

Viva! Vegan Podcast
Viva!
Welcome to the Viva! Vegan Podcast and News Minisode!
Co-hosted by Viva!’s head of comms, Faye Lewis, and Viva!'s head of investigations, Lex Rigby, each month they’ll be serving up some cracking in-depth chats with some of the most interesting figures in the vegan movement.
Each Podcast episode features a different individual – breaking down their vegan journey and recounting their highs and lows – followed by a candid chat between Faye and Lex on everything from mushroom-based leather alternatives to terrible cooking blunders.
In our Vegan News Minisode, we deep-dive into the world of vegan news and politics in a quick ten-minute round-up of newsworthy events in veganism.
No matter where you are in your vegan journey, there’ll be something for you in the Viva! Vegan Podcast and News Minisode.
The show is presented by Faye Lewis and Lex Rigby and is released on the first of every month.
Co-hosted by Viva!’s head of comms, Faye Lewis, and Viva!'s head of investigations, Lex Rigby, each month they’ll be serving up some cracking in-depth chats with some of the most interesting figures in the vegan movement.
Each Podcast episode features a different individual – breaking down their vegan journey and recounting their highs and lows – followed by a candid chat between Faye and Lex on everything from mushroom-based leather alternatives to terrible cooking blunders.
In our Vegan News Minisode, we deep-dive into the world of vegan news and politics in a quick ten-minute round-up of newsworthy events in veganism.
No matter where you are in your vegan journey, there’ll be something for you in the Viva! Vegan Podcast and News Minisode.
The show is presented by Faye Lewis and Lex Rigby and is released on the first of every month.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 1, 2024 • 48min
Emma Håkansson: director of Collective Fashion Justice
In this episode, we are joined by Emma Håkansson, an incredible activist from Australia who is campaigning for the end of animal exploitation within the fashion industry while also reducing the toll fashion has on the environment and the people who work in the industry. She founded her organisation, Collective Fashion Justice, to enable changes by educating future fashion minds, creating conversations with industry professionals and working towards legislative change. Emma is the author of How Veganism Can Save Us, Total Ethics Fashion and the soon-to-be-released Sub-Human: A 21st-Century Ethic; on Animals, Collective Liberation, and Us All. She was also heavily involved in the production of Slay, the pioneering documentary that investigates fur, leather and wool, greenwashing and the impact that brands using animal skins have on people, the planet and animals. In this eye-opening conversation, Emma sits down with hosts Issy and Rachel to discuss: her vegan journey and how she got into activism, including the production of Slay the fashion industry's lack of transparency in material sourcing and the price animals pay for our fashion choices the ethical conundrum of choosing which fabrics to wear in a world that glamorises the use of animal skins debunking myths around the alleged sustainability of wearing animal products — and much more Find out more about Emma here: About Our Show Listen now by clicking the play icon below. We’re also on , , , and . Get the latest episode, straight to your mobile device or computer. It’s automatic and completely free. Copyright owned by Viva! Bristol 2023. Not for re-use without our written agreement. All featured music and content used by permission. Produced by Faye Lewis for Viva!.

Mar 1, 2024 • 18min
Andrew Fearn: the quiet half of Sleaford Mods opens up to Viva!
Andrew Fearn, the quiet half of Sleaford Mods, the bedroom musician half and the half that soundtracks the caustic narratives of the other half, Jason Williamson, opens up about his vegan journey, compassion for animals and trying to do what he can. Sleaford Mods have described their work as "electronic munt minimalist punk-hop rants for the working class." Williamson is responsible for the words, Fearn for the music. Sleaford Mods songs have been described as embittered rants about such topics as unemployment, modern working life, celebrities and pop culture, capitalism, and society in general. In this conversation, Andrew and Faye discuss topics, such as: austerity and poverty in the UK becoming very famous and what it feels like Andrew's interest in charities, from Viva! to Shelter the best places for vegan food while touring playing the Sydney Opera House how he tries to use his platform to highlight causes he cares about About Our Show Listen now by clicking the play icon below. We’re also on , , , and . Get the latest episode, straight to your mobile device or computer. It’s automatic and completely free. Copyright owned by Viva! Bristol 2023. Not for re-use without our written agreement. All featured music and content used by permission. Produced by Faye Lewis for Viva!.

Mar 1, 2024 • 36min
Dani Taylor: PlantBuild co-founder and vegan figure competitor and champion
Dani Taylor is a vegan figure competitor and champion, the co-founder of VeganProteins.com, and also a co-founder of PlantBuilt.com As an overweight child and adolescent who believed that was the way she was “meant to be”, Dani switched to an ethical vegan diet and lost 30 pounds. At this point, she realised she had the power to change the way she looked and felt. She began lifting weights and doing cardio, and she is now a gold medal champion several times over and one of the best professional athletes in the bodybuilding community. In this conversation, Dani and Faye discuss topics such as: the resounding success of the PlantBuilt team, who obliterated the competition at Mr America across bodybuilding, Olympic weightlifting, powerlifting, kettlebell sport, and CrossFit the myths surrounding diet still pedalled by the meat and dairy industries Dani's journey into personal training and her reasons for going vegan how anyone can make a positive change through their diet and exercise Find out more about Dani and the PlantBuild team here: About Our Show Listen now by clicking the play icon below. We’re also on , , , and . Get the latest episode, straight to your mobile device or computer. It’s automatic and completely free. Copyright owned by Viva! Bristol 2023. Not for re-use without our written agreement. All featured music and content used by permission. Produced by Faye Lewis for Viva!.

