Hope for the Animals

Happy Earth Day! Today we have a special Earth Day episode where we are exploring solutions. Hope starts us off with some inspiring green living ideas and then we have a fascinating conversation with Karthik Sekar, PhD. Karthik has a doctorate in Chemical Engineering from Northwestern University researching bioreactor design and systems/quantitative biology. He works as a Senior Data Scientist at Climax Foods and has written the book After Meat: The Case for an Amazing Meat-Free World. In this episode, Karthik uncovers the inherent inefficiencies of animal products and how we need “disruptive technology” to replace meat, dairy, and eggs. He debunks regenerative animal agriculture and reveals the important innovations in fermentation-based products that can revolutionize plant-based eating. Join us for an inspiring discussion about solutions.Resources:Website: AfterMeatBook.comMore Podcasts for Earth Day:  Reason for Vegan Series 10: The Environmental Impact of Animal AgricultureEpisode 25: Greenwashing our Food: Exposing Sustainable LabelsLearn More and Support this Podcast:Compassionate LivingHope for the Animals Podcast

The amazing and fabulous Jasmin Singer is a worldwide leading expert on veganism, the co-host of the -running Our Hen House podcast, a longtime contributor to VegNews magazine as well as the author and editor of numerous books. Hope and Jasmin had a ton of fun covering a lot of territory starting with reminiscing about being vegan in the 90s, Jasmin’s journey writing her memoir, and her evolution coming from the LGBTQ movement into the animal rights space and how that overlaps and connects. They talk the groundbreaking anthology that Jasmin recently edited about anti-racism in the animal rights movement, they discuss thin privilege and discrimination against larger bodied people and how that manifests in the vegan community, as well as the adventure of making her new home in upper state New York net zero. Resources:Website: https://jasminsinger.comBlog: Jasmin’s JargonPodcast: Our Hen House Books: The VegNews Guide to Being a Fabulous Vegan,Always Too Much and Never Enough: A Memoir Anthology: Antiracism in Animal Advocacy: Igniting Cultural TransformationEpisode 24: Fat Justice and Veganism with Andy TabarWhat We Don’t Talk About When We Talk About Fat by Aubrey GordenLearn More and Support this Podcast:Compassionate LivingHope for the Animals Podcast 

Hope starts us off with some news on a case of blatant greenwashing from a long-time vegan company that has sparked a Compassionate Living Campaign. Then we are honored to have vegan and human rights activist Christopher Soul Eubanks on the podcast. Soul is a climate, human, and animal rights activist in Atlanta, Georgia and has dedicated himself to doing advocacy work that combats all forms of injustice. After becoming vegan, Soul helped co-organize Atlanta’s first ever animal rights march, started a YouTube channel, and is a contributing author to two anthologies. He is also contributing a chapter to Hope’s upcoming Humane Hoax anthology that will be published early next year by Lantern Publishing and Media. Hope and Soul talk about the importance of shifting animal advocacy to one of inclusion with a broader perspective for more effective activism. They discuss Soul’s new non-profit, APEX Advocacy, the term People of the Global Majority, delicious vegan southern-style food, and how animal rights can help achieve collective liberation for all. Resources:APEX AdvocacySoul’s YouTube ChannelBlack Vegan EverythingLearn More and Support this Podcast:Compassionate LivingHope for the Animals Podcast

This episode we are joined by Reverend Sarah Bowen. Rev. Sarah is an award-winning author, animal chaplain, and multifaith spiritual educator. She is also one of the co-founders of the Compassion Consortium, a monthly interfaith, interspecies online spiritual gathering. Hope and Sarah discuss how for many, there is a paralleled path between a spiritual journey and a vegan journey. Sarah shares what it means to be an Animal Chaplin and discusses the existence of animal’s spiritual lives. Sarah also shares that she will be starting an Animal Chaplaincy program in the fall for anyone who is interested in the intersection of animal protection, animal relationships, and spirituality. Resources: Sarah’s Book: Sacred Sendoffs: An Animal Chaplain’s Advice For Surviving Animal Loss, Making Life Meaningful, & Healing The PlanetCompassion ConsortiumLearn More and Support this Podcast:Compassionate LivingHope for the Animals Podcast 

(Please note: the audio in the interview has some “Zoom twang.” Apologies for the audio quality.) Our guest this episode is Emily Moran Barwick, who will also be presenting at the Humane Hoax Online Conference on Saturday, February 26, 2022. Emily is an animal-liberation activist, educator, writer, artist, and international speaker. She founded Bite Size Vegan where she provides free educational videos, essays, eCourses, and resources on all aspects of veganism. Communication has never come easily to Emily as she is Autistic, but she credits her Autism for her deep and empathetic connection with nonhuman animals, and believes that by seeing the world differently, she’s better able to help others begin to think differently. Hope and Emily dig deep into the humane myth and Emily’s unique perspective on the issue. They discuss the contradictory nature of humane labeling and how even well-meaning animal and vegan advocates can fall victim to its allure. Resources:BiteSizeVegan.orgHumane Hoax Online Conference (2/26/22)Learn More and Support this Podcast:Compassionate LivingHope for the Animals Podcast

