This week Paul and Andy finally visit Orchard Grocer, the new vegan market in NYC as well as make a return trip to the cat cafe in Philly. After some follow up and news items they then explore a new video that proposes vegans ask people to stop eating chicken instead of to go vegan. The episode concludes with an in depth interview with Jessica Shay, founder of Vegan Street Fair.

Restaurants visited:
Orchard Grocer (New York, NY)
Kawaii Kitty Cafe (Philadelphia, PA)

Articles discussed:

Ringling Bros. tigers are headed for a German circus and animal activists are outraged

Veggin’ Out At The Ballpark

Got Milk? Too much of it, say U.S. dairy farmers

Want to save animal lives without going veg? Eat beef, not chicken.

Matt Ball’s response

One Step For Animals

Which Request Created The Most Diet Change?

How Many Animals Does A Vegetarian Save?

Episode 82: Is A Vegan Cruise An Oxymoron?

This week Paul and Andy regale with tales of food from the NYC Veg Food Fest as well as trying the new White Castle black bean burger. Then it’s time to move into some news including Umami Burger offering the Impossible Burger covered in non-vegan ingredients and the end of Ringling Brothers. The episode concludes with a topic double header that starts by asking if vegans should ever go on a cruise and ends with a review of Norm, an inflammatory short film comparing animal abuse to sexual assault.

Restaurants Visited:
Seasoned Vegan
Marty’s V Burger
Stoner Girl Treats and Eats
Screamers

Articles Discussed:

Vegans Angry at Umami for Serving the New Impossible Burger With Lots of Dairy

All Aboard a Vegan Cruise Through the Caribbean

Cruises are terrible and “vegan cruise” is an oxymoron

Brazil ‘rescues’ cruise workers from ‘slave-like conditions’ – April 4th, 2014

Episode 81: News Roundup

This week Paul and Andy conduct a follow up discussion from episode 79 about an action turned violent. Then the duo breaks from format a bit to discuss a series of extended news segments including the implications of China opening up trade to import US beef, a recent study saying cheese is healthy again, Dominos Pizza rejecting vegan toppings and whether or not purchasing shares in a company is a good way to influence them. conduct a follow up discussion from episode 79 about an action turned violent. Top it all off with food adventures in Fargo and Delaware as well as Paul recounting his time speaking at the Delaware Action For Animals Vegfest.

Restaurants visited:

Green House Cafe (Fargo, ND)
Drop Squad Kitchen (Wilmington, DE)
V Street (Philadelphia, PA)
Kawaii Kitty Cafe (Philadelphia, PA)

Articles discussed:

Richard Dawkins: ‘When I see cattle lorries, I think of the railway wagons to Auschwitz’

Eating cheese does not raise risk of heart attack or stroke, study finds

Chinese Chicken Is Headed To America, But It’s Really All About The Beef

No End In Sight For China Cattle Shortage

Domino’s Pizza Doesn’t Care About Feeding Vegans

DOMINO’S STANDS ITS GROUND AGAINST ANIMAL RIGHTS ‘EXTREMISTS’

This week Paul and Andy talk about their recent food adventures in Baltimore and Minneapolis as well as the wonderful folks they met at their respective vegfests. The rest of the episode is dedicated to a deep dive into the mail bag to answer listener questions, comments and concerns.

Restaurants Visited:
The Herbivorous Butcher (Minneapolis, MN)
B-More Alive (Baltimore, MD)

Articles discussed:
Debate Settled: Flying More Efficient Than Driving

Episode 79: Who Is Your Activism Really For? Analysis Of An Action Turned Violent.

In this giant whopper of an episode, Paul and Andy drool about food adventures in Indianapolis and Ann Arbor before jumping into the latest vegan news. Then take a deep dive into an analysis of a recent action involving Direct Action Everywhere members who turned violent, assaulting a bouncer and the subsequent retaliation involving pepper spray. The discussion focuses around examining if one’s activism is really for the animals or for the accolades given by their peers. The episode concludes with an in depth interview with Robin Helfritch, co-founder and director of Open The Cages Alliane whose flagship campaign, The Vegan Living Program, aims to fill a gap in vegan advocacy by offering in person support and community to new and aspiring vegans.

