Dr. Michael Klaper was raised on a dairy farm, became a physician in 1972, and spent his first decade in medicine watching his patients get sicker. Then, he connected the dots: it's the food, doc!

For the past 40+ years, he has been one of the most beloved voices in plant-based medicine, reversing high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, autoimmune disease, and more thanks to the whole plant food diet.

In 2017, he founded his not-for-profit Moving Medicine Forward to (finally!) bring nutrition education to medical schools across North America. He just published his book by the same name, and it's FANTASTIC!

In this conversation we talk about:

• The "toxic red tide" of molecules that flood your bloodstream every time you have a cheeseburger
• Why most doctors know next to nothing about nutrition (and what that costs their patients)
• What it takes to change someone's diet in a clinical setting
• Whether the medical system can be redeemed
• And why Dr. Klaper is the happiest of doctors!

Whether you are in the medical system as a patient or as a health professional, you'll LOVE this episode.

Support Dr. Klaper's work by donating at http://movingmedforward.org/

Get your copy of Moving Medicine Forward: https://bookshop.org/a/114636/9781637748268 (while supporting the Plantwise Podcast at no extra cost to you!)

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Love this conversation? You'll be right at home in the Plantwise Book Club. Learn more here: https://brigittegemme.com/plantwise-book-club/

What if the real reason why we can't change our habits has nothing to do with willpower?

Leo Babauta, creator of Zen Habits and one of the original voices on mindfulness and simplicity on the Internet, joins the Plantwise Book Club crew for a conversation that goes deep. We talk about the emotions hiding underneath our food choices, why "should" never works, and what happens when we stop running from discomfort and just… sit with it.

Plus, Leo shares how he went from overweight, in debt, and smoking to running marathons, going vegan, and building a life aligned with his values. The real shift? Love.

This starts with "pick a tiny habit and go from there" and goes much deeper.

Recorded live as a fireside chat with the Plantwise Book Club during our deep dive into Leo's book Essential Zen Habits. 🔗 Leo's blog: http://zenhabits.net ✍️ Leo's new book-in-progress: http://zenofdoing.substack.com 📖 Leo's book Essential Zen Habits which was the Plantwise book of the month in February 2026: https://bookshop.org/a/114636/9781434105257

💚 Join the Plantwise Book Club: https://skool.com/plantwise/about/

Javant Benton's healthy journey started when a possibly lymphoma diagnosis shook him to his core. Pre-diabetes and high blood pressure ran in his family but he wasn't prepared for cancer. This health scare set him on a path of discovery that led to losing 80 pounds, reversing his chronic disease signs, and falling in love with whole food plant-based cooking.

His Instagram is super inspiring! https://instagram.com/healthyveganeating/ and you can also follow him here on YouTube: http://youtube.com/@healthyveganeating

Everything he does is oil free, refined-sugar free, and wheat free... and it all looks AMAZING!

Javant's first cookbook, Make Your Own, is just coming out on March 17th, 2026, and it's a MUST HAVE! I hardly ever endorse cookbooks but I love everything about how Javant creates delightful meals from whole plant foods, and I know my Plantwise people are going to love it too.

📚 Get Javant's first cookbook, Make Your Own, from Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/114636/9780306836695 Your purchase using this link will support the Plantwise Book Club, at no extra cost to you. Also available in all bookstores.

This podcast is brought to you by the Plantwise Book Club: a welcoming community of curious people who want to learn from the top sources about plant-based nutrition *and* put what they learn into practice in their everyday lives. Learn more and join us here: https://skool.com/plantwise/about/

Welcome to the first episode of the Plantwise Podcast! Host Brigitte Gemme sits down with legendary vegan advocate Victoria Moran, a 2024 Vegan Hall of Fame inductee, author of 14 books, and founder of Main Street Vegan Academy.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Victoria shares:

• Why she'd be vegan even if it wasn't good for her health
• What it's like to age publicly as a vegan at 75
• Her perspective on mortality ("We're all holograms passing through")
• The spiritual roots of veganism most people don't know about
• Her Ayurveda-inspired daily routine
• What's next for Main Street Vegan Academy
• The book she hopes to write next

Whether you've followed Victoria for years or you're just discovering her work, this episode is a masterclass in living with purpose, compassion, and good sense.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Plantwise Book Club https://brigittegemme.com/plantwise-book-club/
• Creating a Charmed Life by Victoria Moran https://bookshop.org/a/114636/9780062515803
• Main Street Vegan by Victoria Moran https://amzn.to/4r0yQsf
• Age Like a Yogi by Victoria Moran https://bookshop.org/a/114636/9781958972595
• Main Street Vegan Academy https://mainstreetvegan.com/
• Healthy Vegan Cooking Club https://veganfamilykitchen.com/cooking-club/
• The Compassion Consortium https://www.compassionconsortium.org/

Join the Plantwise Book Club to go deeper and go from knowledge to healthy habits! Learn more: https://brigittegemme.com/plantwise-book-club/

Hi, it's Brigitte! After a year-long hiatus, I am back to the podcast microphone and eager to bring you deep conversations with some of the most inspiring and thought-provoking authors and creators from the plant-based world.

The Vegan Family Kitchen Podcast is now the Plantwise Podcast, reflecting my channel's shift from vegan cooking education to a broader focus on lifestyle habits that foster healthy, long, and meaningful lives.

Make sure to subscribe to catch my upcoming conversations with:

• Victoria Moran, vegan Hall of Famer and author of 14 books including Age Like a Yogi
• Javant Benton, creator of Healthy Vegan Eating and author of Make Your Own!
• Leo Babauta, creator of Zen Habits
• Dr. Michael Greger of NutritionFacts.org
• Dr. Michael Klaper
• and more!

