Our Hen House: Vegan & Animal Rights Movement | Stories from the Frontlines of Animal Liberation

We’re excited to welcome activist Christopher “Soul” Eubanks to the podcast today for an empowering conversation about the importance of intersectional, vegan activism. A longtime creative—often using hip-hop, drawing, and film to express himself—Christopher tells Jasmin about his decision to leave his job in corporate America and use his talents to address political and social issues as an entrepreneur. Christopher discusses the interconnected nature of veganism, human rights activism, and climate activism and explains how injustices often stem from individuals feeling disconnected from the world at large and their fellow beings. He also gives us an inside look into the exciting work he’s spearheading thanks to a grant from Mercy for Animals. Christopher ‘Soul’ Eubanks is a creative and activist using art and education to fight for animal liberation. Through his creative skillset, Christopher produces intersectional animal-rights content—ranging from university lectures and presentations to taking portraits of formerly farmed animals at sanctuaries and making YouTube videos—to help end oppression for all beings. “I’m not sure if veganism will be the thing that saves us all, but I think it will be the thing that gets us closer to saving us all. And I honestly think the thing that’s going to save us is for us to understand that we are all interconnected. We are all each other in different forms and different shapes.” – Christopher “Soul” Eubanks Interview Highlights: The different ways Christopher incorporates his love for photography into his activism Why Christopher is passionate about helping people understand their individual actions can help reduce animal exploitation How Christopher built his own platform as an animal activist and whether he thinks this is a good model for people to follow (rather than attaching themselves to an organization that’s already working to help animals) What the word veganism means to Christopher and how it is more than following a plant-based diet Christopher’s recent grant from Mercy for Animals, his vision for the type of content he will create, and where he’d like to present it How Christopher has emerged as a leading Black voice for animals while navigating institutional barriers and whether he feels veganism has become a more inclusive movement How Christopher became involved with Encompass to help make the animal-rights movement more equitable Resources: As a Black Man, I Felt Uncomfortable Becoming an Animal Activist Jasmin’s Jargon Connect with Christopher Eubanks: Soul Eubanks Website Soul Eubanks on Facebook Soul Eubanks on Instagram Soul Eubanks on Twitter Connect with Our Hen House: Our Hen House Website Our Hen House on Facebook Our Hen House on Instagram Our Hen House on Twitter __________________________ 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. __________________________ You can listen to our podcast directly on our website, or subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcatcher! Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it and leave us a comment on Apple Podcasts! Of course, we would be thrilled if you would also consider making a donation, or becoming a member of our flock (especially if you’re a regular listener). Any amount is hugely appreciated, and Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible! Thank you for helping us create quality content, and for helping us bring you a new podcast episode each week! Don’t forget to tune into Our Hen House’s other two podcasts: The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and The Animal Law Podcast. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

Laura Jean McKay joins us on the podcast this week for a riveting, literary conversation. Author of the award-winning novel The Animals in that Country, Laura discusses the challenge of writing dialogue for animals, why she rewrote her novel more than once, and shares her thoughts on anthropomorphism in literature. Laura reads a captivating passage and reflects on a chance encounter with a lone male kangaroo in the Australian bush that influenced her decision to do away with the communication barrier between humans and non-human animals in her book. Laura and Mariann also discuss how The Animals in that Country unknowingly predicted a pandemic and how it affected the book’s reception. Laura is a creative writing lecturer at Massey University of New Zealand and holds a Ph.D. focusing on literary animal studies from the University of Melbourne. Her book, Holiday in Cambodia, was shortlisted for three national book awards in Australia. She is an animal expert presenter on ABC’s Listen Animal Sound Safari, and her work appears in Meanjin, Overland, Best Australian Stories, The Saturday Paper, and The North American Review. “In literature and art, animals are seen as cute, stuttery, and stumbly, or very prophetic or poetic—they are here in this world to tell humans great truths about ourselves. But of course, they’re not here for us, they have their own lives that they’re living out. Sometimes we get in the way and prevent those lives from happening purposefully.” – Laura Jean McKay Interview Highlights: Why the language of The Animals in That Country feels so