The Mailbag (July 28, 2026)

The Tofu Trio recorded this episode on November 1, 2026, which happened to be World Vegan Day. To commemorate the momentous day, they each reveal how they celebrated. Once that's done, Joey prepares to launch into his usual verbal parade of movies and television shows he watched, but Vanessa nips that in the bud. What follows is a Vegans Talking Shit miracle as they actually stay on topic for the entire episode. Joey, Jon, and Vanessa share their thoughts on potential vegan exceptions, such as animals that lack a central nervous system, honey, lab-grown meat, and eggs from chickens raised in farm sanctuaries. True to form, Jon does fact-checking with his pal, ChatGPT. From beginning to end, this episode is nothing but vegan talk. No shit!Vegans Talking Shit is hosted by Joey Di Girolamo, Jon Missirlian, and Vanessa Silva. Main podcast image artwork by Diego Orellana. Theme song "Flying" by TrackTribe. Visit @veganstalkingshit on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube and @vegans.talking.sh on TikTok. Send questions, comments, and topic ideas to [email protected], and you may get your email read during the show.

Joey and Jon recorded this episode very late one night without Vanessa there to keep them on topic, and the result is easily their most unhinged episode yet. The intended subject was Vegans and Environmentalists, a topic they manage to discuss for about 15 minutes. Even then, Joey side-tracks the conversation to share his fascination with composting toilets. He later explains why certain beers and wines aren't actually vegan, gives a shoutout to local restaurant Rosalia's Kitchen, and educates Jon on Deadpool's sexuality. Before long, they're spiraling through hockey, cricket, Australian breakdancer Raygun, biotech fraudster Elizabeth Holmes, and '90s tabloid queen Amy Fisher. In short, they cover practically everything except the point of the show. To cap off the madness, Joey convinces Jon to ask ChatGPT to describe the cover of Metallica's album "Load," bringing an already chaotic episode to an appropriately ridiculous (ahem) climax.Vegans Talking Shit is hosted by Joey Di Girolamo, Jon Missirlian, and Vanessa Silva. Main podcast image artwork by Diego Orellana. Theme song "Flying" by TrackTribe. Visit @veganstalkingshit on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube and @vegans.talking.sh on TikTok. Send questions, comments, and topic ideas to [email protected], and you may get your email read during the show.

All three members of The Tofu Trio are back together to tackle one of life's great questions; Are aliens vegan? Sure, it's a silly topic, but they've gone down sillier rabbit holes. Joey kicks things off by nerding out over the statistical certainty of intelligent life in the universe and explaining why any civilization with a billion-year head start on us is probably smart enough to leave animals off the menu. Jon pivots to the sci-fi series "Travelers," pointing out how future humans in the show are vegan. Vanessa brings things back down to Earth with a story about buying plumbing fixtures, where a salesperson committed the fatal error of making the wrong comment about vegans to her. She then mentions people she knows who believe in the Arcturians, alleged to be a highly evolved, technologically advanced alien race. Jon steps in with a plausible reason why extraterrestrials might not be vegan after all, but rather than offering a sharp rebuttal, Joey opts to completely bewilder his co-hosts by bursting into song, leaving Jon speechless. That musical interlude prompts a massive detour into artificial intelligence, leading the trio to wax philosophical about immortality. Finally, they wrap up the episode discussing writer/director Christopher Nolan and his latest cinematic epic, "The Odyssey." Tune in, space out, and join The Tofu Trio as they boldly go where no vegan podcast has gone before.Vegans Talking Shit is hosted by Joey Di Girolamo, Jon Missirlian, and Vanessa Silva. Main podcast image artwork by Diego Orellana. Theme song "Flying" by TrackTribe. Visit @veganstalkingshit on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube and @vegans.talking.sh on TikTok. Send questions, comments, and topic ideas to [email protected], and you may get your email read during the show.

It's only two-thirds of The Tofu Trio in this episode, as Jon is off bringing home the vegan bacon. For an episode that's probably best experienced on YouTube, Joey and Vanessa catch up on life and share their ultimate vegan favorites, which extend way beyond the kitchen. The conversation begins with an immediate detour, as Joey talks about a Brazilian film he recently watched, leading Vanessa to set the record straight on how cinema constantly gets her home country wrong, making it seem much more dangerous than it actually is. Joey also manages to fit in his thoughts on the TV show "Lanterns," and celebrates Team USA winning gold at the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup. Joey finally pauses his monologue long enough for the duo to dive deep into their favorite vegan and cruelty-free products. Recording from Brazil, Vanessa showcases locally available beauty products and a specific brand of tofu that seems to be exclusive to Brazil. When it's Joey's turn, he starts with his current obsession, Stevia-sweetened Zevia soda, followed by an absurdly long list of personal care items, his favorite coffee creamer, and the items that make up his mostly frozen-food diet. Jon is severely missed throughout the chaotic banter, but rest assured he'll be back in his rightful seat in the next episode.Vegans Talking Shit is hosted by Joey Di Girolamo, Jon Missirlian, and Vanessa Silva. Main podcast image artwork by Diego Orellana. Theme song "Flying" by TrackTribe. Visit @veganstalkingshit on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube and @vegans.talking.sh on TikTok. Send questions, comments, and topic ideas to [email protected], and you may get your email read during the show.

