Josh LaJaunie is, by his own admission, a simple Bayou coonass who discovered plants and running, and transformed his life. His backstory is well documented in a couple of Rich Roll Podcasts, which you should drop everything and listen to if you don't know Josh yet (links below).
We hung out last month at Plantstock at the Esselstyn farm in Claverack, NY, where I snapped this photo of Josh (left, in white) and plant-based running icon Scott Jurek.
Josh and I got on the phone to talk about a Twitter discussion that broke out among Josh, Dr. Garth Davis, and Joe Rogan about the basics of human nutrition. What I appreciate about Josh is his logical approach to the evidence.
Here's what I mean by that. Millions of people see articles on their Facebook feeds supporting the meat, dairy, egg, and processed junk food industries. And because they don't have scientific backgrounds, they are easily swayed, or at least easily confused, or at least easily subject to doubt sufficient to keep them stuck in unhealthy diets.
For example, last week someone emailed me about a new article in the British tabloid The Telegraph. The headline: “High-fat cheese: the secret to a healthy life.” My first reaction is to look up the original study and explore its funding sources, methodology, data, and conclusions. And then look at how those conclusions may have been taken out of context or misinterpreted by the media. (Spoiler: the study was 100% funded by the dairy industry, as you can see from the screenshot below.)
Josh can do that kind of reductionist rebuttal as well as I can, but he prefers to stay out of the weeks and just talk in terms of common sense. So when Joe Rogan tweeted about a report that the sugar industry had influenced scientific studies on the dangers of saturated fat by proclaiming “China Study RIP,” Josh jumped in.
Joe argued: “There are certainly benefits to eating lots of plants. The question is are there also benefits to eating animals.”
Here's how Josh responded:
@joerogan @Drgarthdavis absolutely. It's called avoiding starvation. In excess of that, it's ignoring nature's brilliant protocol.
— Josh LaJaunie (@joshlajaunie) September 14, 2016
I wanted to talk with Josh about this concept: that simply by looking at nature with curiosity and humility, we can intuit how we should eat and move and live for optimal health and happiness.
So that's the conversation on this episode. A caution: Josh employs “salty” language, so keep the earbuds on if you're listening in the presence of the innocent 🙂
[powerpress]
We covered:
- reductionist science: enjoying the music rather than analyzing every note
- appreciating the brilliant self-sustainable protocol of nature
- “human animals are the only ones that f— it up”
- modern human culture is a “popcorn fart in the wind”
- the “quantity problem” of animal food consumption
- extrapolating the pointy stone at the end of a spear to CAFOs and heated box blinds with porn and beer
- hunting and fishing in the woods – a drive to understand one's relationship to the environment and its resources
- our reliable calories and nutrients: tubers and leafy greens
- how to get off track within the plant-based paradigm (nut butters, breads, pastas)
- on not judging hunters
- running and human survival
- overfeeding a deer on dead birds
- and much more…
Enjoy, add your voice to the conversation via the comment box below, and please share – that's how we spread our message and spread our roots.
Links
Josh on the Rich Roll Podcast, Part 1
Josh on the Rich Roll Podcast, Part 2
The “Cheese is Awesome” article
The “Cheese is Awesome” study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition – abstract only (in front of the paywall)
Support the Podcast
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Gratitudes
- Kim Harrison
- Lynn McLellan
- Anthony Dissen
- Brittany Porter
- Dominic Marro
- Elizabeth Clifton
- Barbara Whitney
- Tammy Black
- Amy Good
- Amanda Hatherly
- Mary Jane Wheeler
- Ellen Kennelly
- Melissa Cobb
- Rachel Behrens
- Christine Nielsen
- Tina Scharf
- Tina Ahern
- Jen Vilkinofsky
- David Byczek
- Michele X
- Elspeth Feldman
- Viktoriya Dolomanova
- Leah Stolar
- Allan Kristensen
- Colleen Peck
- Michele Holt
- Jozina
Announcements
This is my first double-header week – two episodes in a single week. The reason – I've got too many awesome interviews in the can, and I started feeling embarrassed about telling my guests that their episodes would air 10 weeks from now.
I'm a little nervous about doubling the output, particularly as that decision relates to a potential drop in income-producing hours. So I'd love to hear from you the listener about whether you value the twice-a-week schedule. (And especially if that feedback comes in the form of patronage, or supporting my work by hiring me as a coach or speaker.)
I can help you navigate the medical system and adopt a healthy lifestyle
I'm available for one-on-one consulting and coaching to help you navigate the medical system, make informed decisions, take control of your health destiny, and achieve true wellness and not just medical management of disease.
Ask your questions or share your feedback
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Music
The Plant Yourself Podcast theme music, “Dance of Peace (Sabali Don),” is generously provided by Will Ridenour, a kora player from North Carolina who has trained with top Senegalese musicians.
