Follow Your Kind

Andie Thompkins, PhD, is the Executive Director at Full Circle Farm Sanctuary - non-profit located an hour south from Atlanta and a safe haven for rescued farmed animals who otherwise would be lost, suffering, and forgotten. FCFS provides a loving, forever home for over 170 precious individual animals desperately in need of refuge.  Dr. Thompkins completed her education at Auburn University with a doctorate in Cognitive and Behavioral Sciences, having studied animal cognition and the dog-human bond. In this conversation she shares her path to becoming vegan, getting her doctorate in cognitive and behavioral science, and "coming full circle" to become and executive director at FCFS. Stay around for a special announcement about the upcoming event at Full Circle Farm Sanctuary in November! Hope to see you there! To learn more, please visit: Website: https://www.fullcirclefarmsanctuary.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FullCircleFarmSanctuary/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/fullcirclefarmsanctuary/

Kayla Swope is the animal care manager and the main caretaker of the 170 residents of Full Circle Farm Sanctuary (FCFS) - a non-profit located in Warm Springs, GA, dedicated to countering the undeniable cruelty and exploitation inherent within animal agriculture, providing loving lifetime homes for individual farmed animals who otherwise would face horrific suffering and premature deaths. Kayla is a wealth of knowledge about animal healthcare and and amazing hard worker truly following her passion. Kayla is also the most humble person you meet. One of my favorite things about Kayla is her ability to learn from animals. In this interview Kayla shares her journey, and what led her to the work she does today. She talks about the personal stories of individual animals she met along the way who inspire her. She talks about what veganism and kindness mean to her. Kayla is originally from Pennsylvania, where she spent many years working at a cat and dog rescue. In 2016, she interned as an animal caregiver at Animal

Amy Burkman is an amazing muralist and live performer who creates these beautiful paintings. In the matter of minutes. On stage. To music. With paint flying everywhere... And you have no idea what is happening until she lays a final stroke, flips the canvas and reveals to you a beautiful face of an animal. Human or not. Amy is an activist in her heart. Her motto that she so joyfully and intentionally embodies is "Art For Good". And "Art For Good" she does! Some time ago Amy set a goal to raise $1 million for charity. Ambitious? Well, she is more than half way there. When the heart is pure the universe conspires... Tune in to learn Amy's full story and what inspired and empowered her to dedicate her whole live to art for good. Amy talks about several different projects that she worked on, charities she contributed to and shares her vision for the future. Amy is also friends with some of the other people you now know from this show - Bobby and Adam Sud, Greg and Carmen Pope from Farm of the

There are different kinds of activism. Some people give up meat, some give up leather, some... give up their house and start a farm sanctuary! How? That was my question exactly! How DO YOU start a farm sanctuary? Ask Greg and Carmen Pope and they will tell you. These two are the founders of the Farm of the Free - animal sanctuary, and a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, located on 10 acres, 60 miles east of Atlanta in Good Hope, GA. Farm of the Free Animal Sanctuary's mission is to create a space where all beings feel safe to be exactly who they are. It all started with two young animal lovers, Carmen and Greg Pope. They met in 2007 and married in 2009. One of the reasons why they connected and fell in love with each other was because of their love for animals. Since they got married in 2009, they've rescued cats, dogs, fish and rats. The two love animals so much that they both decided to stop eating them, wearing them, and supporting places that exploit them & products that test on them. They've b

Aaron Stuber, RN, BSN, DipACLM graduated from Oregon Health & Science University School of Nursing in 2013. Since that time he has worked in a variety of in-patient, acute care settings from cardiac step-down to Behavioral Health as well as out-patient Urgent and Primary Care. Most of his clinical experience and expertise is in cardiovascular care and disease management where he counseled hundreds of individual patients on lifestyle modification to prevent, arrest and sometimes reverse their chronic disease. Aaron is a Board Certified Lifestyle Medicine Practitioner through the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine and received his training through the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, of which he is an active member. He is also a graduate of the Wellcoaches online program for Health and Wellness Coaches, one of the premier, science-based programs for professional Health Coaches. After completing his training, Aaron began working privately with people outside the hospital to help them take personal r