Joey welcomes his longtime friend Peter to this Non-Vegan Voices episode of the podcast. The duo kicks things off with Joey detailing how Peter single-handedly got him hooked on comic books, before pivoting into Meatless Mondays, Peter's enjoyment of plant-based food, and how his heart attack influenced his decision to eat more of it. From there, the chat wanders through various topics, including hypocrisy, the grossly unhealthy food Joey and Peter ate in their youth, and the sacred, unsung art of being a great comic book clerk. Things take a meaningful turn as they dive deep into autism, with Peter sharing what it's like to navigate life as the father of an autistic son. Finally, they close out the episode with a shared plea for a little more global kindness. The producers of Vegans Talking Shit sincerely apologize on behalf of Joey's dog, Khaleesi, whose non-stop floor-clacking, water-slurping, and heavy snorting proved that she was determined to co-host the episode.Vegans Talking Shit is hosted by Joey Di Girolamo, Jon Missirlian, and Vanessa Silva. Main podcast image artwork by Diego Orellana. Theme song "Flying" by TrackTribe. Visit @veganstalkingshit on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube and @vegans.talking.sh on TikTok. Send questions, comments, and topic ideas to [email protected], and you may get your email read during the show.

Despite their big decision to release episodes biweekly instead of weekly, The Tofu Trio is still finding it nearly impossible to get their chaotic schedules in sync. In the meantime, Joey decided to deliver another solo episode that serves as a complete diversion from all things plant-based. This time, he presents his top five favorite bad movies of all time. But first, he drops some big news about the Vegans Talking Shit Shopify Store. After dropping that bomb, he dives into five actual cinematic bombs, specifically movies so hideously terrible that they somehow reversed course and achieved a bizarre kind of greatness. As usual, Joey is unpolished, uncouth, and unrefined, proving once again that he desperately needs Jon and Vanessa around just to sound somewhat comprehensible.Vegans Talking Shit is hosted by Joey Di Girolamo, Jon Missirlian, and Vanessa Silva. Main podcast image artwork by Diego Orellana. Theme song "Flying" by TrackTribe. Visit @veganstalkingshit on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube and @vegans.talking.sh on TikTok. Send questions, comments, and topic ideas to [email protected], and you may get your email read during the show.

In this longer-than-usual episode, The Tofu Trio discusses farm animal sanctuaries, but not before Joey hijacks the mic yet again to review all the movies he's watched recently. He gives his unsolicited thoughts on "The Mandalorian and Grogu," "Masters of the Universe," "Disclosure Day," and "Supergirl" before Vanessa reminds him that this episode is actually supposed to be about animal sanctuaries. Joey begrudgingly drops his film critic persona and pivots to his experience volunteering at an Oregon farm sanctuary, eventually bringing up SASHA Farm, which vegan warrior Gary Yourofsky has been promoting. Joey highlights a few sanctuaries down in Florida, and Vanessa shouts out Sweet Olive Farm in Georgia. The conversation eventually derails into the frustration of attending events with zero vegan options, which triggers Joey into a full-blown rampage about his most recent trip to The Cheesecake Factory, which will almost certainly be his last. Jon points out that the lack of good vegan options at places like that dissuades people from going vegan because they assume it's impossible or that the lifestyle's just sad salads and raw tofu. Vanessa chimes in to add that restaurants lacking plant-based options make things just as stressful for non-vegans trying to dine with their vegan friends and family members. Jon then talks about the complexities of traveling while vegan before pivoting to a passionate defense of that rare culinary vegan delicacy known as the peanut butter and jelly sandwich. The trio finally closes the show in the classiest way possible, by begging their listeners for cash. Jon suggests they create a Patreon account to help cover the expenses of running the podcast, soooooooo maybe? In the end, listeners are getting a full tour of animal rescues, terrible restaurant menus, and blatant financial desperation, proving that staying on topic is still a massive work in progress for this crew.Learn more about the farm animal sanctuaries mentioned in today's episode:Farm Sanctuary, widely known as the first and largest farm animal sanctuary in the United States, with locations in Watkins Glen, NY and Los Angeles, CASASHA Farm in Manchester, MILittle Bear Sanctuary in Punta Gorda, FLFlorida Rescue Farm in Duette, FLKindred Spirits Sanctuary near Ocala, FLSweet Olive Farm in Winterville, GABuy some Vegans Talking Shit merchandise! Visit https://vegans-talking-shit.myshopify.com to buy Vegans Talking Shit t-shirts, hoodies, coffee mugs, and more.Vegans Talking Shit is hosted by Joey Di Girolamo, Jon Missirlian, and Vanessa Silva. Main podcast image artwork by Diego Orellana. Theme song "Flying" by TrackTribe. Visit @veganstalkingshit on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube and @vegans.talking.sh on TikTok. Send questions, comments, and topic ideas to [email protected], and you may get your email read during the show.

