Vegan Hacks

Scientists are exploring an unconventional food technology that uses engineered microbes to transform plastic waste and agricultural byproducts into food ingredients. Could this help address food scarcity and plastic pollution, or are we entering a dystopian future where we're eating cookies made from trash? We break down the research, explore the possibilities, and ask whether food technolog...

In this episode of Vegan Hacks Pod , Jason takes on a popular Top 10 vegan-friendly cities list—and has some serious questions about it. Portland takes the top spot, but should it? Why are Los Angeles, New York, Las Vegas, and other cities missing or ranked lower than expected? Jason breaks down the list from the perspective of someone who actually travels to these cities, eats at the restaurants,...

Can you be vegan… except for beef? It sounds ridiculous, contradictory, and maybe even impossible but there’s a bigger conversation hiding inside that question in involves plant based companies adding beef to their products!  Send us Fan Mail

California was once one of the biggest centers of vegan food in America. Now, restaurants are closing, locations are disappearing, and even some companies that built their identity around plant-based food are changing direction. On this episode of Vegan Hacks Pod , Jason breaks down what’s happening to the vegan food scene from Hart House, Monty’s Good Burger and The Vegan Joint to the growing pre...

Beyond Meat is going through another major transformation and this time, they're going way beyond meat. The company is launching its new PhytoSphere platform, featuring protein powders, savory jerky bars, Veggie burgers, beverages and other products built around the idea of stacking plant nutrients and entering “thrive mode.” But is this actually the future of plant-based food… or has Beyond...

There was a lot of panic when news broke about a tofu recall. But once you look past the headlines, there’s a much more interesting story. In this episode, we get into the Hodo Foods recall, what actually happened, and how one small, independent tofu company grew from a farmers market operation into a major national brand. But the bigger question is what happens when an independent vegan-friendly...

Beyond Meat was once one of the biggest names in the plant-based movement—but is the company now moving away from the very vegan customers who helped build the brand? In this episode, I dive into Beyond Meat’s new collaboration with Milk Bar, where Beyond products are being used alongside real eggs and dairy cheese. Is this a smart attempt to reach the massive flexitarian market, or does it underm...

This week, I’m digging into some fascinating and occasionally infuriating vegan conversations happening online. First up: Miyoko Creamery. Miyoko Schinner reviews the current Myoko-branded cream cheese and explains why she has nothing to do with the product bearing her name. We get into what happened to the company she founded, how the brand changed, and what it means when a vegan brand becomes di...

Beyond Meat was once the biggest name in plant-based meat. Its stock once traded for nearly $240 a share. Now it’s trading around 41 cents , and the company is taking the dramatic step of a 1-for-30 reverse stock split to avoid being delisted from Nasdaq.   So what happened? In this episode, I take a look at Beyond Meat’s financial problems, its attempt to reinvent itself as a broader protein comp...

My seitan (aka "homemade meat") video just crossed 2.7 million views on TikTok and gained me over 25,000 new followers but it also brought in over 5,000 comments, and a solid 60-70% of them were... not kind. In this episode, I'm reading through some of the funniest, most confused, most surprisingly thoughtful, and most unhinged comments I got — from people convinced I invented bread...

Follow Mohana on IG @veganmomo_  In this episode of Vegan Hacks , I sit down with Mohana Holloway to explore how her Indian heritage shaped her journey to veganism, why learning to cook is one of the most powerful skills for any vegan, and how culture has influenced plant-based eating for generations. We dive into naturally vegan Indian dishes, underrated spices everyone should have in their pantr...

I just got back from Las Vegas, and I'm sharing my favorite vegan food experiences from hidden local gems to restaurants that completely exceeded my expectations. In this episode I talk about incredible spots like Chef Kenny's, Earthly, Tacotarian, Daikon Sushi, Tarantino's, Crossroads, and the all-you-can-eat vegan Korean BBQ experience at Master Kim's. I also explain why I th...

Can Bitcoin align with vegan values? Or are the two worlds completely incompatible? In this episode, I sit down with Ethan Turer , author of the upcoming book Bitcoin Is Vegan , to explore one of the most unexpected conversations we've had on the podcast. We discuss:  Why Ethan believes Bitcoin and veganism share the same ethical foundations.   Whether Bitcoin mining is really bad for the env...

Jason made a video comparing fresh vs frozen tofu and realized that so many people have so many various ways preparing tofu!  We discuss in this podcast Send us Fan Mail

Is there a distrust of plant based influencers in the vegan community?  Jason discusses this!  Send us Fan Mail

My thoughts on popular You Tuber and social media personality Gaz Oakley admitting on a podcast that he's eating animals now. Send us Fan Mail

Celebrity vegans are cashing checks, plant-based giants are pivoting hard, and veganism is somehow becoming political theater. In this episode, Jason reacts to Lizzo’s Chili’s rib ad, Beyond Meat’s new protein drink strategy, and the growing culture war around plant-based eating. Send us Fan Mail

Billie Eilish said: “Eating meat is inherently wrong" and there was a huge backlash from people online that are mostly from the progressive left wing side.  Why does veganism trigger people emotionally? Send us Fan Mail

Here is an edited version of Jason's speech at Earth Day San Diego!  Send us Fan Mail

A conversation with Amanda Persi, founder of The The Getaway Co. a company that designs plant-forward culinary trips so vegans can explore food cultures around the world without compromising their values. https://thegetawayco.com/ instagram @thegetawayco Send us Fan Mail

What happens when one of the biggest names in vegan content considers dropping the word “vegan” from their brand? The Korean Vegan recently shared she’s thinking about rebranding and it raises a bigger question: is “vegan” helping or hurting creators in 2026?  Also VHP talks about his tofu making journey.  Send us Fan Mail

Bro culture has officially entered the plant-based aisle and it might be killing it. In this episode, we break down why brands like Beyond Eat Just and Impossible are chasing high-protein, gym-focused trends instead of what actually matters: taste, price, and real-world appeal. Are vegan companies targeting the wrong audience? And is that why mainstream adoption is stalling? Let’s get into it. Sen...

At Expo West I expected a plant-forward food show… but what I found instead raised a lot of questions. In this episode of the Vegan Hacks Podcast , I break down the surprising presence of meat products and even beef tallow at what used to feel like a very vegan-friendly event. I also sit down with some incredible founders pushing plant-based innovation forward: • Liz Kang , Founder and Co-CEO of M...

Will Animal Protein Dominate Expo West This Year? Next week, the natural foods world descends on Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim. The Super Bowl of natural foods  In past years, it felt like a plant-based paradise — innovated alt-meats launching, vegan innovation exploding down every aisle. And yes… there will be new important, plant launches. There always are. But the bigger question this y...

In this episode, we dive into the Vegandale festival backlash and rebrand, discuss growing concerns about vegan brands using non-vegan marketing or alienating the community, and tackle the uncomfortable but important conversation about wealth and privilege in vegan culture. Send us Fan Mail