ARZone (Animal Rights Zone) Podcasts

In this interview we were pleased to welcome back to ARZone, Jeremy Hess.  Jeremy is a rights-based advocate, who creates content for social media to inspire us to respect other animals and to be thoughtful about our advocacy. He volunteers at FRIEND Farm Animal Sanctuary, writes for the Vegan Publishers Facebook page, mentors new vegans, and runs Vegan Interactions which is designed to

In this interview we were pleased to welcome Phoebe Frampton to ARZone.  Phoebe is a vegan activist and artist and has been organising various activism events and campaigns within the vegan movement for 7 years. She and her sister together founded activism groups ‘London Vegan Actions’ and then ‘The Earthlings Experience’ which became a new form of activism, with events taking place in more

In this interview we were very happy to welcome back to ARZone, Dr. Casey Taft.  Casey is co-owner of Vegan Publishers and Professor of Psychiatry at Boston University School of Medicine. He’s an internationally recognised psychologist and clinical researcher, winning prestigious awards for his work. He has published over 100 journal articles, book chapters, and scientific reports, and has

In this new series of ARZone interviews, working with Vegfest UK we were very excited to begin the series with our special guest, Trent Grassian.  Trent is a full-time researcher who has spent over a decade working in the fields of  anti-racism, LGBTQIA+ liberation, disability rights, and animal advocacy. He recently completed a PhD in Social Policy examining vegan, vegetarian, and

In this interview, the first in our new series for Vegfest UK’s London event this year, we were very excited to welcome our good friend, Carol J Adams.  Carol is the author of many books, most famously, The Sexual Politics of Meat, now in a 25th anniversary edition, Burger, part of the Bloomsbury’s Object Lessons Series, and the recently released Protest Kitchen: Fight Injustice, Save

In this interview we were thrilled to welcome our special guest, Carol J. Adams.  Carol is the author of more than 20 books, including the ground breaking The Sexual Politics of Meat now in a 25th anniversary edition. Burger, just released in Bloomsbury’s Object Lessons Series and the forthcoming Protest Kitchen: Fight Injustice, Save the Planet, and Fuel Your Resistance One Meal at a Time.

In this interview we were very excited to welcome our special guest, Harley McDonald-Eckersall.  Harley is one of the directors and founding members of an exciting new Australian group called Young Voices for Animals or YVA (pronounced ee-vah).  Founded in early 2017, YVA is a group run for youth, by youth, with a vision to educate, and empower the next generation of young people

In this interview, we were delighted to welcome our special guest, Meneka Repka.  Meneka is an artist and teacher living in Calgary.  As an illustrator, and in her work, Meneka investigates the complicated relationships between humans and other animals.  Meneka joins us today to speak about the 'cruelty free' label, cash crops, what she would like mainstream veganism to recognise

In this interview we were pleased to welcome our special guest, Mary Lawrence.  Mary is a vegan chef and wellness educator. She’s also a board member of the American Vegan Society, and a frequent speaker at vegan events in the United States.  She holds a certificate in plant based nutrition, a BA in English, and an MA in Communication.  Through advocacy that includes cooking

In this interview we spoke with Saryta Rodriguez.  Saryta is an author, editor, social justice advocate, and educator. Their first book, Until Every Animal is Free, was published in 2015, and they are currently working on a compilation of essays examining food justice from a variety of lenses. Saryta’s past writings have focused on food justice, veganism, race, and gentrification. 

In this interview we spoke with Rama Ganesan.  Rama lived in Chennai India until the age of 10 when she emigrated to the UK with her family.  She graduated from the University of Oxford, and also has a PhD from the University of Wales. She then moved to the US with her spouse, and has lived there ever since. Rama became a vegan after reading “Eating Animals” by Jonathan Safran Foer,

In this interview, we are joined by two very special guests, Svetlana Chibireva and Laura Schleifer.  Svetlana is a pro intersectional vegan with an interest in looking at veganism as a political and ethical philosophy through a critical lense in order to challenge current narratives in mainstream veganism. She was born in Stalingrad, a city recovering from the atrocities of nazi occupation

