Urinary leakage, chronic constipation, pelvic pain, painful sex, organ prolapse and changes after childbirth or with aging are incredibly common. But that doesn’t mean they’re something you simply have to accept.

In this episode of NHA Today, Dr. Stephan Esser sits down with Laura Bunso, PT, MTC, a physical therapist who has specialized in pelvic health, women’s and men’s health and spine care since 1999.

Laura explains what the pelvic floor actually does and why these muscles are so important for bladder and bowel control, stability, movement and sexual health. Like other muscles in the body, the pelvic floor can become weak, overly tight, injured or poorly coordinated after childbirth, surgery, menopause, aging, athletic activity and other changes throughout life.

One of Laura’s most important messages is simple: just because something is common doesn’t mean it’s normal. Urinary leakage, for example, may become more prevalent with age, but that doesn’t mean there is nothing you can do about it.

The conversation also challenges the idea that better pelvic health simply means doing more Kegels. Some people need to strengthen their pelvic floor, while others need to learn how to relax and coordinate these muscles correctly. Even someone who is very active and physically strong can have pelvic floor dysfunction.

Laura and Dr. Esser also explore the connection between the pelvic floor and chronic constipation, postpartum recovery, pelvic pain, organ prolapse and changes that occur as we age. Laura explains why maintaining muscle strength and coordination matters and when working with a pelvic floor physical therapist may help.

Most importantly, this is a conversation about understanding your body and knowing that it’s okay to talk about symptoms that can feel personal or embarrassing. Laura shares practical ways to support pelvic health, from staying active and hydrated to learning how the pelvic floor should contract and relax.

Whether you’re experiencing symptoms now or simply want to maintain strength and function as you age, this episode offers an important reminder: your pelvic floor is part of your overall health, and it deserves attention too.

Smart Body Physical Therapy:
https://www.smartbodypt.com/

Listen to Laura’s podcast, Pelvic Like It Is:
https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/pelvic-like-it-is/id1871478598

Follow Dr. Stephan Esser on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/esserhealth/

Watch NHA Today on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@nationalhealthassociation

Learn more about the National Health Association:
https://www.healthscience.org/

There’s always another diet, supplement or biohack promising better health. But what if we’re making it more complicated than it needs to be?

Dr. Asa Frey and Dra. Joanna Frey believe the fundamentals of human health haven’t changed. At their residential lifestyle center, Back to the Garden in Puerto Rico, they focus on seven foundational pillars: presence, whole plant foods, movement, nature, sunlight, sleep and healthy relationships.

In this episode of NHA Today, Dr. Stephan Esser talks with Dr. Asa and Dra. Joanna about why these basic principles can be more powerful than constantly chasing the latest health trend and why knowing what to do is only part of the equation.

They explore the role of presence in actually making healthy habits stick, simple ways to interrupt stress during a busy day and why getting outside, moving your body and protecting your sleep are non-negotiables in their own lives. They also discuss their medically supervised water fasting program, how they prepare patients before a fast and why fasting isn't meant to be a quick fix for the habits that contributed to poor health in the first place.

You’ll also hear how they bring these same principles into family life, what they’ve learned from raising their children with healthy habits and why lasting change often begins by becoming the example rather than trying to change everyone around you.

Better health may not require another hack. It may mean getting back to the things your body has needed all along.

Back to the Garden:
https://www.backtothegardenpr.com/en

Back to the Garden en Español:
https://www.backtothegardenpr.com/

Get the Back to the Garden App:
https://www.backtothegardenpr.com/en/btgapp

Follow Dr. Esser on Instagram:
@esserhealth

Watch NHA Today on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@nationalhealthassociation

Learn more about the National Health Association:
https://www.healthscience.org/

What if getting older didn’t have to mean slowing down?

At 84, Vesanto Melina, MS, Registered Dietitian, is living proof that our later years can still be active, productive and full of purpose. She’s still writing books, speaking, counseling clients and hitting the gym for five fitness classes a week. And she has decades of science and experience behind what she teaches.

