Do we need to worry about “complete” proteins? Why might some people be underestimating their protein needs? How did nutrition challenges during pregnancy lead Monica to start a company? What happens when Coach K asks tough questions about moving from vegetarian to vegan? Get these questions (and more) answered in this episode. Dr. Monica Bathia is the co-founder and co-CEO of EQUII. She’s a biotech manufacturing, ingredient, and fermentation expert with an impressive background in building sustainable products, including biofuels and oils for foods and cosmetics. She has a PhD in biochemistry from the University of South Carolina. Her journey with EQUII began in her kitchen, where her vegetarian lifestyle inspired her to explore ways to integrate nutritious food seamlessly into daily life. This initial spark of ingenuity eventually led her to establish EQUII and develop its revolutionary fermentation technology, together with co-founders Dr. Baljit Ghotra and Chef Sebastien Canonne.
Join me for a perhaps-surprisingly-no-B.S. discussion about purpose, goal-setting, and moving forward in our lives. What does “purpose” mean in the first place? How can we cultivate it? Hear the story of how Dr. Zeledón almost died at the age of 2, what happened when her father bought a lottery ticket, and how this experience affected her later in life. Dr. Esther Zeledón specializes in turning dreams into reality. With a remarkable background as a former international diplomat, scientist, and life coach, she has crafted a proven formula for success that transcends cultures, communities, corporations, and countries. Dr. Zeledón's innovative approach has garnered global recognition as she collaborates with NGOs, governments, academia, and individual coaching clients. Her mission is to empower high-achieving individuals and teams to uncover their true purpose, leading to enduring impact, boundless joy, and sustainable growth.
Radhi Devlukia is a plant-based cook, recipe developer, mission-driven entrepreneur, and co-founder of Juni Tea. Her debut cookbook “JoyFull" comes out in February 2024. We discuss mindful cooking and eating practices, and what “intuitive eating” means. Born and raised in the UK, the rich traditions of her Indian culture played a significant role in shaping Radhi’s path towards wellness from an early age, leading her to develop a deep appreciation for the mind-body connection and igniting her curiosity for culinary exploration. Radhi earned her Ayurvedic Health Counsellor 1 Degree at the California College of Ayurveda. A clinical dietician, nutritionist, and always-learning cook, she brings a modern approach to the ancient principles of holistic wellbeing.
Time for an Ask Me Anything episode! Topics range from creating healthy habits and staying motivated, to strength training strategies and asserting oneself at the gym, to my morning routine and how I got into playing didgeridoo. I (Karina Inkster, a.k.a. Coach K) am your humble podcast host, author of five books, and 21-year vegan. I'm the founder of K.I. Health & Fitness, where I and my team lead award-winning coaching programs that help vegans worldwide get super strong and build health habits they’ll still hold at the age of 103. I hold a Masters degree in Gerontology, specializing in health and aging. My work has been profiled by outlets like CNBC, Huffpost, Healthline, Bustle, and Livestrong. When I'm not eating dark chocolate or doing a ridiculous number of chin-ups, I perform and teach accordion, piano, and didgeridoo.
When I heard that a new vegan athlete (and a film and TV actor, at that!) moved to my small town, I knew I had to have her on the show. And I haven't even run into her at the grocery store yet! Paloma Kwiatkowski is a professional actor with over a decade of experience in the film and TV industry, an avid trail-runner turned personal trainer, and a vegan with an unwavering passion for cooking and baking. Listen in as Paloma shares her vegan story and discusses beginning a career in the health and wellness industry, transitioning from living in big cities to a small town, and the upcoming release of a new movie she stars in.
