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Vegan & Vibrant :: Mental Health Collective

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Vegan and Vibrant Episode 08: Cara Thibodeaux on Living a Great Full Life

March 25, 2021 Valerie Martin
Cara Thibodeaux Vegan and Vibrant Podcast

NOTE: As of October 2021, this podcast is no longer publishing new episodes; however, you can download mp3 files of all existing episodes at these show notes posts on the blog.

Cara Thibodeaux is one of those people with a contagious laugh who has your cheeks hurting by the end of a conversation.

She so clearly lives by her values of joy and gratitude, without crossing into toxic positivity-land— and when I first discovered her on Instagram organizing a fundraiser to support the Austin community during the recent devastating storm, I knew I had to bring her on the pod.

I also appreciate Cara’s realness about how, as much she loves getting to do her work as a content creator in the vegan world, it is not always glamorous, easy, “passive income” kind of work. (Hell, content-wise it’s all I can do to post a podcast episode and two Instagram posts in a freaking month, I can’t imagine! 😝)

I hope you love this conversation as much as I did. Alsooo, just a heads up, don’t look at Cara’s Instagram if you’re hungry… I’ve looked at it several times while prepping this intro and I. AM. SALIVATING!

To listen to this episode, download the mp3 file HERE.

About Cara Thibodeaux

Cara is a vegan influencer focused on promoting a vegan lifestyle and advocating for the rights of both human and non-human animals. On her Instagram @greatfullgirl and at thegreatfullgirl.com, Cara shares all about vegan lifestyle, including recipes, travel finds, and more.

Additional Resources + Stuff Mentioned in the Episode

  • Cara’s article for VegNews, “How to Bring Vegan Options to Underserved Black Communities”

In Podcast Tags podcast, mental health, animals, activism, recipes, vegan blogger, lifestyle, travel, Austin
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Vegan and Vibrant Episode 07: Brandon Blake on Living in Bonus Time

February 11, 2021 Valerie Martin
Brandon-Blake-Vegan-and-Vibrant

NOTE: As of October 2021, this podcast is no longer publishing new episodes; however, you can download mp3 files of all existing episodes at these show notes posts on the blog.

You know that feeling when you first interact with someone and you just go, “oh yeah, we’re gonna be friends”? That’s exactly how I felt when I met Brandon Blake.

I’m dubbing Brandon the vegan Mr. Rogers— which to me (and thankfully Brandon agrees) is a HIGH compliment. He’s one of those people whose light shines so brightly that you think to yourself, “Is this dude seriously like this all the time?” But then the really cool thing is learning that there’s a lot more to his story than meets the eye... and a lot more going on than a huge smile. Brandon’s joy is real, but it was also born out of almost dying in a horrific bike accident.

When he came through the other side of “carmageddon,” he knew that he wanted to make the most of the “bonus time” he’d been given. One of the things he did was unexpectedly befriend a turkey named Ziggy, who would change his life forever.

Meeting Ziggy and the other animals at Pasado’s Safe Haven opened Brandon’s eyes to the precious individuals living inside the animals that we are conditioned to believe are objects to be used. Thanks to Ziggy’s heart and impact, Brandon and his wife Sabrina transitioned to a vegan lifestyle and became passionate advocates for the animals… and now, Brandon even works as Pasado’s Humane Education Coordinator!

I am so excited to share this episode with you and know y’all will feel Brandon’s heart come through in this conversation. Get ready to be inspired to live in YOUR bonus time!

To listen to this episode, download the mp3 file HERE.

About Brandon Blake

Brandon Blake is the Humane Education Coordinator at Pasado’s Safe Haven animal sanctuary in Sultan, Washington. He works on youth engagement with classrooms to help connect kids with farmed animals in order to help the kids see the animals as their friends.  

Brandon also leads “Sanctuary Circle Time”, which is his Saturday morning kid’s show learning about our animal friends, promoting kindness, compassion and vegan living to kid’s far and wide. After 14 years in the preschool classroom, Brandon is happy to be able to talk about veganism openly and honestly with kids for the first time, through his work with Pasado’s Safe Haven!

Brandon (or as he’s known in the teaching world, Teacher Bando) lives in Seattle with his wife Sabrina, their two kitties PeeWee and Lois, and their recently adopted toy yorkie named Fabio (rescued by Pasado’s Safe Haven from a horrific puppy mill). He finds additional joy playing music and doing multi lingual calligraphy, as well as cooking delicious food, made from plants with Sabrina in quarantine. 

