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, James has continued devoting himself to activism ever since, with a focus on peace, justice and fairness.
In 2016 he was tattooed for 24 hours to raise money for charity. He travels the world giving entertaining speeches on his journey from being an apathetic meat eater to a passionate animal advocate.
His viral speech has been viewed over 8 million times and is described as one of the most inspiring animal advocacy speeches ever delivered.
To listen to James' interview please click HERE
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 Culture, was published this year and he will be speaking about that, about "Who Chickens Really Are", about sources of inspiration and empowerment for activists, and a lot more this year at London Vegfest UK.
To listen to this interview please click HERE
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 with humans, understanding that working toward the prevention of violence done to other animal species follows naturally from working to end the violence humans do to each other.
He’s is the co-owner of Vegan Publishers … and has a brand new book called Millennial Vegan, which is aimed at young vegans who are navigating life as an animal advocate.
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 Harold is an activist advocating for sustainable food production, social and environmental justice, animal rights and peace through non-violence. Audio podcast, approx. 25 minutes.
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 campaigns. They are involved in a number of groups promoting greater understanding of LGBTQ+ issues within other communities and campaigns, such as Bristol Against Pinkwashing, and the Quaker Lesbian and Gay Fellowship. An interest in animal rights developed about two years ago when Joe finally went vegan. Joe is now an active member of the Animal Alliance, a vegan outreach group based in Brighton. Audio podcast, approx. 19 minutes.
Please click HERE to watch Joe’s recent talk at London Vegfest UK on YouTube.
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 culture creates the narratives that influence much of our behavior. His book, Farm to Fable: The Fictions of Our Animal-Consuming Culture (Vegan Publishers 2016), was written to explore that theme. Audio podcast, 15 minutes.
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 selected by an independent panel, the recipients (who will be announced by TPP on Oct 1, 2016) represent the noblest aspirations of our movement.
Ari joins us to talk about the awards as well as sharing some more general thoughts on advocacy within the movement. Audio podcast, approx. 15 minutes.
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 lifestyle, and she’s a founding member of PEP Foods - a vegan food collective bringing affordable vegan food to marginalized communities in Baltimore. Brenda promotes veganism in her social justice work because it addresses health disparities, environmental destruction and animal exploitation while giving individuals the ability to effect real, positive change in the world.
What is Intersectionality and what does it have to do with vegan advocacy and animal rights? In the lead up to the pro-intersectionality conference scheduled for Vegfest London in October 2016, ARZone is presenting a special series of brief interviews addressing these and other questions. We'll be speaking with members of the global vegan community about what intersectionality means to them, and how both humans and other animals with whom we share the planet might benefit by our adopting an intersectional approach. We hope that you enjoy this informative special series on an important topic.
Episode 1 features our guest, Sarah K. Woodcock, Founder and (volunteer) Executive Director of The Advocacy of Veganism Society(TAVS). Sarah, an adopted Korean-American vegan, lives in the Minneapolis area of Minnesota in the United States with her husband and adopted nonhuman animals. Audio podcast, approx. 11 mins.
Episode 86 features advocate and author Saryta Rodriguez.
Saryta Rodriguez is graduate of Columbia University (New York, USA) who is committed to social justice activism, with a focus on issues of human hunger and violence against other animals.
Saryta has written her first book, "Until Every Animal is Free", recently published by Vegan Publishers (2015). She joined us to speak about that book, in which she offers a concise history of the movement for animal liberation, a review of current issues facing the movement and individual advocates within it, and her own ideas about how to bring about meaningful and lasting change in the lives of other-than-human animals. Audio podcast, approx. 32 minutes.
ARZone would like to take this opportunity to recognise those people who help make ARZone podcasts and interviews successful. The work of all ARZone admins is highly valued, and we thank Kate, Jason Ward, Spencer Lo and Kevin Watkinson for their great efforts and continued support.
Episode 84 features advocate and activist Prof. Steven Best, Ph. D.
Steve Best is an associate professor of philosophy at the University of Texas at El Paso, but he’s perhaps best known as an advocate for the liberation of the earth and all who live on it - humans as well as other animals.
Steve has published 13 books and hundreds of articles and has been active nationally and internationally for more than 3 decades, challenging the conventional wisdom on topics ranging from environmentalism to sexual liberation to animal rights. Dr. Best joined us to speak about his new book, The Politics of Total Liberation: Revolution in the 21st Century. Audio podcast, approx. 65 minutes.
To listen to Steve's interview please click HERE
Episode 83 features Paul Shapiro of the Humane Society of the United States.
Since 2005 Paul Shapiro has been the Vice President for Farm Animal Protection for the Humane Society of the United States. Prior to joining the HSUS, Paul was, for 10 years, the founder and campaigns director of Compassion Over Killing, a group he initially began while still in high school.
Paul joins us today to speak about what he learned from 10 years in grassroots activism, the role of the HSUS in the animal rights movement and some of the controversy surrounding it, and how advocates and activists can be most effective for other animals. Audio podcast, approx. 72 minutes.
Episode 82 features activist Matt Ball.
Matt Ball is Senior Advisor for VegFund, an organization that funds the outreach of advocates for other animals around the world. In 1993, Matt co-founded Vegan Outreach; where he served as the group’s Executive Director for more than 20 years. Matt speaks with us about his new job, his latest book, and his current thoughts about the state of the animal advocacy movement. Audio podcast, approx. 45 minutes.
In recognition for his dedication to the cause of reducing the suffering of other animals, in 2005 Matt was inducted into the Animal Rights Hall of Fame. He is the author of two books, The Animal Activist’s Handbook (with Bruce Friedrich in 2007) and, in 2014, The Accidental Activist. Matt has also written countless essays, attended an untold number of conferences and workshops, and spoken to audiences everywhere about the plight of other animals and the benefits of a plant-based lifestyle.
