16 Oct Carleigh Bodrug: Why Eating More Plants Could Change Your Health, Your Family & the Planet
Podcast: Play in new window | Download Subscribe: RSS
What if transforming your health didn’t require an extreme diet, expensive supplements, or spending hours in the kitchen? What if the most powerful changes began with something as simple as putting more plants on your plate?
In this episode of the SuperLife Podcast, Darin Olien sits down with Carleigh Bodrug, the creator behind the massively popular PlantYou platform and bestselling cookbook author who has inspired millions of people to rethink what healthy eating can look like.
Carleigh has built an extraordinary community by making plant-based cooking accessible, delicious, and, most importantly, free from judgment. Rather than telling people what they should never eat again, she encourages them to focus on what they can add to their plates. Her philosophy is refreshingly simple: You don’t have to be vegan to benefit from eating more plants.
Together, Darin and Carleigh explore why the modern obsession with protein may be distracting us from a much bigger nutritional problem: the overwhelming majority of Americans aren’t eating enough fiber. They discuss the importance of feeding the gut microbiome, the power of whole-food nutrition, and why a more diverse plant-based diet can support long-term health.
The conversation also takes a fascinating turn into the hidden dangers of everyday conveniences. From microplastics in tea bags and plastic-lined coffee cups to PFAS in food packaging, Darin explains how seemingly harmless products may contribute to unnecessary chemical exposure. But rather than leaving listeners feeling powerless, they highlight emerging alternatives, including algae-based packaging technologies, and simple changes consumers can make immediately.
Carleigh also opens up about how becoming a mother completely transformed her relationship with food, time, and purpose. Her latest cookbook, PlantYou Quickies, was born from the realization that most people don’t lack the motivation to eat healthier. They lack the time. She shares practical recipes, meal-planning strategies, and kitchen shortcuts designed to make nourishing meals possible even on the busiest days.
Beyond nutrition, the discussion becomes deeply personal. Carleigh reflects on losing her mother to lung cancer, witnessing her father’s battle with colon cancer, and how those experiences strengthened her commitment to helping people improve their healthspan. Darin shares his own journey into nutrition, the importance of living in harmony with nature, and why community, family, and connection are fundamental to a meaningful life.
They also explore the growing peptide craze, the importance of sleep and exercise, the benefits of sprouting, and the extraordinary abundance that can come from growing even a small amount of your own food.
At its heart, this conversation is about making healthy living easier, more inclusive, and more sustainable.
You don’t have to change everything overnight. You don’t have to be perfect. And you certainly don’t have to spend hours preparing every meal.
Sometimes, changing your life starts with changing what’s on your plate.
Practical Takeaways
1. Add More Plants Instead of Focusing on Restrictions
Carleigh’s approach isn’t about forcing everyone to become vegan. It’s about helping people increase the amount and variety of plant foods they eat.
Start by adding vegetables to familiar meals, swapping some animal proteins for beans or lentils, and experimenting with plant-based versions of foods you already enjoy.
2. Prioritize Fiber, Not Just Protein
Darin and Carleigh challenge the disproportionate attention given to protein while dietary fiber remains underconsumed.
Beans, lentils, vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, and seeds provide fiber that supports digestion and helps nourish beneficial gut microorganisms.
3. Make Healthy Cooking Convenient
Healthy food doesn’t have to be complicated.
Carleigh recommends developing a reliable rotation of simple meals, doubling recipes, preparing soups and stews in larger batches, and keeping versatile ingredients on hand.
Her philosophy is that convenience should help people eat better, not push them toward less nourishing choices.
4. Reduce Unnecessary Plastic Exposure
Consider replacing plastic-containing tea bags with loose-leaf tea, avoiding heating food in plastic containers, and bringing reusable drink containers when practical.
Darin also highlights emerging alternatives to conventional PFAS-containing food packaging.
5. Focus on Foundational Health
Before pursuing complicated wellness interventions, Darin and Carleigh emphasize the importance of consistent sleep, regular physical activity, and nutrient-dense whole foods.
They also discuss the risks associated with some unregulated peptide products and why medical treatments deserve careful evaluation rather than blanket enthusiasm or rejection.
6. Grow Something, Even If It’s Small
Carleigh shares how surprised she was by the amount of food she could produce in her first home garden.
For people without outdoor space, sprouting certain seeds and legumes offers another inexpensive way to grow fresh food at home. Use seeds intended for sprouting and follow appropriate food-safety practices.
7. Think Beyond Lifespan to Healthspan
Carleigh’s experiences with her parents’ illnesses have strengthened her commitment to protecting her long-term health and being present for her son.
The goal isn’t simply to live longer. It’s to build habits that support vitality, independence, and meaningful connections throughout life.
