Switch4good

We are back for round two with Dr. Monica Aggarwal. If you haven’t listened to the first episode (#148), go back and listen to her origin story. Dr. Aggarwal takes a different approach to heart health than most cardiologists. Instead of stents and blood-thinners, she uses lifestyle and nutrition as a patient’s first line of defense. Named a New Generation Innovator by Cardiology Today, Dr. Aggarwal is helping people live longer—not just masking the symptoms of heart disease. Everyone has some level of risk when it comes to heart health. No matter your age or lifestyle, we can all benefit from hearing what Dr. Aggarwal has to say. We just couldn’t fit all of her knowledge into one episode!  What we discuss in this episode:   - Calculating one’s relative risk of heart disease    - Why healthy eating matters even in childhood   - Understanding plaque and its consequences   - What is a stent and what does it actually do?    - Nutritional tips to lower risk of heart disease   - Understanding the difference between

Dr. Monica Aggarwal is the perfect example of what can happen when you don’t take care of your body … she’s also the perfect example of what can happen when you do take care of your body. Living under the constant pressure of defined gender norms in a subspecialty medical profession, Dr. Aggarwal strived to be perfect. After finishing school and experiencing several miscarriages, she had three children in four years and tried to be Super Mom along with her full-time job as a cardiologist. Ultimately, her body broke down and she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Months passed until she took control of her health—not with medicine, but with lifestyle. When she prioritized sleep, plant-based eating, and more gentle forms of exercise, she put her disease in remission. This is part one of our two-part interview with the fabulous and knowledgeable Dr. Aggarwal. We just couldn’t cover everything in one short hour. Buckle up and get ready to learn. What we discuss in this episode:   - Expectations placed on wo

When dieting doesn’t work, it’s time to stop dabbling in healthy eating. Dr. Joel Fuhruman is a highly respected physician who has made his mark by focusing on nutrition. He is the founder of the Nutritarian Diet which is based on whole, plant-based foods that have been scientifically shown to reduce cancer risk and extend longevity. In his seven bestselling books, you won’t find “cheat days” or “moderation,” and he explains why in this riveting episode. Fuhrman educates us on the fundamentals of health, nutrition, and disease prevention with a fiery energy is instantly motivating. What we discuss in this episode:   - The benefits of GBOMBS    - The connection between nutrition and immunity   - The Nutritarian Diet and battling cancer   - Food addiction   - Understanding how metabolism is affected by food   - The End of Dieting book  Connect with Switch4Good - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ2toqAmlQpwR1HDF_KKfGg   - Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Switch4Good/   - Instagram - https://www.ins

For someone who had no idea what to do with their life after graduating high school, 25-year-old Calen Otto has more purpose and passion than most people twice their age. What started out as a year in Chile as a foreign exchange student led to a ravenous travel bug. At 19, Calen crossed the US on a bike and supported themself by working as they went. They've been to 25 countries, mastered the art of vegan traveling on a budget, and do whatever they can to be an advocate for the animals—whether that’s rescuing pigs from abusive CAFOs to working for Mothers Against Dairy. In this episode, Calen elucidates on their adventures, explains what it means to be queer, and offers their perspective on what it means to be a person (animals included). We hope this conversation brightens your day as much as it did ours. What we discuss in this episode:   - Catching the travel bug and making the leap    - Crossing the country on their bicycle   - The WWOOF program   - How to travel as a vegan on a budget   - Defining gender

How do you know if a product is cruelty-free if you can’t trust the label? According to Kim Paschen—Program Manager for Leaping Bunny—there is no regulated definition for cruelty-free. That means companies who use this label are not held accountable and may very well include ingredients that have been tested on animals. When it comes to compassionate cosmetics that are truly animal-free, things get complicated, but that’s where Leaping Bunny comes in. The certification organization upholds companies to rigorous standards to ensure every last ingredient is free from animal testing. Kim walks us through all the nuances of cosmetic testing, what’s going on with China, and shares a few of her favorite Leaping Bunny-approved products. Listen in before your next trip to the cosmetics counter. What we discuss in this episode:   - Leaping Bunny standards   - Alternatives to animal cosmetic testing   - New testing regulations in China   - The difference between “cruelty-free” and “vegan” labeling   - Countries that ha

