Switch4good

Eric Jackson is a force for good. He is standing up against systematic oppression and empowering the Black community to take ownership—ownership of land, ownership of business, and ownership of their situation. What begins as a conversation about food apartheid in a suburb of Baltimore builds into a larger conversation on the history of class-based inequity and how it is up to the oppressed—not the oppressor—to create social change. In times such as these, it is the actions of people like Eric that will incite systematic change.  What we discuss in this episode:   - Eric’s childhood and how it shaped his current endeavors  - History of food disparity and housing segregation   - What is food apartheid? How is it different from a food desert?   - Baltimore’s Strange Fruit documentary   - Black land and business ownership   - Dietary racism   - Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire   - Papal Bull of 1452 that allowed the enslavement of certain groups of people - Womanist theology   - How non-Blacks can su

Lindsay Rubin is setting the record straight—dogs aren’t carnivores, they’re omnivores, and they can thrive on a plant-based diet. As the Vice President of V-dog, a vegan dog food company, Lindsay employs both science and strong anecdotal evidence to help us understand what kind of foods nourish our canine companions the best. Anyone skeptical about feeding their dog meat-free food will definitely walk away from this conversation with a changed perspective—especially after hearing what’s in meat-based dog food. Alexandra even gives the minty treats a try, and her reaction may surprise you. Tune in to learn how nutrition can change your dog’s life for good. What we discuss in this episode:   - How dogs are different than wolves   - Lindsay’s personal vegan journey   - What’s really in meat-based dog food    - How to transition dogs to a plant-based diet   - The evolution of V-dog   - V-dog website: https://v-dog.com/   Connect with Switch4Good   - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ2toqAmlQpwR1HDF_K

What are we really ingesting when we drink cows’ milk?   What are mothers passing through their bodies to their children? What in the world is a dairy allergy?   Dr. Vivian Chen dives into the dangers of dairy and her story of transitioning to a plant-based diet after a battle to diagnose the root of her infant’s feeding problem.   As a double-certified physician, Dr. Chen has seen a host of improvements in her patients when they cut dairy and address their lifestyle.   She’s going to tell you the sneaky ways dairy might be affecting you -- and your children.     What we discuss in this episode:   - Defining dairy allergy, and distinguishing it from lactose intolerance.    - The top four allergies Dr. Chen says mothers should look for.   - Ethnic diversity in allergy prevalence and the difficulty in testing for allergies.   - Delayed vs. acute symptoms and allergies in adults vs. babies.   - Elimination diets to discover the root of your symptoms.    - The effects of casein metabolizing into casomorphin.  

Growing up as a white male in South Africa during apartheid, Michael Schwarz developed a strong sense of right and wrong from an early age. Over the years, this sense of justice found its way into all aspects of Michael’s life—including the way he ate. The result was Treeline Cheese—a luxurious French-style cashew-based cheese company now available in Whole Foods and Kroger grocers nationwide. Michael offers his unique insight on a broad range of topics—from ethics in business to the delicious evolution of his brand and its upcoming products (slices and shreds are coming!). Cheese-lover or not, everyone can take a bite out of this exceptional conversation. What we discuss in this episode:   - Growing up in the times of apartheid    - Business as a form of activism   - The art of fermenting vegan cheese   - The issue of saturated fat and vegan cheese   - Responsible sourcing of cashews   - How the coronavirus affected business   - Treeline Cheese website. Be on the lookout for Treeline slices and shreds! Con

Jessica Strathdee worked on a typical dairy farm in New Zealand. The animals were not intentionally abused, and they had access to the open green fields so often associated with the pastoral practice of dairying. However, Jessica’s retelling of her experience on the farm is horrifying. It’s not the farm she worked on—it’s the system. There is no way to obtain cows’ milk for human consumption without participating in truly exploitive acts. Jessica is not an animal-lover, nor is she a bleeding-heart emotional activist. She’s a regular person who thought cows’ milk was perfectly normal, noble even, until her work experience revealed the truth. Now the founder of Mothers Against Dairy New Zealand, she’s using her knowledge of the industry to fight back against the cruel system she was once part of. What we discuss in this episode:   - The process of dairying in detail   - A day in the life of a dairy farm worker   - The challenges faced by the dairy community   - The moment Jessica realized dairying was wrong  

