The Vegan Compass Podcast

In this episode, we sit down with Anita Marriott , a former veterinarian and sustainability professional who has transitioned into a qualified, trauma-informed life and mindset coach for vegans.  Anita’s unique path has given her a deep understanding of the interconnectedness between human, animal, and environmental well-being, but it also led her through some of the darkest corners of activist bu...

In 2016, Kerrie Carroll founded Lucky Stars Sanctuary with a conviction that injured, neglected or abandoned animals deserve a safe haven to flourish. In 2019, Clint Seares joined the sanctuary as Kerrie’s devoted partner in both life and mission. Tragically, Kerrie passed away in 2023, leaving Clint and his daughter Anna as custodians of the 100+ sanctuary residents, now located in Wooton, NSW. I...

In this episode, we sit down with Jemma Fittock , the Vice President of Free The Hounds and producer of the ‘Talking Couch Potatoes’ podcast.  Jemma works full-time as a Registered Nurse, but her after-hours dedication is focused entirely on ending the greyhound racing industry in Western Australia. Jemma joins us to pull back the curtain on the harsh realities of the racing industry. We dive into...

In this special tribute episode, we honour the late Christine Townend , a pioneer who laid the foundation for the animal rights movement in Australia. We are joined by two icons of the movement and friends of Christine, Lynda Stoner and Glenys Oogjes, to share her life and monumental work. Christine was a force of nature who shaped the movement from its infancy in the mid-1970s. From founding Anim...

In this episode, we’re joined by Brisbane-based content creator Jakob Guy , better known online as Humane Vision. With a combined audience of over 300,000 and content that reaches millions of people every month, Jakob has redefined what it means to be an animal advocate in the digital age. Jakob shares his unique approach to advocacy, which blends education, humour, and direct storytelling to make...

In this episode, we are honoured to sit down with Gail Eisnitz , Chief Investigator for the Humane Farming Association (HFA) and a true pioneer of animal cruelty investigations in the USA.  Gail has spent 43 years exposing the hidden horrors of the animal farming and slaughter industries, but her latest book, Out of Sight , reveals a health battle she was fighting behind the scenes. Gail opens up...

In this episode, we connect with Danish actress, singer, and songwriter Nina Bergman to explore the intersection of her career and animal rights activism.  Known for her intense, action-packed roles, Nina shares what it’s actually like to prepare for these roles and maintain your values on a Hollywood film set. We also dive into Nina’s journey to becoming a vocal vegan activist, including her expe...

In this episode, we sit down with Brett and Krzysztof , the duo behind the award-winning vegan cheese brand Faux Sho . From their beginnings selling "Frizzas" (fried pizzas) in London's Brick Lane to taking home nine medals at the Australian Fine Food Awards, their journey is a masterclass in resilience and culinary innovation. We dive into their beginnings working under big names li...

In this episode, we explore the deep – but often forgotten – relationship between humans and the ecosystem with vegan chef Elijah Attard and filmmaker Liam Allen .  Together, they have created ‘Awakened’, a cinematic short film that investigates our role in nature through the lens of foraging and ocean conservation. Elijah shares his journey from kitchen porter to vegan fine dining, and how his pa...

In this post-event wrap-up episode, Ric and Mackenzie sit down to reflect on an inspiring weekend at the Animal Rights Forum 2026 held at the Sydney Masonic Centre.  After two days of presentations, panels, and deep-diving into the most urgent issues facing animals today, we share our personal highlights and the talks that moved us most. We discuss the power of seeing the community come together i...

In this week’s episode, we sit down with Sophie Wilcher , a dedicated animal rights activist and investigator with Farm Transparency Project whose journey has led her into some of the most confronting places in Australia’s ‘food’ system. After beginning her advocacy through street outreach, vigils, and community activism, she soon stepped into investigative work. In 2019, she entered her first fac...

In this episode, we sit down with filmmaker and marine conservation advocate Andre Borell , co-founder of the Envoy Foundation and director of the 2021 documentary, Envoy: Shark Cull which exposed Australia’s shark control programs and the global fight to protect our oceans. In our chat, Andre shares how his lifelong love for marine animals led him to expose the devastating impact of shark nets an...

