No-Bullsh!t Vegan

It's not out of the ordinary for us to hear about self-care, ideal ways to practice it, and why it's so imperative. It is rare, however, to hear it discussed within the culinary world.  Enter Chef Stephanie Michalak White, who developed and launched a plant-based program at the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts [currently ranked as the #1 culinary school in the entire world.] Stephanie and...

Many folks come to veganism later in life, but there are a select few who start slightly earlier. Kingston Zoom Walters, also known as King Zoom the Vegan Kid, has been vegan since birth. Kingston is an 18-year-old vegan, neurodivergent, feminist social justice activist and environmentalist. His early passion for speaking up against injustices towards animals, humans and the planet evolved into sp...

What constitutes a "vegan legend"? Let's start with almost 40 years of veganism, being listed by VegNews among the "Top 10 Living Vegetarian Authors', establishing the Main Street Vegan Academy…and more. Meet Victoria Moran. Victoria first joined me on the podcast for episode 46, and this is our second discussion. We talk about the Main Street Vegan Academy training and certification program [wher...

"I've got a great opportunity for you to start your own business and earn extra income on the side!" -- most of us have received an MLM (multi-level marketing) pitch like this from a distant acquaintance after some small talk. Although they're declining in popularity, MLM is a business structure rampant in the fitness, nutrition, and health space. Beachbody, Arbonne, Herbalife, Younique, Amway...t...

It's no secret that our podcast episodes often contain at least a few mic drops. This one may set the bar.  Earlier this year, Registered Dietician Desiree Nielsen joined me to discuss all things food and nutrition. Our conversation was so expansive, we needed to bridge it into a separate discussion, and invite Coach Zoe [my fellow BS-buster] to join the talk. We discuss dismantling certain struct...

We're all relatively familiar with the term and concept of meal plans. For years, they've been offered to us as the fail-proof, non-negotiable element that will help you nail all of your nutritional goals. What if there was a completely different approach that didn't involve meal plans? Furthermore, what if they actually have a detrimental impact? Certified plant-based sports nutritionist Philip B...

Climate action has been a longstanding subject, as we become more and more aware of the current, irrefutable climate crisis. However, while we discuss its connection to many parts of our lives, this may be one of the first times we've explored its connection to….fitness!  Emily Kennedy is a systems thinker from Nova Scotia, a personal trainer, group fitness instructor, and founder of resiliFIT Coa...

Maybe you've heard the terms; maybe you haven't: gut health. Anti-nutrients. There are many terms, often elusive, that circulate within the nutrition realm. What do they mean, and which ones should we be paying attention to? Registered Dietician Desiree Nielsen joins me to discuss these terms, chat about anti-nutrients, where we find them, and answer the big question: are they bad for us? Alongsid...

When you hear the term marathon swim, it's generally referring to a 10km distance [6.2 miles]. Our guest for NBSV #120, Susan Simmons, is an ultra-marathon swimmer. You do the math. Susan Simmons discusses how she uses veganism to manage multiple sclerosis, and fuel her training.  In her own words: "My number one form of exercise is swimming and my diet is vegan. Both minimize the stress on my bod...

We've all heard them, right? Veganism exists alongside a selection of myths, perpetuated by mainstream media, particular industries, and marketing [to name a few!]  Do you want to know three of the most familiar myths out there, and promptly have them busted by truth and facts? Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Nisha Melvani joins me to do just that, alongside a discussion about her new book relea...

It is one of the most important, and most inquired-about relationships, and we're diving into it: veganism and strength training.  I outline how to fuel strength training efficiently, the special things vegans need to consider, 6-extra important nutrients, and much [much] more. Naturally, we'll also explore the infamous, favourite subject matter when it comes to talking about vegans and strength t...

If you've listened to the No-Bullshit Vegan podcast before, you've heard his name. If you haven't, it's about time you do!  Coach Ren Jones, one of my favourite humans with whom to "co-bust" industry BS, returns for another episode of mic drops and truth bombs. Ranging from the fitness industry's take on body size, to celebrity weight loss, we present a freestyle episode: no agenda, however no sub...

