Liv here!
Below, I've compiled a list of my favorite nutrition/wellness/healthcare/life podcasts and books. I tried to include a little bit of a variety, so some options may appeal to you more than others. Enjoy!
Podcasts
2 Docs Talk
This is the very first podcast I ever listened to, and it did not disappoint. Kendall Britt, MD, and Amy Rogers, MD talk about medicine and relevant issues in our healthcare system. Each episode is about 10-20 minutes long on a wide variety of topics. Some of my favorite episodes have included one on the Affordable Care Act, Pricing Transparency in Medicine and Healthcare, and Medicare for All. It's important to know about the healthcare system and modern medicine and Kendall and Amy help to simplify some of these complex topics.
Nutrition Matters Podcast
Hosted by Paige Smathers, RDN and CD, this podcast covers many nutrition related topics. I listened to an episode the other day (#72) where Paige interviewed another RD and talked about parent feeding styles. This one really interested me because it explained how many food beliefs that we carry into adulthood are reflective of how our parents fed us as children. I won't say much more because I think everyone should give this episode a listen even if you don't subscribe to the podcast.
Dietitians Unplugged
I haven't listened to this one as much as the podcasts listed above because it is a newer find for me. This podcast basically sums up all of the same ideas I personally believe surrounding health and wellness. It is hosted by two RDs (Aaron Flores and Glenys Oyston) with somewhat different backgrounds and philosophies surrounding nutrition, body image, and fitness. I appreciate that Aaron and Glenys embrace body positivity, the Health at Every Size™ approach, and not relying on the scale or counting calories to determine health status. The episodes are relatable, interesting, and offer a professional perspective on popular topics. I expect this to become my favorite podcast in the near future!
A Final Note About Podcasts
To all my fellow podcast lovers out there, you know that every new podcast you listen to only leads you into listening to even more podcasts. That is definitely the case for each of the ones I've listed above! For that reason, I will keep the podcast list short since you're sure to find many more as you listen to these.
Books
Eating Animals
Jonathan Safran Foer breaks down many of the complexities that surround eating animals in our world today. It is not a book that will "force you to become vegetarian" as I think we all felt after watching Food Inc. Instead, Foer offers an honest perspective about the positive and negative aspects of modern industrialized farming practices. If you're as skeptical as I was, you'll be happy to know that this book was thoroughly fact-checked, and Foer intertwines his unique personal stories to make the book engaging. I love that Foer's writing style always leaves you thinking, and this book allows you to think more critically about the food on your plate without guilting you into eating a certain way. I do believe that in some cases what we eat makes a political statement, and can even be considered a form of social activism. Reading this book is a great place to start learning about ethical dilemmas as they relate to our food choices.
The Food Therapist
By Shira Lenchewski, MS, RD, this is a short and an easy read. As the title conveys, this book is basically a relationship therapy session between you and food. Lenchewski included a short food quiz in the book so readers can best tailor their book-reading experience to suit their own needs. I initially wanted to get the book to gain some insight on how to treat future clients as a dietitian, so I actually skipped over the food quiz altogether. I ended up going back to take it. How can I expect others to take my nutrition advice when I haven't examined my own relationship with food? The quiz left me thinking about many areas of improvement for myself that I am always thinking back to. Needless to say, I believe this book could benefit anyone. I chose not to follow Lenchewski's included diet plan, but you may find it helpful.
The Spirit Catches you and you Fall Down
A disclaimer here is that I had to read this book for a class. If only I knew how much I'd love it, I definitely would have read it on my own. When I say love, I mean that I find myself constantly thinking about this story. It gave me a lot to think about concerning cultural competence in healthcare, wellness, and honestly- how I can be more kind and compassionate in my everyday interactions. I know the word "empathy" is thrown around a lot these days, but in our world that is becoming increasingly diverse, I think the best tool we have in becoming more culturally competent is growing our sense of empathy. This book is a constant reminder that there is ALWAYS more to a person's story than we could ever understand, and that we can't label people as "strange" or "foreign" just because we are unfamiliar with their practices.
The Joy of Movement
I always say that I like to move for the joy of it and not because I feel that I have to. This book by Kelly McGonigal, PhD, takes that same mindset and backs it by science and real life stories of people moving for recreation. In an ideal world, we would all view food as fuel and exercise as pure fun, but our culture has made feeling guilty about ourselves almost a prerequisite for eating healthy and exercising regularly. This book will definitely change your mindset about exercise, but in the best possible way.
I have many more recommendations, but I feel that this is a good place to start if you haven't gotten into books and podcasts related to nutrition, wellness, healthcare, and medicine. Feel free to leave me with your own recommendations via the contact page on this blog. I am always looking for them!
With love,
-Liv
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