Main Street Vegan

What might Catholic spirituality have to say about veganism, compassion, and our relationship with other animals?In this fascinating conversation, Victoria Moran speaks with Fr. Daniel Mascarenhas, SJ, a young Jesuit priest and vegan, about Catholic teachings, contemplative prayer, spirituality, and the possibility of a kinder world.The conversation begins with a deeper exploration of Catholicism and the Jesuit tradition. Fr. Daniel shares insights into contemplative prayer and the teachings of St. Ignatius, founder of the Jesuit order, including his understanding that the world remains inherently good despite the suffering and hardship we encounter.Victoria and Fr. Daniel also explore the remarkable range of perspectives within the Catholic Church. They discuss how the same spiritual tradition can be home to figures as politically different as Dorothy Day and J.D. Vance, and what that says about the breadth and complexity of Catholicism.Then the conversation turns to veganism. Fr. Daniel explains why he sees compassion for animals and a vegan way of living as a natural conclusion for a follower of Christ, even though veganism remains uncommon within the Catholic community.Together, they consider what could happen if religious communities became more engaged with animal compassion and the movement toward a kinder food system.In This EpisodeCatholic teachings and their relationship to compassionWhat it means to be a JesuitContemplative prayer in the Catholic traditionThe spiritual teachings of St. IgnatiusHow Catholicism can encompass very different worldviewsWhy Fr. Daniel became veganThe connection between Christianity, compassion, and veganismHow faith communities could help create a kinder worldThe potential for Catholic institutions to move toward greater compassion for animalsAbout Our GuestFr. Daniel Mascarenhas, SJ is a Jesuit priest whose work explores spirituality, faith, compassion, and the call to live more consciously. A vegan himself, Fr. Daniel brings a thoughtful perspective to the relationship between Christian teachings and compassionate living.In this conversation, he shares his experience of the Jesuit tradition and explains why he believes veganism can be a natural expression of the teachings of Christ.🍽️ A Special Visit from Chef Mark ReinfeldChef Mark Reinfeld, founder of Vegan Fusion, makes a special pop-in appearance during the episode to share information about his upcoming culinary course.If you're interested in taking your plant-based cooking to the next level, listeners can receive 30% off the course through Victoria's special link.Learn more and claim your 30% discount: https://veganfusion.com/More from Fr. Daniel & the Compassion ConsortiumWatch Fr. Daniel's appearance as a Special Spiritual Guest for the Compassion Consortium:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTJEL7XzGm0Victoria also spoke with Swami Chidananda of the Compassion Consortium about his spiritual calling and the journey from a successful secular career toward a life of spiritual service:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYscIyFRH8sAnd watch Victoria's 2019 film, A Prayer for Compassion:https://watch.unchainedtv.com/videos/a-prayer-for-compassionMain Street Vegan AcademyThe 39th cohort of Main Street Vegan Academy begins in October 2026 via Zoom. If you've ever wanted to deepen your knowledge of veganism, compassion, nutrition, advocacy, and the vegan movement, this could be your opportunity.Podcast listeners can receive $250 off with the code VEGCOACH250.Subscribe, rate, and review the Main Street Vegan Podcast to help more people discover the joy of living with vitality, spirituality, and compassion.Sign up for the Main Street Vegan blog and newsletter at https://www.mainstreetvegan.com and receive your FREE e-book, Recipes to Help You Age Like a Yogi.And become an insider by joining the Main Street Vegan Podcast Listeners Group on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/groups/207997266555049

What does it take to challenge one of the most deeply entrenched systems of animal suffering and what can each of us do to help end it?In this powerful conversation, Victoria Moran speaks with animal rights advocates Gretchen Primack and Ella Magers, co-founders of the March to Abolish Animal Testing, about their fight to end the use of animals in laboratories.The two are coming together to undertake a 200-mile march calling attention to the millions of animals used in experimentation and to demand a future beyond animal testing. Ella shares the story of Jane, a beagle bred for the laboratory industry who came into her life following the open rescue effort at Ridglan Farms. Jane's transformation from a laboratory animal to a beloved family member offers a deeply personal reminder of what is at stake.Gretchen and Ella also talk about why they chose a march as their form of activism, how their work with farmed animals led them toward the fight against animal experimentation, and what they would say to anyone who cares about animals but feels powerless in the face of such a massive system.This is a conversation about courage, compassion, direct action, and the belief that change becomes possible when ordinary people decide that the status quo is no longer acceptable.In This EpisodeWhy Gretchen and Ella created the March to Abolish Animal TestingHow the fight for farmed animals led Ella toward animal testing advocacyThe story of Jane, a beagle rescued from the laboratory industryWhat happened at Ridglan FarmsWhy a 200-mile march?What Gretchen and Ella hope the March will accomplishHow grassroots activism can create meaningful changeWhat you can do if you care about animals but feel powerlessWhy ending animal experimentation requires both courage and collective actionAbout Our GuestsGretchen Primack is a poet, author, and animal rights advocate. She is the co-founder and co-lead of the March to Abolish Animal Testing. Her books include Kind, a poetry collection exploring the relationships between humans and other animals, and The Lucky Ones: My Passionate Fight for Farm Animals, which she co-wrote with Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary founder Jenny Brown. Gretchen also taught in maximum-security prisons for 20 years.Ella Magers, MSW is an internationally recognized animal rights advocate, professional speaker, and holistic fitness coach. A vegan for more than 30 years, she has spent her career encouraging people to embody fierce compassion through education, coaching, public speaking, and grassroots activism. Ella serves on the founding Board of Directors of Hogs & Kisses Farm Sanctuary and is co-founder of the March to Abolish Animal Testing.Ella's connection to the fight against animal experimentation became deeply personal after the open rescue at Ridglan Farms, when she adopted Jane, a beagle who had been bred for the laboratory industry.The March to Abolish Animal TestingThe March to Abolish Animal Testing is a 200-mile march calling for an end to the use of animals in experimentation and for meaningful change in the systems that allow animal testing to continue.Learn more and follow the March at:Website: https://www.marchforanimals.orgConnect with Gretchen & EllaGretchen / March to Abolish Animal Testing: https://www.marchforanimals.orgElla Magers: https://ellamagers.com/Ella on Instagram: https://instagram.com/sexyfitveganMarch to Abolish Animal Testing on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marchforanimals/Subscribe, rate, and review the Main Street Vegan Podcast to help more people discover the joy of living with vitality, spirituality, and compassion.Sign up for the Main Street Vegan blog and newsletter at https://www.mainstreetvegan.com and receive your FREE e-book, Recipes to Help You Age Like a Yogi.And become an insider by joining the Main Street Vegan Podcast Listeners Group on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/groups/207997266555049

