Eat Green Make Green Podcast

"It's up to everybody to empower the people that this world is trying to take the power away from."On this week's episode of the Eat Green Make Green Podcast, I sit down with the extremely talented Avi Jacob. Avi is an incredible musician originally from the Providence, RI area. We talk about how Avi battled Crohn's disease for years until a diet change finally cured him, what led him to adopting a vegan lifestyle and how he hasn't been to a hospital since, how he approaches raising his kid when it comes to food, why he's just a regular working-class dad despite the fact he very much fits the "vegan" stereotype, the difficulty of getting widely known as an artist, how he literally just wakes up with songs in his head, his new album coming out in March, and why being vegan is empowering. Avi is a super cool dude and his music is outstanding! Keep an eye out for him, he's destined for the big stage.Show NotesAvi's Website: https://www.avijacobfolk.com/

"There's no way your eyes won't open up to how good it makes you feel... that has to be the goal... feeling good, not what you look like."On this week's episode of the Eat Green Make Green Podcast, I sit down with popular life coach and blogger Casey Edward. I've followed Casey on Instagram for some time now, and we finally connected at my plant-based pop-up dinner this past week. We talk about Casey's previous struggles with eating and body image, how a visit from an energetic and glowing friend sparked her journey towards a plant-based diet, how judgement by others is simply a reflection of them, the history of protein and why its wrongfully risen to prominence, the power of intermittent fasting, the awesomeness of the Law of Attraction, how veganism has helped her get to a place of self love, and much more. Casey is amazing. She has this energy and positivity that you can't help but be overtaken by. I truly enjoyed every second of this conversation, and I left w

"When you take the fear chemical out of your food... you definitely feel a change, you start sleeping better, you're more calm, you're happier, you have more energy... it's never ending."On this week's episode of the Eat Green Make Green Podcast, I sit down with ex-NFL lineman and food justice activist David Carter, or as many know him as, the 300 Pound Vegan. I've followed David for years on social media and he was one of the first vegan guys I found that demonstrated to me that I didn't need animal foods and animal protein to be strong. We talk about how David went from a meat-eating 300 pound lineman to a much stronger plant-eating 300 pound lineman, the myths around protein, how the lack of access to healthy foods in low-income areas actually originated from Jim Crow Laws, how most people, especially African Americans, are lactose intolerant and don't know it, how the top killers of Americans (heart disease, cancers, diabetes, etc.) are all direct results of

"The amount of suffering that goes on behind these factory farm walls is one of the saddest and most disturbing things that humanity has ever been a part of."On this week's episode of the Eat Green Make Green Podcast, I sit down with fellow Hingham, MA resident Alison Rabschnuk. Alison is the Director of Corporate Engagement for The Good Food Institute. The Good Food Institute is an amazing non-profit that works with scientists, investors, and entrepreneurs to make groundbreaking good food a reality. They focus on clean meat and plant-based alternatives to animal products - foods that are more delicious, safer to eat, and better for the planet than their outdated counterparts. We talk about Alison's dislike for meat at a young age, her many years as a vegetarian and why she ultimately became vegan, how she approaches feeding her omnivorous kids and husband, why lack of convenience is ultimately why more people aren't eating plant-based, why healthier foods aren't in more US p

"3 Years ago, the word "vegan" was foreign, scary, crazy, unhealthy, hipster, and not even a thought to me... now I've come to realize it simply embodies a rule I was taught by my mother at a very young age, the Golden Rule."All the way back in March, I decided to start the Eat Green Make Green Podcast in hopes of educating people about the power of living a plant-based/vegan lifestyle with the intent of positively impacting peoples' lives through telling other relatable stories. I committed to doing one episode each week for the entire year. At the time, however, I only knew 3 other vegans: my mom (who I had only recently coerced into giving it a try) and my friends Pete and Carly. Those were my first 3 episodes, and I had no idea how I was going to find a new person each week to continue the show.Well, it turns out that the plant-based/vegan community is filled with absolute studs. People who went out of their way on a day's notice, people who opened their arms to me, t

