Vegan Posse

Special Thanksgiving Day Episode! JH Burnett of Wilderness, South Africa, is an ex-farmer who is now a full-time vegan activist and author. He has been plant-based for five years and fully vegan (for the animals) for two and a half years. He's got a unique story that I guarantee you don't want to miss.

Resources:

Website: www.veganismhaswon.com

Ex-Farmer Goes Vegan eBook: https://mailchi.mp/fe7769e94c2c/ex-farmer-goes-vegan

Speaking engagements:

Jenn Friedman is a therapist, writer, musician, and vegan from New York City. She is the author of Veganism and Eating Disorder Recovery (Routledge, 2022), a book that aims to improve the discourse about veganism in eating disorder recovery. Jenn has presented on eating disorders at treatment centers, universities, and mental health conferences. She also writes, records, and performs music, which she considers a source of healing, connection, and growth.

Websites and Social Media:

To Purchase Veganism and Eating Disorder Recovery:https://www.routledge.com/Veganism-and-Eating-Disorder-Recovery/Friedman/p/book/9781032316239Website: https://eatingdisordersandveganism.com/IG: https://www.instagram.com/veganismandeatingdisorders/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/EatingDisordersAndVeganismBook

Media links:Book featured by Youtuber Unnatural Vegan: https://youtu.be/MJYb5mBZupg

Understanding Disordered Eating podcast: https://pod.link/1580296341/episode/73c23c74ff5c672ec9d9b36f953581e4
Eating Disorders Off Topic podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/826117/12384118
Eating Disorders and Veganism: A Conversation:
https://youtu.be/T9_2VQsXlWk

The Vegan Posse welcomes its first mother-daughter duo! Zina Znayenko and her daughter Tatiana Znayenko-Miller are both long-time vegans and living examples of the power of plant-based eating. In this super special episode, they discuss their overlapping vegan journeys, whcih include their own respective real-life "medical miracles!"

First-generation Ukrainian-American Zina was a fat vegan, yo-yo dieter, and binge-eater for most of her adult life. She's discovered veganism after reading the book Diet For A New America by John Robbins. While it changed her life and her worldview, it did not change her waistline. She gained and lost the same 50 pounds for almost a decade.

In 2015, thanks to her brilliant daughter, Tatiana, Zina inadvertently discovered whole-food plant-based eating through the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine Kickstart program. She finally achieved - and has maintained - a full 100-pound weight loss. More importantly, she cleared up her lifelong cystic acne and eradicated all traces of two early-stage cancers, a host of systemic inflammatory conditions, and debilitating aches and pains in her limbs.

Since then, Zina has pursued further graduate work in the area of integrative health and medicine, numerous certifications and partnerships, and discovered the wondrous mentorship of Dr. Doug Lisle, Dr. Alan Goldhammer, Dr. Frank Sabatino, Jayney Goddard, Chef AJ, and especially our beloved Dr. Jen Howk. Following the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic, Zina began working as an educator for Plant-Powered Metro New York and has continued to expand her self-understanding and improve her self-care, in a constant endeavor to manage that pleasure trap!

Tatiana (Tati) Znayenko-Miller currently lives in Washington, D.C. with her rescue collie, “Kolie.” Tati is a graduate of both the MSHS in Integrative Medicine and BSHS in Emergency Medical Services Management programs at George Washington University (GWU). She is currently pursuing a DrPH in Preventive Care at Loma Linda University.

Tati works as a Clinical Research Specialist at the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. Her primary work is concentrated on elucidating the effect conferred by a plant-based diet on insulin requirements in adults living with type 1 diabetes. She has also contributed to research exploring the utility of a plant-based diet in the alleviation of vasomotor symptoms in women experiencing menopause; and in women experiencing endometriosis symptomatology. She is currently facilitating an innovative study, in partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield, exploring how a plant-based diet may reduce health care spending across a period of 24 months in adults living with type 2 diabetes.

