Plant Proof - Plant Based Nutrition & Inspirational Stories

In Episode #34, I caught up with Ben Richards, owner of Seeds of Life Cafe in Ubud, Bali, to chat about his story and what raw or ‘living’ foods are all about. It’s a three-hour episode, so a bit of a marathon one, but it’s full of golden nuggets to get you thinking about life at a deeper level, particularly why we eat what we do.   Some highlights include Ben’s experience with plant medicines, including mushrooms and ayahuasca; what ‘raw food’ means and whether it’s for everyone; what soaking, sprouting and fermentation is and how to do it; resources to learn more about raw foods; and the question that society should be asking to get back on track and plug into nature for a truly fulfilling experience on this planet. Plus hear my reaction to trying durian fruit for the first time at the end of the episode! For more insights and reflections, visit The Proof website for the full show notes.    Enjoy, friends.   Simon   Want to support the show?  The best way to support the show is to use the products and serv

In Episode #32, I sat down with world-renowned vegan chef Gaz Oakley to discuss his story and rise to stardom over the past three years. Since early 2016, Gaz has taken social media by storm with his avant-garde cooking displays on YouTube and Instagram, amassing a combined following of over 700,000 people.   Gaz has phenomenal talent, a bright future ahead, and is as humble and genuine as they come. In our conversation, Gaz took me through his journey so far, including how he developed a passion for cooking, where he crafted his skills, and why he took a hiatus from the cooking industry at one stage to work in labour and sales. Of course, we cover his transition to a plant-based diet and what inspired that, as well as how he comes up with the inspiration for his recipes. Oh, and he drops some news about a secret collaboration with a huge restaurant on air! You can connect with Gaz on Instagram @gazoakley and YouTube to see his amazing food with your own eyes.    Enjoy, friends.   Simon Want to support the s

In Episode #31 of The Proof podcast, I sat down with Loni Jane. Loni started sharing her journey pretty much as soon as Instagram was launched. She’s a great example of someone in very poor health who adopted a plant-based lifestyle and was able to turn her life around, both mentally and physically, to create a life of love, prosperity, growth, and wellness. Loni has now built a life that is in her control and on her terms, in stark contrast to her former life where she battled with excessive drinking, low self-awareness, poor nutrition, and essentially a depleted physical body.   I hope you enjoy this raw, candid, and authentic conversation covering Loni’s battle with deteriorating health and the difficulties she faced in transitioning to a plant-based lifestyle. She also shares tips for pregnancy and motherhood from her personal experience, including how she worked with her doctors and what her kids eat. Connect with Loni on Instagram @lonijane.    Enjoy, friends.   Simon Want to support the show?  The bes

In Episode #30, I sat down with Australia’s ninja warrior pinup boy Jack Wilson to talk about mindset, creating good vibes, and making life-changing decisions. Jack has a powerful message and is incredibly articulate and humble. His passion for bringing out the best in those around him is obvious, and his positivity is contagious. Everyone who listens to this one will walk away feeling uplifted and motivated to be a positive example for those around them.   In this episode, expect to hear about Jack’s early years and what his Aboriginal heritage means to him. He shared how he left behind a life of partying for a healthier and more fulfilling plant-based life, and we talked about his love of running, the New York City marathon, being a role model for Aboriginal communities, the Ninja Warrior audition process, and much more.    Enjoy, friends.   Simon Want to support the show?  The best way to support the show is to use the products and services offered by our sponsors. To check them out, and enjoy great savin

In Episode #29, I talked with Damien Clarkson to get his insights into the plant-based movement in the UK. Listen to learn about Damien’s personal story and transition to a plant-based lifestyle, with insights into the UK plant-based market and statistics. We also dive into Vevolution’s mission, future, and its role in bringing people together and promoting positive change in the world. It was great to talk to Damien about innovations in plant-based products and the opportunities that exist for entrepreneurs to make an impact in this space.    Enjoy, friends.   Simon Want to support the show?  The best way to support the show is to use the products and services offered by our sponsors. To check them out, and enjoy great savings, visit theproof.com/friends.  Simon Hill, Msc, Bsc (Hons)  Creator of theproof.com and host of The Proof with Simon Hill  Author of The Proof is in the Plants  Watch the episodes on YouTube, or Listen on Apple/Spotify  Connect with me on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook  Download my c

