Ben Cohen: Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream, the Genocide in Gaza, and the Department of Pentagon Excess

Let’s Give a Damn with Nick Laparra

Guest: Ben Cohen (Co-founder, Ben & Jerry’s; activist)
Episode: Ben Cohen: Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream, the Genocide in Gaza, and the Department of Pentagon Excess
Recording Date: September 25, 2025

Overview

This episode features a profound, wide-ranging conversation between host Nick Laparra and Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s and a lifelong activist. The discussion covers Ben’s Jewish upbringing and the evolution of his political consciousness, the origins and ethos of Ben & Jerry’s, activism in response to injustice (especially regarding Gaza), business ethics, and his latest project, Up In Arms, which confronts Pentagon spending. The tone is candid, passionate, and peppered with humor, hope, and practical wisdom on pursuing justice.

Background & Upbringing

Ben’s Early Influences (05:56–10:46)

Born in Brooklyn, 1951: Raised in a Jewish home, moved to Long Island at age 1½.
Zionist Education: Attended Center Island Jewish School, learned about Jewish oppression and the creation of Israel as a safe haven. Was taught, “it was a desert, nobody was living there... and then the Jews made the desert bloom,” a myth he later came to question.
- Quote: "I was a Zionist, of course. I believed there should be a homeland for the Jewish people... they taught us this was really shitty land... nobody was living there." [09:57–10:46]
Eyewitness to Inequity: Noted stark economic and racial divides driving into Manhattan, expressed an early sense of fairness about why people on one side of a street lived differently than those on the other.
Civil Rights Awakening: Wanted to ride buses with the Freedom Riders at age 12 but his parents refused.
- Quote: "When you're confronted with situations of injustice, you have three choices. You can complain about it, you can ignore it, or you can do something about it. And I feel better doing something about it." [14:38]

From Activist Roots to Ben & Jerry’s

Launching the Brand (18:23–22:38)

Origin Story: Ben and Jerry met as “the two slowest, fattest kids” in their 7th grade gym class. Attempted other careers (pottery, medicine) before deciding, “since the only thing we really liked doing was eating, we decided to start a restaurant.”
- Quote: "We're both failures. If we're gonna get by in this world, maybe we should start our own business." [18:47]
Ice Cream Beginnings: Went with ice cream due to prohibitive cost of bagel equipment. Opened in a dilapidated gas station in Vermont in 1978 with $4,000 each.
First Successes & Innovations: Pivoted from crepes to pints packaged for mom-and-pop stores when their ice cream truck couldn’t keep up.
Product Philosophy: Pints chosen for affordability and quality preservation.
- Quote: "If you finish it faster, it stays in better shape… and it's a fairly expensive ice cream." [24:30]
Beloved Flavors: Ben’s favorites include New York Super Fudge Chunk, Coffee Coffee BuzzBuzzBuzz, and Chubby Hubby; recommends vanilla on a Wheat Thin for sweet-salty contrast.

Business as a Tool for Justice

Corporate Activism (28:20–32:41)

From Day One: Aimed to run the business “the way regular old everyday people… would like to see a business run.”
- Celebrated community with Free Cone Day and neighborhood events.
Evolution of Influence: Realized as Ben & Jerry’s grew that “business is the most powerful force in our societies—used to be religion, then nation-states, now business."
- Quote: "When business talks, you know, the media listens, the politicians listen, and the people listen." [31:47]
Giving Voice to Values: Used the company's platform to oppose the positions of traditional business organizations, setting a standard for value-driven brands.
On Consumer Power: Discusses the effectiveness of boycotts and consumer protests, noting, “for people to be able to buy a product from a company whose values they actually support is incredibly powerful.” [35:35]

Ben & Jerry’s in Transition: The Struggle for Autonomy

Ownership, the Unilever Takeover & Social Mission (36:51–45:28)

Unique Public Investment: Originally sold stock primarily to Vermont residents (minimum $126 buy-in), making Ben & Jerry’s a locally-owned company—“one out of every hundred Vermont families had bought stock.” [38:56]
Unilever Acquisition: Resistance from Ben and Jerry, but a deal was made in 2000 due to need for capital. Legal agreement gave Ben & Jerry's an independent board to preserve social mission, product quality, and marketing.
Conflict Over Israel/West Bank: Ben & Jerry's attempted to stop sales in the West Bank; Unilever sold the rights in Israel, going “against the acquisition agreement.”
- Result: “Unilever has muzzled Ben and Jerry's on issues related to racial justice, DEI, Gaza, freedom of speech.”
Current Fight: Unilever spinning off ice cream brands into “Magnum Ice Cream Company.” Ben and Jerry are pushing for Ben & Jerry’s to be sold to socially aligned investors.
- Quote: "All of Ben and Jerry's was a long shot... Our customers do care... and they just need to let Unilever and Magnum know how they feel." [44:21–45:28]

