Vegan Design Studio – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode we speak to the legendary Ronnie Lee, founder of the Animal Liberation Front (ALF), who was born in 1951 and responsible for multiple animal rights actions during the 1970s and 80s. Ronnie was a bit too successful for the likes of the UK authorities and so became a political prisoner who spent nearly a decade in jail including over 6 years from a 10 year sentencing for his role as the ALF press officer. We talk about the early years of the animal liberation movement, stories from prison and his thoughts on the modern vegan movement.

In the first ever episode of Vegan Design Studio we meet Renee King-Sonnen from Rowdy Girl Sanctuary, a cattle rancher from Texas who turned vegan and transformed their farm into a sanctuary. For more information and to support the sanctuary go to

https://rowdygirlsanctuary.org/

This inspiring story has been made into a new documentary with Moby serving as an executive producer. To watch the trailer for Rowdy Girl film and for announcements on upcoming screenings check out https://www.rowdygirlfilm.com

On all major social media platforms look for

@rowdygirlsanctuary

In this episode we speak to Aura Palmer who was raised vegan since birth and is now in her 20s. We discuss her experiences growing up vegan and the question of "forcing" veganism on children. Shout out for children's book Vivi the Super Vegan by Tina Newman and The Retreat Animal Sanctuary. retreatanimalrescue.org.uk

In this episode we talk to Molly Elwood from Elwood's Organic Dog Meat. A challenging conversation but please stick with it until the end.

We discuss the power of satire in activism, criticism over using dog comparisons, going viral on social media and much more. For more information check out

https://www.elwooddogmeat.com/

This episode we hear the incredible story of a 90 year old holocaust survivor Dr. Alex Hershaft, who has been vegan since 1981. Alex is the founder of F.A.R.M. the oldest animal rights organisation in the US. Do not miss this truly moving tale of how he managed to survive the Nazi occupation of Poland, and his subsequent revelation about the disturbing parallels between what his family experienced and the ongoing mass slaughter and oppression of non-human animals.

Visit https://alexhershaft.com/ for more information.

This episode Alex mentions the Swedish book Djurens Förintelse (Animal Holocaust) by Pelle Strindlund and Henrik Wig, published in 2016

Let's get political! Our guest this month is the first vegan politician to be elected to the Danish parliament. Carl Valentin is a pioneering voice in politics today, who passionately uses his platform to speak up for other animals. We discuss everything from corporate lobbying, strategy on rights versus welfare, to navigating cultural sensitivities. 

https://sf.dk/politiker/carl-valentin/

This episode we speak to the incredible Jamie Logan. We talk about debating Piers Morgan on TV, her special skill of embracing the awkward, her tips for activism, female representation, artivism in New York and so much more.

Check out Jamie in the next girl film https://thenextgirlfilm.com/

and listen to her podcast Jamie's Corner available on all streaming platforms https://www.itsjamiescorner.com/

Lisa Ambjörn is the tv writer and creator best known for the global Netflix hit Young Royals as well as Sjukt (Sick) on SVT. She is also a passionate animal rights advocate who thinks deeply about how storytelling can contribute to social justice. We discuss the depictions of animals on screen as well as the tropes used to represent vegans in our media. In a Vegan Design Studio exclusive, Lisa also hints at the themes for her next tv project which will sure be of interest to our listeners!

lisaambjorn.com

Netflix Young Royals

https://www.netflix.com/se-en/title/81210762

28 Years Later

https://m.imdb.com/title/tt10548174/

featuring actor Edvin Ryding also from Young Royals

The Girl With All The Gifts

by M. R. Carey

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17235026-the-girl-with-all-the-gifts

Dr. Faraz Harsini joins me on the podcast this month. Faraz has a doctorate in biomedical sciences with a focus on cell physiology and experience in cancer research. He is also a passionate animal rights advocate and the CEO founder of Allied Scholars for Animal Protection (ASAP). We discuss Persian gold fish traditions, escaping tear gas and being chased with machetes at a student uprising against the Iranian regime, arguments against animal testing, effective methods of outreach and lots more.

Allied Scholars for Animal Protection (ASAP)

https://www.alliedscholars.org/

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/dr_faraz_harsini/

Good Food Institute

https://gfi.org/team/faraz-harsini/

In this episode we speak to the charming Gurgin Bakircioglu, a journalist from Sweden. We discuss his traumatic teenage experience with a goat in Kurdistan, the animal rights scene in Sweden, “Bacchi Syre” a new vegan community space in the heart of Stockholm, vegan dog food and more. This episode was recorded on site at a podcast studio. Special thanks to Bacchi Syre for letting us use your space, Arash for the best (ASMR dog snack worthy) audio equipment and Madeley for technical support.

Mentioned in this episode :

Professor Andrew Knight from Winchester University

https://www.andrewknight.info

Vecanis Pet Food

https://vecanis.se

Bacchi Syre

https://www.bacchisyre.se

Öur Restaurant

https://www.bacchisyre.se/our