The Vegan Gym Podcast

We’re going to try something a little different today. This is our first monthly health and life check-in. Our plan is to do these once a month as a way to reflect on what has been going well, what has been challenging, what we’re learning, and what we’re grateful for. And honestly, even if no one else listens, I think we’ll get a lot out of doing these. It’s a good opportunity for us to reflect a...

In this episode of The Vegan Gym Podcast, Janine sits down with physician and women’s health expert Dr. Daphne Bascom for an in-depth conversation about menopause, aging, and how women can protect their long-term health with confidence. Together, they unpack the hormonal changes that occur during menopause and why this transition can feel so challenging. From body composition and bone density to c...

In this episode of The Vegan Gym Podcast, Erin sits down with physician and women’s health expert Dr. Daphne Bascom to break down how to navigate perimenopause and menopause with confidence, clarity, and a proactive approach to your health. They dive into what is actually happening in your body during this transition and why so many women feel caught off guard by changes in energy, mood, sleep, an...

In this episode of The Vegan Gym Podcast, Erin and I break down exactly how we are designing our diets to maximize healthspan, longevity, and performance without obsessing over food or making life miserable. My goal is simple. Live to a healthy 120. Not just longer, but stronger, sharper, independent, and fully alive. We talk about the difference between lifespan and healthspan, why “healthy enoug...

Why do healthy habits feel so hard to stick to, even when you really want to change? In this episode of The Vegan Gym Podcast, we break down why willpower and motivation are the wrong tools for long-term health, and why most people fall off track despite their best intentions. You’ll learn how human nature, delayed rewards, and daily friction quietly sabotage consistency, and how to replace “tryin...

In this episode, we dive deep into why your health must become your top priority — not someday, but today. I share the story of my cancer diagnosis at age 21, the mental and emotional toll it took, and how it completely reshaped the way I live my life. Erin and I talk honestly about the difference between being “healthy enough” and truly optimizing your health, and why waiting for a wake-up call i...

After a long break, The Vegan Gym Podcast is officially back. And instead of jumping straight into training and nutrition, I wanted to share a life and health update. In this relaunch episode, I talk about getting married, rebuilding consistency after falling off with my health and fitness routine, and introducing my new podcast co-host, my wife, Erin. We share how we met through The Vegan Gym com...

In this episode of The Vegan Gym Podcast , Leif and Daphne dive into the Plant-Powered Blueprint , a holistic framework designed to help you optimize your health and thrive on a plant-based lifestyle. Leif breaks down the seven key elements of the blueprint. Discover how this framework simplifies health and fitness, making it both sustainable and achievable. Tune in to learn how you can apply thes...

Olympic weightlifting legend and long-time vegan, Kendrick Farris, shares his extraordinary journey from the Olympic stage to embracing a plant-based lifestyle. He discusses his competitive mindset, camaraderie in the weightlifting community, and the transition to veganism. Kendrick opens up about the challenges he faced when he made the switch in 2014, revealing how he fueled his body, overcame c...

In this inspiring episode of The Vegan Gym Podcast, recorded at the 2024 Vegan Superhero Academy Retreat, Leif sits down with Coach Marc and his client Elyssa to discuss her transformative weight loss journey. Elyssa shares how, before joining VSA, she struggled to find a sustainable approach that worked for her long-term. It wasn’t until she teamed up with Marc that she began to shift her mindset...

Are you struggling with Hashimoto’s or thyroid health challenges? You’re not alone. In this inspiring episode of The Vegan Gym Podcast, Dr. Daphne Bascom sits down with Coach Sarah and Holly, a VSA athlete, to dive into the realities of living with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and how a plant-based lifestyle can transform your health. Holly shares her personal journey of overcoming fatigue, inflammatio...

In this episode of The Vegan Gym Podcast , recorded outdoors at the 2024 Coaches Retreat, Leif is joined by VSA coach and Powerlifter Arman Kehlhofer. Arman shares his inspiring journey to becoming an entirely plant-powered athlete, explaining how veganism came before weight training in his life. Arman dives into valuable insights from his powerlifting experience, emphasizing the importance of con...

In this episode of The Vegan Gym Podcast, recorded outdoors at the 2024 Coaches Retreat, Leif is joined by VSA Coach Nathan Perrin, who shares his inspiring story of transformation. Nathan talks about the life-changing events that propelled him into fitness coaching and how personal adversity became the driving force behind his athletic and professional success. In this deep and candid conversatio...

