 So excited to be back in 2020 with a new whole new studio here in downtown Honolulu Thank you so much to Think Tech Hawaii for allowing us to do these shows and Really looking forward to talking more about the vegan lifestyle and plant-based diet I'm your host Lillian Cumick of Lillian's Vegan World and here we go my first show for the year And I'm so proud to introduce you to Carlos Garcia my guest today who is actually Living in Maui, but today coming live to us from Thailand Carlos welcome to the show Welcome, thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much for coming. Aloha. Aloha pleasure to have you on Carlos It's my pleasure there's um I'm going to introduce you but you have quite a few titles And an extra one that I only found out about a few minutes ago That I can't wait to talk about and share with the viewers. So first of all you are Maui Musician and publisher of Living Aloha Magazine which was founded in 2014. You're the and you also are an activist philosopher Is that correct? Yes, among other things among other things. Yeah, I'm gonna Let you introduce yourself if you don't mind and tell us about what you do Well, I'm Carlos Garcia and What do I do man? We need a lot more than half an hour for that, but I uh, you know, I I live this life of uh, just being around beautiful things and Most of my time this past year has been on Maui, but I spent a lot of time away for various reasons Whether it's playing music at the gosi family and right now i'm in thailand because i'm exploring this place I've heard about called Copanyan in Kind of toward the southern part of thailand that is an incredibly beautiful place and it's like vegan central you can take a walk like the equivalent of three blocks in most cities and there's like 20 vegan restaurants There's 25 Thai restaurants that all have vegan options. I mean and the place has ecstatic dance live music Sound bats all these things going on that is just incredible and I just experienced the One tribe festival, which is a hundred percent vegan festival in a hundred percent yoga retreat center And it was an incredible experience and uh, you know, we can talk more about that later, but generally, uh, I spend most of my time You know and this wasn't I never chose this life But it seems like my whole life is based around Helping animals and helping our environment and I do it through through my activism I do it through music because my music pretty much support, you know is supporting all animal things and I've got a video that i'm working on for a song. I recorded that's all for you know It's called it's okay to love me and that applies to whether you're an animal whether you're Uh an african-american or a woman or a gay person It's okay to love and that's what the idea of that is about And I've done my magazine because I really felt that hawaii did not have anything vegan and the only magazines out there that I've seen You know they have advertising for fish because it's healthy Right. Oh my god. And then there's a holistic publication on Maui that I'm not going to say the name But there's only one anyway, but they uh, basically Uh, you know the first time I met them they had an anniversary party and they were serving chicken and beef at their event Oh, okay, and I'm thinking this is kind of counter-ex to what we're trying to do This is this is holistic uh spiritual I don't know There's this terrible attitude that people think that if they have a billion crystals in their house that eating animals is okay Uh, no, it's a big contradiction there. You're not spiritual because you got a million crystals I absolutely agree. Carlos. There was actually something. Um I'm going to quote from your aloha magazine from the website that I found if you don't mind It's something that you wrote that is really Beautiful I thought and if you don't mind I'd like to share it with the viewers I don't know what it was It was in the magazine. I this is where you're gonna have to trust me I trust you. All right. So Carlos you write There are beautiful things about the Hawaiian concept of aloha Taking care of the land and taking care of yourself and your loved ones The one thing missing to make it truly aloha is veganism Uh, there's a sentence in there. I won't I won't read but then you go on to say If you really want to practice true aloha add the compassion of veganism and share it with the world That's pretty much my life. Yes. Yes, absolutely very well said and um As with you, this is also a passion of mine that I am sharing. Um anything to help promote This awesome lifestyle I'm in for it and you are doing a really amazing thing. So thank you for your work. I I'm sure You're going on to do more things. What's in the future for you? Got any projects coming up that we should know about or that you'd like to tell the viewers? Well, um the magazine is kind of unhauled right now because I There was a lot of stuff a lot of things going on last year and I just couldn't do everything Uh, you know, I was working I was with a with a partner who we were creating a veganic farm and I spent two years really doing that Working really hard for many hours for a couple years and uh, but unfortunately that relationship didn't work out. Okay, so uh You know, so that ended and I lost the farm and lost the home all that stuff going on and then I went to go, uh Uh, live at the Elani farm sanctuary. They you know, the owners of the property said hey, you can stay here while you find a place Well, I volunteered there and within four days. I fell off a wall and broke my femur and uh And wound up being in bed for those two months instead of looking for a new place to live so I was not in a great spot in life and I just had to let go of pretty much everything You know, I couldn't do my farming. I couldn't do my music. I couldn't Uh, do magazine stuff It was like I went from running four different businesses to literally nothing It's just sitting there in pain walking with a walker around the house I'm so sorry to hear that Carlos, but do you think it might have been a message