Vesanto is the author or co-author of 15 books on plant-based nutrition, including books recognized by the American Library Association as go-to resources in the field. Her latest, Plant-Powered Seniors, was written with Brenda Davis, RD and Dr. Charlyn Black. She also co-authored the #1 Amazon bestseller Plant-Powered Protein. Vesanto has taught nutrition at Bastyr University and the University of British Columbia, received both the Ryley-Jeffs Memorial Award and a lifetime achievement award as a dietitian and served as lead author of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ position paper on vegetarian diets across the life cycle.

In this episode of NHA Today, Dr. Stephan Esser talks with Vesanto about what she’s learned from more than three decades of vegan living and a lifetime spent studying nutrition. They dig into why she now emphasizes a well-planned plant-based diet, why legumes deserve a bigger place on our plates and the nutrients that become especially important as we age, including protein, calcium, vitamin D and omega-3s.

They also explore the other side of healthy aging: staying strong and independent. Vesanto shares how exercise supports bone health, balance and fall prevention, why small changes can make a meaningful difference and why it’s never too late to improve the way you eat and live.

Whether you’re already in your 70s or 80s or thinking about the health you want decades from now, this conversation offers a different vision of aging and practical ways to stay strong, active and engaged for the years ahead.

Order Plant-Powered Seniors:
https://plant-poweredprotein.com/

Learn more about Vesanto Melina:
https://nutrispeak.com/

Follow Dr. Esser on Instagram:
@esserhealth

NHA Today on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@nationalhealthassociation

National Health Association:
https://www.healthscience.org/

Better health doesn't require waiting for the perfect time or changing everything overnight. Sometimes it starts with one better choice today.

In this episode of the NHA Today Podcast, Dr. Stephan Esser talks with board-certified family and lifestyle medicine physician Dr. Jeffrey Pierce about the power of small, consistent changes and how much influence our everyday habits can have on our long-term health.

Drawing on more than 18 years of experience in family medicine, Dr. Pierce shares how his approach to patient care evolved beyond simply managing chronic disease with medications to helping people address its underlying causes through lifestyle.

The conversation takes a closer look at fatty liver disease, a condition Dr. Pierce says affects an estimated one in three American adults. He explains why fat can accumulate in the liver, how the condition is often discovered and four lifestyle approaches that may help improve it, including healthy weight loss, a low-fat whole food, plant-based diet, regular movement and certain approaches to meal timing and fasting.

Dr. Esser and Dr. Pierce also discuss the growing interest in testosterone replacement, what the research says about potential benefits and risks and why nutrition, exercise, sleep and overall metabolic health deserve attention before looking for a quick fix.

Finally, Dr. Pierce shares one of his own favorite prescriptions for health: gardening. For him, growing food brings together movement, nutritious food and time to slow down and reconnect.

The message throughout the conversation is refreshingly simple: don't wait for the perfect day. Start with what you can do today and build from there.

• What Dr. Pierce learned about health and nutrition from practicing medicine in the U.S. and abroad
• Why lifestyle can have such a powerful influence on chronic disease
• What fatty liver disease is and why it deserves more attention
• Four lifestyle approaches that may help improve fatty liver
• What to consider before pursuing testosterone replacement
• How sleep and other lifestyle factors can affect hormonal health
• Why small changes can be more sustainable than waiting to make one dramatic transformation
• How gardening can support physical, nutritional and emotional well-being

Book an appointment with Dr. Pierce through Lifestyle Telemedicine:
https://lifestyletelemedicine.com/find-your-doctor/jeffrey-pierce/

Follow Dr. Pierce on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/drjeffpierce/

Join the National Health Association:
https://membership.healthscience.org/join-membership?

Learn more about the NHA:
https://healthscience.org

Explore upcoming NHA events:
https://healthscience.org/events/

If this conversation inspired you, follow the NHA Today Podcast, leave a review and share this episode with someone who might be waiting for the "perfect" time to make a healthy change. Sometimes the best time to begin is simply today.

Plant-Based Travel: Safari Adventures, Incredible Food and the Trip of a Lifetime

Explore the world without leaving your healthy lifestyle behind. In this episode of NHA Today, Dr. Stephan Esser sits down with Wanda Huberman of the National Health Association and Brighde Reed of World Vegan Travel to explore the NHA’s upcoming whole-food, plant-based travel adventures.