Tatiana was recently appointed the primary investigator on a series of studies exploring the relationship between dietary advanced glycation end-product (dAGE) consumption, metabolic disorder, vasomotor symptoms, glycemic variation, mood, and quality of life. In her free time, Tatiana enjoys practicing and teaching Bikram Yoga. In January of 2023, Tatiana received her RYT-200 from Trimurti Yoga in Quito, Ecuador.

Resources:

PCRM Kickstart: https://www.pcrm.org/vegankickstart

Diet for a New America by John Robbins: https://www.amazon.com/Diet-New-America-Choices-Happiness/dp/193207354X

Vegan novel Marrying Myself by Christine Melanie Benson: https://www.amazon.com/Marrying-Myself-Christine-Melanie-Benson/dp/1685130763/

In 1990, at the height of her corporate career, Nancy James was diagnosed with a life-threatening chronic and systemic auto-immune respiratory disease which was supposedly “incurable." The doctor who diagnosed her was so cold and dismissive as he issued the diagnosis sarcoidosis that she decided, “I don’t trust him. I don’t believe a word he says”. That decision saved her life.

Nancy went to see a different doctor, who pointed her to the Macrobiotic healing diet, s 100% vegan diet. This doctor told her, “Don’t look at this illness as your enemy. Look at it as your teacher and your friend." From there, Nancy's healing journey began. Not wihtout setbacks, this journey led her to where she is today, a life coach who helps other people learn to live without struggle and strife and to live in integrity, as the vegan path had enabled her to do.

In Nancy's words, "Being in touch with my Indigenous roots, I’m getting in touch with a reverence for all creatures. I know there are no 'lesser' creatures in this amazing Universe. "

Resources:
​Nancy James, Certified Life Coach Life Coach ExtraordinaireCell: 215-262-8539

While earning her degree in English Literature, Sandra Nomoto published poetry in literary journals and posted online film reviews. At 25, she founded Conscious Public Relations Inc., an award-winning virtual agency certified as a B Corporation. After a decade in business, she authored and self-published The Only Public Relations Guide You’ll Ever Need in 2019. Living vegan since 2018, Nomoto is now a content writer and editor for vegan businesses. She also helps vegan and spiritual non-fiction authors. Sandra aspires to eat vegan food around the world and blog about it. She lives with her husband in East Vancouver, Canada.

Resources:

Facebook.com/sandranomotobooks

Twitter @sandranomoto

Instagram @sandranomoto

TikTok @sandranomoto

LinkedIn.com/in/sandranomoto

YouTube.com/@sandra_nomoto

Shelley Watts, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, is a retired high school home economics teacher. Arrogant about what and how much she could eat, Shelley started gaining weight in her late 20s by overeating sugar, salt, and fatty foods. Over the years, she gained 65 pounds and developed multiple health issues, including type 2 diabetes. She knew things were bad. Despite a lifelong aversion to needles, she learned to prick herself to administer her diabetes meds. Finally, she prayed and made a decision to make real changes in how she ate. She did her homework, researching websites, books, and articles and listening to experts. She made a plan, based on science, and then she executed it – beginning with a fast at the Fasting Escape., run by Dr. Nate Gershfeld. Since June 24, 2019, she’s eaten only plants, all the time - and she'[s transformed her health! Now, at 70, she's got a brand-new life and looking forward to many more QUALITY years ahead.

Resources:

Dr. Michael Greger, NutritionFacts.org: nutritionfacts.org (Daily Dozen App)

