Yu is a board-certified rheumatologist and integrative medicine physician who helps patients address autoimmune disease through a whole-person lens. In his practice, he looks at food, lifestyle, stress, trauma, infections, environmental exposures, supplements, and patient partnership.
In this conversation, Rip and Dr. Yu discuss:
Why a high-protein diet triggered gout at age 17
The difference between gout, pseudogout, and autoimmune arthritis
What CRP and ESR can reveal about inflammation
Why some autoimmune patients are told “everything looks normal” even when they feel terrible
How a whole food, plant-based diet changed Dr. Yu’s own health
Why rheumatology patients may benefit from looking beyond medications alone
The role of stress, trauma, infections, mold, pesticides, plastics, and environmental triggers
Let Us Help Your PLANTSTRONG Journey
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• Whole milk, animal protein, saturated fat, and the comeback of beef tallow
• Why lumping all “processed foods” into one big bucket misses the mark
• PCRM’s history of challenging the government over dietary guidelines
• Why Neal believes this case is strong
• His surprising roots in the cattle industry
• Why compassion still sits at the heart of his work
• A major diabetes study PCRM is conducting with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota
• And a new breast cancer awareness campaign featuring Venus Williams and Dr. Kristi Funk
This is bigger than politics and bigger than one set of guidelines.
It’s about who gets to shape the food messages Americans hear, what ends up on millions of plates, and whether science, transparency, and public health are actually leading the way.
Why Lyme disease can be controversial and often misunderstood
Dr. Yu’s top supplements for inflammation, including turmeric, algae oil, vitamin D, Boswellia, and glutathione
Why vitamin D levels matter in autoimmune disease
How Dr. Yu practices medicine through patient partnership
This episode is a hopeful reminder that inflammation is not always a life sentence — and that the body can respond powerfully when we give it the right conditions to heal.
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