Hope for the Animals

On this episode Hope talks with author John Sanbonmatsu about his new book The Omnivore's Deception: What We Get Wrong about Meat, Animals, and Ourselves. This engaging book covers a variety of philosophical aspects of meat-eating culture, offers insight into our fraught relationship with farmed animal and explores the importance of incorporating love into our ethics. John and Hope discuss humanewashing and the deception around the reality of animal farming, the cognitive dissonance of loving and eating animals, and how eating meat is an aspect  of the US culture wars. They also debate a pessimistic vs. optimistic view of the trajectory of the last few decades of vegan and animal activism. John Sanbonmatsu is a Professor of Philosophy at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts, where he teaches ethics and politics, among other topics.   He is the author of The Postmodern Prince and editor of the book Critical Theory and Animal Liberation. His new book, The Omnivore's Deception:  What We Get Wrong about Meat, Animals, and Ourselves (New York University Press) challenges the myth of "enlightened" omnivorism and the idea that we can have our meat and our conscience too.  MUSICAL BONUS:At the conclusion of the episode, we share with you a new song by vegan musician Brent Ratkovich titled “Trying.” This beautiful song is a heartfelt love letter to farmed animals that conveys a profound vegan message.Resources:Book: The Omnivore's DeceptionHumane Hoax Panel Discussion: July 19, information and registration here: https://www.humanehoax.org/upcoming-eventBrent Ratkovich: preview and purchase music: brentratkovich.bandcamp.comSupport this Podcast:Hope for the Animals PodcastCompassionate Living

In this episode, we explore the psychological aspects of living vegan on our social, emotional, and even spiritual psychology. Angela Crawford, the author of “The Vegan Transformation: A Journey to Heal Yourself and the World,” shares her research having interviewed hundreds of vegans to uncover common themes related to the benefits and challenges of living vegan. She talks about value alignment, the different stages of readiness for people to hear the vegan message, and the importance of including ourselves in our circle of compassion. Angela Crawford, Ph.D. is a psychologist, vegan educator, and author of The Vegan Transformation: A Journey to Heal Yourself and the World (Lantern, 2025). She holds a doctorate in clinical psychology and previously worked as a psychotherapist for 25 years, empowering clients toward greater holistic well-being. She is certified as a Master Vegan Lifestyle Coach and Educator (MSVA), licensed PCRM Food for Life instructor, and Transformational Coach. Resources:Angela's WebsiteBuy the Book from LanternSocial media links:  @angelacrawfordphd on Facebook and Instagram and LinkedInSupport this Podcast:Hope for the Animals PodcastCompassionate Living

Fires, hurricanes, floods—animals are also victims of recent unprecedented natural disasters. Diana Hulet, an environmental writer and animal photojournalist, shares her experience documenting the destruction of the recent LA fires and its impact on animals. She witnessed distressed wildlife, people risking their lives to protect animals, and participated in animal rescues. Diana and Hope discuss the climate crisis and how all these recent “un-natural” disasters are fueled by human actions. Diana also shares her personal contemplative practice, which helps her navigate the difficult subject matter she encounters in her work.Diana Hulet is a Pacific Northwest and Colorado-based environmental writer, animal photojournalist, and yoga teacher with over three decades of experience in yoga philosophy and contemplative traditions. After establishing her own Yoga studio and leading trainings and retreats internationally, Diana pivoted her attention and received a Bachelor of Science degree at Oregon State University in 2017, focusing on environmental ethics, ecology, and climate change. Diana's growing concern for the well-being of animals prompted her to pick up a camera and begin documenting the details of their lives. Her ongoing project, What if We Saw Them,  encourages reflection on our relationship with animals in various contexts, advocating for compassion as a catalyst for systemic change. She is a contributor to two animal photojournalist nonprofits We Animals and Sanctuary Doc, where she also serves as the Board Vice President. Resources:Diana Hulet WebsiteSanctuary Doc What If We Saw Them ProjectSupport this podcast:Hope for the Animals PodcastCompassionate Living 

Erin Wing is currently serving as the Deputy Director of Investigations for Animal Outlook and previously worked as an undercover investigator. Erin completed four investigations in the dairy, chicken and aquaculture industries, including the first-ever undercover expose of salmon aquaculture in the U.S. Her work has been featured in The Washington Post, The Guardian and The New York Times.Erin's investigations and her advocacy work shed light on the interconnection of human and animal exploitation that occurs on farms in the animal agriculture system. Erin shares personal accounts from her compelling investigations to illustrate the dangers speciesism poses to all sentient beings on the planet. She also shares what it's like to live on a farmed animal sanctuary and the stark contrast of the animals' experience from industry to freedom. Erin said, “When it comes to learning how to process trauma, my greatest teachers have been animals.” Resources:Animal OutlookAnimal PartisanEugene VeganFestErin's first episode on Hope for the Animals Support this Podcast:Hope for the Animals PodcastCompassionate Living

Today's show is a replay of an earlier episode with the amazing lauren Ornelas, founder of Food Empowerment Project. Food Empowerment Project is a vegan food justice nonprofit that promotes veganism, works to bring attention to the rights of farm workers, highlights the lack of access to healthy foods in Black and Brown communities, and raise awareness about the worst forms of slavery, including child labor, in the chocolate industry. Lauren has been deeply involved in animal rights activism since 1987 and was the director of VivaUSA before founding Food Empowerment Project.Lauren and Hope talk about the connections between food, veganism, and human rights with issues like child and slave labor chocolate production, food deserts and access to produce and healthy food, and Food Empowerment Project's Fight for the Oceans campaign highlighting the struggles of the ocean and her sea creatures. Lauren will be speaking at Compassionate Living's upcoming Eugene VeganFest on May 4, 2025. Resources:Food Empowerment ProjectLauren's TEDx Talk: The Power of our Food ChoicesAbout child labor and slavery in chocolate production and the FEP's recommended chocolate listEugene VeganFest, 5/4/25

We are honored to have a legend on the podcast today, Seth Tibbott founded Turtle Island Foods in 1980, now the “Tofurky Company.” For 15 years Seth pursued his dream as a pioneer of the early plant-based foods movement. In 1995, Seth introduced the first nationally marketed vegan holiday roast named “Tofurky” which soon became the most well-known meat alternative brand in the US. Tofurky is now a household word (even spell check knew what I was trying to type!) It has been mentioned on numerous TV shows, including The X-Files, The Tonight Show, and even as the answer to a $400 question on Jeopardy. Seth has chronicled his “40-year overnight success story” in a new book, In Search of the Wild Tofurky. On this episode, Seth talks about the history of plant based foods in the US (going back farther then you think!) as well as the history of the iconic Tofurky. He then takes us into the future as well with innovations in mock meats with advances like alt protein fermentation and 3D printed steak!  Resources:  Book: In Search of the Wild Tofurky by Seth TibbottSupport this podcast:Hope for the Animals PodcastCompassionate Living

