Dr. Kendale Ritchey is a podiatrist in Knoxville, Tennessee, a former University of Tennessee swimmer, and a self-described “recovered barbecue-aholic.”

For nearly three decades, Kendale lived with recurring episodes of intense abdominal, chest, and joint pain, along with fevers and debilitating inflammation.

Then, after watching Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead and Forks Over Knives with his wife Connie, Kendale decided to try a whole food, plant-based lifestyle.

Within weeks, he noticed something extraordinary: the episodes were milder. Then they stopped.

In this conversation, Rip and Kendale talk about his years of unexplained pain, his eventual discovery of Familial Mediterranean Fever through genetic testing, and why a plant-based lifestyle became the turning point in his health.

They also discuss Kendale’s work as a podiatrist and the devastating toll of type 2 diabetes on the feet, including neuropathy, poor circulation, infections, and preventable amputations.

You’ll hear:

• Kendale’s background as a swimmer at the University of Tennessee
• The construction accident that may have triggered decades of inflammatory episodes
• What Familial Mediterranean Fever is and how he eventually discovered the diagnosis
• The documentaries that changed everything for Kendale and his wife Connie
• How whole food, plant-based eating helped calm his symptoms
• His 60-pound weight loss and renewed energy
• What he eats now and how he makes the lifestyle work
• Why type 2 diabetes is so devastating for the feet
• The connection between blood sugar, circulation, nerves, immunity, and amputations
• Why Kendale now plants seeds with his own patients about food and lifestyle

Watch the episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/pmsjP92_xH8

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At 17, after adopting a high-protein diet filled with meat, milk, protein powder, and processed meats, Dr. Yu experienced his first gout attack. The pain was so intense that he still remembers waking up at 4:00 a.m. feeling as if someone had slammed a wooden board into his toe.

But gout was only the beginning.

Over the years, Dr. Yu developed recurring, mysterious inflammation throughout his body — jaw, shoulders, wrists, fingers, knees, toes, hips, ankles — along with fatigue and irritability. Even while in medical school, he struggled to find answers. Eventually, he was diagnosed with gout, pseudogout, and spondyloarthritis, an autoimmune arthritis often treated with immunosuppressive medications.

But Dr. Yu had a feeling that diet was part of the story.

Inspired by his wife, Dr. Melissa Mondala, as well as Forks Over Knives and Dr. Michael Greger’s How Not to Die, he decided to try a whole food, plant-based diet. Within two to three months, he noticed his joint pain beginning to disappear. At his follow-up appointment, his C-reactive protein — a key inflammation marker that had been elevated for years — had normalized.

Today, Dr. Yu is a board-certified rheumatologist and integrative medicine physician who helps patients address autoimmune disease through a whole-person lens. In his practice, he looks at food, lifestyle, stress, trauma, infections, environmental exposures, supplements, and patient partnership.

In this conversation, Rip and Dr. Yu discuss:

• Why a high-protein diet triggered gout at age 17
• The difference between gout, pseudogout, and autoimmune arthritis
• What CRP and ESR can reveal about inflammation
• Why some autoimmune patients are told “everything looks normal” even when they feel terrible
• How a whole food, plant-based diet changed Dr. Yu’s own health
• Why rheumatology patients may benefit from looking beyond medications alone
• The role of stress, trauma, infections, mold, pesticides, plastics, and environmental triggers
• Why Lyme disease can be controversial and often misunderstood
• Dr. Yu’s top supplements for inflammation, including turmeric, algae oil, vitamin D, Boswellia, and glutathione
• Why vitamin D levels matter in autoimmune disease
• How Dr. Yu practices medicine through patient partnership

This episode is a hopeful reminder that inflammation is not always a life sentence — and that the body can respond powerfully when we give it the right conditions to heal.

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Dr. Melissa Mondala joins Rip to talk about women’s health, autoimmune disease, anxiety, perimenopause, metabolic health, hormones, and the power of whole food, plant-based lifestyle medicine.

A family medicine and lifestyle medicine physician, Dr. Melissa shares her personal journey from struggling with GERD, IBS, fatigue, and serious health challenges to discovering the transformative power of plant-based nutrition during her training at Loma Linda. She also shares how meeting Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn and Ann Esselstyn helped shape the way she practices medicine today.

Rip and Dr. Mondala explore why so many women feel anxious, foggy, inflamed, exhausted, or “off” — and how food, blood sugar, hormones, stress, sleep, trauma, movement, and metabolic health all connect.

They also discuss coronary calcium scans, advanced lipid testing, fatty liver disease, perimenopause symptoms, plant-based protein, resistance training, hormone replacement therapy, and why lifestyle medicine is often the most powerful tool in the medical toolbox.

Dr. Mondala’s message is clear: you are not broken, you are not crazy, and there is so much you can do to reclaim your health.

