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PLANTSTRONG Podcast

PLANTSTRONG Podcast

De: Rip Esselstyn
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The PLANT STRONG Podcast is for people who want real answers about food, health, and longevity—without the noise, fear, or extremes. Maybe you’ve been diagnosed with a chronic condition and want a path forward that actually supports healing. Maybe you’re an athlete looking to fuel performance and recovery. Maybe you’re a parent trying to escape the ultra-processed food aisle and feed your family real, nourishing meals. Or maybe you’re simply tired of being confused about what “healthy” actually means. The challenge? Eating more real food can feel overwhelming. You’ve heard warnings about protein, cost, or restriction. You’ve been told it’s complicated, boring, or socially isolating. This podcast exists to change that. Each week, host Rip Esselstyn sits down with leading doctors, researchers, athletes, authors, and everyday people who are proving—through lived experience and science—that eating more whole plants and moving your body consistently can deliver powerful, lasting results. We’re not interested in perfection or dogma. We’re here to be extremely practical, extremely evidence-based, and extremely encouraging. Rip’s work began more than two decades ago, when he helped transform the health of his fellow firefighters using simple, whole foods—guided by the groundbreaking research of his father, Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn Jr. That experience launched a lifelong mission to help people reclaim their health through real food and active living, and ultimately led to the creation of PLANT STRONG. Today, the podcast is an extension of that mission: cutting through misinformation, challenging cultural norms, and showing what’s possible when you fuel your body with food that actually supports it. You’ll hear conversations about: Preventing and reversing chronic disease Strength, endurance, and recovery Gut health, inflammation, and longevity Behavior change that actually sticks How to build habits you can sustain in real life You’ll also hear about REAL30™—our simple, powerful framework built around consistency, not restriction: 30 days 30 minutes of movement a day 30 different whole plants each week REAL30 is often where listeners turn inspiration into action—and it’s a recurring thread throughout the show. This podcast isn’t about being perfect. It’s about eating real food, building real habits, and getting real results. You won’t be weak when you eat strong food. Welcome to PLANT STRONG.2024 Enfermedades Físicas Higiene y Vida Saludable Medicina Alternativa y Complementaria
Episodios
  • Ep. 338: Andrew Schaefer - How This Firefighter Went From Kidney Donor to Kitchen Hero

    Ep. 338: Andrew Schaefer - How This Firefighter Went From Kidney Donor to Kitchen Hero
    Jan 29 2026

    Firefighters 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 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.

    Determined to be as healthy and resilient as possible, Andy adopted a whole-food, plant-based lifestyle more than five years ago — and the results were undeniable. Faster recovery, dramatically improved biomarkers, more stamina on the fireground, and a renewed sense of purpose. Today, Andy is leading from the firehouse kitchen, fueling his crew with plant-strong meals that leave them feeling energized, focused, and ready to perform when the alarm sounds.

    From zucchini fritters that changed an entire shift’s perspective on food, to the deeper reality that nearly 85% of fire calls are lifestyle-related medical emergencies, this conversation is about service, brotherhood, and reclaiming health — one plate at a time.

    Key Takeaways
    • Peak performance starts with the fork. Andy’s plant-based diet helped him recover quickly from kidney donation surgery and outperform expectations on physically demanding fireground drills.
    • Leadership doesn’t require a badge or rank. By cooking plant-based meals at the firehouse, Andy inspired his crew to eat more plants, feel less fatigued, and perform better on shift.
    • Firefighters are tactical athletes. Like professional athletes, first responders must be ready at any moment — and nutrition plays a critical role in stamina, breathing control, and long-term health.
    • Sadly, nearly 85% of fire calls are lifestyle-related medical emergencies and not fires, at all.

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    58 m
  • Ep. 337: Jet Benitez - The Keto Diet Almost Killed Him. So, He Turned to Plants.

    Ep. 337: Jet Benitez - The Keto Diet Almost Killed Him. So, He Turned to Plants.
    Jan 22 2026

    In this episode, Rip sits down with Jet, a 66-year-old husband, father, hiker, and former keto devotee whose health collapsed despite doing “everything right” according to low-carb gurus. After a terrifying calcium score, debilitating angina, and near-widowmaker blockage, Jet found himself out of breath, unable to hike his favorite mountains, and feeling an impending sense of doom.

    A reunion — and one shocking scar from a friend’s open-heart surgery — jolted him into action. Jet pivoted from years of high-fat keto eating to a whole-food, plant-based, SOS-free lifestyle inspired by Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn. Within weeks, his symptoms vanished. Within months, he was summiting mountains he hadn’t touched in over a decade. Today, his cholesterol is stellar, his A1C is normal, and he’s hiking peaks he hasn't done in years.

    Jet’s story is an inspiring reminder that the body can heal when given the right fuel — and that it’s never too late to turn your life around.

    Key Topics Covered:

    • Growing up in the Philippines on a fat and sugar-heavy diet
    • The moment Jet realized keto was harming — not helping — his heart
    • How a reunion wake-up call shifted his perspective
    • The emotional and physical toll of worsening symptoms
    • Why he finally chose a whole-food, plant-based lifestyle
    • The shocking improvements in angina, energy, cholesterol, sleep, and mood
    • His new life of hiking, strength, and vitality at 66
    • Advice for anyone curious but hesitant to go plant-based

    Episode Webpage

    Watch the Episode on YouTube

    Learn More About our 2026 Live PLANTSTRONG Events: https://plantstrong.com/pages/events


    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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    1 h y 14 m
  • Ep. 336: Joe Gagnon - The Simple Formula for a Healthier, More Meaningful Life

    Ep. 336: Joe Gagnon - The Simple Formula for a Healthier, More Meaningful Life
    Jan 15 2026

    What does it mean to live intentionally?

    In this inspiring conversation, Rip sits down with endurance athlete and author Joe Gagnon, who shares how he shifted from chasing external success to living with deeper purpose and awareness. Joe explores the mindset and habits that fuel his growth — from building strong health pillars and saying “yes” to new challenges, to embracing discomfort as a teacher.

    Through endurance racing, reflection, and a plant strong lifestyle, Joe has learned that intentionality, courage, and consistency aren’t just traits of high performers — they’re the foundation for a fulfilled life.

    If you’ve ever wondered how to align your life with what matters most—or how to find meaning in the face of any challenge and discomfort—this episode will help you reflect, reset, and take the next step toward a more intentional life.

    Key Takeaways

    • Living intentionally starts with understanding your purpose.
    • Failure is not the end—it’s an opportunity for growth.
    • Grit, grace, and groundedness are vital for personal fulfillment.
    • Reflection on how you spend your time helps align your life with your values.
    • You are responsible for your own happiness and legacy.

    Watch the Episode on YouTube

    Episode Webpage

    Learn More About our 2026 Live PLANTSTRONG Events: https://plantstrong.com/pages/events


    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/


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

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    1 h y 29 m
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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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