How does a 12-year-old start a non-profit? Haile Thomas will tell you. Now 20, Haile is accomplished beyond her years. Extraordinarily articulate and composed, Haile has been featured on The Food Network, Good Morning America, The Dr. Oz Show, the Drew Barrymore Show, and a dozen other talk shows. She’s the founder of The Happy Organization—a non-profit that empowers kids to embrace self-care and plant-based nutrition. She’s also the author of Living Lively—a cookbook with 80 plant-based recipes and a full outline of her 7 Points of Power to obtain a balanced, grounded, and actualized state of being. Haile has a quiet power that is magnetic in force. You’ll be drawn in the minute she starts to speak.  What we discuss in this episode:   - Why she went vegan to save her dad from type 2 diabetes   - Honoring cultural roots while adhering to a plant-based diet Haile’s 7 points of power   - Leaning into authenticity in the face of pressure   - Knowing oneself and establishing self-care   - Haile’s book, Living Liv

There are doctors who like to point out your problems and use medication as a bandaid, and there are doctors like Melissa Sundermann. A double board-certified DO in internal and lifestyle medicine, Dr. Sundermann combines Western medicine with a holistic approach to help her patients heal. She’s friendly, empathetic, and empowering. Join in on our delightful conversation with this Michigan-based doc to learn more about lifestyle medicine, tips to implement it into your routine, and how to help loved ones embrace a more holistic lifestyle.  What we discuss in this episode:   - 6 Pillars of Lifestyle Medicine   - How to navigate challenges when it comes to nutrition and exercise   - Dr. Sundermann’s transition from a peanut M&M lover to a plant-based diet   - How to make the switch to WFPB with a positive mindset   - How to fine-tune sleep health   - Follow Dr. Sundermann on Instagram @motivatormelissa   Connect with Switch4Good - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ2toqAmlQpwR1HDF_KKfGg   - Facebo

Camille Martin, RD, was caught in the vicious cycle of binging, restricting, and dieting for years. Her weight would fluctuate, but she was never happy, until she decided to quit dieting and let herself eat. To her surprise, she didn’t gain weight—she lost it. Now a registered dietitian and very new vegan, Camille shares her story and helpful tips to change your eating habits. We also dive into misleading labels on animal products, raising girls to grow up with high self-esteem, and more. This conversation is casual, friendly, and practical. Join in the camaraderie and give it a listen. What we discuss in this episode:   - Camille’s experience as a one-month vegan   - Managing binge/restrict eating habits and breaking the cycle   - How diet culture destroys self-esteem   - Defending carbs   - Veganism as a lifestyle, not a diet   - Debunking labels like “grass-fed, organic”   - How to raise strong, daughters    - How to change your environment to change your habits   - Camille’s website: https://camillemartin

Dr. Goldner was resigned to live out her life in the clutches of lupus—she expected to become disabled by her forties, deal with chronic pain, and never have children. Her perspective changed after meeting her husband and attempting to get trim for a Maui honeymoon. She shocked herself by healing her disease simply by eating a high-raw, whole-food, plant-based diet. For Goldner—and the hundreds of seriously ill patients she has treated since then—it really is that simple. Food can heal. This episode is for anyone who struggles (or knows someone who is struggling) with a health issue doctors say they can’t cure, only manage. The message is eye-opening, inspiring, and attainable. It might just save a life.     What we discuss in this episode:   - Autoimmune disease basics   - Dr. Goldner’s self-healing from lupus   - What foods to eat to heal disease   - How to build a healing smoothie   - How to find your “whypower”   - Defining hypernourishment   - Dr. Goldner’s best-selling book, “Goodbye Lupus”   - Smoothie

If you move your body, this episode is for you. TJ Waterfall is a UK-based sports nutritionist who takes a practical approach to fueling with a plant-based diet. In this episode, we cover highlights from his book, “The Plant-Based Power Plan,” and dive into so much more in relation to diet and fitness. Questions about salt, protein, or antioxidants? TJ has the answers. Stay tuned through the end to hear TJ’s answers to our speed round questions. One of his responses will melt your heart.  What we discuss in this episode:   - How to calculate your protein needs   - How exercise nurtures a healthy gut microbiome   - Troubleshooting overeating   - Understanding complete vs incomplete protein   - Nutrition timing   - The importance of salt and exercise    - Sample meals to fuel   - TJ’s book The Plant-Based Power Plan   - Follow TJ on Instagram @tj_waterfall   Connect with Switch4Good - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ2toqAmlQpwR1HDF_KKfGg   - Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Switch4Good/   - Inst

