Follow Your Kind

John Adamson is the founder and owner of Neon Tiger, a cool, hip, concept-driven restaurant and bar in Charleston, SC. If you are in the area - you have to visit! Neon Tiger just won The Best New Restaurant in Charleston. And if know anything about the food scene and the level of competition there, you know that goes a long way. Neon Tiger is located right on Kings street, has a remarkable and tastefully crafted drink menu... And oh wait... it just happens to be vegan!John Adamson is a visionary. Since he started his first restaurant in 2001 - a Mellow Mushroom - he opened 10 restaurants and bars, with the last few being The Rarebit and The Americano.Neon Tiger, his latest creation, is a glitch in the matrix. Set in 2048, when the oceans are dead, and most wild animals are extinct, Neon Tiger represents a beacon of hope, a call to action, and a price we should not want to pay for our taste preferences today. If you walk through the restaurant you will notice subtle and very powerful messages displayed in every element of the design.In this conversation John shares his story, career, transition to veganism and approach to activism. We talk in detail about the concept behind Neon Tiger and what it symbolizes, we discuss our  experiences with veganism, and our values. Join the conversation!Follow John and Neon Tiger:Neon Tiger: @neon_tiger_John: @chephotelWebsite: neontiger.com 

Dr. Colin Zhu is a primary care physician who is Board-Certified in family practice and lifestyle medicine. Passionate about the intersection of medicine, food, and nutrition, Dr. Zhu trained as a chef and a health coach at the Natural Gourmet Institute for Health & Culinary Arts and the Institute for Integrative Nutrition following completion of his medical degree. To share his unique blend of medical knowledge with a wider audience, Dr. Zhu launched TheChefDoc website, an online wellness and lifestyle education platform which has been featured in several publications. Colin is also the author of "Thrive Medicine: How To Cultivate Your Desires and Elevate Your Life.“ Also is the podcast host of Thrive Bites in which he interviews the latest health and wellness experts about incorporating a plant-powered lifestyle, enhancing emotional wellness, and creating a thriving mindset!In this conversation we talk about... surprise! - THRIVING! What it means and what it takes. We discuss our healthcare system, its strength and opportunities for improvement. Dr. Zhu shares his story - what inspired him to go into medicine, and how his unique career evolved into what he does today - helping people thrive. We talk about various types of medicine he practices, and why the intersection where he finds his niche today, makes perfect sense. Tune in to learn more, and hear Colin's personal tips on thriving and living a life of purpose, meaning and joy!Resources and links:TheChefDoc websiteThrive Bites Podcast"Thrive Medicine: How To Cultivate Your Desires and Elevate Your Life" BookThe THR5 Formula Virtual SummitThe THR5 Formula Virtual Summit is a thriving masterclass series that combines 5 pillars as a foundation to thrive in our lives: Food as medicine, functional fitness, relationships, community, and resilience. It acts like a summit but also as a workshop series. There will be sessions to learn from, a digital workbook, quizzes, a private FB community, and lots of virtual goodies exclusive to this summit. It is meant for healthcare professionals, students, and individuals that are looking for additional resources to optimize their overall wellness for 2021 and beyond. It has 52 experts bringing you over 50+ hours of inspirational, educational, and practical tools for you and your family. Please click this link for a special 25% discount code (link expires May 31, 2021): https://www.thethr5formula.co/?coupon=25KRYSTYNA"

Trish Ahjel Roberts is on a mission to share her revolutionary 12-step approach to mind-blowing happiness with the world. She is a self-actualization coach, yoga and meditation instructor, happiness expert and founder of HoneyButterflyz LLC and Black Vegan Life™. Trish was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY and holds an MBA from Long Island University. Trish is the author of three self-help books: the e-book, Mind-Blowing Happiness™ Guide to Self-Care; the self-help memoir, Thinking Outside the Chrysalis: A Black Woman's Guide to Spreading Her Wings; and the inspirational journal, 12 Steps to Mind-Blowing Happiness: A Journal of Insights, Quotes & Questions to Juice Up Your Journey. Trish has ten years of Buddhist study and twenty years of yoga experience. She believes movement and nature are therapy and loves running, hiking and yoga. Sign up for her inspirational blog and learn more at mindblowinghappiness.com. Trish's website is: mindblowinghappiness.comSocial Media Links IG: @trishahjelrobertsFB: @mindblowinghappinessTwitter: @trishahjelClubhouse: @trishahjel

In 2012, Adam Sud’s life was completely out of control. Once weighing nearly 350lbs and struggling with multiple addictions, serious chronic diseases, and mental health disorders. His life nearly came to an end when he attempted suicide by drug overdose. He checked into rehab and with the help of his parents and a plant-based diet, he began a journey that led to a remarkable recovery.Adam is now a diabetes and food addiction coach for Mastering Diabetes ( masteringdiabetes.org ), a program that focuses on reversing insulin resistance to master type 1, Type 1.5, pre-diabetes, and type 2 diabetes using low fat, whole food, plant-based nutrition. He also works with Engine 2 and Whole Foods Market’s Total Health Immersion Team. He is an international speaker for the plant-based movement. Adam has worked in recovery centers using plant-based nutrition as a tool for strengthening recovery and relapse prevention.Adam is the founder of Plant-Based for Positive Change that is dedicated to advancing the research of diet and mental health / addiction and is running the very first research study to investigate the effects of a nutrient dense food intervention for addiction recovery. He firmly believes that the simplest change on your fork make the most profound change of your life and that self-love is the root of all recovery. He is working on a research study along with Dean and Ayesha Sherzai, MDs.Please consider donating to Adam’s studyhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/6ah8f-infinite-studyPlant-Based for Positive Changehttps://www.plantbasedforpositivechange.org***Kind gift-giving - consider these ideas this season for you and your loved-ones:https://www.jamiescookiedough.comhttps://www.farmofthefree.orghttps://www.fullcirclefarmsanctuary.org

Hanni Berger is a speaker and the CEO of JOYVIAL, an online network of professional health coaches who help you live your healthiest, most joyful and fulfilled life.With 20 years of prior experience in the hospitality industry, she managed large teams, millions of dollars in revenue, and as such experienced firsthand the effects of stress on her mind and body.Today, after years of studying from the best in the health industry, she has combining science backed data, with her own real-world experience. Seeing the life-changing effects certain techniques had on her life, she is passionate about helping others live a life they love.She is a native of Austria who never even heard about the movie “The Sound of Music” until coming to the US. Today she gets her sanity from riding her motorcycle – preferably on the race track. Often referred to as a “ray of sunshine”, she brightens up every room with her energy and her beaming smile.In this conversation Hanni shares her own story of transformation and how she discovered a path towards JOY! Hanni shares her 3-prawn framework for cultivating more joy - monitoring the things we ingest, outer work and inner work. We talk about sugar addiction, stress management and simple but powerful tools for letting go of beliefs that no longer serve us. Tune in to learn more! Check out Hanni's website with a variety of free resources here:https://www.joyvial.com JOYVIAL YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9yZCc2VP21YlnYKnvgxd0Q