Every vegan is a spokesperson for the movement, whether they want the job or not. The good news is there's a version of that role for exactly who you already are. Felicia Greenfield found hers creating Friends Not Food, a farcical sitcom pilot filmed at a Florida farm sanctuary.A former marketing manager for MLB and the NHL, Felicia knows no single pitch connects with everyone and when she recognized that protests weren't the right method for her, she built something that didn't exist instead. She shares that vegan advocacy isn't just about protests and boycotts, it exists in forms you're allowed to invent, and yours might resonate with someone the existing options never would.Together, Victoria and Felicia explore narrative transportation, the reason people let their guard down inside a story in ways they never would inside a debate, and why comedy can deliver a message that a lecture would only repel. Felicia also gets into Friends Not Food itself, a show built inside Cli-Fi, the climate fiction genre already dramatizing flooded cities and dystopian hellscapes, but one that has left out the industry actually driving the crisis it exists to depict: animal agriculture.It's a conversation about finding a lane that's actually yours, and what happens when you let an animal just be itself and call it activism.In This EpisodeWhy every vegan can find their own form of advocacyHow Felicia created Friends Not FoodWhy traditional protest wasn't the right fit for herThe power of storytelling to reach people differentlyWhat narrative transportation means and why it worksHow comedy can open people up to difficult ideasWhy animal agriculture belongs in the climate fiction conversationFinding an advocacy approach that feels authentically yoursAbout Our GuestFelicia Greenfield is a former marketing manager for Major League Baseball and the NHL who found her own creative approach to vegan advocacy through storytelling and comedy. She is the creator of Friends Not Food, a farcical sitcom pilot filmed at a Florida farm sanctuary that brings animal agriculture and veganism into the world of climate fiction.Felicia's work explores how stories can create connection and open conversations that traditional advocacy approaches sometimes cannot. Her message is simple: vegan advocacy doesn't have to look one particular way. There is room to find the form that fits who you are.About Friends Not FoodFriends Not Food is a sitcom pilot filmed at a Florida farm sanctuary. The project uses humor, storytelling, and the relationships between humans and animals to explore veganism and animal agriculture in a way that invites audiences in rather than talking at them.The project also sits within the growing world of Cli-Fi, or climate fiction. While many stories imagine the consequences of climate change, Friends Not Food asks us to consider the role of animal agriculture in that conversation.Connect with FeliciaFriends Not Food: https://www.friendsnotfood.tv/Instagram: www.instagram.com/feliciag.nyc/Subscribe, rate, and review the Main Street Vegan Podcast to help more people discover the joy of living with vitality, spirituality, and compassion.Sign up for the Main Street Vegan blog and newsletter at https://www.mainstreetvegan.com and receive your FREE e-book, Recipes to Help You Age Like a Yogi.Become an insider by joining the Main Street Vegan Podcast Listeners Group on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/groups/207997266555049Complement are supplements made by vegans, Pamela Fergusson, RD, PhD, Matt Frazier, and Joel Kahn, MD, to enhance diet. Check out their new product Sulfora, and enter 'MAINSTREET' in the discount box to save yourself 10%.

Can meaningful progress happen when people who care deeply about animals disagree on the path forward?In this thought-provoking episode, Victoria Moran welcomes veterinarian Dr. Larry Carbone, author of The Hidden Lives of Lab Animals: A Vet's Vision for a More Humane Future. For most of his career, Dr. Carbone has cared for animals used in medical research, placing him at the center of one of the most ethically complex issues in animal advocacy.Victoria approaches this conversation from her long-held abolitionist perspective, shared by many Main Street Vegan listeners. Nevertheless, she believes that meaningful dialogue requires listening to thoughtful people whose views differ from our own. Rather than debating from opposite corners, she and Dr. Carbone explore the difficult questions surrounding animal research, scientific progress, and our shared desire to reduce suffering.Together, they discuss emerging alternatives such as organ-on-a-chip technology and artificial intelligence, as well as the legal protections currently in place for laboratory animals. They also consider what consumers can do to encourage more humane practices while supporting continued investment in alternatives that may one day eliminate the need for animal experimentation altogether.Whether you agree with every perspective presented or not, this episode invites thoughtful reflection on a challenging subject. Above all, it reminds us that compassion can coexist with honest conversation.In This EpisodeWhy Victoria chose to have this important conversationDr. Carbone's journey as a veterinarian in medical researchThe promise of AI and organ-on-a-chip technologyCurrent laws protecting laboratory animals and where they fall shortPractical ways consumers can support alternatives to animal testingThe role of ethics committees in laboratory researchFinding common ground between animal welfare and animal rights advocatesAbout Our GuestDr. Larry Carbone is a veterinarian who has devoted his career to caring for animals in medical research laboratories. He is the author of The Hidden Lives of Lab Animals: A Vet's Vision for a More Humane Future, which examines the ethical challenges surrounding animal research while advocating for improved welfare and continued progress toward replacing animals in science. Throughout his career, Dr. Carbone has maintained strong relationships with both scientific and animal protection communities, seeking dialogue where others often find division.Connect with Dr. CarboneWebsite: https://larrycarbone.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/larry.carbone.7Subscribe, rate, and review the Main Street Vegan Podcast to help more people discover the joy of living with vitality, spirituality, and compassion.Sign up for the Main Street Vegan blog and newsletter at https://www.mainstreetvegan.com and receive your FREE e-book, Recipes to Help You Age Like a Yogi.Become an insider by joining the Main Street Vegan Podcast Listeners Group on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/groups/207997266555049Complement are supplements made by vegans, Pamela Fergusson, RD, PhD, Matt Frazier, and Joel Kahn, MD, to enhance diet. Check our their new product Sulfora, and enter 'MAINSTREET' in the discount box to save yourself 10%.

What can the American Vegan Society teach us about living compassionately for a lifetime?In this heartwarming conversation, Victoria Moran welcomes Anne Dinshah, CEO of the American Vegan Society, for a discussion about vegan living, community, and carrying forward a remarkable legacy. As the daughter of vegan pioneer Jay Dinshah, Anne has spent a lifetime showing that veganism is not about perfection. Instead, it's about living with kindness, curiosity, and joy.This episode is especially personal for Victoria. She shares how Jay Dinshah and the American Vegan Society helped launch her own vegan journey decades ago. Together, Victoria and Anne reflect on the early days of the movement. They also discuss the friendships that have sustained it and why building a welcoming vegan community remains just as important today.Anne also offers practical wisdom for anyone considering a plant-based lifestyle. She explains why many people overestimate the difficulty of going vegan. In addition, she shares simple ways to begin living more compassionately. Along the way, the conversation explores voluntary simplicity, healthy aging, and the value of lifelong curiosity.Above all, this episode celebrates the American Vegan Society and its mission to make vegan living welcoming, accessible, and joyful for everyone.✨ In This EpisodeHow Jay Dinshah influenced Victoria's own vegan journeyThe history and mission of the American Vegan SocietyWhy veganism can be simpler than many people imagineBuilding a compassionate vegan communityLiving your values while maintaining strong relationshipsThe benefits of curiosity, movement, and lifelong learningThe American Vegan Center and upcoming educational retreats👤 About Our GuestAnne Dinshah is a lifelong vegan and the CEO of the American Vegan Society. As the daughter of U.S. vegan movement pioneer Jay Dinshah, she continues his legacy by helping people discover vegan living through education, community, and compassionate outreach. Anne is also the coauthor of Powerful Vegan Messages. Through her warm and approachable style, she has inspired countless people to embrace a more compassionate way of living.🌱 About the American Vegan SocietyFounded in 1960, the American Vegan Society has spent more than six decades promoting vegan living through education, advocacy, and community. Its long-running "Welcome to Veganism" program has introduced countless people to the vegan lifestyle. Likewise, its "Building National Vegan Community" initiative continues to connect and inspire people across the country.Another highlight is the American Vegan Center in Philadelphia, where visitors can explore the history of veganism in the United States. This fall, the American Vegan Society will also reopen its headquarters for weekend and weeklong living-learning retreats. These experiences will include cooking workshops, ethical discussions, wellness activities, and opportunities to connect with fellow vegans.🔗 Connect with AnneWebsite: https://americanvegan.orgFacebook: American Vegan SocietyInstagram: @AmericanVeganSLinkedIn: American Vegan SocietySubscribe, rate, and review the Main Street Vegan Podcast to help more people discover the joy of living with vitality, spirituality, and compassion.Sign up for the Main Street Vegan blog and newsletter at https://www.mainstreetvegan.com and receive your FREE e-book, Recipes to Help You Age Like a Yogi.Become an insider by joining the Main Street Vegan Podcast Listeners Group on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/groups/207997266555049

