Helping Animals, Finding Balance with Brent Ratkovich

MUSIC BONUS on this episode! Hope has a wonderful conversation with vegan musician Brent Ratkovich. A singer and guitarist, Brent has recently been focused on a recording project that will produce three animal rights, vegan themed songs. They will be released as an EP called Three to Set Them Free in October of 2026. Listen and enjoy two of Brent’s new songs on this episode! Brent shares the challenges of writing vegan themed lyrics and his inspiration and process to create animal freedom songs. He also talks about activist burnout and the importance of finding balance and even joy in your life. He and Hope discuss how music and art can help us create the world we want to see, adding emotion and humane creativity to messaging. Brent is a passionate animal advocate who launched his solo advocacy project, One Cow Army, in 2015 donning a cow mask and taking his message to the streets. Brent has worked as an animal sanctuary caregiver, co-founded an Animal Save chapter, and participated in multiple large-scale rescues of thousands of hens from egg farms. Now based in Eugene, Oregon, Brent continues his commitment to animal protection volunteering with numerous local sanctuaries, the Eugene VeganFest, and founding A.C.E. – Animal Compassion Eugene, organizing outreach events and protests.  Brent’s Songs and Social Media: Subvert Bluesky, @elementalvegan.bsky.social  Youtube Instagram Facebook  Lyrics to Brent's Songs: Trying Searching for the perfect words Hoping their voices will be heard, I’m trying You’ll say anything to hide the truth, cuz you don’t wanna know what they go through, I’m trying Knowing they never see the sun, suffer every day  to die so young, I’m crying Why can’t you see, they struggle to be free? Make a kinder choice, just hear your inner voice I shouldn’t have to prove, they’re just like me and you You’re hoping that the farmers treat them well You’ll buy every promise they try to sell,  they’re lying If you were in their place I’d fight for you, Why’s it hard to see they’re friends not food, they’re dying Why can’t you see, they struggle to be free? Make a kinder choice, just hear your inner voice I shouldn’t have to prove, they’re just like me and you I look into their eyes and someone’s there Hoping for a world we all can share, I’m trying Brent Ratkovich  Copyright 2026     Not Enough   All they want is their freedom For every reason, that you and I take for granted Free to love and free to play To live life their own way But we enslave them every season And they tell us every day It's not enough to say humane It's not enough that we can build a bigger cage The billions pay the price, from all the welfare lies The truth is there for you to see We're told a story when we're young Of happy farms that do no harm And a sun that shines on everyone But every label tells a lie Cuz they're just babies when they die And their fight for life is never won Still they're screaming every day It's not enough to say humane It's not enough that we can build a bigger cage The animals pay the price, through all the welfare lies The truth is there for us to see It's not enough to buy free range It's not enough to hope they're killed a "better" way We're free to say goodbye, to all the welfare lies It's up to us to set them free Set them free!  Brent Ratkovich  Copyright 2026