In this week’s episode, we sit down with Peter Varvaressos , the ingenuitive mind behind some of Sydney’s most loved vegan food businesses: Greens Supermarket , Vandal and Kimusabi . From creating a community hub for plant-based groceries to redefining sushi and Mexican street food, Pete has played a huge role in shaping Sydney’s vegan food culture. We start by exploring Peter’s background, having...

In this week’s episode, we sit down with Amanda Dorn , Western Australia’s first Animal Justice Party MP , whose journey from dedicated volunteer to elected representative is nothing short of inspiring. Amanda shares how her vegan journey began nine years ago after watching powerful documentaries like Dominion . Before politics, she built a career in Real Estate and became a small business owner—b...

In today’s episode we chat with Forest Nash , a natural bodybuilding champion and online fitness and nutrition coach. He is passionate about breaking down stereotypes as a strong, fit vegan role model, and helping others to truly thrive and achieve their fitness goals on a plant-based diet. Forest was raised as an ethical vegetarian from birth, and has been vegan since 2015. In our conversation, F...

In this week’s episode, we sit down with Dr. Dana Kolsky , a qualified veterinary surgeon also on the team at Animal Free Science Advocacy (AFSA) , an organisation at the forefront of efforts to end animal experimentation in Australia. Dana shares the uncomfortable truth about what life for animals used in science really looks like, how these experiments are approved, and why these outdated method...

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Emma Hurst MP , elected member for the Animal Justice Party in NSW Parliament. A psychologist, animal protection campaigner, and former vegan bodybuilder, we dive into Emma’s remarkable journey from a young animal advocate to the halls of parliament. Emma shares how her passion for animals began at a young age and the winding path that led her from roles...

In this episode, we sit down with Kate Galli , vegan health coach, host of the Healthification podcast, and author of The Plant Positive Journal . Kate is passionate about helping people create their fittest, strongest, most confident selves while living in alignment with their values through a plant-based lifestyle. Kate opens up about her own transformation, including the shift from being an “an...

In this moving episode we talk to Nikki Steendam , co-founder of Beagle Freedom Australia , to uncover the hidden world of animals used in research and the fight to give them a second chance at life. Nikki takes us back to the early 2000s, sharing what first led her to rehome beagles and scent hounds, and the decision to formalise Beagle Freedom Australia in 2013. We go behind the scenes of rescue...

In this episode of The Vegan Compass , we sit down with Georgie Purcell , Member of Parliament for the Animal Justice Party in Victoria. Georgie shares her journey from grassroots activism to political leadership, offering an inside look at what it means to bring animal issues into the halls of parliament. We talk about her path into politics, what motivated her to run as a candidate, and how it f...

Sheep are one of the most overlooked species in the fight for animal justice, yet their stories hold the power to change hearts and minds. In this episode, we sit down with Gary Hall , founder of Sheep Advocate Australia , to uncover his journey challenging one of the largest industries, deeply entrenched in Australian culture. Trigger warning: Around the 21:30 mark, Gary shares some of the worst...

In this week’s episode, we sit down with Michelle , the passionate founder of Happily Heifer After Animal Sanctuary. Michelle shares what set her on the path to starting a sanctuary, the early challenges she faced, and the incredible stories of the animals who now call the sanctuary home. We also dive deep into Michelle’s mental health journey , exploring how she navigated burnout, what she’s lear...

In this episode we’re joined by the passionate force behind one of Sydney’s favourite vegan eateries: Lorenzo from Don Fred. Once immersed in the world of traditional hospitality, Lorenzo’s path took a turn when he went vegan. What followed was a leap into business ownership, guided by compassion, his Italian heritage, and the belief that vegan food should be warm, welcoming, and utterly delicious...

In this episode, we sit down with renowned animal photojournalist Jo-Anne McArthur, founder of We Animals–a global resource for animal-focused visual content. Jo-Anne has spent the past two decades capturing animal issues in over 60 countries, revealing the often unseen realities of animals trapped in human systems, from factory farms to roadside zoos–sharing their stories through hauntingly power...

In this casual conversation between friends, we sit down with Sarah Qian, founder of Compassion Creamery—a vegan business blending indulgent oat creme cheeses with a powerful message of compassion. Along the way, we go off script to chat about Sarah’s two rescue greyhounds and their rescue story, the importance of community, pursuing hobbies (and much more). Trigger Warning: Sarah shares her exper...