The Vegan Compass Podcast

In this week’s episode, we sit down with Amanda Dorn, Western Australia’s first Animal Justice Party MP, whose journey from dedicated volunteer to elected representative is nothing short of inspiring.

Amanda shares how her vegan journey began nine years ago after watching powerful documentaries like Dominion. Before politics, she built a career in Real Estate and became a small business owner—but everything shifted the day she attended an event for “this vegan political party” and realised she had found her community.

In this episode, we explore her path to becoming an MP, including years of campaigning and the deep belief that kept her motivated even after previous election losses. Amanda also gives us a look at the campaigns she’s already diving into, including the export of hermit crabs for the pet trade. 

This is an uplifting and energising conversation about persistence and the power of political change for animals.

Connect with Amanda

Watch Amanda’s inaugural speech: amandadornmp.com/news/inaugural

Fighting hermit crab exports: amandadornmp.com/news/hermits-ms

Instagram: @amanda.dorn.ajp

Facebook: facebook.com/amanda.dorn.ajp

Email: [email protected]

Become an AJP Member: animaljusticeparty.org/join

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Support the show with a ‘follow’ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or ‘subscribe’ on YouTube.

If you’re loving the show, please leave us a review or rating.

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@thevegancompass_podcast

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In today’s episode we chat with Forest Nash, a natural bodybuilding champion and online fitness and nutrition coach. He is passionate about breaking down stereotypes as a strong, fit vegan role model, and helping others to truly thrive and achieve their fitness goals on a plant-based diet.

Forest was raised as an ethical vegetarian from birth, and has been vegan since 2015. In our conversation, Forest shares what it was like growing up without meat, how his upbringing led him into bodybuilding, and the lessons he’s learned from competing (and winning) against non-vegan athletes. 

He is an NASM Certified Personal Trainer, RP Certified Nutrition Coach, and holds a Certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from Cornell University. He is also a member of the Vegan Strong PlantBuilt team, the largest organisation of competitive vegan strength and physique athletes in the world.

Forest specialises in using evidence-based training and whole-food plant-based nutrition to help people lose fat and build muscle in a healthy and sustainable way, providing practical tips throughout the episode. 

Whether you’re a long-time gym-goer, or just curious about how to optimise your health through vegan nutrition — this conversation will inspire you to challenge limits and lead by example.

Connect with Forest:

Website: www.forestnash.com.au

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: www.instagram.com/forest.nash

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ForestNashFitness

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Support The Vegan Compass Podcast

NEW PODCAST MERCH! Get yours at vegancompass.theprintbar.com

Support the show with a ‘follow’ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or ‘subscribe’ on YouTube.

If you’re loving the show, please leave us a review or rating.

Follow us on Instagram

@thevegancompass_podcast

Like us on Facebook

@TheVeganCompassPodcast

Trigger warning: In this episode, we do discuss animal experimentation procedures, including those relating to intimate partner violence. These topics are particularly distressing and we understand if now is not the time for you to listen to this episode. You are welcome to skip this one, or perhaps come back to it at a later date.

In this week’s episode, we sit down with Dr. Dana Kolsky, a qualified veterinary surgeon also on the team at Animal Free Science Advocacy (AFSA), an organisation at the forefront of efforts to end animal experimentation in Australia.

Dana shares the uncomfortable truth about what life for animals used in science really looks like, how these experiments are approved, and why these outdated methods continue to be used despite more ethical and accurate alternatives.

You’ll hear about the shocking studies into intimate partner violence, involving strangulation and traumatic brain injury, as well as AFSA’s campaigns to end primate research in Australia and their push to reform the Australian Code.

But it’s not all grim – Dana highlights some of the exciting non-animal testing methods that are paving the way for a more ethical and accurate future in science.

This conversation is insightful but incredibly tough in places. We encourage you to push through and use the real life experiences of animals in labs to ignite a fire for positive change.  

Connect with AFSA

Website: animalfreescienceadvocacy.org.au

On violence in animal research (including IPV studies and aggressive restraint) - https://animalfreescienceadvocacy.org.au/issues/violence-in-animal-research/

On primate research - https://animalfreescienceadvocacy.org.au/ending-primate-experiments/

On the issue of no reporting/available data - https://animalfreescienceadvocacy.org.au/statistics-of-animal-use/

On the issue of drug development and its translation to humans - https://animalfreescienceadvocacy.org.au/rethinking-drug-safety/

Instagram: @animalfreescienceadvocacy

Facebook: facebook.com/AnimalFreeScienceAdvocacy

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Support The Vegan Compass Podcast

NEW PODCAST MERCH! Get yours at vegancompass.theprintbar.com

Support the show with a ‘follow’ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or ‘subscribe’ on YouTube.