 On today's show, author and host Hope Bohanec is flying solo and offering a new analysis of the Humane Hoax. She will break down humane meat marketing jargon, unpack and categorize the harms of the humane hoax, and talk about language, labeling, speciesism, and more. Resources:BOOK: The Humane Hoax: Essays Exposing the Myth of Happy Meat, Humane Dairy, and Ethical Eggs by Hope BohanecThe Humane Hoax ProjectSupport this podcast:Compassionate LivingHope for the Animals Podcast 

Can you use some positive news for the new year? We've got you covered with this interview!  Matthew Halteman has written a book called Hungry Beautiful Animals: The Joyful Case for Going Vegan and it is full of positive vegan vibes. Matthew is a professor of philosophy at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and fellow in the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics, UK. He is the author of Compassionate Eating as Care of Creation and coeditor of Philosophy Comes to Dinner: Arguments About the Ethics of Eating. Matthew puts a hopeful spin on going vegan in his new book and helps us to frame the issue with positivity and joy. Hope and Matt explore veganism as a philosophy and how we can deepen the vegan conversation to apply to every aspect of life. Matt shares how he feels that love is a crucial component to a vegan life, both self-love and love for others. They also get into the psychological aspects of vegan arguments and confrontations and effective communication. Resources:Book: Hungry, Beautiful Animals: The Joyful Case for Going Vegan by Matt HaltemanAhimsa Living CircleSecond Saturday of the MonthNext Circle: Saturday, February 8, Register hereLantern Voices: Lantern Publishing and Media's new podcastSupport this Podcast:Hope for the Animals PodcastCompassionate Living 

Welcome to 2025! For our first podcast of the year, we dive into spiritual veganism with Hope and her husband Cogen Bohanec. They start with their genesis stories of their spiritual journeys and how they have evolved in their 25-year marriage. Then they introduce a new project, the Ahimsa Living Circle, an ongoing monthly virtual gathering to support the community of veg-curious, pre-vegans, and vegans focused on the Dharma traditions and in particular Jain Dharma, in a circle of encouragement and compassion. The Ahimsa Living Circle is a collaborative event co-hosted by Arihanta Institute and Compassionate Living. Hope and Cogen also talk about the importance of changing our culture and evolving our fundamental nature of who we are, and not just changing what we do. They also explore veganism beyond the boycott and talk about philosophical and spiritual veganism. Ahimsa Living CircleSecond Saturday of the MonthFirst Circle Starts on Saturday, January 11, 202510:00 – 11:30am PT / 1 – 2:30pm ETRegister here for this free virtual eventSupport this podcast:Hope for the Animals PodcastCompassionate LivingSocial Media:FacebookInstagramYouTube 

Isabella La Rocca González is an award-winning artist, author, and activist. Her work is part of a long tradition in art and photography: to bring to light and find beauty in the hidden, unconscious, or disregarded. As the daughter of emigrants from Mexico and Italy, she strives to reconcile values from her Indigenous roots with her European heritage. Her photographs have been exhibited internationally including a solo show at the Center for Photography in Woodstock, NY. Awards for her work include the Ferguson Grant from the Friends of Photography in San Francisco, CA for excellence and commitment to the field of photography. She received her BA in Fine Arts from the University of Pennsylvania, and her MFA in Photography from Indiana University. Isabella's new book, Censored Landscapes: The Hidden Reality of Farming Animals, is a photographic exploration that tells a story in which the central characters are innocent of any crime and yet are condemned to imprisonment, torture, and death. It's a true story of ecological destruction, of worker exploitation—mostly people of color—and of secretive corporations protected by laws and enriched by government subsidies and lobbies. It is also a story that offers insight and healing. Isabella discusses how the photographs she took after a rescue of thousands of hens in Turlock, California became the inspiration for this project. She and Hope discuss how farming animals is a colonial import, the myth of grass-fed and other humane hoax labels, and the importance of photography to tell a story in a vivid and authentic way. Resources:Buy the Book- Censored Landscapes: The Hidden Reality of Farming Animals  Support this podcast:Compassionate Living Hope for the Animals Podcast

  Do you love Halloween? Do you like to dig deep into philosophical discussions of life and death? This episode might just be for you. Today's show is a Halloween special with something a little different. In the first half, Hope explores the theme of cannibalism in zombie, vampire, and other fantasy and horror movies and shows how these stories actually underscore our speciesist tendencies. Then, in the second half of the show, Hope and her husband Cogen, have a conversation about why people love horror movies and ask the question, could it be that our society likes to eat meat because it's a socially sanctioned murder? Or can horror movies help us to empathize with farmed animals that are experiencing the same horrors as the victims in the movies? 

In this episode, we will delve into the discord between human rights and animal rights. This friction has been featured in various spheres: academic studies, the media, food and culture literature, food security issues, and the law which is where we will focus on today.Maneesha Deckha is Professor and Lansdowne Chair in Law at the University of Victoria in British Columbia where she directs the Animals & Society Research Initiative. Her research expertise includes critical animal law, vegan ecofeminist theory, and postcolonial theory. She is the author of Animals as Legal Beings: Contesting Anthropocentric Legal Orders and has directed an open access documentary series designed for high school and undergraduate students called A Deeper Kindness: Youth Activism in Animal Law.Maneesha gives real world examples of legal cases to show that there are cultural, racial, and indigenous rights concerns for extending legal rights to nonhuman animals and how we can mitigate these tensions. One example is the case brought on behalf of Happy the Elephant at the Bronx Zoo by the Nonhuman Animal Rights Project. She unpacks some of the history of these apprehensions and offers a framework for solidarity to move us forward for everyone's benefit. RESOURCES:Books:Trickster Trilogy by Eden RobbinsonAphro-ism: Essays on Pop Culture, Feminism, and Black Veganism from Two Sisters by Aph Ko & Syl KoSista Vegan edited by A. Breeze HarperBrotha Vegan edited by Omowale Adewale Please support this podcast:Hope for the Animals PodcastCompassionate Living

The humane hoax is alive and well all over the globe and today we are leaning how it is used in the UK. Rose Patterson is the Co-Director and Actions Coordinator for Animal Rising. After getting a masters in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics, and Law and working for World Animal Protection she joined Animal Rising in 2020. She has worked on the strategy for multiple campaigns, designed and coordinated dozens of actions and led large complex projects mobilizing hundreds of people, including the disruption of the Grand National horse race which garnered a great deal of press and most recently the largest investigation into animal farming in UK history targeting RSPCA Assured farms.Rose shares Animal Rising's work exposing humanewashing by the RSPCA and how as Rose says, the RSPCA is failing farmed animals. She also tells the story of Animal Rising's infamous disruption of the Grand National Horse Race in Great Britain that got huge media coverage. Hope and Rose also talk about strategy and the importance of the grassroots in animal advocacy. Resources: Animal RisingSupport this podcast:Compassionate LivingHope for the Animals Podcast