poetic, why it may seem confusing at first, and how the reader gains clarity Why it’s difficult to recognize who the novel’s hero, and what we eventually come to realize about their journey The storyline of the human and animal protagonists meeting the pigs who escaped a truck and why it’s so fascinating Whether Laura Jean felt presumptuous representing the role that animals have in humans’ lives Connect with Laura Jean McKay: Laura Jean McKay’s Website The Animals in That Country by Laura Jean McKay Laura Jean McKay on Twitter Connect with Our Hen House: Our Hen House Website Our Hen House on Facebook Our Hen House on Instagram Our Hen House on Twitter __________________________ 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. __________________________ You can listen to our podcast directly on our website, or subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcatcher! Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it and leave us a comment on Apple Podcasts! Of course, we would be thrilled if you would also consider making a donation, or becoming a member of our flock (especially if you’re a regular listener). Any amount is hugely appreciated, and Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible! Thank you for helping us create quality content, and for helping us bring you a new podcast episode each week! Don’t forget to tune into Our Hen House’s other two podcasts: The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and The Animal Law Podcast. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Myq Kaplan back to the podcast this week for an episode guaranteed to make you laugh! A renowned comedian and vegan activist, Myq tells Jasmin how he uses humor as a means to speak his truth regarding animals and veganism—without alienating his audience. Myq shares how he works to weave social justice advocacy into his stand-up comedy and tells us why this is of utmost importance to him as a white, cisgendered man. Myq discusses his multi-pronged approach to social change, how he’s working to propel the vegan movement forward, and why it’s important to ensure your audience that you’re on the same team. Myq is a vegan stand-up comedian who has appeared on the Tonight Show, Conan, Letterman, James Corden, Seth Meyers, Comedy Central, Last Comic Standing, and America’s Got Talent. His first album, Vegan Mind Meld, was one of iTunes’ top 10 comedy albums of the year. His newest album, A.K.A., debuted at number one and was included among The New York Times’ five “coronavirus best new comedy specials … to remind you of the old normal” for being “invigoratingly funny.” Myq also has a one-hour standup special on Amazon, Small, Dork, and Handsome, and two podcasts, The Faucet and Broccoli and Ice Cream. “The wonderful thing about comedy is that it’s not necessarily only about bright, shiny, light things. In fact, it’s often about shining that light on serious topics with humor.” -Myq Kaplan Highlights: How Myq feels about the pressure on comedians to constantly be funny The difference between self-deprecating and thoughtful comedy in prompting meaningful discussions The importance of understanding the effect of the language we use on others How thought-provoking comedy can work to highlight social issues and the nuances of promoting a deeper understanding of animals without sounding facile The ways people present to the world and how that can work for or against them as they work toward their goals Why speaking up for marginalized communities through comedy is walking a fine line between inclusion and judgment How Myq uses humor to propel the vegan movement forward and not alienate anyone in the community Connect with Myq Kaplan: Myq Kaplan Website Myq Kaplan on Facebook Myq Kaplan on Instagram Myq Kaplan on Twitter Myq Kaplan on Substack Connect with Our Hen House: Our Hen House Website Our Hen House on Facebook Our Hen House on Instagram Our Hen House on Twitter __________________________ 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. __________________________ You can listen to our podcast directly on our website, or subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcatcher! Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it and leave us a comment on Apple Podcasts! Of course, we would be thrilled if you would also consider making a donation, or becoming a member of our flock (especially if you’re a regular listener). Any amount is hugely appreciated, and Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible! Thank you for helping us create quality content, and for helping us bring you a new podcast episode each week! Don’t forget to tune into Our Hen House’s other two podcasts: The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and The Animal Law Podcast. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

Erin Wing, Deputy Director of Investigations at Animal Outlook, discusses her experiences as an animal cruelty investigator, including going undercover at factory farms and a fish farm. She shares the challenges investigators face, the importance of the footage they gather, and the emotional toll of witnessing animal suffering. The podcast also explores water conservation in animal agriculture, the difficulties of being a vegan in net zero communities, and the negative effects of meat and dairy substitutes.

