Vegan Boss Radio

In this solo episode of Vegan Boss Radio, I dive into the narratives of ex-vegans who’ve become outspoken anti-vegans. While I won’t name names, I break down some of the common claims they’re making, why the science doesn’t support them, and how misinformation about plant-based diets continues to spread online.

We’ll look at:

• The recurring myths about plant based nutrition

• Why their symptoms likely weren’t caused by a balanced vegan diet

• How extreme or overly restrictive versions of veganism often lead to burnout

I wrap up with an important reminder: if you're unsure whether you're meeting your nutrient needs, or you're dealing with any lingering health issues, it's essential to work with a qualified plant-based health professional. Don’t let misinformation derail your progress.

🌱 If you're looking to deepen your understanding of plant-based nutrition, check out my 15-hour Plant-Based Nutrition Course — it’s science-based, practical, and designed to help you thrive on a vegan diet. Please email me if you have any questions, or contact Pacific Rim College to register.

 Need support with plant-based nutrition? I offer private consultations to help you build a balanced, sustainable approach. Check out synergynutrition.ca for details.

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

Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in.

 

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References:

• Hellerstein MK. De novo lipogenesis in humans: metabolic and regulatory aspects. Eur J Clin Nutr. 1999.

• Field CJ, Ryan EA, Thomson AB, Clandinin MT. The effect of dietary fat on immune cell fatty acid composition and function. Lipids. 2000.

• Sutliffe J et al. C-reactive protein response to a vegan lifestyle intervention. Complement Ther Med. 2015 

• Jordonson A et al. Vicia faba agglutinin, the lectin present in broad beans, stimulates differentiation of undifferentiated colon cancer cells. Gut. 1999

• Taylor E et al. DASH-style diet associates with reduced risk for kidney stones. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2009
• Sampath A et al. Kidney stones and the ketogenic diet: risk factors and prevention. J Child Neurol. 2007 

• López-González A et al. Phytate (myo-inositol hexaphosphate) and risk factors for osteoporosis. J Med Food. 2008 

• López-González A et al. Protective effect of myo-inositol hexaphosphate (phytate) on bone mass loss in postmenopausal women. Eur J Nutr. 2013

• Singh R et al. Mushroom Lectins as Promising Anticancer Substances. Curr Protein Pept Sci. 2016

• Chai, W., Liebman, M. Effect of Different Cooking Methods on Vegetable Oxalate Content. J Agric Food Chem. 2005. 

• Pusztai, A., Grant, G. Lectin characterization protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology. 2004.

In this episode of Vegan Boss Radio, we explore what it means to live vegan — not just in our food choices, but in all areas of life. Being vegan is about more than diet; it’s a philosophy and lifestyle that avoids harm to animals, whether that’s in what we eat, what we wear, or the industries we support.

Our guest is Desirée Dupuis, founder of the luxury vegan footwear brand Voes & Co. We talk about how a book about health first sparked her interest in plant-based living, which eventually deepened into a lifelong ethical commitment to animals. Desirée shares her experience launching a fashion brand rooted in sustainability and values, and we dig into the impact of traditional leather production vs. plant-based and synthetic alternatives — and why it matters.

We also explore what it's really like to build a high-end vegan fashion brand, the importance of customer community, and how business can be a powerful vehicle for advocacy and change.

✨ Desirée's Bio:
With over two decades of experience in brand development, storytelling, and purpose-driven marketing, Desirée Dupuis is a force for conscious change. As a social entrepreneur, author, and speaker, she is redefining industries through sustainability, ethics, and innovation.

Desirée is the founder of Voes & Co, a global vegan footwear brand on a mission to revolutionize fashion with next-generation materials – proving that style, comfort, and sustainability can coexist without compromise.

Beyond business, Desirée is deeply committed to global impact and education. As Chair of Ruben’s Shoes Society, an international NGO she co-founded, she helps provide high-quality education to over 600 students in the Dominican Republic, breaking the cycle of poverty through learning.

A passionate vegan advocate since 2008, Desirée is on a mission to challenge the status quo, amplify conscious consumerism, and inspire others to create lasting change. She's the author of Consciously Chic: A Playbook for Ethical Fashion and is proud to share her thoughts on the future of fashion — beyond animals and plastic.

Find Desirée on her Instagram at @desireedupuis and Voes & Co at @voes_and_co, as well as the website voesandcompany.com.

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 Need support with plant-based nutrition? I offer private consultations to help you build a balanced, sustainable approach. Check out synergynutrition.ca for details.

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

Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in.

In this episode of Vegan Boss Radio, I’m joined by Kate Galli — Master Personal Trainer, Life Coach, NLP Practitioner, and host of the Healthification podcast.

Kate is qualified as a Master Personal Trainer, Life Coach, NLP Practitioner and has also completed the eCornell Plant Based Nutrition Certificate program. 

