We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Linda Middlesworth. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Linda below.
Linda, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
I found my purpose by accident. I had to become very sick with severe heart disease, obesity, pre-diabetes, high blood pressure but especially by being diagnosed with cancer. In a way, it was fortunate that I had cancer as that was the wake up call to really do something so I could stay alive. I was just lucky to have met a new friend who told me about Dr. John McDougall who saved my life 36 years ago. From his knowledge of lifestyle medicine, I learned to how transform myself into a healthy human. This allowed me to then do my own research and to pursue more certifications and education. I can now pass this knowledge on to my clients and others who have interest in learning the facts about health.
Additionally, I found out about the immense suffering of animals used for food, experimentation, entertainment, clothing and exhibits and knew immediately I would fight for their freedom and join forces with organizations who also protect all animals.
Lastly, I connected the relationship with animal exploitation and join with others who realize that animal agriculture is the number one cause of climate change. I work to educate all who will listen to help save the animals and our planet.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Notes for Tqnya Wilson:
I don’t remember when I started drawing but I must have loved art as well as languages because I realized after obtaining my BA in German Language and Literature, that I wanted to go to UCDavis to become Certified in Graphic Design. I loved being a designer and designed logos for shopping centers, products and businesses in Davis, CA. I leaned from the master, Alan Armitage, how to draw trains and train parts in perspective and I was hired to do pen and ink illustrations for a train magazine. I also do ceramics, bronze sculpture, pen and ink and acrylic painting on all kinds of topics, often on animals.
I was happily married to Dave and had 3 kids. When the kids were in their teens, we lived in Meadow Vista., CA. Then we moved to Davis, CA and eventually to Sacramento and it was there that my then new neighbor told me in a few words just what happened to dairy cows and their babies. I was 44 years old and simply shocked to find out that the mothers were raped and kept pregnant to keep producing milk until age 4 when they were murdered to became hamburger. They had an excruciating and painful 4 years of forced milking hooked on metal machines and after having their babies ripped from them at birth. They normally live about 20 years. I was shocked and at that moment, I became an animal rights activist at that very moment and knew my main purpose in life would be to protect all animals from human harm. My mission in life was cemented after reading Peter Singer’s book, Animal Liberation. He wrote:,”It is not whether you eat meat or not, it is whether they suffer!” I had also read, Food Revolution by John Robbins and I knew there was no other way to live and eat. I knew that for both ethical and health reasons, eating a plant exclusive diet was the only way to live. I knew too that saving animals would be my life’s purpose.
My hubby, Dave, was also a staunch vegan. In 2005, we started a vegan dog food business, v-dog.com/v-planet.com after doing extensive scientific research. We found out dogs could thrive on a plant diet. Sadly, my beloved hubby died in 2014 after being married to me for 51 1/2 years. Fortunately, my son Darren Middlesworth took over our dog food company and is CEO and President. We sell all over USA as v-dog.com and in 17 countries as v-planet.com.
About 36 years ago, I was diagnosed with cancer, severe heart disease, pre diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity. I had obtained my Certification in Aerobic Instruction and also as a Personal Trainer so I just could not figure out how an aerobic instructor and personal trainer could be obese. I was nearly 55 pounds overweight and had no idea that it was my food choices making me sick and fat.
I started an Animal Rights Group and Sacramento Animal Save. I worked on educating the world about the inhumane treatment through breeding and murder of farm animals. I helped expose the extreme cruelty to primates and other animals in experimentation, to rodeo animals, to animals in entertainment or zoos and animals harmed for their skin or fur.
In 2008, I started the Sacramento Vegan Society and my Meetup alone has over 5,300 members. We put on Events with speakers, i.e, Dr. T. Colin Campbell, Dr. John McDougall, Dr. Neal Barnard, Dr. Michael Greger, etc. And we have dine outs, film screenings, and potlucks. We feature prominent vegan people world wide We have protests against animals being harmed whether its farm animal abuse, fur or skin animals, or animals being experimented on.
In 2012, I started my VeganMentor Health Coaching Business to help people transition to a whole food plant exclusive diet so they too could live a vibrant, healthy life. I do individual coaching as well as small group coaching with 10 or less people. Watching people lose their obesity and other chronic diseases is mind blowing and heart warming and I often become friends for life with them. While my heart and purpose is primarily on animal protection, I know that I am helping animals by helping people move to the plant exclusive diet.
