

Viva! Vegan Podcast
Viva!
Welcome to the Viva! Vegan Podcast and News Minisode!
Co-hosted by Viva!'s head of comms, Faye Lewis, and Viva!'s head of investigations, Lex Rigby, each month they'll be serving up some cracking in-depth chats with some of the most interesting figures in the vegan movement.
Each Podcast episode features a different individual – breaking down their vegan journey and recounting their highs and lows – followed by a candid chat between Faye and Lex on everything from mushroom-based leather alternatives to terrible cooking blunders.
In our Vegan News Minisode, we deep-dive into the world of vegan news and politics in a quick ten-minute round-up of newsworthy events in veganism.
No matter where you are in your vegan journey, there'll be something for you in the Viva! Vegan Podcast and News Minisode.
The show is presented by Faye Lewis and Lex Rigby and is released on the first of every month.
Co-hosted by Viva!'s head of comms, Faye Lewis, and Viva!'s head of investigations, Lex Rigby, each month they'll be serving up some cracking in-depth chats with some of the most interesting figures in the vegan movement.
Each Podcast episode features a different individual – breaking down their vegan journey and recounting their highs and lows – followed by a candid chat between Faye and Lex on everything from mushroom-based leather alternatives to terrible cooking blunders.
In our Vegan News Minisode, we deep-dive into the world of vegan news and politics in a quick ten-minute round-up of newsworthy events in veganism.
No matter where you are in your vegan journey, there'll be something for you in the Viva! Vegan Podcast and News Minisode.
The show is presented by Faye Lewis and Lex Rigby and is released on the first of every month.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 22, 2022 • 18min
#17 Vegan News Minisode - August
Welcome to the Vegan News Minisode, brought to you by leading vegan campaigning charity, Viva!. Presenters Faye and Lex bring you the latest plant-based lifestyle, food and animal campaigns news from around the globe. In this episode, Faye and Lex round-up Viva!'s new Eating the Earth campaign, discuss the impacts of the recent hot weather and share some fantastic news in the animal rights movement - including the closure of T&S Rabbits and the toll Brexit and bird flu has taken on the shooting industry. ABOUT OUR SHOW Listen now viva.org.uk.podcast. We're also on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify. If you enjoyed the episode, please rate, review and subscribe to help us reach new audiences. Get the latest episode every month, straight to your mobile device or computer. It's automatic and completely free. Copyright owned by Viva! Bristol 2022. Not for re-use without our written agreement. All featured music and content used by permission. Produced by Faye Lewis and Lex Rigby for Viva!.
Aug 1, 2022 • 40min
#70 Ronnie Lee: Founder of the Animal Liberation Front, hunt saboteur and vegan activist
Born in 1951, Ronnie stopped eating meat aged 19 when his sister's vegetarian boyfriend convinced him that it is wrong to eat animals. Two years later, he became vegan and got active with the Hunt Saboteurs Association to disrupt hunting activities and save lives. In his pursuit to carry out direct action against all forms of animal oppression, the Animal Liberation Front was born. In this interview, Viva!'s head of investigations, Lex Rigby, gets to ask Ronnie what it was like being vegan in the 70s, what happened to the rescued guinea pigs he stuffed up his jumper and whether he really thought a gallon of petrol was going to burn down an animal research laboratory. Following the interview, Lex is joined by Viva!'s head of comms, Faye Lewis, to discuss Ronnie's uncompromising commitment to the animal rights cause. If you enjoyed the show, please don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to help new listeners discover us.

Jul 25, 2022 • 10min
#3 Viva! Vegan Special Feature
Welcome to the Viva! Vegan Podcast and this special feature with Iain Tolhurst from Tolhurst Organic. In this short episode, Viva! Farming Coordinator, Kerri Waters, chats to Iain on his stock-free organic farm in Oxfordshire. ABOUT OUR SHOW Listen now viva.org.uk.podcast. We're also on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify. Spread the word and please rate, review and subscribe to help us reach new audiences. Get the latest episode every month, straight to your mobile device or computer. It's automatic and completely free. Copyright owned by Viva! Bristol 2022. Not for re-use without our written agreement. All featured music and content used by permission. Produced by Faye Lewis and Lex Rigby for Viva!.

Jul 1, 2022 • 37min
#69 Jay Gardner: Geordie Shore reality TV star turned vegan fitness influencer
Jay Gardner rose to fame with the MTV reality show Geordie Shore, where he featured in series one through three. He made brief returns to the show in series six and seven. In 2018, Jay surprised everyone by going vegan despite having eaten a meat and dairy-heavy diet. He talks to Viva! about turning a corner and becoming really involved with health and fitness, and of course, his days on Geordie Shore. Following the interview, Faye is joined by Viva!'s head of investigations, Lex Rigby, to discuss just what Geordie Shore entails and Viva!'s upcoming health and fitness plans. If you enjoyed the show, please don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to help new listeners discover us.

