Podcast Summary
Empowering change through daily choices: Support systems and companies that align with our values, even small decisions can make a big impact, and choose quality, innovative, and sustainable products from companies like Momentous, ON, and Go Brewing.
As individuals, we have the power to make a difference in the world through our daily choices as consumers and citizens. We can support systems and companies that align with our values, and even small decisions can add up to make a significant impact. This was a recurring theme in Rich Roll's podcast conversations with various thought leaders and change makers. Additionally, the podcast was sponsored by companies that prioritize quality, innovation, and sustainability, such as Momentous, ON, and Go Brewing. These companies offer products that not only meet but exceed industry standards and provide solutions to common problems, making it easier for consumers to make informed choices that align with their values.
Discovering Delicious Alcohol-Free Beers and Customized Groceries: Go Brewing creates top-quality, natural alcohol-free beers, while Lighter offers personalized grocery lists and weekly menus based on expert recommendations.
Go Brewing offers a range of delicious, small batch craft alcohol-free beers made with natural ingredients and without added sugar or artificial processing. Go Brewing's double IPA is a standout, but every brew is made to perfection. Meanwhile, Lighter is a new online platform that offers customized grocery lists and weekly menus based on recommendations from health experts, athletes, and world changers. Founders Micah Risk and Alexis Fox, who met through their shared mission to challenge the standard American diet, bring unique perspectives to the table. Micah, an endurance athlete, nutrition expert, and former World Health Organization employee, and Alexis, a former debate champion, improv comedian, attorney, and college professor, make a dynamic duo. Together, they're working to promote positive change in the food system and support healthy life changes through their community-building efforts.
Emphasizing the urgency to switch to plant-based diets: Doctors and individuals shared their sense of urgency to help people adopt plant-based diets to save lives at recent conferences. These events offered a sense of community, making the transition less daunting and more joyful.
The urgency to help people switch to a plant-based diet is crucial, as it can save lives. This was emphasized at recent conferences like the Physicians Committee and Plant Stock, where doctors and individuals battling health issues shared their sense of urgency. The contrast between these events was notable: while Neil's event focused on healthcare professionals, Plant Stock attracted consumers recovering from serious health conditions. The acuteness of the need to change was palpable, as people shared their stories of reversing health issues through plant-based diets. Moreover, these events provided a sense of community, which is essential when asking people to reject standard American culture and adopt a new lifestyle. By offering an alternative community, we can make the transition feel less daunting and more joyful.
Creating a supportive community for plant-based living: Lighter bridges the gap in the plant-based community by offering a welcoming space, customized tools, and inspirational figures to make the transition to a plant-based lifestyle easier and more accessible
Building a supportive community is essential for long-term success in adopting a new lifestyle or diet, such as plant-based eating. This was emphasized in the discussion, with the example of the paleo community's success in cultivating a strong community around their lifestyle. The plant-based community, on the other hand, has struggled historically with alignment and fractured communication. Lighter, as a solution, aims to bridge this gap by creating a welcoming community and providing customized tools to make the transition to a plant-based diet easier. This includes profiling inspirational figures, customizing nutrition guidelines, and offering grocery delivery. By focusing on community and individual needs, Lighter aims to make the transition to a plant-based lifestyle more accessible and appealing to a wider audience.
Revolutionizing Food Access with Technology: Companies like Walmart, Instacart, Amazon, and Google are making grocery delivery more accessible, while doctors prescribe personalized nutrition plans and have groceries delivered directly to patients. Founders with a team of engineers and data scientists are leading this tech-heavy approach to make healthy eating more accessible and convenient at scale.
