Performing Animal Rights

In this episode, Ben Hunt is joined by composer and pianist Keane Southard to explore how music can become a powerful force for compassion, reflection, and social change.At the heart of the conversation is Requiem for Animals, Keane's extraordinary choral and orchestral work that invites audiences to collectively mourn the immense loss of animal life while reconsidering humanity's relationship with the more-than-human world. Throughout the episode, you'll hear excerpts from the Requiem woven into the conversation, offering a glimpse into its emotional and musical landscape.Together, Ben and Keane discuss the creative process behind the composition, the challenges of transforming animal advocacy into music, and the unique ability of performance to create spaces for grief, hope, and ethical reflection.Topics include:The inspiration behind Requiem for AnimalsMusic as a catalyst for social changeCreativity, compassion, and animal advocacyComposing emotion through choral and orchestral musicThe role of grief and hope in activismCollaborative performance and communityArt, ethics, and creating lasting impact🎼 Listen to the complete Requiem for Animals and explore more of Keane's work: https://www.keanesouthard.com 🌐 Explore more episodes, articles, and critical reflections: https://www.performinganimalrights.orgIf you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with others interested in music, creativity, performance, and animal advocacy.

Storytelling, Fandom, and Animal Advocacy with the Protego FoundationIn this episode, Ben Hunt is joined by Brittany, Campaigns Director at the Protego Foundation, to explore how stories can become powerful tools for animal advocacy.Drawing inspiration from the worlds of Harry Potter, Wicked, Game of Thrones, and other popular fandoms, the Protego Foundation creates imaginative campaigns that encourage fans to connect the compassion they feel for fictional creatures with the real lives of animals.Together, they discuss how creativity, storytelling, and community can open conversations that traditional advocacy often struggles to reach, and why meeting people through the stories they already love can be such an effective catalyst for change.Topics include:The origins of the Protego FoundationUsing fandom as a gateway to animal advocacyThe creative process behind campaign designHarry Potter, Wicked, Game of Thrones, and ethical storytellingCommunity-building through shared passionsWhy creativity can lower barriers to difficult conversationsThe future of creative campaigning for animals🌐 Learn more about the Protego Foundation: https://www.protegofoundation.org/📱 Follow Protego Foundation on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/protegofoundation/🌐 Explore more episodes, articles, and critical reflections: https://www.performinganimalrights.orgIf you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with others interested in creativity, storytelling, and animal advocacy.

In this episode, Ben Hunt is joined by undercover investigator, filmmaker, and creative advocate Gemunu de Silva to explore how sound can become a powerful form of animal rights activism.After nearly four decades documenting animal industries through undercover investigations, Gemunu has taken an unexpected creative turn with Industry Standard—an experimental sonic artwork created in collaboration with musician Karol Orzeszek (Gnostic Front). Constructed entirely from authentic recordings gathered during investigations, the album transforms the hidden sounds of industrial animal agriculture into an immersive listening experience.Together, they discuss the creative process behind the project, the relationship between sound and imagination, and why artistic experimentation can open new pathways for advocacy beyond traditional campaigning.Topics include:From undercover investigations to sonic artThe creative process behind Industry StandardWhy sound can be more powerful than imagesPunk, DIY culture, and artistic influenceArt as advocacy and reaching new audiencesCreativity, collaboration, and movement-buildingThe future of experimental animal rights activism🎧 Explore Industry Standard, download the album, or purchase the vinyl: https://gnosticfront.bandcamp.com/album/industry-standard🌐 Discover more episodes and resources: https://www.performinganimalrights.orgIf you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with others interested in creativity, performance, and animal advocacy.

In this episode, Ben is joined by Jen Armstrong and Sue Joyce from the Animal Rights Choir; a growing collective using music, voice, and community to advocate for animal liberation.Together, they explore how collective singing can function as both protest and care, creating space for joy, connection, and emotional resilience within activism. From the origins of the choir to their vision for a more compassionate world, this conversation highlights the unique power of performance to build movements and sustain those within them.Topics include:The origins and vision of the Animal Rights ChoirSinging as protest and collective expressionThe role of joy and emotion in activismBuilding community through creative practiceMusic as a tool for movement-building and change🎶 Get involved with the Animal Rights Choir: https://www.animalrightschoir.com🌐 Explore more episodes and newsletters: https://www.performinganimalrights.orgIf you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review.

