Lewis Bernier is an investigator who's documented atrocious conditions on factory farms nationwide. I've had the honor to get to know Lewis working with Direct Action Everywhere. They were a central figure in the Sonoma rescue trial of Wayne Hsiung, having investigated and organized a demonstration at Reichardt duck farm. Lewis is one of the brightest people I've met in the animal rights movement, someone who has an unprecedented command of details gleaned through countless hours of research and investigation. Lewis's story is fascinating, having grown up a Quaker and then a hunter before joining the struggle for animal liberation. I hope you find the conversation as fascinating as I did, and thank you Lewis for all you do for the animals. This conversation is also available on YouTube here. Links: The Yes on J website Right to Rescue website DxE's website Lewis's IG Lewis's FB Lewis's Twitter DxE's IG DxE's X/Twitter DxE's FB DxE's YouTube Wired story Dominion Documentary Earthlings Documentary

I've worked with a lot of impressive people over the course of my life, many of them during my time working for NPR member stations. But I never met more hard-working people until I joined the animal rights movement, and began to work more closely with people like Direct Action Everywhere's press coordinator Cassie King. Cassie blows my mind away with her fastidious attention to detail, dedication, work ethic, and professionalism. Cassie has been right there for many of the iconic moments in DxE's history and the history of the animal rights movement, taking part in bold demonstrations, daring rescues, and securing massive press hits all the while in major publications like the New York Times and National Geographic. The animal rights movement is lucky to have Cassie King. I've worked with Cassie for several years volunteering on DxE's press team under her leadership. She has not only been someone who inspires me and makes me feel hopeful about the prospects of animal liberation, but she's also been a great friend. I consider myself insanely privileged to be able to work with people like Cassie, and was thrilled to have her on my channel. This conversation is also available on YouTube here. Links: Register for the convergence The Yes on J website Right to Rescue website DxE's website Cassie's IG Cassie's FB Cassie's Twitter DxE's IG DxE's X/Twitter DxE's FB DxE's YouTube Wired story Farhad Manjoo opinion piece National Geographic piece Vox piece Dominion Documentary Earthlings Documentary

Mac Thompson spent about three years in the sled dog racing industry, and it took a psychological toll on him. As someone who cares for animals, he struggled with how to process the deplorable conditions the dogs were kept in. He already described some of that to me in our last conversation, but told me we had only scratched the surface, so I invited him back to delve deeper into the topic. Links: Qikiqtani Truth Commission:  @qikiqtanitruthcommission4217  The Report Our Dogs No. 1 (1933) Sled Dogs 2016 film (free with ads) Sled Dogs film trailer YouTube playlist on sled dog industry Humanemushing.org Mac Thompson's YouTube Dominion Documentary Earthlings Documentary

Zoe Rosenberg was just 11 years old when she started an animal rescue that would become Happy Hen Animal Sanctuary. She's since become one of the boldest animal rescuers and investigators I've ever met. She now faces years in prison in Sonoma County, CA for rescuing ducks and chickens from factory farms. But while the authorities in Sonoma may bend a knee to the animal agriculture industry, Zoe faces it unflinchingly with grace and determination. They may be afraid. Zoe isn't. Zoe is the kind of person that makes demonstrations most people find uncomfortable look like a walk in the park. She's someone who, like her peers in Direct Action Everywhere, makes me believe animal liberation is achievable. When the history books are written, people like Zoe will be cast as heroes and Sonoma authorities as villains. I was very proud to have her on the show. This show is also available on YouTube here. Register for the convergence The Yes on J website Right to Rescue website DxE's website Zoe's IG Zoe's Twitter Zoe's Facebook Zoe's TikTok DxE's IG DxE's X/Twitter DxE's FB DxE's YouTube Emmeline Pankhurst book Saul Alinsky book Poor People's Movements book Readings on Social Movements Dominion Documentary Earthlings Documentary

