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This week we have to turn in our Extenuating Life Circumstances card. Instead of a regularly recorded episode, we’ll be playing an interview that Andy did on the Hope For The Animals podcast covering the intersection of fat justice and animal liberation. We’ll be back next week with a brand new episode!
This week we are talking about entomophagy – the practice of eating insects. As humanity searches for ways to live more sustainability on this planet, some entrepreneurs are trying to Make Bugs Happen in the United States. Over two billion humans consume insects as a standard part of their diet and 80% of the world’s countries consume insects in one form or another. Yet western consumers remain resistant, creating a huge uphill battle. We’ll ask, why are some people trying to get people to shift to eating insects, as opposed to just eating a plant based diet? If the U.S. insect market does continue to grow, what does that mean for the fate of insects? Is this something that vegans should advocate for? Would the amount of pain, suffering, and exploitation increase or decrease?
A transcript of this episode will be available here on 23rd
I’ll tell you whats up, beardos! The cicadas are back (baby!) and we’re gonna talk about those who want to eat them and the general movement to get western consumers to embrace entomophagy. But before we dive into that discussion we thought it would be good to bring back an older episode in which we break down the research behind insect sentience and what that means for the ethical vegan trying to cause the least harm. We felt this discussion will help set the table, so to speak, for next week’s discussion.
We also do some follow up on the anti-speciesist language episode to find out where the phrase “letting the cat out of the bag” really came from, among others.
This week we do a deep dive into anti-speciesist language. We’ll look at a variety of ways in which our langue potentially shapes a world that devalues animals. Then we’ll ask how much time and effort should we put into eliminating particular words and phrases from our vocabulary and is it helpful for us to correct other vegans’ language? What about correcting the language of non-vegans? Does the oppressive origin of a phrase mean we should stop using it now, even if its contemporary use is entirely devoid of said origin? Ultimately we will ask, is language policing a valid form of activism?
This week we bring back another classic episode from the vault. Originally airing in May of 2018, this is a continuation of last week’s episode, this time we hone in on how we should assess whether or not a battle is worth engaging in. The conversation is centered around asking “are there times when it is actually more advantageous to not advocate for animals?” As well as the merits of engaging in direct action from a risk/reward standpoint.
After replaying the original episode, we reflect on what we thought we got right, what we got wrong, and what we would have changed if we were recording that episode for the first time today.
Our transcriptionist just had a baby🎉, so no transcription this week. Welcome to the world, Jack!
This week we are pulling a classic episode out of the archives, dusting it off, and providing some additional commentary. Back in May of 2018 we recored an episode entitled “Learning When To Shut Up”, in which we respond to a listener email about protest outside of a cheese festival pertained around local farms.
In that original discussion we talk about the importance of picking and choosing targets, whether we think some conversations are just a waste of time, and whether we would prefer a small achievable victory or to chip away at a much larger end goal.
After replaying that conversation, we have an extensive discussion exploring the ways our views have changed on the subject three years later. If you’ve already listened to that episode, know that there is about 40 minutes of additional discussion here.
Our transcriptionist just had a baby🎉, so no transcription this week. Welcome to the world, Jack!
We recently made a post entitled “Don’t Debate Me, Bro!” in which we poke and prod at something we are terming “debate me bro activism”. But you know we are not into that whole brevity thing, so we are taking the time to elaborate on, and interrogate the idea more extensively in this week’s episode.
We’ll discuss what exactly is “Debate Me, Bro! Activism” and why we think it may be detrimental to creating a more just and equitable world for all. Drawing heavily from Andy’s experience as a full time street activist, we’ll also talk about ways we think healthy conversation and disagreement can be incorporated into our activism.
Our transcriptionist is having a baby🎉, so no transcription this week.
This week we look at the curious case of vegan (or vegan-adjacent) phrases and messaging that are being co-opted by animal exploiters. Starting with an advertisement for plant based menthol and ending at a pig exploitation theme park, we’re taking a trip into bizarro world! Has the term “plant based” entirely lost it’s meaning? Why are dairy farms trying to add cow’s milk to plant based diets? Is fur actually good for the environment? And what fresh dystopian hell are we living in when people can be taught about how amazing pigs are, witness their complete subjugation, and come out feeling okay with eating them?
This week we wrap up our run of media reviews with a look at The Last Pig. This film, by Emmy award winning director Allison Argo, started making the festival circuit rounds in 2017 but up until recently has been largely inaccessible to the general public. Now with a release on PBS, we are finally able to give an in depth review. Spoiler alert: we both really enjoyed this one! Of course, there was still plenty to talk about and we’ll get all up into it.