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Ever eat when you weren’t really hungry and wonder why willpower wasn’t enough to stop you?

This week, Rip talks with Dr. Jud Brewer - neuroscientist, psychiatrist, and author of The Hunger Habit - about cravings, emotional eating, and the science behind food habits.

Rip and Brewer explore the difference between true physical hunger and what researchers call “hedonic hunger” — eating driven by emotions, stress, boredom, celebration, cravings, or cues in our environment. Dr. Jud explains why ultra-processed foods are engineered to hit the “bliss point” of sugar, fat, salt, crunch, and mouthfeel, making them especially hard to resist.

They also dig into why willpower is such a shaky strategy. Most diet programs rely on some version of “just don’t eat that,” but Dr. Jud explains why shame and restriction often backfire. Instead, he teaches a more effective path: awareness.

By paying close attention to how overeating actually feels — and how it feels when we stop at satisfied — the brain can begin to update the reward value of those habits. In other words, we can learn, through direct experience, that certain behaviors no longer serve us.

This episode is a compassionate, science-backed invitation to stop blaming yourself and start getting curious.

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Nelson Campbell joins Rip Esselstyn for a deeply personal and powerful conversation about his new book with Dr. T. Colin Campbell, The Whole Truth: The Hidden Agendas Behind Decades of Health Misinformation—and What to Do About It.

Nelson reflects on growing up as the son of one of the most influential nutrition scientists of our time and watching his father’s groundbreaking discoveries meet resistance from industry, government, academia, and the medical establishment. He and Rip also discuss the parallel journeys of the Campbell and Esselstyn families, the courage of Dr. Campbell and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, and what it means to carry their fathers’ work forward.

This episode explores the suppression of nutrition science, the manipulation of public health messaging, the challenges facing the plant-based movement, and the urgent need for simpler, more compassionate, community-based approaches to change.

Nelson also shares the story behind his documentary From Food to Freedom, the rise of PlantPure Communities and the pod network, the lessons he learned in the plant-based food business, and why he believes the future of this movement depends on grassroots connection, youth engagement, and “heart-centered wholism.”

This is a conversation about truth, courage, family, frustration, hope — and what each of us can do within our own sphere of influence.

Key Takeaways

• The story behind The Whole Truth and why Dr. T. Colin Campbell wanted to tell these stories now
• How nutrition science has been suppressed, distorted, and dismissed
• The personal cost of challenging powerful industries
• Nelson’s experience with the documentary From Food to Freedom
• Why the plant-based movement has stalled — and how it can grow again
• The importance of simple, joyful, accessible messaging
• Why community may be the most powerful force for change
• What Nelson means by “heart-centered wholism”
• How to turn righteous anger into meaningful action

Episode Webpage

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Barbara Court is almost 75 years old, full of humor, full of heart, and living proof that it is never too late to get Plant Strong.

After joining PlantStrong’s free Real30 Challenge, Barbara committed to eating 30 different whole plant-based foods each week and moving her body for 30 minutes a day. In just a few months, she lost nearly 15 pounds, brought her A1C out of the pre-diabetic range, increased her daily steps, and found a renewed sense of motivation.

In this conversation, Rip and Barbara talk about weight loss, calorie density, plant diversity, arthritis, movement, simple meals, social temptations, community support, and why perseverance and humor matters more than perfection.

Barbara’s message is simple and powerful: you do not have to be perfect. You just have to keep going.

In this episode:

• How Barbara found success with the Real30 Challenge
• Why she tracks her weekly plant diversity
• How she lost nearly 15 pounds
• What helped her improve her A1C
• Why calorie density finally clicked
• How she handles tempting foods and social events
• Why daily movement is non-negotiable
• The power of online community and encouragement
• Why it is never too late to change your health

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The newest AHA and ACC guidelines for treating dyslipidemia are here — and according to Dr. Kim Williams, they mark a powerful shift toward prevention, earlier testing, and whole-food, plant-based nutrition as the foundation of cardiovascular care.

Rip welcomes back Dr. Kim Williams, past president of the American College of Cardiology, for a practical and deeply encouraging breakdown of what these updated cholesterol guidelines mean for everyday people.

Dr. Williams explains why cardiovascular risk is no longer just about one cholesterol number. Instead, clinicians are being encouraged to look at the whole picture: LDL cholesterol, ApoB, Lp(a), inflammation, blood pressure, blood sugar, kidney function, family history, lifestyle, and coronary artery calcium when appropriate.

The most exciting part for the PlantStrong community? Lifestyle optimization is now treated as the clinical foundation — and Dr. Williams is clear about what that means: a whole-food, plant-based diet built around beans, grains, nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables, and mushrooms, along with exercise, sleep, mindfulness, strong social connections, and avoidance of tobacco, alcohol, and other harmful substances.

