PLANT the CHANGE: A vegan educator reimagines classrooms to raise conscious, compassionate, healthy kids

What if the key to reversing heart disease isn’t another surgery—but what’s on your plate? Heart disease remains the world’s leading cause of death, often treated with medications, surgeries, and stents. But for many patients, there's a radically different approach—one that doesn't start in the operating room but in the kitchen. If you're overwhelmed by chronic conditions like high blood pressure,...

What if the calf you bottle-fed started to feel like your child—and made you question everything you thought you knew about ranching? In this raw and riveting conversation, former cattle rancher’s wife turned animal sanctuary founder Renee King-Sonnen shares the story of how one baby cow—Rowdy Girl—shifted her entire worldview. Whether you're a rancher, vegetarian, or simply someone curious about...

What if the food you’re feeding your kids is quietly setting them up for disease—and no one’s talking about it? After putting her autoimmune symptoms into remission by changing her diet, Michele made a bold decision that reshaped her school’s approach to nutrition. This episode explores the powerful connection between food, health, and the systems that feed our children. Learn the shocking link be...

Ever seen a stray cat and thought,  "Someone should do something?"  What if that someone is you? In this episode, we follow Dani Giroux, founder of  Runaways Animal Rescue , who went from feeding one stray cat to launching a full-scale animal rescue—without funding, experience, or a facility. Her story sheds light on what TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) really means, why it matters, and ho...

What if everything you thought you knew about protein, nutrition, and disease was wrong—and the truth could save your life? In this eye-opening episode of Plant the Change, best-selling author and pioneering nutrition researcher Dr. T. Colin Campbell breaks down the misconceptions around protein, the misuse of the term “plant-based,” and the life-altering power of whole food plant-based diets. If...

What if the way we’re trying to stop bullying is actually making it worse? If you've ever felt helpless watching a child be bullied—or been the one bullied yourself—this episode offers a powerful reframe. Instead of quick fixes or shame-based discipline, we explore how Compassionate Humane Education (CHE) is creating real change by helping every student feel seen, heard, and safe. ·&nbsp...

Is it really possible to be healthy, strong, and well-nourished on a vegan diet—and what does true activism for animals look like in real life? Shannon Blair has some powerful answers. In a world flooded with misinformation and cultural conditioning, this episode dives into two powerful journeys of awareness with longtime animal activist Shannon Blair: one about food, and the other about purpose....

What if your mayor swapped lamb and meatballs for marathons and tofu — and never looked back? In this candid and inspiring conversation, Tarpon Springs Florida Mayor John Koulianos shares how watching a single documentary and listening to his 9-year-old daughter completely changed the trajectory of his health — and maybe even saved his life. If you've ever struggled with family health history, tri...

Everyone says learning should be serious. We disagree. When we let kids play games in class, something incredible happened—focus improved, confidence soared, and even the quietest students found their voice. The games weren’t a break from learning; they  were  part of the learning. In this  Straight Talk: Plant the Change  episode, Michele Fasnacht shares real stories of how pu...

What happens when a monkey raised as a pet or in a lab finally tastes freedom—and why does it matter to you? In a world where exotic animals are still bought as pets and tested in labs, this episode reveals the heart-wrenching and inspiring journey of Kari Bagnall and her 197 rescued primates—and what we can learn about empathy, education, and systemic change from their stories. - Hear the unbelie...

What happens when a Heisman Trophy winner and pro athlete suddenly suffers a stroke in his 40s—despite being in peak physical shape? If you’ve ever wondered why healthy habits aren’t enough or questioned the real impact of stress, diet, and lifestyle on long-term wellness, this episode sheds light on how even the fittest among us aren’t immune to health scares—and what can truly make the differenc...

Why do so many kids hate math? Maybe it’s not math they hate — maybe it’s how we teach it. We’ve turned curiosity into pressure and mistakes into failure. It’s time to change that. Welcome to Straight Talk: Plant the Change — where compassion meets the classroom. In this powerful episode, you’ll discover: • Why traditional math requirements are damaging more students than they help • The emotional...

Ever feel like your passion makes you the odd one out—until the world finally starts to catch on? If you’ve ever been dismissed for standing up for animals or living plant-based, Jane Velez-Mitchell’s story will resonate. She’s lived the rejection, fought through burnout, and built a movement when no one was listening. ·       Learn how Jane transformed doubt fro...

What happens when the heir to an ice cream empire walks away from it all — and sparks a global movement for healthy, ethical eating?  Ocean Robbins, grandson of Baskin Robbins’ co-founder, shares his extraordinary family story — from swimming in an ice cream cone-shaped pool to reversing chronic disease through plant-based living. In a world obsessed with profits over people, Ocean reveals ho...

What if the way schools define “smart” has been silencing your child’s true brilliance all along? For all the talk about honoring uniqueness, most schools still reward only one narrow type of intelligence—obedience, speed, neatness, and compliance—while overlooking creativity, empathy, resilience, and curiosity. This hidden system doesn’t just miss kids; it shapes how they see themselves for life....

How does an ordinary realtor become a global animal-welfare advocate with millions of followers—thanks to one unexpected pig? It all started when Steve Jenkins brought home a so-called “mini pig” who turned out to be anything but mini. What began as a private Facebook page for friends soon exploded into a global phenomenon. Esther’s charm, wit, and 650-pound personality captured hearts worldwide,...

Did you know the food your child eats today could determine whether they develop cancer, heart disease, or high blood pressure decades from now? In this powerful episode of  Plant the Change , world-renowned lifestyle medicine expert Dr. Michael Klaper reveals how the standard American diet—still rooted in outdated 1950s nutritional dogma—is creating a health crisis in our children. Parents,...

What if the school you trust with your child’s future is also the source of their deepest pain? In this straight-from-the-heart episode, you’ll hear a powerful origin story of why one mother—after surviving trauma, losing her teenage boyfriend to violence, and watching her own kids endure bullying and invisibility—decided to reject traditional schooling and create a school that prioritizes inclusi...

What happens when a little girl connects the dots between her pet chicken and dinner? For Reality TV Star Cher Hubsher, that moment changed everything. In this inspiring episode of  PLANT the CHANGE , Cher Hubsher—former nurse, actress, life coach, and reality TV personality—opens up about her path to veganism, raising a plant-based daughter, and the transformation of her once skeptical famil...

What if education could do more than teach—it could  transform lives  and  heal the world ? In this powerful welcome episode of  Plant the Change , Michele Fasnacht introduces the heart and soul behind her mission: reimagining education as a tool for empathy, justice, sustainability, and purpose. If you've ever questioned the values driving mainstream schools or felt there must...