Radicalize The Roots

In episode 3, Elle and I chat about how mainstream white veganism brought us together and something rad that coalesced as a result (with many others involved!): V.A.A.O. (Vegans Against All Oppression), an international vegan coalition, working to transform and confront oppressive structures in human society today. VAAO was founded by Elle, Iye Bako, Dominick Thompson & Robbie Lockie and was launched in January 2021. We also discussed the nuances of Elle's TV show 'Elle Travels Vegan' in which they show off the vegan lifestyle all over the world whilst weaving in real talk about local social, human and climate justice issues. Ellen (Elle) Flores is an afro-Latinx, gender-queer, vegan flight attendant. Elle is the co-founder of Vegans Against All Oppression (VAAO), the host of her own TV show "Elle Travels Vegan" that they star in, directs & edits and they are very active within the human and animal rights movements. They are just an all around radical & glorious human! Land Acknowledgement website https://native-land.ca Vegans Against All Oppression- Mighty Networks app, Instagram & Twitter https://www.wearevaao.org Elle's instragam https://www.instagram.com/elletravelsvegan/ Elle Travels Vegan TV Show https://filmfreeway.com/ElleTravelsVegan Clubhouse app- available only on apple iPhones... for now. https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/clubhouse-drop-in-audio-chat/id1503133294

In episode 2, Darren and I chat about a myriad of things under the umbrella of all those 'A' words, but not exclusive to them... We share about our beginnings in the activism world, as well as prison farms, prisoner rights et al. And yes, animal liberation & exploitation did inevitably get woven into the discussion! Also, is differentiation a word?!?! Darren Chang holds an MA in political theory from Queen's University 2017 and researched under the supervision of philosopher Will Kymlicka. He is a longtime activist and member of the North American Association for Critical Animal Studies. Tiny House Warriors - http://www.tinyhousewarriors.com Evolve Our Prison Farms - https://evolveourprisonfarms.ca/voices/ Evolve Our Prison Farms Community Forum El Jones - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyLEcWNqF-c The Dig Podcast - https://www.thedigradio.com/podcast/hegemony-how-to-with-jonathan-matthew-smucker/ Books: Angela Davis - Are Prisons Obsolete Carol J. Adams - The Sexual Politics of Meat Jason Hribal - Fear of the Animal Planet Jonathon Smucker - Hegemony How-to: A Roadmap for Radicals

For this first episode of Radicalize the Roots, my dear friend Poli and I discuss how exclusion, as well as misogyny and other oppressive behaviours, are rampant in the mainstream animal rights movement, specifically in the big orgs. Super specifically, one organization in particular... A quick content warning- sexual harrassment & rape is brought up, also the threat of those and murder as a result of doing activism... Poli Sotomayor is a pro-intersectional activist and nomad living in Mexico. She has been doing activism for 20 years now, starting with environmentalism, then 5 years into that, adding feminism to her roster and most recently, 6 years ago, bringing anti-speciesist activism to the mix. She has a masters in communications & politics and a PHD in social sciences. She is a force to be reckoned with and has the absolute biggest heart. Poli: instagram - @polifaceticaenelista | website - www.polifaceticaenlaweb.com | youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxx579qjyj7CAnpZu0kUY_Q Poli's video- original (in Spanish) - Ser mujer y hacer lo que hacemos - Polifacética & Animal Save Movement - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r18kJySBxtU&t=38s Poli's video- edited - We need to fight for TOTAL liberation | Misogyny is a MONSTER- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8jCPSVAjVc&t=9s Food Empowerment Project - https://foodispower.org lauren Ornelas from Food Empowerment Project talks about "Giving power back to the grassroots movement to restore passion, creativity and community for animals" at the Animal Rights National Conference 2019. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1adQt7UPr8I

Just me, chatting about myself, this podcast and everything in between. A rambling of Meghan bits and hopes for what Radicalize The Roots will bring. Simon Fraser Public Interest Research Group - SFPIRG - https://sfpirg.ca Podcast I mentioned: Wild Mystic Woman Podcast - Layla F. Saad Ep023 - Rachel Ricketts On Spiritual Activism https://tunein.com/podcasts/Religion--Spirituality-Podcasts/Wild-Mystic-Woman-Podcast-p1135873/?topicId=126430210 This podcast is actually retired, so it's not on many platforms anymore, but I definitely invite you all to follow Layla and Rachel on instagram - @laylafsaad & @iamrachelricketts - as well as their websites; http://laylafsaad.com https://www.rachelricketts.com