In this episode, I sit down with Heather—a badass member of our community—who lowered her cholesterol without meds. Just plants and persistence.

Heather shares how meds were pretty much guaranteed for her cholesterol levels, and why she decided to take a different route. She opens up with honesty, humor, and so much heart about what it’s really been like to make this shift, while juggling a busy family, planning meals, and not being a jerk to herself in the process.

We talk about motivation, obstacles, how to encourage your family without becoming the food police, and what it really takes to make a shift that sticks. Heather’s story is a beautiful reminder that health transformations are possible, without perfection or pressure.

Helpful Links

• Dr. Michael Greger – NutritionFacts.org
• Dr. Joel Fuhrman – DrFuhrman.com
• Clean Food Dirty Girl Recipe Club
• Clean Food Dirty Girl Meal Plan Club – Try Free for 10 Days
• Clean Food Dirty Girl Drop It Club: Plant-Powered Weight Loss
• Drop It Podcast Episodes
• Some of Heather’s favorite recipes:
• Insanely Easy Dairy-Free Potato Soup
• Easy Vegan Black Bean Burgers
• 25 Soul-Satisfying Dairy-Free Soups
• Soyturkey Avocado Club | Soy Curls Recipe

About

Clean Food Dirty Girl helps people eat more plants while celebrating imperfection. Subscribe to our podcast for whole-food plant-based eating inspiration and permission to be perfectly imperfect.

• Sign up for our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠free trial to Meal Plan Club https://cleanfooddirtygirl.com/free-trial/
• Get instant access to all of our whole-food plant-based recipes for just $12 per month with Recipe Club https://cleanfooddirtygirl.com/recipe-club/
• Lose weight in a kind, sustainable way with Drop It Club https://dropitclub.cleanfooddirtygirl.com/sale

Subscribe to Molly’s ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sweary Saturday Love Letters⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://cleanfooddirtygirl.com/signup/

In this episode, I sit down with the amazing Brenda Davis, RD, registered dietitian and co-author of Plant-Powered Protein. Brenda is one of the most respected voices in the plant-based world, and this convo is packed with insights that will change the way you think about protein.

We talk about how much protein you really need (spoiler: it’s not as much as diet culture tells you), what “complete protein” means, and why fiber is a crucial part of the conversation.

We also cover how protein needs change with age, and Brenda shares practical tips for older adults, postmenopausal women, athletes, and anyone navigating allergies or digestive issues.

Let’s get into it!

Helpful links:

• Plant Powered Protein by Brenda Davis RD
• BrendaDavisRD.com
• Try Clean Food Dirty Girl Meal Plan Club – Free for 10 Days
• Check out Drop It Club: Plant-Powered Weight Loss

About Brenda Davis RD

Brenda is one of the world’s leading authorities on plant-based nutrition. A registered dietitian and internationally recognized speaker, Brenda has authored and co-authored 12 books, including Becoming Vegan, Plant-Powered Protein, and Kick Diabetes Essentials. Her work has influenced dietary guidelines and public health policies around the world.

She has presented at nutrition conferences in over 20 countries, served as lead dietitian for diabetes intervention projects, and consulted for health organizations promoting plant-based living. Brenda combines scientific rigor with a compassionate approach, helping people transition to healthier, more sustainable diets without fear or confusion.

Follow Brenda on Facebook, Instagram @brendadavisrd and visit brendadavisrd.com for more. Check out the Work of Brenda Davis Facebook Group.

In this episode, I talk about something that always grounds me when life gets hard: The reminder that everything is impermanent. Whether you're navigating grief, uncertainty, change, or big emotions, this idea has the power to soften the edges and bring a sense of peace and release.

I share how I’ve learned to sit with discomfort instead of buffering it away. And I unpack how accepting the ever-changing nature of life doesn’t mean we have to like what’s happening, but it does free us from added suffering.

If you're going through something (and let’s face it, most of us are), this episode might just be the exhale you didn’t know you needed.