Can we transform the global food system without asking everyone to give up the foods they love?In this thought-provoking conversation, I welcome Bruce Friedrich, founder and president of the Good Food Institute, to discuss his book Meat and the future of alternative proteins. Bruce explains why plant-based and cultivated meat could play a vital role in feeding a growing population while reducing the environmental and ethical costs of industrial animal agriculture.Myself and Bruce also share a personal history that goes back nearly four decades. In 1988, Bruce got in touch after reading one of my articles on veganism. Calling from his college dorm, he told me that my writing had inspired him to go vegan. It's a full-circle moment that makes this conversation especially meaningful.Together, they explore why humans love meat, what that means for the future of food, and why innovation, not blame, may be the fastest path toward meaningful change.In This EpisodeWhy Bruce founded the Good Food InstituteThe inspiration behind his new book, MeatThe future of plant-based and cultivated meatWhy "Big Meat" may become part of the solutionThe environmental, public health, and ethical case for alternative proteinsWhat gives Bruce hope for the next agricultural revolutionAbout Our GuestBruce Friedrich is the founder and president of the Good Food Institute, a global network of nonprofit, science-focused think tanks accelerating the development of plant-based, fermentation-derived, and cultivated proteins. The organization has been recognised by Giving Green as one of the world's most impactful climate charities for four consecutive years.Bruce is also the author of Meat, a compelling look at how innovation can transform our food system to benefit animals, people, and the planet. A longtime vegan advocate, he has spent decades working at the intersection of food, policy, science, and sustainability.Connect with BruceWebsite: https://meatbook.orgGood Food Institute: https://gfi.orgFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/brucegfriedrichInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/brucegfriedrich/X: https://x.com/BruceGFriedrichAbout the Good Food InstituteThe Good Food Institute works globally to accelerate the development and adoption of alternative proteins through science, policy, and industry partnerships. Its work has earned recognition from organisations including Giving Green, the Bezos Earth Fund, and many leaders in food innovation and climate action.Subscribe, rate, and review the Main Street Vegan Podcast to help more people discover the joy of living with vitality, spirituality, and compassion.Sign up for the Main Street Vegan blog and newsletter at https://www.mainstreetvegan.com and receive your FREE e-book, Recipes to Help You Age Like a Yogi.Become an insider by joining the Main Street Vegan Podcast Listeners Group on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/groups/207997266555049Complement are supplements made by vegans, Pamela Fergusson, RD, PhD, Matt Frazier, and Joel Kahn, MD, to enhance diet. Check our their new product Sulfora, and enter 'MAINSTREET' in the discount box to save yourself 10%.

Can a story change hearts more effectively than an argument?Buddhist Blues is an intriguing feature film that tackles life and family with a by-the-way-he's vegan protagonist. Writer/director Glen Merzer takes us into his process and celebrates "accidental activism."In this engaging conversation, Victoria Moran welcomes bestselling author, screenwriter, and filmmaker Glen Merzer to discuss Buddhist Blues, the first feature film he has written and directed. Set in St. Louis in 1993, the film follows a young vegan living outside the law. As family tensions rise, he must confront difficult choices and the fragile bonds that connect us.Together, Victoria and Glen explore storytelling as a form of advocacy. Glen explains why he believes in "soft vegan messaging." Rather than preaching, he creates compelling characters and authentic stories that encourage audiences to reflect. They also discuss the challenges of producing an independent film and the unique ability of cinema to inspire empathy.Beyond the film, Glen reflects on his decades as a writer and his lifelong commitment to vegetarianism and veganism. He also shares why creativity can help build a more compassionate world.Whether you're passionate about filmmaking, vegan advocacy, or simply love a good story, this episode offers an inspiring look at the intersection of art, compassion, and social change.In This EpisodeGlen's journey as a writer and filmmakerThe inspiration behind Buddhist BluesWhy storytelling can be a powerful form of advocacyThe philosophy behind "soft vegan messaging"The challenges of producing and directing an independent filmHow creativity can inspire compassion and changeAbout Our GuestGlen Merzer is an author, screenwriter, filmmaker, and longtime vegan advocate. He is the writer and director of Buddhist Blues, a feature film that explores family, identity, and compassion through a distinctly vegan lens. Glen also co-authored Moving Medicine Forward with Dr. Michael Klaper and wrote Food Is Climate. A vegetarian for more than five decades and a vegan for over 35 years, he hosts The Glen Merzer Show, where he explores food, health, ethics, and the environment.More from GlenLearn more about Glen's latest projects, including Buddhist Blues, his books, and The Glen Merzer Show.Website: https://buddhistblues.comYouTube: The Glen Merzer Showhttps://www.youtube.com/@theglenmerzershowAlso MentionedMoving Medicine Forward (co-authored with Dr. Michael Klaper) - https://www.movingmedforward.orgFood Is Climate - https://www.amazon.com/Food-Climate-Response-Conventional-Narrative/dp/B09CGL854KSubscribe, rate, and review the Main Street Vegan Podcast to help more people discover the joy of living with vitality, spirituality, and compassion.Sign up for the Main Street Vegan blog and newsletter at https://www.mainstreetvegan.com and receive your FREE e-book, Recipes to Help You Age Like a Yogi.Become an insider by joining the Main Street Vegan Podcast Listeners Group on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/groups/207997266555049

Can the legal system become one of the most powerful tools for protecting animals?In this compelling conversation, Victoria Moran speaks with attorney and animal law advocate Vanessa Shakib about the growing movement to secure meaningful legal protections for animals. Through strategic litigation and public-interest advocacy, Vanessa is helping reshape the legal landscape for farmed animals and challenging long-standing systems that treat sentient beings as commodities rather than individuals worthy of protection.Together, Victoria and Vanessa explore the evolving field of animal law, the challenges of creating systemic change through the courts, and why legal advocacy is an essential companion to education, grassroots activism, and compassionate living. Vanessa also shares her own journey to veganism and explains how it inspired her to dedicate her legal career to advancing justice for animals.Thoughtful, inspiring, and deeply hopeful, this episode offers listeners a behind-the-scenes look at the legal strategies helping to build a more compassionate future.✨ In This EpisodeHow Vanessa found her calling in animal lawHow compassion can shape public policyReasons for hope in the growing animal protection movement👤 About Our GuestVanessa Shakib is an attorney, animal law advocate, and founder of Advancing Law for Animals, a nonprofit legal organization dedicated to protecting animals through strategic litigation and public-interest advocacy. After becoming vegan, she redirected her legal career toward advancing legal protections for animals and challenging institutional cruelty through the courts. Her work spans issues including factory farming, animal research, and government accountability, and she has become a respected voice in the rapidly growing field of animal law.🔗 Connect with VanessaWebsite: https://advancinglawforanimals.orgSubscribe, rate, and review the Main Street Vegan Podcast to help more people discover the joy of living with vitality, spirituality, and compassion.Sign up for the Main Street Vegan blog and newsletter at https://www.mainstreetvegan.com and receive your FREE e-book, Recipes to Help You Age Like a Yogi.And become an insider by joining the Main Street Vegan Podcast Listeners Group on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/groups/207997266555049**Complement are supplements made by vegans, Pamela Fergusson, RD, PhD, Matt Frazier, and Joel Kahn, MD, to enhance diet. Check out their new product Sulfora HERE, and enter 'MAINSTREET' in the discount box to save yourself 10%.

Why do people who care deeply about compassion sometimes struggle to extend that compassion to one another?In this thoughtful and timely conversation, I speak with psychologist, author and founder Dr. Melanie Joy about one of the most challenging issues facing advocacy movements today: infighting. Drawing on decades of research into psychology, communication, and social change, Melanie explores why passionate people can become divided and what we can do to foster greater understanding, effectiveness, and unity.Together, myself and Melanie discuss the role of moral outrage in activism, the limits of shame as a tool for change, and the importance of creating what she calls a more "relational" world. While every justice movement has its own mission, Melanie argues that lasting progress depends on our ability to build healthy relationships, communicate across differences, and work toward shared goals.This episode offers practical insights for vegans, activists, and anyone seeking to create positive change without sacrificing connection, kindness, or integrity.✨ In This EpisodeWhat infighting is and why it happensWhy passionate advocates sometimes become dividedThe difference between righteous anger and effective advocacyWhy shame rarely creates lasting positive changeWhat it means to build a more relational worldHow justice movements can work together while honoring their unique missionsSimple steps anyone can take to reduce conflict and strengthen communityCreating meaningful change through compassion and communication👤 About Our GuestMelanie is a Harvard-educated psychologist and author of 8 books, including Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows. She is a recipient of the Institute of Jainology's Ahimsa Award, joining honorees that includes Nelson Mandela and the Dalai Lama. She is the founding president of Beyond Carnism, dedicated to exposing and transforming the belief systems that shape our choices and relationships.🔗 Connect with MelanieWebsite: https://infighting.org/ &  https://carnism.org/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beyondcarnismInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyondcarnism📚 Also MentionedMelanie recently published A Half-Hearted Death Wish, a darkly humorous psychological mystery about a psychologist whose desire to live suddenly vanishes, sending her on a quest to solve the mystery before it's too late.Subscribe, rate, and review the Podcast to help more people discover the joy of living with vitality, spirituality, and compassion.Sign up for the newsletter at www.mainstreetvegan.com and receive a FREE e-book, Recipes to Help You Age Like a Yogi.Become an insider by joining the Main Street Vegan Podcast Listeners Group on Facebook:www.facebook.com/groups/207997266555049 Complement are supplements made by vegans, Pamela Fergusson, RD, PhD, Matt Frazier, and Joel Kahn, MD, to enhance diet. Check our their new product Sulfora and enter 'MAINSTREET' in the discount box to save yourself 10%. 

