This is a can't-miss episode! Join me in conversation with Elaine Perlman, Executive Director of Waitlist Zero, an advocacy group committed to ending the kidney shortage in the United States. In this episode of the Vegan Family Kitchen Podcast, Elaine shares her deeply personal journey from embracing veganism and healthy plant-based living to becoming a kidney donor, gifting an organ to a stranger. Her transition to a plant-based lifestyle not only transformed her health but also fueled her passion for saving lives through organ donation. Elaine aims to pass critical federal laws in the United ..read more

Learn about plant-based baking from the professionals! In this episode of the Vegan Family Kitchen Podcast, Brigitte Gemme interviews Natasha and Ed Tatton, owners of Whistler's BReD Bakery and authors of the newly published book BReD: Sourdough Loaves, Small Breads and Other Plant-Based Baking. We talk about: Replacing dairy and eggs with whole plant ingredients (no need for the middle bird!) Natasha and Ed's separate journeys toward veganism How the sourdough business grew organically Learn to sprout grains Hear business tips from seasoned bakery owners! Learn more and buy the book (includ ..read more

Most people could cook faster, waste less money and time, and be less stressed if they handle their grocery haul differently. In this podcast episode, Brigitte shares strategies for reducing food waste and cooking faster by properly storing groceries. Listen to the episode and try Brigitte's tips to get more organized in the kitchen, cook more efficiently, waste less food, time, and money, and find joy in cooking.  LINKS TO RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:  Book: Flow in the Kitchen: Practices for Healthy Stress-Free Vegan Cooking (link to Amazon but you can order from any bookst ..read more

Can there be such a thing as a blissful menopause? Every woman's experience will be different, but certain lifestyle and mindset shifts will make it a smoother ride. Brigitte's guest on the Vegan Family Kitchen podcast today is Anna Pelzer, a vegan menopause coach. She has some gentle guidance to help. In this thought-provoking conversation, Anna shares: Her journey from food photography to menopause coaching What she means when she suggests menopause can be a time of opportunity Actionable physical and mental health tips you can practice today Her own routine and stress-reduction strategies ..read more

Brigitte explores the idea of cooking as a form of spiritual nourishment and shares her current five rituals for a deeper and more meaningful cooking experience. These include expressing gratitude before cooking, deeply understanding the origins of ingredients, staying fully present during the cooking process, cooking with a community, and sharing the food with love. Brigitte also shares how these practices help her manage stress and appreciate the process of meal preparation.  If you'd like to join Brigitte and her group every other Sunday in the kitchen, email her to introduce yourself ..read more

With the charismatic Jean-Philippe Cyr, delicious and comforting vegan dishes are served with a side of self-deprecating humor... or is it the other way around? Jean-Philippe, a.k.a. The Buddhist Chef, just published his most recent English-language cookbook, The Buddhist Chef's Homestyle Cooking, and we chatted about: How being from a big Quebec family influenced his cooking journey What triggered his transition from restaurant chef specializing in meat to vegan YouTuber How to make tofu and tempeh delicious How he collaborates with large supermarket chains to create ready-to-eat vegan dishe ..read more

Veganic gardening is an approach to growing plants organically without any animal inputs. In other words: plant-based gardening! If you already have a garden, listen in to learn from Meg Kelly how to transition to a kinder and safer approach. If you don't already grow your own veggies, be prepared to get inspired by her hot tips to get started! Meg Kelly has been gardening veganically for 15 years in backyards, on balconies, and in the countryside. She co-founded the Veganic Agriculture Network in 2008 to increase awareness about veganic gardening and farming in North America. She now teaches ..read more

Why not try something different, pay attention to the results, and take it from there? This Vegan Family Kitchen Podcast episode's guest, Helen C. Giles, is a colleague, cooking friend, and meal plan subscriber whose stories will encourage you to embrace experimentation and give thanks for the life and body you have now. In this conversation, we explore: The beginnings of Helen's journey into vegetarianism, which started in a high school Animal Science class, and how she took her parents along for the ride; Her self-guided path to healing from a mental health crisis when conventional medicine ..read more

Get inspired to cook more healthy vegan Italian food with Antonia Ricciardi! Antonia trained in physics and worked in the publishing industry, but her roots in the family restaurant in Southern Italy stayed strong. In our podcast conversation, you'll learn more about:  Antonia's inspiring shift from the sciences to the culinary world, ingeniously weaving Italian flavors into her vegan dishes. Her favorite substitute for meat in vegan Bolognese sauce - and how the people of Bologna actually make it! The powerful wellness benefits of raw food, with a special spotlight on Antonia's delectab ..read more

How to deal with having to go down to the air raid shelter in the midst of cooking dinner? Is there even something that's good to eat when you are under threat of bombing? And how can we make cooking and eating a more meaningful experience, even under a prolonged state of emergency such as war? In this can't-miss episode of the Vegan Family Kitchen podcast, I am honored to talk about all this - and more - with Oksana Spoliak, a Ukrainian food blogger who lives in Lviv. Oksana Spoliak is a Ukrainian who rediscovered her love of food, bringing together efficiency and creativity in preparing heal ..read more