Follow Your Kind

John Adamson is the founder and owner of Neon Tiger, a cool, hip, concept-driven restaurant and bar in Charleston, SC. If you are in the area - you have to visit! Neon Tiger just won The Best New Restaurant in Charleston. And if know anything about the food scene and the level of competition there, you know that goes a long way. Neon Tiger is located right on Kings street, has a remarkable and tastefully crafted drink menu... And oh wait... it just happens to be vegan!John Adamson is a visionary. Since he started his first restaurant in 2001 - a Mellow Mushroom - he opened 10 restaurants and bars, with the last few being The Rarebit and The Americano.Neon Tiger, his latest creation, is a glitch in the matrix. Set in 2048, when the oceans are dead, and most wild animals are extinct, Neon Tiger represents a beacon of hope, a call to action, and a price we should not want to pay for our taste preferences today. If you walk through the restaurant you will notice subtle and very powerful messages displayed in ever

Dr. Colin Zhu is a primary care physician who is Board-Certified in family practice and lifestyle medicine. Passionate about the intersection of medicine, food, and nutrition, Dr. Zhu trained as a chef and a health coach at the Natural Gourmet Institute for Health & Culinary Arts and the Institute for Integrative Nutrition following completion of his medical degree. To share his unique blend of medical knowledge with a wider audience, Dr. Zhu launched TheChefDoc website, an online wellness and lifestyle education platform which has been featured in several publications. Colin is also the author of "Thrive Medicine: How To Cultivate Your Desires and Elevate Your Life.“ Also is the podcast host of Thrive Bites in which he interviews the latest health and wellness experts about incorporating a plant-powered lifestyle, enhancing emotional wellness, and creating a thriving mindset!In this conversation we talk about... surprise! - THRIVING! What it means and what it takes. We discuss our healthcare system, its

Trish Ahjel Roberts is on a mission to share her revolutionary 12-step approach to mind-blowing happiness with the world. She is a self-actualization coach, yoga and meditation instructor, happiness expert and founder of HoneyButterflyz LLC and Black Vegan Life™. Trish was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY and holds an MBA from Long Island University. Trish is the author of three self-help books: the e-book, Mind-Blowing Happiness™ Guide to Self-Care; the self-help memoir, Thinking Outside the Chrysalis: A Black Woman's Guide to Spreading Her Wings; and the inspirational journal, 12 Steps to Mind-Blowing Happiness: A Journal of Insights, Quotes & Questions to Juice Up Your Journey. Trish has ten years of Buddhist study and twenty years of yoga experience. She believes movement and nature are therapy and loves running, hiking and yoga. Sign up for her inspirational blog and learn more at mindblowinghappiness.com. Trish's website is: mindblowinghappiness.comSocial Media Links IG: @trishahjelrobertsFB: @mindbl

In 2012, Adam Sud’s life was completely out of control. Once weighing nearly 350lbs and struggling with multiple addictions, serious chronic diseases, and mental health disorders. His life nearly came to an end when he attempted suicide by drug overdose. He checked into rehab and with the help of his parents and a plant-based diet, he began a journey that led to a remarkable recovery.Adam is now a diabetes and food addiction coach for Mastering Diabetes ( masteringdiabetes.org ), a program that focuses on reversing insulin resistance to master type 1, Type 1.5, pre-diabetes, and type 2 diabetes using low fat, whole food, plant-based nutrition. He also works with Engine 2 and Whole Foods Market’s Total Health Immersion Team. He is an international speaker for the plant-based movement. Adam has worked in recovery centers using plant-based nutrition as a tool for strengthening recovery and relapse prevention.Adam is the founder of Plant-Based for Positive Change that is dedicated to advancing the research of die

Hanni Berger is a speaker and the CEO of JOYVIAL, an online network of professional health coaches who help you live your healthiest, most joyful and fulfilled life.With 20 years of prior experience in the hospitality industry, she managed large teams, millions of dollars in revenue, and as such experienced firsthand the effects of stress on her mind and body.Today, after years of studying from the best in the health industry, she has combining science backed data, with her own real-world experience. Seeing the life-changing effects certain techniques had on her life, she is passionate about helping others live a life they love.She is a native of Austria who never even heard about the movie “The Sound of Music” until coming to the US. Today she gets her sanity from riding her motorcycle – preferably on the race track. Often referred to as a “ray of sunshine”, she brightens up every room with her energy and her beaming smile.In this conversation Hanni shares her own story of transformation and how she discover

