Is the fear around plant-based alternatives really based on science, and what does it teach us about the nature of misinformation? In today's episode, I chat with Marlana Malerich about plant-based alternatives, carnivore diets, seed oils, RFK Jr., meat lobby groups and more.

Marlana Malerich is a PhD candidate at University of Sussex Business School where she is focussed on the plant-based industry in the U.K. and Europe. Prior to the PhD, she has worked over ten years at the intersection of food and sustainability, and has served as an adjunct assistant professor, focusing on animal agriculture and the future of protein.

Marlana co–founded Rooted Research Collective, a group of multidisciplinary academics whose mission is to transform research insights into actionable and data-driven strategies for a sustainable plant-based food system.

For more exclusive content and personal writing from me, check out my Substack here.

On my Substack, I share not only my own reflections and personal thoughts on veganism, but also my journey and struggles. You’ll get a deeper insight into the issues that matter most to me and, in doing so, I hope it helps you feel more connected to your own veganism as well. It’s a space where we can connect and explore the intersection of compassion, reason and rationality together. By joining my Substack you also support the work that I do!

Through my Substack you can also receive regular free 'Good News Roundups' - a collection of positive and inspiring stories from the world of veganism.

If you’d like to support my work separately to Substack, you can also make a one-off or monthly donation here or through my PayPal.

If you’re interested in reading my books, you can find them here:

📚 My latest book How to Argue With a Meat Eater (And Win Every Time) + if you’ve read the book, you can leave a review here!

📚 My first book This is Vegan Propaganda (& Other Lies the Meat Industry Tells You).

Additionally, if you enjoyed this episode, I’d be so grateful if you could leave a review or rating. Your feedback helps the podcast reach more people, and it truly means a lot to me. If you think this episode would resonate with someone you know, please share it with them too.

Thank you so much for listening to this episode and for all of your support. I look forward to speaking to you again in the next episode!

Links to Marlana's work:

- https://rootedresearch.co/publications/nutrition-misinformation-digital-age/
- https://rootedresearch.co/insights/upf-pbm-instagram-sentiment-analysis/
- https://www.greenqueen.com.hk/ultra-processed-foods-plant-based-meat-guide-research-faq/

Danish Action Plan for Plant-based Foods - https://en.fvm.dk/Media/638484294982868221/Danish-Action-Plan-for-Plant-based-Foods.pdf

What role should celebrity culture have when it comes to veganism? From influencers becoming ‘ex-vegans’ for engagement, to celebrities backtracking on their vegan claims, the conversation around veganism is often diminished when it becomes absorbed within the fickle nature of fame and online content cycles. 

In today’s episode, I explore the positives and negatives with using celebrity endorsements to add legitimacy to veganism. 

For more exclusive content and personal writing from me, check out my Substack here.

On my Substack, I share not only my own reflections and personal thoughts on veganism, but also my journey and struggles. You’ll get a deeper insight into the issues that matter most to me and, in doing so, I hope it helps you feel more connected to your own veganism as well. It’s a space where we can connect and explore the intersection of compassion, reason and rationality together. By joining my Substack you also support the work that I do!

Through my Substack you can also receive regular free 'Good News Roundups' - a collection of positive and inspiring stories from the world of veganism.

If you’d like to support my work separately to Substack, you can also make a one-off or monthly donation here or through my PayPal.

If you’re interested in reading my books, you can find them here:

📚 My latest book How to Argue With a Meat Eater (And Win Every Time) + if you’ve read the book, you can leave a review here!

📚 My first book This is Vegan Propaganda (& Other Lies the Meat Industry Tells You).

Additionally, if you enjoyed this episode, I’d be so grateful if you could leave a review or rating. Your feedback helps the podcast reach more people, and it truly means a lot to me. If you think this episode would resonate with someone you know, please share it with them too.

Thank you so much for listening to this episode and for all of your support. I look forward to speaking to you again in the next episode!

For more exclusive content and personal writing from me, check out my Substack here.

