Planted In Miami

Sabra Seligman is a fireball of energy and maybe that’s because the food she is serving at her new plant-based restaurant, Manna Life Food, is giving her all of that divine nourishment. With her background deeply rooted in the wellness industry, Sabra set out to open a Wellness Center in Miami after spending a majority of her life living abroad. But she quickly came to realize that the last thing Miami needed was another spa. Instead, she set her sights higher and created Manna Life Food, a space where people can connect with mind, body and soul. Born in West Africa from parents of Canadian and Colombian descent and under the tutelage of Chef Mark Reinfeld, she has drawn from her extensive travels and experiences to offer menu items and flavor combinations as diverse as all of the exotic places she's lived and visited. With Manna Life Food slated to open on March 7th, Sabra has worked dutifully to offer Miami’s residents and visitors a healthy alternative in Downtown Miami to those that want to taste a little

Back in Episode 4, we sat down with Alexis Garcia to discuss his upcoming challenge of running across the entire island of Cuba. Now he's back for Round 2 on the podcast to tell us all about this amazing feat and he brought his side-kick and planner extraordinaire wife, Marlene.  After dealing with arduous conditions, the Cuban police and scarce resources, they completed the goal of running the entire island, 1,000 miles in less than 35 days.  We talk all about their adventures and the upcoming documentary that they filmed of their experience.  This is a laugh out loud episode that you don't want to miss.For behind the scene photos, show notes and more visit www.plantedinmiami.com Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @plantedinmiami

Be Bold. Be Daring. Be Relevant. Maybe this is a phrase you would expect to hear from a cutting edge sports apparel line or from some new age inspirational Guru; but not from a small, local community theatre. But the Main Street Players is just that. As they prepare to kick off their 2016 season, we sit down with Robert Coppel and Dennis Lyzniak, the Artistic Director and Playhouse Manager, respectively, and talk about how they got started in the theatre business as well as the impact theatre can have in our lives and our community and everything in between. The Main Street Players Community Theatre is a hidden gem located in the quaint town of Miami Lakes. For as little as $25 per show, you can watch Pulitzer Prize winning plays for a fraction of the cost of the big, professional theatre’s while simultaneously supporting small business and up-and-coming actors. Their season opens with the award winning play, Water by the Spoonful, by Quiara Algería Hudes, directed by Robert Coppel and continues with Stage Ki

For Oscar Fuentes, a.k.a. The Biscayne Poet, Miami has served as a beautiful, motivating inspiration. His love of jazz and poetry were intensified after a brief stint in New York but Miami with all of it’s passion, culture and mystery was the muse he needed to fully expand his art. He’s commonly seen at events with one of his 11 typewriters creating poems on the spot or performing beat poetry with latin jazz group, The Oscar Fuentes Combo. We talk about how he overcomes his vulnerabilities to courageously share his work, what’s the deal behind his signature look and why Miami’s culture is richer than we believe.  We hope you enjoy the convo.For behind the scenes photos, shows notes and more visit www.plantedinmiami.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @plantedinmiami.

If you think vegans are all tree hugging, pachouli oil wearing hippies (not that’s there’s anything wrong with that) then you’re wrong. Enter John Lewis, more commonly known as Bad Ass Vegan. John is a 6’6 powerhouse who created the brand Bad Ass Vegan (BAV) to bust the stereotypes of what vegans look like and to prove that begin vegan is cool. Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, John wasn’t exposed to vegetarianism until he moved to Florida and discovered foods like avocados, plantains and mangos. When his mother was diagnosed with colon cancer and her doctor told him that too much animal protein was to blame, he finished making the transition to veganism. Now, nearly 10 years laster, John is a successful entrepreneur who has taken the BAV brand he thought of while out on a run one day to nationwide and worldwide prominence. Through personal training, consultations and his popular 'Midnight Motivation' on Instagram, John has been able to help motivate and inspire countless individuals to transition to a veg

When Dr. Dribble's father packed away his video games and told him to go play outside, he had no idea that years later, his son would be traveling the country running marathons while dribbling two basketballs for charity. Darren Weissman's love of the game of basketball has propelled him into a career of helping people on and off the courts. After a dare a few years back from some friends, Dr. Dribble ran his first full marathon dribbling two balls and crushing the existing Guiness World Record.  Prior to the event, he knew nothing of the actual distance of the race nor any information on a previous world record.  He just did the race for a good time.  It was later that he created his charity, Doctor Dribble's Helping Hands, where he raises money to help at-risk youth or those dealing with difficult times. This episode is full of great stories and lessons Darren has learned along the way. We hope you enjoy it.For behind the scenes photos, show notes and more visit www.plantedinmiami.com Follow us on Instagram

In this special "Bonus McGonus" episode, we recount Alex's experience at his very first marathon - the Baton Rouge Beach Marathon on December 5, 2015.  Jeanette and I want to thank everyone who offered their support and words of encouragement, especially Bart Yasso, Vincent Antounez (we hope we spelled that correctly!) and Paula Boone. We had a great time putting this together for you so we hope you enjoy it. This one's for you, Dad. For behind the scenes photos, show notes and more visit www.plantedinmiami.com Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @plantedinmiami  

A ‘Busker’ is any type of street performer: musician, comedian, dancer, juggler, acrobat artist, etc. In most metropolitan areas, cultural programs dedicated to promoting the arts coordinate Buskers throughout the city in subway stations, street corners and other high traffic areas. The mission is to expose residents and visitors to a variety of talent and give an experience of connection through music, dance and more. Buskerfest Miami, created in 2013, was founded with this idea in mind to bring local performers (and beyond) to Downtown Miami. On Friday, December 11, Buskerfest Miami will showcase over 40 acts and will include a variety of talent and different genres of music. 

We sat down with two of the founding members, Justin Trieger and Amy Cozette San Pedro, to discuss how Buskerfest was created and what we can expect from this year’s event. We also discuss the Miami arts scene and how you can get involved with this ever-changing landscape. Listen on iTunes or StitcherFor behind the scenes photos, sho

In this episode, Jeanette and I talk about our experience at the 2nd annual Seed Food & Wine Festival (or as Jeanette likes to call it, the Super Bowl for Vegans) held in Mana Wynwood.  This year Seed was bigger and better than the year before with top-notch speakers, cooking demonstrations, a Burger Battle, so many wonderful plant-based and vegan restaurants and vendors and much, much more.  We were happy to see all of the people who came out to support this event and thankful to all of the participants who are doing their part to raise the awareness and consciousness of this plant-based movement.To see behind the scenes photos, show notes and more visit www.plantedinmiami.com. Follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @plantedinmiami  Thanks for listening!

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” This now ancient but powerful quote from Hippocrates couldn’t ring more true than with our next guest, Rosanne Calabrese, A.P. After battling chronic fatigue syndrome, allergies, digestive issues and chronic headaches over 20 years ago with no resolution, Rosanne took matters into her own hands and learned how to use nutrition, herbs and homeopathy to heal her body and achieve optimal wellness. Inspired by the healing properties of food and herbs, Rosanne returned to school to study acupuncture and traditional Chinese Medicine and eventually opened her practice, Partners in Healing, a true Holistic Health Center that dedicates itself to the reversal of the disease process and the prevention of illness, relief from pain and a host of other maladies. Rosanne’s story will empower you to take back control of your health and underscores the impressive capacity our bodies have to heal themselves naturally.For behind the scenes photos, show notes and more visit ww