The Plantwise Podcast is the companion of the Plantwise Book Club, a welcoming community of plant-based people who want to turn knowledge into healthier daily habits. If you've been meaning to less time scrolling on social media and more time reading books that matters, it's the group for you!

Learn more about the Plantwise Book Club: https://brigittegemme.com/plantwise-book-club/ and use coupon code PODCAST for a discount.

This is a goosebumps episode! You're going to LOVE this conversation with Victoria Moran, a vegan icon for over 41 years, author of 13 books, and a recent inductee into the Vegan Hall of Fame. It's an honor to have Victoria in my kitchen to share her fascinating journey from being a solitary vegetarian in the 1960s Midwest to leading the Vegan Main Street Academy.

We go deep into her connections within the vegan movement, her upcoming 14th book 'Age Like a Yogi: A Heavenly Path to a Dazzling Third Act', and her feature film project 'Miss Liberty'. Whether you’re interested in the health benefits of a plant-based diet, in the spiritual roots of yoga, or in the history of vegan activism, you're going to wish this episode was twice as long!

👉 Pre-order Victoria's new book Age Like a Yogi: A Heavenly Path to a Dazzling Third Act from your favorite bookstore, then send your receipt to assist@victoriamoran.com to unlock the cool pre-order bonuses, including a day-long workshop with her in January.

Learn more about the Main Street Vegan Academy and connect with Victoria on her website.

Watch the trailer to Miss Liberty: The Movie!

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Introduction to Victoria Moran 01:30 Early Vegan Journey in the 1980s 03:24 Influential Figures in Veganism 04:16 Challenges and Innovations in Early Veganism 07:39 Historical Events and Influencers 08:55 Personal Reflections on Vegan History 12:10 Yoga and Veganism: A Personal Journey 16:27 Aging Like a Yogi: The New Book 25:48 The Intersection of Yoga and Veganism 28:15 Yoga and Dietary Choices 28:57 Western Yoga and Secular Influence 29:53 The Importance of Ahimsa 30:13 Personal Stories and Veganism 31:57 Health Benefits of Veganism for Older Adults 33:04 Secrets to Vibrant Aging 35:29 The Role of Exercise 38:27 Miss Liberty: A Film Project 43:25 Encouragement for New Vegans 49:55 Pre-ordering 'Aging Like a Yogi'

How difficult is vegan and sustainable eating, travel, and living in Japan? Come in and listen as Brigitte discusses the topic with sustainable travel expert and Hiroshima tour guide Joy Jarman-Walsh, one of the forces behind Japan's sustainable travel improvements.

In this episode, we cover: - Joy's journey in discovering that it was possible to be vegan and thrive in Japan - Sustainability in Japanese tourism: What are positive trends in the industry? - Cultural insights on eating habits: Why is it so hard to modify items on the menu in Japan?!

Curious to learn how you can adopt more sustainable travel practices and enjoy plant-based eating while exploring Japan? Tune in to gain valuable insights from Joy's extensive experience and innovative approaches to promoting sustainability and health through her work and daily life.

Don't forget to subscribe for more discussions on healthy living, sustainability, and mindful travel.

CONNECT WITH JOY Catch her show : https://youtube.com/@seeksustainablejapan and on your favorite podcast platform Medium blog: https://medium.com/@jjwalsh Tours of Hiroshima - feel free to book directly via Socials, Google Biz page, or book on Tours By Locals: https://www.toursbylocals.com/hiroshima-tour-guide-joy-j Consulting work - Inbound Ambassador: https://maps.app.goo.gl/9Kjcc2Z4ta2CRU9t5 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jjwalsh-inbound-ambassador/ Twitter: https://x.com/jjwalsh FB/Insta/Threads @inboundambassador

Jump to sections that interest you most! [00:00:00] Introduction to Joy Jarman-Walsh [00:02:00] Joy’s Early Influence and Transition to Vegetarianism [00:06:00] The Shift from Vegetarian to Vegan in a Family Context [00:10:00] Challenges of Finding Vegan Food in Japan [00:18:00] Navigating Cultural Sensitivities in Japanese Dining [00:25:00] Sustainability in Everyday Japanese Life [00:30:00] Impact of Domestic and International Tourism on Local Cuisine [00:35:00] Vision for a More Sustainable Japanese Food Culture

----------------- Need a healthy stress-free vegan meal plan when eating at home? Download Planned & Plant-Based today, eat better next week: https://veganfamilykitchen.com/planned-plant-based/

Do you want to avoid suffering from swollen, achy, hot joints, feeling fatigue, or struggling with mobility? Or decrease your risk of cardio-vascular events? Those issues often associated with aging are not inevitable! Join Brigitte in conversation with Linda Tyler, author of The Plant-Based Anti-Inflammatory Cookbook and creator of GraciousVegan.com. Linda explains everything you need to know about what inflammation is, how it's related to the food we eat, and how a different way of cooking can bring big improvements into your life today and in the long term. Linda also shares her favorite recipes and practical advice for making anti-inflammatory cooking a part of your everyday life. Whether you're a seasoned vegan chef or just curious about plant-based eating, there's something in this episode for everyone interested in the health benefits of an anti-inflammatory plant-based diet.

Connect with Linda on her website at https://graciousvegan.com on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gracious_vegan/ and buy her cookbook: https://www.graciousvegan.com/cookbook-details-and-ordering