Jennifer Stojkovic joins us on the podcast this week for a powerful and information-packed conversation about the role of women and women-owned businesses in the post-animal economy. Jennifer is the founder of Vegan Women Summit (VWS), a global events and media organization dedicated to empowering women as they work to incorporate vegan ethics and values into their careers. In her conversation with Jasmin, Jennifer explains why she felt it necessary to focus on women working to build the post-animal economy and how women are crucial to the success of the vegan beauty, food, fashion, and overall lifestyle movement. She also tells us about the huge buzz created by VWS’ first virtual summit and pitch competition held in December 2020.. Jennifer built her career as a community relations leader for the world’s largest tech companies before blending her passion for change in the food system with her experience and network in Silicon Valley. In 2018, she launched the Future of Food partnerships bringing together CEOs and founders from leading tech brands with emerging leaders from the burgeoning food tech industry to establish food as “Tech 2.0.” Jennifer launched VWS in 2020 with a focus on building an equitable and diverse representation of vegan women leaders from around the world to partner with major tech brands. “Women, statistically speaking, make better founders. There is a lot of information that shows that women have higher valuations upon exit. Women are much better with per dollar investments compared to male founders; they make a lot less money but go a lot farther.” – Jennifer Stojkovic Interview Highlights: Why the creation of plant-based foods, sustainable textiles, and clean beauty solutions is the way of the future The obstacles that women face in receiving funding for food ventures Why the inequalities inherent in Silicon Valley lead to a networking gap for women Who attended the Summit and what stage their businesses were in How women founders develop their ideas into realities Jennifer’s perspective on what funders are looking for What you need to know about the venture capital world in order to start a business in an increasingly animal-free economy The Summit’s prize-based pitch competition and some examples of entries What Jennifer is most proud of in terms of building the virtual conference and the most important thing she learned from the process What’s next for VWS and the possibility of a hybrid conference in the future Resources: Jasmin’s Jargon So Delicious Oat Milk Ice Cream Alga-Life Kinder Beauty Rebellyous Food Miyoko’s Creamery Save Da Sea Foods Hao Foods Our Hen House Episode 561: Supporting Plant-Based Companies ft. Amy Trakinski Connect with Jennifer Stojkovic: Vegan Women Summit Website VWS Connect Vegan Women Summit on Facebook Vegan Women Summit on Instagram Vegan Women Summit on Twitter Connect with Our Hen House: Our Hen House Website Our Hen House on Facebook Our Hen House on Instagram Our Hen House on Twitter __________________________ 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. __________________________ You can listen to our podcast directly on our website, or subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcatcher! Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it and leave us a comment on Apple Podcasts! Of course, we would be thrilled if you would also consider making a donation, or becoming a member of our flock (especially if you’re a regular listener). Any amount is hugely appreciated, and Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible! Thank you for helping us create quality content, and for helping us bring you a new podcast episode each week! Don’t forget to tune into Our Hen House’s other two podcasts: The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and The Animal Law Podcast. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

We are so pleased to welcome Kimberly Renee Barnes, Founder of Might Be Vegan, to the podcast this week for a truly one-of-a-kind episode! But first, Jasmin and Mariann speak with Chilean activist (and Our Hen House Flock member!) Soledad Robledo to tell us about an urgent extradition campaign in which Chile is seeking to bring an animal abuser from New Zealand back to Chile to stand trial and how we can all help (see the resources below). She also provides us with an overview of the animal rights movement in Chile and tells us about her podcast, Narices Húmedas (Wet Noses), that showcases animal rights and vegan activists. Soledad is also a monthly columnist for CEDA (Center for Chilean Animal Law Studies) and is currently working with two other activists, both lawyers, on a new organization called Justicia Interespecie (Interspecies Justice) which focuses on strategic litigation and education. Next, as promised, Mariann speaks with Kimberly Renee Barnes, who shares why she founded Might Be Vegan, a plant-based media and marketing consultancy. Kimberly tells us how she became increasingly overwhelmed with information early in her vegan journey and wanted to simplify things for other people who were thinking they might be vegan, but weren’t actually sure yet. Her consultancy’s latest project, Food Love, is an award-winning national plant-based hunger relief program that has introduced families impacted by the pandemic to nutritious and delicious plant-based meals. Kimberly also shares Food Love’s project partners and tells us how she successfully pitched them. Don’t miss hearing about this amazing collaboration and how it will help push veganism into the mainstream. Kimberly is the founder of Might Be Vegan, a plant-based media and marketing consultancy designed to help people live a more healthful life by eating more plants. She is