No-Bullsh!t Vegan
Health, Fitness & Longevity
About
Myth-busting and evidence-based advice to help you kick butt with your health and fitness - on a vegan diet. Join our movement of No-Bullsh!t Vegans who value critical thinking and want to further our cause using scientific truths, not made-up facts. Meet our expert guests who use science to acquire knowledge about the world and how it works. Learn why some of the biggest trends in vegan health and fitness are completely false and based on misinformation.Your host, vegan fitness coach and author Karina Inkster, sifts through the bullsh!t, so you can focus on levelling-up your health and fitness in ways that actually work.
Episodes
- NBSV 222: Paul Erlandson on ethical veganism and running an animal sanctuary
In NBSV 222, Paul Erlandson discusses ethical veganism and the founding of Rivendell Sanctuary. Topics include the practice of veganism, relationships with farmed animals, and the role of sanctuaries in promoting change.
- NBSV 221: It's never too late to get strong (even in your 70s), with Jane Thurnell-Read
Jane Thurnell-Read, a vegan strength athlete at 78, shares her journey into strength training later in life. The episode explores the benefits of lifting weights in later years, addressing the mindset around aging and activity, and debunki…
- NBSV 220: Out of Sight: Inside animal agriculture, and Gail Eisnitz's survival story
Gail Eisnitz, investigator for the Humane Farming Association and author of Out of Sight, details her experiences documenting animal cruelty in slaughterhouses and factory farms. The episode covers her journey to veganism, the challenges o…
- NBSV 219: Cycling 30,000 km for the planet: plant-based athletes Leanna Carriere and Dr. Timm Döbert
Leanna Carriere and Dr. Timm Döbert are cycling 30,000 km from Alaska to Chile to raise awareness for biodiversity and climate, discussing how they sustain extreme endurance on a vegan diet and the environmental issues related to animal ag…
- NBSV 218: Javant Benton on whole-food vegan eating, fibre, and long-term health
Javant Benton discusses his journey to veganism, influenced by a health scare, and his adoption of whole-food, plant-based eating. The conversation covers his cookbook, strategies for eating plants without deprivation, the importance of fi…
- NBSV 217: Vegan fitness myths busted — strength training, creatine, and cardio (Coaches' Corner with Karina and Zoe)
Coach Zoe and I are back for a Coaches' Corner episode, answering the questions we didn't get to during our recent live No-B.S. Reset panel event. We dig into some of the most common (and most frustrating) myths we see in the fitness and n…
- NBSV 216: Vegan myth-busting power round (dietitian, doctor, agrologist, fitness coach)
What happens when a doctor, a registered dietitian, an agrologist, and a fitness coach sit down to answer real audience questions? Find out in this episode. In this follow-up to our live No-B.S. Reset panel event, we tackle the questions w…
- NBSV 215: 2 million steps in 30 days, and the power of community health — with Kwame Terra
What if getting healthier didn't require more willpower, more tracking, or more "optimizing"… but less? Kwame Terra and I dig into what the world's longest-living communities actually do differently — and spoiler: it's not VO2 max tests, c…
- NBSV 214: Life is an improvisation: Bob Wiseman on music, mortality, and veganism
5-time Juno Award winner and founding member of Blue Rodeo Bob Wiseman joins me for a wide-ranging, thoughtful conversation about music, aging, and what it actually looks like to live vegan for decades—long before it was mainstream or conv…
- NBSV 213: Longevity, wearables, and identity-based habits with Coach Mike Howard
Mike Howard is back on the podcast! We start with a proper catch-up: his retreats, my TEDx prep, and the reality of juggling health goals alongside real life. From there, we dive into what's been taking over the wellness section of the int…
- NBSV 212: Vystopia: the anguish of being vegan in a non-vegan world, with psychologist and author Clare Mann
Vystopia is the profound anguish many ethical vegans experience when living in a non-vegan world. Clare Mann explains why this response is normal rather than pathological, how the burden of knowing affects mental health, and why vegans are…
- NBSV 211: Strength at 72 — Vegan powerlifting nun Pat Farrell and Coach Katya Gorbacheva
