Podcast
NHA Today Podcast
Hosted by National Health Association · EN
The NHA Health Science Podcast, hosted by Dr. Stephan Esser, explores the science and real-world application of whole food, plant-based living. Through expert interviews and practical conversations, the show brings clarity to today’s most important health topics - helping you prevent disease, improve well-being, and take control of your health.
Learn more at: healthscience.org/podcast
35episodes
Episodes
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What Regenerative Farming Taught Jason DeSalvo About Food, Health and Grains | NHA Today
Yesterday00:33:05Tap to summarizeIn their mid-fifties, Jason and Deborah DeSalvo left suburban life behind, bought a 43-acre farm in New Jersey, and started growing their own food. They also went completely WFPB SOS-free. Neither of them had ever farmed before.In this episode of NHA Today, Dr. Stephan Esser sits down with Jason DeSalvo, co-owner of Cold Brook Farm - a regenerative certified organic farm in Western New Jersey whose grains have been selected by culinary luminary Dan Barber and served at Michelin-starred restaurants. Jason shares what six years of regenerative farming has taught him about soil, food, health, and the surprising truth about grains.Jason and Deborah will be presenting Whole Grains: Myths vs. Reality at the NHA Annual Conference, June 25 to 28, 2026 - a full hour deep dive into the science and the story behind the grain they grow.In this conversation you will learn:What regenerative farming actually means and how Jason took dead soil to 11% organic material in six yearsWhy healthy soil produces more nutritious food and why you can taste the differenceThe truth about grains: why ancient and heirloom varieties are nothing like modern wheatWhy hulless oats from a small farm taste completely different from what is in the storeHow grains at 13 to 14% protein challenge the where-do-you-get-your-protein questionHow Jason and Deb went WFPB SOS-free in their mid-fifties -- and what changed3 to 4 tips for growing your own food even if you only have an apartment balconyWhy nature is the seventh pillar of lifestyle medicine────────────────────────────────────────ABOUT JASON DESALVO────────────────────────────────────────Jason DeSalvo and his wife Deborah run Cold Brook Farm, a regenerative certified organic farm in Western New Jersey. Their grains have been selected by Dan Barber and served at Michelin starred restaurants. They converted to a WFPB SOS-free lifestyle in 2022 under the care of Dr. Ron Weiss of Ethos Primary Care and now manage nearly 120 acres of organically grown grains. They will be speaking on Whole Grains: Myths vs. Reality at the NHA Annual Conference, June 25 to 28, 2026.────────────────────────────────────────LINKS AND RESOURCES────────────────────────────────────────Full episode and show notes:NHA Today on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgXfvjZj34HbsD3-47eEC2kjBWeIvNhHlSubscribe: https://www.healthscience.org/podcast/NHA Annual Conference (June 25 to 28, 2026): https://checkout.healthscience.org/2026-nha-conferenceCold Brook Farm website: https://www.coldbrookfarmnj.comCold Brook Farm on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coldbrookfarm/Follow Dr. Esser on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/esserhealth/
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Chuck Carroll: How He Lost 200 Pounds and Never Looked Back | NHA Today
1w ago00:27:54Tap to summarizeAt 420 pounds, Chuck Carroll could barely walk across the street. Today he is one of the most recognized plant-based advocates in the country and host of one of the most popular health podcasts in the world. This is how he got there.In this episode of NHA Today, Dr. Stephan Esser sits down with Chuck Carroll, host of The Exam Room podcast for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, weight loss champion, and NHA conference moderator, for an honest, warm, and practical conversation about plant-based weight loss, breaking through plateaus, the engineered addictiveness of fast food, and what it actually takes to never give up on yourself.Chuck's personal story is remarkable. He lost over 200 pounds through diet and lifestyle change, walked 5 miles every lunch break in any weather, and has not been through a fast food drive-through in 16 years. But this episode is less about the number on the scale and more about the mindset, the systems, and the community that make transformation stick.In this conversation you will learn:• The 3 tangible tips for getting unstuck on your weight loss journey• Why the scale not moving does not mean you are not getting healthier• How sugar, fat, and salt are engineered to be as addictive as crack cocaine• Why Chuck believes 95% of people can see results without any additional intervention• How to build movement