The VedgeTalk Podcast

This weeks game changing guest is Susie Coston, National Shelter Director at Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen, NY.

Susie runs the show at Farm Sanctuary in upstate New York and my word, the dedication to animals and hard work we saw from the team was a great sight to see.

With the number of farmed animals being so astronomically huge, visiting a place that’s a safe haven for animals, where they are called by name and treated like family was a very cool experience for us. Susie has been at farm sanctuary for 18 years and has seen the place grow and also to other locations around the country.

In this episode we cover:

- Susie’s background.

- Her decision to go vegan.

- How Farm Sanctuary has changed over the past (nearly) two decades.

- Amazing stories about the lives of saved animals that will bring a tear to your eye.

+ Much more!

I hope you enjoy this episode. Susie is an incredible human being, Ana and I are so thankful to her for taking the time out of her busy schedule to record this podcast and also show us around the farm, to meet a heap of amazing animals.

You can find Susie on Instagram @susiecoston. If you’d like to check out Farm Sanctuary online, go to @farmsanctuary on Instagram and also https://www.farmsanctuary.org/

This weeks game changing guest is Harvard Law professor, Chris Green.

Chris has a really cool story on how he has ended up at Harvard University, he initially wanted to be a veterinarian and was also heavily involved in music before deciding to dedicate the majority of his time to Animal Law.

In this episode we cover:

- Chris’ time growing up in America’s Midwest.

- His journey to Harvard Law School.

- His work on the front lines, defending animals through the law.

- Personal health struggles.

- An incredible story about encouraging an airline to stop allowing animal ‘trophies’ to be brought back from places like Africa.

+ More!

I hope you enjoy the show.

You can find more info about Chris here: https://animal.law.harvard.edu/about/people/chris-green/

This weeks game changing guest is Rachel Atcheson, she is currently the Deputy Strategist for Brooklyn Borough President, Eric Adams in NY.

Rachel is an amazing individual, who has dedicated her life to helping animals through multiple lines of work throughout her career.

Rachel approaches her activism in a very calm and compassionate way, and has a gift of shedding light on matters you care about with a whole new perspective, leaving you with a new understanding. This has helped my approach, personally, and I hope after you’ve listened to this, it will help you too!

In this episode we cover:

- Rachels life growing up in the DC area.

- Telling her Dad she’s going vegan.

- Telling her Dad she wants to get a tattoo

- Her Dad opposing both of these ideas, so they make a deal!

- Rachels work for The Humane League.

- Working for NYC Mayor De Blasio.

- How we can be more effective activists.

+ More!

I hope you enjoy the show.

You can find Rachel on Instagram at @xvxrachel and on Twitter at @r_atcheson

This weeks game changing guest is Terence Gerchberg, runner, former gambling addict and incredibly kind human.

Terence is a New Yorker through and through. Ana and I were lucky enough to meet him one day whilst eating at The Organic Grill in NYC. We later recorded this podcast in Boston, weeks before our van travels began.

In this episode we cover:

- Terence’s background, life growing up.

- His vivid recollection of the 11th of September 2001./

- Competing in the show ‘The Amazing Race’.

- Life working on Wall Street.

- Developing a gambling addiction that got out of control.

- The role running had to play in his recovery.

- His current work for non profit organization, Back On My Feet.

+ More!

I hope you enjoy the show!

You can find Terence on Instagram @coachamazing, you can also check out the Back On My Feet organization at https://www.backonmyfeet.org/

This weeks game changing guest is Irish musician, Tanya O’Callaghan.

Tanya is an amazing human being! She has been an activist for animals from a very young age, which blew me away, making the connection before your 5th birthday and having the confidence to stick by your decision is something special.

In addition to Tanya's tireless dedication to animals, she is a professional bass player, currently touring with ex Guns N Roses drummer Steven Adler.

In this episode we cover:

- Tanya’s life growing up in Ireland.

- Making the connection between what's on your plate and the animals at 5 years old.

- Speaking up for animals every chance she gets.

- Her journey to becoming a professional touring bassist.

- Moving to LA.

+ More!

I hope you enjoy the show. You can find Tanya on Instagram at @tanyaocallaghan_official and @highwaytohealthofficial. Her website is http://tanyaocallaghan.com/

This weeks game changing guest is Aliza Strock, creator of shaktifresheats.com and plant based chef, based out of Melbourne Australia.

Aliza helps people create amazing plant based food that will get them through the week, with her meal prep service.

She is also offering a private home cooking service for parties and events that are held at your home.

In this conversation we cover:

- Growing up just outside of Boston, MA.

- Traveling the world.

- University exchange, teaching English abroad and living in Australia.

- Being in a relationship with a non vegan.

- The challenges of long distance relationships.

+ More!

I hope you enjoy the episode. Since recording this podcast in late 2018, Aliza has officially moved to Melbourne, Australia and now does not have to deal with the long distance relationship! So a massive congrats to her and her partner, Ben.

Please make sure to check Aliza out on Instagram @Shaktifresh and also shaktifresheats.com.

On this weeks episode, I was lucky enough to get some time with the CEO of Ocean Hugger Foods and also Plant Based Solutions, David Benzaquen.

Over the past couple of decades David has evolved from a young vegetarian at the family dinner table to a CEO re shaping our food industry.

I hope you enjoy the podcast and I promise you'll hear more about the problems with today's fishing industry and how David's company

is providing a delicious solution!

Now for episode 8 of the pod with professional distance runner Garrett Kenyon.

He's a fantastic dude and we dig much deeper than just his running career to date.

We speak about his balance of Music, athletics and academimcs at University in Omaha, Nebraska.

Struggles with his college when adopting a whole foods plant based diet.

Activism on campus and continuing that on his travels.

Living in line with his values and also living minimally.

Hope you enjoy it guys, see you on the other side!

This week on The VedgeTalk Podcast, I speak with brain cancer survivor and owner of Pleasant Petites, Bobby Nagelberg.

We chatted at his place on Long Island, New York about being diagnosed with brain cancer at 21 and what his experience was like throughout that battle.

Bobby went through some extremely challenging times over a 3 year span. We will hear about his experience with the modern day medical system, how he

managed to clear the remaining brain tumor after surgery and why he started a raw dessert company!

n this weeks episode of The VedgeTalk Podcast we sit down with Dr Joel Fuhrman.

Dr Fuhrman is a family physician, specializing in nutrition and has been practicing for over 30 years.

He is currently 64 years of age and there is no doubt that his nutritarian lifestyle and regular exercise have a big part to play in his health. Truly a living exmaple of the power of Whole Foods.

We cover a range of topics in this episode, from mental illness to athletes adopting a WFPB diet.

It was amazing to see how passionate Dr Fuhrman is about improving people's health and to hear some stories from over the years.

Hope you enjoy the episode!