MeatBusters

If you (still) think veganism is a diet, this one is for you. And who better to dissect this misconception than a vegan and anti-diet registered dietitian?! Taylor Wolfram, RD (@taylorwolframrd), describes her journey as a vegan dietitian who is committed to intuitive eating, self-care, and vegan nutrition. Taylor and Alisha discuss what it means to eat intuitively, how the philosophy intersects with veganism, and ways to transform the mainstream vegan movement into one that acknowledges body diversity and denounces diet culture. 

To do list:

1. Visit taylorwolfram.com to read blog posts and sign up for the Anti-Diet Vegan Nutrition Course.
2. Follow Chelsea Lincoln (@fatveganvoice) and read her blog on fatveganvoice.com.
3. Subscribe to The Bearded Vegans podcast and follow @thebeardedvegans on Instagram.
4. Read:

• The Body is Not an Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor: https://www.sonyareneetaylor.com/books
• Radical Belonging by Lindo Bacon: https://lindobacon.com/radical-belonging-book/
• books from Sanctuary Publishers' collection on veganism: https://sanctuarypublishers.wordpress.com/

What is casteism? And how does it manifest in veganism? Anti-caste vegan advocate Rama (@ramavgan) joins Alisha to clarify the history and origins of the Hindu caste system, the problem with misattributing ethical veganism to Hinduism, and how to divest from casteism in the vegan sphere. A follow-up episode on the intersections of veganism and anti-caste activism will be the next in this series.

Rama's Recommendations

Books:

• Caste Matters by Suraj Yengde
• Annihilation of Caste by B.R. Ambedkar

Articles and Essays:

• Feeling Like an Outcast by Yashica Dutt
• Roundtable India: https://roundtableindia.co.in/

Instagram Accounts:

• @nrithyapillai
• @knowrealindia

Documentary:

• India Untouched: Stories of a People Apart

Other Resources:

• Equality Labs: https://www.equalitylabs.org/

Is veganism anti-Indigenous? And if not, why do so many people believe it is? Let's discuss! Indigenous vegan and anti-oppression advocate Jen Bell Rivera joins Alisha to dispel this myth and clarify its origins in white veganism - the whitewashing of mainstream veganism that leads to BIPOC erasure within the movement. Jen discusses how the movements for animal liberation and Indigenous sovereignty share many common values and recommends actions vegans can take to make the movement more inclusive of and accessible to Native peoples. // Find Jen on Instagram at @jenriverabell and on her blog, jenriverabell.com. // Subscribe to Jen's YouTube channel. // Become a patron of Jen on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JenRiveraBell. // View the MeatBusters episode webpage for a list of resources recommended by Jen: thelishlife.com/blog/2021/1/29/is-veganism-anti-indigenous

EXPLORE THE LISH LIFE - Get to know Alisha outside of MeatBusters! Follow @lish_life on Instagram, @thelishlife.com on TikTok, and @thelishlife on Twitter. Subscribe to Alisha's blog, TheLishLife.com, for free vegan recipes, lifestyle advice, and more.

Here's some food for thought: Our food system isn't broken... but it does require some fixing. Food insecurity and food apartheid are only symptoms of the systemic oppressions that define society as we know it, and we cannot address them without addressing both racism and speciesism. Founder of Might Be Vegan, Kimberly Renee, joins Alisha to explain food apartheid, its roots in redlining, and how animal agriculture factors into it all. She also discusses Food Love by Might Be Vegan and why providing plant-based foods to residents of low income communities is a crucial first step towards a just and sustainable food system.

Find Kimberly on Instagram at @kimberlyrenee and support Food Love by Might Be Vegan by donating at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/food-love-by-might-be-vegan

EXPLORE THE LISH LIFE - Get to know Alisha outside of MeatBusters! Follow @lish_life on Instagram, @thelishlife.com on TikTok, and @thelishlife on Twitter. Subscribe to Alisha's blog, TheLishLife.com, for free vegan recipes, lifestyle advice, and more.

"I have food allergies or sensitivities... can I still be vegan?" Of course you can! In fact, Alisha herself suffers from severe food allergies, which she addresses during her conversation with vegan allergy mom and food blogger Nicole Dawson. Alisha asks Nicole about how her son's food allergies led their family down the road to veganism and how to make the most of a nut-free and 100% plant-based diet. // Follow Nicole on Instagram at @allergylicious and visit her blog, allergylicious.com, for tons of tasty and allergen-friendly vegan recipes. // Browse Nicole's vegan and allergen-friendly cookbook recommendations: https://allergylicious.com/free-from-cookbook-list/

EXPLORE THE LISH LIFE - Get to know Alisha outside of MeatBusters! Follow @lish_life on Instagram, @thelishlife.com on TikTok, and @thelishlife on Twitter. Subscribe to Alisha's blog, TheLishLife.com, for free vegan recipes, lifestyle advice, and more.