the creator behind the national #FromMeatsToBeets Challenge, the web series Might Be Vegan Presents The Trap Kitchen, and the world’s largest vegan-only tailgate—#VeganAtTheGame—which served more than 1,500 people at no cost in the city of Atlanta during Super Bowl LIII. In the last year, Kimberly started the award-winning national COVID-19 hunger relief program, Food Love by Might Be Vegan, to alleviate food insecurity nationally. Today, the program is providing meals to families in need in 48 states. “There is an opportunity for us to not only continue delivering meals to families, but to look at how we can take this technological approach and address food insecurity nationally in the same way that we’re addressing temporary emergency food insecurity.” – Kimberly Renee Barnes Interview Highlights: Kimberly details what the Food Love project is and how it has helped people get through the COVID-19 pandemic The connections between food insecurity, the Food Love project, and the long-term impact of people choosing to eat plant-based How Food Love keeps folks safe during the COVID-19 pandemic through minimal in-person delivery methods Kimberly’s superpower, how she uses it to make connections, and how it helps her work to alleviate food insecurity and spread the vegan message How the food gifts that people receive from Food Love change the way they think about food How introducing people to veganism through Food Love can make them more likely to consider becoming vegan in the future Resources: Abby’s Plant-Based Cuisine Ora Organic Modern Love Omaha Mosiac Vegan Foods Splendid Spoon Connect with Kimberly Renee Barnes: Might Be Vegan Website Might Be Vegan on Facebook Might Be Vegan on Instagram Kimberly Renee on YouTube Support the Extradition Campaign: If you’re in New Zealand, please contact any of these groups: The NZ Animal Law Association, Auckland University Animal Rights Group, SAFE, and/or The Vegan Society Aotearoa New Zealand. If you’d like to join the public letter and/or share information about this campaign on social media please email contacto.cedachile@gmail.com or visit Narices Humedas on Instagram. Connect with Soledad Robledo: Narices Humedas Website Narices Humedas on Facebook Narices Humedas on Instagram Connect with Our Hen House: Our Hen House Website Our Hen House on Facebook Our Hen House on Instagram Our Hen House on Twitter __________________________ 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. __________________________ You can listen to our podcast directly on our website, or subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcatcher! Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it and leave us a comment on Apple Podcasts! Of course, we would be thrilled if you would also consider making a donation, or becoming a member of our flock (especially if you’re a regular listener). Any amount is hugely appreciated, and Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible! Thank you for helping us create quality content, and for helping us bring you a new podcast episode each week! Don’t forget to tune into Our Hen House’s other two podcasts: The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and The Animal Law Podcast. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

Ana Bradley joins the podcast today, and this is an episode that no one is going to want to miss! Ana is the Executive Director at Sentient Media, a non-profit journalism organization seeking to create transparency around the role of animals in our daily lives. In her conversation with Jasmin, she shares the most significant challenges she and her colleagues face as they usher issues of animal equality into mainstream media. She also fills us in on her incredibly useful digital marketing strategies and offers insight into the sometimes intimidating, but crucially important world of “Search Engine Optimization” for writers and animal activists who want to make their voices heard loud and clear online.  A true media expert, she discusses how attitudes toward animal rights have changed within media and gives invaluable advice for young, emerging writers who want to champion animals to a mainstream audience. Ana Bradley is the Executive Director of Sentient Media, and has an extensive background in content production and startup consultancy. Under Ana’s direction, Sentient Media is working to create transparency regarding non-human animal lives and the impact of animal agriculture on our planetary crisis. Before leading Sentient Media, she managed social impact within Black communities in her role as Digital Director of the open innovation organization Do it Now Now. “If you’re new to writing or if you’re new to animal advocacy, actively have open conversations with people and try to engage in different communities that aren’t wholly vegan.” – Ana Bradley This Week’s Highlights in Our Hen House: Sentient Media’s core mission, goals, and how they work with news outlets and writers The six stages of the transtheoretical model of behavioral change, with a particular focus on the stage people are in when they begin to question their beliefs How Sentient Media finds and investigates its stories, given that animal rights issues are often deeply buried How to work with up-and-coming young writers and engage more seasoned ones Causes of COVID-19 and other zoonotic infections and how we should go about tackling them The stories that Ana is most proud of having placed in prominent publications Resources: How to Have a Good Day: Harness the Power of Behavioral Science to Transform Your Working Life by Caroline Webb Animal Justice Academy Rescue Dogs: Where They Come From, Why They Act the Way They Do, and How to Love Them Well by Gene Stone and Pete Paxton “Why Factory Farming’s Pandemic Risk is Being Ignored” by Jessica Scott-Reid Connect with Ana Bradley: Sentient Media Website Sentient Media on Facebook Sentient Media on Instagram Sentient Media on Twitter Connect with Our Hen House: Our Hen House Website Our Hen House on Facebook Our Hen House on Instagram Our Hen House on Twitter __________________________ 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. __________________________ You can listen to our podcast directly on our website, or subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcatcher! Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it and leave us a comment on Apple Podcasts! Of course, we would be thrilled if you would also consider making a donation, or becoming a member of our flock (especially if you’re a regular listener). Any amount is hugely appreciated, and Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible! Thank you for helping us create quality content, and for helping us bring you a new podcast episode each week! Don’t forget to tune into Our Hen House’s other two podcasts: The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and The Animal Law Podcast. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

Troy Vettese joins us on the podcast this week for an insightful, and sometimes provocative, conversation about the intersections of animal rights and Marxism. Troy shares why he believes all vegans need a Marxist worldview, and you may be surprised by exactly what he means by this assertion. He also discusses how various political and economic systems can help, or deter, the furthering of animal equality, and, in particular, how capitalism has been and will continue to be a disaster for animals in its relentless, and inevitable, prioritization of profit. Given that we are on the cusp of a global crisis, there is no time to waste in reforming the way we treat animals, and the earth. Troy Vettese is an environmental historian and a William Lyon Mackenzie King research fellow at Harvard University’s Weatherhead Center. His academic focus is the study of energy, animals, and neoliberal environmental thought. His writing has also appeared in n+1, Jacobin, New Left Review, and In These Times. Troy’s book Half-Earth Socialism: A Manifesto to Save the Future, co-authored with Drew Pendergrass, will be published by Verso in 2022. “It should be easy to see the personhood and the suffering of other creatures. If you’re a socialist and you’re motivated by the outrage of injustice, then that should extend to other creatures as well.” – Troy Vettese This Week in Our Hen House: What will happen to the world if we continue to find domesticated roles for all animals Why the capitalism requires growth, and why that is such a disaster for animals The link between domestication of animals and disease What we mean by the humanization of nature theory and where it comes from The moving story of an act of human kindness on a factory farm and how presence of compassion amongst so much cruelty can help us think about a new way to exist Troy’s upcoming book, Half-Earth Socialism: A Manifesto to Save the Future, written with Drew Prendergast, and why they felt compelled to write it The link between the theories explained in Half-Earth Socialism: A Manifesto to Save the Future and Frankenstein’s monster Resources: Porkopolis: American Animality, Standardized Life, and the Factory Farm by Alex Blanchette Jacobin Magazine E O Wilson Foundation On Fire: The (Burning) Case for a Green New Deal by Naomi Klein Connect with Troy Vettesse: Troy Vettesse’s website Troy Vettesse’s research Troy Vettese on Twitter To Freeze the Thames by Troy Vetesse Connect with Our Hen House: Our Hen House Website Our Hen House on Facebook Our Hen House on Instagram Our Hen House on Twitter __________________________ 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. __________________________ You can listen to our podcast directly on our website, or subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcatcher! Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it and leave us a comment on Apple Podcasts! Of course, we would be thrilled if you would also consider making a donation, or becoming a member of our flock (especially if you’re a regular listener). Any amount is hugely appreciated, and Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible! Thank you for helping us create quality content, and for helping us bring you a new podcast episode each week! Don’t forget to tune into Our Hen House’s other two podcasts: The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and The Animal Law Podcast. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

Hakeem Jimo joins us this week for an insightful and inspiring conversation about Nigeria’s growing vegan movement and the meat alternative making a splash there: Vchunks. Hakeem tells us all about developing Vchunks specifically for the Nigerian palate. Not an imitation of meat substitutes commonly found in European and US markets, Vchunks—Hakeem shares—are designed to serve the needs of vegans in Nigeria without sacrificing traditional flavors. Originally from Germany and now based in Lagos, Hakeem has a unique perspective on the global African diaspora and tells us how it is trending meat-free, including how Black vegans in the US are leading the country’s vegan movement. Hakeem is a vegan entrepreneur and co-founder of Nigeria’s first plant-based restaurant, Veggie Victory. After he introduced VChunks to the restaurant’s menu, the innovative product went on to become the first commercially produced meat alternative in Nigeria. Hakeem comes from a Nigerian-German background and has previously worked in journalism and public relations