S3, Ep18: Being an Animal Rights Photojournalist with Jo-Anne McArthur

This season of The ChickPeeps is brought to you by our friends at Vivo Life! Use our code 'chickpeeps10' to get 10% off your order at vivolife.com.

This episode is also brought to you in partnership with the amazing plant based milk making machine, Almond Cow. Check out their website to find out more about making your own delicious, homemade plant milks and use code ‘chickpeeps15’ to get $15 off your Almond Cow at https://almondcow.co/.

This week, Evanna and Tylor speak to award-winning photojournalist, author and founder of We Animals Media, Jo-Anne MacArthur. Jo-Anne's striking images of animals in captivity are known to all within the animal rights movement, and have moved thousands of people to deeply consider humanity’s relationship with animals. In this episode Jo-Anne shares her journey into veganism and animal rights, what she has learned in twenty years of photographing animals exploited by humans and whether or not she still remains optimistic about humanity. 

Also in this episode…

  • Jo-Anne describes how one chance encounter with a macaque monkey, while backpacking in Ecuador, inspired her to share the stories of animals.

  • Jo-Anne tells us about her latest book Hidden: Animals in the Anthropocene.

  • Jo-Anne explains why she refers to the animals used by humans as ‘hidden animals’ and why she has devoted her life to telling their stories.

  • ‘We have to create artistic, beautiful images, even of things that are absolutely terrible’. Jo-Anne stresses the importance of producing visually stimulating pictures of animals and likens it to war photography.

  • Tylor shares that, in his time at PETA, they often used Jo-Anne’s work in their campaigns.

  • Jo-Anne talks about her organisation We Animals Media; a group of writers, filmmakers and artists, whose focus is to amplify the stories of animals.

  • ‘Anyone doing this front-line animal work needs to have a big focus on resilience’. Jo-Anne discusses the importance of safeguarding her mental health and shares that she has previously suffered from PTSD.

  • ‘I don’t think I have become desensitized. I think it is important to keep my heart wide open and just let it break, over and over’. Jo-Anne explains how emotional engagement with her subjects and remaining highly sensitised to the plight of animals is key to her being able to produce such striking images.

  • Jo-Anne tells Evy and Tylor about the creation of her Animal Photojournalism Masterclass and very generously offers us 4 free passes to giveaway to you, our dearest ChickPeeps. Listen to the episode to find out how you can win one of the passes!

Links:

Make sure you check out Jo-Anne’s beautiful website 

We Animals Media website

We Animals Media Photo Galleries.

Follow We Animals Instagram 

Buy Jo-Anne’s new book Hidden: Animals in the Anthropocene

Get In Touch:

Bonus Content: ChickPeeps Patreon

Instagram: @ChickPeepsPod

Facebook: @ChickPeepsPodcast

Links:

Make sure you check out Jo-Anne’s beautiful website 

We Animals Media website

We Animals Media Photo Galleries.

Follow We Animals Instagram 

Buy Jo-Anne’s new book Hidden: Animals in the Anthropocene

Get In Touch:

Bonus Content: ChickPeeps Patreon

Instagram: @ChickPeepsPod

Facebook: @ChickPeepsPodcast

S3, Ep17: Davey Havok

This season of The ChickPeeps is brought to you by our friends at Vivo Life! Use our code 'chickpeeps10' to get 10% off your order at vivolife.com.

This week, Tylor and Evy interview iconic punk rock star and long-time vegan Davey Havok. Davey is the lead singer of AFI, Blaqk Audio, XTRMST and Dreamcar. He is also an author and co-host on SiriusXM’s Volume West. In this episode, Tylor finally gets to interview and personally thank the person who inspired his veganism in the first place! We also talk about the common philosophy underlying vegan and straight edge lifestyles, veganism on the punk rock scene and Davey’s early days of being vegan while on tour.

While you’re listening, please take a moment to check out the links to our sponsors. Not only are Vivo Life a great, vegan company, but their support also allows us to continue to produce The ChickPeeps for you! We love them and their products and we think you will too.

This episode is also sponsored by the lovely people at Forager Project. Only for podcast listeners, Forager is offering a limited offer coupon for a free cup of plant-based yoghurt! Claim it here!

Also in this episode…

  • Did you know that Davey Havok is actually Tylor’s vegan fairy godfather! Tylor shares how Davey’s example inspired him to consider veganism and started his journey as an animal rights activist.

  • Davey shares his initial bias against veganism when it was regarded as ‘trendy’ and how his contrarian mindset caused him to reject veganism for a long time.

  • Some fairly outrageous claims are made about the nation’s beloved cereal mascots…

  • ‘There’s pus in cow’s milk! I’m out!’

  • Davey talks about his journey from begrudging vegan to happily eschewing animal products. 

  • ‘Meat flesh tastes dead’. Davey talks about the way animal products stop tasting like food once you step away from them.

  • Davey’s reasons for following a straight-edge lifestyle and his thoughts on the shared foundation of respect between veganism and straight-edge.

  • Davey shares how his art and his ethics naturally complement each other.

