Plant Proof - Plant Based Nutrition & Inspirational Stories

In Episode #53, I sat down with Torre Washington to talk about his journey, how he got into bodybuilding, and what it’s like being a plant-based bodybuilder. We intended to record this episode in the USA; however, our worlds collided a little earlier than planned, so we recorded it in Byron Bay. As well as discussing some of the places we ate during our time in Byron Bay, we dove into Torre’s childhood years, his bloodlines, and what the Rastafari culture means to him. We talked about his journey to becoming a pro bodybuilder; his diet, past and present (and yes, I asked the infamous question about protein); and coexisting with people who don’t follow plant-based diets.    Enjoy, friends.   Simon Want to support the show?  The best way to support the show is to use the products and services offered by our sponsors. To check them out, and enjoy great savings, visit theproof.com/friends. You can also show your support by leaving a review on the Apple Podcast app and/or sharing your favourite episodes with you

In Episode #52, I sat down with Joe Holder, founder of the Ocho System. He is an absolute wealth of knowledge when it comes to exercise optimisation and ‘levelling up’ to adopt a mindset that enables you to achieve the performance and physique goals you desire. Strap yourself in…this one is damn interesting!   In our conversation, we spoke about his passion for sport and how getting injured changed his perspective on healing and performance and ultimately helped him develop his love for health. He shared his thoughts on exercise-induced inflammation and recovery, including ice baths, infrared saunas, massage, and more. Listen to hear his exercise recommendations for those looking to get active, his tips on establishing a positive mindset and being motivated to train, and his insights into what it’s like being a Nike master trainer and training Victoria’s Secret models.    Enjoy, friends.   Simon Want to support the show?  The best way to support the show is to use the products and services offered by our spo

In Episode #51, I had the absolute privilege of sitting down with European pop sensation Ben Cristovao or ‘Benny Cristo’ as he goes by. Ben is a man with an extreme amount of raw talent, a strong work ethic, and steel-like determination to fulfil his potential. But despite his impressive résumé of achievements, the lasting impression on me from this conversation was Ben’s thought processes and overall state of consciousness. He has an incredible story, and where many would be sidetracked by the notoriety of the pop music industry, Ben uses his influence to leave a positive mark on the world.   In this episode, we talked about Ben’s family history and where he grew up, what his diet was like as a kid, how he got into singing, and his achievements as a music artist and athlete. He shared the moment he decided to change what was on his plate and the typical foods he eats now, as well as how he uses social media to spark conversations and promote positive change in his community.   Enjoy, friends.    Simon Want

In Episode #50, I sat down with good friend Will Dalton to chat about aspects of my own life, including what inspired me to transition to a plant-based lifestyle and ultimately start The Proof. For those of you who have followed The Proof’s journey so far, you may know that I don’t actually like to share a lot about myself. But given its growth, I appreciate that many of you will want to get to know me better, and rightly so!    Enjoy, friends.   Simon Want to support the show?  The best way to support the show is to use the products and services offered by our sponsors. To check them out, and enjoy great savings, visit theproof.com/friends.  Simon Hill, Msc, Bsc (Hons)  Creator of theproof.com and host of The Proof with Simon Hill  Author of The Proof is in the Plants  Watch the episodes on YouTube, or Listen on Apple/Spotify  Connect with me on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook  Download my complimentary two week meal plan and high protein plant performance recipe book

In Episode #47, I sat down with environmentalist, fellow Aussie, and ocean lover Tim Silverwood. Tim is the co-founder of Take 3, an organisation that encourages people to collect rubbish and dispose of it correctly. He was also recently featured in the documentary Blue and is an absolute wealth of knowledge about the damage we’re doing to this planet and what we can all do to fix it. Get ready folks…some of the statistics about the damage we have caused is mind blowing!    We discuss ocean plastics, microplastics, plastics in drinking water and soil, single-use plastics, and the damage being done to the planet. But importantly, we also discuss what we can do to help the planet regenerate and prevent further destruction. If you care about the ocean and the ecosystem as a whole, then you need to listen to this. Speaking personally, this conversation got me thinking about a number of things that I can do to help our planet. For more insights and reflections, visit The Proof website for the full show notes.   

