if you’re familiar with this show, you know that I don’t hide the fact that my heart and soul are connected with all life on this planet. As a result, despite the fact that I’m not a fan of labels, I have chosen to identify myself primarily with the vegan label should I ever be asked by someone who doesn’t understand otherwise. It’s just easier that way. Vegan means respect, unity, and interconnection with all life. To me it is the most loving choice that we as human beings can make in a world that is filled with gratuitous violence, suffering and inexcusable cruelty.

For me, vegan is the essence of ahimsa – the Sanskrit word for non violence in thoughts, behaviours, and actions. I’m vegan for one reason only. Love. I love animals. I love the natural world. I love this planet. I love myself. And despite all our flaws, I love humanity because I know the potential that we all hold in our hearts to be so much better. This one choice – vegan – covers it all. It expresses love for all. That doesn’t mean that it isn’t without its imperfections. As long as we wear a human costume we’re not exempt from causing harm to others. But I believe that vegan is the choice that causes the least amount of harm in so many areas including what I’ve already mentioned. Vegan is based on the essence of compassion and kindness. Vegan embraces love for all life.

This week’s podcast is a powerful conversation about so many topics that embrace vegan/ahimsa with a focus on our collective relationship to the ghosts in our machine. I’m referencing about our relationship to animals as they exist within the confines of the destructive machine that we have created and normalized as a culture that has been indoctrinated into fear, indifference, and sameness.

Why do I bring these really important conversations to the forefront of our consciousness in this podcast? Because a lot of these conversations are conveniently ignored in today’s world in order to preserve the status quo and maintain a bizarre illusion of comfort. But here’s the deal. I believe in critical thought and critical thought is what exposes truth. I am a voracious truth seeker and I’m presupposing that because you’re reading this post or listening to this podcast that you are a truth seeker as well. When we seek truth, we’re also yearning to become better, more authentic, and more whole versions of ourselves. We are also seeking the best within ourselves – which is truth – in order to inspire ourselves and others as we expand and grow into more of who we’ve always been meant to be.

I believe in the good of humanity – the light let’s call it. I believe that we can all strive to be so much better than what we’ve been conditioned to become in this ludicrous paradigm of separation. That’s why I bring these conversations to the forefront of our consciousness. I bring these conversations into the world to remind all those who are courageous enough to listen that we are all better. There is always room for expansion and growth. That’s the beauty of our humanity. When we courageously approach our lives with that mindset – to become the greatest version of who we’ve always been meant to be in this short incarnation – we then live our calling. We live our purpose. We embody it. And our ultimate purpose is just that – to remember who we truly are and to shine that person into the world in a unique way that leaves it a better place. That is the purpose that we all share.

I believe that there are more and more conversations these days like the ones I bring to light as the collective consciousness appears to be waking up. There are more discussions about our treatment towards those we share the planet with. There have been so many great movies that have come out in the past few years that have contributed to this more expansive consciousness. I’m speaking about movies such as Blackfish/a>, The Cove, and Cowspiracy. I’m also speaking of the powerful Canadian film create...