The Plant Based News Podcast

This week's podcast is supported by our friends over at Nuzest. You can get 20% off their amazing vegan protein by visiting nuzest.us/pbn20! Joining us on the PBN Podcast today is Vikas Garg, CEO and founder of abillion–an online platform and app that helps people around the world live more sustainably and change the world one vegan dish and product at a time. Born in India, raised in New York, and currently based in Singapore, Vikas has been influenced by the various cultures, mindsets, and international encounters he’s had throughout his life. He was a lifelong vegetarian, before becoming vegan in 2008. After a successful career in finance, instead of going down the traditional route, Vikas decided to put his skills and expertise towards a pursuit that aligned beliefs with his personal beliefs –a product that would do good and inspire social change. That’s how in 2017 the idea for abillion was born and the platform was launched soon after in 2018. abillion has as its mission to change the world one vegan dish or product at a time, making it easier for people around the world to live sustainably. Users post reviews of vegan options at their favourite restaurants or of vegan products they use, creating a direct feedback loop with those businesses and manufacturers, encouraging them to make more sustainable choices. Since its inception, it has grown to include reviews of all kinds of vegan products including sustainable fashion, cosmetics, and more. We’re sitting down today with Vikas to discuss how an app like abillion can change the way businesses interact with their customers and ultimately how that can lead to impactful social change on a global level. Sign up to aAbillion here https://abillion.onelink.me/CNPE/pbn The PBN Podcast is presented and produced by Robbie Lockie. Edited by Phil Marriott Researched by Antonia Georgieva. Junior Social Media Manager Darrell Sawczuk Show Notes 00:00 Nuzest Promo 02:10 The beginning of Vikas’s plant-based journey 05:45 The impact that Earthlings had on Vikas 10:00 The role of the cow in Indian culture 13:00 The development and popularity of animal-free foods in India 15:00 How do people in India look at the removal of animal products from your lifestyle? 20:41 Building the Abillion business 40:20 The Social Dilemma - the horrifying behaviours behind social media 46:29 Social change: how can you make more of an impact with your ideas? 57:10 Stranded on a desert island

Today we are delighted to welcome the legendary Dame Jane Goodall. A leading ethologist, conservationist, anthropologist and activist, Jane Goodall has been a beacon for the scientific and conservation community for decades. Her groundbreaking research and observations on chimpanzee behaviour at the Gombe National Park in Tanzania began as early as the 1960s. In 1977, she established the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI), which carries on the Gombe research while also advocating for the protection of their natural habitats and spearheading innovative, community-centered conservation programs in Africa. Jane Goodall’s activist work extends into raising awareness for the lives and wellbeing of all animals. She has campaigned for the ethical treatment of animals and has spoken against cruel and inhumane practices and medical testing on animals. Jane Goodall’s latest book The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times, co-authored with bestselling author of The Book of Joy Douglas Abrams, was published at the end of last year. With a lifetime’s worth of research and stories about our relationship to nature, the authors delve into the complex relationship that humankind has with the planet we inhabit. The book highlights the ways in which we can redefine that relationship by discovering and embracing hope in the face of the urgent climate crisis. In 2021, she also was awarded the Templeton Prize, and she currently continues to write and teach on conservation issues. We are beyond thrilled to have sat down with Jane Goodall for this enlightening conversation, discussing animal suffering, climate change, and the most powerful asset in our toolkit – hope.

