Plant-Based Canada Podcast

Welcome to the Plant-Based Canada Podcast. In this episode we are joined by a Toronto-based hospitalist and emergency physician, Dr. Teela Johnson.  

Dr. Teela Johnson MSc, MD, CCFP-EM is a hospitalist and emergency room physician with a keen interest in the intersection of health, nutrition, and the climate-- and how they relate to equity issues.  Through her work as a member of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment Agri-Food Working Group and as a Board Director of the climate policy think tank Canadians for Responsible Food Policy, she brings to bear the extensive scientific evidence on how a transition to a plant-based food system can prevent and treat chronic disease, and simultaneously curtail the most detrimental greenhouse gas emissions that are propelling the climate crisis, while also giving voice and restoration to groups systematically oppressed across these intersecting realms. 

In this episode we discuss:

• Dr. Johnson’s medical practice
• Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment Agri-Food Working Group
• Climate change impacts, targets,  and recommendations
• Paris Agreement on Climate Change
• Canadians for Responsible Food Policy
• Impact of transitioning to a plant-based food system
• Future research and actions
• Advice to health professionals / the public

Episode Resources:

Canadians for Responsible Food Policy: https://responsiblefoodpolicy.ca/ 

Lancet Countdown: https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Lancet-Countdown-Policy-Brief-Canada_ENG.pdf

Consultation on the future of competition policy in Canada: https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/CompetitionActConsultation_CQDE_CAPE_EQT_ISED.pdf

Recommendations from the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment for Amendments to Bill C-12, the Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act: https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/CAPE-C-12-briefing-note-EN-final.pdf 

Paris Agreement on Climate Change: https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement 

Plant-Based Canada’s Socials:
Instagram: @plantbasedcanadaorg
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/plantbasedcanadaorg/
Website: https://www.plantbasedcanada.org/
X/Twitter: @PBC_org

Thank you for tuning in! Make sure to subscribe to the Plant-Based Canada Podcast so you get notified when new episodes are published. 

This episode was hosted by Stephanie Nishi RD, PhD.

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Welcome to the Plant-Based Canada Podcast. In this episode we are joined by Dr. Kate Hanneman to chat about climate change and environmental sustainability in health care practices, particularly medical imaging/radiology, as well as improving health outcomes for patients using cardiac imaging.

Kate Hanneman MD MPH, is an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto and a Clinician Scientist at the Toronto General Hospital Research Institute. She is the author of over 100 peer-reviewed papers and leads an active research program focused on sustainability and improving health outcomes for patients using cardiac imaging. She is Co-Chair of the Canadian Association of Radiologists Sustainability Working Group and Deputy Lead for Sustainability and University Medical Imaging Toronto at the University of Toronto. She has followed a plant-based diet for over a decade. 

In this episode we discuss:

• Climate change and environmental sustainability in medical imaging/radiology
• Current and future research 
• Tips for sustainable medical and personal practices
• Take home message

Episode Resources:
Environmental Sustainability and MRI: Challenges, Opportunities, and a Call for Action
Letter to the Editor: Radiology Action for Climate Change
Climate Change and Sustainability. Radiology
Climate Change and Radiology: Impetus for Change and a Toolkit for Action
University of Toronto, Medical Imaging
Canadian Association of Radiologists Sustainability Working Group 

Dr. Kate Hanneman's Socials:
 Instagram: @katehanneman
X/ Twitter: @katehanneman, @imagingtoronto & @UofTMedIm

Plant-Based Canada’s Socials:
Instagram  (@plantbasedcanadaorg)
Facebook (Plant-Based Canada, https://m.facebook.com/plantbasedcanadaorg/)
Website  (https://www.plantbasedcanada.org/)
X / Twitter @PBC_org

Thank you for tuning in! Make sure to subscribe to the Plant-Based Canada Podcast so you get notified when new episodes are published. 

This episode was hosted by Stephanie Nishi RD, PhD.