BREAKDOWN
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
00:00:03 – Welcome to SuperLife
00:00:34 – Sponsor: MYCO Dog
00:02:01 – Introducing Carleigh Bodrug, founder of PlantYou
00:02:13 – Making plant-based eating accessible, fun, and shame-free
00:02:41 – How motherhood inspired PlantYou Quickies
00:02:46 – Fatal conveniences, PFAS, and microplastics in everyday products
00:03:03 – Fiber deficiency, sprouting, peptides, and leading by example
00:03:33 – Darin’s journey toward creating a healthier home
00:04:25 – Life in nature with Darin’s dogs, Chaga and Ella
00:04:51 – Medicinal mushrooms and supplements for dogs
00:05:48 – Darin reveals his upcoming human medicinal mushroom line
00:06:41 – Why adaptogens remain underutilized
00:07:12 – The growing peptide craze and concerns about safety
00:08:22 – Why Darin prefers foundational health over shortcuts
00:09:19 – Plant nutrition, amino acids, and the role of animal products
00:09:53 – Plant proteins and muscle recovery
00:10:17 – How PlantYou built an audience of millions
00:10:42 – Why Carleigh wants everyone to eat more plants, not necessarily become vegan
00:11:30 – Moving beyond shame and judgment in food conversations
00:12:15 – Creating a welcoming community around plant-based eating
00:12:40 – Why positive encouragement can be more effective than anger
00:13:32 – Making plant-based food irresistible through taste and presentation
00:13:53 – Darin’s unforgettable plant-based pizza night
00:14:36 – Exploring the evolution of vegan cheeses
00:15:38 – How to make delicious plant-based cheese at home
00:16:40 – Why experimenting with different plant-based alternatives matters
00:16:59 – Tofu, tempeh, and finding balance with protein
00:17:51 – Darin’s experience developing Shakeology
00:18:36 – Why Darin has become less obsessive about protein
00:19:03 – Understanding amino acids and the protein conversation
00:19:59 – Why every meal doesn’t need a perfectly matched protein combination
00:20:46 – Sponsor: Bite
00:23:01 – Why most Americans aren’t getting enough fiber
00:23:13 – The importance of vegetables, whole foods, and digestive health
00:23:44 – How dietary fiber feeds the gut microbiome
00:24:06 – The symbiotic relationship between gut bacteria and human health
00:24:39 – How gut health can influence energy and well-being
00:25:12 – How motherhood transformed Carleigh’s approach to nutrition
00:25:49 – Rethinking childhood nutrition and feeding the next generation
00:26:12 – Balancing motherhood, entrepreneurship, and creativity
00:26:32 – Why busy parents need healthy meals that are ready fast
00:26:53 – Writing PlantYou Quickies while pregnant
00:27:18 – How Carleigh’s husband made dinner in just 20 minutes
00:27:38 – Darin opens up about fatherhood and finding the right partner
00:28:24 – Making healthy cooking realistic for everyday families
00:28:55 – Why people don’t lack motivation, they lack time
00:29:18 – Removing the barriers to cooking healthy meals at home
00:29:41 – The overlooked problems with takeout containers
00:30:03 – Plastic packaging, hot food, and unnecessary exposure
00:30:20 – The surprising problem with plastic-containing tea bags
00:30:56 – PFAS chemicals hiding in food wrappers
00:31:34 – Innovative algae-based alternatives to PFAS-containing packaging
00:32:14 – How entrepreneurs and consumers can help change entire industries
00:32:46 – Simple swaps: loose-leaf tea and reusable containers
00:33:07 – The hidden plastic lining inside disposable coffee cups
00:33:26 – Darin’s travel routine for cleaner water and daily nutrition
00:34:18 – Why Darin prefers cacao and adaptogens to coffee
00:34:42 – Heavy metals, cacao sourcing, and ingredient testing
00:35:25 – Trust, transparency, and the future of food products
00:35:54 – Canadian parental leave and supporting new families
00:36:30 – Why modern work culture can undermine family and community
00:36:52 – The importance of connection for happiness and longevity
00:37:22 – How eating whole foods can simplify healthy living
00:38:01 – Why Darin prioritizes food before supplements
00:38:29 – The three foundations: nutrition, sleep, and exercise
00:39:10 – How travel and changing time zones affect recovery
00:39:31 – Why sleep consistency matters alongside sleep duration
00:40:22 – Building a healthier nighttime routine
00:41:13 – The surprising impact of sleeping with pets
00:41:28 – Darin’s emotional story about losing Ella in the rain
00:42:41 – Finding Ella and strengthening their bond
00:43:23 – Why every family needs a rotation of easy, reliable meals
00:44:15 – Carleigh’s favorite edamame pesto pasta
00:44:55 – Simple curries, cashew cream, and plant-based comfort food
00:45:32 – Easy miso tofu stir-fry and why plant-based cooking is forgiving
00:46:15 – Darin shares his everyday eating routine
00:46:36 – Watermelon, wildlife, and connecting with nature
00:47:19 – How Darin’s dogs coexist with the animals on his property
00:47:46 – Darin’s nutrient-dense meals after exercise
00:48:49 – Why Darin prefers lighter dinners
00:49:44 – Meal prepping versus cooking fresh
00:50:03 – Doubling recipes and making soups that last for days
00:50:42 – Introducing bitter greens and vegetables to young children
00:51:26 – The responsibility of shaping a child’s relationship with food
00:52:10 – Darin discusses relationships, fatherhood, and his happiness docuseries
00:53:03 – Living close to nature and raising children with awareness
00:53:58 – Finding the balance between protecting children and letting them explore
00:54:43 – Raising an energetic toddler and encouraging healthy play
00:55:55 – Why children need movement, exploration, and physical activity
00:56:44 – How becoming a parent changes everything
00:57:28 – Carleigh’s first experience growing her own vegetables
00:58:19 – The abundance of nature and sharing food with neighbors
00:58:42 – Is plant-based eating really more expensive?
