(Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, iHeart or TuneIn)

What is our responsibility to animals? Is there a way to consciously source and consume animal products? Or are we sacrificing the health of our planet for the sake of a few hamburgers?

As the climate crisis grows in urgency, so too do these ethical dilemmas. Answering these questions, however, can often feel confusing, overwhelming… or even downright disheartening.

Until, that is, you hear the wisdom and expert reasoning of Peter Singer — an expert in bioethics who’s not only known as the world’s most influential living philosopher, but is also the founding father of the modern animal rights movement.

In this eye-opening episode, Peter sheds light on the modern-day challenges of making conscious, empowered eating choices. He provides clear, simple answers to some of the biggest ethical questions that might be keeping you up at night: Is animal liberation our responsibility? Is it possible to be a conscious omnivore? What secrets is the meat industry hiding from us? Why is it so easy to turn a blind eye to this issue? Are small improvements enough? And what changes should we be focusing on first?

I loved so much about this conversation, but I think the thing I enjoyed *most* was Peter’s thoughts on how much impact we can make, purely by making more intentional choices and striving for a kinder, more aware existence.

So if you want to regain your sense of hope for our planet — and learn how to make better choices for every living creature on it, including the next generation — then do not miss this illuminating chat with Peter Singer.

About Peter Singer

Peter Singer has been described as the world’s most influential philosopher. Born in Melbourne in 1946, he has been professor of bioethics at Princeton University since 1999. His many books include Animal Liberation — often credited with triggering the modern animal rights movement, Practical Ethics, The Life You Can Save, The Most Good You Can Do, and Ethics in the Real World. In 2023, he published Animal Liberation Now, a fully revised and updated version of the 1975 original.

Singer’s writings have also inspired the movement known as effective altruism, and he is the founder of the charity The Life You Can Save. In 2021 he was awarded the $1 million Berggruen Prize for Philosophy and Culture, which he donated to nonprofit organizations working for the causes he supports. In 2023 he received the Frontiers of Knowledge Prize for the Humanities, from the Spanish BBVA Foundation.

In this episode we chat about:

• His 1975 book, Animal Liberation, was *so* influential — why did he rewrite it? (3:05)
• Is striving for perfection preventing us from making progress? (5:23)
• How can we get more people engaged with the issue of animal welfare? (8:11)
• Here’s what the meat industry WANTS you to believe (10:12)
• How to be a conscious omnivore (11:45)
• The role of Big Agriculture in the welfare of animals and the health of the planet (13:46)
• His 50+ year journey of eating plant based, and the huge shifts he’s witnessed during that time (16:25)
• How to talk to your kids about animal welfare in a constructive, empowering way (21:07)
• His 3 best, high impact tips for how individuals can make a difference to the health and welfare of animals and our planet (25:01)

Episode resources:

• Mastering Your Mean Girl (Book)
• Open Wide (Book)
• Comparisonitis (Book)
• Time Magic (Book)
• Ethics in the Real World: 90 Essays on Things That Matter – A Fully Updated and Expanded Edition (Book)
• Animal Liberation Now: The Definitive Classic Renewed (Book)
• The Most Good You Can Do: How Effective Altruism Is Changing Ideas About Living Ethically (Book)
• Famine, Affluence, and Morality (Book)
• Ethics in the Real World: 82 Brief Essays on Things That Matter (Book)
• Why Vegan?: Eating Ethically (Book)
• Practical Ethics (Book)
• The Life You Can Save: How to Do Your Part to End World Poverty: 10th Anniversary ed. Edition (Book)
• Animal Liberation (Book)
• In Defense of Animals: The Second Wave (Book)
• My Life With The Chimpanzees (Book)
• The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for an Endangered Planet (Book)
• Through a Window: My Thirty Years With the Chimpanzees of Gombe (Book)
• Hope for Animals and Their World: How Endangered Species Are Being Rescued from the Brink (Book)
• The Ten Trusts: What We Must Do to Care for The Animals We Love (Book)
• Little People, BIG DREAMS (Kids Books) 
• The Life You Can Save (Website)

Thank you so much for listening. I’m so honored that you’re here and would be SO grateful if you could leave me a review on Apple podcasts, that way we can inspire and educate even more people together.

P.S. If you’re looking for a high-impact marketing opportunity for your business and are interested in becoming a sponsor for The Melissa Ambrosini Show podcast, please email pr@melissaambrosini.com for more information.

P.P.S. Please seek advice from a qualified holistic practitioner before starting any new health practice.

Photo courtesy of photographer Alana Holmberg, http://alanaholmberg.com/