In Episode #16, I spoke to Fiona Oakes about her path to becoming a marathon runner with three world records despite losing her kneecap (patella) to an illness when she was 17. For me, the really fascinating thing about Fiona’s story is that, despite growing up in a nonvegetarian family, she chose to eat a vegetarian diet at 3 years old and a completely plant-based diet by age 6 due to her love for all animals. After finishing school and working in an office job in London, she eventually started up an animal sanctuary in Essex that still exists today and provides a loving home to over 400 animals. Fiona is passionate about raising awareness of animal cruelty and showing the world that veganism is both a compassionate and a healthy way to live that can fuel amazing athletic performance. In this episode, we covered Fiona’s conscious decision not to eat animal products at such an early age and how she was ‘different’ to many of her peers growing up. We also discussed her early career in London, how the animal sanctuary came to life, and her typical routine at the sanctuary. You’ll also find out about her marathon training and diet. Connect with Fiona on Instagram: @oakes.fiona.  Enjoy, friends. SimonWant to support the show? The best way to support the show is to use the products and services offered by our sponsors. To check them out, and enjoy great savings, visit theproof.com/friends. Simon Hill, Msc, Bsc (Hons) Creator of theproof.com and host of The Proof with Simon Hill Author of The Proof is in the Plants Watch the episodes on YouTube, or Listen on Apple/Spotify Connect with me on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Download my complimentary two week meal plan and high protein plant performance recipe book. 

In Episode #15 of The Proof podcast, I spoke with vegan Derek Sarno about his journey to choosing a life of compassion. Derek Sarno is one of the world’s best-known vegan chefs. One half of the Wicked Healthy team, Derek heads up plant-based product innovation for British grocery giant Tesco. While visiting London, I caught up with Derek and saw firsthand how much love and energy he puts into the food that he creates – just take one look at his Instagram and you will see what I mean! This guy is seriously creative, seriously compassionate, and seriously switched on when it comes to changing the landscape of healthy grocery food. In this episode, we discussed Derek’s story, from his early years and his diet as a child to becoming a chef and his role at Tesco. Listen to discover how Derek found his way out of grief and substance abuse to adopt a plant-based lifestyle defined by compassion. Connect with Derek, his brother, and Wicked Healthy on Instagram or their website (@DerekSarno, @ChadSarno, @Wickedhealthy, Wicked Healthy Website).  Enjoy, friends. SimonWant to support the show? The best way to support the show is to use the products and services offered by our sponsors. To check them out, and enjoy great savings, visit theproof.com/friends. Simon Hill, Msc, Bsc (Hons) Creator of theproof.com and host of The Proof with Simon Hill Author of The Proof is in the Plants Watch the episodes on YouTube, or Listen on Apple/Spotify Connect with me on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Download my complimentary two week meal plan and high protein plant performance recipe book

In Episode #14, I talked with Matt Cama, an animal activist and weight loss coach from Australia, to ask him to shed some light on what’s happening in factory farms. The cool thing about Matt is that he’s not your typical old-school animal activist – he doesn’t approach things with anger or aggression. His motto is ‘compassion above all else’, and he uses this approach to effectively communicate his message to people from all walks of life, including those with different opinions and belief systems. In this episode, we chatted about Matt’s upbringing, why he was inspired to change to a plant-based diet and become an animal activist, and how he effectively communicates his message. We also talked about his first-hand experiences at factory farms, and he shared some tips for educating children on where animal products come from. Connect with Matt on Instagram.  Enjoy, friends. SimonWant to support the show? The best way to support the show is to use the products and services offered by our sponsors. To check them out, and enjoy great savings, visit theproof.com/friends. Simon Hill, Msc, Bsc (Hons) Creator of theproof.com and host of The Proof with Simon Hill Author of The Proof is in the Plants Watch the episodes on YouTube, or Listen on Apple/Spotify Connect with me on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Download my complimentary two week meal plan and high protein plant performance recipe book

In Episode #13 of The Proof podcast, Max La Manna shares his story of how to live a no-waste life. Max is the perfect example of a typical American kid who grew up in the 80s and 90s thinking that an Italian American diet, full of meat and cheese, was normal and healthy. Despite having always been slightly more environmentally conscious than his peers, which he credits to the way he was raised, there was a pivotal moment in Max’s life where this consciousness was raised to a new level. To an extent, this moment redefined who he was and helped him work out his true purpose. Today, Max is a passionate vegan, an advocate for living a no-waste life, and an all-round great guy. Listen to the episode to hear about Max’s personal story and his transition to a plant-based lifestyle, why he cares about the environment, how he lives a no-waste life, and how you can reduce waste in your own life. Connect with Max on Instagram – @maxlamanna – or on his own website.  Enjoy, friends. SimonWant to support the show? The best way to support the show is to use the products and services offered by our sponsors. To check them out, and enjoy great savings, visit theproof.com/friends. Simon Hill, Msc, Bsc (Hons) Creator of theproof.com and host of The Proof with Simon Hill Author of The Proof is in the Plants Watch the episodes on YouTube, or Listen on Apple/Spotify Connect with me on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Download my complimentary two week meal plan and high protein plant performance recipe book

