As 2025 comes to a close, Michele reflects on the patterns, lessons, and insights that showed up again and again this year—in her own life, on the Vedge Your Best podcast, and in her work with clients.
This episode isn’t about resolutions or reinvention. It’s about continuation.
Drawing on behavioral science, psychology, and lived experience, Michele shares seven themes that shaped 2025 and offers a grounded, compassionate framework for carrying those lessons into 2026—especially for anyone moving in a plant-based or vegan direction and wondering why change can feel so hard even when it matters deeply.
If you’ve felt discouraged, stuck, or “behind,” this episode is a reminder that you’re not starting from scratch—you’re starting from experience.In This Episode, We Explore:
Why deciding once is never enough—and why remembering is the real work of change
How information is rarely the problem, and why friction points matter more than facts
Why discomfort is not failure, but often the cost of caring
The difference between performance and practice, and why practice is what sustains long-term change
How waiting keeps us stuck, and why engagement creates clarity
Why restarting is not starting over, and how experience becomes an asset
How the deepest changes are often subtle, invisible at first, but foundational
Key Takeaways:
You don’t think your way into lasting change—you act your way into clearer thinking
All-or-something beats all-or-nothing every time
Identity shifts often happen before outcomes stabilize
Not changing is uncomfortable too—it’s just quieter
You’re not behind, broken, or failing
You’re starting from experience
Subscribe & Review:
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us grow and share the message of plant-based living with more listeners.
For more information, to submit a question or topic, or to book a free 30 minute Coaching session visit veganatanyage.com or email info@micheleolendercoaching.com
Music, Production, and Editing by Charlie Weinshank. For inquiries email: charliewe97@gmail.com Virtual Support Services: https://proadminme.com/
Ever wake up with the best intentions — to eat plant-based, stay consistent, finish what matters — only to feel everything unravel by late afternoon?
You’re not broken. You’re human.
In this episode, Michele breaks down why so many good intentions collapse by the end of the day, especially when you’re trying to move in a vegan or plant-based direction. Using simple brain science, behavioral economics, and a whole lot of compassion, she explains what’s really happening when motivation fades — and why relying on willpower alone almost guarantees frustration.
You’ll learn why mornings feel easy, why evenings feel impossible, and how your brain quietly shifts from long-term values to short-term relief as stress and decision fatigue build. Most importantly, you’ll hear why self-blame and shame actually make follow-through harder — not easier.
This episode isn’t about trying harder. It’s about working with your brain instead of against it.In this episode, we cover:
Why morning intentions come from a different part of the brain than evening decisions
How decision fatigue drains self-regulation as the day goes on
The role of the limbic system in comfort-seeking and familiar habits
Why knowing better doesn’t mean you’ll automatically do better
How shame shuts down problem-solving and keeps people stuck
Why motivation is unreliable — and what works better instead
The power of “implementation intentions” (If X happens, I’ll do Y)
If you’ve ever said, “I’ll be good tomorrow,” this episode will help you understand why — and what to do differently next time.
Your intentions are not weak. Your values are not unclear. You just need a plan that supports the way your brain actually works.
Subscribe & Review:
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us grow and share the message of plant-based living with more listeners.
For more information, to submit a question or topic, or to book a free 30 minute Coaching session visit veganatanyage.com or email info@micheleolendercoaching.com
Music, Production, and Editing by Charlie Weinshank. For inquiries email: charliewe97@gmail.com Virtual Support Services: https://proadminme.com/
If you’ve ever wondered why you don’t follow through on things you truly want — going vegan, strengthening your body, decluttering your home, writing your book, or simply showing up as the version of yourself you keep imagining — today’s episode is for you..
Michele breaks down one of the most overlooked truths about personal growth:
The hardest part of change isn’t doing the thing. The hardest part of change is remembering — TODAY — to DO the thing.
Michele reveals why intention and action so often drift apart. Where she saw it in her own life, and why it’s not a character flaw.
Inside this episode:
Why your brain quietly renegotiates your plans
Habit loops: why your new routines don’t feel automatic
The Doorway Effect: how walking from one room to another resets your memory
Prospective memory failure: why we forget to remember, even with the best intentions
Spaced repetition: how learning — and change — need time
You’ll learn how to work with your brain instead of against it, how to create simple cues that support the person you’re becoming, and how to release the shame around forgetting. Because forgetting isn’t failure.
