No Meat Athlete Radio

It's no secret that we like self improvement strategies here at NMA Radio. We like to set big goals and create habits that help with performance, productivity, and effectiveness. But at what price? After reading a recent article in the New Yorker, and following it up with a few not-so-hip-on self improvement books, Matt has found himself in a place where he's no longer sure if focusing on self improvement is a good thing. Let's discuss...

Do vegans need supplements to stay healthy? What nutrients do whole plant-based foods actually lack? There's a lot of controversy surrounding those questions, and the answer isn't always simple. In today's episode, Matt sits down with Matt Tullman -- an author and entrepreneur who has set a goal for a third of the population to go plant-based by 2030 -- to break it all down.

Long-time friends of NMA, Rip and Jane Esselstyn, know a thing or two about cooking healthy meals people actually want to eat. They've written best-selling books and designed an entire diet philosophy, the Engine 2 Diet, around the subject. So when they publish a new cookbook, The Engine 2 Cookbook, we want to hear about it. In today's episode, Matt speaks with Rip and Jane about the new book, oil-free cooking, and how to make healthy eating choices stick.

When it comes to habit change, there are five keys to being successful. Keys – or rules – that when not followed, are often the reasons why most people fail to make new health and fitness habits work. In today's episode, we share a clip from an Academy seminar, outlining those keys to creating habits that stick, and provide real life examples from my own successes (and failures) to help you put these rules into action.

One of my favorite episodes each year is our big, epic, vegan holiday extravaganza, where Matt and I discuss our wish lists and favorite seasonal films, and share what we plan to cook and drink over the holidays.  Here's and . This year, things are a little different. With Matt's family traveling to Spain for the holiday, the conversation shifted towards traditions, travel, and dealing with family expectations. But don't you worry, Matt still shares his (ridiculous, if you ask me) Christmas movie list. So light up the fire, pour yourself a Christmas beer, and enjoy this year's holiday celebration.

I know this might not be a popular thing to say, but ever since going vegan I've lost all inspiration and excitement for cooking. Celebrity TV chef Jason Wrobel doesn't have that problem. In today's episode we discuss how to stay motivated and inspired in the kitchen, and what we need to know about eating for longevity.

What makes people truly happy? Dan Buettner, author of the Blue Zones and new book Blue Zones of Happiness, studied the world's happiest places to find the lessons we can all apply to live happier (and healthier) lives.

Don't think you can gain muscle on a plant-based diet? Think again. In today's episode, Robert Cheeke and Vanessa Espinoza share how they've had success as vegan bodybuilders.

What do you get when you cross running with tai chi? Chi Running, of course.  In today's episode, we chat with Danny Dreyer, founder of the Chi Running training philosophy, about how your running form, mind, and breath all play a role in your running performance.

Have you ever taken a life-changing smoke break? NMA's own Susan Lacke has, when her old boss, Carlos, convinced her to start working out with him. Twenty months later, she was running her first Ironman triathlon, writing for NMA, and launching a new career. And it was Carlos's never-wavering support that she believes made it all possible. In today's episode, we speak with Susan about that epic friendship, her new book, and the power of supporting someone through their goals.

Every runner goes through slumps. Life gets busy, the weather gets hot (or cold), and whatever “running mojo” looks like to you, you’ve lost it. I’m no different, and I’m in the midst of a slump now: the training I had planned for a fall marathon never really got off the ground, and my running for the past few months has been next to non-existent. But something is different this time. This time, I don’t feel guilty about it. Somehow (meditation, maybe?) I’m at peace with the slump. I’m not beating myself up for letting the marathon goal slip away. I can see this for what it is, without judgement, and in a strange way I feel free — with a newfound excitement about other types of training. As it turns out, co-host Doug is dealing with a running slump of his own. Except he’s one week away from a 50K, and his training looks a lot different from mine. In today’s episode, we talk about our slumps and how we’re embracing the lack of motivation instead of fighting it. If you’ve been in a slump recently, or you’re in

Jeff Sanders' ability to rise early, stay motivated, and get stuff done has long been an inspiration to Matt and Doug. In today's episode, Jeff shares how his productivity philosophy has changed over the years, and the major life shift he made after stress landed him in the hospital.

From mid-pack runners to professional triathletes, we've had the opportunity to share a lot of stories and advice from vegan athletes on this podcast. But today's interview is a first. I'm excited to share my conversation with vegan midfielder for the LA Galaxy, Baggio Husidic, about his diet, training, and how going plant-based is making him a better athlete.

How does a classically trained French chef turn into one of the most popular vegan recipe developers on Facebook? In today's episode, Jean-Philippe Cyr, known to most as The Buddhist Chef, shares his take on maximizing flavors, mindfulness, and why it's important to keep recipes simple if we want to grow this community.  

Over 200 episodes! Can you believe it?! Today we look back at the most popular episodes of all time, and share a little insight about what's to come in the next 100. We laugh. We cry. We party like there's no tomorrow (eh, I wouldn't go that far...). Enjoy.

Thumb through just about any parenting book and nearly every chapter will focus on the child. But that's the wrong approach, according to Sid Garza-Hillman. Sid believes that building a thriving, healthy family starts with a thriving, healthy parent. In today's episode, we sit down with Sid to discuss his brand new book Raising Healthy Parents, and why a vegan nutritionist felt called to write a parenting book. Oh, and because it's Sid, we also talk about cold showers. Love that guy.

Between the current advances in plant-based meat alternatives and innovations taking place in the "clean meat" industry, the food landscape as we know it could change dramatically over the next several years. How will these changes impact our understanding of what meat is, and will that effect the vegan movement? We sit down with Jackson Long and Aaron Stuber of the Thought For Food Podcast to discuss.

Over the past few years our Netflix feeds have seen several high-profile documentaries designed to push the vegan movement. They promote health, environmental, and animal rights benefits in a way books or articles simply can't. But these documentaries have also sparked blow-back both online and off. So it begs the question: Are vegan documentaries good for the movement? We try to answer that question in today's episode.

Thinking about running your first ultramarathon? You won't regret it, we promise. But... There are a few things you should probably know first. Actually there are 17 things. Here they are.

If there were certain philosophies to approaching life, work, and happiness that helped you the most, what would they be? In today's episode, Matt and I address the ten rules we follow (or attempt to follow) to stay motivated and get the results we want.