Helpful links

• Love Letter: I thought this was a harsh response
• Love Letter: I was beautifully mistaken
• Love Letter: Perfectly Normal

About

Clean Food Dirty Girl helps people eat more plants while celebrating imperfection. Subscribe to our podcast for whole-food plant-based eating inspiration and permission to be perfectly imperfect.

• Sign up for our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠free trial to Meal Plan Club https://cleanfooddirtygirl.com/free-trial/
• Get instant access to all of our whole-food plant-based recipes for just $12 per month with Recipe Club https://cleanfooddirtygirl.com/recipe-club/
• Lose weight in a kind, sustainable way with Drop It Club https://dropitclub.cleanfooddirtygirl.com/sale
• Subscribe to Molly’s ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sweary Saturday Love Letters⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://cleanfooddirtygirl.com/signup/

In this episode, I celebrate my 10-year sober-versary! 🎉🔟🎉 I share ten key lessons I’ve learned throughout my alcohol-free (and cigarette-free!) journey. 

I open up about how I’ve transformed, what it’s like to navigate situations without alcohol, and why life isn’t as fun, but it’s more joyous than I could have ever imagined. 

Helpful links

• Are you sober-curious? Drop your name and email here.
• Read my blog posts about quitting drinking. 
• Podcast episode 126: Travel, Sobriety & Growth
• Love Letter: I thought this was a harsh response
• Love Letter: I was beautifully mistaken

You are in for a powerhouse conversation with Rip Esselstyn: former firefighter and triathlete, New York Times bestselling author, and founder of PLANTSTRONG. 

In this episode, Rip shares how he transitioned from the standard American diet to a whole-food plant-based lifestyle, inspired by his father, Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn’s groundbreaking work on reversing heart disease. We dive into his journey from elite athlete to Austin firefighter, and how a cholesterol check at the firehouse sparked the launch of what would inspire The Engine 2 Diet.

He breaks down what plant-strong living looks like today, dispels myths about protein, and the role of family in creating lasting lifestyle change. He also shares great tips on getting your greens in… for breakfast! Let’s dive in.

Helpful links

• PLANTSTRONG Website
• PLANTSTRONG Podcast
• Live PLANTSTRONG
• PLANTSTRONG pancake & waffle mixes
• The Engine 2 Diet by Rip Esselstyn
• Plant-Strong: Discover the World's Healthiest Diet by Rip Esselstyn
• Try Clean Food Dirty Girl Meal Plan Club free for 10 days
• Check out Clean Food Dirty Girl Drop It Club: Plant-Powered Weight Loss
  

About Rip Esselstyn

Rip Esselstyn is the founder of PLANTSTRONG, a lifestyle brand dedicated to helping people reclaim their health through education, events, and delicious plant-based food products. A former firefighter and triathlete, Rip made national headlines when he introduced a plant-based diet to his Austin firehouse crew to help lower cholesterol and improve heart health. His work has helped bring plant-based living into the mainstream, and his books, including The Engine 2 Diet, have become foundational reads for anyone exploring plant-powered wellness.

He continues to inspire through his podcast, retreats, and food line available nationwide. Whether you’re plant-curious or plant-committed, Rip’s mission is clear: help people live strong, plant strong.

Follow Rip on Instagram @ripesselstyn

#RipEsselstyn #PLANTSTRONG  #PlantBasedDiet #WholeFoods #MollyPatrick #CleanFoodDirtyGirl

In this episode, I sit down with the amazing Lindsay for a real, honest, and super inspiring convo about her journey with food, weight, and self-love.

If you've ever struggled with yo-yo dieting, shame around eating, or just trying to "figure it out" when it comes to health, this episode is for you.

Lindsay opens up about her childhood trips to Weight Watchers and rigid food rules to investing in an expensive nutritionist who asked her to treat hunger like a math equation (hard pass). For years, she searched for answers and tried everything from rigid diets to rigorous exercise. When she noticed we were offering a plant-powered weight loss program, she was all over it. 

That’s when everything shifted.

