“Coming Out” for Animals on Thanksgiving (with Mark Westcombe) (Ep.56)

The Simple Heart w/ Wayne Hsiung

There’s a tendency for many to avoid conversation, much less confrontation, around the turkeys being served at our Thanksgiving dinner. Mark Westcombe, the director for Animal Think Tank, explains why we should do the opposite: tough personal conversations are crucial to building a mass movement!

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Boycott & Anniversary Letter (Liberation Pledge letter Mark sent to friends and family):

https://docs.google.com/document/d/18v_gIRIKkQwenhunN5BkY8-WZUsF12glLvuPacCMYWM/edit?usp=sharing

Why The Liberation Pledge Works:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/11bsmj-UU27Ao3auBKBV_yn7rcZ-hPpd8mmhu4dl6o8w/edit?tab=t.0

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Follow Mark:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-westcombe/

Follow Animal Think Tank:

https://animalthinktank.org.uk/

(More links below.)

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The Simple Heart on Substack - Subscribe to Wayne Hsiung's newsletter to learn more about the #RightToRescue at https://www.simpleheart.org!

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Chapters:

Chapter 1) 00:00-16:46 Intro, Mark’s animal rights activists journey before Animal Think Tank & on mass movements to negotiate positive change

Chapter 2) 16:47-27:58 Mark’s personal story as an manger and setting up a commune, how people are changing, & capacity in the animal rights movement

Chapter 3) 27:59-44:21 Mark’s life after leaving the commune and becoming an activist & Mark on being gay

Chapter 4) 44:22-54:02 Mark’s coming out “story,” “coming out” as a vegan/animal rights activist, & how food is connected to love, identity, and family

Chapter 5) 54:03-1:09:46 The Liberation Pledge, Peter Singer, & how Mark does The Liberation Pledge

Chapter 6) 1:09:47-1:18:23 Wayne on the Liberation Pledge and Doug McAdam, Mark talking to colleagues about the Liberation Pledge, & speaking up against sexism

Chapter 7) 1:18:24-1:21:18 Mark’s mom’s funeral

Chapter 8) 1:21:19-1:23:32 Wayne’s mom’s funeral

Chapter 9) 1:23:33-1:34:44 Institutions, clubs, and the Liberation Pledge

Chapter 10) 1:34:45-1:45:00 Why the Liberation Pledge is not widespread, the historical sacrifices of activists, & Wayne’s ties

Chapter 11) 1:45:01-1:52:17 How to reignite the Liberation Pledge, Mark’s advice to activists about the Liberation Pledge and Thanksgiving, & follow Mark and Animal Think Tank (links below)

Chapter 12) 1:54:18-1:54:33 Outro video - Thank you for watching! Please Subscribe. Acknowledgments to the Podcast Team: Joe Allman, Adam Durand, & Chloe Leffakis

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Follow Animal Think Tank:

https://animalthinktank.org.uk/

https://animalthinktank.substack.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/animal-think-tank/

https://www.instagram.com/animal_think_tank/

https://x.com/AnimalThinkTank

https://www.facebook.com/animalthinktank

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Books Mentioned:

“Bury the Chains” by Adam Hochschild

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