Vegan Boss Radio

What role can nutrition play in cancer prevention, treatment, and long-term health?

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Zahra Kassam, a Radiation Oncologist and leading voice in lifestyle medicine and plant-based nutrition.

We explore the evidence behind plant-based diets in relation to cancer risk, survivorship, and overall chronic disease prevention, as well as how nutrition can support patients during and after treatment.

We also break down some of the most common nutrition myths surrounding cancer, including the widely circulated belief that “sugar feeds cancer".

In this episode, we cover:

• The role of plant-based nutrition in cancer prevention
• Nutrition during cancer treatment and survivorship
• Common cancer-related nutrition myths and misconceptions
• How dietary patterns influence chronic disease risk
• The work of Plant-Based Canada and its impact
• The growing role of nutrition and sustainability in healthcare

This is a thoughtful, evidence-based conversation for anyone interested in the intersection of nutrition, medicine, and long-term health.

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About Dr. Zahra Kassam

Dr. Zahra Kassam is a Radiation Oncologist at the Stronach Regional Cancer Centre in Newmarket and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Toronto. She is certified in Lifestyle Medicine through the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine and serves as Co-Chair of the Canadian Lifestyle Medicine Group of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine.

In 2019, she co-founded Plant-Based Canada, a nonprofit organization providing evidence-based education on the benefits of whole food, plant-based nutrition for human health, environmental sustainability, and planetary well-being. She is co-author of Eating Plant-Based: Scientific Answers to Your Nutrition Questions, written in collaboration with her sister Dr. Shireen Kassam, and co-editor of the academic textbook Plant-Based Nutrition in Clinical Practice.

Dr. Kassam promotes sustainable nutrition within healthcare systems through her roles in national organizations. She serves as a Food Advisor to the Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care and is a member of the PEACH Sustainable Food Committee, the National Advisory Committee on Planetary Health for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, the Green is Health Member Interest Group of the Ontario Medical Association, and the Climate and Sustainability Working Group of the Canadian Association of Radiation Oncologists.

 

Learn more about Dr. Kassam and Plant-Based Canada at www.plantbasedcanada.org and on their Instagram @plantbasedcanadaorg.

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🥗 Need help with your plant-based nutrition? Book a private consultation at synergynutrition.ca for personalized guidance to meet your nutrient needs and feel your best.

👉 If you’re ready to take the next step in your own nutrition journey, book a free 15-minute discovery call with me to learn more about private nutrition consultations.

If you’re looking for 100% vegan supplements, check out my online supplement store , everything is carefully curated, ships anywhere in Canada, and is always 10% off for everyone, all the time.

 Check out the Vegan Boss apparel line to spread the vegan message wherever you go, everything is on the website and @veganbossapparel on Instagram.

🎧 Subscribe, share, and leave a review if this episode resonated with you.
📩 Questions or feedback? DM me anytime @vegan_boss!

 

For more than four decades, Gail Eisnitz has investigated factory farms and slaughterhouses in the United States, documenting practices that most people never see.

In this episode of Vegan Boss Radio, Gail shares what she witnessed during her years as an undercover investigator and why she believes transparency about the realities of animal agriculture is so important.

Some parts of this conversation include descriptions of animal abuse inside factory farms and slaughterhouses, which may be difficult to hear. But as Gail explains, bringing these hidden practices into public awareness has been a central part of her life’s work.

We discuss:

• What Gail witnessed during her investigations inside factory farms and slaughterhouses
• Why so much of the meat industry operates out of public view
• The challenges and personal toll of documenting animal abuse for decades
• How public awareness has historically driven policy change
• Gail’s new memoir, Out of Sight, and the personal journey behind her investigative work

Whether you’re already vegan or simply curious about how our food systems operate, this conversation offers a rare look inside an industry that most consumers never see firsthand.

