NBSV 218: Javant Benton on whole-food vegan eating, fibre, and long-term health

Javant joins me to talk about his journey to veganism, which began with a major health scare and evolved over many years into a fully vegan lifestyle. We discuss how he moved from trying different diets to embracing whole-food plant-based eating, and how that shift eventually expanded beyond health to include empathy for animals and compassion for people who aren't vegan. Javant also shares details about his new cookbook, which focuses on familiar comfort foods made vegan, oil-free, gluten-free, and free of refined sugar. We get into his philosophy around helping people eat more plants without feeling deprived, his thoughts on fibre versus protein, and why gut health deserves way more attention than it gets. We also talk about the four pillars of health he teaches through his app: diet, exercise, sleep, and mindset.

Coach Zoe and I are back for a Coaches' Corner episode, answering the questions we didn't get to during our recent live No-B.S. Reset panel event. We dig into some of the most common (and most frustrating) myths we see in the fitness and nutrition space, especially around strength training, supplements, and social-media "advice."  If you're new to lifting, feeling overwhelmed by conflicting information online, or just tired of wellness trends that sound slick but don't actually work, this one's for you. In this episode, we cover: - The biggest mistakes beginners make when starting strength training (and how to avoid them) - Why going "too hard, too fast" backfires, and what sustainable progress actually looks like - Compound lifts vs. isolation exercises: what matters most early on - The rise of creatine gummies (and why "creatine for women" marketing is nonsense) - Why "what I eat in a day" videos can be misleading, or downright harmful - Steps vs. cardio vs. lifting: what really gives you the most bang for your buck - The lingering myth that vegans can't be strong—and why leading by example matters more than arguing - A teaser on upcoming deep dives into diet-culture obsessions like "snatched" bodies and HYROX hype As always, we bring the conversation back to evidence-based coaching, long-term health, and building strength in ways that actually work in real life, without extremes, guilt, or BS.

What happens when a doctor, a registered dietitian, an agrologist, and a fitness coach sit down to answer real audience questions? Find out in this episode. In this follow-up to our live No-B.S. Reset panel event, we tackle the questions we didn't have time to answer on Zoom, covering everything from vegan nutrition myths to food system misconceptions. You'll hear evidence-based, practical answers to questions like: What really helps with high blood pressure and low blood pressure, without jumping straight to pills? Should I be concerned about eating too much soy? (Spoiler: no.) How can people with IBS or sensitive guts thrive on a plant-based diet? Are protein bars and powders helping, or just crowding out better options? Is livestock necessary for soil health or food security? Joining me are: Dr. Jade Dittaro: lifestyle MD, hospitalist, and environmentalist.  Vesanto Melina: registered dietitian and award-winning co-author of 15 books.  Cory Davis: agrologist interested in the socio-environmental impact of food, an animal rights advocate, and co-author of Plant-Powered Protein. We connect personal health, planetary health, and food system reality, without pretending there's a single perfect answer for everyone.

What if getting healthier didn't require more willpower, more tracking, or more "optimizing"… but less? Kwame Terra and I dig into what the world's longest-living communities actually do differently — and spoiler: it's not VO2 max tests, cold plunges, or biohacking spreadsheets. It's walking, connection, and movement that's baked into daily life. Kwame shares how he's building community-based fitness experiences that feel social and automatic instead of like another chore on your to-do list, and why representation matters in wellness spaces. His new app is built specifically for Black communities, addressing the gaps in access, representation, and culturally relevant support that mainstream fitness platforms often miss. We also talk about the story behind his wild goal of hitting two million steps in a month (and going after a Guinness World Record while he's at it).

5-time Juno Award winner and founding member of Blue Rodeo Bob Wiseman joins me for a wide-ranging, thoughtful conversation about music, aging, and what it actually looks like to live vegan for decades—long before it was mainstream or convenient. Bob and I talk about his early days with macrobiotics and touring as a long-term vegan, why grocery stores matter more than restaurants on the road, and how the West Coast quietly led the way on plant-based food culture. We dig into improvisation—not just as a musical practice, but as a way of understanding life itself—and why the idea that music isn't improvised is philosophically questionable at best. We also get into aging and mortality: how perspective shifts in your 40s, 50s, and 60s; what it means to start losing people you love; and why long-term health habits matter, even though nothing is guaranteed. Along the way, Bob shares stories about teaching beginners, learning accordion on a whim, raising a vegetarian kid in a mixed-diet household, and why trying to force change on other people rarely works. This episode is funny, reflective, a little wackadoodle, and full of big ideas about creativity, compassion, and playing the long game—on stage and in life.

Mike Howard is back on the podcast! We start with a proper catch-up: his retreats, my TEDx prep, and the reality of juggling health goals alongside real life. From there, we dive into what's been taking over the wellness section of the internet lately: longevity, biohacking, and the obsession with tracking everything. We talk about why the basics are still the basics (sleep, strength training, protein, veggies, daily movement), and why chasing the "perfect" plan can make consistency harder, not easier. We also get into identity-based habits, expectation management, and simple environment tweaks that make healthy choices easier—without needing a new gadget, a cleanse, or an entirely new personality.

Thank you so much for tuning in to this show! A short holiday message from me, and an invitation to join something exciting: The 5-Day No-B.S. Health Reset, which runs from January 4-8, 2026. Sustainable change comes from small behaviours, not January shame spirals. Learn more and reserve your spot at karinainkster.com/reset.

Vystopia is the profound anguish many ethical vegans experience when living in a non-vegan world. Clare Mann explains why this response is normal rather than pathological, how the burden of knowing affects mental health, and why vegans are often misunderstood by families, professionals, and society at large. We explore compassion fatigue, burnout, and practical ways to stay grounded, resilient, and effective as a vegan advocate, including how to communicate without arguments or self-sacrifice. This conversation offers validation and practical insight for anyone navigating ethical veganism in a non-vegan world.

At 72, Pat Farrell is turning heads in the powerlifting world. Pat is a Dominican sister, a longtime advocate for social justice, and a dedicated vegan who has recently taken the strength community by storm. She joins me to share her journey into competitive powerlifting, her rapid progress in training, and what it feels like to become known as the vegan powerlifting nun in mainstream news. Pat is joined by her coach, Katya Gorbacheva, who is the third strongest vegan woman on the planet. Katya gives us an inside look at how she programs Pat's training, how they are working toward a full meet that includes squat, bench press, and deadlift, and why strength sports are truly accessible for people of all ages. We talk about protein, recovery, sport psychology, and the powerful mindset shift that happens when performance becomes the focus rather than body size or age. Pat shares insights from her first competition, how she handles the nerves on meet day, and what it means to inspire people around the world to pursue strength at any stage of life.

In this episode, I'm joined by strength coach Matt Taylor to talk about what it really takes to get stronger when life is busy. We dig into the concept of bare-ass minimums: the essential actions that keep you progressing even during chaotic weeks—and how to build a training routine that fits into real life. Matt shares how he coaches lifters to make meaningful gains in under five hours a week, why anchoring habits matters more than willpower, and how to set goals that won't burn you out. We also dive into his own journey: from world records to an autoimmune diagnosis, and back to competitive lifting using a more flexible, sustainable approach. Whether you're short on time, struggling with consistency, or just want a smarter strength plan, this conversation will help you rethink what "effective training" actually looks like.