In Episode #28, I spoke to one of Australia’s top DJs, DJ Tigerlily (Dara Kristen Hayes), to find out how she navigated her way through an industry that, as you can imagine, consists of a lot of drugs, alcohol, and sleepless nights.   We discussed Dara’s early years, her introduction to music, and how she developed a love for DJing. She shared her insights into what it’s like working in the DJ and nightclub industry and the effect it had on her health, and she explained why she moved to a plant-based diet and how she has managed Crohn’s disease. Follow Dara on Instagram @djtigerlily.    Enjoy, friends.   Simon Want to support the show?  The best way to support the show is to use the products and services offered by our sponsors. To check them out, and enjoy great savings, visit theproof.com/friends.  Simon Hill, Msc, Bsc (Hons)  Creator of theproof.com and host of The Proof with Simon Hill  Author of The Proof is in the Plants  Watch the episodes on YouTube, or Listen on Apple/Spotify  Connect with me on In

In Episode #27, we use a question-and-answer format with show host Simon Hill (@theproof) and previous show guest Jeremy Butler (@bar_night). This episode breaks down some of the common questions and fears of people who want to add more plants to their plate.    Enjoy, friends.   Simon Want to support the show?  The best way to support the show is to use the products and services offered by our sponsors. To check them out, and enjoy great savings, visit theproof.com/friends.  Simon Hill, Msc, Bsc (Hons)  Creator of theproof.com and host of The Proof with Simon Hill  Author of The Proof is in the Plants  Watch the episodes on YouTube, or Listen on Apple/Spotify  Connect with me on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook  Download my complimentary two week meal plan and high protein plant performance recipe book

In Episode #26 of The Proof podcast, I talked with Julian Mitchell about the nutritional and medicinal properties of mushrooms. Julian is the co-founder of Life Cykel, an Australian-based private company that forages for mushrooms and grows them under specific conditions before extracting the medicinal components and packaging them as extracts. On top of that, Julian and his team have set up the National Mushroom Network, which offers everyday people a way to grow commercial amounts of mushrooms in their backyards to service their local communities while generating an income at the same time.   In this episode, we discussed Julian’s personal path to discovering a passion for sustainable food alternatives, how Life Cykel was founded, the different types of medicinal mushrooms and their benefits, and much more.    Enjoy, friends.   Simon Want to support the show?  The best way to support the show is to use the products and services offered by our sponsors. To check them out, and enjoy great savings, visit thep

In Episode #25, I chatted to Emily Hazell, owner of Serotonin Eatery in Melbourne, about cultivating happiness with healthy habits. We covered Emily’s personal health journey and how she went from a career in customer service to build her own business. Listen to find out what inspired the Serotonin Eatery concept, how she set up and marketed the business, and how she uses elements of design to improve the mood of her customers.   There are some great takeaways in this episode, including Emily’s personal tips for finding true happiness and her twelve-step Serotonin formula. Connect with Serotonin on Instagram @serotonindealer or Emily directly @emilyhazellnut.    Enjoy, friends.   Simon Want to support the show?  The best way to support the show is to use the products and services offered by our sponsors. To check them out, and enjoy great savings, visit theproof.com/friends.  Simon Hill, Msc, Bsc (Hons)  Creator of theproof.com and host of The Proof with Simon Hill  Author of The Proof is in the Plants  Wat

In Episode #24, I sat down with co-founder of Plant Based News, Robbie Lockie. Plant Based News has quickly grown to become one of, if not the, most-visited websites for the latest, minute-by-minute, plant-based news. The entire platform is aimed at making people more conscious of the environment, their health, and the other living beings that we share the planet with. Their mission and goals are so well aligned with my own that I couldn’t miss the opportunity to have Robbie on the show to hear just how things have unfolded for him personally and the amazing media company he founded with his business partner, Klaus Mitchell.   Listen to the episode to find out about Robbie’s childhood in Zimbabwe and why he moved to London, his passion for media, his transition to a plant-based lifestyle, the inspiration and team behind Plant Based News, what the future holds for this company, and much more.    Enjoy, friends.   Simon Want to support the show?  The best way to support the show is to use the products and serv