🐷Follow Brandon on social media @bonustimemusic or email him to set up a classroom presentation for kids at brandonb@pasadosafehaven.org
🐷Learn more about Pasado’s Safe Haven
🐷See the newest episode of Circle Time (and all previous episodes recorded!) on the
Pasado’s Safe Haven Facebook event page

Additional Resources + Stuff Mentioned in the Episode

  • Sliding Doors (movie)

  • Seattle Bike Blog post about Brandon’s accident and recovery

In Podcast Tags podcast, mental health, sanctuary, animals, trauma, activism
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Vegan and Vibrant Episode 06: Molly Patrick on the Importance of Embracing the Suck

January 24, 2021 Valerie Martin
Molly-Patrick-Vegan-and-Vibrant-Podcast

NOTE: As of October 2021, this podcast is no longer publishing new episodes; however, you can download mp3 files of all existing episodes at these show notes posts on the blog.

After an unintentional pause (long story), the podcast is BACK with biweekly interviews with badass vegans! I haven't decided if I'll normally stick to Thursdays or publish on a different day, but I'm publishing this episode specially on a Sunday, for any Clean Food Dirty Girl meal plan folks who are spending time in the kitchen today batch cooking the week's food and want something great to listen to!

My interview with Molly Patrick was a huge gift in a number of ways I would never have predicted when I first got an email about interviewing her on the pod.

First of all, a lesson about all-or-nothing thinking: while I'm loud and proud about my #antidietvegan perspective, I  almost deleted the email without any further thought or response purely because of the words "clean food" in the name of Molly's business. Me: "The idea of 'clean food' or 'clean eating' proliferates good vs bad foods, rigidity, restriction, orthorexia... all things that I cannot abide!"

And while my concerns about "clean eating" remain, something in my gut told me— "maybe dont be so quick to judge this book by its cover." So I responded saying that I was intrigued after looking through the website, but that it would be important for me to have a candid conversation about the concept of clean food.

Molly was incredibly open and genuine in her response, and shared my concerns about rigidity and moralizing based on the 'purity' of food. PHEW. After the interview itself— which was so good and I will just let you listen to find out what we talked about— I thought, "hmmm... I do love a good meal plan service that takes the decision-making out of what to shop for and cook. What the hell, I'll do a free trial."

The free trial quickly turned me into a paid subscriber, because I was blown away by the custom online classroom CFDG has built and how ridiculously delicious the recipes are. If you are someone who enjoys doing "batched" cooking (i.e. taking a few hours on a Sunday to cook most of the components of the week's meals), you will LOVE these meal plans. There are so many other things I love about them, but I won't belabor the point here— just give it a shot!

And meanwhile, enjoy this conversation with the Dirty queen herself, Molly Patrick.

To listen to this episode, download the mp3 file HERE.

About Molly Patrick

Molly Patrick is the co-founder of Clean Food Dirty Girl, a company dedicated to helping people eat more plants while celebrating human imperfection. Through her swear-y and inclusive approach, Molly has built a thriving business and global community. Before she was a successful entrepreneur, she was a champion drinker and smoker. So much so that her drinking and smoking privileges had to be revoked. Molly grew up in the middle of nowhere New Mexico on 5 acres of land. Her parents handbuilt their home out of mud, straw, and rocks.

While her parents were building their house, they lived in a Teepee on the land and made do without electricity, indoor plumbing, or hot water. Molly’s rugged and unconventional upbringing made her innovative, appreciative, determined, and always humble. She has never eaten meat in her life. Molly lives in Hawaii with her wife and has a virtual team around the globe.

Molly and her Dirty team custom create weekly Whole Food Plant Based Meal Plans to teach their subscribers how to shop, cook, and eat plants that taste damn good. She has also sent out a "Sweary Saturday Love Letter" to her email list since January 2014, where she celebrates human imperfections and all the messiness of life. 

🐷Clean Food Dirty Girl website
🐷@cleanfooddirtygirl on IG

In Podcast Tags podcast, mental health, psychology, sobriety, orthorexia, anti-diet, intuitive eating, cooking, meal planning
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Vegan and Vibrant Episode 05: Jenn Friedman on Veganism and Eating Disorder Recovery

December 23, 2020 Valerie Martin
Jenn-Friedman-Vegan-and-Vibrant-Podcast

NOTE: As of October 2021, this podcast is no longer publishing new episodes; however, you can download mp3 files of all existing episodes at these show notes posts on the blog.

So many people conflate veganism with any other "diet" like keto, paleo, Whole30, etc.— or assume veganism implies disordered eating (especially within the eating disorder recovery community).

 In this conversation with Jenn Friedman, we go deep with disentangling eating disorders and veganism, and she shares her own story as a person who was in treatment that did not support her continuing with eating vegan despite it being an ethical lifestyle choice.

Jenn is so down to earth and truly VIBRANT, and we are both living proof that you can be vegan in recovery— though as you'll hear in our conversation, it is a very complex and individual thing!

She's also been working on a book to be released in 2021, Eating Disorders and Veganism, which is how we connected this past fall. The ED treatment field needs her message BADLY, and I'm so grateful she is writing this book.

To listen to this episode, download the mp3 file HERE.

