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Today on the show we have the legendary athlete, podcast host, author, and all-around wonderful human being, Rich Roll. Rich is a father and husband, but most of you will recognize his grounding voice from his weekly masterclass in personal and professional development—the Rich Roll Podcast. From a promising Stanford swimmer to a desperate entertainment lawyer caught in the vicious cycle of alcohol abuse, Rich hit rock bottom and used the power of plants and endurance to catapult his life into one of abundance. Between completing the EPIC5 Challenge to writing his best-selling memoir, Finding Ultra, Rich has amassed a life of experiences far beyond the average lifetime. He now dedicates himself to being a facilitator of growth and wellness through the Rich Roll Podcast, which he launched in 2012. Rich is a true original, a multifaceted individual with a bounty to share, and we cover a mountain of topics relating to personal development, relationships, addiction, and behavior. This episode is a philosophical g

Our guest today, Michelle Slater, is a true testament to the enduring power of the human spirit. She suffered symptoms from late-stage neurological Lyme disease for six years, symptoms so devastating, so utterly debilitating, that after exhausting every possible treatment—from allopathic to holistic—she actually considered assisted suicide. But in the face of seemingly impossible odds, she had the courage and resolve to take one final leap of faith, traveling all the way to Siberia, of all places. Literally Siberia. And it was in that far corner of the world that she submitted herself to the unorthodox treatment of dry fasting, and found what she was seeking. Five years later, she’s thriving and completely symptom-free. A scholar of comparative literature with a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University, Michelle’s remarkable story is chronicled in her new book Starving to Heal in Siberia: My Radical Recovery from Late-Stage Lyme Disease and How It Could Help Others. It’s such an inspiring story. We’re so happy to

Today’s guest grew up, like so many of us, on the Standard American Diet. But after watching the seminal documentary, Forks Over Knives, Dr. Steven Lome charted a new course in his life, both personally and professionally, by adopting a vegan diet, losing 100 pounds, and spreading the message about the healing power of plants. Dr. Lome is a board certified cardiologist, the founder of the Plant Based Nutrition Movement, and a member of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, where he fights to improve America’s diet at a legislative level. And, you may have heard about him in the news recently for his heroics at the Monterey Bay Half Marathon.  We’re super excited to have him here today to share his passion for plant-based eating, and discuss the benefits it has on cardiovascular health. “Maybe 20 percent of being healthy is exercise, but 80 percent of it is diet. Predominantly diet related. And I’ve been a cardiologist in practice for almost thirteen years now. I’ve seen at least a dozen or more i

Today’s guest was on Episode 43, and we’re so happy he’s on again to talk about his upcoming book and new documentary! From the rough-and-tumble streets of Ferguson, Missouri, to the tropical shores of Miami, Florida, Vegan Badass John Lewis has an inspiring story. Growing up on a diet practically devoid of fresh fruits and vegetables, and weighing in at over 300 pounds when he was just thirteen, John decided to make a change. He immersed himself in basketball and football excellence, changed his diet and his life.  Flash-forward to today and he’s a renowned fitness expert, speaker, author, and director/producer of the documentary They’re Trying to Kill Us. John is also on the front lines of social justice – sharing his passion, infectious energy, and belief in the healing powers of plants to change the world. “We don’t even call them food deserts anymore. We call them nutrition deserts because there is food in these areas, it’s just there’s no nutrition in these areas. So the food that they’re getting is not

Our guest today knew her calling at a much younger age than most of us. A fitness enthusiast, environmentalist and outspoken animal rights activist before she was even 15, Ella Magers is today a fitness coach, an author, and the founder of Sexy Fit Vegan. She’s been on a personal quest to help people change their attitudes toward food and wellness, and she has the international following to prove it. Ella was named one of the top 50 trainers in America by Shape magazine and Trainer Of The Month by bodybuilding.com. Armed with a master's degree in social work, certifications with the National Academy of Sports Medicine, extensive training in Muay Thai, and an inherent ebullience, Ella epitomizes what’s possible on a plant-forward diet. And there is SO much more to Ella’s story. This episode is packed with heretofore untold revelations and personal tales from her remarkable life journey!  “That grief felt so different. It was maybe the worst grief of my life, and at the same time, I let myself have it. I let my

