Ep. 105: Leilani Münter: In the Driver’s Seat to Save our Planet

Right now, it’s no secret that our population (which is almost 8 billion now) is facing a tremendous amount of collective challenges with our health, our food system, and our planet as a whole.

We all have some work to do and this week’s interview with ECO-Activist, Leilani Münter, will illuminate conversation and elevate the positive impact that something so simple as eating a whole-foods plant-based diet can have on the environment as a WHOLE.

Leilani has been broadcasting this message for over a decade primarily from behind the wheel of a race car - I know - not exactly where you’d think you’d see these messages, but as she says on her website, “Never Underestimate a vegan hippie chick with a race car!” You’ll never underestimate Leilani after today’s conversation.

Since retiring from race car driving in 2019, she’s been revving up her advocacy engines even more through documentary films like “Racing Extinction,” keynote speaking, and non-profit work, all in a tireless effort to make a cleaner and kinder world for everyone.

Today, she talks to Rip about:

• Her unique childhood as the daughter of a Japanese/Hawaiian Mother and German Father while growing up in Minnesota

• Her Galileo moment when she learned the truth about our food as a young girl eating a hamburger at a fast-food restaurant

• How her Biology degree from UC San Diego was the foundation of the advocacy work she does today

• Why she loves being behind the wheel of a race car and the intensity, presence, and advocacy voice it provides for causes that are important to her

• Her recent vegan birthday present - a meal at Eleven Madison Park - and her secret for getting reservations!

• Why Leilani and her husband (and cats!) choose to be child-free

• Additional causes that she advocates for the health and longevity of our planet: renewable energy, solar power, electric cars, animal rights, and, of course, a plant-based diet

As the New York Times wrote, "Steve McQueen probably never lost sleep over his carbon footprint. Not so for racecar driver Leilani Münter - a green racecar driver with a clean conscience."

Rev up your advocacy engines and enjoy this conversation with a true Eco-Hero.

About Leilani Münter

Leilani Münter is a biology graduate, professional race car driver and environmental activist. Discovery's Planet Green named her the #1 eco athlete in the world, ELLE Magazine awarded her their Genius Award, and Sports Illustrated named her one of the top ten female race car drivers in the world. Leilani is an advocate for solar power, electric cars, plant-based diet and animal rights. Leilani is active in lobbying for these causes in Washington, DC and beyond. She has been a guest at The White House and the United Nations in Geneva.

Since 2007, Leilani has been adopting an acre of rainforest for every race she runs. She uses her race car to get the environmental message in front of the 75 million race fans in the USA. Her race cars have carried messages about renewable energy from wind and solar power in addition to clean energy legislation. Leilani has also been active in the effort to end cetacean captivity and has run the documentaries The Cove and Blackfish on her race cars. She has raced both open-wheel cars (Indy Pro Series) and stock cars (NASCAR, ARCA). Leilani has recorded 9 top-five, 21 top-ten, and 37 top-fifteen finishes in 61 starts.

Leilani is on the board of the Oceanic Preservation Society, a non-profit that creates film, photography, and media, inspiring people to save the oceans. They won the Academy Award for their first documentary The Cove and Leilani is featured in their 2015 documentary Racing Extinction. Leilani is also an Ambassador for Ric O'Barry's Dolphin Project, an organization she has been volunteering for since 2010. She also sits on the board of advisors of The Solutions Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to accelerating the transition to 100% renewable energy.

Leilani is vegan. Her personal car is an electric Tesla Model S. Her home features solar panels, a 550-gallon rainwater collection system, solar and LED lighting, and a vegetable garden.

Leilani’s motto is: Never underestimate a vegan hippie chick with a race car.

Episode Resources

Leilani Münter Website and Resources

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