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Dr. Simran Malhotra is a triple board-certified physician in internal medicine, hospice and palliative care, and lifestyle medicine. She practices part time as an inpatient palliative care physician at Medstar Health. She completed her internal medicine residency at Medstar Franklin Square Medical Center where she also served as chief resident in 2015. She completed her fellowship in Hospice and Palliative Medicine at Johns Hopkins Hospital in 2016.

Dr. Malhotra is a mother of two and a BRCA 1 previvor with a strong family history of breast and female reproductive cancers. She underwent a risk reducing bilateral mastectomy and total hysterectomy in 2020.

After her own experience as a patient and her professional experiences in palliative care, she founded Wellness By LifestyleMD, a platform where she works with and educates women on the powerful impact that positive lifestyle changes can have on their quality of life and longevity.

Resources

Dr. Malhotra’s Website 
Facebook
Instagram
Dr. Malhotra’s book: “How Healers Heal: Lifestyle Medicine Physicians Transforming Healthcare and Their Own Health”

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Welcome to the Plant-Based Canada Podcast. In this episode we are joined by Natalie Pelto to chat about parenting kids with autism and ADHD.  

Natalie has many years of experience in the healthcare field, with lifestyle-based practices being a more recent endeavour. She was previously a Medical Radiation Technologist in diagnostic imaging specialising in CT, Trauma and bone mineral density for over 20 years, but following a personnel experience, which she shares with us later in the episode, has changed her career perspective and purpose. As part of this transition, she has become a self-declared life-long learner, completing multiple certifications in lifestyle medicine and nutrition including advanced child brain development with nutrition, and more. Natalie´s main area of interest focuses on working with children with severe autism and Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and their families. From her personal experiences and learnings, she works to support all members of families with children with autism and ADHD. Her mission and vision are to see our future generations change and shape the world from a space of health and well-being.

In this episode we discuss:

• What are autism and ADHD?
• Diet/nutrition in autism and ADHD
• Plant-Based diet and autism and ADHD related concerns, myths, and misconceptions.
• Strategies to support children with autism or ADHD in achieving independence
• Supports for parents with children with autism or ADHD

Episode Resources:
Autism Canada
Autism Statistics Canada
ADHD Statistics Canada

Scientific Articles:
Truths, Myths and Needs of Special Diets: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27356007/
Clinician guidelines for the treatment of psychiatric disorders with nutraceuticals and phytoceuticals: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35311615/
Micronutrients in ADHD: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35311615/ 

App:
ThinkDirty app (has a cost): https://www.thinkdirtyapp.com/
Free alternative -> Environmental Working Group (EWG): https://www.ewg.org/  

Books:
“Fiber Fueled” By: W. Bulsiewicz
“Power of Habits” By:  C. Duhigg

Natalie Pelto´s Socials
Website: www.blueliferx.com
Webinar: www.blueliferx.com/autismwebinar
Instagram: @rebellespectrum (for free resources)

Plant-Based Canada’s Socials:
Instagram: @plantbasedcanadaorg
Facebook: Plant-Based Canada, https://m.facebook.com/plantbasedcanadaorg/
Website: https://www.plantbasedcanada.org/
X (formerly Twitter):  @PBC_org

Thank you for tuning in! Make sure to subscribe to the Plant-Based Canada Podcast so you get notified when new episodes are published. 

This episode was hosted by Stephanie Nishi RD, PhD.

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Ed and Natasha Tatton are the co-founders of BReD, a B Corp certified vegan sourdough bakery located in the premier ski and mountain bike resort of Whistler, BC, Canada. The bakery specializes in sourdough and vegan baked goods. Plus, Ed and Natasha’s new book, “BReD: Sourdough Loaves, Small Breads, and Other Plant-Based Baking” is available for purchase TODAY. The BReD cookbook is an homage to the Tattons' bakery and mission to inform and provide their community with cruelty-free food.

In our conversation we discuss how the couple, originally from the UK, ended up in Canada; Ed’s classic training as a chef; Ed and Natasha’s journey toward veganism; the inspiration and process to opening their own bakery; and their new book, which contains 100 recipes, and is available through their website.

