Think Like a Vegan

By Emilia Leese

A podcast bringing you thought provoking deep dives across a wide variety of subjects related to veganism. The host is Emilia Leese, co-author of the book, Think Like a Vegan

Each episode is a mini ... more

· Society & Culture

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FAQs about Think Like a Vegan:

How many episodes does Think Like a Vegan have?

The podcast currently has 29 episodes available.

Think Like a Vegan episodes:

November 01, 2025 Ep. 28: Revolutionary Peace: How Philadelphia Launched the US Vegetarian and Vegan Movement
Vance Lehmkhul is a vegan renaissance man: writer, journalist, cartoonist, and now, a vegan history detective. His book Revolutionary Peace cracks open the wild, untold story of how Philadelphia became the unlikely birthplace of America’s vegetarian and vegan revolt.

This isn’t just a history lesson. It's a street-level view of radical thinkers who saw food as revolution. We’re talking 18th-century Quakers, 19th-century anarchists, feminist firebrands, and proto-vegan agitators who linked animal liberation to every fight for justice.

Lehmkhul’s work proves something urgent: veganism was never just about diet — it was always political warfare. If you think today’s movements are divisive? Wait till you hear about the original plant-based rebels who scared the hell out of the status quo.

This one is for all history nerds, activists, and anyone tired of watered-down veganism.

Links
Vance Lehmkhul http://www.vegcast.com/vance/
Revolutionary Peace: How Philadelphia Launched the US Vegetarian and Vegan Movement
https://americanvegan.org/product/revolutionary-peace/
Veg History Walking Tours https://americanvegan.org/veg-history-walking-tours/
American Vegan Center https://americanvegan.org/avc/
American Vegan Society https://americanvegan.org
The Return of Benjamin Lay https://www.benjaminlayplay.com

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: Vance Lehmkhul
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: "Dappling" 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
...more
52min
October 10, 2025 Ep. 27: Why vegans should care about genocide/ecocide in Gaza
Researcher Rimona Afana unflinchingly exposes the hidden victims of Israel's war on Gaza: the natural world and nonhuman animals. She reveals how advanced weaponry creates a psychological distance enabling destruction on a colossal scale, making ecocide a feature, not a byproduct, of modern conflict.

Website/Socials
Rimona Afana
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rimonaafana
Ecocide/Speciesism: Legislating Hierarchy, Interdependence, Death
https://www.facebook.com/ecocide.speciesism

Other links
Israel's Crimes Against the Dead and Unborn in Gaza
https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/israels-crimes-against-the-dead-and-unborn-in-gaza

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: Rimona Afana
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: Birds from Shwikeh, Tulkarem, Palestine by sounds_from_palestine -- https://freesound.org/s/802437/
-- License: Creative Commons 0
Closing theme: “Tear Things Up” by Jenny Moore’s Mystic Business

This podcast is part of iROAR, the Animals Podcasting Network https://iroarpod.com
...more
39min
October 01, 2025 Ep. 26: Ecological restoration and rewilding are essential
There are those who study nature, and then there are those who listen to it. Alan Watson Featherstone is such a listener, a quiet revolutionary who has spent his life translating Earth's silent longing into action.

In this episode, we walk with Alan through:

The act of rewilding — not just restoring land, but restoring relationship
Why healing broken ecosystems is the most radical hope we have
How a single sapling carries within it an entire future
A man of many gifts — photographer, storyteller, planter of forests — Alan founded Trees for Life in 1986 and for three decades served as its guiding spirit, transforming Scotland's barren glens into cathedrals of green. A vegan since 1979, his life reminds us that compassion must stretch beyond our species

This is not a lecture on ecology. This is an invitation to remember, to see, as Alan does, that every act of rewilding is a love letter to a better future for everyone

Website/Socials
Alan Watson Featherstone
https://alanwatsonfeatherstone.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-watson-featherstone-8063961a
X @AlanWatsonFeat1
Photography https://www.naturepl.com/search?s=Alan+Watson
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@alanwatsonfeatherstone9676/videos

Other links
Findhorn community https://www.visitecovillagefindhorn.uk
Trees for Life https://treesforlife.org.uk
Ishmael https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishmael_(Quinn_novel)
Kathleen Jannaway https://youtu.be/2ai7lnUsVPE?feature=shared
Auroville https://auroville.org
Jack Whitten https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Whitten
Birchfield https://birchfieldhighlands.org

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: Alan Watson Featherstone
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: "Contemporary Music Too" 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
...more
40min
September 01, 2025 Ep. 25: They profit while the planet burns: A radical manifesto with John Sanbonmatsu
Capitalism didn't just commodify animals - it turned suffering into an industry. Meet John Sanbonmatsu, the revolutionary philosopher tearing apart the meat-industrial complex in his incendiary new work The Omnivore's Deception. This book is an indictment of the entire capitalist food regime

