Main Street Vegan

What happens when we begin to see farmed animals not as products, but as fellow beings sharing this journey with us?

In this profound conversation, Victoria Moran speaks with Gene Baur, president and co-founder of Farm Sanctuary and one of the pioneering voices in the movement for farm animal protection.

Gene has spent four decades working to change the way we think about animals, food, farming, and compassion. Since co-founding Farm Sanctuary in 1986, he has helped bring the realities of factory farming into public view while creating a place where rescued animals can live out their lives in safety.

Gene's new book, Farm Sanctuary: The Story of a Movement, celebrates 40 years of rescue, education, and advocacy.

The book traces Farm Sanctuary's journey from a small grassroots effort to a movement that has helped change conversations around farmed animals and our food system. It also shares photographs and stories from those four decades of work.

Victoria and Gene talk about what inspired him to begin this work and what he has learned along the way.

The conversation also moves beyond factory farming and into the way we relate to food itself.

Gene shares his thoughts on returning to a more agrarian way of seeing things. That might mean growing some of our own food, getting to know the farmers who grow it, and becoming more connected with the land and the food on our plates.

It's an invitation to think differently about where our food comes from and what a more connected food system could look like.

In This Episode

• Gene's four decades of work with Farm Sanctuary
• The story behind the founding of Farm Sanctuary
• Gene's new book, Farm Sanctuary: The Story of a Movement
• What four decades of rescue, education, and advocacy have taught him
• Why we might benefit from returning to a more agrarian way of living
• How to communicate with people who don't yet understand veganism
• Standing firmly in our vegan values without judging others
• Seeing animals as fellow beings rather than commodities
• What compassion can look like in everyday choices
• The continuing work of changing hearts and minds about animals and food

About Our Guest

Gene Baur is an activist, author, and president and co-founder of Farm Sanctuary, which he helped establish in 1986.

A pioneer in undercover investigations and farm animal rescue, Gene has visited hundreds of farms, stockyards, and slaughterhouses. His work has helped expose the realities of factory farming and inspired a wider farm sanctuary movement.

Gene has also advocated for stronger protections for farmed animals and has worked with legislators, policymakers, farmers, and the public to promote a more compassionate and sustainable food system.

His latest book, Farm Sanctuary: The Story of a Movement, looks back at four decades of rescue, education, and advocacy through photographs and personal stories.

Gene's New Book

Farm Sanctuary: The Story of a Movement is available now.

The book celebrates Farm Sanctuary's 40-year journey, from the rescue of its first animal to the growth of an international movement dedicated to changing the way farmed animals are seen and treated.

Farm Sanctuary

Learn more about Gene's work, Farm Sanctuary, the animals who call it home, and the organisation's ongoing rescue, education, and advocacy work:

https://www.farmsanctuary.org/

Gene's website also includes information about his upcoming book tour stops. If you'd like to see Gene in person, visit Farm Sanctuary's events page for current dates and locations.

Main Street Vegan Academy

The 39th cohort of Main Street Vegan Academy begins in October 2026 via Zoom.

If you've ever wanted to deepen your knowledge of veganism, compassion, nutrition, advocacy, and the vegan movement, this could be your opportunity.

Podcast listeners can receive $250 off with the code VEGCOACH250.

Subscribe, rate, and review the Main Street Vegan Podcast to help more people discover the joy of living with vitality, spirituality, and compassion.

Sign up for the Main Street Vegan blog and newsletter at mainstreetvegan.com and receive your FREE e-book, Recipes to Help You Age Like a Yogi.

And become an insider by joining the Main Street Vegan Podcast Listeners Group on Facebook: Main Street Vegan Podcast Listeners Group

Complement are supplements made by vegans, Pamela Fergusson, RD, PhD, Matt Frazier, and Joel Kahn, MD, to enhance diet. Check out their new product Sulfora, and enter 'MAINSTREET' in the discount box to save yourself 10%.

What happens when vegan activism, cultural identity, community resilience, and a deep connection to home come together?