Kate first got into fitness as a way to transform her body and confidence. She has spent 19 years helping 1,000's of individuals sculpt a body and life they love and over the past 9+ years has focused on Vegan Health Coaching as one of the most powerful ways to advocate for the animals is to be fit, strong and healthy. 

Her vision: To create a fit, strong, happy, healthy, compassionate vegan world. 

Via the Healthification podcast Kate has interviewed hundreds of passionate and compassionate authors, athletes, doctors and entrepreneurs. 

We dive into a deeply honest conversation about the emotional side of veganism — especially the anger and frustration that can surface when you become aware of animal exploitation. Kate shares how she moved through these intense emotions, and how leading with love (rather than anger) has improved her advocacy, relationships, and joy.

We also explore how to stay grounded in this work without burning out, how to advocate in a way that truly connects, and why building a kind, compassionate vegan world begins within.

You can find Kate on her website: Strongbodygreenplanet.com , Instagram: @strongbodygreenplanet, Facebook: Strongbodygreenplanet, and Youtube: Strongbodygreenplanet

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Need support with plant-based nutrition? I offer private consultations to help you build a balanced, sustainable approach. Check out synergynutrition.ca for details.

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

Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in.

In this episode, I’m joined by Lindsay O’Donnell — a seasoned marketing strategist, intuitive business coach, and former agency founder with over a decade of experience helping bold, purpose-driven brands grow their impact.

As the founder of PQ Consulting, Lindsay worked with dozens of food, wellness, and lifestyle businesses across North America, and now supports entrepreneurs in uncovering the mindset blocks and brand clarity they need to truly thrive — not just chase success.

She blends sharp strategy with deep intuition to help business owners trust their gut, get clear on their messaging, and market in a way that feels both effective and aligned.

Lindsay is also a longtime vegan — vegetarian for over 25 years and fully vegan for the last 15 — and we had a great conversation about all things marketing, vegan business, effective ways to promote veganism, and what it really means to show up authentically in a world of constant content.

You can find Lindsay on Instagram at @pq.consulting and her website pqconsultinggroup.com.

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 Need support with plant-based nutrition? I offer private consultations to help you build a balanced, sustainable approach. Check out synergynutrition.ca for details.

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

Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in.

In this episode of Vegan Boss Radio, I’m joined by Akash Patel (@_plantitude), an MD/MBA student at the University of Miami with a passion for nutrition, lifestyle medicine, and health systems transformation.

He is particularly interested in how evidence-based, integrative approaches that combine conventional medicine with lifestyle interventions can improve patient outcomes and enhance chronic disease care.

Akash runs an Instagram page where he breaks down nutrition research and combats misinformation in an accessible way. He is especially focused on the role of plant-forward diets, not only for their benefits to human health, but also for their positive impact on planetary sustainability and animal welfare — three interconnected issues where meaningful change can start with what’s on our plates.

Akash hopes to pursue a career in oncology while helping shape a healthcare system that facilitates prevention, empowers patients, and takes a comprehensive approach to supporting well-being.

In this episode we discuss:

• Popular nutrition myths online, especially from the low-carb, keto, and carnivore communities

• Carbs aren’t the enemy, and we don’t need to fear them

• Persistent animal vs plant protein myths

• And a deep dive into the Keto CTA study — a controversial paper that attempted to downplay the risks of elevated LDL cholesterol from keto diets by failing to report its own primary outcome

You can find Akash on Instagram:

@_plantitude

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Need support with plant-based nutrition? I offer private consultations to help you build a balanced, sustainable approach. Check out synergynutrition.ca for details.

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

Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in.

In this episode of Vegan Boss Radio, I'm joined by Sandra Nomoto — a book whisperer for authors with impact, a passionate vegan hype woman, and someone who’s been amplifying plant-based voices for years. She spent a decade running Conscious Public Relations Inc., one of the first B Corp–certified PR firms in Canada, and she’s the author of Vegan Marketing Success Stories — the first vegan marketing book in the world.

Sandra’s spoken at events like TELUS, Main Street Vegan Academy, Planted Expo, and the Vancouver Vegan Festival, sharing stages with incredible changemakers like Genesis Butler, Chuck Carroll, and Dr. Michael Greger.

She also co-hosts VEG Networking Canada — the country’s only vegan networking group.

In this episode, we talk about vegan marketing and practical ways to promote your vegan business — no matter your size or budget — all while staying aligned with your values.

Find Sandra online at:

Website

Facebook

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🌱 Need support with plant-based nutrition? I offer private consultations to help you build a balanced, sustainable approach. Check out synergynutrition.ca for details.

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

Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in.

In this episode of Vegan Boss Radio, I’m joined by Angela Crawford, Ph.D., psychologist, vegan educator, and author of The Vegan Transformation: A Journey to Heal Yourself and the World (Lantern, 2025).