In 2014, I gathered 22 compassionate friends to go on an Animal Compassion Tour. We rented a big van and had our magnetic Animal Compassion Tour Logo on the outside. We were going to visit, dairy milk, cow, pig, chicken production/slaughter houses and make a film. We would tell each company that we were “foodies” looking to show people where our wonderful food comes from. We would remove the magnetic signs before approaching them. We had some great footage of the mama cows with swollen breasts trying to kick off the metal milking machines. We then went to Harris Beef Ranch and right after we asked them to see their company in operation, they called the police and arrested two of our 14 people. I think they thought the other Lynda was me as she arrested. We had to end our journey. Unfortunately, the film production stopped too as my hubby passed away right after our trip.
Then my sweet grandson, Logan, died at age 22 in 2018 from heart complications. My family and I were devastated by losing my hubby and then my young grandson, Logan. There is not one day that goes by without me feeling extremely sad about them. I still have a difficult time believing they are gone. My only solace is that they are in each other’s arms. Life will never be the same and the heartache will never go away.
In 2015, I became Certified Nutrition and Cooking Instructor for Physicians Committee for Response Medicine, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, Dr. Neal Barnard which has allowed me to teach Cancer Survival Classes and Diabetes Reversal Classes. This program is amazing and I know I have reached hundreds of people who have made the switch to healthy plant foods exclusively. I teach FFL classes at different local colleges here in Sacramento and even in Modesto. I am also Certified in ePlant Nutrition by Dr. T. Colin Campbell. I am Certified in The Starch Solution by Dr. John McDougall. I am an Affiliate Member of the American College of Nutrition. People interview me regularly like Dr. Frank Sabatini, Ella Magers, Tracey Kleber, Supreme Master, Chef AJ, Vegan Linked, and many more.
Also in 2015, I was voted Peta’s Sexist Vegan Over 50 at the age of 71. I won many awards and have been featured in the National Health Association Magazine. My awards came from In Defense of Animals, Social Justice in Legislation, and Plant Based Hero Award. I have been a speaker for Rowdy Girl Sanctuary in Texas, San Francisco World Veg Society, Wedidit, Beth Shalom Synagogue, Sacramento Vegan Festival, Compassionate Living and many more.
Last year I added Stand Up Comedy to my life. This is way beyond my comfort zone and extremely scary but I decided to challenge myself and I am loving it. To make people laugh is the best feeling and I hope to continue doing this. Life is really hard sometimes so laughing is a great antidote for all of us and I am glad to help myself and others through laughter.
One of my top projects will be to finish writing my book about health and or animal protection. I will continue as a VeganMentor Health coach. I have 2 methods of coaching. Individual coaching for 30 Days or Small Group for 10 or less people which includes 4 zoom meetings together. I will continue to organize Speaker Events/Conferences online or in-person. I will help my son run v-dog the best I can. I will continue to teach my Food for Life Nutrition and Cooking Diabetes and Cancer classes at the local colleges and libraries as well. And, even at 80 years old, I shall teach aerobics and keep some personal training as well. I quit all artwork 9 years ago after my hubby died but this year I will get back to creating more artwork.
I have 3 main goals in this life. One is to make certain my family is safe and strong. One is to inspire as many people as I can to reach their goals as I have. Watching people transform is one of the most beautiful experiences I have ever witnessed. The third goal, and equally important, is to end speciesism and put an end to animal exploitation by educating people to see that “A dog is a bear is a pig is a boy,” Philip Wollen.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
1. I learned how to do the research required to solve my many health issues. When confronted with life and death, I found out by reaching out to a friend that I could just look up one doctor and my issues would be solved. I did that and I was able to cure myself. I was lucky in finding the right friend. If you are presented with health issues as I was, you too can do the research and I can guide you in the right direction.
2. It is important to be open minded as well. Had I just listened to my doctor at the time, I would have been dead 36 years ago.
3. It is important that do you the research by reading books and or watching specific films by certain by doctors who went beyond their medical degrees to learn lifestyle medicine.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
An ideal client is someone who really wants to make a commitment to a whole food plant exclusive diet. It is not easy to give up addictive foods like dairy, animal flesh, eggs, oils, sugar and salt. I know just how to help clients do this. An even more wonderful client is one who cares about keeping all species safe from human harm by going vegan. This is, however, not a requirement. A great client would be one who cares about all our food production systems and wants to help stop climate change by eating a plant exclusive diet. This too is not a requirement.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.veganmentor.com
- Instagram: Linda Middlesworth@lindamvegan
- Facebook: Linda Middlesworth or VeganMentor
- Linkedin: Linda (Vaughan) Middlesworth
- Twitter: Linda Middlesworth@farmanimalluv/X
- Youtube: Linda Middlesworth
- Yelp: Linda Middlesworth
- SoundCloud: [email protected]
- Other: Alignable: VeganMentor