In this episode of the Main Street Vegan Podcast, Victoria Moran speaks with Anthony Martinez, Executive Director and Programs Director of Casa Vegana, a Puerto Rico-based nonprofit working to strengthen the Island’s vegan movement through education, community-building, and plant-based outreach.

Casa Vegana grew out of community relief work following Hurricane María in 2017 and eventually became an autonomous nonprofit. Anthony, who had been involved in vegan education in New York, relocated to Puerto Rico in 2019 to reconnect with his roots and stepped into leadership as the organization evolved.

Today, Casa Vegana is helping create a more connected and sustainable vegan community in Puerto Rico — while navigating the very real challenges of infrastructure, economics, and island life.

In This Episode

• Anthony’s journey from vegan activism in New York to building Casa Vegana in Puerto Rico
• The evolution of Casa Vegana from post-Hurricane María community relief work into an autonomous nonprofit
• What Puerto Rico’s vegan community looks like today — and how it is growing
• Why cultural identity and Puerto Rican roots matter when building a lasting vegan movement
• The unique challenges of making plant-based living accessible and practical on the Island
• Taller Vegano, Casa Vegana’s hands-on community education program
• What Anthony has learned from Puerto Ricans who are exploring plant-based living
• The importance of bringing vegan people, organizations, and businesses together
• Building a broader and more sustainable funding base for grassroots vegan work
• How the Puerto Rican diaspora and global vegan community can support Casa Vegana
• Anthony’s vision for the future of veganism in Puerto Rico
• Vegan Paradise Fest, planned for March 7, 2027, and what it represents for the Island’s growing vegan community

About Anthony Martinez

Anthony Martinez is the Executive Director and Programs Director of Casa Vegana, a Puerto Rico-based nonprofit dedicated to growing the Island’s vegan movement through education, community engagement, and advocacy.

After working in vegan education with the Chilis on Wheels New York chapter, Anthony relocated to Puerto Rico in 2019 to reconnect with his roots. When Casa Vegana’s founder, Michelle Carrera, stepped back, Anthony took on leadership and helped transform the project into an autonomous nonprofit.

During the uncertainty of the 2020 pandemic, he secured Casa Vegana’s nonprofit status, helped build a board representing both the Puerto Rican diaspora and local vegan community, and kept the organization moving through consistent online programming focused on plant-based nutrition and animal rights.

Today, Anthony continues working to deepen Casa Vegana’s connections throughout Puerto Rico and build a stronger, more unified vegan community on the Island.

Connect with Casa Vegana

Website: www.casaveganapr.org
Facebook: Casa Vegana
Instagram: @casavegana.pr

About the Main Street Vegan Podcast

Subscribe, rate, and review the Main Street Vegan Podcast to help more people discover the joy of living with vitality, spirituality, and compassion.

Sign up for the Main Street Vegan blog and newsletter at www.mainstreetvegan.com and receive your FREE e-book, Recipes to Help You Age Like a Yogi.

And become an insider by joining the Main Street Vegan Podcast Listeners Group on Facebook: Main Street Vegan Podcast Listeners Group

Complement are supplements made by vegans, Pamela Fergusson, RD, PhD, Matt Frazier, and Joel Kahn, MD, to enhance diet. Check our their new product Sulfora HERE, and enter 'MAINSTREET' in the discount box to save yourself 10%.

What does it take to create a healthier life, not just for ourselves, but for the animals, the planet, and future generations?

In this episode of the Main Street Vegan Podcast, Victoria explores 2 very different, yet deeply connected, ways of putting our values into action.

First, Victoria talks with Karen Ranzi, M.A., a vegan and raw food health coach who has been sharing the benefits of raw vegan nutrition since 1998. Karen is an award-winning author of six books, an internationally acclaimed speaker, founder of an online health coach certification focused on the raw vegan niche, and a speech pathologist with 43 years of experience.

Then, Victoria turns to an increasingly important question for anyone who wants their money to reflect their ethics: Can our investments be vegan, too?

Victoria speaks with Claire Smith, CEO of Beyond Investing, about the launch of the International Vegan Climate ETF (VEGX). Beginning September 10, 2026, VEGX offers investors exposure to international companies screened according to vegan and climate-conscious principles. 