into your workday so you do not have to drag yourself to the gym• What to pack for travel so you never have to compromise your eating on the road• Chuck's 4 reasons for staying plant-based -- and the one he never expected• Why people who give you a hard time about eating plants will eventually come around• What Chuck is bringing to the NHA Annual Conference as panel moderator this June────────────────────────────────────────ABOUT CHUCK CARROLL────────────────────────────────────────Chuck Carroll is the host of The Exam Room podcast for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) and one of the most recognized plant-based advocates in the country. Known as the Weight Loss Champion, a name given to him by NFL players who witnessed his transformation, Chuck lost over 200 pounds through plant-based nutrition and has spent the years since helping others do the same. He will be moderating panels at the NHA Annual Conference, June 25 to 28, 2026.────────────────────────────────────────LINKS AND RESOURCES────────────────────────────────────────Full episode and show notes:NHA Today on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgXfvjZj34HbsD3-47eEC2kjBWeIvNhHl Subscribe: https://www.healthscience.org/podcast/NHA Annual Conference (June 25 to 28, 2026): https://checkout.healthscience.org/2026-nha-conferenceChuck's website: https://chuckcarroll.comFollow Dr. Esser on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/esserhealth/
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Dr. Columbus Batiste: Why Moderation Kills and What to Do Instead | NHA Today
2w ago00:34:33Tap to summarizeMost people use moderation as a reason to keep doing what they are doing. Dr. Columbus Batiste says that is exactly the mindset that can have lasting health implications. In this episode of NHA Today, Dr. Stephan Esser sits down with Dr. Columbus Batiste, board-certified interventional cardiologist, author, and co-founder of Healthy Heart Nation. Known as the Healthy Heart Doc, Dr. Batiste has spent his career doing what most cardiologists do not: asking patients not just what they eat, but what they eat for their health - and then building a plan around what they actually want. His personal story is the backbone of this conversation. His father was health-conscious, ran a health food store, and juiced long before it was fashionable - but also loved sodasand sweets in moderation. He died from the effects of diabetes. Reading Caldwell Esselstyn's chapter titled Moderation Kills changed the course of Dr. Batiste's career. In this conversation you will learn:• Why moderation is a justification we only apply to things we know we should not be doing• The three most heart-protective food groups and why they work at the cellular level• How to talk to patients (or yourself) about food in a way that actually creates change• The SELFISH acronym: seven pillars of heart health from spirituality to humor• Why 80% of health outcomes happen outside the doctor's office• The role of stress, presence, and relationships in cardiovascular disease• Dr. Batiste's take on AI in medicine and what an elderly patient said that stopped him cold• What he is bringing to the NHA Annual Conference this June ---ABOUT DR. COLUMBUS BATISTE---Columbus Batiste, MD is a board-certified interventional cardiologist, co-founder of Healthy Heart Nation, and author of Selfish: A Cardiologist's Guide to Curing a Stressed and Broken Heart. He is the Regional Chief of Cardiology for Southern California Permanente Medical Group and a celebrity media contributor featured in documentaries, articles, and podcasts worldwide. He will be speaking at the NHA Annual Conference, June 25 to 28, 2026. ---LINKS AND RESOURCES---Full episode and show notes: Subscribe: https://www.healthscience.org/podcast/NHA Annual Conference (June 25 to 28, 2026): https://checkout.healthscience.org/2026-nha-conferenceDr. Batiste's website: https://drbatiste.comFollow Dr. Batiste on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/healthyheartdoc/Dr. Batiste on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drbatiste/Book - Selfish: A Cardiologist's Guide: [add purchase link]Follow Dr. Esser on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/esserhealth/
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Water Fasting Benefits, Safety, and Science with Dr. Alan Goldhamer | NHA Today
