The John Vincent Podcast

John Vincent

Hello, this is John Vincent and welcome to The John Vincent Podcast, where we explore ancient healing and modern medicine. It’s all about the best ways – both old and new - to help people (both old and new) to enjoy naturally healthy lives. We will be looking at the things that modern medicine suggests we should be doing, the things that ancient healing traditions have been doing for a long time, and at the exciting hypotheses from emerging science.   Good health has fascinated me ever since I started and built a business called LEON. We began by asking the question “Why can’t fast food be good food?” Spoiler alert: It can. Now I want to explore health in all its dimensions. We’ll look at the smallest of details, whilst never losing sight of the bigger picture- the picture that shows how all moving components work together to create a whole. And how politics, economics and profit incentives can sometimes derail that harmony.  Founding Leon has given me have access to the world’s leading doctors, scientists, nutritionists, healers and practitioners of indigenous wisdom. What they’ve told me has often blown my mind.  But it’s also improved my mind, my body and my life.  I’m going to share all this with you and speak to these experts so that they can share what they know with you too. They have a lot of stories to tell. There is magic in science. And every new answer invites many new questions and possibilities. We will explore these, whilst also doing our best to pin down what we currently know about the things we should be DOING – the action we should be taking to keep us well and help ourselves to heal when we need to. As the old saying goes, the only wealth is health. Not just physical well-being, but the harmony of body, mind, spirit, and emotion. We’ll explore what it means to be healthy - and how we can best enjoy the full potential of the human experience.  You know what kind of life you want to live. Whatever it is, I want to bring you the wisdom and knowledge of good people who’ll help you do that. I’m excited to have fun doing it, too.  At LEON, we made great food accessible to everyone. I’m now going to do the same with good health—helping as many people as possible, regardless of circumstances. Whether you’re a billionaire or on a tight budget, you deserve this opportunity and I’ll make sure you get it. (The information provided in this podcast is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The views expressed by guests are their own. We strongly advise that you contact a registered and experienced healthcare professional if you have any health concerns.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. Sep 8

    Jonathan Ramalho: Ayahuasca, Psychosis and Rebuilding Your Mental Health

    What happens when a psychedelic experience intended to unlock human potential leads to psychosis, psychiatric hospitalisation and a complete loss of trust in your own mind? Jonathan Ramalho joins John Vincent to share the extraordinary story behind Beyond The Pill, his exploration of mental health, psychedelics, human potential and recovery. After years exploring human potential, mental health and psychedelics, Jonathan travelled to Guatemala for an ayahuasca retreat. What began as a blissful out of body experience developed into paranoia, frightening hallucinations and what Western medicine would later describe as drug induced psychosis. Jonathan describes being locked away by the shaman, his family arranging for his sister and her partner to rescue him, returning to London while still feeling unsafe in his mind and body, and eventually spending time in psychiatric care. The conversation explores his experience with antipsychotic medication, his refusal to define himself through a schizophrenia label, and the practices he believes helped him rebuild his life. Sleep, real food, movement, introspection, nature, hope, personal responsibility and supportive community became central to his recovery. In this episode you'll learn: ◼ How Jonathan’s search for human potential led him from filmmaking and entrepreneurship into researching mental health and psychedelics ◼ What happened during his ayahuasca retreat in Guatemala and how a blissful psychedelic experience developed into paranoia, disturbing hallucinations and drug induced psychosis ◼ What psychosis felt like from Jonathan’s perspective and why he compares the experience to carrying an invisible psychological weight that nobody else can see ◼ Jonathan’s experience of psychiatric hospitalisation, antipsychotic medication and rebuilding stability after his psychedelic experience ◼ Why he prefers to view his recovery through the idea of post traumatic growth rather than allowing a psychiatric diagnosis to define his identity ◼ The four foundations Jonathan now prioritises for health: sleep, nutrition, movement and mood ◼ The relationship between personal responsibility, mental health, human potential and the systems people live within Key Moments: 0:00 Jonathan’s story and the search for human potential 8:25 The mental health crisis and exploring psychedelics 11:18 The ayahuasca retreat in Guatemala 14:48 Hallucinations, fear and drug induced psychosis 17:38 Being locked away and rescued by his family 22:43 Returning to London and entering psychiatric care 25:12 Post traumatic growth and rebuilding after psychosis 28:52 Antipsychotic medication and regaining stability 32:44 The four foundations for health: sleep, nutrition, movement and mood 35:41 Biohacking, wearables and learning to listen to your body 41:10 Nature, personal agency and the pressures of modern life 53:15 Community, mental health and would Jonathan recommend ayahuasca? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Jonathan Ramalho: Ayahuasca, Psychosis and Rebuilding Your Mental Health

