Name: Douglas Robinson

City: Jersey City, NJ

Occupation: Vocalist for Night Verses

What inspired you to switch to a plant-based diet?
There are many reasons why I switched. I was overweight my whole life (around 230 lbs.) until a few years ago. I remembered watching 'Fat, Sick And Nearly Dead' when it came out and thinking to myself that something needed to change. I was off and on with drinking, drugs, etc. and had finally had enough. Being in touring bands most of my life gave me free reign to just eat, drink, and do whatever I wanted. I never thought about the repercussions at that point of my life.

I started to make changes here and there. Less booze, no drugs of any kind, less meat and dairy, I quit smoking, etc. The transformation process was never overnight. I very gradually started making my way towards plant-based without even knowing it. I started juicing vegetables, which cleared my mind to such an amazing headspace, that a mile-long walk turned into a very light jog. A jog turned into a longer jog, followed by a 5K, followed by a 10K, which then turned into 15-20 mile runs a day.

My whole life changed. It wasn't instant but I will tell you that it was, hands-down, the most amazing experience that I've ever gone through. I barely ever drink anymore. It's just who I've become. All of the offs and ons and the difficulties of the journey put my life into such a different perspective. There's so much more detail to the story but that's basically inside the nutshell of it all.

Did you notice any changes after you switched to a plant-based diet?
I definitely did and still do to this day. Again, I'm the singer for my band. Eating plant-based is a lifeline for a vocalist. Breathing is everything and without the cleanliness of a plant-based lifestyle. I would regress back into my past troubles as a singer. I was never able to take deep breaths. I was always clogged in body and mind. Now, the inside of my body is incredibly clean and the passageways that pump blood all throughout are open and flowing with life. I can feel it every morning.

I go on a run before every show we play and I'm never tired. I'm full of energy. I'm physically in the best shape I've ever been in. Even our "junk food" converts into amazing energy.... energy of the physical and of the spiritual.

What’s the best/weirdest/most entertaining reaction you’ve received when telling another person you’re vegan?
Honestly, I think the fact that my friends now come to me for advice is absolutely insane to me. That's the one thing that fills all of this questions criteria. If you would have met me a few years back you would know exactly why that's such a crazy thing. 

However, in the context you're referring to, I receive a lot of snacks on the road from the amazing people at "Go Raw." Thanks to them, I rarely ever have to be involved in a situation where I'm on tour in the middle of nowhere trying to find vegan food while people are looking at me like I'm some sort of freak. However, I'm never offended in those situations. There are still people uneducated as to what goes on in the meat and dairy industry, or any industry that participates in animal cruelty. People are often fed (literally and metaphorically) what is shoved in front of them their whole lives.