Episodes

  • Ep. 359: Dr. Kim Williams Breaks Down the New Heart Health Guidelines (and it's Great News for Plants!)

    Ep. 359: Dr. Kim Williams Breaks Down the New Heart Health Guidelines (and it's Great News for Plants!)
    Jun 25 2026

    The newest AHA and ACC guidelines for treating dyslipidemia are here — and according to Dr. Kim Williams, they mark a powerful shift toward prevention, earlier testing, and whole-food, plant-based nutrition as the foundation of cardiovascular care.

    Rip welcomes back Dr. Kim Williams, past president of the American College of Cardiology, for a practical and deeply encouraging breakdown of what these updated cholesterol guidelines mean for everyday people.

    Dr. Williams explains why cardiovascular risk is no longer just about one cholesterol number. Instead, clinicians are being encouraged to look at the whole picture: LDL cholesterol, ApoB, Lp(a), inflammation, blood pressure, blood sugar, kidney function, family history, lifestyle, and coronary artery calcium when appropriate.

    The most exciting part for the PlantStrong community? Lifestyle optimization is now treated as the clinical foundation — and Dr. Williams is clear about what that means: a whole-food, plant-based diet built around beans, grains, nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables, and mushrooms, along with exercise, sleep, mindfulness, strong social connections, and avoidance of tobacco, alcohol, and other harmful substances.

    This conversation also tackles statins, PCSK9 inhibitors, Lp(a), coronary calcium scoring, and the new philosophy of treating risk lower, earlier, and longer — always with food first, and medication when needed.

    Key Takeaways

    • The new cholesterol guidelines emphasize lifestyle first, not lifestyle as an afterthought.
    • Dr. Williams says a whole-food, plant-based diet should be built around beans, grains, nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables, and mushrooms.
    • LDL cholesterol is still important, but it is no longer the only number that matters.
    • ApoB may give a clearer picture of risk in some people, especially those with diabetes, high triglycerides, or central obesity.
    • Lp(a) is largely genetic and should be measured at least once in adulthood; the 2026 guideline includes updated recommendations for elevated Lp(a).
    • Coronary artery calcium scoring can help personalize risk and guide LDL targets.
    • Dr. Williams emphasizes that the goal is not “plants versus statins.” It is whole plant foods first, medications when needed.
    • The overall prevention philosophy is: lower, earlier, longer.

    Watch the Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/6cD8tGpsAgg

    Learn More About our 2026 Live PLANTSTRONG Events: https://plantstrongevents.com/

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    COMPLEMENT: Use code PLANTSTRONG for 30% off at https://lovecomplement.com/pages/plantstrong-special-offer


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    44 mins
  • Ep. 358: How Terri Edwards Reversed Her Joint Pain, Lost 50 Pounds & Transformed Her Health with Comfort Foods

    Ep. 358: How Terri Edwards Reversed Her Joint Pain, Lost 50 Pounds & Transformed Her Health with Comfort Foods
    Jun 18 2026

    Rip sits down with Terri Edwards — founder of EatPlant-Based.com — to talk about the recipes, habits, and simple food swaps that helped her completely transform her health.

    After years of struggling with joint pain, high cholesterol, insomnia, adult acne, and weight gain, Terri discovered the power of whole-food, plant-based nutrition after watching Forks Over Knives in 2013. Within weeks, she noticed major improvements in her joint pain and energy — and never looked back.

    Today, she teaches thousands of people how to make plant-based eating approachable, affordable, and delicious.

    Rip and Terri dive into:

    • How Forks Over Knives changed Terri’s life
    • Why flavor and seasoning matter so much in plant-based cooking
    • The secrets to crispy tofu without oil
    • Easy recipes for chickpea burgers, tofu egg salad & barbecue soy curls
    • Why beans help you stay fuller longer
    • How Terri makes creamy mashed potatoes without dairy
    • The plant-based recipes that win over skeptics
    • Carrot dogs, black bean brownies & sweet potato chocolate frosting
    • Success stories from people who reversed major health issues with food
    • Tips for making plant-based eating sustainable long-term

    If you’ve ever felt intimidated by plant-based cooking — or just want more easy, satisfying recipe ideas — this episode is for you.

    Watch the Episode on YouTube

    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


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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • BONUS: Your Doctor Needs to Hear This — A Vital Signs Preview

    BONUS: Your Doctor Needs to Hear This — A Vital Signs Preview
    Jun 16 2026
    In this special episode, Rip shares a preview of Vital Signs: Real Food. Real Medicine. Real Change., Plant Strong’s upcoming CME-focused conference for healthcare providers who want to bring the power of whole-food, plant-based nutrition into real-world clinical care.This is not just another conference. Vital Signs is about helping doctors, nurses, dietitians, health coaches, and medical professionals build confidence in the evidence so they can walk into the exam room and talk about food with clarity, conviction, and hope.And here’s why that matters: most providers see roughly 1,000 patients a year. Each of those patients eats three meals a day. That means every provider we reach with this message has the potential to influence nearly one million meals.One million meals.That is the power of changing the confidence of one healthcare provider. That is the power of putting real food, real evidence, and real tools into the hands of the people patients already trust.In this preview, Rip begins with the gap in medical education: providers receive thousands of hours of training in diagnosing, prescribing, and managing disease, yet most are taught very little about food as a clinical tool. And yet so much of what walks through the door every day — heart disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, obesity, metabolic dysfunction, inflammation, fatigue, and loss of vitality — is deeply connected to diet and lifestyle.This conversation asks a better clinical question:What would change if food was treated as part of the prescription?You’ll hear from physicians who are using lifestyle medicine in real clinical settings, beginning with cardiologist Dr. Brian Asbill, who shares a powerful patient case that changed the way he practiced medicine. His story shows that food as medicine is not simply about “eating better.” It can be a therapeutic intervention that moves risk factors, restores hope, and helps patients understand that their bodies can respond.From there, Dr. Laurie Marbas, a board-certified family and lifestyle medicine physician, brings the conversation into the realities of primary care. She shares how providers can begin a food-as-medicine conversation inside a 15-minute visit, how to avoid overwhelming patients, and how one practical, specific recommendation can plant a seed for meaningful change.Next, Dr. Sunny Sharma shares what changed when he went from physician to patient after being diagnosed with a rare brain tumor. His experience deepened his empathy, strengthened his belief in prevention, and reminded him that patients are not just lab values. They are people carrying fear, stress, family responsibilities, habits, barriers, and hope.The conversation then turns to the provider side of the exam room with Dr. Kristin Kelber, a physician in Cleveland who now practices lifestyle medicine full time. Dr. Kelber speaks to provider burnout, moral distress, and the joy that can return to medicine when clinicians are equipped to help patients truly reclaim their health.Finally, Rip closes the faculty portion with a special message from his father, Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn Jr., whose decades of work have helped reshape what is possible in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Dr. Esselstyn speaks directly to providers about nutrition, cardiovascular disease, patient empowerment, and the importance of helping patients become the locus of control in their own health.What you’ll hear in this episode is a compressed version of what Plant Strong is building atVital Signs 2026, taking place October 18–20 at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.At the full event, providers will go deeper into cardiovascular disease, metabolic health, behavior change, patient resistance, provider burnout, implementation, whole plant-centered meals, peer exchange, and the practical tools needed to bring lifestyle medicine into real patient care.This episode is also a call to action for the Plant Strong community.So many listeners ask, “Where can I find a provider who supports my decision to use a plant-based lifestyle in pursuit of better health?”One powerful answer is this: help us reach the providers who already care for you.Share this episode with your doctor, cardiologist, nurse practitioner, dietitian, health coach, or healthcare team. Invite them into this conversation. Encourage them to attend Vital Signs.Because if we want to move the needle in healthcare, we have to help the people inside healthcare feel empowered to prescribe one of the most powerful medicines on the planet: plants.Learn more about Vital Signs:https://plantstrongevents.com/VitalSignsWatch the Conference Preview on YouTube:https://youtu.be/U42ySRuG4gw
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    48 mins
  • Ep. 357: What Your Doctor ISN'T Telling You About Food with Dr. Alan Desmond

    Ep. 357: What Your Doctor ISN'T Telling You About Food with Dr. Alan Desmond
    Jun 11 2026

    Rip welcomes back Dr. Alan Desmond, consultant gastroenterologist, lifestyle medicine advocate, and author of the new book, What Your Doctor Isn’t Telling You About Food.

