It’s Jasmin’s birthday and also the beginning of Our Hen House’s end of year fundraising! Between now and December 31 our Barnyard Benefactors will donate $20,000, IF (and it’s a big if) that amount is matched by our listeners. Also, this year we’re thrilled announce that there’s a separate anonymous donor who’s willing to match ANOTHER $20,000. This means that, if we meet our $20,000 goal from out listeners, every dollar that comes in will be TRIPLED! So if you want to show your support for responsible, pro-animal, women-run, vegan media, now is a great time to donate.
In this week’s Our Hen House Supports Vegan Businesses, we’re shouting out Sticky Fingers Sweets & Eats and Fare Well Diner, amazing vegan dining spots in Washington, DC launched by Doron Petersan. We also celebrate Simply Pure, a Black-owned vegan cafe in Las Vegas, and White Rhino, a vegan leather bag and accessory company, also Black-owned.
Robbie Lockie is on the podcast today. He co-founded the incredibly valuable online platform Plant Based News to publish news important to those who care about animals and veganism, and recently received the Compassionate Business Award from PETA. He has been involved in several online animal equality campaigns, including Move Your Money, a charity that helps to raise awareness about ethical banking, and coproducing the documentary SWINE for Viva!
Robbie joins us today to discuss why so many of our current problems are rooted in animal agriculture and how to get people to understand the links among animal suffering, health, the environment and what they eat. He shares why he was inspired to found Plant Based News, how it works to spread the news important to vegans and why Plant Based News is a “trojan horse,” using all the tactics of modern media to plant ideas into people’s minds about the joy of conscious living and a plant-based lifestyle in a way that draws people in rather than turns them off.
“Every single sentient being on this world is unique, everyone has their own life with their own thoughts, with their own dreams, with their own feelings of fear and loneliness and every single beautiful being is a gift from our universe. Each of us emerges from the void precious in our nature and as human beings we are meant to be custodians of this beautiful world.”
– Robbie Lockie
This Week in Our Hen House:
- The biggest challenges that Plant Based News faces and how they are working to overcome them
- How to spread the word about the benefits of a vegan diet, particularly for those who suffer from chronic conditions
- What Plant Based News’ financial model is and how it balances good business practices, ethics, and giving back to the community
- How PBN makes sure the vegan lifestyle message is accessible to everyone, regardless of gender and race
- Tips on how to draw attention to YouTube content affordably with Facebook and Instagram ads
- Why Plant Based News decided to focus its efforts on World Plant Milk Day and how the campaign has developed
- What Robbie is most proud of in his media advocacy work
- Robbie’s vision for the future of the vegan movement and where Plant Based News will place itself
Connect with Robbie Lockie:
- Plant Based News Website
- Plant Based News Podcast
- Robbie Lockie on LinkedIn
- Plant Based News on Facebook
- Plant Based News on Instagram
- Plant Based News on Twitter
- Plant Based News on YouTube
Connect with Our Hen House:
This episode is sponsored by Forager Project, an organic, plant-based family-owned and operated food company creating innovative, delicious tasting products sourced from nature’s finest ingredients – nuts, seeds, ancient grains, fruits and vegetables. Crafted in its own unique purpose-built creamery – the only 100% organic, plant-based facility of its kind – Forager Project’s family of foods includes 100% vegan yogurts, nut milks, sour cream, kefirs, shakes and butter.
About Forager Project’s Vote Campaign: Forager is committed to helping cultivate democracy. During the next month, Forager Project will be shifting packaging on its yogurts, kefirs, and milks to encourage consumers nationwide to get involved and vote this November and launching a broader effort to encourage everyone to vote this November 3rd. Visit ForagerProject.com/vote to check on your voting status and/or register!
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This episode is also brought to you in part through the generosity of A Well-Fed World. A Well-Fed World provides the means for change by empowering individuals, social justice organizations, and political decision makers to embrace the benefits of plant-based foods and farming. Learn more at awfw.org.
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You can listen to our podcast directly on our website, or subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcatcher! Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it and leave us a comment on Apple Podcasts! Of course, we would be thrilled if you would also consider making a donation, or becoming a member of our flock (especially if you’re a regular listener). Any amount is hugely appreciated, and Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible! Thank you for helping us create quality content, and for helping us bring you a new podcast episode each week!
Don’t forget to tune into Our Hen House’s other two podcasts: The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and The Animal Law Podcast.
The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.