The Plantwise Podcast with Brigitte Gemme

Brigitte Gemme
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Nutrition
  • Updated Biweekly

The Plantwise Podcast is all about evidence-based healthy lifestyle habits and the books that inspire them. Hosted with Brigitte Gemme, Ph.D., the show focuses on plant-based nutrition and the foundations of long-term well-being: exercise, sleep, stress management, community, and a positive mindset. We want to know how to prevent chronic disease and cognitive decline, so we can enjoy long, healthy, active, and meaningful lives.  The podcast features a mix of interviews with plant-friendly authors and solo episodes where Brigitte shares insight from the most important health books of our time.  What are they actually saying? What's the bigger pictures? How does it look like to live those ideas? Let's talk about it.  New episodes twice monthly. Follow the show and let great books improve your life!  Previously the Vegan Family Kitchen Podcast.  This podcast is the companion of the Plantwise Book Club: https://skool.com/plantwise/about/

  1. May 24

    How I stopped gaining weight in my 40s: boring habits that work for me

    I avoided talking about weight management for 10 years. I'm finally talking about it. Not because I had a dramatic transformation story to tell, I didn't lose 50 pounds, and I'm not selling anything. But because I'm a 48-year-old woman in perimenopause who has been intentional about weight maintenance for the past four years, and I've learned a few things worth sharing. In this video, I walk you through the 20 habits I actually use to stay at a healthy weight without dieting. They are about food, movement, and mindfulness.  Some of them are obvious. Some are tactical. One of them connects to spirituality, and it might be the most important one on the list. What I cover: 🚗 How our society is rigged against healthy weight 🥦🫘The whole-food, plant-based eating patterns that keep me satiated  ⚖️ Why I weigh myself every single morning — and why it's just data, not drama 👣 The movement habits that go way beyond the gym 🧘‍♀️ The mindfulness practice that puts space between impulse and action 💚 What I'm doing now to build a foundation before menopause changes the rules This is not a prescription. It's my honest experience as a healthy habit coach, plant-based nutrition educator, and real person navigating midlife with as much intention and as little guilt as possible. These habits are good for weight maintenance, but above all they are critical to keep chronic disease at bay.  Join us at Cooking Club - it's free! https://brigittegemme.com/cooking-club/ Mindful Eating Circle (free): https://brigittegemme.com/mindful-meal/ Take your Healthy Habit Snapshot: https://brigittegemme.com/#snapshot  0:00 — Why I avoided this topic for 10 years 1:30 — The bigger picture: why weight management is so hard 4:10 — My personal story: perimenopause and paying attention 7:30 — The 20 habits overview 7:45 — FOOD 16:15 — MOVEMENT 18:30 — MINDFULNESS & AWARENESS 23:00 — What it all comes down to

    24 min

  2. May 11

    How I lowered my LDL cholesterol naturally with food: small tweaks, real results

    On my 48th birthday, my mom reminded me that my grandmother died of a heart attack at the same age. That conversation sent me to review my cholesterol results... and changed what I put on my plate (a little bit). I already eat a plant-based diet, exercise regularly, and don't smoke. But new guidelines from the American College of Cardiologists have shifted the target for LDL cholesterol from 130 down to under 100 mg/dL. At 102 (in May 2025), I had work to do. So I made some small, deliberate additions to my diet. No meds, no overhaul, no yucky supplements! A retest just last week showed promising results. Here's what happened. ➡️ Join us to discuss Dr. Greger's Lower LDL Cholesterol Naturally with Food book: Kick-off event on June 25th (free): https://brigittegemme.com/lower-ldl-kick-off/ 📚 Plantwise Book Club: https://skool.com/plantwise 🧠 Download the Brain Health e-book: https://brigittegemme.com/brain-health-habits/ 🙌 Get support: https://brigittegemme.com/coaching/ 🍲 Learn more about the Healthy Vegan Cooking Club: https://brigittegemme.com/cooking-club/