With childhood obesity reaching epidemic proportions, our guest today, Dr. Leigh Ettinger, aka Dr. Herbivore, is a pediatric nephrologist who has seen firsthand the benefits of a plant-based diet for children. Dr. Ettinger is board certified in General Pediatrics and received his medical degree from Tufts University. He also received his certificate in plant-based nutrition from eCornell in 2016, and in 2019 he became a Diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine. He has a telemedicine practice in New York and New Jersey, where he encourages a plant-centric diet and empowers families to embrace a healthier lifestyle. With so much to unpack regarding weight management and nutrition optimization in children, it’s an honor to have him here with us today so that we can pick his brain!  “By having the people fill up on whole plants, then they’re not hungry. They don’t hopefully feel the need to eat in secret, or they’re not reaching with a craving for something if they’re filling up on starches. I’m a big

Our guest today is functional medicine practitioner Dr. Peter Kozlowski, and for those who aren’t familiar with functional medicine, you’re in for a real treat. Dr. Koz practices getting to the root of disease rather than treating the symptoms, while also addressing mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Doesn't that make sense?  Dr. Kozlowski has authored two books: Unfunc Your Gut, in which he tackles gut health and the immune system, and his new book Get the Func Out, where he addresses detoxing from heavy metals, toxic chemicals, and mold. Before writing the books, he trained with luminaries such as Dr. Susan Blum, Dr. Mark Hyman, and Dr. Deepak Chopra. But what's also intriguing is that his path to where he is was not a straight one. Dr. Koz faced some serious adversity along the way, and we're looking forward to seeing how some of those experiences influenced how he practices medicine today! “We’re all born with a bucket, and we fill that bucket with sugar and bad food and stress and lead and mercury

To talk to today’s guest, you may not guess he’s an extremely accomplished mixed martial artist. Modest, thoughtful, and incredibly insightful, Mac Danzig is a true maverick – a warrior poet and animal rights proponent who defies stereotypes and can wax philosophical about anything from human nature to photography, even skateboarding. A 2nd-degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, he came to prominence while winning season six of the Ultimate Fighter and made his mark in the ring as a dominant grappler and proficient striker. In addition to his success in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, he appeared in the revolutionary documentary Forks Over Knives, where he discussed the benefits of a plant-based diet and how it affected his health and his career as an athlete. Today, Mac has his own MMA studio where he passes on what he’s learned to a new generation, and we’re really happy to have him on! “When they were telling me that I needed a gram and a half of protein per pound of body weight to two grams of prot

Today’s guest is an example of how veganism can have a sweeping impact on your whole life. Born on the beautiful island of Puerto Rico, Fit Vegan Chef Natalie Matthews began surfing professionally at the age of sixteen. But when she started experiencing hypoglycemia, extreme fatigue and severe acne from dairy consumption, Natalie and her husband George were galvanized to learn the transformational health benefits of a plant-based diet. In just one year they were both thriving and free from illness. A professional bodybuilder and graduate from the Living Light Culinary Institute in California, Natalie has published two eBooks titled Puerto Vegan Cookbook and Fit Vegan Kitchen.  Super excited to discuss her many accomplishments, how a plant-based diet has transformed her life, and the myriad ways she strives to inspire others to make positive changes in their own lives! “Having some muscle tissue is gonna improve your fat loss journey. If you have a lot more muscle tissue you can eat more, it’s easier to burn f

She’s a self-starter, she’s an activist, she’s a multi-hyphenate. Today’s guest, Jasmine Leyva, made her directing debut with the groundbreaking documentary The Invisible Vegan, which highlights her own journey with veganism while exploring the unknown history of plant-based eating directly linked to African roots. If you haven’t seen it, do yourself a favor and watch it immediately.  Vibrant, eloquent and no-nonsense, Jasmine has appeared in front of the camera, starring in commercials for such brands as American Express, Nissan, Apple and Sony, and behind the camera as associate producer of the NAACP award-winning docuseries Unsung, and producer/writer of the docuseries Being. She’s also producing the forthcoming documentary – Red Alert: The Fight Against Fibroids, which tackles the hard questions around fibroids and endometriosis, which we’re definitely looking forward to discussing today.  “So I saw her and I was just like, wait, she has me by four decades, but I want to be like her, so I asked her what’s

