

Vedge Your Best, Vegan Ideas for Everyone At Any Age
 Michele Olender
There has never been a more important time to be Vegan. Vedge Your Best is the only podcast aimed at teaching midlife women how to limit and eliminate the consumption of animal products without feeling deprived, overwhelmed or unsupported, even if no one you know is Vegan. Life Coach Michele Olender will show you how living Vegan is the superpower that will unlock your possibilities and give you the confidence to take on your next impossible goal, by doing it YOUR way. Vedge YOUR Best and there’s nothing you can’t do.
Episodes
Mentioned books

8 snips
Oct 28, 2025 • 23min
269: The Vision Thing — Back to Your Vegan Future
 Michele explores the concept of vision and its power to help us grow, even when life feels stagnant. She discusses how our past strategies can hinder future possibilities and challenges listeners to confront limiting beliefs about food. With humor and a nod to Back to the Future, she encourages playful experiments to spark change in our diets. A challenge prompts listeners to articulate their default and invented futures, emphasizing that the future is a blank canvas ready for creative reinvention. 

Oct 21, 2025 • 47min
268: Angry Vegan to Leading with Love: Kate Galli on Protein, Muscle & Mindset
 Join vegan health coach Kate Galli as she shares her journey from an 'angry vegan' to a compassionate leader in plant-forward nutrition. Discover her 5-S Protein Strategy for easy meal prep, and learn why mindset is key for sustainable change. Kate emphasizes that muscle is metabolism, especially for women in midlife, and discusses how to combat overwhelm by focusing on what you can control. With practical tips and a focus on gratitude, Kate inspires everyone to embrace a loving and balanced plant-strong lifestyle. 

Oct 14, 2025 • 16min
267: The Mad Libs Method of Turning Overwhelm into Clarity
 Feeling overwhelmed? Explore a creative tool inspired by Mad Libs that transforms vague frustrations into actionable steps. Discover why specificity matters and how it can reduce mental fog. Tune in for a practical fill-in-the-blank scaffold template to help define your issues. Michele illustrates the concept with plant-based living examples, guiding you from generic concerns to clear goals. Plus, take the listener challenge to tackle one stuck area and gain clarity on your journey! 

5 snips
Oct 7, 2025 • 21min
266: Moderation - Decision or Excuse?
 Explore the fine line between moderation as a strategy versus an excuse. Discover how vague moderation can lead to decision fatigue and moral licensing. Learn to set clear, values-based boundaries in your choices. Gain insights from behavioral science and coaching strategies to bridge gaps between intention and action. Michele challenges listeners to redefine their approach to moderation, encouraging concrete decisions and the tracking of progress. Don't just float along—take control and commit to your goals! 

Sep 30, 2025 • 1h 3min
265: Absolutely Fabulous: Terri Chrisman, Lifestyle Medicine and Fabulous Health
 Terri Chrisman, a board-certified lifestyle medicine professional and author of Fabulous Health, shares a passionate stance against the myth of moderation in diet. She argues it's ineffective against ultra-processed foods and emphasizes the need for a whole food, plant-based lifestyle to combat chronic diseases like heart disease. With personal stories and practical strategies, Terri discusses overcoming dietary traditions, the growth of lifestyle medicine among physicians, and the importance of focusing on whole foods over vegan junk food for real health improvements. 

Sep 23, 2025 • 21min
264: Vegan Voices in Your Head: Internal Family Systems and the Plant-Based Practice
 Ever feel torn between your vegan values and social expectations? This discussion dives into navigating those inner conflicts using Internal Family Systems (IFS). Michele shares that mixed feelings are normal and how honoring those 'vegan voices' can lead to growth. A short guided practice helps listeners cultivate their compassionate selves in challenging situations, whether dining out or traveling. Plus, there's a listener challenge to embrace those internal dialogues instead of silencing them. 

Sep 16, 2025 • 21min
263: Stoic Vegans?: 2,000-Year-Old Advice for New Vegans, Writers, and Everyone Else
 Explore how Stoic philosophy can enhance your vegan journey while navigating life’s uncertainties. Reflect on the value of making choices aligned with your values, whether in veganism or writing. Discover how looking foolish can lead to growth and the importance of resisting short-term pleasures for long-term fulfillment. Personal challenges reveal true strength, emphasizing that honest effort trumps the pursuit of perfection. Enlightening insights for anyone seeking to live their truths! 

Sep 9, 2025 • 1h 3min
262: Veg Jaunts & Journeys: How Kim Giovacco Built a Thriving Vegan Travel Community
 Kim Giovacco, founder of Veg Jaunts and Journeys, has ignited the vegan travel scene with her small-group adventures since 2017. She shares how a simple birthday gift transformed into a thriving travel business, even through the pandemic. Kim highlights hidden gems like Berlin's vegan Christmas markets and unique plant-based safaris in Namibia. With 60% of her guests returning, she emphasizes community and compassion, inspiring listeners to embark on their own vegan adventures around the globe, all while enjoying delicious plant-based cuisines. 

Sep 2, 2025 • 23min
261: Back To Vegan Month - A September Plant Based Reset
 September is presented as the perfect time for a vegan reset, inviting listeners to rejuvenate their plant-based lifestyle. From restocking pantry essentials to exploring cruelty-free fashion and cosmetics, the discussion is packed with practical tips. Health habits, like revisiting supplements and check-ups, are essential for holistic well-being. Inspirational vegan books and community events keep the journey engaging. Plus, five starter pack ideas are shared to help everyone ease back into veganism this fall! 

Aug 26, 2025 • 22min
260: Permission to Be Bad: Master of None
 What if the key to a vibrant life is embracing being bad at new things? Discover why midlife is the perfect time to throw out expectations of mastery and lean into the messy, awkward journey of learning. With powerful insights about the beginner mindset, listeners are encouraged to step outside their comfort zones without the pressure of perfection. Michele shares practical mindset tools and challenges everyone to pick something new to try, reminding us that joy comes from the process, not just the outcome. 


