Welcome! I'm Cass Warbeck, a medical student, plant-based athlete, and passionate vegan advocate. I'll be sharing conversations with physicians, athletes, researchers, and leaders in the plant-based and lifestyle medicine communities. My goal is to inspire and empower you to optimize your health and elevate your performance.
This conversation is with Leanna Carriere and Dr. Timm Döbert, plant-based endurance athletes who are about to embark on a 30,000-km human-powered expedition known as Wings of Survival. Leanna is Canada’s first female decathlete turned ultra-endurance athlete, as well as a personal trainer and entrepreneur. Timm is a scientist with a PhD in Global Change Ecology and a postdoctoral research background in biodiversity and ecosystem dynamics. Together, they will cycle from Alaska to Patagonia, tracing the migratory path of the Hudsonian Whimbrel and drawing attention to the accelerating global biodiversity crisis.
We Discuss
Episode Show Notes
Connect with me: @casswarbeck
Audio editing and processing by Wyatt Pavlik
Theme music by Ievgen Poltavskyi from Pixabay
*Please appreciate that any information discussed is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, always seek the opinion of a physician or qualified healthcare provider.*
This conversation with Bill Killinger explores martial arts as a framework for radical self-honesty, decision-making, and long-term personal growth. I met Bill through jiu jitsu and he’s one of the most influential people I’ve had the pleasure of training with. Bill began training in judo at the age of fourteen and has spent decades immersed in martial arts, including kung fu, Filipino Kali, Jeet Kun Do, kickboxing, karate, boxing, wrestling and jiu jitsu. He’s also the Canadian Director for ISR Matrix International.
We Discuss:
Connect with me: @casswarbeck
Audio editing and processing by Wyatt Pavlik
Theme music by Ievgen Poltavskyi from Pixabay
*Please appreciate that any information discussed is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, always seek the opinion of a physician or qualified healthcare provider.*
This conversation is a masterclass on the science of caffeine and how to use it to enhance athletic performance. My guest today is Dr. Lawrence Spriet, one of Canada’s leading exercise physiologists. He’s a professor and chair of the Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences at the University of Guelph, and his research has shaped much of what we know today about skeletal muscle metabolism, fuel utilization, and the ergogenic effects of caffeine and other performance-enhancing compounds. He’s chair of the Canadian Gatorade Sports Science Institute, where he’s been deeply involved in applied field research. And, in true scientist-athlete fashion, he’s a committed caffeine user and avid hockey player himself.
We Discuss:
Episode Show Notes
Connect with me: @casswarbeck
Audio editing and processing by Wyatt Pavlik
Theme music by Ievgen Poltavskyi from Pixabay
*Please appreciate that any information discussed is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, always seek the opinion of a physician or qualified healthcare provider.*
This conversation is with returning guest Dr. Colin Zhu, an osteopathic physician double board-certified in Family Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine. Through his wellness platform The Chef Doc, Dr. Zhu combines his expertise as a physician, chef, and health coach to empower people to take charge of their well-being, one meal at a time. In this episode, we explore his newest project, The Empowered Kitchen — a plant-forward cookbook and movement built around the idea that small, consistent choices in the kitchen can create big results for our health, performance, and the planet.
We Discuss:
Episode Show Notes:
Connect with me: @casswarbeck
Audio editing and processing by Wyatt Pavlik
Theme music by Ievgen Poltavskyi from Pixabay
*Please appreciate that any information discussed is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, always seek the opinion of a physician or qualified healthcare provider.*
This conversation is with Dr. Hussain Khimji, a family physician with focused practices in lifestyle and obesity medicine based at the Alberta Lifestyle Clinic in Airdrie, Alberta, Canada. Dr. Khimji is passionate about helping people live happier, more fulfilling lives by empowering them to take control of their health through evidence-based lifestyle change. Drawing from his wide-ranging experience in inpatient, emergency, and primary care, he shares why prevention and mental wellbeing are essential to the future of medicine.
