Switch4good

Our guest today, Erin Ireland, is a legend in the Vancouver food scene, first as a food reporter and purveyor of good taste and now as the owner of a renowned vegan bakery in East Vancouver.    When she learned about the cruelty and environmental destruction caused by animal agriculture, she dared to convert her successful nonvegan business – To Die For Foods – into the thriving vegan storefront bakery – To Live For Bakery & Café – with a loyal, passionate following. Now, she’s showing the world how amazing plant-based eats can be and why we should all be eating slaughter-free food.   If you’re interested in learning what it’s like to open and operate a vegan bakery or if you just want to bring your plant-based baking skills to the next level, this episode is certainly for you!   “I was probably the fittest girl on my team, not the best volleyball player, but I was really into the weight room. I knew nothing about nutrition, and I thought that eating animal protein would give me– would help grow muscle. O

Our guest today is living proof that anyone can change their life. Alishea Basson was a mom of four and creeping into dangerous territory in regard to her health by the time she was 30 years old. Severely overweight and plagued with seizures and high blood pressure, Alishea decided she couldn’t live with her emotional eating self any longer. She educated herself on how to eat healthfully and exercise, eventually adopting a whole food, plant-based diet. While her family didn’t support this choice, Alishea stuck with it.   Now 125 pounds lighter and full of energy, Alishea is an inspiration to anyone who thinks they can’t. Listen in to learn how this everyday hero made the switch for good, and how you can, too.   “Feelings are fleeting. They only come back stronger if you ignore them or push them aside with food. I pushed my feelings down for 30 years and it almost killed me.” - Alishea Basson   What we discuss in this episode:  - Alishea’s journey to her rock bottom - How binge eating stretches your stomach -

At the age of 47, our guest today, marathoner, author, and world record holder Dr. Ruth Heidrich, received the terrifying news that she had stage 4 breast cancer. After answering an ad to participate in a cancer and diet research study conducted by Dr. John McDougall, she immediately chose to adopt a whole food plant-based diet and forgo chemotherapy and radiation. Two years later, she was in remission and became the first vegan to complete the Ironman Triathlon.    Dr. Heidrich has since been named one of the ten fittest women in North America, and you might recognize her from her appearance in Forks Over Knives. So, if you want to learn what trailblazing at 88 years young looks and feels like, you definitely want to tune in to this juicy episode as we talk running, cancer, sex, aging, breasts, and, of course, food!   “He says, ‘Okay. I’m going to prove that it’s diet that can either prevent cancer, prevent recurrence, or treat it if you’ve got it.’ And so he explained all this to me, and I’m thinking, ‘Oh m

Today’s guest is Dr. Faraz Harsini. He’s a cultivated meat bioprocessing scientist at the Good Food Institute and the founder and CEO of Allied Scholars for Animal Protection – a nonprofit that supports and mentors student advocates and future vegan leaders for the abolition of cruelty to humans and nonhumans. Dr. Harsini appeared on the podcast in episode 256, in which we discussed his upbringing in Iran as a member of the LGBT community, his advocacy work on college campuses, and a myriad of social justice issues, but the conversation was so powerful, and there was so much ground we didn’t get to cover, especially about his current work, that we had to have him back.    So whether or not you listened to the first part of our interview with him, you definitely want to stay with us as we tackle some serious topical issues that pertain to everyone.   “I guess the reason that I promote a plant-based diet and veganism full-time today is because I did my entire master’s on cancer, and I worked on proteins involvi

