Food for Thought with Colleen Patrick-Goudreau

Before we talk about symptoms, hormones, or interventions we have to examine the words we use to describe women, aging, and the most natural biological transitions of our lives. Because language doesn’t just reflect our attitudes—it actively shapes how we experience our bodies, our worth, and our place in the world.

Drawing from personal experience, cultural history, etymology, and media portrayals, I explore why menopause and women...

What does it actually mean to be vegan? For most people, the answer is simple—until it isn’t.

This week on Food for Thought (celebrating 20 years!), I explore what happens after someone stops eating animal products…when the (seemingly) neat definition starts running into the messy reality of the world we live in.

Most of us don’t actually live by strict definitions, but when real-life scenarios arise that defy simple answers, conflic...

Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, Food for Thought podcast remains listener-supported. To support this work and receive perks and exclusive engagement, please consider becoming paid subscriber (but don’t go anywhere if you’re a free subscriber)!

Welcome to 2026—and to the 20th anniversary year of Food for Thought! I’m kicking off the new year with an episode about stretching our comfort zones through small, intentional pra...

This podcast is listener-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

In this episode of Food for Thought, I explore the long, often-forgotten history of abstaining from meat during Advent and other Christian fasting periods, and how that tradition actually aligns beautifully with a modern vegan lifestyle.

Drawing from my own Catholic upbringing, I look at how rites and rituals lik...

As part of our deeper series on protein, perimenopause, and hormone health, this episode kicks off a multi-part exploration of soy—one of the most misunderstood yet most powerful foods in our plant-based toolkit.

This podcast is listener-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

There’s so much confusion around soy—does it act like estrogen? Does it affect hormones? And what abo...

In this episode, we return to protein—this time looking at how to use it strategically to build and maintain muscle, especially as we age (or level up, as I like to say).

If you haven’t yet listened to Are You Getting Enough Protein? Part One and Are You Getting Enough Protein? Part Two, I highly recommend doing so — they lay the foundation for this deeper dive into how protein works in the body, how much we actually need, and why a...

In this episode of Food for Thought, we’re separating fact from fear when it comes to omega-3s, omega-6s, and seed oils. I share what I’ve learned from testing my own Omega-3 Index, what the results mean, and how I’m adjusting my diet and supplements for both heart and brain health.

We’ll talk about why omega-6s aren’t inherently bad, how to bring balance back through whole foods and direct EPA/DHA sources, and why testing (not gues...

In this episode, I share why I’ve been off mainstream media (and feel calmer, clearer, and more engaged), how I stay informed on my terms, and what the Tao Te Ching and Stoicism taught me about hope that does the work.

We’ll look at the “doom loop,” why outrage isn’t engagement, and how to channel energy into real life—voting, volunteering, showing up for people you love—without pretending everything’s fine.

Along the way, I unpack...

You may not know this, but I’m a huge Lord of the Rings fan—both the novels and the film—and this episode springs from one of the most powerful lines in both the books and the movies. When the world feels heavy—politics, climate, cruelty—that sentence brings me back to what I can actually choose: my response to it all.

I also share some of my favorite thoughts from one of my favorite Stoic philosophers that align with that concept.

T...

In this updated episode of Food for Thought—Omega-3s: Skip the Fish, Boost Your Brain (and Get Enough!)—we talk about these incredibly important fatty acids that are vital for brain, heart, mood, eye, and overall health.

You’ve probably heard recommendations to eat fish to get your omega-3 fats, but listen to understand exactly what these fats are—and why skipping the middle fish is beneficial.

What’s also essential is getting an am...

Today’s episode is an update of one I produced a few years ago—so you have the most accurate, up-to-date, science-based information about how to eat as healthfully as possible and how to use supplements to complement an already healthy diet.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

* Why I prefer targeted essentials over one-size-fits-all multivitamins

* The non-negotiables I prioritize (and why), including B12, D3, DHA/EPA, Creatine, and more

...

We’re continuing the protein conversation I started in Are You Getting Enough Protein? (Part One and Part Two). In those episodes, I unpacked why amino acids from plant and animal sources are identical, why the RDA is just a minimum, and why being intentional about protein matters as we level up in age and fitness.

Paid subscribers enjoy printable resources and my recipe for Homemade Seitan, so join the club today!

In this episode,

* ...

Language doesn’t simply describe reality—it shapes how we see it, how we feel about it, and whether we act. The words we use around climate aren’t neutral: they can spark urgency, create fatigue, or open the door to hope.

Research shows that familiar terms like climate change and global warming elicit more urgency and willingness to act than newer, heavier terms like climate crisis or climate emergency.

In this episode of Food for Th...

If you haven’t listened to Part 1 yet, I encourage you to start there—we covered the basics of protein: what it is, how it functions in the body, why plant and animal amino acids are identical, and why the RDA is just the minimum.

In Part 2, I talk about what’s shifted for me now that I’m at Level 55 (a language reframe I now love for “aging”), and why I had to “level up” when it came to both strength training and protein intake. He...

For decades, U.S. dietary guidelines have linked “protein” with animal products. Even as the visuals evolved—from the “Basic Four” to the Food Pyramid to MyPlate—the message stuck: protein means meat.

But protein isn’t a food group at all. It’s a macronutrient made of amino acids—the building blocks your body uses to build muscle, repair tissue, produce enzymes and hormones, and support immune health. And here’s the thing: your body...

Religious traditions have played a significant role in shaping many familiar dishes. Over the centuries, abstaining from eating meat and other animal products for spiritual reasons led to creative, plant-based recipes that have since become cultural staples. I think this matters because it helps legitimize plant-based eating as something deeply rooted in cultural and historical tradition—not a fad or modern invention. It reminds us...

Losing an animal companion can be a profound and often

Enjoy my conversation with Mariann and Jasmin from Our Hen House.

Enjoy my conversation with World Vegan Travel all about living compassionately and traveling sustainably. Travel just about seeing new places — it can be a way to show what you care about. On this episode, we talk about sustainable travel and vegan travel, and how making smart choices while on the road can help people, animals, and the planet. She encourages travelers to support responsible tourism, like choosing plant-based meals,...