Vegan travel without compromise. Kim Giovacco, of Veg Jaunts & Journeys, talks about building a vegan travel community, 52 tours around the world, and why 60% of her travelers keep coming back.
Traveling as a vegan doesn’t have to mean settling for side salads or stressing over where to eat. My guest this week, Kim Giovacco, founder of Veg Jaunts & Journeys, has been changing the way vegans see the world since 2017.
Kim has led more than 50 small-group vegan tours around the world, with an incredible 60% of travelers returning for more. Her itineraries blend community, culture, and compassion—so you can explore places like Berlin, Lisbon, and South Africa without worrying about whether the menu has something for you.
In this episode, Kim and I talk about:
How a birthday gift and a love of food co-ops sparked the idea for her tour company.
What it took to build a vegan travel business—and keep it going through the pandemic.
Why her guests come back for multiple trips each year.
The hidden gems she’s uncovered around the world, from vegan Christmas markets in Berlin to plant-based safaris in Namibia.
Her passion for building vegan community, both abroad and in her hometown of Greenville, South Carolina.
Whether you’re a seasoned plant based traveler or dreaming of your first vegan tour, Kim’s story will inspire you to pack your bags and see the world—vegan style.
Learn more about Kim and upcoming tours: Veg Jaunts & Journeys
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 info@micheleolendercoaching.com
Music, Production, and Editing by Charlie Weinshank. For inquiries email: charliewe97@gmail.com Virtual Support Services: https://proadminme.com/
September feels like a fresh start. New notebooks, crisp air, sweater weather. The perfect time to go "Back to Vegan.”
Whether you’re brand new to plant-based living, returning after a flexible summer or a long-time vegan looking for fresh inspiration, this episode will help you reset across food, fashion, cosmetics, health, and even fun.
In This Episode
Why September is a great time to re-energize your vegan practice.
Restock your pantry and reset your capsule kitchen with simple staples.
Health habits to revisit, from supplements to scheduling your annual check-ups.
Cruelty-free fashion and cosmetics.
Vegan Reading List for fresh inspiration.
From Veg Fests to Vegan Travel — keep this lifestyle joyful and sustainable.
Resources & Links Mentioned
Supplements: Ritual, Future Kind, Complement
Fashion: Good On You, Immaculate Vegan,
Cosmetics: Leaping Bunny, Logical Harmony
Books: Never Too Late to Go Vegan (Adams/Breitman/Messina), Vegan for Life (Messina/Norris), We Are the Weather (Foer)
Podcasts & Films: I Could Never Go Vegan (Thomas Pickering), Lucia’s Vegan Lifestyle, Veggies Abroad (Rebecca Sawicki), World Vegan Travel (Brighde Reed)
Listener Challenge
This week, build your Back to Vegan Starter Pack:
One pantry staple.
One movement routine.
One cruelty-free product swap.
One book, documentary, or podcast for inspiration.
One fun fellowship activity — a veg fest, vegan meal with friends, or a day trip.
And don’t miss next week’s episode with Kim Giovacco from Veg Jaunts and Journeys — all about vegan-friendly travel. Subscribe so you never miss an episode.
If you create your list, I’d love to see it! This September is the 5 Year Anniversary of the podcast! Share it on Instagram and tag me @VedgeYourBest or email me directly.
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 info@micheleolendercoaching.com
Music, Production, and Editing by Charlie Weinshank. For inquiries email: charliewe97@gmail.com Virtual Support Services: https://proadminme.com/
What if the most meaningful, exciting, and vibrant years of your life require you to be bad at things—on purpose?
In this episode, Michele explores why midlife and beyond might be the perfect time to stop chasing mastery and start embracing messy, awkward beginnings. If you’ve been stuck in “I should already know this,” or “I’m too old to try that,” Michele makes the case for becoming a beginner again—on your terms, with your timeline, and with plenty of self-compassion.
