Episode 315 - The Omnivore’s Deception with John Sanbonmatsu

Guest John Sanbonmatsu, philosophy professor and author of The Omnivore’s Deception, brings a frank discussion on the human-animal interface and the consequences of our reductionist/supremacist worldview. He shares many of the common deceptions that people use to justify exploiting billions of animals annually, including the myths of humane meat. We explore how society, political parties (both sides), and even spirituality reinforce this domination and we discuss the illusion of animal consent and the parallels between animal agriculture and slavery. But there’s hope! Inspired by Martin Buber’s book I and Thou, Professor Sanbonmatsu shares a new possibility and paradigm shift. What if we were to approach animals as living beings and behold their value without a human agenda? Now is the time to redefine what it means to be human and embrace a nonviolent, “Homo Ahimsa” future. If you care about animals, ethics, people, and/or the future of our planet, this episode will inspire you to see with a fresh perspective.

Bio - John Sanbonmatsu is Professor of Philosophy at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He is author of the book, The Omnivore's Deception: What We Get Wrong about Meat, Animals, and Ourselves (NYU Press, 2025), and of "The Postmodern Prince: Critical Theory, Left Strategy, and the Making of a New Political Subject." A critic of cellular or "cultivated" meat technology, he is also creator and curator of the website, www.CleanMeat-Hoax.com. John's opinion writing has appeared in the Christian Science Monitor, New York Times, Detroit Free Press, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and the Huffington Post, among other places.

Book: https://www.amazon.com/Omnivores-Deception-Wrong-Animals-Ourselves/dp/1479825964

Website: https://www.johnsanbonmatsu.com/

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