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
31episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Dr. Joel Fuhrman: You're 90% There - Here's What's Missing | NHA Today
3d 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
2w ago00:23:27Tap 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
3w ago00:24:34Tap 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
4w ago00:22:25Tap 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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Gut Health, IBS & Root-Cause Healing with Dahlia Marin, RDN | Ep. 165
Apr 100:46:29Tap to summarizeWhat if your gut symptoms weren't random—but signals pointing to a deeper root cause? In this episode of NHA Today, guest host Kylie Buckner, RN sits down with Dahlia Marin, RDN, a Registered Dietitian and Certified Gastrointestinal Nutritionist, to explore a functional, root-cause approach to gut health. Dahlia specializes in complex digestive conditions like SIBO, IBS, and gut dysbiosis, combining clinical experience with her own personal healing journey. Together, Kylie and Dahlia unpack why so many people remain misdiagnosed, overlooked, or stuck in symptom management cycles—and what it really takes to heal. They dive into the often-missed contributors to gut dysfunction, the importance of a full health timeline, and how nutrition—especially a plant-based, microbiome-focused approach—can support lasting gut repair. This conversation is honest, practical, and empowering for anyone navigating digestive issues or looking to better understand their body. In this episode you'll learn: • Why gut issues are often misdiagnosed or misunderstood • The root causes behind IBS, SIBO, and gut imbalances • How life events, stress, and diet shape gut health over time • The role of prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics • How a plant-based approach can support gut healing • Why a personalized, whole-person intake is essential Links & Resources Dahlia Marin / Married to Health Website: https://www.marriedtohealth.com Program: https://www.marriedtohealth.com/good-gut-sibo-ibs-program Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marriedtohealth/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Marriedtohealth National Health Association https://www.healthscience.org
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Plant-Based Metabolic Health: Mitochondria, Inflammation & Energy with Dr. Cyrus Khambatta | Ep.164
Mar 2500:55:13Tap to summarize-
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The Art of Living Well: Mindful Cooking, Sensory Joy & Whole-Food Plant-Based Living with Stefanie Dougherty | Ep. 163
Mar 1700:47:51Tap to summarizeWhat if your kitchen could become your sanctuary? In Episode 163 of NHA Today, guest host Kylie Buckner, RN sits down with whole-food plant-based chef and educator Stefanie Dougherty of Green Sage Life to explore how cooking can become a mindful, creative, and deeply nourishing ritual. Together they discuss: How plant-based cooking can shift from "chore" to creative joy Why engaging your senses reduces stress and builds mindfulness The powerful antioxidant role of herbs and spices How global spice blends transform simple meals Why beauty and nourishment go hand-in-hand The difference between "wellness rules" and the art of living well Stefanie shares practical kitchen tips, from sharpening your knife to layering flavors and reminds us that health is not just science. It's art. It's ritual. It's presence. This episode is an invitation to slow down, curate what you consume, and rediscover joy in your everyday meals. Links & Resources National Health Association (NHA): https://www.healthscience.org 🌿 Stefanie Dougherty – Green Sage Life Website: https://www.greensagelife.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greensagelife/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@greensagelife 🌿 Kylie BucknerWebsite: https://www.evolution-health.co Green Glow Lifestyle Podcast 🎧 More NHA Today episodes:https://www.healthscience.org/podcast
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How to Read Food Labels Like a Dietitian (And Outsmart the Grocery Store) with Cassandra Sampson | Ep. 162
Mar 1000:44:39Tap to summarizeThe grocery store can feel overwhelming and that's not accidental. In Episode 162 of NHA Today, guest host Kylie Buckner, RN, sits down with registered dietitian Cassandra Sampson to break down how to read food labels, avoid marketing traps, and become an empowered consumer. From the "health halo" effect to hidden added sugars and labeling loopholes, this episode gives listeners practical, real-world tools they can use immediately in the grocery aisle. If you've ever wondered: Is "plant-based" automatically healthy? What does "0g trans fat" really mean? How do I know if a packaged food is minimally processed? This conversation is for you. In this episode, you'll learn: Why the front of the package is marketing and the back is truth The FDA labeling loophole around "0 grams" claims The 5:1 carbohydrate-to-fiber rule How fiber and protein work together in whole plant foods What "clothe the carb" means for blood sugar stability How marketing influences grocery store behavior NHA Today is the official podcast of the National Health Association, dedicated to evidence-based, healthful living. Links & Resources National Health Association (NHA): https://www.healthscience.org Cassandra Sampson, RD: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nutrition_nibbles_dietitian Website: https://cassandragolden.com Kylie Buckner: Green Glow Lifestyle Podcast 🎧 More NHA Today episodes: https://www.healthscience.org/podcast
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