Switch4good

Chances are, you probably know a diabetic—you could be diabetic yourself. Between prediabetes, Type 1, 1.5, 2, and gestational diabetes, this disease has unfortunately become a common one. But for many, it doesn’t have to be a life sentence.    Robby Barbaro and Cyrus Khambatta are the founders of the Mastering Diabetes Program—a concept that relies heavily on plant-based food to better manage Type 1 and prevent and reverse all other forms of diabetes. Both Type 1 diabetics, they reveal their personal stories and their knowledge in Episode 9, and they are returning to share additional insight and helpful tips from their new book, Mastering Diabetes.   A comprehensive yet approachable resource, consider this book the bible on diabetes.    Listen in as Cyrus and Robby explain the root cause of the disease, how to prevent and reverse it, and bust the myths about sugar and low-carb diets.    What we discuss in this episode:   - To listen to the first episode with Robby and Cyrus and learn more about their stories

Ask anyone who has been plant-based for more than twenty years, and they all point back to this seminal work by John Robbins—Diet for a New America. But this is not John’s singular claim to fame. He grew up as the sole heir to the Baskin-Robbins fortune, but as he was groomed to take over the family business, he became increasingly unsettled by the fact that the company wasn’t selling happiness—in his words, it was selling lies.    Unable to promote a product that endangered the animals, the planet, and one’s health, John walked away from the fortune, adopted a plant-based diet, and began to write. Over the past 40 years, John’s work has changed countless perspectives about the way we eat—forcing readers to wake up to the fact that there is one solution for the problems we face—and that is to go plant-based.    John may not have invented the thirty-second flavor, but he has certainly saved lives.    What we discuss in this episode:   - John’s childhood growing up as the heir to the Baskin Robbins business.  

Eric Lindstrom once ate 68 chicken wings in one sitting. Today, he works full-time in animal advocacy and has written two books on veganism. What changed?   The self-proclaimed carnivore adopted a plant-based diet over a bet with his wife. While he admittedly grumbled the whole time, what was intended to be a 30-day health kick turned into a lifelong passion.   Once Eric discovered that he didn’t have to give up his favorite meaty, cheesy foods, he stopped grumbling and embraced the plant-based way of life.    With his relatable personality and relaxed humor, Eric encourages others to adopt a plant-based diet by illustrating its bounty of delicious options and its accessibility.    A father of two young children, Eric also helps parents navigate a family-wide switch to plant-based.    Tune in for some laughs, insight, and practical tips to make the switch.    What we discuss in this episode:   - Eric’s past as an adamant meat-loving omnivore and his “reluctance” to go plant-based.   - The bet between him and

Not many people can say they’ve played the flute for Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show, worked as an executive pastry chef, and been vegan for more than 40 years.   Chef AJ, a culinary instructor, YouTube host, and author of Unprocessed and The Secrets to Ultimate Weight Loss, can say all of that and more.   Although she has a background in comedy and a long track record of ethical eating, there’s nothing funny about food addiction.   Even as a vegan, Chef AJ struggled with overeating sugar and under-eating vegetables.   She joins us in this episode to share how she turned to whole foods, lost 50 pounds, managed her addiction to sugar, and changed the course of her health.   What we discuss in this episode:   - Chef AJ’s experience with disordered eating and treatment   - Chef AJ’s philosophy of eating and the difference between fullness and satiety   - What makes processed foods more addictive?   - How Chef AJ turned her discovery of pre-cancerous polyps into a health opportunity   - What makes a food addict

Although food has incredible healing power, there is more you should be doing to take care of your body holistically.    Beyond helping his patients transition to a whole-foods, plant-based diet to fight disease and improve their guts, James Marin is an expert at bettering health from all angles, including by eliminating environmental toxins.     James is a Registered Dietitian and Environmental Nutritionist who, along with his wife Dahlia, specializes in preventing and healing diabetes, auto-immune diets, gastrointestinal treatments, and pediatric nutrition.    He says that there are three levels of health, all of which work together to keep your body working the way it’s meant to.    He joins Dotsie and Alexandra to explain the different levels of health, the impact the environment has on your body, and what you can do to ensure longer-term health.    You’ll hear his how he treats disease by focusing on the cause over symptoms, why it’s necessary for you to pay attention to GMOs and chemicals in your food,