Do doctors encourage the consumption of animal-based products? Not if they practice lifestyle medicine! Alisha interviews Dr. Silvia, MD, an ophthalmologist-turned-lifestyle medicine doc who is passionate about helping people improve their overall health through positive lifestyle changes. Silvia addresses the existing divide between medicine and nutrition and offers ways for doctors to overcome this gap when treating patients with chronic health conditions. She also discusses the physiological and psychological benefits of transitioning from a meat-heavy diet to a plant-based one. // Follow Dr. Silvia on Instagram at @dr.silvia.md.

For more content from Alisha, including vegan recipes and lifestyle advice, visit TheLishLife.com.

Fact: Poor diet increases the likelihood of developing of certain chronic health issues. Another fact: Marginalized communities around the world do not have adequate access to whole plant foods and minimally processed ingredients. Coincidence? Nope. In fact, this intersection is precisely what plant-based nutritionist Rohini Bajekal aims to address through her work. Rohini discusses why certain chronic health issues disproportionately affect people of color, the role of diet in treating these issues, and next steps for making plant-based education more accessible. // Follow Rohini on Instagram at @rohinibajekal. Visit Rohini's website at https://rohinibajekal.com/.

To stay up to date with Alisha's content, don't forget to follow her on Instagram at @lish_life.

You’ve heard the stories… you know, the ones of people losing their hair or — more recently — their brain function, presumably because they were vegan. But is veganism really to blame for these health issues? Or are there other factors at play here? Alisha asks Muzammil Ahmad (Dr. Plant-Based), a medical student and host of the Plant Prescription Podcast, to unpack medical misconceptions and misinformation related to veganism and plant-based eating. Muzammil addresses Miley Cyrus’s recent comments about omegas, dissects the most popular myths about fish and eggs, and explains why it’s taking the medical community so long to actively recognize and promote the benefits of a plant-based diet. // Find Muzammil on Instagram and Tik Tok at @dr.plantbased and check out his podcast, the Plant Prescription Podcast. // To see Alisha's vegan recipes and lifestyle blog, please visit TheLishLife.com.

Does being vegan = sacrificing part of your social life? No way! Just because you don't eat, wear, or buy the same things as your non-vegan friends, family members, or significant others doesn't mean that outings with these people are off limits. It just means that brunch or date night might look a bit! But that shouldn't be an issue for those who care about you and love you. Vegan food blogger and mathematician Shanice White (aka The Carbetarian) joins Alisha to share tips on navigating everything from friendships to marriage when it feels like you're the only vegan you know. // Follow Shanice on Instagram at @thecarbetarian and check out her food blog, TheCarbetarian.com

To get the deets on the vegan recipes Alisha talked about in this episode, check out her blog at TheLishLife.com.

Can veganism coexist with religiosity? Unless a core tenet of your religion is the exploitation of nonhuman animals, veganism absolutely is compatible with religion and spirituality! Psychology Lecturer and PhD candidate Hark aka Vegan Sikh is on MeatBusters this week to discuss his own experience reconciling veganism with his religion, Sikhism, and how others can do the same. Hark also talks about the evolution of religion and religious practices over time and the real reason why so many non-vegans mistakenly attribute carnism to their religion. // Follow Hark on Instagram at @vegansikh. 

Head over to https://thelishlife.com/ to learn more about Alisha and browse her vegan recipes, lifestyle blog, and shop!

Animal liberation is deeply political but our politicians often get a rep for putting issues concerning animal rights on the back burner. What if the vegan community had some actual representation in office? Meet Oye Owolewa, a vegan of four years and a candidate for US Representative in DC! Alisha interviews Oye about the key issues he plans on addressing, why non-vegans should care about laws and regulations concerning animal rights, and how the animal rights community can improve and grow to become an active voice in politics. // Visit Oye's website, https://www.oye4dc.com/ to learn more about his vision. // Follow Oye on Facebook and Instagram at @oye4dc or find him on Twitter at @AdeoyeOwolewa.