The worldwide prevalence of obesity has nearly tripled in less than fifty years.    If we are more informed about potential health consequences than ever before, why are more and more adults choosing unhealthy eating habits that lead to weight gain, diabetes, and heart disease?    Dr. Stephan Guyenet, who has spent more than a decade studying the neuroscience of body fatness, argues that most of us aren’t choosing our eating habits at all.   His book, The Hungry Brain, dives into the idea that eating behaviors aren’t a result of weakness or poor willpower but of an evolutionary mismatch between our brain’s ancient programming and our current environment.    Today, he sits down with Dotsie and Alexandra to explain how our brains are hardwired to seek the high-calorie, dopamine-releasing foods that our ancestors relied on and why that works against us in modern society.    You’ll hear how your neurochemistry is influencing your eating habits, why you’re suddenly hungry for dessert after being satiated by dinne

Growing up in South Africa to a family of activists and witnessing the devastating effects of apartheid, today’s guest, Michael Schwarz, had his moral compass set to true north at an early age.    Driven by a profound sense of justice and a desire to combat the deleterious effects dairy has on our planet, he decided to step away from a 25-year career as an intellectual property lawyer and change the food industry by launching Treeline cheese – an independent vegan cheese company.    Michael also appeared in episode 76, where we learned all about his remarkable upbringing, the incredible work his father did as a defense attorney – including the trial of Nelson Mandela, where Michael’s father defended Mandela’s co-defendant and won – and how he made the transition from being a lawyer himself to a vegan cheese entrepreneur.   So if you’re interested in learning what it’s like to run a small vegan cheese company in an era where conglomerates want to take over the industry with cheap knockoffs – and powerful entit

You don’t get to be 400 pounds overnight. You also don’t completely reverse your diet and become a plant-based expert overnight. Chuck Carroll has experienced both of these extremes, and today he joins us as a health and nutrition advocate and host of the Exam Room podcast. This is for everyone who has an addictive behavior—when moderation simply does not work. Whether it’s an addiction to Taco Bell—like Chuck—or to alcohol or heroine, it’s Chuck’s belief that you can’t cure it, but you can overcome it. His story is powerful, and despite its extremes, everyone can relate.   “Food addiction is like any other thing. If you’re not ready to change, you’re not going to change.” - Chuck Carroll   What we discuss in this episode: - Food and other addictions - His experience at 400 pounds - Weight loss surgery and what comes after - How to eat slow - The public perspective of obesity   Click the link below and support the ADD SOY Act! https://switch4good.org/add-soy-act/ Send us a voice message. We want to hear from

Our guest today has done whatever it takes to grow the vegan community by working tirelessly in many different avenues. A vegan for over 20 years and a former restaurateur, Lisa DeCrescente is now the director of special projects at Farm Animal Rights Movement, she’s a board member for Sustainable Earth Eating, AND she’s the writer of the powerful, heart-wrenching short film The Next Girl, which has already received a plethora of awards and has a twist of an ending that will leave you floored.   You definitely want to stay with us as we talk about this profound film and hear Lisa’s thoughts on how to be the most effective difference-maker possible!   “I think it’s important to address that there are two purposes here. Yes, this movie is for vegans. This is for people who already know because once they see it, they realize this is another tool they can use to share with people who are just on that edge or who are curious or really need to understand something. And maybe this is a way to approach them different

Our guest today is certified Health Coach and Chef Becca Serenity. Becca specializes in helping professionals transform their health so that they can live their best lives.    As a college athlete, Becca suffered from depression, anxiety, and a crippling eating disorder, but after five years of yo-yo dieting and binging, she changed her mindset and took control of her own healing journey. She lost 70 pounds and reclaimed her life. Now, Becca guides others to take their mental, emotional, and physical well-being to new heights.   Becca was also a superstar basketball player at her Arizona high school and was inducted into the Tolleson Basketball Hall of Fame, among many other accolades.  She got a full scholarship to the University of Nebraska, and when she transferred to San Jose State, she set 3-point and free throw records. Today, she’s an assistant basketball coach at Yavapai College in Arizona.     So, if you’re ready to take control of your health and change your relationship with food, you’re definitely