  2. Aug 25

    Glenn Harrold: How to Reprogram Your Mind with Hypnosis and Manifestation

    Can you use hypnosis to change negative thought patterns, reprogram your subconscious mind and create a more positive life? Hypnotherapist Glenn Harrold joins John Vincent to explore self-hypnosis, meditation, subconscious programming, childhood trauma, manifestation, abundance, consciousness and the power of the stories we tell ourselves. Glenn shares how a difficult childhood, homelessness, drugs and an unsuccessful music career ultimately led him to clinical hypnotherapy and a career creating hypnosis and meditation recordings used by millions of people. They examine how childhood experiences can create unconscious beliefs around money, relationships and self-worth, why repetition is central to hypnosis, how to interrupt negative thought cycles, the difference between stage hypnosis and clinical hypnotherapy, and how meditation can help people access intuition and creative thinking. The conversation also explores manifestation and the law of attraction, gratitude, affirmations, the hypnagogic state between waking and sleep, healing frequencies, abundance mindset and the balance between taking action and allowing life to unfold. In this episode you'll learn: ◼ How hypnosis and self-hypnosis can be used to change subconscious thought patterns ◼ Why childhood experiences can create lifelong beliefs around money, confidence and self-worth ◼ How Glenn Harrold used hypnotherapy to transform his own life after childhood trauma and addiction ◼ How to recognise and interrupt negative thought cycles before they control your day ◼ The difference between stage hypnosis, clinical hypnotherapy and self-hypnosis ◼ Why repetition, affirmations and subconscious suggestion are central to Glenn's approach ◼ How manifestation, goal setting and an abundance mindset can influence behaviour and opportunity ◼ Why the hypnagogic state before sleep can be a powerful time for meditation and affirmations Key Moments: 0:00 Self-hypnosis, healing, consciousness and abundance 2:51 396Hz frequencies, meditation and emotional release 6:24 Childhood trauma, homelessness and finding a different path 11:15 From stage hypnosis to clinical hypnotherapy 19:29 How to break negative thought cycles 22:02 Self-hypnosis for stress, decision making and intuition 31:31 Childhood programming and discovering your authentic self 35:36 Money beliefs, subconscious blocks and abundance 40:49 Regression hypnotherapy and an agoraphobia case study 48:17 Stage hypnosis explained: trance, suggestibility and expectation 54:19 How to start using hypnosis and hypnotherapy 58:38 The hypnagogic state, sleep and affirmations 59:50 Manifestation, abundance and changing your life 1:07:17 How to set goals and use manifestation techniques 1:18:48 Manifestation versus action: trust, flow and letting Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Glenn Harrold: How to Reprogram Your Mind with Hypnosis and Manifestation

