Ep. 312: Nancy Wells - She Collapsed Mid-Race. One Year Later, She Finished It—Powered by Plants
PLANTSTRONG Podcast
Rip Esselstyn
4.8 • 2.3K Ratings
🗓️ 31 July 2025
⏱️ 92 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In this unforgettable episode, Rip Esselstyn sits down with Nancy Wells, whose near-death experience at the Glass City Marathon turned into a life-saving wake-up call—and a triumphant return to running and living with purpose.
While racing last April, Nancy collapsed from a massive heart attack—a"Widowmaker." Thanks to the quick actions of a retired nurse and fast-acting paramedics, Nancy survived. But surviving was just the beginning.
Now, joined by Rip and cardiologist Dr. Brian Asbill, Nancy shares her gripping story: from waking up in the hospital scared and confused… to discovering a powerful new path forward through a whole food, plant-based lifestyle.
In this three part episode, they explore:
- What actually happens during a "Widowmaker" heart attack—and how fast action saved Nancy's life
- How nutrition played a key role in her recovery and transformation
- The emotional toll of surviving a near-death experience—and the mindset needed to rise again
- The life-changing effects of the PLANTSTRONG Meal Plan Bundle, from better sleep to lower blood pressure and a renewed zest for life and sustainable weight loss
- Why she laced up her shoes again—one year later—for a return to the race that nearly took her life
This conversation is raw, real, and incredibly uplifting. Nancy’s journey is living proof that hearts can heal, lives can restart, and food can empower transformation.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | I'm Ray Besselston, and you're listening to the Plan Strong podcast. Oh boy, do we have a |
| 0:08.1 | powerful show for you today, my Planned Strong friends? Last year, in April of 24, my guest |
| 0:16.1 | today, Nancy Wells, was doing what she loves doing more than anything in the world. |
| 0:22.0 | She was running a marathon. |
| 0:24.0 | But this day would not go as planned. |
| 0:27.3 | From the very beginning of the race, she was feeling a little off. |
| 0:31.2 | And just past mile four, she collapsed to the ground. |
| 0:35.0 | Because a massive heart attack known as the Widowmaker caused by a |
| 0:40.0 | blockage in her left anterior descending artery, which supplies right around half of the heart's |
| 0:47.4 | blood. Now, thanks to the immediate CPR of a retired nurse and the swift response of paramedics, |
| 0:54.0 | Nancy was able to survive. |
| 0:56.3 | But the journey ahead would test her resilience in every way. |
| 1:02.0 | We'll have Nancy's story of redemption and transformation right after this message from Plansdown. |
| 1:17.4 | Before we dive into today's episode, |
| 1:21.9 | I want to share something that could make a world of a difference, |
| 1:26.1 | especially during recovery for yourself or a loved one, |
| 1:30.0 | because coming home from the hospital can be overwhelming, |
| 1:37.4 | especially when it comes to food. This is exactly why we created the Plan Strong meal plan bundle. |
| 1:47.1 | It's a pantry ready, done for you gift that helps you or a loved one eat well and heal strong. It's more than just food. |
| 1:54.9 | It is peace of mind. This bundle includes a full seven-day meal plan with breakfast, lunches, |
| 2:03.5 | dinners, and snacks, all made from clean, nourishing ingredients that support recovery and long-term health. There's no cooking stress, no last-minute grocery runs, just simple, satisfying meals made from whole ingredients |
| 2:11.0 | designed to help people feel better, faster. Whether you're sending love to someone recovering |
... |
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