3w ago00:23:05Tap to summarizeCan water fasting really reverse chronic disease? And is it safe to do?In this episode of NHA Today, Dr. Esser sits down with the person best qualified to answer those questions: Dr. Alan Goldhamer, founder of TrueNorth Health Center and theworld's foremost expert on water-only fasting.Over 42 years and more than 25,000 fasting patients, Dr. Goldhamer has done more to document the safety and efficacy of medically supervised water fasting than anyone alive. His research has been published in peer-reviewed journals and his team is now preparing a landmark 3,000-person study to track health outcomes across a lifetime.In this conversation, Dr. Goldhamer explains:• What water fasting is and how it differs from other types of fasting• Which conditions respond best to medically supervised water fasting• The real risks of fasting - and how TrueNorth manages them safely• Why refeeding after a fast is just as important as the fast itself• Who is and is not a good candidate for water fasting• How to access TrueNorth health coaching remotely without traveling to the facility• Why salt, oil, and sugar hijack the brain's satiety system• The Navigator Study: a 3,000-person lifetime health tracking project• What Dr. Goldhamer is presenting at the NHA Conference this June---ABOUT DR. ALAN GOLDHAMER---Dr. Alan Goldhamer is a doctor of chiropractic and the founder of TrueNorth Health Center in Santa Rosa, California. He has supervised more than 25,000 fasting patients over 42 years and has published 24 papers in peer-reviewed journals on fasting and lifestyle medicine. He is the author of The Pleasure Trap and co-author of Can Fasting Save Your Life?He will be presenting new research on health span at the NHA Annual Conference, June 25 to 28, 2026.---LINKS AND RESOURCES---Full episode and show notes: NHA Today on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgXfvjZj34HbsD3-47eEC2kjBWeIvNhHlSubscribe: https://www.healthscience.org/podcast/NHA True North Community (water fasting + plant-based living): https://membership.healthscience.org/join-membership?_ga=2.196155116.1397875101.1780330419-1283726110.1775770362NHA Annual Conference (June 25 to 28, 2026): https://checkout.healthscience.org/2026-nha-conferenceTrueNorth Health Center: https://www.truenorthhealth.comBooks:The Pleasure Trap: https://www.healthpromoting.com/store/book/pleasure-trap?v=9Can Fasting Save Your Life?: https://www.healthpromoting.com/store/book/can-fasting-save-your-lifeFollow Dr. Esser on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/esserhealth/
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Dr. Joel Fuhrman: You're 90% There - Here's What's Missing | NHA Today
4w ago00:28:47Tap to summarizeMost health-conscious people are doing most things right. So why aren't the results matching the effort?Dr. Joel Fuhrman has spent more than 30 years answering that question and in this episode he brings his full perspective to the NHA Today audience.Dr. Fuhrman is a board-certified family physician, creator of the Nutritarian diet, and author of 12 books - seven of them New York Times bestsellers, including Eat to Live, the book that has introduced millions of people to the science of nutrient-dense eating.He is also a longtime friend, mentor, and advocate of the NHA, and a speaker at the NHA Annual Conference, June 25 to 28, 2026.In this conversation with Dr. Stephan Esser, Dr. Fuhrman covers his personal origin story, the science behind his H=N/C equation, why the last 10% of commitment makes all the difference, and what he is building at his Longevity RX clinic in San Diego.In this conversation you will learn:• The H=N/C equation - why health equals nutrients over calories and what that means day to day• Why diversity and nutrient density both matter, and why eating only kale will not cut it• How body fat produces inflammation and fuels cancer risk• Why Dr. Fuhrman went to medical school specifically to be an anti-medicine doctor• His elite figure skating career and how a fasting-based injury recovery changed his life• The three foods that naturally suppress appetite better than any GLP-1 drug• Why the last 10% of commitment produces disproportionate results• What is inside the Longevity RX clinic and the regenerative technology they are using• Which of his 12 books he recommends every viewer read right now---ABOUT DR. JOEL FUHRMAN---Dr. Joel Fuhrman is a board-certified family physician, nutritional researcher, and creator of the Nutritarian diet. He is the author of 12 books - seven New York Times bestsellers -- including Eat to Live and Eat for Life. He has dedicated more than 30 years to preventing and reversing disease through nutrition and has been a central figure in the natural hygiene and plant-based medicine movement for decades. He will be speaking at the NHA AnnualConference, June 25 to 28, 2026.---LINKS AND RESOURCES---Full episode and show notes: NHA Today on YouTubeSubscribe on your favorite platform: https://www.healthscience.org/podcast/NHA Annual Conference (June 25 to 28, 2026): https://checkout.healthscience.org/2026-nha-conferenceDr. Fuhrman's website: https://www.drfuhrman.comLongevity RX clinic: https://www.drlongevityrx.comDr. Fuhrman on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/drfuhrmanDr. Fuhrman on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joelfuhrmanmd/Dr. Fuhrman on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drfuhrman/Follow Dr. Esser on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/esserhealth/