In Episode #46, I sat down with Adam Guthrie to hear about his journey, which at one point saw him in a critical care hospital literally fearing for his life. I first met Adam in Ubud, Bali, earlier this year, and when I heard his story, I knew I had to share it with The Proof community. Listen to find out about Adam’s heart attack, how he took control of his health, and his transition to a plant-based diet. Hear how he stepped up to train for and complete the Ironman Triathlon, how he’s working with people in his community to better their health, and much more.   Enjoy, friends.   Simon Want to support the show?  The best way to support the show is to use the products and services offered by our sponsors. To check them out, and enjoy great savings, visit theproof.com/friends.  Simon Hill, Msc, Bsc (Hons)  Creator of theproof.com and host of The Proof with Simon Hill  Author of The Proof is in the Plants  Watch the episodes on YouTube, or Listen on Apple/Spotify  Connect with me on Instagram, Twitter and Fa

In Episode #45, I sat down with the owner of Beyond Sushi, chef Guy Vaknin, to learn more about his story and the journey of one of my favourite places to eat in New York. Listen to find out how Beyond Sushi was born, its journey from vegetarian to plant-based, the challenges of starting and scaling a small business in New York, and the restaurant’s future. We also talked about Guy’s childhood, when and why he moved to NYC, how he developed an interest in hospitality, and much more!  Enjoy, friends.  Simon Want to support the show? The best way to support the show is to use the products and services offered by our sponsors. To check them out, and enjoy great savings, visit theproof.com/friends.  Simon Hill, Msc, Bsc (Hons)  Creator of theproof.com and host of The Proof with Simon Hill  Author of The Proof is in the Plants  Watch the episodes on YouTube, or Listen on Apple/Spotify Connect with me on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook  Download my complimentary two week meal plan and high protein plant perform

In Episode #44, I caught up with Andrea, who you may know as Earthy Andy, on the north shore of Oahu. Andy was in the final few weeks of her pregnancy (and has since given birth to baby Nalu) so it was such an amazing effort for her to sit through quite a long recording!   In this episode, we talked about her early years, how and where she met Shem, what inspired her to make changes to the food she was eating, and what Shem thought of her moving to a plant-based lifestyle. Andrea shared how she initially hid her Instagram account from anyone she knew (including her family), what role social media and technology plays in her life, and how she sets boundaries. We also chatted about pregnancy and breastfeeding as a plant-based mother, what a normal day looks like for her family now, and whether their doctors are supportive of the way they live. Listen to get some great insights into Andy’s home life and tips on being a parent and raising conscious, loving kids.    Enjoy, friends.   Simon Want to support the sho

In Episode #43, I sat down with Brooklyn Borough President, Eric Adams, to chat about his personal health journey. Eric is a former NYPD police officer and New York state senator who was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. In our conversation, he shared what his diet was like before his diagnosis, why he changed his diet, and how this affected his diabetes management and quality of life. We also talked about the work he’s doing at the community level in Brooklyn, including his work with Dr Michelle McMacken, and how this can be used as a blueprint for other communities globally.    Enjoy, friends.   Simon Want to support the show?  The best way to support the show is to use the products and services offered by our sponsors. To check them out, and enjoy great savings, visit theproof.com/friends.  Simon Hill, Msc, Bsc (Hons)  Creator of theproof.com and host of The Proof with Simon Hill  Author of The Proof is in the Plants  Watch the episodes on YouTube, or Listen on Apple/Spotify  Connect with me on Instagram,

In Episode #42, I caught up with pro surfer and vegan mother Alana Blanchard in Kauai, Hawaii. From when she was just 8 years old, Alana had a dream to become a pro surfer, and she dedicated her life to turning it into reality.   We covered a lot in this episode: her relationship with Bethany Hamilton; the shark attack incident, how it affected her, and her journey to getting back in the water; the movie Soul Surfer that covered Bethany and Alana’s story; why she follows a plant-based diet; her pregnancy experience as a vegan, including what she ate, what food aversions she had, and what she supplemented with; how her baby son Banks is doing and her experience breastfeeding; what Alana and her partner Jack plan to feed Banks when he starts eating solids; and so much more. Connect with Alana on Instagram.    Enjoy, friends.   Simon Want to support the show?  The best way to support the show is to use the products and services offered by our sponsors. To check them out, and enjoy great savings, visit theproof.