If you’re loving the show, please leave us a review or rating.

Follow us on Instagram

@thevegancompass_podcast

Like us on Facebook

@TheVeganCompassPodcast

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Emma Hurst MP, elected member for the Animal Justice Party in NSW Parliament. A psychologist, animal protection campaigner, and former vegan bodybuilder, we dive into Emma’s remarkable journey from a young animal advocate to the halls of parliament.

Emma shares how her passion for animals began at a young age and the winding path that led her from roles with PETA, World Animal Protection and Animal Liberation NSW to creating legislative change for animals in New South Wales parliament. We go behind the scenes of her political work to discuss the issues she and her team are tackling right now, the creative strategies that have helped push animal protection forward, and the standout wins that keep her motivated.

Beyond politics, Emma opens up about the mental resilience needed to stay in the fight for animals, how her background as a registered psychologist shapes her advocacy, and the importance of staying grounded amid public scrutiny.

Connect with Emma

Instagram: @emma.hurst

Facebook: facebook.com/EmmaHurstMP

Email: [email protected]

Become an AJP Member: animaljusticeparty.org/join

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Support The Vegan Compass Podcast

NEW PODCAST MERCH! Get yours at vegancompass.theprintbar.com

Support the show with a ‘follow’ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or ‘subscribe’ on YouTube.

If you’re loving the show, please leave us a review or rating.

Follow us on Instagram

@thevegancompass_podcast

Like us on Facebook

@TheVeganCompassPodcast

In this episode, we sit down with Kate Galli, vegan health coach, host of the Healthification podcast, and author of The Plant Positive Journal.

Kate is passionate about helping people create their fittest, strongest, most confident selves while living in alignment with their values through a plant-based lifestyle.

Kate opens up about her own transformation, including the shift from being an “angry vegan” to leading with love, and how this approach has shaped both her advocacy and her coaching practice.

We also dive into practical advice for anyone wanting to thrive on plants, including Kate’s top strategies for busy people, her approach to balance, and why mindset is often the key that unlocks long-term success.

Connect with Kate

Instagram: @strongbodygreenplanet

Listen to The Healthification Podcast: podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-healthification-podcast/id856696884

Grab your copy of The Plant Positive Journal: Plant Positive Journal

Join the Plant Positive Skool Community: skool.com/plant-positive/about

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Support The Vegan Compass Podcast

NEW PODCAST MERCH! Get yours at vegancompass.theprintbar.com

Support the show with a ‘follow’ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or ‘subscribe’ on YouTube.

If you’re loving the show, please leave us a review or rating.

Follow us on Instagram @thevegancompass_podcast

Like us on Facebook @TheVeganCompassPodcast

In this moving episode we talk to Nikki Steendam, co-founder of Beagle Freedom Australia, to uncover the hidden world of animals used in research and the fight to give them a second chance at life.

Nikki takes us back to the early 2000s, sharing what first led her to rehome beagles and scent hounds, and the decision to formalise Beagle Freedom Australia in 2013. We go behind the scenes of rescues—what it takes to free animals from research facilities, the physical and emotional condition they’re in when they arrive, and the incredible transformation that happens when they first experience freedom, comfort, and love. 

But Beagle Freedom Australia doesn’t stop at rescue. Nikki discusses the organisation’s advocacy for legislative change, the growing public awareness around animal testing, and how shifting laws could protect countless animals in the future. She also reflects on receiving the Animals Australia Award for Effective Advocacy at the 2025 Animal Justice Awards, and how the recognition and funding will power their next chapter of impact.

This is a conversation about animal resilience, and the wonderful humans who make their second chance possible. We hope you enjoy!

Connect with Beagle Freedom Australia

Follow on Instagram: @beaglefreedomaustraliaLike on Facebook: facebook.com/BeagleFreedomAustralia

Donate to Beagle Freedom Australia: givenow.com.au/beaglefreedomau

Learn more:  beaglefreedomaustralia.org/

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Support The Vegan Compass Podcast

The best way to support the show is to ‘follow’ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or ‘subscribe’ on YouTube.

If you’re loving the show, please leave us a review or rating.

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In this episode of The Vegan Compass, we sit down with Georgie Purcell, Member of Parliament for the Animal Justice Party in Victoria. Georgie shares her journey from grassroots activism to political leadership, offering an inside look at what it means to bring animal issues into the halls of parliament.

We talk about her path into politics, what motivated her to run as a candidate, and how it felt to discover she’d been elected.

Georgie opens up about the major animal protection issues she’s pushing, including her tireless campaigns to end greyhound racing and duck shooting, and reflects on both the challenges and victories of advocating for animals through the political system.

Georgie also offers insight into the strategies she’s found most effective in building support for animal welfare reforms, and how she balances bold ambition with the realities of politics.

