While most people discover veganism in their 30s, less than 1% of Americans are born into a vegan household. Sarina Farb is part of that small yet powerful group, and she’s using her lifelong commitment to animals and ethics to help others wake up, speak out, and take action.
Born and Raised Vegan: A Unique Upbringing
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Sarina’s vegan journey began before she was even born, thanks to her mother’s decision to adopt a plant-based lifestyle after witnessing the horrors of animal testing and factory farming during
her career in the pharmaceutical industry. Despite living in Kansas, a place where veganism was far from the norm, Sarina’s mother was determined to raise her children without contributing to the exploitation of animals.
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By the age of seven, Sarina was already reading food labels, educating herself about non-vegan ingredients like gelatin, and making her own informed choices about what to eat. This early exposure to vegan ethics and activism set the stage for her lifelong advocacy.
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Living Her Values, One Mile at a Time
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Sarina Farb isn’t just talking about veganism, she’s living it. As a full-time educator, activist, and co-founder of the International Vegan Earth Day March, Sarina has reached over a million people with her content and lectures. She travels the country in a camper van wrapped in vegan messaging, turning even a simple drive into an act of advocacy.
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Her mission is rooted in a single belief, every choice we make is a reflection of our values. From the food we eat to the clothes we wear, Sarina encourages people to live in full alignment with compassion, justice, and truth.
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Beyond Diet, a Principle of Liberation
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One of the most common misconceptions Sarina addresses is the idea that veganism is just a diet. For her, and for ethical vegans everywhere, it’s a principle, an ethical stance that rejects the commodification of animals in all forms.
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This includes fashion, entertainment, and of course, food. Sarina emphasizes that living vegan doesn’t require embracing ultra-processed alternatives. Whole plant foods, she reminds us, have sustained humans for generations and remain a foundation of a healthy, ethical lifestyle.
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Challenging the “Ex-Vegan” Narrative
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In today’s media, stories of former vegans going back to animal products often make headlines. Sarina sees a troubling pattern in these narratives. Many of these individuals didn’t have the right information, community support, or understanding of how to meet their nutritional needs.
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Instead of shaming those who leave veganism behind, Sarina leads with compassion. Her conversations with ex-vegans are marked by a sincere desire to help them return to a lifestyle that aligns with their values. Her message is clear, you’re always welcome back, and there’s a way to do this that works for you.
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Fighting Misinformation and Industry Spin
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Sarina is especially vocal about how the meat and dairy industries have co-opted language around “natural living” and “personal freedom” to push animal products. These powerful industries use
clever marketing to make factory farming appear wholesome, while painting plant-based eating as unnatural or elitist.
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Through lectures, videos, and public speaking, Sarina helps people see through this propaganda. She points out the federal subsidies that prop up animal agriculture and the false narratives that distract from the truth, animal farming is not natural, not sustainable, and not ethical.
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The Power of Sanctuary and Storytelling
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Sanctuaries play a critical role in changing hearts and minds. Sarina has visited dozens of them across the country, and even led a spring break program to expose non-vegan students to the stories of rescued animals.
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These experiences humanize the issue, allowing people to connect with individual animals who were once treated as commodities. She emphasizes that sanctuaries need volunteers and support. Even one day of service can deepen someone’s understanding of why these places, and the animals they protect, matter.
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Reframing Fish and Backyard Eggs
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Fish are the most overlooked victims in our food system, and Sarina is passionate about shifting public perception. She explains that fish feel pain, form social bonds, and are often treated with extreme cruelty in both wild and farmed systems. Catch-and-release fishing, she explains, is no less harmful than dragging someone underwater for sport.
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Likewise, backyard eggs may seem harmless, but Sarina outlines how nearly all laying hens originate from hatcheries that kill male chicks – typically by grinding them alive. The egg industry, regardless of scale, is built on cruelty. Her message is simple, kindness must include all animals, not just the ones society deems worthy.
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Building Community to Prevent Burnout and Isolation
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Isolation is one of the biggest threats to long-term veganism. That’s why Sarina is co-creating the Thrive Alive Vegan Fest, a four-day sober vegan festival filled with food, education, music, and community. By creating spaces for connection and support, she’s helping people stay committed for the long haul.
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Sarina’s work underscores a deeper truth, people need each other to sustain meaningful change. Whether you’re vegan, vegan-curious, or just waking up to the realities of animal agriculture, this festival aims to provide a welcoming space to learn, grow, and thrive.
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Thrive Alive Vegan Fest
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Be sure to check out the Thrive Live Vegan Fest taking place Sep 18-22, 2025, Timber Lakes Retreat KS.
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Details at https://www.thrivealivefest.com/
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A Message to Listeners
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If you’ve ever wondered how to do more for animals, Sarina’s story is a reminder that every action counts. Whether it’s sharing your values through a bumper sticker or volunteering at a sanctuary, change begins with the decision to care and act.
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For more on Sarina Farb’s work, visit bornvegan.org and thrivealivefest.com. You can also hear the full conversation on the Better Life for Animals podcast hosted by Cheryl Moss.
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Episode Highlights
[00:00] Introduction
[03:30] Vegan from birth creates a life of activism.
[06:00] Common misconceptions about veganism.
[14:00] The truth about those who resist veganism.
[15:45] What’s really happening in the meat and dairy industry will shock most people.
[18:00] How numbers are skewed in favor of the meat industry.
[23:15] Why eating eggs contributes to cruelty.
[26:00] Inhumane methods are used to force chickens to lay more eggs.
[28:00] Eating fish is as cruel as eating any animal.
[31:15] Sarina’s sanctuary involvement began years ago.
[33:30] Building community through Thrive Active Fest Campouts.
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About Sarina Farb
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Sarina Farb is a holistic vegan educator, TEDx Speaker, and liberation activist working to make the world a better place for all beings. Being born and raised vegan in Kansas taught Sarina to think for herself and stand for justice even when it’s unpopular. Today she focuses on combining heart and science to empower people to think critically, see past corporate propaganda, and to live ethically. Sarina is co-founder of the International Vegan Earth Day March and has given hundreds of lectures and spoken at numerous universities while traveling the country in her vegan camper van. As a former science teacher with a biochemistry and policy studies degree, she is deeply passionate about bringing nuance, ethics, and social justice into conversation about science in society. Her videos and content have reached over a million people and been featured in numerous publications and books.
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Visit bornvegan.org and thrivealivefest.com
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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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https://www.facebook.com/BLFAnimals/
https://x.com/betterlife4anim
https://www.instagram.com/betterlife4animals/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylmossabetterlifeforanimals/
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