At 72, Pat Farrell is turning heads in the powerlifting world. Pat is a Dominican sister, a longtime advocate for social justice, and a dedicated vegan who has recently taken the strength community by storm. She joins me to share her journ…
- NBSV 210: Minimal time, maximum strength — Coach Matt Taylor on training that fits your life
In this episode, I'm joined by strength coach Matt Taylor to talk about what it really takes to get stronger when life is busy. We dig into the concept of bare-ass minimums: the essential actions that keep you progressing even during chaot…
- NBSV 209: What a fish knows (and feels) — animal sentience and vegan ethics with Jonathan Balcombe
Biologist and bestselling author Dr. Jonathan Balcombe joins me to discuss fish sentience, the surprising intelligence of fishes, and what science reveals about how they think and feel. Jonathan holds a PhD in ethology, the study of animal…
- NBSV 208: Matthew C. Halteman on the joyful case for going vegan
Veganism isn't about saying no; it's about saying yes. Philosophy professor and author Matthew C. Halteman joins me to make the joyful case for going vegan. It's an invitation to live in alignment with your values — and eat ridiculously go…
- NBSV 207: Multisport coach Saskia Bjornson on vegan endurance, open-water confidence, and beginner-friendly triathlons
Vegan triathlete and coach Saskia Bjornson joins me to talk about endurance on plants, building confidence in open water, and why her sold-out beginner triathlon is changing the game. We dive into the power of food as a gateway to change,…
- NBSV 206: Busting fitness & menopause myths with Christopher Barker
Coach and clinical nutritionist Christopher Barker (author of Mansplaining the Menopause) is here for a no-B.S. tour through female health, strength, and longevity. We tackle the most persistent menopause myths (including HRT fears), what…
- NBSV 205: Muscles, myths, and macros: A no-B.S. guide to vegan strength training
What really matters for getting stronger on a vegan diet? Spoiler: it's not spending hours on cardio or obsessing over tiny details. In this episode, I break down the 4-part health and body composition hierarchy we use with our coaching cl…
- NBSV 204: Athlete. Advocate. Changemaker. Candace Burton on building a global plant-based future
From rowing as part of the first all-Black women's 8 at the world's largest regatta, to helping steer over $8 million in grants that fuel plant-based change, Candace brings the same grit from the boat to her work in philanthropy. We dive i…
- NBSV 203: Author Anne Broyles on empowering kids to tackle climate change with veganism
We discuss Anne's new children's book, Eating to Save the Planet: How Veganism Helps Fight Climate Change. We also explore how Anne's Cherokee heritage and commitment to diversity shape her writing, why kids need books that act as "windows…
- NBSV 202: Iain Tolhurst on how the world's first stock-free farm grows 120 tons of food annually with zero animal inputs
Iain Tolhurst is a pioneer of stock-free organic farming who's been growing vegetables for nearly 40 years without a single animal input. No manure, no bone meal, no grazing animals—just thriving soil, rich biodiversity, and 120 tons of ve…
- NBSV 201: John Sanbonmatsu on The Omnivore's Deception — the myth of ethical meat
Is "ethical meat" just a comforting bedtime story for omnivores? Philosopher and author John Sanbonmatsu joins me to unpack the myths that keep animal exploitation hidden in plain sight — from the illusion of "humane" farming to the deep c…
- NBSV 200: Live from my studio—chats with listeners, team call-ins, and kitten shenanigans
For the first time ever, The No-Bullsh!t Vegan Podcast goes LIVE! Join me in my Powell River recording studio (with a tiny kitten desperately trying to break in) as we celebrate 200 episodes of myth-busting, strength-building, and plant-po…
- NBSV 199: More than a diet — The psychological shifts of vegan living with Dr. Angela Crawford
What happens when going vegan transforms more than just your plate? In this episode, I'm joined by psychologist and author Dr. Angela Crawford to explore the emotional, psychological, and even spiritual shifts that often come with the vega…
- NBSV 198: Thom Norman on ending factory farming through evidence-based giving
I speak with Thom Norman, co-founder of FarmKind, a nonprofit organization working to end factory farming through evidence-based giving. Thom shares his personal journey to veganism and why he left a legal career in nuclear energy policy t…
