PLANTSTRONG Podcast Podcast By Rip Esselstyn cover art

PLANTSTRONG Podcast

PLANTSTRONG Podcast

By: Rip Esselstyn
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People become curious about whole food, plant-based nutrition for a multitude of reasons. Maybe you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes, heart disease, cancer, obesity, or another chronic disease and you know (or you’ve been told) that this is your best shot at healing your body. You may be an athlete looking to maximize your performance and recovery with the power of plant-based nutrition, or you’re a parent who wants to escape the processed food aisle and start feeding your children real, nourishing foods. Perhaps you are concerned about climate change and the profound negative impact that animal agriculture has on the planet. The problem? A whole food, plant-based diet can seem overwhelming, confusing, and, yes, expensive. You’ve been told it will make you deficient in something, or that you won’t get enough protein. You think it might be a boring way to live, or that it is so extreme you’ll alienate yourself from friends and loved ones. Well, here at the PLANTSTRONG Podcast, we’re not afraid to be extreme - extremely positive, extremely helpful, and extremely well-researched. Each week on the show, host Rip Esselstyn talks to medical experts, authors, athletes, and people just like you who are not just surviving on a plant-based diet, but THRIVING. As founder and CEO of PLANTSTRONG, Rip Esselstyn is a wellness advocate, former professional athlete, firefighter, and NY Times best-selling author renowned for his dedication to promoting vibrant health through plant-based nutrition and active living. Over twenty years ago, Rip rescued several of his fellow firefighters with whole, plant-based foods following the groundbreaking research of his father, Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr., author of Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease. The results were so dramatic that Rip wrote the bestselling book,The Engine 2 Diet, to spread the word. His subsequent works, including Plant-Strong, The Engine 2 Seven-Day Rescue Diet and The Engine 2 Cookbook, further solidified his reputation as a leading voice in the plant-based movement. Rip was also featured in the documentary Forks over Knives and served as an executive producer of The Game Changers film; a revolutionary documentary that shatters the myths about meat, protein, and strength. Rip’s mission and the mission of the PLANTSTRONG Podcast is to make plant-based living accessible and approachable, and to further the advancement of all things within the plant-based movement. We share the scientifically proven benefits of plant-based living and envision a world that universally understands, promotes, and prescribes plants as the solution to empowering your health, enhancing your performance, and restoring the environment. You won’t be weak if you’re eating strong food. PLANTSTRONG food. We welcome you wherever you are on your plant-based journey and we’re thrilled you’re here.2024 Alternative & Complementary Medicine Hygiene & Healthy Living Physical Illness & Disease
Episodes
  • Ep. 311: How to Survive Your Hospital Stay with Dr. Julie Siemers

    Ep. 311: How to Survive Your Hospital Stay with Dr. Julie Siemers
    Jul 24 2025

    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 hospitals is far more common than most people realize.

    Despite decades of focus, medical errors and breakdowns in communication continue to be a leading cause of death in the U.S. And the worst part? Many of these tragedies are avoidable.

    What can you do? A lot, actually.

    Dr. Siemers shares the signs to watch for when a loved one is hospitalized, how to speak up when something seems off, and why being an active participant in your care could save a life.

    Episode Webpage

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    SPECIAL Food Promo for Podcast Listeners Only!

    Use code: podcast10 to receive 10% off food orders at plantstrong.com

    Upcoming Events:

    Join us for our 2025 Plantstrong Retreat in Black Mountain, NC - Nov 9-14, 2025: https://plantstrong.com/pages/black-mountain-retreat

    Let Us Help Your PLANTSTRONG Journey

    Use Code: KALE20 for $20 off Annual Subscription at https://home.mealplanner.plantstrong.com/

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

    Leave Us a Voicemail Question

    Leave us a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/plantstrong

    Follow PLANTSTRONG and Rip Esselstyn

    https://plantstrongfoods.com/

    https://www.facebook.com/GoPlantstrong

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

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


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    58 mins
  • Ep. 310: Doug Evans - Why Sprouts Might Be the Most Powerful Food on The Planet

    Ep. 310: Doug Evans - Why Sprouts Might Be the Most Powerful Food on The Planet
    Jul 17 2025

    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.

    Whether you’re a sprouting newbie or a seasoned plant-strong pro, this conversation will inspire you to see sprouts in a whole new light.

    You’ll learn:

    • Sprouts as Superfoods: Discover how sprouting seeds dramatically increases their nutrient density, making them living, functional foods.
    • Home Sprouting Made Simple: Doug explains how anyone—even in a tiny kitchen—can grow nutrient-rich sprouts with minimal effort and space.
    • Health Benefits Galore: Learn how sprouts are packed with vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and compounds that support detoxification, immunity, and overall vitality.
    • Sprouting as a Lifestyle: Doug shares how this practice transformed his physical, emotional, and spiritual health—and how it can do the same for you.
    • A Sustainable Solution: Growing sprouts at home is not only cost-effective, but also environmentally friendly and empowering.
    • Exciting Research Ahead: Get a preview of Doug’s upcoming collaboration with Dr. Alan Goldhamer at True North to clinically study the healing power of sprouts.

    Episode Webpage

    Watch the Episode on YouTube

    SPECIAL Food Promo for Podcast Listeners Only!

    Use code: podcast10 to receive 10% off food orders at plantstrong.com

    Upcoming Events:

    Join us for our 2025 Plantstrong Retreat in Black Mountain, NC - Nov 9-14, 2025: https://plantstrong.com/pages/black-mountain-retreat

    Let Us Help Your PLANTSTRONG Journey

    Use Code: KALE20 for $20 off Annual Subscription at https://home.mealplanner.plantstrong.com/

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

    Leave Us a Voicemail Question

    Leave us a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/plantstrong

    Follow PLANTSTRONG and Rip Esselstyn

    https://plantstrongfoods.com/

    https://www.facebook.com/GoPlantstrong

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

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


    Follow the PLANTSTRONG Podcast and Give the Show a 5-star Rating

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    1 hr and 27 mins
  • Ep. 309: Ellen Kanner - This Miami Vegan Brings Color, Culture, and Compassion to Your Table

    Ep. 309: Ellen Kanner - This Miami Vegan Brings Color, Culture, and Compassion to Your Table
    Jul 10 2025

    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 that loves us back. With over 80 sun-soaked, sizzling recipes, this is the kind of book that makes you want to crank up some salsa music and dance in the kitchen!

    Episode Webpage

    Watch the Episode on YouTube

    SPECIAL Food Promo for Podcast Listeners Only!

    Use code: podcast10 to receive 10% off food orders at plantstrong.com

    Upcoming Events:

    Join us for our 2025 Plantstrong Retreat in Black Mountain, NC - Nov 9-14, 2025: https://plantstrong.com/pages/black-mountain-retreat

    Let Us Help Your PLANTSTRONG Journey

    Use Code: KALE20 for $20 off Annual Subscription at https://home.mealplanner.plantstrong.com/

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

    Leave Us a Voicemail Question

    Leave us a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/plantstrong

    Follow PLANTSTRONG and Rip Esselstyn

    https://plantstrongfoods.com/

    https://www.facebook.com/GoPlantstrong

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

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


    Follow the PLANTSTRONG Podcast and Give the Show a 5-star Rating

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    51 mins
All stars
Most relevant  
This Podcast is so inspiring and informational. I love every episode. Rip and his entire family are some of my favorite people.

I love this Podcast.

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very informative. LOVED the suggestions and look forward to finding her book and trying her recipes.

Janet Verney

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Rip, I want to extend the deepest gratitude to you for creating this podcast to help push the message of the health benefits and environmental benefits of a plant-based diet. My husband and I watched Forks Over Knives 12 years ago (the first month we were dating actually) and stopped eating meat immediately. We have greatly decreased dairy products but eliminating them along with oil is still our goal. The change in my diet ended the digestive issues I had suffered with since high school and also got me back to my middle-school weight; My husband lost 30 lbs. the first month. We also now have two children that we have raised as vegetarians, with whom we are now sharing the documentary and discussing the reasons why it's important we eliminate the dairy and oil as well. Your podcast now gives me regular inspiration and recommendations of more books to deepen my understanding of health. You are so generous for sharing your knowledge and experience and for introducing us to so many other experts that can help fortify our resolve to continue down this path. Thank you! And I look forward to the next podcast!

Continual Inspiration and Encouragement

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It was fun hearing Rip talk about his journey. I'd like to learn even more about the early years. How did a professional triathlete get enough calories in the beginning?! cooking by himself?! But I don't think Rip is the kind of guy to share that with us; he's focused and driven on the "now" and not poking fun at himself with anecdotal stories about when he was learning how to cook.

Always full of inspiration!

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Great host, great guests, succinct, inspiring! I have listened to every episode, and they are all good!

I love every episode!

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