The Simple Heart w/ Wayne Hsiung

A historic ban on factory farms is on the ballot in the heart of Big Ag this November – and early polling suggests it has a chance at victory. I speak to Curtis Vollmar, the President of Compassionate Bay, who breaks down the wild developments in Sonoma County. - Follow Curtis Vollmar: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curtis_v0llmar/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/F1v3K XTwitter: https://x.com/Curtis_V0llmar TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@curtis_v0llmar LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/curtis-vollmar-31324b84/ Register to join the “Yes on J: End Factory Farming Convergence” in August: bit.ly/EFFC Coalition to End Factory Farms: www.yesonj.vote (https://www.endfactoryfarming.vote/) https://www.instagram.com/endfactoryfarmingsoco/ https://www.facebook.com/coalitiontoendfactoryfarming https://x.com/YesOnJ_ Compassionate Bay: https://www.instagram.com/compassionatebay/ https://www.facebook.com/compassionatebay https://x.com/Compassion8Bay https://www.linkedin.com/company/compassionate-bay/ DxE: https://www.DxE.io_takeaction - The Simple Heart on Substack - Subscribe to Wayne Hsiung's newsletter to learn more about the #RightToRescue at https://simpleheart.org! - Chapters: Chapter 1) 00:00-16:45 Intro, DxE & Compassionate Bay, Ballot Initiative (#YesOnMeasureJ) in Sonoma County, voting in California, & putting animal rights in the mainstream conversation Chapter 2) 16:46-58:40 The start & ongoing story of the Ballot Initiative in Sonoma County, CAFOs, Golden Gate Fields Race Track, water subsidies & pollution of animal agriculture (“Sonoma aroma”), & politics in Sonoma County Chapter 3) 58:41-1:22:53 Ballot initiatives by all movements, modern democracy, & joining other communities Chapter 4) 1:22:54-1:49:33 Public health concerns in Sonoma County, more on story of the Ballot Initiative in Sonoma County, shout-outs to people working on the Ballot Initiative campaign, animal rescuer Zoe Rosenberg’s upcoming trial in Sonoma County, & support the Ballot Initiative in Sonoma County (yesonj.vote), join the “Yes on J: End Factory Farming Convergence” in August (Register: bit.ly/EFFC), & hope for the world Chapter 5) 1:49:34-1:49:49 Outro video - Thank you for watching! Please Subscribe. Acknowledgments to the Podcast Team: Joe Allman, Adam Durand, Chloe Leffakis, & Jeremy Loeb

Imagine being shy and putting yourself in positions where people will scream at you, attack you, and literally bring out a whip to lash you and your friends. That’s Jack Higgs. Jack is an influencer, animal rights activist, and long-time companion to Tash Peterson. And he’s got fascinating lessons in courage, disruption, and how to create change. - Follow Jack Higgs: IG: https://www.instagram.com/jackhiggs269/ YouTube: www.youtube.com/@jackhiggs269 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jackhiggs269 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jackhiggs269 Links: linktr.ee/jackhiggs - The Simple Heart on Substack - Subscribe to Wayne Hsiung's newsletter to learn more about the #RightToRescue at https://simpleheart.org! - Chapters: Chapter 1) 00:00-22:21 Intro, Australian activists, Jack taking action with Tash Peterson, documenting animal rights actions, urban area actions vs rural area actions, & laws in Australia & the United States Chapter 2) 22:22-58:28 Civil court cases against Jack & Tash, civil court cases against other activists, the story of the protest at the restaurant that banned vegans, why some people react violently to protests, & talking rationally with people trolling protests Chapter 3) 58:29-1:31:22 Effective animal rights activism & many animal rights activists in Australia, Australian cultural influences, Jack deciding to take action for animals, be bold & authentic when telling the truth for animals, & self-improvement through self-critique (both good & bad) Chapter 4) 1:31:23- 1:40:58 Authentic speeches, the mind-body connection, what gives Jack hope in the animal rights movement, & follow Jack on social media (links above) Chapter 5) 1:40:59-1:41:14 Outro video - Thank you for watching! Please Subscribe. Acknowledgments to the Podcast Team: Joe Allman, Adam Durand, Chloe Leffakis, & Jeremy Loeb