What You’ll Hear:
Why “Master of None” isn’t a character flaw
How our adult brains resist learning new things
Two big reasons to be a beginner (even if you're bad at it)
Six mindset tools to help you start anyway
Why being real beats being perfect—every time
A personal challenge to try something new, slow, awkward… and wonderful
This episode is for you if:
You’re in your 40s, 50s, 60s (or beyond!) and are unsure of your “purpose” or “passion.”
You’ve been putting off something you want to try because you’re “not good at it”
You love learning but it reminds you of time you’ve “wasted.”
You want to model curiosity, courage, and self-compassion for the people in your life
Listener Challenge: Choose one thing you’re willing to be a beginner at this week. Let Michele know what it is—she’d love to cheer you on.
Mentioned in this episode:
The phrase: “Jack of all trades, Master of None”
Malcolm Gladwell’s “10,000 hours idea” of mastery in his book Outliers
The power of tiny habits (like one Duolingo daily language or chess lesson)
The phrase: “Let your mess be your message”
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 info@micheleolendercoaching.com
Music, Production, and Editing by Charlie Weinshank. For inquiries email: charliewe97@gmail.com Virtual Support Services: https://proadminme.com/
What if "not enough" action is actually the most powerful thing you can do?
In this episode, Michele reflects on the overwhelm and discouragement that can come with new habits—especially in our 24 hour, performative culture. Drawing inspiration from her 30-day Substack challenge (How You Go Vegan Is How You Do Everything) and psychotherapist Britt Frank’s work on the intention-action gap, Michele unpacks what it means to show up imperfectly.
Whether you're trying to go vegan, declutter, write, start a side hustle or a plant-based business, this episode is your reminder that not-zero counts—and over time that compounds.
You’ll hear:
Why comparison culture steals your motivation before you begin
How Britt Frank’s nervous-system approach reframes “procrastination”
The power of default wins and quiet persistence
Why September feels like a New Year, and how to prepare with “not-zero” actions now
A plant-based challenge to carry you from August into autumn
Resources Mentioned:
The Science of Stuck by Britt Frank
Michele’s 30-Day Substack Challenge: How You Go Vegan Is How You Do Everything
Vedge Your Best Newsletter (V-Mail): Subscribe at veganatanyage.com
Listener Challenge: What’s one not-enough action you can take today? Try something so small it feels silly—then decide to let it count. Tag @vedgeyourbest and share your not-zero win.
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 info@micheleolendercoaching.com
Music, Production, and Editing by Charlie Weinshank. For inquiries email: charliewe97@gmail.com Virtual Support Services: https://proadminme.com/
You wake up with the best intentions.
Today’s the day. You’re going to eat fully plant-based, limit animal products, skip the leather belt or bag, and speak your truth. But by dinner? Things may have unraveled. Again.
If that sounds familiar, you’re not broken. You’re human.
In this episode of Vedge Your Best, we explore the gap between good intentions and actual change—and why it’s not about willpower, discipline, or moral failure. The old saying goes, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions,” and when it comes to going vegan or making any major life shift, that expression can hit home.
What we cover in this episode:
Why your intention isn’t the same as a plan
The difference between rules and strategies
Why your brain defaults to old habits under pressure
What to do when a friend offers you food you didn’t plan for
The truth about people who “seem” to go vegan overnight
How vague commitments lead to shame, not success
This isn’t just about food. This episode is for you if you're:
Trying to eat more plants
Decluttering your home
Spending less
Setting boundaries
Or starting any behavior change that matters
Listener Takeaway: Intentions matter—but they’re only the invitation. Without a plan, your good intentions might be setting you up for self-doubt and shame. Let’s fix that.
Mentioned in this episode:
The “V” in the V-E-G-A-N Method = Vision
My free Substack: How You Go Vegan is How You Do Everything → Follow along as I write a first draft of my book in 30 days. → Comment and share where you’re stuck
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 info@micheleolendercoaching.com
Music, Production, and Editing by Charlie Weinshank. For inquiries email: charliewe97@gmail.com Virtual Support Services: https://proadminme.com/
What if the way you go vegan is the way you do everything else in life?
