David Yeung on changing the world, one meal at a time

David Yeung—the visionary cofounder of Green Monday and OmniFoods—has been concerned about the impact of our global food system on the planet for decades. That’s why his mission to create delicious plant-based alternatives to popular Asian dishes both pushes culinary boundaries and involves a commitment to protecting the planet, animals, and society. 

In this week’s episode, David joins Evanna and Melanie to share his wisdom on how small, achievable steps to go meat-free can lead to significant changes in our food system and on how we can unite as a global team to build a more sustainable and compassionate world through our food choices. David and our hosts also explore the psychology of dietary change, offering insights on why shaming and criticism aren’t the most effective ways to drive progress, and even touch on the power of meditation for personal transformation.

David Yeung is the cofounder and CEO of Green Monday Group, a multifaceted social venture whose mission is to take on the world’s most pressing crises: climate change, food insecurity, and public health. This one-of-a-kind integrated platform empowers millions of people to work toward green awareness, action, and economy. David’s work earned him the award of Social Entrepreneur of the Year from the World Economic Forum and the Schwab Foundation, among other honors and recognitions. He has spoken at the World Economic Forum, the Milken Institute Summit, TEDx, and financial and academic institutions such as UBS and UCLA. David and Green Monday have received international media coverage from the BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, CNN, Nikkei Asian Review, and Reuters.

David is a graduate of Columbia University, an Ashoka Fellow, and the author of a number of bestselling books on Zen wisdom and mindfulness. Watch David’s TEDx Talk. Check out Green Monday’s website and OmniFood’s website.

Follow David on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter).

Follow Green Monday on Instagram and Facebook.

Follow OmniFoods on Instagram and TikTok. Check out Melanie’s new book, How to End Injustice Everywhere. Check out Evanna’s book, The Opposite of Butterfly Hunting.

This season of Just Beings is brought to you by our friends at LeafSide and Vivo Life! Learn more about LeafSide by visiting GoLeafSide.com. Learn more about Vivo Life by visiting VivoLife.com.

Stay up to date with Just Beings on social media by following @JustBeingsPod. This episode was edited by Andrew Sims.