This week’s challenge: Choose one thing you meant to do today and create one cue you’ll see tomorrow — a note by the coffee maker, a reminder on your phone, a visible tool or ingredient — something that makes remembering easier and forgetting harder.
Small cues + gentle repetition = meaningful change.
Want support building the life you imagine? Coaching offers the structure, reminders, and accountability that help your brain learn new patterns. Because how you go vegan is how you do everything.
Thanks for listening, and as always… Vedge Your Best.
Subscribe & Review:
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us grow and share the message of plant-based living with more listeners.
For more information, to submit a question or topic, or to book a free 30 minute Coaching session visit veganatanyage.com or email info@micheleolendercoaching.com
Music, Production, and Editing by Charlie Weinshank. For inquiries email: charliewe97@gmail.com Virtual Support Services: https://proadminme.com/
Plant‑Powered Flavor Architect — Elevating Restaurants, Kitchens & Your Next Bite
Aaward-winning plant-based chef Ed Harris joins Michele to share his journey from omni-chef to global plant-based innovator. Chef Ed breaks down the art of building flavor, why cutting and charring vegetables changes everything, and how simple techniques can transform everyday vegan cooking into unforgettable meals.
Chef Ed Harris’s story begins in the Caribbean and travels through kitchens in New York and around the globe. But the real turning point came at home—during a family documentary night watching What the Health. That single moment led his entire family to shift toward a vegan lifestyle, changing the trajectory of his cooking and his career.
With warmth, clarity, and contagious enthusiasm, Chef Ed shares:
How to Build Real Flavor in Vegan Food
Why vegetables aren’t bland—our techniques are
How charring transforms broccoli, cauliflower, beans, and more
Why the way you cut vegetables affects the taste
How to layer flavor using herbs, smoke, bay leaves, and spices
The biggest mistakes home cooks make (and how to fix them)
Behind the Scenes of Chopped, Beat Bobby Flay & Iron Chef
What a 1-hour episode actually takes to film
The mental focus needed to cook under extreme pressure
How those experiences shaped his confidence and craft
Shifting to a Plant-Based Life
How a documentary changed everything for his family
His emotional reaction to learning about animal agriculture
Why chefs need to question the traditions they inherited
Helping Restaurants Modernize Plant-Forward Menus
Why many kitchens misunderstand vegan diners
How he consults with hotels and restaurants to develop flavor-forward dishes
The falafel lesson every chef needs to know
Why hospitality must improve for plant-based guests
Chef Ed and his wife have created a vibrant online community where members learn plant-based cooking, explore global flavors, and share their stories. As he says, a “rich life” is about family, culture, and connection—not money.
Connect with Chef Ed and Jane Harris at The Rich Life.
Or on Instagram @Chefedharris
Subscribe & Review:
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us grow and share the message of plant-based living with more listeners.
For more information, to submit a question or topic, or to book a free 30 minute Coaching session visit veganatanyage.com or email info@micheleolendercoaching.com
Music, Production, and Editing by Charlie Weinshank. For inquiries email: charliewe97@gmail.com Virtual Support Services: https://proadminme.com/
Your plant-based practice isn’t limited by your motivation, your recipes, or your compassion — it’s limited by its weakest link. In this episode, Michele explores the Theory of Constraints and how a single bottleneck can shape your vegan practice, your daily choices, and even your confidence.
Using a classic car-factory example, Michele breaks down how systems stall when one step is overloaded — and how the same thing happens in our own lives. Whether you’re starting, restarting, or re-energizing your vegan journey, identifying the real constraint (the one you may be avoiding) can unlock ease, momentum, and clarity.
Michele also shares one of her own constraints around visibility and asking listeners to share the show — modeling how naming a bottleneck creates a path forward.
If you’ve been overthinking your vegan practice, trying to “fix” everything except the thing that truly needs attention, this episode will help you locate the actual sticking point and begin addressing it gently and effectively.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
Why your vegan practice is only as strong as its weakest link
What the Theory of Constraints (TOC) is, and how it applies to everyday life
A simple, memorable manufacturing example that explains TOC in action
The difference between optimizing what’s already working vs. addressing the real bottleneck
How micro-constraints like breakfast indecision, social discomfort, or evening exhaustion quietly limit your progress
Why perfectionism is often the real constraint
How to identify your personal bottleneck without overwhelm
Michele’s own visibility constraint — and how naming it opens a path to growth
Why “how you go vegan is how you do everything” applies directly to constraint-breaking
Episode Highlights
“A system is only as strong as its slowest step — and your vegan practice is no different.”
