Think Like a Vegan

We need more vegans. We need strategies. But for these to stick, it's the context we must transform. That requires courage. In 1950, Leslie Cross, a Vegan Society founder, wrote veganism was a liberatory movement. This July, the European Court of Human Rights affirmed ethical veganism as a protected belief under Article 9 as not a lifestyle choice, but a serious moral conviction. Courage gets recognised. Rooted in Cross's vision, in that ruling, and in the insights of Angela Davis and Antonio Gramsci, this is an invitation to build a movement which can stand, especially when the market says otherwise. Emi Leese https://emilialeese.substack.com http://thinklikeavegan.com http://emilialeese.com Instagram @emi.leese YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@thinklikeavegan/videos When the monsters are inside the house https://emilialeese.substack.com/p/when-the-monsters-are-inside-the Go Vegan World https://goveganworld.com/go-vegan-world-campaign/ Don't Buy It campaign https://projectslingshot.com Ethical Veganism as a Protected Belief: What the European Court of Human Rights Just Affirmed https://emilialeese.substack.com/p/ethical-veganism-as-a-protected-belief Credits Host: Emilia A. Leese Production & Engineering: Jim Moore of Bloody Vegans Productions; https://www.bloodyvegansproductions.com Graphics: Catherine Dorrell https://www.messyvegancook.com Music Theme music: “Tendrils” by Matthew Gerstenberger Interlude: This podcast is part of iROAR, the Animals Podcasting Network https://iroarpod.com

Join me for a profound conversation with Jordi Casamitjana, the ethical vegan activist who made legal history by securing the first worldwide ruling securing veganism as a protected belief. A methodical thinker and lifelong advocate, Jordi joins me to discuss his new book, Why Vegans Don't: A philosophical guide to vegan behaviour — exploring the "why" behind vegan choices, blending zoology, history, and ethics. We also delve into his personal journey, from growing up in Franco-era Catalonia to his landmark employment tribunal ordeal. Tune in for a masterclass in clear thinking, moral courage, and discovering the freedom of saying "no." And in part two, Matthew Gerstenberger, long-time music collaborator with TLAV, shares about his music on the debut of the new theme tune he composed for the show. Jordi Casamitjana https://www.jordi-casamitjana.animal-protection-consult.com/ Instagram: @jayseecosta Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/veganjordi LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordi-casamitjana-36586a15/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Jordiwasp Bluesky: https://blueskydirectory.com/profiles/jordiwasp.bsky.social Books: Why Vegans Don't: A philosophical guide to vegan behaviour https://www.lulu.com/shop/jordi-casamitjana/why-vegans-dont/paperback/product-p6jepnd.html Ethical Vegan: A Personal and Political Journey to Change the World https://septemberpublishing.org/product/ethical-vegan/ Emi Leese https://emilialeese.substack.com http://thinklikeavegan.com http://emilialeese.com Instagram @emi.leese YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@thinklikeavegan/videos Credits Host: Emilia A. Leese Guests: Jordi Casamitjana & Matthew Gerstenberger Production & Engineering: Jim Moore of Bloody Vegans Productions; https://www.bloodyvegansproductions.com Graphics: Catherine Dorrell https://www.messyvegancook.com Music Theme music by Matthew Gerstenberger Interlude: "Time to go" music by Matthew Gerstenberger and voice by Chiyako This podcast is part of iROAR, the Animals Podcasting Network https://iroarpod.com

In this powerful season finale, I bring our exploration of nature, politics, and animal liberation to a profound conclusion by looking to the forest as a model for a just society. Gregory Tague, a scholar with over two decades of work in environmental and animal ethics, introduces a radical idea: the forest is a sovereign state. It operates not with a single dominant power, but through a complex web of mutual obligations, where inhabitants respect boundaries and avoid confrontation for the collective advantage of all. We dive into a key excerpt from Tague’s book, Forest Sovereignty, which argues that forest organisms understand something we humans have forgotten: true association isn't about transactional exchanges, but about the net result of sustainability for the entire ecosystem. In this "liberal society" of the forest, stability comes from the diversity of its organisms, all with a free right to resources. This episode is a call to action. Reflecting on the entire season, we're reminded our struggle for a fairer world has deep roots, and that change, while slow, is possible. The season is retroactively dedicated to all those — vegans, activists, and thinkers — who are pushing boundaries and striving for the liberation of both humans and non-humans. This is a fitting end to a season challenging us to learn from the ancient, self-sustaining wisdom of the forest and to continue the long, necessary work of building a new, more just existence for all. Key Takeaways: Forests as a model for a sustainable, self-governing society. The concept of "associative duties" we hold towards all wild life. A powerful message of solidarity for those fighting for liberation. A compelling conclusion to a season-long discussion on nature and politics. Listen to the full episode to hear this inspiring conversation and conclude the season with a renewed sense of purpose. Website/Socials & Books Gregory F. Tague Website: https://sites.google.com/site/gftague/ Book: Forest Sovereignty: Wildlife sustainability and ethics (Peter Lang 2025) Other links "Sovereign Forests" https://theecologist.org/2025/oct/10/sovereign-forests Literary Veganism: An online journal https://www.litvegan.net Emi Leese https://emilialeese.substack.com http://thinklikeavegan.com http://emilialeese.com Instagram @emi.leese YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@thinklikeavegan/videos Credits Host: Emilia A. Leese Guest: Gregory F. Tague Production & Engineering: Jim Moore of Bloody Vegans Productions; https://www.bloodyvegansproductions.com Graphics: Catherine Dorrell https://www.messyvegancook.com Music Opening theme: “Flashbacks” by Jenny Moore’s Mystic Business Interlude: "Ōuda Afternoon I" music by Matthew Gerstenberger, voice by Chiyako Closing theme: “Tear Things Up” by Jenny Moore’s Mystic Business This podcast is part of iROAR, the Animals Podcasting Network https://iroarpod.com

