Plant-Based Canada Podcast

Episode 115: I’m Trying - with Raymond Cruzzola

Welcome to the Plant-Based Canada Podcast! In today’s episode, we’re joined by Raymond Cruzzola to discuss ‘I’m Trying’ a film that documents Regan Russell - an animal rights activist killed in 2020 during a peaceful protest outside a slaughterhouse - and the ongoing fight for justice that she inspired. Ray is a Toronto-based documentary filmmaker and video producer with over a decade of experience creating socially driven visual content. A graduate of Humber College’s Film and Television Production program, he has produced a range of short videos for nonprofit and grassroots campaigns focused on activism, justice, and environmental sustainability. Ray’s work is grounded in the belief that if we have the power to reduce suffering, we have a moral responsibility to act, even when it’s uncomfortable. His films reflect a deep commitment to both humans and animal rights as well as environmental justice. With a background in both digital strategy and grassroots storytelling, Ray brings a thoughtful, visually grounded approach to nonfiction filmmaking - one that centers the voices and movements most often overlooked, and that invites audiences to not just bear witness, but to respond. I’m Trying: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/imtryingfilm/ ], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/Imtryingfilm/ ] Raymond Cruzzola: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/raycruzzola/ ], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/ray.cruzzola/], LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/raymond-cruzzola/ ] World Change Media: Website [https://www.worldchangemedia.com/ ], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/worldchangemedia/], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/worldchangemedia/ ] Anita Krajnc: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/anita.krajnc/?hl=en], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/anita.krajnc.58], LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/anita-krajnc-105170116/ ] Plant Based Treaty: Website [https://plantbasedtreaty.org/ ], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/plantbasedtreaty/ ], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/PlantBasedTreaty], LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/plant-based-treaty/posts/?feedView=all ] Animal Save Movement: Website [https://thesavemovement.org/], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thesavemovement/], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/animalsavemovement], LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/animal-save-movement/ ] Toronto Pig Save: Website [https://torontopigsave.org/ ], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/torontopigsave/ ], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/TorontoPigSave/ ] PBC Conference - Get Tickets Here [https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/7th-annual-canadian-plant-based-nutrition-and-health-conference--2026 ] Plant-Based Canada’s Socials: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/plantbasedcanadaorg/?hl=en], Facebook [https://m.facebook.com/plantbasedcanadaorg/], Website [https://www.plantbasedcanada.org/], X @PBC_org Bonus Promotion:  Explore the University of Guelph’s online Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate. Each 4-week course covers key topics like health benefits, disease prevention, and environmental impact. It features expert-led, research-based learning and a supportive community. Use code PBC2026 to save 10% at uoguel.ph/pbn.  Thank you for tuning in! Make sure to subscribe to the Plant-Based Canada Podcast so you get notified when new episodes are published.  Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/pbcpodcast]

Episode 114: Understanding the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans with Dr. Kevin Klatt

In the latest episode of the Plant-Based Podcast, we breakdown some of the confusion generated by the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans with Dr. Kevin Klatt. Dr. Klatt is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto. He received his PhD in Molecular Nutrition from Cornell University and completed his clinical dietetic (RD) training at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center. His research focuses on using both preclinical models as well as human intervention studies to better understand nutrient metabolism, signaling and requirements. In addition to research, Dr. Klatt is a current Associate Editor at the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and a Section Editor of the graduate-level nutrition textbook, Biochemical Physiological and Molecular Aspects of Human Nutrition (fifth edition). Dr. Klatt dissects some of the big ticket changes to the DGAs, including the recommendation to increase protein and saturated fat intake, confusion around processed foods, and inconsistencies between the revamped pyramid model and the actual recommendations. Resources Kevin’s Substack on the DGAs: The Influencer's DGAs & The Rancher's Pyramid [https://kcklatt.substack.com/p/ambiguous-dgas-and-the-ranchers-pyramid]  Twitter [https://x.com/kcklatt]  BlueSky [https://bsky.app/profile/kcklatt.bsky.social]  Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/kcklatt]  Bonus Promotion Check out University of Guelph's online Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate. Each 4-week course will guide you through essential plant-based topics including nutritional benefits, disease prevention, and environmental impacts. You can also customize your learning with unique courses such as Plant-Based Diets for Athletes and Implementing a Plant-Based Diet at Home. As the first university-level plant-based certificate in Canada, you’ll explore current research, learn from leading industry experts, and join a community of like-minded people. Use our exclusive discount code PBC2026 to save 10% on all Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate courses. uoguel.ph/pbn. Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/pbcpodcast]