"When someone looks at you with love the way you want to be loved, it's so healing and transformative... that's what the world needs more of."On this week's episode of the Eat Green Make Green Podcast, I sit down with the super talented Evanna Lynch and Robbie Jarvis... or, as Harry Potter fans know them as, Luna Lovegood & James Potter. Evanna and Robbie are both successful actors, vegan advocates, and the hosts of a popular new podcast called The ChickPeeps. We talk about Evanna & Robbie's upbringings, what led them to veganism, their experiences as actors in the Harry Potter films, dating as a vegan, the golden rule, why raising animals for food is not just an animal rights issue but also a human rights issue, and much more. I truly enjoyed getting to know Evanna and Robbie. They're both not only very talented people, but they're also great people and their compassion for others and the world as a whole is very much evident in this conversation. Enjoy!Sh

"If we can break the narrative that different beings are deserving of different treatment because of the way they look... the world will be a better place."On this week's episode of the Eat Green Make Green Podcast, I sit down with the dynamic Loui Blake. Loui is a London-based serial entrepreneur, writer, vegan advocate, plant-based startup consultant and has his hands in just about everything in the London vegan business scene. We talk about Loui's many ventures, what led him to veganism, the relationship between masculinity and food, why we really don't have much time to save our planet, why people aren't bad they're just unconscious, what the plant-based restaurant scene is like in London, his experiences with plant medicines like ayahuasca, and why whole plant foods are like a limitless pill (eat green make green!). Loui is an entrepreneurial beast and just an all around great dude and I thoroughly enjoyed this conversation.Show Notes:Loui's Website: https://w

"Cutting out that violence from your life... it does something to you... you become lighter."On this week's episode of the Eat Green Make Green Podcast, I sit down with the incredible Keith Schubert. Keith is the owner of the wildly popular Taco Party Truck, which slings ridiculously good tacos out of their food truck throughout Boston and out of their retail location in Somerville... Oh, and they're 100% plant-based! Keith has quite a wild story, I'm not sure where to begin... We talk about his life growing up in rural New Hampshire, how he went on a nation-wide tour with his band, how he then became a roadie for Fergie and the Black Eyed Peas and travelled the world, how he came up with the idea for a taco food truck while in China, all the hurdles he's had to overcome to start Taco Party, why adopting a plant-based lifestyle has made him lighter (both physically and emotionally), and much more. Keith is such a great dude, and his mission and approach with Taco Party is just

"Before I leave this planet, whatever I can do to end unnecessary suffering... that's my purpose."On this week's episode of the Eat Green Make Green Podcast, I sit down with the one and only Brett Mirliani. Brett, among many other things, is the Founder of an amazing group called The Vegan Mindset, which is a community of professionals advocating the benefits of a plant-based diet and holistic vegan lifestyle. We talk about how Brett was exposed to vegetarianism at a young age, why he chose to became vegetarian at age 16, how he approaches raising and feeding his three kids, how a lunch meeting sparked his recent transition to veganism, his desire to provide conscious investing options to future clients of his, and why he believes his purpose here is to end all unnecessary suffering. Brett is an incredible guy and he is truly shattering the stereotypes associated with being a "vegan."Show Notes:The Vegan Mindset LinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13518970Brett&ap

"You really should not be wearing anything less than what makes you feel like a f**king rockstar."On this week's episode of the Eat Green Make Green Podcast, I sit down with the amazing and energetic Emmi Sorokin. Emmi is a renowned men's fashion stylist, image consultant, and author of the popular The Business Casual Survival Guide: 30 Looks for Men. We talk about Emmi's life growing up as a Russian immigrant in the US, how a simple image on TV at a Dunkin Donuts sparked her journey into vegetarianism, her entrepreneurial journey through the tech world and eventually into fashion, why it's so important to dress well, the struggles of finding ethically sourced clothing and the future of cruelty-free fashion, and why we should all pay attention. I also scared the crap out of Emmi by telling her how the dairy industry operates (something everyone should be aware of!). Emmi is a blast to be around, she has absolutely no filter, and you never quite know what to expect...Show Note