In This Episode

With Karen Ranzi:
Why Karen believes predominantly fresh, unprocessed foods can support long-term health
The personal and family experiences that shaped her approach to healing
The potential benefits of a raw plant-based lifestyle for people of all ages
Why obesity and chronic health problems have become so widespread
Protein and calcium on a vegan and raw food diet
Helping children develop healthy relationships with plant-based food
The connection between food choices, animals, the environment, and our own health
How spending time in Nature can deepen our sense of connection with other living beings
Other lifestyle factors that can support vibrant health
Why sharing the raw vegan message has become Karen's life's mission

With Claire Smith:
What makes an investment genuinely vegan and climate-conscious
The new International Vegan Climate ETF (VEGX)
Why ethical investors may unknowingly support industries that conflict with their values
How Beyond Investing screens companies for animal cruelty, fossil fuels, weapons, and human rights abuses
The importance of aligning our financial lives with our personal values
How vegan investing can support businesses creating a more compassionate and sustainable future
Beyond Investing's engagement with companies and shareholder voting
The growing global movement toward vegan and climate-conscious investment

About Our Guests

Karen Ranzi is an award-winning author of six books on raw vegan nutrition, an internationally acclaimed speaker, founder of an online Health Coach Certification focused on the raw vegan niche, and a speech pathologist with 43 years of experience.

Karen has presented at events including London Vegfest and the Woodstock Fruit Festival, as well as hundreds of events across Australia, Borneo, Russia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Canada, the UK, and the United States. Through her education, personal experiences, and passion for helping others, she has guided thousands of people toward better health through simple plant-based living.

Learn more about Karen: https://feelfabulouswithfood.com/

Instagram: @superhealthyraw
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/feelfabulouswithfood

A Spotlight on Vegan Investing with Claire Smith

Claire Smith is CEO and co-founder of Beyond Investing, a US-based registered investment adviser created to develop investment products for people who want their portfolios to reflect vegan and environmental values.

Claire spent 34 years in the finance industry, including roles at UBS and as a partner at Albourne in hedge fund research. She is also co-founder of Beyond Animal and Beyond Impact, and chairs the Beyond Cruelty Foundation.

The new International Vegan Climate ETF (VEGX) complements Beyond Investing's US Vegan Climate ETF (VEGN), giving investors another way to consider vegan and climate-conscious principles when making long-term financial decisions.

Learn more about Beyond Investing: https://beyondinvesting.com/
FB - https://www.facebook.com/beyondinvesting/

Main Street Vegan Academy

The 39th cohort of Main Street Vegan Academy begins in October 2026 via Zoom. If you've ever wanted to deepen your knowledge of veganism, compassion, nutrition, advocacy, and the vegan movement, this could be your opportunity.

Podcast listeners can receive $250 off with the code VEGCOACH250.

Subscribe, rate, and review the Main Street Vegan Podcast to help more people discover the joy of living with vitality, spirituality, and compassion.

Sign up for the Main Street Vegan blog and newsletter at https://www.mainstreetvegan.com and receive your FREE e-book, Recipes to Help You Age Like a Yogi.

And become an insider by joining the Main Street Vegan Podcast Listeners Group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/207997266555049

Complement are supplements made by vegans, Pamela Fergusson, RD, PhD, Matt Frazier, and Joel Kahn, MD, to enhance diet. Check our their new product Sulfora HERE, and enter 'MAINSTREET' in the discount box to save yourself 10%.

What might Catholic spirituality have to say about veganism, compassion, and our relationship with other animals?

In this fascinating conversation, Victoria Moran speaks with Fr. Daniel Mascarenhas, SJ, a young Jesuit priest and vegan, about Catholic teachings, contemplative prayer, spirituality, and the possibility of a kinder world.

The conversation begins with a deeper exploration of Catholicism and the Jesuit tradition. Fr. Daniel shares insights into contemplative prayer and the teachings of St. Ignatius, founder of the Jesuit order, including his understanding that the world remains inherently good despite the suffering and hardship we encounter.

