Ep 29: Ethical Fashion with Delikate Rayne

Evanna Lynch June 14, 2018

This week we’re discussing the vegan fashion landscape and conscious consumerism with the fantastic sister duo and co-founders of Delikate Rayne, Meg and Komie Vora. Growing up amidst Hindu and Jain cultures, Meg and Komie were raised vegetarian and became vegan several years ago when they founded their cruelty-free label, Delikate Rayne. In this episode they talk about being proud advocates of fashion that is free from animals, and how truly ethical fashion extends far beyond veganism alone. Also on this episode…

Meg and Komie explain how founding an ethical fashion line opened their eyes to veganism.
How Meg and Komie’s Jain grandmother influenced them to be vegan.
“Why does everything that’s considered luxurious have to be derived from an animal?”
Creating clothes with a purpose greater than its aesthetic appeal.
What it's like being an ethically conscious brand in a very non ethically conscious industry.
Is leather a byproduct of the meat industry?
Cruelty-free leather and Peace-Silk - we discuss whether ‘cruelty free’ animal derived fabrics could be considered vegan.
Do vegan textiles have a higher carbon footprint than their animal counterparts?
‘So yes, you’re saving an animal but you’re killing mother nature’. The vegan material you should really avoid.
The problem with ‘fast fashion - “If we’re going to consume the way that we are, we’re going to have nothing left.”
The wardrobe diet - Meg and Komie share their tips for veganising one’s wardrobe.

Links

Learn more about Delikate Rayne.

Follow Meg and Komie on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

A study with further details on the environmental impact of veganism sent in by listener, Aryn.

Social Media

Twitter: @ChickPeepsPod

Instagram: @ChickPeepsPod

Facebook: @ChickPeepsPodcast

Momoko Hill: @oh_momoko

Robbie Jarvis: @robbjarvis

Tylor Starr: @tylorstarr

Evanna Lynch: @msevylynch

Ep 28: Undercover Activism with Rich Hardy

Evanna Lynch June 6, 2018

What’s it like to go behind the barbed wire fence and and see what happens within the walls of a factory farm? How does it feel to witness a lone raccoon caught in a trap and not be able to rescue it? This week Momo and Evy get to chat with passionate and prolific undercover activist, Rich Hardy, about his career exposing animal cruelty in 28 countries that has changed minds and laws for animals all over the world. Rich speaks frankly, and for the time time publicly, about the personal sacrifices he’s made to undertake such difficult work and about the changes he’s noticed in public opinion and the vegan movement in his 33 years as a vegan. Also on this episode…

Rich explains how he gave up his dreams of becoming a football player to be a full-time activist.
How changing public opinion is worrying the factory farming system.
The personal compromises activists make when they go undercover to infiltrate the system.
Rich describes his experience working as an undercover fur trapper for two winters and the suffering of one lone raccoon he witnessed that stays with him today.
Does undercover activism make you cynical about humanity or more compassionate? Rich weighs in about what he’s seen of human nature.
Longevity as an undercover activist: we ask Rich what qualities an individual most possess to withstand this gruelling but vital work.
“We can all tell the story of animal suffering”. How there is room for every personality type in the animal rights movement.
Where does Rich think the vegan movement will be in 5 years.
Listener, Ari’s post about healing her relationship with food.
Read more about the issues discussed in Ari’s email about the environment: here and here.

Links

Ep 27: Eating Disorders with Jasmin Singer and Bianca Taylor

Evanna Lynch May 31, 2018

This week The ChickPeeps have an honest, open conversation about what it’s like to balance one’s relationship with food with one’s ethical values and how both recovery and veganism have impacted their lives. Momo and Evy are joined by vegan fitness coach and self love advocate, the fearless Bianca Taylor, who recounts her journey from struggling with anorexia to truly loving and celebrating her body. Later on, we interview the incredible Jasmin Singer, senior editor of Vegnews and author of the memoir Always Too Much and Never Enough, who shares her story of developing a binge eating disorder and how she transformed her relationship with food from self-abuse to self care. Also, on this episode…

