Vegan Warrior Princesses Attack!

Rawr!!!! Grrrr!!!! Why I outta! *shakes fist* This week we’re talking anger, wanna fight about it!?!? We discuss the advantages of anger, our tips for experiencing and expressing it in healthy or productive ways, and review old laws and punishments that were used to legally regulate black and female anger.

In This Episode

Inspired by a post in the VWPA Society, we decided to stand up for anger in today’s episode. Often we are told to suppress our anger, especially when discussing political views. But, you know, like, fuck that! Anger is good for you! It’s an emotion and, just like any other emotion, it should be acknowledged, expressed and respected.

Resources

Who Gets to be Angry? by Roxanne Gay (NY Times)

6 Psychological Benefits of Anger (Spring.org)

Community Organizer Charlene Carruthers on Anger (Medium.com)

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck (MarkManson.net)

All The Angry Ladies (The Atlantic)

The Link Between Moral Anger and Social Activism (Rutgers)

Aggressive Encounters & White Fragility: Deconstructing the Trope of the Angry Black Woman (Duke Law)

11 Fucked up Ways Women Were Punished During Medival Times (BuzzFeed)

Slave Codes (Britannica)

Black Codes (Britannica)

The Dangerous Delusion of the Big Scary Black Man (PS Mag)

Angry Black Women (Wikipedia)

Why Latinas Aren’t Allowed to Get Angry (Jezebel)

3 Black Female Stereotypes that Need to Die (Decoded on YouTube)

Relevant Song

Joke(s) in the Middle

Why did the can crusher quit his job?

Do vegans still call it a “beef” when they fight?

Links and Information

News

* Almonds May Surpass Dairy as California’s Main Crop (VegNews)

* Chef Resigns After Serving Dairy to Vegans On Purpose (VegNews)

* Chocolate Might Be Extinct by 2050 (VegNews)

Since we weren’t able to schedule any of our amazing upcoming interviews in time for today’s episode, we’re analyzing Season 4 of Black Mirror instead!

In This Episode

Our New Year’s Eve celebration was us munching on amazing vegan snacks and watching season 4 of Black Mirror with a friend. Today, we’re sharing our thoughts about the 6 episodes in this latest season!

Joke in the Middle

What’s the difference between and alligator and a crocodile?

Links and Information

News

* Beyond Burger Named Biggest Breakthrough of 2017 (VegNews)

* UK Now Consumes 50 Percent Less Beef Than in the 70s (VegNews)

* Meat Industry Spends £13.5 Million Creating ‘Healthy’ Bacon (VegNews)

Hey girl! You ready to be a brand new you in the new year! Tune in for some hot tips for setting those rezzies!!!

In This Episode

Obvi we’re not being total sellouts, today we’re giving our top 8 tips for becoming more radicalized in 2018:

* Reject all diet talk.

* Resist.

* Be kind to yourself.

* Be mindful in and of your relationships.

* Boundaries, boundaries, boundaries!

* Call shit out.

* Fight call-out culture.

* Embrace nuance.

Joke in the Middle

How does Darth Vader like his toast?

Recommended Movies

East Side Sushi

What If

The Big Sick

Links and Information

News

* Scotland Bans Wild-Animal Circuses (VegNews)

* Manic Panic Debuts Vegan Makeup at Hot Topic (VegNews)

* Tom Ford Goes Vegan (VegNews)

* First U.S. Bumblebee Officially Listed as Endangered (National Geographic)

In our last installment of this series of Kids Movies Revisited, we watched Fern Gully, which was a total mixed bag for us. Overall, we walked away with warm feelings and were happy that we were able to end this series on a good note.

In This Episode

SO MANY THINGS. This movie kicked up a lot of different thoughts. There were definitely weak points, the “romance” and sexualized representation of the main character being the most notable, but it also had some beautiful moments. Robin Williams performance was touching and funny, of course, and the overall message that all living creatures have the ability to create or destroy was really moving and very effective. The representations of deforestation and animal testing were important but missed the opportunity to explain the driving forces behind them – leaving children with the message that these things are bad but without any direction on why humans do these things and therefore where to direct their energies to fight them.

Overall, we felt like it was a sweet movie that kinda holds up and would be a great movie for children, especially vegan kids or environmentally-conscious kids, to watch and then have follow-up conversations with adults about.

Jokes in the Middle: Christmas Roundup Edition

– Why is it getting harder to buy advent calendars?