Sanbonmatsu doesn't debate reform. He demands total dismantling of the oppressive structures that treat life as profit. This is food system analysis as class war, revealing how your burger funds environmental racism, worker exploitation and mass extinction. The only moral response is revolution

Website/Socials
John Sanbonmatsu
https://www.johnsanbonmatsu.com

Other links
Karen Davis essay https://www.upc-online.org/thinking/rhetoric.pdf

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: John Sanbonmatsu
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: "7am" music by Matthew Gerstenberger and 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
...more
48min
September 18, 2024 Ep. 24 What’s the difference between animal rights and welfare?
This episode goes back to basics. We hear about animal rights, welfare, compassion and kindness. It all sounds like good things and stuff we should have. So I want to share with you why when I talk about animal ethics, I centre my words around rights instead of welfare or compassion and kindness

Website/Socials

Emi Leese
https://emilialeese.substack.com
http://thinklikeavegan.com
http://emilialeese.com
@emi.leese or @thinklikeavegan, Instagram, Facebook, X and Threads

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
Opening theme: “Flashbacks” by Jenny Moore’s Mystic Business
Interlude: "On the Forbidden Balcony" by Matthew Gerstenberger; Seismicity on Soundcloud https://on.soundcloud.com/3Pf8g
Closing theme: “Tear Things Up” by Jenny Moore’s Mystic Business

This podcast is part of iROAR, the Animals Podcasting Network https://iroarpod.com
...more
13min
September 04, 2024 Ep. 23 What are zoonotic diseases and how do they affect us and other animals?
When you hear the term zoonotic disease, what does it mean to you? What do you think of and who is responsible for them?

Maybe you think about Covid 19. How about HIV-AIDS? Is your impression that zoonotic illnesses are something relatively new? Or uncommon?

In this episode, I'll explore just how far back in time zoonotic illnesses go and think about how our entanglement with other animals affects us -- and them -- on a cellular level

Website/Socials

Emi Leese
https://emilialeese.substack.com
http://thinklikeavegan.com
http://emilialeese.com
@emi.leese or @thinklikeavegan, Instagram, Facebook, X and Threads

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
Opening theme: “Flashbacks” by Jenny Moore’s Mystic Business
Interlude: "Pinglie" by Matthew Gerstenberger; Seismicity on Soundcloud https://on.soundcloud.com/3Pf8g
Closing theme: “Tear Things Up” by Jenny Moore’s Mystic Business

This podcast is part of iROAR, the Animals Podcasting Network https://iroarpod.com
...more
20min
August 21, 2024 Ep. 22 Zane McNeill and Nathan Poirier: Ida B. Wells and relevance to the animal justice movement
Ida B. Wells and the relevance of her work to the animal justice movement
Zane McNeill and Nathan Poirier discuss Ida B. Wells' historical and contemporary legacy and relevance to critical animal studies

For more than 40 years from the late 1800s, Ida B. Wells fought for justice for Black Americans. Wells was a journalist, newspaper owner, feminist, suffragist and organiser. In particular, she called herself a lynching agitator and she’s probably still best known for this work

McNeill and Poirier discuss the historical and foundational influence the Black feminist body of work plays for critical animal studies. This influence is all too often not made clear. While barely mentioning nonhuman animals,” the essay on Ida B. Wells, “fundamentally belongs within critical animal studies via consistent anti- oppression” by studying historical gender and racial activism through the efforts of an early and important yet understudied Black feminist”.

Their book is entitled Expanding the Critical Animal Studies Imagination: Essays in Solidarity and Total Liberation (2023, Peter Lang https://www.peterlang.com/document/1298884)

Website/Socials

Zane McNeill @zane_crittheory on X
Nathan Poirier https://www.facebook.com/nathan.poirier.7792

Emi Leese
https://emilialeese.substack.com
http://thinklikeavegan.com
http://emilialeese.com
@emi.leese or @thinklikeavegan, Instagram, Facebook, X and Threads

Credits
Host: Emilia A. Leese
Guests: Zane McNeill and Nathan Poirier
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: "Memories/Generations" by Matthew Gerstenberger; Seismicity on Soundcloud https://on.soundcloud.com/3Pf8g
Closing theme: “Tear Things Up” by Jenny Moore’s Mystic Business

This podcast is part of iROAR, the Animals Podcasting Network https://iroarpod.com
...more
40min
August 07, 2024 Ep. 21 Benny Malone - What to say to vegans
What should we say to vegans?

