Hope for the Animals

Reason for Vegan Series: In this series of short shows, Hope will focus in on specific aspects of animal agriculture and answer the question of why are we vegan. In this fourth installment of the Reason for Vegan Series she talks about turkeys, tells the story of her first amazing encounter with a turkey, and exposes the turkey meat industry for its hidden cruelty. 

In Episode 5, Hope will inspire us with some good news for animals! Launching the new Glimmer of Hope segment, she will share a collection of recent positive advancements and media stories for animals that have been underreported with all that is going on in the world. In these trying times, we can all use some uplifting news. Then we have an interview with Melanie Joy, PhD. Melanie is a Harvard-educated psychologist, organizational consultant, trainer, and relationship coach. She is the author of six books including the award-winning book Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows: An Introduction to Carnism, as well as Beyond Beliefs: A Guide to Improving Relationships and Communication for Vegans, Vegetarians, and Meat Eaters. Melanie has given her acclaimed carnism presentation and trained vegan advocates on six continents. Her work has been featured in major media outlets around the world.  In this podcast, Melanie and Hope talk about the concept of carnism, how it informs society’s relationship with farmed animals, and the distinction between carnism and speciesism. They also discuss the most effective communication methods for vegans encouraging pre-vegans to explore an animal-free diet. Don’t miss this episode with one of the most sought-after speakers in the animal rights movement today, Melanie Joy.  Recommended Reading: Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows: An Introduction to Carnism Beyond Beliefs: A Guide to Improving Relationships and Communication for Vegans, Vegetarians, and Meat Eaters Powerarchy: Understanding the Psychology of Oppression for Social Transformation

In episode 4 we talk with Connie Spence, an outspoken vegan and anti-oppression activist whose work addresses a range of justice issues. In this podcast we will discuss using creative tactics in vegan activism, systemic racism in the food system, and unjust farm subsidies. Connie Spence is the founder of Vegan Justice League and the Agriculture Fairness Alliance. The Vegan Justice League educates vegan advocates about the issue of farm subsidies, and the Agricultural Fairness Alliance is a federal lobbying group influencing legislation to bring fairness back to farm policy by ending subsidies and bailouts. Connie has utilized creative tactics in her vegan activism. Using a large stage light, Connie has projected vegan messages onto buildings that could be seen from half a mile away. These seven-story tall projections have been shown in diverse locations such as on the Staples Center, on Las Vegas hotels, on freeways in Los Angeles, and many other prominent locations. Now, through her two sister organizations, she is dedicated to educating the community about how the food system is monopolized and rigged by livestock farmers and what we need to do to solve it. Agriculture Fairness Alliance is sponsoring federal legislation that will divert subsidies to programs that help struggling animal farmers transition to sustainable, plant-based, cruelty-free farming.  Learn more about how to support this legislation here.

Reason for Vegan Series: In this series of short shows, Hope will focus in on specific aspects of animal agriculture and answer the question of why are we vegan. In this third Reason for Vegan Series she will expose the truth behind egg industry labels like “cage-free” and “free-range.” These labels are gaining in popularity, but are they really better for the birds? To understand these labels, we must first look at the standard battery cage system and the multiple cruelties that all hens endure in the egg industry. These labels suggest that the hens are “happy,” but does cage-free really mean cruelty-free? 

On this episode, Hope digs into the Farm System Reform Act introduced by Elizabeth Warren and Cory Booker. The bill is being pushed as an end to factory farming, could it be true? Then she has a conversation with Climate Healer’s Sailesh Rao about his campaign Vegan World 2026, overhauling society by seeing it as an engineering problem, and exploring what it would take to change the system to create a vegan world in just six years. 

In this episode, Hope will discuss the current pandemic crisis and how it is affecting our food supply, meat industry workers, and animals. Then we will activist and author Robert Grillo talking about his book Farm to Fable and his work with Slaughter Free Cities shutting down slaughterhouses in Chicago. Robert is the founder and director of Free from Harm, a non-profit dedicated to helping end animal exploitation. www.hopefortheanimalspodcast.org

Reason for Vegan Series: In this series of short shows, Hope will focus in on specific aspects of animal agriculture and answer the question of why are we vegan. In this second Reason for Vegan Series she will expose the cruelty of the chicken meat industry, explore why we should care about chickens, and what you can do to help stop the suffering. 

Reason for Vegan Series: In this series of short shows, Hope will focus in on specific aspects of animal agriculture and answer the question of why are we vegan. In this first Reason for Vegan Series she will expose the brutal killing of millions of baby chicks in the egg industry, explain why they do it, and what you can do to stop the massacre. 

On our very first podcast, Hope Bohanec will discuss Speciesism and the Covid-19 crisis and then we will have the legendary founder and president of United Poultry Concerns (UPC), Karen Davis, joining us for an inspiring discussion on UPC’s 30 year anniversary, wet markets, International Respect for Chickens Day and more.  www.HopefortheAnimalsPodcast.org