Got gut issues? We’ve got a doctor on call. Dr. Alan Desmond is a general practitioner and gastroenterologist based in the UK. He incorporates whole, plant-based nutrition to treat the problem, not the symptoms, and he’s seen remarkable results with hundreds of patients. He’s also the author of “Plant-Based Diet Revolution: 28 Days to a Happier Gut and a Healthier You” and serves as an ambassador for Plant-Based Health Professionals UK. If you’ve got tummy troubles—from basic bloating to more serious conditions like IBS—to questions about probiotics and FODMAPS, Dr. Alan Desmond is in.  “As we embrace highly-processed foods and dairy and meat, we are creating the perfect recipe for dreadful digestive health.” - Dr. Alan Desmond   What we discuss in this episode: How processed and animal-based foods affect digestive health How gut health affects other diseases  Practical tips to jump into the vegan diet FODMAPS Non-animal foods that could negatively affect gut health Antibiotics and gut health How to deal wit

Ever wonder why some people who get exposed to colds or the flu get really ill while others experience mild symptoms or don’t get sick at all? Fortunately, today’s guest is here to provide answers to this mystery. An authority on the “microbiome,” Dr. Robynne Chutkan is here to tell us all about the remarkable flora residing in our intestines, and how feeding it the right foods can promote health, prevent disease, and even help us with our weight. Dr. Chutkan is a board-certified gastroenterologist at Georgetown Hospital, founder of the Digestive Center for Wellness, and author of the books Gutbliss, The Microbiome Solution, The Bloat Cure, and her most recent book, The Anti-Viral Gut, where she tackles the complexities of intestinal bacteria and how it relates to our immune system. She’s been a featured expert on several media outlets, including The Today Show and CBS This Morning.  If you’re a person interested in strengthening your immune system, or you’ve experienced digestive troubles, or you’re just hum

Dr. Dawn Mussallem is a board-certified Lifestyle Medicine Physician at the Mayo Clinic Jacoby Center for Breast Health, where she works with breast cancer patients during and after their diagnosis to heal and thrive using the pillars of lifestyle medicine alongside their conventional cancer treatments. Dawn has many remarkable stories of patient recovery, but the biggest recovery story of all is her own. You see, in addition to being a physician, teacher, wife, and mother, Mussallem is also a cancer survivor and 2021 heart transplant recipient. As of February 2022, she's also a marathon finisher! It's a story you simply have to hear to believe, and her passion and positivity will leave a lasting impact. Not only does she acknowledge her family and faith in this decades-long journey, but she also credits her whole foods plant-based diet with her ability to thrive and train with a renewed sense of purpose and boundless energy. It's a life force she brings both to her life and the lives of the patients she wo

Who says you have to be defined by a type 1 diabetes diagnosis? Who says your life can’t continue to be just as rich or fulfilling? Certainly not today’s guest. Lauren Plunkett is a registered dietitian, a diabetes education specialist, a fitness instructor, a dynamic national speaker, a plant-based nutrition advocate, and a shining beacon of positive energy, exemplifying how to live your best life with type 1 diabetes. And she does it all with so much empathy, a keen intellect, and a smile so radiant I swear you could see it from ten miles away. Lauren is also the author of the book Type One Determination, which I love because it’s from the perspective of someone who’s both a patient and an expert, offering applicable strategies to anyone suffering from type 1 diabetes. Some of our listeners might even recognize her name for her contribution to our very own Switch4Good blog.  With her characteristic feistiness, wit, and verve, she’s certainly someone who can teach us all a thing or two about living our very

Okay, today’s guest has an incredibly compelling story. He’s someone who truly knows how to turn adversity into opportunity. Uber-successful serial entrepreneur, David Israel, has owned, among other things, a nightclub, a jewelry store, a chain of upscale pawnshops, and a maintenance company. But what’s most interesting, is that in 2011, while enduring the most personally challenging period in his life, he founded POP! Gourmet Foods, taking the snack industry by storm and forming partnerships with globally recognized retailers, nationally and internationally. He was even featured in Oprah magazine multiple times. Then, in 2017, David had an epiphany. The following year he took his passion, and considerable experience, and created the wildly popular company GOOD PLANeT Foods, to address the burgeoning demand for people who want to eat better, healthier, environmentally friendly products.  This is a guest who can probably teach us all a thing or two about making lemonade out of lemons. So get ready for a riveti

