The president of the American Medical Association became the patient after being diagnosed with a large brain tumor.

Dr. Bobby Mukkamala, immediate past president of the AMA, joins Chuck Carroll on The Exam Room Podcast for a powerful and deeply personal conversation about how his diagnosis changed the way he sees health care, medicine, prevention, access, and the patient experience.

Dr. Mukkamala opens up about being diagnosed with a grade 2 astrocytoma, the shock of seeing an eight-centimeter brain tumor on his scan, and what it felt like to suddenly experience the health care system from the other side of the exam room. He also reflects on the extraordinary care he received at Mayo Clinic and the difficult reality that most people do not have access to that same level of care.

The conversation also explores the crushing cost of medication, including a new treatment that can cost nearly $900 per day, and why medical bills remain such a devastating burden for so many families.

Chuck and Dr. Mukkamala also discuss lifestyle medicine, plant-based nutrition, the future of health care, dietary guidelines, health equity, and why progress can still be powerful even when perfection is not realistic.

This interview was recorded at the Lotus Health Foundation Symposium in Rochester, Minnesota, just days before Chuck's major surgery at Mayo Clinic. At the time of the conversation, Dr. Mukkamala was still serving as president of the American Medical Association.

Topics discussed include:

• What happens when a doctor becomes the patient
• Brain tumor diagnosis and recovery
• The emotional impact of serious illness
• Health care access and inequality
• The high cost of prescription medication
• Mayo Clinic and world-class care
• Lifestyle medicine and disease prevention
• Plant-based nutrition and health
• The role of doctors in improving public health
• Why progress over perfection matters

Exam Roomies of the Week

• Carol Kimsey
• MJ Donahue
• Tomi Gail Lemmen

Make a gift to support The Exam Room Podcast and the life-changing work of the Physicians Committee: PCRM.org/SupportExamRoom

🙏 Support The Exam Room Podcast & PCRM

👉 https://bit.ly/SupportExamRoom

🎉 ICNM - Washington DC - 8/13-15

👉 https://www.pcrm.org/icnm

🌱 Lotus Health Foundation

👉 https://lotushealthfoundation.org

This episode is not medical advice. Always speak with your doctor about any changes to your diet or lifestyle.

- About Us -

The Physicians Committee is dedicated to saving lives through plant-based diets and ethical and effective scientific research. We combine the clout and expertise of more than 17,000 physicians with the dedicated actions of more than 175,000 members across the United States and around the world.

Billy Bob Thornton stopped eating dairy after discovering it was causing health problems. But is that a healthy decision?

Dr. Neal Barnard joins Chuck Carroll to separate fact from fiction.

Could milk and cheese be behind symptoms such as bloating, stomach pain, fatigue, skin issues, congestion, brain fog, or feeling sick after eating?

Dr. Barnard explains the difference between a true dairy allergy, lactose intolerance, and dairy sensitivity. He also discusses what PCRM research shows about dairy, saturated fat, cancer risk, heart health, and the health benefits of choosing dairy alternatives.

Then we look at Thornton's wheat sensitivity. What is a true wheat allergy? How is it different from celiac disease or gluten sensitivity? And when should someone get tested before removing gluten from their diet?

Plus, Billy Bob Thornton also said he eats for his AB-negative blood type. Dr. Barnard explains what the research actually says about blood-type diets, and whether blood type should determine what you eat.

🧠 In this episode:

• Billy Bob Thornton's dairy-free and wheat-free diet
• Dairy allergy vs. lactose intolerance
• Common symptoms of dairy intolerance
• How quickly symptoms may improve after removing dairy
• PCRM research on dairy and health risks
• Best plant-based dairy alternatives
• Wheat allergy vs. celiac disease vs. gluten sensitivity
• Gluten-free diets and when they are necessary
• AB-negative blood type statistics
• The truth about blood-type diets
• Dr. Barnard's research on plant-based diets and blood type

Exam Roomies of the Week

• Andreas Ebert
• Kris Grabowski
• Laurie Rowe

🙏 Support The Exam Room Podcast & PCRM 👉 https://bit.ly/SupportExamRoom

This episode is sponsored by The Gregory J. Reiter Memorial Fund, which supports organizations like the Physicians Committee that carry on Greg's passion and love for animals through rescue efforts, veganism, and wildlife conservation.

🌱 Gregory J. Reiter Memorial Fund 👉 https://gregoryreiterfund.org

🎉 ICNM - Washington DC - 8/13-15 👉 https://www.pcrm.org/icnm

This episode is not medical advice. Always speak with your doctor about any changes to your diet or lifestyle.

- About Us - The Physicians Committee is dedicated to saving lives through plant-based diets and ethical and effective scientific research. We combine the clout and expertise of more than 17,000 physicians with the dedicated actions of more than 175,000 members across the United States and around the world.

What if your doctor had time to actually listen to you?

Anthony Masiello, Founder and CEO of Lifestyle Telemedicine, joins Chuck Carroll on The Exam Room Podcast for a powerful conversation about what health care can look like when the focus shifts from simply managing symptoms to addressing the root causes of chronic disease.

Anthony shares his own incredible story of being denied a 20-year life insurance policy because of his health — only to outlive that policy and become healthier than he was two decades ago.

Now he is helping others take control of their health through lifestyle medicine, telemedicine, whole food plant-based nutrition, better sleep, stress management, movement, and real physician support.

🧠 In this episode:

• Why your current health is not your destiny
• How Anthony lost 160 pounds and reclaimed his health
• Why comparison can derail progress
• How to build habits that actually last
• Why cheat days can create mental chaos
• How family pressure can make healthy eating harder
• What a Lifestyle Telemedicine appointment is really like
• The role of sleep, stress, movement, and purpose in healing
• Why America may need a Super Bowl commercial for lifestyle medicine
• How to move beyond "there's a pill for everything" thinking

This is a hopeful conversation for anyone who has felt dismissed, stuck, overmedicated, overwhelmed, or unsure where to begin.

Exam Roomies of the Week

• Michelle Oberg
• Lori Vitello
• Cheow Meng Tee, MD

🙏 Support The Exam Room Podcast & PCRM 👉 https://bit.ly/SupportExamRoom

🌱 Lifestyle Telemedicine 👉 https://lifestyletelemedicine.com

🎉 ICNM - Washington DC - 8/13-15 👉 https://www.pcrm.org/icnm

This episode is not medical advice. Always speak with your doctor about any changes to your diet or lifestyle.

- About Us -

The Physicians Committee is dedicated to saving lives through plant-based diets and ethical and effective scientific research. We combine the clout and expertise of more than 17,000 physicians with the dedicated actions of more than 175,000 members across the United States and around the world.

Fast food doesn't have to be junk food. Carleigh Bodrug from PlantYou is here to prove that!

The recipe genius, two-time New York Times bestselling author, and social media powerhouse joins Chuck Carroll on The Exam Room Podcast to share the fastest ways to make healthy plant-based meals when life is busy, groceries are expensive, and takeout is calling your name.

Carleigh's new cookbook, PlantYou Quickies, features more than 140 fast plant-based recipes for busy people, including five-minute prep ideas, Dump & Bake dinners, and S.O.S. Suppers — Save Our Sanity meals for the nights when you almost order delivery.

🧠 In this conversation, Carleigh and Chuck talk about:

• Quick healthy meals when you have no time
• Easy plant-based dinner shortcuts
• Frozen vegetables and pantry staples that save money
• High-fiber meals and plant diversity
• Plant Points for gut health
• Raising a plant-based family
• Healthy meals for busy parents
• How to make comfort foods healthier
• Why takeout tastes better when it is a choice, not desperation

Carleigh also shares details about PlantYou Quickies, her favorite recipe shortcuts, and a special pre-order bonus for Exam Roomies.

She is offering a six-month membership to her weekly plant-based meal plans and shopping lists for anyone who preorders PlantYou Quickies, so you can get cooking right away. Email a screenshot or photo of your receipt to support at plantyou.com, and mention you heard about it on The Exam Room Podcast.

Exam Roomies of the Week

• Annie Frassinello Earsley, RD
• Deborah J. Colbert
• Todd Ormsby

🙏 Support The Exam Room Podcast & PCRM 👉 https://bit.ly/SupportExamRoom

📕 PlantYou Quickies Book Pre-Orders 👉 https://amzn.to/4eTFWvT

🌱 Carleigh Bodrug Website 👉 https://plantyou.com

💪 NHA Conference in Cleveland 👉 https://bit.ly/NHAConf2026

🎉 ICNM - Washington DC - 8/13-15 👉 https://www.pcrm.org/icnm

This episode is not medical advice. Always speak with your doctor about any changes to your diet or lifestyle.

- About Us - The Physicians Committee is dedicated to saving lives through plant-based diets and ethical and effective scientific research. We combine the clout and expertise of more than 17,000 physicians with the dedicated actions of more than 175,000 members across the United States and around the world.

The biggest and healthiest changes in your community can begin with one person. Lyn Grady is a Food For Life instructor with the Physicians Committee who is helping people understand food as medicine, one class at a time. In this episode of The Exam Room Podcast, Lyn joins Chuck Carroll to talk about why so many people are confused by food labels, why "healthy" marketing can be so misleading, and how Food For Life classes help people build confidence in the kitchen. She shares stories from her classes, including the moment someone worried about the sugar in fruit after eating coffee cake, and an athlete who thought he was drinking a healthy aloe juice until Lyn showed him the label said zero percent juice. This conversation is about more than food. It is about community, education, generational health, and becoming the person who helps others take their first step toward a healthier life. Applications are now open for the Fall 2026 Food For Life instructor training. 🧠 In this episode:

• Why Food For Life is not a diet
• How "healthy" labels can mislead shoppers
• Why fruit is not the same as cake
• How cooking classes build community
• Why Food For Life instructors can create generational health
• What the instructor training is like
• How to apply to become an instructor

Exam Roomies of the Week

• Gary Hunt
• Susan Johnson
• Mark Reis-Henrie

This episode is not medical advice. Always speak with your doctor about any changes to your diet or lifestyle. 🍽️ Food For Life Instructor Applications 👉 https://bit.ly/food-for-life-instructor 🙏 Support The Exam Room Podcast & PCRM 👉 https://bit.ly/SupportExamRoom 🌱 Lyn Grady 👉 https://www.lyngrady.com 🎉 ICNM - Washington DC - 8/13-15 👉 https://www.pcrm.org/icnm - About Us - The Physicians Committee is dedicated to saving lives through plant-based diets and ethical and effective scientific research. We combine the clout and expertise of more than 17,000 physicians with the dedicated actions of more than 175,000 members across the United States and around the world.

Swapping animal protein for plant protein may help women lose weight after menopause.

Dr. Neal Barnard joins Chuck Carroll on The Exam Room Podcast to discuss a new study he co-authored that finds replacing animal protein with plant protein may be a powerful strategy for weight loss in postmenopausal women.

The study found that total protein intake did not need to change. Instead, the source of protein appeared to matter most. As women reduced animal protein and increased plant protein from foods such as soybeans, beans, and grains, they experienced significant weight loss.

Dr. Barnard explains why not all protein is created equal, how plant protein may affect metabolism differently than animal protein, and why this could be especially important for women after menopause.

🧠 In this episode:

• Why protein source matters for weight loss
• The connection between menopause, metabolism, and body weight
• Plant protein vs. animal protein
• Soy, beans, grains, and healthy weight
• Whether calories tell the whole story
• Methionine and metabolism
• Hot flashes, soy, and menopause symptoms
• Practical food swaps anyone can make

Exam Roomies of the Week

• Pauline White
• Alix Weisz
• Brenda Hoy

This episode is sponsored by The Gregory J. Reiter Memorial Fund, which supports organizations like the Physicians Committee that carry on Greg's passion and love for animals through rescue efforts, veganism, and wildlife conservation.

This episode is not medical advice. Always speak with your doctor about any changes to your diet or lifestyle.

📕 Menopause Study 👉 https://bit.ly/postmenopausal-weight-loss

🙏 Support The Exam Room Podcast & PCRM 👉 https://bit.ly/SupportExamRoom

🌱 Gregory J. Reiter Memorial Fund 👉 https://gregoryreiterfund.org

- About Us - The Physicians Committee is dedicated to saving lives through plant-based diets and ethical and effective scientific research. We combine the clout and expertise of more than 17,000 physicians with the dedicated actions of more than 175,000 members across the United States and around the world.

Could eating late at night be hurting your gut health? Are prebiotic and probiotic sodas actually good for your microbiome? And what do GLP-1 weight loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy mean for digestion, constipation, and gut bacteria?

Dr. Will Bulsiewicz joins Chuck Carroll on The Exam Room Podcast to answer the most Googled gut health questions from listeners.

🧠 On this episode:

- Why late-night eating and chronic stress may be a double hit to your gut - How your microbiome follows a circadian rhythm - Whether "healthy" sodas are really worth the hype - The best fermented foods for gut health - Why cabbage is having a nutrition moment - What constipation may reveal about Parkinson's disease risk - Whether microbiome stool tests can really tell you what to eat - What we know so far about GLP-1 medications and the microbiome - How to support gut health while losing weight

Dr. B also shares his thoughts on cravings, nighttime routines, tart cherry juice, fiber supplements, and why diet and lifestyle still come first.

Exam Roomies of the Week

• Linda Verchimak
• Luanne Siwiec
• Marlene Erven

🙏 Support The Exam Room Podcast & PCRM 👉 https://bit.ly/SupportExamRoom

👨‍⚕️ Dr. Will Bulsiewicz 👉 https://theguthealthmd.com

📺 Dr. B's YouTube Channel 👉 https://www.youtube.com/@theguthealthmd

📗 Dr. B's Books 👉 https://amzn.to/4e1CiQd

🎉 International Conference on Nutrition in Medicine 👉 https://www.pcrm.org/icnm

This episode is not medical advice. Always speak with your doctor about cancer screening, treatment, and any changes to your diet or lifestyle.

- About Us - The Physicians Committee is dedicated to saving lives through plant-based diets and ethical and effective scientific research. We combine the clout and expertise of more than 17,000 physicians with the dedicated actions of more than 175,000 members across the United States and around the world.

You can build strong bones and muscles as you age without eating meat or dairy foods.

Registered dietitian Brenda Davis joins Chuck Carroll on The Exam Room Podcast to explain how a well-planned plant-based diet can support strength, bone health, and independence after 50.

Can plant protein really support muscle? What nutrients matter most for preventing osteoporosis and sarcopenia? And how much protein do older adults actually need?

🧠 In this episode, you'll learn:

• How much protein older adults may need
• Whether plant protein can support muscle as well as animal protein
• The best plant-based protein sources for aging muscles
• Why some vegans may have higher fracture risk
• How to get enough calcium without dairy
• Why spinach is healthy but not the best calcium source
• The role of vitamin D, B12, omega-3s, and other nutrients
• How resistance training and weight-bearing exercise help protect bones
• Why a high-quality plant-based diet matters more than just "going vegan"
• Brenda's practical, nonjudgmental approach to healthy eating

Brenda also discusses her upcoming book, Plant-Powered Seniors, and shares simple food swaps that can help increase protein from 40 grams a day to 70 grams a day without overhauling your entire diet.

This is a must-watch conversation for anyone over 50, anyone caring for aging parents, anyone worried about osteoporosis, and anyone wondering whether a plant-based diet can truly support strength and longevity.

This episode is not medical advice. Always speak with your doctor about cancer screening, treatment, and any changes to your diet or lifestyle.

🙏 Support The Exam Room Podcast & PCRM 👉 https://bit.ly/SupportExamRoom

📗 Brenda's Plant-Powered Seniors Book 👉 https://amzn.to/49G33Hq

📕 Brenda's Plant-Powered Protein Book 👉 https://amzn.to/4ukIbgr

💪 Brenda's Website 👉 hhttps://brendadavisrd.com

- About Us - The Physicians Committee is dedicated to saving lives through plant-based diets and ethical and effective scientific research. We combine the clout and expertise of more than 17,000 physicians with the dedicated actions of more than 175,000 members across the United States and around the world.

Dr. Hana Kahleova reveals the surprising science behind mint. From digestion and blood flow to coughing, inflammation, exercise performance, and antioxidants, mint may be doing far more for your health than you realize.

In this episode, you'll learn how compounds in mint may support the body in multiple ways. Dr. Kahleova joins Chuck Carroll to explain how mint has been used for centuries, what modern research shows, and why simple options like mint tea, fresh mint leaves, and topical menthol can offer unique and powerful benefits.

🧠 You'll learn:

• Why Dr. Kahleova ranks mint as a "12 out of 10" healthy food
• How menthol may increase local blood flow
• Why mint may help calm coughing and support the airways
• How peppermint oil may help digestion, bloating, spasms, and IBS symptoms
• Whether mint may improve exercise performance and breathing
• Why mint is surprisingly rich in antioxidants
• The best ways to use mint: fresh, tea, inhaled, or topical

Exam Roomies of the Week

• Arin Weitzman
• Ana Jag

🙏 Support The Exam Room Podcast & PCRM 👉 https://bit.ly/SupportExamRoom

🩺 Dr. Brooke Bussard 👉 https://drbrookebussard.com

🎉 International Conference on Nutrition in Medicine 👉 https://www.pcrm.org/icnm

This episode is not medical advice. Always speak with your doctor about cancer screening, treatment, and any changes to your diet or lifestyle.

- About Us - The Physicians Committee is dedicated to saving and improving human and animal lives through plant-based diets and ethical and effective scientific research. We combine the clout and expertise of more than 17,000 physicians with the dedicated actions of nearly one million members and supporters worldwide.

Chris Wark was just 26 years old when he was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer.

What happened next changed his life forever.

In this deeply personal conversation, Chris joins Chuck Carroll on The Exam Room Podcast to share the story behind Chris Beat Cancer, the decisions he made after surgery, and why he believes food, faith, mindset, purpose, and self-advocacy all became part of his healing journey.

You'll hear the emotional story of how Chris went from fear and uncertainty to feeling empowered again and why he says healing happens at home.

🧠 In this episode, you'll learn:

• What Chris wishes every cancer patient would ask their oncologist
• Why he believes nutrition became a turning point in his journey
• The hospital meal that shocked him after colon surgery
• How he built his "overdosing on nutrition" approach
• Why purpose and family became central to his will to live
• What "healing happens at home" means to him
• How a whole food plant-based diet fits into the cancer conversation

Colorectal cancer is rising among younger adults, making conversations like this more important than ever. The American Cancer Society reports that colorectal cancer rates have been increasing in adults under 50 in recent years, while rates have declined among many older adults.

Exam Roomies of the Week

• Harriet Leveen
• Robert Callahan

🙏 Support The Exam Room Podcast & PCRM 👉 https://bit.ly/SupportExamRoom

📗 Chris Beat Cancer Book 👉 https://amzn.to/4nbVsFY

💪 Chris Beat Cancer Website 👉 https://www.chrisbeatcancer.com

🎉 Las Vegas Plant Powered Party 👉 https://bit.ly/ChefAJParty

This episode is not medical advice. Always speak with your doctor about cancer screening, treatment, and any changes to your diet or lifestyle.

- About Us - The Physicians Committee is dedicated to saving lives through plant-based diets and ethical and effective scientific research. We combine the clout and expertise of more than 17,000 physicians with the dedicated actions of more than 175,000 members across the United States and around the world.