Food for Thought with Colleen Patrick-Goudreau

In today’s episode of Food for Thought, I’m taking a break from our menopause and wellness series to share something deeply personal.

After my father’s death at age 94, I had the honor of writing and delivering his eulogy. What began as an effort to capture his life in just a few pages became an unexpected reflection on the stories we tell about ourselves and one another, how we remember the people we love, and what it means to live a meaningful life.

I also return to an unfinished podcast episode from years ago ab...

In Part 3 of our series on bone and joint health, we’re exploring a piece of the musculoskeletal puzzle we haven’t fully addressed yet: hormones, particularly estrogen and what happens when its levels decline during menopause.

We’ve talked about the nutrients our bones need and the importance of strength training, movement, and physical stimulus. But there’s another factor influencing the health of our bones, muscles, and joints—and understanding it changed the way I thought about menopause and hormone therapy.

Along the way, I’ll share some of my own experiences, what prompted me...

In today’s episode, we dive into Part 2 of our series on bone health (really musculoskeltal health), this time tackling the importance of movement and physical stimulus. In Part 1, we talked about how important nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, protein, and vitamin D are. But eating the right foods is only half the story; we need to give our bodies a reason to use them. Part 3 addresses the Hormone Connection and is available for your listening pleasure.

If you want to build strong, resilient bones, protect your joints, and stay vital through perimenopause, menopause, and life in ge...

In this catch-up episode, I’m sharing all the personal life updates, reflecting on a major 10-year travel milestone, and inviting you to my upcoming FREE live webinar with Complement called: Healthy Aging and the Menopause Transition on Tuesday, September 22nd. You can register for free, and don’t forget to leave some questions below!

In this episode I share a few life updates, including:

* my father’s passing

* my husband’s personal challenge

* my sister’s visit

* my recent diagnosis

* my travel decisions

* my upcoming F...

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

When we think about staying healthy, we naturally focus on daily habits like a balanced diet, exercise, and stress management. But there is a critical, often overlooked window into our body’s internal workings that tells us exactly how those efforts are paying off: regular blood work.

In this episode, I dive deep into the world of biomarkers and explore why tracking these numbers is the most powerful tool we have for detecting potential he...

The concept of memento mori—remembering that we are mortal—is often viewed as morbid or macabre. But for those who embrace it, acknowledging the brevity of life isn’t about dwelling on the end; it’s about celebrating every single moment we have.

In this episode, I share a very personal journey that has been years in the making: the process of choosing a final resting place and designing a gravestone for my mother, my husband David, and myself. From the historic hills of Oakland’s Mountain View Cemetery to the granite peaks of the Sierra Nevadas, t...

While Southern Italy is the land of sun-drenched tomatoes and olive oil, Northern Italy offers a completely different culinary landscape. Characterized by the dramatic peaks of the Dolomites, the mist of the Po Valley, and the sophisticated canals of Venice, the North is a region of rich history and hearty, “stick-to-your-bones” fare.

In this final installment of our Italian culinary tour, we head to the cooler climates of regions like Piedmont, Lombardy, and Veneto. We explore how the landscape—shaped by French, Germanic, and Celtic influences—created a cuisine centered around butter, cream, and grains like rice and corn...

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

Our culinary tour of Italy continues in Tuscany, a region whose cypress-lined landscapes and medieval hill towns define the quintessential Italian dream. This episode focuses on a cuisine where the philosophy of cucina povera meets world-class agricultural products, creating a table that is naturally plant-forward and elegantly simple.

In this installment of our Italian series, we dive into why Tuscans are known as “bean eaters” and how their famous unsalted bread serves as the perf...

Our culinary tour of Italy continues as we head into Central Italy, a region defined by rolling hills, ancient forests, and a deep agricultural heritage. Comprising Tuscany, Umbria, Lazio, Abruzzo, and Le Marche, this area moves away from the tomato-heavy south toward a rustic palette of beans, grains, and earthy foraged treasures.

What This Episode Covers:

* We explore the temperate climate and topography of regions like Tuscany and Umbria that allow for specialty crops like farro, saffron, and Lacinato kale.

* I explain the true origins of “cacciatore” (hunter-style) cooking and how foraged forest mush...

When many Americans think of Italian food, they immediately picture heavy, meat-laden dishes like chicken parmigiana, spaghetti and meatballs, and rich cheese sauces. But the reality of traditional Italian cuisine—especially in the South—is entirely different!

In this episode, we dive deep into the culinary heartbeat of Southern Italy and explore how its sun-drenched climate, rich volcanic soil, and fascinating history naturally created a heavily plant-based food culture.

We explore the brilliant tradition of cucina povera (peasant food), the history of Italian-American adaptations, and the diverse, flavorful dishes of regions like Campania, Calabria, and the...

Pollinators are in serious decline—from monarch butterflies to native bees—and the consequences are profound, and in today’s episode, we talk about how you can help—starting right where you are. Specifically, how to create a pollinator sanctuary in your own backyard. Unlike so many global challenges, this is something we can actually impact—right in our own yards, balconies, and communities.

In this episode, we talk about:

* why pollinators are essential to our food system and ecosystems

* the difference between native, non-native, and invasive plants

* why some plants support en...