What does it really mean to live a life of kindness? Not simply kindness to the people we know, but to animals, the planet, ourselves, and future generations?In this heartfelt conversation, Victoria Moran welcomes author, conservationist, and Kindness Is Everything podcast host Anitha Rao-Robinson. Together they explore the transformative power of what might be called "radical kindness"—a way of living that extends compassion beyond our immediate circle and into every aspect of our lives.Anitha shares the story of her own vegan journey, inspired by her teenage daughter after watching Cowspiracy. The conversation also touches on her Indian heritage, her life in Canada, and how those experiences have shaped her understanding of compassion, conservation, and our responsibility to the natural world. Victoria and Anitha discuss the many meanings of the word "conservationist," the joys and challenges of eco-travel, and highlights from the AVA Conference in Toronto.At its heart, this episode is an invitation to live more consciously, to embrace kindness as a daily practice, and to recognize that even small acts of compassion have the power to change the world.✨ In This EpisodeWhat "radical kindness" looks like in everyday lifeAnitha's journey to veganism after watching CowspiracyDifferent perspectives on conservation and environmental stewardshipThe influence of Anitha's Indian heritage and Canadian upbringingThe opportunities and challenges of eco-travelHighlights from the AVA Conference in TorontoHow kindness benefits animals, people, and the planet alike👤 About Our GuestAnitha Rao-Robinson is an author, conservationist, and creator of the Kindness Is Everything podcast. A former accountant, she now devotes her life to helping animals and writing children's books, including A Family for Faru, Sari Sisters, and Music of the Bells. Anitha lives on a hobby farm with her family—both human and non-human—and continues to inspire compassionate living through her writing, podcast, and advocacy.🔗 Connect with AnithaWebsite: https://anitharobinson.comInstagram: @anitharobinson4Kindness Is Everything Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kindness_everythingpod/Podcast: Kindness Is Everything (available on all major podcast platforms and through Anitha's website)📚 Mentioned in This EpisodeCowspiracyThe Vegan Report with Rayane LaddiOblivious: A Vegan Memoir by Sande NosonowitzAnitha's books:A Family for FaruSari SistersMusic of the Bells🌱 Also MentionedMain Street Vegan Academy — Cohort 39 begins this October via Zoom. If you've ever dreamed of becoming a vegan lifestyle coach or simply deepening your knowledge of plant-based living, we'd love to have you join us. Podcast listeners receive $250 off tuition with the code vegcoach250.Subscribe, rate, and review the Main Street Vegan Podcast to help more people discover the joy of living with vitality, spirituality, and compassion.Sign up for the Main Street Vegan blog and newsletter at https://www.mainstreetvegan.com and receive your FREE e-book, Recipes to Help You Age Like a Yogi.And become an insider by joining the Main Street Vegan Podcast Listeners Group on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/groups/207997266555049 Complement are supplements made by vegans, Pamela Fergusson, RD, PhD, Matt Frazier, and Joel Kahn, MD, to enhance diet. Check our their new product Sulfora and enter 'MAINSTREET' in the discount box to save yourself 10%.

Can a person raised in ranching culture have a change of heart so profound that it transforms not only their life, but the lives of countless animals?In this inspiring and deeply personal conversation, Victoria Moran speaks with Renee King-Sonnen, founder of Rowdy Girl Sanctuary and author of the memoir Rowdy Girl: Confessions of a Vegan Cattle Rancher. Renee shares the remarkable story of how she went from life on a Texas cattle ranch to becoming one of the most recognized voices in the animal rights movement.What began with a growing awareness of the individuality and emotional lives of the cattle in her care led Renee and her husband to make an extraordinary decision: save their herd from slaughter and transform their ranch into a sanctuary. Their story captured national attention when it aired on CBS Evening News and continues to inspire people around the world to rethink their relationship with animals.Renee reflects on the challenges of questioning long-held beliefs, the power of compassion to create unexpected change, and the movement she has helped build through Rowdy Girl Sanctuary. This episode is a testament to the fact that no matter where we begin, it is never too late to align our lives with our deepest values.✨ In This EpisodeHow Renee's life changed from cattle ranching to animal rescueThe pivotal moments that led her to embrace veganismSaving a Texas cattle herd from slaughterThe national attention that followed their transformationWhat ranching culture taught her—and what she had to unlearnThe mission and impact of Rowdy Girl SanctuaryThe story behind her new memoir, Rowdy Girl: Confessions of a Vegan Cattle RancherWhy compassion has the power to change hearts, families, and communities👤 About Our GuestRenee King-Sonnen is the founder and executive director of Rowdy Girl Sanctuary. She became an international voice for animal protection after helping transform her family's Texas cattle ranch into a sanctuary for farmed animals. Her story gained widespread attention following a CBS Evening News feature in 2016 and helped propel Rowdy Girl Sanctuary into the forefront of the animal rights movement. A sought-after speaker and activist, Renee shares her journey in her memoir, Rowdy Girl: Confessions of a Vegan Cattle Rancher, published by Bloomsbury in June 2026.🔗 Connect with ReneeWebsite: https://rowdygirlsanctuary.org/Facebook: www.facebook.com/rowdygirlsanctuaryInstagram: instagram.com/rowdygirlsanctuaryTikTok: tiktok.com/@rowdygirlsanctuary📖 Also MentionedRenee is currently traveling on a nationwide book tour for Rowdy Girl: Confessions of a Vegan Cattle Rancher. Watch for appearances at VegFests, conferences, bookstores, and special events across the country.Subscribe, rate, and review the Main Street Vegan Podcast to help more people discover the joy of living with vitality, spirituality, and compassion.