Our guest today is an expert on all things related to the penis and male reproductive medicine. Although many folks are uncomfortable talking about issues related to the penis, Dr. Arron Spitz normalizes important conversations around it and sexual health. He specializes in male fertility and is a board-certified urologist who has a broad practice that includes nutrition-sensitive intervention. He’s outspoken about common problems like erectile dysfunction and delivers important information to us on today’s show that breaks down some of the age-old penis myths.   You may have seen him in The Gamechangers with Dotsie, or even read his book, The Penis Book. Today we have the honor of sitting down with Dr. Aaron Spitz and learning more about his book, the top reasons for erectile dysfunction, the truth about prostate cancer, and so much more. “There are men in their 90’s that have normal, healthy erections. But that is the exception rather than the rule. Given that our bodies are going to gradually deteriorate a

Our guest today, Dr. Sheil Shukla, practices internal medicine at Northwestern Medicine in Illinois, but within him beats the heart of a true artist, and it’s apparent in everything he does – whether it’s treating patients or photographing mouthwatering meals that he’s prepared for his 60,000 followers on Instagram. Dr. Shukla is also a contributor at the culinary publication – Best of Vegan. He’s been featured in VegNews, Forks Over Knives, and THRIVE Magazine. And now, with his new book, Plant-Based India, he highlights the wonderful, healing foods of the Indian continent, sharing recipes that he grew up with.  We’re extra excited about this interview today to discuss Indian culture and the potential health benefits of India’s beautiful, delicious cuisine, as interpreted by our guest, Dr. Shukla himself!  “That veganism, that plunge, really inspired me to experiment more with my cooking, and explore other vegetables, explore other fruits that I wasn’t eating, and I found that when I eliminated dairy I inclu

*Trigger Warning: I will be discussing weight/size and some tough concepts. This information may be triggering, may lead to cognitive dissonance, and bring up uncomfortable feelings*   In this special episode of Veggie Doctor Radio, I discuss weight stigma and weight bias to raise your level of awareness around this important topic. I’ve opened up one-on-one coaching spots for a limited time! Sign up for a free discovery call: Doctoryami.com/coachme Disclaimer: The information on this blog, website, and podcast is for informational purposes only. It is not meant to replace careful evaluation and treatment. If you have concerns about your or your child’s eating, nutrition, or growth, consult a doctor.    References: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6469873/pdf/nihms-1017990.pdf  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4890841/pdf/nt-50-117.pdf  https://www.nature.com/articles/ejcn2017155.pdf  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41366-021-00814-5.pdf  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles

From the sultry jungles of Vietnam to the golden dunes of Morocco, to the enchanting café terraces of Paris, today’s intrepid guest has seen it all. And after years of personal and professional experience, World Vegan Travel cofounder, Brighde Reed, wants to share her vast knowledge with you. As a passionate vegan activist, chef, and travel enthusiast, Brighde and her partner, Sebastien, have created a travel company that takes vegans (and anyone curious about veganism) on these incredible tours, in specially selected locations around the world, all while having access to delicious vegan food and luxury accommodations. Additionally, they’ve been featured in such illustrious outlets as the New York Times, Forbes online, and Lonely Planet.  So sit back, relax, and take this amazing journey with us as our next guest enlightens us on the exhilaration, wonder, and occasional pitfalls of exploration! “At the moment, many sanctuaries offer accommodation. This is a great way for them to earn a little bit of money, to

We’re super excited to introduce today’s guest! Debbie Adler is the very definition of a renaissance woman. She’s been a Wall Street accountant, an actress, a comedienne, a playwright, and a television development executive. But sixteen years ago she found her true calling, as the creator of the very first vegan, sugar-free, gluten-free, and allergy-free bakery in Los Angeles. Sweet Debbie’s Organic Cupcakes caters to everyone from studio heads to Hollywood A-list entertainers. Debbie is also the writer of cookbooks Sweet, Savory & Free and Sweet Debbie’s Organic Treats. Her most recent book, The Mediterranean Plate: Plant-Based Recipes Free From Gluten, Salt, Oil & Sugar, will ignite your taste buds while boosting your health and overall well-being. Her cookbook and bakery have been featured in the Los Angeles Times and on NPR, and her recipes have been published on popular websites and blogs. What an awesome treat to have her with us today! This episode is definitely for all the foodies out there. “