The Simple Heart w/ Wayne Hsiung

In January 2014, James Aspey took a year-long vow of silence. For 365 days, James did not use his voice, in an effort to raise awareness to the suffering of animals. And when he finally spoke, his words had great power. He reached millions of people in his first interview for Australian television, then gave hundreds of talks across the globe (virtually all free of charge) to encourage people to t...

Vegan Gains thinks I’m a scumbag. And I’m grateful. Richard Burgess, or Vegan Gains, is among the most important vegan influencers in history. His brand of fierce advocacy has generated a big following, with over 300k subscribers on YouTube. But while there is much to appreciate about Richard – he is wicked smart and has provocative, evidence-based views on everything from organic food (he’s again...

We live in an era of social movements. From #BlackLivesMatter to #FreePalestine, massive mobilizations of ordinary people have seized the national agenda – and reshaped policy of nations across the globe. How does it all happen? And can we do the same for animal rights? Dan Kidby is the co-founder of the UK-based Animal Rising, formerly Animal Rebellion, one of the most successful grassroots effor...

What does it take to save a pig from a factory farm?  There are few people who understand this question better than Jenny McQueen, a Canadian activist who has been arrested, charged, and convicted for her nonviolent actions to help pigs in factory farms. But her story is not a sad one. To the contrary, Jenny has repeatedly and proudly risked her freedom, and garnered positive media attention in th...

Among the most important philosophers of our era – Peter Singer and Martha Nussbaum and Yuval Noah Hariri – animal agriculture is a historic atrocity. In both the scale and severity of suffering, there has never been an episode in history where so much evil has been inflicted, and so many. And yet even animal rights advocates rarely speak of what happens to animals in such terms. Why? I speak to J...

Most people who realize what's been happening to animals are shaken by the experience. But Jamie Logan, an influencer, activist, and podcast host ho has been arrested for her work for animals, always has a happyface, even when she's confronting some of the most disturbing atrocities in thehistory of the planet earth. How does she manage that, and why us her "happy" approach so cr...

To the world, it was a heavenly egg farm. But for Mei, it was hell.  For the last decade, I and other activists have been rescuing animals from the most violent places on earth. And, in many cases, this cruelty is part of a corporate cover-up. Direct Action Everywhere co-founder Ronnie Rose, a team member on our first open rescue, talks about how we built a team to expose the fraud underlying the...

A recent study by scholars at UC Berkeley and Yale shows that changing a person’s media consumption from Fox News to CNN had statistically significant impacts on “factual beliefs, attitudes, perceptions of issues’ importance, and overall political views.” But the media rarely covers issues such as animal rights. How do we change that? And what can each of us learn from media experts about how to c...

Two moments in my life changed everything, and taught me important lessons about changing the world.  The first was when, as a child, I saw a dog being beaten to death for the first time. The second was when, as an adult, I walked into a slaughterhouse for the first time. and saw a little lamb -- then plunged into the abattoir and tried to save her. This episode of my new YouTube show will offer s...

Wayne delves into his emotional and profound journey, fresh from his release from jail following the Sonoma Trial. This episode provides a candid exploration of Wayne's time behind bars, offering a unique perspective on the parallels between jail life and factory farms. Listeners will gain insight into the sentencing and probation conditions imposed on Wayne, highlighting the restriction that...

The heart-wrenching ordeal of Ruby the horse in Sonoma County unveiled a chilling viewpoint entrenched in our legal system: "Animals are property," as the County's Operations Manager for Animal Control voiced. But this is not where the conversation ends. Steven Wise, affiliated with the Nonhuman Rights Project, pushes back, advocating fervently for the recognition of animal personhoo...

Wayne dives into the scorching reality of the summer of 2023, officially declared by the UN as the hottest on record . As the tendrils of climate change tighten their grip, our planet is subjected to catastrophic consequences. From the disturbing Maui fires to the harrowing tales of animals and humans alike struggling against nature's fury, the evidence is overwhelming. But is nature truly to...

Animal activists Priya and Wayne discuss the essence of open rescue, emphasizing its symbolic role in the animal rights movement beyond just a tactic. Sharing their experiences of facing trials, challenges with the legal system, and personal confrontations with powerful entities, they reflect on their inspirations, particularly the animals they seek to save. The story underscores the sacrifices th...

Dive deep with Wayne into The Simple Heart’s eye-opening post, “ How Saving One Hen Can Save Billions. ” In 2017, Julianne Perry rescued a calf, leading many to question how we could save all 12,000 who were left behind. Perry set the stage for a debate that extended far beyond the confines of a single animal rescue. This episode explores the societal rules that bind us and the monumental impact o...

Curtis Vollmar was convicted in Utah for leafleting on a public sidewalk. Tracy Murphy was charged with grand larceny for aiding two stray cows who wandered onto her property. And, most recently, a member of Congress wrote a letter to the FBI asking for action to be taken against "vegan extremists." There is a moral panic over animal rights unfolding across the country – but if we play o...

Defendant Alicia Santurio and attorney Jonathan Frohnmayer on how we won another historic victory in the Foster Farms Trial.

I’m pausing the podcast, to take on some big new projects. What I’ve learned from the last couple years, and what’s coming next.

Leighton Woodhouse is a journalist documentary filmmaker, and an iconoclast. He’s a (former?) leftist who now critiques movements for police accountability, racial justice, and even climate change. I disagree with him — vehemently in some cases — on almost all of these issues (and even on some aspects of animal rights: the cause that originally brought us together). But he’s also a dear friend, an...

Helena Merk is the CEO and founder of Spirals Protocol, a green cryptocurrency startup that aims to use blockchain technology to create effortless and verifiable climate impact. NOTE: This podcast has a lot of technical jargon. If you’re new to crypto, check out this blog for a simple guide to some of the terms and concepts: https://simpleheart.substack.com/p/a-green-guide-to-cryptocurrency-podcas...

Priya and I talk about our experiences inside Whole Foods’ highest-rated turkey farm, our efforts to change our families’ traditions around Thanksgiving, and the best time to drink coffee. Priya Sawhney is co-founder of the animal rights network Direct Action Everywhere. Jeff Bezos disruption: https://youtu.be/QKuNZdGsQ_I Bernie Sanders disruption: https://fb.watch/gXwN7jSIYM/

Criminal law scholar Hadar Aviram, who testified on my behalf at the Smithfield trial, joins me in a conversation about power, corruption, and her theory that some of the greatest wrongs in life are caused by people acting in fear. Read Hadar's blog on the trial: https://www.hadaraviram.com/2022/10/08/smithfieldtrial-the-most-absurd-miscarriage-of-justice-youve-never-heard-of/

A few simple tenets of Buddhist thinking have lifted millions of people globally from anxiety or despair, and empowered them to become their best selves. How can we apply these ancient traditions to modern life? Music by Dayzee Deva

In 1986, Gene Baur saw a sheep lying in the so-called “dead pile” at Lancaster Stockyards. But this sheep wasn’t dead. She lifted her head, and Gene rushed her to receive veterinary care. The story of Hilda is just one of many that Gene has to tell from his nearly four decades of animal rights activism. But it all comes back to the same foundational idea: when we are at our best, we are rescuers o...

Eric, Matthew, and I discuss “moral theories,” why they matter, and how they converge around animal rights Music by Dayzee Deva (cover of "Everybody Have Fun Tonight”)

Alex Chow and Anna Kwok are activists with the Hong Kong Democracy Council, where they’ve challenged efforts by the Chinese government to restrict civil liberties and silence dissent. Music by Dayzee Deva (cover of "Everybody Have Fun Tonight”)