Barbaro, MPH + Khambatta, PhD: masteringdiabetes.org

John and Ocean Robbins: foodrevolution.org

National Health Association: healthscience.org   

Dr. Michael Klaper: doctorklaper.com

Dr. Frank Sabatino: drfranksabatino.com

Dr. Joel Fuhrman: drfuhrman.com

Dr. Neal Barnard: pcrm.org

Chef AJ: chefaj.com

Chef Ramses Bravo: bravopb.com

Brittany Jaroudi: newthejaroudifamily.com

Dillon Holmes: wellyourworld.com

Forks Over Knives: forksoverknives.com

Cronometer (nutrition tracker): cronometer.com

Dr. Nathan Gershfeld: fastingescape.com

Dr. Alan Goldhamer: healthpromoting.com

Books/Magazines

The Pleasure Trap by D. Lisle and A. Goldhamer

How Not To Die and How Not to Diet by Michael Greger

Eat to Live and Super Immunity by Joel Fuhrman

Mastering Diabetes by C. Khambatta and R. Barbaro

The China Study by T. Colin Campbell and Thomas M. Campbell II

Fiber Fueled by Will Bulsiewicz

Becoming Vegan by Brenda Davis & Vesanto Melina

Undo It by Dean Ornish and Anne Ornish

Salt Sugar Fat by Michael Moss

Magazine —Fork Over Knives (4 times per year)

Films:

The Game Changers

What the Health

Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret

Seaspiracy

Some people think of us vegans as uptight, didactic, and humorless - and they can think again! Comic, filmmaker, podcaster, and longtime vegan Graham Elwood honed his comedic skills in comedy clubs and colleges to become a sarcastic hipster who can make light of anything and anyone including himself. In his new comedy special "Manifest It", Graham calls out Boomers for hating on Millennials and Gen Z, the war in Russia and Ukraine, open markets in China, and the NFL for not making more commercials targeted towards vegan hippies.

Graham is part of a comedy group called Fancy Ketchup, whose show can be seen on a regular basis at The Comedy Store in Hollywood. He's made frequent appearances at the Improv in Las Vegas and numerous comedy clubs across the country including The Improv - LA and The Laugh Factory - LA. Early on the podcast train, Graham and Chris Mancini made a documentary called Ear Buds: The Podcasting Documentary. A lifelong athlete, Graham's sports interests include martial arts and weapons, football, lacrosse, and baseball. He currently hosts "The Political Vigilante" podcast and makes regular appearances on "The Jimmy Dore Show" and "Crosstalk With Peter Lavelle."

Graham Elwood comedy special "Manifest It": https://youtu.be/AQuqKZI0ZZw

Graham Elwood website: https://www.grahamelwood.com/

Ear Buds: https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/ear-buds-the-podcasting-documentary/umc.cmc.2dspcrbdx1aqtvceogpm3o3ii

Paleo Diet is OUT! New "Socio Diet" Sweeps Nation: https://www.thespoof.com/spoof-news/features/141529/paleo-diet-is-out-new-socio-diet-sweeps-nation

The World Peace Diet by Will Tuttle, Ph.D.: http://www.worldpeacediet.com/

The Gradual Vegetarian by Lisa Tracy: https://www.amazon.com/Gradual-Vegetarian-Step-Step-Eating/dp/0440215854

Jesus and meat? Christspiracy: https://www.christspiracy.com/

Dr. Doug Lisle is an evolutionary psychologist and co-author of The Pleasure Trap: Mastering the Hidden Force that Undermines Health and Happiness. His research and clinical interests include health and wellness, self-esteem, relationship satisfaction, the treatment of anxiety and depression, the genetics of individual differences, and optimizing achievement motivation. In addition to his work with Esteem Dynamics, Dr. Lisle has been the clinical psychologist at TrueNorth Health Center for over 30 years. Delightfully candid and warm, Dr. Douglas Lisle is one of psychology's most innovative and curious minds. Deeply dedicated to exploring the mysteries of human behavior from fresh, uncharted waters, his research in evolutionary psychology and its impact on health, happiness, and the pursuit of pleasure is generating critical acclaim. Dr. Lisle lectures nationally on topics including evolutionary psychology, cognitive therapy, lifestyle modification, relaxation and stress management, and weight loss.

