Veg Out 612: The Top Ten Who Made Toronto Better for Vegans in 2025

On this episode, we chat about the Yves Veggie Cuisine products we miss most since they were discontinued and slowly disappeared from our grocery shelves. Join Barbi and Jen as we discuss life after Yves and what we’ve been enjoying in place of the many staples the brand provided for decades.Links:CBC article about Yves Veggie Cuisine being discontinuedAunty Em’s Sugar Shack weekend (March 26-28)Alternative Protein Symposium (March 28)Pizza Day/Night at Aunty Em’s (April 3)Sunday Brunch with Chicpeas Vegan Cuisine (Sundays starting March 15)Spring Celebration Open Day at the Donkey Sanctuary of Canada (March 29)Credits:Cohosts: Barbi and JenEditing: JeanetteEpisode Summary: JenTheme Music: Matt JudgeSocial Media: Jen

As new vegan restaurants open, others close and some add animals to their menu. Join Jeanette, Jen and Sweta as we discuss our thoughts the few vegan restaurants that have added animal products into their offerings.Credits:Hosts: Jeanette, Jen and SwetaEditing: SwetaEpisode Summary: SwetaTheme Music: Matt Judge

Lisa Winn is the Animal Manager and Co-founder of Ladybird Animal Sanctuary. She joins Jen and Jeanette to talk about Ladybird's history of rescuing cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, birds, and many more animals from shelters. We also chat about their upcoming fundraising event and their journey to opening a physical farm sanctuary.Links:Registration now open for KinderCampWaistlines and Waffles hosted by Melanated VeganLadybird Soiree 2026Credits:Guest: Lisa WinnHosts: Jen and JeanetteSocial Media: JenEditing and summary: JeanetteTheme: Matt Judge

Barbi is joined by LA chef and cookbook author Tara Punzone to talk about her restaurant Pura Vita, how to cook Italian with vegan cheese, and how she developed delicious and accessible recipes for her first cookbook, Vegana Italiana.Links:Vegan Valentine's Potluck and GamesCredits:Host: BarbiGuest: Tara Punzone⁠ Editing and Summary: JeanetteSocial Media: JenTheme song: Matt Judge

On today's episode we talk about Sweta's favourite food and Barbi's least favourite food, sandwiches! Listen as Sweta tries to convince Barbi that sandwiches deserve herlove.Credits:Hosts: Barbi and SwetaEditor: SwetaTheme: Matt JudgeSocial Media: Jen

What people, places, businesses and initiatives made Toronto better for vegans in 2025? The Veg Out crew put together our top ten (in no particular order!) list and we're spotlighting them on this week's episode.Links:Lauren ToyotaWishbone Animal Rights LabWishbone Animal Rights Lab on Veg OutAnimal Liberation KitchenAunty Em'sHoney's Ice CreamToronto Public LibraryPlant Curious DealsVegan MeetupVeggie in the 6ixCredits:Hosts: Barbi, Jen, Jeanette and SwetaEditor: JeanetteTheme: Matt JudgeSocial Media: Jen

Regan Russell was a dedicated animal rights activist who was tragically killed in 2020 after being struck by a pig transport truck outside a slaughterhouse. On this episode, we talk with Ray Cruzzola, director of the documentary I’m Trying, which honors Regan’s inspiring life and activism through the voices of her friends and family. Join us as we explore Regan’s story and the film’s powerful message of hope for anyone interested in joining the animal rights movement.Links: I’m Trying film (Facebook) https://www.facebook.com/share/1D4Aaha1H2/?mibextid=wwXIfrI’m Trying film (Instagram) https://www.instagram.com/imtryingfilm?igsh=MXY5YWN0a2dha3A4Credits:Guest: Ray CruzzolaCohosts: Sweta and JenEditing: SwetaEpisode Summary: JenTheme Music: Matt Judge

Towards Ahimsa Secondary School is a non-profit, fully accredited, independent secondary school operating out of the GTA. On this episode we interview one of the co-founders, Ambika Jain, who tells us how the school works, what inspired it, and how to get involved.Links:https://www.imjmcanada.org/tass Credits:Guest: Ambika JainHosts: Barbi and SteveEditing: SwetaEpisode Summary: BarbiTheme Music: Matt Judge

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed at the grocery store as a vegan trying to read labels and figure out what to feed your family, what to feed yourself, and how to find the best vegan products out there, or accidentally vegan products, this is the episode for you. Kimberly is the brains behind the instagram account @Accidentally_Vegan_Canada. She joins us to share tips on label reading, navigating the grocery store, and what products are amazingly and surprisingly accidentally vegan.Links:Animal Liberation Kitchen Holiday Market@Accidentally_Vegan_Canada⁠Summary: JeanetteSocial Media: JenEditing: JeanetteTheme: Matt Judge

On this episode, we compare the classic pepperoni and cheese pizza, vegan of course, from five different pizza chain restaurants. We rank everything from crust and sauce to overall flavour to see which chain delivers the most satisfying plant-based slice. Who will win the Great Vegan Pizza Taste Test?Links:241 PizzaPanangoPizzaioloPizza NovaPizza PizzaCredits:Hosts: Barbi, Jeanette, Sweta and RajivDescription: JeanetteEditing: JeanetteTheme: Matt Judge