  • We talk about Davey’s ‘I’d rather go naked than wear fur’ poster and he explains why he was happy to do it!

  • Tylor asks Davey about touring as a vegan and if it’s getting easier or harder.

  • Davey shares some exclusive AFI info and reveals details about the new record, which will be released in 2021!

Links:

The VegNews Guide to Being a Fabulous Vegan.

Diet for A New America - The book that opened Davey’s eyes to veganism.

Follow Davey on Instagram and Twitter.

AFI website.

Davey’s ‘I’d Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur’ campaign for PETA.

Get In Touch:

Bonus Content: ChickPeeps Patreon

Instagram: @ChickPeepsPod

Facebook: @ChickPeepsPodcast

S3, Ep16: #AskChickPeeps January

This season of The ChickPeeps is brought to you by our friends at Vivo Life! Use our code 'chickpeeps10' to get 10% off your order at vivolife.com.

Hello from Evy, Momo, Tylor and Robbie, back together again for our monthly ‘Ask the ChickPeeps’ episode! This is the episode where we, the hosts of the show, get together to answer your questions and queries as we come to the end of Veganuary 2021 and look ahead to a bright new year full of vegan possibilities!

Also in this episode:

  • Thirteen year old Maurice asks us how to handle accidentally eating animal products and how to get parents to take veganism seriously.

  • Nessa, a SoCal living Hufflepuff listener, asks for recommendations on the best vegan chocolates; Evy and Momo are only too happy to oblige.

  • Listener Dan emails us in regards to a question we fielded on last month’s #AskChickPeeps episode concerning how teachers can introduce their pupils to veganism and animal rights in a non-threatening, non-political way. He has a wonderful recommendation - check it out below!

  • Ella-Louise seeks advice on how to go beyond veganism and get active in the animal rights scene, so we share some ideas for various different ways that you can start out on your activism journey.

  • Evy admits that she sometimes thinks of you, dear listener, as one of her ‘vegan children’ and she elaborately fantasises about all of the hosts somehow coming together to raise a ‘mega-vegan’. It is weird, but perhaps an interesting reflection on our individual influence on those around us.

  • We all look forward to 2021 and talk about ways we’d like to see the vegan movement grow and evolve. 

  • We reveal the final clue in The ChickPeeps Treasure Giveaway! Entries with the winning answer must be submitted via email or DM by 7th February 2021 at 11.59 PST. Good luck, peeps!

Links: 

The Educated Choices Program - as suggested by our listener, Dan.

Social Media

Twitter: @ChickPeepsPod

Instagram: @ChickPeepsPod

Facebook: @ChickPeepsPodcast

Momoko Hill: @oh_momoko

Robbie Jarvis: @robbjarvis

Tylor Starr: @tylorstarr

Evanna Lynch: @msevylynch

S3, Ep15: Redistributing Privilege in Veganism With Mikaela Loach

This season of The ChickPeeps is brought to you by our friends at Vivo Life! Use our code 'chickpeeps10' to get 10% off your order at vivolife.com.

This week, Momo and Evy have an in-depth discussion about redistributing privilege in the vegan community with the wonderful Mikaela Loach. Mikaela is a climate justice and anti-racism activist, a writer, medical student and host of The Yikes Podcast. In this episode, Mikaela shares her journey to veganism, her early days of animal rights activism and why the word ‘vegan’ is no longer front and centre in her activism. Mikaela also shares her ideas on keeping ego out of activism and how the movement will thrive when we listen to marginalised people and focus on the community as a whole rather than glorifying individuals within the vegan community. 

While you’re listening, please take a moment to check out the links to our sponsors. Not only are Vivo Life a great, vegan company, but their support also allows us to continue to produce The ChickPeeps for you! We love them and their products and we think you will too.

This episode is also sponsored by the lovely people at Forager Project. Only for podcast listeners, Forager is offering a limited offer coupon for a free cup of plant-based yoghurt! Claim it here!

Also in this episode…

  • Mikaela talks about going vegan overnight at the age of 16 after having her eyes opened to the logical fallacies inherent in eating animals.

  • She shares her admiration for the young activists finding their voice in our movement and notes the importance of social media as a tool for organising and advocating for causes.

  • We talk about the intersection of vegan and anti-racism work and Mikaela reminds us that “being aware of how other beings are oppressed will only ever strengthen our movements, it can’t weaken them”.

  • Mikaela explains the importance of keeping our ego in check, especially when we’re advocating for change on behalf of non-human animals.

  • “If we want to disrupt the system it’s going to be uncomfortable”. Mikaela emphasises the need to accept discomfort as part of the process in creating systemic change.

  • “{We need to} stop pinning an entire movement on an individual because when we do that our movement is as fragile as these individuals.”

  • How do we reach and change the minds of those who see the world so differently to us?

  • Mikaela gives her perspective on ‘cancelling’ people and why she believes we need to lower the bar in terms of bringing people into movements.

  • Mikaela talks about the upcoming season of The Yikes Podcast and explains why she likes podcasting as a medium.

Links:

Follow Mikaela on Instagram and Twitter.