This week's podcast is supported by our friends over at Nuzest. You can get 20% off their amazing vegan protein by visiting nuzest.us/pbn20! --------- Today we’re sitting down with singer-songwriter Zak Abel, who often speaks up about his journey with veganism. Zak is a Londoner of Moroccan-English descent. He has worked with some of the biggest names in the dance music industry including Wookie, Gorgon City, Kaytranada, Don Diablo and Kygo. His style infuses soul, funk, and pop into an infinitely cool and distinct sound. Zak has previously shared that becoming vegan was one of the best decisions he’s ever made, as it allowed him to live his best life knowing that he is not harming any animals. In his latest single “Less of a Man” he tackles the topic of toxic masculinity head on. It’s a vibrant and catchy tune with witty lyrics that make the track into a bold musical statement. Follow Zak on instagram 👉 https://www.instagram.com/zakabel/ The PBN Podcast is presented and produced by Robbie Lockie. Edited by Phil Marriott Researched by Antonia Georgieva. Social Media Manager Giuseppe Federici. Show Notes 00:00:00 Nuzest Promo 00:02:42 The beginning of Zak’s vegan journey 00:06:27 Carnism - our attitudes towards food 00:10:37 Growing up in the UK / Identity forming 00:16:35 The balance between the masculine and the feminine 00:19:00 The inspiration behind writing the ‘Less Of A Man’ song 00:39:20 CALM: Campaign Against Living Miserably / Suicide Prevention 00:46:45 Cancel culture 00:49:30 The death of Caroline Flack / Inspiration behind writing the ‘Be Kind’ song 00:53:45 Hearing debut single ‘These Are The Days’ on the radio for the first time 00:55:20 Writing songs at The Roundhouse, London 00:56:55 Working with influential producers such as Joker, Kaytranada and Shakka 00:59:16 Zak on the devastation of losing his hearing and having an ear operation 01:08:10 The idea behind Zak’s song, ‘Vegan’ 01:15:30 Exciting projects in the pipeline for 2022 01:19:32 Stranded on a desert island

This week's podcast is supported by our friends over at Nuzest. You can get 20% off their amazing vegan protein. Visit https://nuzest.us/pbn20 to get money off your first order. Joining us on the podcast today are Henry Firth & Ian Theasby, co-founders of BOSH! – the vegan platform that has changed how people think about vegan food showing the world how easy plant-based cooking can be. From two mates from Sheffield to a global sensation, dubbed the Bosh! Boys or “the vegan Ant and Dec”, the duo is as close to vegan superstars as you can get. Since launching their first video in June 2016, which received 3.5 million views in the first week alone, they have taken the plant-based world by storm with delicious and easy-to-follow recipe videos and cookbooks. In 2018, their chart-topping signature cookbook BOSH! Became the first vegan cookbook to rise to number 1 in the Sunday Times bestseller chart and since then they have published several cookbooks that further aim to demystify plant-based eating, share inventive recipes, and show how easy and delicious it can be to eat plants. Ian credits a New Year’s resolution for the life-changing decision to go vegetarian and then vegan. Henry’s journey, similarly, transformed him overnight from an avid meat-eater to a vegan with a personal mission of demonstrating the life-changing effects of plant-based eating and its global impact on reducing climate change. Henry and Ian are a home-taught cook and have always been big foodies, but what really sets them apart is their personal approach and their great passion for making a meaningful difference. Today the BOSH! platform keeps on growing and reaches millions of people online each month. From launching an online sensation reaching more than half a billion people in their first year to becoming the most-viewed and most-loved plant-based recipe channel, BOSH! is a platform for social good that stands for making a difference in the world through a plant-based revolution one delicious meal at a time. I am so excited to welcome Henry and Ian today on the podcast and learn more about the spectacular journey of BOSH! Find out more about bosh! On their website: https://www.bosh.tv Buy Bosh! On a budget https://amzn.to/3msIfKL Buy Speedy Bosh! - https://amzn.to/3EqDzeM Buy Bosh! Healthy Vegan - https://amzn.to/32wqKlS The PBN Podcast is presented and produced by Robbie Lockie. Edited by Phil Marriott Researched by Antonia Georgieva. Social Media Manager Giuseppe Federici. Show Notes 00:00:00 Nuzest Promo 00:05:00 The start of Henry and Ian’s vegan journey 00:10:48 The stigma of meat being “manly” and the changing attitudes of men embracing veganism 00:15:40 The conversation of mental health and dealing with challenges 00:18:24 The importance of exercise for mental health 00:20:08 The ‘a-ha’ moment / realising business success 00:24:08 How Henry and Ian are perceived by the public 00:25:00 How to avoid conflict in a business partnership 00:27:38 Deciding on which areas of the business to put your energy 00:29:48 The Bosh! Ready-meals 00:32:50 Favourites in the Bosh! product range 00:34:15 The development of filming recipes - from a mysterious “pair of hands” to familiar faces 00:39:51 The creative process - where the inspiration comes from 00:41:58 Deciding on the most effective social media platform to push the Bosh! message 00:44:00 The book range 00:48:00 Stranded on a desert island