In Episode #41, I sat down with Ellen Fisher to learn about her journey and the steps she’s taken to build a family centred around consciousness, abundance, life learning, love, and lots of fun. In this conversation, we covered what Ellen’s childhood was like in California; why she changed her diet; why she and her high school sweetheart, Andrew, decided to leave California for Hawaii; and what life is like there. Ellen also shares her experiences during her three pregnancies and breastfeeding, including some breastfeeding tips to improve supply. Listen to hear some tips about raising kids on plant-based food, how her kids deal with non-vegan food or junk food in social situations, and much more. For more insights and reflections, visit The Proof website for the full show notes.    Enjoy, friends.   Simon Want to support the show?  The best way to support the show is to use the products and services offered by our sponsors. To check them out, and enjoy great savings, visit theproof.com/friends.  Simon Hill,

Episode #40 is certainly not for the faint hearted. Legendary punk rocker, author, and plant-powered athlete John Joseph takes us through his life and what it was like to grow up in Manhattan in the 60s, 70s and 80s with no money and little family support while being surrounded by some truly bad influences. If you don’t like swearing or you have young kids listening, this is not the episode for you. John grew up in some crazy times and did some crazy things to basically stay alive. But despite the colourful language, John has an extremely powerful message; one thing that stood out to me from our conversation was ‘it’s not what happens to someone in life…it’s what they do about it’. In our conversation, John shared the trouble he got into as a teenager and how drugs impacted his life, what the punk rock scene was like and how he got there, and why he switched to a plant-based diet. He also talked about being on the run from the police, joining the Hare Krishnas, his time in the navy, and the work he’s doing wi

In Episode #39 of The Proof podcast, I sat down with cardiologist Dr Rob Ostfeld to talk about preventative medicine and how he treats his patients to improve their quality of life and promote longevity. Among other things, we delved into Dr Ostfeld’s medical training, how he ended up specialising in cardiology, when and why his own diet changed, and how he became interested in preventative medicine. He also goes into the science of saturated fat, cholesterol, and statins (cholesterol medications) as well as sharing what supplements (if any) he recommends to his patients and what happens if you replace animal protein in your diet with plant protein.   If you want to understand more about the types of food you should be eating and avoiding, this is the perfect episode for you. As Dr Ostfeld walks us through the science of cardiovascular disease, he offers a tonne of practical information and tips for choosing foods to fit your own lifestyle. Connect with Dr Ostfelt on Instagram @drostfeld. For more insights a

In Episode #38 of The Proof podcast, I spoke with Bianca Taylor about her journey from a seemingly lost, sad, and powerless soul to a vibrant, inspirational, and empowering woman taking charge of her life and understanding her purpose. Listen to find out about Bianca’s childhood and teenage years and her mental health, including what happened when her father was shot outside their home and how this affected her. We also dive into relationships, her lowest moments where she asked herself ‘what’s the point of life?’, and the moment that saved her and helped her find a path towards her purpose.   There’s much more in this episode, including tips for self-love and working on your mental health to maintain a positive outlook on life. For more insights and reflections, visit The Proof website for the full show notes.    Enjoy, friends.   Simon   Want to support the show?  The best way to support the show is to use the products and services offered by our sponsors. To check them out, and enjoy great savings, visit

In Episode #37, I sat down for the second time with Dr Michelle McMacken (previous guest on Episode #2) to talk about the science behind eating for longevity. This is one of my favourite episodes so far in terms of breaking down the science, clearing the confusion, and helping us all understand what we should be eating more and less of. Grab a pen and paper…you’re going to want to take notes and probably listen more than once!   We talked about Michelle’s project, which offers plant-based food programmes to outpatients with chronic diseases, and the science behind saturated fat and cholesterol and their contributions to disease. Michelle explained the specific types of fat and cholesterol we need to worry about, sources of healthy fats, and the science of the paleo and keto diets. She also talked about type 2 diabetes and how to manage it nutritionally. Connect with Michelle on Instagram. For more insights and reflections, visit The Proof website for the full show notes.    Enjoy, friends.   Simon Want to s