This week, we go behind-the-scenes with Michele Olender writing the first draft of a book in 30 days using the very same coaching method she’s used to help hundreds of people start, restart, or re-energize their vegan and plant-based practices—especially in midlife and beyond.
This isn’t just about writing a book. It’s about facing resistance, moving forward without the perfect plan, and becoming the kind of person who keeps going. Whether you’ve been stuck on a big goal, scared to fail, or overwhelmed by the “how,” this episode offers a candid, encouraging look at how small daily actions build real transformation.
Michele shares:
Why she decided to draft a book in public, in just 30 days
How her V.E.G.A.N coaching framework applies to writing, mindset, and more
The role of fear, perfectionism, and vulnerability in personal growth
What her book-in-progress is about (and where you can read it)
Why the practice is more powerful than the finished product
If you’ve ever said, “I’ll start when…”—this one’s for you.
Listener Challenge:
What’s one thing you’ve been putting off because it doesn’t feel like the right time? What if you started a tiny version today?
Resources & Links Mentioned:
Follow Michele’s writing journey on Substack: How You Go Vegan
New website: VeganAtAnyAge.com — help Michele test it!
Instagram: @vedgeyourbest
About Vedge Your Best:
Hosted by certified life coach Michele Olender, Vedge Your Best helps midlife and beyond listeners use mindset tools, humor, and compassion to make consistent and meaningful vegan choices—without perfectionism or pressure. New episodes every week.
Subscribe, rate, and share if you enjoy the show—it helps more people find us!
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 info@micheleolendercoaching.com
Music, Production, and Editing by Charlie Weinshank. For inquiries email: charliewe97@gmail.com Virtual Support Services: https://proadminme.com/
What happens when “gratitude” starts to feel like guilt? When “aging gracefully” sounds more like “don’t complain?”
This week, Michele shares a reflective episode (aka RANT) on the ways we’re told—directly or indirectly—that our pain, concerns, or values aren’t serious enough to matter.
From personal health challenges to compassionate food choices, Michele explores:
This is an episode for anyone who's ever felt dismissed or told to lower their voice—or their standards. You're not asking too much. You're just telling the wrong person.
Listener Challenge:
Where might you be using your blessings against yourself?
Who benefits by you being diminished?
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 info@micheleolendercoaching.com
Music, Production, and Editing by Charlie Weinshank. For inquiries email: charliewe97@gmail.com Virtual Support Services: https://proadminme.com/
Why do we say we want to go vegan—or at least more plant-based—and then we don’t follow through? Why does it sometimes feel so hard to align our actions with what we deeply believe?
In this episode, we explore the "Blame Game"—the very human habit of explaining away our inaction by pointing to our personalities, families, jobs, pasts, or even our cats. You’re not lazy, weak, or failing. You’re not behind. You’re not alone.
Join Michele as she shares why blaming (ourselves or others) offers temporary relief—but keeps us stuck. More importantly, she offers a mindset shift that opens up possibility, creativity, and compassion. Whether you're struggling to stay consistent with a vegan practice or any meaningful life change, this episode is your reminder that you're allowed to start again. And again. And again.
In this episode:
The surprising comfort of blame
Why knowledge doesn’t always lead to action
What to try instead of beating yourself up
A gentle, powerful reframe for moving forward—even imperfectly
Listener Challenge:
When you catch yourself in a blame spiral this week, pause and ask:
“What’s one small step I could take right now?”
Then take it. Not perfectly. Just powerfully.
Mentioned in this episode:
Michele’s new website: https://veganatanyage.com
Subscribe to the weekly "V-Mail" newsletter
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 info@micheleolendercoaching.com
Music, Production, and Editing by Charlie Weinshank. For inquiries email: charliewe97@gmail.com Virtual Support Services: https://proadminme.com/
Switzerland’s groundbreaking new labelling law, effective July 1, 2025 doesn’t abolish animal cruelty—but maybe it bans ignorance. Food products like meat, dairy, eggs, foie gras, and even frogs’ legs must now clearly disclose if the animals experienced painful procedures—such as dehorning, castration, tail docking, force-feeding—performed without pain relief. The requirement extends to supermarkets, restaurants, small businesses, and importers (swissinfo.ch).