This conversation also tackles statins, PCSK9 inhibitors, Lp(a), coronary calcium scoring, and the new philosophy of treating risk lower, earlier, and longer — always with food first, and medication when needed.

Key Takeaways

• The new cholesterol guidelines emphasize lifestyle first, not lifestyle as an afterthought.
• Dr. Williams says a whole-food, plant-based diet should be built around beans, grains, nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables, and mushrooms.
• LDL cholesterol is still important, but it is no longer the only number that matters.
• ApoB may give a clearer picture of risk in some people, especially those with diabetes, high triglycerides, or central obesity.
• Lp(a) is largely genetic and should be measured at least once in adulthood; the 2026 guideline includes updated recommendations for elevated Lp(a).
• Coronary artery calcium scoring can help personalize risk and guide LDL targets.
• Dr. Williams emphasizes that the goal is not “plants versus statins.” It is whole plant foods first, medications when needed.
• The overall prevention philosophy is: lower, earlier, longer.

Watch the Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/6cD8tGpsAgg

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Rip sits down with Terri Edwards — founder of EatPlant-Based.com — to talk about the recipes, habits, and simple food swaps that helped her completely transform her health.

After years of struggling with joint pain, high cholesterol, insomnia, adult acne, and weight gain, Terri discovered the power of whole-food, plant-based nutrition after watching Forks Over Knives in 2013. Within weeks, she noticed major improvements in her joint pain and energy — and never looked back.

Today, she teaches thousands of people how to make plant-based eating approachable, affordable, and delicious.

Rip and Terri dive into:

• How Forks Over Knives changed Terri’s life
• Why flavor and seasoning matter so much in plant-based cooking
• The secrets to crispy tofu without oil
• Easy recipes for chickpea burgers, tofu egg salad & barbecue soy curls
• Why beans help you stay fuller longer
• How Terri makes creamy mashed potatoes without dairy
• The plant-based recipes that win over skeptics
• Carrot dogs, black bean brownies & sweet potato chocolate frosting
• Success stories from people who reversed major health issues with food
• Tips for making plant-based eating sustainable long-term

If you’ve ever felt intimidated by plant-based cooking — or just want more easy, satisfying recipe ideas — this episode is for you.

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In this special episode, Rip shares a preview of Vital Signs: Real Food. Real Medicine. Real Change., Plant Strong’s upcoming CME-focused conference for healthcare providers who want to bring the power of whole-food, plant-based nutrition into real-world clinical care.

This is not just another conference. Vital Signs is about helping doctors, nurses, dietitians, health coaches, and medical professionals build confidence in the evidence so they can walk into the exam room and talk about food with clarity, conviction, and hope.

And here’s why that matters: most providers see roughly 1,000 patients a year. Each of those patients eats three meals a day. That means every provider we reach with this message has the potential to influence nearly one million meals.

One million meals.

That is the power of changing the confidence of one healthcare provider. That is the power of putting real food, real evidence, and real tools into the hands of the people patients already trust.

In this preview, Rip begins with the gap in medical education: providers receive thousands of hours of training in diagnosing, prescribing, and managing disease, yet most are taught very little about food as a clinical tool. And yet so much of what walks through the door every day — heart disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, obesity, metabolic dysfunction, inflammation, fatigue, and loss of vitality — is deeply connected to diet and lifestyle.

This conversation asks a better clinical question:

What would change if food was treated as part of the prescription?

You’ll hear from physicians who are using lifestyle medicine in real clinical settings, beginning with cardiologist Dr. Brian Asbill, who shares a powerful patient case that changed the way he practiced medicine. His story shows that food as medicine is not simply about “eating better.” It can be a therapeutic intervention that moves risk factors, restores hope, and helps patients understand that their bodies can respond.

From there, Dr. Laurie Marbas, a board-certified family and lifestyle medicine physician, brings the conversation into the realities of primary care. She shares how providers can begin a food-as-medicine conversation inside a 15-minute visit, how to avoid overwhelming patients, and how one practical, specific recommendation can plant a seed for meaningful change.

Next, Dr. Sunny Sharma shares what changed when he went from physician to patient after being diagnosed with a rare brain tumor. His experience deepened his empathy, strengthened his belief in prevention, and reminded him that patients are not just lab values. They are people carrying fear, stress, family responsibilities, habits, barriers, and hope.

The conversation then turns to the provider side of the exam room with Dr. Kristin Kelber, a physician in Cleveland who now practices lifestyle medicine full time. Dr. Kelber speaks to provider burnout, moral distress, and the joy that can return to medicine when clinicians are equipped to help patients truly reclaim their health.

Finally, Rip closes the faculty portion with a special message from his father, Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn Jr., whose decades of work have helped reshape what is possible in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Dr. Esselstyn speaks directly to providers about nutrition, cardiovascular disease, patient empowerment, and the importance of helping patients become the locus of control in their own health.