About Jenn Friedman

Jenn Friedman is a musician (singer/songwriter/piano-player), author, and Eating Disorder Recovery Advocate from Brooklyn, NY. She has shared her recovery message through discussion and performance at various schools and recovery events, and has also made weekly videos for the WeRFreEDomFighters YouTube recovery channel.

Jenn released her first book, Eating Disorders on the Wire: Music and Metaphor as Pathways to Recovery through H.T.F.K. Press in March 2014. She also released a full-length album, On the Wire, on Personal Bias Records. The book and music can be enjoyed together or separately, but both explore the emotional journey of an eating disorder through metaphor.

🐷Eating Disorders and Veganism  forthcoming book
🐷 Jenn's  main website

Additional Resources + Mentioned on This Episode:

  • Jenn’s recovery-focused album and corresponding book

  • Alsana ED treatment center

  • Washington Post article: “Veganism and eating disorders— is there a link?”

  • Her highly-recommended editor Louise Tucker

In Podcast Tags podcast, mental health, psychology, eating disorders, recovery, treatment
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Vegan and Vibrant Episode 04: Dr. Amy Mariaskin on Anxiety, OCD, Values, and Rigidity

December 10, 2020 Valerie Martin
Dr.-Amy-Mariaskin-Vegan-and-Vibrant-Podcast

NOTE: As of October 2021, this podcast is no longer publishing new episodes; however, you can download mp3 files of all existing episodes at these show notes posts on the blog.

Amy Mariaskin is one of those wonderful humans who feels like a bit of a walking paradox— but actually is just absurdly well-rounded.

She works incredilby hard working her own treatment center in Nashville, and is... goofy AF.

I'm fortunate to call Amy a good friend, and I can't wait for you to hear some of her expertise around anxiety and OCD and how they can relate to/overlap with veganism or folks wanting to explore a vegan lifestyle. 

This is an incredibly rich conversation, and if you have personal experience with any of these topics or love someone who does, you're gonna dig this episode!

To listen to this episode, download the mp3 file HERE.

About Amy Mariaskin, PhD

Dr. Amy Mariaskin is a licensed clinical psychologist and owner/director of the Nashville OCD & Anxiety Treatment Center. As a clinician, she works with individuals across the lifespan who have anxiety, OCD, and related disorders using evidence-based treatment. Dr. Mariaskin also supervises a multidisciplinary team of therapists and serves as an adjunct professor at Vanderbilt University where she provides training and supervision for doctoral students. She lives in Nashville with her husband and her elderly hound dog, Mr. Cleveland.

🐷 Follow @OCDnashville on Instagram for Amy's rad cartoons
🐷 NOATC's website

Additional Resources + Mentioned on This Episode:

  • International OCD Foundation

  • The Happiness Trap by Russ Harris - book, app, and free resources

In Podcast Tags podcast, Amy Mariaskin, OCD, anxiety, mental health, Nashville, psychology, values, ACT
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Vegan and Vibrant Episode 03: Taylor Wolfram on Intuitive Eating as a Vegan

November 26, 2020 Valerie Martin
Taylor-Wolfram-Vegan-and-Vibrant-Podcast

NOTE: As of October 2021, this podcast is no longer publishing new episodes; however, you can download mp3 files of all existing episodes at these show notes posts on the blog.

When I started following Taylor on Instagram and reading some of her blog posts, I immediately knew she was a dream guest for the pod.


As she describes in the interview, the field of nutrition has historically been harmful and oppressive in so many ways— which makes me incredibly grateful every time I encounter an RD aligned with HAES (Health at Every Size) principles. 

I was so drawn to Taylor's voice, because she powerfully weaves together a variety of messages that some might consider separate, with the common thread of body autonomy and respect.

In this conversation, Taylor and I talk about her journey to veganism, her experiences as a dietitian working with both vegan and non-vegan clients, intersectional activism, and the practices that keep her balanced emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.

To listen to this episode, download the mp3 file HERE.


About
Taylor Wolfram

Taylor Wolfram, MS, RDN, LDN, is a private practice dietitian, health writer and consultant based in Chicago, Illinois. With a background in research and communications, Taylor has the skills to translate the latest nutrition science into understandable messages for clients and the public. She has expertise in vegan nutrition, uses a Health At Every Size® approach and believes everyone has a right to body autonomy and respect.

🐷 Get Taylor's free guide on Intuitive Eating as a Vegan
🐷 Follow Taylor on Instagram

Additional Resources + Mentioned on This Episode:

  • @fatveganvoice on Instagram

  • The Vegan Chub Club podcast and Instagram

  • Veganism in an Oppressive World - A Vegans-of-Color Community Project (collection of essays edited by Julia Feliz Brueck)

  • Coping as a Vegan Empath / HSP (Highly Sensitive Person)

In Podcast Tags Taylor Wolfram, nutrition, dietitian, podcast, Intuitive Eating, HAES, body image, body autonomy, activism, antiracism
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