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.
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A.P.P.L.E
Animals in Politics, Law, and Ethics researches how we live in interspecies societies and polities.
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The Animal Turn is hosted and produced by Claudia Hirtenfelder and is part of the iROAR Network. Learn more on our website.
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