Join me for a provocative conversation with brothers Vasile and James Stănescu as we deconstruct the common yet charged concept of "invasive species." Moving beyond a simplified view of nature, we explore how the rhetoric of "invasion ecology" creates a violent foundation justifying perpetual war against certain animals. Drawing from their contributions to the critical book, The Ethics and Rhetoric of Invasion Ecology, James and Vasile unpack the real-world consequences of this ideology. Vasile illustrates the cyclical failure of "management," where killing one species leads to an explosion in another, forcing us to ask: why must nature be violated in order to protect it? James, one of the book's editors, examines the militarized language and apocalyptic tone used to describe non-native species, which in turn dictates a response of total eradication—a hyperbolic reaction to hyperbolic communication. This episode challenges the sanitized ideal of a pristine wilderness and delves into the ethical costs of this worldview for both human and non-human animals. Tune in for a deep dive into the intersection of language, ecology, and animal liberation. Website/Socials & Books: Vasile Stǎnescu Website: How we win https://www.winforanimals.org Podcast: How we win https://www.winforanimals.org/how-we-win-podcast Instagram: @professional.vegan Article: "How Industrial Slaughter Became the Blueprint for Modern Capitalism" https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/how-industrial-slaughter-became-the-blueprint-for-modern-capitalism James Stǎnescu Website: https://www.criticalanimal.com Book: The Ethics and Rhetoric of Invasion Ecology (Lexington Books, 2017) Other links Banu Subramanian, "The Aliens Have Landed! Reflections on the Rhetoric of Biological Invasions" https://www.jstor.org/stable/40338794 Emi Leese https://emilialeese.substack.com http://thinklikeavegan.com http://emilialeese.com Instagram @emi.leese YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@thinklikeavegan/videos Credits Host: Emilia A. Leese Guest: Vasile Stǎnescu and James Stǎnescu Production & Engineering: Jim Moore of Bloody Vegans Productions; https://www.bloodyvegansproductions.com Graphics: Catherine Dorrell https://www.messyvegancook.com Music Opening theme: “Flashbacks” by Jenny Moore’s Mystic Business Interlude: "Ōuda Afternoon I" music by Matthew Gerstenberger, voice by Chiyako Closing theme: “Tear Things Up” by Jenny Moore’s Mystic Business This podcast is part of iROAR, the Animals Podcasting Network https://iroarpod.com

When disaster strikes – a flood, wildfire, massive quake – most of the headlines understandably focus on the human toll. But what happens to the animals? They are the silent, often invisible victims, and their suffering is deeply intertwined with our own. The bonds between people and their animals and the wildlife sharing our ecosystems mean that when animals suffer, human communities suffer too. So, how do we break this cycle? How can we provide help and assistance to both people and animals, and work towards preventing these catastrophes, especially those supercharged by climate change? In this compelling episode, I speak with Altamush Saeed, a dedicated professional working tirelessly on the front lines in Pakistan to do just that. He shares powerful and innovative approaches to building resilient communities protecting all their members irrespective of species. Join us for a conversation going beyond the headlines to reveal a more compassionate and effective model for disaster response, one which includes the well-being of people and the planet's creatures as one, unified path toward a safer, healthier future for all. Website/Socials & Books: Altamush Saeed Instagram https://www.instagram.com/altamushsaeed LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/altamushsaeed95/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Altamushsaeed95 Case note on the animal rights sentience judgment - https://tinyurl.com/2r256uzv Other links Charity Doings Foundation Pakistan https://twitter.com/CharityDoings https://www.linkedin.com/company/charity-doings-foundation/ instagram.com/charitydoingsfoundation https://youtube.com/channel/UCTLoPSGdZb-Qy_1ncAUYkRA https://www.facebook.com/CharityDoingz/ Environmental and Animal Rights Consultants Pakistan https://www.facebook.com/EARCPAK https://www.instagram.com/earcpakistan https://www.linkedin.com/company/environmental-and-animal-rights-consultants-llp-pakistan/ Emi Leese https://emilialeese.substack.com http://thinklikeavegan.com http://emilialeese.com Instagram @emi.leese YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@thinklikeavegan/videos Credits Host: Emilia A. Leese Guest: Altamush Saeed Production & Engineering: Jim Moore of Bloody Vegans Productions; https://www.bloodyvegansproductions.com Graphics: Catherine Dorrell https://www.messyvegancook.com Music Opening theme: “Flashbacks” by Jenny Moore’s Mystic Business Interlude: "Ofusa Fuurin" by Matthew Gerstenberger Closing theme: “Tear Things Up” by Jenny Moore’s Mystic Business This podcast is part of iROAR, the Animals Podcasting Network https://iroarpod.com