With more and more people moving to Miami everyday, congestion is everywhere – on the major thoroughfares as well as the neighborhood streets.  In this episode, local architects and cycling enthusiasts, Victor Dover and Maricé Chael, are encouraging more people to ditch their cars and hop on public transportation and bicycles to get to where they want to go and make better use of their time. As architects and urban planners, Victor and Maricé know that a city’s design can have major implications on how people choose to commute and enjoy the outdoors. They also believe that with some small changes we will be able to not only improve how we get around South Florida but also improve our personal lives by using our local transit system and bicycles. One way they are bringing awareness and exposing more people to these alternate forms of transportation is an event they are behind called Wheels. Taking place November 11th through November 15th, you can learn how to bike, walk, and use the public transit system to g

Hip hop is everywhere nowadays…television, advertisements, billboards and even the slang that’s become a natural part of our lexicon.  Why has this music permeated our culture in such a powerful way?  This music, which was founded in the streets of New York City as a form of expression in the urban communities, has cemented its status as a successful and profitable genre. Eric F. Narciandi or DJ EFN, began his love affair with hip hop as a kid growing up in the 80’s/90’s in Miami’s Kendall neighborhood. Inspired by groups such as NWA and Public Enemy, he knew he wanted to be involved in the hip hop scene so he created Crazy Hood Productions after graduating from high school. He helped put Miami on the map as a legitimate hip hop city, bringing its special flavor to the masses. In 2012, after learning of a thriving hip hop scene in Cuba, he decided to explore his roots through his passion of music and from this the ‘Coming Home: Cuba’ documentary was birthed.  Now with two more films under his belt and a plann

As with most drastic changes in life, the impetus arrives through necessity. Just years after Alison Burgo’s acquired a debilitating auto-immune disease, her life’s work of charity and event planning took on an entirely different meaning.  Witnessing first hand the power of healing foods and the bodies ability to heal itself under the right conditions, Alison alongside her partner and wife, Michelle, founded the Seed Food and Wine Festival, the first 100% plant-based food festival in the country. Now approaching it’s second year, this year’s festival promises to be bigger and better with more events that invite the community to experience the plant-based lifestyle on an entirely different level. Because Miami is known for trendsetting parties and restaurants, Seed has invited chefs from all walks of life to participate and show that eating your veggies can be really sexy. There is definitely something for everyone this year with events ranging from burger battles to movie night, a 5k run, yoga classes, elegan

Before he had a successful podcast with millions of downloads, an induction to the Podcast Hall of Fame, a feature in Forbes Magazine and a deal with Playit, a CBS affiliated company, Danny “Godfree” Peña was just an 80’s kid playing his Atari 2600, gifted to him by his grandmother. His introduction to the world of gaming captured his imagination and interest and instantly cemented a place in his heart. After dabbling successfully for some time in the music industry as a hip-hop promoter in the 90’s, his passion for gaming kept burning inside of him and propelled him to create a show about video games on MP3.com which led him to cover the launch of the first Xbox and rub controllers with Bill Gates.  But it was in 2005 when he would create Gamertag Radio (GTR) with his brother and set off on a journey that would turn out to be the most successful gaming podcast to date. With his team of gaming experts, they’ve had the opportunity to travel the world reviewing games and providing honest feedback to their legio

Compared to other well established plant-based, vegan and vegetarian cities in America, Miami may not be one that people think of as a non-meat lovers haven, but today’s guests, Alex Cuevas and Lori Zito have set out on a mission to change that. Alex is the founder and owner of Choices Organic Cafe and Lori is the President and backbone of the operations. With three locations in Miami, Alex and Lori have their sights set on opening 100 Choices locations throughout the country. Growing up the son of a Rancher in San Jose, CA, Alex ate the standard American diet of burgers and pizza as well as the rice, beans and burritos typical of his Mexican descent. But after making the connection of how the food he was eating made its way to the table he had an “awakening” and made the decision to never eat animals again. This realization would set in motion a series of events that would eventually culminate in opening a restaurant that inspires compassionate choices by serving delicious, healthy, and organic plant-based f