For more information on previous MeatBusters guests, vegan recipes, and lifestyle hacks, visit Alisha's blog at https://thelishlife.com/

Whether you realize it or not, veganism is political... because everything is political. Founder of DC Voters for Animals (DCVFA), Max Broad, joins Alisha this week to discuss the intersection of animal liberation and politics. He emphasizes the need for vegans to make their voices heard in order to create true change for the animals, the environment, and society. // Follow @dcvfa on Instagram and visit dcvfa.com to sign up for political action alerts.

Visit TheLishLife.com for Alisha's vegan recipes, lifestyle blog, and more.

We have no idea who started the rumor that makeup can't be vegan but let's put that to rest today! Vegan YouTuber and cruelty-free beauty advocate Nisha Balsara joins Alisha to talk about what makes makeup cruelty-free and vegan, what these labels mean for consumers, and how these products compare to traditional non-vegan cosmetics. Nisha also addresses concerns with animal testing and shares some of her cruelty-free beauty faves. // Follow Nisha on Instagram @nishabalsara // Subscribe to Nisha's YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/LoseYourVeganity

Visit TheLishLife.com for Alisha's vegan recipes, lifestyle blog posts, and more!

Visit TheLishLife.com to learn more about previous MeatBusters guests and browse vegan recipes.

Do carnism (the opposite of veganism) and white supremacy have anything in common? Actually, yes! Zipporah the Vegan joins Alisha to talk about why white dominance, much like carnism, is difficult to do away with. They discuss the systems that allow both carnism and white supremacy to prevail in our society and why both the vegan and anti-racist movements receive so much pushback. Zipporah also describes how veganism can be a part of a larger social justice framework and addresses the need for white vegans to move away from single issue activism. // Follow Zipporah on Instagram at @zipporahthevegan and become a patron of her work at https://www.patreon.com/user?u=32872902

Visit https://thelishlife.com/ to browse Alisha's vegan recipes, past podcast guests, and more.

Are vegan parents cruel for "forcing" their kids to eat plant foods? It feels ridiculous just typing that out but a good handful of people actually believe it to be true. Not us, though. Health coach and vegan mother Lindsay Ingalls joins Alisha to share her experience raising vegan kids and addresses a few of the hate comments she’s received about her children’s diet and lifestyle. She also offers advice to parents who are interested in helping their kids eat more plant-based. // Find Lindsay on Instagram and TikTok at @naturallylindsay. // Check out Ruby Roth's resources for kids: https://shop.drawordie.com/collection?category=Kids // Visit https://thelishlife.com/blog/2020/8/31/episode-14-can-children-be-vegan to browse a complete list of vegan parenting resources recommended by Lindsay.

The answer might surprise you! Connie Spence aka Vegan Batgirl joins Alisha to dissect the truth about animal agriculture in the United States. As President and CEO of the lobbying group Agriculture Fairness Alliance (AFA), Connie is committed to bringing supply and demand back to the animal ag industry. She explains why vegan consumerism alone will not liberate animals and discusses the need for vegans to engage politically in order to dismantle "Big Ag," which is responsible for the systemic exploitation of both non-human animals and marginalized communities. // Follow @vegan_batgirl, @agriculture_fairness_alliance, and @veganjusticeleague on Instagram. // Visit https://www.agriculturefairnessalliance.org/join-us to become an AFA member. 100% of recurring donations support AFA's lobbying power.

To learn about previous MeatBusters guests and check out Alisha's blog, visit https://thelishlife.com/.

What's so cruel about dairy? Vegan cheesemaker and Cowvathi founder Shasvathi Siva sits down with Alisha this week to discuss what's wrong with dairy, why non-vegans can't seem to give up cow's cheese, and her motivation for a dairy-free cheese business. // Follow @shasvathi and @cowvathi on Instagram // Visit https://www.cowvathi.com/ to learn more about their dairy-free products // Watch Dairy is Scary on YouTube // Other documentaries mentioned: Earthlings, Cowspiracy, The Game Changers 

Visit https://thelishlife.com/ to learn about previous MeatBusters guests and try out Alisha's simple vegan recipes!

Is veganism inherently restrictive? Nope. But does that mean the vegan community is immune to diet culture? Also no. HAES (Health At Every Size) therapist Jenny Weinar joins Alisha to discuss veganism as an ethical movement and how to separate it from diet culture in some vegan spaces. She addresses why co-opting veganism to promote diet culture not only harms the movement but also fat people and those who struggle with disordered eating. Jenny and Alisha also talk about next steps vegans should take to make the community more inclusive to people of all sizes and backgrounds. // Follow Jenny on Instagram at @homebodytherapy or visit her website at homebodytherapy.com // Jenny recommends the following individuals: @fatveganvoice, @theveganchubclub, @taylorwolframrd

Visit TheLishLife.com/podcast to learn about previous MeatBusters guests and recommend topics for future podcasts.

