PLANT the CHANGE: A vegan educator reimagines classrooms to raise conscious, compassionate, healthy kids

What happens when a monkey raised as a pet or in a lab finally tastes freedom—and why does it matter to you? In a world where exotic animals are still bought as pets and tested in labs, this episode reveals the heart-wrenching and inspiring journey of Kari Bagnall and her 197 rescued primates—and what we can learn about empathy, education, and systemic change from their stories. - Hear the unbelie...

What happens when a Heisman Trophy winner and pro athlete suddenly suffers a stroke in his 40s—despite being in peak physical shape? If you’ve ever wondered why healthy habits aren’t enough or questioned the real impact of stress, diet, and lifestyle on long-term wellness, this episode sheds light on how even the fittest among us aren’t immune to health scares—and what can truly make the differenc...

Why do so many kids hate math? Maybe it’s not math they hate — maybe it’s how we teach it. We’ve turned curiosity into pressure and mistakes into failure. It’s time to change that. Welcome to Straight Talk: Plant the Change — where compassion meets the classroom. In this powerful episode, you’ll discover: • Why traditional math requirements are damaging more students than they help • The emotional...

Ever feel like your passion makes you the odd one out—until the world finally starts to catch on? If you’ve ever been dismissed for standing up for animals or living plant-based, Jane Velez-Mitchell’s story will resonate. She’s lived the rejection, fought through burnout, and built a movement when no one was listening. ·       Learn how Jane transformed doubt fro...

What happens when the heir to an ice cream empire walks away from it all — and sparks a global movement for healthy, ethical eating?  Ocean Robbins, grandson of Baskin Robbins’ co-founder, shares his extraordinary family story — from swimming in an ice cream cone-shaped pool to reversing chronic disease through plant-based living. In a world obsessed with profits over people, Ocean reveals ho...

What if the way schools define “smart” has been silencing your child’s true brilliance all along? For all the talk about honoring uniqueness, most schools still reward only one narrow type of intelligence—obedience, speed, neatness, and compliance—while overlooking creativity, empathy, resilience, and curiosity. This hidden system doesn’t just miss kids; it shapes how they see themselves for life....

How does an ordinary realtor become a global animal-welfare advocate with millions of followers—thanks to one unexpected pig? It all started when Steve Jenkins brought home a so-called “mini pig” who turned out to be anything but mini. What began as a private Facebook page for friends soon exploded into a global phenomenon. Esther’s charm, wit, and 650-pound personality captured hearts worldwide,...

Did you know the food your child eats today could determine whether they develop cancer, heart disease, or high blood pressure decades from now? In this powerful episode of  Plant the Change , world-renowned lifestyle medicine expert Dr. Michael Klaper reveals how the standard American diet—still rooted in outdated 1950s nutritional dogma—is creating a health crisis in our children. Parents,...

What if the school you trust with your child’s future is also the source of their deepest pain? In this straight-from-the-heart episode, you’ll hear a powerful origin story of why one mother—after surviving trauma, losing her teenage boyfriend to violence, and watching her own kids endure bullying and invisibility—decided to reject traditional schooling and create a school that prioritizes inclusi...

What happens when a little girl connects the dots between her pet chicken and dinner? For Reality TV Star Cher Hubsher, that moment changed everything. In this inspiring episode of  PLANT the CHANGE , Cher Hubsher—former nurse, actress, life coach, and reality TV personality—opens up about her path to veganism, raising a plant-based daughter, and the transformation of her once skeptical famil...

What if education could do more than teach—it could  transform lives  and  heal the world ? In this powerful welcome episode of  Plant the Change , Michele Fasnacht introduces the heart and soul behind her mission: reimagining education as a tool for empathy, justice, sustainability, and purpose. If you've ever questioned the values driving mainstream schools or felt there must...