303: Is Veganism Contagious?

What if the reason you're struggling with your plant-based choices has less to do with willpower — and more to do with the food culture surrounding you?In this episode, I got completely hooked by a New York Times piece about financial habits — and couldn't stop thinking about how perfectly it applies to the way we eat. The article, by Paulette Perhach, makes the case that every friend group has a financial culture, whether anyone named it or not. Turns out, every friend group has a food culture too. And most of us didn't choose ours on purpose. We absorbed it.We talk about what social contagion actually is, why it's not as scary as it sounds, and how it might explain why plant-based eating can feel so much harder than it should. We also talk about how to use it in your favor — without lecturing anyone, debating at dinner, or turning into the vegan police.In this episode:What social contagion is and how it shapes the way we eatThe research of Nicholas Christakis on how behaviors spread through social networks — and what a 2024 study says about who drives change most effectivelyWhy changing your food is never just about the foodThe concept of the "plant-based friend" — and why that role matters more than you might thinkThree questions to help you see the food culture you're swimming inWhere to start if you're brand new, starting over, or just trying to get your footing backThree questions from this episode:What food culture are you catching?What are you signaling with food that you may not even believe anymore?What do you want to spread?Resources mentioned:"Your Friend Group Has a Financial Culture. You May Not Have Chosen It." — Paulette Perhach, The New York TimesResearch by Nicholas Christakis on social networks and behaviorThis week's challenge:Choose one place to be less passive. Suggest the restaurant. Bring the dish. Tell the host ahead of time. If you're just starting out, find one recipe that excites you, one account that makes this feel doable, or one person who gets it. That's enough.Enjoyed this episode? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts — it helps more people find the show. And if this one resonated, share it with someone who might be ready to hear it.You don't have to do it perfectly. You just have to Vedge Your Best.Subscribe & Review:If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us grow and share the message of plant-based living with more listeners.For more information, to submit a question or topic, or to book a free 30 minute Coaching session visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠veganatanyage.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠or email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music, Production, and Editing by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Charlie Weinshank⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For inquiries email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Virtual Support Services: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://proadminme.com/⁠