Laurie Marbas, MD, MBA is a double board certified family medicine and lifestyle medicine physician, who has been utilizing food as medicine since 2012. Previously, she created a new medical model combining the power of nutrient-dense foods and intensive clinical psychological therapy to treat not only food addiction but also chronic disease. As the past Managing Editor for the Plantrician Project’s International Journal of Disease Reversal and Prevention, she worked closely with the journal’s Editor in Chief, Dr. Kim Williams. The journal is focused on bringing plant-based research to the forefront of modern medicine and to the general public. She is also co-founder of Healthy Human Revolution, whose mission is to provide resources that will empower individuals with the knowledge, tools, and mindset to successfully adopt and sustain a whole food, plant-based (WFPB) diet.In Colorado, when Laurie convinced a large hospital to create a lifestyle medicine program centered around a WFPB diet, the program showed resounding success. At another hospital, she conducted a one-month study of 26 employees on a WFPB diet. All employees were fed from the hospital’s kitchen, and each individual experienced improved health. She has spoken at the Golden VegFest in Colorado, the International Plant-based Nutrition Healthcare Conference, and other venues teaching about the value of the WFPB diet.Laurie received her dual degrees (MD and MBA) from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine and TTU School of Business. She was awarded the Texas Tech University School of Medicine Gold Headed Cane Award, a symbol for excellence in the art of medicine and the care of patients. She wrote seven books while in medical school, six of which were in a series called “Visual Mnemonics.” These books used cartoons to help people memorize vast amounts of information—a system that helped her personally when she was a mom attending medical school. As a United States Air Force veteran, she served in the Middle East and South America. She is also a wife, mom of three grown children, host of the Healthy Human Revolution podcast, author, speaker, and avid runner.In this conversation Dr. Marbas shares her story, how she discovered plant-based nutrition and how a patient and a divine intervention put her on this path. We talk about the lack of nutrition education in many healthcare professionals and what a patient can do to navigate the system, find a qualified specialist and advocate for themselves. Finally, we also dive in in the topic of "radical healing" - be it from an accident, a surgery or severe chronic disease - and how nutrition, rest and social connection can significantly expedite the process. Tune in to learn more! To learn more about Plant-based Telehealth please visit:https://plantbasedtelehealth.com 

Dr. Sujit Sharma is a Harvard-trained pediatric ER doctor in Atlanta, Georgia. He is the CEO at Chuice, an innovative food company, and a member of the board of directors of Georgia Organics. He is a researcher working on a manuscript about respiratory diseases. He is a father, a husband and a friend.In this conversation we talk about gut health - what it is, what can we do about it, what does the science say, what gaps still exist. Did you know we are completely outnumbered by creatures that live in and on us? At least 10 to in! Did you know that the diversity of plant in our diet is number one predictor of gut health? We also go beyond that - what are the bigger lessons we can draw? What are the principles and made our evolution possible? Things like tolerance, collaboration, diversity and inclusion have allowed us to be where we are today. It works on microbial level, as well as local, national and universal one.Tune in to learn more!https://chuice.comhttps://www.instagram.com/lovechuice/https://www.instagram.com/drsujitsharma/ 

TONI OKAMOTO is the founder of Plant-Based on a Budget, the popular website and meal plan that shows you how to save money by eating veggies. She’s also author of the Plant-Based on a Budget cookbook, The Super Easy Vegan Slow Cooker Cookbook, and the co-host of The Plant-Powered People Podcast. Okamoto’s work has been profiled by NBC News, Parade Magazine, and she’s a regular presence on local and national morning shows across the country, where she teaches viewers how to break their meat habit without breaking their budget. She was also featured in the popular documentary What the Health. When she’s not cooking up a plant-based storm, she’s spending time with her husband in Sacramento, CA.You can find Toni on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.Toni's new book - The Friendly Vegan Cookbook - is coming out next month and is ready for pre-order today! It is filled with meals that will become your new favorites and go-to staples for when you have meat-eaters to impress. Because amazing food should be shared!Learn more at:https://www.plantbasedmealplan.com/cookbookIn this conversation Toni shares her story of discovering plant based diet, becoming an activist and evolving her work into a successful business concept. Toni share her biggest tips for saving time and money on a plant-based diet.Tune in to learn more!

Abigail Oberla, MS, APRN, FNP-C, DipACLM is a Family Nurse Practitioner and a Certified Lifestyle Medicine Healthcare provider. She works at the MinuteClinic where she regularly sees patients coming with specific and urgent concerns. Abby has found a way to weave in lifestyle medicine in very short conversations she has with patients. So we ran through a few imitations on how to make plant-based nutrition and lifestyle medicine in general applicable to most popular conditions, such as diabetes, obesity, hypertension and heart disease. Abby also talks about making plant-based transition easy - where fo you start? How do you plan for success? Tune in to learn more!Some links and helpful resources from Abby:Plantastic Columbus is the local PlantPure Pod she leads. Their personal FB page is: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PlantasticColumbus. However, if you're looking to find or start your own PlantPure Pod, please visit https://plantpurecommunities.org/plantpurepods/.She volunteers with Kind Meals: https://www.facebook.com/kindmealscolumbus.Virtual cooking demos for Community Development for All People and All People's Fresh Market. These can be found on her personal FB page: https://www.facebook.com/abby.oberla/ (the videos have links to these community organizations as well).Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/o.be.well/. 

Matt Tullman is a Cofounder of Complement, Managing Partner of No Meat Athlete and the Founder of 80 / 20 Plants. A successful entrepreneur, innovator, creative thinker who is “passionately curious” as Einstein puts it, athlete, dad - Matt is focused on creating the best quality vegan nutrition supplement that he can stand behind and is comfortable feeding to his family. In this conversation Matt shares his story and how the sickness of a loved one inspired him to look deeply into what it means to live well as a human, the pillars of health and happiness, and the power of plant-based nutrition. He describes how he started the nutrition supplement company - Complement, the motivation behind it and the guiding principles for the business. Tune in to learn more! For more information please visit:Complement: https://lovecomplement.comNo Meat Athlete: https://www.nomeatathlete.com80/20 Plants: https://8020plants.com

Michael Greger, M.D. FACLM is a physician, New York Times bestselling author, and internationally recognized professional speaker on a number of important public health issues. Dr. Greger has lectured at the Conference on World Affairs, the National Institutes of Health, and the International Bird Flu Summit, among countless other symposia and institutions; testified before Congress; has appeared on shows such as The Colbert Report and The Dr. Oz Show; and was invited as an expert witness in defense of Oprah Winfrey at the infamous "meat defamation" trial. In 2017, he was honored with the ACLM Lifestyle Medicine Trailblazer Award.His new book - How to Survive a Pandemic - is a vital, timely text on the pathogens that cause pandemics and how to face them. From tuberculosis and measles to AIDS and COVID-19, these infectious diseases share a common origin story: human interaction with animals. Otherwise known as zoonotic diseases for their passage from animals to humans, these infections—both pre-existing ones and those newly identified—have sparked some of the deadliest plagues in history.How did these diseases come about? And what—if anything—can we do to stop them and their fatal march into our communities, our homes, and our bodies? In How to Survive a Pandemic: Overcoming COVID-19 and Preventing the Next Deadly Outbreak, Dr. Michael Greger, physician and an internationally-recognized expert on public health issues, cuts through the prevailing noise and nonsense and reveals not only what we can do to protect ourselves and our loved ones during a pandemic, but also digs deeper into the roots of the problem and tackles the fundamental question: How can we stop the emergence of pandemic viruses in the first place? If there is one concept Dr. Greger draws from his work on preventing and reversing chronic disease, it’s that we must—whenever possible—treat the cause.All proceeds of this book are donated to pandemic prevention charities.You can get the book on DR. Greger's website or at your favorite book seller:https://nutritionfacts.org/how-to-survive-a-pandemic/  

Zach Burns is a 3rd-year DO/MPH student at Nova Southeastern University in Florida.  A plant-based nutrition advocate, he attends medical school to help improve the lives of human and non-human beings. Zach founded the local organization Plant-based Healthcare to engage classmates in clinical nutrition. His reach extends nationally through Moving Medicine Forward, a non-profit dedicated to building a generation of nutritionally literate physicians who are prepared to tackle our chronic disease burden. On the national board for Medical Students for a Sustainable Future, Zach serves as Plant-based Health Liaison to help peers connect the dots between diet and climate change.In this conversation we talk about ethical side of veganism, its application in healthcare and medicine, its relation to social justice and COVID-19. There is rap, science, heart and humor. Tune in to learn more!Dr. Michael Klaper's website and course.The Decade of Decency. A future dialogue on factory farming | by Zook | MediumThe Whole Health Cure Podcast 

