ethicalconsumerism

Tens of millions of animals spend their entire live in agony and confinement, mostly because cruelty is built into the business model of huge Agri-Biz corporations. Huge, foreign-owned companies inflict unimaginable suffering on vast numbers of animals. The cruelty inherent in factory farming operations is not only terrible for the animals, but also bad for humans. Citizen groups in multiple states have pushed for laws to provide minimal standards for animal welfare, but now, Big Ag is attempting to undermine democracy by wiping out the positive changes made in recent years. Wayne Pacelle is one of the best known and most successful animal welfare advocates in the world. He co-founded two influential organizations which are fighting on Capital Hill and in state and local governments across the country on behalf of animals who are otherwise powerless. In this episode, Pacelle tells Jeremy and George about the daunting threats to animal welfare and human health by powerful interests for whom cruelty is seen as a shortcut to profits.  Learn more at https://AnimalWellnessAction.org  •••  GOT A TIP? Reach out to us at WeaponizedPodcast@Proton.me For breaking news, follow Corbell & Knapp on all social media. Extras and bonuses from the episode can be found at https://WeaponizedPodcast.com  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“What is it all about? It’s about being healthier, happier, better to the animals, kinder to each other and the planet – and it all stems from what we’re putting into our bodies.” Marco Borges Last week, Beyoncé and Jay-Z made news across the world with a headline grabbing offer: take the plant-based pledge and you just might win concert tickets for life. When the most culturally significant and influential entertainment couple on the planet throws down like this, it’s a big deal. The tectonic plates of social culture shift. Conventional attitudes and habits around food change. And our social paradigm is nudged forward. So what's the story behind all this? The man behind this curtain isn't a musician. No, Marco Borges is a trainer and exercise physiologist. He's a family man and friend. He's the person who first inspired Jay-Z and Beyoncé to adopt a plant-based lifestyle. He's the entrepreneur that partnered up with the duo on 22-Days Nutrition. And he's the environmentalist who enlisted the global icons in his latest venture, The Greenprint Project — a plant-based “blueprint” designed to shift your mindset, improve your health and impact the planet for the better. In addition, Marco is the author of multiple New York Times bestsellers, including The 22-Day Revolution*,The 22-Day Revolution Cookbook*, and his latest offering, entitled (you guessed it), The Greenprint: Plant-Based Diet, Best Body, Better World*. An inclusive, practical primer on all things plant-based, it's a beautiful must read for anyone looking to lose weight, increase energy, boost metabolism or reduce your carbon footprint. Marco has been prominently featured in every major media outlet from Good Morning America to Vogue and today marks his third appearance on the podcast. If you're new to the show, please check out episode #195 for Marco's full backstory and episode #271, which features a panel discussion Marco and I conducted before a live audience at the Miami Seed Food and Wine Festival a few years ago. Today’s conversation pivots around the why behind Marco's new Greenprint book and app. We discuss transcending labels. Marco's focus on inclusivity over tribalism. And how mastering a few simple lifestyle changes can positively transform your life and the planet. Because I have grown quite close with Marco and his family, I can say with great conviction that he is the real deal. A man who walks his talk. A father, husband and entrepreneur who has devoted decades to empowering positive change in people from all walks of life. And so it is with delight and great enthusiasm that I share our latest conversation with you today. Enjoy! Rich

We are all born compassionate. And we carry this powerful, inherent trait through adulthood. But often this deeply ingrained impulse becomes repressed — quelled by childhood trauma; eroded by social constraints; overwhelmed by the harried gestalt of daily life and the denial that accompanies our compulsion for convenience and immediate gratification. Today's guest is a powerful reminder of who we really are. A call to action to better align this core value of compassion with the countless choices we make daily that dictate how we live our lives. To be more mindful about not only what we what eat, but what we do; the hows and whys behind our behavior; and the implications of personal choice on both ourselves and the world at large. How to describe my friend Gene Baur? Hailed as the “conscience of the food movement” by TIME magazine, this is a guy who has spent the last 25 years traveling extensively around the country, campaigning to raise awareness about the abuses of industrialized factory farming and our current food system. Humanitarian, environmentalist, activist, undercover investigator and best-selling author, Gene is most well known as the president & co-founder of Farm Sanctuary. The first animal rescue organization dedicated to farmed animals, Farm Sanctuary shelters in New York and California provide rescue, refuge, and adoption for hundreds of farm animals each year, enabling visitors to connect with farm animals as emotional, intelligent individuals. Gene believes these animals stand as ambassadors for the billions on factory farms who have no voice, and he has dedicated his career to advocating on their behalf. He's so handsome it makes me jealous, yet I can't help but love everything about this guy. He's a beautiful soul. And he's a darn good plant-based marathon runner & ironman athlete to boot. Now for some context. This show is no stranger to people with strong points of view. But Gene was the first true animal rights activist I interviewed (in case you missed it, you can listen to our premier conversation from June 2013 here. I’m the first to admit that my original reasons for going vegan were far more selfish than ethical. Understanding that animal rights isn't exactly everyone's cup of tea, I admit to having some trepidation about publishing that interview. But that was 2013. In truth, that conversation changed me. Gene really disarmed what I would consider willful blindness when it came to so many facets regarding how our world functions. Today I have a very different lens on the issues that spark Gene's passion. Today, I can't imagine not sharing Gene's perspective. For me this marks personal growth. The evolution-revolution that is the hallmark of this journey I undertook eight years ago. Because the more educated I become about how our food system actually functions to deliver meals to our plates, the more interested and outspoken I have become about advocating for change. And the more strident and diligent I have become about aligning my daily personal decisions and consumer choices with a more compassionate and communitarian set of core values.