ARE YOU READY WITH JOANNE MOLINARO EP 49: A Chat with Miyoko Schinner

In this week's episode, Joanne speaks with Miyoko Schinner, the creator and founder of Miyoko's Creamery. From going vegetarian when she was only 12 years old, to lugging 60 pounds of poundcake around Japan, to starting a multi-million dollar company after the age of 50, Miyoko has an inspiring story you won't want to miss.
Timestamps
00:00 - Intro
02:05 - “I’m Vegetarian!”
04:37 - Beginning to Explore Food
05:45 - You’re Never Too Young to Champion Justice
8:00 - Miyoko’s Mom
09:15 - Being Vegetarian and Vegan in the 70s and 80s
13:40 - Teen Years and Funky Cheese
17:10 - The Great Books & The Meaning of Life
29:23 - Madam Miyoko’s and Pound Cake
31:05 - Tokyo, Jazz, and The Yakuza
33:10 - Pioneering Vegan Cooking and Baking
36:15 - Veganism in Japan
37:45 - Now and Zen and The UnTurkey (S.F.)
49:05 - Self-Doubt and A Break From Food
55:55 - Artisan Vegan Cheese
1:02:30 - Combatting Imposter Syndrome
1:07:07 - Strength in Community
1:09:30 - Trailblazing
1:12:00 - The Vegan Good Life
1:14:47 - The Building Blocks of Life
1:17:30 - What is Success?
1:21:00 - Leadership and Empowerment
1:26:15 - Parting Thoughts and The Homemade Vegan Pantry
Connect with Miyoko
Instagram: miyokoschin...
KZbin: ‪@thevegangoodlifewithmiyoko‬
LinkedIn: / miyoko-schinner-6a47204
Connect with Rancho Compasión
Website: www.ranchocompasion.org/
Joanne Lee Molinaro is a Korean American trial lawyer, New York Times best-selling author, James Beard Award-winner, and host of the Are You Ready podcast. With nearly 5 million fans spread across her social media platforms, Joanne has appeared on The Food Network, CBS Saturday Morning, ABC's Live with Kelly and Ryan, The Today Show, PBS, and The Rich Roll Podcast. She's been featured in the Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, NPR, and CNN; and her debut cookbook was selected as one of “The Best Cookbooks of 2021” by The New York Times and The New Yorker among others.
Helpful Resources:
Website: bit.ly/TKVWebsite
The Korean Vegan Cookbook: bit.ly/TKVCookbook
The Korean Vegan Meal Planner: bit.ly/TKVMealPlanner
The Korean Vegan Podcast: bit.ly/TKVPodcast
Linktree: bit.ly/TKVLinktree
Find me on Social:
Instagram: bit.ly/TKVInstagram
TikTok: bit.ly/TKVTikTok
Twitter: bit.ly/TKVTwitter
Facebook: bit.ly/TKVFacebook

[@sk.n.9302]

Thank you Joann for enabling this interview! I have been following Miyoko's story as best I could. This is a treasure.

[@TheKoreanVegan]

Thank you for watching!

[@ninjinsei5679]

Wow! I’ve been so curious about this whole situation. There is no one better to interview Miyoko than you.

[@TheKoreanVegan]

We are all curious about how we can support her through this. Thank you so much for listening!

[@susanweiler4948]

Wow! Wow! Wow! This was an amazing & thoughtful discussion I’ve heard in a long time. As an half Asian American 60 yr. old woman , I can relate and understand her struggles. Women are strong and resilient. Miyoko has surrounded herself with love of family & friends that will help her to succeed and overcome obstacles that may come her way. Thank you for sharing your love & passion of food, people, animals & our world!

[@SooperToober]

Thanks for doing this n sharing- I have ALL of Miyoko’s cookbooks and she’s a true inspiration for genuine veganism. Let us know what we can do to support her - plz convey my heartfelt gratitude and support to her during these challenging times. She is a Vegan Warrior and she WILL rise bigger bolder and stronger! St. John’s alumnae are par excellence!

[@pon1952leod]

So interesting…I live in central Alberta surrounded by dairy farms😵‍💫🤭…it’s easy to give up hope that mankind will eventually do the right thing. Thank you for caring🙏🏻…both of you.

[@Lifter4life217]

How does this not have more views?

[@TheTondalaya1]

Miyoko! The greatest pioneer for change!❤

[@VeganViki]

I can't believe I missed this interview from a year ago. I just watched it, amazing. Such an emotional conversation. Thank you Joanne. 🙏 Miyoko is truly a hero for me. I started watching her PBS cooking show in the early 2000s when there were no vegan cooking shows on the food network.. I remember learning how to make vegan soy yogurt from Miyoko's PBS show by using a little bit of soy yogurt with soy milk and setting it outside on a warm day to culture. It worked and I was thrilled! That's the same time I bought Miyoko's cookbook the Now & Zen Epicure. Miyoko changed the way I thought about cooking. Using the same ingredients to make a meal but swapping out any animal based ingredients. 20 years later since her PBS cooking show she's still paving the way for female entrepreneurs with a big picture vision that includes animal activism and environmentalism. I'm truly grateful to both of you.❤

[@bujorel]

i loved this conversation so so much!! two really awesome beautiful women and human beings inspiring us all

[@garden_vibes7796]

She has a COOKING SHOW? ummm I am so glad I listened!!! I am so excited to watch her show!!

[@carolynblakeney966]

Miyoko and Joanne, you are two of the most badass women on the planet, and listening to this episode was an absolute pleasure. I hope you get together again for Miyoko and Joanne Chat, Part II.

[@user-zv5zb4um6k]

Awesome interview ! Keep it up Miyoko's, can't wait to see all the new things you create :)

[@lynnjade1277]

What a beautiful, sensitive interview. Thank you!

[@cleberdc2293]

Great interview 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@kalemyname]

Was patiently waiting for this one to come out!!! 😭😭😭♥️♥️♥️

[@user-em4fd9dv4g]

Omg....I never saw this. My 2 fav vegans. Loved this

[@LianeRollin]

Merci pour cette entrevue.

[@lisbethchristensen1981]

🌍❤️🏆

[@zenmoonmaster]

I wish you could cook with her too but I know she is busy but please try and get her on shorts at some point 🙂

[@zenmoonmaster]

Maybe have Mrs Rogers on next please ☺️

[@sunnyoutdoors]

Japan vegan for 800 years!

[@zenmoonmaster]

Can you make a vegan pound cake 🎂 🙏

[@erelpc]

12:56 So we know that plant based dieting existed around the world for a long time, but did the actual conception of 'veganism' as an animal rights philosophy about avoiding the exploitating of animals in any way as much as practical for food, clothing, cosmetics, entertainment, etc. exist in these eras too? I guess Jainism can be an example of someone who incidentally lives a vegan lifestyle.

[@letsdomath1750]

Jains are vegetarian. They can consume milk.

[@erelpc]

@@letsdomath1750 thanks for clarifying. I guess veganism really is a new school of thought then.

[@carollara5047]

This was a fantastic interview Joanne! I have so much respect for you and Miyoko. 🙌 Thank you for the gifted this wonderful interview, Joanne. 😊✌🏼💛

[@TheKoreanVegan]

Thank you so much for listening!!

[@carollara5047]

​@@TheKoreanVegan again thank you so much for spotlighting Miyoko! Miyoko inspires me, she's an amazing human being. 💛 I was literally gutted when I found out what happened to her. I started following her when cóvid hit and she was doing her shows from her kitchen. Miyoko is the epitome of strength, resiliency and spirituality!