Victoria and Fr. Daniel also explore the remarkable range of perspectives within the Catholic Church. They discuss how the same spiritual tradition can be home to figures as politically different as Dorothy Day and J.D. Vance, and what that says about the breadth and complexity of Catholicism.

Then the conversation turns to veganism. Fr. Daniel explains why he sees compassion for animals and a vegan way of living as a natural conclusion for a follower of Christ, even though veganism remains uncommon within the Catholic community.

Together, they consider what could happen if religious communities became more engaged with animal compassion and the movement toward a kinder food system.

In This Episode

• Catholic teachings and their relationship to compassion
• What it means to be a Jesuit
• Contemplative prayer in the Catholic tradition
• The spiritual teachings of St. Ignatius
• How Catholicism can encompass very different worldviews
• Why Fr. Daniel became vegan
• The connection between Christianity, compassion, and veganism
• How faith communities could help create a kinder world
• The potential for Catholic institutions to move toward greater compassion for animals

About Our Guest

Fr. Daniel Mascarenhas, SJ is a Jesuit priest whose work explores spirituality, faith, compassion, and the call to live more consciously. A vegan himself, Fr. Daniel brings a thoughtful perspective to the relationship between Christian teachings and compassionate living.

In this conversation, he shares his experience of the Jesuit tradition and explains why he believes veganism can be a natural expression of the teachings of Christ.

🍽️ A Special Visit from Chef Mark Reinfeld

Chef Mark Reinfeld, founder of Vegan Fusion, makes a special pop-in appearance during the episode to share information about his upcoming culinary course.

If you're interested in taking your plant-based cooking to the next level, listeners can receive 30% off the course through Victoria's special link.

Learn more and claim your 30% discount: https://veganfusion.com/

More from Fr. Daniel & the Compassion Consortium

Watch Fr. Daniel's appearance as a Special Spiritual Guest for the Compassion Consortium:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTJEL7XzGm0

Victoria also spoke with Swami Chidananda of the Compassion Consortium about his spiritual calling and the journey from a successful secular career toward a life of spiritual service:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYscIyFRH8s

And watch Victoria's 2019 film, A Prayer for Compassion:

https://watch.unchainedtv.com/videos/a-prayer-for-compassion

Main Street Vegan Academy

The 39th cohort of Main Street Vegan Academy begins in October 2026 via Zoom. If you've ever wanted to deepen your knowledge of veganism, compassion, nutrition, advocacy, and the vegan movement, this could be your opportunity.

Podcast listeners can receive $250 off with the code VEGCOACH250.

Subscribe, rate, and review the Main Street Vegan Podcast to help more people discover the joy of living with vitality, spirituality, and compassion.

Sign up for the Main Street Vegan blog and newsletter at https://www.mainstreetvegan.com and receive your FREE e-book, Recipes to Help You Age Like a Yogi.

And become an insider by joining the Main Street Vegan Podcast Listeners Group on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/207997266555049

What does it take to challenge one of the most deeply entrenched systems of animal suffering and what can each of us do to help end it?

In this powerful conversation, Victoria Moran speaks with animal rights advocates Gretchen Primack and Ella Magers, co-founders of the March to Abolish Animal Testing, about their fight to end the use of animals in laboratories.

The two are coming together to undertake a 200-mile march calling attention to the millions of animals used in experimentation and to demand a future beyond animal testing. Ella shares the story of Jane, a beagle bred for the laboratory industry who came into her life following the open rescue effort at Ridglan Farms. Jane's transformation from a laboratory animal to a beloved family member offers a deeply personal reminder of what is at stake.

Gretchen and Ella also talk about why they chose a march as their form of activism, how their work with farmed animals led them toward the fight against animal experimentation, and what they would say to anyone who cares about animals but feels powerless in the face of such a massive system.

This is a conversation about courage, compassion, direct action, and the belief that change becomes possible when ordinary people decide that the status quo is no longer acceptable.

