Share
The Matt Feret Show
Exploring Plant-Based Food and Nutrition with Julieanna Hever, RD | The Matt Feret Show Podcast | #082
Ep. 82
•
In this episode of The Matt Feret Show I interview registered dietitian, author, and plant-based expert Julieanna Hever. She provides practical advice for people interested in transitioning to a plant-based diet and emphasizes the importance of adopting radical self-compassion throughout the journey. She also provides scientific and anecdotal evidence to support the medicinal and preventative benefit of a plant-based diet for improving health and holistic wellness. Finally, we discuss and share our individual histories with food and diet, illustrating the rich differences between individuals. Watch the full episode on YouTube.
Introduction to Julieanna Hever with Matt Feret [1:09]
Transitioning to a Plant-Based Diet with Julieanna Hever [8:49]
Unpacking Processed Meat Alternatives with Julieanna Hever [15:54]
The Health Benefits of a Whole-Food Plant-Based Diet with Julieanna Hever [21:32]
Self-Compassion and Personal Choice in What We Eat [42:46]
Closing Thoughts about Transitioning to a Plant-Based Diet with Julieanna Hever [47:30]
Connect with me via the podcast website, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.
Check out Julieanna's nutrition program website, Instagram, YouTube, and Amazon bookstore front.
The Matt Feret Show is about thriving in midlife, retirement, and beyond. Each week, Matt shares smart conversations on Medicare, Social Security, retirement planning, health, wealth, wellness, caregiving, and life after 50.
Explore more episodes and sign up for The Matt Feret Newsletter: TheMattFeretShow.com
Need Medicare help? Book a no-obligation consultation: BrickhouseAgency.com
Watch full episodes on YouTube: The Matt Feret Show
Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube for more insights on wealth, wisdom, and wellness in retirement.
More episodes
View all episodes
How To Navigate Today's Job Market After Age 50
01:03:25|The job market isn’t what it used to be. A strong resume and decades of experience are no longer enough to carry even the most qualified applicants, especially in a market flooded with applications and filtered by AI before a human ever looks twice. Hiring works differently now, and that shift catches a lot of experienced workers off guard. That’s why today’s guest matters big time. We’re joined by Rick Denius, founder of HR Search Co., to break down how the hiring process really works today and what job seekers need to understand to navigate it.In this conversation, Rick walks through what he sees every day behind the scenes of hiring — why companies post jobs as a last resort, how roles actually get filled before they ever appear online, and where experienced candidates lose leverage without realizing it. He explains why applying online so often leads nowhere, how age bias quietly shows up in modern hiring (ageism is real!), and what older workers can do to stay visible and in demand.98. Longevity Doctor’s Keys To Living Better (Not Just Longer) Into Retirement
01:13:50||Ep. 98Today is a really, really special episode. Joining the show is cardiologist and longevity expert Dr. Hosein Kiat, who has spent his professional life studying why some people age with strength and clarity while others slowly lose them. He challenges the conventional belief that longevity is simply about adding more years. The way Dr. Kat sees it, living longer matters little if those later years come with declining health and independence.Drawing on decades of clinical experience and global research, Dr. Kiat shares his framework for protecting healthspan (not just lifespan) — the ability to move, think, and live on your own terms as you age. He walks us through what retirees should prioritize if they want their energy, mobility, and mental sharpness to last, and why many people focus on the wrong things for far too long. This one-hour conversation is packed with insights, not just for retirees, but for anyone who wants their later years to feel capable, active, and fully lived. I hope you enjoy this convo as much as I did! My website with more Medicare resources, books, courses, and more: https://prepareformedicare.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=organic_descriptionI recommend my wife’s Medicare insurance agency, but there’s never any obligation or pressure to work with her team. Here's more information if you're interested: https://brickhouseagency.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=organic_description97. How To Pay Your Kid's College Without Wrecking Your Retirement
01:10:57||Ep. 97Paying for college is one of the biggest financial shocks families face — not just because tuition keeps rising, but because the decisions parents make in the moment can have an outsized effect on their own financial future. Most people think college planning is about saving early, opening a 529, and hoping the FAFSA works out in their favor. But as college funding strategist Brian Eyster explains, the system is far more complex, and the consequences of getting it wrong often show up decades later… in retirement.Brian joins Matt to break down the hidden rules of college-saving — the ones most parents never hear until it’s too late. In this episode, Brian reveals why traditional advice often falls short, how to legally reduce what colleges expect you to pay, and using tools like home equity, cash flow, and even student loans strategically so you protect your long-term financial health.My website with more Medicare resources, books, courses, and more: https://prepareformedicare.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=organic_descriptionI recommend my wife’s Medicare insurance agency, but there’s never any obligation or pressure to work with her team. Here's more information if you're interested: https://brickhouseagency.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=organic_description96. What Retirees Need to Know About Traveling Alone