My guest today is a pioneer in the plant-based sector with over 30 years of experience. In 1994, Rey founded the Alternative Baking Company, one of the first vegan cookie brands on the market, which generated $1 million in sales in 1995. In 1997, he founded Sun Flour Baking Co. to create new flavours, tastes, textures, and nutrition products with a longer shelf life and higher profit margins. Sun Flour Baking produces raw and baked gluten-free cookies free of animal products. It also provides co packing, product development, consulting, testing, nutrition facts, graphic design, and wrapping in small batches. Clients include Continental Airlines, Sodexo Marriott Food Service, and Whole Foods. The company supports Farm Sanctuary, the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), and In Defense of Animals (IDA). Rey owned Garden to Grill, a vegan restaurant, for five years. With extensive knowledge across the entire product life cycle, he is an experienced formulator within the industry, has designed three facilities, and has sold millions of vegan cookies, keeping eggs and dairy out of the mouths of many. Besides owning five plant-based brands, he has also published two children’s books and is an expert at cannabis infusion for topical and edible products.
We hear it all the time: "I eat eggs only from free-range chickens", or "It's OK, it's a cage-free chicken". Vicky Bond, President of The Humane League, is here to bust the myth of "happy hens" in modern farming. She also discusses the myth that the best way to improve the welfare of farmed animals is to convince everyone to stop using animal products altogether. (Technically it *is*, but it isn’t realistic on a large scale at the moment.) Vicky is president of The Humane League, a global animal protection nonprofit that exists to end the abuse of animals raised for food. She is also a veterinarian and an animal welfare scientist who has spent more than a decade advocating for animals. Before becoming President of The Humane League (THL), Vicky led The Humane League United Kingdom as Managing Director. Under Vicky's leadership, both THL and THL UK have directly made an impact on the world's largest food corporations (including PepsiCo, Kellogg's, Compass, and Sodexo). THL and THL UK also work on policy to push for laws to end factory farming practices, including state bans like Prop 12 that ends cages for calves, laying hens, and mother pigs while they're pregnant.
We often refer to them as 'legends', otherwise known as folks who have been vegan for more than twenty years. Case in point: Jack Norris. Jack, who’s been vegan since 1988, is the executive director of Vegan Outreach, an animal protection nonprofit promoting vegan eating through their 10 Weeks to Vegan program in over 50 countries. Jack has been a registered dietitian since 2001 and maintains the website VeganHealth.org. In 2005, Jack was elected to the Animal Rights Hall of Fame. Jack co-authored the book Vegan For Life with Ginny Messina; the 2nd edition was published in 2020. Jack was a Division 3 All-American pole-vaulter in college, was on a national champion great grandmaster ultimate frisbee team, and is now an avid pickleball player.
* * * Carolyn Scott has travelled to the North Pole as a vegan, and hosts the only vegan TV show on a mainstream travel network. She's on the podcast to bust three myths for us: that being Latinx makes it hard to be vegan, that it’s difficult to be vegan while travelling, and that healthy vegan food is boring and flavourless. * * * * Cookbook author, media spokesperson, holistic nutritionist, plant-based chef, and vegan for 25 years, Carolyn is an award-winning and respected figure in the world of healthy lifestyle, as well as special diet cooking and nutrition. * * * * With a highly acclaimed cookbook and travel show to her credit, Carolyn has traveled the world for her show, site, and brand as well as to offer her services as a health and nutrition expert, recipe developer, writer, speaker, consultant, and media spokesperson. She is frequently quoted in national media and regularly appears on television and radio programs sharing healthy recipes, travel tips and all things healthy, green and happy living.
Ironman triathlete Todd Crandell speaks with me about his organization, his own addiction recovery, parallels between approaches to veganism and addiction recovery, and much more. Todd is a 111-time Ironman event finisher, 4-time author, vegan since 2016, documentary subject, dad, and founder of Racing for Recovery, which has been featured on CNN, ESPN, the New York Times, and Runner’s World Magazine. He’s dedicated his personal and professional life to helping substance abusers re-channel their destructive behaviours into positive, life-affirming action. By sharing personal stories about the perils of substance abuse, best practices in prevention, and how to lead a holistic lifestyle, Todd offers a positive alternative to those struggling to overcome a life of addiction.
