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Can Chocolate Protect Your Heart? A 21,000-Person Study Found Out | Dr. Howard Sesso Sep 14, 2026

Show notes

Can chocolate actually protect your heart or are we giving candy a health halo it doesn't deserve?

Dr. Howard Sesso from Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School joins Chuck Carroll to reveal what the landmark COSMOS trial discovered about cocoa extract, cardiovascular disease and cognition.

The randomized clinical trial included more than 21,000 participants. One secondary outcome showed a 27% reduction in cardiovascular disease death among participants assigned to cocoa extract. However, the primary cardiovascular outcome did not reach statistical significance. Dr. Sesso explains what both findings mean and why the distinction matters.

You'll also learn:

Whether dark or bitter chocolate is automatically healthier
The difference between cocoa, cacao and cocoa flavanols
Why cocoa powder and cacao nibs may be better choices
Cocoa's effects on inflammation and cognition
Flavan-3-ols sources and why they matter
Why the findings still need to be replicated

Exam Roomie of the Week

Charles Shryock

Make a gift to support The Exam Room Podcast and the life-changing work of the Physicians Committee. All gifts of $20 or more receive a mention on the show. Gifts of $100 or more receive an exclusive Exam Room Podcast tote!

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🍫 COSMOS Trial

👉 https://cosmostrial.org

📗 Howard Sesso Additional Research

👉 https://bit.ly/sesso-research

This episode is not medical advice. Always speak with your doctor about any changes to your diet or lifestyle.

- About Us -

The Physicians Committee is dedicated to saving lives through plant-based diets and ethical and effective scientific research. We combine the clout and expertise of more than 17,000 physicians with the dedicated action

Diet Power: Olympian Gets Stronger, No Longer Eats Meat | Kendrick Farris Sep 09, 2026

Show notes

Can an athlete become stronger, recover faster, and clean and jerk more than 440 pounds without eating meat?

Three-time Olympian Kendrick Farris says the answer is yes.

Kendrick represented the United States at the 2008, 2012, and 2016 Olympic Games and was featured in the hit documentary The Game Changers. He ate a standard American diet during his first two Olympic appearances. By his third, he was completely plant-based—and he says the difference was extraordinary.

Kendrick tells Chuck Carroll that he did not lose explosiveness after changing his diet. He believes he gained more, recovered faster, completed more work, and became stronger.

He also opens up about growing up in poverty in Shreveport, Louisiana, where there were days when his family did not have enough food. When he asked his mother what they were eating, her answer was sometimes, "Fast and pray." That experience helped build the faith and discipline that would eventually carry him to the Olympic stage.

In this episode:

How much protein an Olympic weightlifter eats
How his performance changed after going plant-based
His experience competing nine times in one year
Why recovery became his greatest advantage
Why he replaced whey with plant-based protein
The bloating he experienced before changing protein sources
How to order plant-based food at any restaurant
What The Game Changers did for plant-based athletes
Why he believes strength is physical, mental, and spiritual

The Physicians Committee's Plant-Powered Performance sports nutrition course begins Sept. 14 and features live instruction, expert Q&A, recordings, athlete-focused recipes, and practical strategies for improving energy, endurance, strength, and recovery.

🎉 PCRM Sports Nutrition Course

👉 https://bit.ly/PlantBasedAthletePCRM

🏋🏿‍♂️ Kendrick Farris

👉 https://blessthegymforever.com

🙏 Support The Exam Room Podcast & PCRM

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This episode is not medical advice. Always speak with your doctor about any changes to your diet or lifestyle.

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Fiber May Matter More Than Protein for Muscle and Longevity Sep 07, 2026

Show notes

Can fiber be even more important than protein for athletic performance, muscle health, and healthy aging?

Dr. Regan A. Stiegmann and Dr. Sharon McDowell-Larsen join "The Exam Room Podcast" to challenge some of the biggest assumptions in fitness and sports nutrition.

Dr. McDowell-Larsen is an exercise physiologist, nine-time Ironman finisher, and age-group world champion who remains an elite competitor at 65. She reveals how changing her diet helped resolve debilitating breathing problems, eliminate her need for three asthma medications, and revive an athletic career she thought was over.

Dr. Stiegmann is a former U.S. Air Force major and flight surgeon who helped advance lifestyle and performance medicine in the military. She explains why nutrition can influence everything from muscle recovery and cognitive performance to military readiness and long-term health.

Together, they explore the emerging gut-muscle connection and explain why America's obsession with protein may be causing athletes to overlook fiber.