Tracey Winter Glover is an animal caretaker, activist, author, and filmmaker. She is the co-founded and Executive Director of a non-profit intersectional pro-vegan animal rights group, Awakening Respect and Compassion for all Sentient Beings. She also startedSweet Peeps Microsanctuary, which is now home to over 50 unique and personable individuals. Tracey created and released a short award-winning documentary entitled “Until All Are Free,” is the author of Lotus of the Heart: Living Yoga for Personal Wellness and Global Survival. Her first children's book, inspired by the chickens at Sweet Peeps, is called Chickens Are Animals Too! Fannie Goes to Washington. Tracey shares the stories of Fannie and other chickens that are in her new children's book and how they helped her to shatter her misconceptions about chickens that most of us share. Tracey tells some of the rescue stories of the chickens at the sanctuary and shares how she wanted to offer an accurate and authentic voice to the characters in her book. She and Hope also talk about Eastern religious philosophies and how her other book, Lotus of the Heart, has helped her to awaken a deep reverence and respect for all life on the planet and how these ancient teachings can help us heal our world. Resources:Sweet Peeps MicrosanctuaryBooks by Tracey Winter Glover: Chickens are Animals Too, Fannie Goes to Washington Lotus of the Heart: Living Yoga for Personal Wellness and Global Survival   Thank you for your support!Compassionate LivingHope for the Animals Podcast

Tomas Machowicz is a photographer and filmmaker focusing on animal rescue efforts and social issues. He started documenting animal rescue in 2018 after a visit to Seebu Sanctuary in Costa Rica. Along with Molly Condit, Thomas co-founded Sanctuary Doc, a non-profit multimedia project that illuminates the major issues facing our world today by focusing on animals and the people who rescue them. Thomas considers himself a conduit for stories meant to raise the consciousness of humanity and uses photography, film, lectures, and workshops as tools to explore and share the human experience. Thomas' work has been published by BBC News, The Associated Press, Reuters, Vox, and he is a regular contributor to We Animals Media. Thomas shares his experiences at a wild animal sanctuary in Costa Rica and how that experience started his journey to being a photojournalist telling non-human animal's stories. He then tells us about a popular short film produced by Sanctuary Doc called Transfarming that documents animal farming transitions to plant farms and animal sanctuaries in Switzerland. He also talks about another Sanctuary Doc project focused on houseless people and their companion animals. Thomas shared that he feels it's important to create, “a sanctuary in your mind” and discusses mindfulness and the connection to living a fulfilled life. Resources:Sanctuary DocSupport this podcast and learn more:Hope for the Animals PodcastCompassionate Living

When Kimbery Carroll was first becoming an animal activist, she asked herself “Who is caring for the caretakers?” She has since dedicated herself to helping build resilient, mentally and emotionally healthy advocates. Kimberly is a coach for changemakers, campaigns strategist with Animal Justice, director of Animal Justice Academy, and a director with the Toronto Vegetarian Food Bank. With over 14 years as a coach and almost 20 years as an activist, Kimberly works with mission-driven leaders, social entrepreneurs, and other activists on high-performance habits and strategies to make them unstoppable. She's helped empower thousands of activists and counseled those in high-stress positions like undercover investigators. She's also passionate about environmental activism, democratic reform, and amplifying Indigenous and Black voices. Resources:Vegan Studies Initiative at Arihanta Institute: https://www.arihantainstitute.org/veganMonthly Speaker Series: New Ethical Issues in Contemporary Veganism with Dr. Cheryl Abbate, July 15: Register for free4-week Course- Debunking the Myth of Sustainable and Humane Animal Agriculture with Dr. Vasile Stanescu: Enroll with COUPON CODE for 25% off tuition fee: DEBUNK25! Kimberly CarrollWEBSITESCoach for Changemakers: www.kimberlycarroll.comSign-up for Animal Justice Academy (FREE): www.animaljusticeacademy.comAnimal Justice: www.animaljustice.caToronto Vegetarian Food Bank: www.vegfoodbank.comSOCIALSFacebook: facebook.com/KimberlyCarrollPageInstagram: @coachkimberlycarrollYouTube: www.youtube.com/@kimberlycarrolltvSIGN-UP (free) FOR THE CHANGEMAKER SESSIONS: https://kimberlycarroll.com/changemakersessions- every second Wednesday at 7pm ETKimberly's FREE VIDEO MINI-COURSE - Power Tools for Changemakers: https://kimberlycarroll.com/power-tools-changemakersKIMBERLY'S FREE MEDITATIONS:www.kimberlycarroll.com/meditations

 Happy PRIDE! Joining us on this special Pride episode is Honey LaBronx, The Vegan Drag Queen. Honey stared in her own YouTube vegan cooking series and traveled the world with her one-woman drag show, raising funds for local LGBTQ and animal organizations along the way. She is committed to bringing discussions about animal rights, racism, and social justice to new audiences. In 2011, she was one of eight activists arrested for blocking New York City traffic while demonstrating for marriage equality alongside her drag mother, Bob The Drag Queen (winner of Season 8 of RuPaul's Drag Race). Out of drag, Ben Strothmann is an actor, singer, playwright, and theatrical photographer, originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.Hope and Honey cover an assortment of fascinating topics-- how her sobriety journey led her to veganism, why she chose her drag name, how fat is beautiful, and embracing radical compassion. They also talk about the challenges within the gay and drag community with emboldened conservatives supporting legislation, violence, and oppression against the LGBT community. Hope and Honey laugh, lament, theorize, and bring a little joy to us all. Resources:@HoneyLaBronxYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HoneyLaBronxVideo: Rachel Wiley, The Fat JokeThank you for supporting this podcast: Compassionate LivingHope for the Animals Podcast

Today on the podcast we have Joanne Kong and Chirstoph Wagner, and they are the Vegan Virtuosiz. Joanne and Christoph weave together live music, reflections, and the arts in inspiring events that illuminate how embracing the connections we have to the natural world and all beings can bring about transformative spiritual growth, positive change, and planetary healing. They will be featured in the upcoming documentary, Taking Note, about vegan musicians and the history of animal rights as seen through music. Pianist Joanne Kong's performances have been praised for “great finesse and flexibility” (The Washington Post), and “superb artistry” (San Antonio Express-News) in works “sensitively played” (New York Times).  She is currently director of chamber music ensembles at the University of Richmond. Dr. Kong speaks around the world as an animal, environmental and vegan advocate. Her TEDx talk, The Power of Plant-Based Eating,has over 1 million views, she is editor of Vegan Voices: Essays by Inspiring Changemakers, and appears in the major documentary, Eating Our Way to Extinction. Christoph Wagner, a native of Germany, is a sought-after cellist who has played on four continents. Mr. Wagner holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Rice University, and his current research focuses on the role of nutrition in musical peak performance. He is a Certified Nutrition Coach and Certified Personal Trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine, and holds a Certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from Cornell University through the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies. Currently Dr. Wagner is Assistant Professor of Cello at the University of New Mexico.Resources:Joanne Kong: www.JoanneKongMusic.comVegan Virtuosiz Tour Information:Vancouver, Washington, May 17, 2024Salem, Oregon, May 19, 2024(Book) Vegan Voices: Essays By Inspiring Changemakers by Joanne Kong, PhDPlease support this podcast:Compassionate LivingHope for the Animals Podcast

