Ladies In the Know: Victoria Moran

Copyright Victoria Moran

The Ladies in the Know series presents women who’ve probed their awareness, identified important aspects of their lives that demanded attention and took action to uplift themselves through connecting to their inner wisdom and following it.

Ladies in the Know are writers, athletes, cooks, healers, mothers, musicians, designers and more. They’ve shared what they’ve learned thereby making an impact on the lives of many women the world over.

We admire their strength and courage, their intelligence and contribution to our lives. We seek to know how their vision came about and how they manifested their dreams. We wish to be closer to their nexus of empowerment.

But at the end of the day when our heroes take off their capes, they are people just like us. And lest we forget that we too have the capacity to reach great heights, I’ve asked these Ladies in the Know to record their first thoughts, in brief, to ten questions, as a mini-interview of sorts, to for both insight and for fun. 

This month I bring to you the fabulous Victoria Moran author, activist and inspiration! I've read five of her books and count her as one of the people who've influenced me toward positivity and lightness. As I held her pages in my hands, her words in many ways held my hand as I took steps toward a deeper understanding and love for myself and my life. For a list of her books please see our Amazon Store or Victoria's Amazon Page.

Included in her multi-talented repertoire, Victoria is a lifestyle coach, animal-rights activist, public speaker, has been on radio and TV (Oprah - People!) and has projects in the work swith her highly accomplished daughter Adair Moran. For more on her latest book and all she has to offer please visit her site Main Street Vegan.

We are so fortunate to have her share her voice on Ladies Holiday so without further ado...

What gets you out of bed in the morning?

The possibilities of the day ahead

What is your daydream destination?

Central Africa, to see gorillas in their natural habitat.

What would you tell your teenage/younger self if you could?

Loosen up. Don't worry so much. It'll get much, much better as you go along.

What would you remind your elderly/future self if you could?

Life is eternal.

What was your most embarrassing moment?

I can't remember: either I've made peace with it or blocked it out.

What is your proudest moment? 

Seeing my daughter perform in Kindertransport as a teenager: that's when I knew she was a truly, truly gifted actor.

What is your favorite food?

Really big, serious salads with cashew ranch dressing and oomph factor from the addition of steamed broccoli or yams and some crunch from sunflower seeds. I know it sounds like I'm trying to seem healthy to say "salad" but the truth is, there's nothing I'd rather eat.

What is your favorite word?

Irrepressible

What is your favorite hobby/activity?

It's a toss-up between reading non-fiction and watching documentary films. I have a hungry brain.

Please share one bit of inspiration, insight or wisdom with women…

When you cycle through a rough patch, get back as quickly as possible to a place where you can experience joy. Life is too precious to spend one more minute feeling like overcooked porridge.

Bonus:  Is there a Lady in the Know you’d like to share with us, a woman who has influenced you in a positive way? If so, who and how? 

Adelene DeSoto, the grandmother-aged woman who moved in to take care of me when I was a baby and who was the greatest influence of my early life. She lived in a mystical world: there was a reason for everything, and the stars were our night-lights, and fairies were ensconced under toadstools. She believed in looking well ("The Bible says your body is a temple and you're supposed to decorate it") and living well ("There are two kinds of women in the world: workhorses, and race horses. You decide which you want to be.") And although she wasn't vegetarian herself, she told me about these remarkable people who said no to meat and were the better for it: "I could take you to the cafeteria at Unity Village [the headquarters of the Unity church, located outside my hometown of Kansas City, Missouri] and get you a hamburger made out of peanuts: you'd think you were eating beef." We never made it out for that peanut burger, but I went vegetarian at 19, vegan at 32, and as a result, I feel 32, many years later.

Copyright Victoria Moran

Victoria has a strong web-presence...click on the links below to see more:

Visit her Website

Join her on Twitter

Follow her on Facebook

Radio show/podcast: Main Street Vegan,  every Wednesday, noon Pacific/3 pm  Eastern, a call-in show: 888-558-6489; you can also listen on iTunes.

New book: Main Street Vegan -- Amazon or Barnes and Noble

Short bio: Victoria Moran is a vegan of nearly three decades, author of eleven books, a certified holistic health counselor (HHC, AADP), and founder of Main Street Vegan Academy, training Vegan Lifestyle Coaches. Her latest book isMain Street Vegan: Everything You Need to Know to Eat Healthfully & Live Compassionately in the Real World. Other titles include Fit from Within, Younger by the Day, and the international bestseller, Creating a Charmed Life. Cited by VegNews among the Top 10 Vegetarian Authors, Victoria is a two-timeOprah! guest and the host, with her daughter and co-author, Adair Moran, of the Main Street Vegan Show on Unity.FM radio. Victoria lives in New York City, in a planet-saving “green” condo.

An enormous thank you to Victoria for taking the time out of her busy schedule to join us and for her work with people and animals everywhere.

Deirdre

 ...and the Ladies

From the Ladies in the Know series you may also like:

Laurie Gerber

Sarah R. Hill