Vedge Your Best, Vegan Ideas for Everyone At Any Age

Michele Olender
  • 5.0 (58)
  • Food
  • Updated Weekly

There has never been a more important time to be Vegan. Vedge Your Best is the only podcast aimed at teaching midlife women how to limit and eliminate the consumption of animal products without feeling deprived, overwhelmed or unsupported, even if no one you know is Vegan. Life Coach Michele Olender will show you how living Vegan is the superpower that will unlock your possibilities and give you the confidence to take on your next impossible goal, by doing it YOUR way. Vedge YOUR Best and there’s nothing you can’t do.

  1. 2d ago

    307: My Vegan “Personal Curriculum” - Peter Singer's Animal Liberation Now.

    What happens when you stop letting the algorithm choose what you learn and start building your own course of study? In the first installment of my summer" personal curriculum," I open Peter Singer’s Animal Liberation Now: The Definitive Classic Renewed, the updated 2023 edition of his influential 1975 book, Animal Liberation. Why start here? Singer’s work supplied much of the vocabulary and philosophical framework still used in conversations about animals today. We break down speciesism, sentience, utilitarianism, and the difference between animal welfare and animal rights—without assuming you already speak the language of philosophy. ( Because I don’t.) We look at factory farming and animal experimentation, how Singer weighs a human preference for taste or price against an animal’s interest in avoiding suffering, and why the question of plant sentience does not necessarily weaken the vegan case. There are criticisms of Singer’s work, including disability-rights objections to his views on euthanasia and profound cognitive disability. This episode is neither a blanket endorsement nor a takedown. It is an invitation to read critically, understand some of the ideas that helped shape modern animal ethics, and decide what holds up for you.IN THIS EPISODE What a personal curriculum is—and why it can be an antidote to fragmented, algorithm-driven learningWhy Animal Liberation Now is the first book in my vegan personal curriculum• Speciesism and the equal consideration of interests• Utilitarianism explained in plain EnglishThe difference between animal welfare and animal rightsFactory farming, laboratory research, and the scale of animal suffering• Singer’s most controversial arguments and disability-rights criticismWhy plant sentience does not necessarily undermine the vegan caseFood, memory, displacement, and the Viennese recipes that close the bookCONTENT NOTE This episode includes discussion of factory farming, animal experimentation, animal suffering, euthanasia, disability rights, and ethically complex questions involving infants with profound, life-limiting disabilities. What subject would you choose for a personal curriculum of your own? And how does this new series land for you—intriguing, too academic, or exactly the nudge you needed? Reach out and let me know.The next personal-curriculum book episode will arrive in a couple of weeks. Until then, I’ll be here every week to cheer you on as you Vedge Your Best. Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us grow and share the message of plant-based living with more listeners. For more information, to submit a question or topic, or to book a free 30 minute Coaching session visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠veganatanyage.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠or email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠info@micheleolendercoaching.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music, Production, and Editing by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Charlie Weinshank⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For inquiries email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠charliewe97@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Virtual Support Services: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://proadminme.com/⁠

    307: My Vegan “Personal Curriculum” - Peter Singer's Animal Liberation Now.

  2. Jul 14

    306: You’ve Seen Cowspiracy. Now Build Your Own Vegan Curriculum.

    What would it look like to build your own Personal Curriculum around veganism, animal advocacy, and our relationships with other animals? This week, Michele introduces a summer reading series centered around her Personal Curriculum for the summer of 2026 and invites the listeners to join her. Shared references can help us have better conversations — more precise, more thoughtful, and more useful — especially in a world where we are often working from different facts, different frameworks, and different emotional starting points. Documentaries like Cowspiracy, Earthlings, The Game Changers, and Dominion have helped bring countless people into the vegan and plant-based conversation. But books offer something different: the chance to slow down, build an argument, question assumptions, take notes, push back, and develop a more durable intellectual framework. Deep reading can help us become harder to fool, better able to name what we are seeing, and more equipped to understand the language used around food, animals, “humane” labels, sustainability, health, and ethics.  Maybe reading is an important form of activism.  What books have shaped YOUR thinking? What belongs in a shared set of references for vegan and animal advocacy conversations? What perspectives are missing from the usual lists? What have you read recently that challenged you, changed you, frustrated you, or helped you think more clearly? Books Michele is considering for her personal curriculum: Animal Liberation by Peter Singer Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows by Melanie Joy Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer The Sexual Politics of Meat by Carol J. Adams Dominion: The Power of Man, the Suffering of Animals, and the Call to Mercy by Matthew Scully Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat by Hal Herzog Michele wants to hear from you: What books belong in this conversation? Particularly those from a non-white, indigenous or colonialized perspective. Which books shaped your vegan, vegetarian, plant-based, or animal advocacy practice? Which arguments have helped you?  Which ones have not? You can leave a short voicemail through SpeakPipe, DM Michele on Instagram at @Vedge_Your Best, or send an email to info@micheleolendercoaching.com By leaving a voicemail, you are giving permission for your message to potentially be played on a future episode of Vedge Your Best podcast. No mandatory homework. No quizzes. No pressure to keep up. Just an invitation to read, think, question, take notes, and connect over some shared references — one chapter at a time. Links: SpeakPipe voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/VedgeYourBest Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us grow and share the message of plant-based living with more listeners. For more information, to submit a question or topic, or to book a free 30 minute Coaching session visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠veganatanyage.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠or email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠info@micheleolendercoaching.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music, Production, and Editing by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Charlie Weinshank⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For inquiries email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠charliewe97@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Virtual Support Services: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://proadminme.com/⁠

    306: You’ve Seen Cowspiracy. Now Build Your Own Vegan Curriculum.

  3. Jul 7

    305: What If Vegan Backlash Is a Good Sign?

    This week on Vedge Your Best podcast, we revisit the Save Our Bacon Act and the 2026 US Farm Bill, and ask what backlash against veganism, animal welfare, and plant-based change actually mean?  There’s still time to communicate with the Senate here. It can feel discouraging when vegan, plant-based, and animal advocates are trolled online or dismissed as extreme. But what if some of that backlash is also a sign that compassionate food movements are becoming visible enough to challenge powerful systems? We explore how social change happens, why we may not need everyone to agree all at once, and what we can learn from research on active participation, coalition-building, and visible support. Drawing on Erica Chenoweth’s work on nonviolent movements and the “3.5% idea,” we see why visibility matters, why purity debates can shrink movements, and how widening the on-ramp can help more people take meaningful action.You’ll hear about:• How visible participation helps others feel less alone• Why backlash can be a signal that a movement is being noticed• What vegan and animal advocacy can learn from the anti-smoking movement• Why coalitions matter, even when people do not agree on every tactic• How schools, restaurants, hospitals, and laws can build better “infrastructure” for compassionate choices• Why imperfect participation can still move us forward• Practical ways to show up more visibly without burning outMaybe we don’t need everyone to do everything. We need more people doing something, more visibly, together, over time. Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us grow and share the message of plant-based living with more listeners. For more information, to submit a question or topic, or to book a free 30 minute Coaching session visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠veganatanyage.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠or email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠info@micheleolendercoaching.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music, Production, and Editing by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Charlie Weinshank⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For inquiries email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠charliewe97@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Virtual Support Services: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://proadminme.com/⁠

    305: What If Vegan Backlash Is a Good Sign?

  4. Jun 30

    304: "But Bacon Tho…" - The Save Our Bacon Act and What You Can Do

    The 2026 House Farm Bill — a $1.4 trillion piece of legislation — contains a provision called the Save Our Bacon Act that would wipe out every state-level animal welfare standard for farm products in the United States, current and future. It passed the House 224–200 and is now heading to the Senate for debate in July. This episode explains what's at stake, who it affects, and exactly how to make your voice heard before it's too late.TAKE ACTION — US LISTENERS The most important thing you can do right now is contact your senators directly.  https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm Enter your state and you'll get your senators' phone numbers, email contact forms, and office locations. A phone call takes two minutes. A message through their contact form takes five. What to say: "I am calling to ask Senator [Name] to oppose the Save Our Bacon Act — the preemption provision in the 2026 Farm Bill (H.R. 7567, Section 12006). Please protect state animal welfare standards." Capitol Switchboard (they'll connect you to your senator's office): (202) 224-3121 Find and contact your senatorsYour contact matters most if you live in one of these states These states have senators on the Senate Agriculture Committee, which is where the bill is being shaped: Arkansas · Mississippi · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Alabama · South Dakota · North Dakota · West Virginia · Nebraska · Minnesota · New Jersey · Illinois · California · Pennsylvania · Michigan · Colorado · New Mexico · Georgia · Vermont Pre-made action alerts (they do the work for you) These organizations have built easy contact tools — you can send a message to your senators in under five minutes:  Humane World for Animals — Stop the Save Our Bacon Act https://humaneaction.org/protect-state-laws  ASPCA — Oppose Attacks on Animal Protection Laws in the Farm Bill https://secure.aspca.org/action/fsfp-act  Animal Legal Defense Fund https://aldf.org/project/oppose-the-farm-food-and-national-security-act-of-2026-house-farm-bill-federal/  BACKGROUND AND FURTHER READING What is the Save Our Bacon Act?  https://www.humaneworld.org/en/news/whats-happening-california-prop-12-farm-bill-save-our-bacon-act Why the Farm Bill is no place for this provision (Civil Eats op-ed, May 2026)  https://civileats.com/2026/05/28/the-farm-bill-is-no-place-for-big-porks-save-our-bacon-act/ ASPCA on the federal attack on state animal welfare laws  https://www.aspca.org/news/federal-attack-farm-animals-and-states-rights-revived Senate Agriculture Committee — signs of resistance  https://sentientmedia.org/senate-ag-committee-set-to-spare-this-animal-welfare-law/ The 2026 House Farm Bill (H.R. 7567) — full text on Congress.gov  https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7567  INTERNATIONAL LISTENERS United Kingdom The UK-US trade deal (2025) opened British markets to US beef produced under welfare standards that would be illegal in the UK — putting British farmers who invested in higher welfare practices at a competitive disadvantage.  Compassion in World Farming — UK trade deal and animal welfare: https://www.ciwf.org.uk/our-campaigns/other-campaigns/trade-and-animal-welfare/ European Union The EU's Farm to Fork strategy promised to phase out cage farming across member states. Those commitments have been dropped from the 2026 Commission Work Programme after years of delays.  EU Animal Welfare Intergroup — warning on 2026 Work Programme: https://www.animalwelfareintergroup.eu/news/intergroup-warns-against-omission-animal-welfare-proposal-2026-work-programme Canada Animal Justice published a national vision report in 2026 calling for stronger federal animal welfare standards.  Animal Justice — National Framework for Farmed Animal Protection: https://www.animaljustice.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Vision-Report-2026.pdf