Michele unpacks how sunlight—the best disinfectant—can shine on systems once hidden from view. Especially for those of us in midlife, this transparency invites reflection, choice, and meaningful shifts. It's not about forcing people to change; it's about widening awareness.
In this episode:
Why truth on a label isn't an agenda—it’s an invitation.
How the “right not to know” may be the real barrier.
What we can each do—no guilt, just curiosity.
Listener Challenge: Choose one animal-based product—food, clothing, or cosmetics. Research how it was made. Ask yourself: does it match how I want to eat, live, or care?
Mentioned in this episode:
Swiss federal food labelling law requiring disclosure of painful animal procedures (plantbasednews.org, swissinfo.ch)
Labeling obligation applies to meat, milk, eggs, foie gras, frogs’ legs—across food outlets (plantbasednews.org)
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 info@micheleolendercoaching.com
Music, Production, and Editing by Charlie Weinshank. For inquiries email: charliewe97@gmail.com Virtual Support Services: https://proadminme.com/
What if your kitchen could be the starting point for personal liberation?
This week on Vedge Your Best, Chef Day Radley joins Michele to talk about how cooking plant-based isn’t just about what’s on the plate—it’s about reclaiming agency, aligning with your values, and discovering what’s possible in midlife and beyond.
Founder of The Vegan Chef School in London, Day shares how a pink flyer at a protest changed her life, why she created one of the UK’s first plant-based chef training programs, and how so many of her students are reinventing themselves through food.
Whether you’re a seasoned vegan, newly plant-curious, or simply wondering if it’s too late to learn something new—this episode will meet you right where you are.
In this episode:
How food choices reflect personal power
Why midlife is the perfect time to start something new
What Day teaches her students beyond just recipes
How vegan cooking is gaining ground in the private chef world
The unexpected creative advantage of British food culture
Why Day refuses to count calories—and what she teaches instead
Learn more about Day Radley and The Vegan Chef School:
Website: www.theveganchefschool.com
Instagram: @theveganchefschool
Subscribe and review Vedge Your Best wherever you listen to podcasts.
It’s never too late 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 micheleolendercoaching.com or email info@micheleolendercoaching.com
Music, Production, and Editing by Charlie Weinshank. For inquiries email: charliewe97@gmail.com Virtual Support Services: https://proadminme.com/
Even small choices create a ripple effect. In fact we probably can’t succeed without your smallest actions.
Episode Summary: Feeling overwhelmed by the news? Wondering if your vegan lunch really matters? In this episode, Michele Olender explores the power of shifting from passive observer to active participant — in culture, in climate, in your plant-based journey.. Maybe even in traffic..
Inspired by Jonathan Safran Foer’s powerful book We Are the Weather, Michele invites us to rethink our role in the systems we say we want to change.
If you’ve ever thought, “Why bother? I’m just one person,” this is your reminder that your example — and your intention — matter more than you think.
In this episode, we talk about:
Why that traffic jam metaphor is bigger than you think
How doomscrolling keeps us reactive, not creative
What We Are the Weather teaches us about daily action
What to say to yourself when plant-based choices feel invisible
How to lead with clarity, even when no one around you agrees
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 micheleolendercoaching.com or email info@micheleolendercoaching.com
Music, Production, and Editing by Charlie Weinshank. For inquiries email: charliewe97@gmail.com Virtual Support Services: https://proadminme.com/
This week, we’re talking “excuses”—the kind that hold us back and the kind that might just be trying to help. Whether you're delaying a plant-based shift, putting off a big change, or repeating the same “I just can’t right now” story… this episode invites you to rethink your excuses with humor, compassion, and curiosity.
What if your excuses aren’t obstacles?
What if they’re signposts to your most important breakthrough?
We’ll explore:
Why your excuses actually make sense
How curiosity beats self-criticism
What resistance really looks like (and how to stop fighting reality)
And how laughter can be your coaching superpower
Let’s take off the judge’s robe and put on the detective hat. It’s time to ask: “What is this excuse protecting?” And maybe even… “What’s next?”