What really happens every time you put food into your body? What is the microbiome? How does it affect us? How important is fiber? What about pre and probiotics? Dr. Will Bulsiewicz answers these questions and more in this riveting episode all about the gut. Think of it as Microbiome 101. Understand the science behind this multifaceted system then learn how to put it into practice by picking up a copy of Dr. Bulsiewicz’s new book, Fiber Fueled. What we discuss in this episode:   - Dr. Bulsiewicz’s new book, Fiber Fueled   - Prebiotics versus probiotics   - The science of how to heal your gut   - The gut/brain connection   - Benefits of fermented plant foods   - The American Gut Project   - Dr. Joel Fuhrman’s nutritarian philosophy     - Diet Rapidly and Reproducibly Alters the Human Gut Microbiome 2014 study    - Dr. Bulsiewicz’s website: theplantfedgut.com Connect with Switch4Good   - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ2toqAmlQpwR1HDF_KKfGg   - Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Switch4Good/  

How does a young finance professional pivot careers and establish three successful plant-based restaurants without an ounce of traditional culinary training? Hard work, a can-do attitude, and an unrelenting belief in oneself and one’s mission. It’s been a decade-long journey, but Stephanie Morgan—founder of Seabirds Kitchen—has certainly proved herself as a respected chef and restauranteur. Her food is both familiar and creative—from the plant-based pesto-schmeared grilled cheese to the wonderfully curious pairing of almond butter on housemade beet burger. Stephanie uses her food to advance the plant-based message without even a mention of “vegan” on the menu. After months of begging, we were honored to interview and feature this humble unsung hero. What we discuss in this episode:   - Stephanie’s journey to a plant-based diet (it all started with a Wheat Thin box)   - Seabird’s rise from humble food truck to three successful brick-and-mortar locations   - Behind the scenes of Stephanie’s season of The Great

Indra Lahiri is a renowned communicator with a resume that boasts senior-level communications positions at global companies from PNC Bank to Coca-Cola. However, she’s using her superior communication skills to foster a relationship between humans and animals. The founder of Indraloka Animal Sanctuary in Dalton, PA, Indra saves and cares for hundreds of rescued farm animals while teaching children and adults alike about the need for compassion, communication, and respect for all lives. Indra is both articulate and grounded, loving and insightful. We learned so much about connection during this discussion, and we could all use a bit more of that right now.    What we discuss in this episode:   - Indra’s background in communication and how she translates that to running a sanctuary.    - The need to listen and respect others—both human and animal.    - Personalities of animals   - The difference between a sanctuary and a zoo.    - Hopeful Heroes program   - Animal Penpal Program   - Indraloka’s website   Connect

More than 9 billion land animals are raised and killed for consumption every year, just in the United States.    The more people consume meat, the higher the demand, and the more animals are exploited and slaughtered.    But why do we tend to only eat certain kinds of meat? Why are more of us investing in premium pet products at the same time the chicken slaughter rate is continuing to increase?    Today’s guest shares some insight into this phenomenon, which she has coined carnism.   Dr. Melanie Joy is a Harvard-educated psychologist, author, and vegan advocate behind the concept of carnism. She’s also a TEDx speaker and recipient of the prestigious Ahimsa Award.   Tune in to hear Dr. Melanie Joy as she joins Dotsie and Alexandra to discuss how carnism is woven into the very fabric of our society. She explains that it’s both institutionalized and internalized, and held up by our social powerarchy.    Learn how carnism creates a defense mechanism that distorts perception, disconnects us from empathy, and h

Looking at Dahlia Marin now, you never would have guessed she grew up unhealthy. Diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, polycystic ovarian syndrome, obesity, high cholesterol, and prediabetes at 17, Dahlia’s overwhelming health issues led her to pursuing a degree in nutrition and ultimately healing herself. She met her husband, James, in school and together they developed a plant-based practice to holistically treat their patients. Dahlia is an expert on gut health and raising healthy children from infancy onward. In this episode, we take a scientific deep dive into gut health, managing the microbiome, and infant and early childhood nutrition.     What we discuss in this episode:   - How her unhealthy early lifestyle led to her pursuing a degree in nutrition.   - Comprehensive explanation of what goes on in your gut (and how it may lead to disease)   - The downside to antibiotics   - How food can help or hinder your gut   - How to retrain your gut to digest fibrous foods   - How to raise an infant, dairy-free   - James