Laurie Marbas, MD, MBA is a double board certified family medicine and lifestyle medicine physician, who has been utilizing food as medicine since 2012. Previously, she created a new medical model combining the power of nutrient-dense foods and intensive clinical psychological therapy to treat not only food addiction but also chronic disease. As the past Managing Editor for the Plantrician Project’s International Journal of Disease Reversal and Prevention, she worked closely with the journal’s Editor in Chief, Dr. Kim Williams. The journal is focused on bringing plant-based research to the forefront of modern medicine and to the general public. She is also co-founder of Healthy Human Revolution, whose mission is to provide resources that will empower individuals with the knowledge, tools, and mindset to successfully adopt and sustain a whole food, plant-based (WFPB) diet.In Colorado, when Laurie convinced a large hospital to create a lifestyle medicine program centered around a WFPB diet, the program showed r

Dr. Sujit Sharma is a Harvard-trained pediatric ER doctor in Atlanta, Georgia. He is the CEO at Chuice, an innovative food company, and a member of the board of directors of Georgia Organics. He is a researcher working on a manuscript about respiratory diseases. He is a father, a husband and a friend.In this conversation we talk about gut health - what it is, what can we do about it, what does the science say, what gaps still exist. Did you know we are completely outnumbered by creatures that live in and on us? At least 10 to in! Did you know that the diversity of plant in our diet is number one predictor of gut health? We also go beyond that - what are the bigger lessons we can draw? What are the principles and made our evolution possible? Things like tolerance, collaboration, diversity and inclusion have allowed us to be where we are today. It works on microbial level, as well as local, national and universal one.Tune in to learn more!https://chuice.comhttps://www.instagram.com/lovechuice/https://www.instag

TONI OKAMOTO is the founder of Plant-Based on a Budget, the popular website and meal plan that shows you how to save money by eating veggies. She’s also author of the Plant-Based on a Budget cookbook, The Super Easy Vegan Slow Cooker Cookbook, and the co-host of The Plant-Powered People Podcast. Okamoto’s work has been profiled by NBC News, Parade Magazine, and she’s a regular presence on local and national morning shows across the country, where she teaches viewers how to break their meat habit without breaking their budget. She was also featured in the popular documentary What the Health. When she’s not cooking up a plant-based storm, she’s spending time with her husband in Sacramento, CA.You can find Toni on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.Toni's new book - The Friendly Vegan Cookbook - is coming out next month and is ready for pre-order today! It is filled with meals that will become your new favorites and go-to staples for when you have meat-eaters to impress. Because amazing food should be sh

Abigail Oberla, MS, APRN, FNP-C, DipACLM is a Family Nurse Practitioner and a Certified Lifestyle Medicine Healthcare provider. She works at the MinuteClinic where she regularly sees patients coming with specific and urgent concerns. Abby has found a way to weave in lifestyle medicine in very short conversations she has with patients. So we ran through a few imitations on how to make plant-based nutrition and lifestyle medicine in general applicable to most popular conditions, such as diabetes, obesity, hypertension and heart disease. Abby also talks about making plant-based transition easy - where fo you start? How do you plan for success? Tune in to learn more!Some links and helpful resources from Abby:Plantastic Columbus is the local PlantPure Pod she leads. Their personal FB page is: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PlantasticColumbus. However, if you're looking to find or start your own PlantPure Pod, please visit https://plantpurecommunities.org/plantpurepods/.She volunteers with Kind Meals: https://www.

