Podcast

Vegan Cooking & Nutrition Podcast.

Offering practical cooking and nutrition tips to add more plant based food into your diet.

Latest Episodes

Episode 55: Don’t Forget the zinc

Zinc is one of those nutrients, a trace mineral that is often forgotten yet sports many incredible health benefits. You can eat as much protein as you like but if you are not getting enough zinc you are not going to be able synthesise the protein. Listen for more information on why we need zinc and what foods contain zinc.

Zinc is one of those overlooked minerals or not often talked about minerals, yet it plays a mighty big role in keeping our body super healthy. People take zinc supplements but in a well balanced diet it is easy to get the recommended daily intake of zinc.

Episode 54: The Words We Cook With

Last week I held a free online class and we all made a delectable snickers bar recipe which you can still catch the recording for at time of recording this podcast but I made a big boo boo which caused a stir over on Instagram. This has prompted me make a public apology and to talk about appropriate kitchen terms and also talk about some fun witchy ingredients that we use in the kitchen quite often in fact.

Episode 53: My Business Journey: 18 Years Later

Mak and I discuss the years in my business. It has been 18 years. How the business evolved and what is still very true for us. We talked about our highlights and lowlights and share with you a delicious tomato pesto recipe for pasta.

Episode 52: Reflux: Causes, Symptoms, and Solutions

About 10% of Australian adults experience regular reflux symptoms, and a further 35% experience occasional reflux. There are some very practical things you can do to ease reflux. In this podcast I talk all things reflux.

Episode 51: Healthspan, beyond lifespan

Healthspan, beyond lifespan.

Most people think ageing is just genetics. But what if the biggest driver of how we age is what we repeatedly put on our plate?

In this episode I explore the difference between lifespan and healthspan and what you can do to live healthily into your elder years.

Episode 50: The Magic of Mushrooms

Mushrooms are packed full of nutrition. From essential B vitamins to antioxidants, and compounds that can make them great for brain health too. Whether you like mushrooms or not, this podcast is a good one to listen to, as I also mention other foods that you can get similar nutrients from too.

Episode 49: Having Fun in the Kitchen

Often, going to the kitchen to cook feels like a chore, yet it is something that is for the good of your body. With good nutrition and cooking the pay off is a healthy body, but often something prevents you from enjoying the task of cooking. It could be time, inclination, not sure what you are really doing etc. In this podcast we explore ways to take the chore out of cooking and make it really fun.

Episode 48: Nutrition in the Year of the Fire Horse

With the predictions that we are in for a wild ride this year as we enter into the year of the fire horse. It is time to take this energy and ensure you are cooking and eating well. In this podcast I share with you some tips on how to do this with this Fire Horse energy.

Episode 47: Cortisol low down

What the heck fire is cortisol poisoning, is it really a thing and if so why have I only just started hearing about it. In this podcast I talk about hypercotisolism and what you can do to avoid it and what to do if you have it.

Episode 46: What would you miss if you tried Veganuary

Since 2014 people have been signing up for Veganuary. Committing to a month of eating plant-based food, bringing awareness to how good plant-based food can be. I asked subscribers what they would miss if they committed to a month of eating vegan food only and Jesika Dawnn and I discuss what you could do in order to not miss those foods.

Episode 45: Damn, a vegan is coming for Christmas

In this podcast, I talk about how to navigate Christmas if you are vegan, or if you are hosting a Christmas gathering and you have someone who chooses to eat vegan attending, so everyone can feel included and comfortable.

Episode 44: Talking with Deva Premal

Deva and her partner Miten tour the world singing devotional music.

I first met Deva and Miten in Dorset, England, in 1997. I have been a huge fan of theirs and absolutely love sharing this interview I did with Deva.

Episode 43: Your questions on menopause

Answering common questions about menopause in this podcast can help you prepare for all stages of menopause.

Questions like, what to do to prepare for menopause, and what foods to eat to help with vaginal atrophy, and a whole lot more.

