Vegans Talking Shit

The Tofu Trio hosted their first Vegans Talking Shit Potluck Brunch, and Joey made the questionable decision to record an episode in the middle of the chaos. Whether or not this was a good idea is up for debate, but it certainly made for some delightfully shitty audio! On the plus side, if you like your podcasting raw, unique, and at times hard to understand, you're in the right place. In part one of this two-part extravaganza, Joey sits down with fellow junk-food vegan, Stephanie, to discuss the dark ages of being plant-based in mid-2000s Lincoln, Nebraska, and...

In this pint-sized episode of Vegans Talking Shit, Jon remains out enjoying his hockey day, so once again, it's The Tofu Trio minus one. After an awkward introduction needlessly explaining that this is the second half of a single recording split into two different topics, Joey and Vanessa begin discussing iguanas and other invasive species. They chat about the low IQ of iguanas and the bizarre phenomenon of them falling from trees during the rare South Florida cold snap. The conversation turns to the controversial law allowing people to kill iguanas in Florida. Vanessa gets emotional sharing how she...

Since it's a hockey day for Jon, this episode features The Tofu Trio minus one. Joey and Vanessa discuss a topic suggested by a listener: Is it actually okay for vegans to wear second-hand leather or other used animal-derived clothing? Before diving in, Vanessa reviews the new Beyond Immerse protein drinks from Beyond Meat. Joey then explains why he would never wear leather under any circumstances, while Vanessa offers a more nuanced take, including the fate of the leather handbag collection she owned prior to going vegan. In a true podcast miracle, Joey stays on topic the entire time...

In a very special episode of Vegans Talking Shit, The Tofu Trio welcomes Denis Soukhanov, who co-owns Zen Mystery—an organic lounge, café, and cultural center—with his wife. Denis shares his personal journey to veganism, the vision behind his strictly organic mission, and how his business survived the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the conversation continues, Joey asks Denis if he would ever consider adding meat to the menu to stay afloat—a move some struggling vegan restaurants have made—while Jon and Denis discuss the broader future of plant-based dining. For her part, Vanessa can't stop talking a...

The boys sit out this bonus episode as Vanessa is joined by artist, musician, and author Nancy Illman. Returning for her second appearance (previously appearing in Episode 45, Voices from the Vegan Cruise: Holly & Nancy), Nancy joins Vanessa for a conversation about their lives and the shared experience of being vegan in a non-vegan world.

The highlight of this episode is the personal tour of Nancy's vibrant, creative home, which is an art piece in its own right. We strongly recommend watching the video version, as her home has to be seen to be believed. Nancy also shares...

In an episode that's devoid of a real topic, The Tofu Trio drops all pretenses to shamelessly beg for listener support. The big news? Vegans Talking Shit has been nominated for Best Vegan Podcast in the VegNews Veggie Awards! WOO-HOO! After speculating on how the show actually landed a nomination, the conversation predictably veers off the rails. Joey gushes over the brilliant TV series "Kevin Can F*ck Himself," Vanessa explains why she's wearing a vintage Brazil soccer jersey, and Jon pivots to a heartfelt plea for cat adoption. The wheels come off entirely as the trio inexplicably dives...

With Jon and Vanessa in Brazil, Joey unleashes another Non-Vegan Voices episode, this time with his Gen Z friend Shain, a walking and talking comic book encyclopedia. After an origin story of their friendship, Joey attempts to dive right into the world of superheroes, but Shain effectively pulls a "Vanessa," keeping the show anchored to its plant-based roots. Shain has to do this several times throughout the episode, as Joey seems hellbent on focusing primarily on comic books. As they continue, Shain discusses being the son of Jamaican immigrants and the grandson of a Rastafarian, prompting Joey to take...

After clumsily handling the topic in part one, The Tofu Trio spends the second half of this two-part episode practically ignoring it altogether. Instead, they dive into niche religions like Jainism, the Hare Krishna movement, and Satanism. Eventually, Jon brings up the movie "Time Bandits," only to then confuse "The Time Machine" with "Time After Time." Vanessa then previews an upcoming trip to Brazil, and Joey reminisces about his time volunteering at farm sanctuaries, which includes his revelation that he found joy in shoveling poop. It was only a matter of time before someone on this show literally talked...