Black-and-white thinking is rampant in the fitness and nutrition industries. Within the vegan community, it often centres around ethical vs. unethical, or healthy vs. unhealthy. This prevents more nuanced discussion. There seems to be growing pushback against some plant-based product innovations around being “too processed” or “too unhealthy”, and there’s a lot of fear-mongering around certain ingredients (including seed oils). In this episode, I discuss the above sentiments [and much more] with Chef Karen McAthy, as we dive into some serious myth debunking and unpacking of where these thought processes came from. Karen, a life-long resident of BC’s west coast, is an innovator in dairy-free, vegan, plant-based cultured cheese, and plant-based cuisine. Co-founder of former cpg brand Blue Heron and parent company Lumi Foods, Karen’s focus on innovation in plant-based food is linked to understanding the complex systems of food from growing to finished goods. Currently, Karen is developing starter and adjunct cultures for commercial use in the cultured vegan cheese and dairy-alternative sector.
When we discuss the realms of veganism and plant-based eating, we can all come to the table around a common thread: food. Food builds relationships, connection, and community. Case in point: Matt de Gruyter. Matt is the co-founder and CEO of Next Level Burger, America’s first 100 percent plant-based burger joint that serves up vegan burgers for a better world in 10 locations coast to coast. Since its start in 2014, Next Level Burger has become a plant-based phenomenon. Matt and his wife and co-founder, Cierra de Gruyter, lead the large-scale national expansion of the brand, adding more cities and more stores every year without losing sight of their passion for serving healthy, sustainably sourced food that drives their commitment to nourishing the people and nurturing the planet. We discuss his business journey, surprising trends in the sector, and what a [near shocking] 52.8% represents.
As an ethical stance, we’re familiar with veganism, its tenets, and how it translates to our daily lives. Outside of that, you’d be surprised to learn about the many points with which veganism intersects, and today we’re exploring one: the relationship between veganism, and leadership. Leadership coach Nancy Wehnert is on the show to discuss her approach to leadership, and how that connects to veganism. Nancy is a leadership coach who works with leaders and their teams. After running her own company for 15 years and seeing her team members struggling with how to perform at their best, she became passionate about leadership and building cohesive, high-performing teams. We speak about her method in doing that, and how the glories of plant-based life supported the process [and beyond].
* * * Sheep farmer-turned-vegan JH Burnett speaks with me about his experiences in animal agriculture, his vegan transition, and more. This is one of the most raw conversations that’s been aired on the podcast thus far, so I’m really grateful to JH for sharing his story. * * * * JH is a former sheep farmer and breeder in the dairy industry who, after the atrocities he witnessed in these industries, turned vegan and an animal rights activist. He openly shares his gruelling story and absolute low point, and how he gave life a second chance, dedicating himself to the animal liberation movement. * * * * He’s written a memoir, Ex-Farmer Goes Vegan, offers vegan-inspired coaching programs, and, along with his wife Elle, co-creates a variety of vegan children’s books. * * * * Trigger warnings: animal abuse and suicide.
Why are doctors talking about connection? What is connection medicine and is connection just a "nice-to-have" or does it really impact your physical health and disease outcomes? My guests today, Drs. Alona Pulde and Matthew Lederman, combined conventional Western medicine, Chinese medicine, Lifestyle medicine, Nonviolent Communication, Polyvagal Theory, and Trauma-Informed, Somatic Principles & Pain Reprocessing to create their groundbreaking health paradigm. They have been successful corporate leaders, starred in the documentary Forks over Knives, lectured for eCornell, served as adjunct medical school professors and corporate medical advisors, and are New York Times bestselling authors.
Where are the places where veganism, plant-based living, and business practices intersect? We have found some, and we’re here to share the intel! Cynthia Owen joins me on the show to talk about making veganism more mainstream, leveraging grants to help businesses move forward with plant-based offerings, and her coaching work, including being part of a cultural/global movement for women. Cynthia is a seasoned Mentor and Coach in the realm of personal growth and skill development, having supported over a hundred Fempreneurs to take their businesses to the next level. With advanced degrees in science and economics, Cynthia brings more than 25 years of professional experience in market analysis, program design and delivery to the table.
