Ever wonder if a small donation can make a huge difference? For FarmKind, it absolutely can, and it does. Donating just $23 a month to carefully vetted charities can offset the suffering caused by the average omnivorous diet. In this episode of Better Life for Animals, we’re joined by Thom Norman, co-founder and director of Outreach at FarmKind, who introduces a powerful and pragmatic approach to ending factory farming through what he calls “diet offsetting.”
–
From Law to Liberation: Thom’s Journey
–
Thom Norman once practiced law, but a life-changing realization sparked by his connection with his cats, Luna and Sirius, and a pivotal conversation about The Life You Can Save led him to question the vast disparity in how animals are treated. His journey from legal briefs to animal advocacy shows how ordinary people can make extraordinary change when compassion meets actionable strategy.
–
The Compassion Calculator: Data-Driven Giving
–
FarmKind’s central tool, the Compassion Calculator, helps individuals determine the monthly donation needed to offset their dietary impact on animals. Backed by rigorous charity evaluation and cost-effectiveness metrics, this tool empowers users to make measurable differences in animal welfare. For example, for under a dollar, you can free a chicken from a battery cage, dramatically improving its life.
–
Diet Offsetting: A Bridge, Not a Bypass
–
While veganism remains a powerful act, Thom discusses the inclusivity of diet offsetting for the 70% of people who recognize the harm in factory farming but haven’t made dietary changes. By offering alternatives, FarmKind keeps the door open for ongoing engagement and gradual shifts toward compassion. This model transforms passive guilt into purposeful giving.
–
Cage-Free Commitments: Systemic Wins Through Advocacy
–
Thom highlights the impact of corporate campaigns, such as the cage-free egg movement, which moved 40% of US hens out of cages. These campaigns demonstrate how strategic pressure on major buyers like Walmart and McDonald’s can drive large-scale systemic change, multiplying the effect of every donor dollar.
–
Transparency and Accountability
–
One of FarmKind’s core values is transparency. Donors can trace the exact impact of their contributions, from spreadsheet breakdowns to individual animal lives improved. This commitment to
clarity ensures that people feel confident and empowered in their philanthropy.
–
A Movement for Everyone
–
Thom emphasizes that purity shouldn’t be a barrier to participation. Whether you’re fully plant-based or just beginning your journey, there are meaningful ways to contribute. FarmKind’s inclusive model acknowledges individual limitations while maximizing collective impact.
–
Burnout and Empathy: Sustaining Compassion
–
Recognizing the emotional toll of animal suffering, FarmKind minimizes exposure to graphic content and focuses on hope and progress. Their approach supports donors emotionally, helping them stay committed and effective advocates.
–
Looking Ahead: Scaling Compassion
–
With only $290 million annually supporting farmed animal advocacy against a $2 trillion meat industry, FarmKind aims to significantly boost funding through scalable public engagement. Just 10 million committed offsetters could revolutionize the movement.
–
Get Involved
–
Ready to turn compassion into impact? Visit www.FarmKind.giving. Use the promo code “Better Life” to double your first donation.
–
Episode Highlights
–
[00:00] Introduction
[02:00] From attorney to sanctuary co-founder.
[04:00] If you save a child, why not an animal?
[06:00] There are many ways to contribute.
[09:30] Purpose driven contributions
[13:00] Keep fund-development transparent.
[15:00] Are you buying your way out of guilt.
[20:15] Beyond the carbon footprint.
[22:15] Large scale corporate commitments.
[25:00] Preventing burnout.
[29:00] FarmKind.Giving is raising the impact.
–
About Thom Norman
–
Thom Norman – Co-Founder and Director of Outreach, FarmKind
–
Thom Norman is the Co-Founder and Director of Outreach at FarmKind, an organization dedicated to connecting compassionate individuals with high-impact charities working to end factory farming. A former attorney, Thom left his legal career behind after a deep personal awakening about the realities of industrial animal agriculture. Inspired by his profound bond with his cats, Luna and Sirius, Thom began to question why some animals are cherished as family while others endure unimaginable suffering.
–
Driven by this disconnect, he made it his life’s work to advocate for farmed animals and help others channel their compassion into meaningful action. Thom believes that most people know factory farming is wrong -but often feel powerless to stop it. Through FarmKind, he helps bridge that gap, offering tangible ways for people to make a difference by supporting effective, ethical nonprofits working on the frontlines of change.
–
Whether he’s hosting community events, building partnerships, or speaking one-on-one with donors, Thom’s mission remains clear: to replace hopelessness with hope, and passive concern with empowered action for animals.
–
–
About Cheryl Moss
–
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.
–
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.
–
When not advocating, she enjoys Pilates, 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.
–
https://www.facebook.com/BLFAnimals/
https://x.com/betterlife4anim
https://www.instagram.com/betterlife4animals/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylmossabetterlifeforanimals/
