Medical Decision-making

Getting a Second Lease on Life – and Using It in a Big Way with Paul Chatlin: PYP 199

February 27, 2017

At age 55, Paul Chatlin was a few minutes away from surgery on a 100% blockage in his right coronary artery when his cardiologist asked him out of the blue, “Would you consider a nutritional change instead of bypass surgery?”

Turns out the cardiologist’s mentor was a dude named Caldwell Esselstyn, which is the only way this story makes any sense.

Paul, tired of his severe angina, terrified of the life that followed bypass surgery that he witnessed in his father and three uncles, and in agony from the “elephant sitting on his chest,” agreed.

“I’ll do anything.”

Pharmaceutical Brainwashing of America with Vanessa Sardi: PYP 196

February 7, 2017

When Vanessa Sardi was a drug rep for one of the world’s largest and most powerful pharmaceutical companies, she firmly believed that she was educating doctors to make better prescribing decisions and was helping patients live healthier, more comfortable lives.

Dr Chad Teeters on Becoming an Infamous Cardiologist: PYP 188

December 13, 2016

Dr John “Chad” Teeters grew up eating a good old meat and potato diet in his home state of North Carolina. An active kid, he looked and felt healthy and fit; his diet started catching up with him only when combined with the rigors of college, medical school, and medical residency.

For his entire adult life, Chad struggled with weight, gaining and losing pounds as his activity levels and self-control waxed and waned. After competing in a couple of triathlons in 2005, he let go of the struggle and gained roughly 10 pounds a year for the next 10 years.

Keegan Kuhn on Not Hurting Anybody and Questioning Authority: PYP 157

May 31, 2016

Keegan Kuhn was raised with two rules: don’t hurt anybody, and question authority.

Judging by what’s he’s become and what he’s accomplished, I think those two rules may comprise a necessary and sufficient philosophy of child-rearing.

Keegan is an accomplished bio-intensive farm and garden developer, a social activist, and a documentary filmmaker whose latest project, What the Health?, promises to rip the cover off the pharmaceutical / medical / agricultural conspiracy to ruin our health.

Bob Cafaro on Beating MS: PYP 153

May 3, 2016

Bob Cafaro was enjoying a successful career as a professional cellist with the Philadelphia Orchestra when he was struck with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in December, 1998. After some serious denial and three increasingly nasty attacks, he was forced to confront the reality and severity of his diagnosis.

With Bob’s eyesight worsening to the point of blindness and his hands unable to control the cello, it was only natural for his doctor to write him a note for permanent disability. And slip him a script for an antidepressant to help him cope with the loss of his profession, his livelihood, his passion, and his independent existence

Trailer for PYP 153: Bob Cafaro on overcoming MS

April 21, 2016

I just recorded a wonderfully inspiring interview with professional cellist Bob Cafaro, who beat MS using, among other things, a plant-based diet. But there’s so much more to his story than broccoli and rice! We talked about Nolan Ryan, Bobby Fisher, Lance Armstrong, the US Army Survival Manual, Nando Parrado, finding free parking in Manhattan,…

PYP 150: Dustin Rudolph on Meds vs Diet for Hypertension and Diabetes

April 12, 2016

Dustin Rudolph, PharmD, is a repeat guest on the podcast. As one of the only pharmacists in the world who favors a plant-based treatment approach, he shared his “coming of age” story and his take on the world of doctors, drugs, and health care.

Today he’s back to talk about two specific conditions: high blood pressure (hypertension) and type 2 (insulin resistant) diabetes.

PYP 146: Michael Greger, MD, on How Not To Die

March 15, 2016

Michael Greger is the founder of NutritionFacts.org, an amazing website that produces daily what would take me six months to do: a short, entertaining video exploring some aspect of nutritional science and its application to everyday life.

From humble beginnings, the website now educates millions of viewers about the relationship between diet/lifestyle and disease/health.

PYP 144: Irving Kirsch on Harnessing the Placebo Effect and Discovering the Truth about Antidepressants

March 1, 2016

Irving Kirsch is a soft-spoken researcher who accidentally stumbled upon one of the biggest and most costly errors in modern medicine. His cautious yet relentless search for the truth has made him persona non grata to much of the psychiatric profession and pharmaceutical industry, and a hero to the rest of us.

His findings, documented in his book The Emperor’s New Drugs as well as in dozens of published papers and book chapters, has generated a lot of controversy, including a 5-page cover story in Newsweek and a segment on 60 Minutes.

His conclusion: antidepressant drugs, including blockbusters like Prozac and Paxil, don’t work. They’re no better than placebo, meaning the only reason people feel and get better when they take those drugs is because they believe they will.

When you look at the evidence collected and analyzed and curated by Kirsch, it’s hard to disagree.

Triangle Be Well TV: 2015-12-14

December 15, 2015

Today I talked about the fundamental (and generally disregarded) principle of the Hippocratic Oath, “First, do no harm.” Plus, some thoughts on death, and how coming to terms with death as a reality that will visit each of us can help us live better, healthier, and in some cases longer lives. Plus, one of medicine’s dirty…

Getting a Second Lease on Life – and Using It in a Big Way with Paul Chatlin: PYP 199

Pharmaceutical Brainwashing of America with Vanessa Sardi: PYP 196

Dr Chad Teeters on Becoming an Infamous Cardiologist: PYP 188

Keegan Kuhn on Not Hurting Anybody and Questioning Authority: PYP 157

Bob Cafaro on Beating MS: PYP 153

Trailer for PYP 153: Bob Cafaro on overcoming MS

PYP 150: Dustin Rudolph on Meds vs Diet for Hypertension and Diabetes

PYP 146: Michael Greger, MD, on How Not To Die

PYP 144: Irving Kirsch on Harnessing the Placebo Effect and Discovering the Truth about Antidepressants

Triangle Be Well TV: 2015-12-14

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