

Viva! Vegan Podcast
Viva!
Welcome to the Viva! Vegan Podcast and News Minisode!
Co-hosted by Viva!’s head of comms, Faye Lewis, and Viva!'s head of investigations, Lex Rigby, each month they’ll be serving up some cracking in-depth chats with some of the most interesting figures in the vegan movement.
Each Podcast episode features a different individual – breaking down their vegan journey and recounting their highs and lows – followed by a candid chat between Faye and Lex on everything from mushroom-based leather alternatives to terrible cooking blunders.
In our Vegan News Minisode, we deep-dive into the world of vegan news and politics in a quick ten-minute round-up of newsworthy events in veganism.
No matter where you are in your vegan journey, there’ll be something for you in the Viva! Vegan Podcast and News Minisode.
The show is presented by Faye Lewis and Lex Rigby and is released on the first of every month.
Co-hosted by Viva!’s head of comms, Faye Lewis, and Viva!'s head of investigations, Lex Rigby, each month they’ll be serving up some cracking in-depth chats with some of the most interesting figures in the vegan movement.
Each Podcast episode features a different individual – breaking down their vegan journey and recounting their highs and lows – followed by a candid chat between Faye and Lex on everything from mushroom-based leather alternatives to terrible cooking blunders.
In our Vegan News Minisode, we deep-dive into the world of vegan news and politics in a quick ten-minute round-up of newsworthy events in veganism.
No matter where you are in your vegan journey, there’ll be something for you in the Viva! Vegan Podcast and News Minisode.
The show is presented by Faye Lewis and Lex Rigby and is released on the first of every month.
Episodes
Mentioned books

May 10, 2024 • 11min
#33 Vegan News Minisode - May 2024
The Vegan News Minisode with Faye Lewis Bringing you the latest news from the world of veganism: Episode 33: May 2024 Welcome to the Vegan News Minisode, brought to you by leading vegan charity Viva!. Presenter Faye is this month joined by Rachel as they bring you the latest plant-based lifestyle, food and animal campaigns news from around the globe. In this episode, Faye and Rachel discuss Martin Freeman's shock U-turn on vegetarianism, Viva!'s 'golden ticket' competition, Lidl's plant-based price parity in Belgium, and they make a heartfelt plea to Greggs to bring back the vegan steak bake.

May 7, 2024 • 40min
Andy Shovel: THIS co-founder and former KFC addict!
In this episode we are joined by entrepreneur Andy Shovel, co-founder of meat-free food brand THIS. A self-confessed former KFC addict who ran a burger company, Andy turned his business acumen to building one of the biggest meat alternative brands in the country. In this episode, Andy and Rachel discuss: How he built the THIS brand from a startup to a thriving business available in most major supermarkets, including explaining the genius behind THIS’s creative marketing The new technology he’s investing in which will ‘sex’ eggs to prevent male chicks from being born into the egg industry His gripes with the vegan movement and why we should stop focusing on trying to achieve perfection About Our Show Listen now by clicking the play icon below. We’re also on , , , and . Get the latest episode, straight to your mobile device or computer. It’s automatic and completely free. Copyright owned by Viva! Bristol 2024. Not for re-use without our written agreement. All featured music and content used by permission. Produced by Faye Lewis for Viva!.

May 7, 2024 • 38min
Maths graduate turned vegan activist Nicole Whittle, AKA Vegan Beauty Girl, talks to Viva!
Nicole Whittle - otherwise known as Vegan Beauty Girl - is a maths graduate turned influencer and vegan activist. Her unique and honest social media presence is synonymous with the vegan movement, as she provides frank and supportive advice to her followers on everything from vegan food to cruelty-free skincare. In this episode, Nicole and Rachel discuss: The difference between vegan and cruelty-free products, including brands to buy and which to avoid Nicole's activism journey and her determination to use her platform for good How she became an influencer and what a day in the life of an influencer really looks like About Our Show Listen now by clicking the play icon below. We’re also on , , , and . Get the latest episode, straight to your mobile device or computer. It’s automatic and completely free. Copyright owned by Viva! Bristol 2024. Not for re-use without our written agreement. All featured music and content used by permission. Produced by Faye Lewis for Viva!.

May 7, 2024 • 33min
Ryan Edwards of Cwmbran's Queen Inn, discusses being in the top five restaurants in the world!
Ryan Edwards of Cwmbran's Queen Inn is reveling in the extraordinary achievement of being ranked among the top five vegan restaurants in the world (thanks to Happy Cow). Faye catches up with him to try out a vegan 3D-printed steak, to see if it lives up to the hype, and to find out about the history of the pub and the decision to be fully plant-based. They also discuss: Ryan's love for Oli Sykes The future of British pubs and 'pub grub' The importance of support from locals and vegans alike About Our Show Listen now by clicking the play icon below. We’re also on , , , and . Get the latest episode, straight to your mobile device or computer. It’s automatic and completely free. Copyright owned by Viva! Bristol 2024. Not for re-use without our written agreement. All featured music and content used by permission. Produced by Faye Lewis for Viva!.