In this interview we welcomed inspirational vegan leader, Kathy Divine, to ARZone.  Kathy is the author of five vegan books and founder of the magazine Australian Vegans Journal. The concept of ethical vegan leadership as the solution to world peace inspires and drives her work, and she uses publishing as a way to broadcast this vision into the world. Kathy offers one-on-one coaching to

In this interview we welcomed back Dr. Casey Taft to ARZone. Casey is a Professor of Psychiatry at Boston University school of Medicine , and an internationally recognized researcher in the areas of trauma, family communication and violence prevention.  Casey sees the prevention of violence toward other animals as a natural extension of his work with humans. He’s is the co-owner of Vegan

In this interview, we welcomed my fellow Australian animal advocate, James Aspey James has overcome some huge hurdles in his life and is a true inspiration. He conquered leukaemia, drug abuse and bulimia before becoming one of Australia’s most well-known animal advocates. Grabbing global attention in 2015 after breaking a year long vow of silence in a powerful TV interview seen by millions,

Stuart Chaifetz is an investigator who works with SHARK - Showing Animals Respect and Kindness.  Stu - began his animal campaigning as a “sab” in England in 1990 and continued his anti-hunting work after returning to the United States. He’s also run for Congress as a Green Party candidate and is the winner of a Sea Shepherd Conservation Society award for anti-whaling work. Stu is also an

Katrina is the founder and editor of the vegan business blog VeganBusinessMedia.com, the host of Vegan Business Talk podcast and author of Vegan Ventures: Start and Grow an Ethical Business,  She’s been vegan since 1996, and has had her ideas about the interconnections between human and other animal social justice featured in numerous books and articles. Her goal is to inform and inspire as

In episode 3 of our new series on Total Liberation through Radical Veganism we spoke with Robert Grillo. Robert is an activist, author and speaker. He is the director of Free from Harm, which he founded in 2009 to expose animal agriculture’s impact on other animals, on vulnerable communities, and on the environment.  Robert’s first book, Farm to Fable: The Fictions of Our Animal-Consuming

The activist behind Unparalleled Suffering Photography is a gifted artist who has chosen to use their significant talents to expose the diverse forms of animal exploitation and torment perpetrated and normalized by our culture. This activist, working anonymously and entirely on their own, expertly documents both the emotional terror and physical suffering that animals endure at human hands: --&

In the early 1990’s, at the age of 55,  Sukie, a Mexican born woman living in Texas and married to a hunter, made a life-changing choice to go vegan! She then went on to start the first animal advocacy group in El Paso along with The Vegetarian Society of El Paso. The animal advocacy group Sukie started had their first meeting in her home in September 1992. There were eleven attendees, plus

Katrina and Aivars were selected together as one winner this year. They are the co-founders of animal advocacy group, Animal Freedom in Latvia.  This group conducts undercover investigations, coordinates outreach and public education campaigns, lobbies government bodies to secure stronger laws for animals, participates in corporate outreach and pressure campaigns to secure meaningful animal

Chia-Pei and Yu-Sheng were selected together as one winner this year. What Chia-Pei and Yu-Sheng do for the animal movement is awe-inspiring. They are the definition of activism!  They volunteer, serve as key organizers, emcees, speakers and spokespersons. They keep their fingers on the pulse of anything new related to veganism; -- a new vegan friendly business, a new animal advocacy

Dr. Dawa Dolker works as a full-time dentist during the day and dedicates every other spare moment of her life to other animals. Over four years ago Dawa co-founded the Dharmasala Vegan Movement (DVM) which finds homes for other animals in need and encourages people to address their consumption of animal products.  This powerful activist has been known as the animal

 In episode 2 of our new series on Total Liberation through Radical Veganism, we speak with Vegfest UK Founder, Tim Barford.  Tim is the founder and manager of Vegfest UK. He has been living vegan since 1984. Tim founded Vegfest-- originally called “Bristol Vegan Fayre” in 2003, making this year the sixteenth year Tim and Vegfest UK have been holding vegan festivals which attract

In episode 1 of our new series on Total Liberation through Radical Veganism, we speak with vegan author, Julia Feliz Brueck.  Julia is a decade long vegan, mother of two, scientist, and published author and illustrator. She is also the founder of Sanctuary Publishers, a vegan book publisher that gives back to marginalised communities with every book sold. Sales from Julia’s new guide,

