John Lewis has built his public platform around a single, direct message: what you eat shapes how you think and feel. Known widely as Badass Vegan, he has spent years turning that idea into brands, a documentary, and a loud, unapologetic voice in the plant-based space. John Lewis joined Sean Kelly on the Digital Social Hour to dig into that message and the journey behind it.
The conversation moves from his own path into veganism and the making of his documentary, 'They're Trying to Kill Us,' to sharper questions about how food marketing and mental health intersect. It is candid, occasionally combative, and never short on conviction.
About John Lewis
John Lewis is a plant-based fitness entrepreneur who built his public identity under the name Badass Vegan, extending into ventures like a nut-butter brand and a vegan lifestyle platform. He is also a filmmaker, co-creating the documentary 'They're Trying to Kill Us,' which examines the food industry's influence on health, using his own transformation as a throughline.
His path into the plant-based world was shaped in part by his mentor, former NBA player John Salley, also a well-known vegan advocate. Lewis has since built a following on education over shock value, using his platform to challenge food-industry messaging he sees as misleading.
What John Lewis and Sean Kelly Talked About
- How John Lewis's personal journey into veganism shaped the Badass Vegan brand and message
- The making of his documentary 'They're Trying to Kill Us' and its critique of the food industry
- How his mentor, former NBA player John Salley, influenced his approach to plant-based living
- His view on the link between diet, brain health, and mental state
- His take on how food commercials and marketing shape what people believe about nutrition
- His perspective on plant-based meat alternatives like Beyond Meat and where they fall short
- Why he considers education, not shock value, the most effective tool for changing minds
- His plans for future documentary projects, including a potential collaboration with Brian Johnson
Why This Conversation Matters
The Digital Social Hour is at its best when a guest is given room to make their full case, and John Lewis uses that room to connect the dots between what's on your plate and how you show up in the world. Whether or not viewers share his conclusions, his account of building a documentary and a brand around that belief makes for a compelling watch.
▶ Watch the full episode on YouTube
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About Sean Kelly & the Digital Social Hour
Sean Kelly is an entrepreneur and the host of the Digital Social Hour, one of the fastest-growing interview podcasts in the world, where he sits down with entrepreneurs, athletes, creators, and cultural voices for candid, long-form conversations. The show draws over 100 million views a month across platforms. Explore more guest features on SeanKelly.io.
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