Follow Our Social

The Girl with the Duck Tattoo — Sarma Melngailis Writes Her Own Story After “Bad Vegan”

She had a thriving restaurant, a cult following, and a mission to change the way people eat.

Then, almost overnight, Sarma Melngailis became the woman at the center of Bad Vegan — a Netflix scandal that made headlines but missed the real story.

Now, in her brand-new memoir The Girl with the Duck Tattoo, Sarma is reclaiming the narrative.

And in this in-person interview — recorded live in New York City — she opens up to me like never before.

This episode isn’t about viral fame or courtroom drama. It’s about the slow unraveling of identity, how coercive control works, what it takes to survive psychological abuse, and how one woman is writing her way back to herself.

💡 Why it matters:

This isn’t just a story about scandal.

It’s a story about control, recovery, and how smart women can still be broken down — and also built back up.

🔗 CONNECT WITH SARMA

📘 The Girl with the Duck Tattoo – https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Duck-Tattoo-Memoir/dp/1544548982

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarmamelngailis/

PLEASE LIKE, SHARE, SUBSCRIBE, AND GIVE US A 5-STAR REVIEW!: ratethispodcast.com/missunderstood 
Shop Miss Understood Merch https://mumerch.com/
Follow Rachel on TikTok!
Follow Rachel⁠⁠ on Instagram
Follow Rachel⁠⁠ on X
Follow Rachel⁠⁠ on Facebook
Follow Rachel on LinkedIn
Follow Rachel on Rumble
Rachel’s Linktree
Executive Producer:  George Carmona
Please like, share, subscribe, and give us a 5-star review!
Do you have show ideas, media requests or sponsorship opportunities?
Email the show at: infomissunderstoodpodcast@gmail.com
⁠⁠Watch every episode on YouTube!⁠⁠ @missunderstoodpodcast
⁠⁠Listen on Apple Podcasts!⁠⁠
Watch every episode on Patreon: Miss Understood with Rachel Uchitel Patreon

Our Sponsors:
* Check out Happy Mammoth and use my code UNDERSTOOD for a great deal: https://happymammoth.com

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/miss-understood-with-rachel-uchitel/exclusive-content

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy