PLANTSTRONG Podcast

Barbara Court is almost 75 years old, full of humor, full of heart, and living proof that it is never too late to get Plant Strong.

After joining PlantStrong’s free Real30 Challenge, Barbara committed to eating 30 different whole plant-based foods each week and moving her body for 30 minutes a day. In just a few months, she lost nearly 15 pounds, brought her A1C out of the pre-diabetic range, increased her daily steps, and fou...

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 guidelin...

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 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...

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,...

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 wa...

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 ec...

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. B...

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 fro...

Rip sits down with integrative neuro-ophthalmologist Dr. Rani Banik to explore how nutrition, lifestyle, and daily habits shape your long-term eye health.

From macular degeneration and glaucoma to digital eye strain and screen overload, Dr. Banik breaks down what’s really happening inside your eyes—and what you can do today to protect your vision for life.

We’re talking about the foods that protect your vision, what...

What if one simple blood test could reveal a genetic risk factor for heart disease that affects 1 in 5 people worldwide?

Rip sits down with physician, endurance athlete, and author Dr. Akil Taher to talk about a critical—but often overlooked—marker for cardiovascular risk: Lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a).

Despite decades of research linking elevated Lp(a) to heart attacks, strokes, and aortic valve disease, fewer than 2% of Amer...

What happens when a 37-year-old father of six suffers a stroke with no clear cause?

For Ali Essig, it became a wake-up call that changed everything.

In this powerful conversation, Rip sits down with Ali—creator of PlantWhys—to talk about how her husband’s stroke sent their family on a journey into whole-food, plant-based eating. What started as a search for a “heart-healthy diet” quickly became a lifesty...

Rip sits down with Dr. Elizabeth George and Chef Nick Iula, co-authors of Healthy Eating Adventure, to explore how whole food, plant-based eating can transform health and lives.

Dr. George helped launch the Healthy Eating Adventure program more than 15 years ago, helping hundreds of participants reverse chronic disease through nutrition. Chef Nick Iula joined the program after decades in professional kitchens and, after he changed h...

For over 50 years, Dr. Michael Klaper has practiced medicine. And today, he says something that stops you in your tracks:

“I am profoundly embarrassed to be a physician in America today.”

Why?

Because most doctors are never trained in the most powerful tool available to prevent and reverse chronic disease: nutrition.

In this deeply personal and wide-ranging conversation, Rip sits down with Dr. Klaper to discuss his new book...

What does it really mean to be “forever fit”?

Rip sits down with fitness coach and author Maxime Sigouin to explore sustainable strength, whole-food plant-based nutrition, and the mindset required to stay fit for life — not just for a season. It’s all in his new book, Forever Fit.

Maxime shares his personal journey from loss and hardship to helping thousands of people transform their health through his Foreve...

Rip sits down with Peggy Kraus, a clinical exercise physiologist and diabetes care specialist with over 30 years of experience in cardiac rehab.

Peggy shares how she moved beyond conventional nutrition advice to embrace a fiber-centric, whole-food, plant-based approach—helping patients reverse type 2 diabetes, lower A1C levels, lose significant weight, and reduce or eliminate medications.

They discuss why cutting carbs misses t...

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,...

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 rea...

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 pound...