Episode Summary:
Ready for a summer reading program? In this first installment of the Vedge Lit series, Michele reflects on Never Too Late to Go Vegan by Carol J. Adams, Patti Breitman, and Virginia Messina, RD. The episode dives into the doubts many people face when they consider going vegan later in life—and how this book offered a perspective shift that shaped Michele’s work and mission.

Whether you’re trying plant-based living for the first time, returning after a “sabbatical,” or unsure what your next step looks like—this episode is for you.

You’ll Hear:

• Why this series isn’t behind a paywall—and why that matters

• The brunch meme that says what every late-in-life vegan has felt

• Michele’s honest take on her evolving relationship with Carol J. Adams’ work

• Why Virginia Messina, RD’s contribution is especially vital for midlife+ vegans

• A mindset shift around being “late” to change

• • Your listener challenge of the week

  Listener Challenge:

• Take 10 minutes to write down 3 ways your age and experience give you an advantage on your vegan journey.
  DM, email, or reply to the V-Mail with anything—bullet points, run-on sentences, emojis—all welcome!

  Resources:

  • Never Too Late to Go Vegan by Carol J. Adams, Patti Breitman & Virginia Messina

• • TheVeganRD.com – Virginia Messina’s evidence-based nutrition site

  
  

  Have a favorite vegan book or guest suggestion?

• Send Michele a message! You don’t have to be polished—just real.
  Let her know who’s inspired you or what you'd love to hear more about.
  

  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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠micheleolendercoaching.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 biggest thing holding you back… isn’t resistance or lack of willpower, but gravity?

In this episode, Michele returns from adventures in Granada, Seville, Paris, Strasbourg, and Dublin with fresh eyes on the habits, routines, and unconscious choices that shape our lives. From mealtimes and walking paths to how we relate to food, family, and culture—there’s an invisible architecture guiding your day-to-day life.

“We shape our buildings; thereafter, they shape us.” - Winston Churchill

Our choices—especially the repeated ones—build a kind of gravitational pull that either keeps us grounded… or keeps us stuck.

Whether you’re looking to start, re-start, or re-energize your plant-based practice, this episode is your invitation to notice what’s shaping you—and how to gently, intentionally shift your orbit.
What You'll Learn:

• Why your life may be “pulling” you away from the change you want

• How both choices and non-choices carry weight

• What habits and cultural norms you’ve inherited—and how to evaluate them with love

• One powerful journal exercise to start changing your gravity today

Journal Prompts from This Episode:

1. What choices have I made in the last 10 years that shaped who I am today?

2. What decisions am I not making that are still pulling me away from the future I want?

3. What choices did I inherit from family, friends, or culture that I absolutely love?

4. Which inherited choices might be keeping me a little stuck?

5. What is one small, intentional, plant-based choice I can make today to shift my orbit?

If you’ve been feeling pulled off-course, this episode will help you recognize your own inner gravity—and start defying it, one intentional decision 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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠micheleolendercoaching.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/⁠

“Waste is a human decision. Nature doesn’t waste anything.” — Vojtech Vegh

This week on Vedge Your Best, Michele sits down with zero-waste vegan chef Vojtech Vegh, author, sustainability consultant, and founder of SurplusFoodStudio.com, to explore how the way we think about ingredients can transform both our meals and our environmental impact.

Vojtech shares his journey from a reluctant waiter in Slovakia to opening a plant-based, zero-waste fine-dining restaurant in Cambodia, and how he now helps chefs and hospitality leaders reimagine their kitchens with creativity and intention.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why food waste prevention starts with planning—not extra effort

• How zero-waste cooking can actually save time and money

• What it takes to reframe scraps as ingredients

• Creative uses for carrot tops, banana peels, watermelon rinds, and more

• How professional chefs can influence industry-wide sustainability

• The mindset shift needed to make low-waste the new normal

Whether you're in hospitality or just trying to waste less at home, this conversation will change the way you look at what goes in your bin—and what ends up on your plate.

Guest Links

• Website: surplusfoodstudio.com

• Instagram: instagram.com/vojtechvegh

Listener Challenge

Try using one fruit or vegetable part this week that you normally discard. Tag @VedgeYourBest and @vojtechvegh on Instagram to share.

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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠micheleolendercoaching.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 your next burger could help fight climate change?

In this episode of Vedge Your Best, Michele talks with Jonah Goldman, co-founder of PLNT Burger, about how one small idea—born from a childhood trip to an animal sanctuary—grew into a fast-growing plant-based burger chain with a mission: joy, flavor, and planet-friendly impact.