In This Episode

• Why Gretchen and Ella created the March to Abolish Animal Testing
• How the fight for farmed animals led Ella toward animal testing advocacy
• The story of Jane, a beagle rescued from the laboratory industry
• What happened at Ridglan Farms
• Why a 200-mile march?
• What Gretchen and Ella hope the March will accomplish
• How grassroots activism can create meaningful change
• What you can do if you care about animals but feel powerless
• Why ending animal experimentation requires both courage and collective action

About Our Guests

Gretchen Primack is a poet, author, and animal rights advocate. She is the co-founder and co-lead of the March to Abolish Animal Testing. Her books include Kind, a poetry collection exploring the relationships between humans and other animals, and The Lucky Ones: My Passionate Fight for Farm Animals, which she co-wrote with Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary founder Jenny Brown. Gretchen also taught in maximum-security prisons for 20 years.

Ella Magers, MSW is an internationally recognized animal rights advocate, professional speaker, and holistic fitness coach. A vegan for more than 30 years, she has spent her career encouraging people to embody fierce compassion through education, coaching, public speaking, and grassroots activism. Ella serves on the founding Board of Directors of Hogs & Kisses Farm Sanctuary and is co-founder of the March to Abolish Animal Testing.

Ella's connection to the fight against animal experimentation became deeply personal after the open rescue at Ridglan Farms, when she adopted Jane, a beagle who had been bred for the laboratory industry.

The March to Abolish Animal Testing

The March to Abolish Animal Testing is a 200-mile march calling for an end to the use of animals in experimentation and for meaningful change in the systems that allow animal testing to continue.

Learn more and follow the March at:

Website: https://www.marchforanimals.org

Connect with Gretchen & Ella

Gretchen / March to Abolish Animal Testing: https://www.marchforanimals.org

Ella Magers: https://ellamagers.com/

Ella on Instagram: https://instagram.com/sexyfitvegan

March to Abolish Animal Testing on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marchforanimals/

Subscribe, rate, and review the Main Street Vegan Podcast to help more people discover the joy of living with vitality, spirituality, and compassion.

Sign up for the Main Street Vegan blog and newsletter at https://www.mainstreetvegan.com and receive your FREE e-book, Recipes to Help You Age Like a Yogi.

And become an insider by joining the Main Street Vegan Podcast Listeners Group on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/207997266555049

Every vegan is a spokesperson for the movement, whether they want the job or not. The good news is there's a version of that role for exactly who you already are. Felicia Greenfield found hers creating Friends Not Food, a farcical sitcom pilot filmed at a Florida farm sanctuary.

A former marketing manager for MLB and the NHL, Felicia knows no single pitch connects with everyone and when she recognized that protests weren't the right method for her, she built something that didn't exist instead. She shares that vegan advocacy isn't just about protests and boycotts, it exists in forms you're allowed to invent, and yours might resonate with someone the existing options never would.

Together, Victoria and Felicia explore narrative transportation, the reason people let their guard down inside a story in ways they never would inside a debate, and why comedy can deliver a message that a lecture would only repel. Felicia also gets into Friends Not Food itself, a show built inside Cli-Fi, the climate fiction genre already dramatizing flooded cities and dystopian hellscapes, but one that has left out the industry actually driving the crisis it exists to depict: animal agriculture.

It's a conversation about finding a lane that's actually yours, and what happens when you let an animal just be itself and call it activism.

In This Episode
Why every vegan can find their own form of advocacy
How Felicia created Friends Not Food
Why traditional protest wasn't the right fit for her
The power of storytelling to reach people differently
What narrative transportation means and why it works
How comedy can open people up to difficult ideas
Why animal agriculture belongs in the climate fiction conversation
Finding an advocacy approach that feels authentically yours

About Our Guest
Felicia Greenfield is a former marketing manager for Major League Baseball and the NHL who found her own creative approach to vegan advocacy through storytelling and comedy. She is the creator of Friends Not Food, a farcical sitcom pilot filmed at a Florida farm sanctuary that brings animal agriculture and veganism into the world of climate fiction.

Felicia's work explores how stories can create connection and open conversations that traditional advocacy approaches sometimes cannot. Her message is simple: vegan advocacy doesn't have to look one particular way. There is room to find the form that fits who you are.