After dodging listener email in the last episode, The Tofu Trio actually manages to stay on track and read emails this week. First, they read a listener's message that expands on the stories Vanessa shared about riding horses, and another calls out Jon for defending Kim Kardashian, which leads to Joey delivering a mea culpa of sorts. That turns into a conversation about where they draw the line when it comes to supporting problematic celebrities, which somehow ends with Joey dropping a downright awful Matthew McConaughey impression. A third email from Poland triggers a deep philosophical debate about whether or not animals have souls. Finally, they wrap up the show with free plugs for Chunk plant-based meat and Tuno plant-based tuna. In the end, listeners get a rare treat as the three hosts mostly stick to the agenda, even if the horrible Matthew McConaughey impression nearly ruins the whole thing.Visit https://bitesizevegan.org/is-horse-riding-cruel-is-it-vegan/ to read the article on the ethics of horseback riding that was cited in today's episode.Buy some Vegans Talking Shit merchandise! Visit https://vegans-talking-shit.myshopify.com to buy Vegans Talking Shit t-shirts, hoodies, coffee mugs, and more.Vegans Talking Shit is hosted by Joey Di Girolamo, Jon Missirlian, and Vanessa Silva. Main podcast image artwork by Diego Orellana. Theme song "Flying" by TrackTribe. Visit @veganstalkingshit on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube and @vegans.talking.sh on TikTok. Send questions, comments, and topic ideas to [email protected], and you may get your email read during the show.

The Tofu Trio sits down with the simple goal of reading listener emails, but once again, they prove that staying on track is not their strong suit. After spending roughly the length of an entire show talking about absolutely everything else, they collectively decide that the mailbag will have to wait. Instead, the episode kicks off with a breakdown of the World Cup. Jon is fully swept up in tournament fever, while Joey proudly admits he hasn't watched a single second of it. Joey does chime in to mention he prefers women's soccer, which naturally pivots the group into an awkward debate about male versus female athletes. Just as things settle down, Jon drops an unexpected bomb by claiming Vanessa almost got into a physical brawl while watching a game, forcing Vanessa to jump in and immediately set the record straight. From there, the podcast turns into a parade of charity marketing. Joey gives a shoutout to Zevia soda, and Vanessa follows that up by plugging the Beyond Immerse line of protein drinks for the third time in show history. For good measure, they throw in a third unsolicited recommendation for the Yuka app. Finally, Joey recaps his experience at the Florida Supercon comic book convention, where he tracked down and bought a Holy Grail item. The show wraps up with Joey sharing his encounter with H.H. German, the brilliant creator of Calico, the first vegan antihero in comics and manga. It's the perfect end to an episode that proves that not all superheroes wear capes, some just refuse to wear leather.If you'd like to learn more about Sigma Comics and Calico, the first vegan antihero, visit https://sigmacomics.com. You can also visit Sigma Comics on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and even Pinterest.Buy some Vegans Talking Shit merchandise! Visit https://vegans-talking-shit.myshopify.com to buy Vegans Talking Shit t-shirts, hoodies, coffee mugs, and more.Vegans Talking Shit is hosted by Joey Di Girolamo, Jon Missirlian, and Vanessa Silva. Main podcast image artwork by Diego Orellana. Theme song "Flying" by TrackTribe. Visit @veganstalkingshit on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube and @vegans.talking.sh on TikTok. Send questions, comments, and topic ideas to [email protected], and you may get your email read during the show.

Today's episode was recorded while a massive thunderstorm was churning over Joey's home, which causes a couple of technical glitches on his end. No matter, the show must go on! The Tofu Trio immediately dives into horseback riding and whether or not vegans should actually ride horses. Vanessa shares stories from her pre-vegan days when she rode horses and participated in show jumping, and she describes what it really means to break a horse. Jon then delivers his signature ChatGPT moment by asking the AI why notable vegan Joaquin Phoenix agreed to ride a horse for the movie "Napoleon." This revelation leads Vanessa right into a rant about why another celebrity vegan, Lewis Hamilton, recently raised her ire. After a brief detour where Jon defends Kim Kardashian against Joey and Vanessa's flying daggers, things take a bizarre turn into the world of horse semen. They use the word "semen" so often that you might get pregnant just listening to the episode. Thankfully, they eventually shut up about equine fluids to discuss Billie Eilish's recent controversy regarding her claim that non-vegans cannot be true animal lovers. It's an episode packed with thunder, livestock, and questionable fluids, so buckle up and try to keep your lunch down.Buy some Vegans Talking Shit merchandise! Visit https://vegans-talking-shit.myshopify.com to buy Vegans Talking Shit t-shirts, hoodies, coffee mugs, and more.Vegans Talking Shit is hosted by Joey Di Girolamo, Jon Missirlian, and Vanessa Silva. Main podcast image artwork by Diego Orellana. Theme song "Flying" by TrackTribe. Visit @veganstalkingshit on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube and @vegans.talking.sh on TikTok. Send questions, comments, and topic ideas to [email protected], and you may get your email read during the show.