Being a very small minority of vegans, especially here in Russia, sometimes it’s very easy to feel lonely and discouraged. Everyone around has completely different values from what you have, they don’t understand why you bother to “restrict” your diet and avoid a lot of traditional dishes. When you start explaining, you face indifference, or hostility, or more often – mocking and much-heard excuses. Plants feel pain. Lions do therefore I should. I need meat for protein. All that kind of stuff.
So how to keep sane?? How to not lose hope in the humankind?!
For me the solution is to watch or listen to people who I admire, who inspire me and make me love people (if they could go away from carnism – everybody can!). Mostly it’s Youtube and mostly English speakers. There are some cool Russian folks as well, but 1st – you won’t know them, 2nd – they’re not as inspiring. So here’re my Top 5.
1. Happy Healthy Vegan (aka Ryan&Anji) :
They’re my 1st vegan Youtubers!! Before them I didn’t even know there’s such thing! I came across them by accident and fell in love with their vibes. They’re my parents’ age, but look 10-15 years younger, they’re slim, sporty, active, joyful and wise. I love their soft parenty style of talking, I feel cool watching California sunsets. And I’m amaaazed by their music. They have their own band called Lovespirals, and I’m a fan – this is definitely high quality and my style! Warm, friendly, chilled, their videos relax me incredibly, stress-release. Keep it up Ryan and Anji. Keep it carbed, baby ))))
2. Unnatural Vegan (aka Swayze) :
She’s a total opposite to Ryan&Anji. She was the 2nd Youtuber I fell for. Happy Healthy Vegan made a video criticizing her, so I checked out. I like her strictly rational and science-based approach. She talks about nutrition with no exaggerations about benefits of vegan diets. She got me to discover a trustworthy certified vegan dietitian – Ginny Messina, whose blog I use for valid nutritional information. I also like Swayze’s approach to activism which is practical, not black&white, but adapting your message to different people and situations. She got me to discover Vegan Strategist Blog with some remarkable insights about different strategies for spreading veganism in various ways.
3. That Vegan Couple (aka Natasha&Luca) :
I found them through Swayze’s video criticizing their approach. First I didn’t like them (as many people say they did), but after accidental watching a few videos I realized they’re also rational and cool people. (there’s this oil-free argument, but that’s not so important to me, whatever works…) What I love about them is their deep passion for the cause, persistence, utmost consistency. At the same time they’re light-hearted fun people with good sense of humor. Most of their Youtube videos are Responses to Social Media celebrities, and they’re not afraid to look annoying, they persist on spreading the message and eventually gain support from ex-meat lovers. I’m delighted at how much impact they’ve made. They also have a Podcast Show with a quite different content – travelling, relationship, life wisdom&experience, health&fitness, loads and loads of inspiration, interviews with awesome people. Can’t recommend it enough!!
4. Plant-based Enterpreneur Show :
I found this podcast site in Vegan Strategist Blog. It features all kinds of vegan business entrepreneurs from different countries. They tell some interesting details how they started their businesses, what inspired them, what their vision and strategies are, what obstacles they faced. Really genuine people with great ideas and persistence to realize them. I feel so fascinated to know that there’re so many people out there ready to devote their lives to build a world-changing business. For the animals. It makes me resent less about indifferent people around. And for those who seek to make some vegan-friendly businesses – maybe you’ll get some inspiration and ideas! So definitely check that out.
5. Ashley’s Green Life :
Sweet homely Youtube channel of a vegan woman giving great tips about healthy, organized life, house management, raising vegan kids. No controversy, gossips, drama, callouts, excessively detailed personal life vlogs. And still she managed to grow a big channel of more than 100 thousand subs. She feels like a big sister to me).
Of course that’s not all, I do love other youtubers and podcasts as well. Mic the Vegan, High Carb Hannah, Nutrition Facts.Org (famous Dr.Greger), Bite Size Vegan (she’s beyond awesome, but temporarily taking break from making youtube videos), No Meat Athlete Podcast and many more. Even Vegan Gains is ok sometimes))
Such thing as Podcast I discovered not so long ago – it turned out to be super convenient doing household chores while listening to some amazing information and inspiration (feels less like a chore because of that ^^)
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The only one I'd heard of out of these is Dr Michael McGreger. Can't say I had any guru's like these, my inspiration was the ALF.
Don't think of yourself as alone and sad but rather as a trailblazer. Maybe you could start your own business making that cheese or something. I had years of friends taking the piss but that all changed about 15 years ago. After that they went from taking the piss to making excuses like 'oh I don't eat much meat' lol. Change takes time.
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