About Friends Not Food
Friends Not Food is a sitcom pilot filmed at a Florida farm sanctuary. The project uses humor, storytelling, and the relationships between humans and animals to explore veganism and animal agriculture in a way that invites audiences in rather than talking at them.

The project also sits within the growing world of Cli-Fi, or climate fiction. While many stories imagine the consequences of climate change, Friends Not Food asks us to consider the role of animal agriculture in that conversation.

Connect with Felicia
Friends Not Food: https://www.friendsnotfood.tv/

Instagram: www.instagram.com/feliciag.nyc/

Subscribe, rate, and review the Main Street Vegan Podcast to help more people discover the joy of living with vitality, spirituality, and compassion.

Sign up for the Main Street Vegan blog and newsletter at https://www.mainstreetvegan.com and receive your FREE e-book, Recipes to Help You Age Like a Yogi.

Become an insider by joining the Main Street Vegan Podcast Listeners Group on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/207997266555049


Complement are supplements made by vegans, Pamela Fergusson, RD, PhD, Matt Frazier, and Joel Kahn, MD, to enhance diet. Check out their new product Sulfora, and enter 'MAINSTREET' in the discount box to save yourself 10%.

Can meaningful progress happen when people who care deeply about animals disagree on the path forward?

In this thought-provoking episode, Victoria Moran welcomes veterinarian Dr. Larry Carbone, author of The Hidden Lives of Lab Animals: A Vet's Vision for a More Humane Future. For most of his career, Dr. Carbone has cared for animals used in medical research, placing him at the center of one of the most ethically complex issues in animal advocacy.

Victoria approaches this conversation from her long-held abolitionist perspective, shared by many Main Street Vegan listeners. Nevertheless, she believes that meaningful dialogue requires listening to thoughtful people whose views differ from our own. Rather than debating from opposite corners, she and Dr. Carbone explore the difficult questions surrounding animal research, scientific progress, and our shared desire to reduce suffering.

Together, they discuss emerging alternatives such as organ-on-a-chip technology and artificial intelligence, as well as the legal protections currently in place for laboratory animals. They also consider what consumers can do to encourage more humane practices while supporting continued investment in alternatives that may one day eliminate the need for animal experimentation altogether.

Whether you agree with every perspective presented or not, this episode invites thoughtful reflection on a challenging subject. Above all, it reminds us that compassion can coexist with honest conversation.

In This Episode

Why Victoria chose to have this important conversation
Dr. Carbone's journey as a veterinarian in medical research
The promise of AI and organ-on-a-chip technology
Current laws protecting laboratory animals and where they fall short
Practical ways consumers can support alternatives to animal testing
The role of ethics committees in laboratory research
Finding common ground between animal welfare and animal rights advocates

About Our Guest

Dr. Larry Carbone is a veterinarian who has devoted his career to caring for animals in medical research laboratories. He is the author of The Hidden Lives of Lab Animals: A Vet's Vision for a More Humane Future, which examines the ethical challenges surrounding animal research while advocating for improved welfare and continued progress toward replacing animals in science. Throughout his career, Dr. Carbone has maintained strong relationships with both scientific and animal protection communities, seeking dialogue where others often find division.

Connect with Dr. Carbone

Website: https://larrycarbone.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/larry.carbone.7

Subscribe, rate, and review the Main Street Vegan Podcast to help more people discover the joy of living with vitality, spirituality, and compassion.

Sign up for the Main Street Vegan blog and newsletter at https://www.mainstreetvegan.com and receive your FREE e-book, Recipes to Help You Age Like a Yogi.

Become an insider by joining the Main Street Vegan Podcast Listeners Group on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/207997266555049

Complement are supplements made by vegans, Pamela Fergusson, RD, PhD, Matt Frazier, and Joel Kahn, MD, to enhance diet. Check our their new product Sulfora, and enter 'MAINSTREET' in the discount box to save yourself 10%.

What can the American Vegan Society teach us about living compassionately for a lifetime?

