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Hosted by Shawna Barker, plant-based nutritionist and longtime vegan, Vegan Boss Radio is your place to explore everything from plant-based nutrition and health to vegan lifestyle, ethics, fitness, and the real-life challenges of living your values in a non-vegan world.
Whether you’re vegan, plant-curious, or simply interested in eating more plants and feeling your best, you’ll find practical, evidence-informed conversations designed to help you thrive.
Each episode features fascinating people from all walks of life, including nutrition experts, doctors, athletes, entrepreneurs, authors, activists, and the many other amazing vegans out there making a difference, sharing their knowledge, stories, and experiences.
Subscribe and start exploring Vegan Boss Radio.
Want personalized guidance with your plant-based diet?
Shawna offers 1:1 nutrition consultations and plant-based nutrition support through Synergy Nutrition, helping you build a healthy, balanced approach to eating more plants, without the overwhelm.
👉 Nutrition Services: synergynutrition.ca
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Facebook: @veganbossradio
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Episodes
Nov 17, 2025
Nov 17, 2025
50 min
In this episode, I chat with Sylvain Karpinski, founder and CEO of GUSTA Foods and SLY Foods, and one of the most innovative voices in Canada’s vegan food landscape.
Sylvain has been vegan for two decades and has built two successful plant based companies rooted in his passion for sustainability, flavour, and adventure. GUSTA Foods quickly became a staple in Canadian grocery stores with its artisanal, clean-label vegan sausages, roasts, and cheeses. More recently, Sylvain launched SLY Foods: a line of gourmet, freeze-dried, plant based meals designed for adventurers who want nutritious, long-lasting meals that taste amazing.
In this conversation, we explore:
• Sylvain’s vegan journey and what inspires his work
• The origins and growth of GUSTA Foods
• Why he created SLY Foods and the gap it fills for outdoor enthusiasts
• How the plant-based meat alternative market has evolved
• His experiences as an adventure athlete and how that shaped SLY Foods
This is an inspiring, insightful episode for anyone interested in vegan entrepreneurship, plant based innovation, or the intersection of food and adventure.
Learn more at both @gustafoods and @slyfoods.ca
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Before the interview, I also share details about my upcoming 15-Hour Plant Based Nutrition Course, running online through Pacific Rim College on Thursdays from 8am-11am PST from January 8th to February 5th. Open to everyone, not just students, this course covers nutrient requirements, how to respond to common criticisms of vegan diets, and evidence-based explanations for popular plant based nutrition myths.
More info & to register: Pacific Rim College School of Continuing Education
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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.
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📩 Questions or feedback? DM me anytime @vegan_boss!
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