Transcribe →How Diet and Lifestyle Can Prevent and Fight Breast Cancer With Dr. Kristi Funk | NHA Today
May 2000:23:27Tap to summarizeEvery time you chew and swallow, you are unleashing biochemical weapons inside your body that are either pushing you toward cancer or away. The choice of which direction is largely yours.That is the message Dr. Kristi Funk has been delivering to women for years - and in this episode she brings it directly to the NHA Today audience.Dr. Funk is a board-certified breast cancer surgeon, bestselling author of BREASTS: The Owner's Manual, and a women's health expert known to millions from Good Morning America and The Doctors. She is also a keynote speaker at the NHA Annual Conference, June 25 to 28, 2026.In this conversation with Dr. Stephan Esser, she shares the science and the story behind her own transformation from a Mediterranean meat-eater to a 100% plant-based physician - and what that shift taught her about what she should have been telling her patients all along.In this conversation you will learn:The nine daily choices that affect nine processes in your body, pushing you toward cancer or awayWhy Dr. Funk went fully plant-based in a single day after reading the science for her bookThe real numbers on alcohol and breast cancer risk (they are higher than you think)Why sleep may be the most overlooked lifestyle factor in fighting cancerWhat to look for in your personal care products, cookware, and water supplyHow to go from a C to a B+ on your anti-cancer report card without overhauling your whole lifeWhat the BCAC framework means and why it matters before, during, and after a diagnosis---LINKS & RESOURCES---Full episode and show notes:NHA Today on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgXfvjZj34HbsD3-47eEC2kjBWeIvNhHlSubscribe on your favorite platform: https://www.healthscience.org/podcast/NHA Annual Conference (June 25 to 28, 2026): https://checkout.healthscience.org/2026-nha-conferencePink Lotus website: https://pinklotus.comMake an appointment or telehealth: https://pinklotus.com/care or 833-800-7522BREASTS: The Owner's Manual: https://pinklotus.com/elements/breasts-the-owners-manual-by-dr-kristi-funk/Pink Lotus Power Up community:Breast Buddies: https://pinklotus.com/powerup/breastbuddies/Cancer-Kicking Kitchen: https://pinklotus.com/powerup/cancerkicking/kitchenFollow Dr. Funk on Instagram and X: @drkristifunkFollow Dr. Esser on Instagram: @esserhealth
Transcribe →3 Skills Everyone Needs to Make Healthy Living Last, with Luanne Spiros | NHA Today
May 1200:24:34Tap to summarizeMost people know what they should do to be healthier. So why is it so hard to actually do it?In this episode of NHA Today, Dr. Stephan Esser sits down with Luanne Spiros, a Yoga Alliance E-RYT 200, ACSM Cancer Exercise Specialist, master beekeeper, and behavioral change expert who has spent her career helping people build healthy habits that actually last.This conversation cuts through the generic advice and gets into the real mechanics of change. Why is movement easier to start with than nutrition? What makes the social environment so powerful? And what three skills does everyone need to make healthy living stick for life?You will also hear about her work in oncology yoga and what she will be leading at the NHA Annual Conference in June.In this conversation, you will learn:Why movement tends to be the better entry point than nutrition for most peopleThe three S's: social, skills, and setting -- and why they make or break healthy livingThree skills everyone needs to build lasting health habitsWhy reward beats fear as a long-term motivator (and what the research says)The hardest parts of going plant-based and how to plan around themHow to build exercise into your life so it stops feeling like something to bolt onWhat oncology yoga is and how it gives cancer patients agency and hopeHow to handle a partner or household that isn't on the same pageBook recommendations from this episode: Atomic Habits by James Clear, Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg, Willpower by Roy Baumeister.---LINKS AND RESOURCES---Full episode and show notes:NHA Today on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgXfvjZj34HbsD3-47eEC2kjBWeIvNhHlSubscribe on your favorite platform: https://www.healthscience.org/podcast/NHA Annual Conference (June 25 to 28): https://checkout.healthscience.org/2026-nha-conferenceFollow Dr. Esser: https://www.instagram.com/esserhealth/ ---About NHA Today: The National Health Association has championed the science of true health for over 75 years. NHA Today brings that legacy into your weekly routine with honest, evidence-based conversations to help you live your most vital life.