The Yikes Podcast on Spotify and Apple.

Mikaela’s writing on Eco-Age.

50 Years of Imagining Radical Feminist Futures; A Conversation with Angela Davis and Adrienne Maree Brown.

Get In Touch:

Bonus Content: ChickPeeps Patreon

Instagram: @ChickPeepsPod

Facebook: @ChickPeepsPodcast

S3, Ep14: Vegan & Climate Activism for Youth with Genesis Butler

This season of The ChickPeeps is brought to you by our friends at Vivo Life! Use our code 'chickpeeps10' to get 10% off your order at vivolife.com.

This week on The ChickPeeps we interview the extraordinary Genesis Butler. Having chosen to go vegan at the age of 6, 13-year-old Genesis has already reached thousands of people all over the world with her message of compassion for all beings. In this episode she talks to Momo and Evy about founding her own non-profit organisation, ‘Genesis for Animals’, travelling all over the world for the Million Dollar Vegan promoting a vegan lifestyle by lobbying the Pope to go vegan (!), being a Marvel Superhero and the creative ways she’s concocted to continue to engage youth in vegan and climate activism throughout lockdown.

While you’re listening, please take a moment to check out the link to our sponsor. Not only are Vivo Life a great, vegan company, but their support also allows us to continue to produce The ChickPeeps for you! We love them and their products and we think you will too.

Also in this episode…

  • Genesis discusses the impact of her veganism on her family.

  • She talks about the importance of lobbying for legislative changes to protect animals and explains why it is her favourite kind of activism.

  • Genesis describes how she felt when she found out she was going to be featured in Disney’s new TV show, The Marvel Hero Project, as an animal saving superhero!

  • Genesis tells Evy and Momo about her personal practices to avoid activist burnout and how she maintains her mental health.

  • Genesis recalls being bullied at school for her veganism and shares how she maintains a compassionate outlook towards online trolls.

  • Genesis rounds off the interview with her perspective on the future of the animal rights movement. Considering that she will surely be one of the voices that shapes the future of the movement, her insight and optimism is something you should definitely pay close attention to!

Links:

Follow Genesis on Twitter and Instagram.

Youth Climate Save Instagram.

Genesis’s non-profit organisation Genesis for Animals.

More information on Genesis’ episode of the Marvel Hero Project. Watch episode 16 on Disney+ for Genesis’ superhero story!

Vegan Interior Design website - recommended by ChickPeep listener, Gel.

Get In Touch:

Bonus Content: ChickPeeps Patreon

Instagram: @ChickPeepsPod

Facebook: @ChickPeepsPodcast

S3, Ep13: Fat Acceptance & Veganism with Jasmin Singer

This season of The ChickPeeps is brought to you by our friends at Vivo Life! Use our code 'chickpeeps10' to get 10% off your order at vivolife.com.

In this episode Evy and Momo interview animal rights activist, author, speaker and actress, Jasmin Singer about fat acceptance and veganism. Co-founder of the award-winning podcast, Our Hen House, former Senior Editor of VegNews, and Director of Content at Kinder Beauty, Jasmin shares her journey of fat acceptance and notes the sizeism present in the vegan movement, giving us an insight into how we can be more mindful in our activism, as well as accepting ourselves exactly as we are.

While you’re listening, please take a moment to check out the link to our sponsor. Not only are Vivo Life a great, vegan company, but their support also allows us to continue to produce The ChickPeeps for you! We love them and their products and we think you will too.

Also in this episode…

  • Jasmin shares how her relationship to her body and the word fat has changed over time.

  • Is veganism sizeist? Jasmin shares the spectrum of her experiences being fat and thin within the vegan community.

  • The Plant Based “Diet” - we discuss the pressure on vegans to be in optimal health, and how the plant based movement often pushes diet culture on vegans as a way to promote the lifestyle.

  • Why it is vital for us to combat sizeism within our movement and liberate ourselves from oppressive mentalities.

  • How we can overcome our body image issues and fear of being judged for our bodies, to focus on being powerful activists for animals.

  • How to handle anti-vegan, body-shaming trolls.

  • Jasmin explains her definition of healthy and how it has evolved to encompass how she feels, as much as how she looks.

  • Jasmin shares advice on how to love your body through each chapter of life.

  • Loving yourself and animals: we discuss the challenge of balancing one’s personal and public callings, making time for self care as well as showing up for animals.

  • Jasmin shares what hobbies she enjoys to de-stress and stay sane!

  • Jasmin discusses her new book, The VegNews Guide to Being a Fabulous Vegan.

Links:

Follow Jasmin on Instagram and Twitter.

Our Hen House Podcast

Jasmin’s new book The VegNews Guide to Being a Fabulous Vegan

Jasmin’s first book Always Too Much and Never Enough

Size-inclusive fashion brand Compassion Co

Encompass Essays: Pursuing Racial Equity in Animal Advocacy

Get In Touch:

Bonus Content: ChickPeeps Patreon

Instagram: @ChickPeepsPod

Facebook: @ChickPeepsPodcast