“Fifty cookbooks won’t help if the real constraint is evening exhaustion.”
“Knowledge isn’t the bottleneck if what you truly need is social courage.”
“Perfectionism isn’t a strategy — it’s a constraint.”
“You don’t need to fix everything. You only need to fix the part that’s actually stuck.”
“How you go vegan is how you do everything.”
Try This This Week
Identify one bottleneck in your plant-based practice:
What moment of the day creates friction?
Where do you feel the most self-conscious or unsupported?
Which small step are you avoiding?
What emotion leads you to choose convenience over intention?
Choose one constraint and gently place your attention there — not on all the other things that feel imperfect.
Subscribe & Review:
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us grow and share the message of plant-based living with more listeners.
For more information, to submit a question or topic, or to book a free 30 minute Coaching session visit veganatanyage.com or email info@micheleolendercoaching.com
Music, Production, and Editing by Charlie Weinshank. For inquiries email: charliewe97@gmail.com Virtual Support Services: https://proadminme.com/
It’s Thanksgiving week in the U.S.—maybe you’re driving to a family gathering, getting in a pre-pie walk, or just bracing yourself for the conversations ahead. Wherever you are, Michele invites you to pause and notice: are you a vegan voyeur? Someone who loves the idea of plant-based living, follows all the vegan doctors, and streams every documentary—but hasn’t quite stepped fully into the practice?In This Episode
Michele unpacks the idea of the “vegan voyeur”—and why it’s not a failure but a natural stage in any behavior-change journey. Drawing on research from behavioral psychology, neuroscience, and habit science, she explains how our brains give us a little dopamine hit just for learning about change, even before we act. We all do it: reading about fitness instead of moving, watching decluttering videos instead of cleaning, or binge-listening to inspirational podcasts instead of starting that project. It’s called vicarious learning, part of the contemplation stage described by psychologist James Prochaska’s Transtheoretical Model of Change. Behavioral economists call the internal tug-of-war cognitive dissonance—the tension between comfort and growth. And as BJ Fogg reminds us, we often “celebrate the idea instead of the action.” The good news? Readiness doesn’t come before action—it’s built through it.Takeaway / Challenge
This week—especially amid Thanksgiving travel, traditions, and turkey talk—notice where you might be a vegan voyeur, a researcher, or an eavesdropper. Then take one real-world step: make that saved recipe, order the vegan option, try a new non-leather belt, or plan a visit to an animal sanctuary. Action creates evidence, evidence builds identity, and identity sustains the habit.
Learning about veganism can change your life.
Living it changes the world.
Subscribe & Review:
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us grow and share the message of plant-based living with more listeners.
For more information, to submit a question or topic, or to book a free 30 minute Coaching session visit veganatanyage.com or email info@micheleolendercoaching.com
Music, Production, and Editing by Charlie Weinshank. For inquiries email: charliewe97@gmail.com Virtual Support Services: https://proadminme.com/
If facts were enough, everyone would already be vegan, right?
We think the facts are on OUR side — but no one’s listening — what then?
This week, Michele explores why information alone so often fails to change hearts or habits, and what behavioral science says to do instead.
Drawing on the research of cognitive neuroscientist Gleb Tsipursky, whose EGRIP framework (Emotions, Goals, Rapport, Information, Positive Reinforcement) explains how minds actually shift, Michele shares practical tools for calmer, more compassionate conversations — especially around vegan and plant-based choices.
Whether you’re navigating holiday dinners, family debates, or the classic “I could never give up steak” moment, you’ll learn the single “magic question” proven to open minds and lower defenses — and discover why curiosity always beats convincing.
In this episode:
Why facts backfire when they threaten identity or belonging
Gleb Tsipursky’s science-based EGRIP sequence for persuasion
How to use one powerful question to spark openness
What to say (and not say) when loved ones dismiss your choices
Why humility and patience are your most persuasive tools
Listen if you want to: …have kinder, calmer, more effective conversations about veganism, climate, or any polarizing topic — and stay connected to the people you care about most.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Facts can backfire when they threaten identity, belonging, or self-image.
Belonging > Being Right. People defend group identity before rational truth.
Gleb Tsipursky’s EGRIP framework offers a step-by-step approach:
Emotions – acknowledge feelings.
Goals – find shared aims (health, family, planet).
Rapport – connect before you correct.
Information – share facts only once curiosity is open.
Positive Reinforcement – thank and encourage openness.