With all the subtlety and sensitivity of a drunk ape wielding a sledgehammer, The Tofu Trio tackles the provocative (and, let's be honest, shamelessly clickbaity) question posed in today's title. In part one of a two-part episode, the group discusses the common outsider perception that a disproportionate number of vegans are gay, and the various reasons why that stereotype exists. Their clunky conversation covers, among other things, the demographics of Wilton Manors, the unsubstantiated fear that soy makes men feminine, and some of the other classic plant-based misconceptions. True to form, about half the episode is a complete detour...

The Tofu Trio continues their discussion about whether or not it's possible to be 100% vegan in the finale of their two-part episode. Having already established in part one that being 100% vegan is virtually impossible in the modern world, they provide a few more sobering examples of why that is. Once they finish crushing vegan dreams of purity, they dive into the greasy world of beef tallow before Jon drops a real party-killer: a statistic claiming vegans are more prone to depression. Vanessa and Joey play armchair psychologist to figure out why, and Jon offers his own theories. Finally, Joey...

Many fellow herbivores claim to be 100% vegan, but is that really possible? Between the hidden animal byproducts in your wallpaper, tires, and computer screens, achieving vegan perfection is a lot harder than you might think. In part one of a two-part episode, The Tofu Trio discusses whether or not striving for a 100% vegan lifestyle is realistic. Spoiler alert: They admit that it's nearly impossible almost immediately. As usual, they veer off topic quite a bit. In fact, the show kicks off with Joey presenting a comic book that, while lacking market significance, holds great sentimental value for him. Vanessa...

The Tofu Trio began the new year by looking back at their goals and hopes for 2025, but in today's episode of Vegans Talking Shit, they're officially setting their sights on 2026. Among the many topics covered in this episode, they discuss the plight of stray dogs and cats, the elusive importance of sleep, the complexities of starting a vegan travel company, and the questionable ethics of naming a pig "Bacon." Will Joey, Jon, and Vanessa actually meet their respective goals this time? Will their hopes come to fruition? Probably not, but they'll be reviewing the footage at the end of...

In the conclusion of their two-part episode, The Tofu Trio reviews the vegan-related milestones they hoped to see in 2025 and the reality of how things actually unfolded. Spoiler alert: It wasn't pretty. Vegan cheese hasn't improved all that much, plant milks are failing to outsell dairy, and vegan breakfasts remain elusive. Furthermore, lab-grown meat is still prohibitively expensive, and instead of an industry boom, the number of plant-based restaurants has actually dwindled. 2025 wasn't just disappointing, it may have been worse than the year before. There's plenty more in this jumbo-sized episode: Joey sounds off on why Mark Cuban is...

Almost exactly one year ago today, Vegans Talking Shit released the episode "Goals and Hopes for 2025." Now that a year has gone by, did The Tofu Trio meet those goals? And did their hopes come to fruition? After Joey's solo episode last week, the gang is back together to discuss. But first, the conversation kicks off with Jon and Vanessa's recent trip to Canada, highlighting the local vegan food scene and Jon's hockey-filled itinerary. The trio then dives deep into their progress on their 2025 goals, but they save the discussion regarding their hopes for part two. Listeners will have...

With Jon and Vanessa on vacation, Joey flies solo once again for this special Christmas edition of Vegans Talking Shit. Back in April, Joey's first solo attempt clocked in at just over 10 minutes. This time, he's much more loquacious. The vegan talk is light, but the content is heavy. Joey finally answers lingering questions from previous episodes: What did he think of "Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair"? And did he ever adopt that kitten from Petco? Things take a personal turn as he discusses mental health struggles, the importance of therapy, and the sustainability of a weekly release...

For this week's episode of Vegans Talking Shit, the Tofu Trio welcomes Rafi Neuburger, a fellow vegan traveler Jon and Vanessa met while on a vegan cruise. Rafi has been vegan for over 25 years, helped found the Swiss Vegan Society, and is strongly committed to reducing the suffering of human and non-human animals. The four of them discuss, among other things, the future of veganism, what the vegan scene looks like outside of the US, and places that have banned lab-grown meat. Of course, there's also quite a bit of silliness along the way. But wait, there's more! "Santa...

The Tofu Trio is back to talk about ethical investing in part two of a two-part episode. Before diving in, Joey talks about movies and a kitten who left him smitten, but Vanessa steers the show back on topic before things get out of hand. During their discussion, Jon talks about the importance of tracking your spending, Vanessa navigates the moral tightrope of investing while staying true to your values, and Joey proudly details his life-altering, huge investment in Bitcoin. Toward the end of the show, Jon reads a lovely email from Neil, a listener in Cambridge, UK. We're...

In part one of a two-part episode, The Tofu Trio gets into ethical investing, and discuss whether or not it's possible to make good financial investments while keeping your soul intact. But of course, it isn't all just IRAs, stocks, and ETFs. Joey gives a startlingly detailed review of his first-ever colonoscopy, Jon shows some love to the Vegan Vampire apparel company, and Vanessa revisits why you may not want to ask for pinto beans in Brazil. By the way, the views shared in this episode belong to Jon, Vanessa, and Joey and are not professional financial or investment...

For this Thanksgiving episode of Vegans Talking Shit, the Tofu Trio offers tips on how to survive the annual holiday tradition that tends to feature a dead turkey as its centerpiece. They spend a good 15-20 minutes on the topic, but the rest of the episode is mostly topic-adjacent chatter; Jon gets into the controversy of sports teams with Native American mascots, noted Brazilian Vanessa patiently teaches her two American co-hosts some American history, and Joey discusses the bizarre annual tradition of the Presidential Turkey Pardon, a ridiculous ceremonial display of clemency for one lucky bird while 45 million others...

The Tofu Trio returns to discuss vegan terms, the familiar ones and no-so-familiar ones. Truthfully, they discuss the topic for only about 15 minutes. The rest of the time is devoted to various other things; Jon talks about women's soccer, Vanessa drops some truth bombs about the COP30 climate conference in Brazil, and Joey reveals what he's been doing to keep the sound of his dog's snoring out of the podcast. All this plus PubSubs, plant milk, nut milk, and a kinda/sorta debate about Joe Rogan.

Vegans Talking Shit is hosted by Joey Di Girolamo, Jon Missirlian...

For the last month or so, busy schedules have made it nearly impossible to get all three members of The Tofu Trio to record together. But now, finally, Jon, Vanessa, and Joey are together again, and in this episode, they discuss everything they've learned after surviving their first full year as podcasters. They get into the complications of moving from audio-only podcasting to video recording, the rookie blunders they committed during their first major guest interview, and the disappointment of learning that they've gotten less support from their vegan friends than expected. Also, Jon gets into a rant about...

With Jon unavailable as he deals with work stuff, Joey and Vanessa deliver a topic-free episode and provide an update on the future of the podcast, including the Vegans Talking Shit online store that they're currently developing. Also on the show, Joey talks about his Non-Vegan Voices episodes, Vanessa gets into her love for a local eatery interestingly named Zen Mystery, and they spend some time discussing the F-bomb with the respect it deserves. Visit Zen Mystery on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @ZenMystery.

Vegans Talking Shit is hosted by Joey Di Girolamo, Jon Missirlian, and Vanessa Silva...

With Jon and Vanessa in Chicago this week, Joey hosts another Non-Vegan Voices episode, and this time, it's his dad who joins the show. Joey's dad is an Italian American octogenarian with a thick New York accent who can't let a few minutes go by without cracking an absolutely abysmal joke. Joey is known for constantly veering off topic, and that's certainly the case here, but somehow, he's the one who desperately tries to keep things on track while his own dad derails his podcast. It's a comedy of errors, made worse by an endless stream of really bad...

Once again, you're getting only two-thirds of The Tofu Trio, because Vanessa is in Brazil. Just accept it, folks. Jon and Joey discuss whether or not it's okay for vegans to have pets, a controversial topic for some in the vegan community. They also talk about whether or not it's okay to have wild and exotic animals as pets. If you've listened to this podcast enough times, it won't surprise you to learn that they don't exactly do a deep dive on the topic because they spend more time off topic than on it. For example, Joey whines about...

With Vanessa in Brazil, it's just two-thirds of The Tofu Trio in this episode. Joey talks about the TV shows he's been watching, he and Jon debate the merits of the Emmy-award winning HBO Max series "The Penguin," and Jon talks about his bathroom adventures after an incident that left him believing he'd mistakenly consumed dairy. They eventually get around to the topic, which is pop superstar and noted vegan Billie Eilish. Joey saw her in concert, and wanted to talk about the experience. Without Vanessa around to keep the boys in line, they bounce around and go on...

In part two of a two-part episode, The Tofu Trio are absolutely NOT discussing zoos and aquariums. Instead, they talk aliens, ghosts, past lives, and other supernatural stuff. Is this still a vegan podcast? Well, they do pause for a minute to ask if aliens are vegan, so there's that. Listen as Jon talks about Coast to Coast AM, the radio program hosted by George Noory that covers unexplained phenomena, Vanessa gets into wildly unconventional alternative medicine that gave her relief when traditional doctors didn't, and finally, Joey shares some of his creepy experiences during his time as a...

In part one of a two-part episode, The Tofu Trio grapples with the ethics of keeping animals in captivity. Joey admits his personal contradiction of never setting foot in an aquarium, but still visiting zoos, as long as he believes that they meet his delusional standards for conservation and welfare. Jon and Vanessa argue that zoos are animal prisons for profit, masquerading as centers for education and habitat preservation. For the most part, the three of them do stay on topic, but the same can't be said about part two of the episode, which releases next Tuesday.

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The Tofu Trio gets together to discuss their thoughts on vegan restaurants that add meat to their menus. But first, Joey talks about visiting the comic book store on Batman Day, Jon gives his thoughts on the few minutes of "Superman" that he watched, and Vanessa brings up her love for LEGOs. They eventually get to the topic at hand, but before long, they veer off and do something they've never really done before on the podcast, and even vowed they would never do; they talk politics. Although they keep things mostly objective, they talk about Trump, the Jimmy...

In part two of a two-part episode, The Tofu Trio continues their discussion on the article from VegOutMag.com about the seven challenges of being vegan. They actually stay on topic beginning to end, at least when not doing a lot of shameless self-promotion, and they tackle the very real feeling of vegan imposter syndrome. Also, Jon goes on a rant about online trolls, Vanessa talks about the guilt she feels when feeding her cats, and Joey says the f-word six or seven times. But it's all while staying on topic! And yes, in the background, you'll hear more...

For the first time in more than a month, The Tofu Trio is together again! In part one of a two-part episode, Jon, Vanessa, and Joey discuss an article they read that details seven things that vegans find challenging. They actually stay on topic the entire time, though Joey does make a very subtle movie reference at one point. Also, hear about the guy who incurred the wrath of Vanessa after he cracked a disrespectful joke, find out what Jon thinks of The Cheesecake Factory, and listen to the soothing sound of Khaleesi snoring!

Read the article...

Joey bookends this week's episode, which includes two interviews recorded during Jon and Vanessa's vegan cruise. First up, Vanessa interviews Holly Butler, a human dancing machine who went vegan for health reasons, but eventually became an ethical vegan. Then Jon interviews Nancy Illman, a 19-year vegan who decided to give up animal products after being told by a doctor that she needed surgery. Tune in to this week's episode to hear their stories.

Vegans Talking Shit is hosted by Joey Di Girolamo, Jon Missirlian, and Vanessa Silva. Main podcast image artwork by Diego Orellana. Theme song "Flying"...

While on their vacation, Jon and Vanessa made a stop in Otranto, a coastal town in southern Italy's Apulia region, and that's where they recorded a video episode of the show. With the Adriatic Sea in the background, they discuss where they went, what they ate, and the people they met while on a vegan cruise. Although Joey isn't in this episode, Jon makes him proud by making multiple movie references, much to Vanessa's chagrin. If you like what Jon and Vanessa had to say about their experience on a vegan cruise, visit vegan-cruises.com and book a trip...