Eric Leroy Adams is Brooklyn Borough President. A former policeman of 22 years, Eric fought for racial equality in addition to fighting against crime. From 2006 to 2013 he was a Democratic State Senator in the New York Senate and in November 2013, Adams was elected Brooklyn Borough President, the first African-American to hold the position. In November 2017 he was reelected.In this episode, Eric shares his remarkable story of being diagnosed with Type II diabetes after loosing sight and experiencing nerve damage, and then reversing it through plant-based nutrition despite the advice of his doctors. Eric talks about how that experience informs and motivates his work today. We discuss the current pandemic, the populations that have been effected the most, and why issues of lifestyle change, preexisting conditions and chronic disease are especially timely now.To learn more about Eric's work please visit:Main website: https://www.brooklyn-usa.org/Recent PSA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VenMeA-EJ2I&t=22sFollow Eric Adams on social media:IG: https://www.instagram.com/bpericadams/FB: https://www.facebook.com/BPEricAdams/The second half of the interview (min 35:15) is a special treat - a quick conversation with my friend and former colleague, Zach Juno. Zach has used the shelter-in-place order to reflect and "restart" his life, as he puts it. He transitioned to a mostly plant-based diet, made other lifestyle changes and has seen incredible results, that not only surprised his doctor, but allowed him to get off the blood pressure medication! Most importantly, Zach has shifted his perspective and abandoned the belief that our genes determine our health. As Dr. Greger says, genetics may load the gun, but lifestyle pulls the trigger. Tune in and please let me know what you think!

Dr. Sharon Bergquist is a Rollins Senior Distinguished Clinician, Master Clinician, and Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of General Medicine and Geriatrics at Emory University School of Medicine. She earned her Bachelor of Science from Yale University and medical degree from Harvard Medical School. She completed her internship and residency at Harvard's Brigham and Women's Hospital. She is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and member of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine.Dr. Bergquist strongly believes in personalized and comprehensive health management and incorporates prevention and wellness strategies into her practice. Her expertise includes diabetes and heart disease prevention and management, nutrition and obesity counseling, women's health, and the management of mood disorders such as anxiety and depression.Dr. Bergquist is the Medical Director of Emory's Executive Health program and leads the research program at the Paul W. Seavey Comprehensive Internal Medicine Clinic. She also founded and directs Emory Lifestyle Medicine & Wellness. She has been on the Emory faculty since 2000 and sees patients at the Paul W. Seavey Comprehensive Internal Medicine and Emory Executive Health practices.Dr. Bergquist is also a host of The Whole Health Cure podcast.In this conversation Dr. Bergquist shares her personal story and what inspired her to use lifestyle change, including plant-based nutrition as a tool to heal her patients. We talk about the effects of stress and how to shift your perspective and use it for getting stronger. We discuss plant-based nutrition and why not all doctors recognize its potential. Finally, we discuss some of the projects that we are working on at Emory and Dr. Bergquist shares her vision for programs that she thinks could make a true impact.Tune in to learn more!Resources:The Whole Health Cure podcastEmory Lifestyle Medicine & WellnessTed Talk - How Stress Affects Your BodyWebsite

Christopher "Soul" Eubanks  is a prolific and talented animal rights activist local to Atlanta, GA. Film-maker, music creator, photographer and organizer - Soul uses his talents to raise awareness about the the issues he cares about, especially animal advocacy. He is a co-lead for Atlanta Anonymous for the Voiceless chapter and Atlanta Animal Save Movement chapter. Soul was also a key organizer for the inaguaral Atlanta Animal Rights March of 2019 that will forever remain in history, and will hopefully mark the pivoting point of true change towards a kinder world.In this conversation Soul talks about his personal journey - from hip-hop, to banking, to quitting everything and going back to school to focus on creative skills and then putting those talents to speak up for what he believes in - animal rights. We discuss different aspects of veganism, talk about various types of activism and how to sustain the "fire", and mention the beautiful shifts and recent events that give us hope for the future. Tune in to learn more!Follow Soul Eubanks on social media:i: @Soul_Eubankst: @Soul_Eubanksf: /SoulEubanksYou can support Soul's activism via one time donations or monthlywww.souleubanks.com/supportabillionveg.com

Vince Rountree is passionate about helping people with diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol to reduce their dependency on medication or get them off meds completely. How can he do that? The latest scientific evidence strongly supports that the Standard American Diet is the cause of several chronic diseases including high blood pressure, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes. Moreover those condition respond extremely well to plant-based nutrition Vince runs a business called Eat Plants and Thrive, which creates and markets programs that help people treat diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and high cholesterol with plant-based nutrition. He is an Emory University trained Integrative Health Coach and works with clients’ one-on-one in groups and he works with corporations to improve the health of employees. Integrative Health Coaching empowers clients to make lasting behavior changes that are the foundation for a lifetime of health and well-being. In this conversation Vince shares his personal journey that turned him on to plant-based diet. Vince talks about his work with his new group challenge - Lower Your Blood Pressure In 10 Days With Food, and the success stories he has seen in participants from something as simple, yet profound, as shifting your diet to one fueled by plants. Vince closes with 3 simple tips on how to get started. Tune in to learn more! Vince's free Facebook Group "Food Is The Cause": https://www.facebook.com/groups/FoodIsTheCause/ Vince's free book, "Lower Your Blood Pressure with Food": https://lowerbpnow.com/ Lower Your Blood Pressure in 10-Days Challenge: https://www.bp-challenge.com/

Ryan Bulzan is the Regional Field Organizer for The Humane League - the non-profit organization that exist to end the abuse of animals raised for food. Ryan works with individuals and groups across multiple states in the Southeast US, and inspires volunteers to take on leadership roles for THL’s campaign initiatives. Ryan motivates others, fosters long-term relationships, and trains activists in effective grassroots animal advocacy and corporate campaigning. He resides in Decatur, GA. This one is specially dear to my heart. Ryan was the first guests ever on my podcast. Ryan has also been a long-time partner in crime for the Team Humane yearly campaigns that I partake in. Team humane is an athletic devision of The Humane League with amateur and professional athletes setting personal challenges and working to accomplish those while doing so on a vegan diet and fundraising for Humane League. This is how I ran my first half marathon 2 years ago, and a full marathon a year ago. We get into more details on how it works and our personal experience, but what you need to know is that the Team Humane 2019 season is now open, and if you want to support, participate or set your goals and join in the campaign - we need your help. Let Ryan or me know! For my challenge this year I am taking fighting for the animals quite literary. So I joined the kick-boxing gym. My goal is to hit 31 classes before end of year. If I can get 31 people to make contributions to my campaign I pledge to the ice-bucket challenge :). 100% of money raised goes towards efforts to end animal abuse. Ryan has also joined the kick-boxing gym. I think you should hit him up and see how he is doing.:) We are planning bunch of events in the community - we will have sunrise hikes followed by vegan brunches, WERQ fundraiser, bake sales, etc. Hope to see you there! For more information, please visit: To volunteer: https://thehumaneleague.org/take-action Sign up for Impact Squad: https://thehumaneleague.org/fundraise Atlanta Impact Squad FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/629223770510472/

