Switch4good

Few illnesses are met with as many misconceptions as eating disorders.   They’re often over-simplified with one four-letter word: just.   Just eat a cheeseburger. She’s just doing it to lose weight.   Dr. Ron Thompson is a psychologist who specializes in the treatment of eating disorders, and he joins Dotsie and Alexandra in this episode to explain that it really isn’t that simple.   Dr. Thompson has served as a consulting psychologist for the Athletic Department at Indiana University and as a consultant on eating disorders to the NCAA. He’s known for broadening the awareness of athletes as a special interest group with unique treatment needs and for trailblazing the path for athlete-specific treatment options.   His publications include Bulimia: A Guide for Friends and Family, The Exercise Balance, and Eating Disorders in Sports, and he coauthored the Disordered Eating section of the NCAA Coaches Handbook.   In this episode, Dr. Thompson discusses the multidimensionality of eating disorders and their treatm

Is your diet keeping you sick?   Dr. James Loomis is a whole-foods plant-based internal medical practitioner spreading the message that food is the best way to combat illness and disease.   After experiencing a decline in his own health, Dr. Loomis made the switch and saw miraculous results: a significant drop in weight, cholesterol, and blood pressure in under three months.   He says that most problems that walk into his office can be traced back to inflammation and stress, often resulting from the Standard American Diet.   The former internist for both the St. Louis Cardinals and Rams now serves as the Medical Director of the Barnard Medical Center and advocates for using food -- over prescriptions -- as medicine.   In this episode, Dr. Loomis joins Alexandra and Dotsie to explain exactly how what we eat works to either heal or harm our bodies.   You’ll hear why whole foods are the best way to combat inflammation, why manipulation by the dairy industry is so dangerous, and how you can get empowered to criti

Traditional medicine often prioritizes symptom-relief over addressing the underlying cause of illness.   But if we look beyond symptoms and approach our wellness holistically, can our bodies begin to provide their own relief?   Naturopathic medicine challenges the traditional standard by working on whole-patient wellness and concentrating on the treatment and prevention of disease by understanding systemic causes.   Dr. Christian Gonzalez is a naturopathic doctor who earned his Bachelor of Science degree at Rutgers University and his Medical Doctorate at the University of Bridgeport’s College of Naturopathic Medicine. He completed his residency at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America and is currently working at a holistic and integrative medicine center in California.   Dr. Gonzalez joins Alexandra and Dotsie to discuss how you can take control of your health and give your body favorable conditions to thrive.   You’ll hear how environmental toxins and stress are affecting your wellness, how naturopathic me

We know that eating plant-based is great for our bodies and the environment, but what about eating fruit-based?   Can we really thrive on a raw food diet consisting mainly of fruits?   TJ Long is a certified personal trainer, health coach, and fruitarian who says that a diet of living plants is optimal for gut health.   After a long journey through addiction to substances and unhealthy food, TJ found himself a junk food vegan replacing alcohol with other vices.   With some help from a new companion, and the resilience to slowly climb out of the hole he’d dug, he found freedom in health through transitioning to a raw vegan diet.   He joins us in this episode to share his inspiring path to health, why uncooked food is ideal for your digestive system, and how you can try going raw yourself.   What we discuss in this episode:   - Raw Veganism vs. Fruitarianism: What are they? Is there a difference?   - What effect does cooking your food have on its enzymes?   - TJ’s own A Street Cat Named Bob story: How he overca

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

When meat is considered to be an integral part of athleticism and masculinity, how can you convince a team of football players that a plant-based diet is best for their health and performance?   Chef Charity Morgan holds a culinary degree from Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts and is leveraging her artistry in the kitchen to feed dozens of NFL players plant-based, nutrient-rich meals every day.   Once players got a taste of the lunches she was making for her husband, Tennessee Titans linebacker Derrick Morgan, they realized they didn’t have to sacrifice taste or results on the field to be vegan.   Today Chef Charity joins us to discuss how she’s fueling a team with plants, how she creates culturally-diverse and delicious meals, and what switching for good has meant for her family’s health.   What we discuss in this episode:   - The impact of growing up in a multicultural household, and how it ignited Chef Charity’s passion for cooking   - The chronic health issue that led her to switch for good, and th

Activism is often marked by speaking up for the voiceless, and that starts by bearing witness to suffering.   These are two of the cornerstones of Jane Velez-Mitchell's mission with Jane UnChained, a digital news network dedicated to reporting on animal rights, climate change, food justice, and living cruelty-free.   Jane is a former news anchor, two-time Emmy winner, and four-time author with two New York Times Best Sellers to her name, including iWant: My Journey from Addiction and Overconsumption to a Simpler, Honest Life.   Her news network has grown to 70 global contributors who provide breaking animal rights news, live coverage of demonstrations, and daily Lunchbreak Live recipes.   She joins us today to dig into the social conditioning of our diets, her story of overcoming addiction, and the importance of breaking social contracts for a more compassionate world.   What we discuss in this episode:   - How social conditioning impacts our diet   - The power of bearing witness and Anita Krajnc’s Save Movem