In this presentation, Hope will explore the recent trajectory of the animal advocacy movement toward encouraging industries to transition to cage-free systems and other animal welfare campaigns. Cage-free eggs are now 40% of the US egg market and both the industry and animal advocates are promoting this as a major victory…but is this something to celebrate? Hope talks about social justice strategy, Effective Altruism, incremental change, and propose that our movement's focus is out of balance. She cautions that we are relying too heavily on impractical strategies and fragile legislation that may not lead us to farmed animal freedom. Resources:(Book) The Good it Promises, the Harm It Does: Critical Essays on Effective Altruism(Podcast) Episode 76– Measuring Our Movement with Krista Hiddema, podcast focused on Effective Altruism(Podcast) Reason for Vegan Series #3- Cage-Free and Free-Range Explained with Hope Bohanec(Article) Which Eggs Are Ethical to Eat? By Hope BohanecBite Size Vegan, Emily Moran-Barwick (Video) How We Will Win Animal Freedom, Lalia Kassam, Animal Think TankPlease support this podcast:Compassionate LivingHope for the Animals Podcast

Happy Earth Day! This is an important time of year where we focus our attention on the perils facing the planet and get inspired to help her. So today our guest is Dr. Richard Twine, author of, The Climate Crisis and Other Animals (Sydney University Press, 2024). He is a professor in Sociology and Co-Director of the Centre for Human- Animal Studies (CfHAS) at Edge Hill University, UK. He also co-editor of The Rise of Critical Animal Studies – From the Margins to the Centre (Routledge, 2014) and author of Animals as Biotechnology – Ethics, Sustainability and Critical Animal Studies (Routledge, 2010).  Richard has also published articles on ecofeminism, vegan transition, the food system, and the animal-industrial complex. Richard tells us about Critical Animal Studies and how it is inspiring many areas of academic study to consider human-animal relations. We then discuss Richard's new book and how climate disruption is affecting wild animals, marine animals, birds and even insects and microorganisms. He talks about the impact on farmed animals who now face events like frequent flooding, fires, and heatwaves due to a changing climate. We also get into the weeds of the confusing, controversial, and politicized animal agriculture emissions numbers and why there is a wide range of percentages from different sources and how to decipher what is most accurate. We also cover climate justice, food justice, the importance of a social science viewpoint of the climate crisis and much more. Resources:Richard's website:  http://www.richardtwine.comHumane Hoax Chicken Webinar details and free registration Support this Podcast:Compassionate Living Hope for the Animals Podcast

National Animal Rights Day is a unique event coming up on June 2, 2024 and today we have the creator of this day of action, Aylam Orian. Aylam is a Hollywood actor, filmmaker and animal rights activist. With his non-profit "Our Planet. Theirs Too." he has established The National Animal Rights Day (N.A.R.D.) – a day of moving events dedicated to animals and their rights, which are held simultaneously in major cities every June. NARD events are now held in 50 countries around the world. He is also the creator of The Declaration of Animal Rights – a vegan, animal liberation document that details the rights all animals have as living beings on planet Earth – which has been translated to 23 languages. As an actor, he has appeared in numerous known films and TV shows (30 Rock, Code Black, NCIS: LA, The Informer, Strargate Origins), and he wll be seen next in the new TV show about The Holocaust, “We Were the Lucky Ones.” Aylam tells the story of how he started The National Animal Rights Day in 2011 and how the day of action has grown every year and spread across the globe. He also tells us about the inspiration behind the creation of The Declaration of Animal Rights, how it reflects the UN declaration of human rights, and how it's a roadmap for a future of compassionate human-animal relations. Hope and Aylam also get into a discussion on best strategies for animal advocates and how the trajectory of the movement, in our opinion, is out of balance. Aylam also gives us some insight into just how vegan-friendly Hollywood really is and some hopeful signs of veganism on a soap! Join us for this inspiring discussion. Resources:National Animal Rights Day (NARD) June 2, 2024Humane Hoax Chicken Webinar Hope speaking in Portland, OR. on April 21Support us:Compassionate LivingHope for the Animals Podcast

Today on the podcast we are joined by Faik Bourik, founder of Vegius, a provider of vegan services to support farmed animal sanctuaries worldwide.  Faik is a mathematics, physics, and astronomy college instructor who combines his academic background with his roles as a professional writer and entrepreneur. Passionate about animal rights and gender equality, he founded Vegius to provide much needed financial support to farmed animal sanctuaries. Faik talks about how he fell for the humane hoax and bought humanely labeled products when he was first thinking about farmed animal issues. He shares how little meat he ate growing up in Algeria and how the traditional diets of so many cultures around the world are predominately plant-based. He talks about the importance of farmed animal sanctuaries to open people's hearts and to make emotional connections to animals. We also discuss karma theory and how this is an important concept to bring to western culture, which brought us to some interesting history lessons from Faik. Resources:VegiusSupport this podcast:Hope for the Animals PodcastCompassionate Living

Connecting veganism to other justice causes is critical to our success and our guest today recognized this at a very young age. Zane McNeill is a scholar-activist, chair of the National Lawyers Guild's Animal Liberation Committee, and was the co-manager of the collective Right for Animal Rights Activists. They have worked closely with the Institute of Critical Animal Studies (ICAS) and have published chapters in ICAS collections, including Vegans on Speciesism and Ableism: Ecoability Voices for Disability and Animal Justice and Expanding the Critical Animal Studies Imagination: Essays on Solidarity and Total Liberation. They have also edited Queer and Trans Voices: Achieving Liberation Through Consistent Anti-Oppression, Vegan Entanglements: Dismantling Racial and Carceral Capitalism, and Building Multispecies Resistance Against Exploitation: Stories from the Frontlines of Labor and Animal Rights (forthcoming, Peter Lang Publishing).Zane will help us to unpack new terms like “consistent anti-oppression” and “total liberation” as well as “carceral veganism” where animal activists align with agencies to criminalize and deport people in marginalized communities of color when we should be targeting the system of oppression itself. They discuss the parallels of body autonomy issues for humans and non-humans. Zane addresses everything from micro aggressions experienced by animal activists within the movement to larger, structural issues of oppression. Join us for this important discussion.Resources:Zane's Book Vegan Entanglements Hope for the Animals PodcastCompassionate LivingCompassionate Living's YouTube Page 

