Food for Thought with Colleen Patrick-Goudreau

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.

In this heartfelt conversation, author Colleen Patrick-Goudreau joins Jasmin and Mariann to discuss her eighth book, A Year of Compassion: 52 Weeks of Living Zero Waste, Plant-Based and Cruelty Free, exploring how compassion can be a guiding force during challenging times and offering practical ways to manifest it in everyday life.

This episode explores:

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,...

Enjoy this episode of my conversation with Victoria Moran on her podcast Main Street Vegan. In it, we explore how everyday choices — from the food we eat to the words we use — can reflect and deepen our commitment to compassion, sustainability, and justice. We discuss the power of habit, the myth of perfection, and how to stay hopeful and grounded while navigating a world in crisis. Whether you’r...

Enjoy this conversation with Toni and Michelle from Plant-Powered People Podcast. Feeling overwhelmed trying to “do the right thing” in a complicated world? You're not alone—and you're not doing it wrong. In this episode, Colleen Patrick-Goudreau helps us move beyond guilt, perfectionism, and burnout by reconnecting with what matters most: compassion. Whether you’re struggling to stay consistent with your values, feeling discourage...

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. 

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

Thanks to...

 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!

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🌟 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 ...

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...

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 the...

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...

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.

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

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. 

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Join our awesome community and...