If you don’t already know about the Very Good Butchers, you will soon. While not the most dominant plant-based meat company, it’s certainly the cleanest. We were shocked (pleasantly so) that we could find every single ingredient listed for the Smokin’ Burgers and Very Good Pepperoni in our local grocery store. Co-founder and CEO Mitchell Scott sits down with us to discuss the rising trend of vegan meat, going public, and how The Very Good Butchers make meat out of beans. He also discloses a super simple cooking tip that will take any vegan meat to the next level. Our minds were blown—apparently, we’ve been cooking veggie burgers the wrong way for years! Plus, we introduce a new rapid-fire Q&A segment. Part practical and all fun, this new segment puts our guests on their toes!  What we discuss in this episode:   - How the company got started   - How to make meat from ingredients you can pronounce   - The pros and cons of becoming an IPO   - Consumer behavior trends of vegan meat   - Cooking tips and tricks

Dr. Arti Thangudu is a triple board-certified MD specializing in endocrinology, thyroid, and diabetes. She’s also a mom to two adorable young kids and runs her own private practice in San Antonio—Complete Medicine. But she didn’t stop there. Arti is determined to prevail over the rampant diabetes epidemic in her city. With a diabetes rate 6 percent higher than the national average, Dr. Thangudu’s integrative practice is helping patients battle the disease and preventing new patients from developing it. In this episode, we cover a range of ailments including diabetes, thyroid issues, hormonal imbalances, and the rampant mistreatment of these diseases from non-specialized practitioners. Dr. Thangudu’s wisdom and advice are relevant and practical. We all have so much to gain from her insights. What we discuss in this episode:   - Evidence-based lifestyle techniques for treating diabetes   - How different foods affect our hormones   - The sugar versus fat debate surrounding diabetes   - The importance of seeing a

Agriculture subsidies have robbed Americans of their right to vote with their dollars. Millions of consumers make conscious choices to not purchase animal products, believing their purchasing decisions are making a small but definitive statement about demand. Unfortunately, the colossal government subsidies that are pumped into the animal agriculture industry keep it alive regardless of demand. When Laura Reese realized this fact, she was angry, and she took action. Laura is the co-founder of the Agriculture Fairness Alliance and Liberation 360—two organizations that allow her to lobby and create lasting, effective change within the agriculture industry. Currently, she is working on legislation to incorporate into the next Farm Bill that will help animal farmers transition to plant-based farmers. In this episode, Laura delivers on subsidy 101 and elucidates on the problems and actions we all can take to make our dollars count. What we discuss in this episode:   - Understanding agriculture subsidies   - Lobbyi

Most people have a favorite hairdresser or perhaps even a favorite barista … we have a favorite gastroenterologist. This is Dr. Angie Sadeghi’s second time on the podcast—she just has so much knowledge to share! Circle back and listen to Episode 3 for her full backstory, then give this show a listen to learn all about the gut microbiome, how to feed your “good” bacteria, the brain/gut connection, hidden causes of anemia, her opinion on probiotics, and more. Your gut will thank you.      What we discuss in this episode:   - Check out Dr. Angie’s first appearance on the show, Episode 3   - The dangers of lactose intolerance   - Understanding the microbiome and how to feed your good bacteria    - The brain/gut connection    - How much fiber do you need?   - Do probiotic pills work?   - Hidden causes of anemia    - Institute of Plant-Based Medicine   - Follow Dr. Angie @Angie.Sadeghi   Connect with Switch4Good   - Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ2toqAmlQpwR1HDF_KKfGg   - Facebook: https://www.facebook

The wave of conscious consumerism is growing stronger day by day, but sometimes, it’s a challenge to discern how the products we buy affect our health, the environment, and those used to make it (both laborers and animals included). Adriane Marie has devised a solution to help us all shop smarter and more efficiently. The HEALabel app is the ultimate guide to making conscious consumer choices at the grocer, drug store, and retail shop. The extremely comprehensive tool includes thousands of entries for ingredients and textiles used in virtually anything you can buy—be that food, household products, cosmetics, or clothing. Adriane educated us about what is wrong with the system, what to look for to shop consciously, and how to avoid the misleading marketing scheme of greenwashing. If you want to shop with compassion and confidence, this is an episode you need to hear.  What we discuss in this episode:   - What is the Healable app   - Recognizing all four aspects of conscious consumerism   - Defining “greenwashi