Matt Tullman is a Cofounder of Complement, Managing Partner of No Meat Athlete and the Founder of 80 / 20 Plants. A successful entrepreneur, innovator, creative thinker who is “passionately curious” as Einstein puts it, athlete, dad - Matt is focused on creating the best quality vegan nutrition supplement that he can stand behind and is comfortable feeding to his family. In this conversation Matt shares his story and how the sickness of a loved one inspired him to look deeply into what it means to live well as a human, the pillars of health and happiness, and the power of plant-based nutrition. He describes how he started the nutrition supplement company - Complement, the motivation behind it and the guiding principles for the business. Tune in to learn more! For more information please visit:Complement: https://lovecomplement.comNo Meat Athlete: https://www.nomeatathlete.com80/20 Plants: https://8020plants.com

Michael Greger, M.D. FACLM is a physician, New York Times bestselling author, and internationally recognized professional speaker on a number of important public health issues. Dr. Greger has lectured at the Conference on World Affairs, the National Institutes of Health, and the International Bird Flu Summit, among countless other symposia and institutions; testified before Congress; has appeared on shows such as The Colbert Report and The Dr. Oz Show; and was invited as an expert witness in defense of Oprah Winfrey at the infamous "meat defamation" trial. In 2017, he was honored with the ACLM Lifestyle Medicine Trailblazer Award.His new book - How to Survive a Pandemic - is a vital, timely text on the pathogens that cause pandemics and how to face them. From tuberculosis and measles to AIDS and COVID-19, these infectious diseases share a common origin story: human interaction with animals. Otherwise known as zoonotic diseases for their passage from animals to humans, these infections—both pre-existing ones a

Zach Burns is a 3rd-year DO/MPH student at Nova Southeastern University in Florida.  A plant-based nutrition advocate, he attends medical school to help improve the lives of human and non-human beings. Zach founded the local organization Plant-based Healthcare to engage classmates in clinical nutrition. His reach extends nationally through Moving Medicine Forward, a non-profit dedicated to building a generation of nutritionally literate physicians who are prepared to tackle our chronic disease burden. On the national board for Medical Students for a Sustainable Future, Zach serves as Plant-based Health Liaison to help peers connect the dots between diet and climate change.In this conversation we talk about ethical side of veganism, its application in healthcare and medicine, its relation to social justice and COVID-19. There is rap, science, heart and humor. Tune in to learn more!Dr. Michael Klaper's website and course.The Decade of Decency. A future dialogue on factory farming | by Zook | MediumThe Whole Hea

Eric Leroy Adams is Brooklyn Borough President. A former policeman of 22 years, Eric fought for racial equality in addition to fighting against crime. From 2006 to 2013 he was a Democratic State Senator in the New York Senate and in November 2013, Adams was elected Brooklyn Borough President, the first African-American to hold the position. In November 2017 he was reelected.In this episode, Eric shares his remarkable story of being diagnosed with Type II diabetes after loosing sight and experiencing nerve damage, and then reversing it through plant-based nutrition despite the advice of his doctors. Eric talks about how that experience informs and motivates his work today. We discuss the current pandemic, the populations that have been effected the most, and why issues of lifestyle change, preexisting conditions and chronic disease are especially timely now.To learn more about Eric's work please visit:Main website: https://www.brooklyn-usa.org/Recent PSA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VenMeA-EJ2I&t=22sFo

Dr. Sharon Bergquist is a Rollins Senior Distinguished Clinician, Master Clinician, and Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of General Medicine and Geriatrics at Emory University School of Medicine. She earned her Bachelor of Science from Yale University and medical degree from Harvard Medical School. She completed her internship and residency at Harvard's Brigham and Women's Hospital. She is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and member of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine.Dr. Bergquist strongly believes in personalized and comprehensive health management and incorporates prevention and wellness strategies into her practice. Her expertise includes diabetes and heart disease prevention and management, nutrition and obesity counseling, women's health, and the management of mood disorders such as anxiety and depression.Dr. Bergquist is the Medical Director of Emory's Executive Health program and leads the research program at the Paul W. Seavey Comprehensive Internal Medicine Cli

Christopher "Soul" Eubanks  is a prolific and talented animal rights activist local to Atlanta, GA. Film-maker, music creator, photographer and organizer - Soul uses his talents to raise awareness about the the issues he cares about, especially animal advocacy. He is a co-lead for Atlanta Anonymous for the Voiceless chapter and Atlanta Animal Save Movement chapter. Soul was also a key organizer for the inaguaral Atlanta Animal Rights March of 2019 that will forever remain in history, and will hopefully mark the pivoting point of true change towards a kinder world.In this conversation Soul talks about his personal journey - from hip-hop, to banking, to quitting everything and going back to school to focus on creative skills and then putting those talents to speak up for what he believes in - animal rights. We discuss different aspects of veganism, talk about various types of activism and how to sustain the "fire", and mention the beautiful shifts and recent events that give us hope for the future. Tune in to l