Resources
Ed’s Bred Website
Facebook
Instagram
“BReD: Sourdough Loaves, Small Breads, and Other Plant-Based Baking”
Penguin Random House Canada 

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In this episode of the Plant-Based Podcast, we chat with Lucy Luong -- a Californian turned Canadian registered dietitian and weight loss coach. She is passionate about people and wants to help everyone she can break free from ill-health, excess weight, and food addiction.

Lucy identifies as a volume eater – and has a big appetite. So she loves that eating a plant-based diet allows her and her clients to eat large portions of nutritious foods. She has a virtual private practice in Alberta, and an international, virtual 12-Week Lifestyle Improvement Program that’s open to anyone who needs help learning how to eat plant-based for weight loss and disease management.

In this episode, Lucy and I discuss the science behind weight loss… the differences between Canada and the U-S when it comes to their food guides and public health policies… how approach with clients and how she incorporates plant-based eating into her practice… and her approach to online misinformation around weight loss and other dangers that often accompany dieting culture.

Podcast Resources

Lucy’s website
Facebook
Instagram

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In this episode of the Plant-Based Canada Podcast, we talk to Dr. Sachin Shah -- CEO of VeganMed and a Professor of Pharmacy at the Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy, University of the Pacific in Stockton, California.

Dr. Shah founded VeganMed in 2018. He was inspired by the challenges faced by patients when finding animal-free medications. The company is dedicated to assisting consumers and healthcare providers in identifying medications, supplements, and other health products that are free from animal-derived ingredients.

At Pacific, he is Director of the Fellowship in Industry Program (FIP), and the Innovative Clinical and Outcomes Research (iCOR) group. With over 50 peer-reviewed publications, his research has garnered over one billion media impressions – including with CNN, NPR, and BBC News — and featured in multiple video documentaries globally.

Podcast Resources 

VeganMed 

VeganMed IG

Dr. Shah’s LinkedIN

Dr. Shah’s Twitter/X profile 

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In this episode of the Plant-Based Canada Podcast, we talk to chef Ikeila Wright, former owner of the long-standing vegan Caribbean restaurant One Love Vegetarian in Toronto. 

When Ikeila decided to leave the world of meat behind and enter the plant kingdom, her Life changed. Everything she learned about cooking and the restaurant industry went totally out the window. In the process, Ikeila not only had to learn to emphasize taste… but also manipulate texture, timing, and temperature to create food that was pleasing to the palette without the aid of meat, dairy, eggs, or refined products.
 
 In between raising children and catering, Ikeila and her family became known as food vendors at many major Toronto outdoor festivals. They spent many summers vending at The Harbourfront Centre where their One Love Corn Soup and Seasoned Corn received rave reviews. This included two appearances on The Food Network courtesy of ‘The Christine Cushing Live Show’.
 
 In 2009, with the support of her children, the One Love Vegetarian Restaurant was born.
 
 One Love Vegetarian remained at the forefront of the Toronto Vegetarian scene for over a decade before shutting down in 2022 following the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
 Ikeila is now cooking up extraordinary meals as a private chef and caterer.

Podcast Resources

Ikeila's Website

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Welcome to the Plant-Based Canada Podcast. In this episode we are joined by Dr. Anita Krajnc to chat about the animal protection movement.

Dr. Anita Krajnc is the Executive Director of the Animal Save Movement, a worldwide network of Save groups bearing witness to farmed animals and promoting veganism and love-based, grassroots activism. Anita also helps coordinate the global Plant Based Treaty campaign. She received her Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Toronto and is a follower of Leo Tolstoy, Mahatma Gandhi and Cesar Chavez. Anita has also been an assistant professor at Queen's University in Ontario, Canada and has published extensively on social movements and environmental politics and is co-author of the book, "The Secret Life of Pigs: Stories of Compassion and the Animal Save Movement".