- NBSV 197: Coach K's strategy sessions vol. 4 — Muscle recovery, high-protein foods, meal prep, and outsmarting our own brains
In this final volume of my free strategy call series, you'll listen in on two coaching sessions packed with plant-based problem solving, strength training tweaks, and behaviour hacks. Anna wants to build muscle alongside MMA and dance with…
- NBSV 196: Fitness, veganism, and social justice: why politics belong in plant-based health
I dive into why fitness and veganism aren't just personal choices—they're political whether we realize it or not. Based on a recent article I wrote, I'm exploring how things like race, class, and ability shape who gets access to fitness an…
- NBSV 195: Environmental benefits of plant-based agriculture with agrologist Cory Davis
Agrologist Cory Davis joins me to unpack the environmental toll of animal agriculture—and the enormous potential of plant-based food systems to reduce emissions, reclaim land, and restore ecosystems. Cory brings a systems-level perspective…
- NBSV 194: Renowned dietitian Brenda Davis on powering health with plants
I'm joined by renowned registered dietitian and plant-based pioneer, Brenda Davis. With decades of experience and 13 books to her name, Brenda shares powerful insights on fine-tuning plant-based diets for every stage of life, and using nut…
- NBSV 193: How much protein do you really need? A deep dive with Vesanto Melina
Registered dietitian and award-winning author Vesanto Melina returns to dive deep into all things vegan protein. With decades of experience in plant-based nutrition, Vesanto shares insights from her latest book, Plant-Powered Protein, debu…
- NBSV 192: Kettlebell training for every body with Coach Damali Fraiser
Kettlebell training should be for every body. Coach Damali—kettlebell expert, speaker, and owner of Lift Off Strength & Wellness—joins me to challenge diet culture in the fitness space and share how to make kettlebell coaching more inclusi…
- NBSV 191: Actor, playwright, director, and public speaking coach Lynn Aliya shares her vegan journey
If you looked up "powerhouse" in the dictionary, you'd find a picture of Lynn Aliya. This multi-talented dynamo is an award-winning actor, playwright, director, public speaking coach, country radio broadcaster, and now—author of a brand-ne…
- NBSV 190: Coach K's strategy sessions vol. 3 — metabolism, macros, calories, and strength training for endurance sports
About once a year, I open up my schedule to between 20 and 30 awesome folks on my email list. Each person gets a free strategy session, where they can chat about whatever they'd like! Creating an effective workout plan, brainstorming vegan…
- NBSV 189: Strength coach Meghan Callaway on training with (and bouncing back from) injuries
Time for a catch-up with strength coach extraordinaire and overall powerhouse Meghan Callaway! Cat news! Injury and recovery news (from both Meghan and me)! Business news! We cover it all. Meghan Callaway is a coach with 21 years of experi…
- NBSV 188: Chef Supreme Dow on how he set a Guinness World Record serving 1,008 vegan meals in 37 minutes, and his work serving LA's unhoused community
1,008 vegan meals in 37 minutes: could you swing it? Chef Supreme Dow is one person who certainly can! Chef Supreme Dow is a former celebrity chef, who left the glitz and glamour to fulfill his mission to tackle food security in the unhous…
- NBSV 187: Coach K's strategy sessions vol. 2 — staying consistent, and making the most of our workout time
About once a year, I open my schedule to 30 awesome folks on my email list for coaching calls. Each person gets a free 20-minute strategy session, where they can chat about whatever they'd like! Creating an effective workout plan, brainsto…
- NBSV 186: Coach and gym owner Izzy Jacobus on running vegan businesses, his past as a pro musician, and poking trolls online
Izzy and I have been Facebook friends for years, but have never had a face-to-face chat…until now. Listen in as we talk about our respective musical backgrounds, working with clients, the role of AI in fitness, and running various types of…
- NBSV 185: Coach K's strategy sessions vol. 1 — strength training and calculating protein requirements
About once a year, I open my schedule to 30 awesome folks on my email list for free coaching calls. Each person gets a free 20-minute strategy session, where they can chat about whatever they'd like! Creating an effective workout plan, bra…