    Dr. Desmond explains why food is one of the most important — and most neglected — conversations in modern medicine. It’s not that doctors don’t care. As Alan shares, many doctors simply receive very little practical nutrition training, leaving them without the confidence or tools to guide patients through meaningful dietary change.

    Alan talks about the urgent gap between lifespan and healthspan, and why so many people are living longer but spending more years with chronic illness. Alan introduces the concept of “micro-lives” — 30-minute chunks of life expectancy that can be gained or lost through daily choices — and explains how whole plant-based foods can help stack the odds in favor of longevity, vitality, and disease prevention.

    This conversation also tackles some of the biggest nutrition myths and blind spots, including the persistent idea that plant protein is incomplete or inferior. Alan breaks down why plant protein delivers amino acids in a far healthier package — with fiber, phytonutrients, antioxidants, and heart-supportive fats — while animal protein often comes bundled with saturated fat, dietary cholesterol, heme iron, and zero fiber.

    Rip and Alan also discuss why fiber deserves far more attention than protein, how processed meats like bacon are linked to colorectal cancer risk, what dietary change can mean for type 2 diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease, and why a healthy plate should be built around fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds.

    This episode is not about shame. It’s about possibility. It’s about changing your personal food system so that the healthier choice becomes the easier choice — and letting those changes ripple outward to your family, your community, and the world.

    In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

    • How little nutrition training many doctors receive — and why that matters
    • Why healthspan is just as important as lifespan
    • What “micro-lives” are and how daily food choices can add up over time
    • Why plant protein is high-quality protein
    • How a small 3% shift from animal protein to plant protein may significantly improve long-term health outcomes
    • Why most people overestimate their fiber intake
    • How to think about building a healthy plate
    • Why processed meats like bacon deserve serious concern
    • How whole food, plant-based eating can support metabolic health
    • What Dr. Desmond has seen in patients with type 2 diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, and gestational diabetes
    • Why changing your home food environment can help shift the larger food system

    Watch the Episode on YouTube

    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


    Follow PLANTSTRONG and Rip Esselstyn

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    1 hr and 8 mins
  • Ep. 356: How Well Do You Want to Age? with Scott Fulton

    Ep. 356: How Well Do You Want to Age? with Scott Fulton
    Jun 4 2026

    What if the real goal isn’t simply living longer… but staying healthy, capable, sharp, and independent for as long as possible?

    In this fascinating conversation, Rip sits down with researcher, educator, and author Scott Fulton to explore the rapidly growing world of healthspan and longevity. Scott is the author of Whealthspan and his newest book, Function: Turn Your Blind Spots Into Strengths, where he challenges the way we think about aging, movement, purpose, brain health, and everyday function.

    Together, Rip and Scott unpack why America continues to lag behind the rest of the world in life expectancy, how our daily habits quietly shape our future independence, and why your “blind spots” may matter more than your strengths.

    They also dive into the overlooked role of hearing, vision, balance, grip strength, community, movement, and fiber in protecting long-term brain and body health.

    This conversation is practical, hopeful, deeply motivating — and a reminder that healthy aging starts long before old age.

    You’ll Learn:

    • Why healthspan matters more than lifespan
    • The hidden predictors of dementia and cognitive decline
    • How hearing and vision loss impact brain health
    • Why balance and grip strength matter as you age
    • The five pillars of “Whealthspan”
    • Why movement is medicine
    • The connection between isolation and longevity
    • Why fiber may be one of the most important nutrients for long-term health
    • The danger of “everything in moderation”
    • How small daily habits compound over time
    • The importance of purpose, curiosity, and meaningful moments
    • Why most people don’t recognize their biggest health blind spots
    • How to build a body and life that supports independence later in life

    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


    Follow PLANTSTRONG and Rip Esselstyn

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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • Ep. 355: How Alternative Meat Could Replace Industrial Animal Agriculture with Bruce Friedrich

    Ep. 355: How Alternative Meat Could Replace Industrial Animal Agriculture with Bruce Friedrich
    May 28 2026

    Rip visits with Bruce Friedrich, founder of the Good Food Institute and author of Meat, to explore the future of protein—and why alternative meat could reshape our global food system.

    Bruce breaks down the science and differences behind plant-based, cultivated, and fermented meat—and explains why innovation, not restriction, may be the key to meaningful change.