48:47||Ep. 96Many retirees picture travel as the ultimate reward — the long-awaited trip, the scenic tour, the cruise booked for two. But what happens when you’re ready to go and there’s no one to go with you? Whether your partner doesn’t want to travel, can’t retire yet, or you’re simply navigating this chapter solo, the dream of seeing the world can quickly feel complicated by logistics, costs, and unspoken worries about safety. But what if it's not? Travel advisor Alyssa joins Matt to explain why the conventional approach to travel often fails solo retirees — and what to do instead. She breaks down the real price of traveling alone, including the often-overlooked “single supplement” fee, and how certain cruise lines and tour groups are finally catering to solo travelers over 50. More than just tips, this conversation reveals how to find confidence, community, and security when you’re the only one planning the trip.My website with more Medicare resources, books, courses, and more: https://prepareformedicare.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=organic_descriptionI recommend my wife’s Medicare insurance agency, but there’s never any obligation or pressure to work with her team. Here's more information if you're interested: https://brickhouseagency.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=organic_description95. The 401(k) Playbook Has Changed (Especially For Business Owners)
01:02:32||Ep. 95Most people, especially business owners, think of a 401(k) as a basic retirement benefit. A place to stash some money for later years. Something you get once you have "enough" employees. But as 401(k) specialist Matt Rutenberg explains, that traditional view is wildly outdated. Today’s 401(k) rules allow far more flexibility, far bigger tax advantages, and far more wealth-building potential than most business owners ever realize. Matt joins the show (two Matts, yay!) to walk through how modern 401(k)s actually work, and why almost everything you assume about them is inaccurate. He explains how plan design shapes how much you really get to save, how small business owners and even solopreneurs can legally contribute far more than they think, and how strategic layers like profit sharing, cash-balance plans, and self-directed investing change the game entirely. This episode was an eye-opener!My website with more Medicare resources, books, courses, and more: https://prepareformedicare.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=organic_descriptionI recommend my wife’s Medicare insurance agency, but there’s never any obligation or pressure to work with her team. Here's more information if you're interested: https://brickhouseagency.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=organic_description94. Why Retirees Repeat the Same Money Mistakes
01:01:52||Ep. 94Many retirees think their financial habits will magically reset once they stop working, but financial therapist Kine Corder explains why that never happens. The money lessons you absorbed decades ago don’t retire when you do. They show up in quiet ways — how you react to market swings, how much you help your adult kids, how nervous you feel about spending even when the math says you’re fine. These patterns feel logical in the moment, but they usually come from old stories you didn’t choose and never questioned. In this episode, Kine and Matt explore how those childhood beliefs, family dynamics, and subconscious fears shape retirement more than any investment decision. My website with more Medicare resources, books, courses, and more: https://prepareformedicare.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=organic_descriptionI recommend my wife’s Medicare insurance agency, but there’s never any obligation or pressure to work with her team. Here's more information if you're interested: https://brickhouseagency.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=organic_description93. How Retirement Can Rewire Your Brain — For The Worse
45:35||Ep. 93Retirement is often envisioned by retirees as an eternal vacation. No alarms, no deadlines, no meetings. But as retirement life coach and neuroscience expert Cyn Meyer explains, that sudden stop can do strange things to the brain. After years of chasing goals and deadlines, your mind is wired for achievement. So when the structure disappears, it doesn’t relax, it actually panics. Many retirees experience what Cyn calls “retirement shock,” where the loss of routine and purpose quietly rewires the brain toward anxiety, depression, or a deep sense of aimlessness.Cyn joins Matt to explain what’s really happening inside the brain when you stop working — and how to prevent negative effects. Through her Rewire Retirement Method, Cyn helps retirees replace structure with growth, rediscover purpose through small daily habits, and create new pathways for meaning that last well beyond a career. In this episode, she reveals how to use your brain’s natural adaptability to build the vibrant, purpose-filled retirement most people never prepare for.My website with more Medicare resources, books, courses, and more: https://prepareformedicare.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=organic_descriptionI recommend my wife’s Medicare insurance agency, but there’s never any obligation or pressure to work with her team. Here's more information if you're interested: https://brickhouseagency.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=organic_description92. The Real Reason(s) So Many Retirees Feel Lost
01:03:39||Ep. 92Retirement is supposed to be a reward at the end of decades of hard work. It’s supposed to be the long-awaited time of relaxation and peace of mind. But what if it’s not? For countless retirees, that dream doesn’t match reality. The structure that once gave life rhythm — the routines, titles, and purpose that defined their days — vanishes overnight. What’s left is often an unsettling mix of confusion, boredom, and even despair. Retirement planner and mindset mentor George Jerjian joins Matt to explain why this happens, and what retirees can do to avoid it. After years of helping people navigate this transition, George has seen how easy it is to “drift into oblivion” once the paychecks stop and the identity fades. In this episode, he breaks down the hidden dangers of traditional retirement, why financial planning alone isn’t enough, and how his DARE Method helps people rediscover meaning, purpose, and joy in the second half of life.91. How Your Home Equity Can Power A Better Retirement
58:16||Ep. 91For most retirees, the house they live in is also their biggest untapped asset. Home equity often sits quietly on paper, doing nothing while retirement savings shrink and costs rise. Yet that same equity can be converted into income and peace of mind — WITHOUT selling the home. In this episode, I sit down with retirement expert Matt Helton to unpack how home equity could be the key to a better retirement. Matt has helped countless retirees turn their homes into reliable, flexible financial tools — not through risky loans or sales, but through smart planning and modern FHA-backed programs designed to protect homeowners. He explains how these options work, the most common mistakes retirees make, and why fear and misinformation still keep so many people from taking advantage of what’s right in front of them. I learned a lot in this interview, and I think you will too!