Should kids be eating a plant-based diet? Will kids who are vegan be inherently more prone to vitamin deficiencies? We’re jumping into these questions and more on today’s podcast episode. Dr. Leigh Ettinger has been a medical doctor since 1998 but did not learn about the plant-based diet until 2014. He made changes in his own eating and quickly saw the benefits. He’s earned a certificate in plant-based nutrition from eCornell and is now board certified in obesity medicine. He enjoys helping families successfully change course to a plant-strong path for their health, for the animals, for social justice, and for the environment.
In this ititeration of the 'Ask Us Anything' series, our listeners make the call on what we're speaking about, and what we dive into! We answer questions that have been received from listeners [via email, Facebook, and Instagram], on everything from strength training and recovery, to veganism and tattoos, to intermittent fasting...and a heck of a lot more. We packed as many answers to listener questions as we could into this episode, and promise to return with another episode to cover the questions we couldn't address. If you're looking for a multi-faceted, multi-subject, BS-busting episode, you've found it!
Jen Sinkler has a few different titles: writer, editor, trainer, and art maker [to name a few.] In recent years, her focus as a fitness trainer has pivoted. She trains clients out of a local gym and hosts a community workout group, but her her focus has expanded to a bigger-picture approach: learning about the links between the environment and personal health. We discuss a few things that aren’t working in the fitness industry, ableism in the sector, and Jen's process of learning about community organization, and how to get involved with pertinent issues on local and state-wide levels. Since 2018, Jen has been studying and practicing various forms of visual art — drawing and collage, in particular — and she’s preparing to launch a greeting-cards company. We discuss her many roles, projects, and what she’s discovered as her focus in the fitness industry has shifted [you’ll want to hear this!]
* In this episode I share with you a few thoughts on my birthday, and a presentation I gave recently at a health expo, about veganism and strength training. This is a great place to start if you’re new to either veganism or strength training (or both). And if you’re *not* new to these worlds, it’ll be a good refresher to make sure you’ve nailed the fundamentals. Learn why I no longer set annual goals on my birthday (and which two books had the biggest impact on me in this area), and how I celebrated this year. Also get the basics on the 6 fundamental strength training movement patterns you need to include in your workouts each week, a few nutrients to which active vegans need to pay extra attention, muscle gain and/or fat loss on a plant-based diet, and everyone’s favourite vegan topic: protein.
Professor Laura Fox is the Douglas M. Costle Chair in Environmental Law and Director of the Farmed Animal Advocacy Clinic at Vermont Law & Graduate School. In 2018, California voters approved Proposition 12, which prohibits the sale of pork, eggs, and veal from animals that were raised in extreme confinement and unsanitary conditions, regardless of where they were raised (in California or elsewhere). Groups with farming interests challenged this law. Recently, the Supreme Court rejected the challenge, upholding Proposition 12. Professor Fox and I discuss the implications of this decision on animal welfare in the future, its food safety and public health effects, how her work fits in with her long-term veganism, and more.
Vangile Makwakwa is an author, podcast host, founder of wealthy-money.com, and of course: vegan! Vangile shares her vegan story, how veganism factors into the retreats she leads, and how it supported her through releasing trauma. Speaking to the impact that different forms of systemic oppression have on personal finances and wealth, Vangile discusses her finance journey from a deeply personal perspective, and outlines how that has informed her career.
You’ve probably heard a lot of the discussions. They may sing the praises of the Mediterranean diet, talk about the detrimental nature of oils, and frame Forks Over Knives as the be-all, end-all. Beyond the surface though, what does the actual science say? Dr. Scott Lear has been a leading scientist in preventing heart disease for over 20 years. Scott is a professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University, and he conducts research into how lifestyle can prevent and manage heart disease - and other chronic diseases. He has heart disease himself and writes a bi-weekly blog (Become Your Healthiest You) and co-hosts the How to Health podcast to share his expertise and patient experience regarding healthy living.