Restaurants visited:
Three Carrots (Indianapolis, IN)
The Lunchroom (Ann Arbor, MI)

Articles discussed:

Even McDonald’s Is Going Vegan Now

Canadian Court Clears Activist Who Gave Water To Pigs

It’s Not Intersectional, It’s DxE: An Exposé Written By DxE’s Victims

Direct Action Leading Where?

Interview: Robin Helfritch

Open The Cages Alliance

The Vegan Living Program

The Sustainability Institute At Molloy College

Episode 78: Is Guilt An Effective Tactic For Making New Vegans?

This week Paul and Andy continue their food adventures in New Orleans before climbing up a mountain of news including a local Humane Society fundraiser that decided to serve animal flesh. the episode concludes with an in depth discussion asking whether or not attempting to invoke guilt is an effective tactic for making new vegans. The conversation specifically revolves around a form of advocacy that involves placing stickers on animal products in the supermarket that will remind the potential purchaser exactly what animal it came from.

CONTEST TIME! Want to win an exclusive Bearded Vegans button? Just write a review on iTunes and you are entered! Winner announced during episode 80 and every Mailbag episode thereafter.

Restaurants visited:
Sneaky Pickle (New Orleans, LA)

Articles discussed:
‘Pork for Paws’ to help four-legged friends

Federal Court Orders Factory Farms to Report Pollution

The Next Gluten

Beauty therapist, 18, is horrified to discover an ’emotional blackmail’ anti-meat sticker proclaiming to be from a cow named Chloe on her Morrisons spaghetti bolognaise

Out of the FOG

Vegan wages war on meat-eaters by plastering supermarket shelves with graphic stickers to guilt-trip shoppers out of buying sausages, eggs and even MILK ‘because it’s Veganuary’

The Surprising Upside Of Guilt and Shame

Beyond Intractability – Guilt and Shame

Direct Action Leading Where?

Episode 77: Should Vegans Embrace Reducetarianism?

This week Paul and Andy discuss vegan food adventures in Nashville and New Orleans before dissecting the news, including a recent ban on selling animals that are from puppy mills. The episode concludes by asking if vegans should embrace reducetarianism, the movement attempting to collect vegans, vegetarians and meat reducers all under one umbrella term.

See Paul speak at the 9th Annual Delaware Action For Animals Vegfest

Restaurants visited:
Graze (Nashville, TN)
Breads On Oak (New Orleans, LA)

Articles discussed:
Sorry vegans – plants actually ‘hear themselves being eaten, and respond’

Proposed bill aims to give ‘unwanted’ pets better shot at forever homes

Op-Ed Can’t vegans and vegetarians just get along?

Ending the battle between vegans, vegetarians, and everyone else | Brian Kateman | TEDxCUNY

Episode 76: Should We Abandon The Mainstream Animal Rights Movement?

This week, Paul and Andy talk about finding vegan food in Nashville TN before breaking down the news including the implications of a pet store that refuses to sell rabbits on Easter weekend. The episode concludes by asking the question, is it time to abandon the mainstream animal rights movement?

Show notes:

Andy’s interview with Veggieworld

Restaurants visited:
Nicoletto’s Pasta Co (Nashville, TN)
The Southern V (Nashville, TN)

Articles discussed:

Starbucks Tests New Vegan-Friendly Lunch Menu

Pets shops across UK ban sale of rabbits during Easter

The lines are being drawn: The case for a divided animal movement

Gordon Ramsay Just Shut Down The Pineapple Pizza Debate

Episode 74: Are There Any Circumstances Where It Is Okay To Eat Animal Products?

This week Paul and Andy gush about vegan food in San Diego before burying themselves under a pile of vegan news. The episode concludes by asking, is there any circumstances under which it is ethically permissible to consume animal products?

Restaurants/Events visited:
Erven (Los Angeles, CA)
Kindred (San Diego, CA)
Charlie’s Brownies (Los Angeles, CA)
Vegan Street Fair LA
Champs (Brooklyn, NY)

Articles discussed:

Despite religious opposition—and vegans—the Bank of England will keep animal fat in its banknotes

The secretive US funding behind the Got Milk? ads finally gets scrutiny

Woman finds “teeth” in barbacoa tacos, restaurant offers explanation

Can you maintain a vegan diet while traveling? Yes, but it will take some strategizing.

“WHAT IF I ‘MESS UP’?” WHY GOING VEGAN IS NOT A PLEDGE OF PERFECTION