Society has perpetuated the idea that masculinity is connected to animal consumption and preying on the weak.   Luckily, there are men like Dominick Thompson actively challenging that belief.   After going to prison more than seventeen years ago, Dominick had an epiphany about what it means to cause harm in the world.   He is now a social entrepreneur and activist with an online wellness program, vegan clothing line, and upcoming food product line.   Dominick joins us today to discuss the realization he made in prison, the similarities between our culture’s treatment of prisoners and animals, and why we must redefine masculinity as a compassionate trait.   You don’t want to miss this inspiring episode.   What we discuss in this episode:   - How films like The Game Changers and men like Dominick are challenging the connection between meat and masculinity   - The story of Dominick calling out Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson on Instagram: Why it’s important to be assertive and come from a place of love   - Why society

How does compassion play a role in ecological conservation?   In what way does our treatment of animals impact the way we treat ourselves and the planet?   Marc Bekoff is an animal behaviorist who argues that turning away from human exceptionalism and theoretical prejudices are the keys to expanding our compassionate footprint and making our conservation efforts more effective.   As the author of more than 1,000 essays and 30 books, Marc is a leading voice in the fields of ecology, animal behavior, and cognitive ethology.   Among his many accomplishments, he, with Jane Goodall, is a co-founder of Ethologists for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, and he was the first American to win his age class at the Tour du Haut Var bicycle race.   Marc joins us in this episode to discuss empathy, dissonance and connecting with who nonhuman animals are.   What we discuss in this episode:   - What it means to rewild yourself, connect with nature, and acknowledge nonhuman animals for who they are   - How overstimulation has

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 ad

Despite the growing acceptance of plant-based nutrition in the mainstream, there are still major disparities in health, food access, and nutrition education for certain demographics.   Thirty-year vegan, best-selling author, and public health nutritionist Tracye Lynn McQuirter has spent decades teaching people how to be vegan for life while advocating specifically for African American women and girls.   The author of By Any Greens Necessary and Ageless Vegan joins us to discuss health inequalities, food justice, and some of her delicious vegan recipes.   You’ll learn the connection between food and racism, how chronic disease is exacerbated in black communities, and this nutritionist’s tips to switch for good.   What we discuss in this episode:   - The plate of black America and how Dick Gregory, comedian and activist, started Tracye on her path to veganism   - Why Tracye decided to start filling the gap in nutrition literature for black women   - What’s in Tracye’s Vegan Starter Guide?   - Health dispariti

Our diets are forever evolving and never perfect, but if we allow ourselves to have compassion and understand the journey, we can get to a healthier place.   Nik Tyler lives this philosophy daily.   He’s an actor, vegan, and the Celebrity Relations Manager for Mercy for Animals, the leading farm animal protection non-profit organization.   Nik was raised as a vegetarian, taught to honor the Jainism belief of ahimsa or to do no harm.   However, he still struggled with sugar and vegan “junk” food, and it took time for him to practice compassion toward himself and his body.   A once outspoken animal activist in college, Nik continues to advocate for the vegan lifestyle, but with a bit more tact.   He has come to understand that compassion is inherent in all of us, but we each need time to realize and act upon it.   The most effective traits of an activist are patience and the ability to listen, according to Nik.   Nik is both insightful and playful, and this conversation was a true gem. We hope you find inspirat

How can a vegan lifestyle help heal your mind, body, and spirit? Before becoming a personal trainer certified in plant-based nutrition, Bianca Taylor started her fitness journey as a bikini bodybuilder.   Searching for purpose and a sense of control, she instead found herself dealing with depression and a broken relationship with food.   One small realization started an avalanche of change.   Bianca used the power of plants, with some professional guidance, to reignite her passion for food, health, and strength.   Now she helps other women do the same.   She has trained with a range of different athletes and uses her platform to coach plant-fueled fitness.   You don’t want to miss this emotional episode about purpose, compassion, and self-love.   What we discuss in this episode:   - The childhood tragedy that left Bianca searching for purpose.   - Busting the myth that happiness and worth are tied to your appearance.   - The realization that lead Bianca to a vegan diet and a lifestyle of compassion.   - Bia

When you hear about the rapid decline of our resources, coupled with the growth of our human population, do you wonder what you can do to help save the planet?   Matthew Prescott, author of Food is the Solution: What to Eat to Save the World, joins us to talk about a very convenient truth: the world can be saved with every bite.   As the Senior Director of Food and Agriculture of the Humane Society of the United States, and as a speaker invited to TEDxUCLA and Talks at Google, Matthew’s advocacy has lead to changes on individual plates, and in major food companies.   You’ll learn how we can all do more with less, how eating locally is not always eating ethically, and why we need all forks on deck to save the world.   What we discuss in this episode:   - The inefficiency of our food system.   - Why saving the planet is easier than you think.   - Busting the myth that we need to get our protein through animals.   - The resources that really go into making a breakfast sandwich.   - Why locally-sourced foods don’