In Episode #12 I sat down with Ben Handsaker (better known as Abstacker), an Australian champion fitness model, cover model, international motivational speaker, and top performing coach. At the 2014 Musclemania Australian championship, Ben won first place in men’s physique and first place overall. He has since landed four covers in large global fitness magazines and has appeared in fifty fitness magazines around the world. Despite all this success, Ben’s journey has not been without insecurity, failure, and adversity. Ben was once an overweight party boy who had little regard for his health and wellness. In this episode, learn how Ben was able to turn his life around. We also discussed his morning rituals, how he maintains a positive mindset and handles stress, and his top tips for weight loss and building rock hard abs. Ben is hands down the most motivational and inspiring guy I’ve met, and I recommend this episode for anyone wanting to improve their mindset, become a more positive person, and get better results in the gym.  Enjoy, friends. SimonWant to support the show? The best way to support the show is to use the products and services offered by our sponsors. To check them out, and enjoy great savings, visit theproof.com/friends. Simon Hill, Msc, Bsc (Hons) Creator of theproof.com and host of The Proof with Simon Hill Author of The Proof is in the Plants Watch the episodes on YouTube, or Listen on Apple/Spotify Connect with me on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Download my complimentary two week meal plan and high protein plant performance recipe book

In Episode #11, I connected with Sam Webb to find out about his experiences with mental health. We talked about Sam’s personal mental health battles and how he dealt with the suicide of his best mate. He shared the inspiration behind Livin, the non-profit mental health organisation that Sam co-founded, and some tips for handling your own mental health issues or helping a friend with mental health issues. Connect with Sam on Instagram or check out the Livin website for more information about the organisation and what they offer. Enjoy, friends. SimonWant to support the show? The best way to support the show is to use the products and services offered by our sponsors. To check them out, and enjoy great savings, visit theproof.com/friends. Simon Hill, Msc, Bsc (Hons) Creator of theproof.com and host of The Proof with Simon Hill Author of The Proof is in the Plants Watch the episodes on YouTube, or Listen on Apple/Spotify Connect with me on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Download my complimentary two week meal plan and high protein plant performance recipe book

In Episode #10, I was joined by Ellie Bullen, one of the best-known health and wellness influencers online. Listen to the episode to find out about her upbringing, including her relationship with her twin sister Lauren (gypsea_lust) and her time in the army. Learn about why Ellie moved to a plant-based diet, her top tips for transitioning to a plant-based diet, and how she grew her online social community on Instagram (@elsas_wholesomelife). We also discussed her website and cookbook.  Enjoy, friends. SimonWant to support the show?The best way to support the show is to use the products and services offered by our sponsors. To check them out, and enjoy great savings, visit theproof.com/friends. Simon Hill, Msc, Bsc (Hons)Creator of theproof.com and host of The Proof with Simon Hill Author of The Proof is in the Plants Watch the episodes on YouTube, or Listen on Apple/Spotify Connect with me on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Download my complimentary two week meal plan and high protein plant performance recipe book

In Episode #9 of The Proof podcast, I talked to Dr Padma Garvey about her story and how she uses plant-based nutrition in her medical practice. We covered Padma and her family’s personal transition to a plant-based lifestyle, as well as diving into how she uses plant-based nutrition clinically and explains it to her patients. Some specific topics that we touch on are how the number of menstruation cycles over a woman’s life can be affected by animal products, particularly high-fat animal products; tips for cooking with oil; and changes in the Indian diet. Padma also shares some great tips for anyone transitioning to a plant-based lifestyle. If you enjoy the episode and want to hear more from Padma, you can jump over to her podcast: the Doctor Mom’s Podcast by Dr Padma Garvey on iTunes.Enjoy, friends.SimonWant to support the show? The best way to support the show is to use the products and services offered by our sponsors. To check them out, and enjoy great savings, visit theproof.com/friends. Simon Hill, Msc, Bsc (Hons)Creator of theproof.com and host of The Proof with Simon Hill Author of The Proof is in the Plants Watch the episodes on YouTube, or Listen on Apple/Spotify Connect with me on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Download my complimentary two week meal plan and high protein plant performance recipe book

In Episode #8, I spoke to Jermaine Jones, professional soccer player and plant-based. He grew up in Germany, where he began his professional soccer career. He then represented Germany before moving to Los Angeles and playing for the USA. Jermaine now resides in Malibu, California, and his wife and five children all live a plant-based lifestyle. In this episode, Jermaine shares his story from his youth all the way up to today, including the magical goal he scored against Portugal in the 2014 World Cup.Enjoy, friends.SimonWant to support the show?The best way to support the show is to use the products and services offered by our sponsors. To check them out, and enjoy great savings, visit theproof.com/friends. Simon Hill, Msc, Bsc (Hons)Creator of theproof.com and host of The Proof with Simon HillAuthor of The Proof is in the PlantsWatch the episodes on YouTube, or Listen on Apple/Spotify.Connect with me on Instagram, Twitter and FacebookDownload my complimentary two week meal plan and high protein plant performance recipe book

In Episode #7, I spoke to Maya French, the co-founder of start-up company ‘Koia’. Koia produces plant-based beverages sold across the USA in thousands of stores, including Whole Foods. In this podcast, Maya shares how the Koia brand has developed since its inception, gives insight into how to raise funds for start-ups in this space, and provides an overview of her company structure. She also gives a glimpse into what it’s like to work with a major retail giant like Whole Foods. Anyone who is interested in start-ups and business in general will find this conversation interesting. It’s a tad shorter than my typical podcasts, but with some great take-home learnings. I hope you enjoy the listen.Enjoy, friends.SimonWant to support the show?The best way to support the show is to use the products and services offered by our sponsors. To check them out, and enjoy great savings, visit theproof.com/friends.Simon Hill, Msc, Bsc (Hons)Creator of theproof.com and host of The Proof with Simon Hill Author of The Proof is in the Plants Watch the episodes on YouTube, or Listen on Apple/Spotify Connect with me on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Download my complimentary two week meal plan and high protein plant performance recipe book