In this episode of The Well-Being Manifesto, hosts Dr. Moain Abu Dabrh and Dr. David Freeman welcome world-renowned physician, researcher, and New York Times bestselling author Dr. Dean Ornish — founder and president of the Preventive Medicine Research Institute and pioneer of lifestyle medicine.

For over four decades, Dr. Ornish's groundbreaking research has proven that comprehensive lifestyle changes — including nutrition, movement, stress management, love, and connection — can not only prevent but even reverse chronic diseases like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, prostate cancer, and now early Alzheimer's disease.

Together, they explore:

• 💪 The science behind reversing heart disease and Alzheimer's naturally

• 🧠 Why small, consistent steps can drive big, lasting health transformations

• ❤️ How love, compassion, and social connection are medicine for the heart and mind

• 🥗 The impact of a whole-food, plant-based diet on longevity and emotional well-being

• 🧘 The role of stress management and mindfulness in true healing

• 🌍 How lifestyle medicine empowers people and systems to move from "sick care" to real health

Dr. Ornish's message is clear: change doesn't have to be radical to be powerful. Every small, mighty step — in how we eat, move, breathe, and connect — brings us closer to healing, purpose, and joy.

If you're ready to reimagine what's possible for your health and well-being, this conversation is a must-listen.

Nutrition is the focus of this episode of The Well-Being Manifesto, as hosts Dr. Moain Abu Dabrh and Dr. David Freeman sit down with Jerold Mande, CEO of Nourish Science, former senior advisor at the USDA, FDA, and White House, and adjunct professor at Harvard University's T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Together, they dive deep into how food as medicine can transform public health, healthcare costs, and equity across America.

From designing the Nutrition Facts Label to shaping landmark food and tobacco policies, Jerold Mande has spent decades on the front lines of nutrition science, food labeling reform, and evidence-based public health.

This conversation uncovers:

🍎 Why food is the most powerful — yet underutilized — lever for better health outcomes

🏥 How the U.S. "sick care" system can shift toward true healthcare through nutrition policy

💰 The role of the food industry, government, and NIH in advancing (or blocking) nutrition research

🌍 How inequities in food access, food deserts, and food swamps perpetuate chronic disease

⚖️ Why we need systemic reform — including a National Institute of Nutrition and accountability for ultra-processed foods

Mande also shares a behind-the-scenes look at the history of the FDA, the origins of modern food safety laws, and how America can reclaim public health leadership by treating food as the foundation of wellness, not disease. If you care about nutrition policy, preventive healthcare, food systems, and health equity, this is a must-listen episode that challenges the status quo — and offers a roadmap for change.

🌐 Learn More & Connect with Us

Explore more conversations, research, and resources on well-being at TheWellBeingManifesto.com.

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Together, let's redefine what it means to live well — through science, compassion, and community. 💙

In this episode of The Well-Being Manifesto, hosts Dr. Moain Abu Dabrh and Dr. David Freeman sit down with award-winning health journalist Julia Belluz, co-author of the groundbreaking book Food Intelligence: The Science of How Food Both Nourishes and Harms Us. Julia shares her personal journey with weight, health reporting, and how our modern food environment, not just individual choices, plays a central role in the global epidemic of obesity, chronic disease, and nutrition-related illnesses.

Together, we explore:

• Why food systems and the rise of ultra-processed foods are reshaping our health
• The truth about metabolism, calories, carbs vs. fat, and why diet debates often miss the bigger picture
• How research from The Biggest Loser revealed surprising insights about long-term weight loss and metabolism
• The promises and pitfalls of precision nutrition, supplements, and continuous glucose monitors
• The dangers of blame and shame culture around food and the urgent need to rethink public health and food policy

(2:00) - Julia's Background

(7:52) - Metabolism and 'The Biggest Loser'

(17:58) - Diet Tribes

(25:46) - Personalized Nutrition

(34:49) - Tobacco's Influence on Food

(42:51) - GLP-1s

(49:41) - Rapid-Fire Questions

Julia brings her evidence-based lens to topics like diet fads, nutritional science, food addiction, and toxic food environments, while Moain and David connect these insights to practical strategies for living well. If you're curious about the science of food, nutrition myths, and how to make healthier choices in a world stacked against us, this conversation will change the way you think about eating.

Support for Food Intelligence: The Science of How Food Both Nourishes and Harms Us was provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

Buy Julia's book: https://www.amazon.com/Food-Intelligence-Science-Nourishes-Harms/dp/059333230X

Stay connected at: https://www.thewellbeingmanifesto.com

In this episode of The Well-Being Manifesto, hosts Dr. Moain Abu Dabrh and Dr. David Freeman sit down with Dr. Robert Waldinger—psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, and director of the world-famous Harvard Study of Adult Development. As co-author of The Good Life, Dr. Waldinger brings decades of research and 80+ years of data on happiness, relationships, and health to the conversation.