  3. Aug 11

    Dr Alan Desmond: What Your Doctor Isn't Telling You About Food

    What should we actually eat for a longer, healthier life?  Dr Alan Desmond, gastroenterologist and author of What Your Doctor Isn't Telling You About Food, joins John Vincent to examine the evidence behind plant based diets, ultra processed food, dietary fibre, protein, heart disease, obesity, metabolic health and longevity. They explore why health span matters as much as lifespan, why the modern food environment drives chronic disease, what precision nutrition can really tell us, and how GLP 1 medications fit into the future of health.  The conversation also examines the NOVA food classification, nutrition education for doctors, meat consumption, the National Food Strategy and the changes needed to create a healthier food system. In this episode you'll learn: ◼ Health span versus lifespan and why living longer does not always mean living healthier ◼ How the modern food environment contributes to obesity and chronic disease ◼ Why nutrition science must evolve as new evidence emerges ◼ Precision nutrition and whether personalised diets actually outperform healthy whole food diets ◼ Why ultra processed foods now make up such a large proportion of the UK diet ◼ The debate around meat, low carbohydrate diets and evidence based nutrition ◼ GLP 1 medications, weight loss and the limitations of treating a food environment problem with medication ◼ The National Food Strategy and the case for systemic food reform Key Moments: 0:00 The global food system and the cost of poor nutrition 1:40 Why nutrition science must keep evolving 2:34 Plant based nutrition and the current scientific consensus 3:00 Lifespan versus health span 8:00 Why obesity cannot be explained by personal responsibility alone 15:32 The 15 conversations everyone should have about food 17:52 Precision nutrition and personalised diets 20:44 Why personalised nutrition performed no better than healthy plant based food 25:56 Eating at LEON and the importance of accessible healthy food 28:06 Why doctors receive so little nutrition education 30:00 Nutrition and medical training 34:00 Diet and heart disease 39:00 Fibre, protein and the foundations of healthy eating 45:00 Why eating more plants matters 56:00 Growing your own food and reconnecting with nature 58:05 How much meat should we actually eat? 1:02:00 The case for a plant predominant diet 1:08:00 Blood sugar spikes and continuous glucose monitors 1:12:13 What ultra processed food actually means 1:14:15 The NOVA classification explained 1:19:00 Why unprocessed does not automatically mean healthy 1:21:45 The debate around diet drinks and artificial sweeteners 1:23:34 The food choices that can improve health 1:37:40 Low carbohydrate diets and the evidence 1:42:17 Food, community and GLP 1 medications 1:50:42 The National Food Strategy and reforming the food system 1:52:54 John Vincent on the School Food Plan 1:55:00 The case for changing how we eat Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Dr Alan Desmond: What Your Doctor Isn't Telling You About Food

  4. Jul 14

    Gaz Oakley: Why Growing Your Own Food Can Change Your Life

    How did Gaz Oakley go from city-life burnout to a calmer, more authentic life connected to nature? Gaz Oakley, the chef, author and creator joins John Vincent for a powerful conversation about plant based food, burnout, fermentation, herbalism, homesteading, nature deficiency, social media, city life, anxiety, authentic living and the spiritual power of reconnecting with the land. From starting work in professional kitchens at 15, to burning out after years of 80 hour weeks, building a huge YouTube and Instagram audience, leaving London, growing his own food in Wales and discovering the wisdom hidden in plants, Gaz explains why modern life has disconnected so many of us from the food we eat, the seasons we live through and the natural world around us. In this episode you'll learn: ◼ Why Gaz Oakley believes society is suffering from “nature deficiency”, and how growing food helped him feel grounded, present and more himself ◼ How burnout in professional kitchens pushed him away from restaurant life and eventually led to YouTube, plant based cooking and millions of followers ◼ Why social media followers stopped feeling like success, and how Gaz realised he had been living an inauthentic life by chasing trends online ◼ How fermentation, sauerkraut, chilli hot sauce and preserving harvests can help people reduce reliance on supermarkets and reconnect with food ◼ Why Gaz believes the lawn is “the greatest scam that’s ever existed”, and why balconies, gardens, windowsills, allotments and community growing spaces can all become sources of food ◼ What herbs such as mullein, yarrow, southernwood and lemon balm taught Gaz about plant wisdom, folklore, natural remedies and the people who lived before us ◼ Why city life can make us forget birdsong, trees, seasons, soil and community, and how people in London and other cities can still start foraging, growing and noticing nature ◼ How love, fatherhood, family, community and living closer to the land have reshaped Gaz’s ideas of success, survival, happiness and what it means to provide Key Moments: 0:00 Intro to The John Vincent Podcast  1:26 Fermentation, sauerkraut and preserving the harvest 3:12 Gaz Oakley on YouTube, Instagram and why followers no longer define success 3:53 Living an inauthentic life, chasing trends and feeling ungrounded 4:36 Growing up in Cardiff, wanting to play rugby for Wales and discovering cooking 6:02 Starting in professional kitchens at 15 6:57 Burnout, 80 hour weeks and not looking after himself 10:04 Leaving restaurants, working in a builder’s yard and finding food again 12:06 Going plant based, sharing recipes and launching on social media 13:58 Becoming a new person through growing food 15:49 Nature deficiency as a physical and spiritual problem 16:02 Seasons, indigenous wisdom, weeds, folklore and feeling rooted 17:42 City convenience and forgetting the natural world 19:56 Mullein, lung health, tinctures and ancient plant uses 22:38 Southernwood, folklore and “lads love” 23:31 Yarrow, Achilles and the plant wisdom hidden in common weeds 24:58 Lemon balm, stress and the calming ritual of making tea 25:51 Opening your eyes to nature in the city 30:35 The fisherman story and redefining success 33:05 Why the countryside felt less lonely than London 34:43 Social media as a servant, not a master 38:38 The power of learning where your food comes from 39:03 Turn your balcony, windowsill or lawn into a farm 40:35 Local, seasonal, unpackaged food and avoiding plastic 41:48 Why culinary herbs are also part of medicinal plant traditions 42:44 Birdsong, lost wisdom and reconnecting with the natural world 44:13 Foraging, scything, soil, serotonin and getting dirt under your nails 46:42 Community, land, shared skills and intergenerational living 48:23 Opening a farm shop in Abergavenny and rebuilding local community 51:33 Plants, music, water, weeds and the healing power of nature 53:59 Finding your authentic voice online 56:33 Love, fatherhood and why Gaz now wants to provide presence, not just money Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Gaz Oakley: Why Growing Your Own Food Can Change Your Life

