Main Street Vegan

Can our homes reflect our compassion for animals without compromising on beauty, creativity or luxury?In this episode of the Main Street Vegan Podcast, Victoria Moran welcomes Aline Duerr, award-winning interior architect, author of Vegan Interior Design, and founder of the International Vegan Interior Design Association (IVIDA).Originally from Germany and now based in Australia, Aline is passionate about challenging the use of animal-derived materials in interior design. She believes compassionate design can be innovative, sophisticated and beautiful.Victoria and Aline explore what it really means to create a vegan interior. They discuss the surprising animal-derived materials that can be found in our homes, and how designers are finding exciting alternatives that don't compromise on style.Aline also shares the story behind The Lake House of Possibility, an international collaboration bringing together ten vegan interior designers to reimagine luxury interiors without animal products.The conversation looks beyond materials and aesthetics, exploring why beauty, creativity and joy matter in the lives of animal advocates. After all, creating a more compassionate world also means creating spaces and lives we genuinely want to enjoy.Whether you're planning a home makeover or simply curious about how your surroundings can better reflect your values, this episode offers a fresh perspective on compassionate living.In This EpisodeWhat inspired Aline to create The Lake House of PossibilityHow ten vegan interior designers came together for this international projectWhat makes an interior truly veganThe surprising animal-derived materials that may be hiding in our homesInnovative alternatives to traditional luxury materialsChallenging assumptions about the look and feel of vegan interiorsWhy beauty, creativity and joy deserve a place in animal advocacyHow our home environment can support our wellbeing and valuesSimple ways to make your home more compassionate without replacing everythingWhere to discover The Lake House of PossibilityAbout Our GuestAline Duerr is an award-winning interior architect, author of Vegan Interior Design, and founder of the International Vegan Interior Design Association (IVIDA).Originally from Germany and now based in Australia, Aline is dedicated to showing that interior design doesn't need to rely on animal-derived materials. Her work demonstrates how compassionate choices can create spaces that are innovative, sophisticated and beautiful.Her latest project, The Lake House of Possibility, brings together ten vegan interior designers from around the world to explore a new vision of luxury interiors without animal products.Discover Aline's work:Website: Vegan Interior DesignExplore the virtual vegan show house:The Lake House of PossibilityConnect with IVIDA:LinkedIn: International Vegan Interior Design AssociationInstagram: @vegandesigners_ividaFollow Aline:Instagram: @vegan.interior.designFacebook: Vegan Interior DesignSubscribe, rate, and review the Main Street Vegan Podcast to help more people discover the joy of living with vitality, spirituality, and compassion.Sign up for the Main Street Vegan blog and newsletter at mainstreetvegan.com and receive your FREE e-book, Recipes to Help You Age Like a Yogi.And become an insider by joining the Main Street Vegan Podcast Listeners Group on Facebook.Complement are supplements made by vegans, Pamela Fergusson, RD, PhD, Matt Frazier, and Joel Kahn, MD, to enhance diet. Check out their new product Sulfora and enter 'MAINSTREET' in the discount box to save yourself 10%.