Ever wonder what an Olympian does every day to stay fit, or how an actress with a storied career navigated Hollywood? In today’s fun and insightful episode, Dotsie and Alexandra decided to interview each other for a change, and open up like never before, tackling everything from their successful marriages to health struggles, from activism to surviving the holidays with family. Nothing is off limits as this dynamic duo shares their personal stories, triumphs, and regrets, with something for everyone to take away from in this very special, must-listen episode!   “You were a bike messenger, weren’t you? That was a little bit later. Like, I literally just got a bike and started riding and just fell in love with riding my bike. Then what kind of started it all I just said, ‘I’m riding my bike so much I want to do something good with riding my bike.’ So, I decided to sign up for the California AIDS ride, which at the time, you had to raise $1,200 to enter it, from San Francisco to Los Angeles. And it’s a 500-mile

Dr. Goldner was resigned to living 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.     “Willpower will fail, but “Why power” doesn’t. ” - Dr. Brooke Goldner   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 “why power” - Defining hyper nourishmen

Our guest today, Lauren Kretzer, is a vegan chef, recipe developer, and holistic nutritionist. She has worked in Michelin-starred restaurants and cooked privately for celebrities. Her work has been featured in magazines like Vogue and New York Magazine, PLUS her recipes are in some of your favorite vegan cookbooks.  In 2020, while the world was being forever altered by a pandemic, she was forced to square off against a rare and aggressive form of cancer. Rather than undergo formal treatment, Lauren chose to fight back with a holistic approach. Today, Lauren is cancer-free, and she has a message – food can be our greatest healer.  Tune in to learn from this renowned chef and cancer survivor what foods we should all be eating more of!   “Being plant-based around the holidays is not as difficult as people anticipate. I think in terms of the menu, speaking about Thanksgiving specifically, but also true for the December holidays as well, most people are excited about the sides. So, when you think about Thanksgi

How do you know if a product is cruelty-free if you can’t trust the label? According to Kim Paschen—Program Manager for Leaping Bunny—there is no regulated definition for cruelty-free. That means companies who use this label are not held accountable and may very well include ingredients that have been tested on animals. When it comes to compassionate cosmetics that are truly animal-free, things get complicated, but that’s where Leaping Bunny comes in. The certification organization upholds companies to rigorous standards to ensure every last ingredient is free from animal testing. Kim walks us through all the nuances of cosmetic testing, what’s going on with China, and shares a few of her favorite Leaping Bunny-approved products. Listen in before your next trip to the cosmetics counter.   “Since cruelty-free has no definition by law, a company could put that on their product label and not back it up.” - Kim Paschen   What we discuss in this episode: - Leaping Bunny standards - Alternatives to animal cosmetic

Born and raised in a country where being true to himself is a crime punishable by death, our guest today, Dr. Faraz Harsini, is familiar with oppression and brutality. Dr. Harsini is a senior scientist at the Good Food Institute, where he works to bring the world sustainable, cruelty-free protein. He is also the CEO and founder of ASAP, which stands for Allied Scholars for Animal Protection. It’s a nonprofit that supports student advocates and future vegan leaders to abolish cruelty to humans and nonhumans.  Tune in to hear how this highly accomplished scientist, activist, and outspoken member of the LGBT community is applying his knowledge and passion to raise awareness about animal rights as a social justice issue to reach his goal of ending speciesism.   “I always encourage people, especially vegans that you know, to say something. I know so many people who are dedicating their lives to animal rights and veganism today just because some random person said something in the past. So, every little action, eve

Though we live in a time when lots of alternative proteins are available to consumers, industrial animal agriculture continues to thrive and wreak havoc on the environment through deforestation, biodiversity loss, water pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. Fortunately, brilliant minds are working hard to find solutions to these pressing issues, and our guest today is one of them. David Welch, Ph.D., is a plant biologist, running coach, and the Chief Scientific Officer and Co-founder of Synthesis Capital – a global food technology and alternative protein investor aiming to transform our food system and remove animals from the equation.   Tune in to hear our illuminating discussion with Dr. Welch about his work with new food technologies and alternative proteins, and on a personal level, how fitness and a plant-based diet played a key role in his preparation and recovery from heart surgery.   “I really believe that most of the products on the market today just don’t taste good enough to help most consumers

