Episodes

The first episode of the Blue Zones Lifestyle Series focuses on the power of social engagement and its impact on well-being. The episode highlights the importance of strong family networks, a sense of belonging, and finding the right tribe for support. Practical steps are provided to enhance social connections, including nurturing family bonds, participating in community activities, and seeking supportive friendships. The episode concludes by emphasizing that prioritizing and nurturing these rel...

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Deborah Torres, a remarkable entrepreneur and founder of Atlas Monroe. We delve into her incredible business journey and the keys to success. Deborah Torres shares her insights and experiences from humble beginnings to building an empire, leaving us with valuable lessons and inspiration. Key Takeaways: Passion and Persistence: Deborah's story reminds us of the power of pursuing our passions relentlessly. Her unwavering dedication to creating delici...

In this episode, Maya Acosta interviews Leah Garces, former president of Mercy for Animals, discussing her journey in the vegan movement and her work to support farmers transitioning away from factory farming. Leah shares a poignant story of a chicken factory farmer trapped in a cycle of debt and suffering, shedding light on the oppressive nature of the system. She introduces Mercy for Animals' Transformation Project, which offers farmers alternatives by retrofitting their facilities to grow non...

In this Healthy Lifestyle Solutions podcast episode, Maya Acosta interviews JJ Kass from Tindle, a leading plant-based chicken company. Together, they delve into the world of sustainable alternatives and the mission behind Tyndall's products. Here are the key highlights from the conversation: Sustainable Choices for a Better Future: Tindle is dedicated to offering sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives to traditional chicken. By reducing the environmental impact of animal agriculture, Ti...

Physician burnout is reaching epidemic proportions in a healthcare system where preventative care is almost non-existent. Dr. Svetlana Chamoun has dedicated her career to helping patients and healthcare providers achieve better health outcomes. As founder of CardioSeeds, she offers lifestyle medicine interventions and behavioral coaching to address cardiovascular risk and physician burnout. Dr. Chamoun is a certified Health and Wellness Coach by the nationally and internationally recognized Amer...

Join Maya Acosta and Dr. Rizwan Bukhari as they unravel their transformative experience at Chef Julia's one-day retreat. Delving into whole food plant-based cooking, they share their newfound appreciation for the deliciousness of healthy meals and debunk the misconceptions surrounding taste. The discussion highlights the importance of practical skills, pantry essentials, and choosing healthier plant-based options over processed convenience foods for overall well-being. Key Takeaways: Savor t...

In this episode, Maya Acosta interviews Kelly Nardoni, a whole food plant-based vegan and breast cancer survivor. Kelly shares her journey of becoming a vegan after her cancer diagnosis and her decision to explore alternative treatments and lifestyle changes instead of traditional chemotherapy and medication. She delves into the power of nutrition and natural therapies in healing and preventing disease. Key Takeaways: The Power of Nutrition in Healing: Kelly's experience highlights the pote...

In this engaging episode, Maya Acosta interviews Dr. Janel Gordon, a renowned expert in lifestyle medicine, as they explore the transformative potential of plant-based nutrition in addressing our healthcare crisis. The conversation centers around Dr. Gordon's participation in the thought-provoking "Food is Medicine" panel at the Vegan Women Summit. Key takeaways: The Impact of Nutrition on Healthcare: Dr. Gordon highlights nutrition's significant role in our overall health and the staggering h...

In this engaging interview, host Maya Acosta sits down with Miyoko Schinner, a successful entrepreneur and advocate for women in business. Miyoko shares her insights on women's challenges in the entrepreneurial world and offers valuable advice for overcoming obstacles and finding true success. Key Takeaways: Overcoming Self-Doubt: Women often underestimate themselves and struggle with imposter syndrome. Miyoko highlights the importance of recognizing expertise and embracing self-confidence t...

Dr. Angela Potter is a functional medicine naturopathic doctor and leading expert in PCOS fertility. She is the creator of the PCOS Fertility Protocol, which helps women with an individualized approach to having the best chance of becoming pregnant with PCOS. Dr. Potter is also a speaker and has shared the stage with various CEO’s and global thought leaders from corporations like Google, Microsoft, and Headspace. She has been interviewed for articles on Healthline.com. Dr. Potter is a nutriti...

In this episode of the Healthy Lifestyle Solutions podcast, host Maya Acosta interviews Kathleen Gage, a seasoned business consultant, speaker, and author, about her journey toward becoming vegan and how this change influenced her work. They discuss Kathleen's work with vegan businesses and her company, Vegan Visibility, which helps vegan, plant-based, and green industries gain visibility, influence, and revenues aligned with their passions and life work. Kathleen shares her experience with anim...

Join us for an in-depth conversation with integrative sleep medicine specialist Dr. Valerie Cacho, as we explore the fascinating world of sleep health and wellness for women. From the impact of hormones on sleep to debunking common sleep myths, Dr. Cacho shares her expertise on diagnosing and treating medical sleep disorders, promoting mind-body approaches to insomnia, and empowering women to prioritize their sleep health through self-compassion and holistic practices. Discover the secrets to a ...