In part two of my conversation with my friend Liesel Appel, we discuss how she rejected Nazism in her home country of Germany only to find racial bigotry in America. In Part 1, Liesel tells how as a baby, she was dedicated to Hitler at two weeks old by her Nazi parents. But she didn't learn who the Nazis were or what they stood for until a fateful visit by a Jewish man to her home when she was 9 years old. This incredible story led her to rejecting her mother, abandoning Germany, fighting against apartheid in the Congo and eventually landing in Florida. But instead of being embraced, the mostly white community of Palm Springs reacted to her then-marriage to a black musician with racist hostility. This was an important part of her story that we didn't delve into in part one, so critical because of the parallels Liesel draws between how the German people fell for a fascist dictator in much the same way she sees people falling for Trump's divisive, hate-filled politics. Liesel is an inspiration, someone who fights against injustice wherever she sees it. And that's why it's no shock that she became a passionate animal rights activist. Liesel's life experience makes her warning to us about how easily people can be led astray and how we combat that with compassion, kindness, and determination such a vital message to get out. It's with deep gratitude that I call her a friend and such an honor to be able to have these talks with her. Liesel's memoir "The Neighbor's Son" "Eternal Treblinka" by Charles Patterson Earthlings Documentary "Earthlings" is the film which first linked for me the concepts examined in "Eternal Treblinka" and is the reason I went vegan. Vegan Linked ( @VeganLinked  ) did an outstanding video profile of Liesel LA Times article on Liesel Liesel's past husband, the incredible George Browne Lawyers Without Rights book Fear of the Animal Planet book Free Paul Watson!

One recent afternoon I was finishing Charles Patterson's book "Eternal Treblinka: Our Treatment of Animals and the Holocaust" when I came across an eye-catching chapter. But it wasn't the title: "Hitler's Baby," which caught my eye. It was the name immediately following it: Liesel Appel. Liesel Appel? Where had I heard that name before? I thought I remembered the name from Facebook, of all places. Sure enough, when I checked my Facebook buddies, there was Liesel Appel. But wait... Hitler's Baby? I quickly read through Liesel's chapter and immediately sent her a message inviting her to do an interview. It turns out that was a wise decision. Liesel and I met when the animal rights activist and attorney Wayne Hsiung, who I co-produce a YouTube channel with, was on trial in North Carolina for rescuing a sick goat. I don't recall us having an actual conversation, though. I'm pretty sure if we had, I would have remembered it, because there is something about the way Liesel speaks that commands attention. She is kind, soft-spoken and unassuming, but there seems to be poignancy behind every word she utters. At least that is my experience during this conversation. When I invited her to be on my channel, she also informed me she had written several books, including an autobiography. I ordered it and was floored by the richness and depth of Liesel's story. I was deeply, deeply honored to speak with Liesel for this channel, and if you listen to the contents of the interview, you will understand why. The story she tells is utterly spellbinding and, in fact, we barely scratched the surface. For that reason, Liesel and I intend to continue the conversation, so stay tuned for part 2! This conversation is also available on YouTube here. Liesel's memoir "The Neighbor's Son" "Eternal Treblinka" by Charles Patterson Earthlings Documentary Earthlings" is the film which first linked for me the concepts examined in "Eternal Treblinka" and is the reason I went vegan. Vegan Linked did an outstanding video profile of Liesel.

YouTube video of this conversation. Upon my arrival in Berkeley, California for my first look into Direct Action Everywhere's press operation, one of the first people to greet me was Michelle Del Cueto. DxE's international coordinator and I were easy friends. She, along with DxE's press coordinator at the time, Matt Johnson, were my two steady companions during that first visit. And despite several years of friendship, I had never really gotten Michelle's personal story. What I knew about Michelle before was her bravery and dedication to animal rights. I knew her to be outspoken and unwavering in the face of injustice. I knew she also is the person behind the lens of some of the most iconic photos and videos in DxE's history. I knew that if you drive a car after she's been in it to turn the radio down as fast as you can, lest you lose your hearing. But what I learned about her during this conversation, especially her background in Mexico City, only makes me admire her all the more. Michelle is a genuine badass. This video is also available as a podcast, wherever you download them. Register for the convergence The Yes on J website Right to Rescue website DxE's website Michelle's IG DxE's IG DxE's X/Twitter DxE's FB DxE's YouTube Punk Rock Vegan Movie Dominion Documentary Earthlings Documentary