From getting remarkably close to lions, elephants, hippos and giraffes on safari in Botswana to trekking to see mountain gorillas and chimpanzees in Rwanda, Wanda and Brighde share what makes these trips unforgettable. They also reveal what travelers can expect from the food, including abundant whole-food, plant-based, SOS-free meals, and why these small-group adventures can be a great option even for solo travelers.

Plus, hear what’s ahead for NHA Plant-Based Travel, including upcoming adventures in Botswana, Rwanda, France and Tuscany.

NHA Plant-Based Travel: https://www.healthscience.org/plant-based-travel/
Follow Dr. Esser on Instagram: @esserhealth
NHA Today on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nationalhealthassociation

What does it really take to create lasting health?

In this episode of the NHA Today Podcast, Dr. Stephan Esser sits down with longtime educator, researcher and lifestyle medicine pioneer Dr. Frank Sabatino for a thoughtful conversation about the principles that support lifelong health.

Together, they explore why lasting wellness is about far more than calories or willpower. Dr. Sabatino shares his compassionate approach to weight management, the importance of whole food, plant-based nutrition and how factors like sleep, stress, purpose, community and self-compassion all work together to influence our health.

Whether you're just beginning your health journey or looking to strengthen the habits you've already built, this conversation offers practical wisdom and timeless principles to help you create a healthier, more meaningful life.

• Why lasting health is about more than diet alone
• The difference between weight loss and true health
• How whole food, plant-based nutrition supports long-term wellness
• The role of stress, sleep and movement in healthy living
• Why community and purpose matter for lasting behavior change
• How self-compassion can transform your health journey
• Practical advice for building sustainable lifestyle habits

🌿 Balance for Life Florida Retreats with Dr. Frank Sabatino
https://HealthfulLivingOceanRetreat.com

🌿 Join the National Health Association
https://membership.healthscience.org/join-membership?

🌿 National Health Association
https://healthscience.org

🌿 Upcoming NHA Events
https://healthscience.org/events/

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the NHA Today Podcast, leave a review and share it with someone who is looking to build a healthier life through evidence-based lifestyle medicine.

Type 2 diabetes has become one of the most common chronic diseases in the world, but research continues to show that lifestyle can play a powerful role in preventing and even reversing the disease.

In this solo episode of the NHA Today Podcast, Dr. Stephan Esser explores the science behind insulin resistance and shares five evidence-based lifestyle strategies that have been shown to dramatically reduce diabetes risk and improve blood sugar control. You'll learn why excess body fat, inflammation, nutrition and physical activity all play critical roles in metabolic health, and how small daily changes can lead to meaningful long-term results.

🌿 Join the National Health Association: https://membership.healthscience.org/join-membership?
🌿 Learn More: https://healthscience.org
🌿 Upcoming Events: https://healthscience.org/events/

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the NHA Today Podcast, leave a review and share it with a friend or family member. Your support helps us continue bringing evidence-based education on nutrition, lifestyle medicine and true health to people around the world.

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death, but what if we stopped waiting for symptoms and started preventing it decades earlier?

In this episode of the NHA Today Podcast, Dr. Stephan Esser sits down with renowned cardiologist Dr. Joel Kahn to explore how the future of heart disease prevention is shifting from reacting to illness to identifying risk early through advanced testing, lifestyle medicine and personalized care.

Dr. Kahn shares why a normal cholesterol panel doesn't always tell the whole story, the role of genetics and inflammation in heart disease, and why prevention begins long before a heart attack. He also discusses how nutrition, sleep, exercise and stress management work together to protect long-term heart health.

Whether you're looking to reduce your risk, better understand your heart health or simply stay healthy for years to come, this conversation offers practical, science-based insights you can start applying today.

• Why heart disease often develops silently for years before symptoms appear
• How advanced testing can identify risk long before a heart attack
• Why cholesterol is only one piece of the heart health puzzle
• The importance of inflammation, genetics and lipoprotein(a)
• How sleep quality impacts cardiovascular health
• The role of a whole food, plant-based lifestyle in preventing heart disease
• Why early prevention is one of the most powerful tools for lifelong heart health
• How modern medicine is helping personalize heart disease prevention

Guest: Dr. Joel Kahn
Host: Dr. Stephan Esser

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to the NHA Today Podcast and share it with someone who wants to take a proactive approach to protecting their heart.