from some unknown power telling you to slow down Uh, you know, there's many messages that come from me. Yes. Yeah Carlos, let's while we're um chatting about a lot of things that again I feel like I'm going to have to get you on because we're not going to fit everything in in this short 30 minutes But I do want to take a look at one of your first slides that you've prepared for us Okay Tell us about this picture Carlos Uh, that was at Leilani farm sanctuary When I was literally on crutches and in serious pain But somehow I'm able to get up and down a little bit with some help and I just Actually, that was part of a photo shoot that I did for pita that you know They wanted some good photos and I thought, you know, some of the ones that I had they just weren't that good So I had a photo shoot With this and many other photos with a great photographer from Maui and But this pig is just the most one of the most beautiful creatures ever I agree they are Yes Yeah Yeah, so I've seen some photos around the farm and Because I had the guy for the day. So besides the ones the quote unquote glamour shots for pita I said, I'm going to do some animal shots and I want, you know, some stuff like that So we well, I hobbled around the farm and there are many more pictures with other animals But that's the one that a lot of people like so I just picked that one to Okay, we are right We are going to talk about pita for sure because you kind of surprised me with this very very crucial information About what you did with pita which we will talk about Let's look at the next slide Carlos before we go into that Gorgeous, this must have been taken from Maui. Am I correct? Uh, yeah, that one was from Maui And I I I put that photo out there because for me Um, well, we'll get into my my vegan journey how that happened in a minute. I guess but uh for me a place of Deep thought is the ocean at sunset and that experience and the information that I was going through Uh At that time In you know, I was trying to process in my head a sunset is always just such a great place to analyze stuff. Couldn't agree Yeah, it's a great thing and um So that's why I put that photo up there because when I'm looking to set up some events and retreats and things like that and sunsets are a big part of it because there's you know, these these retreats are going to be about uh Speaking to non-vegans and vegans do I guess but it's really my whole you know, I'm not targeting vegans with my Activism, I'm you know vegans already know this information and when I relaunched the magazine, I want to kind of pose it as a mainstream health magazine with a vegan message That's the way I want to do that and I'm trying to get uh, you know the the big, uh Uh vegan food manufacturers to get behind us and sponsor Advertise whatever it is that you know, however you're going to work it and uh to help me do this publication and get it into more places And uh, but you know and one of the things I want to promote in the magazine and through my website and through speaking at different veg fest and uh, vegetarian society meetings is to Is to come out to either Maui to Kona on the big island in Oahu Bali or uh here in Koppongan in Thailand They get people to experience the vegan life Be around vegan people who are really inspirational Experience the food here in Koppongan at least where you have you know, so many vegan options within Like the size of a football field. I mean it's nuts. It's crazy happens Yeah, and you know just having people experience that experience the sunsets do a vegan cooking class Go to a waterfall Eat at a vegan restaurant every night that we're not cooking our own food I mean the food here is so incredible and it's so Ridiculously cheap. It's like, you know for what you would pay 15 or 20 dollars for on Maui You can get here for like seven or eight dollars Yes Thailand is incredible. You're right and uh And they know how to I mean most of the vegan places are not Thai let's say but because of the laws most of the employees have to be Thai here So, uh, actually all of the employees have to be, you know, Thai You can't work here. You can own the business, but you can't work. You can't be an outsider Just come and get a job So that that makes it a little bit more tricky for people who are not from Thailand who want to do something like that But I'm sure you'll find a way to get there and make things happen as most people do Carlos, let's look at one more shot before we go to the break. I think we do have time for one more Uh, these vegan activists amazing. I'll let you introduce them Okay, um, the left one is Will Tuttle He is one of the most eloquent speakers in this most gentle way Speaks about veganism that I just love this guy I do so much anything I can for him because he inspires me If all I can do is pick him up at the airport and take him to where he's staying I'll do it or take him to the airport after or hang out with him for dinner But I wound up with this photo. He stayed at our house for a week and I set up five events out of Maui I'm so jealous. You know this person. He's one of my inspirations as well And yeah, next time he's on the island. I definitely would love to come and see him See him talk and on the on the right The other gentleman on the right clapper. Yeah, dr. Clapper and he is Uh more medical oriented even though will totals the doctor also, but you know, uh, dr. Clapper is really You know into the facts and the figures of all the medical things and all that so he's been a big inspiration I mean, I have a lot of them. I've got more photos and you know, you guys would have time to Explain it to show anyway, but now these kind of people I want to do like these events and maybe bring one of these people to the event to kind of help lure other people in there Sure to hang out with those kind of people is huge. It does so much for me and uh, Like I said, I'll do anything for those guys. Absolutely. They're incredible and they're just spreading the word and the message and Truly inspirational. You can see a lot of their their