– What do you get if you have a bunch of chess players bragging about their skills in a hotel lobby?

– What do you call someone who is afraid of Santa?

– Why does Santa go down the chimney?

– What do you get if Santa goes down a hot chimney?

Links and Information

News

* Vice News Likens Dairy Farm to The Handmaid’s Tale (VegNews)

* $4 Trillion Investor Firm Warns Meat Tax is Inevitable (VegNews)

* Factory Farm Workers Routinely Denied Bathroom Breaks (VegNews)

* BREAKING: Fashion Giants Michael Kors And Jimmy Choo Announce Fur Free Policy (Plant Based News)

This week we revisit The Secret of NIMH, a movie that left Nichole with a sense of dread as a child, and then talk about the disturbing mouse and rat experiments that inspired the book that it was based on.

In This Episode

My malaise continues. Next week will be better!

Jokes in the Middle

Why did the mouse stay inside?

Who is Santa’s favorite pop star?

Links and Information

News

* Instagram Creates New Feature to Fight Animal Abuse (VegNews)

* SeaWorld Blackfish Lawsuit Now a Class Action (VegNews)

* Vegan Film ‘Eating Our Way To Extinction’ Will ‘Expose The True Cost Of Eating Animals’ (Plant Based News)

Research for the Episode

* 12 Facts About The Secret of NIMH (Mental Floss)

* The Doomed Mouse Utopia That Inspired the ‘Rats of NIMH’ (Atlas Obscura)

We’re taking a break from our kids’ movie review series to answer holiday questions related to gift giving and Santa, in order to be timely for the holidays. WARNING: we talk about Santa and how he’s not real (and kinda the worst), so don’t let your kiddies hear if you don’t want them to know!

In This Episode

Today we’re answering more listener questions, this time ones that relate to gifts and Santa:

Ally

I often receive gifts from people that I don’t want or need and then feel obligated to return the gift giving. Even though I’m short on money and didn’t want to exchange gifts. But because they gave me a gift I now feel obligated to get them one in return. Even if it’s a nice gift – then I may even feel worse.

So what do you think about applying consent culture to gift giving – as in making it clear that yes or no I do not wish to exchange gifts with a person? And how could we implement that without seeming like the Scrooge :-(

Sarah

I have issues with getting non-vegan family members gifts. I often try to get them something that’s vegan, zero or low waste and doesn’t exploit anyone, if that’s even possible, but it’s so hard to find one that they’ll even appreciate at the same time. I’d be purchasing for my parents, nephews, and nieces. I find the kids especially hard because they don’t always want something ethical. Do you have any ideas?

Teodora

What do I get for my badass, anarchist, anti-capitalist girlfriend?!?

Kylie

How would you explain Santa and Christmas to kids if you don’t believe in the Catholic version? I see it as more of a Pagan tradition but it doesn’t make as much sense when it’s in the middle of summer here in Australia.

Gift Ideas

* Unicorn Goods – all vegan site for clothes, books, bags, purses, wallets and more.

* A gift guide for vegan killjoys, queers, fatties, & weirdos, 2017 – Pt 1 (Jenny Marie)

*

Jokes in the Middle

* Why did Frosty want a divorce?

* What do you call Santa’s most impolite reindeer?

* What do you call a kid who doesn’t believe in Santa?

Links and Information

News

* Meat Company Buys Vegan Brand for $120M (VegNews)

* Vegan Makeup Line Designed for Trans Women Debuts (VegNews)

* Expert Says Vegan Food Will Ease Political Woes in 2018 (VegNews)

* Vegan Just Scramble Debuts in San Francisco (VegNews)

Mentioned in this Episode

* Good Riddance to the Worst Show on Earth (The Root)

* Urge Impossible Foods and Hampton Creek to Stop Testing on Animals (PETA)

* Here’s what to do when your kid questions Santa (Kids Spot AU)

For the first of our three-part kids’ movie series, we rewatched Wall-E and were horrified at how awful it was. Beyond insufferable fat-shaming, it had an insidious conservative message lurking under its seemingly liberal veneer. Oof.

In This Episode

Today we deconstruct Wall-E, a Pixar/Disney movie about a little lone robot, left to clean up the trash heap that Earth became under the excesses of humans. While the film seems to have a liberal, pro-environmental agenda, it’s actually a film promoting conservative, Christian ideals. Also, there’s fat-shaming. So, so much fat-shaming.