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 micheleolendercoaching.com or email info@micheleolendercoaching.com
Music, Production, and Editing by Charlie Weinshank. For inquiries email: charliewe97@gmail.com Virtual Support Services: https://proadminme.com/
Purchase Miami Vegan: Plant Based Recipes from the Tropics to Your Table by Ellen Kanner on her website soulfulvegan.com, at bookshop.org, Walmart online, or through her publisher LCIX
Award–winning writer, culinary instructor and longtime vegan Ellen Kanner returns to Vedge Your Best to share the inspiration behind her vibrant new cookbook, Miami Vegan: Plant-Based Recipes from the Tropics to Your Table.
5th generation Miami native, Ellen Kanner shares how she honors Latin and Caribbean food traditions while reimagining iconic dishes like arroz sin-pollo, jerk tofu, seafood dip, and key lime pie—all plant-based and deeply rooted in Miami flavors.
We also explore:
Why rice and beans are Ellen’s love language
What it means to “veganize” cultural recipes with care
The evolution of the plant-based scene in Miami
Why delicious food is always step one in her advocacy
Plus, a special giveaway: 3 copies of Miami Vegan to listeners in the U.S. and Canada! DM Michele on Instagram at Vedge Your Best or email at info@micheleolendercoaching. Listening from elsewhere? Let me know and we will get you the ebook version when it’s available.
In a hurry? We don’t blame you.
Purchase Miami Vegan: Plant Based Recipes from the Tropics to Your Table by Ellen Kanner on her website soulfulvegan.com, at bookshop.org, Walmart online, or through her publisher LCIX
Subscribe to Ellen’s Substack: Broccoli Rising — where food, culture, and advocacy all meet at the table.
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 micheleolendercoaching.com or email info@micheleolendercoaching.com
Music, Production, and Editing by Charlie Weinshank. For inquiries email: charliewe97@gmail.com Virtual Support Services: https://proadminme.com/
Episode Summary:
Ready for a summer reading program? In this first installment of the Vedge Lit series, Michele reflects on Never Too Late to Go Vegan by Carol J. Adams, Patti Breitman, and Virginia Messina, RD. The episode dives into the doubts many people face when they consider going vegan later in life—and how this book offered a perspective shift that shaped Michele’s work and mission.
Whether you’re trying plant-based living for the first time, returning after a “sabbatical,” or unsure what your next step looks like—this episode is for you.
You’ll Hear:
Why this series isn’t behind a paywall—and why that matters
The brunch meme that says what every late-in-life vegan has felt
Michele’s honest take on her evolving relationship with Carol J. Adams’ work
Why Virginia Messina, RD’s contribution is especially vital for midlife+ vegans
Listener Challenge:
Take 10 minutes to write down 3 ways your age and experience give you an advantage on your vegan journey.
DM, email, or reply to the V-Mail with anything—bullet points, run-on sentences, emojis—all welcome!
Resources:
Never Too Late to Go Vegan by Carol J. Adams, Patti Breitman & Virginia Messina
Have a favorite vegan book or guest suggestion?
Send Michele a message! You don’t have to be polished—just real.
Let her know who’s inspired you or what you'd love to hear more about.
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 micheleolendercoaching.com or email info@micheleolendercoaching.com
Music, Production, and Editing by Charlie Weinshank. For inquiries email: charliewe97@gmail.com Virtual Support Services: https://proadminme.com/
What if the biggest thing holding you back… isn’t resistance or lack of willpower, but gravity?
In this episode, Michele returns from adventures in Granada, Seville, Paris, Strasbourg, and Dublin with fresh eyes on the habits, routines, and unconscious choices that shape our lives. From mealtimes and walking paths to how we relate to food, family, and culture—there’s an invisible architecture guiding your day-to-day life.
“We shape our buildings; thereafter, they shape us.” - Winston Churchill
Our choices—especially the repeated ones—build a kind of gravitational pull that either keeps us grounded… or keeps us stuck.