talks on youtube or you can find them I'll put them in the links to this show actually So you can get more information after sorry Carlos. We're gonna take a we will take a quick quick break So hold that thought We'll take a quick break and come back for more of lilians vegan world with Carlos Garcia see you after the break Aloha, I'm kisha king host of at the crossroads where we have Conversations that are real and relevant. We have spoken with community leaders from Right here locally in hawaii and all around the world Won't you join us on think tech hawaii dot com or on youtube on the think tech hawaii channel Our conversations are real relevant and lots of fun I'll see you at the crossroads. Aloha Aloha, I'm winston welts host of out and about it's a show that we have every other monday on think tech live here We explore a variety of topics that are really interesting We have for organizations events and the people who fuel them in our city state country and world We've got some amazing guests on here like all the shows at think tech So if you want to catch up on stuff Tune into my show every other monday and other shows here on think tech live It's a great place to learn about stuff to be informed and if you have some ideas come on my show Let's talk about it. See you later And aloha Aloha everyone and welcome back to lilians vegan world the show where we talk about the vegan lifestyle and plant-based diet I'm very happy and excited to have my guest Carlos Garcia here with me today talking about his journey and what he's getting up to Carlos There is so much to talk to when it comes to you. I'm you know, I'm really excited But I have realized that I didn't ask how you started your vegan journey. So do share Do share it with us Well, the abbreviated version was my main business is distributing free magazines Based in los angeles and I was back there Dropping off some magazines and I found this flyer that said Healthy food and music festival Oh, I could everybody's into healthy food So I contacted them just find out more and then I noticed that they needed volunteers So I said, you know, I can volunteer doing stage and music related stuff like that sound systems Instruments and they said sure come on down and help us and little did I know that it's actually a vegan festival And I didn't really even know that or really knew much about veganism at all. So Again, long story even shorter is that It was a great day But I didn't think much about it until a month later when they were trying to start planning for the next year And at that event was Sean Monson Who is the producer director of earthlings and he told us all that he's working on this project with his film And we thought you know, he invited us down on a certain day at columbia studios in la Then I went to this thing and it was a quite a few people that I was surprised and it was a free screening and I saw the film and I was like what I don't know for those of you who know earthlings of film you understand but for me it was like I couldn't believe that I was actually paying for that All that torture all that abuse of animals and exploitation and literally in the theater. I said to myself I I can't do this anymore. I'm I'm going vegetarian right now and in three months. I'm gonna go vegan I don't know why I said that but I did and the next morning I'm out there doing my making my breakfast and toast and this and that I'm scrambling some eggs in a little bowl And I just all happy and I'm like Oh Wait a minute, wait a minute Whoa, wait a minute. I went to the bathroom. You're already starting to connect with yeah Oh, I went to the I went to the toilet and blushed it And became vegan right there. It was I mean, I shouldn't wonder really that's a very fast transition And that's the part that's strange for me that I want to help people realize that You know, you know because some people you can tell them a million times and they'll still continue their their animal eating And that whole process and I'm it's weird to me because I'm like one of the few people that just got it like right away Yeah, I can't do this. Yeah, I can't do this It doesn't again. Yes. It doesn't it doesn't have to happen overnight, but uh, there's definitely Vegans are not missing out on anything. So many people say to me. You don't know what you're missing out on It's like no, you don't know what you're missing out on because in our next slide Carlos that you've prepared We're going to show people this is what you can eat on a plant-based diet Yeah, um, I was trying to put all this stuff together quick But I just the picture on the left is a pizza from here in thailand that literally the crust is The crust is not even made of flour. It's made of cauliflower and some other Stuff in there. It was amazing and the one on the right is uh from flatbread in on Maori that They they make the most amazing pizzas ever Yeah, and uh, so So there you go. You don't have to give up pizzas or cheese on a vegan diet. We've got you covered Nothing And and there's not any suffering to to be involved with. Absolutely. You can enjoy it all the more in my opinion, you know No, it's beautiful and it feels good to not be part of that system. Absolutely I'm you know The system of what we do to animals and repression and slavery and what how women have been abused and how gay people are abused It's just like, you know, the thing I'm going to say is nothing You know my my big message on my platform for my speaking at different events is that None of us chose to eat meat We were there little babies and mommy and it was just getting stuffed in our face and we related love and our mom and All of this so I can see why it's hard for people to leave that or to even say no, what do you mean? That's wrong. It's it's it's you know, and that's why it's so hard to break out of that That is embedded so deeply You know in our dna, you know, basically that that's a hard one to crack That's why I wanted to show the pizza photos That's why i'm out there to try to reach the non vegans to show them that you know I mean that my forerunner for the magazine they introduced them with general yoga massage and things like that in the first part and then hit them with the Uh with the facts about animal agriculture and then take a real final jab and show them what has happened to the animals And I've had great people writing for us will totally included and no one's ever Wait for all I've never paid for an article people are happy to help us Yes, there's a there's a huge support system in the in what we're doing Carlos. I I'm I'm going to talk about you because uh Just looking at you now, we've never met in person, but it's very clear that you're a very healthy um wonderfully looking gentleman and peter Has recognized you and given you the award in 2019 just last year for sexiest vegan of 2019 In the world sexiest vegan over 50 over 50. Yes. We don't look over 50 Uh, most of us most of us look younger than we actually are i'm gonna have to say that but that is so huge and I had no idea So congratulations on that and the reason why I think it's so fantastic is because it just shows How healthy and how thriving and striving and Active and you know that you are on a plant based diet Yeah, there's no there's no need for any of that, you know, you know the game changers showed us You know that obviously you don't need that for strength and but just to give you to even figure out a little bit more I am uh 62 years old really Okay, I didn't want to ask I was hoping that you you would let us know from your end, but that's incredible Look, I mean, whatever you're doing. Nobody believes it. Yeah. No, absolutely. So I I'm I'm shocked but But also not surprised because like I said most vegans who have been on the plant based diet for You know a few years at least you tend to look quite young and Carlos you prepared a photo from one of the the shoots that you did with peter um For the magazine that is That was taken last year, right? Uh, that was taken No, that was september of the year before. Okay, so okay, that was 2018 And I got the prize for 2019. Okay, awesome. So that was Yeah, tell us about the instrument What what's the name of that instrument? That's uh a dunebeck. It's a darbuka, which is a uh a middle eastern instrument and that one was actually uh A custom made one by my drum master teacher and he made those in egypt And when I played one the first hit of the drum. I said I have to have one And it's a beautiful drum. It's made of uh, it's metal and uh, it's here with me now actually and it uh It's got a Mother of pearl inlay. So it's a very intricate beautiful looking instrument and it sounds amazing and And I got here in copangan and literally I've had gigs almost every night with somebody That's he's seen me somewhere and he said I want you to my gig on this day Two days three days ago. I was at the beach and I saw a couple playing Guitar and singing and they said could I drum with you and within two minutes? They said hey, uh, why don't you play a gig with us tomorrow night? I was like, uh I don't know your music doesn't matter. I've seen you play with five people. I'm sure you'll do fine So it was totally improvised and uh, if someone goes to my facebook page, some of that stuff is posted Uh, and it's carlos garcia on facebook and okay might be able to find it if you've got any uh Common, you know mutual friends. Yes, definitely. That's a great thing for me So music is a big yes. Let's have a look at the next slide as you explain how Oh, I'm sorry carlos. This is your magazine for living aloha Yeah Yeah, that's one of the issues of living aloha that I would like to get up and running again And uh, but I want to bring it out to bali copangan all of hawaii And my main business has distribution of many cities in the u.s So I want to get it out there more also Also, we spent a lot of time with that Yes, I think that's a big project Oh, I can imagine. Yeah, but I hope that you do get it back up and running and going back to the music I do want to show the next slide um as we are getting close to the end of the show Well, this is uh, you know ever since I moved to mawai my life just has gone up and up and up and meeting great people business took off on the mainland again and uh And I kept meetings these great people great musicians and one of them well two of them on this photo It's mick fleetwood from fleetwood mac and uh, steven tyler from aerosmith and you know, we've done gigs all over hawaii and uh, you know, mick is an incredible human None of those guys are vegan, but you know, I have to draw a line somewhere on who I Become an activist because I probably wouldn't get a lot of those music gigs Had I really pushed the vegan thing? Of course, well, none of us, you know dislike non-vegans. We love everyone. There's nothing It's not like that at all and we welcome anyone to um Yeah to to try and hang out with us and learn more about the vegan lifestyle and plant based diet and you never know who you are actually going to um Influence whether it's just sitting down enjoying a pizza vegan pizza with them. There are you know, you know people can be influenced Since I went vegan everything Yeah, since I went vegan everything's just like It's like wow all these things I moved to Maui and Met these great musicians and then I'm out here now and it's like You know, and I'm feeling healthier than ever and you know, you look healthy and amazing on that note I do have to apologize because we're we do need to wrap things up. Um, you I've got to get you back on again Any time I'd love to because I see there's you know, so much more to talk about and I thank you so much Carlos for Joining in on the program look forward to seeing you succeed more and more And to continue spreading the love and your you know, amazing energy in a pleasure talking to you I got I got a I'm going to India next week because that was the prize a vegan tour in India From India. So maybe we can talk to you from India and on that note Carlos Aloha Thank you everyone for watching Lillian's vegan world and see you in two weeks from now. Take care. Aloha