You’ve heard all the myths surrounding plant-based diets: it’s not sustainable as an athlete, or easy when you travel, or fun if you’re a foodie.   Robbie Balenger is about to bust all of those myths in one 3,000-mile run across the United States.   Robbie first laced up his shoes six years ago to alleviate his stress as a restaurant manager. Since then, his career and running paths have coalesced into a passion for endurance athleticism powered by plants -- and vegan ice cream.   He joins us to chat about his journey to plant-based wellness, how he plans to fuel his body over the seventy-five-day excursion, and how he hopes to inspire other people to thrive while eating ethically.   He hits the pavement March 15th in Huntington Beach, sponsored by Switch4Good and NadaMoo!    What we discuss in this episode:   - How Robbie turned to running to deal with stress.   - Robbie’s journey to a plant-based diet with an ethical focus.   - The motivation behind Robbie’s transcontinental attempt.   - Slaying myths about

What are we really ingesting when we drink cows’ milk? What are mothers passing through their bodies to their children? What in the world is a dairy allergy?   Dr. Vivian Chen dives into the dangers of dairy and her story of transitioning to a plant-based diet after a battle to diagnose the root of her infant’s feeding problem.   As a double-certified physician, Dr. Chen has seen a host of improvements in her patients when they cut dairy and address their lifestyle. She’s going to tell you the sneaky ways dairy might be affecting you -- and your children.     What we discuss in this episode:   - Defining dairy allergy, and distinguishing it from lactose intolerance.   - The top four allergies Dr. Chen says mothers should look for.   - Ethnic diversity in allergy prevalence and the difficulty in testing for allergies.   - Delayed vs. acute symptoms and allergies in adults vs. babies.   - Elimination diets to discover the root of your symptoms.   - The effects of casein metabolizing into casomorphin.   Follow D

Everyone experiences the occasional food craving, but for some, certain foods become a true addiction.   Why are some people wired to crave certain types of food so intensely, and how can we break free of it? Dr. Susan Peirce Thompson, founder of Bright Line Eating, answers these questions and explains her strategies for managing food addiction and achieving sustainable weight loss.   We are fascinated by her method and believe everyone can gain from her knowledge and establish a healthier relationship with food.   What we discuss in this episode:   - The science behind food addiction.   - Strategies to cope with food addiction.   - Dr. Peirce Thompson’s food philosophy and weight loss barriers.     - The Compensation Effect   - Find Bright Line Eating’s white paper. Google “Likelihood of an Obese Person Achieving Normal Weight With Bright Line Eating.”   - Find Susan at Bright Line Eating, pick up her book, Bright Line Eating: The Science of Eating Happy, Thin, and Free, and take the food addiction quiz at

What actually is diabetes? How is it caused?   What’s the difference between type 1 and type 2, and is sugar or fat to blame? Robby Barbaro and Cyrus Khambatta answer these questions and more during our chat today.   Both were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and manage it with a low fat, whole food, plant-based diet.   They’ve teamed up to create Mastering Diabetes, a coaching program to help others feel their best while managing their symptoms.   They even tried to help our audio engineer, Michael, move away from his meat-heavy diet! Get out your keyboard–you’re going to want to take notes during this fun yet informative conversation.   What we discuss in this episode:   - Defining the 5 types of diabetes.   - The difference between natural and refined sugar.   - How a plant-based diet can reverse prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.   - Robby and Cyrus’ low fat, plant-based whole food philosophy.   - How to eat for longevity and to lower your risk for chronic disease.   - Recommended reading: 80/10/10 Diet by

Giacomo Marchese is a successful natural bodybuilder and coach, but he wasn’t always the epitome of perfect health.   After discovering the sport of bodybuilding at a young age, Giacomo became severely anorexic, forcing him to step away from competitions for several years.   After overcoming his eating disorder and harnessing a healthier mindset around food and exercise, Giacomo eventually made his way back to what he loves and now coaches others in bodybuilding and general   weight loss and fitness. His secret weapon? Sleep, hydration, and a plant-based diet!   In this episode we discuss:   - Giacomo’s struggle with anorexia.   - How to get enough protein (spoiler, everything has protein)   - Society’s misplaced obsession with macronutrients   - Giacomo recommends a blend of pea and rice for the optimum, easy-to-digest protein powder.   - Giacomo’s go-to meals   - Dinner: Baked potato, Beyond Meat burger patty, side of broccoli   - Breakfast: Bowl of oats with fresh fruit   - Giacomo’s tips to lose weight on

Actress. Photographer. Ballerina. Influencer. Agnes Muljadi has an impressive resume with an even more impressive Instagram following—530K.   But she’s not after followers. She’s interested in ethics and serving as a positive role model for young girls.   We dive into a number of wide-ranging topics in this episode, from her overnight transition to veganism after a health scare to using her social platform to create positive change and mentor others.   We also discuss the raw vegan lifestyle, sustainable fashion, and how to navigate brand collaborations.   You’ll love Agnes’ real, down-to-earth philosophies, and also gain some insight to improve your health and your social media game.   What we discuss in this episode:   - Increasing stamina with a mostly raw, plant-based diet.   - Being mindful of what you eat.   - Being a vegan role model for young dancers.   - Being an influencer and partnering with brands in line with your ethics.   - Sustainable fashion and consumerism (for Fair Trade fashion, shop bea