This week, Paul and Andy have an in depth discussion around one of our favorite topics, learning when to shut up. Vegans often feel pressure to constantly speak up for animals at every possible opportunity, but are there any scenarios in which it makes more sense to hold our tongue? Are there situations in which we might need to realize we aren’t the best person to deliver a message? Sparked by a listener email regarding their experience at a protest targeting a local dairy operation, they do our best to get down to the bottom of it!

Episodes Referenced:

Episode 106 – Should Vegans Advocate For Human Population Control

The Food:

Plant Snacks – Beet and Vegan Goat Cheese Cassava Chips.

The Articles:

Fake ‘meat’ can’t be labeled as meat, Missouri lawmakers say (STL Today)

Iowa Residents to Sue the State Over Air Emissions from Industrial Hog Farms (Civil Eats)

Kat Von D Accused Of ‘No Longer Being Vegan’ – Because Of Pregnancy (Plant Based News)

“The question is not, can they reason?, nor can they talk? but, can they suffer?” this quote from philosopher Jeremy Bentham is often used as the basis for including animal’s within our moral sphere. But what if one could eliminate an animal’s ability to suffer? This is the exact proposal of one award winning ethics paper that concludes it is our ethical duty to advocate for genetically disenhanced animals, who cannot feel (and may even enjoy) pain. This, of course, opens up a host of ethical questions and the bearded duo will do their best to parse them out. They also break down the week’s news and visit one of NYC’s newest vegan eateries.

Food:

Arata (New York, NY)

Articles:

Bye SeaWorld! Attendance at San Diego Park Has Dropped the Most Out of ALL Theme Parks in the U.S. (One Green Planet)

European Parliament votes to support a push towards a global animal testing ban (Cosmetic Design)

Global Animal Testing Ban Is ‘One Step Closer’ After Winning MP Support, Say Campaigners (Plant Based News)

Republican Farm Bill Amendment Threatens Animal Rights (MSN)

What Is the “Protect Interstate Commerce Act” and Why Does It Matter? (Modern Farmer)

Why We Should Genetically ‘Disenhance’ Animals Used in Factory Farms (Practical Ethics)

The Practical Ethicist – An Interview With Peter Singer (Salon)

The Opposite of Human Enhancement: Nanotechnology and the Blind Chicken Problem by Paul B. Thompson (Nanoethics)

 Could Engineering Animals to Enjoy Pain End Animal Suffering?(The Stranger)

 Should Farm Animals Be Genetically Modified to Remove Their Capacity to Feel Pain? (Alternet)

​What’s up, beardos?! This week we bring you a discussion that may seem absurd on the surface but gets at a lot of pressure many vegans may feel to purchase non-vegan products for friends, family, co-workers, and even strangers. Sparked by an incident in which a vegan purchased non-vegan ice cream for a crying child and was then harassed by another vegan, there are a lot of ins and outs to this one, so strap in! We also revisit the ethics of the Impossible Burger, now that it’s addition to White Castle’s menu has sparked debate far and wide.

Find a transcript of the this episode HERE.

Episodes referenced:

Episode 10 – Is All Birthday Cake Vegan?

Episode 93 – Impossible Foods Test On Animals?

The Food:

Like No Udder (Providence, RI)

The Articles:

TripAdvisor extends animal welfare policy, critics say “falls short” (Phocus Wire)

Is The Impossible Burger Legal? (Modern Farmer)

The Agonizing Dilemma Of Animal Testing (Impossible Foods)

Animal Testing & New Proteins: Time For FDA To Move Into The 21st Century (Good Food Institute)

Clean Meat Startup Makes Breakthrough With New ‘3D Technology’ (Plant Based News)

JUST CEO Says 2018’s Clean Meat Launch Will ‘Probably’ Be Sold In Restaurants First (Plant Based News)

France Bans Meat And Dairy Related Words From Vegetarian And Vegan Food Packets (MSN)

Vegan Man Doxxes Vegan Woman for Giving Dairy Ice Cream to Crying Child (Vice)

Plus we break down the news, including the latest vegan celebrity worship and Post Mates banning the delivery of foie gras.

The Food:

GWARbar (Richmond, VA)

The Articles:

80% of Brits Would Give Up Meat Over Their Car to Help the Environment (Sustainable Brands)

Gordon Ramsay Finally Gives Vegan Thing a Try (VegNews)

GORDON RAMSAY REVEALS HE’S ‘GOING TO GIVE THIS VEGAN THING A TRY’ (The Independent)

Victory! Postmates to Stop Delivering Foie Gras to Customers(One Green Planet)

Chef who butchered a deer leg in front of vegan protesters: ‘We won’t change’ (The Guardian)

Reservations Soar at Toronto Restaurants After Vegan Protest(BlogTo)

Vegan Activist Receives Vicious Online Backlash After Restaurant Protest (Plant Based News)

Animal Rights Activists Say They’re Not Trying To ‘Attack’ Dundas St. Restaurant Where Owner Carved Deer Leg In Front Window (The Star)

This week the bearded duo bring you a discussion regarding something that has been on their minds for quite a while. Should vegan activists get paid? They aren’t talking about people working for non-profits, but more specifically activists who start Patreons to fund their activism with no specific tangible goals other than “I will do more activism”. Do we need activists dedicated 24/7? It is classist to demand activists work for free? Does crowd-funded activism run the risk of only rewarding certain types of activism at the detriment to others? They roll up our sleeves and dive deep into this one!

Plus they go over the news, including the Impossible Burger rolling out to White Castle and the latest in the By Chloe legal proceedings. Additionally, they follow up on last week’s discussion about veganizing prison farms.

The Food:

Plant (Asheville, NC)

Tomato Head (Knoxville, TN)

The Links:

Dominion film

Get Ready for ‘Bleeding’ Veggie Sliders at White Castle (Grub Street)

Chloe Coscarelli Files Lawsuit to Reclaim by CHLOE Name (VegNews)

Kingston prison farms returning with new federal funding (CBC)

Prisoners making $1.95 a day want a raise. Taxpayers want a break. (Business)