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

In today’s episode, we take a closer look at DEXA scans — what they measure, what the numbers actually mean, and whether getting one is worth it.

These scans are becoming more common in fitness and wellness settings, providing insight into body fat, muscle mass, visceral fat, bone density, and even something called “biological age.” But how should we interpret those numbers? What can they tell us about our health — and what can’t they tell us...

In today’s episode, we talk about why bone density begins to decline and what actually builds strong, resilient bones — at every age and every stage of life, including perimenopause and postmenopause.

Now, before you think, “Well, that’s not me — I’m in my 20s… my 30s… my 40s,” please give this episode a listen, because the strength of your bones at 60 is determined by what you do at 25.

This is Part 1, focused on nutrition — and it lays the groundwork for Part 2, where we talk about mechanical stress, weight-bearing exercise, resistance training, — and why movement is non-negoti...

In today’s episode, we look at why Valentine’s Day—long before chocolates and cards—was rooted in the natural world and inspired by birds! And we explore how food, desire, and romance became intertwined with love, pleasure, and compassion.

It’s a fun, playful, and historical episode, grounded in the senses, and—of course—rooted in compassion.

Happy Valentine’s Day… or happy any day you choose to celebrate love. 💗

(And enjoy the romantic story I share in the beginning!)

In this episode, we explore:

* What birds have to do with Valen...

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’s aging have been shrouded in silence, stigma, and shame—and how deeply sexist assumptions are embedded in the very words we use.

In this episode, we explo...

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, conflict and confusion can follow, leading to questions like:

What about plant-based foods made on shared equipment?

What about bu...

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 practices that help us live with more clarity, resilience, and purpose.

In this episode, I explore:

* Why the idea of “doing hard things” isn’t new at...

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 like Lent and Advent once emphasized simplicity, self-restraint, and giving up animal products, and how language, church rules, and holiday foods still carry traces of...

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 about breast cancer?

In this first episode of a multi-part series on soy, we walk through

* what phytoestrogens really...

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 amino acids from plants are identical to those from animals.

Today, we’re getting...

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 guessing) is the key to optimizing your health.

If you’ve ever wondered whe...

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 a Tao passage that once infuriated me (“You can’t improve the world”) and how it ultimately freed me...

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.

Time will pass anyway. How do we want to spend it? Listen in, and le...

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 amount of omega-3s that truly protects your brain, heart, and other organs. The best way to know if you’re getting e...

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

* The helpful boosts to consider based on needs, life stage, and even what lab results show

* How life stages (perime...

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,

* I explain why “lean protein” really means plants.

* I show why plant protein being “less concentrated” is actuall...

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 Thought, I explore which words inspire, which ones backfire, and how choosing clearer, calmer language can move people toward soluti...

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. Here’s what I share:

* Why my perspective on protein has deepen...

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 doesn’t care if those amino acids come from lentils or chicken. They’re identical at the molecular level.

So why does animal prote...

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 that meatless eating has long been a meaningful, creative, and essential part of human food culture, shaped by values, ethics, and necessity. And by centering these stories in our collective memory, we reclaim a ri...

Losing an animal companion can be a profound and often overlooked grief. In this episode, I explore what it means to mourn a beloved pet, how to navigate the pain, and ways to honor the bond that never really ends — all through the lens of the life and loss of my cat Charlie.

——————

🌟 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 on an all-inclusive vegan trip: JoyfulVeganTrips.com

AFFILIATE PARTNERS:

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, avoiding activities that harm animals (like elephant rides), and staying in places that respect local people and nature.

——————

🌟 Join thousands of like-minded subscribers at my Substack. Community, connection...

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’re new to plant-based living or a longtime advocate, this conversation offers both practical insight and soulful encouragement.

——————

🌟 Join thousands of like-minded subscribers at my Substack. Community, connection, and inspira...

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 discouraged by your impact, or unsure where to start—this conversation offers practical, heart-centered guidance for creating real change, one small step at a time.

——————

🌟 Join thousands of like-minded subscribers at my Substack. Community, conne...

I’m working on some new episodes for you, so stay tuned! In the meantime, I am going to share some recent conversations between me and some of my favorite people that took place on THEIR podcasts – amazing people like Victoria Moran, Jasmin and Mariann / Our Hen House, Michelle Cehn and Toni Okamoto from Plant-Powered People Podcast, with Brighde Reed at World Vegan Travel, and more. Enjoy!

——————

🌟 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 on an all-inclusiv...

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 today's sponsor, Plaine Products — Use this link (https://www.plaineproducts.com/ref/161) and coupon code "compassion" for 20% off my favorite zero waste bath and body products.

Visit my website...

 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 on an all-inclusive vegan trip: JoyfulVeganTrips.com

AFFILIATE PARTNERS:

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. 

Visit my website: JoyfulVegan.com

Join me on an all-inclusive vegan trip: JoyfulVeganTrips.com

AFFILIATE PARTNERS:

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 dishes naturally free of animal products.

Plus, I reveal my new favorite Japanese food of all time—one that’s easy to make at home!

——————

Join our awesome community and support this work ov...