Vedge Your Best, Vegan Ideas for Everyone At Any Age

Why do we say we want to go vegan—or at least more plant-based—and then we don’t follow through? Why does it sometimes feel so hard to align our actions with what we deeply believe? In this episode, we explore the "Blame Game"—the very human habit of explaining away our inaction by pointing to our personalities, families, jobs, pasts, or even our cats. You’re not lazy, weak, or failing....

Switzerland’s groundbreaking new labelling law, effective July 1, 2025 doesn’t abolish animal cruelty—but maybe it bans ignorance. Food products like meat, dairy, eggs, foie gras, and even frogs’ legs must now clearly disclose if the animals experienced painful procedures—such as dehorning, castration, tail docking, force-feeding—performed without pain relief. The requirement extends to supermarke...

What if your kitchen could be the starting point for personal liberation? This week on  Vedge Your Best , Chef Day Radley joins Michele to talk about how cooking plant-based isn’t just about what’s on the plate—it’s about reclaiming agency, aligning with your values, and discovering what’s possible in midlife and beyond. Founder of The Vegan Chef School in London, Day shares how a pink flyer at a...

Even small choices create a ripple effect.  In fact we probably can’t succeed without your smallest actions. Episode Summary: Feeling overwhelmed by the news? Wondering if your vegan lunch really matters? In this episode, Michele Olender explores the power of shifting from passive observer to active participant — in culture, in climate, in your plant-based journey..  Maybe even in traffic .. Inspi...

This week, we’re talking “excuses”—the kind that hold us back and the kind that might just be trying to help. Whether you're delaying a plant-based shift, putting off a big change, or repeating the same “I just can’t right now” story… this episode invites you to rethink your excuses with humor, compassion, and curiosity. What if your excuses aren’t obstacles? What if they’re signposts to your...

Purchase Miami Vegan: Plant Based Recipes from the Tropics to Your Table by Ellen Kanner on her website soulfulvegan.com , at bookshop.org , Walmart online, or through her publisher LCIX Award–winning writer, culinary instructor and longtime vegan Ellen Kanner returns to Vedge Your Best to share the inspiration behind her vibrant new cookbook, Miami Vegan: Plant-Based Recipes from the Tropics to Y...

Episode Summary: Ready for a summer reading program?  In this first installment of the  Vedge Lit  series, Michele reflects on  Never Too Late to Go Vegan  by Carol J. Adams, Patti Breitman, and Virginia Messina, RD. The episode dives into the doubts many people face when they consider going vegan later in life—and how this book offered a perspective shift that shaped Michele’s work and mission. W...

What if the biggest thing holding you back… isn’t resistance or lack of willpower, but gravity ? In this episode, Michele returns from adventures in Granada, Seville, Paris, Strasbourg, and Dublin with fresh eyes on the habits, routines, and unconscious choices that shape our lives. From mealtimes and walking paths to how we relate to food, family, and culture—there’s an invisible architecture gui...

“Waste is a human decision. Nature doesn’t waste anything.” — Vojtech Vegh This week on  Vedge Your Best , Michele sits down with  zero-waste vegan chef Vojtech Vegh , author, sustainability consultant, and founder of  SurplusFoodStudio.com , to explore how the way we think about ingredients can transform both our meals and our environmental impact. Vojtech shares his journey from a reluctant wait...

What if your next burger could help fight climate change? In this episode of Vedge Your Best , Michele talks with Jonah Goldman , co-founder of PLNT Burger , about how one small idea—born from a childhood trip to an animal sanctuary—grew into a fast-growing plant-based burger chain with a mission: joy, flavor, and planet-friendly impact. Learn how PLNT Burger is: Redefining fast food with a 100% p...

Why is it so hard to do what we  already know  we want to do? In this first episode of the  Decide Your Best  mini-series, we examine the gap between intention and action—especially when it comes to plant-based and vegan decisions. Whether you’re starting, re-starting, or re-ENERGIZING  your vegan practice, this episode will help you understand that the friction you feel isn’t failure—it’s your br...

This week’s guest is Kimberly Winters, vegan coach, consultant, and host of “Did You Bring the Hummus?” Kimberly's path to podcasting started as a Toastmasters speaking project (before she even listened to a podcast herself!).  You’ll hear how Kimberly found confidence and community through her vegan storytelling, and why every small choice matters—even when no one seems to notice. Kimberly un...