What role can nutrition play in our health, fitness, and athletic performance? And how can a plant-based approach support an active lifestyle?In this episode of the Main Street Vegan Podcast, Victoria Moran welcomes Dr. Douglas Graham, a longtime health and fitness professional, author, and coach who has worked with thousands of people to improve their health and helped some of the world's top athletes reach peak performance.Dr. Graham is the author of The 80/10/10 Diet, a book that helped bring low-fat vegan eating to a wider audience. He also wrote Nutrition and Athletic Performance, which explores the relationship between nutrition and sporting goals.With decades of experience and more than 10,000 stage appearances, Dr. Graham continues to share his knowledge and enthusiasm for health, fitness, and plant-based nutrition.Join Victoria for a conversation with an influential voice in the world of raw and low-fat vegan eating.In This EpisodeDr. Douglas Graham's lifelong work in health and fitnessThe ideas behind The 80/10/10 DietLow-fat vegan nutrition and its place in the vegan movementThe connection between nutrition and athletic performanceHow nutrition can support training and fitness goalsDr. Graham's experience coaching athletes and educating audiences around the worldAbout Our GuestDr. Douglas Graham has dedicated his life to the health and fitness industry, helping thousands of people improve their health and coaching elite athletes to peak performance.His book, The 80/10/10 Diet, helped popularise a low-fat vegan approach to eating and continues to be celebrated at fruit festivals around the world. His book Nutrition and Athletic Performance focuses on helping athletes align their nutrition with their training goals.Dr. Graham continues to share his experience and enthusiasm through education, coaching, and speaking.Explore Dr. Graham's work:Website: www.FoodnSport.comBooks and projects:The 80/10/10 DietPerpetual Health 365Nutrition and Athletic PerformanceSubscribe, rate, and review the Main Street Vegan Podcast to help more people discover the joy of living with vitality, spirituality, and compassion.Sign up for the Main Street Vegan blog and newsletter at www.mainstreetvegan.com and receive your FREE e-book, Recipes to Help You Age Like a Yogi.And become an insider by joining the Main Street Vegan Podcast Listeners Group on FacebookComplement are supplements made by vegans, Pamela Fergusson, RD, PhD, Matt Frazier, and Joel Kahn, MD, to enhance diet. Check out their new product Sulfora and enter 'MAINSTREET' in the discount box to save yourself 10%.

Is it ever too late to transform your health? And what does it really take to stay strong, independent, and vibrant as we grow older?In this informative conversation, Victoria Moran speaks with Brenda Davis, RD, an internationally acclaimed registered dietitian, plant-based nutrition pioneer, and award-winning author, about her book Plant-Powered Seniors and the science of healthy aging.With more than 4 decades of experience in nutrition, Brenda has helped people around the world understand the benefits of plant-based eating. She has written or co-authored 14 books, with more than one million copies in print, and is a respected voice in the field of plant-based nutrition.Victoria and Brenda explore why nutrition matters at every stage of life, particularly as we get older. They discuss whether changing our eating habits later in life can improve our health, and how a well-planned plant-based diet can support vitality, strength, and independence.The conversation also tackles some of the most common questions about plant-based nutrition for older adults. From protein and muscle maintenance to bone health, omega-3 fats, and brain function, Brenda explains which nutrients deserve particular attention and how we can make informed choices.Together, they look beyond simply living longer and explore what it means to flourish as we age, maintaining our health, independence, and purpose for as many years as possible.In This EpisodeWhy Brenda wrote Plant-Powered Seniors and why the topic matters nowWhether it's ever too late to improve your health through nutritionHow plant-based diets can support healthy agingThe nutritional needs older adults should pay particular attention toPlant protein, muscle maintenance, and staying strong as we ageThe role of strength training in preserving independenceCalcium, vitamin D, and other considerations for healthy bonesOmega-3 fats, EPA and DHA, and whether supplementation may be beneficialHow nutrition and lifestyle can support brain health and cognitive functionCommon myths about soy, carbohydrates, dietary fat, and plant-based nutritionPractical ways to build satisfying, nutrient-rich plant-based mealsThe difference between lifespan and healthspanHow to flourish with vitality, independence, and purpose in later lifeAbout Our GuestBrenda Davis, RD, is a plant-based trailblazer, internationally acclaimed speaker, and award-winning author. She has delivered keynote presentations in 28 countries across six continents and has written or co-authored 14 books, with more than one million copies in print.A past chair of the Vegetarian Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Brenda was inducted into the Vegetarian Hall of Fame in 2007. She also received the Plantrician Project's Luminary Award in 2022.Her work has helped countless people understand the science behind plant-based nutrition and put that knowledge into practice.Her book, Plant-Powered Seniors, explores how nutrition can support healthy aging and help older adults maintain strength, vitality, and quality of life.Learn more about Brenda's work:https://plant-poweredseniors.com/Follow Brenda:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brendadavisrdInstagram: @brendadavisrdSubscribe, rate, and review the Main Street Vegan Podcast. It helps more people discover the joy of living with vitality, spirituality, and compassion.Sign up for the Main Street Vegan blog and newsletter at www.mainstreetvegan.com and receive your FREE e-book, Recipes to Help You Age Like a Yogi.And become an insider by joining the Main Street Vegan Podcast Listeners Group on Facebook:Main Street Vegan Podcast Listeners GroupComplement are supplements made by vegans, Pamela Fergusson, RD, PhD, Matt Frazier, and Joel Kahn, MD, to enhance diet. Check out their new product Sulfora HERE, and enter 'MAINSTREET' in the discount box to save yourself 10%.