The magic question: “I was interested in what you’re saying. Can you tell me more about what YOU think?”
Curiosity lowers threat; correction raises it.
Effectiveness > Righteousness. Presenting information patiently models the values you want to share.
Model the long game. Facts didn’t make most of US vegan overnight either.
Subscribe & Review:
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us grow and share the message of plant-based living with more listeners.
For more information, to submit a question or topic, or to book a free 30 minute Coaching session visit veganatanyage.com or email info@micheleolendercoaching.com
Music, Production, and Editing by Charlie Weinshank. For inquiries email: charliewe97@gmail.com Virtual Support Services: https://proadminme.com/
Are you waiting to “start fresh” after Halloween? After Thanksgiving? After the holidays?
So many of us tell ourselves we’ll get back on track when things calm down — but what if waiting is just another diet culture trick keeping us from living the life we want right now?
In this episode, Michele explores how the mindset of “I’ll start when…” has its roots in commercial diet culture — and how that logic keeps us spinning in cycles of perfectionism, guilt, and delay. Whether it’s your vegan journey, your creative work, or your personal growth, Michele shares how to break the waiting habit and start from peace, not punishment.
In This Episode:
Why “waiting for the right time” is often just leftover diet culture conditioning
How perfectionism disguises itself as patience
Why change feels unmoored — and why that’s actually a good sign
The difference between starting from punishment and starting from compassion
Listener Challenge
Don’t wait for the candy to be gone or the holidays to end.
Choose one small, compassionate action today — swap a meal, read a vegan book, donate to a sanctuary, or simply decide that your imperfect start counts.
Subscribe & Review:
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us grow and share the message of plant-based living with more listeners.
For more information, to submit a question or topic, or to book a free 30 minute Coaching session visit veganatanyage.com or email info@micheleolendercoaching.com
Music, Production, and Editing by Charlie Weinshank. For inquiries email: charliewe97@gmail.com Virtual Support Services: https://proadminme.com/
Guest: Angela Yvonne — journalist and creator of Vegan Pop Eats
Theme: Turning plant-forward living into culture, not homework
What you’ll hear:
Angela shares how she moved from Veganuary to everyday vegan living and why she thinks veganism needs a new PR person. We unpack her simple “3 M’s” (Meatless Monday, Meatless Meals, Meatless Month), budget-savvy eating, and how your neighborhood’s “food architecture” nudges your choices. We also talk language shifts that reduce resistance (“I’m not prioritizing that right now”) and small-step leadership you can start today.
Highlights
The “3 M’s”: choose the entry point you’ll actually stick with
From Veganuary to everyday: making a 30-day trial durable
Budget wins: beans, grains, frozen veg, flavor boosters
Your block vs your plate: mapping a 10-minute “greenside circuit”
48-Hour Listener Challenge
Pick one M — Meatless Monday, two Meatless Meals, or start a Meatless Month.
Map your greenside circuit (within a 10-minute radius):
one affordable produce stop
one reliable protein staple (beans/lentils/tofu/grains)
one decent veg entrée for tired nights
Use the phrase “I’m not prioritizing that right now” when old habits pop up, then choose one small swap you will prioritize.
About Angela Yvonne / Vegan Pop Eats
Website: https://veganpopeats.com
YouTube: Vegan Pop Eats (subscribe and support her daily YouTube challenge)
Instagram: @veganpopeats2
If this conversation helped you, follow the show, leave a quick review, and forward Episode 270 to a plant-curious friend.
Subscribe & Review:
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us grow and share the message of plant-based living with more listeners.
For more information, to submit a question or topic, or to book a free 30 minute Coaching session visit veganatanyage.com or email info@micheleolendercoaching.com
Music, Production, and Editing by Charlie Weinshank. For inquiries email: charliewe97@gmail.com Virtual Support Services: https://proadminme.com/
Description:
In this solo episode, Michele invites you to look ahead to the final nine weeks of 2025 — and beyond — through the lens of “The Vision Thing.” Michele explores how vision keeps us growing when life feels settled or stuck.
Drawing inspiration from author Tracy Goss, Michele shows how we can stop letting the past dictate what’s possible next — especially when it comes to living more intentionally and compassionately.
Humor, psychology, and even a little Back to the Future wisdom, this episode helps you create a clearer picture of your “invented vegan future.”