Episode 113: Prescribing Sustainability: Amy Ford on Food Systems in Healthcare

Welcome to the Plant-Based Canada Podcast! In today’s episode, we’re joined by Amy Ford to discuss sustainable food systems and planetary health in our hospitals and healthcare settings. Amy Ford is the Director of Planetary Health at Nourish Leadership. She is a self-proclaimed intentional synergy seeker, with a career focused in sustainable in-patient food services. She is energized by bringing mission-aligned groups together to spark change and remove roadblocks, in service of improved planetary health. With a decade of health care food leadership, she is intimately aware of the enabling factors for teams to achieve improved procurement values, community collaboration, waste reduction, and menus that are culturally mindful and low-carbon. Amy lives on land that has long existed in reciprocity with the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee and Lūnaapéewak people. She is always ready to create in the kitchen, and believes that good food will usher in wonderful, radical changes to our world. Nourish Leadership’s Socials: Website: www.nourishleadership.ca [http://www.nourishleadership.ca/] Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nourishleadership/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/nourishleadership/] Instagram: @nourishlead Bluesky: @nourishlead.bsky.social‬  Amy Ford’s Socials: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyjoyford/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyjoyford/]  ‪ Plant-Based Canada’s Socials: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/plantbasedcanadaorg/?hl=en]: @plantbasedcanadaorg Facebook [https://m.facebook.com/plantbasedcanadaorg/]: Plant-Based Canada, https://m.facebook.com/plantbasedcanadaorg/ Website: https://www.plantbasedcanada.org/ [https://www.plantbasedcanada.org/] X: @PBC_org Bonus Promotion Check out University of Guelph's online Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate. Each 4-week course will guide you through essential plant-based topics including nutritional benefits, disease prevention, and environmental impacts. You can also customize your learning with unique courses such as Plant-Based Diets for Athletes and Implementing a Plant-Based Diet at Home. As the first university-level plant-based certificate in Canada, you’ll explore current research, learn from leading industry experts, and join a community of like-minded people. Use our exclusive discount code PBC2026 to save 10% on all Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate courses. uoguel.ph/pbn. Thank you for tuning in! Make sure to subscribe to the Plant-Based Canada Podcast so you get notified when new episodes are published.  This episode was hosted by Stephanie Nishi RD, PhD. Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/pbcpodcast]

Episode 112: Wings of Survival with Dr. Timm Döbert and Leanna Carriere

In this episode of the Plant-Based Canada podcast, we talk to an amazing duo who are putting their athletic endurance to the test for a first of its kind project they call Wings of Survival. A 30,000 km, 9-month cycling and packrafting traverse of the Pacific Americas Flyway, emulating the extraordinary journeys of migratory birds, from the remote reaches of Alaska’s High Arctic to the extreme lands of Patagonia. Timm Döbert has a PhD in Global Change Ecology from University of Western Australia. He’s a lecturer at the University of Alberta. A Royal Canadian Geographical Society fellow. A Scientific Exploration Society fellow. A Global Sustainable Sport ambassador. And an Ironman athlete. Leanna Carriere is Canada’s first female decathlete. She’s a former international track & field athlete. An Ironman athlete. A personal trainer. A Seven Summits Snacks co-founder. An EcoAthlete champion. A Global Sustainable Sport ambassador. And a mom. Together, they’re embarking on a project called Wings of Survival in June of 2026. Resources On Wings of Survival [https://www.wingsofsurvival.com/]   Canada30x30 [https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/b28684b2bda641139be54706c1b8065f] “Energy balance in cyclists on plant-based diets during a 30-day, 4300-km ride across Canada: Two case studies” [https://physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.14814/phy2.70629] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/wingsofsurvival/] GoFundMe [https://www.gofundme.com/f/wings-of-survival-expedition] U of A Folio [https://www.ualberta.ca/en/folio/2024/06/a-study-in-resilience.html] UNCN [https://iucncongress2025.org/press/all-news/wings-survival-rewilding-minds-%20%20safeguard-nature-across-worlds-flyways] Bonus Promotion Check out University of Guelph's online Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate. Each 4-week course will guide you through essential plant-based topics including nutritional benefits, disease prevention, and environmental impacts. You can also customize your learning with unique courses such as Plant-Based Diets for Athletes and Implementing a Plant-Based Diet at Home. As the first university-level plant-based certificate in Canada, you’ll explore current research, learn from leading industry experts, and join a community of like-minded people. Use our exclusive discount code PBC2026 to save 10% on all Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate courses. uoguel.ph/pbn. Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/pbcpodcast]

Episode 111: Prescribing Sustainability with Dr. Samantha Green

Dr. Samantha Green is currently a family physician at the St. Michael’s Hospital Sumac Creek Health Centre in Regent Park and an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto's Temerty Faculty of Medicine under the Department of Family and Community Medicine. She is also Board Member at the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. Dr. Green completed medical school at the University of Ottawa in 2011 and residency in Family Medicine residency at McMaster University in 2013. We discuss her day-to-day with patients, her work with Canadian Family Physician on prioritizing sustainable primary care, the impact of hospital and food systems on the environment, and her advocacy work around climate and planetary health with the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. Resources Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment [https://cape.ca/]  Dr. Green’s work with Canadian Family Physician: “Sustainable Primary Care Toolkit” [https://cascadescanada.ca/resources/sustainable-primary-care-toolkit/] “Planetary health lens for primary care” [https://www.cfp.ca/content/70/4/224] “Reducing the environmental burden of unnecessary investigations” [https://www.cfp.ca/content/71/2/80] “Climate-conscious inhaler prescribing for family physicians” [https://www.cfp.ca/content/70/6/381] Bonus Promotion Check out University of Guelph's online Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate. Each 4-week course will guide you through essential plant-based topics including nutritional benefits, disease prevention, and environmental impacts. You can also customize your learning with unique courses such as Plant-Based Diets for Athletes and Implementing a Plant-Based Diet at Home. As the first university-level plant-based certificate in Canada, you’ll explore current research, learn from leading industry experts, and join a community of like-minded people. Use our exclusive discount code PBC2026 to save 10% on all Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate courses. uoguel.ph/pbn. Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/pbcpodcast]