    304: "But Bacon Tho…" - The Save Our Bacon Act and What You Can Do

  5. Jun 23

    303: Is Veganism Contagious?

    What if the reason you're struggling with your plant-based choices has less to do with willpower — and more to do with the food culture surrounding you? In this episode, I got completely hooked by a New York Times piece about financial habits — and couldn't stop thinking about how perfectly it applies to the way we eat. The article, by Paulette Perhach, makes the case that every friend group has a financial culture, whether anyone named it or not. Turns out, every friend group has a food culture too. And most of us didn't choose ours on purpose. We absorbed it. We talk about what social contagion actually is, why it's not as scary as it sounds, and how it might explain why plant-based eating can feel so much harder than it should. We also talk about how to use it in your favor — without lecturing anyone, debating at dinner, or turning into the vegan police. In this episode: What social contagion is and how it shapes the way we eatThe research of Nicholas Christakis on how behaviors spread through social networks — and what a 2024 study says about who drives change most effectivelyWhy changing your food is never just about the foodThe concept of the "plant-based friend" — and why that role matters more than you might thinkThree questions to help you see the food culture you're swimming inWhere to start if you're brand new, starting over, or just trying to get your footing backThree questions from this episode: What food culture are you catching?What are you signaling with food that you may not even believe anymore?What do you want to spread?Resources mentioned: "Your Friend Group Has a Financial Culture. You May Not Have Chosen It." — Paulette Perhach, The New York TimesResearch by Nicholas Christakis on social networks and behaviorThis week's challenge: Choose one place to be less passive. Suggest the restaurant. Bring the dish. Tell the host ahead of time. If you're just starting out, find one recipe that excites you, one account that makes this feel doable, or one person who gets it. That's enough. Enjoyed this episode? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts — it helps more people find the show. And if this one resonated, share it with someone who might be ready to hear it. You don't have to do it perfectly. You just have to Vedge Your Best. Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us grow and share the message of plant-based living with more listeners. For more information, to submit a question or topic, or to book a free 30 minute Coaching session visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠veganatanyage.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠or email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠info@micheleolendercoaching.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music, Production, and Editing by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Charlie Weinshank⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For inquiries email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠charliewe97@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Virtual Support Services: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://proadminme.com/⁠

    303: Is Veganism Contagious?

  6. Jun 16

    302: The Hidden Cost of Waiting

    This episode drops on my 67th birthday.  One thing I really wish I'd understood earlier? Waiting isn't the safe choice. It just sends the bill to your future self. We tend to think that waiting is the less costly option. That the right time is out there, and when it arrives, the awkwardness will be gone, the support will be in place, and the path will be clear. But that perfect moment doesn't tend to show up. And while we're waiting for it, we're not building any of the skills we'll need when we get there. This episode isn't about blame — yours or mine. It's about what's actually going on when we keep putting things off, and what it might look like to start practicing instead. In this episode: The "no one is coming" idea from psychotherapist and author Nathaniel Branden — and why it's actually very good newsWhy waiting feels cheaper than starting, even when it isn'tStatus quo bias: the behavioral science behind why doing nothing doesn't feel like a choice — but it isThe "excusitarian" phase — and why imperfect practice still countsWhy plant-based eating is a practice, not a destination you arrive at fully preparedReal obstacles are real: a genuinely non-judgmental look at why change is harder for some people than othersThe difference between taking ownership of what happens next and blaming yourself for what came beforeThe question from this episode: What would you do a little differently if you believed that waiting is costing you something? Resources mentioned: Nathaniel Branden, psychotherapist and author — his work on self-esteem and personal responsibilityThis week's invitation: You don't have to solve the hard part first. If there's one food, one situation, one habit you're waiting to have figured out before you start — set it aside for now. What's one thing you can do? One meal, one choice, one grocery item. That's the practice. That's where it begins. If this one landed for you, share it with someone who might need to hear it. And I'd love to know — what have you been waiting on? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or come find me and tell me. As always: you don't have to do it perfectly. You just have to Vedge Your Best Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us grow and share the message of plant-based living with more listeners. For more information, to submit a question or topic, or to book a free 30 minute Coaching session visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠veganatanyage.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠or email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠info@micheleolendercoaching.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music, Production, and Editing by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Charlie Weinshank⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For inquiries email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠charliewe97@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Virtual Support Services: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://proadminme.com/⁠