Has modern wellness lost touch with one of its most important truths? In this thought-provoking conversation, Victoria Moran welcomes two respected voices in complementary and integrative health: Dr. Frank Sabatino and Jayney Goddard.Together, they explore a perspective that was once central to the natural-health movement and remains deeply relevant today: the body is fundamentally a self-healing organism. When we provide the conditions for health — nourishing food, rest, movement, emotional balance, and connection with nature — the body often possesses a remarkable capacity to restore itself.Victoria reflects on her long friendship with Dr. Frank, whom she has known since the mid-1980s and trusted for decades as her personal health-consultant go-to. The discussion examines how the plant-based movement became increasingly medicalized over time and why complementary approaches to health, once closely aligned with plant-based living, have increasingly been embraced by communities promoting very different dietary philosophies.Grounded in science, experience, and a profound respect for the body's innate wisdom, this episode offers a refreshing perspective on health, healing, and human potential.✨ In This EpisodeWhy the body is designed to heal and regenerateThe roots of complementary healthcare and lifestyle medicineHow plant-based nutrition supports the body's natural healing processesThe difference between treating disease and creating healthWhy complementary medicine is attracting new audiences todayThe role of personal responsibility in lifelong wellnessHow to cultivate vitality through everyday choices👤 About Our GuestsDr. Frank Sabatino is a chiropractor, educator, and internationally respected authority on health science, therapeutic fasting, and plant-based nutrition. For decades he has helped individuals understand the body's remarkable capacity for healing through evidence-based lifestyle practices. A longtime educator with the National Health Association and Main Street Vegan Academy, Dr. Frank is widely admired for his clear, compassionate, and deeply informed approach to health.Jayney Goddard, MSc, PG Dip Ed, FCMA, FRSM, is the Founder and President of The Complementary Medical Association (CMA), one of the world's leading standards-setting organizations for complementary and integrative medicine. An internationally recognized speaker, author, and educator, she has spent more than three decades advancing evidence-based approaches to healthy aging, neuroplasticity, lifestyle medicine, and plant-based nutrition. She is the author of Rewind Your Body Clock.🔗 Connect with Our GuestsDr. Frank SabatinoWebsite: https://healthscience.orgJayney GoddardWebsite: https://www.JayneyGoddard.orgThe Complementary Medical Association: https://www.the-cma.org.ukFacebook: Complementary Medical AssociationInstagram: Complementary.Med.AssociationYouTube: The Complementary Medical AssociationLinkedIn: Complementary Medical Association🌱 Also Mentioned in This EpisodeMain Street Vegan Academy — Our 39th cohort begins in October via Zoom. Dr. Frank Sabatino is one of our beloved instructors. Podcast listeners can receive a tuition discount using code Vegcoach250. Questions? Reach out through the Contact page at MainStreetVegan.com.National Health Association Conference — Learn more about the upcoming conference, available both live in Cleveland, Ohio, and online via Zoom. Both Dr. Frank Sabatino and Jayney Goddard will be presenting. Visit: https://healthscience.orgSubscribe, rate, and review the Main Street Vegan Podcast to help more people discover the joy of living with vitality, spirituality, and compassion.Sign up for the Main Street Vegan blog and newsletter at https://www.mainstreetvegan.com and receive your FREE e-book, Recipes to Help You Age Like a Yogi.And become an insider by joining the Main Street Vegan Podcast Listeners Group on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/groups/207997266555049

The conversation explores the remarkable success of The Habit Healers, now one of the leading health publications on Substack, and Laurie's mission to make scientific research accessible, actionable, and life-changing.This episode is packed with evidence-based insights and encouragement for anyone seeking better health through informed choices and daily habits.✨ In This EpisodeHow Laurie discovered the power of plant-based and lifestyle medicineThe turning point that changed her approach to healthcareCommon metabolic health mistakes even vegans can makeSimple adjustments that can improve long-term wellnessThe inspiration behind The Habit Healers communityMaking science accessible and actionable for everyday lifeWhy habits matter more than quick fixes👤 About Our GuestLaurie Marbas, MD, MBA, is a double board-certified family and lifestyle medicine physician, U.S. Air Force veteran, author, and speaker. She co-founded The Habit Healers community with Chef Martin Oswald to help people reclaim their health through evidence-based lifestyle strategies. Through her Substack publications, podcast, and concierge medical practice, Dr. Marbas empowers people to make lasting changes that support lifelong well-being.🔗 Connect with LaurieWebsite: https://drlauriemarbas.substack.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrLaurieMarbas/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlauriemarbas/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrLaurieMarbasSubscribe, rate, and review the Main Street Vegan Podcast to help more people discover the joy of living with vitality, spirituality, and compassion.Sign up for the Main Street Vegan blog and newsletter at https://www.mainstreetvegan.com and receive your FREE e-book, Recipes to Help You Age Like a Yogi.And become an insider by joining the Main Street Vegan Podcast Listeners Group on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/groups/207997266555049Complement are supplements made by vegans, Pamela Fergusson, RD, PhD, Matt Frazier, and Joel Kahn, MD, to enhance diet. Check out their new product Sulfora, and enter 'MAINSTREET' in the discount box to save yourself 10%.

Can a yoga practice help create a more compassionate world? World Peace Yoga: Compassion, Practice, and Living Ahimsa with Anna FergusonIn this thoughtful and inspiring episode, Victoria Moran speaks with yoga teacher, author, and activist Anna Ferguson about the deep connection between yoga, veganism, and living a life rooted in ahimsa, nonviolence toward all beings.Anna shares her personal journey into both yoga and vegan living, and how these paths naturally intertwined to shape her life’s work. She explains how the physical practice of yoga can embody compassion, not just as a philosophy, but as something we live through our movements, choices, and relationships.This episode offers a grounded and expansive look at how inner practice and outer activism can come together to support both personal transformation and collective healing.✨ In This EpisodeAnna’s journey into yoga and veganismThe meaning of ahimsa in everyday lifeHow yoga postures can reflect compassion for all beingsSharing vegan values within yoga spacesThe vision behind Compassion for All Yoga Teacher TrainingParenting, practice, and raising the next generation with intention👤 About Our GuestAnna Ferguson is the author of World Peace Yoga: Yoga for People Who Breathe, director of the Compassion for All Yoga Teacher Training, and founder of Our Collective Heart, a vegan nonprofit that organizes the annual Cincy VegFest. Her work brings together yoga, activism, and compassion, helping people align their practice with their values and contribute to a more peaceful world.🔗 Connect with AnnaWebsite: http://www.worldpeaceyoga.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/worldpeaceyogahInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/worldpeaceyoga/Compassion for All Yoga: http://www.compassionforallyoga.comYoga for the Common Good: http://www.yogaforthecommongood.comSubscribe, rate, and review the Main Street Vegan Podcast to help more people discover the joy of living with vitality, spirituality, and compassion.Sign up for the Main Street Vegan blog and newsletter at https://www.mainstreetvegan.com and receive your FREE e-book, Recipes to Help You Age Like a Yogi.And become an insider by joining the Main Street Vegan Podcast Listeners Group on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/groups/207997266555049Main Street Vegan Academy - (listeners can get $250 off with the VegCoach250 code)Complement are supplements made by vegans, Pamela Fergusson, RD, PhD, Matt Frazier, and Joel Kahn, MD, to enhance diet. Check our their new product Sulfora HERE, and enter 'MAINSTREET' in the discount box to save yourself 10%.

What if vibrant health and lasting joy could be cultivated through a few simple, daily practices? In this uplifting and energizing episode, I welcome longtime colleague and renowned wellness expert Susan Smith Jones, PhD, for a conversation filled with wisdom, warmth, and inspiration.Susan and I were born in the same year and met in the 1970s when we called the health side of vegan living "Natural Hygiene" and when this was a very unusual life choice indeed!Drawing on decades of experience in holistic health, Susan shares her signature W.O.N.D.E.R.S. framework, seven powerful pillars designed to support healing, vitality, and a positive, balanced life at any age. With humor, heartfelt stories, and practical guidance, she reminds us that true wellness is both an art and a daily choice.This special episode also celebrates Susan and Victoria’s long-standing friendship and shared history in the wellness world, making for a truly joyful and meaningful exchange.✨ In This EpisodeSusan’s journey into vegan living and holistic healthThe W.O.N.D.E.R.S. framework for total well-beingWhy mindset and outlook shape our health outcomesThe healing power of nature and time outdoorsHow a whole-food, plant-based diet supports vitalityStaying motivated with exercise and daily habitsThe importance of rest, sunshine, and joy in everyday life👤 About Our GuestSusan is a globally recognized holistic health and lifestyle expert specializing in anti-aging, optimum nutrition, and balanced living. She taught at UCLA on being healthy and fit for 30 years and has been a passionate advocate of vegan living. Through her books, lectures, and media appearances, Susan inspires people of all ages to embrace vibrant health, inner peace, and joyful living.🔗 Connect with SusanWebsite: https://SusanSmithJones.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/SusanSmithJonesPhDX: https://x.com/SusanSmithJones📚 Featured BooksA Hug in a MugUpliftedJoy & the ButterflyMentioned LinksThe National Health Association (publishers of Health Science magazine), www.healthscience.orgMain Street Vegan Coach Training Academy (www.mainstreetvegan.com)Subscribe, rate, and review our Podcast to help more people discover the joy of living with vitality, spirituality and compassion.Sign up for our blog and newsletter at www.mainstreetvegan.com and receive your FREE e-book, Recipes to Help You Age Like a Yogi.And become an insider by joining the Main Street Vegan Podcast Listeners Group on Facebook:www.facebook.com/groups/207997266555049 Complement are supplements made by vegans, Pamela Fergusson, RD, PhD, Matt Frazier, and Joel Kahn, MD, to enhance diet. Check our their new product Sulfora HERE, and enter 'MAINSTREET' in the discount box to save yourself 10%.

