The first episode of The Bearded Vegans that I listened to was #4- most likely because it was simply what I clicked on at a stoplight a few minutes into my hour plus commute. I’d subscribed a day prior after Andy from Compassion Co. posted about it on Instagram. I’m a serial podcast listener with little patience; I rely on them to amuse and enlighten me for at least 3 hours a day, so I don’t have time to waste on uninteresting babble and don’t give second chances.
A few minutes in to the episode I had to stop listening. Over the course of the previous two minutes, I’d listened to the beards, Andy & Paul, succinctly communicate the exact theory I’ve been trying to live (and blog) by representing an authentic vegan life and resisting hero worship. It was so profound to finally hear someone else clarify what I’ve touched upon for years that I listened to it a few more times (4:07 – 5:52) before having to stop myself from transcribing the diatribe and scrawling it across the walls of my home.
The rest of the episode contained even more riveting discussion that touched upon things I’ve been thinking and/or talking about for years: supporting vegan companies and businesses vs. non-vegan, Daiya, and- via their interview guest Toni Okamoto of Plant-Based on a Budget, how incensing it is when puritan vegans can’t remove the sanctimony out of their ass long enough to enjoy a picture of a chocolate-chip cookie without whining about the evils of salt, oil, sugar, GMOs, and BPA cans for a freakin second! But, I digress.
The Bearded Vegans podcast is described online as follows:
The Bearded Vegans finds hosts Paul and Andy in a discussion dissecting
all things vegan. News, reviews, interviews and in depth discussion of
issues within the vegan community are regular features of the show.
I’d say it’s like like having a candid conversation with your vegan friends- with the exception of having them hear you when you’re talking back to them. Commuting is hard y’all!
Even if you don’t fancy yourself a listener of podcasts, I really recommend subscribing to The Bearded Vegans. I don’t imagine I’ll always agree with them, but I am operating under the assumption that they’ll always make me think.