  5. Jun 29

    Emily English: Why Your Body Isn't a Maths Equation

    How does a teenager pushed into a toxic diet culture by the modelling industry end up a three-time Number 1 bestselling nutritionist on a mission to make healthy eating feel normal again? Em the Nutritionist aka Emily English, joins John Vincent live to make the case that nutrition has been made far more complicated, frightening and expensive than it ever needed to be. She shares how a single comment from a modelling agency sent her spiralling into an eating disorder as a teenager, how recovery led her to study nutrition at King's, and why she now believes "your body is not a maths equation." In this episode you'll learn: ◼ Why "we don't eat nutrients, we eat food", and how to translate nutrition science into meals you'll actually look forward to  ◼ The four everyday pillars she'd give anyone who wants to feel better, starting with sleep and a daily walk  ◼ Why your body "isn't a maths equation", and how obsessive tracking can quietly take more from your life than it gives  ◼ "Protein diversity is king": how to build meals that leave you fuller and more satisfied without just piling on meat  ◼ What the Blue Zones get right that has nothing to do with what's on the plate, and everything to do with how, and who, you eat with  ◼ Why she calls it "criminal" to prey on people's insecurities to sell health, and her take on the personalised-nutrition and glucose-monitor boom  ◼ How pressure from the modelling industry led to an eating disorder in her teens, and the realisation that set her on the path to recovery and a career in nutrition  ◼ Why nutrition should feel normal, joyful and unintimidating, not a source of fear Key Moments:  0:00 Intro  01:02 Starting with the book: So Good Express, her third Number 1 in a row  01:31 The lost romance of cookbooks (and her mum's cocoa-dusted Nigella)  03:40 Recipes that actually work, and the chefs who sabotage theirs on purpose  05:00 Why nutrition doesn't need reinventing at every corner  05:34 Her own story: when food stopped being simple  06:56 The agency photoshoot that changed everything  08:18 Falling into toxic diet culture, and the eating disorder  09:25 "If your goals take more than they give, it's not health"  10:00 Therapy, King's, and turning pain into purpose  12:26 "We don't eat nutrients, we eat food"  14:03 Why nutrition research is so hard: we're all unique  15:27 Why she calls fear-based wellness marketing "criminal"  16:23 The four everyday pillars: sleep, move, whole foods, hydration  17:54 How food makes you feel, during and after  18:30 Being present at the table, and the Blue Zones  20:12 The most important ingredient in health: purpose  22:31 "Your body is not a maths equation"  23:00 The protein question: why "protein diversity is king"  26:29 Rapid fire: meat-only diets, fasts and "your body, your choice"  29:08 What she most wants people to remember: nutrition should be normal Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Emily English: Why Your Body Isn't a Maths Equation

