Bonus: FarmKind and Effective Altruism with Thom Norman

Thom Norman joins Claudia on the show to discuss the work of FarmKind and the tenets of effective altruism. They talk about FarmKind’s compassion calculator and how it strategically doesn’t include vegan messaging. They discuss the organizations FarmKind supports and some of the critiques levelled against effective altruism.  

Date Recorded: 20 March 2025

Thom Norman is the co-founder of FarmKind, a nonprofit dedicated to accelerating the end of factory farming by expanding the coalition of people working to protect farmed animals. After a career as a nuclear energy lawyer, Thom launched FarmKind to create new pathways for compassionate people to make a meaningful difference for animals suffering in factory farms. Working with expert evaluators and grant-makers, FarmKind identifies and promotes highly effective charities that are creating tangible improvements in farm animal welfare while building a more sustainable food system. Their innovative Compassion Calculator offers an alternative to the traditional “go vegan” message, helping people understand how strategic donations can create substantial impact regardless of their dietary choices.

Featured: 

• FarmKind
• What’s Effective Altruism and what are some alternatives? With Alice Crary and Lori Gruen on Think Like a Vegan
• Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer
• Animal Liberation by Peter Singer
• Moral Ambition by Rutger Bregman
• S6E5: Abolition with Gary Francione on The Animal Turn
• S6E6: Social Movement Mobilization and Feminism with Corey Lee Wrenn on The Animal Turn
• What’s Effective Altruism and what are some alternatives? on the Think Like a Vegan Podcast. 
• Plant Based Treaty
• Good Food Institute

A.P.P.L.E
Animals in Politics, Law, and Ethics researches how we live in interspecies societies and polities.

iROAR Network
iROAR brings together podcasts that aim is to make the world a better place for animals.

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Join PhD Candidate Claudia Hirtenfelder as she learns about important concepts in Animal Studies. Season 1 focuses on Animals and the Law.

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