Vegans Explore Podcast

In this episode of the Vegans Explore Podcast, we meet Keya, also known as VeganKween, Philly’s go-to guide for Vegan food, events, and community connection.

Keya wears many hats as a Vegan content creator, HappyCow ambassador, educator, and walking directory for all things Vegan in Philadelphia. From spotlighting local restaurants to promoting festivals and helping visitors navigate the city’s plant-based scene, she plays a vital role in keeping Vegan businesses visible and supported.

We talk about the importance of grassroots marketing, why many Vegan restaurants struggle without exposure, and how creators like Keya help bridge the gap between businesses, nonprofits, and the community. She also shares must-visit Philly Vegan spots, upcoming events, and how she supports people traveling through the region.

This conversation is about visibility, collaboration, and protecting the heart of the Vegan movement at the local level.

Listen now and explore more stories at VegansExplore.com/Podcast 🌱

In this episode of the Vegans Explore Podcast, we sit down with An, co-founder of Sen Saigon, to share the story behind New York City’s only fully Vegan Vietnamese restaurant.

Born and raised in Vietnam, An became Vegan and was surprised to find that authentic Vegan Vietnamese food was nearly impossible to find in NYC. Instead of compromising, she and her husband decided to build what didn’t yet exist.

We talk about the cultural challenges of making Vietnamese food Vegan, especially replacing fish sauce and rebuilding traditional broths from scratch. Anne also shares how community support, social media storytelling, and heart-centered cooking helped Sen Saigon grow from an idea into a beloved neighborhood restaurant.

This conversation is about food, culture, courage, and what happens when you solve your own problem and invite others along for the journey.

Listen now and explore more Vegan stories at VegansExplore.com/Podcast.

As 2025 comes to a close, Vegans Explore takes a moment to reflect, recalibrate, and look ahead.

In this year-end update, Sean A. Russell shares an honest breakdown of where Vegans Explore stands today, what worked, what didn’t, and why the approach to building the world’s largest Vegan community is evolving heading into 2026.

This episode explores the long game behind sustainable community building, the importance of consistency over speed, and why content creation and resources now come before scaling infrastructure. Sean also shares how daily podcasting became the foundation, how archived interviews are finding new life on video, and what’s ahead with global tours, directories, and creator-focused tools.

You’ll hear reflections on 2025, clarity around the shift toward utility-driven growth, and a transparent look at what Vegans Explore is committing to in the year ahead.

If you’re a Vegan, creator, business owner, nonprofit, or someone curious about where the movement is going, this episode gives you a clear view of the roadmap.

👉 Explore more at VegansExplore.com/Podcast

In this episode, we sit down with Earthling Ed for a thoughtful, wide-ranging conversation on Veganism, empathy, and why calm, respectful dialogue can be one of the most powerful tools for change.

Recorded in 2018, this conversation captures Earthling Ed at a pivotal moment in the modern animal rights movement. He shares his personal journey from quiet Vegan to global activist, his approach to street outreach and education, and why speaking truth without shouting often reaches people more deeply than confrontation ever could.

We explore the role of research, effective communication, and compassion in advocacy, as well as the challenges activists face as Veganism moves from being mocked to actively resisted. Earthling Ed also reflects on building community, the importance of grassroots action, and his long-term vision for a kinder world for all beings.

This episode is both a time capsule and a reminder that empathy, patience, and consistency remain at the heart of lasting change.

In this episode of the Vegans Explore Podcast, we welcome back Dr. Michael Klaper, a longtime leader in plant-based medicine and physician education, for a timely and deeply informative conversation.

Dr. Klaper breaks down how nutrition directly impacts immune function, chronic disease, and long-term health, while also unpacking the major gaps in traditional medical education that leave doctors underprepared to address food-related illness. From COVID resilience and metabolic health to B12, protein myths, and the role of lifestyle medicine in hospitals, this episode connects the dots between what we eat and how we heal.

We also explore what Vegans, Pre-Vegans, and curious listeners can do when faced with common questions from family, friends, and healthcare providers, offering grounded, science-based talking points rooted in compassion and clarity.

Whether you are navigating your own health journey, working in healthcare, or simply want better conversations around food and wellness, this episode provides practical insights and hope for a more informed, plant-forward future.