In the past several decades, talking about veganism has often been met with discomfort, assumptions, and suspicion.   Or, like in the case of today’s guest, it was met with jokes that you might be in a cult.   The world is continuing to progress and plant-based diets are becoming more and more popular, but there still isn’t enough focus on the big picture of health.   In this episode, Dotsie and Alexandra are joined by Jason Wrobel, an author, chef, and podcast host who focuses on holistic mental health and emotional wellness.   Dotsie got to know Jason at the Remedy Retreat, a weekend of education and inspiration for people who are struggling to take control of their health where Dotsie and Jason both had the opportunity to speak.   Tune in and get to know more about Jason, his journey as a chef who had his own TV show, and how he won his battle over depression.   What we discuss in this episode:   - The exciting thing Jason is working on with the Switch4Good team   - How Jason’s mom helped him make the swi

Cardiovascular disease is the global leading cause of death and was responsible for more than 15 million fatalities in 2016.    What would you do to prevent yourself and your loved ones from becoming part of that statistic?   Today’s guest, Dr. Joel Kahn, says it’s as simple as plant-based nutrition.   Dr. Kahn is one of the world’s top cardiologists, a restaurateur, and is known as America’s healthy heart doc. He’s committed to making the world healthier through the preventative and healing power of plants.   He joins Dotsie and Alexandra to discuss the different factors that can lead to cardiovascular disease and the solutions to prevent or reverse early symptoms.    Tune in to hear what this vegan doctor has learned in his almost 40 years of practice, his advice for protecting yourself against fatal disease, and his tips for living a healthier lifestyle.    What we discuss in this episode:   - What disrupts hormone patterns and influences our health?   - How Dr. Dean Ornish’s paper on getting rid of plaq

Investing your money can be a scary and confusing process.    Where should you invest? What type of investments should you make? How can you be sure that your investments don’t contribute to unethical practices?   Exchange-traded funds, or ETFs, are growing in popularity due to their ease of trading while maintaining diversification benefits. And more ETFs are starting to focus on social good along with financial returns.    A new ETF, VEGN, aspires to tackle the concerns of vegans, animal rights activists, and environmentalists by steering clear of investing in companies that participate in animal abuse, destruction of the environment, and climate change.   Today’s guest, Claire Smith, is part of the team that launched VEGN.   She talks with Dotsie and Alexandra about how she’s using her financial and investment experience to grow the first vegan index on the market.   They discuss what an ETF is, how VEGN differs from the S&P 500, and how you can invest responsibly.     Tune in to hear how Claire is p

Ice hockey is often stereotyped as a white man’s sport. In fact, USA Today claims that the National Hockey League is made up of only 3% non-white players.   But today’s guest helped pave the way to increase that percentage and get more men of color on the ice.   Georges Laraque is a retired professional hockey player, Canadian sports commentator, author, and animal rights activist.   In his 13 years in the NHL, Georges played 695 games, including 57 in the playoffs and two fighting for the Stanley Cup.   Since making the switch in 2009, Georges has steadily contributed to the vegetarian and environmental movements in Montreal.     In this episode, Alexandra and Dotsie speak with Georges about his journey to becoming one of the few men of color to play in the NHL and how shifting to a plant-based diet affected his life and understanding of justice.   Tune in to hear more about Georges growing influence in the vegan, sports, and political communities.   What we discuss in this episode:   - What it was like fo

How would our health outcomes change if we were proactive in treating illness and disease?   Is changing your diet an effective way to reverse chronic conditions?   Dr. Neal Barnard is a physician, clinical researcher, and advocate for preventative medicine.   As the founder of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and author of more than twenty books, Dr. Barnard is a leading voice in the plant-based movement.   When he isn’t lobbying for more sustainable practices in medicine, or being featured in popular documentaries like Supersize Me and Forks Over Knives, you might find him performing music with CarbonWorks.   In this episode, he joins us to discuss the science behind diabetes, how the Barnard Medical Center helps patients go plant-based, and diet’s role in the prevention and reversal of poor health conditions.   What we discuss in this episode:   - How medical school, political movements, and rebellion influenced Dr. Barnard’s worldview   - How addictive food and the power of culture keeps

