In this interview episode of Our Hen House, Jasmin Singer and Mariann Sullivan sit down with vegan zoologist, author, and activist Jordi Casamitjana for a wide-ranging conversation about the philosophy, legal landscape, and long-term vision of the vegan movement.

Ethical veganism as a protected belief: Jordi shares the full story behind the landmark 2020 UK legal case that held that ethical veganism is a protected philosophical belief under the Equality Act 2010 — and what that means for vegans around the world.
The five core axioms of veganism: From ahimsa and animal sentience to anti-speciesism and vicariousness, Jordi breaks down the philosophical framework that underpins his book Why Vegans Don’t and explains why veganism is a sociopolitical movement, not just a diet.
Radical and idealist — and proud of it: Jordi makes the case for holding firm to long-term vegan goals rather than diluting the movement to gain short-term acceptance, and why he sees radical idealism as essential to meaningful change.
Autism, black-and-white thinking, and the vegan mind: In a candid and rarely shared revelation, Jordi opens up about being AuDHD and how neurodivergent thinking may be uniquely suited to the clarity and moral consistency that veganism demands.
Finding your role in the movement: Jordi offers grounded, personal advice on how vegans can discover their own unique contribution — without compromising their values or shrinking their goals to fit in.

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Jordi Casamitjana is a Catalan-born vegan zoologist and animal behaviour specialist based in the UK, whose decades of activism span undercover investigations, zoo closures, illegal hunting prosecutions, and the banning of bullfighting in Catalonia. He is best known for the landmark 2020 legal case that established ethical veganism as a protected philosophical belief under Great Britain’s Equality Act 2010. He is the author of Ethical Vegan: A Personal and Political Journey to Change the World and Why Vegans Don’t: A Philosophical Guide to Vegan Behaviour, and works as a freelance writer, video creator, and public speaker on veganism and animal rights.

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Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series.

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