In this episode:

Why protein alone may not prevent age-related muscle loss
How fiber supports muscle, bone, and metabolic health
What a 65-year-old Ironman champion eats in a typical day
The relationship between gut health and muscle function
Why exercise cannot erase the effects of a poor diet
The potential risks of extreme endurance exercise
How a plant-based diet may improve recovery
Why some professional athletes keep plant-based eating a secret
How daily choices determine the trajectory of aging

Dr. Stiegmann and Dr. McDowell-Larsen are the co-authors of "Staying in the Game," an evidence-based guide to maintaining physical, mental, and metabolic performance throughout life.

The six-week online course begins Sept. 14 and features live instruction, expert Q&A, recordings, athlete-focused recipes, and practical strategies for improving energy, endurance, strength, and recovery.

Chuck and professional wrestler Dan Healy, known to wrestling fans as Austin Aries, will be among the featured presenters.

🙏 Support The Exam Room Podcast & PCRM

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🎉 PCRM Sports Nutrition Course

👉 https://bit.ly/PlantBasedAthletePCRM

📕 Staying In The Game Book

👉 https://amzn.to/3UUx5T4

🚴‍♀️ Sharen McDowell-Larsen Substack

👉 https://sharonmcdowelllarsen.substack.com

This episode is not medical advice. Always speak with your doctor about any changes to your diet or lifestyle.

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The Pleasure Trap Is Getting Worse. Here's How to Escape It. | Dr. Doug Lisle Sep 02, 2026

Show notes

Why does healthy eating feel so hard—even when we know exactly what to do?

Dr. Doug Lisle joins Chuck Carroll on The Exam Room to explain the psychology behind The Pleasure Trap and why today's food environment may be even more difficult to navigate than it was two decades ago.

Dr. Lisle is the co-author of The Pleasure Trap and a longtime voice in evolutionary psychology. In this conversation, he shares his perspective on why highly processed foods can be so alluring, why shame and willpower are not enough, and how people can build a more sustainable whole-food plant-based way of eating.

In this episode:

Why the modern food environment can feel impossible to escape
The psychology of pleasure, pain avoidance, and habit
Why healthy diets can fail when they feel too restrictive
Dr. Lisle's "vegan Bushman" approach to calorie density and satisfaction
What he thinks about GLP-1 weight-loss medications
How to judge dietary progress without obsessing over daily scale changes
A preview of his upcoming book, Sherlock Holmes and the Secret of Life

Dr. Lisle will also be joining Chuck at the Plant Powered Party in Las Vegas, September 4–6. Chef AJ, Dr. Michael Greger, Dr. Brooke Goldner, Dr. Joel Fuhrman, Dr. Columbus Batiste, and many more will be there, too.

Can't make it to Vegas? Watch all three days live from anywhere with replay access for a full year. This is Chef AJ's last event for a long while, so don't miss it.

Exam Roomies of the Week

Evan Haas
Lucy EverHope

Make a gift to support The Exam Room Podcast and the life-changing work of the Physicians Committee.

🙏 Support The Exam Room Podcast & PCRM

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🎉 Plant-Powered Party Las Vegas

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📕 The Pleasure Trap

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📗 Sherlock Holmes and the Secret of Life

👉 https://bit.ly/SherlockLisleBook

This episode is not medical advice. Always speak with your doctor about any changes to your diet or lifestyle.

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Food Is Medicine? Meet the Doctor Growing It Aug 31, 2026

Show notes

Can food really be medicine? Dr. Ron Weiss is a physician who believes the answer starts long before a meal reaches your plate—it starts in the soil.

In this episode of The Exam Room Podcast, Chuck Carroll visits with Dr. Weiss about his unique model of care at Ethos Farm in New Jersey, where regenerative farming and lifestyle-based primary care come together. They explore why soil health matters, what "living soil" means, and how whole plant foods can become a practical, powerful part of a healthier life.

Dr. Weiss also shares how he helps patients make lasting changes without turning healthy eating into an impossible all-or-nothing assignment. From the first plant-based meal to a more intentional plate, this is a conversation about making better health feel more approachable.

You'll learn:

Why Dr. Weiss says the first priority is to eat more whole plants
What regenerative farming and healthy soil have to do with the food we eat
How minimally processed plant foods differ from heavily processed options
Why a healthy lifestyle should be practical, personal, and sustainable
What patients can expect from Dr. Weiss's farm-based model of care
How coaching, lab work, and lifestyle changes can fit into a long-term health plan
Why community support can make healthy change easier to maintain
How to take your first realistic step toward eating more plant-based foods

Dr. Weiss will also be joining Chuck, Chef AJ, Carleigh Bodrug from PlantYou, Dr. Will Bulsiewicz and others at the Plant Powered Party in Las Vegas, September 4–6, 2026. It's a full weekend of inspiring speakers, practical presentations, delicious plant-based food, and community. Join in person or watch online from anywhere.