Do you want to know the truth about grass-fed beef? Regenerative grazing? Free-range eggs? This episode is jam packed with the jaw-dropping reality of greenwashing. Vasile Stanescu is an Associate Professor and Chair of Communication at Mercer University. He received his Ph.D. in the program of Modern Thought and Literature (MTL) at Stanford University. Vasile's research focuses on greenwashing in animal agribusiness, critiques of humane meat, in vitro meat, and consumerist options for social change. He is the author of numerous publications on the study of animals and the environment including in the Journal of American Culture, Rhetoric of Health & Medicine, the American Behavioral Scientist, and Animal Studies Journal. Vasile is also the co-founder of the North American Association for Critical Animal Studies (NAACAS).Vas talks about what is really behind regenerative grazing and the false messaging around supposedly “new” methods of animal farming. We also talk about the detriment of chicken farming, how beef is so often cited as the worst culprit for the environment, and the myth that if you just switch to chicken, it's so much better. Vas dives deep into how interconnected all animal farming industries are and how the supposed “green” meat movement is just another marketing tool for industrial agribusiness. He also shares how he feels that it is critical to reverse the stigma on veganism and have Vegan Pride.  Resources:Humane Hoax Online Conference details and free registrationLearn more and support this podcast:Hope for the Animals PodcastCompassionate Living Studies cited in this episode:Joseph Poore, University of OxfordTara Garnett, Food Climate Research Network at Oxford University

News media that is sympathetic to animals is critical in creating a compassionate world. Nina Jackel is a journalist and activist known for effecting change for animals around the world through her non-profit media organization that she founded called Lady Freethinker. Nina leads numerous divisions at the organization that expose cruel and illegal activities through undercover operations and galvanizing ordinary citizens to make a difference.  Hope and Nina discuss the importance of news media for animals and Nina offers advice about what makes good media that has the potential to reach wider audiences. She also talks about Lady Freethinker's important campaign targeting social media posts that abuse animals, such as fake “rescue” videos where abusers put animals in distressful situations just for clicks. They also discuss how to reach people who care about animals, but haven't made the connection to compassion for farmed animals and veganism. Resources: Lady Freethinker: WebsiteFaceBookInstagramTwitter Humane Hoax Online Conference details and free registration Learn More and Support this Podcast: Compassionate Living Hope for the Animals Podcast

Renee King-Sonnen is the Founder and Executive Director of Rowdy Girl Sanctuary that transformed from a cattle ranch to a sanctuary for more than 120 animals—the first documented beef cattle ranch converted to a 100% vegan sanctuary in history. Rowdy Girl sanctuary is changing the world for farmed animals with programs like the Rancher Advocacy Program (RAP), an educational program that inspires cattle ranchers and animal farms to consider alternatives to animal farming, and Families Choosing Compassion that offers a compassionate alternative to Future Farmers of America and 4-H programs. Most recently, Renee has been the subject of a documentary, Rowdy Girl, that had its World Premiere in Toronto at Hot Docs, and the U.S. Premiere at the Hampton Film Festival. She has just completed a memoir with the working title of Secret Diary of a Cattle Rancher's Wife, slated to be published in 2024. Renee tells her fascinating story of transformation from cattle rancher's wife to vegan animal activist.   We would like to thank A Well-Fed World (AWFW) for their generous support of this podcast! A Well-Fed World is an international hunger relief and food security organization advancing plant-based foods and farming to create a sustainable, nourished, and climate-friendly future. Learn more at awfw.org. Resources:Hope's Book: The Humane Hoax: Essays Exposing Happy Meat, Humane Dairy and Ethical EggsDonate to Compassionate LivingRowdy Girl Sanctuary and Film: https://www.rowdygirlfilm.comhttps://rowdygirlsanctuary.orghttps://www.facebook.com/rowdygirlsanctuaryhttps://www.instagram.com/rowdygirlsanctuary/https://twitter.com/RowdyGirlRanchhttps://www.youtube.com/rowdygirlsanctuaryhttps://www.tiktok.com/@rowdygirlsanctuaryhttps://rancheradvocacy.orghttps://www.facebook.com/rancheradvocacyprogram/https://www.instagram.com/rancheradvocacyprogram/https://twitter.com/RancherAdvocacy

This is a special short episode just for dedicated listeners. In this time of giving, I hope you will consider supporting grassroots vegan education.  Please donate to Compassionate Living to support the continuation of this podcast. Thank you! 

This episode is dedicated to the legendary Karen Davis, PhD, founder and president of United Poultry Concerns (UPC). Karen died on Nov. 4th 2023 of cancer. Vegan since 1983, Karen was an activist, author, outspoken animal advocate, and had a sanctuary for rescued birds on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. United Poultry Concerns was the first sponsor of this podcast and our host, Hope Bohanec, worked with Karen at UPC for close to a decade from 2012 - 2021. Karen started United Poultry Concerns, the first ever organization focused on chickens, in 1990. She wrote numerous books on chickens and turkeys and advocated for an end to not only the farming of these birds, but also cock fighting, down, foie gras, Kapporos, birds used in experimentation, and many other exploitive practices involving chickens and other birds. This episode is a compilation of highlights from the four times Karen was on the podcast. Karen tells the story of how she was inspired by the animal rights movement in the 1980s and how she started United Poultry Concerns. Karen shares some of her philosophies and unique thoughts about chickens and animal advocacy. She also talks about the plight and delight of turkeys. She discusses the importance of language and reveals how she believed chickens, and all animals, have Earth Rights. Rest in Power Karen, we will carry on in your honor. Resources: United Poultry Concerns

Many compassionate people and vegans are drawn to the concept of ahimsa, the Sanskrit word for non-harming or non-violence. Today we explore this concept with Dr. Jonathan Dickstein, Assistant Professor of Jain Studies at Arihanta Institute. Johnathan received a PhD in Religious Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara and his areas of research include Jain Studies, religion and ecology, comparative ethics, and South Asian religions. Jonathan and Hope discuss the spiritual reasons for living vegan through the Jain lens. He offers some history and context for the Jain religion and how their highest concept, ahimsa, or non-harming, is core to their belief. He also discusses karma theory and how that relates to ahimsa and defines Transnational Veganism.Resources:Ahimsa Vegan Conference Videos

Did you know that your veggies, fruit, beans, nuts, and seeds were probably grown with the blood, ground up bones and/or manure of farmed animals? Or the ground up bodies of fish? This episode we are talking about Veganic farming, growing food without animal products and inputs, with Meg Kelly. In 2008 Meg co-founded the Veganic Agriculture Network to promote fully plant-based food systems that are not fertilized with the byproducts of farmed animals. She now teaches the Learn Veganic online gardening course to empower people around the world to grow their own fruits and veggies at home using sustainable vegan techniques. On this episode, she shares how to get started gardening veganically, how to create compost, how to consciously and compassionately co-exist with wildlife while gardening, and more. Meg has been gardening veganically for 15 years and explains the myriad of good reasons for the world to go vegan AND veganic! Resources:Veganic Summit (November 10 – 12th 2023): https://veganicsummit.com/Veganic Agriculture Network: https://goveganic.net/ Learn Veganic Gardening Course: https://learnveganic.com/ Free Guide to Veganic Gardening: https://learnveganic.com/materials/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LearnVeganic/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learnveganic/  Food Empowerment Project's Chocolate List 

