The Bearded Vegans are back from their winter break, refreshed and ready to bring you new weekly episodes! They start by catching up on one of the most talked-about news stories of the past month: a lawsuit in the UK alleging that a man was fired for being an ethical vegan. The case could legally assign ethical veganism as being protected by the Equality Act. They’ll discuss whether or not they think this case could go through in today’s political climate, ask if vegans are a marginalized group in need of protection by anti-discrimination laws, and do their best to explore all the various slippery slopes that this ruling could potentially lead us down.

The Food:

We LOVE The Superfun Times Holiday Vegan Cookbook

The Links:

Vegan Job Finder Tool Launches Next Month?(Veg News)

Tiffany Haddish Protesting Police Violence With Fur Is The Embodiment Of Weaponized Oppression(Christopher Sebastian)

Vegans may get same anti-discrimination rights as religious people in test case (Independent)

Jordi’s Crowfunding Campaign

Veganism Could Get the Same Legal Protections as Religion(WNEP)

Discrimination: Your Rights(Gov.UK)

Results of Survey on Vegan Provision in Scotland(Go Vegan Scotland)

This week The Bearded Vegans continue their winter break interview series with the prolific vegan food justice activist Brenda Sanders. Having founded or co-founded The Afro Vegan Society, Thrive Vegan Community Center, The Greener Kitchen/PEP Foods, Better Health Better Life and Vegan Soulfest, we aren’t entirely sure how Brenda finds the time in the day to get everything done but we are thankful she took some time out of her busy schedule to sit down and talk with us. We discuss her journey to veganism, why health-motivated veganism can be considered a revolutionary act within marginalized communities, negative experiences in the mainstream animal rights movement, building local community and much much more!

Support Thrive Vegan Community Center on GoFundMe

Support Brenda Sanders on Patreon

The Food:

Ramen Hood (New York, NY)

Arles & Boggs(Wallingford, CT)

The Links:

LuLu & The Lobster – PROFESSIONAL TRAINING: HOW SYSTEMIC RACISM AND ANTI-BLACKNESS AFFECT ANIMAL ADVOCACY

Afro Vegan Society

Thrive Vegan Community Center

The Greener Kitchen

Vegan Soulfest

Better Health Better Life

This week Paul and Andy kick off their winter break interview series with the one and only Mr. Hip! Mr. Hip is a vegan hip hop artist whose latest release, Vegan Paradise, is a fully vegan hip hop album. They talk about his transition to veganism, the recording and creative process, finding a way to use his talents to help animals, engaging in self care and much more.

The Food:

 Fox & Fig Cafe (Savannah, GA)

Arles & Bogs (Wallingford, CT)

The Links:

Mr Hip – Website– Bandcamp– iTunes– Instagram– Facebook

This week The Bearded Vegans are so pleased to bring you their final live episode of the year. This time, they set up shop at the Atlanta Vegfest and bring on the incomparable JL Fields to help answer a number of listener emails and audience questions. Most notably they ask whether veganism should be intrinsically linked to the plastic-free movement and whether the passing of Prop 12 is something to celebrate. The proposition potentially creates a cage-free California, but at what cost? Would the beautiful bearded boys personally vote for it? Would they spend time advocating for it? Stay tuned to find out!

The Food:

The Grit(Athens, GA)

JL Fields: Website– Instagram– Facebook

This week The Bearded Vegans are pleased to bring you an interview with Mark Hawthorne, author of Striking At The Roots: A Practical Guide To Animal Activism. The formative text for many activists that explores the vast array of grassroots activism at our disposal was released 10 years ago and is receiving an update to reflect the changing methods and technology that have evolved since its initial release. We ask what even is activism, is it okay to criticize other activists, does one need to be an activist in order to be vegan, the importance of self care and much much more.

Plus Paul and Andy discuss the news, including the greyhound racing ban in Florida and the drop in people willing to take jobs in slaughterhouses.

The Food:

Reggae Shack(Gainesville, FL)

Buttafly Kisses(Atlanta, GA)

The Links:

Thousands Of Ex-Racing Greyhounds Will Need Homes Soon. Here’s How To Help. (Huffington Post)

What will happen to greyhounds if voters ban racing in Florida?(News 4 Jax)

Abattoir staff shortages threaten Christmas sales(Farmer’s Weekly)

Interview:

Mark Hawthorne – WEBSITE– INSTAGRAM– FACEBOOK– TWITTER

This week we are so pleased to finally bring you the much requested, and long awaited, BUG EPISODE! That’s right, we are asking if insects should be included in our sphere of moral concern and if so, what are the implications for our daily actions and our activism?

The Food:

Doe Donuts(Portland, OR)

The Links:

Atlanta Vegfest

Atlanta Vegfest Promo Video

What’s in a Name? Survey Explores Consumers’ Comprehension of Milk and Non-Dairy Alternatives (Food Insight)

Get Rid Of Ants Without Killing(Bug Offf)

Do Insects Feel Pain(Jeff Lockwood)