What happens when the worst moment of your health journey becomes the foundation of your life's purpose?

For Anthony Masiello, it started with a letter that told him his body was a bad bet. It ended with an organization helping thousands of people transform their health.

In this episode of NHA Today, Dr. Stephan Esser sits down with Anthony Masiello, founder of Lifestyle Telemedicine, former NIH and Novartis healthcare tech executive, and a man who lost 160 pounds over 20 months through lifestyle medicine alone, for one of the most inspiring personal transformation conversations the show has had.

Anthony's story is remarkable not just for the weight he lost but for who he became on the other side. From introvert to extrovert. From fear-driven to purpose-driven. From a data scientist who helped build systems that managed disease to a founder whose organization is helping thousands of people escape it altogether.

In this conversation you will learn:

• The moment a life insurance denial became the turning point that saved his life
• How he switched from trying to lose weight to trying to get health and why that changed everything
• How he lost 35 pounds in his first 8 weeks and 160 pounds over 20 months
• What G-BOMBS are and how they became the foundation of his recovery
• How his doctor took him off blood pressure medication before he finished losing the weight
• What it feels like to break through limitations you had accepted as permanent
• How health transformed his confidence, his identity, and his sense of purpose
• Why he stopped comparing himself to others and only compares himself to his worst
• What Lifestyle Telemedicine does and how it is making lifestyle medicine accessible
• Why every time someone searches for how to get healthy they are casting a vote for change

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ABOUT ANTHONY MASIELLO

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Anthony Masiello is the founder of Lifestyle Telemedicine, a healthcare organization making lifestyle medicine accessible nationwide through telemedicine. A former NIH human genome project researcher and Novartis Pharmaceuticals technology executive, Anthony lost 160 pounds through lifestyle medicine in 2006 after being denied a life insurance policy at 33. He has since run marathons, hiked mountains, and built an organization dedicated to helping others do the same.

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LINKS AND RESOURCES

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Full episode and show notes:

NHA Today on YouTube

Subscribe

Lifestyle Telemedicine: https://lifestyletelemedicine.com

Lifestyle Telemedicine on Instagram

Anthony Masiello on LinkedIn

Follow Dr. Esser on Instagram

On January 2nd, 2018, Christa Barfield read an email from her boss, sent back a resignation reply, and gave three weeks notice. Three weeks later she was on a plane to Martinique, alone, for the first time out of the country - turning 30 and looking for what came next. What she found was a family of Black farmers running a CSA. She had never farmed before. She has not stopped since.

In this episode of NHA Today, Dr. Stephan Esser sits down with Christa Barfield, founder of Farmer Jawn, a 128-acre regenerative organic farm operation across three Pennsylvania counties, that has grown from 10 CSA families to a 100-person waitlist, two retail farm stores, and a new food-is-medicine corner store concept launching in the most medically underserved neighborhood in Philadelphia.

Christa's work sits at the intersection of food access, food equity, health, and community. Her slogan: agriculture is the culture. Her mission: make the small farmer the center of the health system. Her next project: Corner Jawn.

In this conversation you will learn:

• The moment Christa quit her healthcare job, booked a solo trip to Martinique, and found farming
• What a CSA is and why the model works for urban food access
• What sustainability actually means and why it cannot exist without profitability
• Why Christa calls agriculture a communal sport and how community fills her back up
• The Corner Jawn concept: a food-is-medicine corner store in a Philadelphia food desert
• Why she charters a school bus every Saturday to bring city residents to her farm
• The ancestral connection she feels putting her hands in soil as a Black farmer
• What the Farmer Jawn formula is and why she is bringing it to the NHA Conference
• How to grow food even if all you have is a glass of water and some scallions

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LINKS AND RESOURCES

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Full episode and show notes:

NHA Today on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgXfvjZj34HbsD3-47eEC2kjBWeIvNhHl

Subscribe: https://www.healthscience.org/podcast/

NHA Conference recordings (catch Christa's talk): https://checkout.healthscience.org/2026-nha-conference

Farmer Jawn website: https://www.farmerjawn.co

Farmer Jawn on Instagram: @FarmerJawn_

Follow Dr. Esser on Instagram: @EsserHealth