January marks National Mentorship Month which is a great opportunity for me to talk about my dad, Bill Mackey. He was an original investor in Whole Foods Market, a long-time board member, and my greatest mentor. There is no doubt in my mind that Whole Foods would have...
Why I Always Root for the Underdog
I am a great believer in the underdog. I think this stems from when I was a little kid. I was always a bit young for my grade and was physically smaller than the majority of my classmates. Being a little different isn’t always the easiest - I was the “smart kid”...
Three Easy and Delicious Vegan Meals
A whole-food, plant-based diet prioritizes eating whole unprocessed foods with 90-100 percent of your daily calories coming from plant foods. I have been vegan and 100 percent plant-based since 2003 for both ethical and health and vitality reasons and have experienced...
The Importance of Practicing Gratitude
Gratitude is one of the single most important keys to happiness in life. Oftentimes, it is assumed that gratitude needs an object; for example, expressing gratitude for a meal or a specific person. However, an object is not necessary to express gratitude - we can feel...
Thank You, Whole Foods Market
I made my retirement announcement internally a year before I left Whole Foods Market. In addition to transitioning responsibilities to the next CEO, Jason Buechel, I wanted time to focus my energy on doing things that would be most meaningful to Whole Foods. I spent...
How To Elevate Your Meal: Dressings, Sauces, and Marinades
A good dressing, sauce, or marinade can make anything delicious! This holds especially true when eating a whole-food, plant-based diet. Adding a tasty dressing or sauce elevates flavor and can turn your dish from average to amazing. Unfortunately, conventional...
John’s Book Review: The Three Languages of Politics
I recently finished reading The Three Languages of Politics: Talking Across the Political Divides by Arnold Kling. This is a short book at only 155 pages, but very much worth reading. Kling’s analysis shows that the three primary political philosophies in...