Links and Information

News

* LUSH Grants $445,000 to End Animal Testing (VegNews)

* MPs Vote Against Transferring EU ‘Animal Sentience’ Clause Into UK Law (Plant Based News)

* Trader Joe’s Rolls Out New Coconut Whipped Cream (Plant Based News)

Hey kids! With the holiday season in full swing, we decided to solicit and then answer your most burning holiday questions. We tackle what to do about being pressured to buy non-vegan food for others, how to get family to stop harping about food when you secretly struggle with eating disorders, and what to do about being the only vegan at the table.

In This Episode

In preparation for all the food and family related holiday events upon us, we answer three very different listener questions:

Katherine

I don’t feel comfortable purchasing animal products for other people any more, but am not sure how to assert myself in different situations, or if I even should – When is the best time to communicate to someone that you don’t want to purchase animal products, and how do I deal with the fact that I may have done this in the past? How can I best communicate this without seeming like I’m forcing someone to choose a vegan meal? Are there instances (besides work) where it is just not appropriate to communicate this boundary, and it’s best to suck it up and purchase the meal?

Sarah R

How do I tell my grandparents that their constant food talk is triggering me, when they don’t know I struggle with disordered eating?

Sarah D

How to deal with being the only vegan at the table or event?

Joke in the Middle

What is a mummy’s favorite kind of music?

Nichole’s Female Rap Artist Recommendations

* Lizzo

* The Internet

* K. Flay

* Angel Haze

* Leikeli47

* SZA

* Azelia Banks

* Princess Nokia

Links and Information

News

* Hunting African Animals and Bringing Their Heads to the U.S. is Legal Again Under Trump (Newsweek)

* For Now, Trump to Keep Ban on Importing Elephant Trophies (NY Times)

* If the Entire U.S. Went Vegan, It’d be a Public Health Disaster (Quartz)

After hearing about a school in Texas that denied a family’s request for vegan food and served their 4 year old meat, we thought this was a good opportunity to talk about a lot of things, including access, how government aid can make personal autonomy more difficult, respecting others choices, and a whole lot more!

In This Episode

Today we’re talking about an article that Callie found in Plant Based News discussing an incident in Texas where a mother discovered that her 4 year old was fed meat after she explicitly requested vegan food for her son, including providing the administration with two doctor’s notes validating this request and giving instructions on providing the child with a healthy vegan meal.

We liked this article because it brings up a lot of different issues, many threads to pull on – which we did! We talk about how situations like this highlight the various ways in which someone might not be able to be vegan, how government programs (because this issue was connected to Head Start) can block aid recipients from having authority over their bodies, how we need to fight to make every space a space where it’s possible to live by your ethics (as long as your ethics don’t hurt anyone), and a bunch of other shit I can’t remember right now because it’s Monday night and my brain is mush after work ;P

This Snopes article was very helpful in explaining the details around how Head Start works and what may have gone down in this situation.

Joke in the Middle

What is the difference between a cat and a comma?

Links and Information

News

* Era of Lab Testing on Chimpanzees Officially Over (VegNews)

* UN Pushed to Make Cows Focus of Climate Talks (VegNews)

Mentioned in this Episode

* Healing from the trauma of colonialism, eurocentric beauty ideals and disordered eating in communities of color with Gloria Lucas (Flex Your Heart Radio)

This week we talk about the explosion of racist bullshit over VegNews wishing Colin Kaepernick a happy birthday. Will White Veganism ever not be a thing?

In This Episode

Dishearteningly, but not surprisingly, not much has changed since our Dear White Vegans: Stop It episode two years ago. VegNews wished Colin Kaepernick a happy birthday on their Facebook page last week and the thread exploded into White Veganism, a hot mess of racist comments and claims that veganism is “not political.” So, we’re talkembout it.

Also, Nichole loses her shit over “less-a-tarians” during the news section.

Joke

What did the coach say to the broken vending machine?

Links and Information

News

* Non-Dairy Drinks Gain Market Share Over Milk (VegNews)

* FDA To Revoke Claim That Soy Protein Reduces Risk Of Heart Disease (Plant Based News)

* Veganism To Hit The World’s Streets With Its Biggest Global Campaign In History (Plant Based News)

Mentioned in this Episode

* 3 reasons the American Revolution was a mistake (Vox)

* Whine About It with Matt Bellassai (YouTube): you’re welcome.