In this episode, we hear from Just Wondering, a collective of three individuals based in Eastern Europe. M, Mina and Aron. They make animated videos which they describe as “inescapably political and speculative”. I picked some of the video that had really piqued my interest - an impossible choice really, as the topics covered by Just Wondering cover so much ground, from Tim Morton’s hyperobjects to Sunaura Taylor’s disability liberation approach.  A liberation movement must change the narrative and storytelling is Just Wondering’s strength. We hear about their learning journey through the theory and how the collective came to make videos, as well as details about the illustration and animation process. We also hear briefly about some of the collectives plans for the future.Just Wondering on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/justwondering/featuredJust Wondering website: https://www.justwondering.io

Beyond Species

Just Wondering

Episode 34. In this episode, we hear from Jemma, about her concept of radical animism and book of the same name. We begin with Jemma’s current studies of fungi and what we humans can learn from it. Jemma then expands on some of the themes of Radical Animism – including the 4 blows to human narcissism, the agency of the anthropocene, the evolution of language, and the animism of literature, including how texts like Alice in Wonderland can challenge and bring fresh light to our expectations of nonhuman animal agency. Jemma's website

Radical Animism, Language and Agency

Episode 33. In this episode, we hear from Rebecca, whose research at Lancaster University takes a closer look at the meat paradox. Rebecca explains some of the psychological mechanisms people use to justify their meat eating. Rebecca’s research investigates meat reduction strategies and highlights the importance of social support for people going vegan, as well as digging deeper into anti-vegan attitudes.Website: https://www.rebeccagregson.com

The Psychology of the Meat Paradox

Episode 32. In this episode, we hear from Fernando. Fernando explains some of the difficulties of pushing animal rights activism forward in Colombia. Issues around land ownership, a history of colonialism, war, poverty and trauma interconnect to create a challenging landscape. In a country where cattle ranchers, politicians and paramilitaries often work together to protect their interests, animal rights activism can be a dangerous calling. Fernando also explains some of the complications around bullfighting in Colombia.Fernando: @soyspinozista

Activism in Colombia

Episode 31. In this episode, we hear from Marc. Marc explains how the animal liberation movement can become more accessible to and benefit from neurodiversity. He expands on some of the obstacles neurodivergent people are presented with by our ableist society and how activists can support and learn from each other in organising spaces. We also discuss some of the issues around white saviourism, burnout culture, graphic slaughter footage and publicity stunts. Marc also encourages men to take action to unlearn patriarchal behaviour patterns, and shares some thoughts on self-care.Marc: @blacknsand 

Neurodiversity, Unlearning & Liberation

Episode 30. In this episode, we hear from Dr. Iyan Offor. Iyan’s article “Second Wave Animal Ethics” proposes a move away from the rights-based liberal tradition of animal ethics that focuses heavily on nonhuman sentience and similarity. Iyan thinks the animal liberation movement is at a stage where, looking inwards, we can reflect, explore and experiment with theories from the margins. An intersectional, posthumanist approach which builds stronger links with the environmental movement has much to offer both activists and those working and studying animal law. Iyan: https://twitter.com/iyanoffor

Second Wave Animal Ethics

Episode 29. In this episode, we hear from Dr. Michelle Westerlaken. Michelle explains her concept of multispecies-isms or multispecies worlding – a response to speciesism that looks for traces of how we humans interact with other species in our everyday lives, so as to imagine how relationships might take place in a non-speciesist future. Michelle’s work draws in strands from a range of disciplines, including interaction design, posthumanism and indigenous ways of knowing. Michelle finds the ethic of care a challenging but generative concept worth exploring. She also discusses the concept of the Bestiary in her thesis, which opens up spaces for nonhumans to “tell” stories, as well as to push our questions around speciesism into controversial territory. Gaming can also provide imaginative spaces for vegans to explore their ethics and enact non-speciesist worlding.Website: https://michellewesterlaken.comThesis: Imagining Multispecies Worlds  

Imagining Multispecies Worlds

Episode 28. In this episode, we hear from Maythe, whose studies in multispecies kinship focus on the relationships humans have with dogs. Maythe shares information about an ethnographic study of dog lovers who perpetuate racism, particularly with regard to events around 2020’s Black Lives Matter protests in the UK. This leads to questions about the links between white supremacy and human supremacy. Maythe also considers the ethic of care to be a compelling avenue worth exploring. While studying, she shakes up the university system and field of anthropology through her decolonial praxis. Maythe: maythehan.com