In this heartwarming conversation, Victoria Moran welcomes Anne Dinshah, CEO of the American Vegan Society, for a discussion about vegan living, community, and carrying forward a remarkable legacy. As the daughter of vegan pioneer Jay Dinshah, Anne has spent a lifetime showing that veganism is not about perfection. Instead, it's about living with kindness, curiosity, and joy.

This episode is especially personal for Victoria. She shares how Jay Dinshah and the American Vegan Society helped launch her own vegan journey decades ago. Together, Victoria and Anne reflect on the early days of the movement. They also discuss the friendships that have sustained it and why building a welcoming vegan community remains just as important today.

Anne also offers practical wisdom for anyone considering a plant-based lifestyle. She explains why many people overestimate the difficulty of going vegan. In addition, she shares simple ways to begin living more compassionately. Along the way, the conversation explores voluntary simplicity, healthy aging, and the value of lifelong curiosity.

Above all, this episode celebrates the American Vegan Society and its mission to make vegan living welcoming, accessible, and joyful for everyone.

✨ In This Episode

• How Jay Dinshah influenced Victoria's own vegan journey
• The history and mission of the American Vegan Society
• Why veganism can be simpler than many people imagine
• Building a compassionate vegan community
• Living your values while maintaining strong relationships
• The benefits of curiosity, movement, and lifelong learning
• The American Vegan Center and upcoming educational retreats

👤 About Our Guest

Anne Dinshah is a lifelong vegan and the CEO of the American Vegan Society. As the daughter of U.S. vegan movement pioneer Jay Dinshah, she continues his legacy by helping people discover vegan living through education, community, and compassionate outreach. Anne is also the coauthor of Powerful Vegan Messages. Through her warm and approachable style, she has inspired countless people to embrace a more compassionate way of living.

🌱 About the American Vegan Society

Founded in 1960, the American Vegan Society has spent more than six decades promoting vegan living through education, advocacy, and community. Its long-running "Welcome to Veganism" program has introduced countless people to the vegan lifestyle. Likewise, its "Building National Vegan Community" initiative continues to connect and inspire people across the country.

Another highlight is the American Vegan Center in Philadelphia, where visitors can explore the history of veganism in the United States. This fall, the American Vegan Society will also reopen its headquarters for weekend and weeklong living-learning retreats. These experiences will include cooking workshops, ethical discussions, wellness activities, and opportunities to connect with fellow vegans.

🔗 Connect with Anne

Website: https://americanvegan.org

Facebook: American Vegan Society

Instagram: @AmericanVeganS

LinkedIn: American Vegan Society

Subscribe, rate, and review the Main Street Vegan Podcast to help more people discover the joy of living with vitality, spirituality, and compassion.

Sign up for the Main Street Vegan blog and newsletter at https://www.mainstreetvegan.com and receive your FREE e-book, Recipes to Help You Age Like a Yogi.

Become an insider by joining the Main Street Vegan Podcast Listeners Group on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/207997266555049

Can we transform the global food system without asking everyone to give up the foods they love?

In this thought-provoking conversation, I welcome Bruce Friedrich, founder and president of the Good Food Institute, to discuss his book Meat and the future of alternative proteins. Bruce explains why plant-based and cultivated meat could play a vital role in feeding a growing population while reducing the environmental and ethical costs of industrial animal agriculture.

Myself and Bruce also share a personal history that goes back nearly four decades. In 1988, Bruce got in touch after reading one of my articles on veganism. Calling from his college dorm, he told me that my writing had inspired him to go vegan. It's a full-circle moment that makes this conversation especially meaningful.

Together, they explore why humans love meat, what that means for the future of food, and why innovation, not blame, may be the fastest path toward meaningful change.

In This Episode

• Why Bruce founded the Good Food Institute
• The inspiration behind his new book, Meat
• The future of plant-based and cultivated meat
• Why "Big Meat" may become part of the solution
• The environmental, public health, and ethical case for alternative proteins
• What gives Bruce hope for the next agricultural revolution

About Our Guest

Bruce Friedrich is the founder and president of the Good Food Institute, a global network of nonprofit, science-focused think tanks accelerating the development of plant-based, fermentation-derived, and cultivated proteins. The organization has been recognised by Giving Green as one of the world's most impactful climate charities for four consecutive years.