This week's podcast is sponsored by Nuzest - use code PBN20 to get 20% off your first order of their sustainable golden pea protein 👉 https://plnt.news/pbn20 Dominick Thompson is a vegan bodybuilder, Ironman triathlete, animal rights activist, and social entrepreneur who began documenting his meat-free lifestyle on social media in 2012 in an effort to turn the traditional perception of masculinity on its head. Dominick first adopted a vegetarian diet during a three-year stint in prison for dealing drugs. He soon realised that the animals that people eat were also confined like him, yet they had done nothing wrong. After being released from prison in 2005, Dominick found a career as a traveling healthcare executive while managing to complete 100-mile bike rides and compete in 10 triathlons a year.  On New Year’s Day 2019, Dominick launched Eat What Elephants Eat - a nutrition and wellness program that helps others embrace veganism with individualised meal planning, recipes, tips and tricks. Dominick’s social media platforms and business ventures continue to grow whilst producing some of the most inspiring and powerfully persuasive content to hundreds of thousands of followers. Follow Dominick on instagram 👉 instagram.com/domzthompson Check out Dominick's website 👉 https://kitchen.eatwhatelephantseat.com 00:00:00 Sponsor 00:01:40 Introduction to Dominick Thompson 00:03:38 The beginning of Dominick’s vegan journey 00:06:36 What makes us different to other people? 00:09:25 Hypersensitivity and expectations of masculinity 00:14:51 Orange Is The New Black / U.S. Prisons running as private corporations 00:21:07 How Dominick is getting his vegan message across to others 00:24:00 Food culture / stereotypes within communities 00:27:58 Using social media to spread the message of compassion / dealing with trolls 00:30:25 Witnessing a murder at a young age and dealing with trauma 00:36:13 Eat What Elephants Eat / The philosophies of eating vegan food 00:41:28 What I Eat In A Day: Dominick’s daily meal planning 00:44:20 Avoiding burn-out 00:46:36 Tackling social justice on social media 00:54:00 Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta - a future beyond any one company? 00:58:46 Dominick Thompson’s first major book deal 01:02:00 Mentally preparing to stay fit 01:05:30 Stamping out racism 01:07:58 Do we learn evil behaviour? Or is it within us? 01:18:46 Dominick’s vision of the future 01:21:39 Stranded on a desert island Producer: Robbie Lockie Editor: Phil Marriott Research: Antonia Georgieva Social Manager: Giuseppe Federici

Our guest on the podcast today is vegan activist, educator, content creator, and social justice advocate Iye Bako, whose work promotes the fight for collective liberation –be that financial freedom, time freedom, or location freedom –for both humans and animals. Originally from Nigeria and raised in the United States, Iye studied Spanish Literature and International Business at the Ohio State University. She currently resides in Columbus, Ohio, where she is also a member of the advisory board of Plant the Power 614 –a local nonprofit organization that seeks to create a supportive plant-based community for people of African descent. Through her social media presence and the Iye Loves Life platform she shares educational insights with her followers, highlighting the Black vegan experience and being a firm advocate of animal rights. Through her sensitivity and empathy, Iye’s intersectional look at veganism and the systems we exist within promotes a complex understanding of the issues we face as a human race today. We are delighted to welcome Iye onto this episode of the Plant Based News podcast to talk about her vegan journey and the important work she does for both the vegan community and the Black vegan community through her advocacy and activism. You can follow Iye Bako here https://www.instagram.com/iyeloveslife The PBN Podcast is produced & presented by Robbie Lockie, Researched by Antonia Georgieva and edited by Phil Marriot.