00:59:23 – The incredible simplicity of growing sprouts at home
00:59:40 – How to sprout lentils and seeds using a jar
01:00:04 – Broccoli sprouts, sulforaphane, and plant compounds
01:00:29 – Why Darin treats sprouts as a main ingredient, not a garnish
01:00:50 – The injury that changed Darin’s life and led him toward nutrition
01:01:17 – How studying physiology and nutrition shaped Darin’s career
01:01:47 – Discovering ingredient quality and traveling to meet farmers
01:02:10 – Why Darin transitioned to a plant-based lifestyle
01:02:57 – Aligning personal health with compassion for animals
01:03:21 – Carleigh’s pregnancy, iron levels, and preeclampsia experience
01:03:45 – How her parents’ cancer diagnoses changed her perspective
01:04:29 – Why witnessing cancer treatment strengthened her commitment to prevention
01:04:57 – Building resilience and supporting long-term health
01:05:22 – The emotional importance of healthspan and being there for your children
01:05:45 – Darin reflects on his mother’s health struggles
01:06:41 – Why motherhood provides Carleigh with even more motivation to stay healthy
01:07:21 – How quickly the gut microbiome can respond to dietary changes
01:07:46 – Supporting the body’s natural capacity for resilience
01:08:08 – Carleigh shares her famous Tuscan beans recipe
01:08:29 – The simple ingredients behind her comforting chickpea dish
01:08:49 – Final thoughts and closing
LINKS
Find more from Darin:
Website: https://darinolien.com/
Instagram: @Darinolien
Book: darinolien.com/fatal-conveniences-book/
Down to Earth: darinolien.com/down-to-earth/
Find More from Carleigh Bodrug:
Website: plantyou.com
Instagram: @plantyou
Buy His New Book: PlantYou Quickies
Join the SuperLife Patreon:
This is where Darin now shares the deeper work:
– weekly voice notes
– ingredient trackers
– wellness challenges
– extended conversations
– community accountability
– sovereignty practices
Join now for only $7.49/month at https://patreon.com/darinolien
Don’t forget…
You can order now by heading to darinolien.com/fatal-conveniences-book or order now on Amazon.
SPONSORS
Thank You to Our Sponsors:
MYCO Dog
Darin discusses why he holds the supplements he gives his dogs to the same quality standards he expects from products he uses himself.
MYCO Dog produces mushroom-based supplements featuring ingredients such as turkey tail, lion’s mane, and adaptogens, including ashwagandha. Darin highlights the company’s emphasis on mushroom fruiting bodies, extraction methods, and ingredient sourcing.
He also shares that MYCO Dog’s Vitality formula has become part of his daily routine with his dogs.
Visit mycodog.com/superlife and use promo code SUPERLIFE for 15% off your first order.
Bite
Darin discusses the environmental impact of disposable toothpaste tubes and why he’s switched to Bite’s toothpaste tablets.
Bite offers toothpaste tablets packaged in reusable glass containers with refill options designed to reduce unnecessary plastic waste.
Visit trybite.com and use promo code DARIN20 for 20% off your first order.
I hope you enjoyed this episode of The Darin Olien Show! If you want to support or follow the podcast, here’s how:
Subscribe, rate or listen on Apple, Spotify, Stitcher
Follow my Instagram to keep updated on the podcast, weekly deep dives and other projects that I’m supporting (and the occasional Chaga appreciation post)
Sign up for my Weekly Email to keep up with what I’m tuned into.
For feedback or suggestions, email my team at info@darinolien.com
Find the list of brands & products that get the big tick of approval from me here.
Comment below to join the discussion!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
No Comments