About Gail Eisnitz

Gail A. Eisnitz, winner of the prestigious Albert Schweitzer Medal for outstanding achievement in animal welfare, has spent decades documenting and exposing the hidden realities of the U.S. meat industry.

She is the chief investigator for the Humane Farming Association and author of the memoir Out of Sight: An Undercover Investigator’s Fight for Animal Rights and Her Own Survival.

Eisnitz and her first book, Slaughterhouse: The Shocking Story of Greed, Neglect, and Inhumane Treatment Inside the U.S. Meat Industry, were the driving force behind a front-page exposé in The Washington Post that ultimately resulted in a multimillion-dollar annual Congressional appropriation to enforce the Humane Slaughter Act — the first funding ever allocated to enforce the law more than 40 years after it was passed.

Her investigative work has led to major media exposés on ABC’s Good Morning America, ABC’s PrimeTime Live, and Dateline NBC and has been featured in major publications including The New York Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Miami Herald, the Detroit Free Press, Texas Monthly, the Denver Business Journal, the Los Angeles Times, and U.S. News & World Report.

Her interviews have also been broadcast on more than 1,600 radio stations.

In her memoir Out of Sight, Eisnitz takes readers on a deeply personal journey as she works to expose systemic animal abuse while navigating a rare visual processing disorder she has lived with since childhood — a condition that was only identified in scientific literature about a decade ago and was formally diagnosed while she was writing the book.

Eisnitz has been vegan for more than two decades.

Learn more about Gail and her books at her website www.gaileiznitz.com and her Instagram @gaileisnitz.

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If you're interested in learning more about plant-based nutrition, you can find educational resources on my Instagram @vegan_boss, including posts like “7 Things I Wish I Had Known About Vegan Nutrition When I First Started,” “Top 5 Vegan Grocery Staples,” and “3 Vegan Nutrition Mistakes and How to Avoid Them.”

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🥗 Need help with your plant-based nutrition? Book a private consultation at synergynutrition.ca for personalized guidance to meet your nutrient needs and feel your best.

👉 If you’re ready to take the next step in your own nutrition journey, book a free 15-minute discovery call with me to learn more about private nutrition consultations.

If you’re looking for 100% vegan supplements, check out my online supplement store , everything is carefully curated, ships anywhere in Canada, and is always 10% off for everyone, all the time.

 Check out the Vegan Boss apparel line to spread the vegan message wherever you go — everything is on the website and @veganbossapparel on Instagram.

🎧 Subscribe, share, and leave a review if this episode resonated with you.
📩 Questions or feedback? DM me anytime @vegan_boss!

Is whey protein really superior to plant-based protein powders for building muscle?

It’s a claim that still pops up constantly in fitness spaces: that whey protein is the “gold standard” for muscle growth, while plant proteins are somehow inferior.

In this mini solo episode, I break down the science behind this belief and explain why the research does not support the idea that whey protein is better than plant-based protein powders for building muscle.

This episode was inspired by a recent conversation in a WhatsApp group where someone suggested that whey protein is “better” because of faster absorption, superior amino acid profile, and greater effectiveness for muscle gain.

But when we actually look at the evidence, studies comparing plant proteins like soy and pea protein to whey show no meaningful difference in muscle mass or strength gains when combined with resistance training.

For athletes, gym-goers, and anyone trying to increase protein intake, plant proteins are a perfectly effective alternative without using animal products, and the environmental concerns associated with dairy.

References:

1. No Difference Between the Effects of Supplementing With Soy Protein Versus Animal Protein on Gains in Muscle Mass and Strength in Response to Resistance Exercise.

2. Pea proteins oral supplementation promotes muscle thickness gains during resistance training: a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial vs whey protein.

3. Protein and Amino Acid Requirements in Human Nutrition.

4. Acne and whey protein supplementation among bodybuilders.

5. The Effect of Whey Protein Supplements on Acne Vulgaris among Male Adolescents and Young Adults.

6. Milk consumption: aggravating factor of acne and promoter of chronic diseases of Western societies.

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🥗 Need help with your plant-based nutrition? Book a private consultation at synergynutrition.ca for personalized guidance to meet your nutrient needs and feel your best.