This week's supporter is a Swiss vegan meat brand Planted: Please use their webshop discount code PBN20 (valid for 1st time use for customers, currently end-date set for end of January 22). https://www.eatPlanted.com With us today is leading plant-based physician Dr. Mauricio Gonzalez, CEO Human Restoration Program and Founder of VeggiePower Summit – the largest medical seminar in Latin America that educates people about the science of plant-based nutrition. Originally from Mexico, Mauricio’s journey began first with studying nutrition before deciding to continue onto a medical degree in the US, where he is currently a resident at the Metropolitan hospital in New York. During his studies, he came to realize how little attention is paid to nutrition as part of a more holistic view on health and wellness, which pushed him to switch to a plant-based diet himself and fill the gap he identified between nutrition and medicine. Through his platform Mauricio teaches others how to adopt a healthy plant-based diet and change their lives for the better. As the founder of the first ever plant-based medical immersion program in Latin America, he educates other people including physicians and nutritionists on the health benefits of having a vegan diet and the science behind it. His YouTube channel also reaches thousands of people, inspiring people in Latin American countries and all around the world to make a positive change in their lives. The simple idea of food as medicine is the guiding principle of what Mauricio teaches, making the plant-based lifestyle a question of personal health and wellbeing. Follow Dr Gonzalez here https://www.instagram.com/dr.mauriciogonzalez/?hl=en Find out more about Veggie Power Summit here https://www.veggiepowersummit.com/ The Plant Based News Podcast is hosted by Robbie Lockie, Edited by Phil Marriottand Researched by Antonia Georgieva. ***Show Notes*** 00:02:25 The start of Mauricio’s plant-based journey 00:05:30 Lifestyle changes that are happening around the world 00:08:26 The frustrations of the pro-meat and pro-dairy ad campaigns 00:11:30 Does the vegan community have a problem with science? 00:13:55 Deciphering what is fact and fiction. Are we misled by what we see online? 00:16:50 The problems that anti-vaccine protestors are causing. 00:19:50 The problems with misinformation that is being shared on social media 00:22:45 The differences between Misinformation and Disinformation 00:27:45 What are the key barriers that are stopping people adopting the vegan lifestyle? 00:32:30 Lifestyle and medicine 00:35:35 How is it possible for a GP to spend more time with their patients? 00:40:00 Are people wilfully ignorant about the vegan lifestyle? 00:43:40 Do people genuinely trust the giant pharmaceutical companies? 00:47:00 The Veggie Power Summit 00:48:48 Exciting new projects in the pipeline 00:50:00 Stranded on a desert island

Welcome back to the Plant Based News Podcast. This week’s episode we are throwing the spotlight on a fascinating and important new feature documentary called Milked, directed by Amy Taylor which uncovers the disturbing reality of New Zealand’s dairy farming industry. Joining us is the film’s Co-producer and presenter Chris Huriwai, who embarked on an investigation across Aotearoa (the Māori name for New Zealand) focusing on the destructive impact that animal farming is having on the environment.  In the documentary, Chris is featured alongside Suzy Amis Cameron, the former actress turned environmentalist married to Avatar filmmaker James Cameron. We are thrilled that Suzy - one of the film’s executive producers - joins us in our discussion today. Also playing a big part of our conversation is Keegan Kuhn, the co-director of the award-winning documentary Cowspiracy, and another executive producer who worked on Milked.  As a film that is promising to follow other influential and critically lauded environmental documentaries from the last few years, Milked reveals the behind-the-scenes reality of the kiwi dairy farming fairy-tale. It uncovers alarming information about the impacts of the industry on the planet and our health. The PBN Podcast is Presented by Robbie Lockie Edited and co-produced by Phil Marriott Researched by Antonia Georgieva 00:01:55 Introductions 00:04:05 The reasons for creating MILKED 00:07:25 The vital ingredients in a documentary that hits home to people 00:08:23 The motivations behind financially backing a filmed such as MILKED 00:10:50 The shocking discoveries during filming 00:13:59 Greenwashing: Are industries deliberately ignoring the truths? 00:17:53 Advice for content creators wanting to spread the message 00:24:00 The threats that MILKED filmmakers experienced during the filming 00:28:20 The human cost of the dairy industries 00:33:03 Were the MILKED filmmakers able to feel compassion for the dairy farmers they met during the shoot? 00:36:07 What are the solutions? How can farmers move away from dairy? 00:38:10 Are films like MILKED starting to shift the global mindset with regards to consuming animal products? 00:40:00 What does the future of humanity look like? 00:54:04 Precision fermentation 01:00:50 If precision fermentation does become more popular, should these products have health warnings on them? 01:02:37 Where can we see MILKED? 01:03:37 Some of the actions viewers can take after seeing MILKED 01:05:20 Stranded on a desert island