How can athletes combat debilitating digestive disorders that are keeping them from performing at their peak? Today’s guest is Emilie Tan, speed skater turned endurance ultrarunner and meat-eating IBS sufferer turned plant-based healthy mom.  Like most of us, Emilie ate animal products for most of her life until health conditions starting catching up to her.  Within three months of making the switch, she channeled her newly gained energy into running the 2014 Melbourne Marathon.  In this episode, Emilie sits down with Alexandra and Dotsie to share the major transformation she’s made in her sporting journey, parenthood, and health. Tune in to hear how eating dairy affects your digestive system, the benefits of intuitive eating, and advice for raising plant-based children.    What we discuss in this episode:   - Why Emilie turned to a plant-based diet to stop her IBS   - What happens to your digestive system when you consume dairy   - How Emilie is raising her daughter to be vegan through baby-led weani

Considering how much information is at our fingertips every day, it seems as though more people should be aware of what really happens in animal agriculture.    Even with knowledge being more accessible than ever, people have to be proactive in educating themselves and researching outside of industry bias.   Today’s guest did just that, and transitioned to a plant-based diet after researching how his daily meat products were being manufactured.    Nil Zacharias is the co-founder of the popular site One Green Planet, co-author of Eat for the Planet, host of a podcast by the same name, and the founder of plant-based platforms Spire and 8020 Plants.    After learning the environmental effects of the animal agriculture industry, he made the switch and dedicated himself to helping others do the same.   He joins Dotsie and Alexandra in this episode to talk about his transition to a plant-based diet and why he left his law career to be an ambassador helping people on their own food journey.   Nil believes that many

More than 9 billion land animals are raised and killed for consumption every year, just in the United States.    The more people consume meat, the higher the demand, and the more animals are exploited and slaughtered.    But why do we tend to only eat certain kinds of meat? Why are more of us investing in premium pet products at the same time the chicken slaughter rate is continuing to increase?    Today’s guest shares some insight into this phenomenon, which she has coined carnism.   Dr. Melanie Joy is a Harvard-educated psychologist, author, and vegan advocate behind the concept of carnism. She’s also a TEDx speaker and recipient of the prestigious Ahimsa Award.   Tune in to hear Dr. Melanie Joy as she joins Dotsie and Alexandra to discuss how carnism is woven into the very fabric of our society. She explains that it’s both institutionalized and internalized, and held up by our social powerarchy.    Learn how carnism creates a defense mechanism that distorts perception, disconnects us from empathy, and h

When women join a male-dominated sport, it can be difficult to gain the respect of fans, officials, and fellow athletes. Those issues can be even more exacerbated when women challenge the sports world to consider new, more ethical ways of living.   But that didn’t stop Leilani Münter.    Leilani is a Biology graduate from UC San Diego, a professional race car driver, and an environmental activist.    She realized early in her career that her mission was to bridge the worlds between racing and environmental work.    Despite early criticism, her race cars have carried messages about renewable energy, she has adopted an acre for every race she’s run since 2007, and she treated race fans to 30,000 Impossible Burgers at the Chicagoland Speedway.    Today she joins Dotsie and Alexandra to chat about her advocacy for solar power, electric cars, plant-based diets, animal rights, and population control.    You’ll hear her story of making the switch, how she brought renewable energy to the race track, and how she’s o

Poop. It might not be dinner table conversation, but there’s no denying it’s on everyone’s minds.   If you ever feel bloated, constipated, or experience more serious digestive issues, it could be due to your diet.   Plant-based and board-certified gastroenterologist Dr. Angie Sadeghi walks us through all our burning questions about our gut including colonics, enemas, probiotics, and more.   Learn how to become more “regular” and diversify your gut microbiome, so get a pen and paper ready; you’ll want to take notes!   What we discuss in this episode:   - How dairy negatively affects the gut microbiome   - How to diversify the gut microbiome with plant-based foods   - The importance of fiber   - Everything you want to know about your colon   - How to start feeling better by gradually transitioning to high fiber foods   - “Dairy Is Scary” video by Erin Janus   - Follow Angie on Instagram @angie.sadeghi or visit her website www.drangiehealth.com   Connect with Switch4Good   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ2