👉 If you’re ready to take the next step in your own nutrition journey, book a free 15-minute discovery call with me to learn more about private nutrition consultations.

If you’re looking for 100% vegan supplements, check out my online supplement store , everything is carefully curated, ships anywhere in Canada, and is always 10% off for everyone, all the time.

 Check out the Vegan Boss apparel line to spread the vegan message wherever you go — everything is on the website and @veganbossapparel on Instagram.

🎧 Subscribe, share, and leave a review if this episode resonated with you.
📩 Questions or feedback? DM me anytime @vegan_boss!

Is veganism really “dead”, or is that just the headline?

In this episode, I’m joined by Jessica Scott-Reid to unpack the recent wave of media stories claiming that veganism is over. We explore what those articles often miss, how plant-based diets are frequently conflated with veganism, and why cultural narratives around meat consumption are shifting in surprising ways.

Jessica Scott-Reid is a journalist and animal advocate. She writes for media across Canada, including The Toronto Star, Winnipeg Free Press, Corporate Knights Magazine and others. She is also the culture and disinformation correspondent for Sentient Media.

In our conversation, we discuss:

• The media framing of veganism as a “failed trend”

• The difference between veganism and plant-based diets

• The rise of meat-fluencers and cultural messaging around meat, politics, and nutrition

• Industry-funded efforts to discredit plant-based eating

• How plant-based meat alternatives are labeled “ultra-processed” and what that framing leaves out

• The growing role of disinformation in food media

This is a thoughtful, nuanced conversation about media, perception, public health, and how narratives are shaped in real time.

If you’ve been confused by the headlines, this episode will bring clarity.

Learn more about Jessica on her Facebook @writerfortheanimalsjessica and Instagram @jesslsr, and learn about Sentient Media at sentientmedia.org and on Instagram @sentient_media.

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🥗 Need help with your plant-based nutrition? Book a private consultation at synergynutrition.ca for personalized guidance to meet your nutrient needs and feel your best.

👉 If you’re ready to take the next step in your own nutrition journey, book a free 15-minute discovery call with me to learn more about private nutrition consultations.

If you’re looking for 100% vegan supplements, check out my online supplement store , everything is carefully curated, ships anywhere in Canada, and is always 10% off for everyone, all the time.

 Check out the Vegan Boss apparel line to spread the vegan message wherever you go — everything is on the website and @veganbossapparel on Instagram.

🎧 Subscribe, share, and leave a review if this episode resonated with you.
📩 Questions or feedback? DM me anytime @vegan_boss!

In this solo mini episode, Shawna walks through her plant based nutrition guide to the key vitamins and minerals.

This episode covers:

• Vitamin B12 (including dosing ranges and supplement forms)

• Vitamin D3 and sun exposure

• Calcium on a vegan diet

• Iodine and thyroid health

• Iron and when supplementation is actually necessary

• Zinc intake on plant-based diets

• Omega-3s (ALA, EPA, and DHA)

This guide is general info for healthy adults, and is not a substitute for individualized medical care. That said, it provides a foundation for the vitamins and minerals that people are the most curious about when going vegan or eating a plant based diet.

If you’d like personalized support reviewing your diet or supplement plan, you can book a private nutrition consultation with Shawna. For listeners in Canada, essential supplements like B12 and vegan D3 are also available through her online supplement store.

Whether you’re new to plant based eating or simply want reassurance that you’re covering your bases, this episode offers clarity and confidence.

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🥗 Need help with your plant-based nutrition? Book a private consultation at synergynutrition.ca for personalized guidance to meet your nutrient needs and feel your best.

👉 If you’re ready to take the next step in your own nutrition journey, book a free 15-minute discovery call with me to learn more about private nutrition consultations.