Exam Roomies of the Week

Meng Tee
Andrea Bonnett
Carolyn Doyle

Make a gift to support The Exam Room Podcast and the life-changing work of the Physicians Committee.

🙏 Support The Exam Room Podcast & PCRM

👉 https://bit.ly/SupportExamRoom

🎉 Plant-Powered Party Las Vegas

👉 https://bit.ly/ChefAJParty

🩺 Ethos Primary Care

👉 https://ethosprimarycare.com

🥕 Ethos Farm

👉 https://ethosfarmtohealth.org

This episode is not medical advice. Always speak with your doctor about any changes to your diet or lifestyle.

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She Survived Cancer and a Heart Transplant, Then Made History | Dr. Dawn Mussallem Aug 27, 2026

Show notes

Dr. Dawn Mussallem survived stage 4 cancer, received a heart transplant, and became the first person in history to complete a full marathon just one year later.

Her remarkable story doesn't end there.

After experiencing unimaginable loss, Dawn found new love in the produce aisle—thanks to a purple sweet potato. And after 25 years at Mayo Clinic, she is beginning another major chapter as chief medical officer at Fountain Life.

Dawn joins Chuck Carroll to share her extraordinary journey and the health lessons she has learned along the way.

They discuss:

The difference between longevity and health span
The foods associated with healthier aging
Why fiber may be one of the most overlooked health tools
Protein needs for active adults and people taking GLP-1 medications
The surprising reason Dawn developed prediabetes
How sleep can affect blood sugar
Personalized nutrition and the gut microbiome
Her historic marathon after receiving a heart transplant
Finding new love in the produce aisle
Her major career move after 25 years at Mayo Clinic

Chuck and Dawn will both appear at the Plant Powered Party, September 4–6 in Las Vegas. Explore the complete speaker lineup, schedule, tickets, and current virtual-access information at the link below.

🙏 Support The Exam Room Podcast & PCRM

👉 https://bit.ly/SupportExamRoom

🎉 Plant-Powered Party Las Vegas

👉 https://bit.ly/ChefAJParty

🎉 Dr. Dawn Mussallem

👉 https://dr-dawn.co

This episode is powered by Dr. Brooke Bussard — a lifestyle medicine health coach who believes in the power of plants to maximize wellness.

👉 https://drbrookebussard.com

This episode is not medical advice. Always speak with your doctor about any changes to your diet or lifestyle.

- About Us -

How to Get Healthy When Nobody Else Is | Brenda Workman Aug 24, 2026

Show notes

Brenda Workman transformed her health. Now she is working to transform an entire state.

After losing 60 pounds and getting off cholesterol and blood pressure medication with a plant-based diet, Brenda became a Food for Life instructor and dedicated herself to improving health in her home state of West Virginia.

She teaches cooking classes, speaks to nursing students and businesses, appears on television, and trains community organizations to bring practical nutrition education to the people they serve.

In this inspiring conversation with Chuck Carroll, Brenda explains why personal stories can reach people when facts alone cannot, how to talk about healthy eating without creating defensiveness, and why you should never wait for your family to change before taking responsibility for your own health.

🧠 You'll also learn:

How to eat plant-based when your family isn't plant-based
Why respect is more effective than shame
How to cook healthy food for one or two people
Ways to make plant-based eating practical and affordable
How Brenda is training others to teach healthy cooking
Why delicious food is essential for lasting change

Brenda's Wellness Weekend is coming to Canaan Valley Resort in West Virginia on October 9–10, 2026. Chuck will be there with Brenda, Cyrus Khambatta, and Kylie Buckner from Evolution Health for presentations, workshops, exercise, delicious plant-based food, and an unforgettable fall weekend.

Exam Roomies of the Week

Barbara Kurtzweil
Kelly Bonnell
Marjorie Lewis

Make a gift to support The Exam Room Podcast and the life-changing work of the Physicians Committee.

🙏 Support The Exam Room Podcast & PCRM

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📘 Wellness Weekend Tickets

👉 https://bit.ly/WellnessWeekendWV

This episode is not medical advice. Always speak with your doctor about any changes to your diet or lifestyle.

- About Us -

How to Keep One Bad Meal From Ruining Your Diet | Alan Stein Jr. & Dr. Hana Kahleova Aug 20, 2026

Show notes

What happens when you know exactly what you should do for your health but you still don't do it?