On my Substack, I share not only my own reflections and personal thoughts on veganism, but also my journey and struggles. You’ll get a deeper insight into the issues that matter most to me and, in doing so, I hope it helps you feel more connected to your own veganism as well. It’s a space where we can connect and explore the intersection of compassion, reason and rationality together. By joining my Substack you also support the work that I do!

Through my Substack you can also receive regular free 'Good News Roundups' - a collection of positive and inspiring stories from the world of veganism.

If you’d like to support my work separately to Substack, you can also make a one-off or monthly donation here or through my PayPal.

If you’re interested in reading my books, you can find them here:

📚 My latest book How to Argue With a Meat Eater (And Win Every Time) + if you’ve read the book, you can leave a review here!

📚 My first book This is Vegan Propaganda (& Other Lies the Meat Industry Tells You).

Additionally, if you enjoyed this episode, I’d be so grateful if you could leave a review or rating. Your feedback helps the podcast reach more people, and it truly means a lot to me. If you think this episode would resonate with someone you know, please share it with them too.

Thank you so much for listening to this episode and for all of your support. I look forward to speaking to you again in the next episode!

Seaspiracy hit Netflix on March 24th, and I don't think even the vegan community were prepared for the huge impact it was about to have. Trending across the globe and hitting #1 on Netflix in the UK, the power of Seaspiracy cannot be overstated. An outpouring of news articles, statements in response, and a 'debunking' of the facts presented soon followed. Today I'm discussing Seaspiracy, the impact that it's had and some of the criticisms it's received.

In today's episode:

- Responding to: "What about Indigenous fishers? Seaspiracy shouldn't be telling Indigenous communities not to fish."
- Responding to: "It’s not right to tell the consumer what to do, Seaspiracy is gaslighting you."
- Aquaculture Alliance & false statements.
- What has the pushback from the industry been like so far?
- Going in depth on the Earth Island Institute/Dolphin-Safe conversation.
- Facing speciesism: caring  about dolphins more than tuna.
- Explaining the great Pacific Garbage Patch statistic.
- Did Cowspiracy force environmental organisations to change their messaging, and will Seaspiracy do the same?

✺ To support the show & get access to exclusive monthly podcast episodes: http://www.patreon.com/earthlinged
✺ Find out more about what I do & join my mailing list: http://www.earthlinged.org
✺ Download my free 122 page e-book: http://www.earthlinged.org/ebook
✺ Take a 22 day free vegan challenge: http://switchtovegan.co.uk
✺ Become a supporter of my activism (thank you!): http://www.earthlinged.org/support 

In today's episode I look back upon the moments in my life that acted as building blocks towards me making the switch from passionate KFC lover to vegan.

I used to love eating fried chicken, I  was always up for a trip to the zoo, and as a child I laughed at vegetarians. So, what happened? And how can reflecting back on what helped us make the switch to vegan help us become better advocates? 

✺ To support the show & get access to exclusive monthly podcast episodes: http://www.patreon.com/earthlinged
✺ Find out more about what I do & join my mailing list: http://www.earthlinged.org
✺ Download my free 122 page e-book: http://www.earthlinged.org/ebook
✺ Take a 22 day free vegan challenge: http://switchtovegan.co.uk
✺ Become a supporter of my activism (thank you!): http://www.earthlinged.org/support 

In today's episode we go through some of the most interesting articles from the Veganuary period, and what the potential backlash means for veganism.

In today's episode:

- Is veganism causing severe mental health issues in the animal farming industry?
- How can farmers diversify?
- Is veganism anti-agriculture and an attack on British farming?
- What about reducing your carbon footprint through eating local meat?
- Debunking the claim that ‘Veganuary is just a gimmick'.
- Debunking ‘The Ethical Butcher’.

✺ To support the show & get access to exclusive monthly podcast episodes: http://www.patreon.com/earthlinged
✺ Find out more about what I do & join my mailing list: http://www.earthlinged.org
✺ Download my free 122 page e-book: http://www.earthlinged.org/ebook
✺ Take a 22 day free vegan challenge: http://switchtovegan.co.uk
✺ Become a supporter of my activism (thank you!): http://www.earthlinged.org/support 

Today's episode is something a little different. I'm hugely honoured to share with you a pre-pandemic conversation between myself and Preacher Lawson.

