Meet Jazmin Carroll

We recently connected with Jazmin Carroll and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jazmin , appreciate you sitting with us today. Maybe we can start with a topic that we care deeply about because it’s something we’ve found really sets folks apart and can make all the difference in whether someone reaches their goals. Self discipline seems to have an outsized impact on how someone’s life plays out and so we’d love to hear about how you developed yours?

My self-discipline is rooted in a fundamental shift from self-neglect to self-commitment, sparked by a profound moment of clarity.

For seven years in Maryland, I discovered my passion for vegan cooking, but I struggled deeply with consistency and self-belief. I was easily distracted, leading to negative situations that didn’t align with the future I envisioned. This culminated in two near-death experiences—a severe car accident involving drinking and driving, and being robbed at gunpoint. These events were a undeniable wake-up call; I realized that my inconsistency and lack of discipline was actively putting my life at risk.

My move to Texas in 2023 was a vow to turn a new leaf and take my self-commitment seriously.

I channeled this purpose into my vegan journey. I set an aggressive and non-negotiable goal: I would dedicate every Friday to meal prepping and filming a unique cooking video, regardless of how I felt. I told myself I wouldn’t start consistently posting on Instagram until I had 30 finished videos—a way to prove my commitment to myself first.

When I finally reached that 30-video goal, I started posting every Friday in March 2025, and I haven’t missed a single week since.

This commitment has taught me that self-discipline is honoring the promises you make to yourself. You cannot expect others to commit to you if you are not willing to show up for yourself first. This process has not only given me a solid foundation for my business’s growth but has also tremendously grown my confidence because I now know that I am a person who keeps their word—and that conviction is the true source of my discipline.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

A Guiding Principle: Leave Them Happier
My guiding principle is simple: people should always leave happier than when they came in. I’ve adopted this motto through my deep love for hospitality and food. If I could describe myself, it would be kind, passionate, and cool as a cucumber. I have a chilled, laid-back demeanor and genuinely enjoy being in service to others through my twin gifts: cooking and storytelling.

From Brooklyn Pizza to a Texas Dream
I’m a girl from Brooklyn, NY, now in Texas with dreams of owning a food truck, a restaurant, and land to grow fresh vegetables for my family and community. If you had asked me seven years ago to give up pizza, penne alla vodka, and buffalo wings, I would have laughed. Honestly, I never imagined becoming vegan; I unconsciously adopted the perception that it was strange.

My journey began in 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland, while rooming with my vegetarian cousin. To accommodate her, I found myself in the kitchen constantly, experimenting with plant-based options. It was here that I discovered my love and passion for cooking.

The shift was sparked by a desire for better health: many of my family members struggle with diabetes and obesity. Witnessing my grandmother’s passing, who struggled deeply with food addiction, was a huge wake-up call. This change began to influence those around me, including my mom, who slowly started cutting back on meat and dairy. For me, becoming vegan is bigger than just eating plants—it’s a commitment to health and generational change.

Vegan Xtravaganza: Catering and Content
The most exciting part of what I do is transforming the way people see plant-based food. I started Vegan Xtravaganza (formerly J.Janae Food) to share delicious recipes created by experimenting with fruits and vegetables in ways I never imagined. The positive feedback I receive encourages me to continue this journey—cooking for people makes my soul happy.

Professionally, I currently have two main focuses:

Catering: Building out Vegan Xtravaganza. So far, I’ve catered for diverse events, including ATX Creator meetups and intimate all-women-led soiree events.

Content Creation: I am focused on my @myboringveganlyfe meal prep and creative cooking videos. My current goal is to land brand sponsorships that genuinely align with my vision and help me continue to spread my message.

I am still figuring things out and committed to letting the business grow organically, ensuring I build a strong and sustainable foundation along the way. My title for this journey is Self-Taught Vegan Chef & Content Creator.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Three Impactful Qualities in My Journey
Looking back, the three most impactful qualities in my journey are: Adaptability, Re-invention, and Commitment to Self-Awareness.

1. Adaptability (Willingness to Move): Growing up in Brooklyn, NY, and riding the subway meant constantly being around people from all over the world. This experience gave me the edge to go anywhere and not be afraid of being the only person who looks like me in the room. My ability to pick up and move—from New York to Maryland, and now to Texas—demonstrates a strong adaptability that allows me to find opportunity in change.

2.Re-invention (The Ability to Pivot): Before my passion for food, I was deeply focused on my music career with dreams of being a famous singer/songwriter. My move to Maryland completely shifted that focus and led me to discover my true gift of cooking and ultimately, becoming vegan. This transition shows my ability to re-invent myself and embrace a new, authentic path.

3. Commitment to Self-Awareness (Grounding and Focus): My move to Texas has been foundational. The physical space and opportunity to step back have allowed me to understand myself more clearly, leading to a profound self-awareness. This clarity is what enables me to see through on the commitments I make, like my consistent content creation, and is essential for long-term growth.

Advice for Those Early in Their Journey
My best advice for folks who are early in their journey focuses on two areas: movement and focus.

Don’t Be Afraid to Start Over or Move: If you feel a calling in your spirit to change your location, your career, or your path, do it. That physical or mental move could be the exact thing you need to get closer to your dreams and unlock a new version of yourself, just as moving to Maryland unlocked my cooking and moving to Texas unlocked my discipline.

Be the Sole Authority of Your Vision: Your vision belongs only to you. Don’t focus on others’ opinions or wait for their understanding or approval. You have to be true to what feels right in your heart, even if it seems strange to everyone else. Protecting that inner vision is the foundation of all success.

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

The Current Obstacle: Maintaining Presence in a Digital World
The number one obstacle I’m currently facing is navigating the rapid advancements in technology and AI—specifically, finding balance between digital necessity and human connection.

As a naturally grounded person who values tangibility and present human interaction—I genuinely prefer shopping at a market over ordering groceries—the constant need to adapt to new platforms and evolving algorithms for my content on @myboringveganlyfe can feel overwhelming. My concern is, “How do I leverage these essential technologies for my business without losing myself, my authenticity, or my connection to the real, sensory experience of cooking?”

The Strategy for Overcoming the Challenge
I am tackling this challenge by applying the same principle of self-commitment that built my content creation habit:

Embracing Intentional Immersion: I’ve adopted a policy of diving in even when I feel overwhelmed. This means setting aside specific, intentional time blocks to learn new software, research trends, or experiment with editing tools for my videos. I acknowledge that this is a non-negotiable investment in my business’s future, much like my Friday meal prep commitment.

Setting Realistic Expectations and Boundaries: My goal is not perfection, but progress. I accept that I won’t have everything figured out all the time. More importantly, I find balance by ensuring that I unplug regularly. This allows me to stay grounded, connect with the physical act of cooking, and ultimately create content that feels authentic and human—not just optimized for an algorithm.

This approach ensures that while I adapt to the essential digital tools needed for growth, my content and my brand, Vegan Xtravaganza and @myboringveganlyfe, always remain rooted in passion and presence.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @myboringveganlye @veganxtravaganza

Image Credits

Jasmine Wallace
Steve Bolger