Christian Klamroth is an owner of Clorofila - a beautiful vegan restaurant located in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. The restaurant is truly a full package - it is cozy and hip, it has welcoming staff and beautifully prepared food that is extremely nutritious, yet doesn't not sacrifice the flavor, the ingredients are sourced locally and the walls are covered with animal rights and environmental messaging. This is really unique for the area, certainly not driven by demand, so I wanted to talk to Christian about his motivation for opening the restaurant. Christian shares his journey - he is an architect by education and IT guy by training - his transition to vegan diet, living in a jungle, deep self-reflection, and resolving to a new lifestyle filled with meaning and purpose and rooted in servitude. IG: https://www.instagram.com/clorofila.vegan/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/clorofila.vegan/ Web: http://www.clorofila.rest/web/

Bobby Sud is an accomplished filmmaker and a recognized vegan activist who is closely involved with the movement. Bobby is currently working with Shaun Monson (the director of “Earthlings” and “Unity”) on a new documentary called “Overhaul”, which we discuss during the interview. Bobby is also a creator, producer and director of the new vegan travel food show called “The Road Less Eaten”. Bobby works closely with LA Animal Save and The Humane League. To say he is passionate about animal rights does not even begin to describe the person that he is. Bobby is incredibly courageous, determined, kind, and completely selfless in his approach. We talk about his personal journey of finding health and wellness, his activist journey and the work he does today, including vigils, non-profit animal right organizations he works with, his filming career and much more. Some parts of the conversation may be hard to listen, but I ask you to stick with us. My hope is that you hear what Bobby has to say, and walk away with a uni

Dr. Sujit Sharma is a Harvard-trained pediatric ER doctor in Atlanta, Georgia who is also the CEO at Chuice, an innovative food company, and a member of the board of directors of Georgia Organics. I met Dr. Sharma at Forward Food conference a few months ago where we clicked immediately as I asked away about his passion in food innovation after trying for the first time Chuice - the awkwardly delicious juicy super salad drink. After many conversations with Dr. Sharma what still stands out the most to me is his dedication to underpromise and overdeliver in everything he does. Dr. Sharma is a powerhouse of knowledge in microbiome, he is also limitlessly passionate about creating functional solutions for addressing the health-crisis in this country. The more I learn the more respect I have for this knowledgable, dedicated, passionate and hip doctor who I now consider a friend. If you have not tried it yet, please check out the website at Chuice.com to get an idea of what we are talking about. We talk about the cu

Becky Striepe (rhymes with “sleepy”) is a vegan food writer and cookbook author with a passion for making deliciously easy vegan meals. At her blog Glue & Glitter, you’ll find simple vegan recipes that don’t sacrifice flavor. If you have been waiting on a conversation on "how to" - this is it. Becky shares a ton of tips and trick on how to make vegan plant-based cooking fun, fast, delicious and reasonably healthy. What to eat for breakfast? How to make it fast? What utensils to buy? How to add a flavor boost to any vegan meal? How to get your kid to eat his veggies? Favorite sauces, dressings, party pleaser and... how to make a plant-based fairy dust? Becky is your girl. Tune in to learn more! Follow Becky on social media Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glueandglitter/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/glueandglitter/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShopGlueAndGlitter Vegan Mac and Cheese: https://www.glueandglitter.com/vegan-baked-macaroni-and-cheese/ Magical Fairy Dust: https://www.