Resources:

Esteem Dynamics: https://esteemdynamics.com/

Video, "How to Lose Weight without Losing Your Mind": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAdqLB6bTuQ

True North Health Center: https://www.healthpromoting.com/

The Pleasure Trap by Dr. Doug Lisler and Dr. Alan Goldhamer: https://www.amazon.com/Pleasure-Trap-Mastering-Undermines-Happiness/dp/1570671974

The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins: https://www.amazon.com/Selfish-Gene-Popular-Science/dp/0192860925

The Blind Watchmaker by Richard Dawkins: https://www.amazon.com/The-Blind-Watchmaker-audiobook/dp/B005ACDZX2/

Blueprint by Nicholas Christakis: https://www.amazon.com/Blind-Watchmaker-Evidence-Evolution-Universe-ebook/dp/B014LJE1HI/

Judy McCoy Carman, M.A., earth, peace, and animal activist, is the author of Peace to All Beings: Veggie Soup for the Chicken’s Soul and the new book, Homo Ahimsa: Who We Really Are and How We're Going to Save the World. She is also co-author of The Missing Peace: The Hidden Power of our Kinship with Animals. In addition to animal rescue work, Judy's current projects include the Animals' Peace Prayer Flag project, Vegan Spirituality interviews and retreats, co-founding Animal Outreach of Kansas, the Circle of Compassion, Prayer Circle for Animals Facebook, and the Interfaith Vegan Coalition. She appeared in the film A Prayer for Compassion and received the Henry Spira Grassroots Animal Activist Award in 2014. Her website is www.peacetoallbeings.com . 

At the age of 78, Judy has been vegan almost 30 years. She loves to hike, kayak, and be in nature. She lives in Kansas, where she helps care for a ten-acre wildlife sanctuary. The grandmother of four little humans, Judy is part of the Million Vegan Grandmothers.

Resources:

Peace to All Beings, Veggie Soup for the Chicken's Soul by Judy Carman: https://www.amazon.com/Veggie-Soup-Chickens-Soul-Liberation/dp/0970711808

Homo Ahimsa: https://www.all-creatures.org/book/r-homo-ahimsa.html

Vegan Spirituality: https://veganspirituality.com/index.html

Circle of Compassion: https://www.circleofcompassion.org/

Interfaith Vegan Coalition: https://www.idausa.org/campaign/sustainable-activism/interfaith-vegan-coalition/

Lantern Books  ⁠⁠https://lanternpm.org/⁠⁠

Farm Animal Rights Movement, host of the annual Animal Rights Conference: ⁠https://farmusa.org/arconference⁠

Matthias Desmet – Mass Formation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Egq5Y0taok4

Preview, The Witness: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Gv0y1qYx1w

The Witness, Full Film: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=%22the+witness%22+cat+eddie

The World Peace Diet by Dr. Will Tuttle: http://www.worldpeacediet.com/

Nerma Frieden came to the United States as a refugee from Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1996, having survived a years-long war where she was terrified not of being killed but of being tortured, being captured, being raped. In 2014, after watching an ethical eating presentation at her Unitarian Universalist Church and seeing what was happening to farmed animals, she realized that they were living her worst nightmare: being at the mercy of someone with no mercy. She went vegan and subsequently became a certified Food for Life instructor through the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.

Nerma is also an animal rights activist and member of Voices for the Peoria, Illinois, Voices for Animals. Besides teaching Food for Life classes, she regularly leaflets at local universities, organizes local protests and tabling events, and gives regular vegan presentations at a local high school. She has organized movie screenings and presented at local libraries. Nerma also volunteers at a nearby farmed animal sanctuary, Wedrose Acres. Finally, she has shared her vegan story at several UU churches titled  "Forced to Live My Worst Nightmare: From Surviving Genocide to Confronting My Own Violence."

Resources:

Nerma Frieden, Earth Day sermon: https://youtu.be/A4hChpsxybo

Gary Yourofsky – Most Important Speech You’ll Ever Hear: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5hGQDLprA8

Jonathan Safran Foer, Eating Animals: https://www.amazon.com/Eating-Animals-Jonathan-Safran-Foer-ebook/dp/B002SSBD6W

Peter Singer, Animal Liberation: https://www.amazon.com/Animal-Liberation-Now-Definitive-Classic-ebook/dp/B0C24WL6XF/

Speciesism, The Movie: https://speciesismthemovie.com/

Will Tuttle, The World Peace Diet: http://www.worldpeacediet.com/

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, Food for Life: https://www.pcrm.org/good-nutrition/plant-based-diets/ffl