Steven Rouk is the founder of Connect For Animals, a platform for people who want to help end animal farming. He has been in the animal advocacy movement for the last decade working on data analysis, strategy, community building, and grassroots activism. Steven and Hope discuss the importance of building vegan community to help people feel supported and connected in veganism and animal advocacy. They explore the psychological and social reasons for recidivism and the fascinating concepts of social network theory and how we spread information through our social networks. Resources: Website: http://connectforanimals.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/connectforanimalsFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/connectforanimalsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/connectforanimals/Book Recommendation:Change: How to Make Big Things Happen by Damon Centola

Are you curious how to feed your companion animals vegan? Have you been considering switching your dog or cat to a vegan diet? Maybe you already do feed your companion plant based but want to be sure it's the most nutritious vegan diet? Our guest today, Jan Allegretti, has answers. Jan Allegretti, D.Vet.Hom, has been a consultant and educator in holistic health care for nonhuman animals since 1988, specializing in nutrition, homeopathy, and lifestyle assessment. She is the author of The Holistic Animal Health Series, which includes the bestselling The Complete Holistic Dog Book: Home Health Care for Our Canine Companions, and The Fresh & Flexible Meal Plan: The Easiest, Most Nutritious Way to Feed Your Dog and Cat. She works with home caregivers, shelter and rescue organizations, and veterinary professionals on nutrition for our companions. Jan talks about the detrimental impact commercial dog and cat foods have on our planet and on farmed animals, and how feeding our companion animals a vegan diet can benefit not only our global ecological crisis, but support our dog's and cat's health so they can thrive. Resources:Sonoma County VegFest, September 23, 2023Jan's WebsiteThe Holistic Animal Health Series Books By Jan Allegretti:The Complete Holistic Dog Book: Home Health Care for Our Canine CompanionsThe Fresh & Flexible Meal Plan: The Easiest, Most Nutritious Way to Feed Your Dog and CatListen to the Silence: Lessons from Trees and Other Masters Vegan Supplements for Dogs and Cats:Compassion Circle 

We open today's episode with Hope sharing some thoughts on the destructive EATS Act making its way through US legislation and then we have JH Burnett joining us from South Africa. JH spent years farming in both the sheep industry on his family's sheep farm in South Africa as well as in the dairy industry. The experience sent JH into a deep depression and he left farming to dedicate himself to animal liberation and recently released a vegan memoir and offering services as a life coach. Join us for this incredible story of transformation. Resources:Veganism Has Won

Ruchika Chitrabhanu was born and raised in a Jain family and pursued her Master's in Philosophy in Jainism. Inspired by Gurudev Chitrabhanu and Smt. Pramoda Chitrabhanu, Ruchika has been a vegan for over seventeen years, and she raises awareness about animal compassion and the benefits of following a vegan lifestyle through events and festivals in India. She is a co-founder of Ahimsafest, India's largest vegan festival, she also co-founded The Earthen One, an events platform to help people transition to a vegan lifestyle, and she is a board member of Jain Vegan Initiative. Ruchika will be a keynote presenter at our upcoming Ahimsa Vegan Conference.  Resources:Ahimsa Vegan ConferenceGurudev Chitrabhanu and Smt. Pramoda ChitrabhanuAhimsaFest in India

Dr. Tushar Mehta practices Emergency Medicine in the Toronto area and is the co-founder of Towards Ahimsa and Plant Based Data, a free database which organizes academic and institutional literature regarding plant-based diet health, environment, food security, and zoonotic pandemic risk. Tushar will be speaking at Compassionate Living's upcoming Ahimsa Vegan Conference. Tushar joins us to discuss the environmental impact of animal agriculture and thoroughly debunks “regenerative” grazing. He also addresses common arguments for eating local and other “sustainable” meat, dairy, and eggs. He warns of animal farming's resource intensive use of land and water and offers solutions that we so desperately need as we swelter in the new normal of extreme summer heat, floods, and fires. This is a rebroadcast of an interview with Tushar in 2021. Resources:Ahimsa Vegan ConferenceAnother Industry Attempt to Greenwash BeefPlant-Based Data

Today on the podcast we are talking about an issue that affects so many, but is rarely talked about—discrimination because of the size of our bodies.  Britty Mann joins us to break it down. Britty is the Founder and Executive Director of Planted Society, a U.S. nonprofit that makes plant-based eating more accessible to ensure a better future for the planet and all living beings. With over 15 years of experience in supply chain and community advocacy, Britty believes that we all have the capacity to help change the global food system, starting by fostering relationships with our own bodies and enacting change in our local communities. Bitty shares with Hope her thoughts on fat bias in the animal and vegan advocacy movement and how certain campaigns and protocol can be exclusionary and hurtful. She talks about the concept of “healthism” and how it affects the experience and contribution of larger bodied people in the vegan movement. Resources:Planted SocietyEnding Anti-Fat Bias Resources and ReferencesEpisode 24: Fat Justice and Veganism with Andy Tabar

Today on the podcast we have Brialle Ringer joining us. Brialle is a breathwork, yoga, and meditation guide, vegan fairy goddess, and embodied leadership coach on a mission to support changemakers lead with greater ease, joy, and passion. Drawing from her degree in Social Work, certifications in Yoga, Integrative Energy Healing, and Plant Based Nutrition, Brialle takes a trauma-informed, healing centered, and holistic approach to her work.Brialle share with Hope how her wholistic healing journey expanded into a service for the vegan community. She talks about the importance of feeling the grief and anger around the state of the world and channeling those feelings in a supportive system and healing environment. Brialle offers suggestions on ways to ground yourself emotionally and physically so we can break free of “grind culture” and embody a more sustainable work/life balance. She also talks about the work she does with the Global Majority Caucus focused on supporting black, brown, and indigenous people of color who are working in animal and vegan advocacy.  Resources: Brialle's WebsiteAnimals and Vegan Advocacy Summit (July 27 – 31, 2023) 

Colleen Patrick-Goudreau is known as the joyful vegan. She is a recognized expert and thought leader on the culinary, social, ethical, and practical aspects of living compassionately and healthfully. A long-time animal advocate and vegan, Colleen is a bestselling author of seven books, an acclaimed speaker, producer of one of the longest running vegan podcasts, a regular contributor to National Public Radio, and the host of luxury vegan trips around the world. Colleen shares her thoughts on living joyfully as a vegan, how to cultivate joy and say “yes” as a vegan, how traveling to other countries with her vegan travel tours brings her joy, and the challenges and triumphs of her zero waste journey. Recourses:JoyfulVegan.comFood for Thought Podcast