Bruce is also the author of Meat, a compelling look at how innovation can transform our food system to benefit animals, people, and the planet. A longtime vegan advocate, he has spent decades working at the intersection of food, policy, science, and sustainability.

Connect with Bruce

Website: https://meatbook.org

Good Food Institute: https://gfi.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brucegfriedrich

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brucegfriedrich/

X: https://x.com/BruceGFriedrich

About the Good Food Institute

The Good Food Institute works globally to accelerate the development and adoption of alternative proteins through science, policy, and industry partnerships. Its work has earned recognition from organisations including Giving Green, the Bezos Earth Fund, and many leaders in food innovation and climate action.

Subscribe, rate, and review the Main Street Vegan Podcast to help more people discover the joy of living with vitality, spirituality, and compassion.

Sign up for the Main Street Vegan blog and newsletter at https://www.mainstreetvegan.com and receive your FREE e-book, Recipes to Help You Age Like a Yogi.

Become an insider by joining the Main Street Vegan Podcast Listeners Group on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/207997266555049

Complement are supplements made by vegans, Pamela Fergusson, RD, PhD, Matt Frazier, and Joel Kahn, MD, to enhance diet. Check our their new product Sulfora, and enter 'MAINSTREET' in the discount box to save yourself 10%.

Can a story change hearts more effectively than an argument?

Buddhist Blues is an intriguing feature film that tackles life and family with a by-the-way-he's vegan protagonist. Writer/director Glen Merzer takes us into his process and celebrates "accidental activism."

In this engaging conversation, Victoria Moran welcomes bestselling author, screenwriter, and filmmaker Glen Merzer to discuss Buddhist Blues, the first feature film he has written and directed. Set in St. Louis in 1993, the film follows a young vegan living outside the law. As family tensions rise, he must confront difficult choices and the fragile bonds that connect us.

Together, Victoria and Glen explore storytelling as a form of advocacy. Glen explains why he believes in "soft vegan messaging." Rather than preaching, he creates compelling characters and authentic stories that encourage audiences to reflect. They also discuss the challenges of producing an independent film and the unique ability of cinema to inspire empathy.

Beyond the film, Glen reflects on his decades as a writer and his lifelong commitment to vegetarianism and veganism. He also shares why creativity can help build a more compassionate world.

Whether you're passionate about filmmaking, vegan advocacy, or simply love a good story, this episode offers an inspiring look at the intersection of art, compassion, and social change.

In This Episode

• Glen's journey as a writer and filmmaker
• The inspiration behind Buddhist Blues
• Why storytelling can be a powerful form of advocacy
• The philosophy behind "soft vegan messaging"
• The challenges of producing and directing an independent film
• How creativity can inspire compassion and change

About Our Guest

Glen Merzer is an author, screenwriter, filmmaker, and longtime vegan advocate. He is the writer and director of Buddhist Blues, a feature film that explores family, identity, and compassion through a distinctly vegan lens. Glen also co-authored Moving Medicine Forward with Dr. Michael Klaper and wrote Food Is Climate. A vegetarian for more than five decades and a vegan for over 35 years, he hosts The Glen Merzer Show, where he explores food, health, ethics, and the environment.

More from Glen

Learn more about Glen's latest projects, including Buddhist Blues, his books, and The Glen Merzer Show.

Website: https://buddhistblues.com

YouTube: The Glen Merzer Show
https://www.youtube.com/@theglenmerzershow

Also Mentioned

Moving Medicine Forward (co-authored with Dr. Michael Klaper) - https://www.movingmedforward.org
Food Is Climate - https://www.amazon.com/Food-Climate-Response-Conventional-Narrative/dp/B09CGL854K

Subscribe, rate, and review the Main Street Vegan Podcast to help more people discover the joy of living with vitality, spirituality, and compassion.

Sign up for the Main Street Vegan blog and newsletter at https://www.mainstreetvegan.com and receive your FREE e-book, Recipes to Help You Age Like a Yogi.

Become an insider by joining the Main Street Vegan Podcast Listeners Group on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/207997266555049