In this episode we discuss:

• What happened on the the infamous date of June 22 2015 
• What is bearing witness
• About the initial court case and media campaign
• The Save Movements
• The Plant Based Treaty

Episode Resources:
United Nations Climate Change: https://unfccc.int/cop28
The Paris Agreement: https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/paris-agreement
A Calendar of Wisdom by Leo Tolstoy: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12419.A_Calendar_of_Wisdom
The Secret Life of Pigs: Stories of Compassion and the Animal Save Movement by Richard Hoyle & Anita Krajnc: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60485052-the-secret-life-of-pigs 

Animal Save Movement:
Website: https://thesavemovement.org/
TikTok: @animalsavemovement 
Twitter: @animalsavemvmt
Instagram: @thesavemovement
Linkedin: Animal Save Movement

Plant Based Treaty:
Website: https://plantbasedtreaty.org/canada-city/
TikTok: @plantbasedtreaty
Twitter: @Plant_Treaty
Instagram: @plantbasedtreaty
To sign the Plant-Based Treaty: https://plantbasedtreaty.org/individual-endorse/

Dr. Anita Krajnc´s Socials:
Instagram: @anita.krajnc
Twitter: @animalrightsyay
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anita-krajnc-105170116/?originalSubdomain=ca

Plant-Based Canada’s Socials:
Instagram: @plantbasedcanadaorg
Facebook: Plant-Based Canada
Website: https://www.plantbasedcanada.org/

Thank you for tuning in! Make sure to subscribe to the Plant-Based Canada Podcast so you get notified when new episodes are published. 

This episode was hosted by Stephanie Nishi RD, PhD.

Support the show

Welcome to the Plant-Based Canada Podcast. In this episode we are joined by Ben Hagerty from “It’s Bree and Ben” to chat about plant-based entrepreneurs and businesses, with a focus on initiatives in the west coast of Canada.  

Benjamin Hagerty is a vegan essayist and travel writer for the website, It's Bree and Ben, which he co-founded with his wife, Brianne Nemiroff. 

Ben’s vegan journey began in 2015, and from 2017 through 2019, he and Brianne embarked on a trans-continental road trip in which they visited and wrote about vegan businesses in more than 60 destinations throughout Canada and the U.S. 

In 2020, he and Brianne relocated to Vancouver, BC, where he began his thesis project, which explores how vegan entrepreneurs in Kitsilano and Mt. Pleasant operationalize and experience the vegan philosophy. The findings of his project may be found in his academic blog series called, Ben's Vegan Vancouver. This year he earned his Masters degree in Natural Resources and Environmental Studies from the University of Northern British Columbia. 

Ben currently works with organisations like the Canadians for Responsible Food Policy, Earthsave Canada, and the Plant-Based Cities Movement to bolster vegan businesses to municipal governments. For leisure, he still enjoys adventurous road trips with Brianne and learning new coffee-making techniques. 

In this episode we discuss:

• Plant-based practices and businesses from travels across North America
• Specific examples of plant-based businesses from Kitsilano and Mount Pleasant in Vancouver, B.C.
• What motivates and inspires vegan entrepreneurship and how vegan businesses operate?
• What is vegan entrepreneurship and what makes it vegan?
• What makes a successful plant-based business?
• Challenges facing vegan entrepreneurship 
• Perspective transformation

Episode Resources:
Canadians for Responsible Food Policy
Earthsave Canada
Plant-Based Cities Movement
University of Northern British Columbia, Natural Resources and Environmental Studies Program

Ben Hagerty’s Socials:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itsbreeandben/?ref=embed_page
Instagram: @itsbreeandben
Website: https://itsbreeandben.com/

Plant-Based Canada’s Socials:
Instagram  (@plantbasedcanadaorg)
Facebook (Plant-Based Canada, https://m.facebook.com/plantbasedcanadaorg/)
Website  (https://www.plantbasedcanada.org/)

Thank you for tuning in! Make sure to subscribe to the Plant-Based Canada Podcast so you get notified when new episodes are published. 

This episode was hosted by Stephanie Nishi RD, PhD.

Support the show