‘You can’t eat that, can you?’ The important distinction between ‘can’t and ‘won’t’.
Going vegan mindfully after an eating disorder.
Bianca discusses being a personal trainer and how she helps people in the midst of an ED.
‘Good’ vs. ‘bad’ foods - how do we not backslide into this mentality of categorising foods as a vegan.
Bianca and Momo share how their lives have expanded since they chose the path of self-love.
Jasmin discusses the journey from food as an enemy, to food as a friend, to somewhere in between.
‘It wasn’t until I was well into my 30s that I realised that food can actually be something that not only is a direct representation of who we wanna be and what our world view is but also something that can fill us and allow us to really sit more comfortably in our authenticity.’
The universal feeling of not being enough.
Guilt and shame. How to deal with these emotions surrounding food when we slip up as new vegans.
How to talk about veganism with people who’ve been through an eating disorder.
Switching your focus from vanity to self care.
‘That’s when food was no longer what it had been for me in the 80s, which was a vehicle for changing; it was a vehicle for being in line with who I wanted to be.’
Letting go of an eating disorder. Jasmin and Evy discuss whether or not true recovery is possible.
How to deal with a perfectionist mindset when it comes to diet.
Body positivity and representation in the vegan community.

Links:

Check out Bianca's website.

Follow Bianca on Youtube, Instagram and Facebook.

Learn more about Jasmin Singer.

Check out Our Hen House and listen to Jasmin's podcast.

Follow Jasmin on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Social Media

Twitter: @ChickPeepsPod

Instagram: @ChickPeepsPod

Facebook: @ChickPeepsPodcast

Momoko Hill: @oh_momoko

Robbie Jarvis: @robbjarvis

Tylor Starr: @tylorstarr

Evanna Lynch: @msevylynch

Ep 26: Environmentalism with Kip Andersen and Keegan Kuhn

Evanna Lynch May 24, 2018

Here at The ChickPeeps we’ve talked about being vegan for the animals and vegan for our health but we haven’t talked about being vegan for the health of humankind and animals together aka. THE ENVIRONMENT! To address this topic, we interview the mastermind filmmakers Kip Andersen and Keegan Kuhn who put the environmental impact of veganism into focus with their groundbreaking documentary, Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret. In this interview Kip and Keegan expand on the information shared in Cowspiracy and explain precisely what impact one individual can have on the environment by being vegan. Also on this epsiode…

Kip and Keegan explain why they are actually ethical vegans.
Robbie gets nerdy with Keegan about the true cost of animal agriculture on the environment.
‘Literally anything you could care about in the environmental world, raising animals for food is the primary driver of its destruction, and yet it’s basically overlooked.
How organic or grass-fed meat is worse for the environment.
Why animal agriculture is also a people problem: ‘If there wasn’t such a demand for meat, dairy and eggs in the so-called "developed world", we wouldn’t see these rates of poverty that we see - and starvation and hunger - in the developing [world].’
What difference can one person going vegan actually make?
Non-vegan environmentalists: how to talk to hardcore environmentalists who reject veganism.
Mangoes from India? Avocados from Mexico? The environmental impact of importing foods from around the world, and do we need to be focusing on local produce?
Are almond farms causing drought?
‘This is a movement from the grassroots up, I think it’s going to need to be us hitting a critical mass as vegans and vegetarians and environmentalists and compassionate people.’
Is veganism enough? Kip expands on how else we can be mindful of Mother Earth.
Kip and Keegan talk about their exciting upcoming projects.
Some listener feedback from the companion pets episode and an unusual ensemble for your cat.

Links:

Check out the documentary: Cowspiracy The Sustainability Secret.

Keegan's newest documentary: Running For Good.

Meet Your Meat documentary (mentioned by Keegan).

Article from listener, Jessica, by the RSPB on how to reduce cat predation.

The BirdBeeSafe Collar aka. an excuse to make your cat look like a fluffy clown.

