No-Bullsh!t Vegan – Details, episodes & analysis

Biologist and bestselling author Dr. Jonathan Balcombe joins me to discuss fish sentience, the surprising intelligence of fishes, and what science reveals about how they think and feel. Jonathan holds a PhD in ethology, the study of animal behaviour, and has dedicated his career to understanding and communicating the inner lives of animals. He's the author of five popular science books and has published over 60 scientific papers and book chapters on animal behaviour and animal protection.

In this conversation, we dive into fascinating research showing that fishes can experience stress relief, fall for optical illusions, and even build social relationships—evidence that challenges long-held assumptions about these often-overlooked animals. We also explore the ethics of fishing and insect farming, the evolving science of animal sentience, and how language shapes our empathy toward other species.

Veganism isn't about saying no; it's about saying yes. Philosophy professor and author Matthew C. Halteman joins me to make the joyful case for going vegan. It's an invitation to live in alignment with your values — and eat ridiculously good food while you're at it.

We dig into why most people already want a more vegan world (even if they don't call themselves vegan yet), how to move from guilt and obligation to abundance and flourishing, cognitive dissonance (why people get defensive about veganism even when they agree with you), how to be an actually effective advocate without burning out or blowing up every family dinner, and much more.

Matt also shares his own journey from meat lover to ethical vegan, how his dog Gus changed his worldview, and why he thinks veganism should feel like possibility, not pressure.

What happens when going vegan transforms more than just your plate? In this episode, I'm joined by psychologist and author Dr. Angela Crawford to explore the emotional, psychological, and even spiritual shifts that often come with the vegan journey. We talk about the myth of deprivation, the reality of abundance, and the inner alignment that comes from living according to your values. We also dig into the challenges of being "the one vegan at the table," how to navigate tricky social dynamics, and why emotional wellbeing isn't about being happy all the time. Whether you're vegan-curious or decades into the lifestyle, this conversation offers insight, empathy, and plenty of practical takeaways.

The Esselstyn family changed how we look at food as medicine. On this episode, I had the opportunity to talk with both Ann and Jane Esselstyn. 

We explore the history of Caldwell Esselstyn's work, and how the family integrated his scientific studies into how the family ate, and what it has meant now over three generations. 

Ann and Jane's new book, 'Be A Plant-Based Woman Warrior', explores how women, in particular, benefit from a plant based diet physically, mentally, hormonally, and more.

This is one episode you don't want to miss!

If you haven't yet done a deep dive into the concept of the Fitness Industrial Complex, tune in to this episode.

Justice Roe, founder of Fitness4AllBodies, joins me to discuss his founding of the organization, looking to our work in the fitness industry as social justice work, and the systemic change that needs to happen in the fitness industry to foster inclusivity.

Justice is a Certified Personal Trainer, head coach at Kettlebell Justice, founder of The Queer Gym Pop Up and BodyImage4Justice, and Executive Director of Fitness4AllBodies based in Boston. Justice is a trans, body-positive social justice activist who continues to create safe spaces for all bodies across the globe through his work with Fitness4AllBodies.

We've all heard it before: changing certain elements of our lifestyles can dramatically change our health. How do we put that into practice, and what does it really mean?

Dr. Amanda Adkins, a board-certified internal medicine physician, and a health coach/owner of Enlightenment Health and Wealth, joins me to discuss this point [and more!]

She has a deep passion for ensuring that everyone has a chance at a healthy and happy life. Her most recent focus has been to help women who are overweight prevent and possibly reverse chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. 

If you're not familiar with the powerhouse that is Kate Strong, you will be by the end of this episode. 

Kate is a 3x world record holder in cycling, world champion triathlete, passionately plant-based and a purpose-led coach and consultant. Her upcoming challenge, Challenge 3,000, involves her cycling 3,000 miles around the circumference of the UK and planting 3,000 trees- on a bamboo bicycle.

Do we have your attention?

Pause and answer immediately: who are your five favourite voices in the wellness industry right now, or those you see represented the most? 

Would you say that there is diversity represented in your responses? Does your answer surprise you? Let's get into it.

Stacy Lee Kong is a writer, editor and the founder of Friday Things, a weekly newsletter and social media account about pop culture stories. We discuss the way white supremacy is embedded in the wellness industry, and how we can collectively work to decolonize wellness. 

"Bro culture" is the thing we chuckle about sometimes, or see featured in memes. What happens when we explore this term further, not only within a fitness realm, but in relation to women in business as a whole?

Holly Burton joins me to discuss women in business and in fitness: oppression, prejudice, expectations; "taking up space" physically and socially; the problems with so-called "bro culture", and how to build your own path forward.

Holly is a leadership coach for women in male-dominated industries. She's also the founder of Women in Male-Dominated Industries [WIMDI], a community of over 4,000 ambitious folks who connect with each other and get delicious career and leadership resources that help them create the working world they deserve while they wait for the rest of society to catch up.

It's not out of the ordinary for us to hear about self-care, ideal ways to practice it, and why it's so imperative. It is rare, however, to hear it discussed within the culinary world. 

Enter Chef Stephanie Michalak White, who developed and launched a plant-based program at the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts [currently ranked as the #1 culinary school in the entire world.]

Stephanie and I discuss her program development, what self-care means for chefs and folks in culinary worlds, and the major topic of food insecurity.