Comedian Mike Speirs survived aortic dissection and the life-saving open heart surgery that followed. Mike shares his experience in this episode. We discuss his career and the path he's on as he works to get to and maintain a healthy body weight. His approach is different than his previous attempts in a variety of ways. He shares his experiences along the way on his weekly podcast Less On My Plate with Mike Speirs. He's performed at some of the hottest comedy clubs in the country. When he's not headlining his own shows, he opens for comedian Bob Marley. In addition to the stand up stage, he's an actor, most notably with a recurring role as a corrections officer named "Lumpy" on the critically acclaimed Showtime mini-series Escape at Dannemora, directed by Ben Stiller.

This episode features a brief visit with mom, a short clip from a recent stand-up performance, and an interview with Dede Apfelbaum. Dede is over eighty pounds lighter than her heaviest. She's maintained her healthiest weight range for over three years. She shares how diets never ultimately worked for her in a long-term sustainable way. Things started changing for her in dramatic ways when she started applying patience for the process of evolving her own personal daily practice for long-term sustainability.

Welcome to Omaha! We're on the road this episode--from my hotel room. What does a new car wash, voice work, a famous fast food restaurant, a dead cell phone, asking for directions, Chipotle, navigating a tough menu at the last minute, and late hotel checkouts have in common? This episode!

After an extended break (1.5 years), Sean embraces a familiar philosophy in an attempt to break a pattern of inconsistency with this podcast.

Are you a food addict? If not, great! If you are, great! It's good either way. Wait, what?? I'll explain, plus I'll share a list of self-assessment questions from foodaddiction.com

If achieving a healthy body weight isn't the magic fixer of everything, if it doesn't make us happy, then what can truly provide a measure of happiness? In this episode, we'll hear from a couple of people on the Transformation Planet hotline and we'll explore this powerful topic. I'll share a simple question and exercise that can help you identify the core elements of you; the things that were with you at your heaviest and healthiest weight. Have a question or comment? Want to share your inspiring story with listeners of this podcast? Call the Transformation Planet Hotline and leave a message: 580-491-2228

In this episode, I release an episode! This podcast isn't dead, yay! in this one, I discuss some wonderful advice I've received for Transformation Planet. Have I over-complicated the process of producing this podcast? Uh, maybe. Okay, yes--yes I have. No more over-complicating. Simple works. I also talk Christmas and about the perspectives I must use if I'm to make it through without compulsively overeating. I'm also including a replay of my interview with Dr. Marty Lerner. Dr. Lerner's experience with eating disorders started long before he became known for his research and published articles. He shares his personal story with disordered eating behaviors in this episode. He also shares how a research project using ice cream forever changed the direction of his career. In the decades since, he's been featured on numerous national television and radio shows including The NPR Report, 20/20, ABC's Nightline and Discovery Health. Dr. Lerner's research has been published in many different professional publications and featured in The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, USA Today and several newspapers and national magazines. He is the CEO of Milestones In Recovery Eating Disorder Treatment Center in Florida.

Bryan Ganey's transformation story contains two dramatic weight loss experiences. After losing two hundred fifty pounds in his twenties, he was set, or so he thought. After gaining it all back in less than a year, Bryan realized his plan was lacking a critical part. In this episode, he shares how this initial weight loss and regain experience became important information for his transformation to come over a decade later. His book "Impossible: How I Lost Nearly 400 Pounds Without Surgery" chronicles his transformation from nearly six hundred pounds to a healthy body weight and into maintenance. Bryan is a motivation speaker and best selling author. He's been featured on Rachael Ray, CNN, AOL, and The Dave Ramsey Show. Find out more at www.bryanganey.com

Dr. Joan Ifland has dedicated over two decades of her life to food addiction research. In this episode, she discusses how processed food addiction starts, how and why it affects people differently, and how the research has proven, without question, the validity of its powerful grip on millions of people around the world. She's the founder of www.foodaddictionintensive.com, www.foodaddictionresources.com, and www.foodaddictionbooks.com  Dr. Ifland is the author of Sugars and Flours: How They Make Us Crazy, Sick and Fat, and What To Do About It and she's the co-author and co-editor of the comprehensive text-book, Processed Food Addiction: Foundations, Assessment, and Recovery published by CRC Press

Heather Robertson is the co-founder of the Half Size Me community and host of the popular podcast, Half Size Me. In this episode, Heather takes us back through her story and history of losing and gaining weight. Heather also talks about her experience and recovery with binge eating disorder. Her story took her to over 300 pounds at her heaviest before she started making shifts in her perspective and actions. She shares critical elements that changed everything for her. Heather takes a hands on approach in the Half Size Me community, where she offers support, member exclusive podcast episodes of Half Size Me, and even one on one coaching services--she's also the author of The Art of Weight Maintenance available wherever books are sold! Find out more at halfsizeme.com