Health fanatics will often tell you that things like salmon and eggs are the way to go if you want to eat healthy.   But even simple iceberg lettuce has more antioxidants and fiber than both.    It’s simple: going plant-based is worth it, not only for animals, but also for your own health.    Here to prove that is today’s guest, Audrey Dunham, a former fitness competitor turned actress, recipe developer, and owner of Peanut’s Bake Shop. The Bake Shop offers exceptionally delicious and high-quality cookies that are 100% vegan, gluten-free, and made from non-GMO ingredients.    Dotsie and Alexandra sit down with Audrey as she shares her journey of going from a vegetarian diet to eating entirely plant-based and opening the Bake Shop to make vegan goodies accessible to as many people as possible.    She also shares how intuitive eating and books like French Women Don’t Get Fat and How to Have Your Cake and Your Skinny Jeans Too helped her reconnect with herself after moving away from the professional fitness wo

There are so many reasons people want to lose weight.    Whether they’re influenced by social media, or are driven to live a healthier lifestyle, people are becoming increasingly caught up in dieting trends.    Keto and Paleo have become a couple of the go-to choices for people looking to shed a few pounds, but are they actually good for you?    Today’s guest is Dr. Michael Greger, the physician behind the popular site NutritionFacts.org and the author of the New York Times Bestseller, How Not To Die: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease.   Dr. Greger, Dotsie, and Alexandra dig into the science behind plant-based diets being the best option when trying to lose weight while keeping your mind and body healthy.    You’ll also get a peek into the contents of How Not to Die and the tools you can use to start making healthier choices today.   What we discuss in this episode:   - Dr. Greger’s objective when he wrote How Not to Die   - The positive effects microbiome-friendly d

According to ANAD, at least 30 million people of all ages and genders suffer from an eating disorder in the United States.   No matter what type of addiction you have, it’s difficult to confront when you’ve hit rock bottom and are in desperate need for a change.    Today’s guest is Ryan Duff, the winner of Switch4Good’s recent contest that asked listeners to submit their own stories of overcoming personal challenges.    Ryan is a medical student and a recreational ultra-endurance runner, but more impressive than his academic and athletic achievements is his story of overcoming an eating disorder.    Dotsie and Alexandra talk with Ryan about his struggle from anorexia to binge eating, and how he’s overcome those hurdles by shifting to a plant-based diet.    They discuss the underlying causes of eating disorders, coping mechanisms, and the holistic impact of veganism for your physical and mental health.    Plus, find out where you can get Bee Free Honee, made from apple juice, and Alexandra’s favorite cara

A lot of well-meaning people having riding an elephant as part of their bucket list.    One popular destination for this activity is Thailand, where tourists can spend their vacation watching elephant shows, getting up close to the animals, and riding on their backs.    What a lot of these tourists don’t know is the suffering these elephants endured to be used for their amusement.    Today’s guest is Ashley Bell, who has appeared in several films and television shows. She made her major feature film debut as Nell Sweetzer in The Last Exorcism, which garnered her a nomination for Best Supporting Actress. She also gave a brilliant performance in Psychopaths and has been featured as a voice actress in several popular video games.    But in 2018, Ashley stepped behind the camera for Love & Bananas: An Elephant Story. She wrote and directed this groundbreaking documentary that follows her daring 48-hour mission across Thailand to rescue a 70-year-old elephant from slavery. Ashley sits down with Dotsie and Ale

A lot of people who are self-conscious about their bodies tend to fall into dieting cycles and find themselves confused about what their bodies really need.   What kind of calorie count should you maintain? How much protein should you eat? When does your diet become something more sinister?    Today’s guest is Jenna Hollenstein, an author and registered non-diet dietitian who helps people who are struggling with chronic dieting, disordered eating and diagnosed eating disorders.    Jenna joins Dotsie and Alexandra to share how she helps her clients find a greater sense of peace and wellness through a non-diet approach.    They also talk about how people’s relationship with food stems from segregating the body and how you can recover from that division.    Tune in to hear how Jenna replaces dieting with healing, what you need to know about Intuitive Eating, how to help your children develop good eating habits and more.    What we discuss in this episode:   - What you need to know about daily protein requirem