Have you wondered about the people behind Atlanta Veg Fest?? (Which, by the way, is coming up on SATURDAY NOVEMBER 9th!!! - http://atlantavegfest.com ) Meet Leigh Saluzzi!!! Leigh Saluzzi is an Executive Director & Director of Vendor Relations at Atlanta Veg Fest - Atlanta Veg Fest is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to support community and promote the benefits of a vegan and plant-based lifestyle founded in compassion for animals, people and the environment. Leigh has been vegan since 2001, and loves to show people how easy veganism can be. After operating a vegan business with her husband and exhibiting at festivals and conferences across the country, she decided to start Atlanta Veg Fest in 2012. Leigh also serves on the Board of Directors for the Atlanta-based non-profit Tommy’s Holiday Fund, and is in the beginning stages of launching a new endeavor called Normalize Vegan, which seeks to encourage the general public to consider veganism a viable lifestyle option. In this conversation Leigh shares her vegan journey, her creative social entrepreneurship endeavors along the way, and the founding and growing of Atlanta Veg Fest! Tune in to learn more! Links: http://atlantavegfest.com http://www.tommysholidayfund.org

Bobby Sud is a Film Director, Producer and Cinematographer. He is an Organizer and Board Member of LA Animal Save, LA Fur Save, and LA Health Save and Vigil Photographer. You may remember our previous conversation from episode 34, where Bobby shared his personal journey towards health that started in 2015, when he weighed almost 300 lbs and suffered from Type2 Diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and everything else that comes with it. After transitioning to a whole food plant based vegan diet, Bobby was able to reverse and cure his diabetes in 6 weeks and have lost close to 100lbs. However, it wasn’t until he went to the first LA Animal Save pig vigil and met Shaun Monson (director of “Earthlings”) and Amy Jean Davis (founder of LAAS) that he truly understood what it meant to be a vegan. Today, Bobby is deeply involved in the movement. Bobby has worked with Shaun Monson as his cinematographer and producing partner, he has been an organizer for the LA Save Movement and official Vigil Photographer. Bobby also produced and directed a vegan travel show called “The Road Less Eaten” with episodes in Israel, Ireland, and London. Bobby's current project and focus is being the director and cinematographer of the Million Dollar Vegan campaign, which we get into during our conversation. Million Dollar Vegan Campaign is a campaign seeking to raise awareness of some of the world’s most pressing issues, and to tackle them by engaging with world leaders, institutions and individuals, and inspiring positive dietary change. This year they are asking a politician (guess who!?) to go vegan for the month of January! In exchange, Million Dollar Campaign will donate a million dollars toward the charity of his choice. Intrigued? Tune in to learn more! And check out their website! There are tons of resources - suggestions for movies, books, videos of speeches, ways to get active locally, politically and globally, and suggested way to contribute your time and / or money. Links: https://www.milliondollarvegan.com Million Dollar Campaign IG: https://www.instagram.com/milliondollarvegan/ Bobby Sud IG: https://www.instagram.com/bobbysud/ Genesis Butler - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4ptaIDAIlY

Leah Garcés is a founder of Compassion in World Farming USA and, as of October 1, the first female President of Mercy for Animals (MFA) - an international nonprofit animal protection organization founded in 1999 by Milo Runkle. Mercy For Animals is dedicated to preventing cruelty to farmed animals and promoting compassionate food choices and policies. You may remember our last conversation with Leah from Episode 24, where we talked about her journey right after she joined MFA. This conversation is about her new book - GRILLED: Turning Adversaries into Allies to Change the Chicken Industry. GRILLED details Leah’s experiences working alongside farmers and food industry leaders—encouraging change through dialogue and discussion—to reduce animal suffering and shine a spotlight on the rapidly growing plant-based food sector. In this conversation we talked about what moved Leah to write the book, why she decided to focus on chicken and what she learned along the way. Tune in to learn more! For more information, please visit: https://mercyforanimals.org/grilled https://www.mercyforanimals.org Purchase the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Grilled-Turning-Adversaries-Chicken-Industry/dp/1472962583/ Follow Leah on IG: https://www.instagram.com/leahgarces

Andie Thompkins, PhD, is the Executive Director at Full Circle Farm Sanctuary - non-profit located an hour south from Atlanta and a safe haven for rescued farmed animals who otherwise would be lost, suffering, and forgotten. FCFS provides a loving, forever home for over 170 precious individual animals desperately in need of refuge.  Dr. Thompkins completed her education at Auburn University with a doctorate in Cognitive and Behavioral Sciences, having studied animal cognition and the dog-human bond. In this conversation she shares her path to becoming vegan, getting her doctorate in cognitive and behavioral science, and "coming full circle" to become and executive director at FCFS. Stay around for a special announcement about the upcoming event at Full Circle Farm Sanctuary in November! Hope to see you there! To learn more, please visit: Website: https://www.fullcirclefarmsanctuary.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FullCircleFarmSanctuary/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/fullcirclefarmsanctuary/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTGphWcJ8vj37E1ts1oEoSw/featured To help FCFS get ready for the cold season and gather hay visit this page: https://www.facebook.com/donate/1317479981759370/2437474929673223/

Kayla Swope is the animal care manager and the main caretaker of the 170 residents of Full Circle Farm Sanctuary (FCFS) - a non-profit located in Warm Springs, GA, dedicated to countering the undeniable cruelty and exploitation inherent within animal agriculture, providing loving lifetime homes for individual farmed animals who otherwise would face horrific suffering and premature deaths. Kayla is a wealth of knowledge about animal healthcare and and amazing hard worker truly following her passion. Kayla is also the most humble person you meet. One of my favorite things about Kayla is her ability to learn from animals. In this interview Kayla shares her journey, and what led her to the work she does today. She talks about the personal stories of individual animals she met along the way who inspire her. She talks about what veganism and kindness mean to her. Kayla is originally from Pennsylvania, where she spent many years working at a cat and dog rescue. In 2016, she interned as an animal caregiver at Animal Place, in California, which eventually led her to start working at Full Circle. She currently resides right in Warm Springs with her dog, Bentlee, her pig Nora, and her cat, Callie. To learn more about FCFS, please visit: https://www.fullcirclefarmsanctuary.org The Game Changers Social tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-game-changers-social-tickets-67898481185?aff=FYK

Amy Burkman is an amazing muralist and live performer who creates these beautiful paintings. In the matter of minutes. On stage. To music. With paint flying everywhere... And you have no idea what is happening until she lays a final stroke, flips the canvas and reveals to you a beautiful face of an animal. Human or not. Amy is an activist in her heart. Her motto that she so joyfully and intentionally embodies is "Art For Good". And "Art For Good" she does! Some time ago Amy set a goal to raise $1 million for charity. Ambitious? Well, she is more than half way there. When the heart is pure the universe conspires... Tune in to learn Amy's full story and what inspired and empowered her to dedicate her whole live to art for good. Amy talks about several different projects that she worked on, charities she contributed to and shares her vision for the future. Amy is also friends with some of the other people you now know from this show - Bobby and Adam Sud, Greg and Carmen Pope from Farm of the Free, our friends from Full Circle Farm Sanctuary, Dominick Thompson, and many other passionate activists in Atlanta and beyond. Follow Amy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amyburkmanofficial/ And check out her website: https://amyburkman.com

There are different kinds of activism. Some people give up meat, some give up leather, some... give up their house and start a farm sanctuary! How? That was my question exactly! How DO YOU start a farm sanctuary? Ask Greg and Carmen Pope and they will tell you. These two are the founders of the Farm of the Free - animal sanctuary, and a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, located on 10 acres, 60 miles east of Atlanta in Good Hope, GA. Farm of the Free Animal Sanctuary's mission is to create a space where all beings feel safe to be exactly who they are. It all started with two young animal lovers, Carmen and Greg Pope. They met in 2007 and married in 2009. One of the reasons why they connected and fell in love with each other was because of their love for animals. Since they got married in 2009, they've rescued cats, dogs, fish and rats. The two love animals so much that they both decided to stop eating them, wearing them, and supporting places that exploit them & products that test on them. They've both been vegan since 2012, but they didn't want to stop there! So they founded an animal sanctuary. In this conversation, Carmen and Greg share their journey toward veganism, what motivated each of them to make a switch, and how their activism shaped into starting a farm sanctuary. To learn more and support Farm of the Free please visit: https://www.farmofthefree.org https://www.farmofthefree.org/donate Veganism & Spirituality - Ren Hurst: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVNSLlYc-d0&feature=youtu.be Best Speech You Will Ever Hear - Gary Yourofsky: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=es6U00LMmC4