Episode 42: Tips for sleep during menopause

When I asked some fabulous women what their concerns with menopause was.

Lack of sleep cropped up a lot. When there is a lack of sleep there is weight gain. In this podcast I will share some fabulous tips to help you navigate sleep during all stages of menopause.

Episode 41: My menopause journey

This is the first of a series of 3 podcasts on menopause – I am starting with my menopause in the hope that you can take away a few tips and tricks to try out to make life easier in all stages of menopause. Eating the right foods can really make a huge difference.

Episode 40: Food to support ADHD

With the increase in ADHD diagnoses, especially in adulthood, it is time for me to have a chat about what foods are helpful for ADHD. Many of us know about foods to avoid, but there are foods that are beneficial too.

In this podcast, I discuss what it is like to find out you have ADHD as an adult, and also what foods assist in having a more balanced life when you are living with ADHD.

Episode 39: Nadia Fragnito from The Vegan Italian Kitchen

Nadia Fragnito has a fabulous business called the Vegan Italian Kitchen, all her recipes are magnificent. Nadia writes cookbooks, she writes recipes, she runs food tours in Italy and helps people write cook books. Nadia also is a regular guest presenter on Channel 10's Freshly Picked with Simon Tui and also runs cooking and travel retreats here in Australia and over in Italy.

Episode 38: No time to cook then outsource

When life gets so busy you have no time to cook, then there is an issue, as you need to nourish your body with good, healthy food. If life gets this busy, then it really is time to outsource. Take a listen, as this podcast may not be what you think it is about. Read more.

Episode 37: Soy. The good, the bad or the ugly

Is soy good, bad or ugly? For so many years, so many of us have thought soy is bad for you and causes all sorts of health issues. However, it is quite the contrary. In this podcast I talk about why soy is good for you, what makes it bad and why it might be thought of as ugly.

Episode 36: Stop the turmeric shot

Tumeric is a powerhouse ingredient and we could all do really well if we had some daily but……. we really have to stop the turmeric shot. Listen up to find out why.

Episode 35: Food Ideas for Shift Workers

It is true that shift workers have a higher risk of heart disease, stroke, hypertension and diabetes. It is vital that, as a shift worker, you nourish your body with really good food. However, this often seems impossible when working shifts and often having to do double shifts. I share with you some tips on how to make nutritious eating easier when working shifts.

Episode : Chatting with Monica Gauci on Ahimsa

Monica Gauci is a good friend and yoga educator. She follows a vegan diet and in this podcast I ask her about ahimsa and the path of a yogi. Listen to find out what ahimsa means and how it affects the way you eat when practicing yoga.

Episode 33: Q & A on the vegan chef training

All your questions about the vegan chef training are answered in this podcast. From what we learn, to what your life will be like after attending the chef training.

Episode 32: How to make money as a vegan chef

There are so many ways to make money as a vegan chef, in this podcast I share with you lots of ways and ideas to work as a vegan chef, or create your own hobby or business.

Episode 31: Permaculture with Morag Gamble

In this week’s podcast I interview the fabulous Morag Gamble who is a permaculture educator.

Episode 30: Dairy alternatives

If you need to reduce or replace dairy for health reasons then this is the podcast to listen to. These days there are so many dairy alternatives and so many of them you can easily make yourself. Lots of the shop-bought ones are also pretty good as they are often made with natural ingredients. In this podcast I share with you ideas on how to make popular meals that are usually laden with dairy, dairy free.

Episode 29: Why I don't eat dairy

If you were told you had to give up dairy, how would you react? Could you do it? What would you miss the most? Do you know how you would replace it? In this podcast, I share with you how and why I replaced dairy with other plant based foods. Giving up cheddar cheese was something I thought I would never be able to do, but I am now 10 years cheddar free.

Episode 28: Interview with Pandora from Pandora's Plate

Pandora was one of the first graduates of the vegan chef training. Since graduating, she has gone on to do a variety of things, including selling over 3000 of her self-published cookbook. Listen to this episode for many tips on nutrition and cooking.