Episode 555, air date May 21, 2026. Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube or your favorite podcast app.Can improving your eyesight also deepen your insight into life? In this expansive and heart-centered conversation, I speak with Dr. Elisa Haransky-Beck about the powerful connections between vision, consciousness, nature, and spiritual awakening.Elisa shares her decades-long journey as an optometrist and wellness practitioner, and how she came to integrate natural eyesight improvement with movement, nutrition, and spiritual practice. She explains how reconnecting with our inner and outer vision can help us rediscover purpose, presence, and alignment with our true path. This episode is an invitation to see more clearly, not just with the eyes, but with the whole self.✨ In This EpisodeHow natural eyesight improvement became her callingThe connection between vision, awareness, and inner truthWhy nature and groundedness are essential for healingHow multiple disciplines weave into one life purposeSimple practices to support eyesight and overall well-beingHer passionate outlook on leather and plastics👤 About Our GuestDr. Elisa Haransky-Beck is an optometrist and wellness practitioner, spiritual nutrition counselor, EmbodyVision somatic yoga teacher, educator, and speaker. She specializes in facilitating natural eyesight improvement to deepen insight and supports individuals in rising into their true mission in life, their “raison d’être” for being here at this extraordinary time. Her work integrates vision, movement, nutrition, nature, and spirit into a holistic path of awakening.🔗 Connect with ElisaWebsite: www.EnliveningConsciousness.comFacebook: Dr. Elisa Beth Haransky-BeckInstagram: EmbodyVisionLinkedIn: Dr. Elisa Beth Haransky-Beck (Elisa Beck)Subscribe, rate, and review the Main Street Vegan Podcast to help more people discover the joy of living with vitality, spirituality, and compassion.Sign up for the Main Street Vegan blog and newsletter at www.mainstreetvegan.com and receive your FREE e-book, Recipes to Help You Age Like a Yogi.And become an insider by joining the Main Street Vegan Podcast Listeners Group on Facebook:www.facebook.com/groups/207997266555049

Can our daily food choices shape not only our health, but the future of humanity itself? In this conversation, I speak with bestselling author, former Zen monk, and longtime vegan advocate Dr. Will Tuttle about the deep spiritual, cultural, and psychological implications of the way we eat.Drawing from decades of teaching and writing, Will explores the ideas behind The World Peace Diet, Food for Freedom, and The World Peace Way, explaining how modern food culture reinforces systems of domination, disconnection, and violence and how compassionate living offers a path toward healing.This episode is both philosophical and practical, inviting listeners to consider vegan living not merely as a diet, but as a transformative spiritual practice rooted in peace, awareness, and compassion for all beings.✨ In This EpisodeThe central message behind Will’s life work and booksHow food choices affect cultural, ecological, and spiritual well-beingThe connection between freedom, health, and compassionHow vegan living supports personal and collective transformationWhy these ideas are often overlooked in mainstream cultureWhat each of us can do to contribute to peace and healing every day👤 About Our GuestDr. Will Tuttle is the author of the international bestseller The World Peace Diet. Publishers have released the book in 18 languages. He also wrote Food for Freedom, The World Peace Way, and several other books on spirituality and healthful living.Will has followed a vegan lifestyle since 1980 and previously lived as a Zen monk. Alongside his spouse, visionary artist Madeleine Tuttle, he has lectured in all 50 U.S. states and in 50 countries.🔗 Connect with WillWebsite: www.worldpeacediet.comYouTube: www.youtube.com/@WillTuttleSubscribe, rate and review the Podcast to help more people discover the joy of living with vitality, spirituality and compassion.Sign up to the Main Street Vegan newsletter at www.mainstreetvegan.com and receive a FREE e-book, Recipes to Help You Age Like a Yogi.Become an insider by joining the Main Street Vegan Podcast Listeners Group on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/groups/207997266555049

Where did the foods we eat every day actually come from and what stories do they carry? In this fascinating and far-reaching conversation, Victoria Moran speaks with prolific author Nathaniel Altman about the origins, evolution, and healing potential of plant foods across human history.Nathaniel and Victoria also reminisce about their early days at the Theosophical Society in America in the early 1970s, a formative time that helped shape their shared interest in spirituality, consciousness, and compassionate living. We touch on the influence of spiritual teacher Geoffrey Hodson, whose work Nathaniel has helped reintroduce to modern audiences.Nathaniel explores how ancient food traditions, global migration, and cultural exchange have shaped the plant-based foods we know today. The conversation also nods to an earlier Main Street Vegan Podcast episode featuring Dr. David J. A. Jenkins, creator of the Portfolio Diet, connecting historical food wisdom with modern clinical approaches to lowering LDL cholesterol and improving heart health.This episode is a rich reminder that food is more than nourishment it is history, medicine and a thread connecting body, mind, and spirit.✨ In This EpisodeThe origins of the world’s oldest plant foodsSurprising stories behind everyday ingredientsWhat phytochemicals are and why they matterFoods linked to disease prevention and longevityThe global roots of modern plant-based dietsThe spiritual influences that shaped Nathaniel’s workConnections between traditional diets and modern health science👤 About Our GuestNathaniel Altman is a Brooklyn-based writer and the author of more than twenty books on diet, alternative healing, metaphysics and relationships. His extensive body of work includes titles on vegetarianism, natural health and holistic living, reflecting a lifelong interest in the connection between food, healing, and human consciousness. His latest project, The Genealogy of Plant Foods, explores the origins and cultural journeys of the foods we eat.🔗 Connect with NathanielWebsite: https://foodgenealogy.net/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathaniel.altman.9/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanielaltmanauthor/Subscribe, rate, and review the Main Street Vegan Podcast to help more people discover the joy of living with vitality, spirituality, and compassion.Sign up for the Main Street Vegan blog and newsletter at https://www.mainstreetvegan.com and receive your FREE e-book, Recipes to Help You Age Like a Yogi.And become an insider by joining the Main Street Vegan Podcast Listeners Group on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/groups/207997266555049

What would it take to truly transform the global food system? In this compelling episode, Victoria Moran speaks with nonprofit leader and animal protection advocate Dan Shannon about the strategies, challenges, and breakthroughs shaping a more humane future.Dan shares insights from his decades of experience in advocacy, philanthropy, and corporate campaigns, explaining how sustained public pressure and collective action are driving major shifts, including recent landmark victories in the push toward cage-free eggs. He offers a behind-the-scenes look at how change happens at the highest levels of the food industry and why progress, while complex, is accelerating.This episode explores how everyday choices, combined with organized advocacy, can help reshape a system that affects billions of animals and all of us.✨ In This EpisodeWhat consumers might not realize about the egg industryWhy transforming the food system is urgent and possibleWhat the shift toward cage-free eggs really meansSurprising trends in consumer behaviorHow global campaigns create change across culturesThe power of collective action in animal advocacyWhat a fully humane food system could look like in the future👤 About Our GuestDan Shannon is a seasoned nonprofit strategist with over two decades of experience in campaigns, philanthropy, and animal protection, including leadership roles at PETA, Purpose, and Tides. As CEO of The Humane League, he drives corporate campaigns, public policy, and global coalition-building to accelerate progress toward cage-free eggs and end factory farming. He is also the co-author of two acclaimed vegan cookbooks and continues to promote compassionate living through his writing and advocacy.Subscribe, rate, and review the Main Street Vegan Podcast to help more people discover the joy of living with vitality, spirituality, and compassion.Sign up for the Main Street Vegan blog and newsletter at https://www.mainstreetvegan.com and receive your FREE e-book, Recipes to Help You Age Like a Yogi.And become an insider by joining the Main Street Vegan Podcast Listeners Group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/207997266555049

Can building muscle be an act of compassion? In this inspiring conversation, Victoria Moran speaks with natural bodybuilder and Organic Muscle co-founder James Benefico about the powerful intersection of veganism, fitness, and spirituality.James shares how his journey led him to see caring for the body not as vanity, but as devotion — a way of honoring life, embodying discipline, and living in alignment with deeply held values. Drawing from early Christian teachings as well as modern plant-based nutrition, he offers a fresh perspective on strength rooted in kindness.This episode is a reminder that what we eat, how we train, and how we live can all be expressions of love.Website: https://www.organicmuscle.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesbeneficoOrganic Muscle Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/organic_muscle

Dr. Michael Klaper shares what 50 years in medicine have taught him: most chronic disease is preventable—and often reversible—with diet. Now through his nonprofit, Moving Medicine Forward, he’s working to bring nutrition education into medical schools. A hopeful, eye-opening conversation on food, health, and the future of medicine.