Allison Argo is a filmmaker known for her emotionally-charged, intimate portraits of abused and endangered animals. The nearly two dozen films she’s produced, directed, and written have all been broadcast by PBS and/or National Geographic and have won over 100 awards internationally. Her most recent film, The Last Pig, premiered on PBS last year after appearing at 42 film festivals. The Last Pig is about the poignant journey of a pig farmers who, after 10 years of raising and killing pigs, decided he couldn’t do it anymore. Allison shares how documenting this heart wrenching and life-changing story affected her and her own life choices. She also discusses her new film, still in production, about farmed animal sanctuaries and a new concept called Animal Centered Design where animal rescue facilities are creating spaces for the resident animals that are more attentive to their physical and emotional needs. This new film continues Allison’s mission to provide a voice for those who are not heard—and to deepen understanding and respect for all beings.Resources:ArgoFilms.comThe Last PigThe Humane Hoax Online Conference (Saturday, February 26)AfroVegan Society- Veguary CampaignLearn More and Support this Podcast:Compassionate LivingHope for the Animals Podcast

 Happy Holidays! Hope’s guest for this special holiday episode is her husband and best friend of 21 years, Cogen Bohanec. Over the years, Cogen and Hope have come across numerous animals in distress and have jumped into action to help animals both wild and domestic. In this episode, they recall some of their exciting, touching, and harrowing rescue stories to share them with you. A little about Cogen. He received his PhD from the Center for Dharma Studies (CDS) in the History and Culture of Religions with an emphasis in Hindu Dharma and ethics. He also holds an MA in Buddhist Studies and has spent over 20 years studying, practicing, and teaching Eastern Religions (Yoga, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism). He has translated and taught Sanskrit for nearly ten years and has studied both Yoga and Sanskrit in India. He has also assisted Hope for two decades in her animal rights work as well as co-authoring the book, The Ultimate Betrayal, with Hope.  Resources:Episode 40: Rescuing Kukkuta: A New Level of LoveFilm: TurlockLearn More and Support this Podcast:Compassionate LivingHope for the Animals Podcast

Vegan Voices Series 6: Did you know that chickens purr? Learn about purring chickens and so much more in this wonderful conversation with Karen Davis, President and Founder of United Poultry Concerns. Karen is the author of numerous essays and books and cares for over 100 rescued birds at the UPC sanctuary in Virginia. In this episode, Karen shares the story of some hens recently released from a laboratory who are the newest residents at UPC sanctuary. Karen also discusses her essay in Vegan Voices: Essays By Inspiring Changemakers where she talks about the tragic phenomenon of the considerable decline of wild bird populations as the number of farmed birds increases. She also discusses the nature of suffering and reveals the deep connection between physical and psychological suffering. Karen then invites us into the world of the chickens’ vibrant voices and how rich and varied their sounds and expressions are. Join us for this in-depth exploration of all things chicken. Resources:United Poultry ConcernsBook: Vegan Voices: Essays by Inspiring ChangemakersOther episodes with Karen: Episode 28: Celebrating Chickens with Karen DavisEpisode 14: Talkin’ About Turkeys with Karen Davis

Vegan Voices Series 5: Hope starts us off by announcing the Vegan Voices Contest winners and a breakdown of Facebook’s animal abuse content policy. Then she has a conversation with Larry Weiss, a retired attorney who practiced law in California for 36 years. He was a criminal defense attorney and then moved to the field of animal law, specializing in the defense of animal activists. Larry wrote a poem for the anthology Vegan Voices: Essays by Inspiring Changemakers. Larry reads an excerpt from his poem and talks to Hope about the importance of kindness in activism. He also shares some history of the animal rights movement going back to the 1980s. Larry and Hope talk about how critical undercover investigative video is to the vegan movement, his unique insight as a lawyer into ag-gag laws, and the power of the animal farming lobby. Resources:Book: Vegan Voices: Essays by Inspiring Changemakers

Today on the podcast, Hope digs into traditions. With the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, compassionate people are thinking of the millions of beautiful turkeys destined for the holiday dinner table. The iconic Norman Rockwell image of the decapitated dead bird on a platter is a tradition in the U.S. that we hold on to as dearly as the last biscuit in the basket. But traditions are actually more malleable than one might think and Hope offers some examples are how traditions come and go and why the tradition of the Thanksgiving turkey must be scrutinized and left behind in an ethical and compassionate society.Resources:UPC Turkey InfoBook: More Than a Meal, the Turkey in History, Myth, Ritual, and Reality by Karen Davis of UPCHope for the Animals Podcast: Reason for Vegan 4: The Turkey Meat Industry Exposed