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Robyn Denning: From Autoimmune Diagnoses to Vital Health Through Food, Movement & Yoga | NHA Today
May 600:22:25Tap to summarizeWhat if one dietary change could unlock fertility, reverse autoimmune disease, and transform every area of your health — when conventional medicine said it wasn’t possible?That’s exactly what happened to Robyn Denning.In this episode of NHA Today, Dr. Stephan Esser sits down with Robyn Denning — yoga instructor, health coach, and NHA conference speaker — to trace her remarkable journey from a life fueled by Diet Coke and little sleep, through three miscarriages, celiac disease, Hashimoto’s, and an MS diagnosis, to a place of vibrant health — without medication.Robyn’s story isn’t just inspiring. It’s a practical map for anyone navigating chronic illness, struggling to build sustainable movement habits, or simply trying to stay consistent when they no longer feel urgently unwell.In this conversation, you’ll discover:→ How eliminating gluten resolved three years of unexplained fertility challenges→ The dietary shift that undiagnosed Robyn’s MS within six months→ Why the maintenance phase is often harder than the healing phase→ How to build a movement practice that actually sticks — even if you’ve tried and failed→ The yoga philosophy of ‘using poses to get into the body’ — and why it changes everything→ The role of gratitude in sustaining long-term health changes ──────────────────────────🎤 ABOUT ROBYN DENNING──────────────────────────Robyn Denning is a yoga instructor, health coach, and wellness educator whose personal health journey, including overcoming celiac disease, Hashimoto’s, and MS through diet and lifestyle. now informs the way she teaches and coaches others. She will be leading yoga sessions and sharing her story at the NHA Annual Conference, June 25–28, 2026. ──────────────────────────🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES──────────────────────────• NHA Today on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nationalhealthassociation/podcasts• Subscribe on your favorite platform: https://www.healthscience.org/podcast/• NHA Annual Conference (June 25–28): healthscience.org/2026-nha-conference• Follow Dr. Esser: https://www.instagram.com/esserhealth/ ──────────────────────────About NHA Today: The National Health Association has championed the science of true health for over 75 years. NHA Today brings that legacy into your weekly routine — with honest, evidence-based conversations to help you live your most vital life.
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Meet Dr. Stephan Esser: A New Era for NHA Today & The Science of True Health
Apr 2800:08:54Tap to summarizeWelcome to Season 2 of the NHA Today podcast.Dr. Stephan Esser officially steps in as the new host of NHA Today - bringing a powerful legacy, a fresh perspective, and a clear vision for the future of health.A fourth-generation plant-based advocate, Dr. Esser shares the deeply personal story that shaped his path from growing up at his grandfather’s health retreat, founded by NHA pioneer Dr. William L. Esser, to witnessing firsthand the transformative power of lifestyle medicine.In this introductory episode, he outlines what listeners can expect from the show moving forward: science-based, practical, and honest conversations about what actually creates lasting health.Together, we’ll explore:The foundational principles of whole-person healthWhy lifestyle (not products) drives long-term wellnessHow to cut through misinformation and take control of your healthWhat it means to become the “CEO of your own health”This episode sets the tone for a new chapter of NHA Today focused on clarity, empowerment, and real, sustainable results.🎧 Tune in and discover how simple, science-backed choices can help you reclaim your health and vitality.
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Mitochondrial Health Part 2: Why Antioxidants, Plant Diversity & Nitric Oxide Matter with Dr. Cyrus Khambatta | Ep.166
Apr 701:04:58Tap to summarizeWhat role do antioxidants, nitric oxide, and plant diversity play in optimizing your health? In Part 2 of this powerful conversation, guest host Kylie Buckner, RN, sits down with her husband, Cyrus Khambatta, PhD, to continue their deep dive into mitochondrial health and plant-based nutrition. Together, they explore how antioxidant-rich foods, polyphenols, and nitrate-dense vegetables directly support energy production, cardiovascular health, and long-term wellness. As a plant-based family raising a daughter together—alongside two rescue cats from their time living in Costa Rica—Kylie and Cyrus bring both clinical expertise and real-life application to this conversation. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why fruit is not the enemy and how it supports metabolic health • The critical role of antioxidants and polyphenols in reducing oxidative stress • How eating a diverse range of plant foods strengthens cellular function • Why nitrate-rich vegetables (like spinach, beets, and celery) support nitric oxide production • How nitric oxide improves blood flow, exercise performance, and recovery • Simple ways to incorporate these foods into your daily routine 🔗 Links & Resources Cyrus Khambatta, PhD & Kylie Buckner, RN Website: https://www.evolution-health.co National Health Association https://www.healthscience.org
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