Move Over, Harry Potter; a Memoirist Has Been Born! with Evanna Lynch

Wow! We are truly over the moon to be joined this week by the incredibly talented actress and activist, Evanna Lynch, who you undoubtedly recognize from her role as Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter films. Yup, you read that right! A passionate vegan animal rights advocate, Evanna joins Jasmin for a thought-provoking conversation that ranges from advocacy approaches, to overcoming challenges through self-reflection, to the power of personal narrative, to her personal history with disordered eating, and so much more. In discussing her recently released memoir The Opposite of Butterfly Hunting, Evanna gets personal, opening up about her inspiration to write a book that shifts the narrative regarding eating disorders from the physical aspects to the existential pain of the disease. She also shares the scoop about her podcast, ChickPeeps, and how it showcases vegan living in an uplifting way.

Evanna Lynch made her film debut in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and reprised her role in subsequent sequels to critical praise, concluding with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2. As an activist, she advocates for veganism and animal rights and has launched both a vegan-themed podcast and the cruelty-free cosmetics brand, Kinder Beauty. Evanna’s new memoir, The Opposite of Butterfly Hunting, reveals how she overcame a life-threatening eating disorder, began to conquer her self-hate, and confronted her fear of leaving girlhood for the unpredictable journey of being a woman.

“Veganism can be such a healing device for people; it can also give people a sense of purpose—a purpose for their eating that is an extension of their values, their heart, and their sensitivity.” – Evanna Lynch

Highlights:

• Why Evanna initially felt nervous about sharing her experiences in The Opposite of Butterfly Hunting
• Why Evanna was so surprised that so many people were interested in her memoir — particularly her mother’s neighbors!
• The parallels between writing and acting
• Evanna’s thoughts on the mindset of people who hide disordered eating behind veganism
• How the ‘crowding out ‘method of moving to a plant-based diet works
• Evanna’s reaction to the fact that so many eating disorder treatment facilities refuse to cater to vegans
• The animals who shared Evanna’s childhood and the role they played in shaping her relationship with animals.
• Evanna’s podcast ChickPeeps and some of the favorite subjects explored on the show
• The Kinder Beauty Box subscription and why Evanna was motivated to co-found the self-care service
• The back story behind Evanna’s short film, You Eat Other Animals, and where listeners can watch it

Connect with Evanna Lynch:

• Evanna’s website
• Evanna on Instagram
• The Opposite of Butterfly Hunting: The Tragedy and The Glory of Growing Up; A Memoir by Evanna Lynch
• ChickPeeps Podcast
• Kinder Beauty Box
• You Eat Other Animals? short film

Connect with Our Hen House:

• Our Hen House Website
• Our Hen House on Facebook
• Our Hen House on Instagram
• Our Hen House on Twitter

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This episode is brought to you in part through the generosity of A Well-Fed World. A Well-Fed World provides the means for change by empowering individuals, social justice organizations, and political decision makers to embrace the benefits of plant-based foods and farming. Learn more at awfw.org.

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Don’t forget to check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series.

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