I feel silly even writing an intro for Vegan Gains, since he's one of the most recognizable vegan activists on YouTube. So I'll write this with a personal touch. There's probably no one even close to the amount of content I've viewed online as Richard Burgess. Partly, that's because he streams all the time, and they are often a very entertaining mix of subject matter. I've learned a great deal and strengthened my own convictions partly as a result of Richard's content. He is someone who doesn't care what anyone thinks. That can come off with mixed results. He can be abrasive and come across as mean, but it also makes for very honest and therefore informative viewing. I have found him personally to be very kind and generous. As someone who has watched Vegan Gains throughout the years, I feel like I know him better than I know some of the closest people to me. And I've got his back. And that is because he has the animals' backs. And regardless of people getting their feelings hurt over his choice of words, he has the backs of who he sees being victimized, no matter who they are. I find that refreshing and needed. As activists, we have to be ok with being not liked. We just have to say what needs to be said and do what needs to be done. I feel like Richard embodies that in ways that are admirable. When I was scheduling interviews over on Wayne Hsiung's channel (a role I've stepped away from), Richard was a top priority of mine and it turned out to have been a nice fit, as those conversations between them have been among the liveliest and most intellectually stimulating on the channel. Richard and I have talked only very briefly prior to this interview. This is the first time we have really spoken in depth, and it was an honor. Watch this conversation on YouTube. Links: Vegan Gains YT Vegan Gains IG Toronto slaughter footage Richard video on Regan Russell Richard calling out some BS Gary Yourofsky's speech Watch Earthlings Watch Dominion

Dane Evans is the lead singer of the phenomenal Australian deathcore band To The Grave. The band has in recent years put out a steady stream of albums with a strong animal rights theme. Evans is not only trying to be the voice for the animals, but for the activists trying to save them. And what a voice it is. The word that came to me when listening to his dynamic range from guttural, demonic growls to ear-splitting high-pitched screams was "otherworldly." I've only known about To The Grave for about a week. It was during my interview with Vegan Gaze that she mentioned going to the band's show and having a fire lit under her. I had never really gotten into deathcore. I think it's probably a genre of music that could easily be garbage if not done right and my guess is I've heard some mediocre deathcore in the past. To The Grave is anything but. It is constantly shifting, constantly driving, constantly creative, fascinating to listen to. And of course there is the message. And that's what I wanted to talk to Dane about. I have seen Dane and his bandmates expand upon their animal rights beliefs in several fantastic interviews. But mostly those were interviews conducted by people from the metal scene and not the animal rights world. Dane is very much a part of both worlds, as he explained to me here. Dane can write and sing about this stuff with so much conviction because he has lived it. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. Watch this conversation on YouTube. Links: To The Grave on YouTube To The Grave IG To The Grave on FB To The Grave Spotify Dane's IG Dane's YouTube On the Garza Podcast Interview on @SeenFeen Vegan Gaze on YouTube Gaze and Chris Hines on TTG Farm Transparency Project IG Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) IG Punk Rock Vegan Movie Watch Earthlings Watch Dominion

Jack Higgs has been involved with some of the wildest animal rights demonstrations I've seen. He, along with his partner Tash Peterson have garnered a huge amount of attention in Australia for their uncompromising approach to activism. That has enabled them to reach an audience far outside just a circle of vegan activists.

I have a huge amount of respect for Jack. He has evolved from filming Tash's demonstrations (which he still does) to also being more and more in the spotlight himself. And with his calm demeanor, he is a perfect complement to Tash and needs to be considering the huge amount of negativity the two of them endure to get their message out. To have a partner as charismatic as Tash and to not just shrink into the shadows is impressive by itself, but Jack is becoming one of the most confident, skilled messengers for the animals we have.

We are lucky to have Jack and Tash. They're also both incredibly kind and easygoing behind the scenes. This conversation has been among my favorites so far.

Watch this conversation on YouTube.

Links:

Jack's YouTube

Jack's IG

Jack's TikTok

Jack's Facebook

Tash's YouTube

Thich Nhat Hanh on why vegan

Earthlings Documentary

Dominion Documentary

Elle Fleming, also known as Vegan Gaze, has been one of my favorite activists to follow over the years. There are several reasons for that. One is her no-nonsense, consistent and strong animal rights message. Second is her hilarious and biting wit. I have also appreciated how supportive she has been in directing her viewers to other activists' work, especially smaller channels. But what mainly draws me to Elle is that she lets her guard down enough during her livestreams to show her authentic self. It's why, during this, our first more in-depth conversation, I already felt like I knew her. Elle is someone who is as kind and supportive off the camera as on the camera. She was one of the first guests we booked on Wayne Hsiung's channel when we started it. I came into this conversation, as I usually do, with only a basic idea of what we'd get into, and it was somewhat unexpected in that we got into some really serious and dark topics. But at no point did I not enjoy the conversation, which shows how Elle's real strength is that her true self is someone who can remain likeable, energetic, humorous and versatile even discussing grim topics, something she does on her channel all the time. While my channel is small and cannot offer her much of a bump in viewers, I want to return the favor that she's shown to so many smaller channels, so I hope that anyone watching this will sub to her channel and follow her on social media, because if anyone deserves a bigger following, it's Vegan Gaze.

Watch this conversation on YouTube.

Links: Elle's YouTube Elle's socials and Patreon links: Vegan F.T.A. IG Animal Liberation Video Game in the works To The Grave deathcore band song namedrops Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) Elle's book recs: Humankind: A Hopeful History by Rutger Bregman The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk

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