PLANTSTRONG Podcast

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

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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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https://www.instagram.com/goplantstrong/
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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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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
https://plantstrong.com/
https://www.facebook.com/GoPlantstrong
https://www.instagram.com/goplantstrong/
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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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