What if your kitchen could be the starting point for personal liberation?

This week on Vedge Your Best, Chef Day Radley joins Michele to talk about how cooking plant-based isn’t just about what’s on the plate—it’s about reclaiming agency, aligning with your values, and discovering what’s possible in midlife and beyond.

Founder of The Vegan Chef School in London, Day shares how a pink flyer at a protest changed her life, why she created one of the UK’s first plant-based chef training programs, and how so many of her students are reinventing themselves through food.

Whether you’re a seasoned vegan, newly plant-curious, or simply wondering if it’s too late to learn something new—this episode will meet you right where you are.

In this episode:

• How food choices reflect personal power

• Why midlife is the perfect time to start something new

• What Day teaches her students beyond just recipes

• How vegan cooking is gaining ground in the private chef world

• The unexpected creative advantage of British food culture

• Why Day refuses to count calories—and what she teaches instead

Learn more about Day Radley and The Vegan Chef School:
Website: www.theveganchefschool.com
Instagram: @theveganchefschool

Subscribe and review Vedge Your Best wherever you listen to podcasts.

It’s never too late 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/⁠

Even small choices create a ripple effect. In fact we probably can’t succeed without your smallest actions.

Episode Summary: Feeling overwhelmed by the news? Wondering if your vegan lunch really matters? In this episode, Michele Olender explores the power of shifting from passive observer to active participant — in culture, in climate, in your plant-based journey.. Maybe even in traffic..

Inspired by Jonathan Safran Foer’s powerful book We Are the Weather, Michele invites us to rethink our role in the systems we say we want to change.

If you’ve ever thought, “Why bother? I’m just one person,” this is your reminder that your example — and your intention — matter more than you think.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why that traffic jam metaphor is bigger than you think
  

• How doomscrolling keeps us reactive, not creative
  

• What We Are the Weather teaches us about daily action
  

• What to say to yourself when plant-based choices feel invisible
  

• How to lead with clarity, even when no one around you agrees

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/⁠

This week, we’re talking “excuses”—the kind that hold us back and the kind that might just be trying to help. Whether you're delaying a plant-based shift, putting off a big change, or repeating the same “I just can’t right now” story… this episode invites you to rethink your excuses with humor, compassion, and curiosity.

What if your excuses aren’t obstacles?

What if they’re signposts to your most important breakthrough?

We’ll explore:

• Why your excuses actually make sense

• How curiosity beats self-criticism

• What resistance really looks like (and how to stop fighting reality)

• And how laughter can be your coaching superpower

Let’s take off the judge’s robe and put on the detective hat. It’s time to ask: “What is this excuse protecting?” And maybe even… “What’s next?”

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/⁠

Episode Summary:
Ready for a summer reading program? In this first installment of the Vedge Lit series, Michele reflects on Never Too Late to Go Vegan by Carol J. Adams, Patti Breitman, and Virginia Messina, RD. The episode dives into the doubts many people face when they consider going vegan later in life—and how this book offered a perspective shift that shaped Michele’s work and mission.

Whether you’re trying plant-based living for the first time, returning after a “sabbatical,” or unsure what your next step looks like—this episode is for you.

You’ll Hear:

• Why this series isn’t behind a paywall—and why that matters

• The brunch meme that says what every late-in-life vegan has felt

• Michele’s honest take on her evolving relationship with Carol J. Adams’ work

• Why Virginia Messina, RD’s contribution is especially vital for midlife+ vegans

• 
  
• A mindset shift around being “late” to change

• • Your listener challenge of the week

  Listener Challenge:

Take 10 minutes to write down 3 ways your age and experience give you an advantage on your vegan journey.
DM, email, or reply to the V-Mail with anything—bullet points, run-on sentences, emojis—all welcome!

Resources:

• Never Too Late to Go Vegan by Carol J. Adams, Patti Breitman & Virginia Messina

• • TheVeganRD.com – Virginia Messina’s evidence-based nutrition site

  
  

  Have a favorite vegan book or guest suggestion?

Send Michele a message! You don’t have to be polished—just real.
Let her know who’s inspired you or what you'd love to hear more about.

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/⁠⁠

What if the biggest thing holding you back… isn’t resistance or lack of willpower, but gravity?

In this episode, Michele returns from adventures in Granada, Seville, Paris, Strasbourg, and Dublin with fresh eyes on the habits, routines, and unconscious choices that shape our lives. From mealtimes and walking paths to how we relate to food, family, and culture—there’s an invisible architecture guiding your day-to-day life.

“We shape our buildings; thereafter, they shape us.” - Winston Churchill

Our choices—especially the repeated ones—build a kind of gravitational pull that either keeps us grounded… or keeps us stuck.

Whether you’re looking to start, re-start, or re-energize your plant-based practice, this episode is your invitation to notice what’s shaping you—and how to gently, intentionally shift your orbit.
What You'll Learn:

• Why your life may be “pulling” you away from the change you want

• How both choices and non-choices carry weight

• What habits and cultural norms you’ve inherited—and how to evaluate them with love

• One powerful journal exercise to start changing your gravity today

Journal Prompts from This Episode:

1. What choices have I made in the last 10 years that shaped who I am today?

2. What decisions am I not making that are still pulling me away from the future I want?

3. What choices did I inherit from family, friends, or culture that I absolutely love?

4. Which inherited choices might be keeping me a little stuck?

5. What is one small, intentional, plant-based choice I can make today to shift my orbit?

If you’ve been feeling pulled off-course, this episode will help you recognize your own inner gravity—and start defying it, one intentional decision at a 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/⁠

“Waste is a human decision. Nature doesn’t waste anything.” — Vojtech Vegh

This week on Vedge Your Best, Michele sits down with zero-waste vegan chef Vojtech Vegh, author, sustainability consultant, and founder of SurplusFoodStudio.com, to explore how the way we think about ingredients can transform both our meals and our environmental impact.

Vojtech shares his journey from a reluctant waiter in Slovakia to opening a plant-based, zero-waste fine-dining restaurant in Cambodia, and how he now helps chefs and hospitality leaders reimagine their kitchens with creativity and intention.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why food waste prevention starts with planning—not extra effort

• How zero-waste cooking can actually save time and money

• What it takes to reframe scraps as ingredients

• Creative uses for carrot tops, banana peels, watermelon rinds, and more

• How professional chefs can influence industry-wide sustainability

• The mindset shift needed to make low-waste the new normal

Whether you're in hospitality or just trying to waste less at home, this conversation will change the way you look at what goes in your bin—and what ends up on your plate.

Guest Links

• Website: surplusfoodstudio.com

• Instagram: instagram.com/vojtechvegh

Listener Challenge

Try using one fruit or vegetable part this week that you normally discard. Tag @VedgeYourBest and @vojtechvegh on Instagram to share.

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/⁠