Episode 81 features long time advocate and author Will Tuttle Ph. D.
In early 2014 Dr. Will Tuttle, who holds a masters in humanities and a Ph.D in education, completed an international speaking tour, traveling to Taiwan, throughout Australia, and to New Zealand. In this podcast, Dr. Tuttle speaks with ARZone about his work and to tell us about his experience speaking to sold out audiences throughout his tour. Audio Podcast, approx 44 minutes.
The author of the best selling book, The World Peace Diet, Dr. Tuttle's work makes explicit the invisible connections between our food, our culture and a broad range of social, economic and environmental problems. He offers solutions to these problems based on a respect for all living beings.
Episode 80 features the Executive Director of Animal Charity Evaluators (ACE), Jon Bockman.
In this interview, we discuss the work that ACE does in trying to utilise the best survey and research methods to evaluate the effectiveness of various groups and organizations working within the animal advocacy movement. Audio Podcast, approx 57 minutes.
According to their website (www.AnimalCharityEvaluators.Org), Animal Charity Evaluators (ACE) is "a nonprofit dedicated to finding and advocating highly effective opportunities for improving the lives of animals.” Jon Bockman serves as its executive director.
Jon has held leadership positions at various animal advocacy groups over the past ten years, including having managed two wildlife rehabilitation centres and serving as a humane investigator in Illinois. Jon joined the team at Animal Charity Evaluators in 2013.
Episode 79 features long time advocate Nick Cooney.
Nick Cooney, the Founder and Chairman of the Board of The Humane League, is also the Director of Education for Mercy For Animals. Nick is the author of two books, Change Of Heart: What Psychology Can Teach Us About Spreading Social Change (2011) and Veganomics: The Surprising Science on What Motivates Vegetarians, from the Breakfast Table to the Bedroom (2013).
In this podcast, we discuss what advocates can learn from the research that exists on vegans, vegetarians, their behaviors, motivations, and beliefs. Audio podcast, approx. 53 minutes.
Please check out Nick's book at Veganomics.com
Episode 78 features professor of political theory, Robert Garner.
Rob Garner is professor of political theory at the University of Leicester in the UK who has, for more than two decades, specialised in animal rights.
In this interview, Prof. Garner speaks with ARZone about his recently published book A Theory of Justice for Animals. He explains why Animal Welfare fails to protect the interests of other animals, why "species egalitarianism" (or abolitionism) will not achieve its goals, and why conceiving of animal rights as a political matter of justice affords us the best chance at creating a better world for animals. Audio podcast, approx. 54 mins.
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Rob Garner obtained his BA from the University of Salford and his MA and PhD from the University of Manchester. A professor at the University of Leicester, the focus of his principal research interest has been on the political representation of nonhuman interests. He is the author of 6 books in this area, including A Theory of Justice for Animals (2013), The Animal Rights Debate: Abolition or Regulation?(2010, with Professor Gary Francione), Animal Ethics (2005), The Political Theory of Animal Rights (2005), Animals, Politics and Morality (2004) and Environmental Politics: Britian, Europe and The Global Environment (2000).
Episode 75 features Professor of Law and author Sherry Colb.
Sherry Colb is professor of Law at Cornell University and is the author of two books, When Sex Counts: Making Babies and Making Law (2007) about the modern challenges of sexual equality, and Mind If I Order the Cheeseburger? and Other Questions People Ask Vegans (2013).
Sherry visits ARZone to talk about that book, in which she offers practical and well-reasoned advice to all of us who may encounter some of the most common questions put to vegans by non-vegans. She also talks with us about the importance of empathy and understanding in advocacy and how feminism intersects with animal rights. Audio podcast, approx. 36 minutes.
ARZone Podcast 73 features Kim Socha and Sarahjane Blum.
Kim Socha is a grassroots animal liberation advocate, an author, and educator who sits on the boards of The Institute for Critical Animal Studies and the Animal Rights Coalition. Sarahjane is also a grassroots animal liberation advocate, educator and board member of Support Vegans in the Prison System, and of New York City’s Empty Cages Collective. Kim and Sarahjane join ARZone to talk about their recently published book, Confronting Animal Exploitation: Grassroots Essays on Liberation and Veganism. Audio podcast, approx 57 mins.
You may also listen H E R E, or visit this webpage to subscribe using iTunes, and please remember to visit ARZone on the web at www.ARZone.net.
Confronting Animal Exploitation: Grassroots Essays on Liberation and Veganism includes essays by Kim and Sarahjane as contributions by 15 of their fellow grassroots advocates from the midwest region of the United States. Available on Amazon here.
ARZone Podcast 72 features a return visit with sociologist and activist Prof. David Nibert.
A professor of sociology at Wittenburg University in Springfield, Ohio, USA, David Nibert is the author of the recently published book "Animal Oppression and Human Violence: Domesecration, Capitalism and Global Conflict". David discusses the thesis of his book, that the "domesecration" of other animals both promoted and enabled human violence - and the destruction it has wrought.
We speak with David about his new book, about the entanglements of all oppressions, about veganism, and about alternatives to exploitative capitalist-consumerism. Audio podcast, approx 62 mins.
Podcast player:
You may also listen H E R E, or visit this webpage to subscribe using iTunes, and please remember to visit ARZone on the web at www.ARZone.net.
Professor Nibert is also the author of “Animal Rights/Human Rights: Entanglements of Oppression and Liberation”, published in 2002, in which he makes the connection between the exploitation of other animals, and the exploitation, mistreatment and violence against other devalued groups. In his work, David connects animal rights theory with other economic and sociological theories. He believes that speciesism is an ideology that seeks to legitimise animal slavery, perpetuating the oppression of other individuals based solely on their species.