Mar 1, 2024 • 35min
Georgie Purcell: Animal Justice Party MP, advocate for animals and humans alike!
Georgie Purcell, the Animal Justice Party MP, and a distinguished member of the Victorian Legislative Council representing Northern Victoria, made headlines in 2020 with her courageous inaugural speech. Despite being the youngest woman ever elected in the state, Georgie faced adversity head-on, openly addressing her past as a stripper and confronting the online abuse and misogyny that followed. Since then she has worked tirelessly for both animals and humans alike. She sits down with Faye to delve into her remarkable journey, tracing her path from activism to the halls of power. Join us as she shares her resilient pursuit of equality and justice, using her platform to advocate for meaningful change. In this conversation, Georgie and Faye discuss topics, such as: parliament being a 'boys' club Georgie's early start in activism her recent setback on duck shooting not being banned in Australia a real need for change in politics and structures globally the incredible work she has achieved to date and what is next About Our Show Listen now by clicking the play icon below. We’re also on , , , and . Get the latest episode, straight to your mobile device or computer. It’s automatic and completely free. Copyright owned by Viva! Bristol 2024. Not for re-use without our written agreement. All featured music and content used by permission. Produced by Faye Lewis for Viva!.

Mar 1, 2024 • 54min
Captain Paul Watson: founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
In this episode, Issy sits down with Captain Paul Watson, a pioneering animal rights activist who founded the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, an anti-poaching and direct action group focused on marine conservation activism. In this episode, Issy and Paul discuss: the release of his new book Hitman for the Kindness Club his direct action saving animals in the oceans and his lifetime commitment to making the world a better place for all its inhabitants His fascinating knowledge of marine biology and passion for all animal life About Our Show Listen now by clicking the play icon below. We’re also on , , , and . Get the latest episode, straight to your mobile device or computer. It’s automatic and completely free. Copyright owned by Viva! Bristol 2024. Not for re-use without our written agreement. All featured music and content used by permission. Produced by Faye Lewis for Viva!.

Feb 19, 2024 • 7min
#30 Vegan News Minisode - February 2024
The Vegan News Minisode with Faye Lewis Bringing you the latest news from the world of veganism: Episode 30: February 2024 Welcome to the Vegan News Minisode, brought to you by leading vegan charity Viva!. Presenter Faye is this month joined by Rachel as they bring you the latest plant-based lifestyle, food and animal campaigns news from around the globe. In this episode, Faye and Rachel discuss Veganuary, a 3D-printed vegan eel, the , how a 100% switch to plant-based diets in England could save the NHS £6.7 billion a year and the criticism surrounding Mark Zuckerberg's new ‘beef’ farm...

Dec 18, 2023 • 11min
#28 Vegan News Minisode - December 2023
The Vegan News Minisode with Faye Lewis Bringing you the latest news from the world of veganism: Episode 28: December 2023 Welcome to the Vegan News Minisode, brought to you by leading vegan charity Viva!. Presenter Faye is this month joined by Rachel as they bring you the latest plant-based lifestyle, food and animal campaigns news from around the globe. In this episode, Faye and Rachel discuss having a vegan Christmas, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, and their Viva! highlights for 2023...

Nov 16, 2023 • 21min
#27 Vegan News Minisode - November 2023
The Vegan News Minisode with Faye Lewis Bringing you the latest news from the world of veganism: Episode 27: November 2023 Welcome to the Vegan News Minisode, brought to you by leading vegan charity Viva!. Presenter Faye is this month joined by Issy as they bring you the latest plant-based lifestyle, food and animal campaigns news from around the globe. In this episode, Faye and Issy discuss how , ), the charges brought against , , the horrifying news that and much more...

Oct 12, 2023 • 6min
#26 Vegan News Minisode - October 2023
Faye Lewis, Presenter of Vegan News Minisode, is joined by Rachel to discuss veganism in the world, vegan marketing language, food gender perceptions, impact of dogs adopting a vegan diet, availability of vegan dog food, vegan meat alternatives launch, and a recommended cookbook with beautiful photography.

Sep 21, 2023 • 9min
#25 Vegan News Minisode - September 2023
The Vegan News Minisode with Faye Lewis Bringing you the latest news from the world of veganism: Episode 25: September 2023 Welcome to the Vegan News Minisode, brought to you by leading vegan charity, Viva!. Presenter Faye is this month joined by Lex as they bring you the latest plant-based lifestyle, food and animal campaigns news from around the globe. In this episode, Faye and Lex discuss the brand-new podcast and minisode look (now on film), Viva!’s TV advert, the ASA’s ruling to ban Viva!’s viral video, our latest , the exciting launch of Viva!’s second cookbook, and much more!