You’ll learn:
Why our “winning strategies” eventually keep us stuck
How to spot the “shoulds” that limit growth and creativity
The difference between predicting the future and inventing it
Seven steps to reimagine your relationship with food — and yourself
Why even imperfect progress changes everything
Listener Challenge:
Write two short statements:
Your default future — what happens if you change nothing.
Your invented vegan future — who you’re becoming on purpose. Read them out loud daily and notice which one feels alive.
Key idea:
“The future doesn’t need you to predict it — it just needs you to Vedge Your Best.”
Subscribe & Review:
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us grow and share the message of plant-based living with more listeners.
For more information, to submit a question or topic, or to book a free 30 minute Coaching session visit veganatanyage.com or email info@micheleolendercoaching.com
Music, Production, and Editing by Charlie Weinshank. For inquiries email: charliewe97@gmail.com Virtual Support Services: https://proadminme.com/
Description:
Vegan health coach and Healthification host Kate Galli joins Michele to talk about trading outrage for effectiveness—and the practical mindset and protein strategies that keep a plant-strong life doable in midlife.
Kate shares her memorable 5-S Protein Strategy, why muscle is metabolism, and the simple mindset shift that neutralizes overwhelm: only focus on what you can control.
She opens up about moving from training omnivores to working with vegans and “vegans at heart,” and why structure isn’t pressure—it’s freedom.
Whether you’re re-starting, leveling up, or leading by example for your family, this episode blends compassion with clear, repeatable tactics.
In this episode:
How Kate shifted from “angry vegan” to leading with love (and why that approach works).
The 5-S Protein Strategy: Star, Scatter, Side, Stir-through, Sauce—a simple roadmap for balanced vegan meals.
The antidote to O.V.E.R.W.H.E.L.M., starting with the “O”: Only focus on what’s within your control.
Why mindset is the foundation of sustainable change.
How muscle is metabolism, especially for women in midlife.
Why structure = freedom when it comes to food, fitness, and follow-through.
Try this week:
Add one 5-S element to your next meal—scatter hemp seeds (Michele’s fave) or stir through protein powder.
Do a 2-minute Overwhelm Reset: brain-dump everything, circle one “Do,” and start there.
Begin a strength habit: 10 bodyweight squats today, then build consistency.
Connect with Kate Galli:
Website: https://strongbodygreenplanet.com
Healthification Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-healthification-podcast/id856696884
The Plant Positive Journal: https://strongbodygreenplanet.com/plant-positive-journal/
Listener Challenge
Share one small action from this episode—your favorite “S” from Kate’s protein strategy, your 2-minute overwhelm reset, or your first day of squats—and tag @vedgeyourbest so we can cheer you on.
Subscribe & Review:
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us grow and share the message of plant-based living with more listeners.
For more information, to submit a question or topic, or to book a free 30 minute Coaching session visit veganatanyage.com or email info@micheleolendercoaching.com
Music, Production, and Editing by Charlie Weinshank. For inquiries email: charliewe97@gmail.com Virtual Support Services: https://proadminme.com/
Ever felt so overwhelmed that when someone asks what’s wrong, the only answer that comes out is “everything?"
In this episode, Michele introduces a simple but powerful tool inspired by the classic game Mad Libs and adapted from education: a “fill-in-the-blank scaffold” that helps transform vague frustration into clear, actionable steps.
When we’re vague, we stay stuck. Specificity can feel risky, but clarity doesn’t need to solve everything—it just needs to shine a light on the next step.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Why vague help requests create overwhelm and stall progress.
The origins of Mad Libs and how professors use scaffolds to guide students.
A practical “fill-in-the-blank” template you can use to get unstuck.
A plant-based lifestyle example: moving from “I’m bad at meal planning” to identifying a specific, solvable problem.
How clarity, even when imperfect, reduces the fog and opens up possibilities.
The Scaffold: Fill in the Blanks
I need help with: __________
One example of where I’m stuck is: __________
Three things I’ve already tried are:
Listener Challenge
This week, choose one area where you feel stuck. Your vegan journey or any other area . Use the scaffold prompts to fill in the blanks and read it back to yourself—or share it with someone supportive. Notice whether it feels clearer and whether it suggests one or two next steps.
Clarity doesn’t have to be perfect. It only needs to be specific enough to help you move forward—one step, one choice, one meal at a time
Subscribe & Review:
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us grow and share the message of plant-based living with more listeners.
For more information, to submit a question or topic, or to book a free 30 minute Coaching session visit veganatanyage.com or email info@micheleolendercoaching.com
Music, Production, and Editing by Charlie Weinshank. For inquiries email: charliewe97@gmail.com Virtual Support Services: https://proadminme.com/
Is moderation your strategy—or your excuse?