in West Africa. “This battle of winning the plant-based war will be decided in developing worlds.” – Hakeem Jimo This Week in Our Hen House: How and why Hakeem and his wife founded the Veggie Victory restaurant in Lagos, Nigeria Why Hakeem is so proud of veganizing traditional Nigerian cuisine and some of the dishes they offer at the restaurant, which tempt locals to try a plant-powered diet Hakeem’s work in vegan outreach in schools and churches and why he feels it is so vital to educate people in Nigeria on the benefits of the plant-based lifestyle Why it can be so challenging for people to get animal products out of their diet and how Hakeem and Vchunks provide the link between traditional African food and the modern day diet The trends in meat consumption across Africa and how the situation there differs from that in the US and Asia How religion plays a role in encouraging people to move toward veganism and why that is such an exciting development Why climate change is also a hugely important food security issue in Nigeria Connect with Hakeem Jimo: Veggie Victory website Veggie Victory on Facebook Veggie Victory on Instagram Veggie Victory on Twitter Connect with Our Hen House: Our Hen House Website Our Hen House on Facebook Our Hen House on Instagram Our Hen House on Twitter __________________________ 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. __________________________ You can listen to our podcast directly on our website, or subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcatcher! Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it and leave us a comment on Apple Podcasts! Of course, we would be thrilled if you would also consider making a donation, or becoming a member of our flock (especially if you’re a regular listener). Any amount is hugely appreciated, and Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible! Thank you for helping us create quality content, and for helping us bring you a new podcast episode each week! Don’t forget to tune into Our Hen House’s other two podcasts: The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and The Animal Law Podcast. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

Jamie Woodhouse joins us this week for an intriguing, dare-we-say captivating, conversation about “sentientism,” a philosophical worldview that encompasses vegan values. First developed and named in the 1970s, sentientism, quite simply, grants moral consideration to all sentient beings. Jamie tells us what he believes are the two central pillars of sentientism and what sentientists think about compassion, consciousness and morality. He also dissects the common issues that arise within sentientism, such as the burden of proof (who should we consider to be sentient and why?), the connection between levels of sentience and moral action (how should we behave towards beings with differing levels of sentience?), and questioning the sentience of plants. Jamie also shares how and he is working to bring sentientism into the mainstream, connect with others, and further build the movement around this worldview. Jamie is a sentientist, humanist, and vegan who believes in compassion for all sentient beings. He left a 23-year career as a management consultant in 2017 to concentrate on working to refine sentientism as a potentially unifying, baseline ethical philosophy, and is currently focusing his efforts on building a fully fledged movement. Jamie’s papers and seminar materials on sentientism are available to read on Academia.edu, ResearchGate, and PhilPeople, and he hosts the Sentientism podcast. “Use evidence and reason and have compassion for all sentient being. Even a minimally sentient being still warrants meaningful moral consideration.” – Jamie Woodhouse This Week in Our Hen House: How to define morality from from a sentientist point of view Where to place the burden of proof and how to weigh the evidence in deciding  who is sentient Whether levels of sentience matter in determining what is a moral action, e.g., should behave differently toward a shrimp than we should to a pig or a dog Could plants be meaningfully sentient and what would that mean for vegans? How and why sentientism can make sense to both people of faith and to atheists Anthropomorphism and anthropocentrism from a sentientist perspective How the human ability to project our own experience on to others adds or subtracts from our knowledge of other sentient creatures Jamie’s personal perspective on sentience and how he became interested in the idea Connect with Jamie Woodhouse: Jamie Woodhouse’s website Sentientism website Jamie Woodhouse on LinkedIn Sentientism on Facebook Sentientism on Instagram Sentientism on Twitter Sentientism on YouTube Connect with Our Hen House: Our Hen House Website Our Hen House on Facebook Our Hen House on Instagram Our Hen House on Twitter __________________________ 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. __________________________ You can listen to our podcast directly on our website, or subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcatcher! Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it and leave us a comment on Apple Podcasts! Of course, we would be thrilled if you would also consider making a donation, or becoming a member of our flock (especially if you’re a regular listener). Any amount is hugely appreciated, and Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible! Thank you for helping us create quality content, and for helping us bring you a new podcast episode each week! Don’t forget to tune into Our Hen House’s other two podcasts: The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and The Animal Law Podcast. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.