In the final episode of the three-part series on stroke awareness and prevention, Maya is joined by Dr. Riz, a cardiovascular specialist, to discuss blood pressure and its impact on stroke risk. Dr. Riz explains what blood pressure is, its importance as an indicator of cardiovascular health, and the factors contributing to high blood pressure, including lifestyle choices. He emphasizes the role of a healthy diet and regular exercise in managing blood pressure and reducing stroke risk. Key ...

Episode Description: Stress is a natural part of life, but too much of it can lead to distress and discomfort. In this episode of the Healthy Lifestyle Solutions podcast, we talked with Dr. April Hirschberg, a board-certified psychiatrist and lifestyle medicine expert, about the benefits of mind-body medicine, the importance of stress management and building resilience, and simple ways to improve your overall health. We also discussed the significance of knowledge and information in assisting...

In this episode of the Healthy Lifestyle Solutions podcast, I spoke with Wanda Huberman, the National Health Association Executive Director (NHA), about the organization's mission and the benefits of a plant-exclusive diet and lifestyle. We discussed the history of NHA, its educational resources, and the unique offerings such as the weekly podcast show, bi-weekly newsletter, and quarterly magazine titled "Health Science." Wanda also shared her insights on the latest health science research and t...

Each year, 55,000 more women than men have strokes in the United States. In this episode, Maya Acosta and Dr. Rizwan Bukhari discuss how women's stroke symptoms differ from men, emphasizing the importance of recognizing nonspecific symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, vomiting, disorientation, and confusion. Women are at a higher risk of stroke compared to men, and this is due to various factors unique to women such as pregnancy, pre-eclampsia, menopause, hormone replacement therapy, and atrial fib...

In this episode of the Healthy Lifestyle Solutions Podcast, Chris and Deana Young, founders of Life Plate Meals, share their inspiring story of how they transitioned to a plant-based diet to address health concerns and how this led them to launch their healthy meal delivery service in Dallas. They discuss their culinary background, the importance of healthy eating habits, and how their business is helping people in their community eat healthier and feel better. Key points: Health concerns...

In honor of Stroke Awareness Month, today's episode features a special guest, Lee Stroy, a stroke survivor and advocate for stroke awareness. Lee suffered multiple strokes and underwent rehabilitation to recover from their effects. He was featured in the documentary film A Teachable Moment, which follows four stroke survivors and their journeys to recovery. During the interview, Lee shares his story of surviving multiple strokes, his challenges during his recovery, and how he has become an ad...

In this episode, host Maya Acosta speaks with Dr. Rizwan Bukhari, a vascular surgeon, about stroke prevention and treatment. As May is Stroke Awareness Month, the episode aims to educate listeners about strokes and their risk factors. Dr. Bukhari explains that stroke is a leading cause of death and disability in the U.S., and the most common type of stroke is ischemic, which is caused by a blockage of blood flow. Dr. Riz explains a stroke and how it can affect the brain. He also shares statistic...

In this Healthy Lifestyle Solutions Podcast episode, host Maya Acosta discusses chronic inflammation and its link to chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer's. She explains how a plant-based diet, rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber, can reduce inflammation and improve overall health. Key takeaways: Chronic inflammation is a natural response of our immune system to infection, injury, or stress. However, when it becomes chronic, it can lead to a wide range...

In this episode, we meet Dr. Robyn Tiger and Dr. Melissa Sundermann, two board-certified lifestyle medicine physicians who have created the REVIVE program to support physicians struggling with burnout to prioritize their health and well-being. Key takeaways: Physician burnout is prevalent and has increased during the pandemic. REVIVE includes the pillars of lifestyle medicine, focusing on exercise, nutrition, sleep, stress management, and social connection. Sustainable progress is better...

In this episode, Maya Acosta and Dr. Rizwan Bukhari discuss how plant-based diets can help manage diabetes. They offer books, films, and websites as additional resources on diabetes. They discuss studies and jumpstart programs that show how effective plant-based diets can be in helping to manage diabetes. Key takeaways: Consider food as medicine and a plant-based diet to manage diabetes. Check out the recommended resources. Consider that in just 10 days; you can lower your numbers by e...

In this podcast episode, we delve into the fundamental concepts behind Blue Zones, regions worldwide where people live longer and healthier lives than the rest. We discuss the commonalities in lifestyle habits and diets of people living in Blue Zones. These have led to practical recommendations for people worldwide who want to improve their health and increase their chances of living long and healthy lives. The episode explores the importance of a plant-based diet, regular physical activity, soc...

In this episode, Dr. Riz and Maya reminisce on how they initially started the podcast together. Nearly five years later, Maya has taken the podcast to focus more on women's health while adding a new segment titled "Doctor In The House" that features Dr. Riz as a guest expert. Key Takeaways: From simple beginnings to a thriving podcast: Maya and Dr. Riz take a walk down memory lane, reflecting on the early days of their podcast and how it has evolved over the years. Learning from mistakes...