In this episode of Vedge Your Best, Michele unpacks the sneaky ways “moderation” shows up in our lives—not as a well-thought-out plan, but as a default response when we don’t want to commit.
You’ll learn:
Why moderation isn’t a value—it’s a strategy.
How default moderation leads to decision fatigue and moral licensing.
The difference between spontaneous flexibility and intentional, values-based boundaries.
Tools to design your own moderation rules (including the “More or Less” framework).
How to apply behavioral science and coaching tools from Dan Ariely and Britt Frank to your plant-based goals (or any life goal).
This episode is especially for anyone who describes themselves as “mostly vegan,” “trying to eat better,” or “aiming for balance”—but suspects that their version of moderation might be keeping them stuck.
Vedge Your Best Challenge: Pick one area where you’ve been practicing vague, rearview-mirror moderation—and make a real decision. Define it. Write it down. Set a review date. That’s it.
Because you don’t have to be perfect to be powerful.
Subscribe & Review:
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us grow and share the message of plant-based living with more listeners.
For more information, to submit a question or topic, or to book a free 30 minute Coaching session visit veganatanyage.com or email info@micheleolendercoaching.com
Music, Production, and Editing by Charlie Weinshank. For inquiries email: charliewe97@gmail.com Virtual Support Services: https://proadminme.com/
Is moderation really the key to fabulous health? According to plant-based nutritionist and author Terri Chrisman, board certified through the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, the answer is a resounding no. In this candid and passionate conversation, Terri shares why moderation has failed us in the age of ultra-processed foods, and how shifting to a purposeful whole food plant-based lifestyle can transform not just our health, but our identity and culture.
We talk about:
Why the myth of moderation contributes to today’s obesity, diabetes, and heart disease epidemics.
The role of culture, memory, and identity in making (and resisting) dietary changes.
Terri’s personal story, including the loss of her father to heart disease, and how it shaped her mission.
Practical strategies for transitioning family meals without conflict.
The science behind lifestyle medicine and why more physicians are embracing it.
Why vegan junk food is still junk food—and how to focus on whole plant foods for real vitality.
Terri also reminds us that lifestyle isn’t just about diet—it’s about exercise, sleep, connection, and creating an environment free from toxins. Her message is both compassionate and uncompromising: don’t gamble your health on being an outlier when the science is clear.
Whether you’re vegan-curious, already plant-based, or supporting someone through lifestyle changes, this episode will leave you with tools, insight, and encouragement to take your next step with intention.
Connect with Terri Chrisman
Website: fabuloushealth.net
Book: Fabulous Health: A Simple Plan to Get Well and Stay Well (and her newest release, recently #1 on Amazon!)
Subscribe & Review:
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us grow and share the message of plant-based living with more listeners.
For more information, to submit a question or topic, or to book a free 30 minute Coaching session visit veganatanyage.com or email info@micheleolendercoaching.com
Music, Production, and Editing by Charlie Weinshank. For inquiries email: charliewe97@gmail.com Virtual Support Services: https://proadminme.com/
Episode 264 – "Vegan Voices in Your Head: Internal Family Systems and the Plant-Based Practice"
Ever feel like there’s a whole committee in your head when it comes to staying consistent with your vegan or plant-based choices? One part of you is passionate about animals and the planet. Another part just wants to fit in at the family dinner table. And yet another whispers that travel would be easier if you weren’t vegan at all.
If that sounds familiar, nothing has gone wrong..
In this episode of Vedge Your Best, Michele introduces Internal Family Systems (IFS), a powerful way of understanding those inner conflicts. Instead of trying to silence the “vegan voices in your head,” you can learn to listen, thank them, and then let your calm, compassionate Self take the lead.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
Why mixed feelings are a normal — and even healthy — part of behavior change.
How IFS reframes conflicting thoughts as “parts” that are actually trying to help.
Why acknowledging your parts can make self-advocacy as a vegan easier.
A short guided practice you can use before meals, social events, or travel.
Whether you’re navigating restaurants, family gatherings, or planning trips abroad, this episode will help you see inner conflict not as a setback, but as a sign of growth.
Listener Challenge:
This week, when you feel that tug-of-war inside, don’t shut it down. Pause, thank the parts of you that are speaking up, and invite your compassionate Self to guide the next step.
Little by little, your vegan journey will feel less conflicted and more peaceful.