Can kindness change more minds than confrontation when it comes to helping animals?Animal advocate ​Cheryl Moss, founder of Better Life for Animals, believes the most effective way to help animals is through patience, empathy, and respectful conversation. In this episode, she and Victoria explore why gentle outreach often works better than pressure, how people really change, and how compassionate advocacy can inspire more people to move toward vegan living.Sign up for the Main Street Vegan blog and newsletter at https://www.mainstreetvegan.com, and receive your FREE e-book, Recipes to Help You Age Like a Yogi.

Caregiving is often called a labor of love. But what happens when love collides with a broken system?In this powerful and deeply human conversation, Victoria speaks with Laura Mauldin, PhD, author of In Sickness and in Health: Love Stories from the Front Lines of America’s Caregiving Crisis. Together, they explore the intimate realities of disability, partnership, policy failure, ableism, and what it truly means to love someone when bodies change.This episode is about story because story is how we understand one another, and how we begin to change the world._____________________________________________________________________________About Our GuestIn Sickness and in HealthLaura MauldinLaura Mauldin is a sociologist whose work focuses on disability, caregiving, and health inequities. In her 20s, she became a caregiver to her partner after a traumatic brain injury — an experience that profoundly shaped both her life and her scholarship.Her book weaves her own story together with the lived experiences of couples navigating disability and caregiving today. It is both tender and unsparing — a love letter and a wake-up call.Learn more at: https://lauramauldin.com/Book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Sickness-Health-Stories-Americas-Caregiving/dp/0063339137/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DrLauraMauldin/

What happens when Manhattan luxury real estate meets plant-based living and deep Christian faith?Victoria sits down with Darryl Williams — known as “The Vegan Broker” — a real estate professional with SERHANT., the firm featured on the Netflix series Owning Manhattan.Raised vegetarian in a Seventh-day Adventist home and now a committed health vegan, Darryl boldly brings his values into one of the most competitive industries in the world. Married with two young children, he shares how faith, integrity, and family shape both his business and his plant-based lifestyle.This uplifting conversation explores authenticity, courage, and what it really means to live your values out loud.

This episode explores a surprising and thoughtful perspective on modern food systems. Victoria talks with scholars Jan Dutkiewicz and Gabriel N. Rosenberg, co-authors of Feed the People: Why Industrial Food Is Good and How to Make It Even Better, about how frozen vegetables, canned beans, plant milks, and other accessible foods can help make compassionate eating realistic and affordable for more people.

Peacefood Cafe has been feeding compassionate New Yorkers since 2009. In this conversation, co-owner Eric Yu shares about being a spiritual guy in a business role, his decision not to serve alcohol in his restaurants, and what it takes to thrive in changing times.Website: https://www.peacefoodcafe.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/peacefoodnyc/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peacefoodnyc/Peacefood Cafe locations: 460 Amsterdam Ave. at 82nd, and 41 E. 11th (Union Square), NYC

Mark Peters captures the soul of the cow in his photographic book, Voices of the Herd, and today we talk about cows as individuals and seeing animals differently. And guess what? This guy is so classy, he wrote me a thank-you note on paper.Website: https://markpetersphotography.com/Book: Voices of the Herd: Portraits of Rescued Cows and Their Sanctuary StoriesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/markpeters.photography/And there's a book giveaway for this one: The instructions are at the end of the episode. 

Matthew C. Halteman, Ph.D, author of Hungry Beautiful Animals: The Joyful Case for Going Vegan, teaches philosophy at Calvin University in Michigan. He also once lived on the same block in Wheaton, Illinois, as host Victoria Moran.Book:Hungry Beautiful Animals: The Joyful Case for Going Vegan Website: https://www.hungrybeautifulanimals.com/Facebook: Matthew C. HaltemenInstagram: @hungrybeautifulanimalsLinkedIn: Matthew HaltemenAnd Victoria's YouTube channel where you can watch the podcast, as well as listening on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

 EatMoveRest.com and the EatMoveRest YouTube channel have planted Erin and Dusty Stancyk firmly into influencer territory with their busy, beautiful life, 3 young kids, and a delicious, plant-based road to health. We discuss attachment parenting, using the word "vegan" (or not), putting the fun back in healthy, and living colorfully.Book: The Happy, Healthy Plant-Based CookbookWebsite: https://eatmoverest.com - Subscribe and receive free PDF, How to Go VeganYouTube: EatMoveRest - The StancyksFacebook: Eat Move RestInstagram: Erin StancyzkAnd subscribe at MainStreetVegan.com to receive free PDF, Recipes to Help You Age Like a Yogi 

Nutrition science took a massive hit with the January 7th release of the 2026 Dietary Guideline for Americans, recommending increased consumption of meat, eggs, and dairy (while, impossibly, keeping saturated fat low). Responding is Neal Barnard, MD, president of Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, which has petitioned the U.S. government to withdraw these recommendations. Website: https://www.pcrm.orgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/physicianscommittee/Select books from Dr. Barnard:The Power Foods DietYour Body in BalanceDr. Neal Barnard's Program for Reversing Heart Disease 

We welcome 2026 with the inimitable Michael Greger, MD, of nutritionfacts.org and author of the million-selling How Not to Die, sharing info from his latest book Lower LDL Cholesterol Naturally with Food. Website: https://nutritionfacts.org/ Lower LDL Cholesterol Naturally with FoodHow Not DieHow Not to DietHow Not to AgeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nutrition_facts_org/Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/NutritionFacts.org/ 

NYC animal activist Donny Moss is out to set the record straight about animal abuse by congratulating the media when it's fair and coming down on biased, untrue reporting. We discuss his new venture, VegMediaWatch, as well as how to combat social media misinformation.Website: https://www.vegmediawatch.orgBlinders, Donny's documentary on the New York City carriage horse industry: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1oAV1fZXJMInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/vegmediawatch/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Veg-Media-Watch-61577254593597/ 

Known for giving "the best speech you've ever heard" and for single-handedly making Israel the most vegan-dense country on earth, Gary Yourofsky is a legendary animal activist and orator. In this interview, first posting on Thanksgiving morning 2025, Yourofsky shares how we can all be effective in standing up for the rights of our fellow beings. Website: http://www.adaptt.orgInstagram: @realgaryyourofsky

Chef Mark Reinfeld is known in the plant-based world and beyond as the culinary innovator of vegan fusion cuisine, but he is also the dad of two sons, one of whom has a genetic condition called Angelman Syndrome. His new book, Islands of Peace, is for other special needs parents and anyone dealing with an ongoing challenge to love and patience, and energy. Book: https://www.ohanavitality.org/islands-of-peaceOhana Vitality, programs and events for parents with special needs childrenChef Mark's Upcoming Culinary CourseInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/veganfusioncuisine/

Legendary founder of the Nutritarian diet shares the exact kind of vegan diet that protects against heart disease or cancer, the essential supplements that protect vegans from Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, how to seriously build bone, plus new diagnostic options and a lifestyle medicine doctor's take on MAHA.Dr. Fuhrman's websiteDr. Fuhrman's Amazon Author PageLongevity RX (Dr. Fuhrman's new San Diego clinic in partnership with his daughter, Cara Fuhrman, ND)Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drfuhrman/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joelfuhrmanmd/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/drfuhrman