Apr 4, 2024 • 36min
Special Feature: Thomas Pickering, director of I Could Never Go Vegan, talks to Viva!
Thomas Pickering is a renowned documentary filmmaker known for his compelling storytelling. He joins Faye to discuss his latest documentary I Could Never Go Vegan exploring the challenges and misconceptions surrounding veganism, offering a complete debunk around the barriers to veganism, while examining the ethical, environmental, and health-related considerations associated with plant-based diets. In this episode, Thomas and Faye discuss topics, such as: a handful of organisations having more power than governments misconceptions around protein and the real issue of fiber deficiency arable farming and the subsidised dairy and meat industries the horror of factory farming About Our Show Listen now by clicking the play icon below. We’re also on , , , and . Get the latest episode, straight to your mobile device or computer. It’s automatic and completely free. Copyright owned by Viva! Bristol 2024. Not for re-use without our written agreement. All featured music and content used by permission. Produced by Faye Lewis for Viva!.

Apr 2, 2024 • 44min
Stephanie Lane: founder of the group Speciesism.WTF
Interdisciplinary Artist, Filmmaker, and Animal Rights Activist Stephanie Lane founded SPECIESISM.WTF in Summer 2023. By exploring the theme of speciesism, Stephanie aims to ignite a collective consciousness that recognises the inherent worth of and gives equal consideration to nonhuman beings, regardless of their species. Having taken part in one of her exhibitions, Issy sits down with Stephanie to discuss: the ethics on the property status of nonhuman animals# exploitation of animals how her art shocks the public wider conversations around specieism About Our Show Listen now by clicking the play icon below. We’re also on , , , and . Get the latest episode, straight to your mobile device or computer. It’s automatic and completely free. Copyright owned by Viva! Bristol 2024. Not for re-use without our written agreement. All featured music and content used by permission. Produced by Faye Lewis for Viva!.

Apr 2, 2024 • 14min
#32 Vegan News Minisode - April 2024
The Vegan News Minisode with Faye Lewis Bringing you the latest news from the world of veganism: Episode 32: April 2024 Welcome to the Vegan News Minisode, brought to you by leading vegan charity Viva!. Presenter Faye is this month joined by Rachel as they bring you the latest plant-based lifestyle, food and animal campaigns news from around the globe. In this episode, Faye and Rachel discuss a video claiming raw milk heals lactose intolerance, and it being flagged as ‘false information’. The hugely anticipated documentary, I Could Never Go Vegan, France's ban on meat labels for vegetarian products, Cillian Murphy and vegan chef Kirk Haworth's win on Great British Menu, 'Champion of Champions'...

Mar 14, 2024 • 19min
#31 Vegan News Minisode - March 2024
The Vegan News Minisode with Faye Lewis Bringing you the latest news from the world of veganism: Episode 31: March 2024 Welcome to the Vegan News Minisode, brought to you by leading vegan charity Viva!. Presenter Faye is this month joined by Issy as they bring you the latest plant-based lifestyle, food and animal campaigns news from around the globe. In this episode, Faye and Issy discuss Speciesism, Pignorant, the power of collaboration, Christspiracy, and the vegan cheese brand Daiya, which caused a stir online after unveiling its beef burger. They also talk about the brilliant new campaign from Viva! 50 by 25...

Mar 4, 2024 • 29min
Special Feature: Kip Andersen, American filmmaker, producer and writer talks Christspiracy with Viva!
Kip Andersen is an American filmmaker, producer, writer, entrepreneur, and the founder of Animals United Movement (A.U.M.) an which focuses on promoting awareness and equality for all life. He is known for his such as , , and . He joins Faye to discuss his latest in the Spiracy documentary franchise, Christspiracy, which aims to expose a 2,000 year cover up. The investigative documentary examines the exploitation of animals in religious and spiritual contexts, exposing secrets of the church in the process. In this episode, Kip and Faye discuss topics, such as: is there an ethical way to kill an animal? misconceptions around the humane treatment of animals in religion how it feels to be exposing the church Kip's vegan journey About Our Show Listen now by clicking the play icon below. We’re also on , , , and . Get the latest episode, straight to your mobile device or computer. It’s automatic and completely free. Copyright owned by Viva! Bristol 2024. Not for re-use without our written agreement. All featured music and content used by permission. Produced by Faye Lewis for Viva!.

Mar 1, 2024 • 55min
Jane Valez-Mitchell: journalist, activist and vegan media mogul!
Jane Velez-Mitchell is an award-winning broadcast journalist, best-selling author, and the founder and managing editor of the streaming service UnchainedTV. At the helm of , Velez-Mitchell has built a network of filmmakers, journalists, content creators, and animal rights activists who are all working towards a common goal: to make it as easy as possible for a global audience who isn’t necessarily interested in animal rights to stumble upon content with an underlying vegan message — for free. In this conversation, Jane and Faye discuss topics such as: her childhood and early activist days her prolific journalism career working with CNN, TruTV, E!, Celebrity Justice and, of course, UnchainedTV mass media and its power in terms of spreading the vegan message how the climate apocalypse is coming! Find out more about Jane and UnchainedTV, visit here: About Our Show Listen now by clicking the play icon below. We’re also on , , , and . Get the latest episode, straight to your mobile device or computer. It’s automatic and completely free. Copyright owned by Viva! Bristol 2023. Not for re-use without our written agreement. All featured music and content used by permission. Produced by Faye Lewis for Viva!.