Vegans Talking Shit

We're diving back into the beautiful chaos for the second half of The Tofu Trio's inaugural Vegans Talking Shit Potluck Brunch. Joey keeps the party moving while battling the noise that only a crowded vegan gathering can provide. First at bat is Elvera the Vegan Realtor, who talks about her role in helping to open local plant-based businesses and her past life as a co-host of a different provocatively named vegan podcast. She and Joey find common ground in the dietary irony of being vegans who don't actually like vegetables, and then commiserate over the struggle of dealing with restaurant staff who don't know what the word "vegan" means. Then friend of the show Brad steps to the plate. After he and Joey spend some time laughing at their uncanny resemblance, they revisit Brad's greatest hits as a recurring guest before falling down a rabbit hole of movie talk and the weird "what-ifs" of AI-generated cinema. Finally, the real MVP of the day, Vanessa, brings it all home. She immediately humbles Joey by pointing out that the guests could have actually been wearing the microphones rather than holding them like amateurs. After making Joey look like an idiot, she explains her Brazilian carrot cake, which tasted amazing despite a suspicious lack of carrot flavor. Then they reveal the big news: a Shopify store is officially in the works so you can finally snag some Vegans Talking Shit merchandise! They wrap up the day with a deep dive into figure skating and coffee, finally putting a lid on the first-ever Vegans Talking Shit Potluck Brunch.

Vegans Talking Shit is hosted by Joey Di Girolamo, Jon Missirlian, and Vanessa Silva. Main podcast image artwork by Diego Orellana. Theme song "Flying" by TrackTribe. Visit @veganstalkingshit on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube and @vegans.talking.sh on TikTok. Send questions, comments, and topic ideas to [email protected], and you may get your email read during the show.

The Tofu Trio hosted their first Vegans Talking Shit Potluck Brunch, and Joey made the questionable decision to record an episode in the middle of the chaos. Whether or not this was a good idea is up for debate, but it certainly made for some delightfully shitty audio! On the plus side, if you like your podcasting raw, unique, and at times hard to understand, you're in the right place. In part one of this two-part extravaganza, Joey sits down with fellow junk-food vegan, Stephanie, to discuss the dark ages of being plant-based in mid-2000s Lincoln, Nebraska, and why that region supports more vegans and vegetarians than one might think. They also dive into the science-fiction reality of lab-grown meat. Long-time friend of the show Virginia finally makes her video debut! She shares her origin story—shouting out Gary Yourofsky's influence—and reflects on her transition to veganism. She and Joey then dissect the cultural stranglehold Publix has on Florida and the Southeastern United States before Virginia pivots to her fascinatingly eclectic career in the makeup industry. Finally, Jon joins the show. As per tradition, when Jon and Joey get together, the vegan part of the podcast goes entirely out the window. They discuss Jon's role as one of the event hosts, though we all know Vanessa did most of the heavy lifting. They also cover pickleball, and the ongoing campaign by Jon and Vanessa to get Joey out on the court with them. As the conversation comes to an end, the boys go over the wildly different outcomes of their recent adventures in online sports betting. Tune in next week for three new guests and even more shitty audio!

Vegans Talking Shit is hosted by Joey Di Girolamo, Jon Missirlian, and Vanessa Silva. Main podcast image artwork by Diego Orellana. Theme song "Flying" by TrackTribe. Visit @veganstalkingshit on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube and @vegans.talking.sh on TikTok. Send questions, comments, and topic ideas to [email protected], and you may get your email read during the show.

In this pint-sized episode of Vegans Talking Shit, Jon remains out enjoying his hockey day, so once again, it's The Tofu Trio minus one. After an awkward introduction needlessly explaining that this is the second half of a single recording split into two different topics, Joey and Vanessa begin discussing iguanas and other invasive species. They chat about the low IQ of iguanas and the bizarre phenomenon of them falling from trees during the rare South Florida cold snap. The conversation turns to the controversial law allowing people to kill iguanas in Florida. Vanessa gets emotional sharing how she tried to save several frozen iguanas near her building only to learn that someone had begun killing them, leading Joey to discuss the irony of labeling a species "invasive" when humans brought them there in the first place. As the show closes, Joey gets a little too excited about his ability to split the recording into two separate topics, resulting in some audible "thinking out loud" about posting dates and voting deadlines. It’s an awkward hello and a fumbled goodbye, but the conversation in between might actually be worth the listen.

Vegans Talking Shit is hosted by Joey Di Girolamo, Jon Missirlian, and Vanessa Silva. Main podcast image artwork by Diego Orellana. Theme song "Flying" by TrackTribe. Visit @veganstalkingshit on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube and @vegans.talking.sh on TikTok. Send questions, comments, and topic ideas to [email protected], and you may get your email read during the show.