    11 min

  3. Apr 26

    Dr. Greger on Changing His Mind, AI, and the Power of Defaults

    Dr. Michael Greger — physician, bestselling author of How Not to Die, and founder of NutritionFacts.org — joins the Plantwise Book Club crew for a live fireside chat focused on how he reads and writes.  In this conversation, we ask Dr. Greger how his team tracks thousands of new studies every day using PubMed alerts, a team of 100+ volunteers, and an increasing use of AI.  He shares how he actively seeks out evidence that challenges his own positions — and the times he's had to reverse course (including a heartbreaking breakup with his favorite fruit). We also cover: 🔬 How NutritionFacts.org is building an AI-powered "Ask Dr. Greger" tool using retrieval-augmented generation 🥦 The strongest argument against a plant-based diet (his answer might surprise you) 💪 How much protein you actually need — especially over 65 🏥 Why making healthy food the default choice is the most effective behavior change strategy 📚 His deep-work routine: treadmill research days, month-long project blocks, and a nine-hour interview day 🍠 How fans started bringing him sweet potatoes at book signings Dr. Greger donates all proceeds from his books to charity, takes no corporate sponsorships, runs no ads, and sells no supplements. 📖 Currently in the Plantwise Book Club, we are doing a deep dive into How Not to Die. Join us: https://brigittegemme.com/plantwise-book-club/ 🌐 NutritionFacts.org for free, science-based nutrition information https://nutritionfacts.org 🎙️ Subscribe to the Plantwise Podcast for more conversations at the intersection of plant-based nutrition, evidence, and real life. #PlantBased #NutritionFacts #MichaelGreger #HowNotToDie #PlantwisePodcast #WFPB #PlantBasedNutrition #EvidenceBased

    31 min

  4. Apr 13

    Dr. Klaper: the HAPPIEST doctor... thanks to PLANTS!

    Dr. Michael Klaper was raised on a dairy farm, became a physician in 1972, and spent his first decade in medicine watching his patients get sicker. Then, he connected the dots: it's the food, doc! For the past 40+ years, he has been one of the most beloved voices in plant-based medicine, reversing high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, autoimmune disease, and more thanks to the whole plant food diet.  In 2017, he founded his not-for-profit Moving Medicine Forward to (finally!) bring nutrition education to medical schools across North America. He just published his book by the same name, and it's FANTASTIC! In this conversation we talk about:  The "toxic red tide" of molecules that flood your bloodstream every time you have a cheeseburger Why most doctors know next to nothing about nutrition (and what that costs their patients) What it takes to change someone's diet in a clinical setting Whether the medical system can be redeemed And why Dr. Klaper is the happiest of doctors! Whether you are in the medical system as a patient or as a health professional, you'll LOVE this episode.  Support Dr. Klaper's work by donating at http://movingmedforward.org/ Get your copy of Moving Medicine Forward: https://bookshop.org/a/114636/9781637748268 (while supporting the Plantwise Podcast at no extra cost to you!) --  Love this conversation? You'll be right at home in the Plantwise Book Club. Learn more here: https://brigittegemme.com/plantwise-book-club/

    59 min

  5. Mar 30

    Leo Babauta on the EMOTIONS behind our HABITS

    What if the real reason why we can't change our habits has nothing to do with willpower? Leo Babauta, creator of Zen Habits and one of the original voices on mindfulness and simplicity on the Internet, joins the Plantwise Book Club crew for a conversation that goes deep. We talk about the emotions hiding underneath our food choices, why "should" never works, and what happens when we stop running from discomfort and just… sit with it. Plus, Leo shares how he went from overweight, in debt, and smoking to running marathons, going vegan, and building a life aligned with his values. The real shift? Love. This starts with "pick a tiny habit and go from there" and goes much deeper. Recorded live as a fireside chat with the Plantwise Book Club during our deep dive into Leo's book Essential Zen Habits. 🔗 Leo's blog: http://zenhabits.net ✍️ Leo's new book-in-progress: http://zenofdoing.substack.com 📖 Leo's book Essential Zen Habits which was the Plantwise book of the month in February 2026: https://bookshop.org/a/114636/9781434105257 💚 Join the Plantwise Book Club: https://skool.com/plantwise/about/

