The Dirt On Expo West

Episode 246 of the Vegan Hacks podcast, hosted by Jason Kartalian, titled "The Dirt On Expo West" was published on March 11, 2026 and runs 34 minutes.

March 11, 2026 ·34m · Vegan Hacks

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Summary

At Expo West I expected a plant-forward food show… but what I found instead raised a lot of questions. In this episode of the Vegan Hacks Podcast, I break down the surprising presence of meat products and even beef tallow at what used to feel like a very vegan-friendly event. I also sit down with some incredible founders pushing plant-based innovation forward: • Liz Kang, Founder and Co-CEO of Mamame, creating bold tempeh chips • Madelyn Hadley, Founder of Madly Hadley, crafting clean-label ...

Episode Description

At Expo West I expected a plant-forward food show… but what I found instead raised a lot of questions.

In this episode of the Vegan Hacks Podcast, I break down the surprising presence of meat products and even beef tallow at what used to feel like a very vegan-friendly event.

I also sit down with some incredible founders pushing plant-based innovation forward:

• Liz Kang, Founder and Co-CEO of Mamame, creating bold tempeh chips
• Madelyn Hadley, Founder of Madly Hadley, crafting clean-label vegan staples like coconut bacon bits and cashew parmesan
• Jeremy from Steak ’n Shake, who explains the company’s controversial move to cook with beef tallow

It’s a fascinating mix of food innovation, industry reality, and the big question:

Where is the plant-based movement heading next?

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