Jun 27, 2022 • 12min
#2 Viva! Vegan Special Feature
Welcome to the Viva! Vegan Podcast and this special feature with Susan Hargreaves from Be An Animal Hero. In this short episode, we hear about Susan's 40+ years as an animal rights campaigner and the importance of empowering young people. If you're interested in joining Susan at any of her UK events, contact her directly through Be An Animal Hero. ABOUT OUR SHOW Listen now viva.org.uk.podcast. We're also on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify. Spread the word and please rate, review and subscribe to help us reach new audiences. Get the latest episode every month, straight to your mobile device or computer. It's automatic and completely free. Copyright owned by Viva! Bristol 2022. Not for re-use without our written agreement. All featured music and content used by permission. Produced by Faye Lewis and Lex Rigby for Viva!.

Jun 21, 2022 • 17min
#15 Vegan News Minisode - June
Welcome to the Vegan News Minisode, brought to you by leading vegan campaigning charity, Viva!. Presenters Faye and Lex bring you the latest plant-based lifestyle, food and animal campaigns news from around the globe. In this episode, Faye and Lex discuss Viva!'s latest investigation into duck egg farming, taxing New Zealand farmers for cow and sheep greenhouse gas emissions, farm waste polluting British rivers and the government's new food strategy. ABOUT OUR SHOW Listen now viva.org.uk.podcast. We're also on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify. If you enjoyed the episode, please rate, review and subscribe to help us reach new audiences. Get the latest episode every month, straight to your mobile device or computer. It's automatic and completely free. Copyright owned by Viva! Bristol 2022. Not for re-use without our written agreement. All featured music and content used by permission. Produced by Faye Lewis and Lex Rigby for Viva!.
Jun 1, 2022 • 36min
#68 Dale Vince: Maverick entrepreneur, self-professed 'eco-nut' and chairman of Forest Green Rovers
Dale Vince, founder of the pioneering green energy firm Ecotricity, has an unwavering mission to solve the unsustainability of life. In this episode of the Viva! Vegan Podcast, we get to chat to him about the ways we power ourselves, how we travel and what we eat. Ultimately, his concerns here are what led him to pursue an alternative lifestyle and kick-start the green energy movement. In 2004, Dale was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to the environment and electricity industry. He spearheaded the electric car, built the Electric Highway to power them and runs Forest Green Rovers – the world's first vegan football club. A former new-age traveller who once lived in an ambulance, he's now allegedly worth £100 million, having turned his core values into big business. Following the interview, Lex is joined by Viva!'s head of communications, Faye, to navigate the way through complex vehicle purchasing decisions and the offside rule... If you enjoyed the show, please don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to help new listeners discover us.

May 27, 2022 • 7min
#1 Viva! Vegan Special Feature
Welcome to the Viva! Vegan Podcast and this special feature from the Word Forest Organisation. In this episode, Faye and Lex hand over to the group's co-founders, Tracey and Simon West. Established in 2017, this UK-based charity plants trees, builds classrooms, facilitates education, and supports a womens' empowerment group in Kenya. Simon and Tracey also host their own podcast, Trees Are The Key and All Things Eco. ABOUT OUR SHOW Listen now viva.org.uk.podcast. We're also on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify. Spread the word and please rate, review and subscribe to help us reach new audiences. Get the latest episode every month, straight to your mobile device or computer. It's automatic and completely free. Copyright owned by Viva! Bristol 2022. Not for re-use without our written agreement. All featured music and content used by permission. Produced by Faye Lewis and Lex Rigby for Viva!.

May 20, 2022 • 11min
#14 Vegan News Minisode - May
Welcome to the Vegan News Minisode, brought to you by leading vegan charity, Viva!. Presenters Faye and Lex bring you the latest plant-based lifestyle, food and animal campaigns news from around the globe. In this episode, Faye and Lex discuss the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act (again), the rise in carbon emissions due to animal agriculture, the Queen's Speech and the UK's cut back on meat and fish consumption. ABOUT OUR SHOW Listen now viva.org.uk.podcast. We're also on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify. Spread the word and please rate, review and subscribe to help us reach new audiences. Get the latest episode every month, straight to your mobile device or computer. It's automatic and completely free. Copyright owned by Viva! Bristol 2022. Not for re-use without our written agreement. All featured music and content used by permission. Produced by Faye Lewis and Lex Rigby for Viva!.
May 1, 2022 • 55min
#67 Nicola Kagoro, a.k.a. Chef Cola: Pioneering vegan chef, activist, entrepreneur and businesswoman
Nicola Kagoro, a.k.a. Chef Cola, is a pioneering female Zimbabwean vegan chef at the helm of African Vegan on a Budget. One of her primary aims through her work with African Vegan on a Budget is to spread awareness of vegan culture across Africa and give people the tools and knowledge to actively integrate plant-based eating into their lifestyles. She is also the founder of Back to Black Roots, which was created in 2017 as a collaboration with Damien Mander, the founder of the International Anti-Poaching Federation (IAPF). The aim was to provide the 100% plant-based food that fuels the Akashinga women through their training, daily duties, and short- and long-term patrols, as they protect nature and endangered species from poachers. In 2019, BTBR served more than 54,800 vegan meals to 150 Akashinga conservation rangers and support staff, many of these as field rations for consumption while on patrols. Nicola is also the owner of A.V.O.A.B, Rainbow Friendly Festival, (an LGBTQ events and activist company), and African Inspired Dreams (a private holding and investments company). Following the interview, Faye is joined by Viva!'s head of investigations, Lex, to talk about Nicola's incredible journey. If you enjoyed the show, please don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to help new listeners discover us.