Refresh your environment and renew your commitment to plant-based living How can a little "spring cleaning” re-energize YOUR vegan journey? This season is the perfect opportunity to assess the spaces and habits that can either support or undermine our plant-based lifestyles. You don't need a complete home overhaul to refresh your vegan practice. Consider some manageable spring cleaning ac...

Air Date: April 22, 2025 (Earth Day) In this special Earth Day episode, we explore the profound emotional and spiritual transformations that can accompany a vegan lifestyle. Dr. Angela Crawford, psychologist and author of the newly released book "The Vegan Transformation: A Journey to Heal Yourself and the World," shares insights from her extensive research with hundreds of vegans worldw...

Feeling stuck with your vegan or plant-based goals? You're not alone —  it might just be that your problem is  too vague for your brilliant brain to solve . This week, Michele shares some behind-the-scenes chaos (hello taxes, travel, and vegan restaurant reservations!) and how it mirrors what many of us experience on our plant-based journey: overwhelm, foggy goals, and spinning our wheels with...

Episode Summary: If you’ve ever  struggled  to go vegan—or felt overwhelmed by cravings, confusion, or lack of support—this is the episode for you. This week on  Vedge Your Best , I’m joined by  Cheryl Martinez, founder of  VeginnerCooking.com , where she supports vegan beginners through recipes, resources, and her signature 30-Day Vegan Challenge. Cheryl shares her journey from growing up in a me...

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Vedge Your Best welcomes John Oberg , a passionate activist who has mastered the art of using social media for impactful animal advocacy. John shares his journey from growing up with a love for animals, instilled by his mother, to becoming a prominent voice for animal rights online. Michele and John discuss the power of social media to educate and inspire, the importance of taking action against a...

Exhausted by the same old anti-vegan arguments?   “But lions eat meat!”  “More animals are killed by farming vegan crops,”  “So many serial killers are vegetarian.”  It can feel like a never-ending cycle of nonsense. What if you could spot faulty logic, stay calm, and actually shift the conversation —without getting sucked into frustrating debates? In this episode, I break down: Common logical fal...

Welcome back, Vedge Your Bestie! This week’s episode is for anyone who has ever felt like going plant-based or vegan is just "one more way to fail." If that thought has crossed your mind, you are  not  alone. I hear from so many of you—some who aren’t seriously considering veganism (yet) but still tune in, and others who struggle with consistency or navigating family and social situation...

Learn more about Adam Sobel, his cooking classes, newsletter and Vegan University at  CinnamonSnail.com  Adam’s book  Street Vegan This week on Vedge Your Best, we get to know Adam Sobel, vegan vehicular visionary, to discuss his journey from pioneering the first fully organic vegan food truck in the U.S. to founding an online culinary education platform, Vegan University. Adam shares insights and...

Overview: This week you get a glimpse of Michele being messy.  Behind‐the-scenes meltdowns, technical snafus (shoutout to Charlie for the rescue!), and the struggle with self-doubt, the message is clear: it’s not about being a master, but about showing up, experimenting, and learning through every misstep. Key Segments: The Power of Being a Beginner Being “new” at something is a strength—not a wea...

Learn more about Arianna Beetz, PhD, NASM CNC -  Join her  newsletter  or follow Nourish on Instagram ( http://instagram.com/nourishsupermeals ) and Arianna will plant a tree as a thank you for each! Ready to try Nourish Super Meals? Arianna is offering listeners a special thank you.  At  check out , use the code VEDGEYOURBESTBOGO for buy 1 get 1 free :) This week we get to know Arianna Beetz, a p...

Plant Based / Vegan Life Coaching.  If you’ve ever thought that avoiding or eliminating animal products would be a great idea, but you didn’t know where to start, this Podcast is for you. Link Vox me on Voxer with your questions about coaching or your vegan and plant based journey.   ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Https://web.voxer.com/u/molend293⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  or DM me on Instagram. For more information, to su...

Episode Summary: This week’s long-awaited guest is Jim Moore from The Bloody Vegans Podcast and Bloody Vegans Productions. Jim is a podcaster, producer, musician, activist, and lifelong learner.  Yes, this episode runs a little longer than usual because I simply couldn’t bring myself to cut anything out! Jim shares how a chance Netflix algorithm led him and his wife to watch  Cowspiracy  in 2017,...