Episode 91 features long time advocate, Matt Ball.  Matt has been a globally recognised advocate for other animals, for vegetarian diets and for applied ethics for over two decades. He has presented at, and written for diverse forums over the past two decades. Matt has written dozens of essays, articles, editorials and book chapters, and is the co-author (with Bruce Friedrich) of The

Episode 25 features special guest, Dr. Kim Socha. Kim holds a Ph.D. in English and teaches writing and literature at a community college. Her publications include "Animal Liberation and Atheism” and "Women, Destruction, and the Avant-Garde".  She is also contributing editor of "Defining Critical Animal Studies: An Intersectional Social Justice Approach for Liberation" and "Confronting

Episode 90 features Professor of Psychology, Casey Taft Casey is a Professor of Psychiatry, an internationally recognized researcher in the areas of trauma and the family. He has published over 100 journal articles, book chapters, and scientific reports, and has consulted with the United Nations.  Casey sees the prevention of violence toward other animals as a natural extension of his work

Episode 24 features long time vegan and pro-intersectionality justice advocate, Christopher Sebastian.  Sebastian is a long time vegan and social justice advocate. He focuses on examining the complex relationships between speciesism, racism, and queer oppression, and he organises discussions relative to exploring the intersectionality of veganism and other movements for social justice.&nbsp

Episode 23 features pro-intersectional vegan advocate, Laura Schleifer  Laura is a pro-intersectional vegan. She is a writer, theatre artist and educator whose work has spanned the globe, from the Middle East to China and beyond.  Laura has been working on a book for Vegan Publishers, Liberating Veganism, which deals with animal rights psychology and philosophy, and she regularly

Episode 22 features intersectional vegan activist and author, Julia Feliz. Julia is an intersectional vegan, an artist and the author of the first ever vegan themed board book for babies and toddlers, Libby Finds Vegan Sanctuary. Julia runs The Vegan Craftivist Project, which advocates on behalf of other animals through craft, and recently became president of a Swiss based association,

Episode 21 features farmer-turned-advocate Harold Brown. Harold Brown, who is featured in the documentary Peaceable Kingdom, The Journey Home, spent over half of his life working in animal agriculture. Growing up on a beef farm in Michigan and later working in the dairy industry, Harold has been involved in the behind the scenes operations of food production that uses other animals. Today

Episode 20 features long-time activist Joe Brydon. Joe Brydon has been engaged in activism of one form or another for as long as they can remember, primarily involved with disarmament and anti-war campaigns, with brief forays into anti-fracking and anti-nuclear escapades. Growing up gay in a very heterosexual world has helped Joe realise the importance of intersectionality in each of these

Episode 19 features Casey Taft and Jay Shooster in a conversation about effective altruism and the animal advocacy community. Audio podcast, approx. 59 minutes. Casey Taft, Ph. D., a Professor of Psychiatry at Boston University School of Medicine, is an internationally recognized researcher in the areas of trauma and the family, winning prestigious awards for his work in this area. He has

Episode 17 features Sarah K. Woodcock. Sarah K. Woodcock is an intersectional vegan of colour living in Minnesota. We are honoured to have hosted Sarah for our inaugural podcast in this Intersectionality Interview series. She is the founder and Executive Director of TAVS - The Advocacy of Veganism Society. She joined us this time to speak about what’s happened in the United States since the

Episode 17 features the director of Free from Harm, Robert Grillo. Robert Grillo is an activist, author and speaker. He is the director of Free from Harm, which he founded in 2009 to expose the effects of animal agriculture on other animals, vulnerable human communities and the environment. With a background in marketing communications, Robert is particularly interested in how popular

Episode 16 features xavi finix. xavi finix is an autistic transgender animal rights activist squatting in Dublin. xavi joined us to speak about ableism within the animal advocacy community, and about links between veganism, anarchy, and the queer liberation movement. Audio podcast, approx. 14 mins. For more information on the “We are Each Other” series mentioned in this interview, please see

Episode 15 features Judy Nadel and Damien Clarkson. Judy Nadel and Damien Clarkson are the co-founders of Vevolution, a new vegan and conscious living festival staged in London on Saturday November 5, 2016. Judy and Damian are passionate about encouraging people to care about other animals and the environment, and believe that veganism is a social justice movement changing the world. Judy

Episode 14 features, for a second time, artist and activist Laura Schleifer. A pro-intersectional vegan who regularly speaks publicly about the ways in which the struggle for human liberation intersects with the movement for the liberation of other animals, Laura rejoins us to talk about the manner in which PeTA choose to advertise. Audio podcast, 23 minutes.