In this heartfelt episode of The Vegan Gym Podcast , recorded at the 2024 Coaches Retreat, Leif is joined by VSA Coach Tiana Braden for a powerful and vulnerable conversation. Tiana opens up about her deeply personal struggles with anorexia, binge eating, and disordered eating. With compassion and insight, she shares her journey to healing, offering practical advice for those facing similar battle...

In this inspiring episode of The Vegan Gym Podcast, recorded outdoors at the 2024 Coaches Retreat, Leif sits down with VSA coach Lukasz Rafacz, a calisthenics enthusiast with a powerful mindset. Lukasz opens up about his personal journey into veganism and fitness, balancing a non-vegan household, and the fitness philosophies he shares with his clients. Throughout the conversation, Lukasz emphasize...

In this episode of The Vegan Gym Podcast , recorded outdoors at the 2024 Coaches Retreat, Leif is joined by VSA coach Daniel Louwrens, who shares his inspiring journey of becoming a passionate advocate for plant-based living in South Africa. Daniel opens up about his personal background, detailing the experiences that shaped his commitment to health, fitness, and a vegan lifestyle. The conversatio...

In this special episode of The Vegan Gym Podcast, recorded at the 2024 Vegan Superhero Academy Retreat, Dr. Daphne Bascom hosts an insightful discussion with Coach Arman and two of his clients, Tooshdi and Erin. The conversation centers on maintaining motivation and discipline throughout the various stages of a health and fitness journey. Coach Arman shares his unique philosophy on staying committ...

Emotional eating is more than a surface-level challenge — it's a signal of deeper emotions like loneliness and sadness. In this episode, learn how to transform your relationship with food through intuitive eating. Coach Tiana opens up about her personal journey from disordered eating to freedom, sharing powerful insights on managing emotional triggers and finding balance. Discover practical s...

Redefine self-love in this eye-opening conversation on personal growth. Leif and Daphne challenge the common notion of unconditional self-acceptance, sharing how they've come to see true self-love as not just accepting who you are, but being proud of the journey you're on and the progress you're making. They explore how self-worth is tied to growth, and how embracing challenges can...

After battling non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, Angenette transformed her health through a plant-based lifestyle. In this episode, she shares how focusing on sustainable habits and staying proactive allowed her to thrive beyond just 'dieting.'  Joined by Dr. Daphne Bascom and Coach Marc, Angenette discusses the power of applying knowledge: 'Knowledge is power, but wisdom is applic...

In this episode of The Vegan Gym Podcast, recorded at the 2024 Vegan Superhero Retreat, Leif sits down with Coach Tom and longtime VSA client Chris to explore the difference between short-term "challenge" thinking and long-term sustainability in health and fitness goals.  Chris shares how VSA helped him break the cycle of yo-yo dieting and quick fixes by focusing on building lasting habi...

This episode of The Vegan Gym Podcast was recorded outdoors at The Vegan Gym’s 2024 Coaches Retreat. Leif and Daphne sit down in front of a stunning sunset backdrop to reflect on the incredible experiences of the VSA Games at the 2024 Vegan Superhero Retreat. They dive into the key themes that make the VSA Games so impactful, including the power of teamwork and the value of building a supportive c...

In this special episode of The Vegan Gym Podcast, recorded at the 2024 Vegan Superhero Academy Retreat, Dr. Daphne Bascom sits down with fellow plant-based advocate, Dr. Columbus Batiste, to explore the themes of health, empowerment, and holistic living. Drawing from Dr. Batiste's book, Selfish , they discuss the importance of prioritizing personal health and well-being, even in the face of s...

In this episode of The Vegan Gym Podcast, recorded at the 2024 Vegan Superhero Academy Retreat, Dr. Daphne Bascom sits down with Coach Daniel and his client, Aaron, to explore the value of setting realistic, attainable goals. Aaron, a driven soccer player, came to VSA with specific goals, and together with Daniel, they worked to fine-tune his fitness journey while balancing the ups and downs of li...

In this episode of The Vegan Gym Podcast, Daphne reveals five powerful lessons she's learned while training for the upcoming “Tough Mudder” challenge that she will be completing with The Vegan Gym Coaching Team.  She shares how she discovered a new level of physical and mental toughness required to conquer intense monkey bar training. Daphne discusses how pushing through pain and discomfort—l...