Episode 22: Reason is the source of moral truth. There are few people on this planet who have done more to defend that proposition than Peter Singer. And I was honored to sit down with Peter, nearly 50 years after the publication of Animal Liberation, to see what he’s learned about the journey to a reason-based system of ethics. Substack: https://boldreasoningwithpetersinger.substack.com/ Website: https://www.petersinger.info/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peter__singer/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PeterSingerOfficialPage XTwitter: https://twitter.com/PeterSinger LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petersinger/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@peter_singer - The Simple Heart on Substack - Subscribe to Wayne Hsiung's newsletter to learn more about the #RightToRescue at https://simpleheart.org! - Chapters: Chapter 1) 00:00-28:05 Intro, Peter’s teachers over the years, Peter’s books “Animal Liberation” & “Animal Liberation Now,” & morality/moral truthsChapter 2) 28:06-45:04:xx Hopeful & confident for the future of animal rights, Australian activists, animal welfare, & political/legal change Chapter 3) 45:05-57:52 Humane washing, RSPCA & Animal Rising investigations, public cognitive dissonance, & social habits Chapter 4) 57:53-1:08:21 Animal rights counter-arguments & philosophical questions of animals’ quality of life Chapter 5) 1:08:22-1:21:42 Peter’s foundational work “Famine, Affluence, & Morality” & insights for ethical life, Effective Altruism movement, Sam Bankman-Fried/FTX, & long-term/short-term goals Chapter 6) 1:21:43-1:24:19 Important things Peter has done & learned & listen to Peter’s podcast “Lives Well Lived” and follow him on social media Chapter 7) 1:24:20-1:24:37 Outro video - Thank you for watching! Please Subscribe. Acknowledgments to the Podcast Team: Joe Allman, Adam Durand, Chloe Leffakis, & Jeremy Loeb

Episode 21: Can violence ever be justified? In the wake of the Trump assassination attempt, I had an intense discussion with Richard Burgess, aka Vegan Gains. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vegangains.real/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VeganGains Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VeganGainsOfficialAllan Lichtman: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Keys_to_the_White_House - The Simple Heart on Substack - Subscribe to Wayne Hsiung's newsletter to learn more about the #RightToRescue at https://simpleheart.org! - Chapters: Chapter 1) 00:00-40:01 Intro, political figures, cats, violence vs. nonviolence, predicting election outcomes, fighting Hitler & Nazis, & fighting Milošević (when President of Serbia) Chapter 2) 40:02-1:05:45 Systems shaping political figures, North Korea, Hong Kong, how Mandela & King are remembered, MAGA party, & Thomas Crooks Chapter 3) 1:05:46-1:44:05 Democrats pandering to republicans, threats to American Democracy, MAGA as more than a white nationalist movement, broad republican support for Trump, Wayne bullied as a teen, Richard bullied as a kid, the fifth amendment, & baby humans vs baby animals Chapter 4) 1:44:06-1:46:48 Final thoughts: veganism, honesty, bravery, agreeing to disagree Chapter 5) 1:46:49-1:47:04 Outro video - Thank you for watching! Please Subscribe. Acknowledgments to the Podcast Team: Joe Allman, Adam Durand, Chloe Leffakis, & Jeremy Loeb

Episode 20: The meat industry isn’t just lying. It’s engaged in a crime spree of epic proportions. - Animal Rising's RSPCA Investigation video: https://youtu.be/OfM5VRMl7wk YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Animal.Rising IG: https://www.instagram.com/animal.rising/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/AnimalRising XTwitter: https://twitter.com/AnimalRising Website: https://www.animalrising.org/ - The Simple Heart on Substack - Subscribe to Wayne Hsiung's newsletter to learn more about the #RightToRescue at https://simpleheart.org! - Chapters: Chapter 1) 00:00-18:02 Intro, biggest investigation: 45 RSPCA Assured Farms, mutilated & sick animals, diseases from animals, & all farms have animal cruelty Chapter 2) 18:03-28:58 Society’s perspective & relationships to animals, fish farms & devastation to oceans, & animal cruelty laws Chapter 3) 28:59-43:13 Charlie’s rescue, sick & injured farm animals, the “Right to Rescue” animals according to the law, 280 laws/standards violated by RSPCA, & no more land or labor possible for animal agriculture Chapter 4) 43:14-46:25 Charlie’s recovery in an animal sanctuary, Wayne’s opinion on what RSPCA should do to prevent cruelty, & let us know what you think! Chapter 5) 46:26- 46:43 Outro video: Thank you for watching! Please Subscribe. Acknowledgments to the Podcast Team: Joe Allman, Adam Durand, Chloe Leffakis, & Jeremy Loeb — Full reaction video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ypsKkmIRlO0