Episode 13 features journalist and author Katrina Fox. Katrina Fox is the founder and editor of the vegan business blog VeganBusinessMedia.com, host of Vegan Business Talk podcast, and author of Vegan Ventures: Start and Grow an Ethical Business. She’s been vegan since 1996, and has had her ideas about the interconnections between human and other animal social justice featured in numerous

Episode 12 features Dr. Will Tuttle. Will is the author of the bestselling book, The World Peace Diet. He has been vegan since 1980, and is a former Dharma Master in the Zen Buddhist tradition. Will, along with his partner Madeleine - a Swiss visionary artist, has been travelling full time since 1995, bringing the message of radical inclusion and peace to humans all over the planet. If he

Episode 11 features VegFest’s Tim Barford. Tim Barford is the founder and manager of Vegfest UK. Living vegan since 1984, he founded Vegfest, originally called Bristol Vegan Fayre, in 2003. Vegfest UK now hosts four vegan festivals in the UK annually, attracting more than ten thousand visitors to each event. Tim and his team are organising the UK’s first vegan pro-intersectionality conference

Episode 10 features pioneering author Carol J. Adams. Carol J. Adams has been one of the most inspirational leaders of the animal advocacy movement for decades. She is a writer, speaker, and activist as well as a mentor to countless animal advocates. As well as writing the groundbreaking book, The Sexual Politics of Meat, Carol has authored more than 20 other books, as well as countless articles

Episode 9 features Kate Stewart Ph. D., a sociologist at Nottingham Trent University. Kate is the author, with Matthew Cole, of the book Our Children and Other Animals (2014) which explores the sociological importance of other animals in the lives of human children - and vice versa. Her work reveals “the interconnectedness of studies in childhood, culture, and human-animal relations.” As part

This Special Episode of the ARZone Podcast features Ari Nessel, the founder and president of The Pollination Project, speaking about TPP’s 2016 Lisa Shapiro Awards. Named in memorial of a selfless advocate, the Lisa Shapiro Awards recognise the unsung heroes of our movement who are working quietly behind the scenes creating a more just world for other animals. Nominated by their peers and

Episode 8 features Dawn Moncrief, a social justice advocate for more than 20 years. Dawn is the Founder & Executive Director of the non-profit organisation A Well-Fed World. She holds master’s degrees in both International Relations and Women’s Studies from George Washington University, both with a focus on economic development. Among other things, her work highlights how high levels of

Episode 7 features Laura Schleifer - a writer, theater artist, and educator whose work has spanned the globe from the Middle East to Nicaragua to China and beyond. Laura is a pro-intersectional vegan, and active in the Palestine Liberation Movement. She created the word “artivist” to describe her vocation as an artist-activist. As a Jewish American she traveled to the West Bank in Palestine,

Episode 6 features Brenda Sanders is a food justice activist in Baltimore City who has dedicated her life to fighting for vulnerable populations. As a community organizer, Brenda has coordinated events like The Vegan Living Program - an annual 6-week vegan education program, Eating for Life - a plant-based cooking workshop, Vegan SoulFest - a festival that celebrates culture and the vegan

Episode 5 features Nzinga Young, a freelance writer who focuses on vegan issues. A born-and-raised vegetarian who is now living vegan, she’s turned her predominantly plant-based upbringing into a passionate vegan lifestyle. Nzinga is a student of plant-based nutrition with eCornell, a vegan content contributor for Huffington Post, and an avid traveler for local and international vegan events.

Episode 4 features Lauren Ornelas, who has been active in the animal rights movement for more than 20 years. She is the founder and director of Food Empowerment Project, a vegan food justice nonprofit which seeks to create a more just world by helping consumers recognize the power of their food choices. Food Empowerment Project works in solidarity with farm workers, advocates for chocolate not