A passionate vegan, Preacher Lawson has the wonderful gift of not only being able to bring laughter to so many people, but the vegan message as well. We look back on our experiences as steak-loving non-vegans, and discuss comedy, street interviews and vegan cheese.

✺ To support the show & get access to exclusive monthly podcast episodes: http://www.patreon.com/earthlinged
✺ Find out more about what I do & join my mailing list: http://www.earthlinged.org
✺ Download my free 122 page e-book: http://www.earthlinged.org/ebook
✺ Take a 22 day free vegan challenge: http://switchtovegan.co.uk
✺ Become a supporter of my activism (thank you!): http://www.earthlinged.org/support 

Christmas can be a very challenging time of year for vegans. During a time of celebration, seeing our loved ones perpetuate so much death and suffering can be extremely overwhelming. Dead bodies on the dining table and confrontations surrounding our choice not to hurt animals, there can be a lot of pressure, a lot of judgement and ultimately a lot of reasons to worry about Christmas as a vegan. I hope today's episode can help you!

In today's episode:

- How can we actually enjoy this time of year as vegans?
- Why do our friends and family members get so hostile about our choice not to eat animal products?
- How power dynamics play out around the dinner table during Christmas.
- How to be prepared for, and understand the reasons behind the confrontation and judgement. 

✺ To support the show & get access to exclusive monthly podcast episodes: http://www.patreon.com/earthlinged
✺ Find out more about what I do & join my mailing list: http://www.earthlinged.org
✺ Download my free 122 page e-book: http://www.earthlinged.org/ebook
✺ Take a 22 day free vegan challenge: http://switchtovegan.co.uk
✺ Become a supporter of my activism (thank you!): http://www.earthlinged.org/support 

During the past couple of weeks there has been a media frenzy surrounding an EPIC-Oxford study that concluded that vegans have a higher risk of bone fractures. Headlines such as, "Meat-free diets linked with greater risk of breaking bones" and, "‘It is a worry’: The truth about veganism and bone health" littered news websites and flooded onto social media. Even Joe Rogan shared the study, as even though he has often criticised epidemiology that supports veganism, he clearly considers this to be damning evidence for his very public feelings towards veganism.

Listen to find out:

- Are vegans really at a 43% higher risk of fracturing bones? Especially hips fractures?
- Are we biased as vegans against studies like this, and how should we react to it?
- Is there dubious funding behind this study?

✺ To support the show & get access to exclusive monthly podcast episodes: http://www.patreon.com/earthlinged
✺ Find out more about what I do & join my mailing list: http://www.earthlinged.org
✺ Download my free 122 page e-book: http://www.earthlinged.org/ebook
✺ Take a 22 day free vegan challenge: http://switchtovegan.co.uk
✺ Become a supporter of my activism (thank you!): http://www.earthlinged.org/support 

In this episode I am joined by Jonathan Balcombe, an expert in animal behaviour. We discuss his work exploring how intellectually and emotionally complex fish actually are, and dispel many of the hugely prevalent myths surrounding fish, and fish sentience. We also discuss some of their most interesting behaviours, whether or not it is ethical to eat mussels and oysters, and whether or not we should have home aquariums.

Listen to find out:

- Are fish self aware?
- Are fish intelligent?
- What does the science actually say about fish?
- What about mussels and oysters, do they feel pain?
- Is it ethical to eat mussels and oysters?
- What about flies, and insects in terms of sentience?
- What about pleasure for animals, can the world be a joyful place for them?
- Can fish feel pride?
- What about the pet industry,  should people have aquariums?

✺ Jonathan's website:  https://jonathan-balcombe.com/
✺ To support the show & get access to exclusive monthly podcast episodes: http://www.patreon.com/earthlinged
✺ Find out more about what I do & join my mailing list: http://www.earthlinged.org
✺ Download my free 122 page e-book: http://www.earthlinged.org/ebook
✺ Take a 22 day free vegan challenge: http://switchtovegan.co.uk
✺ Become a supporter of my activism (thank you!): http://www.earthlinged.org/support