Benny Malone returns to the podcast to discuss with me what people should say to vegans instead of the usual excuses. Benny joined me in Season One in the episode entitled "Discussing Veganism with Others" where Benny talks about his top five fallacies vegans encounter when talking with others and I talk about my top three tips when engaging with others about veganism.

Benny is the author of How to Argue with Vegans, an analysis of anti-vegan arguments. He’s an autodidact in science, nature and philosophy. And if there’s a book about veganism out there, he’s read it cover to cover.

Website/Socials
Benny Malone

@BennyMalone on Facebook @benny_malone_ on on Instagram and @BennyMaloneUK on X

Emi Leese
https://emilialeese.substack.com
http://thinklikeavegan.com
http://emilialeese.com
@emi.leese or @thinklikeavegan, Instagram, Facebook, X, Threads

Credits
Host: Emilia A. Leese
Guest: Benny Malone
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: "Gendrone" by Matthew Gerstenberger; Seismicity on Soundcloud https://on.soundcloud.com/3Pf8g
Closing theme: “Tear Things Up” by Jenny Moore’s Mystic Business

This podcast is part of iROAR, the Animals Podcasting Network https://iroarpod.com

...more
47min
July 24, 2024 Ep. 20 What’s Effective Altruism and what are some alternatives?
Pre-order the paperback edition of our book, Think Like a Vegan! This highly anticipated release will be available January 2025 in the UK and worldwide and April 2025 in North America. It will contain a new afterword so you can dive into updates and new material you won't find in the hardcover. We've added insightful reflections and fresh content to keep you inspired and informed. Pre-order on ⁠Amazon⁠, ⁠Target⁠ or wherever you buy books and ask your library to carry it
Alice Crary and Lori Gruen talk about what is effective altruism, why it's harmful and what are alternatives which already exist. Should we measure the effectiveness of an act meant to benefit another? How do we decide its effectiveness and for whom it’s effective - for the beneficiary? For the actor? And why should we be thinking about effectiveness when we’re talking about doing something that’s meant to do good or change minds?
Alice and Lori have edited, and contributed to, a collection of essays on the topic, along with Carol J. Adam, entitled The Good it Promises, the Harm it Does

Alice Crary is a Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at The New School for Social Research, a Visiting Fellow at Regent’s Park College in the University of Oxford and at the Zolberg Institute on Migration and Mobility

Lori Gruen is the William Griffin Professor of Philosophy and Professor of Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and Science in Society at Wesleyan University where she also coordinates Wesleyan Animal Studies.
Website/Socials
Alice Crary: https://alicecrary.com
Lori Gruen: https://www.lorigruen.com
Emi Leese
https://emilialeese.substack.com
http://thinklikeavegan.com
http://emilialeese.com
@emi.leese or @thinklikeavegan, Instagram, Facebook, X, Threads
Credits
Host: Emilia A. Leese
Guests: Dr Alice Crary and Dr Lori Gruen
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: "Fuurin Sanpo" by Matthew Gerstenberger; Seismicity on Soundcloud https://on.soundcloud.com/3Pf8g
Closing theme: “Tear Things Up” by Jenny Moore’s Mystic Business
This podcast is part of iROAR, the Animals Podcasting Network https://iroarpod.com
...more
49min
July 10, 2024 Ep. 19 Industrial and small scale animal farming - a distinction without a difference
Pre-order the paperback edition of our book, Think Like a Vegan! This highly anticipated release will be available from January 2025 in the UK/worldwide and April 2025 in North America. It will contain a new afterword so you can dive into updates and new material you won't find in the hardcover. We've added insightful reflections and fresh content to keep you inspired and informed. Pre-order on ⁠Amazon⁠, ⁠Target⁠ or wherever you buy books and ask your library to carry it

Whenever people talk about the environment or the plight of animals, they all seem to say something like “oh I agree industrial animal farming is terrible!” And it is. But that's not the full story.
I discuss why we should encourage the focus to be on the inherent injustice of animal use and I even use some archeology to make this point

Website/Socials
Emi Leese
https://emilialeese.substack.com
http://thinklikeavegan.com
http://emilialeese.com
@emi.leese or @thinklikeavegan, Instagram, Facebook, X, Threads
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
Opening theme: “Flashbacks” by Jenny Moore’s Mystic Business
Interlude: "Waiting for Summer" by Matthew Gerstenberger; Seismicity on Soundcloud https://on.soundcloud.com/3Pf8g
Closing theme: “Tear Things Up” by Jenny Moore’s Mystic Business
This podcast is part of iROAR, the Animals Podcasting Network https://iroarpod.com
...more
14min

FAQs about Think Like a Vegan:

How many episodes does Think Like a Vegan have?

The podcast currently has 29 episodes available.

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