Two peas in a pod-cast

Matthew Randell reviews the new vegan podcast ‘Two Vs and a Pod’

I like veganism. I buy a lot of plant-based milks and butters, and haven’t eaten meat in nearly five years. I’m just cheese, cheap chocolate, and the occasional egg away. Because of my interest and affinity with the lifestyle, I have been in several vegan communities over the years, and I’m sad to say I found some of the stereotypes you hear about vegans to be quite accurate in some cases. There is an understandable anger about the injustice towards animals that so often ends up being misdirected at people who would benefit more from education than vituperation.

For this reason, I was intrigued, albeit somewhat sceptical, to hear of a podcast hosted by ‘relatable, day-to-day vegans’. These hosts are Instagram’s Issythevegan and BensVeganKitchen, who have over 17k and 21k followers respectively, and largely post picture of food, proving (in Ben’s words), that ‘vegans eat more than just grass (and pasta)’.

As it’s their first episode, they start off talking about how they became vegan, and I was surprised to learn they had both only been vegan for a few years. While this may seem inexperienced to host a veganism show, I find it makes them much more relatable, as they’re able to pretty clearly recall their lives beforehand: life as omnivores, taking the plunge, and how their bodies and loved ones reacted to the change. What I found particularly endearing was how they acknowledge that it can be a difficult transition to make – something I often feel like some vegans overlook.

About halfway through the episode, the pair bring on their guests - Matthew and Jane, the founders of ‘Veganuary’. While I’ve never partaken of the classic Veganuary, I have done Vegan February (what I call Vegruary) in 2017-19, and in 2020 a waste-free February inspired by the concept. I was shocked to learn that the movement had only been started in 2014 - sometimes I forget how recent a trend the rise in veganism is. The rest of the episode is a typical and light-hearted (other than the occasional mention of slaughterhouses) interview about the couple - how they met, became vegan, started Veganuary, and how the movement has grown (doubling its participants every year!).

Overall, the hosts are likeable and talk about veganism in a genuinely useful way. I’m definitely going to stay subscribed, and would recommend it to anybody, be you vegan, nearly, or not even trying.

Pexels / R Khalil