    302: The Hidden Cost of Waiting

  7. Jun 9

    301: " Vegan? Must be Nice…"

    “Oh Vegan?  Must be nice…." Some people hear words like "change” or “goal” and feel intrigued. Others feel offended.  As if YOUR growth is a comment on who THEY are. In this episode, we talk about why that happens, what those people are actually protecting, and how understanding it can give you more insight and compassionate for them AND yourself. We also talk directly to the RE-starters. If you've had a gap in your plant-based or vegan practice, this one is for you. IN THIS EPISODE: Why some people feel offended by the idea of personal development — and what they're really protectingCarol Dweck's research on fixed vs. growth mindset, and why mindset is domain-specific (you might be open to plant-based change and have a fixed mindset somewhere else entirely)The Glenda the Good Witch moment — why realizing you had the power all along isn't always comfortableKristin Neff on self-compassion and "common humanity" — why your struggle is not evidence of your inadequacyWhy the moment you notice you've drifted and come back IS the practice. RESOURCES MENTIONED: Carol Dweck — Mindset: The New Psychology of Success Brené Brown — research on shame, vulnerability, and courage (brenebrown.com) Kristin Neff — self-compassion research (self-compassion.org) Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us grow and share the message of plant-based living with more listeners. For more information, to submit a question or topic, or to book a free 30 minute Coaching session visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠veganatanyage.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠or email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠info@micheleolendercoaching.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music, Production, and Editing by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Charlie Weinshank⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For inquiries email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠charliewe97@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Virtual Support Services: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://proadminme.com/⁠

    301: " Vegan? Must be Nice…"

  8. Jun 2

    300: What Have You Been Practicing?

    You’re more consistent than you think, because not practicing is also a practice. In this milestone 300th episode of Vedge Your Best, Michele reflects on what it really means to show up week after week. This episode explores the stories we tell ourselves about discipline, follow-through, and identity and how those stories can become self-protective. If we say, “I’m just not wired that way,” we may be protecting ourselves from shame, disappointment, or other people’s expectations. But we may also be protecting ourselves from evidence that we are capable of more than we think. For anyone who has ever thought, “I’m not consistent enough to be vegan,” “I’m not that kind of person,” or “I could never stick with that,” this episode offers a compassionate reframe. A vegan or plant-based practice can be about ethics, compassion, health, and the planet — and it can also be a way to update your belief in yourself. In this episode: Why Episode 300 made Michele question her own story about consistency How “I’m consistently inconsistent” can become a self-protective identity Why our brains collect evidence for the stories we already believe What John Acuff calls “soundtracks” — the repeated phrases we play in our minds The Instapot story and the idea of “practicing not practicing” Why veganism or plant-based change can feel activating when you fear inconsistency How “I’m not like that” can sometimes mean “I haven’t practiced that yet” Why all-or-something is more useful than all-or-nothing How consistency may simply mean learning how to come back Episode 300 ChallengeAsk yourself three questions: What have I been practicing that I’m not giving myself credit for? What have I been practicing not practicing? What is one tiny thing I want to practice on purpose this week? Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us grow and share the message of plant-based living with more listeners. For more information, to submit a question or topic, or to book a free 30 minute Coaching session visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠veganatanyage.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠or email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠info@micheleolendercoaching.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music, Production, and Editing by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Charlie Weinshank⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For inquiries email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠charliewe97@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Virtual Support Services: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://proadminme.com/⁠

    300: What Have You Been Practicing?
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There has never been a more important time to be Vegan. Vedge Your Best is the only podcast aimed at teaching midlife women how to limit and eliminate the consumption of animal products without feeling deprived, overwhelmed or unsupported, even if no one you know is Vegan. Life Coach Michele Olender will show you how living Vegan is the superpower that will unlock your possibilities and give you the confidence to take on your next impossible goal, by doing it YOUR way. Vedge YOUR Best and there’s nothing you can’t do.

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