If you’re looking for 100% vegan supplements, check out my online supplement store , everything is carefully curated, ships anywhere in Canada, and is always 10% off for everyone, all the time.

 Check out the Vegan Boss apparel line to spread the vegan message wherever you go — everything is on the website and @veganbossapparel on Instagram.

🎧 Subscribe, share, and leave a review if this episode resonated with you.
📩 Questions or feedback? DM me anytime @vegan_boss!

In this episode, Shawna sits down with Chantelle Archambault, Communications Director at the Vancouver Humane Society, for an important conversation about animal advocacy, public awareness, and how change actually happens at the community and policy level.

Chantelle has worked as the Communications Director at the Vancouver Humane Society since 2021. She is passionate about justice for all, both humans and animals, and has worked with non-profit organizations that focus on family services, social justice advocacy, and creating safer spaces for marginalized communities. Chantelle’s lifelong commitment to the ethical treatment of animals inspired her to volunteer for the Toronto Humane Society and later to move across Canada to take on her current role at the VHS. She has appeared in media outlets including the CBC, CTV News, CityNews, and the Daily Hive.

Together, Shawna and Chantelle discuss the work the Vancouver Humane Society does behind the scenes, including past and current campaigns, efforts to raise awareness about the cruelty of rodeos and horse racing, and why these practices are still widely misunderstood or normalized. They also explore the bigger picture of advocacy, including how individuals can engage with local government officials, speak up about animal welfare issues, and help drive meaningful change through education and policy.

This episode is a blend of advocacy, education, and empowerment, perfect for anyone interested in animal welfare, ethical living, and making an impact in their local communities.

Learn more about the Vancouver Humane Society at their website and Instagram @vancouverhumane, and learn more about Plant University at their website and Instagram @plantuniversity.ca.

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🥗 Need help with your plant-based nutrition? Book a private consultation at synergynutrition.ca for personalized guidance to meet your nutrient needs and feel your best.

👉 If you’re ready to take the next step in your own nutrition journey, book a free 15-minute discovery call with me to learn more about private nutrition consultations.

If you’re looking for 100% vegan supplements, check out my online supplement store , everything is carefully curated, ships anywhere in Canada, and is always 10% off for everyone, all the time.

 Check out the Vegan Boss apparel line to spread the vegan message wherever you go — everything is on the website and @veganbossapparel on Instagram.

🎧 Subscribe, share, and leave a review if this episode resonated with you.
📩 Questions or feedback? DM me anytime @vegan_boss!

What if aging didn’t have to mean slowing down, losing strength, or accepting things that are considered just normal parts of aging?

In this episode, Shawna is joined by Jane Thurnell-Read, an independent author and blogger. She writes about health and wellbeing with a focus on
positive lifestyle solutions. She’s in her seventies and loves inspiring others. She enjoys lifting weights in the gym, riding her bike and eating healthily with a dusting of vegan chocolate. Her books are:

• Health & Wellbeing on a Budget: Simple and Affordable Strategies for a Healthier, Happier You
• The Science of Healthy Ageing: Unlocking the Secrets to Longevity, Vitality, and Disease Prevention
• 190 Weight Loss Hacks: How To Lose Weight Naturally and Permanently Without Stress
• Menopause Weight Loss: Live Well, Sleep Well, Stop Hot Flashes and Lose Weight

These are available on Amazon as a paperback and eBook, and on Audible and iTunes as an audiobook. Each book is full of evidence-based, practical information. Jane also posts gym videos, inspirational lifestyle quotes and vegan salad pics on her Instagram account @thrivingjane. Visit her website https://janethurnellread.com/ for more information.

In this conversation, we dive into:

• Why weight training is one of the most important tools for healthy aging

• Strength training during and after menopause

• Bone health, muscle mass, confidence, and independence as we age

• Why staying active is non-negotiable for long-term vitality

• How a plant-based lifestyle can support aging well

This episode is inspiring, practical, and a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to build strength, support your health, and thrive at any age.