Aaron Stuber, RN, BSN, DipACLM graduated from Oregon Health & Science University School of Nursing in 2013. Since that time he has worked in a variety of in-patient, acute care settings from cardiac step-down to Behavioral Health as well as out-patient Urgent and Primary Care. Most of his clinical experience and expertise is in cardiovascular care and disease management where he counseled hundreds of individual patients on lifestyle modification to prevent, arrest and sometimes reverse their chronic disease. Aaron is a Board Certified Lifestyle Medicine Practitioner through the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine and received his training through the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, of which he is an active member. He is also a graduate of the Wellcoaches online program for Health and Wellness Coaches, one of the premier, science-based programs for professional Health Coaches. After completing his training, Aaron began working privately with people outside the hospital to help them take personal responsibility for their health and transform their lives. From 2016 to 2019, Aaron co-hosted the Thought For Food Podcast, a show dedicated to public education around nutrition science, Lifestyle Medicine, athletic performance and critical thinking. His academic and clinical interests include nutrition science, Lifestyle Medicine, behavior change science, cardiovascular disease and sports performance as well as the prevention and treatment of metabolic syndrome with evidence-based lifestyle interventions. Aaron has a background in rock climbing, mountain trail running and functional strength training. When he’s not working or training, he enjoys traveling, camping, making smoothies and spending time with his family in the mountains of Colorado. In this conversation Aaron shares his journey of exploration and experimentation with various diets and the discovery of plant-based lifestyle. Aaron talks about his experience working in cardiac step down unit, we talk about healthcare and how lifestyle medicine fits (or should fit) into equation. Aaron also shares some of the most common barriers to behavior change he has seen in his patients and how to overcome them. To learn more or connect with Aaron, please visit: https://www.aaronstuber.com

Christian Klamroth is an owner of Clorofila - a beautiful vegan restaurant located in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. The restaurant is truly a full package - it is cozy and hip, it has welcoming staff and beautifully prepared food that is extremely nutritious, yet doesn't not sacrifice the flavor, the ingredients are sourced locally and the walls are covered with animal rights and environmental messaging. This is really unique for the area, certainly not driven by demand, so I wanted to talk to Christian about his motivation for opening the restaurant. Christian shares his journey - he is an architect by education and IT guy by training - his transition to vegan diet, living in a jungle, deep self-reflection, and resolving to a new lifestyle filled with meaning and purpose and rooted in servitude. IG: https://www.instagram.com/clorofila.vegan/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/clorofila.vegan/ Web: http://www.clorofila.rest/web/

Bobby Sud is an accomplished filmmaker and a recognized vegan activist who is closely involved with the movement. Bobby is currently working with Shaun Monson (the director of “Earthlings” and “Unity”) on a new documentary called “Overhaul”, which we discuss during the interview. Bobby is also a creator, producer and director of the new vegan travel food show called “The Road Less Eaten”. Bobby works closely with LA Animal Save and The Humane League. To say he is passionate about animal rights does not even begin to describe the person that he is. Bobby is incredibly courageous, determined, kind, and completely selfless in his approach. We talk about his personal journey of finding health and wellness, his activist journey and the work he does today, including vigils, non-profit animal right organizations he works with, his filming career and much more. Some parts of the conversation may be hard to listen, but I ask you to stick with us. My hope is that you hear what Bobby has to say, and walk away with a unique new perspective only you can experience. “When the suffering of another creature causes you to feel pain, do not submit to the initial desire to flee from the suffering one, but on the contrary, come closer, as close as you can to him who suffers, and try to help him.” – Leo Tolstoy Connect with Bobby on IG: https://www.instagram.com/bobbysud/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/robert.sud.3 Links: http://thesavemovement.org https://www.anonymousforthevoiceless.org

Dr. Sujit Sharma is a Harvard-trained pediatric ER doctor in Atlanta, Georgia who is also the CEO at Chuice, an innovative food company, and a member of the board of directors of Georgia Organics. I met Dr. Sharma at Forward Food conference a few months ago where we clicked immediately as I asked away about his passion in food innovation after trying for the first time Chuice - the awkwardly delicious juicy super salad drink. After many conversations with Dr. Sharma what still stands out the most to me is his dedication to underpromise and overdeliver in everything he does. Dr. Sharma is a powerhouse of knowledge in microbiome, he is also limitlessly passionate about creating functional solutions for addressing the health-crisis in this country. The more I learn the more respect I have for this knowledgable, dedicated, passionate and hip doctor who I now consider a friend. If you have not tried it yet, please check out the website at Chuice.com to get an idea of what we are talking about. We talk about the current state of healthcare and childhood obesity, we discuss what constitutes a healthy microbiome, and dive in in the story, evolution and plans for this lifestyle brand that Chuice is quickly becoming. Tune in to learn more and follow Chuice and Dr. Sharma on social media. https://chuice.com https://www.instagram.com/lovechuice/ https://www.instagram.com/drsujitsharma/

Becky Striepe (rhymes with “sleepy”) is a vegan food writer and cookbook author with a passion for making deliciously easy vegan meals. At her blog Glue & Glitter, you’ll find simple vegan recipes that don’t sacrifice flavor. If you have been waiting on a conversation on "how to" - this is it. Becky shares a ton of tips and trick on how to make vegan plant-based cooking fun, fast, delicious and reasonably healthy. What to eat for breakfast? How to make it fast? What utensils to buy? How to add a flavor boost to any vegan meal? How to get your kid to eat his veggies? Favorite sauces, dressings, party pleaser and... how to make a plant-based fairy dust? Becky is your girl. Tune in to learn more! Follow Becky on social media Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glueandglitter/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/glueandglitter/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShopGlueAndGlitter Vegan Mac and Cheese: https://www.glueandglitter.com/vegan-baked-macaroni-and-cheese/ Magical Fairy Dust: https://www.glueandglitter.com/vegan-parmesan-cheese-fairy-dust/ Vegan Air Fryer Recipes + FAQ: https://www.glueandglitter.com/vegan-air-fryer-recipes/ 10 VEGAN INSTANT POT RECIPES MY FAMILY LOVES (AND ANSWERS TO YOUR BURNING QUESTIONS!): https://www.glueandglitter.com/vegan-instant-pot-recipes/ Easy Vegan Weeknight Dinners: https://www.glueandglitter.com/vegan-weeknight-dinner-recipes/ Photocredit: Bonnie J. Heath Photography

Palden Namgyal Beri is a Tibetan monk and an Assistant Professor at Drepung Loseling Monastic University in India. Palden was one of the lamas participating in "Healing and the Arts" exhibition that took place at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, GA - the first stop on the tour of more than 30 stops to take place on this international tour. During the exhibition week at the Emory hospital a number of lamas worked on creating a beautiful sand mandala of Medicine Buddha. The following Saturday a closing ceremony including lecture and chanting took place after which the mandala was dismantled and part of the healing sand was distributed between the patients of the hospital. Palden speaks about the history, ritual and meaning of sand mandala. He shares his story of growing up in Tibet, escaping to India and becoming a monk. Palden also talks about fundamental concepts of Tibetan buddhism. For more information abut the monastery and an and Emory-Tibet partnership please follow the links below: http://www.drepung.org https://tibet.emory.edu/academic-and-cultural-programs/academic-courses/index.html