🎧 Listen now and explore more episodes at VegansExplore.com/Podcast

Going Vegan can be life-changing, but the early days often come with unexpected challenges. In this episode, longtime Vegan advocates Victoria Moran, Renee King-Sonnen, and Susan Hargreaves share what they wish they had known when they first went Vegan.

From navigating family pressure and social resistance to finding patience, confidence, and compassion, this conversation offers decades of lived experience and honest reflection. Whether you are new to Vegan living, Veg-curious, or a longtime advocate, this episode provides reassurance, perspective, and grounding wisdom for the long journey ahead.

🎧 Listen and explore the global Vegan community at

VegansExplore.com/Podcast

What does it really take to create a documentary that changes minds, shifts culture, and sparks real-world impact?

In this powerful roundtable conversation, leading Vegan documentary directors Shaun Monson, Louie Psihoyos, Mark Pierschel, and Keegan Kuhn come together to discuss storytelling, strategy, and social change.

These filmmakers are behind some of the most influential documentaries of our time, including Earthlings, Cowspiracy, What the Health, The Game Changers, Racing Extinction, The End of Meat, and Live and Let Live. Together, they explore how film can influence food systems, animal ethics, public health, environmental awareness, and cultural norms on a global scale.

The panel discusses what it takes to reach audiences outside the Vegan bubble, how to balance impact with accessibility, how to navigate resistance and funding challenges, and why documentaries remain one of the most powerful tools for long-term change.

Whether you are Vegan, plant-curious, a filmmaker, or someone interested in how stories shape society, this episode offers rare behind-the-scenes insight into impact-driven filmmaking from the directors who helped define the modern Vegan documentary movement.

Listen now and explore more episodes at VegansExplore.com/Podcast.

In this episode of the Vegans Explore Podcast, we sit down with Veronica Menin and Diego Tosoni, the co-founders of Love Life Cafe and true OGs of the South Florida Vegan community. What started as a small café inside a wellness and yoga space grew into one of Miami’s most respected plant-based restaurants, built on purpose, patience, and deep community roots.

We talk about the long game of running a Vegan business. The early days, organic growth, constant reinvention, surviving COVID, navigating acquisition, and ultimately reclaiming ownership, and what it really takes to stay true to your values when trends shift and pressure mounts. This conversation goes far beyond food into conscious business, whole foods, community loyalty, and why mission matters more than hype.

If you care about Vegan culture, ethical entrepreneurship, or building something meaningful that lasts, this episode offers an honest look at resilience, identity, and staying aligned while the world changes around you.

🎧 Listen now at VegansExplore.com/Podcast and explore more stories, businesses, and community resources from across the global Vegan movement.

In this episode, we sit down with Gwena Hunter, a visionary leader reshaping food access through compassion, faith, and action. Gwena shares her powerful Vegan origin story, the spiritual awakening that transformed her path, and how manifestation played a role in launching the first brick-and-mortar Vegan food bank founded by a Black woman.

This conversation explores the intersection of food justice, community care, and personal responsibility. Gwena breaks down what it really takes to build sustainable food systems, serve hundreds of families each month, and stay grounded while doing emotionally demanding work. From spirituality and self-accountability to Vegan food security and planetary unity, this episode goes far beyond the plate.

Listeners will walk away inspired to think differently about food, purpose, and their role in creating healthier communities.

Learn more, explore show notes, and support the mission at VegansExplore.com/Podcast.

In this episode of the Vegans Explore Podcast, we sit down with Stephanie Small, Head of Community at Date Night, a virtual speed dating platform reimagining how people connect in a swipe-fatigued world.

We explore how Date Night is creating real, face-to-face connections through virtual speed dating, why this model resonates with the Vegan community, and how their ongoing partnership with PETA adds a powerful give-back component that supports animals in need.

From meeting up to seven people in one hour to removing the pressure, ghosting, and guesswork of traditional dating apps, this conversation dives into how values-based dating can be efficient, meaningful, and community-driven.

If you are Vegan and tired of navigating dating spaces that do not align with your lifestyle or ethics, this episode offers a refreshing look at how connection, compassion, and intention can come together.

Learn how Vegan speed dating works, why it is gaining momentum across the U.S. and Canada, and where to find upcoming events.

Visit VegansExplore.com/Podcast to discover more episodes, community stories, and ways to connect with the global Vegan movement.