Technology is revolutionizing the way we access and consume food, particularly in the realm of grocery delivery and personalized nutrition plans. Companies like Walmart, Instacart, Amazon, and Google are making it easier for customers to get their groceries through digital databases and delivery services. Doctors are also getting involved by prescribing nutrition plans and having groceries delivered directly to patients. However, access to certain foods can still be a challenge depending on geographic location or financial constraints. The solution is dynamic platforms that can adapt to individual needs and take into consideration what is available in different areas. This tech-heavy approach is changing the game, allowing for more personalized and convenient food options at an unprecedented scale. The founders of this company, who were not originally tech experts, are leading this transformation with a team of engineers and data scientists. The possibilities for business and improving lives are endless, and this moment in time marks a significant shift in the way we approach food and nutrition. The idea for this platform came about through social connections and a shared passion for making healthy eating more accessible.
From grocery delivery to global impact through technology: Two individuals used technology to pivot from a grocery delivery service to a global software solution, making a positive impact on people's food choices in over 100 countries.
Two individuals, who grew up in different places and met years later, started a company with a mission to help people eat better through technology. Their initial goal was to use technology to solve the problem of promoting healthier food choices, but they didn't have a clear idea of what that would look like. They adopted the Lean Startup methodology, which involves testing hypotheses and quickly learning from failures. Their backgrounds were in food policy and nutrition science, but they found that making a difference in the food system through policy changes was a slow process. Instead, they pivoted and evolved their company, Lighter, from a grocery delivery service with a customized meal plan to a more sophisticated software solution that can help hundreds of thousands of people in over 100 countries. Their growth is infinite, and they're committed to using technology to make a positive impact on a global scale.
Collaboration and innovation in action: Through partnerships and innovation, Lighter transformed into a market network platform, empowering leaders in the plant-based community to offer recommendations and have them customized and delivered, making their service more effective and impactful.
Collaboration and innovation can help solve complex problems. My friends Amanda de Cadenet and Micah Rasgados, creators of The Conversation podcast and Lighter, faced the challenge of making plant-based meal plans accessible to all. They wanted to empower others to inspire and motivate people to eat better, but needed a solution to the technical aspect of meal planning and grocery delivery. Through partnerships and innovation, they transformed Lighter into a market network platform, allowing leaders in the movement to offer their recommendations and have them customized and delivered. This not only made their service more effective, but also allowed them to collaborate with influential figures in the plant-based community. By working together and embracing new ideas, they were able to overcome obstacles and make a bigger impact. Listen to The Conversation podcast and explore other groundbreaking series at voicingchange.media.
Using technology to personalize plant-based meal recommendations: Machine learning algorithms can analyze user data to provide personalized meal suggestions, making plant-based eating more accessible and convenient for a wider audience.
The use of technology and machine learning in a plant-based movement can significantly enhance the user experience by providing personalized and customized meal recommendations based on individual preferences and dietary needs. This not only makes the platform more accessible and inclusive, but also allows users to connect with like-minded individuals and voices within the movement. The founder's decision to share their knowledge and resources with the community instead of keeping it proprietary is a powerful example of collaboration and collective growth. Machine learning algorithms can analyze large amounts of data to predict what a user might like or need, making the platform more efficient and effective in delivering personalized meal suggestions. The potential for this technology to understand and anticipate users' preferences and dietary requirements is exciting, and can help make plant-based eating more accessible and convenient for a wider audience. Ultimately, the use of technology in this way can help bridge the gap between individuals and the plant-based movement, making it more inclusive, personalized, and effective.
Customizing Dietary Recommendations for Individual Needs: Companies can foster community support, offer convenient options, and customize dietary recommendations to help people adopt plant-based diets, addressing both health and environmental concerns.
While there are general truths about the correlation between diet and health outcomes, nutrition is highly individual. Therefore, it's essential to customize dietary recommendations to fit into people's unique lifestyles and preferences. This includes anticipating their needs, providing community support, and offering convenient options for those who don't have time to cook. The community aspect is crucial for keeping people engaged and invested in their dietary goals. Companies can foster this sense of participation and connectivity by enabling people to connect and communicate with each other on the platform. Additionally, there's a growing demand for convenient, plant-based meal options, and companies are responding by offering prepared meals and meal kit delivery services. These services can be integrated into grocery stores to make plant-based eating more accessible and convenient for people. Beyond health, many people are drawn to plant-based diets for environmental and sustainability reasons, and addressing these concerns is an important aspect of promoting the movement.
