Is it possible to be an Ethical Carnivore? In this candid episode of The Dark Side of Dining, host Kenny Mears speaks with environmental journalist and author Louise Gray about her unique two-year journey consuming only animals she killed herself. Motivated by the major environmental impact of meat (upwards of 60% of food-related emissions come from livestock) and her desire to find a non-judgmental way to discuss climate change, Louise shares how this extreme, hands-on experience deepened her appreciation and sense of responsibility for the meat she ate, something often lost in modern consumption. She emphasizes that the conversation shouldn't be about demanding everyone become vegan, but about finding a way to eat less meat and eat better meat. Louise offers practical advice for meat-lovers: introduce variety by exploring different species or cuts (like offal) to minimize waste, and support ethical farmers and local butchers who are raising meat in a responsible way. She stresses that embracing your "hypocrisy" or discomfort about eating meat is perfectly human and can be the first step toward making more conscientious choices. Finally, Louise recounts her shocking discovery about the sheer scale and conditions of intensive pig farming in Denmark, underscoring the gap between consumer demand for cheap bacon and the reality of industrial agriculture.

Check out Louise's books!

• Avocado Anxiety: https://www.amazon.com/Avocado-Anxiety-Other-Stories-About/dp/1472969634
• The Ethical Carnivore: https://www.amazon.com/Ethical-Carnivore-Year-Killing-Eat/dp/1472933109

Follow The Dark Side of Dining:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedarksideofdining?igsh=cGkwdXp1MWRuN2tp
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1G88ZywYK5/