The Vegan Pod

In the last Vegan Pod of the year, Vegan Society members, volunteers and staff reflect on 2025 and share their hopes for veganism in 2026 in a special montage of Vegan Voices.  

We're delighted to welcome leading environmental activist and journalist, George Monbiot, to the Vegan Pod. George is a fearless and tireless advocate for sustainability, green living and political and corporate transparency. He is a best-selling author, a high profile media commentator and has even dabbled in the world of music. With four decades of campaigning behind him, is George Monbiot showing any signs of winding down? It seems not...

A partner episode for our World Mental Health Day Special, in which Vegan Society CEO, Libby Peppiatt, interviews Billy Thompson, who leads the amazing team at The Retreat animal sanctuary in the south of England. How does the team at The Retreat make sure they're taking care of themselves while they help those who can't do the same?

The Vegan Society marks World Mental Health Day with a special edition of the Vegan Pod. Vegan psychologist, author and communications coach, Clare Mann, and Animal Justice Project activist, Ayrton Cooper, join Damian Watson to discuss some of the triggers of poor mental health in vegans and how to look after yourself while you look after those who can't look after themselves.

The Vegan Trademark made international headlines in September, following the world-first vegan certification of the new Mercedes-Benz GLC.  But what does the Vegan Trademark mean and why is it so valued and trusted by consumers and manufacturers alike?  Vegan Society Sales and Marketing Manager, Karen Spinner, and Vegan Trademark Team Leader, Caroline Bolton, join Damian Watson to discuss the power of the sunflower. 

Do you have a pension? If so, how vegan is it? How vegan can pensions and other investments be?     Lawyer, Jonathan Dennis, and independent financial adviser, Chris Welsford, join Damian Watson to discuss an ongoing case where a vegan is challenging their employer’s pension investment strategy and what the case might mean for other vegan investors in a predominantly non-vegan investment market.

With summer upon us at Vegan Society HQ, the latest Vegan Pod focuses on the best European city breaks for vegans and looks wider afield at life for vegans internationally.    Writer and teacher, Woody River, provided the latest Vegan magazine recommendations for Europe-bound vegans. Woody has lived all over the world and is joined on the the Vegan Pod by former TV and radio reporter, Rob Olver, who spent much of his career in Germany and now lives in Spain.   Host, Damian Watson, has also been known to exhibit symptoms of wanderlust so, between all three, this makes for an international and intriguing episode of the Vegan Pod.

The Vegan Society has described the findings of the UK government’s latest National Diet and Nutrition Survey as “very concerning”. The survey followed the confirmation of the Food Strategy Advisory Board, which includes the chairman of Cranswick PLC, one of the biggest factory farming companies in the UK.      Vegan Society Senior Dietitian, Emily Angus, and Public Affairs and Policy Manager, Alistair Currie, join Damian Watson to discuss why the UK is in a perilous place when it comes to food policy.

Is the future vegan? That's certainly our hope at The Vegan Society - and it's the subject of one of our ongoing campaigns and a major part of our 80th anniversary exhibition at the Library of Birmingham.   But what might a vegan future look like? Animal rights author, scholar and curator, Kim Stallwood, and Vegan Society Campaigns Manager, Hannah Montgomery, join Damian Watson for a look into a vegan crystal ball.

PR consultant Karin Ridgers, founder of vegan PR agency Mad Promotions, and Holly Johnson, editor of Vegan Food and Living magazine, join our host, Rachel New, to discuss how to counter misinformation about veganism in the media.