What does it mean to live a truly magical life and how might raw veganism, spirituality, and female empowerment all fit into that picture?In this inspiring conversation, Victoria Moran speaks with Kate Magic, a celebrated raw vegan pioneer, author, life coach, Reiki master, yoga teacher, and QHHT practitioner who has been sharing the magic of raw foods for nearly 30 years.Kate has empowered tens of thousands of people through her books, workshops, courses, and retreats, bringing together down-to-earth lifestyle guidance with uplifting spiritual insight.Victoria and Kate talk about female empowerment and what it means to move into your “goddess era” as an older woman, exploring why feminine empowerment is such a powerful and timely conversation.They also explore Kate’s own journey with veganism. Having been vegan for nearly 40 years, she shares her thoughts on sustaining a vegan lifestyle over the long term and why she believes raw vegan food can take plant-based living to another level.Together, Victoria and Kate explore the possibility that these ideas aren't separate at all  that what we eat, how we care for ourselves, our spiritual lives, and the way we show up in the world can all be part of creating a life that feels more conscious, joyful, and magical.In This EpisodeHow Kate's work as a health coach led her into female empowermentWhy female empowerment is such a powerful topic right nowWhat it means to move into your “goddess era” as an older womanKate's nearly 40 years of vegan livingHow to sustain a vegan lifestyle for the long termWhy Kate is particularly passionate about raw vegan foodWhy raw foods can take plant-based living to another levelThe connection between food, spirituality, and conscious livingKate's work empowering womenAbout Our GuestKate Magic is celebrated for her inspiring combination of down-to-earth lifestyle guidance and uplifting spiritual insight. Through her books, workshops, and courses, she has empowered tens of thousands of people to discover and embrace their own magic.Kate has been travelling the world and sharing the magic of raw foods for nearly 30 years. She is also a life coach, Reiki master, yoga teacher, and QHHT practitioner, and teaches courses and classes and holds retreats in the UK, Egypt, Bali, and beyond.Her work encompasses three closely connected areas: The Empowered Woman, her work on feminine empowerment; Actually Magic, her work on living a magical life; and Raw Living, her work around the raw vegan diet.Learn more about Kate and Raw Living: www.rawliving.co.ukHer podcast: The Raw Living PodcastTake a look at Kate's Egypt retreat here - https://rawmagicretreats.com/egypt-magic/And her new book here - https://theempoweredwoman.co.uk/Follow Kate:Raw Living on FacebookInstagram: @wearerawlivingInstagram: @katemagicMain Street Vegan AcademyThe 39th cohort of Main Street Vegan Academy begins in October 2026 via Zoom. If you've ever wanted to deepen your knowledge of veganism, compassion, nutrition, advocacy, and the vegan movement, this could be your opportunity.Podcast listeners can receive $250 off with the code VEGCOACH250.Subscribe, rate, and review the Main Street Vegan Podcast to help more people discover the joy of living with vitality, spirituality, and compassion.Sign up for the Main Street Vegan blog and newsletter at mainstreetvegan.com and receive your FREE e-book, Recipes to Help You Age Like a Yogi.And become an insider by joining the Main Street Vegan Podcast Listeners Group on Facebook: Main Street Vegan Podcast Listeners Group

