Humanism Now | Empowering Conversations with Voices for Reason, Compassion and Change 40. Nick Cooney on Going Beyond Good Intentions & the Ethical Impact of What We Leave Undone
“Focusing on the positive outcomes gives you agency; you can literally see the progress happening and that keeps you moving forward.” - Nick Cooney
Nick Cooney is a social entrepreneur, alternative‑protein investor, and author. He joins Humanism Now to discuss to unpack the hidden moral cost of doing nothing. Drawing on insights from his new book What We Don’t Do, Nick explains why inaction outweighs mis‑action, how to count the suffering we can prevent, and why business, capital and compassion must pull in the same direction.
Topics we cover
✔︎ The four‑quadrant framework of action vs inaction
✔︎ Measuring impact: turning empathy into numbers
✔︎ Beating overwhelm with data‑driven altruism
✔︎ Alternative proteins and the end of factory farming
✔︎ Lever VC’s investment thesis & the business case for good
✔︎ Animal suffering as a neglected moral emergency
✔︎ Effective altruism, long‑termism and their critiques
✔︎ Habits that keep the “do‑more” muscle strong
Connect with Nick
Resources
- What We Don’t Do – Nick Cooney (2025)
- Nick Cooney Books
- Change of Heart
- Veganomics
- How to Be Great at Doing Good
- Lever VC – global VC fund for sustainable food innovation
- Lever Foundation – non‑profit accelerating humane food systems
- The Humane League – farm‑animal advocacy organisation
- Good Food Institute – think‑tank for alt‑protein R&D and policy
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Music: Blossom by Light Prism