Since it's a hockey day for Jon, this episode features The Tofu Trio minus one. Joey and Vanessa discuss a topic suggested by a listener: Is it actually okay for vegans to wear second-hand leather or other used animal-derived clothing? Before diving in, Vanessa reviews the new Beyond Immerse protein drinks from Beyond Meat. Joey then explains why he would never wear leather under any circumstances, while Vanessa offers a more nuanced take, including the fate of the leather handbag collection she owned prior to going vegan. In a true podcast miracle, Joey stays on topic the entire time. Instead, it's Vanessa who veers off to discuss what happens to iguanas in Florida. The discussion quickly shifts from lizards to the macabre, as Joey details the horrors of the fur industry and the footage shown in the harrowing documentary "Earthlings," followed by Vanessa's account of a visit to an animal sanctuary that functioned more like a prison for the animals in its care. To lighten the mood, Vanessa suggests returning to the topic of Florida iguanas, but you'll have to tune in next week to hear that conversation.

Today is the last day to vote for Vegans Talking Shit for Best Vegan Podcast in the 2026 VegNews Veggie Awards! Visit https://vegnews.com/veggie-awards-2026/survey to cast your vote. The show is listed in the 37th category, so you'll have to click "Next Page" a few times to get there. Voting ends today, March 10.

Vegans Talking Shit is hosted by Joey Di Girolamo, Jon Missirlian, and Vanessa Silva. Main podcast image artwork by Diego Orellana. Theme song "Flying" by TrackTribe. Visit @veganstalkingshit on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube and @vegans.talking.sh on TikTok. Send questions, comments, and topic ideas to [email protected], and you may get your email read during the show.

In a very special episode of Vegans Talking Shit, The Tofu Trio welcomes Denis Soukhanov, who co-owns Zen Mystery—an organic lounge, café, and cultural center—with his wife. Denis shares his personal journey to veganism, the vision behind his strictly organic mission, and how his business survived the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the conversation continues, Joey asks Denis if he would ever consider adding meat to the menu to stay afloat—a move some struggling vegan restaurants have made—while Jon and Denis discuss the broader future of plant-based dining. For her part, Vanessa can't stop talking about the awesomeness of the Zen Mystery potato salad. To wrap up the show, Denis reveals the origin of the Zen Mystery name and highlights several new menu items. Just as the episode concludes, Jon and Vanessa's cat, Bob, makes his presence known by causing a glitch in the video. At least it wasn't Khaleesi messing up the recording this time!

All dishes at Zen Mystery are organic, vegan, and gluten-free, and prepared on-site daily. To learn more, visit zenmystery.com. Follow @ZenMystery on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Help The Tofu Trio win their first award! To vote for Vegans Talking Shit for Best Vegan Podcast in the 2026 VegNews Veggie Awards, visit https://vegnews.com/veggie-awards-2026/survey. The show is listed in the 37th category, which requires clicking "Next Page" several times. Every vote counts, and voting ends March 10.

Vegans Talking Shit is hosted by Joey Di Girolamo, Jon Missirlian, and Vanessa Silva. Main podcast image artwork by Diego Orellana. Theme song "Flying" by TrackTribe. Visit @veganstalkingshit on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube and @vegans.talking.sh on TikTok. Send questions, comments, and topic ideas to [email protected], and you may get your email read during the show.

The boys sit out this bonus episode as Vanessa is joined by artist, musician, and author Nancy Illman. Returning for her second appearance (previously appearing in Episode 45, Voices from the Vegan Cruise: Holly & Nancy), Nancy joins Vanessa for a conversation about their lives and the shared experience of being vegan in a non-vegan world.

The highlight of this episode is the personal tour of Nancy's vibrant, creative home, which is an art piece in its own right. We strongly recommend watching the video version, as her home has to be seen to be believed. Nancy also shares how she weaves veganism into her artwork. Afterward, the two friends dive into the reality of family dynamics as a vegan, the addictive nature of cheese, and why Medjool dates are the ultimate transition food for cutting out processed sugars and baked goods. To close, Vanessa shares her dream of spending more time in Brazil and the steps she and Jon are taking to make that happen.

To book a tour of Nancy's local public-facing murals in Takoma Park, Maryland, visit https://nancyillman.com/ or email [email protected].

The Tofu Trio is proud to announce that Vegans Talking Shit has been nominated for Best Vegan Podcast in the VegNews Veggie Awards! Head over to https://vegnews.com/veggie-awards-2026/survey right now to cast your vote and help them bring home the trophy. Every vote counts! Voting ends March 10.

Vegans Talking Shit is hosted by Joey Di Girolamo, Jon Missirlian, and Vanessa Silva. Main podcast image artwork by Diego Orellana. Theme song "Flying" by TrackTribe. Visit @veganstalkingshit on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube and @vegans.talking.sh on TikTok. Send questions, comments, and topic ideas to [email protected], and you may get your email read during the show.

In an episode that's devoid of a real topic, The Tofu Trio drops all pretenses to shamelessly beg for listener support. The big news? Vegans Talking Shit has been nominated for Best Vegan Podcast in the VegNews Veggie Awards! WOO-HOO! After speculating on how the show actually landed a nomination, the conversation predictably veers off the rails. Joey gushes over the brilliant TV series "Kevin Can F*ck Himself," Vanessa explains why she's wearing a vintage Brazil soccer jersey, and Jon pivots to a heartfelt plea for cat adoption. The wheels come off entirely as the trio inexplicably dives into the Imperial vs. Metric system, the audacity of using "America" to describe just the United States, and the ridiculousness of the "Gulf of America." As the show concludes, Joey tries to talk to Jon about "The Smashing Machine," but Vanessa mercifully pulls the plug before things get too heavy.

