Why athletes are going plant-based with vegan bodybuilder and bestselling author Robert Cheeke Artwork

Here All Day

Here All Day: From Clinic to Competition is a sports medicine podcast hosted by Dr. Cassie Warbeck — a sports medicine fellow, lifelong combat sports athlete, and plant-based lifestyle advocate. This podcast is where sport science, performance, and stories collide. Expect engaging conversations with physicians, researchers, coaches, and athletes as we explore the full spectrum of human potential — from evidence-based injury prevention, recovery insights, plant-based nutrition, training strategies, and mental resilience. Whether you're in the gym, on the field, or in the clinic, this is your space to learn, grow, and show up — all day.

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Why athletes are going plant-based with vegan bodybuilder and bestselling author Robert Cheeke

July 04, 2021 • Season 1 • Episode 2

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This conversation is with Robert Cheeke, also known as the “Godfather of Vegan Bodybuilding.” Robert grew up on a farm in Oregon and adopted a vegan lifestyle in 1995 at age 15, weighing just 120 pounds. Fast forward to today, and Robert is a two time natural bodybuilding champion and author of several books, the latest being the New York Times bestseller, The Plant-Based Athlete. This is a fun conversation that is packed with practical information. It is for any athletes out there curious about all the hype surrounding plant-based diets these days or just for anyone passionate about health and fitness.

We cover:

How Robert went from a skinny farm kid to a champion vegan bodybuilder
Why a plant-based diet is beneficial for athletes
Why recovery is essential and how diet plays a role
If an athlete can get all their protein from plants
Plant protein vs animal protein for muscle building
Whole foods vs protein supplements
If there are nutrient deficiencies plant-based athletes should be concerned about
Tips for transitioning to a plant-based diet
How to deal with common issues when eating more plants
What Robert learned from interviewing many elite plant-based athletes

If you would like to connect with Robert, you can find him on Instagram: @robert.cheeke and be sure to check out his website, veganbodybuilding.com Resources mentioned during this episode:

Book: The Plant Based Athlete
Book: Shred It!
Book: Plant Based Muscle
Film: Forks over Knives
Resource: No Meat Athlete
Eur J Clin Nutr. 2020: Is a vegan diet detrimental to endurance and muscle strength?
Sports Med. 2021: High-protein plant-based diet versus a protein matched omnivorous diet to support resistance training adaptations: a comparison between habitual vegans and omnivor

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Audio editing and processing by Wyatt Pavlik

Theme music by Ievgen Poltavskyi from Pixabay

*Please appreciate that any information discussed is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, always seek the opinion of a physician or qualified healthcare provider.*