Five and a half years ago I took a job at a small vegan restaurant on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. My plan was simple: work there until my big break as an actress arrived. I assumed it would happen quickly—I had just finished playing Princess Tiana in a live production of The Princess and the Frog—so I expected my acting career to take off any day now.
Life, however, had other plans. I was reminded of that when I recently sat in front of a camera to share my vegan story.
Soon after moving to New York and starting that job, I found my passion for acting slipping away. I drifted, unsure what to do next. I no longer wanted to pursue acting, but I didn’t feel qualified for many other paths. I hadn’t embraced veganism yet, though I was already experimenting with food and had created Sweet Potato Soul as a hobby. Food was a deep love—but could it become more than a pastime?
Then everything changed. I decided to go vegan, and that choice reshaped my life.
Watch the video to hear the full story. Going vegan brought unexpected opportunities and positive changes that influenced both my life and my work.
I’d love to hear your vegan story—please share it with me.
If you’re considering going vegan and want some guidance, I wrote a post on practical, approachable steps for transitioning: a simple, easy-to-follow guide to getting started. It offers gentle tips and recipes to make the change both doable and enjoyable.
PS: Thank you to everyone who sent suggestions for future Sweet Potato Soul videos. I’ve collected more than 80 ideas so far, including many repeats, and the list keeps growing. If you haven’t shared your ideas yet, please tell me what you’d like to see on my YouTube channel. I’m planning lots of new content and want to make sure it’s what you want to watch.