Reducing waste in meal kit delivery services and the importance of leadership: Companies like Instacart reduce waste with reusable bags, and effective leadership emphasizes listening, personal growth, and making a difference in the world.
Reducing waste in meal kit delivery services is a significant challenge, but companies like Instacart are finding solutions by using reusable bags. Another key takeaway from the conversation is the importance of leadership in various aspects of life. Micah, an athlete and nutrition expert, brings a unique perspective, while Alexis, a former leadership professor, emphasizes the importance of listening and personal growth. Together, they demonstrate how individual experiences and passions can make a difference in the world. The conversation also touched upon the transformative impact of leadership education, with Micah sharing how it led her to rediscover her power and pursue new opportunities. Overall, the discussion highlighted the importance of mindful consumption, personal growth, and effective leadership in creating positive change.
Recognize the power of your beliefs and take initiative: Believe in your ability to shape the future, take imperfect actions, and push for change to make your beliefs a reality.
Believing in one's ability to shape the future is the first step towards leadership and personal growth. Many people feel disenfranchised and unable to make a lasting impact on culture, but it starts with recognizing the power we have over our own thoughts, emotions, and responses. Schools may teach us to wait for permission to speak and be perfect before taking action, but true progress is made through imperfect attempts and persistence. The next step is to take our beliefs about the world and actively work towards making them a reality. Women, in particular, have been taught to be quiet and memorize information, but to lead and make progress, we must take initiative and push for change.
Parents play a crucial role in instilling essential skills for leadership and entrepreneurship in children: Parents can teach essential skills like setting boundaries, having a strong sense of self, and being resilient by setting boundaries, exposing children to strong role models, and encouraging individual activities.
While formal education is important, it doesn't teach essential skills for leadership and entrepreneurship. These skills include setting and respecting boundaries, having a strong sense of self, and being resilient in the face of adversity. Parents play a crucial role in instilling these skills in their children. They can do this by setting boundaries and teaching their children that they have control over their future. It's also important to expose children to strong, powerful female role models and to help them develop resilience by encouraging them to participate in individual activities and to learn from both wins and losses. The media often fails to highlight these role models, so parents must take an active role in shifting the spotlight and empowering the next generation of girls.
Appreciating the Impact of Strong Women: Celebrate women's contributions, build supportive relationships, and model positive behaviors for future generations.
Recognizing and celebrating the contributions of women, especially in areas where they face societal expectations to excel in multiple roles, is crucial. The speaker shares her appreciation for the impactful music of strong women from her past and hopes for more of such representation. She also emphasizes the importance of community and supportive relationships in navigating life's challenges. As an example, she highlights Micah's achievements as a startup entrepreneur, single mom, and athlete, and the impact of her team, friends, and community on her life. By sharing her experiences, she encourages women to surround themselves with great people and do work that brings them joy while acknowledging the challenges of balancing various responsibilities. Ultimately, the speaker believes that modeling positive behaviors and actions for future generations is a powerful motivator.
Balancing health, ethics, and family: Making choices that align with values and prioritizing health, ethics, and family can be challenging but achievable with careful planning and commitment.
Prioritizing health, ethical values, and family can be challenging but achievable with careful planning and commitment. The speaker, who is a plant-based athlete and entrepreneur, shared her daily routine, which includes working long hours, exercising, picking up her daughter from school, and working on her business. She emphasized the importance of making choices that align with what's important to us, as everyone has the same 24 hours in a day. The speaker's journey to a plant-based lifestyle began with a strong ethical stance against factory farming and a desire to make a positive impact on the world. She faced challenges, including social pressure and lack of availability of plant-based options, but her family was supportive, and she found creative ways to spread awareness and make plant-based food accessible. Her experience shows that with determination and a clear vision, it's possible to make significant changes in one's life, even in the face of adversity.