Our guests today are Registered Dietician Diana Licalzi and Exercise Physiologist Jose Tejero. Together, they founded Reversing T2D, an online health platform that helps people gain control of their blood sugar through plant-based nutrition, exercise, and mindset. In their new book, The Type 2 Diabetes Revolution: A Cookbook and Complete Guide to Managing Type 2 Diabetes, Diana and Jose help us lower our blood sugar, and eliminate or reduce the need for medication if we’re taking it. It has over 100 delicious plant-based recipes and tips, with something for every palate.   Join us as Diana and Jose provide their insight into combatting this pervasive, but preventable, malady.   “The pathophysiology behind insulin resistance confuses people because when they are already insulin resistant and they eat, let’s say, a banana, their blood sugar is going to rise. So, they put one and one together. They are like, ‘Okay, bananas equal spikes; hence bananas are bad. Hence, fruits as a whole are bad.’ And then that is w

There’s a good chance you could be breathing wrong. While it may seem simplistic—yes, everyone can breathe—how we breathe plays a vital role in our health and our happiness. Reporter James Nestor—author of the best-selling new book, Breathe—sat down to chat with us about the power of breath. You don’t have to commit to meditation or a regimented breathing practice; all it takes is consistent breath in everyday life.    Listen in to learn how to breathe better and improve your health in ways you never thought possible.   “We are now suffering from so many chronic diseases that are linked to our inability to breathe properly.” – James Nestor   What we discuss in this episode:  How to hack into your body and calm yourself down  Breathing and exercise performance  Breathing and sex The healing power of breath   Resources: James Nestor's book: Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art Click the link below to support the ADD SOY Act! https://switch4good.org/add-soy-act/ Share the website and get your r

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   Click the link below and support the ADD SOY Act! https://switch4good.org/add-soy-act/ Send us a voice message. We want to hear from you!  Switch4Good.org/podcast Dairy-Free Swaps Guide: Easy

Our guest today, Kathy Guillermo, is the Senior Vice President of PETA, and throughout her impressive 30-year career, she’s exposed cruelty to animals in laboratories, the horse racing industry, and major corporations. Some of her many victories include persuading Gillette and Estée Lauder to permanently ban animal testing, getting NASA to call off radiation experiments on monkeys, and pressuring the Coast Guard to stop using goats and pigs for trauma training. Kathy also wrote the book Monkey Business: The Disturbing Case That Launched the Animal Rights Movement, which details the landmark Silver Springs Monkey cruelty case that led to the first conviction of an animal experimenter on cruelty-to-animals charges. Tune in to this special episode to hear about the important work PETA continues to do and learn how we can all take steps to effect change!   “95% of new drugs that appear effective and safe when they’re tested on animals fail in human clinical trials. We have a 95% failure rate in the development of

Our guest today is an undercover animal investigator, and in today’s show, he reveals the unthinkable. From his decades-long undercover work in the companion animal and factory farms businesses, Pete Paxton educates us on the horrendous and bizarre abuse that gets passed off as “just another day on the job” in these industries. Our commerce-driven society has conditioned us to believe that if we don’t directly kill animals (as in the cases of pets, milk, and eggs), we’re not harming them. This mentality is seriously flawed. Listen in for a heavy dose of reality, and learn what you can do to help correct these injustices.    “The worst thing that I have ever read about a serial killer doing to another human being is being done to animals, but on a mass scale.” – Pete Paxton What we discuss in this episode: Why the commercial breeding of dogs means dead dogs in shelters Benefits of getting a dog from a shelter  Understanding the laws surrounding the sale of companion animals Companion Animal Protecti