YouTube Channel

2/17/25 – Interview with Kate Galli, vegan health coach, podcast host, and creator of the Plant Positive Journal.

Interview highlights: • Kate’s journey to becoming vegetarian and later vegan after realizing the suffering of animals in animal agriculture • Moving from restrictive and perfectionistic dietary approaches to eating with joy, simplicity, ease, and abundance. • Her food preparation secrets for enjoying delicious, varied, easy, and healthy vegan meals • The emotional benefits she experienced from her vegan lifestyle, including alignment with values and opening her heart to animals, the planet, and other humans • How connecting with our core values can catalyze progress toward our personal, health, and fitness goals • Kate’s impactful Healthification podcast; Plant Positive Journal and daily planner; and Plant Positive community • Kate’s commitment to “lead with love, compassion, and deliciousness” to empower others on the path to plant-positive living

12/12/24 – Interview with Victoria Moran, best-selling author, podcast host, and creator and founder of Main Street Vegan Academy.

Interview highlights: • Victoria shares her journey to veganism. She experienced ups and downs along her path – but ultimately embraced a fully vegan lifestyle in 1983. • Her fascination with Yoga, mysticism, comparative religion, and “the big picture” since a young age • The inspiration for her forthcoming (14th) book, “Age Like a Yogi: A Heavenly Path to a Dazzling Third Act.” Victoria offers enlightening wisdom to change our common perceptions of getting older, and to age gracefully. • The interconnection between spirituality, yoga, ayurveda, and ahimsa – all of which dovetail beautifully with veganism and whole plant food nutrition • Victoria’s words of wisdom: “If your heart is open to this [compassionate, vegan lifestyle], then it’s a treasure…You are shining your light. You are influencing others even if you don’t know it. And somehow, some way…we are lifting the consciousness of the planet, and…making this world kinder, gentler, and saner.”

12/6/24 – Interview with “JJ” Jen Judd, plant-based coach and mentor, and host of Veganowledge YouTube Channel.

Interview highlights: • At 42 years old, JJ embarked on a raw vegan journey after watching the documentary “Raw” on YouTube. What began as a simple curiosity to lose weight turned into a life-changing transformation. Over 6 months, she lost 55 pounds, eliminated the seasonal allergies she had since childhood, and reversed chronic back pain she had struggled with since her teens. • This experience opened JJ’s eyes to the profound connection between what we eat and our health, as well as compassion for all beings. • Motivated to share this life-changing knowledge, JJ founded the Veganowledge FB group. She later launched her YouTube channel. • With a degree in psychology and years of corporate coaching experience, JJ created the Amazing Plantz4merz VIP Club, a community offering personalized coaching and group support to help others achieve their health goals in an enjoyable and sustainable way.

11/19/24 – Interview with Bianca Jayne Stares, Plant-Based Transformational Coach and Founder of Overhaul Health and Wellness.

Interview highlights:

• How Bianca’s plant-based journey started after she suffered severe injuries in a snowboarding accident. During her lengthy recovery, she came across health documentaries such as “What the Health,” leading her to question her previous meat, dairy, and sugar-centered dietary patterns.
• Over time, she found a passion for nutrition. She enrolled in a health coaching course, and later went fully vegan. She realized that she previously compartmentalized her compassion, caring about the well-being of some animals but not others.
• Her current work as a women’s plant-based wellness and weight loss coach, offering a FB community, as well as free weight loss boot camps, many resources, and 1:1 coaching.

10/24/24 – Interview with Ella Magers, founder of Sexy Fit Vegan, compassion-driven thought-leader, podcast host, and holistic wellness coach.

Interview highlights: • Ella became vegetarian at age 7 when she made the connection between animals and the food on her plate • She realized very young that her purpose on earth was to be a voice for the animals and became fully vegan at age 15 • She went through a period of disillusionment, as she realized that her efforts to raise awareness were not having the desired impact • She found that as a plant-based athlete, others were intrigued to know the secrets of her lifestyle • Ever driven to self-perfection, she went through a period of struggling with disordered eating. She realized that holistic wellness isn’t just about changing what we eat, but also about improving our relationship with food and with ourselves • When she learned self-compassion through the teachings of yoga, she became healthier in mind, body, and spirit. • This led to the birth of Sexy Fit Vegan, showing that being vegan can mean being healthy, fun, sexy, strong, and fit.

9/9/2024 – Interview with Angela Fischetti, Founder of Boomer and Beyond Wellness, physical fitness trainer, yoga instructor, and massage therapist working with older adults.

Interview highlights: • Angela’s decision to go vegan because of a special cat who “adopted” her and awakened her compassion for ALL beings • Her “relapses” back to eating cheese during times of stress and grief • Adopting a whole food, plant-exclusive diet – and healing from medical challenges • How her commitment to fitness has strengthened her hope and courage through tough times • Her dedication to help older adults maintain their best fitness – and remain empowered and strong – regardless of their current age, fitness, or health status • How as ethical vegans, it is important that we include healthy self-care (such as exercise, whole plant food nutrition, mindset, and community) in order to bring our best selves to our mission.

5/22/2023 – Interview with Wanda Huberman, Executive Director of the National Health Association (NHA).

Interview HIghlights – Wanda’s process of moving to a WFPB, vegan lifestyle – Her improved physical, emotional, and cognitive well-being once she eliminated processed foods and based her diet on whole plant foods – Her career shift to become executive director of the NHA – Living her purpose through her work – Wanda’s personal transformation since becoming a WFPB vegan

Wanda also shared about the upcoming NHA conference in June. Founded in 1948, the NHA promotes the benefits of a plant-based diet, and is the longest-running nonprofit vegan organizaiton in the United States. To learn more, check out the NHA website.

5/18/2023 – Interview with Nivi Jaswal, Founder of Virsa Foundation and JIVINITI research program.

Interview Highlights – Nivi’s shift to Whole Food Plant-Based (WFPB) after the onset of medical issues • Her subsequent healing from chronic disease and improved energy and sleep • Awakening to the impact of carnism in her life – and adopting a vegan lifestyle • Shifting from indignance and anger to peace and compassion • Coping with relationship losses as she lived more authentically and compassionately • Learning to include herself in her circle of compassion and to set healthier boundaries • Leaving her corporate work to start a non-profit foundation that seeks to empower underserved communities • Her personal experience and wisdom regarding vegan advocacy, self-care, and discovering our unique gifts to help the causes we care about. Connect with Nivi and her work through her website: https://www.thevirsafoundation.org/

4/30/2023 – Interview with Lauren D’Agostino, plant-based chef and Founder of Chef Lauren’s Table and the Kitchen Mindset Lab.

Interview Highlights: – Lauren’s plant-based journey, becoming fully vegan about 7 years ago – The amazing benefits she has experienced: skin glowing, less inflammation, more in touch with emotions, more aligned with her purpose and authentic self – How to experience Food Joy by listening to and nourishing your body, and eating intuitively – How to lead by example and be an inspiring role model – Handling social situations and remaining true to your own vision, values, and goals – Her work with clients to incorporate more plants in their lives, wherever they are on their veg journeys – Discover healthy plant-based versions of your favorite foods. Connect with Chef Lauren and her work through her website: https://cheflaurenstable.com/

3/30/2023 – Interview with Jacque Salomon, Trauma-Informed Lifestyle Wellness Mentor and Coach, author, and founder of Seeds to Inspire.

Interview Highlights: Jacque shares how she and her whole family healed their chronic medical conditions after watching Forks Over Knives and switching to a WFPB diet.  She subsequently experienced emotional healing and a deep sense of purpose as she embraced her Vegan Values. After reversing chronic diseases such as Type 2 Diabetes, Hypertension and Obesity, she was inspired to create SEEDS TO INSPIRE to make certain everyone obtains knowledge and skills to adopt healthy lifestyle practices and access to health promoting, local, organic whole plant foods. SEEDS TO INSPIRE meets at the intersection of Lifestyle Medicine, Health Equity, and Food Justice, supporting healthy lifestyle changes through a Trauma-Informed lens. You can connect with Jacque and her work at https://www.seedstoinspire.org/

3/20/2023 – Interview with Jun Fuchs, certified Life Coach, author, and public speaker.  Jun Fuchs is an amplifier for the Vegan community.  His unique blend of life coaching skills, mixed with creative mindfulness tools, allow him to help you awaken to your most creative, confident, and vibrant Self.  His work empowers vegans to become more effective and powerful advocates. Interview Highlights: – How Jun went from McDonald’s employee to passionate vegan activist – His improvements in physical health and strength with a vegan diet – His mental health burnout that led him to take a year off from activism to heal – His realization that in order to have the impact he wanted, he needed to serve from a place of inner fullness and well-being – His daily self-care practices for optimal mental and emotional health – How he discovered his Zone of Brilliance and returned to activism in a more powerful and fulfilling way – His new platform: The Vreedom Quest Plan. Connect with Jun through his website: https://www.junfuchs.com/

3/2/2023 –Interview with Tricia Shields, founder of Compassion Rising, loving mom and wife, Animal Rights Activist, Author and Entrepreneur. Compassion Rising’s mission is to provide families, as well as childcare programs, with a trusted space to develop their emotional intelligence, strengthen their sense of compassion and empathy, and deepen their connection with themselves, all living beings, and our planet. Interview Highlights– – What led to Tricia’s Vegan Awakening – Her struggles with Vystopia and how she has coped with this – The importance of finding hope, purpose, and community – Her huge vision that led to the creation of Compassion Rising. Connect with Tricia and Compassion Rising through her website: https://www.compassionrising.us/

3/1/2023 – Interview with Todd Sinclair, bestselling and award-winning author of the Rebel Vegan book trilogy. Interview Highlights: Having grown up on a dairy farm in Canada, Todd never imagined becoming vegan. While running a travel and tour business in Southeast Asia, he experienced a severe food-borne illness from contaminated meat. He was taken in by monks, who nursed him back to health with a plant-based diet. After a week or two, not only did he feel better physically, he also felt lighter spiritually and emotionally. Ultimately, this experience led to him embracing a vegan lifestyle. He is now passionate about teaching and inspiring others to live a compassionate, healthy, and abundant vegan life. Todd researched and wrote the Rebel Vegan trilogy to show how vegan values are a fundamental way forward to avoid future pandemics, protect animals and the planet, and take care of our health. Connect with Todd and his work through his website: https://rebelveganlife.com/