What happens when we begin to see farmed animals not as products, but as fellow beings sharing this journey with us?In this profound conversation, Victoria Moran speaks with Gene Baur, president and co-founder of Farm Sanctuary and one of the pioneering voices in the movement for farm animal protection.Gene has spent four decades working to change the way we think about animals, food, farming, and compassion. Since co-founding Farm Sanctuary in 1986, he has helped bring the realities of factory farming into public view while creating a place where rescued animals can live out their lives in safety.Gene's new book, Farm Sanctuary: The Story of a Movement, celebrates 40 years of rescue, education, and advocacy.The book traces Farm Sanctuary's journey from a small grassroots effort to a movement that has helped change conversations around farmed animals and our food system. It also shares photographs and stories from those four decades of work.Victoria and Gene talk about what inspired him to begin this work and what he has learned along the way.The conversation also moves beyond factory farming and into the way we relate to food itself.Gene shares his thoughts on returning to a more agrarian way of seeing things. That might mean growing some of our own food, getting to know the farmers who grow it, and becoming more connected with the land and the food on our plates.It's an invitation to think differently about where our food comes from and what a more connected food system could look like.In This EpisodeGene's four decades of work with Farm SanctuaryThe story behind the founding of Farm SanctuaryGene's new book, Farm Sanctuary: The Story of a MovementWhat four decades of rescue, education, and advocacy have taught himWhy we might benefit from returning to a more agrarian way of livingHow to communicate with people who don't yet understand veganismStanding firmly in our vegan values without judging othersSeeing animals as fellow beings rather than commoditiesWhat compassion can look like in everyday choicesThe continuing work of changing hearts and minds about animals and foodAbout Our GuestGene Baur is an activist, author, and president and co-founder of Farm Sanctuary, which he helped establish in 1986.A pioneer in undercover investigations and farm animal rescue, Gene has visited hundreds of farms, stockyards, and slaughterhouses. His work has helped expose the realities of factory farming and inspired a wider farm sanctuary movement.Gene has also advocated for stronger protections for farmed animals and has worked with legislators, policymakers, farmers, and the public to promote a more compassionate and sustainable food system.His latest book, Farm Sanctuary: The Story of a Movement, looks back at four decades of rescue, education, and advocacy through photographs and personal stories.Gene's New BookFarm Sanctuary: The Story of a Movement is available now.The book celebrates Farm Sanctuary's 40-year journey, from the rescue of its first animal to the growth of an international movement dedicated to changing the way farmed animals are seen and treated.Farm SanctuaryLearn more about Gene's work, Farm Sanctuary, the animals who call it home, and the organisation's ongoing rescue, education, and advocacy work:https://www.farmsanctuary.org/Gene's website also includes information about his upcoming book tour stops. If you'd like to see Gene in person, visit Farm Sanctuary's events page for current dates and locations.Main Street Vegan AcademyThe 39th cohort of Main Street Vegan Academy begins in October 2026 via Zoom.If you've ever wanted to deepen your knowledge of veganism, compassion, nutrition, advocacy, and the vegan movement, this could be your opportunity.Podcast listeners can receive $250 off with the code VEGCOACH250.Subscribe, rate, and review the Main Street Vegan Podcast to help more people discover the joy of living with vitality, spirituality, and compassion.Sign up for the Main Street Vegan blog and newsletter at mainstreetvegan.com and receive your FREE e-book, Recipes to Help You Age Like a Yogi.And become an insider by joining the Main Street Vegan Podcast Listeners Group on Facebook: Main Street Vegan Podcast Listeners Group Complement are supplements made by vegans, Pamela Fergusson, RD, PhD, Matt Frazier, and Joel Kahn, MD, to enhance diet. Check out their new product Sulfora, and enter 'MAINSTREET' in the discount box to save yourself 10%.

