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Podcast

Preparing for a Healthy Pregnancy: Jeanne Schumacher and Debra Shapiro, MD on PYP 420

August 4, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic is not a great time to be pregnant, according to my guests, Jeanne Schumacher and Debra Shapiro of The Pregnancy Advantage. It is, on the other hand, a terrific time to prepare to get pregnant.

How does a woman do that, other than paint the nursery, give up booze, and buy a copy of What to Expect When You’re Expecting?

By getting healthier, detoxifying her body and environment, and taking other personal actions that contribute to a healthier world for the next generation.

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Healing from Racism with Bianca and Michael Alexander: PYP 419

July 28, 2020

I reached out to Bianca and Michael because I was turning into an asshole.

Specifically, I was full of rage and outrage and judgment at all the racists out there. 

And the fact that I was right, and on the side of right, and standing shoulder to shoulder with people of color, and fighting against systemic oppression that has been going on far too long – just made me more of an asshole, to be honest. 

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Marta Zaraska

Broccoli alone won’t get you to 100: Marta Zaraska on PYP 418

July 21, 2020

For the last 7 years, I’ve worked to improve human health and wellbeing by focusing on better nutrition, vigorous physical activity, sleep hygiene, and stress management.

Turns out I may have been missing the most important determinants of health – the social ones.

Marta Zaraska has written a book that is fun, fascinating, scientifically sound, and socially revolutionary. In Growing Young, she argues that eating well and exercising are all well and good, but spending time with friends, cultivating a positive attitude, and helping others are far more powerful (and enjoyable!) determinants of health.

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Empowering Black Health with Lisa A Smith: PYP 417

July 14, 2020

Lisa A Smith is a serial entrepreneur who’s made it her life’s work to empower the Black community with information, skills, and philosophies that support health, peace of mind, and mutual support. 

Ms Smith is the founder of the Black Health Academy, creator of the Pharm to Table course, and executive director of the 7000+ member Plant Based Nutrition Support Group operating in Detroit (see below for an interview with the founder, Paul Chatlin).

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Empathy is Stronger than Fear: Glenn Murphy on PYP 416

July 7, 2020

Glenn Murphy returns to Plant Yourself to talk about how we can self-regulate our emotions and actions during a time of great societal upheaval and division.

We talk about our own impulses to “fight” with others, and where there’s a messy intertwining of good intentions and unresolved psychological issues.

We discuss the physiology of the stress response, particularly as it relates to the shame and guilt that accompanies some of our attempts to right wrongs and redress injustices.

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Going from Racist to Anti-racist with Dustin and Josh LaJaunie: PYP 415

June 30, 2020

Dustin and Josh LaJaunie have amazing transformation stories. They went from obese to fit. From junk food addicts to plant-based eaters. From hunters to vegans. From sedentary to active. 

And, as you’ll see and hear, from racist to antiracist.

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sherzai-dean-ayesha

The Role of Science in Public Discourse and Racial Justice: Dean and Ayesha Sherzai, MDs: PYP 414

June 24, 2020

Team Sherzai, aka Dean and Ayesha, join me on the podcast to talk about the role of science and scientists in dealing with all the false statements propagated on social media (as well as, occasionally, traditional media).

What the Sherzais value highly about science is the holy grail of falsifiability; the challenge that every theory and finding implicitly makes to other scientists: prove me wrong!

They also appreciate the inherent humility that is baked into true science, as well as the imperfect nature of knowledge at any given time.

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The Key to Human Resilience with Scott Carney: PYP 413

June 16, 2020

Most of my work as a health coach involves helping people respond differently to stimuli.

That is, develop the ability to make different choices when confronted with tempting foods, tempting environments, tempting people, and tempting sensations, emotions, and thoughts.

Think about it – NOT having that ability basically means you’re a robot, a machine. If you can’t control your responses, you have no freedom.

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How Pollution Affects Chronic Disease: Richard Kwok on PYP 412

June 9, 2020

Richard Kwok is an environmental researcher who studies the effects of environmental pollution on human health. He’s also my neighbor, and we met while cleaning up litter and quickly discovered a lot of interests in common.

While the environment doesn’t often change our genetics, it can have huge impact on our epigenetics, or how those genes get expressed in our bodies.

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The Practice of Compassionate Self-Care During Times of Crisis: Bojana Jankovic Weatherly, MD on PYP 411

June 3, 2020

Dr Bojana Jankovic Weatherly is one of my favorite physicians, double board certified in internal and integrative medicine. She has also trained in functional medicine, nutrition and mindfulness.

Dr Jankovic Weatherly is a real stickler for evidence of efficacy, whatever modality she’s exploring or recommending. Which makes her a very reliable podcast guest, especially when talking about topics not fully embraced by mainstream medical practice.

And, she’s a mom struggling to homeschool two children in a New York apartment while working full time from home.

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Contact me

Hi, I’m Howard Jacobson, host of the Plant Yourself Podcast, co-author of You Can Change Other People and Sick to Fit, and co-founder of WellStart Health Coach Academy.

Click here to get in touch.