Dr. Waldinger shares practical insights from neuroscience, psychology, and mindfulness practices, showing how cultivating relationships, gratitude, and presence can protect both mental health and physical health. Whether you're seeking strategies for emotional wellness, curious about the science of happiness, or looking to build more meaningful connections, this episode offers evidence-based guidance on living a good life.

(2:00) - Dr. Waldinger's Background

(3:55) - Harvard Study of Adult Development and Findings

(11:48) - The Power of Connection

(16:20) - Limitations of Harvard Study

(20:46) - Impact of Early Caregiving

(27:02) - Meditation and Mindfulness

(34:18) - Being Grateful

(42:13) - Types of Happiness

✨ Don't miss this deep dive into happiness, health, and human connection with one of the world's leading voices on well-being.

Stay connected at: https://www.thewellbeingmanifesto.com

Dr. Robert Pearl—renowned physician leader, educator, and author is our guest on this episode of The Well-Being Manifesto. Hosts Dr. Moain Abu Dabrh and Dr. David Freeman dive deep into:

✅ The culture of medicine and how it impacts personal well-being

✅ Chronic disease, prevention, and lifestyle medicine

✅ The future of healthcare systems and reducing costs

✅ Physician burnout, moral injury, and healthcare equity

✅ How AI and generative technology could revolutionize patient care and empower individuals

✅ Practical strategies for improving your own health and well-being

Whether you're a healthcare professional, wellness advocate, or someone striving for better balance in life, this episode will give you the insights and tools to reimagine well-being at both the personal and systemic levels.

✨ Key Topics Covered: personal well-being, healthcare culture, prevention vs. intervention, lifestyle medicine, equity in healthcare, physician burnout, technology in medicine, generative AI, Whole Person Care.

(1:44) - Dr. Pearl's Background

(4:16) - Dysfunction of American Healthcare

(10:45) - Preventative Medicine

(12:39) - Burnout

(16:33) - Health Equity

(26:46) - AI and Healthcare

(48:55) - Rapid-Fire Questions

📘 Learn more about Dr. Robert Pearl's books: Mistreated, Uncaring, and ChatGPT, MD here: https://robertpearlmd.com and listen to his podcast here: https://www.fixinghealthcarepodcast.com

🔔 Subscribe to The Well-Being Manifesto for inspiring conversations on personal growth, health, and well-being. Stay connected by visiting: https://www.thewellbeingmanifesto.com

#WellBeing #PersonalWellBeing #Healthcare #LifestyleMedicine #AIinHealthcare #WholePersonCare #HealthEquity #WellBeingManifesto

In this episode of The Well-Being Manifesto, hosts Dr. Moain Abu Dabrh and Dr. David Freeman are joined by renowned physician-scientist and global thought leader Dr. Amit Sood—founder of the Global Center for Resiliency and Wellbeing and author of acclaimed books like 'The Mayo Clinic Guide to Stress-Free Living' and 'It Takes You to Tango'.

Together, they explore the science of attention, intentional living, and the epidemic of inner loneliness, offering evidence-based strategies for emotional resilience, happiness, and self-compassion. Dr. Sood shares how to train the brain for joy, cultivate gratitude and presence, and build deep, lasting well-being by improving the most important relationship of all—the one with yourself.

💡 Key topics include:

How to retrain your brain for happiness and resilience

The neuroscience of mindfulness, compassion, and gratitude

Signs of inner loneliness and how to heal it

Attention training: why a wandering mind is an unhappy mind

Self-worth, self-compassion, and the foundation of well-being

Burnout prevention for leaders and professionals

Parenting, healing childhood wounds, and future-proofing mental health

Whether you're a healthcare provider, educator, leader, or simply someone seeking mental clarity and emotional balance, this episode delivers practical wisdom at the intersection of neuroscience, soul, and everyday life.

➡️ Learn more and connect at https://www.thewellbeingmanifesto.com

Welcome to the premiere episode of The Well-Being Manifesto, hosted by Dr. Moain Abu Dabrh and Dr. David Freeman—two physician-scientists with a passion for advancing whole person care. In this conversation, they share the powerful "why" behind the podcast: cutting through the hype of the wellness industry to deliver timeless truths, evidence-based practices, and practical frameworks for thriving at every level—personally, interpersonally, and organizationally.

Moain and David open up about their own journeys in medicine, the personal turning points that shaped their focus on well-being, and the inspiration behind frameworks like MEDS, EMBRACE, LEADERSHIP, and VIP CORE. They also take you on a 3,000-year tour of wellbeing history—from Egyptian healers and Hippocrates to Marcus Aurelius and modern neuroscience.

This is more than a podcast—it's a manifesto for meaningful, sustainable change in how we live, lead, and connect. Subscribe now and join the movement for less hype, more truth, and better living.

➡️ Learn more and connect at thewellbeingmanifesto.com
💬 Have questions or ideas? We want to hear from you.
🎧 Coming up next: A powerful conversation with renowned physician and thought leader Dr. Amit Sood.