What happens when vegan activism, cultural identity, community resilience, and a deep connection to home come together?In this episode of the Main Street Vegan Podcast, Victoria Moran speaks with Anthony Martinez, Executive Director and Programs Director of Casa Vegana, a Puerto Rico-based nonprofit working to strengthen the Island’s vegan movement through education, community-building, and plant-based outreach.Casa Vegana grew out of community relief work following Hurricane María in 2017 and eventually became an autonomous nonprofit. Anthony, who had been involved in vegan education in New York, relocated to Puerto Rico in 2019 to reconnect with his roots and stepped into leadership as the organization evolved.Today, Casa Vegana is helping create a more connected and sustainable vegan community in Puerto Rico — while navigating the very real challenges of infrastructure, economics, and island life.In This EpisodeAnthony’s journey from vegan activism in New York to building Casa Vegana in Puerto RicoThe evolution of Casa Vegana from post-Hurricane María community relief work into an autonomous nonprofitWhat Puerto Rico’s vegan community looks like today — and how it is growingWhy cultural identity and Puerto Rican roots matter when building a lasting vegan movementThe unique challenges of making plant-based living accessible and practical on the IslandTaller Vegano, Casa Vegana’s hands-on community education programWhat Anthony has learned from Puerto Ricans who are exploring plant-based livingThe importance of bringing vegan people, organizations, and businesses togetherBuilding a broader and more sustainable funding base for grassroots vegan workHow the Puerto Rican diaspora and global vegan community can support Casa VeganaAnthony’s vision for the future of veganism in Puerto RicoVegan Paradise Fest, planned for March 7, 2027, and what it represents for the Island’s growing vegan communityAbout Anthony MartinezAnthony Martinez is the Executive Director and Programs Director of Casa Vegana, a Puerto Rico-based nonprofit dedicated to growing the Island’s vegan movement through education, community engagement, and advocacy.After working in vegan education with the Chilis on Wheels New York chapter, Anthony relocated to Puerto Rico in 2019 to reconnect with his roots. When Casa Vegana’s founder, Michelle Carrera, stepped back, Anthony took on leadership and helped transform the project into an autonomous nonprofit.During the uncertainty of the 2020 pandemic, he secured Casa Vegana’s nonprofit status, helped build a board representing both the Puerto Rican diaspora and local vegan community, and kept the organization moving through consistent online programming focused on plant-based nutrition and animal rights.Today, Anthony continues working to deepen Casa Vegana’s connections throughout Puerto Rico and build a stronger, more unified vegan community on the Island.Connect with Casa VeganaWebsite: www.casaveganapr.orgFacebook: Casa Vegana Instagram: @casavegana.prAbout the Main Street Vegan PodcastSubscribe, rate, and review the Main Street Vegan Podcast to help more people discover the joy of living with vitality, spirituality, and compassion.Sign up for the Main Street Vegan blog and newsletter at www.mainstreetvegan.com and receive your FREE e-book, Recipes to Help You Age Like a Yogi.And become an insider by joining the Main Street Vegan Podcast Listeners Group on Facebook: Main Street Vegan Podcast Listeners GroupComplement are supplements made by vegans, Pamela Fergusson, RD, PhD, Matt Frazier, and Joel Kahn, MD, to enhance diet. Check our their new product Sulfora HERE, and enter 'MAINSTREET' in the discount box to save yourself 10%.

What does it take to create a healthier life, not just for ourselves, but for the animals, the planet, and future generations?In this episode of the Main Street Vegan Podcast, Victoria explores 2 very different, yet deeply connected, ways of putting our values into action.First, Victoria talks with Karen Ranzi, M.A., a vegan and raw food health coach who has been sharing the benefits of raw vegan nutrition since 1998. Karen is an award-winning author of six books, an internationally acclaimed speaker, founder of an online health coach certification focused on the raw vegan niche, and a speech pathologist with 43 years of experience.Then, Victoria turns to an increasingly important question for anyone who wants their money to reflect their ethics: Can our investments be vegan, too?Victoria speaks with Claire Smith, CEO of Beyond Investing, about the launch of the International Vegan Climate ETF (VEGX). Beginning September 10, 2026, VEGX offers investors exposure to international companies screened according to vegan and climate-conscious principles. In This EpisodeWith Karen Ranzi:Why Karen believes predominantly fresh, unprocessed foods can support long-term healthThe personal and family experiences that shaped her approach to healingThe potential benefits of a raw plant-based lifestyle for people of all agesWhy obesity and chronic health problems have become so widespreadProtein and