Vedge Your Best, Vegan Ideas for Everyone At Any Age

Michele Olender

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

    3d ago

    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

    21 min
  2. 303: Is Veganism Contagious?

    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/⁠

    23 min
  3. 302: The Hidden Cost of Waiting

    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/⁠

    24 min
  4. 301: " Vegan? Must be Nice…"

    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/⁠

    25 min
  5. 300: What Have You Been Practicing?

    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/⁠

    26 min
  6. 299: Vegan Anniversaries and Big Days.

    May 26

    299: Vegan Anniversaries and Big Days.

    What if the episode before the milestone is actually the point? This week on Vedge Your Best, Michele reflects on the strange pressure of recording Episode 299 — the one right before 300 consecutive weekly episodes. Instead of treating it as a drumroll for the “big” episode, she uses it as a chance to talk about overthinking, milestones, and the stories we attach to numbers, birthdays, anniversaries, and fresh starts. Overthinking often disguises itself as responsibility, preparation, or “just wanting to get it right.” But maybe the most valuable thing is not a perfect plan. It’s simply to keep going, keep learning, and keep engaging. For anyone starting, restarting, or re-energizing a vegan or plant-based practice, this matters. The hard part isn’t always the food, it is the meaning we attach to every little choice. What does it mean if I say I’m vegan? What does it mean if I make a mistake? What does it mean if my family isn’t doing this with me? This episode is an invitation to stop treating every choice like a final exam and remember that the small step IS the transformation. In this episode: Why Episode 299 brought up unexpected overthinking How milestones can become pressure cookers instead of moments of reflection Why turning 67 has special emotional meaning for Michele How stories attach themselves to ages, dates, numbers, and identities The difference between useful planning and fear-based delay Why “big moments” are mirrors, not masters How this applies to building a vegan or plant-based practice Why “all or something” is often more powerful than all-or-nothing A simple three-question practice for interrupting overthinking Listener Challenge Choose one thing you’ve been overthinking. Ask yourself: What story am I attaching to this? Is that story helping me stay engaged? What is the next smallest step I can take? Then take that step in the next 24 seconds, 24 minutes, or 24 hours. Don’t wait for Monday.Don’t wait for the perfect plan.Don’t wait for the milestone. Just take the next step. Key Takeaway Most of life is not the big milestone. Most of life is Episode 299 — the ordinary, unglamorous step that makes the milestone possible. 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/⁠

    25 min
  7. 298: Email Apnea, Anxiety & Sleep with Henry & Henry - The Vegan Breathing Coaches

    May 19

    298: Email Apnea, Anxiety & Sleep with Henry & Henry - The Vegan Breathing Coaches

    Ever noticed yourself holding your breath while checking your email? Or reading the news? Or seeing a text notification flash on your phone? This week on Vedge Your Best, Annette and Graham Henry, AKA the Vegan Breathing Coaches join the pod. Berlin-based Brits Annette and Graham are vegan. They are breathing coaches. And they are talking to us about something most of us assume we already know how to do: breathe. We talk about mouth breathing, nose breathing, over-breathing, breath-holding, snoring, sleep, anxiety, posture, modern stress, and the very real phenomenon sometimes called “email apnea.” But this conversation is really about something bigger than breath. It’s about noticing what we didn’t know we weren’t noticing. So many of us walk around thinking, “I’m just anxious,” or “I just don’t sleep well,” or “I’m just overwhelmed,” when sometimes there may be something very basic happening in the body that we have not even considered. And if you are part of the Vedge Your Best community, you know how much of changing our lives begins with awareness. We inherited a way of eating. We inherited ideas about animals, food, normalcy, health, and comfort. And apparently, many of us may also have inherited or developed breathing habits that are not serving us as well as we think. This is not a magic wand episode. Breathing does not fix everything. Veganism does not fix everything. No single practice fixes everything. But sometimes change begins with one small question: What if this thing I thought was “just me” is actually something I can understand, support, or gently change? In this episode, we talk about: Why Annette and Graham call themselves the Vegan Breathing Coaches What “email apnea” is and why so many of us may be holding our breath without realizing it How modern stress, phones, inboxes, posture, and daily habits may affect the way we breathe The difference between mouth breathing and nose breathing Why “just take a deep breath” may not always be the most helpful advice How breathing patterns can relate to sleep, anxiety, snoring, and feeling constantly on alert Why the diaphragm matters more than many of us realize The connection between awareness, body signals, and lasting change Why noticing your breath can be a useful practice — without turning it into one more perfectionist project Important Note This episode is for education and curiosity. It is not medical advice. If you have sleep apnea, significant breathing concerns, chronic insomnia, panic attacks, serious snoring, or you are considering something like mouth taping — especially for a child — please work with a qualified professional Resources Learn more about Annette and Graham Henry and their breathing resources here: https://www.henryandhenryeu.com/ Mentioned in this episode: Breath by James Nestor 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/⁠

    53 min
  8. 297: The Olender Test - for Vegan Representation in Popular Culture

    May 12

    297: The Olender Test - for Vegan Representation in Popular Culture

    What if the way vegans show up in movies, TV, and books is shaping how we’re treated in real life? This week, Michele introduces The Olender Test — a simple idea inspired by the Bechdel Test — to explore how vegan characters are portrayed in popular culture. From fruitarians played for laughs to vegan characters reduced to punchlines, Michele walks through a few familiar examples — and highlights what’s missing. What IS the connection between media representation and real-life experiences?  It may not be random. This episode brings in a touch of behavioral science — including the availability heuristic and social norms — to explain why repeated portrayals matter more than we think. The Olender Test isn’t about perfection.It’s not about making every vegan character admirable or inspirational.Can vegans exist in stories as full human beings — without being the joke or the problem?In This Episode A simple explanation of the Bechdel Test — and why it still matters The introduction of the Olender Test (and how to use it) Examples from film and television: passes, fails, and edge cases Why vegan representation is often played for laughs — and what that reinforces The connection between media, perception, and real-life social dynamics Why you might feel the need to “brace” before mentioning you're vegan The Olender Test  A film, show, or book passes the Olender Test if: There is a vegan character They are a full human being (not just a stereotype or plot device) Their veganism is not treated as a joke or a problem Referenced in This Episode The Midnight Library by The Midnight Library Matt Haig on social media:“How to be seen as a militant vegan: gently mention you are vegan.” The Bechdel Test — created by Alison Bechdel Listener Invitation Try the Olender Test on something you’re watching or reading this week. Does it pass? Send Michele your examples — she’d love to feature listener submissions in a future episode. 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/⁠

    15 min
5
out of 5
58 Ratings

About

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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