Help The Tofu Trio take home the trophy! Head over to https://vegnews.com/veggie-awards-2026/survey to vote for Vegans Talking Shit for Best Vegan Podcast. The show is listed in the 37th category, so it requires clicking "Next Page" a few times. Think of it as a finger workout for a good cause. Well, a fairly good cause. Okay, it isn't a BAD cause!

Vegans Talking Shit is hosted by Joey Di Girolamo, Jon Missirlian, and Vanessa Silva. Main podcast image artwork by Diego Orellana. Theme song "Flying" by TrackTribe. Visit @veganstalkingshit on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube and @vegans.talking.sh on TikTok. Send questions, comments, and topic ideas to [email protected], and you may get your email read during the show.

With Jon and Vanessa in Brazil, Joey unleashes another Non-Vegan Voices episode, this time with his Gen Z friend Shain, a walking and talking comic book encyclopedia. After an origin story of their friendship, Joey attempts to dive right into the world of superheroes, but Shain effectively pulls a "Vanessa," keeping the show anchored to its plant-based roots. Shain has to do this several times throughout the episode, as Joey seems hellbent on focusing primarily on comic books. As they continue, Shain discusses being the son of Jamaican immigrants and the grandson of a Rastafarian, prompting Joey to take a sharp left turn into his dating history with a Chinese-Jamaican woman and the "delicacy" known as Goat Head Soup. The banter continues as Shain describes the short documentary he made at the comic book store and why Joey isn't in it. They then geek out over comic books written by filmmaker and noted vegan Kevin Smith, DC's hugely successful Absolute Universe, and the burning question of whether or not Absolute Batman kills people. Before heading to a feast at Vegan Tierra, the two close out the show discussing "cupcake vegans," vegan cupcakes, and chocolate. Clearly, they were hungry!

Watch Shain's short documentary, "Comics Are Cool: Please Read Them":
https://youtu.be/ZxUmBstrE6o?si=95CN9-ohveN7Pl-C

Read Shain's debut as a comic book writer, "Meat":
https://globalcomix.com/read/17b132e9-01b8-417f-b479-ad2ee7b1bd8d/1

Trigger Warning: Shain's comic book is extremely graphic and contains animal cruelty, child abuse, gratuitous violence, and gore. I love it, but it's very dark, so the trigger warning is well-earned!

Vegans Talking Shit is hosted by Joey Di Girolamo, Jon Missirlian, and Vanessa Silva. Main podcast image artwork by Diego Orellana. Theme song "Flying" by TrackTribe. Visit @veganstalkingshit on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube and @vegans.talking.sh on TikTok. Send questions, comments, and topic ideas to [email protected], and you may get your email read during the show.

After clumsily handling the topic in part one, The Tofu Trio spends the second half of this two-part episode practically ignoring it altogether. Instead, they dive into niche religions like Jainism, the Hare Krishna movement, and Satanism. Eventually, Jon brings up the movie "Time Bandits," only to then confuse "The Time Machine" with "Time After Time." Vanessa then previews an upcoming trip to Brazil, and Joey reminisces about his time volunteering at farm sanctuaries, which includes his revelation that he found joy in shoveling poop. It was only a matter of time before someone on this show literally talked shit again!

Vegans Talking Shit is hosted by Joey Di Girolamo, Jon Missirlian, and Vanessa Silva. Main podcast image artwork by Diego Orellana. Theme song "Flying" by TrackTribe. Visit @veganstalkingshit on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube and @vegans.talking.sh on TikTok. Send questions, comments, and topic ideas to [email protected], and you may get your email read during the show.

With all the subtlety and sensitivity of a drunk ape wielding a sledgehammer, The Tofu Trio tackles the provocative (and, let's be honest, shamelessly clickbaity) question posed in today's title. In part one of a two-part episode, the group discusses the common outsider perception that a disproportionate number of vegans are gay, and the various reasons why that stereotype exists. Their clunky conversation covers, among other things, the demographics of Wilton Manors, the unsubstantiated fear that soy makes men feminine, and some of the other classic plant-based misconceptions. True to form, about half the episode is a complete detour: Vanessa unlocks the secrets of "Blue Zones" like Loma Linda, CA, Jon defends his preference for cats over dogs, and Joey launches into a passionate, slightly tragic deep dive on why his favorite dog breed, the English Bulldog, should no longer be bred.

Vegans Talking Shit is hosted by Joey Di Girolamo, Jon Missirlian, and Vanessa Silva. Main podcast image artwork by Diego Orellana. Theme song "Flying" by TrackTribe. Visit @veganstalkingshit on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube and @vegans.talking.sh on TikTok. Send questions, comments, and topic ideas to [email protected], and you may get your email read during the show.