With the help of Drop It Club,  Lindsay discovered losing weight doesn’t have to be about restriction and guilt—it can actually be joyful, empowering, and delicious. Since starting Drop It, she’s down over 25 pounds, feeling amazing, and her whole family is loving the plant-powered meals, too (including her husband, who’s down 60 pounds!).

We hope this one leaves you feeling hopeful, fired up, and hungry for a big ol’ plate of badass loaded fries.

Helpful Links:

• ⁠⁠Join Drop It Club⁠⁠ Use code PODCAST at checkout for $100 off your first 3 months if you purchased by June 1, 2025.
• ⁠⁠Sweet Potato Stuffed with Creamed Spinach⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠Breakfast Porridge ⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠Sesame Ginger Baked Tofu⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠Caramel Pecan Cheesecake⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠Badass Loaded Steak Fries⁠⁠

About

Clean Food Dirty Girl helps people eat more plants while celebrating imperfection. Subscribe to our podcast for whole-food plant-based eating inspiration and permission to be perfectly imperfect.

• Sign up for our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠free trial to Meal Plan Club https://cleanfooddirtygirl.com/free-trial/
• Get instant access to all of our whole-food plant-based recipes for just $12 per month with Recipe Club https://cleanfooddirtygirl.com/recipe-club/
• Lose weight in a kind, sustainable way with Drop It Club https://dropitclub.cleanfooddirtygirl.com/sale

Subscribe to Molly’s ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sweary Saturday Love Letters⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://cleanfooddirtygirl.com/signup/

In this episode, I sit down with my awesome mom, Pamela, for a cozy convo about our one-of-a-kind upbringing (for both of us). It’s a perfect conversation for Mother’s Day. 

Pamela shares what it was like growing up in the ‘40s and ‘50s, not wanting to eat meat, but having a mom and dad who pushed meat at every meal and a grandfather who was a butcher. As an adult, she had long ditched the meat, but in the ‘90s, she had a health scare that motivated her to go from eating a vegetarian diet to a whole-food plant-based diet. This one change was life-changing for her and was a model for me as well. 

We chat about her health journey, and let me tell you, this woman is thriving. She talks about her energy, her body, and the spark that keeps her going strong at 81 years old. 

We hope this episode brings everyone some motherly love.

Helpful links:

• Episode 73: Faux Meat 
• Millet Mol
• Clean Food Dirty Girl Meal Plan Club
• Brittany, Tamie, and my face on a stick at the Planted Expo in Seattle
• Celebrate Mom Vegan Meal Plan
• A Plant-Fueled Mother’s Day

About

Clean Food Dirty Girl helps people eat more plants while celebrating imperfection. Subscribe to our podcast for whole-food plant-based eating inspiration and permission to be perfectly imperfect.

• Sign up for our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠free trial to Meal Plan Club https://cleanfooddirtygirl.com/free-trial/
• Get instant access to all of our whole-food plant-based recipes for just $12 per month with Recipe Club https://cleanfooddirtygirl.com/recipe-club/
• Lose weight in a kind, sustainable way with Drop It Club https://dropitclub.cleanfooddirtygirl.com/sale
Subscribe to Molly’s ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sweary Saturday Love Letters⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://cleanfooddirtygirl.com/signup/

In this episode, I chat with Stephanie, a longtime member of our community and a Droplet! Stephanie opens up about her journey with food, weight loss, and reconnecting with her health after years of struggle, even as a vegan for over nine years.

She shares how she went from binge eating and feeling stuck to losing 25 pounds, improving her sleep, and feeling amazing, and doing it without dieting, counting calories, or depriving herself. We talk about the importance of mindset, the sneaky all-or-nothing thinking that can sabotage progress, and how powerful it is to simply commit and keep going.

Stephanie opens up about what brought her to Drop It Club, the fears she had to push through, and how she made the switch from diet culture to body awareness and food freedom. She talks about falling in love with movement, letting go of “goal weight” pressure, and embracing the magic of slow, steady progress. Spoiler alert: That's where real, lasting change happens. 