"We came from nature, we're a part of nature, we're all connected..."On this week's episode of the Eat Green Make Green Podcast, I sit down with the incredibly talented Kat Wolff of the Boston-based band The Wolff Sisters. Kat and I connected through a Boston plant-based group that we're both a part of, and after listening to some of her songs (they're awesome!), I was really excited to get her on the podcast! We talk about life growing up in a musical family, how Kat and her sisters write songs for the band, how meat and dairy has always freaked her out since she was young, how adopting a plant-based diet has been a spiritual experience and allowed her to overcome previous health issues, why eating fruit is her jam, and why she's on a mission to help people remember their roots. We also talk all about the new Wolff Sisters album that is coming out soon! Kat is such a cool and talented person, and I really enjoyed our conversation.Show Notes:Pre-Order The Wolff Sist

"As we say here in Boston... plant-based diets are wicked healthy and are healthier than omnivorous and carnivorous diets."On this week's episode of the Eat Green Make Green Podcast, I sit down with the extraordinary Allan Kornberg, MD, MBA.  Allan has a very impressive life resume as a physician and health care executive, and currently serves as Chair of the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries which provides funds, support, and accreditation to animal sanctuaries around the world.  He is also Chair of the Animal Defense Partnership which provides pro bono legal work for animal protection agencies.  We talk about Allan's journey from a meat-eating Brooklyn kid to a vegetarian and ultimately a vegan, the enormous health benefits of a plant-based diet, why the notion that we need cow's milk and protein from animal products to be healthy is simply wrong, the lack of nutrition education given to doctors, the future of food and medicine, and Allan's future plans of a non-profit fo

"I've found that the emotions around food are the most important thing..."On this week's episode of the Eat Green Make Green Podcast, I'm going to share a previous radio interview I did with the incredible Orelia Helias of Enhance The Light. Orelia is an author, speaker, and renowned energy healer, all while being the mother of 15 children (that is not a typo... 15!). We talk about food, energy, the law of attraction, the importance of appreciating your food and the emotion around it, fasting, protein, how to achieve a higher state or consciousness, and much more. Orelia possesses a world-class knowledge of energy and healing that I find to be super interesting. She even did a little training on me at the end of our interview that left me excited and determined to explore those areas in my life. There's a bunch of amazing information in this conversation, and I hope you'll be able to draw some new perspectives to apply in your own life.Show Notes:Enhance The Light website:  

"Don't worry about being perfect, focus on today, and do the best you can."On this week's episode of the Eat Green Make Green Podcast, I sit down with the amazing Shawn McCormick, the owner of the Greenlight juice and smoothie bar in Hingham, MA. Shawn and I connected through a previous podcast guest, Dave O'Brien (Episode 22). A number of other people in Hingham had also mentioned I should connect with Shawn, so I was very excited we were able to make this happen. We talk about Shawn's journey from a meat-eating heavy-drinking mortgage professional to a vegan wellness entrepreneur, what triggered Shawn's exploration into plant-based food, the social pressures associated with eating, the many myths associated with protein, how he approaches educating his children about food, and why it's all about doing the best you can. Shawn is an incredible guy and what he's doing at the Greenlight is so inspiring and important.

"If I could start over, would I really be hurting others even though I don't have to? The answer is probably no."On this week's episode of the Eat Green Make Green Podcast, I sit down with the dynamic duo behind the popular Eat Plants Drink Beer brand, Craig Tamble and Lorelei Plotczyk. I've been following Craig and Lorelei's blog and Instagram account for quite some time as we share two common passions: plants and beer. We talk about how they met, how and why Craig (with a push from Lorelei) went from a pig-roasting carnivore to a plant-eating vegan, why going vegan was so damn easy, how it changed their relationship with food and opened them up to entire new types of cuisine, why it's hard to admit when we're wrong, and why vegan values are simply just human values. Craig and Lorelei are such awesome people! True to their name (Eat Plants Drink Beer), they greeted me with an outstanding borscht soup, some home-brew beer, and vegan cookies... need I say more? Th

