In this delightful episode of The Hen Report, Jasmin and Mariann welcome back vegan comedian Myq Kaplan for a conversation that seamlessly weaves humor with compassion. Myq, whose comedy special “Rini” premieres on YouTube November 19th, shares profound insights on how comedy can help bridge the cognitive dissonance many experience around animal consumption. With his characteristic thoughtfulness and quick wit, Myq explores the psychology behind food choices, the power of default options, and how humor can be a gateway to deeper truths about our relationship with animals.

This episode explores:

• How language and cognitive dissonance shape our relationships with animals we eat versus those we cherish
• The psychological phenomenon of “benign violation” in comedy and how it relates to challenging conversations about veganism
• Why “opt-in” versus “opt-out” systems dramatically influence behavior, and how this applies to plant-based food choices
• Myq’s Buddhist-inspired perspective on decreasing suffering and increasing joy for all sentient beings
• The evolution of Myq’s vegan journey and how his partnership with fellow vegan Rini influences his latest comedy special

Myq Kaplan’s new one-hour standup special premieres on YouTube on November 19th at 8:00 PM ET, with the album releasing December 12th. His previous credits include appearances on The Tonight Show, Conan, The Late Show with David Letterman, and his album “Vegan Mind Meld” was one of iTunes’ top comedy albums of the year.

RESOURCES

• • • “Rini” available starting November 19 at 8pm eastern
    • Myq Kaplan’s newsletter
    • Myq’s website
    • Myq’s podcast
    • Heart Brain Art Train

We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read this episode's interview.

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