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🥗 Need help with your plant-based nutrition? Book a private consultation at synergynutrition.ca for personalized guidance to meet your nutrient needs and feel your best.

👉 If you’re ready to take the next step in your own nutrition journey, book a free 15-minute discovery call with me to learn more about private nutrition consultations.

If you’re looking for 100% vegan supplements, check out my online supplement store , everything is carefully curated, ships anywhere in Canada, and is always 10% off for everyone, all the time.

 Check out the Vegan Boss apparel line to spread the vegan message wherever you go — everything is on the website and @veganbossapparel on Instagram.

🎧 Subscribe, share, and leave a review if this episode resonated with you.
📩 Questions or feedback? DM me anytime @vegan_boss!

In this episode of Vegan Boss Radio, Shawna is joined by Rosie Martin, a UK-based registered dietitian, to break down some of the most common misconceptions and challenges people face when eating plant-based.

Together, they explore:

• Widespread myths and misinformation around plant-based nutrition

• Nutrients people tend to worry about unnecessarily, and the ones that actually deserve attention

• Gut health, bloating, and why fibre is often misunderstood

• Concerns with the new U.S. Food Guide and how nutrition guidance is often oversimplified online

About the Guest

Rosie is a UK registered dietitian working in the NHS and as a plant-based diet specialist in private practice through her business Rosemary Nutrition & Dietetics. As a former zoologist with experience in animal behaviour and welfare, Rosie turned to a fully vegan diet in 2014 and retrained in nutrition. Having studied the theory of plant-based nutrition and experienced the real-life physical and psychological benefits, Rosie now works to support others embrace a plant-based diet and lifestyle for human, animal and planetary health.

This episode is ideal for anyone who wants a more grounded, evidence-based approach to plant-based eating.

Learn more about Rosie and the services she offers:

Website: www.rosemarynutrition.co.uk

Instagram: @plantdietitianrosie

Link to free weight-loss session: https://www.rosemarynutrition.co.uk/register-2/

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🥗 Need help with your plant-based nutrition? Book a private consultation at synergynutrition.ca for personalized guidance to meet your nutrient needs and feel your best.

👉 If you’re ready to take the next step in your own nutrition journey, book a free 15-minute discovery call with me to learn more about private nutrition consultations.

If you’re looking for 100% vegan supplements, check out my online supplement store , everything is carefully curated, ships anywhere in Canada, and is always 10% off for everyone, all the time.

 Check out the Vegan Boss apparel line to spread the vegan message wherever you go — everything is on the website and @veganbossapparel on Instagram.

🎧 Subscribe, share, and leave a review if this episode resonated with you.
📩 Questions or feedback? DM me anytime @vegan_boss!

Can you really build muscle on a plant-based diet?
Is meat actually necessary for strength, or is that just a story we’ve been told?

In this episode, Shawna sits down with Dr. Minil Patel to break down the science, culture, and myths surrounding plant-based nutrition, strength training, and masculinity.

Dr. Patel shares his personal journey from being, in his own words, “the least vegan person” to going vegan for ethical reasons after questioning why we care for some animals while eating others. That realization sparked a deeper interest in plant-based nutrition, performance, and lifestyle medicine, and ultimately shaped both his medical practice and public advocacy.

In this episode:

• Whether plant-based diets can support muscle growth and strength training

• The cultural link between meat consumption and masculinity

• Common myths about protein, muscle, and vegan nutrition

• How misinformation spreads online, and how to evaluate nutrition claims critically

• What it really takes to thrive on a plant-based diet as an active individual

About the Guest

Dr. Minil Patel is a UK-based General Practitioner and Lifestyle Medicine Physician with a special interest in plant-based nutrition and strength training. He graduated from King’s College London in 2016 with an MBBS and a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience.

