Food for Thought: The Joys and Benefits of Living Vegan

Food for Thought: The Joys and Benefits of Living Vegan

Food for Thought is THE resource for living compassionately and healthfully. Listen to insightful, common sense perspectives about food, animals, cooking, eating, health, language, politics, zero waste living, literature, film, advocacy, and so much more from the Joyful Vegan herself, Colleen Patrick-Goudreau.

Episodes

April 4, 2025 47 mins

A story about a house, a hillside, and a centuries-old oak tree—and what it teaches us about healing, renewal, and the resilience of nature. In this episode, I explore what it means to be a participant in the restoration of the world around us and ourselves. 

——————

🌟 Join thousands of like-minded subscribers at my Substack. Community, connection, and inspiration for living compassionately, healthfully, and sustainably. 

Thanks to...

Mark as Played

 A Year of Compassion: 52 Weeks of Living Zero-Waste, Plant-Based, and Cruelty-Free is now available wherever you buy books! I compiled a list for you here of independent and large retailers + where you can find signed copies!

——————

🌟 Join thousands of like-minded subscribers at my Substack. Community, connection, and inspiration for living compassionately, healthfully, and sustainably. 

Visit my website: JoyfulVegan.com

Join me ...

Mark as Played

I feel as giddy as when I started Food for Thought Podcast 18 years ago. I have more clarity, control, and calm than I've had in a long time. Listen to today's exciting announcements, and make sure you FOLLOW Food for Thought for some life-changing episodes coming up! 

——————

🌟 Join thousands of like-minded subscribers at my Substack. Community, connection, and inspiration for living compassionately, healthfully, and sustainably. 

...

Mark as Played

In Part Two of our exploration of Japanese cuisine (See Vegan in Japan: Part One), we’re diving deep into the specific foods, restaurants, and street food options that Joyful Vegans can enjoy when visiting Japan or Japanese restaurants anywhere in the world. While animal products—especially bonito flakes in broths—are common, Japan has a long history of plant-based eating, with many traditional dis...

Mark as Played

Love is for the Birds! In this episode, we explore the fascinating (and feathered) origins of Valentine’s Day. Long before Hallmark, medieval poets and BIRDS played a role in shaping this holiday of love.

From Chaucer’s Parliament of Fowls to the first handwritten valentines and the rise of mass-produced cards, discover how nature, animals, poetry, history, and tradition intertwined to create th...

Mark as Played

Do I have a nutrient deficiency? Am I eating the wrong foods? Did I experience a stressful life event? Am I experiencing hormonal changes? Are my genes responsible? Do supplements work? Are treatments effective? Do topical remedies work? These are some of the questions we answer in today's episode on hair loss, especially as it pertains to women. Over the course of the next 90 minutes, we'll debunk the myths, explore the causes and...

Mark as Played

In this 18TH YEAR OF THE PODCAST, Colleen shares ideas, tools, and practices we can implement to live joyful, meaningful, healthy, compassionate lives. Today is the best day to start, whether or not it's the beginning of the new year. 

A follow-up to 50 Ways to Live a Meaningful Life episode.

——————

Join our awesome community and support this podcast through Patreon or as an Apple Subscriber for bonus material, early access to epis...

Mark as Played
December 27, 2024 61 mins

WARNING: This podcast episode contains only good news, especially stories that relate to animals and nature. So, stop doom-scrolling and start celebrating 20 good news stories from 2024 — from across the world: 

  • Australia
  • Zambia
  • United States
  • Ecuador
  • Brussels
  • United Kingdom
  • Denmark...

and more. 

As we move into my 18th year of podcasting, thank you for your support and listenership. 

——————

Join our awesome community and...

Mark as Played

ANNOUNCEMENT: You can now PREORDER A Year of Compassion: 52 Weeks of Living Zero-Waste, Plant-Based, and Cruelty-Free! VISIT JOYFULVEGAN.COM/PREORDER for links to bookstores and to enter to win gifts for pre-ordering!

For centuries, abstaining from meat, dairy, and eggs during sacred seasons like Advent and Lent was a common practice in Christianity, rooted in reflection and restraint.

In this episode, we uncover the rich history o...

Mark as Played
 

Mark as Played
October 25, 2024 35 mins

In today's episode, host Colleen Patrick-Goudreau talks all about omega-3s—those essential fats we all need for heart, brain, and overall health. But here's the catch: instead of getting them through fish, which has ethical, environmental, and health concerns, we can go straight to the source: marine plants like algae. Omega-3s aren't included in a regular blood panel, so we'll dive into why it's important to get tested, what the o...

Mark as Played

PRE-ORDER COLLEEN'S NEW BOOK at http://www.joyfulvegan.com/preorder

A dilemma a lot of new vegans grapple with is what to do with all the animal-derived products they have from their pre-vegan days — leather shoes, wool sweaters, down-filled pillows, etc. — and a question a lot of people ask is "is it vegan to wear / buy second hand leather, wool, silk, etc. In both cases, the harm has been done, but there are a lot of arguments fo...

Mark as Played

In this episode, Colleen dives into the importance of getting regular blood work to monitor key biomarkers, prevent disease, and assess your overall health—whether you’re vegan or not. She discusses what the optimal numbers are for such biomarkers as LDL, HDL, total cholesterol, iron, B12, and more to get a clear picture of your wellness. 

Learn why tracking these levels helps catch potential issues early, so you can make informed ...

Mark as Played


In this episode, Colleen dives into the rich history of bread, exploring its ancient origins, cultural significance, and how it's been a vital, naturally vegan staple across the globe. From the earliest flatbreads baked in ancient civilizations to the diverse leavened breads enjoyed today, we'll uncover why bread has always been more than just food—it's a symbol of sustenance, tradition, and community. 

Join us as we celebrate the...

Mark as Played

Zoe Weil is the co-founder and president of the Institute for Humane Education, a leading organization dedicated to creating a more just, compassionate, and sustainable world through education. As a pioneer in the field of humane education, Zoe has devoted her life to teaching and inspiring people of all ages to make ethical choices that benefit animals, the environment, and all forms of life. Her work empowers educators and indivi...

Mark as Played

Ever wondered where the word 'shambles' comes from and how it evolved to describe chaos? In today's Small Bite Sound Bite, host Colleen Patrick-Goudreau  unravels the fascinating history of 'shambles'—from its medieval origins in butcher shops to its modern-day meaning as a state of disorder.

——————

Join our awesome community and support this podcast through Patreon or as an Apple Subscriber for bonus material, early access to epis...

Mark as Played
 
Read more
Mark as Played

In this episode of Food for Thought, Colleen Patrick-Goudreau explores the nuances of language surrounding our food choices. She revisits the topic of "The Language of Meat" and unpacks how the words we use can disguise or reveal the true nature of what we consume. From the shift of "meat" from a general term for food to one that refers only to animal flesh, to the way language impacts our cultural norms and perceptions, we uncover...

Mark as Played
Read more
Mark as Played

In today's Small Bite Sound Bite, host Colleen Patrick-Goudreau address the assertion that what people eat is a personal choice and that people don’t want to be told what to eat. They see their food choices as being their own personal choice, and they don’t want anyone (i.e. vegans) interfering with their right to choose what to eat or how to live. 

——————

Join our awesome community and support this podcast through Pat...

Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    Daniel Jeremiah of Move the Sticks and Gregg Rosenthal of NFL Daily join forces to break down every team's needs this offseason.

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang

    Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.

    The Bobby Bones Show

    Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.