Episode 27: Body reacting to stress & food for dental health

In this podcast, I share with you how quickly my body reacts to stress and all the things I do to help with my gum health. What we eat really can help with our dental health.

Episode 26: Ebony from Garden Eats

I am interviewing Ebony of Garden Eats. Ebony graduated from the vegan chef training in 2016 and has a well loved vegetarian café in Dwellingup Western Australia. Take a listen to how it has been for her starting her own café.

Episode 25: Come join the sauerkraut club

Find out why it is good to make your own sauerkraut and the benefits of eating sauerkraut on a daily basis.

Episode 24: Tips on how to present food

Learn the tips and tricks on how to present your food so that it looks as good as it tastes. Developing your own style of presentation. Tips on Presenting. Tools for food presentation. Creamy Mashed Potato Recipe. FCT - The importance of paper towels in food presentation.

Episode 23: Tips on how to shop locally

In this episode of the vegan cooking and nutrition podcast, I talk about ways to make shopping locally easy and what it really means to shop locally, as it is not always possible to buy ingredients that have been grown or produced locally.

Episode 22: Talking all things Tempeh with Jesika Dawn

I am speaking to Jesika Dawn, who graduated from the vegan chef training program in 2021. Find out what Jesika has been up to since she graduated as a chef.

Episode 21: Substitutes for eggs

What you can use instead of eggs. For omelettes, scrambles and for binding in cakes, etc. Did you know you can use mung beans to make an omelette, for example?

Episode 20: How to become a Vegan Chef

There still today in 2025 is no official vegan chef training offered by mainstream channels. In this podcast I talk about why I created the Vegan Chef Training and why people have chosen to turn their passion for cooking into their career or business.

Episode 19: Preventing osteopenia and osteoporosis

Your food choices can prevent you from getting osteopenia an osteoporosis. However, if you already have them, it is not too late to stabilise or prevent them from worsening through the choices in food you make.

Interview with Ems and Tenzin from Boneless Cafe.

Episode 18: Interview with Ems and Tenzin from Boneless Café

Ems and Tenzin graduated from the Vegan Chef Training in 2016 and have created a legendary café called Boneless in Bermegui, NSW, which turned 6 recently.

Episode 17: Tips on how to cook for gluten intolerance

Often, people find it challenging to cook gluten-free food when, in fact, with a few tips and tricks, it is very simple. In this episode of the Vegan Cooking & Nutrition podcast, I share tips on cooking for people with gluten intolerance & Coeliac disease.

Episode 16: Interview with Helena Norberg-Hodge

An interview with Helena Norberg-Hodge of Local Futures . we discuss the importance of buying local produce and its impact on the rest of the world.

Episode 15: 3 Ways to cook if you have limited time

So many of us live very busy lives and cooking becomes more and more difficult. Yet it is the nutrition from food we need that fuels us to manage our busy lives. In this episode of the Vegan Cooking and Nutrition show I share with you 3 different ways to cook if you have limited time.

Episode 14: Tips on making your food taste sensational

You can have the most delicious tasting food every time you cook by following the tips I share with you in this podcast. Take your cooking from good to sensational.

Episode 13: Talking to your body meditation

In this episode of the Vegan Cooking and Nutrition Podcast, I share with you a meditation I do very often to really listen in to what my body needs to eat.

Episode 12: Why I choose to eat organic food

Have you been thinking about eating organic but are confused about whether it's worth paying the extra money? I share with you how to keep the costs down on organic food.

Episode 11: What to do if you have low iron on a vegan diet

It is easy to keep your iron stores up when you know what your results mean and what foods provide you with iron and help you absorb iron.

Episode 10: How to avoid dairy when eating out

I'm answering a listener's question. "How to avoid dairy when eating out?" Do you struggle when going out to eat because you have dairy as one of the dietary requirements that you cannot have? In this episode I will give you some tips on how to manage going out to eat.