What you’ll hear in this episode is a compressed version of what Plant Strong is building atVital Signs 2026, taking place October 18–20 at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.

At the full event, providers will go deeper into cardiovascular disease, metabolic health, behavior change, patient resistance, provider burnout, implementation, whole plant-centered meals, peer exchange, and the practical tools needed to bring lifestyle medicine into real patient care.

This episode is also a call to action for the Plant Strong community.

So many listeners ask, “Where can I find a provider who supports my decision to use a plant-based lifestyle in pursuit of better health?”

One powerful answer is this: help us reach the providers who already care for you.

Share this episode with your doctor, cardiologist, nurse practitioner, dietitian, health coach, or healthcare team. Invite them into this conversation. Encourage them to attend Vital Signs.

Because if we want to move the needle in healthcare, we have to help the people inside healthcare feel empowered to prescribe one of the most powerful medicines on the planet: plants.

Learn more about Vital Signs:

https://plantstrongevents.com/VitalSigns

Watch the Conference Preview on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/U42ySRuG4gw

Rip welcomes back Dr. Alan Desmond, consultant gastroenterologist, lifestyle medicine advocate, and author of the new book, What Your Doctor Isn’t Telling You About Food.

Dr. Desmond explains why food is one of the most important — and most neglected — conversations in modern medicine. It’s not that doctors don’t care. As Alan shares, many doctors simply receive very little practical nutrition training, leaving them without the confidence or tools to guide patients through meaningful dietary change.

Alan talks about the urgent gap between lifespan and healthspan, and why so many people are living longer but spending more years with chronic illness. Alan introduces the concept of “micro-lives” — 30-minute chunks of life expectancy that can be gained or lost through daily choices — and explains how whole plant-based foods can help stack the odds in favor of longevity, vitality, and disease prevention.

This conversation also tackles some of the biggest nutrition myths and blind spots, including the persistent idea that plant protein is incomplete or inferior. Alan breaks down why plant protein delivers amino acids in a far healthier package — with fiber, phytonutrients, antioxidants, and heart-supportive fats — while animal protein often comes bundled with saturated fat, dietary cholesterol, heme iron, and zero fiber.

Rip and Alan also discuss why fiber deserves far more attention than protein, how processed meats like bacon are linked to colorectal cancer risk, what dietary change can mean for type 2 diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease, and why a healthy plate should be built around fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds.

This episode is not about shame. It’s about possibility. It’s about changing your personal food system so that the healthier choice becomes the easier choice — and letting those changes ripple outward to your family, your community, and the world.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• How little nutrition training many doctors receive — and why that matters
• Why healthspan is just as important as lifespan
• What “micro-lives” are and how daily food choices can add up over time
• Why plant protein is high-quality protein
• How a small 3% shift from animal protein to plant protein may significantly improve long-term health outcomes
• Why most people overestimate their fiber intake
• How to think about building a healthy plate
• Why processed meats like bacon deserve serious concern
• How whole food, plant-based eating can support metabolic health
• What Dr. Desmond has seen in patients with type 2 diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, and gestational diabetes
• Why changing your home food environment can help shift the larger food system

Watch the Episode on YouTube

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What if the real goal isn’t simply living longer… but staying healthy, capable, sharp, and independent for as long as possible?

In this fascinating conversation, Rip sits down with researcher, educator, and author Scott Fulton to explore the rapidly growing world of healthspan and longevity. Scott is the author of Whealthspan and his newest book, Function: Turn Your Blind Spots Into Strengths, where he challenges the way we think about aging, movement, purpose, brain health, and everyday function.

Together, Rip and Scott unpack why America continues to lag behind the rest of the world in life expectancy, how our daily habits quietly shape our future independence, and why your “blind spots” may matter more than your strengths.

They also dive into the overlooked role of hearing, vision, balance, grip strength, community, movement, and fiber in protecting long-term brain and body health.

This conversation is practical, hopeful, deeply motivating — and a reminder that healthy aging starts long before old age.

You’ll Learn:

• Why healthspan matters more than lifespan
• The hidden predictors of dementia and cognitive decline
• How hearing and vision loss impact brain health
• Why balance and grip strength matter as you age
• The five pillars of “Whealthspan”
• Why movement is medicine
• The connection between isolation and longevity
• Why fiber may be one of the most important nutrients for long-term health
• The danger of “everything in moderation”
• How small daily habits compound over time
• The importance of purpose, curiosity, and meaningful moments
• Why most people don’t recognize their biggest health blind spots
• How to build a body and life that supports independence later in life

Learn More About our 2026 Live PLANTSTRONG Events: https://plantstrongevents.com/

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Watch the Episode on YouTube