Vegan Hacks
Vegan Hacks
Jason Kartalian
Veganize your life with this funny and informative podcast about eating plant-based in this modern world. Vegan Hacks offers reviews of veganized chain restaurants, interviews with vegan influencers, discussions of vegan products and inspiring conversation about the future of plant-based diet. 
VEGAN EXCEPT FOR BEEF?!
Can you be vegan… except for beef? It sounds ridiculous, contradictory, and maybe even impossible but there’s a bigger conversation hiding inside that question in involves plant based companies adding beef to their products! Send us Fan Mail
Sep 25
27 min
THE VEGAN RESTAURANT CRISIS: What Happened to California’s Vegan Scene?
California was once one of the biggest centers of vegan food in America. Now, restaurants are closing, locations are disappearing, and even some companies that built their identity around plant-based food are changing direction. On this episode of Vegan Hacks Pod, Jason breaks down what’s happening to the vegan food scene from Hart House, Monty’s Good Burger and The Vegan Joint to the growing pressure facing independent vegan restaurants. We also get into the complicated story of Sunday Suppe...
Sep 18
34 min
Beyond Meat Goes GNC: Has Beyond Lost the Plot?
Beyond Meat is going through another major transformation and this time, they're going way beyond meat. The company is launching its new PhytoSphere platform, featuring protein powders, savory jerky bars, Veggie burgers, beverages and other products built around the idea of stacking plant nutrients and entering “thrive mode.” But is this actually the future of plant-based food… or has Beyond Meat completely lost sight of what made the company important in the first place? Send us Fan Mail
Sep 11
31 min
TOFU RECALL! What Happened to One of Veganism’s Favorite Brands?
There was a lot of panic when news broke about a tofu recall. But once you look past the headlines, there’s a much more interesting story. In this episode, we get into the Hodo Foods recall, what actually happened, and how one small, independent tofu company grew from a farmers market operation into a major national brand. But the bigger question is what happens when an independent vegan-friendly company gets taken over by larger corporate interests. We also talk about the future of flavored ...
Sep 3
30 min
BUSINESS or BETRAYAL? Beyond Meat’s Vegan Problem
Beyond Meat was once one of the biggest names in the plant-based movement—but is the company now moving away from the very vegan customers who helped build the brand? In this episode, I dive into Beyond Meat’s new collaboration with Milk Bar, where Beyond products are being used alongside real eggs and dairy cheese. Is this a smart attempt to reach the massive flexitarian market, or does it undermine the ethical and environmental identity Beyond Meat built its brand around? I also talk about ...
Aug 29
32 min
Who Owns Veganism? Brands, Culture Wars & Vegan Influencers
This week, I’m digging into some fascinating and occasionally infuriating vegan conversations happening online. First up: Miyoko Creamery. Miyoko Schinner reviews the current Myoko-branded cream cheese and explains why she has nothing to do with the product bearing her name. We get into what happened to the company she founded, how the brand changed, and what it means when a vegan brand becomes disconnected from the person and mission that built it. Then we jump into the increasingly strange ...
Aug 21
24 min
Beyond Meat Is In Trouble: What Happened to Plant-Based Meat?
Beyond Meat was once the biggest name in plant-based meat. Its stock once traded for nearly $240 a share. Now it’s trading around 41 cents, and the company is taking the dramatic step of a 1-for-30 reverse stock split to avoid being delisted from Nasdaq. So what happened? In this episode, I take a look at Beyond Meat’s financial problems, its attempt to reinvent itself as a broader protein company, and what the company’s current situation says about the plant-based meat industry. But t...
Aug 13
30 min
My Seitan Video Went Viral, Here's What 5,000+ Comments Taught Me
My seitan (aka "homemade meat") video just crossed 2.7 million views on TikTok and gained me over 25,000 new followers but it also brought in over 5,000 comments, and a solid 60-70% of them were... not kind. In this episode, I'm reading through some of the funniest, most confused, most surprisingly thoughtful, and most unhinged comments I got — from people convinced I invented bread, to a self-proclaimed chemistry professor explaining gluten formation, to meat-eaters defending seitan harder t...
Jul 31
21 min
Indian Cuisine, Veganism & Finding Your Community | Mohana Holloway
Follow Mohana on IG @veganmomo_ In this episode of Vegan Hacks, I sit down with Mohana Holloway to explore how her Indian heritage shaped her journey to veganism, why learning to cook is one of the most powerful skills for any vegan, and how culture has influenced plant-based eating for generations. We dive into naturally vegan Indian dishes, underrated spices everyone should have in their pantry, dorm-room cooking hacks, vegan travel, finding community in unexpected places like Phoen...
Jul 24
34 min
The Vegas Vegan Food Scene Is Better Than You Think
I just got back from Las Vegas, and I'm sharing my favorite vegan food experiences from hidden local gems to restaurants that completely exceeded my expectations. In this episode I talk about incredible spots like Chef Kenny's, Earthly, Tacotarian, Daikon Sushi, Tarantino's, Crossroads, and the all-you-can-eat vegan Korean BBQ experience at Master Kim's. I also explain why I think some of the best vegan food in Vegas is found away from the Strip. In the second half of the episode, I respond t...
Jul 10
29 min
Load more