Palden Namgyal Beri is a Tibetan monk and an Assistant Professor at Drepung Loseling Monastic University in India. Palden was one of the lamas participating in "Healing and the Arts" exhibition that took place at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, GA - the first stop on the tour of more than 30 stops to take place on this international tour. During the exhibition week at the Emory hospital a number of lamas worked on creating a beautiful sand mandala of Medicine Buddha. The following Saturday a closing ceremony including lecture and chanting took place after which the mandala was dismantled and part of the healing sand was distributed between the patients of the hospital. Palden speaks about the history, ritual and meaning of sand mandala. He shares his story of growing up in Tibet, escaping to India and becoming a monk. Palden also talks about fundamental concepts of Tibetan buddhism. For more information abut the monastery and an and Emory-Tibet partnership please follow the links below: http:/

Adam Sud is a speaker, a diabetes and food addiction coach at Mastering Diabetes and an amazing human who lives a life of purpose and service to others. Adam has an incredible story of overcoming food and drug addiction, reversing heart disease and type 2 diabetes, and coming back from a dark place of deep depression. He shares his journey - what led him there, how dark was the bottom, and what shifts in perspective allowed him to fall in love with new behaviors that ultimately reversed his conditions and brought him on the path of physical and mental health. Adam speaks passionately about the way addiction is misunderstood, and how important connection is. He shares his perspective about plant-based diet as an important pillar of recovery for any condition, he talks about connecting with nature, and compassionate treatment of animals. His is truly an inspiring story, contagious with hope and ripe with seeds that can not fail but to instill in you the love and acceptance of yourself and others. Follow Adam on

Anamarie "Ree" Shreeves is an earth advocate, who works closely with environmentally-driven organizations to support and promote their mission. Ree started her zero waste habits in April 2014, and simultaneously established a brand and founded a blog called Fort Negrita. At one point, it took her 13 months to fill a 32-ounce mason jar with personal trash. Her zero waste pursuits has led to features on PBS, CNN and ESSENCE Magazine. Today Ree is known among Atlanta residents. She co-organizes an annual earth day event called bEARTHday Fest, has taught zero waste workshops locally and at national conferences, jump-started the "Zero Waste in Atlanta" Facebook group, developed the “Atl Zero Waste Guide” and consulted local businesses in zero waste operations and accommodations. She also hosts ongoing reusable menstrual pad workshops so people that bleed can take ownership of their menstrual cycles, and sells reusable pads online and via in-person events. We talk about conscious consumerism, e

Jackson Long is a mountain athlete, a podcaster, videographer and photographer, co-founder of Thought for Food podcast and brand, TEDex speaker, beholder of Certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from eCornell, an animal activist and an incredibly funny humble caring person on a continuous path of growth and self-perfection. We start with conversation about fiber and it's importance, discuss his journey of finding plant-based nutrition, and dive in into how it folds into endurance sports. We talk about eating disorders and disordered eating and its prevalence in the athletic community. Jackson talks about the specific things endurance athletes should look out for and how their version of plant-based diet may look different. We discuss the modern vegan movement, the extremes, and finding the balanced approach that is inclusive, rather than ostracizing. Jackson also shares the projects he is working on and exciting things he has coming his way. To learn more or connect with Jackson check out the links below: Web

Nichole Dandrea is a plant-based registered dietitian with a passion for the powerful healing properties of whole foods and the positive effects of plant-based eating for animals and the environment. Nichole shares her plant-based inspiration through Purely Planted website, blog and social media, she leads vegan grocery shopping tours, does one-on-one and group coaching and detailed diet analysis for her clients. Nichole has also founded and ran a vegan organic chocolate business for 10 years - Nicobella Organics. In this conversation Nichole shares her journey. We talk about chocolate, yoga, kindness and discuss 53 reasons to eat more plants! Tune in to learn more and reach out to Nichole via links below! Blog: https://www.purelyplanted.com/about-nichole Vegan Food Tour: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/vegan-food-tour-whole-foods-tickets-45189789878?aff=ebdssbdestsearch FB: https://www.facebook.com/purelyplanted/?modal=admin_todo_tour IG: https://www.instagram.com/purelyplanted/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/pur

