The USDA Wants to Speed Up Slaughter Lines—You Still Have Time to Speak Out
This week’s episode with Gail Eisnitz hit hard for me—and I suspect it will for you, too. Gail has spent decades documenting what happens inside U.S. slaughterhouses: the animals, the workers, and the inspectors who witness it all—often without the power to stop it. Her 1997 book, Slaughterhouse, remains essential reading for anyone who wants […]
Episode 288: The V Word – The Psychology of Saying “Vegan”!
Does saying “I’m vegan” feel uncomfortable? Does “plant based” feel empty? This episode breaks down why that reaction is so common—and how a few behavioral science concepts can help you stay regulated in social situations, and keep moving forward without needing to be “audit-ready.” In this episode, you’ll learn: Why “vegan” can feel like an identity […]
Episode 286: Singletasking Your Vegan Life!
How you go vegan is how you do EVERYTHING. This week we talk multi-tasking vs. single-tasking—and why trying to “do it all” seems so positive, but it’s one of the sneakiest ways your plant-based momentum gets stalled. You’ll learn how to close the mental tabs, choose the next right thing, and build a practice that […]
Ep 282: Strategy or Tactics? Why Your Vegan Intentions Keep Stalling!
In this episode, Michele explores a powerful but often overlooked distinction that can make or break any meaningful change: strategy vs. tactics. Inspired by a coaching conversation with a client struggling through Veganuary, this episode unpacks why caring deeply—and even making a strong values-based decision—is often not enough to create consistent follow-through. Whether your goal […]
Episode #279: Staying Alive: Sherry Shrallow Talks Heart Disease, Food, and the Vegan Volunteer Corps!
What if a life-threatening health crisis wasn’t just a tragedy — but an opportunity? In this episode of Vedge Your Best, Michele talks with Sherry Shrallow, author of Staying ALive, plant-based educator, and longtime advocate for using food as a tool for prevention, healing, and service. At 56, Sherry was an active, fit woman eating […]
Episode #278: 7 Themes From 2025 (and What We’re Carrying Into 2026)!
As 2025 comes to a close, Michele reflects on the patterns, lessons, and insights that showed up again and again this year—in her own life, on the Vedge Your Best podcast, and in her work with clients. This episode isn’t about resolutions or reinvention. It’s about continuation. Drawing on behavioral science, psychology, and lived experience, […]
episode #275: Cut, Char, Season: Chef Ed Harris on Making Vegan Food Unforgettable!
Plant‑Powered Flavor Architect — Elevating Restaurants, Kitchens & Your Next Bite Aaward-winning plant-based chef Ed Harris joins Michele to share his journey from omni-chef to global plant-based innovator. Chef Ed breaks down the art of building flavor, why cutting and charring vegetables changes everything, and how simple techniques can transform everyday vegan cooking into unforgettable […]
episode 265: Absolutely Fabulous: Terri Chrisman, Lifestyle Medicine and Fabulous Health!
Is moderation really the key to fabulous health? According to plant-based nutritionist and author Terri Chrisman, board certified through the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, the answer is a resounding no. In this candid and passionate conversation, Terri shares why moderation has failed us in the age of ultra-processed foods, and how shifting to a purposeful whole […]
I’m Disappointed . . . 😞
Eleven Madison Park’s recent decision to reintroduce animal products—after four years as a groundbreaking, Michelin starred plant-based restaurant – is disappointing…. And yet..… This week, I find myself reflecting on what this announcement means for those of us who care about the future of plant-based dining. My husband and I ate at Eleven Madison Park […]
Episode 258: The Road to Hell – Why Your Plant-Based or Vegan Intentions Aren’t Working!
You wake up with the best intentions. Today’s the day. You’re going to eat fully plant-based, avoid animal products, skip the leather straps, and speak your truth. But by dinner? Things may have unraveled. Again. If that sounds familiar, you’re not broken. You’re human. In this episode of Vedge Your Best, we explore the gap […]