Learn how PLNT Burger is:

• Redefining fast food with a 100% plant-based, kosher, halal, and GMO-free menu

• Using radical inclusivity and nostalgia to win over skeptics

• Offering a live impact calculator to track how much land, water, and carbon you’re saving with each order

• Giving away a free burger or sandwich just for downloading their app
  

Whether you’re vegan, plant-curious, or still craving classic drive-thru flavors, this conversation will challenge how you think about food, activism, and what's possible—one bite at a time. Follow PLNT Burger → @plntburger on Instagram

Topics Covered:

• Jonah’s vegan origin story & early activism

• The “Plant Believe It” taste test challenge

• Why joy and flavor matter more than guilt

• Why PLNT Burger avoids the word “vegan” on purpose

• Building change into the business model

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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠micheleolendercoaching.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/⁠

Why is it so hard to do what we already know we want to do?

In this first episode of the Decide Your Best mini-series, we examine the gap between intention and action—especially when it comes to plant-based and vegan decisions. Whether you’re starting, re-starting, or re-ENERGIZING your vegan practice, this episode will help you understand that the friction you feel isn’t failure—it’s your brain doing what it’s designed to do.

You’ll learn how to gently work with your brain—not against it—so you can move from knowing what you want to do… to actually doing it.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• Why your brain resists change, even when you’re committed to it

• How different brain regions influence decision-making, habit, and emotion

• What’s really going on during those “spin cycle” moments of indecision

• How to use simple tools like narration and the power of one breath to interrupt unhelpful patterns

• Why your plant-based choices might feel harder when you’re tired, hungry, or emotionally charged—and what to do instead

This is a powerful mindset episode for anyone who has ever thought:

“I should have this figured out by now.”
“I’m too old to make this kind of change.”
“Why do I keep going back to old habits?”

You’re not broken. You’re human. And your brain is trainable.

Listen now and get ready to start making values-aligned choices—one decision at a time.

Next episode: In Part 2, Michele explores perfectionism, people-pleasing, and the emotional blocks that make vegan decisions feel heavier than they need to be.

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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠micheleolendercoaching.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/⁠

This week’s guest is Kimberly Winters, vegan coach, consultant, and host of “Did You Bring the Hummus?” Kimberly's path to podcasting started as a Toastmasters speaking project (before she even listened to a podcast herself!). You’ll hear how Kimberly found confidence and community through her vegan storytelling, and why every small choice matters—even when no one seems to notice.

Kimberly unpacks the philosophy and ethics behind veganism, offers actionable tips for effective communication, advice for individuals, and helping restaurants to see inclusivity is just good business.

Topics Covered:

• Kimberly’s podcasting journey

• Storytelling vs. “conversion”: Planting seeds with authenticity

• How to navigate vegan communication—without “bumming out” your friends

• Practical vegan hospitality tips for restaurants and businesses

• How every small choice and action makes a difference

• The power of community: You never know who’s watching

• Systems, self-talk, and showing up messy—why it’s worth it

Find Kimberly:
Instagram: @DidYouBringTheHummus
Podcast: Did You Bring the Hummus?
Website: didyoubringthehummus.com

Recommendations:

• Listen & subscribe to “Did You Bring the Hummus?”

• Follow, rate and share to help boost vegan and plant-based podcasts

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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠micheleolendercoaching.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/⁠

Refresh your environment and renew your commitment to plant-based living

How can a little "spring cleaning” re-energize YOUR vegan journey? This season is the perfect opportunity to assess the spaces and habits that can either support or undermine our plant-based lifestyles.

You don't need a complete home overhaul to refresh your vegan practice. Consider some manageable spring cleaning actions:

• Audit your media: Evaluate whether podcasts, YouTube subscriptions and newsletters support your plant-based journey or keep you anchored in old patterns.

• Release specialty tools: Consider which kitchen implements specific to animal-based cooking still deserve space in your kitchen

• Add beauty or inspiration: Simple visual cues like fresh produce displays or a counter herb garden can reinforce positive habits

• Create a flexible meal formula: Simplify meal planning with basic frameworks like "a bean, a green, a grain" plus seasonal produce and plant-based additions

  
  

It can be hard for environmentally-conscious people to discard items. However, turning our homes into storage for objects that no longer serve us doesn't honor our values either.

Your living space should reflect your current values and aspirations, not past regrets. This week, take just 15 minutes to refresh one small area-your junk drawer, fridge, or media feed. Notice what shifts when you align your environment with your values and Vedge YOUR Best.

Small Actions with Significant ImpactPractical Steps for Your Vegan ResetCreate Space for Your Values

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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠micheleolendercoaching.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/⁠