Motivation may not be the answer.

Best-selling author and performance expert Alan Stein Jr. joins Dr. Hana Kahleova and Chuck Carroll to reveal the "next play" mindset that can help you bounce back from bad decisions, stop self-sabotage, and become more consistent with your health.

Before becoming a keynote speaker, Alan spent 20 years in basketball performance and had the opportunity to observe some of the greatest athletes in the world, including Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant.

What separates elite performers isn't perfection. They miss shots. They have bad days. They make mistakes.

The difference is what they do next.

In this episode of The Exam Room Podcast, you'll learn how to stop one unhealthy meal from becoming an unhealthy week, why emotions should inform your decisions rather than control them, how to build discipline when motivation disappears, and why your environment may matter more than willpower.

Chuck also opens up about weighing 420 pounds and eating as many as 10,000 calories of fast food a day — and why he is learning to have compassion for the person he used to be instead of continuing to punish himself for the past.

Plus, Alan shares the daily routines that help him protect his mindset and explains why small wins eventually become enormous changes.

Your last play is over.

What will you do next?

Exam Roomies of the Week

Yvonne Brinson
Ilaria Ottino
Ken Swartz

Make a gift to support The Exam Room Podcast and the life-changing work of the Physicians Committee.

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📘 Next Play by Alan Stein Jr.

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This episode is not medical advice. Always speak with your doctor about any changes to your diet or lifestyle.

- About Us -

Chef AJ: How to Keep Going When Life Gets Hard Aug 17, 2026

Show notes

Chef AJ has been through one of the hardest chapters of her life. But she is still laughing. Still exercising. Still showing up. Still making plans. And most importantly, still finding reasons to enjoy life.

In this deeply personal and often hilarious conversation, Chef AJ joins Chuck Carroll to talk about continuing to move forward despite health challenges, treatment and unexpected obstacles. She shares why improv comedy and exercise remained priorities even during some of her most difficult days—and why doing the things that make you feel better can matter most when you least feel like doing them.

Chuck and AJ also open up about the friendship they've developed while both navigating their own health challenges and the messages of encouragement they've exchanged along the way.

Plus, Chef AJ talks about laughter, improv, overcoming fear, taking chances, creating your own luck and why sometimes the first step forward is the hardest—and most important—one.

And there is plenty of fun ahead!

Chef AJ is hosting the Plant Powered Party in Las Vegas September 4–6, where Chuck will also be appearing along with an incredible lineup of plant-based doctors, chefs and experts. Can't make it to Las Vegas? You can join the party virtually from anywhere in the world and watch online. Use the link in the episode notes to learn more.

This is a conversation about friendship, resilience and finding joy even when life doesn't go according to plan.

Never stop moving forward.

Exam Roomies of the Week

Hemma Werner
Gail Sears
Anette Cathrine Nedreli

Make a gift to support The Exam Room Podcast and the life-changing work of the Physicians Committee.

🙏 Support The Exam Room Podcast & PCRM

👉 https://bit.ly/SupportExamRoom

🎉 Plant-Powered Party Las Vegas

👉 https://bit.ly/ChefAJParty

📕 Chef AJ Books

👉 https://amzn.to/3U4HTxB

This episode is not medical advice. Always speak with your doctor about any changes to your diet or lifestyle.

- About Us -

Meat Causes Erectile Dysfunction: How and Why | Dr. Neal Barnard Aug 13, 2026

Show notes

Is meat really masculine or could it be causing erectile dysfunction?

Dr. Neal Barnard joins Chuck Carroll to examine the connection between meat, blood flow, heart health, testosterone, muscle, fertility, prostate health, and ED.

Dr. Barnard explains why erectile dysfunction may sometimes appear before more obvious signs of cardiovascular disease. He also discusses whether meat actually improves testosterone or muscle growth, how a high-fat meal may affect athletic performance, and why strong muscles on the outside do not always mean healthy arteries on the inside.

You'll also learn:

How quickly circulation may begin to improve after changing your diet
Why plant foods can provide the protein needed to build muscle
The possible connection between dairy, fertility, and prostate health
What a practical day of eating for men's health could look like
Why tomatoes, beans, whole grains, and other plant foods deserve a place on the menu

Plus, Chuck and Dr. Barnard preview the International Conference on Nutrition in Medicine, happening August 13–15 in Washington, D.C.

🎉 ICNM - Washington DC - 8/13-15

👉 https://www.pcrm.org/icnm

Use code EXAMROOM100 to save $100 on tickets

Exam Roomies of the Week