Hi Plant friends, this weeks guest is the incredible London born singer-songwriter Jessie J. This podcast is sponsored by Nuzest - use code PBN20 to get 20% off your first order of their delicious golden pea protein 👉 https://plnt.news/trynuzest From a dynamic lifestyle to touring for long stretches of time, being a successful music artist comes with a great deal of responsibility and pressure. And no one knows this better than British pop star Jessie J. With multiple chart-topping songs, she needs no introduction, but both her personal and professional journeys are remarkable. Born and raised in London, she has been singing and performing professionally from a young age starting with a role in a West End musical. She later attended the BRIT School before signing with a record label. Her debut album “Who You Are” was released in 2011, skyrocketing her music career and earning her 6 top 10 singles. In 2012 she performed at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Concert and at the closing ceremony of the Summer Olympics held in London. Following that she was also a coach on multiple series of the television shows The Voice UK and The Voice Australia. In recent years, Jessie has been more and more vocal about embracing a vegan lifestyle - a step she took initially to manage chronic pain due to fertility issues. Since then she has been sharing her vegan cooking and inspiration with her millions of followers on social media. PBN co-founder Robbie Lockie spoke with Jessie to discuss all things vegan and the resilience with which she inspires the younger generation.

This podcast is sponsored by Nuzest - use code PBN20 to get 20% off your first order of their delicious golden pea protein 👉 https://plnt.news/trynuzest This week we meet Glen Merzer, he is an author, playwright, and screenwriter who grew up in Bellmore, N.Y., on Long Island, and attended college at New College of Florida in Sarasota. After college, in the early 80s, he became a stand-up comic in San Francisco. Glen began his career in book-writing as a co-author of “Mad Cowboy” and “No More Bull!”. He is also the co-author of “Unprocessed" by Chef AJ; and “The Plant Advantage”, with Benji Kurtz; as well as being one of the editors of “The HappyCow Cookbook”. “Off The Reservation”, Glen’s first novel, is a comic narrative about a quirky vegan congressman who undertakes an unconventional quest for the presidency. Fast forward to 2021 and Glen is still making waves within the vegan movement. His new book, released this year, couldn’t be more timely. Food is Climate” - a response to Al Gore, Bill Gates, Paul Hawken, & the conventional narrative on Climate Change - makes an absorbing case for why we need to end animal agriculture if we are to survive This episode is produced by Robbie Lockie, Edited by Phil Marriot and hosted by Klaus Mitchell You can buy Glen's new book here https://amzn.to/3966Lu8 ** Show Notes ** 00:00:00 Nuzest Sponsor 1 00:02:28 The idea behind writing the book, Food Is Climate 00:05:00 Having an open perspective about eating habits 00:09:40 Seaspiracy: Why is it that the subject of the oceans has been left out of the debate for so long? 00:11:50 The role that whales play in nature’s dynamic system 00:14:00 Nuzest Sponsor 2 00:14:54 Al Gore/Bill Gates - where is the vegan message? 00:17:47 Regenerative Agriculture & Regenerative Animal Agriculture 00:27:00 How is Food Is Climate different to other books? 00:27:20 Paul Hawken’s views and Glen’s relationship with the environmentalist This podcast is sponsored by Nuzest - use code PBN20 to get 20% off your first order of their delicious golden pea protein 👉 https://plnt.news/trynuzest