Vegans Explore Podcast

In this powerful episode, Sean A. Russell sits down with legendary journalist, author, and activist Jane Velez-Mitchell for a wide-ranging conversation that bridges broadcast media, Vegan advocacy, and cultural change. Jane shares her deeply personal Vegan origin story, shaped by family history, investigative journalism, and a defining on-air moment that transformed her life. Together, they explor...

In this episode of the Vegans Explore Podcast, Sean A. Russell sits down with Helene Greenberg from VegFest Expos to talk about what it really takes to build and sustain Vegan festivals across the United States. From small community pop-ups to multi-city VegFests drawing thousands, Helene shares the behind-the-scenes reality of event organizing, innovation, burnout, and why collaboration matters m...

Sean A. Russell sits down with Tim Leclercq, co-founder of Maizly, creators of the world’s first corn milk. Recorded live at Plant Based World Expo, this conversation explores how a simple idea became a four-year journey of innovation, perseverance, and 120 product iterations. Tim shares how corn went from an overlooked crop with a bad reputation to the hero ingredient behind a neutral-tasting, fi...

Sean A. Russell sits down with Bunnie Cakes founder Mariana to explore the heartfelt story behind one of Miami’s most iconic Vegan brands. Mariana shares how her journey began with her children’s dairy allergies and grew into a business that filled a major gap in Miami’s dessert market. She opens up about closing her retail store in 2020, the spark that led to the Ready to Bake cupcake batter line...

In this episode of the Vegans Explore Podcast, Sean A. Russell breaks down the European Union’s renewed push to restrict plant based and lab grown meat companies from using familiar terms like burger, milk, yogurt, and cheese. We explore what this proposal means for everyday shoppers, Vegan businesses, and the future of sustainable food innovation. You will hear how Big Ag is pressuring lawmakers,...

Confessions of a Claimed Meat Industry Insider dives into one of the most talked about AMAs on Reddit, where an anonymous user claimed to be a former employee of a meat industry trade group paid to spread misinformation online. Their identity cannot be verified, so this reenacted interview is presented purely for entertainment and media literacy awareness. Host Sean A. Russell guides listeners thr...

In this powerful episode of the SoFlo Vegans Podcast, Sean A. Russell sits down with the legendary Chef Babette, a 72 year old Vegan icon whose energy, authenticity, and wisdom continue to inspire generations. They explore her Vegan origin story, the transformative impact of food education, the power of intentional living, and the emotional, spiritual, and physical practices that keep her thriving...

In this episode of the Vegans Explore Podcast, Sean A. Russell sits down with Dante, known as The Southern Vegan, to talk about the power of community, the vegan scene in Virginia, and how creators can support local businesses by simply documenting and sharing their meals. Dante shares his personal Vegan origin story, a powerful experience that pushed him toward a healthier lifestyle, and offers a...

Sean connects with Maday Rodriguez of V Collective live from Plant Based World Expo. They discuss her Vegan lifestyle brand, the importance of conscious shopping, her Vegan origin story, and the real work behind building a mission driven business. This episode celebrates community, shared values, and the power of early stage collaboration within the global Vegan movement.  

In this powerful unscripted episode, Sean A. Russell shares a raw update from the Vegans Explore NYC Tour and breaks down the bigger mission behind building the world’s largest Vegan community. Speaking directly from the heart, Sean explains how his 28 years of experience in communications, nonprofit leadership, events, content creation, and community building have shaped the blueprint for Vegans...

Every movement has a turning point, and this episode is exactly that for Vegans Explore. What began as a simple dinner in New York City became a moment of clarity that reshaped the entire mission. In this powerful episode, Sean A. Russell speaks directly to creators, entrepreneurs, nonprofits, seasoned Vegans, and pre-Vegans, bringing everyone into one shared vision. You will hear why Vegans Explo...

Sean A. Russell reports live from the Plant Based World Expo in New York City. In this episode, he shares a recap of Day 01, from the Vegan food options at airports to an unexpected act of kindness at Veggie Castle in Queens. Sean dives into why this NYC trip matters for cementing Vegans Explore in a major hub, the importance of building the Vegans Explore Passport community before the 1/11/26 lau...

In this episode, Sean A. Russell checks in from Orlando as he prepares to head to New York for Plant Based World Expo. He shares the vision behind the Vegans Explore daily podcast, why consistency matters for the movement, and how global directories, restaurant listings, and Vegan event guides are being built to serve the community. Sean also invites listeners to join the Vegans Explore Passport,...