Activism in Action: Arrest, Gaza, and The Department of Pentagon Excess

Civil Disobedience for Gaza & U.S. Priorities (46:41–50:18)

Gaza Atrocity & Domestic Neglect: Ben describes the rage at U.S. funding for weapons vs. failing to address crises like lead poisoning among American children.
- Quote: "...instead of dealing with the lead poisoning, we're buying weapons and giving them to Israel as a gift so they can bomb poor kids there in Gaza." [48:27]
Disrupting Senate Hearings: Wanted high-impact protest against military aid to Israel; executed it with Code Pink’s help.
Civil Disobedience Philosophy: “Civil disobedience is the strongest statement that a citizen can make... every once in a while you do something that works.” [49:00–50:18]
Reflections on Empire & Protest: Host and guest celebrate the rising tide of civil disobedience, especially among Palestine solidarity activists.

Up In Arms: Challenging the Pentagon Budget (54:08–62:18)

Focus: Massive unnecessary Pentagon (“Department of War”) spending—“we spend on the Pentagon more than the next nine countries combined... most of those are allies.” [55:24]
Powerful Statistic: U.S. has 800+ foreign bases; next biggest country has “like seven.” [57:30]
Nuclear Excess: U.S. arsenal now equals the destructive power of 50,000 Hiroshima bombs; $100 billion a year, half for new nukes.
Budget Reallocation Vision: Only a fraction of Pentagon spending is needed to solve homelessness, child hunger, and other social ills.
Tactics: Public stunts (e.g., physical representations of Pentagon billions), creative campaigns (e.g., “Department of Pentagon Excess”—D.O.P.E.), and digital outreach.
- Quote: "Let's use the money to make it so people can afford a decent place to live... shifting from a budget based on fear to a budget based more on flourishing, love, caring, thriving communities." [59:06–60:11]
How to Get Involved: Visit upinarms.life for info, resources, and what actions to join. [61:06–61:16]

Hope, Realism, and Advice for Damn-Givers

On Youth, Politics, and Finding Joy in Justice (65:09–69:55)

Current Moment: Ben sees the U.S. as an empire in “its last gasps,” with new leadership (e.g., Zohran Mamdani in NY) rising. Importance of supporting candidates committed to justice.
2026 Election: Urges listeners to vote out politicians unwilling to end arms gifts to Israel.
On Sustaining Hope:
- Quote: "You can either ignore it, you can complain about it, or you can try to do something about it." [67:18]
- “You don't have to finish the job, but you have to work on it... enjoy the journey of working for justice. It's the joyful journey for justice.” [68:09–68:28]
The Joy in Struggle: Nick adds that activism brings connection and joy, not just hardship.
- Ben: "Yes, there's joy in fighting injustice." [69:51]

Notable Quotes & Moments

Nick (to Ben): “When people think about businesses that give a damn, yours comes to mind… You’ve built not just products, but a community.” [27:15–28:20]
Ben (on business as activism): “Most people are buying products despite what the business represents. For people to be able to buy a product from a company whose values they actually support is incredibly powerful.” [35:26–35:35]
Ben (on activism): “Civil disobedience is the strongest statement that a citizen can make.” [48:59]
Ben (on the Pentagon): “The difference between a budget based on fear and a budget based on flourishing, love, caring, thriving communities.” [60:11]

Key Timestamps

03:12–10:46: Ben’s upbringing, Jewish education, civil rights awareness
18:23–22:38: Founding Ben & Jerry’s, from friendship to business
28:20–32:41: Social mission and political activism via brand platform
36:51–45:28: Unilever acquisition, the independence fight, Ben & Jerry’s and the West Bank
46:41–50:18: Protest during Senate hearing, Gaza as political/moral priority
54:08–62:18: Up In Arms: the Pentagon budget, public demonstrations, future campaign plans
65:09–69:55: Ben’s advice for the next generation, hope, and the "joyful journey for justice"

How to Take Action

Visit: upinarms.life for resources on Pentagon spending and to join the movement.
Support: Buy from businesses aligning with your values.
Engage: Use your voice, your vote, and your willingness to act—online, in elections, and on the streets.

This episode is a masterclass in business as social activism, moral clarity in times of crisis, and the sustaining joy found in the work for justice.