"It's about being respectful of this world... and everyone who is included in it."On this week's episode of the Eat Green Make Green Podcast, I sit down with the fabulous Marissa Hughes, the GM for one of Boston's favorite plant-based eateries By Chloe in the Seaport. Marissa and I connected through a string of mutual friends, and I was excited to get her on the podcast and also get her take on a new project I'm working on (psst... plant-based food and craft drink is coming to the South Shore!). We talk about how a book called "Skinny Bitch" sparked her journey to veganism, what holds people back from changing what they eat, the fear of not belonging, dating as a vegan woman, and much more. Marissa is awesome and her energy, positivity, and compassion is contagious. Enjoy!Show Notes:Marissa's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thevegan_vixen/Skinny Bitch Book: https://www.skinnybitch.net/

"From when my eyes open in the morning until my head hits the pillow at night, I've made some sort of difference... it's the right thing to do."On this week's episode of the Eat Green Make Green Podcast, I sit down with the one and only Paul Kostopoulos, the owner of Fitness Together in Arlington, MA. Honestly, the last thing I would have thought when I first met Paul is that he's vegan. He has a hard Boston accent, a blue collar rough around the edges persona, and struck me as a guy who would give me shit for ordering a salad... a typical Bostonian man's man, if you will. Beneath the surface, however, Paul is far from typical and his love and compassion for other people (like his many clients at Fitness Together) and the many other creatures on this earth redefines what it really means to be a man. We talk about Paul's early life, his struggles with drugs and alcohol, what promoted him to go vegan, how he ended up starting Fitness Together, and why he's on a mi

"I went from being on morphine everyday for years of my life, to being medication free in two weeks (of becoming vegan)."On this week's episode of the Eat Green Make Green Podcast, I sit down with the talented Chef Suzi Darlin. Suzi is currently the Director of Brand and Product Development for the Squeeze juice brand. We talk about how a 5 year battle with an unknown health issue subsided within 2 weeks of adopting a plant-based diet, why she dropped a successful career in fashion to pursue plant-based cooking/consulting, what the Boston plant-based/vegan restaurant scene is like in Boston, how to replace eggs and cheese in your diet and in your favorite recipes, and much more. Suzi is awesome, she's extremely knowledgeable on all things vegan and it was an absolute pleasure connecting with her. She also fired up an outstanding banana bread for me... and my mouth is still watering from it.Show Notes:Suzi's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bigpicturevegan/Suzi's Website:

"Do we need to consume animal products to be healthy?  No."On this week's episode of the Eat Green Make Green Podcast, I sit down with the amazing Diana Goldman. Diana is the founder and creator behind the plant-based cooking brand Beantown Kitchen. From catering, to private cooking demos, to YouTube videos, to curating amazing recipes, Diana and Beantown Kitchen does a fantastic job of showing how simple and affordable plant-based living can be. We talk about why Diana went vegan overnight after a day of watching documentaries and researching, how she handled being the main cook for her omnivorous children, how she handles dinner parties and other social situations, and much more. Diana looks outstanding, her energy and passion for what she's doing is very evident, and I can't say enough about her food! (We enjoyed veggie burgers with pineapple chutney, two different cheese dips and chips, and some sort of graham cracker caramel nut dessert that was ridiculously good!)

"If there's anything I can do to stay with my family as long as I can, I want to do it."On this week's episode of the Eat Green Make Green Podcast, I sit down with the spectacular Noelle Rhodes. Noelle is a fellow class of 2008 Hingham High grad, so we've know each other for some time. But I only learned this week that she has been plant-based for the past couple of years, so obviously I had to get her on the podcast! We talk about how the death of her grandmother from cancer sparked a family-wide awareness of plant-based diets, how eating plant-based has changed her relationship with herself, the struggles of dating as a vegan, and why it's so important to question everything. It was so nice to reconnect with Noelle and she is an amazing example of the power of living a plant-based lifestyle.