In Episode #23 of The Proof, Jeremy Butler shares his journey from a keto to a plant-based diet. At first glance, Jeremy is your everyday Aussie bloke, who for many years focused, with the best of intentions, on being the healthiest version of himself. What’s fascinating is that beneath the surface Jeremy has gone through a tremendous amount of trial and error to ultimately discover a dietary lifestyle that aligns with his inner values: a diet that causes less harm and promotes longevity.   Listen to find out about Jeremy’s experiences with both the paleo and ketogenic diets and the inner health effects that he noticed behind closed doors. For years, Jeremy ignored these signs and symptoms because he was so committed to the movement, until he had a shift in priorities. He shared with me how he felt on these diets, why he transitioned to a plant-based lifestyle, how it felt to become more compassionate towards other life, and how he encourages healthy eating habits at home with his wife and two children. If yo

In Episode #22, I spoke with Thomas King, CEO and founder of Food Frontier, about cellular and plant-based meat alternatives and how they can save the world. Only 22 years old, Thomas is still one of the most impressive humans I have come across. At age 13, he set up the world’s most-visited website on unsustainable palm oil and the industry’s detrimental effects on the environment. In 2015, Thomas received the Young Australian of the Year award for his work as an environmental activist. Most recently, Thomas has become passionate about alternative meat solutions to help reduce the effect of our current food system on animals and the environment.   In this episode, we discussed how Thomas’s passion for our environment developed and his role as an activist, as well as the current food system, its effects on our environment, and alternative meat solutions. Listen to find out what cellular or clean meat is, how it’s produced and regulated, and what the future of cellular meat and plant-based meat alternatives lo

In Episode #21, I spoke with animal activist James Aspey on the horrors of factory farming and why he gave up meat. An Australian animal activist and vegan, James incredibly took a year-long vow of silence to raise awareness of the animal cruelty that takes place within our food system. He has since become one of the world’s best-known animal activists, having given over 500 free speeches across the globe. James lives and breathes this and is well equipped to explain the scale of the issue of animal-product consumption.    In this episode, we talked about James’s childhood and his health journey, particularly a pivotal time of his life that led him to become more health conscious. He shares more about that year-long vow of silence, what that was like, and how he makes money to be able to dedicate his entire life to activism. We talked about the factory farms and what goes on there and what resources you can check out to educate yourself further. Listen to hear James explain why everyone should consider elimin

In Episode #20, Australian celebrity TV host (and vegan) Osher Günsberg (who formerly went by Andy G or Andrew G) shares his story and, in particular, his battle with mental illness and addiction. With his gift of the gab and contagious smile, it would seem Osher was always destined to entertain, but just how did a kid with anxiety end up hosting live TV in front of millions of viewers? What toll did that take on his mental and physical health? And what learnings does he have to share from that experience?   That’s exactly what this episode is all about – Osher came over to my place in Bondi and we had a really open and honest conversation about what he went through behind the scenes, from the terrible lows to the positive learnings and life-changing experiences. He shared how he has learned to deal with mental illness and alcohol addiction, his battle with weight, why he went plant-based, and how he ended up on the cover of Men’s Health. If you are an Australian and know of Osher, this episode will provide y

In Episode #19, I talked with Frank Cusimano (@dr.cusimano) about using science to make informed food choices. With a host of scientific degrees under his belt, a PhD in nutrition, a medical degree underway, and an absolute passion for reading scientific literature, Frank Cusimano is perfectly suited to navigate us through some commonly asked questions about healthy eating. Interestingly, Frank doesn’t specifically classify himself as a vegan. Rather, he chooses his food based on what science says are the healthiest forms of nutrition, and it just so happens that these are animal-free products.   In this episode, we cover Frank’s story and his transition to a plant-based diet. We also dive into a number of common questions around healthy eating, including the optimal times to eat meals, whether we should fast, how much protein we need, whether coconut oil and soy are healthy or beneficial, how important omega-3s are, and much more.    Enjoy, friends.   Simon Want to support the show?  The best way to support