Everyone is wrong about why Thomas Crooks tried to kill Donald Trump. People on the right blame overheated rhetoric on the left. People on the left condemn the right’s historical support for political violence. But this all misses the point. There are three long-term trends in human society that made sometime like Thomas Crooks’ actions virtually inevitable – the rise of loneliness, the normalization of political aggression, and the decline in social trust – and animal rights presents compelling solutions to all of these problems. As Tolstoy wrote over 100 years ago, “As long as there are slaughterhouses there will always be battlefields.” Until the world recognizes this truth, there will always be political violence. - The Simple Heart on Substack - Subscribe to Wayne Hsiung's newsletter to learn more about the #RightToRescue at https://simpleheart.org! - Chapter 1 00:00 Introduction, the three long-term trends Chapter 2 02:11 Let's start with what happened and the response Chapter 3 09:09 How this misses the systemic factors Chapter 4 10:25 Loneliness Chapter 5 19:39 Normalizing Aggression Chapter 6 31:36 Decreasing Trust Chapter 7 37:23 Imagine a different world, Final Thoughts Chapter 8 39:31 Outro video - Thank you for watching! Please Subscribe. Acknowledgments to the Podcast Team: Joe Allman, Adam Durand, Chloe Leffakis, & Jeremy Loeb

Episode 18: One of the most reputable animal welfare organizations in the world, the RSPCA, spent millions of dollars certifying the meat that consumers buy in the United Kingdom. They put their stamp of approval on the products – initially, “Freedom Food” then “RSPCA Assured” – and even big companies like McDonald’s joined the program. Then Rose Patterson and her team at Animal Rising looked into the farms. And what they found, to most consumers, was shocking: thousands of animals crammed into filthy factory farms. I speak to Rose about what she saw inside dozens of RSPCA farms, and why the promise of “humane meat” is consistently broken. If you’re wondering about humane meat yourself – or you have friends and family who are in that place – you’re not going to want to miss this conversation. Billions of lives are hanging in the balance. RSPCA Investigation video: https://youtu.be/OfM5VRMl7wk  IG: https://www.instagram.com/rose__patterson/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rose-patterson-b0b4a9306/  Animal Rising: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Animal.Rising  IG: https://www.instagram.com/animal.rising/  FB: https://www.facebook.com/AnimalRising  XTwitter: https://twitter.com/AnimalRising   Website: https://www.animalrising.org/  The Simple Heart on Substack - Subscribe to Wayne Hsiung's newsletter to learn more about the #RightToRescue at https://simpleheart.org! Chapters: Chapter 1) 00:00-33:24 Intro, Animal Rising (AR), RSPCA investigations, animal welfare, meat reduction, public honesty, & The Grand National campaign & Plant-based Universities campaign in the UK Chapter 2) 33:25-56:15  Animal rights messaging, university campaigns, other activism movements, & sustaining activism Chapter 3) 56:16-1:27:54 Conversations with the RSPCA, many investigations & open rescues in the UK, training investigators, & security culture/strategic capacity Chapter 4) 1:27:55-1:51:07 AR’s nonviolence trainings, public perception of actions, legal charges, arrests, & upcoming trials of AR activists, organizing mistakes made in the US, & AR legal support of activists Chapter 5) 1:51:08-1:59:xx A movement of compassion, how you can help Animal Rising (links above), & upcoming trials in the UK Chapter 6) 1:59:xx-1:59:26 Outro video - Thank you for watching! Please Subscribe. Acknowledgments to the Podcast Team: Joe Allman, Adam Durand, Chloe Leffakis, & Jeremy Loeb