Lisa Barca is a lecturer in the Honors College at Arizona State University, where she teaches humanities, writing courses, and seminars on the ethics of humans' relationships with other animals. Her current research centers on critical animal studies, media ethics, rhetoric and ideology, and the intersections of feminism and animal rights. She holds a Ph.D. in Romance Languages and Literatures and is a contributing author to the volume Meatsplaining: The Meat Industry and the Rhetoric of Denial and also to The Humane Hoax: Essays Exposing the Myth of Happy Meat, Humane Dairy, and Ethical Eggs.Lisa and Hope talk about how animal farmers are treated favorably in media and how stories of farmers using alternative and “better” farming methods are featured and praised without question or an opposing view. Lisa explores the “absent referent,” or the erasing or hiding of animal's identities and how it relates to the humane hoax. She also talks about how the new “humane” do-it-yourself slaughter normalizes violence toward animals and she offers advice to journalists, and to us all, on language that helps the animals to be seen and heard in media stories about them. We also hear about Lisa's band Scarlet Rescue and her musical outlet for the vegan message. BONUS: We end the episode with one of Scarlet Rescue's songs, BBQ Protest. Resources:Order the Book! The Humane Hoax: Essays Exposing the Myth of Happy Meat, Humane Dairy, and Ethical EggsLisa's Music Videos: BBQ ProtestKeycard to Hell (Monkey experimentation at Arizona State University) Sign the petition: Change.org petition for the monkeysHope's Upcoming Events:June 8, 2023- Online Presentation about the book for Animal Activist Mentorship. Register here.June 10, 2023- In Person Book Release Presentation for The Humane Hoax in Eugene, Oregon. Info here.

On this episode we have our second session of the Humane Hoax Book Club with two of Compassionate Living's Humane Hoax Team volunteers Marian Erikson and Fireweed. We talked about a few of the chapters from the new anthology, The Humane Hoax: Essays Exposing the Myth of Happy Meat, Humane Dairy, and Ethical Eggs. A fascinating chapter we examine is called “Murder She Wrote” about the memoirs of Femivores, women who own farms and dominate and kill animals in an attempt to gain equality in the male dominated spaces of farming, hunting, and butchery. We explore other chapters that focus on speciesist language, the cognitive dissonance of consuming animals, and we expose foodie culture for its celebration of violence. Resources:Order the Book! The Humane Hoax: Essays Exposing the Myth of Happy Meat, Humane Dairy, and Ethical EggsHumane Hoax Online Conference, May 20: Register hereMarian Erikson's Plant Based Briefing podcast

On this episode we are featuring one of the contributing authors to the new book, The Humane Hoax: Essays Exposing the Myth of Happy Meat, Humane Dairy, and Ethical Eggs, Nicholas Carter. Nicholas is an ecologist and co-founder of PlantBasedData.org, a library of peer-reviewed studies calling for plant-based diets. He has his Master's in Environmental Practice and his thesis focused on the global estimates of greenhouse gas emissions attributed to animal agriculture. He also works with Plant Based Treaty as a Science & Policy Analyst and Plant Based News as a Data Scientist & Lead Researcher. Nicholas' chapter is called Grazing Vs. The Planet and in this episode, he unpacks sustainable animal agriculture and labels like carbon negative and carbon neutral beef. Nicolas tells us about how he recently debated representatives of While Oak Farms and exposed them for their greenwashing. He also shares some solutions like rewilding and veganic agriculture and how we have the tools we need to heal this planet, we just need the will to implement them. Nicholas says, “Veganic farming is the real regenerative agriculture.” Resources: Buy the Book! The Humane Hoax: Essays Exposing Happy Meat, Humane Dairy, and Ethical EggsHumane Hoax Online Conference, May 20: Register hereNicholas Debates White Oak FarmsFilm: Rewilding a Mountain

The wait is over! Hope Bohanec's book is finally out! Our host of the Hope for the Animals Podcast, Hope Bohanec, has released an anthology called The Humane Hoax: Essays Exposing the Myth of Happy Meat, Humane Dairy, and Ethical Eggs published by Lantern Publishing and Media. As humanewashing and greenwashing become more prevalent and pervasive, this volume, with 18 contributing authors, activists and academics, exposes the humane hoax from every angle. We have two guests on the podcast today for our first session of the Humane Hoax Book Club to discuss the book. Alastor Van Kleeck has a Ph.D. in English and co-founded the Triangle Chicken Advocates Sanctuary as well as The Microsanctuary Movement. Alastor also co-founded The Humane Hoax Project with Hope and wrote a chapter for the new book. Much of Alastor's writing is available at strivingwithsystems.com. Also joining us is Sena Crutchley. Sena is an associate professor and long-time animal rights and environmental activist. She is a founder and board member of Piedmont Area Vegan Educators and also founded and runs Ruby's Refuge, a microsanctuary for chickens and fishes. Sena is a volunteer on the Humane Hoax Team.Resources:ORDER THE BOOK! The Humane Hoax: Essays Exposing the Myth of Happy Meat, Humane Dairy, and Ethical Eggs. Register: Virtual Book Launch Party, April 29The Humane Hoax Project

Happy Easter! In honor of spring, today we are featuring rabbits and welcome Mark Hawthorne to the podcast. Mark is the author of numerous books on animal rights and social justice, including: A Vegan Ethic: Embracing A Life Of Compassion Toward All and the bestselling Striking at the Roots: A Practical Guide to Animal Activism. His most recent book is called The Way of the Rabbit which is a joyful celebration of rabbits, both wild and domestic. Mark is a longtime rabbit lover who has fostered and rescued many bunnies over the years, eight of whom he adopted. He also volunteers with the vegan food justice group Food Empowerment Project, that was founded by his partner Lauren Ornelas. Mark tells us some stories of the rabbit in history and myth, shares interesting insights about rabbits, talks about the rise in popularity of using rabbits for meat in the US, and also talks about his other book Bleating Hearts: The Hidden World of Animal Suffering. Resources:Book Launch Party for The Humane Hoax: Essays Exposing the Myth of Happy Meat, Humane Dairy, and Ethical Eggs edited by Hope Bohanec. Register Today!Some of Mark's Books: The Way of the RabbitBleating Hearts: The Hidden World of Animal SufferingStriking at the RootsIPCC, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's new report: “Climate Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability”