It can be found on his first CD, titled Will Ridenour.
You can learn about Will, listen to more tracks, and buy music on his website, WillRidenour.com.
Disclosure
This post may contain amazon affiliate links. I may receive amazon gift certificates from your actions on such links.
You CAN Change Other People!
Well, that's what Peter Bregman and I claim in our provocative book of that title.
What we really mean is, you can help the people around you make behavioral changes in their own best interests. If you think you're powerless to help people change, it's because you've been going about it the wrong way.
Discover our straightforward, replicable process here: You Can Change Other People.
Audiobook: Use the Weight to Lose the Weight
Listen to Josh LaJaunie and me narrate our latest audiobook, about how to start moving when you're obese.
It's $10, and Josh and I split it evenly 🙂
Tip Jar
This podcast is not underwritten by advertising, so I can experience complete editorial autonomy without worrying about pissing off the person paying the bills. Instead, I pay the bills, with your help. It's free for those who can't afford to pay, and supported by those who can. You can contribute to the growth and improvement of the podcast by clicking the “Support on Patreon” or “Donate” buttons on the right to help out.
Music
The Plant Yourself Podcast theme music, “Dance of Peace (Sabali Don),” is generously provided by Will Ridenour, a kora player from North Carolina who has trained with top Senegalese musicians.
It can be found on his first CD, titled Will Ridenour.
You can learn about Will, listen to more tracks, and buy music on his website, WillRidenour.com.
Gratitudes
Thanks to Plant Yourself podcast patrons – Kim Harrison – Lynn McLellan – Brittany Porter – Dominic Marro – Barbara Whitney – Tammy Black – Amy Good – Amanda Hatherly – Mary Jane Wheeler – Ellen Kennelly – Melissa Cobb – Rachel Behrens – Tina Scharf – Tina Ahern – Jen Vilkinofsky – David Byczek – Michele X – Elspeth Feldman – Leah Stolar – Allan Kristensen – Colleen Peck – Michele Landry – Jozina – Sara Durkacs – Kelly Cameron – Janet Selby – Claire Adams – Tom Fronczak – Jeannette Benham – Gila Lacerte – David Donohue – Blair Seibert – Doron Avizov – Gio and Carolyn Argentati – Jodi Friesner – Mischa Rosen – Michael Worobiec – AvIvA Lael – Alicia Lemus – Val Linnemann – Nick Harper – Bandana Chawla – Molly Levine – The Inscrutable Harry R – Susan Laverty the Panda Vegan – Craig Covic – Adam Scharf – Karen Bury – Heather Morgan – Nigel Davies – Marian Blum – Teresa Kopel – Julian Watkins – Brid O'Connell – Shannon Herschman – Linda Ayotte – Holm Hedegaard – Isa Tousignant – Connie Haneline – Erin Greer – Alicia Davis – Heather O'Connor – Carollynne Jensen – Sheri Orlekoski of Plant Powered for Health – Karen Smith – Scott Mirani – Karen and Joe Crabtree – Kirby Burton – Theresa Carrell – Kevin Macaulay – Elizabeth Rothschild – Ann Jesse – Sheryl Dwyer – Jenny Hazelton – Peter W Evans – Dennis Bird – Darby Kelly – Lori Fanney – Linnea Lundquist – Emily Iaconelli – Levi Wallach – Rosamonde McAtee – Dan Pokorney – Stephen Leinin – Patty DeMartino – Mike and Donna Kartz – Deanne Bishop – Bilberry Elf – Marjorie Lewis – Tricia Adams – Nancy Sheldon – Lindsey Bashore – Gunn Marit Hagen – Tracey Gulledge – Lara Hedin – Meg from Mamasezz – Stacey Stokes – Ben Savage – Michael K – David Hughes -Coni Rodgers – Claire England – Sally Robertson – Parham Ganchi – Amy Dailey – Brian Tourville – Mark Jeffrey Johnson – Josie Dempsey – Caryn Schmitt – Pamela Hayden – Emily Perryman – Allison Corbett – Richard Stone – Lauren Vaught of Edible Musings – Erin Hastey – Sean Owens – Sagar Naik – Erika Piedra – Danielle Roberts – Michael Leuchten – Sarah Johnson – Katharine Floyd – Meryl Fury – for your generous support of the podcast.
Disclosure
This post may contain amazon affiliate links. I may receive compensation from your actions on such links. It don't cost you a dime, tho.
Great podcast Howard and Josh!! Love it and I love and fully agree with Josh’s way of viewing this lifestyle. Simple. Basic. Healthy. Well done, both of you!
Amazing, amazing! The ideas developing here on PYP are echoing my process of the last 6 years since I first read The China Study and adopted WFPB. I Love Josh’s way of expressing the wholeness of the “protocol”.