calcium on a vegan and raw food dietHelping children develop healthy relationships with plant-based foodThe connection between food choices, animals, the environment, and our own healthHow spending time in Nature can deepen our sense of connection with other living beingsOther lifestyle factors that can support vibrant healthWhy sharing the raw vegan message has become Karen's life's missionWith Claire Smith:What makes an investment genuinely vegan and climate-consciousThe new International Vegan Climate ETF (VEGX)Why ethical investors may unknowingly support industries that conflict with their valuesHow Beyond Investing screens companies for animal cruelty, fossil fuels, weapons, and human rights abusesThe importance of aligning our financial lives with our personal valuesHow vegan investing can support businesses creating a more compassionate and sustainable futureBeyond Investing's engagement with companies and shareholder votingThe growing global movement toward vegan and climate-conscious investmentAbout Our GuestsKaren Ranzi is an award-winning author of six books on raw vegan nutrition, an internationally acclaimed speaker, founder of an online Health Coach Certification focused on the raw vegan niche, and a speech pathologist with 43 years of experience.Karen has presented at events including London Vegfest and the Woodstock Fruit Festival, as well as hundreds of events across Australia, Borneo, Russia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Canada, the UK, and the United States. Through her education, personal experiences, and passion for helping others, she has guided thousands of people toward better health through simple plant-based living.Learn more about Karen: https://feelfabulouswithfood.com/Instagram: @superhealthyrawYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/feelfabulouswithfoodA Spotlight on Vegan Investing with Claire SmithClaire Smith is CEO and co-founder of Beyond Investing, a US-based registered investment adviser created to develop investment products for people who want their portfolios to reflect vegan and environmental values.Claire spent 34 years in the finance industry, including roles at UBS and as a partner at Albourne in hedge fund research. She is also co-founder of Beyond Animal and Beyond Impact, and chairs the Beyond Cruelty Foundation.The new International Vegan Climate ETF (VEGX) complements Beyond Investing's US Vegan Climate ETF (VEGN), giving investors another way to consider vegan and climate-conscious principles when making long-term financial decisions.Learn more about Beyond Investing: https://beyondinvesting.com/FB - https://www.facebook.com/beyondinvesting/Main Street Vegan AcademyThe 39th cohort of Main Street Vegan Academy begins in October 2026 via Zoom. If you've ever wanted to deepen your knowledge of veganism, compassion, nutrition, advocacy, and the vegan movement, this could be your opportunity.Podcast listeners can receive $250 off with the code VEGCOACH250.Subscribe, rate, and review the Main Street Vegan Podcast to help more people discover the joy of living with vitality, spirituality, and compassion.Sign up for the Main Street Vegan blog and newsletter at https://www.mainstreetvegan.com and receive your FREE e-book, Recipes to Help You Age Like a Yogi.And become an insider by joining the Main Street Vegan Podcast Listeners Group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/207997266555049Complement are supplements made by vegans, Pamela Fergusson, RD, PhD, Matt Frazier, and Joel Kahn, MD, to enhance diet. Check our their new product Sulfora HERE, and enter 'MAINSTREET' in the discount box to save yourself 10%.

What might Catholic spirituality have to say about veganism, compassion, and our relationship with other animals?In this fascinating conversation, Victoria Moran speaks with Fr. Daniel Mascarenhas, SJ, a young Jesuit priest and vegan, about Catholic teachings, contemplative prayer, spirituality, and the possibility of a kinder world.The conversation begins with a deeper exploration of Catholicism and the Jesuit tradition. Fr. Daniel shares insights into contemplative prayer and the teachings of St. Ignatius, founder of the Jesuit order, including his understanding that the world remains inherently good despite the suffering and hardship we encounter.Victoria and Fr. Daniel also explore the remarkable range of perspectives within the Catholic Church. They discuss how the same spiritual tradition can be home to figures as politically different as Dorothy Day and J.D. Vance, and what that says about the breadth and complexity of Catholicism.Then the conversation turns to veganism. Fr. Daniel explains why he sees compassion for animals and a vegan way of living as a natural conclusion for a follower of Christ, even though veganism remains uncommon within the Catholic community.Together, they consider what could happen if religious communities became more engaged with animal compassion and the movement toward a kinder food system.In This EpisodeCatholic teachings and their relationship to compassionWhat it means to be a