Midwest Vegan Radio

MVR Episode 40

MVR Episode 41

MVR Episode 39.

You did know that MVR has a partnership with Vegan Mainstream, didn’t you? Well, we are very proud that we do and we got the chance to interview VM’s founder, Stephanie, on this episode packed with all kinds of tidbits and hints for the best vegan tools and services you’ve never heard of. Ever thought about starting your own vegan business? Writing a cookbook? Starting a food truck? Or even a yoga studio that emphasises compassion and empathy for all beings? This is the episode for you. And even if you don’t have the entrepreneurial spirit, you won’t want to miss this one because this could be your window to finding your vegan dream job or a dentist who knows those canine teeth aren’t meant to chew flesh. Check it out! For all you coffee lovers, you will definitely want to hear about Sweetbird flavorings - Ryan and Elliot review their Irish Cream flavor and patiently explain instant coffee to Dallas, who knows nothing about coffee culture. The green challenge is all about how to make your butt more eco-friendly. No joke.

Ever wondered about what it might be like to go vegan in Korea while serving in the air force? We didn’t before we met Emily and heard about her husband, Tom, who did just that. Emily and Tom join us and share their amazing story about going vegan and their experience navigating veganism as they navigate living in a variety of cities and countries across the globe. Emily and Tom share their stories of learning about issues surrounding health, the environment, and what animals endure and what it was like for each of them to make the switch to vegan in their own way in their own time and how they made that work as a couple. Emily also shares about the challenges of finding a job that she is ethically comfortable with in a new country where employment opportunities for military spouses are scarce. Get ready to fall in love with these two! If you miss the heavy, thick, creamy taste and texture of alfredo sauce, you won’t want to miss hearing about Victoria Vegan’s line of vegan alfredo sauces. Seriously, buy this stuff and help her get big enough to make this available in groceries everywhere - it’s delicious. The bachelors out there should love the green challenge for this episode. Embrace your inner Dude with this one - listen to find out what it is! And as always, we wrap it up with shout outs - is yours one of them?

With the popularization of veganism, more people who suffer with eating disorders are using it as a socially acceptable cover for restricting their eating. Dallas and Ryan discuss this distressing trend, share personal stories, and explore whether or not someone can go vegan “for the wrong reasons”. Documentaries are powerful tools for changing hearts, minds, and society and the product review is one movie lovers won’t want to miss. Peaceable Kingdom is the new documentary from the fine folks at Tribe of Heart. Yes, we said NEW! If you think you’ve seen PK already, think twice, because the new one is an entirely new film and well worth watching. Designed to be used as an outreach tool and shown to small groups in a home setting, this film highlights the relationships between individual people and individual animals in a way that will appeal to a wide audience and provide a perfect opportunity to discuss veganism.

Wool - seems pretty harmless on the surface, but behind the idyllic archetypal myth lies a grisly reality. While it’s tempting to believe that sheep get to graze in peaceful green pastures and are lovingly sheared by a tender keeper, this fantasy is far from the truth. Dallas and Ryan explain what’s wrong with wool and why we should choose to use other textiles instead. Options abound for knitters and fashionistas, so never fear - they’ll discuss alternatives for this itchy, tired fiber that feel incredible and don’t hurt any animals. The team reviews Max and Ruffy’s vegan dog treats, made from organic ingredients, packaged in an uber-eco-friendly way, and super crunchy so as to help alleviate some of the guilt dog parents often feel for not brushing their pup’s chompers regularly, these treats are big time winners. Ryan and Elliot taste test on air and conclude that the sweet potato and alfalfa flavor reminds them of Grape Nuts. In keeping with the textile theme, the green challenge explains a bit about dry cleaning and ways to decrease the chances one may develop cancer by exposure to toxic dry-cleaning chemicals. Because no one wants to get cancer from their dry-cleaning. We think it’s a pretty safe bet that we can lay that absolute statement out there.

If you’ve told all of three people you’re vegan, chances are you’ve heard “I could never go vegan!” at least once. And while most of us want to say “Of course you can! It's so much fun and I’d love to help you!” there are still a good number of us out there who are tempted to say something like “If you can’t go vegan, why don’t you go vegetarian instead?”. While this may appear to be an encouragement to take a step in the right direction, Dallas and Ryan dig a little deeper and explore why this suggestion, coming from vegans, really isn’t a good idea. Sure, many people do take a pit stop in Lacto-Ovo Town on their way to vegan, but just because some people do it, and there’s nothing wrong with people taking that route to veganism (Dallas did it!), there’s an important distinction between people making that choice on their own and us encouraging them to do it that way. Now, before you get your undies all in a bunch, just listen to the episode to hear them out. After that fun conversation, stay tuned to hear about 6 different book titles - from kid’s books to young adult to nonfiction to cookbooks - your literary fancy will be tickled. Next is a green challenge that takes us back to simpler times, gets our bodies moving, and makes bunnies happy all at the same time. What could be better? Have a guess as to what it is? Listen to find out!

We dare you to listen to this episode of Midwest Vegan Radio and NOT come away feeling better about the world. Dallas and Ryan kick back and chat with co-owner of multiple Moksha Yoga franchises. vegan dad, and motivational speaker, Phil Doucett. Listen in as they delve deeply into topics such as what really matters in life, how to embody compassion, and the power that comes with being able to choose how to respond to events in life as opposed to being run by them. Oh, and the power of Daiya’s new vegan cheese wedges, we can’t forget those! Keep listening for a technique any civilian can borrow from the Navy that can help conserve water, and as always: shout outs to awesome people and things. Contact MVR with your shout out today at Midwest Vegan Radio on Facebook.

Sarahjane Blum is a Jane of all trades when it comes to veganism and animal rights. In this episode Dallas and Ryan chat with her about the decade she's spent working on issues around the production and sale of foie gras - the diseased fatty livers of ducks and geese marketed and sold as a delicacy. As the campaign coordinator for Forego Foie Gras Minneapolis through the Animal Rights Coalition, Dallas, Ryan, and Sarahjane discuss why foie gras is a unique conversation starter for a larger conversation about the problems inherent with farming animals.  She is also an organizer for Support Vegans In the Prison System, a group dedicated to advocating for nutritionally adequate meals for incarcerated vegans. We also chat about her experience unknowingly adopting a dog who turned out to have fear aggression issues and how she and her husband navigated that surprise. And as if that isn't enough, this woman is also the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit against the federal government in which she is challenging the constitutionality of the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act! This is an episode not to be missed.

Midwest Vegan Radio Podcast Episode 31: So You Think You Can Vegan Parent With Al Nowatzki And His Daughter, Anna

Midwest Vegan Radio Podcast Episode 30: Gary Lowenthal Talks WWVBS While We Drool Over Kat's Hot Cakes

Midwest Vegan Radio Podcast Episode 29: Defending Constitutional Rights With Ed Coffin

Midwest Vegan Radio Podcast Episode 28: Hannah West Talks Mad City Vegan Fest

Midwest Vegan Radio Podcast Episode 27: An Interview With Dr. Kim Socha About Her New Book; "Women, Destruction, and the Avant-Garde"

Midwest Vegan Radio Podcast Episode 26: The Vegan Sex Episode

Midwest Vegan Radio Podcast Episode 25: Prisoned Penguins and Caged Carnivores: What's Wrong With The Zoo

Midwest Vegan Radio Podcast Episode 24: Adoption Fees: Putting A Price On Companion Animals

Midwest Vegan Radio Podcast Episode 23: We Interview The Snake Man and Talk Speciesism

Midwest Vegan Radio Podcast Episode 22: The Language of Meat