Plant-based diets for athletes: Micah's story: Micah, a vegan athlete, shares his experiences adapting to new food environments and staying committed to his plant-based diet. His story highlights the importance of finding resources and role models to help navigate challenges.
Plant-based diets, including veganism, can be nutritious and suitable for athletes. Micah Raskin, a vegan for 15 years and a former college soccer player, shares how he has dealt with skeptics by pointing them to successful vegan athletes and showcasing his own healthy lifestyle. Micah's experiences include adapting to new food environments, such as Russia, where he learned to cook lentils and other vegetarian staples, and even seeking out illegal markets to find tofu. These experiences underscore the determination and creativity required to maintain a plant-based diet, especially when faced with challenges or cultural barriers. Ultimately, Micah's story highlights the importance of staying committed to one's beliefs and finding resources, such as successful role models and community, to help navigate the journey.
Navigating cultural differences and obstacles in adopting a plant-based diet: Commitment, adaptation, and planning are crucial when adopting a plant-based diet, especially in challenging environments. Enjoyable and satiating plant-based meals and responsible meal planning can help overcome obstacles and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Commitment and adaptation are key when it comes to adopting a plant-based diet, especially in challenging environments. The speaker, who lived in a foreign country for a year and had to navigate local markets and cooking practices, found that the experience translated into creating simple, affordable, and globally accessible plant-based recipes for their company. Despite facing cultural differences and obstacles, the speaker's dedication to nutrition and health led to a positive experience and valuable insights. Additionally, the speaker's experience in studying nutrition at a research-oriented institution revealed no pushback towards plant-based diets and instead found support for their health benefits. However, the biggest challenges in making the switch and sticking to a plant-based diet can vary from person to person, but often involve finding enjoyable and satiating foods and planning meals responsibly to avoid making unhealthy choices when hungry. Overall, the speaker's journey highlights the importance of commitment, adaptation, and planning when making significant dietary changes.
Creating supportive communities and making healthy choices convenient: Forming supportive communities and making healthy choices easy and convenient can help individuals adopt new habits like a plant-based diet or an active lifestyle in 21 days.
Forming supportive communities and making healthy choices convenient can help individuals adopt new habits, such as a plant-based diet or a more active lifestyle. It takes about 21 days to form a new habit, but finding the motivation to make healthier choices in the first place can be a challenge. Social influence and community support can make a significant difference, as seen in Micah's experience with the November Project. Additionally, making healthy choices easy and convenient, such as having a healthy meal or bike path readily available, can help individuals make sustainable changes. Leadership plays a crucial role in creating these supportive communities and making healthy choices accessible. By bringing together influential individuals in a movement, such as a plant-based diet, and facilitating collaboration and conversation, meaningful change can be made.
Fostering strong relationships in social movements: Building friendships and open communication among social movement members can help break down barriers, share ideas and experiences, and provide a supportive network for change leaders.
The key to a successful social movement lies not only in shared purpose and vision, but also in the power of friendships and open communication among its members. While the plant-based community may face challenges due to its fractured nature, fostering strong relationships can help break down barriers, enable the sharing of ideas and experiences, and provide a supportive network for individuals bearing the responsibility of leading change. By creating an environment where people can be vulnerable and open with each other, we can harness the human element of business and social movements to create meaningful progress.
Powerful women in plant-based food movement connect and strategize during retreat in Tuscany: Connecting with others and staying informed about regulatory policies can lead to significant growth and change in business, especially in the plant-based food industry as consumer preferences shift and government policies evolve.