Let’s Give a Damn with Nick Laparra

Overview

Background & Upbringing

Ben’s Early Influences (05:56–10:46)

Born in Brooklyn, 1951: Raised in a Jewish home, moved to Long Island at age 1½.
Zionist Education: Attended Center Island Jewish School, learned about Jewish oppression and the creation of Israel as a safe haven. Was taught, “it was a desert, nobody was living there... and then the Jews made the desert bloom,” a myth he later came to question.
- Quote: "I was a Zionist, of course. I believed there should be a homeland for the Jewish people... they taught us this was really shitty land... nobody was living there." [09:57–10:46]
Eyewitness to Inequity: Noted stark economic and racial divides driving into Manhattan, expressed an early sense of fairness about why people on one side of a street lived differently than those on the other.
Civil Rights Awakening: Wanted to ride buses with the Freedom Riders at age 12 but his parents refused.
- Quote: "When you're confronted with situations of injustice, you have three choices. You can complain about it, you can ignore it, or you can do something about it. And I feel better doing something about it." [14:38]

From Activist Roots to Ben & Jerry’s

Launching the Brand (18:23–22:38)

Origin Story: Ben and Jerry met as “the two slowest, fattest kids” in their 7th grade gym class. Attempted other careers (pottery, medicine) before deciding, “since the only thing we really liked doing was eating, we decided to start a restaurant.”
- Quote: "We're both failures. If we're gonna get by in this world, maybe we should start our own business." [18:47]
Ice Cream Beginnings: Went with ice cream due to prohibitive cost of bagel equipment. Opened in a dilapidated gas station in Vermont in 1978 with $4,000 each.
First Successes & Innovations: Pivoted from crepes to pints packaged for mom-and-pop stores when their ice cream truck couldn’t keep up.
Product Philosophy: Pints chosen for affordability and quality preservation.
- Quote: "If you finish it faster, it stays in better shape… and it's a fairly expensive ice cream." [24:30]
Beloved Flavors: Ben’s favorites include New York Super Fudge Chunk, Coffee Coffee BuzzBuzzBuzz, and Chubby Hubby; recommends vanilla on a Wheat Thin for sweet-salty contrast.

Business as a Tool for Justice

Corporate Activism (28:20–32:41)

From Day One: Aimed to run the business “the way regular old everyday people… would like to see a business run.”
- Celebrated community with Free Cone Day and neighborhood events.
Evolution of Influence: Realized as Ben & Jerry’s grew that “business is the most powerful force in our societies—used to be religion, then nation-states, now business."
- Quote: "When business talks, you know, the media listens, the politicians listen, and the people listen." [31:47]
Giving Voice to Values: Used the company's platform to oppose the positions of traditional business organizations, setting a standard for value-driven brands.
On Consumer Power: Discusses the effectiveness of boycotts and consumer protests, noting, “for people to be able to buy a product from a company whose values they actually support is incredibly powerful.” [35:35]

Ben & Jerry’s in Transition: The Struggle for Autonomy

Ownership, the Unilever Takeover & Social Mission (36:51–45:28)

Unique Public Investment: Originally sold stock primarily to Vermont residents (minimum $126 buy-in), making Ben & Jerry’s a locally-owned company—“one out of every hundred Vermont families had bought stock.” [38:56]
Unilever Acquisition: Resistance from Ben and Jerry, but a deal was made in 2000 due to need for capital. Legal agreement gave Ben & Jerry's an independent board to preserve social mission, product quality, and marketing.
Conflict Over Israel/West Bank: Ben & Jerry's attempted to stop sales in the West Bank; Unilever sold the rights in Israel, going “against the acquisition agreement.”
- Result: “Unilever has muzzled Ben and Jerry's on issues related to racial justice, DEI, Gaza, freedom of speech.”
Current Fight: Unilever spinning off ice cream brands into “Magnum Ice Cream Company.” Ben and Jerry are pushing for Ben & Jerry’s to be sold to socially aligned investors.
- Quote: "All of Ben and Jerry's was a long shot... Our customers do care... and they just need to let Unilever and Magnum know how they feel." [44:21–45:28]

Activism in Action: Arrest, Gaza, and The Department of Pentagon Excess

Civil Disobedience for Gaza & U.S. Priorities (46:41–50:18)

Gaza Atrocity & Domestic Neglect: Ben describes the rage at U.S. funding for weapons vs. failing to address crises like lead poisoning among American children.
- Quote: "...instead of dealing with the lead poisoning, we're buying weapons and giving them to Israel as a gift so they can bomb poor kids there in Gaza." [48:27]
Disrupting Senate Hearings: Wanted high-impact protest against military aid to Israel; executed it with Code Pink’s help.
Civil Disobedience Philosophy: “Civil disobedience is the strongest statement that a citizen can make... every once in a while you do something that works.” [49:00–50:18]
Reflections on Empire & Protest: Host and guest celebrate the rising tide of civil disobedience, especially among Palestine solidarity activists.