In Episode #18, I sat down with Zanna Van Dijk (@zannavandijk) to talk about leading a conscious life to leave the world in a better place than we found it. Zanna is an extraordinary example of a modern-day plant-based woman who is leading by example to make the world and herself happier and healthier. As you’ll find out, Zanna leads a very busy life and does an amazing job of inspiring people through so many different channels. I had a real ‘hoot’ recording this light-hearted conversation with her in Wimbledon, and it throws up many themes that I hope will provoke further thought by all who listen.   Listen to the episode to hear about Zanna’s early life and her time at university studying speech pathology. We also talked about when and why she started her Instagram; her role as ambassador for Adidas; the #girlgains movement co-created by Zanna; the Fit & Fearless podcast on BBC, which Zanna co-hosts; her brand Stay Wild, which produces swimwear from recycled ocean plastic; and much more.    Enjoy, friends.

In Episode #17, I chatted to the gut health MD Dr William Bulsiewicz about how to cultivate a healthy gut microbiome and what this actually means. Dr B, as he prefers to be called, has a fun and agenda-free way of bringing the latest in gut health science to his clinical practice, website, and social media (@theguthealthmd) for us all to benefit from. Dr B’s résumé speaks for itself: he’s a qualified MD, board-certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology, a Master of Science in Clinical Investigation, and was chief gastroenterology fellow at UNC. He has also published more than twenty scientific articles and given more than forty presentations at national meetings. On top of this, Dr B continues to practice clinically. In this episode, we discussed what the microbiome is and how it can be disrupted, what pre- and probiotics are and what role they play, and how to cultivate a healthy microbiome on a plant-based diet. This episode includes lots of practical information to implement in your own lifestyle.

In Episode #16, I spoke to Fiona Oakes about her path to becoming a marathon runner with three world records despite losing her kneecap (patella) to an illness when she was 17. For me, the really fascinating thing about Fiona’s story is that, despite growing up in a nonvegetarian family, she chose to eat a vegetarian diet at 3 years old and a completely plant-based diet by age 6 due to her love for all animals. After finishing school and working in an office job in London, she eventually started up an animal sanctuary in Essex that still exists today and provides a loving home to over 400 animals.   Fiona is passionate about raising awareness of animal cruelty and showing the world that veganism is both a compassionate and a healthy way to live that can fuel amazing athletic performance. In this episode, we covered Fiona’s conscious decision not to eat animal products at such an early age and how she was ‘different’ to many of her peers growing up. We also discussed her early career in London, how the animal

In Episode #15 of The Proof podcast, I spoke with vegan Derek Sarno about his journey to choosing a life of compassion. Derek Sarno is one of the world’s best-known vegan chefs. One half of the Wicked Healthy team, Derek heads up plant-based product innovation for British grocery giant Tesco. While visiting London, I caught up with Derek and saw firsthand how much love and energy he puts into the food that he creates – just take one look at his Instagram and you will see what I mean! This guy is seriously creative, seriously compassionate, and seriously switched on when it comes to changing the landscape of healthy grocery food.   In this episode, we discussed Derek’s story, from his early years and his diet as a child to becoming a chef and his role at Tesco. Listen to discover how Derek found his way out of grief and substance abuse to adopt a plant-based lifestyle defined by compassion. Connect with Derek, his brother, and Wicked Healthy on Instagram or their website (@DerekSarno, @ChadSarno, @Wickedhealth

In Episode #14, I talked with Matt Cama, an animal activist and weight loss coach from Australia, to ask him to shed some light on what’s happening in factory farms. The cool thing about Matt is that he’s not your typical old-school animal activist – he doesn’t approach things with anger or aggression. His motto is ‘compassion above all else’, and he uses this approach to effectively communicate his message to people from all walks of life, including those with different opinions and belief systems.   In this episode, we chatted about Matt’s upbringing, why he was inspired to change to a plant-based diet and become an animal activist, and how he effectively communicates his message. We also talked about his first-hand experiences at factory farms, and he shared some tips for educating children on where animal products come from. Connect with Matt on Instagram.    Enjoy, friends.   Simon Want to support the show?  The best way to support the show is to use the products and services offered by our sponsors. To