Ep. 339: Jackie Akerberg - Why Progress over Perfection Wins Every Time
PLANTSTRONG Podcast
Rip Esselstyn
4.8 • 2.4K Ratings
🗓️ 5 February 2026
⏱️ 72 minutes
🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS
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Summary
It’s been way too long since Jackie Akerberg (@jackfruitfulkitchen) was on the podcast, and this episode is a true catch-up in every sense of the word. Jackie is a plant-based cook, creator, and community builder who brings joy, honesty, and seriously good food into everything she does.
In this conversation, we talk about how Jackie went plant-based and never looked back, how her health completely transformed, and how she’s grown an incredibly engaged online community by keeping things real—both in the kitchen and in life. We also get into big life changes, moving across the country, navigating relationships with people who don’t eat the same way you do, and why perfection is overrated when it comes to healthy living
And of course, we talk food. Squash season. Tofu done right. Tempeh that actually tastes amazing. Smart kitchen shortcuts (yes, including the microwave). If you love cooking—or want to love it more—this episode is packed with practical, doable ideas you’ll actually use.
This one’s about eating well, living well, and meeting yourself where you are.
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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. |
| 0:05.0 | This week on the Plant Strong podcast, I am joined once again by Jackie Ackerberg, aka Jack Fruitful. |
| 0:15.3 | She's a plant-based cook, creator, and community builder, sharing how putting plants at the forefront of her plate |
| 0:23.3 | transformed her health, her mindset, and her approach to food. This is a long overdue catch-up |
| 0:31.3 | with this rising Brockstar, and we talk about embracing imperfection, navigating a non-vegan relationship, and why simple kitchen |
| 0:42.5 | techniques can make plant-based eating easier and more joyful. |
| 0:47.5 | If you're looking for inspiration, practical cooking tips, and a refreshing reminder that progress beats perfection, then stick |
| 0:57.2 | around because it's coming up right after this message from Plans Strong. |
| 1:03.3 | If you just know that you need a vacation reset to one of our retreats, but you can't afford to attend. This is for you. |
| 1:13.6 | This April 19th to the 24th, we are hosting a Plant Strong retreat in beautiful Black Mountain, |
| 1:20.6 | North Carolina. And I know that for many people, cost is a real barrier. It's not desire or commitment. And so we are |
| 1:31.3 | doing something about it. We are offering a limited number of need-based scholarships, each valued at |
| 1:38.2 | $2,000 to help people who feel called to be there, but they need a little extra support to make it happen. |
| 1:47.3 | These retreats are so much more than the food. |
| 1:50.5 | They're about healing, community, education, and giving you the tools and the confidence to take ownership of your health. |
| 1:59.2 | We do not want access to be limited |
| 2:01.8 | to only those who can easily afford it. |
| 2:05.7 | So if this speaks to you or someone that you love, |
| 2:09.4 | visit the show notes, |
| 2:10.6 | or you can go to liveplandstrong.com to apply. |
| 2:14.2 | If you feel like this retreat |
| 2:17.2 | could change the trajectory of your health, and I'm telling |
... |
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