Episode 418: Stephanie Downs and Kat Mendenhall

Welcome to the 418th episode of Our Hen House!


First, Mariann talks to Stephanie Downs about bringing plant-based meat to India with her start-up company, Gooddot. Stephanie Downs is an entrepreneur turned social activist. Her journey took her from the business world to the non-profit sector before finally realizing her place was in the middle between the two worlds – a social enterprise. She founded her first company in 1999, which she sold in 2014. During these years, she assisted global animal welfare organizations and started her own charity to help homeless animals. During a trip to India in 2012, Stephanie fell in love with the country and the people. It was a dream come true when the opportunity presented itself to launch a company in India to save lives.
Then, Jasmin talks to Kat Mendenhall about making Vegan boots in Texas! A Texas vegan activist, Kat Mendenhal, Purveyor of Handmade Vegan Goods, is on a mission to mend the world through whole-plant based nutrition and cruelty-free products. She combines her nutrition studies and culinary training to implement effective coaching and cooking services for her clients. In addition, Kat shows her passion as a boot maven in the creation of her custom handmade vegan cowboy boots and non-leather accessories. She is a master vegan lifestyle coach and educator certified by Main Street Vegan Academy, a culinary nutrition expert certified by The Academy of Culinary Nutrition, certified in plant based nutrition through the T. Colin Campbell Foundation/eCornell University, and a Food For Life Instructor certified by Physicians Committee. On www.katmendnehall.com you can read about her private or group coaching, teaching, and cooking services; boots and fashion goods; get recipes, lifestyle and business tips from her blog; and schedule Kat to speak or provide a cooking demo at your next event.

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Plus, Mariann covers this week’s News and Rising Anxieties!

As always, the award-winning weekly Our Hen House podcast is hosted by Mariann Sullivan and Jasmin Singer.

This episode is brought to you in part through the generosity of A Well-Fed World. A Well-Fed World is a hunger relief and animal protection organization chipping away at two of the world’s most immense, unnecessary and unconscionable forms of suffering… the suffering of people hungry from lack of food, and the suffering of animals used and abused for food. Mending our unjust food system is a critical part of solving the world’s most destructive and persistent problems. Fortunately, the plant-based foods that promote health and well-being are the same foods that conserve resources to better feed the world, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting the environment. A Well-Fed World provides the means for change by empowering individuals, social justice organizations, and political decision makers to embrace the benefits of plant-based foods and farming. Learn more at awfw.org.
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The Our Hen House theme song is written and sung by the incredible Michael Harren, who is also OHH’s Director of Communications! Don’t forget to tune into Our Hen House’s other two podcasts: The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and The Animal Law Podcast.