Vegan Radio – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Episode 106 contains four interviews focused around the subject of dating as a vegan. Recorded on Valentine's Day, Derek is without a co-host, and the show begins with his poetic monologue on finding love as a vegan. Derek recorded the first interview with Anne Dinshah at the 2012 Vegan Spirituality Retreat in Philadelphia. Anne is the daughter of American Vegan Society founders Jay and Freya Dinshah, and the author of Dating Vegans.

The second interview is Ian MacDonald, a BBC-trained radio producer and author of The Vegan Option radio show and blog. He is hosting a kickstarter project to raise money to fund a 15-part audio series called Vegetarianism: The Story so Far - A Radio History. Ian gives us the low down on the vegan dating scene in London. We also honor the recent passing of Rynn Berry, who was a NYC based vegan historian.

The third interview is with Ben Shaberman, the author of The Vegan Monologues. Ben has a new book that he is shopping around to publishers called Jerry's Vegan Women. The book features short fictional stories centered on relationships and influences that various women have on the protagonist. Ben narrates a portion of the book at the end of the podcast.

The final interview is with Leigh-Chantelle, who runs Vivalavegan.net, a web site that provides easy-to-prepare recipes, blogs, articles, podcasts, interactive forum, informative and how-to videos, interviews with inspiring vegans, vegan mentoring e-books, print books and more. Leigh lives in Australia and provides us the female perspective on dating down under.

In this special episode Derek visits with former Vegan Radio co-host Megan Shackelford over the holidays to catch up on her fabulous vegan life and discuss the ways in which veganism and spirituality intersect. We then play a talk given by Will Tuttle, author of The World Peace Diet, at the 2012 Veg Curious event at the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary.

Featuring interviews conducted at the New York Capital Region Vegetarian Expo on October 1, 2011. The featured interview is with Melanie Joy, author of Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs and Wear Cows. Melanie talks about carnism, the word she coined to describe the invisible system we are born into that supports the eating of animals. She also discusses idioms, activism, happy meat and abolition. An illuminating interview for sure!

Also featured are interviews with Jill & Tracey from Compassion Couture, a vegan high fashion shop, and Samantha & her son Noah from Emmy's Organics, an Ithaca-based business making yummy vegan foods. Derek also interviews Jeff and Lisa, proprietors of the Red Robin Song Guest House in New Lebanon, NY (in the Berkshires on the NY/MA border). Having met Lisa at the expo, Derek went to the vegan B&B to get a true flavor of the place, and meet the goats and chickens who live at the sanctuary that is part of the operation.

Finally we debut two new songs. In Big Ole Vegan Mountains Derek has written new lyrics to the classic song 'Big Rock Candy Mountains' to describe a vegan paradise rather than a hobo one. At the end of the podcast we offer a jam improvisation by Derek (ukulele/vocals), Vee Hadad (guitar/vocals), and Christopher Phillips (cello). The song is Crazy Vegan, and for a song that was being written as it was played and recorded it is very entertaining. Hopefully it will be shortened and made more radio-friendly in the near future!

Our fifth show features an amazing rescue story of a cow named Annie Dodge who escaped slaughter in Vermont, lived in the wild for 6 months, and fortunately ended up at the home of a couple who were Farm Sanctuary members. Vegan Radio correspondents Derek Goodwin and Scott Lahteine were there to get the story.

We also have local New England activist Aryenish Birdie, who is changing her middle name to "Vegan", so she can be known as "A Vegan Birdie"! This show features an art review by art historian Chelsea Dacres-Smith on the Becoming Animal Exhibit at Mass MoCA (Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art). We also have a new music segment which will become a regular feature. This week we are showcasing the song 'Cancer Food' by They Eat Their Own.

In the news we have tales of a whale, pigs, and Moby, who may have been named after a whale. All this and more is what you get with every serving of Vegan Radio!

Our fourth show features Harold Brown, a dairy farmer gone vegan, who was featured in the Peaceable Kingdom Documentary and now works for Farm Sanctuary. We also have amazing local veggie bicycle activists from Pedal People, three news stories featuring celebrity activists Sir Paul and Heather Mills McCartney, and more!

Our third show features the Farm Sanctuary Celebration for the Turkeys which took place November 19th, 2005. We interview people who work at the sanctuary, people from all over eastern North America who came to the event, and even a turkey named Wiley.

Our second show features our coverage of the Boston Vegetarian Society Foodfest which took place October 22nd, 2005. We interview vendors, non-profits and everyday people who participated. On "The Naked News" we talk about James Bond and Foie Gras, Geese in Braintree, Trader Joe's, Farm Sanctuary's 'Adopt-A-Turkey' program, and more.

The 'James Bond Theme' is a tribute to the Moby version of the song. Since podcasting limits our ability to use original music on major labels, Derek recorded his own version using an electric acoustic guitar and Apple Garage Band software and loops.

Interviews featuring Grey2K USA, Boston Vegetarian Society, SATYA Magazine, Massachusetts Animal Rights Coalition (MARC), Sea Shepherd, Circle of Compassion, Vegetarian Resource Group, Hippie Chick Bakery

Our first show features an amazing in-depth interview with Howard Lyman, the Mad Cowboy. Howard talks to us about the experiences that led him to become an environmental activist and vegan, his current concerns regarding the state of America's agricultural practices, and his ancestral connections to Northampton.

Gene Baur & Susie Coston at Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen, NY

Episode 95 features an interview with Farm Sanctuary co-founder Gene Baur and animal caretaker Susie Coston. Farm Sanctuary is celebrating their 25th anniversary this year, and Gene & Susie share some of their thoughts and insights, as well as stories of animals. Derek was recently at the Farm Sanctuary Hoe Down at their shelter in Watkins Glen, NY and recorded the interview.

Also featured is a news story about one of the largest meat recalls in US history.

This episode features an interview with Vegan Radio favorite Robert Cheeke, the body builder who is helping vegan athleticism gain definition. His new book "Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness" is doing great and he tells us all about it. He also talks about his work with Vega, the vegan company that provides all-natural health and performance products for athletes and people who need a natural energy boost.

Derek also took some great photos of Robert Cheeke flexing his vegan guns in downtown New Orleans, and during his participation in Peta's Lovefest demonstration. Check them out on flickr.

The music featured on the show includes Derek playing harmonium and singing Yoga Sutra 1:33, Undersea Poem playing "Nuvens", The Pleasants playing "Streets of Darkness" & "Wounded Man", and Beloved Binge playing the "Vegan Radio Theme Song".