PLANTSTRONG Podcast Podcast By Rip Esselstyn cover art

PLANTSTRONG Podcast

PLANTSTRONG Podcast

By: Rip Esselstyn
Listen for free

About this listen

 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. 300: Lucas McLawhorn - How This Teacher and Cancer Survivor is Feeding His Community with Plants

    Ep. 300: Lucas McLawhorn - How This Teacher and Cancer Survivor is Feeding His Community with Plants
    May 8 2025

    In this heartfelt and inspiring episode, Rip sits down with Lucas McLawhorn—educator, cancer survivor, and founder of the plant-based food truck Well Fed Ed.

    Lucas shares his powerful story of transformation, from the classroom to the kitchen, driven by a deep desire to serve and educate his community through healthy, plant-based meals. He opens up about his battle with cancer, the life-changing role nutrition played in his recovery, and the family and cultural influences that shaped his approach to wellness.

    Listeners will be moved by Lucas’s reflections on:

    • The intersection of education and nutrition
    • The challenges and triumphs of launching a food truck business
    • His decision to return to the U.S. after living in Switzerland
    • The joy of building community through food and service
    • His love for the people of Eastern North Carolina and the United States

    This episode is a testament to the healing power of food and the importance of purpose-driven living. Whether you're passionate about plant-based eating, curious about food entrepreneurship, or simply in need of a little inspiration, Lucas’s story is sure to resonate.

    Episode Resources

    Episode Webpage

    Watch the Episode on YouTube

    Watch A Well Fed Education Documentary Film

    Support the Mission of Well-Fed Ed
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 5 mins
  • Ep. 299: Heidi Farina - She Ditched the Hustle Culture, Changed Her Diet & Reclaimed Her Life

    Ep. 299: Heidi Farina - She Ditched the Hustle Culture, Changed Her Diet & Reclaimed Her Life
    May 1 2025

    In this inspiring episode, Rip sits down with Heidi Farina to hear how she went from college athlete and biotech manager, to full-time artist and plant-based advocate.

    After experiencing deep personal loss and burnout during the pandemic, Heidi realized something had to give. What followed was a powerful transformation rooted in health, healing, and rediscovery.

    Heidi opens up about her decision to embrace a whole food plant-based lifestyle, how it helped her reclaim her energy and creativity, and what it really took to step away from a life that no longer aligned with her values.

    She shares the emotional journey of balancing motherhood, grief, and self-care—and how she now prioritizes mental health and boundaries while pursuing a life that truly feels like her own.

    She discusses:

    • The impact of family’s health history on her wellness journey
    • The moment she knew she needed to make a major life change
    • How switching to a whole food plant-based diet jump-started her healing
    • Finding the courage to go “all in,” regardless of criticism and opinions of others
    • What it takes to rebuild your identity after burnout and loss
    • Tips for setting boundaries and creating a life of balance
    • Why it’s never too late to start over and pursue what lights you up

    Episode Webpage

    Watch the Episode on YouTube
    Show more Show less
    59 mins
  • Ep. 298: John Joseph on Destroying Monsters - Addiction, Redemption, and Hardcore Healing

    Ep. 298: John Joseph on Destroying Monsters - Addiction, Redemption, and Hardcore Healing
    Apr 24 2025

    Rip Esselstyn sits down with John Joseph—author, musician, and former frontman of the iconic hardcore punk band Cro-Mags—to explore a story of survival that defies belief.

    John’s journey takes us far below rock bottom: addiction to crack cocaine, pills, and alcohol; a life of crime on the streets of New York; time spent in foster care and juvenile detention; and the devastating loss of loved ones to violence and substance abuse. But somehow, against all odds, John fought his way back—and now lives a life centered on service, discipline, and purpose.

    Today, he’s a sober, plant-based IRONMAN triathlete, motivational speaker, and the author of the powerful new book Destroying Monsters.

    John shares how the straight edge punk rock scene and the Hare Krishna movement helped transform his life, and how Destroying Monsters offers real tools for those battling their own demons.

    He discusses:

    • His descent into addiction and the dark underworld of crime
    • How punk, spirituality, and service saved his life
    • The power of discipline and Positive Mental Attitude (PMA)
    • How his plant-based lifestyle fuels his endurance training
    • Why Destroying Monsters is more than a memoir—it’s a guide to transformation

    Whether you’re facing your own struggles or simply need a dose of no-holds-barred inspiration, this conversation will light a fire under you.

    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

    Apple Podcasts

    Spotify
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 22 mins
adbl_web_global_use_to_activate_T1_webcro805_stickypopup
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.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
very informative. LOVED the suggestions and look forward to finding her book and trying her recipes.

Janet Verney

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
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

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
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!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Great host, great guests, succinct, inspiring! I have listened to every episode, and they are all good!

I love every episode!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.