JesuitContemplative prayer in the Catholic traditionThe spiritual teachings of St. IgnatiusHow Catholicism can encompass very different worldviewsWhy Fr. Daniel became veganThe connection between Christianity, compassion, and veganismHow faith communities could help create a kinder worldThe potential for Catholic institutions to move toward greater compassion for animalsAbout Our GuestFr. Daniel Mascarenhas, SJ is a Jesuit priest whose work explores spirituality, faith, compassion, and the call to live more consciously. A vegan himself, Fr. Daniel brings a thoughtful perspective to the relationship between Christian teachings and compassionate living.In this conversation, he shares his experience of the Jesuit tradition and explains why he believes veganism can be a natural expression of the teachings of Christ.🍽️ A Special Visit from Chef Mark ReinfeldChef Mark Reinfeld, founder of Vegan Fusion, makes a special pop-in appearance during the episode to share information about his upcoming culinary course.If you're interested in taking your plant-based cooking to the next level, listeners can receive 30% off the course through Victoria's special link.Learn more and claim your 30% discount: https://veganfusion.com/More from Fr. Daniel & the Compassion ConsortiumWatch Fr. Daniel's appearance as a Special Spiritual Guest for the Compassion Consortium:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTJEL7XzGm0Victoria also spoke with Swami Chidananda of the Compassion Consortium about his spiritual calling and the journey from a successful secular career toward a life of spiritual service:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYscIyFRH8sAnd watch Victoria's 2019 film, A Prayer for Compassion:https://watch.unchainedtv.com/videos/a-prayer-for-compassionMain Street Vegan AcademyThe 39th cohort of Main Street Vegan Academy begins in October 2026 via Zoom. If you've ever wanted to deepen your knowledge of veganism, compassion, nutrition, advocacy, and the vegan movement, this could be your opportunity.Podcast listeners can receive $250 off with the code VEGCOACH250.Subscribe, rate, and review the Main Street Vegan Podcast to help more people discover the joy of living with vitality, spirituality, and compassion.Sign up for the Main Street Vegan blog and newsletter at https://www.mainstreetvegan.com and receive your FREE e-book, Recipes to Help You Age Like a Yogi.And become an insider by joining the Main Street Vegan Podcast Listeners Group on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/groups/207997266555049

What does it take to challenge one of the most deeply entrenched systems of animal suffering and what can each of us do to help end it?In this powerful conversation, Victoria Moran speaks with animal rights advocates Gretchen Primack and Ella Magers, co-founders of the March to Abolish Animal Testing, about their fight to end the use of animals in laboratories.The two are coming together to undertake a 200-mile march calling attention to the millions of animals used in experimentation and to demand a future beyond animal testing. Ella shares the story of Jane, a beagle bred for the laboratory industry who came into her life following the open rescue effort at Ridglan Farms. Jane's transformation from a laboratory animal to a beloved family member offers a deeply personal reminder of what is at stake.Gretchen and Ella also talk about why they chose a march as their form of activism, how their work with farmed animals led them toward the fight against animal experimentation, and what they would say to anyone who cares about animals but feels powerless in the face of such a massive system.This is a conversation about courage, compassion, direct action, and the belief that change becomes possible when ordinary people decide that the status quo is no longer acceptable.In This EpisodeWhy Gretchen and Ella created the March to Abolish Animal TestingHow the fight for farmed animals led Ella toward animal testing advocacyThe story of Jane, a beagle rescued from the laboratory industryWhat happened at Ridglan FarmsWhy a 200-mile march?What Gretchen and Ella hope the March will accomplishHow grassroots activism can create meaningful changeWhat you can do if you care about animals but feel powerlessWhy ending animal experimentation requires both courage and collective actionAbout Our GuestsGretchen Primack is a poet, author, and animal rights advocate. She is the co-founder and co-lead of the March to Abolish Animal Testing. Her books include Kind, a poetry collection exploring the relationships between humans and other animals, and The Lucky Ones: My Passionate Fight for Farm Animals, which she co-wrote with Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary founder Jenny Brown. Gretchen also taught in maximum-security prisons for 20 years.Ella Magers, MSW is an internationally recognized animal rights advocate, professional speaker, and holistic fitness coach. A vegan for more than 30 years, she has spent her career encouraging people to embody fierce compassion through education, coaching, public speaking, and