Beyond legislation, she speaks candidly about online criticism, the importance of self-care, and how she stays motivated in the face of adversity.

🎧 Tune in to hear Georgie’s inspiring story and be motivated to get political for the animals.

Connect with Georgie: 

Follow on Instagram: @georgie.purcell.ajp

Like on Facebook: facebook.com/georgie.purcell.ajp

Contact Georgie by email: [email protected]

Become an AJP Member: animaljusticeparty.org/join

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Support The Vegan Compass Podcast

The best way to support the show is to ‘follow’ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or ‘subscribe’ on YouTube.

If you’re loving the show, please leave us a review or rating.

Follow us on Instagram

@thevegancompass_podcast

Like us on Facebook

@TheVeganCompassPodcast

Sheep are one of the most overlooked species in the fight for animal justice, yet their stories hold the power to change hearts and minds.

In this episode, we sit down with Gary Hall, founder of Sheep Advocate Australia, to uncover his journey challenging one of the largest industries, deeply entrenched in Australian culture.

Trigger warning: Around the 21:30 mark, Gary shares some of the worst animal cruelty cases he has documented. If you want to avoid hearing in-depth descriptions of animal cruelty, skip ahead to 26:20.

Gary shares:

• His background and what ultimately inspired him to dedicate his life to sheep.

• What Sheep Advocate Australia has achieved so far, and where it’s headed.

• The most shocking practices he has documented in the sheep industry.

• Why sheep could be the key to shifting public consciousness.

• Gary’s mission to find the right team member to expand his sheep advocacy into New South Wales.

• His long-term vision for a world where sheep are seen as individuals, not commodities.

This conversation will change the way you see sheep forever.

Connect with Sheep Advocate Australia:

Follow on Facebook

Follow on Instagram

Email: [email protected]

Petition for an inquiry into Victorian sheep farming: https://form.jotform.com/250591137642052

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Support The Vegan Compass Podcast

The best way to support the show is to ‘follow’ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or ‘subscribe’ on YouTube.

If you’re loving the show, please leave us a review or rating.

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In this week’s episode, we sit down with Michelle, the passionate founder of Happily Heifer After Animal Sanctuary. Michelle shares what set her on the path to starting a sanctuary, the early challenges she faced, and the incredible stories of the animals who now call the sanctuary home.

We also dive deep into Michelle’s mental health journey, exploring how she navigated burnout, what she’s learned about self-care, and her advice for others working in emotionally demanding spaces. She shares the joy of receiving recognition at the 2024 Animal Justice Awards, upcoming projects at Happily Heifer After, and the hope she sees for the future of animal protection..

Episode Highlights:

• What inspired Michelle to start an animal sanctuary

• Daily life at Happily Heifer After

• Powerful rescue stories that will stay with you

• Michelle’s experience with mental health struggles, burnout, and recovery

• Why self-care is essential for long-term activism

• How it felt to win recognition at the Animal Justice Awards

• Michelle’s hopes, dreams, and upcoming projects for the sanctuary

• Ways you can support Happily Heifer After and be part of their journey

Michelle’s story will leave you motivated, and uplifted. Listen now!

Connect with Happily Heifer After:

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Support The Vegan Compass Podcast

The best way to support the show is to ‘follow’ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or ‘subscribe’ on YouTube.

If you’re loving the show, please leave us a review.

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In this episode we’re joined by the passionate force behind one of Sydney’s favourite vegan eateries: Lorenzo from Don Fred.

Once immersed in the world of traditional hospitality, Lorenzo’s path took a turn when he went vegan. What followed was a leap into business ownership, guided by compassion, his Italian heritage, and the belief that vegan food should be warm, welcoming, and utterly delicious.

We dive into the family folklore behind Don Fred’s name, the inspiration behind its much-loved menu, and how Northern Italian recipes shaped its identity. 

Lorenzo shares the highs and lows of running a small business in today’s economic climate, what it takes to keep guests coming back, and why creating a space that non-vegans love was always part of the plan.

Whether you’re a foodie, a fellow small business owner, or someone dreaming of opening your own plant-based spot, this episode is full of insight, honesty, and heart.

Episode highlights:

• Lorenzo’s journey into hospitality and what changed after going vegan

• The origin and meaning of ‘Don Fred’

• Creating a menu that blends Italian heritage with vegan values

• Building a space where everyone feels welcome

• The realities of running a small business in a changing economy

• Why he’s hopeful for the future of vegan food

Tune in to discover how one small restaurant is making a big impact.

Connect with Don Fred:

🌐 Website: donfred.com.au

📱 Instagram: @donfred.au

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The best way to support the show is to ‘follow’ and leave us a review.

Follow us on Instagram

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@TheVeganCompassPodcast