Multispecies Kinship, Dogs & Racism

Episode 27. In this episode, we hear from Vallary. Vallary shares her experiences of mainstream vegan activism - both how she came into the movement and how she broke away from it. Vallary challenged the dominant narrative within the movement, sometimes directly with the organisations she saw as problematic. She calls instead for an anti-colonial approach which focuses on grassroots, local activism. Vallary’s personal journey has led her to a place where self-care and empathy are prioritised, as is allowing space for growth and learning – not just for herself, but for others too. IG: @vallary88

Growing Through Activism

Episode 26. In this episode, we hear from India, who explains some of the ideas and aims behind the Vegan Rainbow Project. We hear about the importance of building an inclusive vegan movement which explores the interconnections of oppression and builds alliances with other social justice movements. India also shares her thoughts on feminist theory within anti-speciesist discourse and some of the benefits and challenges of grassroots community building. Vegan Rainbow ProjectIndia: @radicalempathFilm link: Pride

Together Against Interconnected Oppression

Episode 25. In this episode, we hear from Shakira about the importance of providing nonhuman animal care during and after rescue and liberation. Shakira calls for more work to be done in the vegan community, so that more humans feel empowered to become involved in this aspect of liberation. Nonhuman animal care is itself a form of activism. Shakira also explains some of the issues that contribute to the oppression of nonhumans kept as companion animals, particularly dogs designated by law as “dangerous”. It’s vital that anti-speciesist activists and vegans increase their knowledge of nonhuman animal behaviours and individual needs, as well as be mindful of their language and actions so that they don’t play into the hands of the oppressors. Shakira: https://www.instagram.com/shakirafree/  

Nonhuman Animal Care is Activism

Episode 24. In this episode, we hear from Dr. Catherine Oliver. Catherine’s studies in vegan geographies have led her to explore how and why people take up veganism, and how for the majority of them, veganism is a politics that is felt, emotionally and physically, and lived and performed. This embodied politics contrasts with the simplistic sound bites of social media influencer-activists. We also hear about Catherine’s study of Richard Ryder’s work, and how a group of men including Tom Regan and Peter Singer came to dominate the discourse of animal rights. Catherine also outlines some of the questions she intends to look at within her current area of investigation – the rehoming of chickens, particularly in London – and the complications and possible outcomes around this. Dr. Catherine Oliver: https://twitter.com/katiecmoliver 

Vegan Geographies & Embodied Politics

Episode 23. In this episode, we hear from Aiyana. Aiyana explains the concept behind the Anti-Speciesist Arts Collective, as well as how true freedom can be found through what she terms “uncaged art”. Aiyana also shares her thoughts on how we can take care of ourselves and each other through collective care as we navigate our way through conformist, capitalist society. Reclaiming animality and breaking binaries are also key to unlocking true liberation.Aiyana: http://linktr.ee/aiyana_ 

Uncaged Art, Animality & Collective Care

Episode 22. In this episode, we hear from Jo. Jo uses a systems thinking approach to climate justice, which helps to identify the impact of individual and systems change. Jo picks up on some of the problems with the mainstream environmental movement, calling for it to centre social justice and inclusion. Jo shares some thoughts about the situation of climate refugees and the rise of eco-fascism. Jo also explains how imagination and futurism can be harnessed to envision and empower our communities and help create the worlds we want to see.JO: http://linktr.ee/treesnpeace

Systems Change & Futurism for Climate Justice

Episode 21. In this episode we hear from Elliott. Based in London (UK), Elliot rescues non-human animals that need assistance. He tells us about some of the complications and challenges, but also successes of rescuing and liberation. Elliott explains the importance of getting to know non-human animals as individuals, de-centring humans in the struggle for animal liberation and sharing stories of animal agency and resistance. We also hear of Elliott's vision for creating sanctuary and how this could contribute towards collective liberation.The Hoppy Acre on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_hoppy_acre/ 

Towards a Liberated Future

A podcast exploring issues around speciesism and the struggle to dismantle it.

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Beyond Species

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