Adam Sud is a speaker, a diabetes and food addiction coach at Mastering Diabetes and an amazing human who lives a life of purpose and service to others. Adam has an incredible story of overcoming food and drug addiction, reversing heart disease and type 2 diabetes, and coming back from a dark place of deep depression. He shares his journey - what led him there, how dark was the bottom, and what shifts in perspective allowed him to fall in love with new behaviors that ultimately reversed his conditions and brought him on the path of physical and mental health. Adam speaks passionately about the way addiction is misunderstood, and how important connection is. He shares his perspective about plant-based diet as an important pillar of recovery for any condition, he talks about connecting with nature, and compassionate treatment of animals. His is truly an inspiring story, contagious with hope and ripe with seeds that can not fail but to instill in you the love and acceptance of yourself and others. Follow Adam on IG https://www.instagram.com/plantbasedaddict/?hl=en The resources we refer to: Mastering Diabetes https://www.masteringdiabetes.org Summit https://www.masteringdiabetes.org/summit/?affiliate=teamsherzai The pleasure trap: Douglas Lisle at TEDxFremont https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jX2btaDOBK8 Lost Connections by Johann Hari https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Connections-Uncovering-Depression-Unexpected/dp/163286830X

Anamarie "Ree" Shreeves is an earth advocate, who works closely with environmentally-driven organizations to support and promote their mission. Ree started her zero waste habits in April 2014, and simultaneously established a brand and founded a blog called Fort Negrita. At one point, it took her 13 months to fill a 32-ounce mason jar with personal trash. Her zero waste pursuits has led to features on PBS, CNN and ESSENCE Magazine. Today Ree is known among Atlanta residents. She co-organizes an annual earth day event called bEARTHday Fest, has taught zero waste workshops locally and at national conferences, jump-started the "Zero Waste in Atlanta" Facebook group, developed the “Atl Zero Waste Guide” and consulted local businesses in zero waste operations and accommodations. She also hosts ongoing reusable menstrual pad workshops so people that bleed can take ownership of their menstrual cycles, and sells reusable pads online and via in-person events. We talk about conscious consumerism, economical prosperity and the responsibility that we have to clean up after ourselves. Ree shares her journey, what inspired her to go "zero waste", how her views evolved through the years and the exciting projects she is working on right now. Website: https://www.fortnegrita.com/ Shop: https://www.fortnegrita.com/collections/all

Jackson Long is a mountain athlete, a podcaster, videographer and photographer, co-founder of Thought for Food podcast and brand, TEDex speaker, beholder of Certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from eCornell, an animal activist and an incredibly funny humble caring person on a continuous path of growth and self-perfection. We start with conversation about fiber and it's importance, discuss his journey of finding plant-based nutrition, and dive in into how it folds into endurance sports. We talk about eating disorders and disordered eating and its prevalence in the athletic community. Jackson talks about the specific things endurance athletes should look out for and how their version of plant-based diet may look different. We discuss the modern vegan movement, the extremes, and finding the balanced approach that is inclusive, rather than ostracizing. Jackson also shares the projects he is working on and exciting things he has coming his way. To learn more or connect with Jackson check out the links below: Website: https://jacksonlong.co Instagram: @jacksonlong TEDex talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVDh6w6secs&feature=youtu.be

Nichole Dandrea is a plant-based registered dietitian with a passion for the powerful healing properties of whole foods and the positive effects of plant-based eating for animals and the environment. Nichole shares her plant-based inspiration through Purely Planted website, blog and social media, she leads vegan grocery shopping tours, does one-on-one and group coaching and detailed diet analysis for her clients. Nichole has also founded and ran a vegan organic chocolate business for 10 years - Nicobella Organics. In this conversation Nichole shares her journey. We talk about chocolate, yoga, kindness and discuss 53 reasons to eat more plants! Tune in to learn more and reach out to Nichole via links below! Blog: https://www.purelyplanted.com/about-nichole Vegan Food Tour: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/vegan-food-tour-whole-foods-tickets-45189789878?aff=ebdssbdestsearch FB: https://www.facebook.com/purelyplanted/?modal=admin_todo_tour IG: https://www.instagram.com/purelyplanted/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/purelyplanted Nicobella Organics: https://nicobellaorganics.com

Robby Barbaro is a co-founder of Mastering Diabetes Program - an online coaching program that has changed the lives of more than 3,000 people around the world living with type 1 diabetes, type 1.5 diabetes, prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes. Before that Robby spent several years working in Forks Over Knives - a documentary and a brand that changed so many lives revealing the truth about the health, ethical and environmental implications of consuming animal products. This conversation is a deep dive in understanding the nature of diabetes, the biggest myths surrounding it, the financial consequences of diabetes on our economy, and the power that plant-based nutrition offers in healing our bodies. To learn more, please visit https://www.masteringdiabetes.org/ Follow Robby on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mindfuldiabeticrobby/

Dominick Thompson is a leader in the vegan community and founder of Crazies and Weirdos®, Eat What Elephants Eat and the Running Herd. Prior to his current role as a social entrepreneur and activist, he was a healthcare executive responsible for the business development and management of critical relationships with hospital systems and other provider types responsible for delivering services to both small and large communities throughout the eastern region of the United States. Because of this and his assertive activism, Dominick has received global recognition and has been featured in NPR News, ABC News,Men’s Health Magazine, Men’s Muscle and Fitness Magazine, Esquire, Veg News Magazine, bodybuilding.com, PETA and more recently, appeared on the cover of the Bright magazine in London. His social media platform is strong and continues to grow while producing some of the most inspiring, impactful content to over 180,000 followers. We talk about Dominick's fur-daughter - Scruff McFLy - and the role she played in his healing process. Dominick shares his reasons for going vegetarian and vegan, and what drives him to continue his work as an activist. He talks about about his work, new exciting projects he has lined up, such as his new wellness and nutrition program - Eat What Elephants Eat, the bigger vision behind it, and his upcoming podcast. Tune in to learn more! To learn more and connect with Dominick follow the links below: https://www.instagram.com/domzthompson/ https://www.facebook.com/domzthompso http://www.craziesandweirdos.com https://kitchen.eatwhatelephantseat.com Music: “Fallin'"- Sunrise Blvd (freemusicpublicdomain.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Leah is the President of Mercy for Animals (www.mercyforanimals.org) and founder of Compassion in World Farming USA (www.ciwf.com). She is the author of the forthcoming book 'GRILLED: Turning adversaries to allies in the fight to change the chicken industry', to be published by Bloomsbury in the September 2019.) She is an animal advocate who has partnered with some of the largest food companies in the world with a mission to end factory farming. Her work has been featured in many national and international media outlets including the New York Times, the Washington Post, Buzzfeed, Vice Magazine, and the Chicago Tribune amongst others. She’s a contributing author to Huffington Post and Food Safety News. Leah serves on the advisory board of Encompass and Seattle Food Tech. She is also the mom of three incredible kids. In this episode, Leah shares her vibrant journey in animal wellfair non-profits and what she has learned along the way. We talk about animal farming being a social justice issue, about the importance of stepping out of the “bubble” and bringing together many movements, thus finding their “intersectionality” and making them stronger. We talk about constructive activism, hope, and finding alternative solutions. MFA website: http://mercyforanimals.org/

Jacob Aqua is a wellness coach, a mindfulness advocate and a co-founded Good Vibe Tribe, a club at Emory that uses holistic wellness techniques to give students the tools to succeed emotionally in the college environment. Jacob shares his journey, the personal challenges and struggles he went through that ultimately led him to discovering mindfulness and meditation as a tool to peace, joy and serenity. We talk about self-care and self-love, different meditation technics and the role of technology, and the power of community and human connection. Jacobs gives 3 simple tips on how to start a meditation practice and what does it mean to "set an intention". To learn more please visit: Jaquawellness.com @jaquawellness on Instagram Jacob Aqua on Facebook

