According to Oxford researcher Joseph Poore, going vegan is “the single biggest way” to reduce our environmental impact on Earth. Yet for many, the journey begins not with data, but with a gut-level realization about compassion, identity, and joy.
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That’s exactly what came to life in a powerful and heart-opening conversation between host Cheryl Moss and Professor Matthew Halteman on the Better Life for Animals Podcast. A philosopher at Calvin University and author of Hungry Beautiful Animals: The Joyful Case for Going Vegan, Halteman shared how awe, humor, and hope—not guilt—can transform hearts and eating habits.
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Reframing Veganism: From Shame to Joy
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Halteman invites us to imagine a version of veganism that feels like that blissful second bite of tiramisu—not a shame-filled moral lecture. “What if going vegan could be powered by desire rather than shame?” he asks. That question led him to rework how he teaches ethics—moving away from trauma-centered arguments to an awe-inspiring exploration of what animals can experience when allowed to flourish.
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He discovered that leading with beauty rather than suffering helped students connect more deeply. When they learned about whales’ matriarchal family structures or the intelligence of pigs, they weren’t defensive. They were intrigued.
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Hungry Beautiful Animals: A Book of Invitation, Not Judgment
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Hungry Beautiful Animals is Halteman’s effort to “bottle” this uplifting approach. The book focuses not on strict vegan “rules,” but on aspiration and storytelling. It’s about becoming the kind of
person many of us already believe we are—someone who loves animals, who cares about the planet, and who wants to live in alignment with deeply held values.
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Rather than preaching perfection, Halteman encourages readers to simply begin. “Going vegan is hard—not because you’re becoming something else, but because you’re becoming more yourself,” he says.
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Identity, Inertia, and the Evolutionary Pull of Comfort
Despite good intentions, many people struggle to make lasting changes. Halteman understands. He recalls his own early resistance, torn between his love of food and his growing awareness of suffering. “My head knew I needed to change, but my gut still wanted a burger,” he admits.
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But with time, he came to see that food choices are deeply intertwined with identity. From cultural traditions to emotional comfort, meals are how we celebrate, mourn, and bond. Changing our plates can feel like changing who we are.
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Yet Halteman emphasizes that the vegan journey isn’t about loss. It’s about unlocking joy—and coming into deeper alignment with the values most of us held since childhood.
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Epiphany in the Backyard: From Gag Reflex to Global Awareness
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One of the most visceral stories from the podcast—and the book—is Halteman’s awakening while cleaning his bulldog Gus’s feces after a Michigan winter. Overwhelmed by the filth and his own gag reflex, Halteman had an epiphany: “Gus became symbolic of all the animals living in their own waste, waiting on the whims of an apathetic humanity.”
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That powerful, unpleasant moment transformed into a spiritual call to action. “From poop to transcendence,” he quips, pointing to how even mundane experiences can shake us into a deeper awareness of suffering—and responsibility.
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Animalizing, Instrumentalizing, Consuming: A Universal Oppressor Logic
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In one of the most profound parts of the interview, Halteman discusses how all forms of systemic oppression—whether against humans or animals—follow a similar path: first we “animalize,” then we “instrumentalize,” and finally, we “consume.”
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Rather than comparing pain across groups, Halteman urges us to look at the mechanisms of oppression. When we devalue any sentient being, we pave the way for exploitation. His shift in understanding came after reading Aphro-ism: Essays on Pop Culture, Feminism, and Black Veganism from Two Sisters by Aph Ko and Syl Ko, which helped him see that fighting for animal justice is not separate from other justice movements—it’s a continuation.
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Reimagining Sanctuaries as Emissaries of Flourishing
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Animal sanctuaries hold a special place in Halteman’s heart. A visit to Farm Sanctuary in Ithaca was an early turning point for him and his wife. “If you want to learn truly to love justice,” he writes,
“feast your eyes and imagination on what flourishing lives look like—so you can see with clarity what oppression steals away.”