Growing up, Heather Mitts Feeley juggled soccer balls. Now, she’s juggling three kids under the age of 6 and just as many advocacy projects. A three-time Olympic gold medalist for Team USA, Heather talks in detail about getting into soccer, her Olympic experience, and how she was part of the first wave of professional women soccer players who began pushing for equal pay. We also dive into her home life—what it’s like raising three young kids and navigating a marriage when your spouse isn’t vegan. Whether you’re a sports fan or need some family-friendly meal tips, everyone has something to gain from Heather’s knowledge.    What we discuss in this episode:   - Heather’s rise to the Olympics   - The inequality between men and women in professional sports   - How to raise a family when one spouse isn’t vegan   - Healthy, kid-friendly meal ideas   - Heather’s advocacy projects, such as her work with Victoria’s Law    Connect with Switch4Good   - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ2toqAmlQpwR1HDF_KKfGg  

Charlie Engle has run across the Sahara. He’s served time in prison. He’s remained sober from a debilitating alcohol and drug addiction for 26 years. Most of us can’t relate to the feats Charlie has accomplished, but we can all learn from his experiences and his wisdom. In the time of COVID-19, we could all benefit from a bit of self-evaluation. Charlie’s advice is sound, attainable, and immensely helpful for anyone who is struggling to overcome a challenge or is simply stuck. Life is a collection of highs and lows and the space in between. It is both beautiful and painful, but we decide how we react to each of these experiences. This episode is exceptionally timely given our current uncertain circumstances, and we hope it inspires you to harness your individual power in dealing with situations not in our control. What we discuss in this episode:   - How our passions and our work remain relevant in the time of COVID-19   - Is running trading one addiction for another?   - The mindset of an addict, how to stay

Dr. Neal Barnard is back! Repeat guest (Episode 22), new information. We probe him for the groundbreaking and life-altering information included in his new book Your Body in Balance. It’s all about managing your hormones through plant-based nutrition because it turns out, our hormones affect our health way more than we ever imagined. Man, woman, adult, or child, this information is applicable to everyone. Listen in to start your journey to better health and to simply feel good again in your body.   What we discuss in this episode:   - Dr. Barnard’s latest book, Your Body In Balance   - Recent Harvard review, “Milk and Health”   - Why milk doesn’t build strong bones   - Thyroid issues   - The soy controversy   - Erectile dysfunction   - Dairy complications in children’s health   - Nutrition and its effects on depression and anxiety   Connect with Switch4Good   - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ2toqAmlQpwR1HDF_KKfGg   - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Switch4Good/   - Instagram: https://www.inst

If a simple dietary change could limit the destructive effects of cancer, reverse chronic conditions, and heal your body, how quickly would you make the switch?    We’ve all been touched by chronic disease, whether we’ve been personally diagnosed or watched a loved one struggle through an illness.    Dr. T. Colin Campbell has dedicated his career to proving that a diagnosis doesn’t have to be a death sentence and that prevention is possible.    Dr. Campbell is the Jacob Gould Schurman Professor Emeritus of Nutritional Biochemistry at Cornell University, where he also founded the online Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate program.    He’s the author of more than 300 peer-reviewed papers, has been featured in several documentaries including Forks Over Knives, and has delivered hundreds of lectures worldwide.    You’ve likely heard of the China Project, a comprehensive nutritional study lead by Dr. Campbell which was dubbed “the Grand Prix of epidemiology" by The New York Times. The study is the basis of The

We’ve heard a lot about COVID-19, but instead of panic-driving headlines, we wanted to get the clear, concise facts from an expert. Dr. Michael Klaper has 40 years of patient experience under his belt, and he offered a comprehensive explanation of the current situation—what it is, who is at risk, how to protect ourselves, and its link to animal agriculture. Beyond that, we dive into nutrition strategies for long-term health and why some omnivores may feel less than optimal after making the switch (don’t worry, it’ll get better). Entertaining and informative, this episode is just what we need right now.    What we discuss in this episode:   - COVID-19 and its link to animal agriculture   - How to protect yourself from COVID-19   - Foods to eat for long-term health   - Dr. Klapper’s journey to a plant-based diet 40 years ago   - Why omnivores say they lack energy when first making the switch    - Moving Medicine Forward   Connect with Switch4Good   - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ2toqAmlQpwR1HDF_K