Lori Taylor Boyd, MSN, RN-BC, CVN is a coordinator at Joe R. Utley Heart Resource Center in Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System. Lori has been a nurse for over 40 year. 9 years ago she has been asked to start a heart resources center and was told to "go out and prevent heart disease"... No pressure! Lori shares her journey and her experience of learning and growing a plant-based program in her community to tackle a number one killer of people in America - Heart disease. Some of the resources and websites we discuss are listed below: https://nutritionfacts.org https://www.pcrm.org https://eatplant-based.com

Rebecca Portman is a Food and Nutrition Coordinator at Forward Food, a program of Humane Society of United States. Rebecca assists school districts, hospitals, colleges, universities, detention centers, and the like to integrate plant-strong options into their systems. I first met Rebecca at the book signing of Humane Economy by Wayne Pacelle and our paths have crossed many times since then. We talk about Rebecca's journey to discovering plant-based lifestyle and the amazing work she does today with Forward Food. You wish your institution would offer more plant-based options on the menu? Tune in, because Rebecca might be just the person you are looking for. For more information visit: https://forwardfood.org/ https://twitter.com/rportman6 https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-portman-5b00568/

Chef Zu is a Holistic Nutritionist, Urban Agriculturalist & Plant Based Chef who focuses on providing "Health & Wellness" to less fortunate communities through facilitating programs based around culinary arts, agriculture and nutrition. Chef Zu has a passion and love for studying the science of plant based foods and using the most nutritious ingredients to create amazingly flavorful vegan and raw cuisine. There is an unmentioned art to substituting plant based ingredients in dishes that were once made with meat and/or animal products such as milk, eggs, cheese & butter. Chef Zu is always looking to master this art. Chef Zu has facilitated innovated food programming for Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta Public Library System, Kirkwood Boys & Girls Clubs, Georgia Food Oasis, Morehouse College, Fulton County Commissioners Office, City of Atlanta Department of Sustainability, City of Atlanta Department Constituent Services, Carver Neighborhood Market, Frank McClarin High School, Gilliam's Community Garden, Lithonia Farmer’s Market, The Covenant House, Atlanta Housing Authority, Aglanta, Truly Living Well, Georgia Organics, Food Well Alliance and many more non-profits, community based organizations and initiatives. In this conversation, Chef Zu talks about his story, his passion and what drives him to do the work he does today. He talks about the concept of "living" food, and how educating people about the food they eat and how to prepare it, can empower them, gain confidence and experience abundance. He talks about the language of food, and ability to express love, unconditional love. We discuss the power of agriculture and the importance of buying food locally. And of course, Chef Zu talks about his food philosophy and shares some of the main tips and food staples for a nourishing, flavorful and living food options. Follow Chef Zu: https://www.instagram.com/kingsapron/ https://www.facebook.com/methuzulah.gem The upcoming event Food Waste in a Food Insecure World: https://calendar.gsu.edu/event/food_waste_in_a_food_insecure_world?utm_campaign=widget&utm_medium=widget&utm_source=Georgia+State+University+#.W7-jlaQpCEd

Evelisse Capó is a Doctor in Pharmacy, health and nutrition educator, and cooking instructor. Dr. Capó is originally from Bayamón, Puerto Rico where she developed a love for cooking by her grandmother’s side. She completed a Bachelor's degree in Science at Purdue University and her Pharm D. training at the Philadelphia College of Science. Evelisse is a founder of The Food Pharmacy, Instructor and Spanish Outreach Coordinator at T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies Certificate Program and Food for Life Instructor at Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. She is also a mother of 4 beautiful plant-strong children. To learn more please visit: Website: http://www.thefoodpharmacy.com IG: https://www.instagram.com/thefoodpharmacykitchen/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/TheFoodPharmacy/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheFoodPharmacy Twitter: https://twitter.com/thefoodpharmacy

Dr. Pamela Fergusson is a Registered Dietitian with a PhD in nutrition, and over 15 years of experience of working in the field. She is currently in private practice in British Columbia, Canada. Pamela has been featured on many podcasts, spoken at Plant-Based Prevention of Disease conference, the International Congress of Dietetics in Granada, Spain and Dietitians of Canada 2018 conference in Vancouver. She has worked as a Dietitian in North America, Europe, Africa and Asia for organizations such as Unicef and the World Food program and has a broad and diverse experience in research and teaching as well as public health and clinical practice. Pamela is a mother of 4 beautiful children, has done half-marathons, marathons and ultras; and is a wonderful and kind human being with a passion for spreading the message of plant-based positivity. In this conversation we address some of the concerns around plant-based diet and pregnancy, raising healthy children and endurance training. Some of the questions we cover are: Is it safe to eat or transition to plant-based diet while being pregnant? What nutrients and food groups to look out for? Is plant-based diet sufficient for small children? How to get kids eat their veggies? How to help kids develop healthy food vocabulary? Endurance training on a plant-based diet To learn more or to work with Pamela please visit: https://pamelafergusson.com/portfolio/about/ For many wonderful recipes, article and healthy living tips follow Pamela on social media: @DrPamelaRD on Facebook @drpamela.rd on IG

Jen Foley is an amazing, fun, kind and educated person, who embraced a vegan lifestyle 24 years ago and has been dedicated to sharing her message and experience with others ever since. Jen is one of the admins for Vegan Atlanta group, which has more than 8000 members and is in the heart of the vegan movement in Atlanta. Tune in, as Jen talks about the power that each of us has as an individual to stand up for what we believe and how to be more effective when sharing your message. Jen also talks about her journey to becoming vegan and some of the mental strategies she employed when transitioning. Fun facts: Jen was a member of Vegan Atlanta group 10 years ago when it only had 30 members and met regularly for lunch; she also worked with Nathan Runkle in Ohio when he was 14 and was just starting Mercy for Animals! Please check out these links Jen kindly provided: South Florida Vegan Education Group: http://veganeducationgroup.com Be Fair Be Vegan: http://www.befairbevegan.com International Vegan Association: https://www.internationalvegan.org Barnivore - Your Vegan Beer, Wine and Liquor Guide: http://www.barnivore.com Unpopular Vegan Essay Archives: https://uvearchives.wordpress.com Vegan Publishers: https://veganpublishers.com/blog/ Book suggestions: http://www.framingfarming.com https://veganpublishers.com/multimedia-archive/motivational-methods/

Jackie Merritt is a physical therapist and biomechanist, she has a PhD in Neuroscience, and has completed FOUR 100 mile races. She has finished F7 (seventh female) in Western States 100 mile Endurance Run in 2017. And she has done it all on a plant-based vegan diet! It is a conversation about her path to becoming vegan, what motivated her and how it positively impacted her running career. Jackie shares her inspiration, her tips for training and fueling, her experience with Western States, and addresses common concerns women may have about plant-based vegan diet being sufficient for endurance running...or pregnancy. To learn more about Jackie or to connect with her follow the links below: https://www.instagram.com/j_palm_/?hl=en https://www.milestonepod.com/jackies-journey/ https://youtu.be/YYGGFT6mV9s

Tara Kemp is a health coach, a plant-based nutrition expert, and a dear friend from P-POD. Her impressive resume includes working with titans like Engine 2, PCRM, Forks Over Knives and Mastering Diabetes, just to name a few. Tara has also started an interdisciplinary PhD program bringing together emotional, sociological and psychological aspects of food together with nutritional side of it, for a truly wholistic approach. Having struggled with eating disorder herself, Tara goes far beyond of what is on our plate. This is a conversation about healing, hope, empowerment, and nourishment that can come from food. A conversation about self-love and forgiveness. I couldn't agree more: “The way that we eat is an act of self-love”. To learn more about Tara or connect with her follow the links below: IG: https://www.instagram.com/tarakemp_/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/tfkemp Website: https://www.tarafkemp.com