With Jon and Vanessa still on vacation, Joey sits down with his non-vegan niece Mallory to hear her perspective on vegan food, fur and leather, and how Gen Z views vegan people. They also talk about pickles, Mallory's tattoo goals, and Plant Pizza, the amazing vegan pizzeria that recently closed down. As the show winds down, they discuss "Sex and the City," "Gilmore Girls," and "Fifty Shades of Grey." Yes, the episode is all over the place, but regular listeners know that this is nothing new.

Vegans Talking Shit is hosted by Joey Di Girolamo, Jon Missirlian...

This week, Jon and Vanessa are taking a much-deserved vacation, so with two-thirds of The Tofu Trio gone, instead of doing another weak-ass solo episode, Joey chats it up with his brother Jerome to get the non-vegan perspective on everything from plant-based meat to vegan activists. Will this be a constructive conversation, or just another episode of two brothers bickering? Tune in to find out!

Vegans Talking Shit is hosted by Joey Di Girolamo, Jon Missirlian, and Vanessa Silva. Main podcast image artwork by Diego Orellana. Theme song "Flying" by TrackTribe. Visit @veganstalkingshit on Facebook, Instagram, and...

The Tofu Trio pulls back the curtain on how they were able to get Gary Yourofsky to appear on their show, what it was like interviewing him, and how they felt after it was all over. This episode was recorded right after the interview, with Gary Yourofsky's appearance fresh on their minds, and it's obvious that they were still giddy from the experience. Also, Jon hints at his plans for the podcast to take over the world, Vanessa reveals who the Gary Yourofsky stand-in was when they practiced the interview, and Joey expresses disappointment that Vanessa never asked her...

At long last, The Tofu Trio interviews lecturer, educator, and vegan animal liberation activist Gary Yourofsky. In what may be his most incendiary interview yet, Gary Yourofsky doesn't hold back. He's raw, unfiltered, and not afraid to push a few buttons. Of course, this wouldn't be Vegans Talking Shit without some foolishness. Jon can't help but to strike up a conversation about hockey, Joey brings up bodily functions, and speaking of bodily functions, Vanessa takes a pee break in the middle of the interview... and leaves her mic on! If all that weren't enough, Joey's beautiful English Bulldog, Khaleesi...

The Tofu Trio continues to read feedback from listeners, haters, and social media trolls, but in part two of this two-part episode, they spend all their time on a video they posted on Facebook that generated over 500 comments. They focus primarily on the negative comments, especially the more hateful ones. Weirdly, they almost seem to enjoy the negative comments more than the positive ones. There's also some big news! The date that the Gary Yourofsky interview will be posted is announced. Spoiler alert: It will be posted as a bonus episode this Friday, August 1.

Gary Yourofsky...

The Tofu Trio reads emails, social media comments, and reviews from their listeners in part one of a two-part episode. But first Jon makes a big - no, HUGE - announcement: He somehow convinced legendary vegan and animal liberation activist, Gary Yourofsky, to be interviewed on the show. If you're unfamiliar with Gary Yourofsky, watch the inspirational speech he gave at Georgia Tech on July 8, 2010. It's been translated into more than 30 languages and has accumulated more than 10 million views on YouTube. As the show goes on, Vanessa spends most of the time basking in the afterglow of Jon's big...

Virginia Le Fay and The Tofu Trio continue their discussion about vegan and cruelty-free beauty products in part two of a two-part episode. But wait, there's more! Joey remembers a cruelty-free perfume from Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, Jon and Vanessa recount the time they went to a hockey game together, and Vanessa, in true form, was more interested in crocheting than slapshots, and Virginia spills the tea about doing makeup for the Miami Heat. All that, plus Pamela Anderson worship!

Vegans Talking Shit is hosted by Joey Di Girolamo, Jon Missirlian, and Vanessa Silva. Main podcast...

Friend of the show Virginia Le Fay is back in part one of a two-part episode about vegan beauty. Virginia sits down with The Tofu Trio to talk about being a makeup artist in the fashion and entertainment industry, and how she always tries to use vegan and cruelty-free products in her profession. Meanwhile, Jon brings out his stash of beauty products (and it's a lot!), Vanessa talks about how Brazilians handle body hair, and Joey shares too much information about his own grooming habits.

Vegans Talking Shit is hosted by Joey Di Girolamo, Jon Missirlian, and...