* Why is evidence-based veganism important? Why does pseudoscience damage the vegan movement? What is pseudoscience, anyway? On this episode of The No-B.S. Vegan, Jaebien Rosario joins me to talk about some of my favourite topics, including these questions [and many more!] Jaebien is a certified nutrition coach and personal trainer with a background in psychology, public health, and philosophy. Currently, he studies public health at a graduate level and is interested in plant-based nutrition, critical thinking, and longevity.
Isaias Hernandez is an Environmental Educator & Content Creator of QueerBrownVegan, where he educates people on the intersecting climate crises through a justice-oriented lens. Isaias and I discuss intersectionality, veganism and food insecurity, BIPOC voices in veganism, de-centreing whiteness in environmentalism/veganism, diversity and inclusion, and much [much] more.
Scholar, author, and editor Dr. Gregory Tague is on the show to discuss his book, The Vegan Evolution: Transforming Diets and Agriculture. We talk about how and why veganism needs to be the wave of the future for human and planetary health, educating young members of our society, and why anatomically modern humans are not born hunters and eaters of meat. From Gregory’s book: “We are genetically predisposed to eat for survival, but we are not genetically programmed to eat meat three times a day any more than we are mechanized to eat candy bars.” “The evolutionary case for veganism is about shifts in cultural attitudes, values, and beliefs that are advantageous to humans, ecosystems, and animals.”
Within veganism is a well-known movement of “absolutely no oil” proponents. Several high-profile vegan doctors and cardiologists promote a 100% no-oil diet for everyone across the population. In this episode, we discuss why this doesn’t fit with the current peer-reviewed research. Not all oils are equal, and there’s a large body of research showing certain types of oil are, in fact, good for us. Dr. Matthew Nagra is a Naturopathic Doctor devoted to bringing the most up-to-date, evidence-based nutrition information to both the public and his patients at his clinic in Vancouver. (We also discuss how science and naturopathy can coexist!) In 2018 Dr. Nagra graduated from the Boucher Institute after completing his Bachelor's of Science in Microbiology at the University of Victoria. He is also certified in plant-based nutrition through eCornell and the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies, and was a contributing author on Professional Health Systems' Nutrition textbook. He is also a public speaker and often tackles misinformation around diet and dives deep into the latest nutrition research on his social media.
Can vegans participate in endurance sports at the same level as their non-vegan counterparts? What are some of the challenges they face? We answer these questions [and more] in today’s episode. Vic Johnson is a sports nutrition coach for outdoor athletes, working primarily with trail runners, cyclists, triathletes, skiers and other mountain athletes. He has degrees in psychology, public health, and dietetics. Vic has eaten a primarily plant-based diet for over 15 years and has competed in endurance sports since high school. He loves helping athletes achieve their ultimate potential in their sport through sustainable nutrition and fuelling.
Toni Okamoto is the founder of Plant-Based on a Budget, the popular website and social media platform that teaches millions how to eat more plants without breaking their budget. She’s also the author of the forthcoming Plant-Based on a Budget Quick & Easy cookbook, and the co-host of The Plant-Powered People Podcast. Toni’s work has been profiled by NPR, NBC News, Parade, and she’s a regular presence on local and national morning shows across the US, where she teaches viewers how to break their meat habit without breaking their budget. She was also featured in the popular documentary What the Health. When she’s not cooking up a plant-based storm, she’s spending time with her husband and their rescued dog in Sacramento, CA.
Debbie Adler is a plant-based chef, bakery owner, and the award-winning cookbook author of the critically-acclaimed Sweet, Savory & Free: Insanely Delicious Plant-Based Recipes without any of the Top 8 Food Allergens, and Sweet Debbie’s Organic Treats: Allergy-free & Vegan Recipes from the Famous Los Angeles Bakery. Debbie is a plant-based cooking and baking instructor and her popular online courses Plant Powerful Life GPS, Quintessential Health 360° and The Complete Plant Powerful Weight Loss System have been taken by hundreds of students worldwide. She has been interviewed on NBC’s Nightly News, ABC-7’s Eyewitness News, CBS Los Angeles and the national superstation WGN. We jump into a discussion on food allergies, the protein myth, and much [much] more!