Today on the podcast we dig into the philosophy and practice of Effective Altruism (EA) and how it permeates and influences the animal rights movement. Krista Hiddema, Executive Director of For The Greater Good, has written a chapter in the new anthology, The Good It Promises, The Harm It Does: Critical Essays on Effective Altruism edited by Carol Adams, Alice Crary, and Lori Gruen. Krista offers a broad introduction to EA and how in the last decade, it has informed and now enveloped the animal advocacy movements strategy and tactics and why this may be a detrimental path for the animals. She shares stories of how campaigns that are unquantifiable can have profound impact and should not be pushed aside by the EA trend. Krista holds a doctorate in social sciences where her research focused on the need to utilize ecofeminist principles in matters of board governance within the animal rights movement. She holds five other degrees in areas of leadership, human resources, and organizational development, she teaches strategic planning and board governance, she is a fellow with the Animals & Society Research Initiative, and a reviewer for the Journal of Critical Animal Studies, and much more. She resides in outside Toronto, Canada.  Resources:Book: The Good It Promises, The Harm It Does: Critical Essays on Effective Altruism edited by Carol Adams, Alice Crary, and Lori GruenKrista: ·      www.DrKristaHiddema.com·      https://drkristahiddema.com/blog·      https://drkristahiddema.com/blog/2022/12/14/effective-altruism-the-impact-is-fear-corruption-and-it-is-also-not-good-for-animals·      https://www.facebook.com/Krista.Hiddema  

Naijha Wright-Brown is the Executive Director of the Black Veg Society, a 501c3 non-profit organization that educates predominantly Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities on the benefits of holistic living, the plant-based diet, and veganism.  She is also the co-creator of Vegan Soulfest and Maryland Vegan Restaurant Month. Naijha shares her journey creating a soul food restaurant called The Land of Kush as well as an incredibly successful Black-focused vegan festival all while running the Black Veg Society. Naijha is on a mission to help people find their vegan soul!Resources:Naijha Speaks- YouTubeBlack Veg SocietyVegan SoulFest- August 19 & 20, 2023 About the Egyptian Kingdom of KushSoul of Ahimsa: Vegan Spiritualty Retreat in NY

On today's episode we have a recurring guest joining us, Hope's husband, Cogen Bohanec. Hope and Cogen start us off with a big announcement and then Cogen discusses his work as a constructive theologian in the Dharma Traditions and how he connects Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist Dharma with environmental and animal rights issues. He talks about eco-psychology, eco-theology, karma theory, and the dangers of “human exceptionalism.” Cogen also talks about his recent writings regarding animal personhood, animals' intrinsic value, and how we can remove systems of oppression through religious and cultural transformation. “It is a false binary to say that we are either altercentric (other centered) or egocentric. That's a false binary. Actually it's more of a dialectic, care for ourselves is care for the other. Care for the other is care for the self. It's a both/and solution.” – Cogen Bohanec, PhD We would like to thank A Well-Fed World (AWFW) for their generous support of this podcast! A Well-Fed World is an international hunger relief and food security organization advancing plant-based foods and farming to create a sustainable, nourished, and climate-friendly future. Learn more at awfw.org.Resources:Ahimsa, Animal Advocacy, and Veganism is an online, self-study course with Hope Bohanec, offered by Arihanta Academy. Learn more and register for the spring semester here.Other Episodes with Cogen:Episode 48: Vegan Love and Rescue with Cogen and Hope BohanecEpisode 57: The Vegan Hypocritical Imperative with Cogen and Hope Bohanec

Ryuji Chua is an animal activist and filmmaker who is currently working as a video producer at Surge Activism, an advisor for the Vegan Hacktivists, and was recently featured on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah to talk about animal rights and his latest independent documentary "How Conscious Can A Fish Be?" Hope and Ryuji talk about the importance of including fish in our advocacy and discuss fish pain, fish sentience, and fish farms. Ryuji offers advice about effective communication as a vegan, how focusing on the animals is critical for our messaging, and  how protecting wild animals is often seen as preserving the species or ecosystem, without consideration to the individual animals. Resources:Ryuji's YouTube ChannelRyuji on The Daily ShowVideo: How Conscious Can a Fish Be?

 Today Hope starts us off with some interesting information about lobsters, crabs, oysters, and other marine life. Then we have Kathy Stevens joining us. Kathy is the founder & director of Catskill Animal Sanctuary, a 150-acre refuge in New York's Hudson Valley for 11 different species of farmed animals. She was an educator for many years and in 2001, she co-founded Catskill Animal Sanctuary, where her love of teaching, her belief that education has the power to transform, and her love of animals come together. One of the world's leading sanctuaries for farmed animals, Catskill has saved more than 5,000 non-human individuals through direct rescue — and even more through programming that encourages humans to adopt veganism.Hope and Kathy talk about Kathy's journey starting Catskill Animal Sanctuary, how elderly farmed animals are so rare and only found on sanctuaries, and how Tucker the cow has changed thousands of lives with his love of people. Resources:Catskill Animal SanctuaryKathy's books: Where the Blind Horse SingsAnimal Camp

Happy New Year! Today on the podcast we have Sangita Iyer joining us. She is a journalist, biologist, award-winning filmmaker, National Geographic Explorer, and founder of Voice for Asian Elephants Society. Sangita was born and raised in Kerala, India, home to captive elephants used in temple ceremonies, documented in her award-winning film Gods in Shackles and now her new book called Gods in Shackels: What Elephants Can Teach Us About Empathy, Resilience, and Freedom.  Considered the “Blackfish for elephants,” the film exposes the heartbreaking plight of these amazing gentle giants in India. From her home in Canada, Sangita now oversees teams on the ground in India who combat elephant poaching, illegal trade, habitat loss and more. Hope and Sangita discuss the precarious situation for elephants in India, for both the wild population and for the captured elephants used in rituals.  “Elephants are the largest animals on earth, and they are literally designed to play a vital role in the ecosystem. Climate change has no borders, so what happens to elephants in India and Africa reverberates and impacts other countries at a devastating pace.”   -Sangita IyerResources: Gods in Shackles (website)Gods in Shackles (film)Gods in Shackles (book) Voice for Asian Elephants Society

Happy Holidays! In this episode, Hope is flying solo and  wanted to share with you some exciting things coming up in the new year for Compassionate Living and our signature projects, the Humane Hoax Project and the Ahimsa Living Project. She also talks about the mixed message of the holidays with tidings of love and peace wrapped up with overconsumption and meat eating.  “If we haven't changed our hearts and we just change our habits, then any progress is built on a flawed foundation” -Hope Bohanec DONATE TO COMPASSIONATE LIVING'S MATCHING CHALLENGE

Elly Nakajima is the founder and director of Animal Alliance Asia – a movement building organization dedicated to empowering and training animal justice activists across Asia. Born in Japan and currently based in the UK, Elly is passionate about building a more inclusive, culturally relevant, and effective movement across Asia. She was one of the first Japanese language educational content providers for vegan advocates in Japan. Hope and Elly discuss the need for vegan advocacy to adapt and change for different cultures and different audiences in Asia. Elly explains why truly local leadership across Asia is critical for the ideas of veganism and animal rights to thrive. Elly is on a mission to empower woman and people of the global majority to embrace leadership roles in animal rights and to feel confident advocating for animals in their countries and regions. Resources: Animal Alliance AsiaDONATE TO COMPASIONTE LIVING'S MACTHING CAMPAIGN