What if protecting your eyesight was as simple as what’s on your plate?
Rip sits down with integrative neuro-ophthalmologist Dr. Rani Banik to break down how nutrition, screen time, sunlight, and stress all impact your vision—more than you might think. From the truth about “carrots and eyesight” to the powerful role of leafy greens and berries, this episode is packed with practical ways to protect your eyes for life.
Read MoreWhen Ali Essig’s husband suffered a sudden stroke at age 37, doctors couldn’t fully explain why. Ali went searching for the most healthy way to eat and discovered the power of a whole-food, plant-based diet.
Today she’s helping thousands of families (including her own six children!) learn how to eat more plants — without perfection, overwhelm, or guilt.
Rip Esselstyn 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. Together, they combine medical science and culinary expertise to show how plant-based eating can be both lifesaving and delicious.
Read MoreDr. Michael Klaper, to talk about his new book, Moving Medicine Forward. After more than 50 years in medicine, he says something shocking: doctors aren’t trained in the one tool that can reverse chronic disease — nutrition.
We explore why heart disease and diabetes aren’t inevitable, what’s holding modern medicine back from embracing nutrition, and why it’s time to stop simply managing disease… and start reversing it.
What does it really mean to be “forever fit”? Rip Esselstyn 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.
Read MoreWhat if fiber—not medication—was the key to reversing diabetes?
Rip is joined by Peggy Kraus, a diabetes care specialist who’s helping people come off meds, lower A1C, and reclaim their health with a plant-rich, fiber-first approach. This is a hopeful, practical conversation about why your body wants to heal.
After a serious health wake-up, Javant Benton (@healthyveganeating) rebuilt his life through whole-food, plant-based eating—without giving up flavor or familiarity. From oil-free Southern classics to protein-rich plant meals, this episode proves that lasting change comes from empowerment, not deprivation.
Read MoreWhat if your breakfast could keep you full until lunch—without cravings or energy crashes?
In this episode, Rip Esselstyn sits down with Molly Patrick of Clean Food Dirty Girl to explore her legendary “Hippie Porridge Bowl,” a plant-powered breakfast she spent nearly eight years perfecting. Packed with oats, lentils, millet, greens, seeds, and fruit, this nutrient-dense bowl delivers serious fiber, plant protein, and long-lasting energy.
Read MoreAt 43 years old, Charles Gassenheimer was 75 pounds overweight, drowning in statins, pre-diabetic, losing his memory — and staring straight down the barrel of bypass surgery.
Then he made one decision: to go all-in on whole-food, plant-based living. Today Charles is medication-free and running marathons faster than he ever has!
Discover what happens when plants become your finish line!
Rip visits with cardiovascular scientist and pharmacist Sachin Shah to explore heart health, the hidden risks of energy drinks, and a surprising condition called alpha-gal syndrome that actually makes you allergic to meat. It’s a powerful reminder to rethink medicine, prevention, and what truly heals us.
Read MoreRip talks with food policy leader Rachel Atcheson about how plant-based food policies are transforming schools, hospitals, and entire cities. From launching Meatless Mondays in New York City schools to reshaping hospital menus and lifestyle medicine clinics, this episode shows how real systems can change. It's inspiring, hopeful, and packed with wins.
Read MoreRip sits down with Jan Liband, a former college athlete whose path shifted after learning the true environmental cost of animal agriculture. Nearly 40 years of plant-powered living later, Jan shares how embracing new foods boosted his energy, recovery, and overall vitality — while challenging long-held protein myths and cultural norms around food, especially for men.
Read MoreJackie Akerberg is a plant-based cook and creator who has inspired hundreds of thousands by keeping things real in the kitchen and in life.
Jackie shares her journey to vegan living, how viral recipes built an incredible community, and why embracing imperfection might be the secret ingredient to long-term health and connection. We dig into protein, tofu, tempeh, squash, smart kitchen hacks, and even her recent vegan adventures abroad.
Read MoreFirefighters are trained to run toward danger — but too often, their own health is what’s at risk. In this episode of the Plant Strong Podcast, Rip Esselstyn sits down with fellow firefighter Andy Schaefer of Avon, Ohio, whose journey into plant-based eating began with a life-altering decision: donating one of his kidneys to his brother-in-law.
Read MoreAfter years on a strict keto diet, Jet Benitez watched his heart disease worsen — until a wake-up call led him to a whole-food, plant-based lifestyle. The results were astonishing: angina disappeared, he conquered record-breaking hikes, and his cholesterol numbers stunned his cardiologist.
Listen as Jet shares the raw, life-saving truth about changing his diet — and changing his life.
Joe Gagnon shares insights from his book Living Intentionally, a bold guide to finding clarity and purpose in today’s chaotic world. As an ultra-endurance athlete, CEO, and high-performance coach, Joe has tested the limits of what’s possible—whether running six marathons on six continents in six days or leading innovative companies. But his greatest discovery isn’t about crossing finish lines; it’s about the inner work of defining purpose, embracing discomfort, and creating habits that lead to a more grounded and fulfilling life.
Rip talks with James Beard award-winning author Andrea Freeman about the hidden politics behind the foods we eat and the communities they impact. Her research reveals powerful stories of resilience, inequity, and change within our food system. It’s a must-listen for anyone who wants to understand how we can create a fairer, healthier food future.
Rip talks with James Beard award-winning author Andrea Freeman about the hidden politics behind the foods we eat and the communities they impact. Her research reveals powerful stories of resilience, inequity, and change within our food system. It’s a must-listen for anyone who wants to understand how we can create a fairer, healthier food future.