    1h 3m

  6. Mar 16

    Javant Benton's HEALTHY VEGAN recipes come from JOY and empathy

    Javant Benton's healthy journey started when a possibly lymphoma diagnosis shook him to his core. Pre-diabetes and high blood pressure ran in his family but he wasn't prepared for cancer. This health scare set him on a path of discovery that led to losing 80 pounds, reversing his chronic disease signs, and falling in love with whole food plant-based cooking. His Instagram is super inspiring! https://instagram.com/healthyveganeating/ and you can also follow him here on YouTube: http://youtube.com/@healthyveganeating Everything he does is oil free, refined-sugar free, and wheat free... and it all looks AMAZING!  Javant's first cookbook, Make Your Own, is just coming out on March 17th, 2026, and it's a MUST HAVE! I hardly ever endorse cookbooks but I love everything about how Javant creates delightful meals from whole plant foods, and I know my Plantwise people are going to love it too.  📚 Get Javant's first cookbook, Make Your Own, from Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/114636/9780306836695  Your purchase using this link will support the Plantwise Book Club, at no extra cost to you.  Also available in all bookstores. This podcast is brought to you by the Plantwise Book Club: a welcoming community of curious people who want to learn from the top sources about plant-based nutrition *and* put what they learn into practice in their everyday lives. Learn more and join us here: https://skool.com/plantwise/about/

    36 min
  7. Victoria Moran on vegan aging, spirituality, and the urge to write books

    Mar 2

    Victoria Moran on vegan aging, spirituality, and the urge to write books

    Welcome to the first episode of the Plantwise Podcast! Host Brigitte Gemme sits down with legendary vegan advocate Victoria Moran, a 2024 Vegan Hall of Fame inductee, author of 14 books, and founder of Main Street Vegan Academy. In this wide-ranging conversation, Victoria shares: Why she'd be vegan even if it wasn't good for her health What it's like to age publicly as a vegan at 75 Her perspective on mortality ("We're all holograms passing through") The spiritual roots of veganism most people don't know about Her Ayurveda-inspired daily routine What's next for Main Street Vegan Academy The book she hopes to write next Whether you've followed Victoria for years or you're just discovering her work, this episode is a masterclass in living with purpose, compassion, and good sense. Mentioned in this episode: Plantwise Book Club https://brigittegemme.com/plantwise-book-club/ Creating a Charmed Life by Victoria Moran https://bookshop.org/a/114636/9780062515803 Main Street Vegan by Victoria Moran https://amzn.to/4r0yQsf Age Like a Yogi by Victoria Moran https://bookshop.org/a/114636/9781958972595 Main Street Vegan Academy https://mainstreetvegan.com/ Healthy Vegan Cooking Club https://veganfamilykitchen.com/cooking-club/ The Compassion Consortium https://www.compassionconsortium.org/ Join the Plantwise Book Club to go deeper and go from knowledge to healthy habits! Learn more: https://brigittegemme.com/plantwise-book-club/

    1h 5m

  8. Feb 20

    Welcome to the Plantwise Podcast - A fresh start with Brigitte Gemme

    Hi, it's Brigitte! After a year-long hiatus, I am back to the podcast microphone and eager to bring you deep conversations with some of the most inspiring and thought-provoking authors and creators from the plant-based world.  The Vegan Family Kitchen Podcast is now the Plantwise Podcast, reflecting my channel's shift from vegan cooking education to a broader focus on lifestyle habits that foster healthy, long, and meaningful lives.  Make sure to subscribe to catch my upcoming conversations with: Victoria Moran, vegan Hall of Famer and author of 14 books including Age Like a Yogi Javant Benton, creator of Healthy Vegan Eating and author of Make Your Own! Leo Babauta, creator of Zen Habits Dr. Michael Greger of NutritionFacts.org Dr. Michael Klaper and more! The Plantwise Podcast is the companion of the Plantwise Book Club, a welcoming community of plant-based people who want to turn knowledge into healthier daily habits. If you've been meaning to less time scrolling on social media and more time reading books that matters, it's the group for you!  Learn more about the Plantwise Book Club: https://brigittegemme.com/plantwise-book-club/.

    4 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

The Plantwise Podcast is all about evidence-based healthy lifestyle habits and the books that inspire them. Hosted with Brigitte Gemme, Ph.D., the show focuses on plant-based nutrition and the foundations of long-term well-being: exercise, sleep, stress management, community, and a positive mindset. We want to know how to prevent chronic disease and cognitive decline, so we can enjoy long, healthy, active, and meaningful lives.  The podcast features a mix of interviews with plant-friendly authors and solo episodes where Brigitte shares insight from the most important health books of our time.  What are they actually saying? What's the bigger pictures? How does it look like to live those ideas? Let's talk about it.  New episodes twice monthly. Follow the show and let great books improve your life!  Previously the Vegan Family Kitchen Podcast.  This podcast is the companion of the Plantwise Book Club: https://skool.com/plantwise/about/

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