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

👉 https://bit.ly/SupportExamRoom

🎉 Plant-Powered Party Las Vegas

👉 https://bit.ly/ChefAJParty

📕 The Pleasure Trap

👉 https://amzn.to/4xX1hes

📗 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.

- 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

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.

- 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

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 -

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