Follow Cowspiracy on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Social Media

Twitter: @ChickPeepsPod

Instagram: @ChickPeepsPod

Facebook: @ChickPeepsPodcast

Momoko Hill: @oh_momoko

Robbie Jarvis: @robbjarvis

Tylor Starr: @tylorstarr

Evanna Lynch: @msevylynch

Ep 25: Finding Your Tribe with The Happy Pear

Evanna Lynch May 16, 2018

This week Momo and Evy discuss the importance of community as a vegan and finding people who inspire you to live a joyfully vegan life. We talk to the ebullient happiness gurus, Dave and Steve Flynn, aka. The Happy Pear, (9.21 minutes) about creating the kind of world you want to live in, and about reconciling one’s cultural background with vegan principles. Later on, Dave and Steve share some of their daily practices to cultivate a balanced, happy life. Also on this episode…

How Steve and Dave went their separate ways and found vegetarianism independently in the same week!
How the twins planned to start a revolution with a vegetable shop.
Dave explains why people living in strong communities live longer.
Dave and Steve recount their journeys from being preachy holier-than-thou vegans to a more attractivist style of vegan advocacy.
Being an Irish vegan and how to reconcile traditional sensibilities with your vegan values.
‘No Granny, I’m vegan!’ We discuss food as an expression of love
The backlash towards veganism by the dairy industry in Ireland.
Why everyone should spend a year working on an organic farm.
‘I think the less we can have a me vs them mentality, the better, because ultimately we all live on one planet and we all have to be friends.’
Dave and Steve explain the importance of consistent movement throughout the day to sustain a joyful outlook on life.
How health and happiness are intrinsically linked.
‘Movement makes you feel better quicker than anything else.’
The fine line between Illness and Wellness.

Links:

Check out The Happy Pear website!

New book alert! Recipes for Happiness.

Take a Happy Heart course with Dave and Steve!

Follow The Happy Pear on Youtube, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Social Media

Twitter: @ChickPeepsPod

Instagram: @ChickPeepsPod

Facebook: @ChickPeepsPodcast

Momoko Hill: @oh_momoko

Robbie Jarvis: @robbjarvis

Tylor Starr: @tylorstarr

Evanna Lynch: @msevylynch

Ep 24: Activism vs. Attractivism with Earthling Ed

Evanna Lynch May 9, 2018

Are you a militant vegan or an attractivist? Was your mind opened by vegan cupcakes or slaughterhouse vigils? Do you favour street activism or a fiery blog post? This week, Tylor and Evy discuss different types of activism and what methods were most effective in our own personal vegan awakening. Later on, (7.37) Robbie and Evy interview the amazing and relentlessly passionate vegan activist and influencer, Earthling Ed, who shares his story of going from apathetic meat-eater to hardcore vegan, and the mindset he’s cultivated to do the confrontational style of vegan activism for which he has become known. Also on this episode…

Ed discusses his previous perception of veganism, and recounts how the wave of empathy he felt for a truck of injured chickens gave him pause as a meat-eater.
How becoming vegan connected Ed to a true sense of purpose.
Street activism - is it for everyone? Ed shares how he overcame his initial fear of confronting strangers about veganism.
How to deal with personal attacks from non-vegans.
‘It’s fear - all of this hatred always comes from fear, fear of change, fear of the unknown.’
Are our emotions a help or a hindrance in vegan activism?
Can we change anti-vegan trolls’ minds or is it a waste of energy?
The burden of empathy: Ed tells us about the personal toll of being a full time activist, and what drives him to keep going.
'It’s a heavy burden but we’re not the victims.'
What is a vigil and what is the purpose of them?
Come join the Animal Rights March on August 25th 2018!
Challenging the status quo - the line between legal and illegal activism and how far should we go for animal rights.
‘We live in a world of unjust laws and I thoroughly believe that those laws should be broken as they always have been for social justice issues.’
Are vegans morally superior to non-vegans? Ed, Robbie and Evy tackle this uncomfortable accusation often fired at vegans.
How educating children on animal rights is a crucial step towards achieving a vegan world: ‘We have to reverse that teaching of discrimination.’
Tylor shares a new vegan victory in the wizarding community!

Links:

Learn more about Ed's work!

Check out Ed's Youtube.

Follow Ed on Instagram and Facebook.

Take part in your nearest Vigil.

Check out Ed's documentary: The Land of Hope and Glory.

Join The Official Animal Rights March on August 25th 2018!

Check out Accio's newly vegan Harry Potter subscription box!

Learn what's new in the vegan wizarding world at The Protego Foundation.

Social Media

Twitter: @ChickPeepsPod

Instagram: @ChickPeepsPod