Rephonic
Artwork for Optimal Protein Podcast

Optimal Protein Podcast with Vanessa Spina

Vanessa Spina
Fat Loss
Protein Intake
Protein
Metabolic Health
Resistance Training
Nutrition
Intermittent Fasting
Body Composition
Body Recomposition
Red Light Therapy
Autophagy
Collagen
Muscle Protein Synthesis
Ketogenic Diet
Protein-Sparing Modified Fasting
Women's Health
Mitochondrial Health
Ketosis
Creatine
Essential Amino Acids

Vanessa Spina is a Sports Nutrition Specialist, Best Selling author, creator of the innovative TONE device, as well as a sought after international speaker. On the Optimal Protein podcast, Vanessa shares how to get effortlessly lean and improve metabolic health and fitness with an optimal protein intake! Featuring interviews with world renowned and leading edge protein scientists & experts, author... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes541Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Health & FitnessNutritionFitness

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Optimal Protein Podcast

Latest Episodes

Why do so many people lose weight at first on keto or carnivore… only to eventually stall or even gain weight?

In this Friday recap episode, Vanessa breaks down the biggest takeaways from her interview with Craig Emmerich, co-author of The Art of M... more

Why do so many people lose weight on keto… only to stall—or even gain it back?

In this episode, Vanessa sits down with Craig Emmerich to break down one of the biggest misconceptions in fat loss: that simply eating high fat will keep the weight comi... more

You've been told to eat more fiber…

But what if that's not why you're still hungry?

In this Friday recap, Vanessa breaks down the biggest insights from her conversation with Dr. Joanne Slavin — a leading fiber researcher who still says most peopl... more

In this episode, Vanessa sits down with Dr. Joanne Slavin, Professor of Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Minnesota and one of the most highly cited researchers in nutrition science on fiber, satiety and protein.

👉 Extended one more... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Recent Guests

Dr. Joanne Slavin
Professor of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
Episode: Fiber Expert Says THIS Matters More for Fat Loss… (It's Not Fiber) | Dr. Joanne Slavin
Eric Helms
Researcher and natural bodybuilder, expert in evidence-based hypertrophy and physique nutrition
Mass Research Review / Helms3DMGA
Episode: New Meta-Analysis: How to Burn Fat & Preserve Muscle While Dieting | Dr. Eric Helms
Dr. Carlene Starck
Protein scientist researching amino acid losses and protein requirements
New Zealand research group including Dr. Bob Wolfe
Episode: New Study Changes Everything About Protein, Fat Loss & Muscle: Dr. Carlene Starck Recap!
Carlene Starck
Protein researcher discussing new publication on amino acid requirements
Starck Science (Dr. Starck's work)
Episode: New Study: Protein Requirements May Be Too Low — What This Means for Muscle, Fat Loss & Health | Dr. Carlene Starck
Dr. Andrew Kutnick
Researcher and expert discussing fat loss, protein, and ketones
Unknown based on transcript
Episode: Special AMA #22: Fat Loss, Protein & PSMF: Answering Your Top Questions (Part 1 of 2)
Dr. Andrew Koutnik
Researcher and expert on protein, ketones, and fat loss
Researcher (Dr. Andrew Koutnik)
Episode: New Study Changes Everything About Carbs, Fat Loss & Performance (Explained, Dr. Andrew Koutnik Recap)
Andrew Koutnik
Scientist focused on ketogenic metabolism and metabolic fuel switching
Researcher in ketogenic metabolism
Episode: Groundbreaking New Study Changes Everything About Carbs, Fat Loss & Performance | Dr. Andrew Koutnik
Jose Antonio
World-leading researcher in sports nutrition and protein studies; co-founder of the International Society of Sports Nutrition
International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN)
Episode: More Protein, More Fat Loss? | Dr. Jose Antonio
Dr. Jason Fung
Renowned expert on fasting and metabolic health
Flux Health / author of The Hunger Code
Episode: The NEW Era of Fasting: PSMF vs Water Fasting & The 3 Types of Hunger | Dr. Jason Fung

Host

Vanessa Spina
Host of Optimal Protein Podcast; sports nutrition specialist and author focusing on protein optimization and metabolic health.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 1.2k ratings
  • 10 min intro too long

    Takes forever to get to show!! Can’t always fast forward, adds and rambling for 10 min is too long.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Ruski 4.
    United States2 months ago
  • Good science

    Vanessa is smart and well studied making her recommendations backed by science. I do wish she would provide links to the studies mentioned (e.g., Lucy Burns study) in her recent episode

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    EileenofSeattle
    United States5 months ago
  • Clear and Informative

    Vanessa has the best guests and information available for anyone following a keto or lower carb diet. She has such a talent for explaining studies in layman’s terms. I never write reviews but listening to her podcast Thai morning (PSMF) I just got so much out of it.