Dr. Goldner was resigned to live out her life in the clutches of lupus—she expected to become disabled by her forties, deal with chronic pain, and never have children. Her perspective changed after meeting her husband and attempting to get trim for a Maui honeymoon. She shocked herself by healing her disease simply by eating a high-raw, whole-food, plant-based diet. For Goldner—and the hundreds of seriously ill patients she has treated since then—it really is that simple. Food can heal. This episode is for anyone who struggles (or knows someone who is struggling) with a health issue doctors say they can’t cure, only manage. The message is eye-opening, inspiring, and attainable. It might just save a life.     What we discuss in this episode:   - Autoimmune disease basics   - Dr. Goldner’s self-healing from lupus   - What foods to eat to heal disease   - How to build a healing smoothie   - How to find your “whypower”   - Defining hypernourishment   - Dr. Goldner’s best-selling book, “Goodbye Lupus”   - Smoothie

Hailed by many as “the Vegan Cheese Queen,” Miyoko Schinner is here to lead the food revolution. A vegan for 35 years and hugely successful businesswoman, Miyoko has become a household name in the dairy-free cheese and butter categories. However, creating incredible cheeses from cashews and oats is only one of her priorities—she wants to dismantle the fear around labeling and create a global market where plant-based cheese is the “real” thing and dairy (if it still exists) is the alternative. She dives into the process of making cheese to the story behind her empire. This is an episode you don’t want to miss.     What we discuss in this episode:   - Visit Miyoko’s Creamery for all of Miyoko’s cheesy products.    - The realities of the dairy industry   - Founding story of Miyoko’s Creamery   - Current Miyoko’s cheese products in the works   - Lawsuit against Miyoko’s Creamy for using the term “butter” to label her non-dairy product.   - Miyoko’s commitment to help dairy farmers transition to more sustainable a

Sailesh Rao works with systems. He spent 20 years of his career working to bring the internet to life. Now, he’s using his systemic approach to fulfill a pinky promise to his granddaughter—make the world vegan by 2026. To Sailesh, it’s all interconnected—the environment, our health, and the animals—once we install certain systems of normalized non-violence, these global issues can be resolved. Sailesh’s calm, solutions-based perspective and compassionate heart are evident in his work, making his arguments appealing to both the number-crunching crowds and the bleeding hearts. His insights may seem aspirational, but when he breaks them down, the solution seems so simple. We were transfixed by this conversation, and we guarantee you’ll walk away with a greater purpose and intention to do better in the world.    What we discuss in this episode:   - Practical, systematic solutions toward a more sustainable and compassionate future.   - The importance of biodiversity and how to reclaim it.   - What is normalized no

Is your diet keeping you sick?   Dr. James Loomis is a whole-foods plant-based internal medical practitioner spreading the message that food is the best way to combat illness and disease.   After experiencing a decline in his own health, Dr. Loomis made the switch and saw miraculous results: a significant drop in weight, cholesterol, and blood pressure in under three months.   He says that most problems that walk into his office can be traced back to inflammation and stress, often resulting from the Standard American Diet.   The former internist for both the St. Louis Cardinals and Rams now serves as the Medical Director of the Barnard Medical Center and advocates for using food -- over prescriptions -- as medicine.   In this episode, Dr. Loomis joins Alexandra and Dotsie to explain exactly how what we eat works to either heal or harm our bodies.   You’ll hear why whole foods are the best way to combat inflammation, why manipulation by the dairy industry is so dangerous, and how you can get empowered to criti

How does a Montana cattle rancher end up on The Oprah Winfrey Show and Capitol Hill as an advocate for organic, plant-based farming? Howard Lyman weaves the captivating story of his life before and after making the Switch4Good. He’s best known for educating Oprah (and her 40 million viewers) about the hazards of mad cow disease back in 1996 which prompted a Texas cattlemen association to sue for “hurting their businesses.” Spoiler alert: the association lost. Despite this massive attention, Howard is a stand-up guy who humbly preaches the need for our society to make a change and do the right thing. To him, that means switching from animals to plants. From a man who has lived as a rancher and a plant-based advocate—his story is both horrifying and hopeful, brutally honest, and truly compelling.    What we discuss in this episode:   - Howard’s appearance on Oprah and the lawsuit aftermath.   - The “standard” of agribusiness versus what Howard eventually set out to do.    - Howard’s transformation from Montana