Michael Lanfield

An acclaimed author, educator and filmmaker, Michael Lanfield is a certified World Peace Diet facilitator. Inspired and taught by Dr. Will Tuttle, his talks are informative, inspiring and interactive. A Paul Collins interview.

Tell us about your background. Who you are, where you are from?
I am a vegan educator, author and filmmaker, but I also do speaking engagements and write articles. I am currently enrolled in The World Peace Diet Facilitator Training Program through Dr. Will Tuttle and trying to understand how to create a positive transformation on this planet. I think we need to deepen our understanding of ourselves, and the world around us, by understanding the ramifications of our food choices. My role is just that, to create a peaceful and just society for everyone to live in.

What themes does your book explore? Is there a particular feeling or experience that you hope to evoke for the reader?
I started writing the book The Interconnectedness of Life in 2010 to tell my story awakening to veganism and how I no longer saw animals as food and commodities. Since then it has gone through a lot of revisions and editing. I’ve done a lot to it, adding stories from like-minded people such as Dr. Jonathan Balcombe a biologist and author, Karen Davis, PhD, author of several books and founder of a sanctuary United Poultry Concerns and Matt Bear, famous for his Vegan, A Life Connected video and the Vegan T-shirt you see everyone wearing. In 2013, I decided to create a documentary film along with the book. The film is a little different in that it is inspired by the #1 Amazon best-selling book, The World Peace Diet, and incorporates some of the main ideas into it.

People think that my book and film is only about veganism, and that it’s no different from the hundreds of vegan books out there. To me, it’s more than just about veganism. It’s a whole way of viewing the world, it is deepening our understanding of our food choices and of the millions of creatures we share this planet with. It is seeing the world with a different set of eyes, in a different light. It incorporates many religions, spiritual traditions, food choices, cultures, countries, creatures, elements and weaves it into a collage of images, writings etc. that will hopefully transform this planet away from violence to that of peace and love. No more, will there be wars, hate, and violence of any sort. We will be able to live in total peace and freedom. Not only does the storyline go into veganism, I also talk about the ethical and spiritual dimensions of a fruit based lifestyle and how it can do wondrous for the interwoven tapestry of life on
Earth. The website is www.weareinterconnected.com

What made you become an author? What was your specific inspiration? Did a certain person, artist, or genre influence you?
I started writing the book because my story needs to be heard. People are inspired when it comes to personal stories of transformation. Dr. Will Tuttle is my biggest influence and hero; he has taught me a lot. I do not know where I, or the millions of others, would be if he wasn’t here. I’m also really inspired by the book Peace to all Beings by Judy Carman. Durianrider and Freelee are also wonderful and beautiful people who have really done a lot to contribute positively to the world. I thank all of them for giving me inspiration, guidance and healing.

If you could compare your book to any other existing work, which ones would they be and why?
I would really have to credit and thank Dr. Will Tuttle and his book The World Peace Diet. I don’t know of any other book that really incorporates all subject matters and brings it closer to the food issue. It is something you cannot describe. In fact, “It has been called one of the most important books of the 21st century: the foundation of a new society based on the truth of the interconnectedness of all life. It is the first book to make explicit the invisible connections between our culture, our food, and the source of our broad range of problems—and the way to a positive transformation in our individual and collective lives.”

Tell us about your latest work.
At the moment, I am finishing the book and film The Interconnectedness of Life that should be out within a year or two. I am also looking to do more speaking engagements in schools and elsewhere. Within two months, I hope to be finished The World Peace Diet Facilitator Training Program and earn my certificate so I can teach others the ideas in the book. The one thing I enjoy most is to give talks and answer people’s questions. I love it when I get the “Where do you get your protein question.” I just laugh at how many times I am asked that question.

How can your readers contact you? Or buy your books? Or where can they sign up for a newsletter.
I don’t have a newsletter, but people can sign up to receive news updates on my website. There, people can also email me and learn about transitioning to a vegan lifestyle. I give free talks, if anyone is interested; all I require is traveling expenses. I give talks both with or without PowerPoint slideshow presentations, which are interactive, inspiring and informative with beautiful and moving photography and videos with a question and answer period.

Thank you for the opportunity for interviewing me.

Download the free audio-book entitled The Awakening, an Introduction to the book and film The Interconnectedness of Life with music by Moby.