Creating meaningful connections and collaborations, whether it's in business or personal life, can lead to significant growth and change. This was exemplified during a retreat in Tuscany where powerful women in the plant-based food movement came together to strategize and connect. In the end, retreats like these were life-changing for all involved. Moreover, navigating the complexities of partnerships, dealing with regulatory agencies, and staying informed about government policies that impact businesses are crucial for success. In the food industry, this is especially important as consumer preferences shift away from the dairy industry, leading to government bailouts and the need for innovation. Despite the challenges, there is an American spirit of innovation that can be harnessed to make a positive impact on the world through business. By celebrating and promoting this narrative, companies in the food industry can continue to make a difference and contribute to the betterment of society and the planet. Overall, building meaningful connections and staying informed about the political landscape are essential for driving change and growth in business.
Plant-based food industry surge: Entrepreneurs, consumers, and investors lead the way: Entrepreneurs, consumers, and investors are driving the growth of the plant-based food industry, offering significant returns and positive change
The plant-based food industry is experiencing a surge in investment due to its potential to disrupt and improve the dysfunctional food system. Entrepreneurs like Micah and Ethan, who were once uncertain about entering the tech, medicine, or finance industries, are now leading companies in this space. The opportunity for investment is huge, with leading venture capitalists recognizing the potential for significant returns by getting in early. Consumers also play a crucial role in driving change by making conscious choices about the food they consume. It's not necessary to be a CEO of a tech company to make a difference; every person has the power to impact the world through their daily choices. The plant-based food industry's growth is just the beginning, with big names like Krystal, Biz Stone, Bill Gates, and Google Ventures already making investments. The potential for innovation and technology to make significant changes for the betterment of humanity is incredibly exciting and profitable.
Small actions, big impact: Small choices can lead to significant changes in life, even without a clear goal or roadmap. Trust the process and make decisions that align with your values.
Small, everyday choices can lead to significant changes in one's life. This idea was emphasized by Micah, who shared his personal experience of transitioning to a plant-based lifestyle and discovering a new sense of empowerment and self-improvement. He emphasized that it's not necessary to have a clear goal or roadmap from the start, but rather to trust the process and make decisions that align with one's values. Micah also mentioned how his past experiences, such as doing improv comedy in college, played a role in shaping who he is today and preparing him for his current work. Overall, the conversation underscored the idea that small actions can lead to meaningful and unexpected outcomes.
Improv skills for entrepreneurs: agree, build, and stay open: Improv techniques like 'yes, and' and staying open to new ideas can lead to creativity, innovation, and positive outcomes in business and life. Patience, self-forgiveness, and supportive communities can help make lifestyle changes stick.
Having confidence and the ability to adapt and improvise are crucial skills, especially for entrepreneurs. Improvisation, a technique often used in comedy, can be applied to various aspects of life, including business. One essential rule in improv is "yes, and," which means agreeing and building upon ideas instead of rejecting them. This approach can lead to creativity, innovation, and a more positive and productive outcome. Additionally, paying attention to detail and aesthetics can help make a difference in how people perceive and engage with a brand or project. For those struggling to adopt a new lifestyle or make it stick, patience, self-forgiveness, trying new things, and finding supportive communities are essential. Technology can also play a significant role in connecting people and facilitating positive change. Overall, staying optimistic and open to new experiences and opportunities can lead to personal growth and a more fulfilling life.
Meet Micah and Alexis: Two Individuals Changing the World Through Physical Feats and Encouraging Others: Identify one thing you can do to shift your consciousness and create a positive impact, meet inspiring individuals Micah and Alexis who push human limits and encourage health and wellness.
Micah and Alexis, two inspiring individuals, push the limits of human capability through their physical feats and encourage others to do the same in their own ways. They are changing the world through their actions and building a new culture around health and wellness. To learn more about them and their work, visit lighter.world and follow them on social media, specifically @micah3underscoreslightfoot on Twitter and @3underscoreslightfoot.lenses on Instagram. Remember, we all hold the power to change the world, so identify one thing you can do to shift your consciousness and create a positive impact. Tune in next week for another inspiring episode.