Just as Hunter S. Thompson put it in his seminal 1970 article about the Kentucky Derby, sled dog racing is decadent and depraved. Decadent: characterized by or reflecting a state of moral or cultural decline. Depraved: morally corrupt; wicked. (Oxford Languages) So apt is this title that the whistleblower describing to me in vivid detail the deplorable treatment of dogs he witnessed during his time working for a musher characterized these conditions as "above average" in the industry. Yet, he still felt the need to alert the authorities to what he saw. Mac Thompson recalls his time in the sled dog industry in Minnesota and his time working in a roadside zoo in South Carolina. I sincerely thank Mac for shedding light on this often-overlooked example of mankind's arrogant, speciesist attitude towards our fellow creatures. Such a sorry excuse for entertainment, a practice future humans will look back on with utter contempt. This conversation on YouTube. Links: Sled Dogs 2016 film (free with ads) Sled Dogs film trailer YouTube playlist on sled dog industry Whistler Sled Dog Massacre Humanemushing.org Mac Thompson's YouTube Dominion Documentary Earthlings Documentary

Almira Tanner is someone who makes me optimistic that we will achieve animal liberation. Almira is the lead organizer of the global animal rights organization Direct Action Everywhere (DxE), a role she's occupied for around five years. I feel deeply honored to have been able to work alongside her on several occasions, and I personally witnessed how dedicated and hardworking she is. I witnessed Almira working deep into the night, after days of countless meetings, activism events, and signature gathering for a ballot measure in Sonoma County, a person leading by example. Almira has many strengths (organizational skills being one of the more obvious) but what really makes her an impressive leader is her ability to keep focus during tumultuous events. Whether it's facing felonies, answering to cascades of animal industry disinformation, dealing with internal disputes, or simply managing a day-to-day schedule that makes me pale in the face, I have seen Almira as a steady hand with a unique ability to navigate all of this and still make DxE into one of the most potent vehicles of change for animals. It is my humble opinion that DxE is in great hands with Almira Tanner. In this conversation, I find out more about Almira's backstory, how a woman from Canada found herself at the helm of a grassroots animal rights juggernaut that has so disrupted industry and authorities for its ability to draw media attention and pressure the entire structure of the animal exploitation industry, and most notably the broken legal system that, instead of regulating it, is propping it up. I ask Almira about how she has handled the many controversies she's had to address at DxE, and what keeps her going through it all. YouTube video of this conversation. Almira mostly wants people to know about the convergence to end factory farming in Sonoma County, CA. The first link below is a link to register to join that effort on August 23-27 in Petaluma. Register for the convergence The Yes on J website Right to Rescue website DxE's website Almira's IG Almira's X/Twitter Almira's Facebook DxE's IG DxE's X/Twitter DxE's FB DxE's YouTube Dominion Documentary Earthlings Documentary

I was a subscriber to Daynesh's YouTube channel long before I reached out to him for support for the Ridglan beagle rescue trial. And when I did, I already felt like he was an old buddy of mine. That's the strength of Daynesh. He has a powerfully relatable approach to vegan activism that just makes you feel like you've known the guy for years. But not only is he friendly and humble, he's also very talented at making videos and put together one of the best explainer videos about the Ridglan trial for us. I was thrilled to have Daynesh on my channel and get a chance to learn more about who he is as a person. So how did Daynesh go from one of the most respected universities to a corporate world position to leaving all that behind and focusing his attention on the animals? You'll just have to listen. Or watch the video on my YouTube channel. Links: Daynesh's YouTube Daynesh's IG Ridglan trial explainer Daynesh's wedding video Daynesh recommends Vegan Power Lab It's funny, we talked about the show Hot Ones and how we'd go on there if we could and recommend the vegan wings. Since we did that interview, F1 driver Lewis Hamilton did just that As always: Dominion Documentary Earthlings Documentary