We Discuss:
Episode Show Notes
Connect with me: @casswarbeck
Audio editing and processing by Wyatt Pavlik
Theme music by Ievgen Poltavskyi from Pixabay
*Please appreciate that any information discussed is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, always seek the opinion of a physician or qualified healthcare provider.*
This conversation is with Dr. Emmanuel Gye is a family physician, board-certified in lifestyle medicine, and the founder of the Alberta Bariatric and Lifestyle Clinic in Airdrie, Alberta. Through his work, he’s helping patients and organizations rethink their approach to wellness, longevity, and performance - using the six pillars of lifestyle medicine to address the root causes of disease. Dr. Gye also holds an academic position with the University of Calgary and plays an active role in community health leadership across Alberta and West Africa. Through his clinic, teaching, and leadership, he’s helping drive a movement toward truly preventative, patient-centered care.
We Discuss:
Episode Show Notes
Connect with me: @casswarbeck
Audio editing and processing by Wyatt Pavlik
Theme music by Ievgen Poltavskyi from Pixabay
*Please appreciate that any information discussed is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, always seek the opinion of a physician or qualified healthcare provider.*
This conversation is with Dr. Jill Cook — physiotherapist, researcher, and professor in musculoskeletal health at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia. Jill is one of the world’s leading authorities on tendon health and pathology, and her work has fundamentally changed how clinicians and athletes understand, diagnose, and treat tendon pain.
We discuss:
Connect with Dr. Jill Cook on X: @ProfJillCook
Connect with me: @casswarbeck
Resources:
Audio editing and processing by Wyatt Pavlik
Theme music by Ievgen Poltavskyi from Pixabay
*Please appreciate that any information discussed is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, always seek the opinion of a physician or qualified healthcare provider.*
Welcome to the first episode of Here All Day! To kick off the relaunch, I’m joined by my partner, Blair Garneau - a jiu-jitsu athlete, artist, and illustrator. I’ve wanted to introduce Blair to my audience for a while now, and this felt like the perfect opportunity. This episode is more relaxed and unscripted than usual. We wanted to share a glimpse into where we’re both at in our lives - from career changes and identity shifts to how we’re thinking about goal setting and showing up moving forward. I hope you enjoy this episode and stay tuned for some great episodes to follow!
Connect with me: @casswarbeck
Connect with Blair: @blairgarneau
Resources:
Audio editing and processing by Wyatt Pavlik
Theme music by Ievgen Poltavskyi from Pixabay
*Please appreciate that any information discussed is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, always seek the opinion of a physician or qualified healthcare provider.*
This conversation is with Joe Gagnon - endurance athlete, six-time CEO, and author of Living Intentionally. Joe has completed over 90 marathons and ultras, six Ironman triathlons, and recently finished the grueling Badwater 135. In this episode, we explore what it means to show up with purpose, the role of discomfort in growth, and how small, daily actions shape who we become. Joe shares lessons from his book, his extreme endurance challenges, and his mindset for building a life of grit, grace, and groundedness.
We discuss:
Get the book - out now! Living Intentionally: How intentionality enables success, fulfillment, and growth
Connect:
Audio editing and processing by Wyatt Pavlik
Theme music by Ievgen Poltavskyi from Pixabay
*Please appreciate that any information discussed is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, always seek the opinion of a physician or qualified healthcare provider.*
This conversation is with Alex “Finisher” Font, a professional MMA fighter based out of Chalon sur Saone, France where he runs his own combat gym, Power Training Center. Alex has been vegan for almost a decade and throughout that time has amassed over 100 professional fights with a record of 98 wins, 11 loses, and 2 draws. He is also a special operations combat chief instructor and he has his own vegan friendly apparel brand, Power Fight Company.
We discuss:
Connect:
Resources:
Audio editing and processing by Wyatt Pavlik
Theme music by Ievgen Poltavskyi from Pixabay
*Please appreciate that any information discussed is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, always seek the opinion of a physician or qualified healthcare provider.*
This conversation is with Kieren Lefevre. Kieren is a BJJ Performance Coach, Certified Personal Trainer, Strength & Conditioning Coach, ISSN-Sports Nutrition Specialist and self-professed jiu jitsu nerd. Simply put, he helps grappling athletes get strong, mobile, and reduce their risk of injury on the mats.
We discuss:
Connect with Kieren:
BJJ Strong Online: https://www.bjjstrongonline.com/
Resources:
Study: Aerobic interval training improves maximal oxygen uptake and reduces body fat in grapplers
Audio editing and processing by Wyatt Pavlik
Theme music by Ievgen Poltavskyi from Pixabay
*Please appreciate that any information discussed is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, always seek the opinion of a physician or qualified healthcare provider.*