  6. Jun 17

    Vex King: Why You're Chasing Purpose the Wrong Way

    How does someone go from homelessness, poverty and violence to selling over 3 million books worldwide?  Number 1 Sunday Times bestselling author Vex King reveals the single mindset shift that ended his victim story, why your sense of purpose only ever exists in the present moment, and the "spiritual ego" trap that keeps so many seekers stuck. Recorded live, this is one of the most honest conversations John Vincent has had on self-love, healing, manifestation and what it really means to live a whole life. Vex King is the Number 1 Sunday Times bestselling author of Good Vibes, Good Life, Healing Is the New High, Closer to Love and Things No One Taught Us About Love. A mind coach and one of the leading voices in modern personal development, Vex rose to fame on Instagram before his debut, Good Vibes, Good Life, went on to sell over 2.5 million copies, get translated into 40 languages, spend 132 weeks on the Sunday Times bestseller list and land at number 18 on the Sunday Times Top 100 books of the past 50 years. Born into hardship after losing his father as a baby, he turned his life around to build an audience of millions. In this episode you'll learn: ◼ The mindset shift that ended his victim story, and why seeing yourself as a victim keeps your life stuck ◼ Why your purpose only exists in the present moment, and how chasing it in the future is the reason you can't find it ◼ The "sunshine" truth that means nothing inside you is ever actually missing ◼ Why he walked away from TV shows, lucrative courses and even an approach from OnlyFans to stay aligned with who he is ◼ How to tell genuine, nourishing excitement apart from the empty dopamine spike ◼ The difference between passion and anger, and why anger never takes you anywhere good ◼ How to spot the "spiritual ego" in yourself before it traps you Key Moments: 0:00 Intro 1:33 The second-ever live John Vincent Podcast 2:44 Vex's story begins: a blank canvas 3:22 Growing up with homelessness, poverty, violence and racism 5:35 The book that changed his life (and how he got hold of it) 6:59 Was there a mentor? His mum's visit to the guru 10:47 The seed that was planted, and the vanishing woman on the train platform 14:59 Synchronicities, omens and deciding to trust the path 16:43 Quitting his corporate job with no backup plan 17:18 The hustles: clothing lines, the music industry and "Good Vibes Only" 21:50 "What are you doing with your life?" 22:48 Anger, Wing Chun and the true self 25:15 The sunshine analogy: why nothing in you is missing 29:21 Why every wisdom tradition points to the same truth 30:11 Why you should never take anything personally 32:37 The Four Agreements, the Enneagram and our hidden fears 36:28 Passion vs anger: "What happened to you?" 38:24 Making a living without selling your soul 38:47 Turning down TV, courses and OnlyFans to stay aligned 42:20 The real price we pay for clinging on 43:33 The conversation that changed everything 49:22 Why purpose only exists in the present moment 51:31 The trap of the spiritual ego 55:09 Can a nurse or a bus driver really live this way? 56:05 Finding purpose in everyday interactions 57:55 The miserable ticket seller who could change lives 59:22 Why real change starts small (and starting from zero) 1:00:55 How trust compounds over time 1:02:23 True excitement vs the dopamine spike 1:04:06 Final reflections Welcome to The John Vincent Podcast, where we explore ancient healing and modern medicine, and the best ways, both old and new, to help people enjoy naturally healthy lives. Hosted by John Vincent, co-founder of LEON, the podcast brings together the world's leading doctors, scientists, nutritionists, healers and practitioners of indigenous wisdom to explore health in body, mind, spirit and emotion, and to pin down what we can actually do to live and heal well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Vex King: Why You're Chasing Purpose the Wrong Way