I joined the worst sex cult ever, and chose his birthday to interrogate him and finally bring him down. It took years, but I finally got him. In all seriousness, Wayne Hsiung is actually the co-founder of animal rights groups Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) and The Simple Heart Initiative. He doesn't run a sex cult, as some people would choose to believe. Or if he does, I wasn't invited to that (sigh). What we do instead is try to help animals, and few people I have met have done more for animals than Wayne Hsiung. We co-produce, along with other talented members of his team, his new YouTube channel, and I'm thrilled to have him on my channel. About an hour before we were to have this conversation, I learned it was Wayne's birthday, so I rushed out to get him a vegan cupcake (which I ate, lol). Wayne's a dear friend, and I hope you'll enjoy the conversation as much as I did. Happy birthday, Wayne. You're an inspiration.

Justin Jacobs, Debug Your Brain on YouTube, makes outreach videos that are useful not just for the casual viewer, but for activists as well. He often describes in text what he's doing, or attempting to do during outreach, and why. Justin gets a lot of bang for his buck during outreach. A simple conversation with a passerby can turn into a useful tool for activists and the public in general. And I love to see someone being so analytical and strategic with their outreach and their content. Even when we roleplayed an outreach conversation and I wanted to stump him, he neutralized even me pretending to be difficult by asking such methodical questions that it was impossible to do anything but follow his logical reasoning to its ultimate conclusion: veganism. Justin's not only a great activist but a genuine, kind person. I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did.

Activists notched a huge win over the fur industry this week when Marc Jacobs announced he was dropping fur after weeks of relentless pressure from Animal Activism Mentorship (AAM) and the Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade (CAFT). I mark the occasion with some foxy co-hosts. I also joined a long list of activists from Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) disrupting a celebrity chef on his book tour.

Politicians are standing in the way of progress for animals, so activists are bypassing them and going directly to voters. One of them is Natalie Fulton, who is working with Pro-Animal Future on Denver ballot initiatives to ban fur and slaughterhouses. Listen now or watch the video.

What do Moby Dick and Haruki Murakami novels share in common? What does a Chinese pianist share in common with a Danish string quartet? What does an ancient palace garden and an enigmatic tattoo parlor share in common? What does any of this have to do with a Korean slaughterhouse? Nothing. Or everything. In any case, they're all part of this story.

My first interview in six years! James Aspey was one of the biggest names in animal rights activism around the time I got my start in activism. Since then, he's taken a pummeling from, sadly, the animal rights community. While I believe James has made some mistakes (mainly dwelling too much on the hate he has received), I have always found him to be someone who treated me with kindness and respect. In my first video, I talked a bit about recent controversy he's had, so you can go get my take on all that (it's towards the end of my intro video). In any case, he always responds with a helping hand when I have asked, and I'm so appreciative of his authenticity and generosity behind the scenes. What is unquestionable is that James has done a huge amount for the animals, and it's his north star, whether his detractors want to believe him or not. Maybe you can question his ideas, his goals, his methods. But at least don't question his sincerity. We touch on some important topics here. We talk about the activism he did with Wayne Hsiung in North Carolina. We talk about his year of silence, and being under the microscope from day one of his activism. We talk about the power of films like Dominion. We talk about Joey Carbstrong's film Pignorant and his discussion with Tristan Tate. James gives credit to Jack Higgs for encouraging him to use the word "person" in describing animals, an evolution in his approach to activism. While these are also big names in our movement who don't need any help from me, I still hope you will subscribe to all of them. We talk about James' new endeavor, rapping about animal rights under the handle Jimmy Cashpey, and wonder why all these vegan rappers (there are many) aren't putting animal rights to a beat. Well, I guess it's on you, Jimmy.

In this maiden episode of the podcast, I tell my story of going from respectable-ish radio host and reporter, to less respectable street pianist, to being side-by-side with animal rights activist/attorney Wayne Hsiung and giving him invaluable legal advice that landed him in jail for a month, to co-producing a podcast with him and launching my own.