Vedge Your Best, Vegan Ideas for Everyone At Any Age

245: Neuroscience and Vegan Decisions: Pulling Back the Curtain on Your Brain

May 13, 2025

Why do we struggle to act on our intentions, especially when it comes to a vegan lifestyle? This discussion dives into the neuroscience behind decision-making and the resistance our brains create when we try to change. Listeners learn practical strategies to combat indecision, especially during moments of stress or fatigue. The importance of understanding psychological barriers and practicing self-compassion is highlighted. Get ready to embrace one decision at a time, and remember: you’re not broken; you’re human!

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

INSIGHT

Understanding The Knowing-Doing Gap

The gap between knowing what to do and actually doing it is common and normal.
This gap often triggers feelings of frustration and leads to denial or ignoring desires.

INSIGHT

Brain Resists Change Naturally

Difficulty in making vegan or plant-based changes is often due to brain wiring, not personal failure.
Our brains resist change as a natural, designed function, not a weakness or lack of willpower.

INSIGHT

Brain Regions Influence Decisions

Different brain regions compete during decision-making, influencing habit, emotion, and planning.
This internal conflict affects choices and explains why habits can overpower new intentions.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

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/⁠