Robby Barbaro is a co-founder of Mastering Diabetes Program - an online coaching program that has changed the lives of more than 3,000 people around the world living with type 1 diabetes, type 1.5 diabetes, prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes. Before that Robby spent several years working in Forks Over Knives - a documentary and a brand that changed so many lives revealing the truth about the health, ethical and environmental implications of consuming animal products. This conversation is a deep dive in understanding the nature of diabetes, the biggest myths surrounding it, the financial consequences of diabetes on our economy, and the power that plant-based nutrition offers in healing our bodies. To learn more, please visit https://www.masteringdiabetes.org/ Follow Robby on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mindfuldiabeticrobby/

Dominick Thompson is a leader in the vegan community and founder of Crazies and Weirdos®, Eat What Elephants Eat and the Running Herd. Prior to his current role as a social entrepreneur and activist, he was a healthcare executive responsible for the business development and management of critical relationships with hospital systems and other provider types responsible for delivering services to both small and large communities throughout the eastern region of the United States. Because of this and his assertive activism, Dominick has received global recognition and has been featured in NPR News, ABC News,Men’s Health Magazine, Men’s Muscle and Fitness Magazine, Esquire, Veg News Magazine, bodybuilding.com, PETA and more recently, appeared on the cover of the Bright magazine in London. His social media platform is strong and continues to grow while producing some of the most inspiring, impactful content to over 180,000 followers. We talk about Dominick's fur-daughter - Scruff McFLy - and the role she played in

Leah is the President of Mercy for Animals (www.mercyforanimals.org) and founder of Compassion in World Farming USA (www.ciwf.com). She is the author of the forthcoming book 'GRILLED: Turning adversaries to allies in the fight to change the chicken industry', to be published by Bloomsbury in the September 2019.) She is an animal advocate who has partnered with some of the largest food companies in the world with a mission to end factory farming. Her work has been featured in many national and international media outlets including the New York Times, the Washington Post, Buzzfeed, Vice Magazine, and the Chicago Tribune amongst others. She’s a contributing author to Huffington Post and Food Safety News. Leah serves on the advisory board of Encompass and Seattle Food Tech. She is also the mom of three incredible kids. In this episode, Leah shares her vibrant journey in animal wellfair non-profits and what she has learned along the way. We talk about animal farming being a social justice issue, about the importan

Jacob Aqua is a wellness coach, a mindfulness advocate and a co-founded Good Vibe Tribe, a club at Emory that uses holistic wellness techniques to give students the tools to succeed emotionally in the college environment. Jacob shares his journey, the personal challenges and struggles he went through that ultimately led him to discovering mindfulness and meditation as a tool to peace, joy and serenity. We talk about self-care and self-love, different meditation technics and the role of technology, and the power of community and human connection. Jacobs gives 3 simple tips on how to start a meditation practice and what does it mean to "set an intention". To learn more please visit: Jaquawellness.com @jaquawellness on Instagram Jacob Aqua on Facebook

Lori Taylor Boyd, MSN, RN-BC, CVN is a coordinator at Joe R. Utley Heart Resource Center in Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System. Lori has been a nurse for over 40 year. 9 years ago she has been asked to start a heart resources center and was told to "go out and prevent heart disease"... No pressure! Lori shares her journey and her experience of learning and growing a plant-based program in her community to tackle a number one killer of people in America - Heart disease. Some of the resources and websites we discuss are listed below: https://nutritionfacts.org https://www.pcrm.org https://eatplant-based.com

Rebecca Portman is a Food and Nutrition Coordinator at Forward Food, a program of Humane Society of United States. Rebecca assists school districts, hospitals, colleges, universities, detention centers, and the like to integrate plant-strong options into their systems. I first met Rebecca at the book signing of Humane Economy by Wayne Pacelle and our paths have crossed many times since then. We talk about Rebecca's journey to discovering plant-based lifestyle and the amazing work she does today with Forward Food. You wish your institution would offer more plant-based options on the menu? Tune in, because Rebecca might be just the person you are looking for. For more information visit: https://forwardfood.org/ https://twitter.com/rportman6 https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-portman-5b00568/