Angela brings over 25 years of experience as a psychotherapist and shares how going vegan can spark emotional and spiritual healing, purpose, and personal growth. We talk about the deeper psychological impacts of this lifestyle, what inspired her to write her new book, and why so many people feel a profound inner shift when they go vegan.

💬 Whether you're newly vegan, plant-curious, or someone who's felt that deeper change yourself — this episode is full of insight and inspiration.

Find Angela online at:

Website

Instagram

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🌱 Need support with plant-based nutrition? I offer private consultations to help you build a balanced, sustainable approach. Check out synergynutrition.ca for details.

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

Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in.

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In this episode, I’m joined by Carolyn Scott-Hamilton — holistic nutritionist, plant-based chef, cookbook author, and creator of the award-winning travel and lifestyle series The Healthy Voyager. Since 2005, Carolyn has been a pioneer in the world of healthy, eco-conscious living, helping people navigate travel, special diets, and green lifestyles with ease.

We talk about how The Healthy Voyager brand came to be, what it means to grow a purpose-driven business, and how to stay grounded in your values while navigating wellness, food, and media.

You can find Carolyn on all social media platforms as @thehealthyvoyager and her website, The Healthy Voyager.

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Vegan Boss Radio is hosted by longtime vegan and nutritionist, Shawna Barker BSc., R.H.N. 

Instagram: @vegan_boss

Website: Synergy Nutrition

Clothing Line: Vegan Boss Apparel

In this powerful episode of Vegan Boss Radio, I sit down with one of the most legendary figures in environmental activism—Captain Paul Watson.

Captain Paul Watson is a marine wildlife conservation and environmental activist. Watson was one of the founding members and directors of Greenpeace. In 1977, he left Greenpeace and founded the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.

A renowned speaker, accomplished author, master mariner, and lifelong environmentalist, Captain Watson has been awarded many honors for his dedication to the oceans and to the planet.

Among many commendations for his work, he received the Genesis Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1998, was named as one of the Top 20 Environmental Heroes of the 20th Century by Time Magazine in 2000 and was inducted into the U.S. Animal Rights Hall of Fame in Washington D.C. in 2002. He was also awarded the Amazon Peace Prize by the president of Ecuador in 2007. In 2012, Captain Watson became only the second person, after Captain Jacques Cousteau, to be awarded the Jules Verne Award, dedicated to environmentalists and adventurers.

In 2022 a hostile takeover at Sea Shepherd USA made most of the branches change their strategy from Paul Watson’s original mission and turn their backs to their founder. Only Sea Shepherd France, Sea Shepherd Brazil and former Sea Shepherd UK remained loyal and still work closely with Paul Watson.

At the same year, Paul Watson had also founded Captain Paul Watson Foundation where he runs active campaigns to this day. In September, 2024, The Perfect World Foundation announced that Captain Paul Watson was to receive The Perfect World Foundation’s Honorary Conservation Award for 2025. Captain Paul Watson will also be named The Conservationist of the Year 2025 by The Perfect World Foundation, highlighting his extraordinary contributions to the global conservation movement.

This episode dives into his decades of activism, the importance of staying true to your mission, and how every one of us can play a part in protecting our planet.

Find Captain Paul Watson at:

Paul Watson Foundation Website

Captain Paul Watson Instagram

 

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🌱 Follow me on Instagram @vegan_boss for more plant-based nutrition tips and updates.
💬 Questions, comments, or want to work together? Visit synergynutrition.ca

Aging Joyfully, Living Compassionately – with Victoria Moran

This week on Vegan Boss Radio, I’m joined by the incredible Victoria Moran, founder of Main Street Vegan, and author of 14 books including Main Street Vegan, Creating a Charmed Life, and her latest: Age Like a Yogi: A Heavenly Path to a Dazzling Third Act. 🌱✨

Named one of VegNews' Top 10 Living Vegetarian Authors, featured twice on Oprah, and recently inducted into the Vegan Hall of Fame, Victoria brings decades of insight, wisdom, and spiritual perspective to the vegan movement.

In this episode, we explore:

• What it truly means to age like a yogi

• How veganism fuels vibrant living at any stage of life

• The connection between spirituality and plant-based living

• Everyday activism and embracing a "charmed life"

Victoria can be found online at:

@victoriamoranauthor

@mainstreetvegan

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🛍️ Looking for trusted, plant-based supplements?
Visit my curated online supplement shop at synergynutrition.ca — everything is vegan and hand-picked by me, a certified plant-based nutritionist.

👕 And don’t forget to check out the Vegan Boss Apparel Line — bold, tropical, and conversation-starting pieces made to help spread the vegan message. Find it all under the Shop section on the website.

🌿 For personalized nutrition consulting, visit the Services page.

Thanks for tuning in — let’s dive into this inspiring conversation with Victoria!

 

Vegan Boss Radio is host by vegan nutritionist, Shawna Barker BSc., R.H.N.

@vegan_boss

@synergy_nutrition

www.synergynutrition.ca