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Sanctuaries, he says, are not just safe havens—they’re living proof of what’s possible when we stop exploiting and start honoring.
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From the Inside Out: Veganism as a Joy Aggregator
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For Halteman, going vegan isn’t merely a dietary change—it’s a “spiritual exercise” that harmonizes the different parts of the self. Physically, socially, emotionally, intellectually, and morally, veganism has helped him—and his students—feel more aligned.
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“When you feel joy, it multiplies your ability to bring good into the world,” he says. And the data backs him up: climate scientists, environmental researchers, and social justice advocates all point to plant-based living as a path to a healthier planet and fairer future.
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Connect with Matthew Halteman
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To learn more about Matthew Halteman’s work or get in touch, visit HungryBeautifulAnimals.com. Whether you’re just curious or already on the journey, Halteman welcomes conversation over conversion.
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Episode Highlights
[00:00] Introduction
[02:30] Hungry Beautiful Animals… the book.
[04:45] A philosophy professors’ perspective on kindness.
[07:50] The beauty of a world free from animal suffering.
[10:45] The love of sanctuaries.
[15:45] Loving the animals enough to not eat them has a learning curve.
[19:30] Becoming vegan CAN be hard and tricky, but it’s worth it for the animals.
[22:00] Developing the muscle of compassion.
[26:00] What dog poop taught Matt about compassion.
[35:30] An NPR interview digs deep into crematoriums.
[39:00] The three-fold logic of the oppressor.
[45:00] From veganism to becoming vegan.
[48:00] Going vegan is a profound spiritual practice.
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About Matthew Halteman
Matthew C. Halteman is a professor of philosophy at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he has been teaching since 2003. He has been a fellow at the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics in the UK since 2008, contributing to interdisciplinary scholarship on animal and food ethics. A passionate advocate for compassionate living, Halteman’s work focuses on the ethical dimensions of human and animal relationships, as well as the philosophical exploration of life as a lived practice.
He is the author of Hungry Beautiful Animals: The Joyful Case for Going Vegan (Basic Books, November 2024), a book that invites readers to embrace the abundant joys of vegan living. His other works include Compassionate Eating as Care of Creation (2008; 2010) and the co-edited volume Philosophy Comes to Dinner: Arguments About the Ethics of Eating (with Andrew Chignell and Terence Cuneo, 2016).
In addition to his books, Halteman has published numerous academic articles, book chapters, and online writings, available through platforms like Philpapers.org.
Halteman teaches and writes on twentieth-century European philosophy, particularly hermeneutics and philosophy as a way of life, and on applied ethics, with a strong emphasis on animal and food ethics. His dedication to education extends beyond the classroom—he founded and leads initiatives like the Animals and the Kingdom of God Lecture Series at Calvin University and the Wake Up Weekend festival, both aimed at fostering dialogue and action on animal and food ethics.
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Through his teaching, writing, and public engagement, Halteman seeks to inspire others to reflect on the moral responsibilities we share toward animals, the environment, and one another, encouraging a more compassionate and interconnected way of living.
About Cheryl Moss
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Cheryl Moss is the host of the Better Life for Animals podcast, where she shares uplifting stories from sanctuaries and highlights the work of vegan activists, ethical consumers, and animal welfare
leaders. A passionate advocate for animal welfare, she is dedicated to ending factory farming and is working to raise $100,000 for Mercy For Animals to support underrepresented sanctuaries.
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Beyond podcasting, Cheryl is a banking professional and an accomplished children’s author. A graduate of Main Street Vegan Academy, she promotes plant-based living through her books—Gabriel, Cluck, and Pickle the Pig—which inspire young readers to embrace kindness, sustainability, and compassion for animals.
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When not advocating, she enjoys Pilates, show jumping, and spending time with her rescue dogs and grandchildren. Through her work, writing, and activism, Cheryl continues to inspire positive change for animals and the planet.
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