Why are good people not vegan? Many people show tremendous empathy and compassion; they love animals; they deeply care about the planet; they perform selfless acts for others; and yet, they continue to support a system of routine abuse and cruelty. Animal law attorney and former Director of the iconic Vegan Action certification—David Blatte—wrote a book to explain this extreme juxtaposition and how to overcome it. Titled “The Vegan Imperative,” Blatte walks us through the psychological and societal factors of why people eat animals. He also dives into some of his high-profile legal cases, such as banning foie gras in California. This conversation will definitely leave you marinating in thought. What we discuss in this episode:   - What it’s like to be vegan in the 90s.    - How to effectively advocate   - Why good people continue to eat meat   - Levels of compassion   - Making the legal case against foie gras and other animal rights cases   - The Vegan Action certification   - David’s book, The Vegan Imperati

To create a vegan world, we need to give the people chicken. Sounds like an oxymoron, but the VP of Farm Animal Protection at the Humane Society of the United States is paving the way for people to ditch the cruelty and still enjoy the foods they love. His career spans undercover investigation work, negotiating with corporations to include plant-based options, supporting companies the produce plant-based animal alternatives, and passing legislation in favor of animal welfare. He co-founded the internationally known JUST (the makers of vegan eggs and now, no-kill chicken) and was instrumental in passing Prop 12 in California. Josh’s affable personality and positive energy make him a delight to listen to—when Josh speaks, even the darkest topics glimmer with hope.  What we discuss in this episode:   - Josh’s transition from baseball hopeful to animal advocate   - Going undercover in a chicken slaughterhouse   - The founding of JUST and its run-in with the egg lobby   - The first “no-kill” (clean meat) chicken 

There’s a little bit of everything in this show. We’ve got TWO soccer stars and we chat about vegan food, breast cancer, athletic performance, gender equality in sport, and so much more. Both play for the Orlando Pride professional women’s soccer team, but when they’re not on the field, Ali Riley and Toni Pressley star in their own vegan cooking show—Girls Gone Veg. From sumptuous mac and cheese to protein pancakes, these girls know how to cook! Listen to this episode then head over to their YouTube cooking series to make one of their approachable yet mouthwatering vegan recipes!  What we discuss in this episode:   - Why they lean toward plant-based and how it makes them feel   - Evolution of the plant-based diet in high-performance sports   - Toni’s experience with breast cancer   - What Toni and Ali eat in a day   - Follow Ali @rileythree and Toni @tonideion   - Gender equality in sport   - Healthy vegan travel foods   - Girls Gone Veg: https://youtu.be/6SxDT0nnheQ and @wearegirlsgoneveg on Instagram   Conn

No matter what your relationship to food is, we all live in a world manipulated by an addiction business model. We’re constantly confronted with ads for foods that have been designed to make us want more, and it began when the tobacco industry started buying up brands like Nabisco and Kraft Foods. Dr. Joan Ifland is an expert in processed food addiction, and her research is both eye-opening and appalling. This is a gripping conversation about the intersections of human behavior, evolution, and modern-day consumer habits.  What we discuss in this episode:   - The how the addiction business model applies to food   - How we get addicted to foods   - The overlap between tobacco and food    - How to tell if you are addicted to certain foods   - Immersion recovery and practical tips to feel better   - Joan analyzes Dotsie’s relationship with food in a group setting   - Follow Joan on Instagram @foodaddictionreset   - Joan’s website    - Food Addiction Education Facebook Group   Connect with Switch4Good - YouTube -

Rip Esselstyn is a world record holder, former pro triathlete, best-selling author, firefighter, and founder of Plant-Strong—an organization helping people lead healthier lives through plant-based nutrition. After a career as a pro athlete, Rip transitioned to firefighting at the Engine 2 firehouse in Austin, Texas. It was there that after a friendly competition, he realized one of his co-workers was on the brink of major health issues. As the son of the prolific Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, Rip couldn’t just stand by. He set up the firefighters with plant-based food and the results were astonishingly positive. Since then, Rip created the Engine 2 Diet and the Plant-Strong program to help more people thrive. Rip is one of the most charismatic guests we’ve had on this show and we are so excited to share this episode with you. Enjoy!    What we discuss in this episode:   - Apps: Cruelty Cutter, HappyCow, Bunny Free, epi App   - The firefighter lifestyle and Rip’s experience in the firehouse   - The recovery benefits