After adopting a vegan lifestyle in 2017 for ethical reasons, Dr. Patel completed the Plant Based Nutrition course at the University of Winchester. He also holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Education from King’s College London and a diploma from the International Board of Lifestyle Medicine.

He is an active member of Plant Based Health Professionals UK and serves as an ambassador for Climategames and Running On Plants. Dr. Patel was featured in the documentary I Could Never Go Vegan and has appeared in Men’s Health Online. He regularly speaks at events such as Vegfest, Vegan Camp Out, and VegMed on topics including plant-based diets for athletes, muscle building, and performance. He shares evidence-based insights on veganism, nutrition, health, and fitness through his Instagram account @drironjunkie.

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🥗 Need help with your plant-based nutrition? Book a private consultation at synergynutrition.ca for personalized guidance to meet your nutrient needs and feel your best.

👉 If you’re ready to take the next step in your own nutrition journey, book a free 15-minute discovery call with me to learn more about private nutrition consultations.

If you’re looking for 100% vegan supplements, check out my online supplement store , everything is carefully curated, ships anywhere in Canada, and is always 10% off for everyone, all the time.

 Check out the Vegan Boss apparel line to spread the vegan message wherever you go — everything is on the website and @veganbossapparel on Instagram.

🎧 Subscribe, share, and leave a review if this episode resonated with you.
📩 Questions or feedback? DM me anytime @vegan_boss!

In this episode, I’m joined by Karen Lee of The Sensitive Foodie Kitchen for a powerful conversation about autoimmune disease, healing, and the role of a whole-food, plant-based diet in supporting long-term health.

Karen shares her journey following a multiple sclerosis diagnosis in 2016 and how she uses diet and lifestyle approaches to manage her condition. We explore how plant-based nutrition can support people living with autoimmune conditions, reduce inflammation, and improve quality of life, while still being realistic, nourishing, and enjoyable.

Karen is a retired intensive care nurse and naturopathic nutritionist who has a
passion for amazingly tasty food that’s also great for health. After a diagnosis of MS in 2016, she uses diet and lifestyle to manage her condition and shares this knowledge with others through her website – The Sensitive Foodie Kitchen – as well as workshops, talks and online classes.

She published her first book Eat Well Live Well with The Sensitive Foodie in 2019. Her second book, Healing From The Inside Out, is due out 15th January 2026, and explores the benefits of a whole-food plant-based diet for autoimmune disease.

Karen is a facilitator for the charity Overcoming MS that provides an accessible lifestyle medicine program that supports people with MS. She also teaches medical students how to cook plant-based meals as part of the Cooking for the Climate module offered by Plant-Based Health Professionals UK (PBHP) and works as PBHPs Event Manager.

We also talk about the importance of food skills, community education, and empowering people with practical tools they can actually use, whether they’re newly diagnosed, supporting a loved one, or simply looking to build resilience and health from the inside out.

This episode is thoughtful, grounded, and inspiring, especially for anyone navigating chronic illness or curious about the role of plant-based nutrition in autoimmune health.

Learn more about Karen on her website, Instagram @the.sensitive.foodie, Facebook @thesensitivefoodie, LinkedIn, and YouTube. 

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🥗 Need help with your plant-based nutrition? Book a private consultation at synergynutrition.ca for personalized guidance to meet your nutrient needs and feel your best.

👉 If you’re ready to take the next step in your own nutrition journey, book a free 15-minute discovery call with me to learn more about private nutrition consultations.

If you’re looking for 100% vegan supplements, check out my online supplement store , everything is carefully curated, ships anywhere in Canada, and is always 10% off for everyone, all the time.

 Check out the Vegan Boss apparel line to spread the vegan message wherever you go — everything is on the website and @veganbossapparel on Instagram.

🎧 Subscribe, share, and leave a review if this episode resonated with you.
📩 Questions or feedback? DM me anytime @vegan_boss!