You've heard the question before, you've seen all the opinions weigh in, and you've seen the spirited discussions on social media about it: can dogs be vegan? Laura Simonson of Virchew [which produces plant-based meals and treats for dogs], addresses this question, the myth that dogs are carnivores, and speaks to the expansive research that's been done on dogs who eat vegan diets. Based in Vancouv...

How do vegans get their protein? Vegan bodybuilders Dani Taylor and Giacomo Marchese of VeganProteins.com answer this question, and a heck of a lot more: long-term habit change, strength training on a vegan diet, and reaching big fitness goals.  They travel with the Vegan Strong team and co-founded PlantBuilt.com, an NPO of vegan strength athletes who compete  to raise awareness for veganism and m...

Where do technology and animal products intersect [and how do they?] Dr. Karthik Sekar offers a technological argument against animal products, their problematic relationship to the environment [and the animals], and how the future of plant-based replacements has the capacity to exceed animal-based products in every way. Humanity has great impetus to shift past animal products, and this is a part...

Daniel Weiss joins me to delve into how body composition and athletic performance intersect, how veganism affects athletic performance, how to improve your body composition and energy with your nutrition and training, and more. Daniel turned his passion for nutrition, food, exercising, and human behaviour into helping active people overcome mindset blocks, lose excuses, and develop healthy relatio...

How has West African -specifically Ghanian- cuisine [and its plant-based nature], influenced US and Caribbean food cultures? Nana-Serwa Mancell is the Founder and chef of Veghana, a meal delivery and catering company based in Dubai that serves vegan West African cuisine. Nana believes that West African Food deserves a place among the popular global cuisines, and that it has an enormous amount to o...

What do noses have to do with weight loss? How do we talk about "problem" areas? Watch out: the holidays are coming + you best repent for your food choices! Back by popular demand for a 2nd edition, alongside my coaching colleague @zoemarg, we commit to calling out more falsities that need to be addressed, including the potentially problematic use of the word "goals", how we can dismantle the "goo...

What are some ways we can approach diversity and inclusion within the fitness industry, and what work still needs to be done? Adapted from a Zoom conversation for an alive Magazine article (about how the COVID-19 pandemic, and recent discussions about diversity and inclusion, have changed the fitness industry for good), Chrissy King joins me to discuss her work as a writer, speaker, strength coach...

"Fitness is rooted in two things: patriarchy, and access." Ren Jones is a certified trainer and certified nutrition coach in Charlotte, North Carolina. His personal philosophy toward changing behaviors is centered around self-compassion over discipline. Ren joined me for a crucial discussion about some of the most important issues facing the fitness industry today, a discourse that by no means can...

The International Vegan Film Festival [IVFF] and World Tour was founded in 2018. It is the largest vegan film festival of its kind in the entire world, exploring themes around animal welfare, environment, and health and nutrition. Shawn Stratton, director of the International Vegan Film Festival and World Tour, joins me to discuss the festival's past, present, and future; his vegan story; and life...

It is a comparison ever-present in the vegan community, though it is rarely critically addressed: veganism and abortion. In light of the recent legislation in Texas around reproductive rights [and lack thereof], my coaching colleague Zoe and I talk about the intersections between veganism and abortion, why the comparison may be problematic, and above all: why anti-abortion vegans are blatant hypoc...

We've all heard the discussions around low-fat, plant-based diets [sometimes referred to as whole foods, plant-based]. The question remains: is it all hype, or are these sentiments true?  Chef AJ and Glen Merzer, co-authors of the new book Own Your Health: How to Live Long and Avoid Chronic Illness, join me to discuss this lifestyle, answer the aforementioned question once and for all, and discuss...

Vegan meal planning: you've heard the term, and it's one that can both inspire and elude. Sophia DeSantis is here to show us how to move from overwhelmed to empowered when it comes to vegan meal planning. The fun-loving mom behind Veggies Don't Bite!, Sophia outlines how to break past traditional meal planning and create a meal system that is sustainable, will help you move from overwhelmed to emp...

What kind of messaging do we see in the fitness industry on a regular basis, and why are many parts of it so problematic? Alongside my coaching colleague Zoe Peled, we commit to calling out four falsities that need to be addressed, including the value assigned to the scale, the perverse need to have statements like "strong is the new skinny", and how the industry strategically markets itself to wo...