    From global hunger and climate impact to food security and economic opportunity, this conversation connects the dots between what’s on our plate and the future of humanity.

    Key Takeaways:

    • Why meat consumption continues to rise globally—and why that matters
    • The hidden costs of industrial animal agriculture
    • The three types of alternative meat: plant-based, cultivated, and fermented
    • Why taste and price—not ethics—drive consumer behavior
    • The surprising role governments play in shaping food systems
    • How alternative proteins could improve food security and resilience
    • Why plant-based meat may be healthier than commonly believed
    • What needs to happen to scale alternative meat globally

    Watch the Episode on YouTube

    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


    Follow PLANTSTRONG and Rip Esselstyn

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    1 hr and 10 mins
  • Ep. 354: Cancer. Heart Disease. High Cholesterol. Inside One Fire Department’s Wake-Up Call

    Ep. 354: Cancer. Heart Disease. High Cholesterol. Inside One Fire Department’s Wake-Up Call
    May 21 2026

    What happens when almost 500 firefighters get a full health screening—and many discover hidden risks they never saw coming?

    Rip sits down with Deputy Chief Jayme McConnellogue and Lieutenant Ian Elliott of the Colorado Springs Fire Department to explore a groundbreaking department-wide health initiative—and the life-changing results.

    From undiagnosed cancers to widespread cardiovascular risk, the findings were shocking. But what followed is even more inspiring: a grassroots movement toward better health, fueled by education, vulnerability, and the power of plant-based nutrition.

    Ian shares his personal story—from elite endurance athlete to unexpected heart health scare—and how a whole-food, plant-based lifestyle transformed his health, energy, and outlook.

    This episode is a must-listen for anyone who believes they’re “doing everything right”… and for anyone ready to take control of their health.

    Key Takeaways:

    • Nearly 500 firefighters voluntarily underwent health screenings
    • Multiple cancers identified—many in asymptomatic individuals
    • 84% had elevated LDL cholesterol (major heart disease risk)
    • Over 50% had high total cholesterol
    • Hundreds of firefighters showed signs of hypertension
    • Mental health culture paved the way for physical health transformation
    • Real change started from the ground up—not top down
    • Food can be a powerful tool for prevention—and reversal

    You’ll Learn:

    • Why even “fit” individuals can have hidden cardiovascular disease
    • How firehouse culture influences long-term health
    • The connection between vulnerability and real behavior change
    • Why plant-based nutrition is gaining traction—even in high-performance professions
    • How to start making changes without overwhelm

    This episode is really about leadership. It’s about culture change. It’s about vulnerability. And ultimately—it’s about the life-saving power of the food we choose to put into our bodies every single day.

    Watch the Episode on YouTube

    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


    Follow PLANTSTRONG and Rip Esselstyn

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    56 mins
  • Ep. 353: Why Fiber Sometimes Backfires (and How to Fix It) with Dr. Chris Miller

    Ep. 353: Why Fiber Sometimes Backfires (and How to Fix It) with Dr. Chris Miller
    May 14 2026

    Rip sits down with lifestyle medicine physician Dr. Chris Miller to explore why some people struggle when transitioning to a high-fiber, plant-based diet—and how to fix it.

    While fiber is one of the most powerful tools for preventing and reversing chronic disease, not everyone experiences immediate benefits. In fact, some people initially feel worse.

    Dr. Miller breaks down the science behind this paradox, including insights from a groundbreaking Stanford study showing that up to one-third of people may experience increased inflammation when rapidly increasing fiber intake.

    Together, Rip and Dr. Miller explore how gut health, microbial diversity, stress, and lifestyle all play a role in how your body responds to plant-based eating.

    You’ll Learn

    • How to safely increase fiber without bloating or discomfort
    • Why beans, while powerful, should sometimes be introduced slowly
    • The connection between autoimmune disease and gut health
    • How fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, and miso support microbial diversity
    • Why “fiber maxing” isn’t always the answer
    • The difference between normal adjustment symptoms vs. red flags

    Episode Webpage

    Watch the Episode on YouTube

    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


    Follow PLANTSTRONG and Rip Esselstyn

    https://plantstrong.com/

    https://www.facebook.com/GoPlantstrong

    https://www.instagram.com/goplantstrong/

    https://www.instagram.com/ripesselstyn/


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    58 mins