Whether you’re looking to start, re-start, or re-energize your plant-based practice, this episode is your invitation to notice what’s shaping you—and how to gently, intentionally shift your orbit.
What You'll Learn:
Why your life may be “pulling” you away from the change you want
How both choices and non-choices carry weight
What habits and cultural norms you’ve inherited—and how to evaluate them with love
One powerful journal exercise to start changing your gravity today
Journal Prompts from This Episode:
What choices have I made in the last 10 years that shaped who I am today?
What decisions am I not making that are still pulling me away from the future I want?
What choices did I inherit from family, friends, or culture that I absolutely love?
Which inherited choices might be keeping me a little stuck?
What is one small, intentional, plant-based choice I can make today to shift my orbit?
If you’ve been feeling pulled off-course, this episode will help you recognize your own inner gravity—and start defying it, one intentional decision at a time.
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 micheleolendercoaching.com or email info@micheleolendercoaching.com
Music, Production, and Editing by Charlie Weinshank. For inquiries email: charliewe97@gmail.com Virtual Support Services: https://proadminme.com/
“Waste is a human decision. Nature doesn’t waste anything.” — Vojtech Vegh
This week on Vedge Your Best, Michele sits down with zero-waste vegan chef Vojtech Vegh, author, sustainability consultant, and founder of SurplusFoodStudio.com, to explore how the way we think about ingredients can transform both our meals and our environmental impact.
Vojtech shares his journey from a reluctant waiter in Slovakia to opening a plant-based, zero-waste fine-dining restaurant in Cambodia, and how he now helps chefs and hospitality leaders reimagine their kitchens with creativity and intention.
In this episode, we explore:
Why food waste prevention starts with planning—not extra effort
How zero-waste cooking can actually save time and money
What it takes to reframe scraps as ingredients
Creative uses for carrot tops, banana peels, watermelon rinds, and more
How professional chefs can influence industry-wide sustainability
The mindset shift needed to make low-waste the new normal
Whether you're in hospitality or just trying to waste less at home, this conversation will change the way you look at what goes in your bin—and what ends up on your plate.
Guest Links
Website: surplusfoodstudio.com
Instagram: instagram.com/vojtechvegh
Listener Challenge
Try using one fruit or vegetable part this week that you normally discard. Tag @VedgeYourBest and @vojtechvegh on Instagram to share.
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 micheleolendercoaching.com or email info@micheleolendercoaching.com
Music, Production, and Editing by Charlie Weinshank. For inquiries email: charliewe97@gmail.com Virtual Support Services: https://proadminme.com/
What if your next burger could help fight climate change?
In this episode of Vedge Your Best, Michele talks with Jonah Goldman, co-founder of PLNT Burger, about how one small idea—born from a childhood trip to an animal sanctuary—grew into a fast-growing plant-based burger chain with a mission: joy, flavor, and planet-friendly impact.
Learn how PLNT Burger is:
Redefining fast food with a 100% plant-based, kosher, halal, and GMO-free menu
Using radical inclusivity and nostalgia to win over skeptics
Offering a live impact calculator to track how much land, water, and carbon you’re saving with each order
Giving away a free burger or sandwich just for downloading their app
Whether you’re vegan, plant-curious, or still craving classic drive-thru flavors, this conversation will challenge how you think about food, activism, and what's possible—one bite at a time. Follow PLNT Burger → @plntburger on Instagram
Topics Covered:
Jonah’s vegan origin story & early activism
The “Plant Believe It” taste test challenge
Why joy and flavor matter more than guilt
Why PLNT Burger avoids the word “vegan” on purpose
Building change into the business model
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 micheleolendercoaching.com or email info@micheleolendercoaching.com
Music, Production, and Editing by Charlie Weinshank. For inquiries email: charliewe97@gmail.com Virtual Support Services: https://proadminme.com/
Why is it so hard to do what we already know we want to do?
In this first episode of the Decide Your Best mini-series, we examine the gap between intention and action—especially when it comes to plant-based and vegan decisions. Whether you’re starting, re-starting, or re-ENERGIZING your vegan practice, this episode will help you understand that the friction you feel isn’t failure—it’s your brain doing what it’s designed to do.