For decades, the vivisection industry and government covered up the torture of puppies like Julie, a blind beagle at Ridglan Farms. For one year, she lived alone in a 2’ x 4’ metal cage, where the wire flooring dug into her paws. Then, on April 17, 2017, she was saved. I tell the story of Julie’s rescue with Jeremy this week. And in the next few weeks, we go to court in an effort to save them all. - The Simple Heart on Substack - Subscribe to Wayne Hsiung's newsletter to learn more about the #RightToRescue at https://simpleheart.org! - Chapters: Chapter 1) 00:00-20:25 Intro, behaviors of animals in cages, the Ridglan special prosecutor hearing, Ridglan Trial charges dropped, history, voting, & politics Chapter 2) 20:26-1:29:11 The story of Ridglan Beagle Rescue in April 2017, why Wayne decided to rescue dogs in America, animal rights activism in China, & conflict with activists in the US Chapter 3) 1:29:12-1:51:17 Julie’s behavior inside Ridglan, rescued two dogs from Ridglan, the pain that dogs feel during experiments, going back inside Ridglan to rescue Julie, & taking smart risks as a team lead Chapter 4) 1:51:18-2:00:51 Seeing Julie, Anna, & Lucy after the rescue, reactions to being criminally charged in 2020, & reactions to criminal charges being dismissed in 2024 Chapter 5) 2:00:52-2:10:35 Politics can change for the better, other stories of open rescues, & you can be a part of the animal rights movement and support the July 10th hearing to appoint a Special Prosecutor against Ridglan Farms Chapter 6) Outro video 2:10:36 to 2:10:57 - Thank you for watching! Please Subscribe. Acknowledgments to the Podcast Team: Joe Allman, Adam Durand, Chloe Leffakis, & Jeremy Loeb

For decades, the government has been covering up the torture of tens of thousands of dogs – and even trying to imprison those who blow the whistle on the abuse. On July 10, we will be in court to turn the tables on the industry and present evidence to support our petition to appoint a “special prosecutor” against Ridglan Farms. This is one of the wildest stories I’ve ever told. And if it ends the way I hope it will, it will mean freedom for 60,000 dogs. - The Simple Heart on Substack - Subscribe to Wayne Hsiung's newsletter to learn more about the #RightToRescue at https://simpleheart.org! - Chapter 1 00:00-05:05 Why there’s a problem Chapter 2 05:06-10:07 How I got involved Chapter 3 10:08-13:53 Open Rescue / Conditions in Ridglan Farms Chapter 4 13:54-16:33 Response from the authorities  Chapter 5 16:34-24:12 The case for a Special Prosecutor Chapter 6 24:13-30:16 First Category of Evidence: Flooring and foot injuries Chapter 7 30:17-38:09 Second Category of Evidence: Improper shelter Chapter 8 38:10-47:55 Third Category of Evidence: Surgical mutilation Chapter 9 47:56-54:04 Establishing that the prosecutor has declined to prosecute Chapter 10 54:05-58:17 Final Thoughts Chapter 11 58:19-58:33 Outro video - Thank you for watching! Please Subscribe. Acknowledgments to the Podcast Team: Joe Allman, Adam Durand, Chloe Leffakis, & Jeremy Loeb

Most of us avoid being controversial. Tash Peterson does the opposite - and she’s become one of the most influential animal advocates in the world as a result. From walking into a Louis Vuitton with her own menstrual blood smeared over her naked body to breaking into factory farms, Tash does everything she can to invite, not avoid, controversy. And she’s made front page news (and earned 100,000+ followers on YouTube) as a result.What can all of us learn from her experience? I invited Tash onto the show to find out. And the conversation was even more fun and hilarious than I expected! Follow: IG: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/tash.peterson/⁠ YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@vganbooty⁠ Facebook public figure page: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/vganbooty⁠ Facebook profile: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/vganbooty69⁠ XTwitter: ⁠https://x.com/vganbooty⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@tash.peterson⁠ Threads: ⁠https://www.threads.net/@tash.peterson⁠ Links: ⁠tashpeterson.bio⁠ Email: ⁠tashvganbooty@gmail.com⁠ - The Simple Heart on Substack - Subscribe to Wayne Hsiung's newsletter to learn more about the #RightToRescue at https://simpleheart.org! - Chapter 1 00:00-35:01 Intro, getting assaulted during activism, Tash’s courage, hope from spending time with animals, Tash’s activism journey, & James Warden/DxE Perth Chapter 2 35:02-49:38 Tash’s provocative actions & becoming a full-time activist in 2021, documentary “Food Choices,” & the connection of climate change, animal extinctions, & animal rights Chapter 3 49:39-1:17:47 Memorable actions, extreme actions to draw attention media attention & reach people with the animal rights message, & how Tash takes bold action Chapter 4 1:17:48-1:35:58 Divisions in the Australian animal rights movement, communicating with nonvegan activists, & upcoming interview with Chris Delforce Chapter 5 1:35:59-1:40:18 Tash’s advice to each animal rights activist & follow Tash on social media (link above) Chapter 6 1:40:19-1:40:34 Outro video - Thank you for watching! Please Subscribe. Acknowledgments to the Podcast Team: Joe Allman, Adam Durand, Chloe Leffakis, & Jeremy Loeb