- NBSV 184: Kathleen Gage on growing a vegan business, thriving as a septuagenarian, and rescuing animals
Business consultant and overall vegan powerhouse Kathleen Gage is on the show today to discuss becoming vegan, thriving as a septuagenerian, and growing a vegan business. Kathleen is a seasoned business consultant with over 30 years of exp…
- NBSV 183: Coach K and Coach Zoe on veganism, our own training, and 4 problems in the fitness industry right now
Coach Zoe and I get together for a "Coaches' Corner" discussion about 4 problems in the fitness industry at the moment (and what to do about them!), and many other topics. Coach Zoe is a fitness coach and marketing and community engagement…
- NBSV 182: Catching up with vegan powerlifter Daniel Austin — adapting our training as we age, his new audiobook, and more
Time for a catch-up chat with vegan powerlifter Daniel Austin! He joins me to discuss approaches to vegan advocacy, adapting our training and diet as we age, his history in powerlifting, the new audiobook version of The Way of the Vegan Me…
- NBSV 181: Erika Hazel (a.k.a. The Bizerkeley Vegan) on running the biggest vegan food festival in Northern California, and making veganism enjoyable for everyone
This episode covers it all: running a large-scale vegan food festival, Erika's vegan story, growing and supporting vegan businesses, and de-stigmatizing veganism. Erika Hazel is a nationally recognized vegan businesswoman, recipe creator,…
- NBSV 180: Colleen Patrick-Goudreau on the power of language when we talk about veganism
Colleen Patrick-Goudreau joins me to discuss the power of language and identity when talking about veganism, the importance of authenticity and compassion, and the role of metrics and self-critique in vegan advocacy. Affectionately known a…
- NBSV 179: Nine vegan travel tips from Brighde Reed of World Vegan Travel
One of the most common excuses I hear from folks who aren't completely vegan yet is, "It's way too difficult to travel as a vegan!" Well, here's the only B.S.-busting, info-packed episode you need if you're a vegan interested in travelling…
- NBSV 178: Champion vegan bodybuilder Geoff Palmer busts omega myths and discusses meat and masculinity
We're often told to take omega-3 supplements, especially as vegans. And non-vegans are often told to take fish oil. But are these recommendations backed by peer-reviewed science? Geoff Palmer is here to do some serious myth-busting. We als…
- NBSV 177: Sandra Nomoto on 4 ways the animal agriculture industry misleads the public about the healthiness of meat, dairy, and eggs
Expert marketer Sandra Nomoto speaks with me about the animal agriculture industry's marketing tactics. Specifically: four ways they've misled the public. These include discrediting research on plant-based diets that showed health benefits…
- NBSV 176: Vegan powerlifter Katya Gorbacheva on strength training, challenging societal body ideals, our protein requirements, and more
Katya Gorbacheva is one of the strongest vegans in the world. She is an elite powerlifter with a total of 1025 lbs at 165 lbs body weight and 453 DOTs (ratio of weight lifted to body weight). She shares her own vegan story, and how to get…
- NBSV 175: Robert Cheeke on his upcoming book, effective forms of animal advocacy, and using our strengths to help animals
Why do the most effective forms of animal advocacy often involve letting go of our personal biases? How can we understand our strengths, and use them to help animals? What are the most impactful animal charity organizations and how can we…
- NBSV 174: K.I. team member Izzy Katz on nailing chin-ups, and how she's stayed consistent with strength training for almost a decade
What's it like to train for a major strength goal for 1.5 years and nail it? How can we stay consistent with our training even when we don't feel "motivated"? What lessons can we learn from almost a decade of consistent workouts? K.I. Heal…
- NBSV 173: Computational scientist and ultramarathoner Jeyashree Krishnan on critical thinking, veganism, and making sense of conflicting diet info
Why is critical thinking important in choosing one's diet? Why (and how) are lifestyle and diet choices not binary? How do we make sense of all the conflicting diet information online? My guest joins me to discuss all this, and more. Dr. J…