Plant-Powered People Podcast

Today, Adam Sud is a plant-based coach who has helped hundreds of people reclaim their health - but it wasn't always that way. Adam spent years of his early adulthood addicted to fast food, suffering from substance abuse, severe depression, type II diabetes, high blood pressure, severed relationships, and more. Along with his amazing story, he shares meaningful insights and his best tips for reclaiming our health in a sustainable way.

Trigger Warning: This episode discusses suicide, addiction, and topics related to severe depression.

Show Notes:

• Adam's experience growing up as a 7th generation Texan in the 80s-90s
• The experiences that impacted Adam growing up and how that affected how he thought about himself
• How Adam developed a problematic relationship with food
• How Adam's ADHD diagnosis led to substance abuse
• Adam's experience with Adderall and the social, physical, and mental implications
• How Adam became addicted to Adderall, and how that addiction shifted to fast food
• How a 7-day retreat by Rip Esselstyn planted the seed for a shift towards a healthy plant-based lifestyle
• The moment that changed everything for Adam and became a turning point
• The power of words, their long-term impact, & the importance of compassionate language
• Adam's experience with rehab & the power of the diagnoses he got while there
• How Adam's plant-based journey began with a hamburger
• How to re-program your dopamine system to want healthy foods
• The mindset that allowed Adam to achieve sustainable positive change
• The importance of creating a system that works for you when trying to make a positive lifestyle change
• The simple meal plan that helped Adam reverse type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and more
• What Adam believes addiction recovery should actually be about, and how plant-based nutrition plays a role in that
• What Adam wants people to understand about making healthier choices
• Diet culture vs. nutrition
• Healthy/unhealthy food choices vs. healthy/unhealthy food patterns
• The problem with considering certain foods good/bad
• The outlook towards habit change that gives you permission to start over
• Why you don't need to challenge yourself with massive or radical goals in order to create positive habits
• The mindset that is key for lasting habit change
• How to get yourself into a positive feedback loop when trying to make changes in their life
• How to help people experiencing depression, substance abuse or addiction issues
• Thanks to our sponsors Plantbasedmealplan.com with PawCo Food (get 50% off your first box at here).

Resources:

• Free one-week meal plan
• Vegan Registered Dietitians
• Plant-Based on a Budget cookbook
• 15 Must-Read Plant-Based Health Books
• Inspiring Must-See Documentaries
• How Not to Die — The Daily Dozen Checklist

• Ep. 65 - Mastering Diabetes with Cyrus Khambatta

• Ep. 84 - Reversing Diabetes with Robby Barbaro

• Ep. 23: 150 pound weight loss journey to health through dog adoption with Eric O'Grey

• Ep. 53: Reversing Disease through Plants with Gina House

Freya Cox was the first vegan contestant on The Great British Bake Off, showing the world that vegan baking can be as good—and even better—than baked goods made with animal products. On this episode, she shares the details of her new book Simply Vegan Baking, and she dishes out lots of plant-based baking tips for fellow home bakers!

Show Notes:

• How Freya became a vegan baker
• The meal that got Freya to go vegan
• Freya's impulsive application to The Great British Bake Off
• Freya's tips for vegan bakers who want to be on the show
• How Freya prepared for the show while balancing work, school, and taking care of her animals
• How Freya's vegan morals prevailed even when baking challenges would have been easier made non-vegan
• How Freya's experience on the show influenced her career and ignited the drive to write her cookbook
• The recipe that took Freya the most tries to make into a vegan replica
• Freya's favorite vegan baked good recipe from her cookbook and the show
• The impact that Freya had on others on The Great British Bake Off
• A peek behind the scenes of the show
• Freya's biggest struggles with vegan baking both at home and on the show
• The practical tips for common vegan baking substitutes like aquafaba, cream or tartar, and more
• The secret to making amazing vegan meringue
• Why egg replacements rarely work the same as eggs and what to do about it
• What you need to look for in vegan butter
• Why Freya always uses soy milk as plant-based milk in cakes
• How to pick the right plant-based milk for your recipe
• Tips for using agar-agar as a vegan gelatin substitute
• What's next for Freya's vegan baking career
• Thank you to our sponsor Caraway Home (check out their cyber season event)

Resources:

• Freya's book Simply Vegan Baking
• Freya's Instagram

Dan Buettner is an award-winning journalist and producer at National Geographic who has spent most of his life identifying and studying "blue zones" - the 5 areas of the world where people live the longest, with the lowest disease rates. Today he's telling us all about how a plant-based diet ties into their health and longevity.

Show Notes:

• Dan's unique stories from his many quests and expeditions with National Geographic
• Dan's experience with archeological expeditions
• What is a blue zone?
• How Dan discovered the 5 blue zones and why they got the name "blue zones"
• The characteristics the people in blue zones
• Carbohydrates: the confusion and why you shouldn't be afraid of them
• The difference between good and bad carbohydrates
• How the Standard American Diet came to be
• How the Standard American Diet ended up including so much added sugar
• Why it can be so difficult to make diet changes even when we know something is bad for us
• The role our environment and community play in our health
• Blue zone-like habits that you can incorporate into your life without travelling anywhere
• Why Dan transitioned into a plant-based lifestyle as a result of studying blue zones
• How to make it easier for others to make more plant-based diet choices
• The importance of surrounding yourself with people that inspire your health goals
• Some simple guidelines for adopting a healthier, plant-based lifestyle
• A little challenge for you to start incorporating healthy, delicious recipes into your life long-term
• Evidence-based tips to get young, picky eaters to eat vegetables
• Healthy cultural ways of eating that we should take note of
• About Dan's new book
• Thank you to our sponsors Caraway Home and Yai's Thai (use code PLANTPOWER at checkout for 20% off at yaisthai.com)

Resources:

• Dan's books
• Dan's Instagram
• Dan's Website
• Plant-Based On a Budget Holiday Resources
• World of Vegan Holiday Resources

Robby Barbaro is a diabetes coach, educator, author, and international speaker who has been living with type 1 diabetes for more than twenty years. He now helps countless people improve their insulin sensitivity and gain more control over their metabolic health through Mastering Diabetes, and we're excited to chat with him today!

Show Notes:

• Robby's journey with type 1 diabetes
• Robby's experience with acne, plantar fasciitis, and more
• How Robby decided to turn to nutrition and lifestyle to help his diabetes
• Robby's experience with the ketogenic diet and other diets
• The plant-based diet that helped improve Robby's insulin sensitivity by 900%
• Why it is so important to improve insulin sensitivity
• The 4 components of the "Mastering Diabetes" plant-based method
• How to set yourself up for long-term success
• What you can do to become more insulin sensitive
• A simple explanation for what insulin resistance is
• How does eating different types of fats affect our bodies?
• Suggested ratios of carbs, fats, and protein in an insulin-sensitivity-improving diet
• What you should know about coconut oil
• How animal products impact someone who is living with diabetes
• The difference between insulin-dependent and non-insulin-dependent type 2 diabetes
• The tests that you should get if you're living with any form of diabetes
• The importance of accountability for the things that matter to you
• Robby's tips for how to start making positive changes
• Examples of plant-based shifts to make in your breakfast and lunch meals
• How removing foods from your diet can change your taste buds
• How physical activity impacts your insulin sensitivity
• The signs of type 1 diabetes and when to get checked out
• Thank you to our sponsors Caraway Home and Yai's Tai (use code PLANTPOWER at checkout for 20% off at yaisthai.com)

Resources:

• E65 Preventing & Reversing Diabetes with Cyrus Khambatta
• Robby's Famous Reel on Coconut Oil
• Robby's Instagram
• Mastering Diabetes Website
• The Mastering Diabetes Podcast
• The Mastering Diabetes Book
• Mastering Diabetes YouTube

Get a sneak peek at what's to come this season on the Plant Powered People Podcast, plus get to know Michelle and Toni beyond podcast interviews!

Show Notes:

• Learn the new direction Toni and Michelle are taking with the podcast
• A sneak peek of who to expect on the next episodes!
• Exciting and in depth updates from Toni and Michelle
• How Toni and Michelle have been growing their businesses
• Proud friend moment- what Toni is proud of Michelle for
• Knowing when to get support in your business
• The benefits of therapy, business coaching, and self-care
• The importance of learning new things, and what Michelle and Toni are learning
• Toni's exciting gardening updates
• How Toni is creating healthy habits
• What Toni and Michelle are loving lately
• We're going there: bidets and reusable toilet paper
• Why you should pick up some passionfruit and rambutan
• Toni's favourite recent musicals
• How Fitbit is helping Toni stay active
• How Michelle has been making bubble tea at home
• Thank you to our sponsors Caraway Home (carawayhome.com/plantpoweredkitchen or use code plantpoweredkitchen at checkout) and Yai's Tai (use code PLANTPOWER at checkout for 20% off at yaisthai.com)

Resources:

• EP #50: Guide to Preparing for the Holidays
• EP #5: Surviving the Holidays
• Vegan candle guide
• Buy vegan boba

How do you reduce food waste, motivate yourself to cook healthy food at home, and keep your kitchen clean? Kristen Hong, author of Fridge Love and expert at organizing fridges and pantries is on the show to share her best tips for making food storage easy and fun!

Show Notes:

• How Kristen got into organizing fridges and food saving
• What is a nutritarian?
• The amazing benefits that you can expect once you start organizing your kitchen
• How setting aside 15 minutes per week to organize your fridge can change the way you eat and reduce food waste
• How you can unlock a new way of thinking about food and your fridge
• How to get started with organizing your fridge
• How to bring intention into your fridge
• How to start organizing with what you already have at home
• When to upgrade your storage containers
• The benefits of "buy nothing" groups
• What to think of and do before you get started organizing your fridge
• Tips for deep cleaning your fridge
• The importance of showcasing your produce & avoiding putting it in the crisper drawers
• Best ways to store produce for maximum shelf life
• Container recommendations for fridges and freezers
• How Kristen navigates having an omnivore fridge while being vegan
• Tips for organizing your pantry & creating one if your kitchen doesn't have pantry
• The importance of recognizing what works best for you when organizing your kitchen
• Thank you to our sponsors Maxine's Heavenly (use discount code PLANTS25) and AMARA

Resources:

• Kristen's Instagram
• Kristen's Website

How can you convince your family to go plant-based with you? Harley Quinn Smith is an actress and outspoken vegan lifestyle advocate who did just that through leading with kindness and compassion, and she's here to share her story with us!

Show Notes:

• Harley Quinn's journey from being a musician to becoming an actress
• How Harley Quinn gradually went vegan and started to bring her father on board
• What it was like adopting a bunny from the shelter & helping her heal from trauma
• How Harley Quinn's dad went vegan after suffering a heart attack
• Sharing graphic images of animal cruelty vs. leading with compassion when talking about veganism
• How Harley Quinn's dad inspired others to make lifestyle changes after his heart attack
• The importance of knowing your audience when you're talking about becoming plant-based
• What it's like to have a family that is also vegan
• Why and how Harley Quinn started her podcast with her dad
• The journey of Harley Quinn's boyfriend going from eating a lot of meat to becoming a pescatarian
• The power of going to farm sanctuaries
• Thank you to our sponsors Maxine's Heavenly (use discount code PLANTS25) and AMARA (use discount code PLANTPOWER)

Resources:

• Harley Quinn's Instagram

How do you find the best vegan snacks at a theme park? Russell Heiman, aka @rollercoastervegan travels the world adding to his 590+ list of roller coasters ridden, and they find the best vegan snacks in the process. They're on the show to talk about their best theme park tips!

Podcast website: http://plantpoweredpodcast.com

Show notes: https://plantbasedmealplan.com/ep-80

Show Notes:

• How Russell conquered their fear of heights through roller coasters and unlocked a new passion
• Russell's journey to becoming plant-based
• How to find good vegan food at theme parks
• How to plan out a trip to a theme park, near or far
• Vegan food options at Disneyland
• Maintaining vegan values & theme parks that have live animals
• What to do when your family plans a trip to a theme park with live animals
• Some of the best theme parks to visit worldwide
• The different types of rides and roller coasters around the world
• Tips for staying safe & healthy during theme park visits
• Tips for sticking to a budget while on a theme park trip
• How to find discounted admission & bulk deals for theme parks
• Tips for making waiting in line fun & productive
• Spooky abandoned theme parks & what happens to them
• Russell's Instagram
• Thank you to our sponsors Maxine's Heavenely and Caraway home/plantpoweredkitchen or use plantpoweredkitchen
• Thank you to our sponsors Maxine's Heavenly (use discount code PLANTS25) and Caraway Home (use discount code PLANTPOWEREDKITCHEN)

Resources:

• Vegan Disneyland Guide
• Best Vegan Food at Disneyland (Video)
• Toni's YouTube Video: What I Ate Vegan at Disneyland + Food Prices

How can you improve the health of an entire fire station? Rip Esselstyn joined the fire department after 10 years as a professional plant-based triathlete, and that's exactly what he did! Now, Rip empowers the masses to take control of their health through his books, podcast, food brand, and more.

Show Notes:

• The Esselstyn family's journey from consuming the Standard American Diet to becoming leaders in the healthy plant-based living space
• Learning to cook tasty plant-based meals
• The evolution of plant-based resources
• How & why Rip got into firefighting after being a professional athlete & communications graduate
• The lifesaving event that led Rip to start helping firefighters eat healthier & plant-based
• What it's like to be a firefighter & the kinds of calls they get
• The contrast of witnessing the consequences of poor diet choices while his father's work focuses on reversing them through plant-based nutrition
• Rip's shift from saving fire victims to helping firefighters live healthier lives
• The amazing benefits that Rip's friend experienced after 28 days of healthy plant-based eating
• How small group challenges can influence us to live healthier
• Simple & healthy meal ideas from the fire station
• A summary of what Rip's books are about & who they're for
• Thank you to our sponsors Maxine's Heavenly (use discount code PLANTS25) and Karviva Beverages. Note: most Karviva drinks are fully vegan, but they have a few that aren't. Their Ace sport drink line is not vegan).

Resources:

• Rip's books
• Plantstrong.com
• Plantstrongfoods.com
• Plantstrong Podcast

Imagine eating dozens of vegetables worth of nutrients, but only within a few bites? That's what you can do when you eat sprouts! Doug Evans, serial entrepreneur and author of "The Sprout Book" is here to tell us everything there is to know about sprouting.

• Everything you need to know about sprouts
• Growing your own food at home with sprouts
• How Doug's family history of illness influenced his journey
• How meeting a vegan lady sparked his "cold cucumber" moment
• Doug's philosophy around making diet changes
• How moving to the desert changed Doug's access to fresh food
• The shocking nutrient density of sprouts
• How to grow your own sprouts in the space of a shoebox
• How sprouting reduces the risk of contamination
• Why sprouts are so much more expensive at the grocery store
• The nutritional benefits of broccoli sprouts vs full grown broccoli
• How to start sprouting with seeds, jars, and cheesecloth
• The best seeds to sprout for beginners
• The best ways to make sprouts delicious & Doug's signature sprout dish
• How to get creative with your sprouts
• The amazing environmental benefits of sprouting vs. farming full vegetables
• How sprouts can help give access to food in even food deserts
• Thank you to our sponsors Maxine's Heavenly (use discount code PLANTS25) and Karviva Beverages. Note: most Karviva drinks are fully vegan, but they have a few that aren't. Their Ace sport drink line is not vegan).

Resources:

• The Sprout Book by Doug Evans
• Doug's Website
• Doug's Instagram