    Thanks, Vanessa 🙏🏻😎

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Fitnessnut 62
    United States8 months ago
  • Red Light podcast

    One long commercial about sales sales sales.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Time well spent?
    Canada8 months ago
  • Wealth of Info

    I love the wealth of knowledge Vanessa brings us through this podcast! Love geeking out on protein, fasting and body comp!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    The Christian Nutritionist
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Overall, consistently informative with engaging hosts and expert guests.
Shows are science-backed and explain studies in approachable terms.
Guest quality and variety are strong, with practical protein-focused insights.
Ads/sponsorships can feel excessive for some listeners.
Diversity of topics and focus on women's health are valuable for peers and aspiring guests.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Monday Special AMA #22: Fat Loss, Protein & PSMF — Your Top Questions Answered (Part 2 of 2)
Q: Too much protein damages the kidneys—how much is too much?
In healthy individuals, protein intakes from 1.2–2.2 g/kg/day are not detrimental; even up to 3.4 g/kg/day has shown no adverse kidney effects in long-term studies, though some people may drop out due to the volume; emphasize overall pattern and hydration rather than fear of a fixed upper limit.
Monday Special AMA #22: Fat Loss, Protein & PSMF — Your Top Questions Answered (Part 2 of 2)
Q: Any suggestions for people who struggle with increasing their protein intake when they have digestive issues?
Distribute protein into smaller, 20–30 g portions every three to four hours, favor easily digestible forms like whey protein isolate or liquid protein, and consider amino acids as a supplement if necessary, while prioritizing whole protein sources for satiety and sustained anabolic support.
Groundbreaking New Study Changes Everything About Carbs, Fat Loss & Performance | Dr. Andrew Koutnik
Q: Is there a universal carbohydrate threshold athletes should follow, or is it highly individual?
It's highly individual. The evidence shows both low-carb and high-carb adapted athletes can perform well if they adapt for long enough, and some athletes thrive on very low intakes while others benefit from higher carb intake; ongoing monitoring of health biomarkers is essential.
Groundbreaking New Study Changes Everything About Carbs, Fat Loss & Performance | Dr. Andrew Koutnik
Q: What motivated you to challenge the carbohydrate-endurance dogma with your review?
The motivation came from synthesizing a century of data and noticing that many high-carb studies also showed brain energy metabolism changes; when confounding factors are controlled, carbohydrate amount does not reliably predict performance, so the focus should be on maintaining brain energy rather than chasing higher carbs.
More Protein, More Fat Loss? | Dr. Jose Antonio
Q: How does higher protein affect body recomposition when dieting or during maintenance?
The discussion covers findings where higher protein intakes helped preserve lean mass while enabling greater fat loss, and how in some follow-up experiments the lean mass gains were similar but fat loss was greater with the higher protein group.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Optimal Protein Podcast

What is Optimal Protein Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A science-forward show focused on protein, metabolism, and fat loss, with guests ranging from sports dietitians to exercise physiologists and protein science researchers. Episodes emphasize high-protein strategies, timing around training, and metabolic health across life stages, including perimenopause and postmenopause. The host often blends practical tips with deep-dive science, highlighting protein quality, fasting concepts, and real-world applications for weight management and muscle preservation. Notable strengths include a strong roster of expert guests, clear explanations of studies, and a willingness to translate complex research into actionable guidance for health-minded listeners.

Where can I find podcast stats for Optimal Protein Podcast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Optimal Protein Podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Optimal Protein Podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Optimal Protein Podcast get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Optimal Protein Podcast, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Optimal Protein Podcast?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Optimal Protein Podcast, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Optimal Protein Podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Optimal Protein Podcast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

How many episodes of Optimal Protein Podcast are there?

Optimal Protein Podcast launched 8 years ago and published 541 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Optimal Protein Podcast?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Optimal Protein Podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Optimal Protein Podcast from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Optimal Protein Podcast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Optimal Protein Podcast. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Optimal Protein Podcast?

Recent guests on Optimal Protein Podcast include:

1. Dr. Joanne Slavin
2. Eric Helms
3. Dr. Carlene Starck
4. Carlene Starck
5. Dr. Andrew Kutnick
6. Dr. Andrew Koutnik
7. Andrew Koutnik
8. Jose Antonio

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days