grassroots activism. Ella serves on the founding Board of Directors of Hogs & Kisses Farm Sanctuary and is co-founder of the March to Abolish Animal Testing.Ella's connection to the fight against animal experimentation became deeply personal after the open rescue at Ridglan Farms, when she adopted Jane, a beagle who had been bred for the laboratory industry.The March to Abolish Animal TestingThe March to Abolish Animal Testing is a 200-mile march calling for an end to the use of animals in experimentation and for meaningful change in the systems that allow animal testing to continue.Learn more and follow the March at:Website: https://www.marchforanimals.orgConnect with Gretchen & EllaGretchen / March to Abolish Animal Testing: https://www.marchforanimals.orgElla Magers: https://ellamagers.com/Ella on Instagram: https://instagram.com/sexyfitveganMarch to Abolish Animal Testing on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marchforanimals/Subscribe, rate, and review the Main Street Vegan Podcast to help more people discover the joy of living with vitality, spirituality, and compassion.Sign up for the Main Street Vegan blog and newsletter at https://www.mainstreetvegan.com and receive your FREE e-book, Recipes to Help You Age Like a Yogi.And become an insider by joining the Main Street Vegan Podcast Listeners Group on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/groups/207997266555049

Every vegan is a spokesperson for the movement, whether they want the job or not. The good news is there's a version of that role for exactly who you already are. Felicia Greenfield found hers creating Friends Not Food, a farcical sitcom pilot filmed at a Florida farm sanctuary.A former marketing manager for MLB and the NHL, Felicia knows no single pitch connects with everyone and when she recognized that protests weren't the right method for her, she built something that didn't exist instead. She shares that vegan advocacy isn't just about protests and boycotts, it exists in forms you're allowed to invent, and yours might resonate with someone the existing options never would.Together, Victoria and Felicia explore narrative transportation, the reason people let their guard down inside a story in ways they never would inside a debate, and why comedy can deliver a message that a lecture would only repel. Felicia also gets into Friends Not Food itself, a show built inside Cli-Fi, the climate fiction genre already dramatizing flooded cities and dystopian hellscapes, but one that has left out the industry actually driving the crisis it exists to depict: animal agriculture.It's a conversation about finding a lane that's actually yours, and what happens when you let an animal just be itself and call it activism.In This EpisodeWhy every vegan can find their own form of advocacyHow Felicia created Friends Not FoodWhy traditional protest wasn't the right fit for herThe power of storytelling to reach people differentlyWhat narrative transportation means and why it worksHow comedy can open people up to difficult ideasWhy animal agriculture belongs in the climate fiction conversationFinding an advocacy approach that feels authentically yoursAbout Our GuestFelicia Greenfield is a former marketing manager for Major League Baseball and the NHL who found her own creative approach to vegan advocacy through storytelling and comedy. She is the creator of Friends Not Food, a farcical sitcom pilot filmed at a Florida farm sanctuary that brings animal agriculture and veganism into the world of climate fiction.Felicia's work explores how stories can create connection and open conversations that traditional advocacy approaches sometimes cannot. Her message is simple: vegan advocacy doesn't have to look one particular way. There is room to find the form that fits who you are.About Friends Not FoodFriends Not Food is a sitcom pilot filmed at a Florida farm sanctuary. The project uses humor, storytelling, and the relationships between humans and animals to explore veganism and animal agriculture in a way that invites audiences in rather than talking at them.The project also sits within the growing world of Cli-Fi, or climate fiction. While many stories imagine the consequences of climate change, Friends Not Food asks us to consider the role of animal agriculture in that conversation.Connect with FeliciaFriends Not Food: https://www.friendsnotfood.tv/Instagram: www.instagram.com/feliciag.nyc/Subscribe, rate, and review the Main Street Vegan Podcast to help more people discover the joy of living with vitality, spirituality, and compassion.Sign up for the Main Street Vegan blog and newsletter at https://www.mainstreetvegan.com and receive your FREE e-book, Recipes to Help You Age Like a Yogi.Become an insider by joining the Main Street Vegan Podcast Listeners Group on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/groups/207997266555049Complement are supplements made by vegans, Pamela Fergusson, RD, PhD, Matt Frazier, and Joel Kahn, MD, to enhance diet. Check out their new product Sulfora, and enter 'MAINSTREET' in the discount box to save yourself 10%.