Vince Rountree is passionate about helping people with diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol to reduce their dependency on medication or get them off meds completely. How can he do that? The latest scientific evidence strongly supports that the Standard American Diet is the cause of several chronic diseases including high blood pressure, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes. Moreover those condition respond extremely well to plant-based nutrition Vince runs a business called Eat Plants and Thrive, which creates and markets programs that help people treat diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and high cholesterol with plant-based nutrition. He is an Emory University trained Integrative Health Coach and works with clients’ one-on-one in groups and he works with corporations to improve the health of employees. Integrative Health Coaching empowers clients to make lasting behavior changes that are the foundation for a lifetime of health and well-being. In this conversation Vince shares his pers

Ryan Bulzan is the Regional Field Organizer for The Humane League - the non-profit organization that exist to end the abuse of animals raised for food. Ryan works with individuals and groups across multiple states in the Southeast US, and inspires volunteers to take on leadership roles for THL’s campaign initiatives. Ryan motivates others, fosters long-term relationships, and trains activists in effective grassroots animal advocacy and corporate campaigning. He resides in Decatur, GA. This one is specially dear to my heart. Ryan was the first guests ever on my podcast. Ryan has also been a long-time partner in crime for the Team Humane yearly campaigns that I partake in. Team humane is an athletic devision of The Humane League with amateur and professional athletes setting personal challenges and working to accomplish those while doing so on a vegan diet and fundraising for Humane League. This is how I ran my first half marathon 2 years ago, and a full marathon a year ago. We get into more details on how it

Have you wondered about the people behind Atlanta Veg Fest?? (Which, by the way, is coming up on SATURDAY NOVEMBER 9th!!! - http://atlantavegfest.com ) Meet Leigh Saluzzi!!! Leigh Saluzzi is an Executive Director & Director of Vendor Relations at Atlanta Veg Fest - Atlanta Veg Fest is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to support community and promote the benefits of a vegan and plant-based lifestyle founded in compassion for animals, people and the environment. Leigh has been vegan since 2001, and loves to show people how easy veganism can be. After operating a vegan business with her husband and exhibiting at festivals and conferences across the country, she decided to start Atlanta Veg Fest in 2012. Leigh also serves on the Board of Directors for the Atlanta-based non-profit Tommy’s Holiday Fund, and is in the beginning stages of launching a new endeavor called Normalize Vegan, which seeks to encourage the general public to consider veganism a viable lifestyle option. In this conversat

Bobby Sud is a Film Director, Producer and Cinematographer. He is an Organizer and Board Member of LA Animal Save, LA Fur Save, and LA Health Save and Vigil Photographer. You may remember our previous conversation from episode 34, where Bobby shared his personal journey towards health that started in 2015, when he weighed almost 300 lbs and suffered from Type2 Diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and everything else that comes with it. After transitioning to a whole food plant based vegan diet, Bobby was able to reverse and cure his diabetes in 6 weeks and have lost close to 100lbs. However, it wasn’t until he went to the first LA Animal Save pig vigil and met Shaun Monson (director of “Earthlings”) and Amy Jean Davis (founder of LAAS) that he truly understood what it meant to be a vegan. Today, Bobby is deeply involved in the movement. Bobby has worked with Shaun Monson as his cinematographer and producing partner, he has been an organizer for the LA Save Movement and official Vigil Photographer

Leah Garcés is a founder of Compassion in World Farming USA and, as of October 1, the first female President of Mercy for Animals (MFA) - an international nonprofit animal protection organization founded in 1999 by Milo Runkle. Mercy For Animals is dedicated to preventing cruelty to farmed animals and promoting compassionate food choices and policies. You may remember our last conversation with Leah from Episode 24, where we talked about her journey right after she joined MFA. This conversation is about her new book - GRILLED: Turning Adversaries into Allies to Change the Chicken Industry. GRILLED details Leah’s experiences working alongside farmers and food industry leaders—encouraging change through dialogue and discussion—to reduce animal suffering and shine a spotlight on the rapidly growing plant-based food sector. In this conversation we talked about what moved Leah to write the book, why she decided to focus on chicken and what she learned along the way. Tune in to learn more! For more information, pl