The Plant Centered and Thriving Podcast

Welcome to my second episode of our special education series!    Today we are helping to dispel the myths you may have seen, heard, read about surrounding protein and plant-based eating.  We will discuss the following: 1. Protein - what is all the hype about?  2. How much protein do I need if I am plant-based?  3. How do I know if I'm getting enough protein?  4. Do I need a protein powder?  H...

"Do what you feel is realistic for you instead of feeling like you have to copy someone else’s journey.  Because that never works." Meet Catherine Perez, a plant-based enthusiast turned registered dietitian with a masters in Human Nutrition.   She has been vegan since 2009 and first chose a plant-based lifestyle to improve her overall health.  Hear her story of how her personal journey h...

"If we can address these stereotypes and gender norms when kids are young maybe we can prevent them from thinking that meat is masculine in the first place." I am thrilled to host my friend, Adam Stranaland, to the podcast where we discuss an age old question, "does meat equal masculinity?  Adam is a doctoral student at Duke University, pursuing Duke’s first joint degree in psycholo...

"Get clear on why you are doing what you are doing"  I am thrilled to welcome Alex Bladek,  a nutrition and mindset coach from Charlotte, North Carolina.  Alex, the owner of "The Fuel Method",  shares her approach for how she helps women step into their next level of confidence & empowerment in their health journey.   I am so grateful that you, the listeners, get to benefit...

Welcome to my new education series!  I  want this podcast to provide both inspiration and education to help you on your own plant-based journeys.  Each episode of this new series will be full of information covering the most commonly asked questions I get regarding a plant-based lifestyle.  This first episode in the series is for those of you who may be feeling  overwhelmed.  I felt the same way a...

“We are a family and we all eat the same things, but we all have our preferences” I am honored to welcome my sister, Katherine, to the podcast! Katherine is a mom of three young children and she has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to raising a family while plant-based.  We talk DETAILS!  She shares how she structures meal planning and what a trip to the grocery store really looks like.  And mo...

"Would we push to get our family the help that they needed?  So why don’t we do that for ourselves?" Today we welcome, Capri, a mother of two from Austin, Texas.  Capri shares her health struggles that all started with strange menstrual cycles and bowel problems for as long as she can remember.  These issues escalated into constant, wide spread abdominal pain that went undiagnosed for ye...

"Knowing that everything is connected has really helped me on my journey" Fasten your seatbelts for an eye opening discussion about women's health.  Corinne walks us through her own mismanaged PCOS that led to 2 years without a period, facial hair growth, IBS, migraines & skin rashes, which she healed after years of education and trial & error.  Going plant-based was the cat...

"It's much more enticing if it’s my own decision and not something you are forcing me into" This episode is for all of you who may be hesitant to transition because of how it may affect your partner and your relationship.  This is one of the most common concerns I hear from clients.  I have walked this walk with my partner, Nick, so I convinced him to come on the podcast so we could...

"I had to learn to love myself again" Get ready for a fascinating listen from another former client of mine, Katie, a 39 year old dog mom of 2.  Like so many women today, Katie struggled with the pressure to be perfect throughout her life:  perfect student, perfect employee, perfect wife, perfect daughter.  She takes us through those struggles and how her transition to go plant-based hel...

Is it possible to go plant-based after living on an Angus Cattle Farm? If you are my mom, you sure can!  I am so honored to host my mother, Becky Kitchens, on the podcast!  She was your typical stay at home mom of three, who raised us (her kids) on the standard American diet that included things like potatoes, casseroles and you can imagine, a whole lot of meat.   About 5 years ago, I asked my par...

"I want to stop questioning everything I eat"  Imagine hearing your doctor tell your mother "she's fat, you need to put her on a diet", when you are just 8 years old.  Mary Greenan reached out to me initially just to help lower her cholesterol, but our most important work was to heal her relationship with food after a 30 year battle with dieting.   Mary is also a homeschoo...

Can a true foodie really go plant-based?  Get inspired by my former client, an animal lover from New Jersey, Vanessa.  Hear how she finds her voice in her Chinese and Italian family, rich with tradition.  Learn how she navigates the restaurant scene while going plant-based.    See how she uses her love for cooking to convince friends and family that plant-based food can taste delicious.  Listen to...

"If I want something different, I need to try something different."   At the start of his incredible journey, Jack tipped the scales at over 500 pounds and was diagnosed with high blood pressure, high cholesterol and was pre diabetic all by the age of 30.  I can't wait for you to hear Jack's story of how he broke the cycle of a lifetime of unsuccessful yo-yo dieting after disco...

Thank you so much for being here today. I’m Ashley. I’m a plant-based registered dietitian nutritionist and virtual nutrition coach and mentor.  I’m so grateful you’re here. I’m going to give you an exciting preview of what you can expect from this podcast, how it will benefit you and your journey, and stay tuned at the end for a fun giveaway that I’ll be running throughout this month of May. The...