Why are fish often excluded from conversations about the devastating effects of animal agriculture? Alisha asks environmental educator Isaias Hernandez (Queer Brown Vegan) to break down mechanized fisheries, their environmental and ethical pitfalls, and the harm in greenwashing seafood products. Isaias also discusses his own motivations for pursuing a zero-waste vegan lifestyle and the importance of creating awareness about environmental racism within the larger environmental movement. // Follow Isaias on Instagram at @queerbrownvegan // Visit the Queer Brown Vegan blog // Learn about the Blue New Deal // Conservation-focused Instagram accounts Isaias recommends: @ayanaeliza and @browngirl_green // Visit the episode webpage on TheLishLife.com to learn more. https://thelishlife.com/blog/2020/8/2/episode-10-is-the-fishing-industry-actually-harmful

Not everyone can go vegan. But if you can, you most definitely should. Vegan activist Abdourahamane Ly joins Alisha to educate listeners about food insecurity, why it disproportionately affects people of color, and how adopting a plant-based diet is the easiest thing you can do to help transition our food system into a more just and sustainable one. // Follow Ly on Instagram at @fulanivegan // Projects Ly supports: Freedom Food Alliance and The Color of Food // Ly’s favorite intersectional vegan Instagram accounts: @brownfeministvegan, @thecanadianafrican, @letfishlive, @madeinhackney, and @tyrathetaurus // To learn more, visit https://thelishlife.com/blog/2020/7/26/episode-9-is-veganism-inaccessible

Do vegans actually get enough protein? What about vitamin B12 and iron? Does consuming soy cause men to develop breasts?! Alisha asks vegan dietitian Emily Fitzgerald to break down some common questions and misconceptions about nutrition on a plant-based diet. // Follow Emily on Instagram at @thevegetitian. // Visit the episode webpage on The Lish Life blog to learn more. https://thelishlife.com/podcast

Can you still take part in cultural food traditions as a vegan? Aditi aka Adiventurous Vegan joins Alisha to talk culture, veganism, and navigating food traditions as the only vegans in their families. They also discuss how becoming vegan has helped them embrace their cultural identities. // Follow Aditi on Instagram at @adiventurousvegan (or @adiventurous for travel-related content). // Visit the episode webpage on The Lish Life blog to learn more. https://thelishlife.com/podcast

Can you really eat the rich on a vegan diet? Anti-oppression activist Iye Loves Life answers Alisha's questions about collective liberation and how vegans can play a role in dismantling capitalism. She also addresses the need for vegans to speak out and educate on issues related to environmental racism and food injustice in order to truly transform veganism into a radical political movement. // Visit the episode webpage on The Lish Life blog to learn more. // Follow Iye on Instagram: @iye.loves.life (main account) or @iye.loves.languages (for all things language studies). // Learn about the Vegan Justice League, a vegan lobbying group focused on food equity and farm policy in the United States. // Books Iye recommends: Aphro-ism and Racism as Zoological Witchcraft.

Vegans only care about animal rights, right? Wrong! On this episode, Alisha chats with vegan activist Christopher “Soul” Eubanks about animal agriculture, environmental racism, and how different forms of oppression are “branches of the same tree.” // Find Soul on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok at @soul_eubanks. To donate to Soul’s activism, visit www.SoulEubanks.com/support.

Visit TheLishLife.com to learn more.

Why do some animal lovers eat meat? And can you even call yourself an animal lover if you’re still eating animal products? Psychology says no. This week, I caught up with Megan Green, a therapist who had a lot to share about cognitive dissonance and the meat paradox. // Follow Megan on Instagram: @megan.green.m.a.ncc or @veg_meg. // View Megan’s page on Psychology Today.

Do plants have feelings? Will animals overpopulate the planet if we do not eat them? And if we shouldn’t eat meat, why on earth do we have the enzymes to digest meat?! If you have ever asked (or been on the receiving end) of these questions, this episode is for you! I asked vegan YouTuber Chris Bednar to unpack some of the most common meat-eater fallacies out there. // Subscribe to Chris's YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/gutstocuts.

Welcome to MeatBusters! In this trailer, Alisha V (founder of TheLishLife.com) introduces herself and talks about why veganism isn't just an animal rights movement.