"Progress comes from practicing patience, persistence, and perseverance, and success comes from being completely dedicated to your dreams." Powerful words from an inspiring, humble athlete, motivational speaker, coach, entrepreneur and philanthropist, Chad Weller. As a young model in Europe, Chad decided to lace up his running shoes as a way to discover the various cities he was working in.  But this casual “Adventure Running” soon transitioned to serious running and eventually a career as a Top Ranked Pro Ultramarathoner and Running Coach. With over 221 races under his belt, 14 years of coaching experience and 20 years as a vegan, Chad sits down with us to speak about what he does to plan and prepare in order to tackle 50 and 100 mile endurance races.  He talks about nutrition, the importance of form and the mental aspect of long distance running and his passion for running clearly permeates throughout the podcast.  As the owner of R U Running he trains runners to not only become better, more efficie

One of the things you notice right away from our next guest when you meet her may be her purple, curly hair or her infectious laugh or if you’re lucky it might be a sample of her delicious organic green popcorn she’s offering you. The story of how this Florida-raised actress turned hippie turned entrepreneur is sure to capture your heart and your imagination.  Shawnee’s adventures through the 70’s and the 80’s are reminiscent of the Forrest Gump movie with her seeming to be everywhere at the right time. Through protests, marches and more, Shawnee’s life has been filled with purpose and sadly, sorrow. Her addictive popcorn, Shawnee’s Greenthumb Popcorn, would have never came to be if not for a major turning point in her life.  We loved sitting down with Shawnee and we know you’ll find her just as interesting and entertaining as we did.For behind the scenes photos, show notes and more, visit www.plantedinmiami.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @plantedinmiami

Sexy.  Fit.  Vegan.  Maybe you've thought those are three words that don't go together, but Ella Magers, or the Sexy Fit Vegan is on a mission to prove that you can be sexy and fit while helping the environment and animals. Ella is a nationally recognized celebrity trainer, life coach, author and 18 year vegan. She's been featured as a fitness expert in the media, including regular appearances on CBS Health News Reports and in fitness videos, including Crunch Boot Camp and Brazil Butt Lift. In September, 2013, she was featured with a spread in BodyBuilding.com, as the Personal Trainer of the Month and was named in Shape Magazine’s Top 50 Trainers in America, 2014. Get to know what makes her tick and how she's bringing the sexy vibe to veganism. For behind the scenes video, photos and more visit our website at www.plantedinmiami.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @plantedinmiami

How do you define “trash”? What was the last thing you purchased? What did you consume today & what did you throw away? If you look in your trashcan, what story does it tell? Where does your trash go after it hits the pavement and why does any of this even matter? -Trashfreeway.com In 2012, it was estimated that Americans threw out roughly 35 million tons of food; that’s 50% more than in 1990. Americans now waste more food than plastic, paper, metal, or glass (Washington Post). Our next guest is setting out on a cross country bicycle tour called the Trash Freeway with two other friends to create awareness about the impact of food related trash and waste all the while leaving a zero trash trail along the way. Rane Roatta is a unique and precocious 22 year old Miami native who is equally at home blowing his saxophones as he is building a budding fruit business (Miami Fruit) selling local delectable offerings. Rane started playing the saxophone in the fourth grade and was selected as one of only five talente

Meeting Pamela Wasabi is like having your favorite, most colorful painting come alive. Her funky style and passionate personality is infectious and contagious. From an early age, Pamela knew she wanted to dedicate her life and talents to a cause. Leaving Colombia for the U.S. as a teenager she sought channels for her creativity through fashion and photography. After a health set-back early in her pregnancy, she found her life’s purpose staring her down. She was no longer responsible for her health but that of her daughter’s. Now Pamela’s chef-de-cuisine at JugoFresh, a certified health coach, an activist, a writer and is rolling out an online cooking series on Youtube. Get ready for some ear candy.   For behind the scenes photos, show notes and more visit our website at www.plantedinmiami.com.