In Episode #36, I sat down with Suzy Amis Cameron, wife of popular filmmaker James Cameron, at her house in Malibu to chat about her life and how we can eat to not only thrive but also save the planet.   We discussed her childhood, her time as a Ford model and actress, what Muse School is and why she co-founded it, and the inspiration behind her new book, OMD: The Simple, Plant-Based Program to Save Your Health, Save Your Waistline, and Save the Planet. Listen to hear Suzy’s thoughts on just how real climate change is, the effects our food choices have on the planet, and what the solutions are. To connect with Suzy, find her on Instagram @suzyamiscameron and @omd4theplanet. If you would like to know more about Suzy’s new book and OMD, check it out here.    Enjoy, friends.   Simon Want to support the show?  The best way to support the show is to use the products and services offered by our sponsors. To check them out, and enjoy great savings, visit theproof.com/friends.  Simon Hill, Msc, Bsc (Hons)  Creator

In Episode #35, I sat down with plant-based dad, author, endurance athlete, and podcast host Rich Roll. We went through his journey from an unhealthy man in his 20s and 30s battling with addiction and poor food choices to a man in his 50s thriving physically and mentally while living a life of purpose and fulfilment.   Rich’s story is very well documented, but given that this is his first time on The Proof podcast and that we plan to record future episodes together, I thought it was important that those who may not know his story get a chance to hear it. Even if you already know his story, I think you will still benefit greatly by listening to this episode – I know I certainly have! We also talked about Rich’s transition to a plant-based lifestyle and what inspired it, his leap into the world of ultra-endurance competitive racing, the typical foods that Rich eats in a day, his thoughts on climate change, and much more. Connect with Rich on Instagram @richroll. You can also grab a copy of any of Rich’s books (

In Episode #34, I caught up with Ben Richards, owner of Seeds of Life Cafe in Ubud, Bali, to chat about his story and what raw or ‘living’ foods are all about. It’s a three-hour episode, so a bit of a marathon one, but it’s full of golden nuggets to get you thinking about life at a deeper level, particularly why we eat what we do.   Some highlights include Ben’s experience with plant medicines, including mushrooms and ayahuasca; what ‘raw food’ means and whether it’s for everyone; what soaking, sprouting and fermentation is and how to do it; resources to learn more about raw foods; and the question that society should be asking to get back on track and plug into nature for a truly fulfilling experience on this planet. Plus hear my reaction to trying durian fruit for the first time at the end of the episode! For more insights and reflections, visit The Proof website for the full show notes.    Enjoy, friends.   Simon   Want to support the show?  The best way to support the show is to use the products and serv

In Episode #32, I sat down with world-renowned vegan chef Gaz Oakley to discuss his story and rise to stardom over the past three years. Since early 2016, Gaz has taken social media by storm with his avant-garde cooking displays on YouTube and Instagram, amassing a combined following of over 700,000 people.   Gaz has phenomenal talent, a bright future ahead, and is as humble and genuine as they come. In our conversation, Gaz took me through his journey so far, including how he developed a passion for cooking, where he crafted his skills, and why he took a hiatus from the cooking industry at one stage to work in labour and sales. Of course, we cover his transition to a plant-based diet and what inspired that, as well as how he comes up with the inspiration for his recipes. Oh, and he drops some news about a secret collaboration with a huge restaurant on air! You can connect with Gaz on Instagram @gazoakley and YouTube to see his amazing food with your own eyes.    Enjoy, friends.   Simon Want to support the s

In Episode #31 of The Proof podcast, I sat down with Loni Jane. Loni started sharing her journey pretty much as soon as Instagram was launched. She’s a great example of someone in very poor health who adopted a plant-based lifestyle and was able to turn her life around, both mentally and physically, to create a life of love, prosperity, growth, and wellness. Loni has now built a life that is in her control and on her terms, in stark contrast to her former life where she battled with excessive drinking, low self-awareness, poor nutrition, and essentially a depleted physical body.   I hope you enjoy this raw, candid, and authentic conversation covering Loni’s battle with deteriorating health and the difficulties she faced in transitioning to a plant-based lifestyle. She also shares tips for pregnancy and motherhood from her personal experience, including how she worked with her doctors and what her kids eat. Connect with Loni on Instagram @lonijane.    Enjoy, friends.   Simon Want to support the show?  The bes