If you’re burned out by diets or feel overwhelmed by the idea of change, this is a must-listen.  

Helpful links:

• Join Drop It Club https://dropitclub.cleanfooddirtygirl.com/sale Use coupon code PODCAST to save $100 off for the first three months if you purchased by June 1, 2025.

About

Clean Food Dirty Girl helps people eat more plants while celebrating imperfection. Subscribe to our podcast for whole-food plant-based eating inspiration and permission to be perfectly imperfect.

• Sign up for our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠free trial to Meal Plan Club https://cleanfooddirtygirl.com/free-trial/
• Get instant access to all of our whole-food plant-based recipes for just $12 per month with Recipe Club https://cleanfooddirtygirl.com/recipe-club/
• Lose weight in a kind, sustainable way with Drop It Club https://dropitclub.cleanfooddirtygirl.com/sale
• Subscribe to Molly’s ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sweary Saturday Love Letters⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://cleanfooddirtygirl.com/signup/

We’re going green in this episode! Tune in as I chat all about dark leafy greens and share tons of practical tips for getting more of them. Spoiler alert: I’m going to ask you to massage your kale. Trust.

Helpful links

• NutritionFacts.org - Information on Greens
• 5 Sneaky Ways to Eat More Leafy Greens
• Dark Leafy Greens: Benefits, How to Cook, Store, and More
• The Best Way To Prep Your Leafy Greens So They Last at Least 7 Days (video)

About

Clean Food Dirty Girl helps people eat more plants while celebrating imperfection. Subscribe to our podcast for whole-food plant-based eating inspiration and permission to be perfectly imperfect. 

• Sign up for our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠free trial to Meal Plan Club https://cleanfooddirtygirl.com/free-trial/
• Get instant access to all of our whole-food plant-based recipes for just $12 per month with Recipe Club https://cleanfooddirtygirl.com/recipe-club/
• Lose weight in a kind, sustainable way with Drop It Club https://dropitclub.cleanfooddirtygirl.com/sale
• Subscribe to Molly’s ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sweary Saturday Love Letters⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://cleanfooddirtygirl.com/signup/

In this episode, I get all up in your earholes about why whole-food plant-based eating is our favorite thing EVER. Seriously. This way of eating can will change your life, and I'm not just saying that since that’s what my business is centered around. 

If you’ve been dabbling in eating more plants or just want to mix up your meal rotation, Recipe Club is one of the best tools to have on your planty path.

Recipe Club is a bit of a hidden gem in our Dirty cave of deliciousness, and it’s cheaper than Netflix! For just $12 per month, you’ll have access to all of our handcrafted, whole-food plant-based recipes. That is over 5,000 recipes without dairy, animal products, eggs, overly processed ingredients or oil!

You’ll love how feature-rich Recipe Club is with features such as grouped ingredients, searchability, scaling (you can scale multiple components of a recipe separately), ingredients available with metric or US values, nutrition information, the ability to like and save recipes, reviews and member-submitted pictures, public or private notes, and so much more! 

If you love to eat (👋same), if you’re into damn good food, and if you want to save a few bucks while leveling up your plant-based game—Recipe Club is calling your name. Plus, I share ten flavor bomb recipes that are perfect to make during your first month of membership. 

Helpful links

• Join Recipe Club for instant access to over 5,000 handcrafted whole-food plant-based recipes that are damn delicious.
• Once you join, check out our Quickie Meals to get plant-based goodness on the table in around 30 minutes.
• You can also see our staple recipes to help you batch your pants off your way.
• We also just launched the ability for Recipe Club members to download and print recipes. Woot!
• Here are 10 must-make recipes to add to your saved section as soon as you join! 
1. Nonna's Italian Pasta Salad
2. Creamy Red Lentil Soup
3. Broccoli Ranch Chickpea Salad
4. Mexican Street Corn Dip
5. Simple Cauliflower Masala
6. Chickpea Salad Tacos
7. Double Chocolate Banana Bread
8. Italian Baked Tofu
9. Dijon White Wine Vinaigrette