Subscribe & Review:
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us grow and share the message of plant-based living with more listeners.
For more information, to submit a question or topic, or to book a free 30 minute Coaching session visit veganatanyage.com or email info@micheleolendercoaching.com
Music, Production, and Editing by Charlie Weinshank. For inquiries email: charliewe97@gmail.com Virtual Support Services: https://proadminme.com/
I’m packing me battered Rimowa suitcase for a trip to Liverpool, Belfast, and Dundalk, Ireland. No matter how organized we are while traveling, there’s so much we can’t control—flights, weather, menus, other people. But the Stoics, have plenty to say about what we can control on a vegan journey of any kind: our choices, our mindset, and our integrity.
In this episode of Vedge Your Best, I revisit the Stoics and connect their wisdom to both vegan practice and my 30-day writing challenge. Because whether you’re committing to a plant-based lifestyle, writing a book, or simply trying to live your values more fully—Stoic teachings are surprisingly relevant.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
Why looking foolish might be the first step toward real progress.
How to resist short-term pleasures in favor of long-term values.
Why difficulties reveal your true strength, not your weakness.
How honest effort counts more than perfectionism ever will.
Resources & Links
Epictetus, Discourses and Selected Writings
Follow my vegan and writing journey at VeganAtAnyAge.com
Until next time — remember: it’s never too late, and you’re never too messy, to Vedge YOUR Best.
Subscribe & Review:
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us grow and share the message of plant-based living with more listeners.
For more information, to submit a question or topic, or to book a free 30 minute Coaching session visit veganatanyage.com or email info@micheleolendercoaching.com
Music, Production, and Editing by Charlie Weinshank. For inquiries email: charliewe97@gmail.com Virtual Support Services: https://proadminme.com/
Vegan travel without compromise. Kim Giovacco, of Veg Jaunts & Journeys, talks about building a vegan travel community, 52 tours around the world, and why 60% of her travelers keep coming back.
Traveling as a vegan doesn’t have to mean settling for side salads or stressing over where to eat. My guest this week, Kim Giovacco, founder of Veg Jaunts & Journeys, has been changing the way vegans see the world since 2017.
Kim has led more than 50 small-group vegan tours around the world, with an incredible 60% of travelers returning for more. Her itineraries blend community, culture, and compassion—so you can explore places like Berlin, Lisbon, and South Africa without worrying about whether the menu has something for you.
In this episode, Kim and I talk about:
How a birthday gift and a love of food co-ops sparked the idea for her tour company.
What it took to build a vegan travel business—and keep it going through the pandemic.
Why her guests come back for multiple trips each year.
The hidden gems she’s uncovered around the world, from vegan Christmas markets in Berlin to plant-based safaris in Namibia.
Her passion for building vegan community, both abroad and in her hometown of Greenville, South Carolina.
Whether you’re a seasoned plant based traveler or dreaming of your first vegan tour, Kim’s story will inspire you to pack your bags and see the world—vegan style.
Learn more about Kim and upcoming tours: Veg Jaunts & Journeys
Subscribe & Review:
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us grow and share the message of plant-based living with more listeners.
For more information, to submit a question or topic, or to book a free 30 minute Coaching session visit veganatanyage.com or email info@micheleolendercoaching.com
Music, Production, and Editing by Charlie Weinshank. For inquiries email: charliewe97@gmail.com Virtual Support Services: https://proadminme.com/
September feels like a fresh start. New notebooks, crisp air, sweater weather. The perfect time to go "Back to Vegan.”
Whether you’re brand new to plant-based living, returning after a flexible summer or a long-time vegan looking for fresh inspiration, this episode will help you reset across food, fashion, cosmetics, health, and even fun.
In This Episode
Why September is a great time to re-energize your vegan practice.
Restock your pantry and reset your capsule kitchen with simple staples.
Health habits to revisit, from supplements to scheduling your annual check-ups.
Cruelty-free fashion and cosmetics.
Vegan Reading List for fresh inspiration.
From Veg Fests to Vegan Travel — keep this lifestyle joyful and sustainable.
Resources & Links Mentioned
Supplements: Ritual, Future Kind, Complement
Fashion: Good On You, Immaculate Vegan,
Cosmetics: Leaping Bunny, Logical Harmony
Books: Never Too Late to Go Vegan (Adams/Breitman/Messina), Vegan for Life (Messina/Norris), We Are the Weather (Foer)
Podcasts & Films: I Could Never Go Vegan (Thomas Pickering), Lucia’s Vegan Lifestyle, Veggies Abroad (Rebecca Sawicki), World Vegan Travel (Brighde Reed)
Listener Challenge
This week, build your Back to Vegan Starter Pack:
One pantry staple.