This episode is named for the important (and yet comedic) documentary about animal experimentation, focusing on pharma and product testing. Filmmakers Journey Zephyr and Keegan Kuhn, with Aysha Aktar, MD, MPH, join Victoria to get us clear on this issue (and explain how such a somber subject than make such a funny movie). Contacts:Website: https://howtomakedrugsfilm.com (You can watch the film on this site and Vimeo; more streaming options are coming. The website also has an opportunity for you to sponsor a screening in your area.)Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/How-To-Make-Drugs-61558510942256/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howtomakedrugs/#TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@howtomakedrugs 

 A family tragedy led board-certified nutritionist Terri Chrisman to take on chronic disease and fight that battle in the kitchen. Her methodology and her bestselling book, Fabulous Health: A Simple Plan to Get Well and Stay Well, are based on the 6 Pillars of a Healthy Lifestyle, codified by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. Book: Fabulous Health: A Simple Plan to Get Well and Stay WellWebsite: https://fabuloushealth.netFacebook: https://facebook.com/fabuloushealthtlcInstagram: https://instagram.com/fabuloushealthtlcLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fabuloushealth/ 

Melanie Kaplan was not an expert on animal use in research until she adopted a beagle who had been a test subject. Investigation opened her eyes and her journalist's cred opened doors into the hidden world of breeding and using beagles for biomedical research, drug and product testing, and education. Her book takes readers behind lab doors and into conversations with researchers, activists, ethicists, vets, and lawmakers. Website: https://melaniedgkaplan.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/melanie.d.kaplan/LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/melanie-d-g-kaplan-9a97a7 

National Health Assn. Historian Dr. Jeanne Schumacher regales with tales of the dissident docs and nature nerds of the 19th and early 20th centuries who got the plant-based ball rolling. Her fascinating stories put health-promoting, animal-free food choices in a historic context: it's not a fad, it's not a trend, it's evolution.Websites:https://www.simplyplantbased.net (guest)https://healthscience.org (Nat'l Health Assn.)Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/SimplyPlantBasedInstagram:@DrJSchumacher 

On the front lines for animals with The Humane Farming Association for decades, Eisnitz weaves a compelling tale of the horrors of factory farms and slaughterhouses -- as well as a gripping medical mystery as she seeks a diagnosis for a rare visual processing disorder -- in Out of Sight: An Undercover Investigator's Fight for Animal Rights and Her Own Survival. [Note: If you have trouble hearing about the harsh reality of animals in agriculture, tune in at the 25-minute mark when that part of the conversation has passed.] Website: https://www.gaileisnitz.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gaileisnitz/Facebook: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gail-eisnitz-20a9889b/LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/gail-eisnitz-20a9889b

Jessika Ava of Thrive Philanthropy shares her engaging history of showing up for other-than-human beings in a variety of venues before starting her own organization that supports pro-animal endeavors around the world. Learn where the work is happening, where it's needed most, and how everyone at every income level can be part of the groundswell.Website: https://www.thrivephilanthropy.org/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566414500261Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrive_africa_/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thrivephilanthropy/

Tess Challis joins to talk about her 9th cookbook, Food Joy, coauthored with her adult daughter, a lifelong vegan. The conversation moves to vegan spirituality, the current state of being vegan in America, and the great respite of meditation.Food Joy bookWebsite: https://www.tesschallis.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/tesschallis/Instagram: @Tess Challis Tess's wonderful guided meditation on YouTube

Vegan entrepreneur, YouTuber, mother of twins, and wife of mega-comic Jeff Dunham, today's guest is the author of Vegan Christmas Cookies & Cocoa and Vegan Thanksgiving Dinner & Pies. In this episode, Audrey dishes on life balance, celebrity, and raising (and feeding) vegan kids IRL.Audrey's websiteAutumn Sons Baking Company -- delectable vegan and gluten-free cookie mixesBook: Vegan Christmas: Cookies & CocoaBook: Vegan Thanksgiving Dinner & PiesAudrey's FacebookAudrey's InstagramJeff's autobiography: All My Selves: Walter, Peanut, Achmed and MeJeff's website and tour dates

Ginny Messina, RD, MPH, is a breath of fresh air on the nutritional landscape, based as she is in science, ethics, and common sense. Get Ginny’s take on controversies such as seed oils and beef tallow, her expertise on calcium and B12 for vegans, and thriving as a vegan in a not-yet-vegan world. Website: https://www.theveganrd.comBooks: Vegan for Life, Vegan for Her, Even Vegans Die (with Carol J. Adams and Patti Breitman)Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheVeganRD/Instagram: https://www.ginnymessina/Substack: https://theresistancekitchen.substack.com

Joe Gagnon is a tech entrepreneur, ultra-athlete (i.e., 6 marathons/6 countries/6 days), vegan, author, and life architect whose ideas on Living Intentionally (his latest book), embracing discomfort, and disregarding limits that don't have to hold us back make this a life-shifting episode. Book: Living Intentionally: How Intentionality Enables Sucess, Fulfillment, and GrowthWebsite: https://thehighperformancelife.netIG: https://instagram.com/thehighperformancelifeLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/joegagnon Quotations: "I am driven by a simple mission: helping people realize they are capable of far more than they believe is possible.""Growth happens at the edge. It's in the uncomfortable, uncertain, and transformational moments that we find out who we truly are.""Discomfort is a noise, not the signal.""Track what you did with each hour of the day for a week. It will show you where you spent too much time and where you spent not enough.""The human system is made not to survive but to thrive.""We're not on the path. We are the path.""We are what we do. I am a writer because I've written for 4000 days in a row. I didn't start out as a writer.""I don't relate to my age...I do movement for a purpose: activity, resiliency, meditation, being in nature, rewarding the human system for doing what it's supposed to.""The word 'failure' to me is not a word."

Rowdy Girl Sanctuary's Renee King-Sonnen and her husband, Tommy Sonnen, an ex-cattle rancher, are finalists in America's Favorite Couple contest. Vote for them at https://buff.ly/mm6pP3k. 

Karina Inkster is a fitness coach, author, and host of the No-B.S. Vegan Podcast. She also holds a Master's degree in gerontology, the study not just of older adult health but the process of aging itself. In this episode, we talk about fitness at every age, the scourge of diet culture, and how to get the fitness industry more veg-friendly.Website (for Karina and her online vegan training company, K.I. Health & Fitness)Books (Resistance Band Workouts, Resistance Band Workouts for Seniors, Foam Rolling, The Vegan Athlete, and Vegan Vitality)Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/karinainksterInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/karinainksterSponsors of this episode: Main Street Vegan Academy (discount code for Autumn 2025 cohort, FRIEND), and Complement dietary enhancements (discount code for 10% any order or subscription: MAINSTREET)

A celebrity in the plant-based space, Chef AJ is known for her wildly popular YouTube programming, as well as summits and bundles on weight loss and health. Recently, she has also been applauded for her brave "coming out" with a lung cancer diagnosis. In this powerful and engrossing episode, AJ and Victoria, both vegans of 40+ years, discuss navigating the tough times with faith and good humor.Chef AJ's Website: https://chefaj.com/YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@CHEFAJCookbook: Unprocessed: 10th Anniversary EditionCookbook: Sweet Indulgence: Guilt-Free Treats Sweetened Naturally With FruitFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/chef.aj1/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealchefaj/

What if half of American meals were plant-based? Discover how this shift could help end factory farming and transform our food system for good. Andrew DeCoriolis is executive director of Farm Forward, dedicated to ending factory farming and encouraging people to eat "as few animals as possible, ideally none." In addition to sharing the rationale of this approach, DeCoriolis updates us on the bird flu threat and the dangers of antibiotic use in animal agriculture.Farm Forward website: https://www.farmforward.com/who-we-are/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farmforward/?hl=en

When owner Georges Hayek went vegan in 2021, so did his business: Hayek Hospital in a suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, serves only plant-based meals, and there are no wool blankets, no leather furniture. This inspiring guest also speaks eloquently on humanity's crisis of empathy and the need for unity among vegans.Website (hospital): https://hayekhospital.orgWebsite (organization): https://lebanesevegans.orgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hayekhospital/?hl=en