Up In Arms: Challenging the Pentagon Budget (54:08–62:18)

Focus: Massive unnecessary Pentagon (“Department of War”) spending—“we spend on the Pentagon more than the next nine countries combined... most of those are allies.” [55:24]
Powerful Statistic: U.S. has 800+ foreign bases; next biggest country has “like seven.” [57:30]
Nuclear Excess: U.S. arsenal now equals the destructive power of 50,000 Hiroshima bombs; $100 billion a year, half for new nukes.
Budget Reallocation Vision: Only a fraction of Pentagon spending is needed to solve homelessness, child hunger, and other social ills.
Tactics: Public stunts (e.g., physical representations of Pentagon billions), creative campaigns (e.g., “Department of Pentagon Excess”—D.O.P.E.), and digital outreach.
- Quote: "Let's use the money to make it so people can afford a decent place to live... shifting from a budget based on fear to a budget based more on flourishing, love, caring, thriving communities." [59:06–60:11]
How to Get Involved: Visit upinarms.life for info, resources, and what actions to join. [61:06–61:16]

Hope, Realism, and Advice for Damn-Givers

On Youth, Politics, and Finding Joy in Justice (65:09–69:55)

Current Moment: Ben sees the U.S. as an empire in “its last gasps,” with new leadership (e.g., Zohran Mamdani in NY) rising. Importance of supporting candidates committed to justice.
2026 Election: Urges listeners to vote out politicians unwilling to end arms gifts to Israel.
On Sustaining Hope:
- Quote: "You can either ignore it, you can complain about it, or you can try to do something about it." [67:18]
- “You don't have to finish the job, but you have to work on it... enjoy the journey of working for justice. It's the joyful journey for justice.” [68:09–68:28]
The Joy in Struggle: Nick adds that activism brings connection and joy, not just hardship.
- Ben: "Yes, there's joy in fighting injustice." [69:51]

Notable Quotes & Moments

Nick (to Ben): “When people think about businesses that give a damn, yours comes to mind… You’ve built not just products, but a community.” [27:15–28:20]
Ben (on business as activism): “Most people are buying products despite what the business represents. For people to be able to buy a product from a company whose values they actually support is incredibly powerful.” [35:26–35:35]
Ben (on activism): “Civil disobedience is the strongest statement that a citizen can make.” [48:59]
Ben (on the Pentagon): “The difference between a budget based on fear and a budget based on flourishing, love, caring, thriving communities.” [60:11]

Key Timestamps

03:12–10:46: Ben’s upbringing, Jewish education, civil rights awareness
18:23–22:38: Founding Ben & Jerry’s, from friendship to business
28:20–32:41: Social mission and political activism via brand platform
36:51–45:28: Unilever acquisition, the independence fight, Ben & Jerry’s and the West Bank
46:41–50:18: Protest during Senate hearing, Gaza as political/moral priority
54:08–62:18: Up In Arms: the Pentagon budget, public demonstrations, future campaign plans
65:09–69:55: Ben’s advice for the next generation, hope, and the "joyful journey for justice"

How to Take Action

Visit: upinarms.life for resources on Pentagon spending and to join the movement.
Support: Buy from businesses aligning with your values.
Engage: Use your voice, your vote, and your willingness to act—online, in elections, and on the streets.

This episode is a masterclass in business as social activism, moral clarity in times of crisis, and the sustaining joy found in the work for justice.

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Summary

Let’s Give a Damn with Nick Laparra

Overview

Background & Upbringing

From Activist Roots to Ben & Jerry’s

Business as a Tool for Justice

Ben & Jerry’s in Transition: The Struggle for Autonomy

Activism in Action: Arrest, Gaza, and The Department of Pentagon Excess

Civil Disobedience for Gaza & U.S. Priorities (46:41–50:18)

Up In Arms: Challenging the Pentagon Budget (54:08–62:18)

Hope, Realism, and Advice for Damn-Givers

Notable Quotes & Moments

Key Timestamps

How to Take Action

Summary

Let’s Give a Damn with Nick Laparra

Overview

Background & Upbringing

From Activist Roots to Ben & Jerry’s

Business as a Tool for Justice

Ben & Jerry’s in Transition: The Struggle for Autonomy

Activism in Action: Arrest, Gaza, and The Department of Pentagon Excess

Civil Disobedience for Gaza & U.S. Priorities (46:41–50:18)

Up In Arms: Challenging the Pentagon Budget (54:08–62:18)

Hope, Realism, and Advice for Damn-Givers

Notable Quotes & Moments

Key Timestamps

How to Take Action