One movement routine.
One cruelty-free product swap.
One book, documentary, or podcast for inspiration.
One fun fellowship activity — a veg fest, vegan meal with friends, or a day trip.
And don’t miss next week’s episode with Kim Giovacco from Veg Jaunts and Journeys — all about vegan-friendly travel. Subscribe so you never miss an episode.
If you create your list, I’d love to see it! This September is the 5 Year Anniversary of the podcast! Share it on Instagram and tag me @VedgeYourBest or email me directly.
Subscribe & Review:
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us grow and share the message of plant-based living with more listeners.
For more information, to submit a question or topic, or to book a free 30 minute Coaching session visit veganatanyage.com or email info@micheleolendercoaching.com
Music, Production, and Editing by Charlie Weinshank. For inquiries email: charliewe97@gmail.com Virtual Support Services: https://proadminme.com/
What if the most meaningful, exciting, and vibrant years of your life require you to be bad at things—on purpose?
In this episode, Michele explores why midlife and beyond might be the perfect time to stop chasing mastery and start embracing messy, awkward beginnings. If you’ve been stuck in “I should already know this,” or “I’m too old to try that,” Michele makes the case for becoming a beginner again—on your terms, with your timeline, and with plenty of self-compassion.
What You’ll Hear:
Why “Master of None” isn’t a character flaw
How our adult brains resist learning new things
Two big reasons to be a beginner (even if you're bad at it)
Six mindset tools to help you start anyway
Why being real beats being perfect—every time
A personal challenge to try something new, slow, awkward… and wonderful
This episode is for you if:
You’re in your 40s, 50s, 60s (or beyond!) and are unsure of your “purpose” or “passion.”
You’ve been putting off something you want to try because you’re “not good at it”
You love learning but it reminds you of time you’ve “wasted.”
You want to model curiosity, courage, and self-compassion for the people in your life
Listener Challenge: Choose one thing you’re willing to be a beginner at this week. Let Michele know what it is—she’d love to cheer you on.
Mentioned in this episode:
The phrase: “Jack of all trades, Master of None”
Malcolm Gladwell’s “10,000 hours idea” of mastery in his book Outliers
The power of tiny habits (like one Duolingo daily language or chess lesson)
The phrase: “Let your mess be your message”
Subscribe & Review:
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us grow and share the message of plant-based living with more listeners.
For more information, to submit a question or topic, or to book a free 30 minute Coaching session visit veganatanyage.com or email info@micheleolendercoaching.com
Music, Production, and Editing by Charlie Weinshank. For inquiries email: charliewe97@gmail.com Virtual Support Services: https://proadminme.com/
What if "not enough" action is actually the most powerful thing you can do?
In this episode, Michele reflects on the overwhelm and discouragement that can come with new habits—especially in our 24 hour, performative culture. Drawing inspiration from her 30-day Substack challenge (How You Go Vegan Is How You Do Everything) and psychotherapist Britt Frank’s work on the intention-action gap, Michele unpacks what it means to show up imperfectly.
Whether you're trying to go vegan, declutter, write, start a side hustle or a plant-based business, this episode is your reminder that not-zero counts—and over time that compounds.
You’ll hear:
Why comparison culture steals your motivation before you begin
How Britt Frank’s nervous-system approach reframes “procrastination”
The power of default wins and quiet persistence
Why September feels like a New Year, and how to prepare with “not-zero” actions now
A plant-based challenge to carry you from August into autumn
Resources Mentioned:
The Science of Stuck by Britt Frank
Michele’s 30-Day Substack Challenge: How You Go Vegan Is How You Do Everything
Vedge Your Best Newsletter (V-Mail): Subscribe at veganatanyage.com
Listener Challenge: What’s one not-enough action you can take today? Try something so small it feels silly—then decide to let it count. Tag @vedgeyourbest and share your not-zero win.
Subscribe & Review:
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us grow and share the message of plant-based living with more listeners.
For more information, to submit a question or topic, or to book a free 30 minute Coaching session visit veganatanyage.com or email info@micheleolendercoaching.com
Music, Production, and Editing by Charlie Weinshank. For inquiries email: charliewe97@gmail.com Virtual Support Services: https://proadminme.com/