In this episode, Ben Hunt sits down with spoken word artist, digital collage maker, and vegan-feminist researcher Lauren-Marie Kennedy. From growing up rescuing worms on the playground to challenging anthropocentric norms in her academic work, Lauren-Marie’s journey is one of transformation, vulnerability, and radical creativity.Together, they explore:What it means to be a “creative with a cause”How satire, poetry, and humour can open space for deeper reflectionThe emotional toll of activism—and how art can offer resilienceBlending non-traditional academic methods with creative researchThe roots of Scottish veganism and her exciting PhD plansLauren-Marie shares her reflections on burnout, inspiration, performance, and the power of creative freedom as an antidote to despair.🌐 Learn more about Lauren-Marie and her work: https://www.laurenmariekennedy.com📬 Subscribe to our Substack newsletter for extended content and behind-the-scenes reflections: https://performinganimalrights.substack.com🎧 Explore past episodes and creative resources at: https://www.performinganimalrights.orgIf you enjoyed this conversation, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share the podcast with your creative activist community!

In this episode, Ben Hunt speaks with Rob Pownall, Founder and CEO of Protect the Wild, to mark the 10-year anniversary of the organisation's founding. What began as a Facebook page to resist fox hunting has grown into one of the UK’s most impactful wildlife protection groups, blending bold media strategy with grassroots activism.We explore:Rob’s unexpected journey from teenager to full-time campaignerThe evolution of Protect the Wild and the anti-hunt movementHow animations became their most powerful tool for changeWhy storytelling, data, and digital strategy matter in animal rightsThe psychology behind why animations connect with audiences🎥 Watch Protect the Wild’s animations: https://protectthewild.org.uk📬 Subscribe to the Performing Animal Rights Substack: https://performinganimalrights.substack.com🌐 Explore more episodes, resources, and creative projects: https://www.performinganimalrights.org🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review if this episode resonated with you!

In this episode of The Performing Animal Rights Podcast, Ben Hunt sits down with Lee Brace, an award-winning actor, comedian, and writer known for his comedic character "Dawn Chorus." With a blend of humour, bird facts, and vegan advocacy, Lee’s performances at events like VegfestUK and Vegan Camp Out have captivated audiences and sparked conversations around animal rights.Together, they explore the origins of Dawn Chorus, the role of comedy in activism, and Lee’s plans to take vegan stand-up into the mainstream. Discover how laughter, satire, and creative storytelling can be powerful tools for social change.Find Lee online:Website: leebrace.co.ukInstagram: @plant_bracedFor more episodes, visit performinganimalrights.org.

In this episode of The Performing Animal Rights Podcast, host Ben Hunt sits down with Alison Harris and Terry Thompson, the founders and directors of The Garlinge Theatre in Canterbury, Kent—the UK’s first all-vegan theatre. Located on a stunning organic farm, this 300-seat venue is a trailblazer for combining performance art with a strong ethical stance.Alison and Terry share the inspiring story behind The Garlinge Theatre’s creation, the challenges of establishing a theatre with vegan principles, and their vision for the future of sustainable and ethical performance spaces. They also discuss how theatre can act as a tool for change, shaping conversations around veganism, sustainability, and compassion.Tune in to learn how The Garlinge Theatre is redefining the intersection of art and activism, and what’s next for this unique community space.🎭 Follow The Garlinge Theatre:Instagram & Facebook: @garlingetheatre🌱 For more podcast episodes, visit: performinganimalrights.org

In this episode of The Performing Animal Rights Podcast, Ben speaks with Molly Elwood, creator of the satirical project Elwood Organic Dog Meat, and comedian Jake Yapp, host of the Vegan Life Magazine Podcast. They explore how humour and satire can disarm audiences and provoke thought, with Elwood Organic Dog Meat challenging society’s ethical double standards by presenting a fictional dog meat farm that parallels the treatment of other animals in agriculture. Together, they discuss the challenges of balancing humour with the seriousness of animal rights, as well as the impact of Elwood Dog Meat as a viral tool for activism.Learn more about Molly’s work at elwooddogmeat.com and mollyelwood.com, and follow Jake’s comedy and podcasting at jakeyapp.co.uk. For more episodes and resources, visit performinganimalrights.org.

In this episode of The Performing Animal Rights Podcast, Ben Hunt interviews Anastasia Bunce, Artistic Director of Patch Plays, and Grace Joy Howarth, playwright and musician. Together, they explore how theatre can inspire audiences to rethink animal ethics and environmental issues, discussing their creative processes, the impact of their productions, and their vision for the future of activist theatre.Discover more about Anastasia's work at anastasiabunce.com, Grace's projects at gracejoyhowarth.com, and Patch Plays at patchplays.com. For more episodes, visit performinganimalrights.org.