You’ll learn how to gently work with your brain—not against it—so you can move from knowing what you want to do… to actually doing it.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
Why your brain resists change, even when you’re committed to it
How different brain regions influence decision-making, habit, and emotion
What’s really going on during those “spin cycle” moments of indecision
How to use simple tools like narration and the power of one breath to interrupt unhelpful patterns
Why your plant-based choices might feel harder when you’re tired, hungry, or emotionally charged—and what to do instead
This is a powerful mindset episode for anyone who has ever thought:
“I should have this figured out by now.”
“I’m too old to make this kind of change.”
“Why do I keep going back to old habits?”
You’re not broken. You’re human. And your brain is trainable.
Listen now and get ready to start making values-aligned choices—one decision at a time.
Next episode: In Part 2, Michele explores perfectionism, people-pleasing, and the emotional blocks that make vegan decisions feel heavier than they need to be.
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 micheleolendercoaching.com or email info@micheleolendercoaching.com
Music, Production, and Editing by Charlie Weinshank. For inquiries email: charliewe97@gmail.com Virtual Support Services: https://proadminme.com/
This week’s guest is Kimberly Winters, vegan coach, consultant, and host of “Did You Bring the Hummus?” Kimberly's path to podcasting started as a Toastmasters speaking project (before she even listened to a podcast herself!). You’ll hear how Kimberly found confidence and community through her vegan storytelling, and why every small choice matters—even when no one seems to notice.
Kimberly unpacks the philosophy and ethics behind veganism, offers actionable tips for effective communication, advice for individuals, and helping restaurants to see inclusivity is just good business.
Topics Covered:
Kimberly’s podcasting journey
Storytelling vs. “conversion”: Planting seeds with authenticity
How to navigate vegan communication—without “bumming out” your friends
Practical vegan hospitality tips for restaurants and businesses
How every small choice and action makes a difference
The power of community: You never know who’s watching
Systems, self-talk, and showing up messy—why it’s worth it
Find Kimberly:
Instagram: @DidYouBringTheHummus
Podcast: Did You Bring the Hummus?
Website: didyoubringthehummus.com
Recommendations:
Listen & subscribe to “Did You Bring the Hummus?”
Follow, rate and share to help boost vegan and plant-based podcasts
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 micheleolendercoaching.com or email info@micheleolendercoaching.com
Music, Production, and Editing by Charlie Weinshank. For inquiries email: charliewe97@gmail.com Virtual Support Services: https://proadminme.com/
Refresh your environment and renew your commitment to plant-based living
How can a little "spring cleaning” re-energize YOUR vegan journey? This season is the perfect opportunity to assess the spaces and habits that can either support or undermine our plant-based lifestyles.
You don't need a complete home overhaul to refresh your vegan practice. Consider some manageable spring cleaning actions:
Audit your media: Evaluate whether podcasts, YouTube subscriptions and newsletters support your plant-based journey or keep you anchored in old patterns.
Release specialty tools: Consider which kitchen implements specific to animal-based cooking still deserve space in your kitchen
Add beauty or inspiration: Simple visual cues like fresh produce displays or a counter herb garden can reinforce positive habits
Create a flexible meal formula: Simplify meal planning with basic frameworks like "a bean, a green, a grain" plus seasonal produce and plant-based additions
It can be hard for environmentally-conscious people to discard items. However, turning our homes into storage for objects that no longer serve us doesn't honor our values either.
Your living space should reflect your current values and aspirations, not past regrets. This week, take just 15 minutes to refresh one small area-your junk drawer, fridge, or media feed. Notice what shifts when you align your environment with your values and Vedge YOUR Best.
Small Actions with Significant ImpactPractical Steps for Your Vegan ResetCreate Space for Your Values
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 micheleolendercoaching.com or email info@micheleolendercoaching.com
Music, Production, and Editing by Charlie Weinshank. For inquiries email: charliewe97@gmail.com Virtual Support Services: https://proadminme.com/