Brittany Summerlin is an Atlanta-based, Registered and Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist. She is currently working with the Strong4Life program at Children's Hospital of Atlanta. Brittany has just launched Eat Well ATL - her private nutrition practice that provides a balanced approach to nutrition and lifestyle for anyone - no fad diets, no total restrictions, just science-based nutrition advice for people interested in: Weight Loss and Health Coaching Type 1 Diabetes Nutrition Plant-Based Eating Lifestyle Change Guidance As someone who has been diagnosed with Type I Diabetes at the age of 10, Brittany has found passion in sharing her knowledge and experience with living with and managing Type I, and chronic disease in general, and how lifestyle choices, including diet, exercise, and mindfulness, affect our health. Brittany shares her journey of living with Type I, her path to discovery of plant-based diet and the difference it made in her life. We talk about her work today, what she sees as her mission. We discuss some of the common barriers to adopting healthier eating habits and how to overcome them. We talk about hope and kindness. To learn more about Brittany's work follow the links below: https://www.eatwellatl.com https://www.instagram.com/eatwell_atl/ https://www.eatwellatl.com/eating-out

Kathy Pollard, MS is a is co-founder, with Micaela Karlsen, MSPH, of the dietary transition program and website, SustainableDiet.com, offering articles, recipes and support for a plant-based life. Kathy is a Member of the Board of Directors at Plant-based Prevention Of Disease, Inc. and a faculty member for the University of New England graduate program in Applied Nutrition. Kathy also served for six years as an instructor for the renowned T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies. ​Kathy holds an MS degree with honors in Applied Clinical Nutrition from New York Chiropractic College, and a Bachelors degree in Mass Communications from the University of California, Berkeley. She was a member of the original Board of Directors of Plant-based Prevention Of Disease, Inc. and continues her service and guidance as the organization grows. ​ Kathy is currently writing a book about the effects of agriculture and dietary choices on climate change, and lectures about sustainable diets. She has presented regarding the health-promoting power of plant-based nutrition at numerous professional conferences and public events, including annually at North American Vegetarian Society’s Vegetarian Summerfest. She has also been a recipient of the Wellness Forum Founder’s Award. In this coversation Kathy makes a case for why whole food plant based vegan diet is the most sustainable diet benefiting everyone involved - you, me, people on the other side of the world, animals, and our planet. Kathy's approach is kindness and compassion, her message is filled with positivity. "Make it a party!", she says when talking about sharing this lifestyle with others. Hence, the name of the book she is working on - "Climate Party!". We talk about the wonderful program she started - at SustainableDiet.com offering resources and support to help you make transition to the whole food plant based lifestyle. Kathy generously offered the listeners of this show The Sustainable Diet 30-day Vegan Starter Kit, which offers daily emails, exercises and support to meaningfully change your life. To claims yours today, please go to https://sustainablediet.com/preview I really hope you take advantage of that! It is a perfect opportunity to try new recipes and receive daily motivation regardless if you are completely new to this, or have been vegan for years - there is always more to learn! So... Make it a Party!!! To learn more go to Kathy's website: http://kathrynpollard.com Here are some insightful posts: http://kathrynpollard.com/posts/ The preview of the Sustainable Diet Program: https://sustainablediet.com/preview Kathy's upcoming book - "Climate Party!": http://kathrynpollard.com/the-sustainable-attainable-climate-solution/ P-POD 2019, May 18-20 in Raleigh, NC: https://www.preventionofdisease.org

Jim Corcoran, or JC, is a dear friend and a member of my PPOD Family. JC has been vegan for 30 years and is an engaged member of animal rights movement both locally and nationally. He is a Director of Plant Peace Daily, a VP of Animal Protection Voters, Business Developer of Root 66 Food Truck, and organizer of Santa Fe Veg, among many other things. We talk about his evolving journey from environmentalist to animal rights activist, what motivates him today, the stories that inspire him, and, of course, what kindness means to him. Here are some of the resources we mention in our conversation: http://plantpeacedaily.org Different ways to get out activist book, Plant Peace Daily - Everyday Outreach for People Who Care. http://plantpeacedaily.org/our_book.html https://www.facebook.com/VegFund/?timeline_context_item_type=intro_card_work&timeline_context_item_source=1591985520 https://www.facebook.com/groups/SantaFeVeg/ "I think, therefore I'm vegan."

Lori Clark is a fitness instructor, nutrition and wellness coach in Atlanta, GA. She is a wife, mother of 6, grandmother of 4, and is CRAZY about fitness and nutrition! She also loves people, an it really comes through in everything she does. I first met Lori at the Plant-Based Prevention of Disease conference in Albuquerque, NM in 2017 and have always admired her loving and kind energy shining through everything that she is and does. This is a conversation about her journey to finding her passion and becoming a fitness inductor, about discovering and adopting a whole food plant based vegan lifestyle and sharing it with her family, friends and clients. It is also a conversation about her making and staying true to her commitments and values. Lori shares her experience and many helpful resources on how to get started with whole food living and tips on how to make it easy and fun. Find Lori at http://loriclarkfitness.com and check out her awesome Youtube Channel here : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsGRGX_NxBj_jSapP9_AheQ/featured Lori's Suggested Reading T. Colin Campbell, PhD The China Study – READ 1st!!! Whole Dr. Joel Fuhrman Eat to Live Super Immunity Dr. Neal Barnard Breaking the Food Seduction Turn Off the Fat Genes Foods That Fight Pain Dr. John McDougall The Starch Solution Dr. Michael Greger How Not to Die Pam Popper, PhD Food Over Medicine Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr. Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease: The Revolutionary, Scientifically Proven, Nutrition-Based Cure Cookbooks Eat to Live Cookbook by Joel Fuhrman, M.D. Chloe’s Vegan Italian Kitchen by Chloe Coscarelli - She won Cupcake Wars on Food Network! Chloe’s Kitchen & Chloe’s Vegan Desserts Food Matters Cookbook Websites and YouTube are great resources for recipes as well, and they’re FREE! Websites pcrm.org - Dr. Barnard’s website that has the 21 day kickstart program to support you with your diet transition www.nutritionfacts.org www.drmcdougall.com www.drpampopper.com - Subscribe to her newsletter, YouTube channel, and pay to become a member of her wellness forum because you will have access to the research studies she cites and can SEE AND KNOW FOR YOURSELF what the science shows. Shocker: it’s not what you’ve grown up hearing Netflix Suggestions “Forks Over Knives” “Food Matters” “What the Health” “Hungry for Change” “Food Choices” “Food Inc” “Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead” Names to Search on YouTube Caldwell Esselstyn, T. Colin Campbell, Neal Barnard, Joel Fuhrman, John McDougall, Brenda Davis, Doug Lisle, Michael Greger. Dr. Pam Popper Watch “Plant Pure Nation” and “Earthlings” on YouTube.

Jamie Dennis is an owner of Jamies Cookie Dough - an Atlanta based cookie (and cookie dough) company that makes delicious vegan cookies and delivers nationwide. Her slogan is: "Cookies for all occasions. Always vegan, never a compromise." We talk about how she became vegan, how she started her business and the values that drove decisions behind it. If you are ready for some sweets after this - you can find Jamie here: jamiescookiedough@gmail.com Call (678) 926-8742 FB and IG: @jamiescookiedough Jamie also sells her treats at the Alpharetta Farmers Market every Saturday, and will have a booth at the Atlanta VeggFest this year.