In this episode of the Vegans Explore Podcast, host Sean A. Russell opens up about the show's evolution and the launch of the Vegans Explore Passport, the global community at the center of the movement. Sean shares why the Passport exists, what it represents, and how listeners can join during the special invite-only period. This conversation gives listeners a behind-the-scenes look at the mission,...

In this episode of the Vegans Explore Podcast, Sean A. Russell tackles one of the most common challenges in the Vegan journey. Not knowing what to cook at home. Sean highlights ten powerful Vegan cookbooks that can transform your kitchen with comforting, flavorful, and easy-to-follow recipes. From soulful southern dishes to Italian classics and gut-friendly meals, these books offer something for e...

Torre Washington is making history. In this episode of the Vegans Explore Podcast, host Sean A. Russell highlights Torre’s groundbreaking path to becoming the first natural Vegan athlete to qualify for the Mr. Olympia stage in 2026. This is more than a milestone; it is a global message about what plant-powered athletes can achieve. Sean explores Torre’s impact on the Vegan fitness movement, why th...

In this heart-centered episode, Sean A. Russell shares a new direction for Vegans Explore and opens up about the mission behind the movement. Instead of a traditional newsletter full of links, this conversation-style update invites listeners into the real story of what is happening behind the scenes and where the community is going next. Sean talks about the purpose of Vegans Explore, why the team...

In this episode of the Vegans Explore Podcast, host Sean A. Russell breaks down the powerful world inside your body known as the gut microbiome. Using insights from previous Vegans Explore interviews with gastroenterologists Dr. Angie Sadeghi and Dr. Will “Dr. B” Bulsiewicz , Sean explains how trillions of microbes influence your digestion, energy, immunity, hormones, mood, and long-term health. Y...

In today’s episode of the Vegans Explore Podcast, host Sean A. Russell explores the difference between celebrity trend and lifelong commitment by highlighting long-term Vegan leaders such as Joaquin Phoenix, Woody Harrelson, Alicia Silverstone, Billie Eilish, RZA, James Cromwell, and Moby. We also look at well-known celebrities who stepped away from Veganism, including Miley Cyrus, Anne Hathaway,...

In this episode of the Vegans Explore Podcast, host Sean A. Russell breaks down the top ten Vegan cities in the United States using a unique combined ranking from HappyCow, PETA, and WalletHub. Instead of relying on a single list, Sean blends restaurant density, community culture, affordability, and lifestyle trends to give listeners the clearest picture of where plant-based living is thriving tod...

In this episode of the Vegans Explore Podcast, host Sean A. Russell breaks down why many wines, beers, and spirits are not actually Vegan even though the ingredients seem simple on the surface. Sean explains how animal based fining agents like isinglass, gelatin, casein, egg whites, and chitin are used during production, and why they matter for anyone trying to make cruelty free choices. You will...

In this episode of the Vegans Explore Podcast, host Sean A. Russell breaks down one of the biggest policy shifts in school nutrition in nearly eighty years. The Senate has approved a bipartisan bill that finally allows plant-based milks in school meals, ending Big Dairy’s long-standing monopoly. Sean explains what the bill does, why it matters for millions of lactose-intolerant students, and how i...

In this episode of the Vegans Explore Podcast, host Sean A. Russell breaks down one of the most influential systems in global dining, the Michelin Star guide. Sean traces the history of Michelin’s rating system, explains what each Star level means, and highlights how Michelin influences the way the world measures culinary excellence. The episode also spotlights several Vegan and Vegetarian restaur...

In this episode of the Vegans Explore Podcast, host Sean A. Russell breaks down the latest update to the Clean Fifteen and Dirty Dozen, two widely trusted lists that rank produce by pesticide residues and toxicity. Sean explains why these rankings matter, how pesticides affect our bodies, and what Pre Vegans and long-time Vegans can do to make informed choices without fear or confusion. Listeners...

In this episode , host Sean A. Russell breaks down the Top 10 Reasons Not to Go Vegan and offers calm, grounded, and evidence-based ways to respond. Instead of arguing or matching energy, Sean focuses on communication posture, compassion, and seed planting. Drawing on 30 years of communication experience, his personal Vegan journey, and insights from leading plant-based physicians and advocates, t...