  7. Apr 13

    Health and Capitalism: the need for wholeness and how LEON will help

    When I started The John Vincent Podcast, I did not know I was going to buy back LEON. I recently did so. And it gives me a whole new way of helping you enjoy natural health. And a very practical perspective on how we need to become aware of how everything is linked.When I started The John Vincent Podcast, I did not know I was going to buy back LEON. I recently did so. And it gives me a whole new way of helping you enjoy natural health. And a very practical perspective on how we need to become aware of how everything is linked. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  8. 10/15/2025

    The Pivot to Prevention: 2 NHS Doctors Quit Their Jobs to Help You Put Health Back Into Your Own Hands

    In this episode, I am lucky to have spoken to two doctors and pioneers in preventative medicine. Claire Merifield and Alasdair Scott were doctors in the NHS for years. But after being disillusioned by the medical system, they realised what their patients really needed was preventative, personalised healthcare. So they set up Selph, using their respective expertise to create a system with which they help people get to know their health profiles, risk factors, lifestyle and prevention opportunities through diagnostic testing and health coaching.  Claire Merifield is a microbiome PhD, a London GP and a Breathworks Mindfulness instructor. Alasdair Scott is a microbiome scientist, former cancer surgeon in the NHS and a researcher with Imperial College. They cover: Why pivoting to prevention is urgent.Positive proactivity your future health - some of the diseases we think are ‘inevitable’ are actually preventable.Is the study of “medicine” the same thing as the study of “health”?Medicine 3.0: what it is, Lifespan vs health span and personalised medicine How to create achievable goals, avoid unattainable trends, and create environments in which you can access the health you have a right to. The current state of health advice: influencers and scaremongeringEvidence-based vs evidence-informed approaches (there’s an important difference)Understanding testing and diagnosticsWhat counts as ‘safe’ treatmentsThe role of emotional and spiritual health, mindfulness, and the gut in physical wellbeing I’m so grateful to Claire and Alasdair who made a brave leap to do the right thing for us, even if it takes a lot of hard work and re-wiring of how we, as a population, are taught to think about our health.  Learn more about Selph here: https://www.selph.co.uk (The information provided in this podcast is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The views expressed by guests are their own. We strongly advise that you contact a registered and experienced healthcare professional if you have any health concerns.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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About

Hello, this is John Vincent and welcome to The John Vincent Podcast, where we explore ancient healing and modern medicine. It’s all about the best ways – both old and new - to help people (both old and new) to enjoy naturally healthy lives. We will be looking at the things that modern medicine suggests we should be doing, the things that ancient healing traditions have been doing for a long time, and at the exciting hypotheses from emerging science.   Good health has fascinated me ever since I started and built a business called LEON. We began by asking the question “Why can’t fast food be good food?” Spoiler alert: It can. Now I want to explore health in all its dimensions. We’ll look at the smallest of details, whilst never losing sight of the bigger picture- the picture that shows how all moving components work together to create a whole. And how politics, economics and profit incentives can sometimes derail that harmony.  Founding Leon has given me have access to the world’s leading doctors, scientists, nutritionists, healers and practitioners of indigenous wisdom. What they’ve told me has often blown my mind.  But it’s also improved my mind, my body and my life.  I’m going to share all this with you and speak to these experts so that they can share what they know with you too. They have a lot of stories to tell. There is magic in science. And every new answer invites many new questions and possibilities. We will explore these, whilst also doing our best to pin down what we currently know about the things we should be DOING – the action we should be taking to keep us well and help ourselves to heal when we need to. As the old saying goes, the only wealth is health. Not just physical well-being, but the harmony of body, mind, spirit, and emotion. We’ll explore what it means to be healthy - and how we can best enjoy the full potential of the human experience.  You know what kind of life you want to live. Whatever it is, I want to bring you the wisdom and knowledge of good people who’ll help you do that. I’m excited to have fun doing it, too.  At LEON, we made great food accessible to everyone. I’m now going to do the same with good health—helping as many people as possible, regardless of circumstances. Whether you’re a billionaire or on a tight budget, you deserve this opportunity and I’ll make sure you get it. (The information provided in this podcast is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The views expressed by guests are their own. We strongly advise that you contact a registered and experienced healthcare professional if you have any health concerns.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    John Vincent
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    24
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © John Vincent
  • Show Website
    The John Vincent Podcast

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