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PLANTSTRONG Podcast

Ep. 305: Chef Kevin McGee - How He Went From Making Bank Deals to Plant Meals

PLANTSTRONG Podcast

Rip Esselstyn

Health & Fitness, Alternative Health, Medicine, Nutrition

4.8 • 2.3K Ratings

🗓️ 12 June 2025

⏱️ 51 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

What if your next meal could change a life—starting with your own?

Rip sits down with Chef Kevin McGee, a 25-year veteran of plant-based living and the visionary behind the Urban Oak Initiative. From his Missouri roots and a former career in investment banking, to leading a nonprofit centered on food justice, Kevin shares a moving personal and professional journey grounded in compassion, health, and cultural heritage.

Listeners will hear how Kevin’s childhood influences—especially his mother and grandmother—shaped his culinary philosophy.

And you’ll hear a very personal story—how his daughter’s battle with cancer became a turning point in his life, igniting a new level of purpose that fuels everything he does today.

This episode is a masterclass in how food can nourish not just our bodies, but our spirits and communities as well. So grab a seat at the table—Chef Kevin is serving up something truly special.

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Transcript

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0:00.0

I'm Ray Besselston, and you're listening to the Plant Strong podcast.

0:05.6

What if your next meal could change a life starting with your own?

0:11.6

Today, you're going to meet chef Kevin McGee, who traded investment banking for plant-based cooking

0:18.2

to improve the health of his family and his community.

0:21.6

His story is coming up right after these words from Plant Strong.

0:26.6

I am thrilled to share that Planned Strong is now a platinum partner of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine,

0:35.6

that's A-C-L-M, and it's a powerful step forward

0:40.5

in our mission to reach as many people as possible with the life-changing benefits of adopting

0:46.6

a Whole Food, plant-based lifestyle. This includes the health care providers who serve on the

0:53.1

front lines of chronic disease every single

0:57.2

day. It's also why we're so excited to announce that our November, Planned Strong Retreat,

1:02.9

in Black Mountain, North Carolina, will offer continuing education credits for licensed providers.

1:09.3

It's an incredible opportunity to recharge personally and professionally

1:14.9

while learning how to prescribe and apply nutrition as the ultimate defense against chronic

1:21.5

disease. Together with ACLM and our passionate community, we're creating a future where food is foundational

1:30.4

and plants are the prescription. Visit plantstrong.com to get more information about our events.

1:38.9

More great news, my Plansstrong cousins, we have a seasonal summer sale that's taking place at

1:44.8

planstrong.com. You can save 50% on two packs of our skillet burger mixes while

1:52.2

supplies last. I reach for these over and over again because firstly, everyone in the

1:58.8

family loves them, and secondly, they throw together so quickly.

2:04.0

By the time I'm done getting the condiments out of the fridge and slicing up my tomatoes,

2:09.1

onions, and avocados, they are done. And if you've been disappointed by the ingredients

...

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