In this week’s episode, we sit down with Sophie Wilcher, a dedicated animal rights activist and investigator with Farm Transparency Project whose journey has led her into some of the most confronting places in Australia’s ‘food’ system.

After beginning her advocacy through street outreach, vigils, and community activism, she soon stepped into investigative work. In 2019, she entered her first factory farm, rescuing hens from a caged-egg facility and exposing the hidden realities of farming in Australia.

Since then, Sophie has spent six years participating in direct actions, documenting conditions inside slaughterhouses and farms, and rescuing hundreds of animals from these places. She shares their stories online to help people see them as the precious individuals they are.

This episode is a powerful and deeply human insight into what it takes to expose the truth, and how to have hope for the future despite having seen the worst of humanity.

Follow and connect with Sophie on Instagram: @thesophiemouse

Details for the Animal Rights Forum:

February 21st-22nd 2026

Sydney Masonic Centre

More information at animalrightsforum.org/

Get tickets at: trybooking.com/events/landing/1460942

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Support the show with a ‘follow’ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or ‘subscribe’ on YouTube.

If you’re loving the show, please leave us a review or rating.

Instagram: @thevegancompass_podcast

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In this episode, we sit down with filmmaker and marine conservation advocate Andre Borell, co-founder of the Envoy Foundation and director of the 2021 documentary, Envoy: Shark Cull which exposed Australia’s shark control programs and the global fight to protect our oceans.

In our chat, Andre shares how his lifelong love for marine animals led him to expose the devastating impact of shark nets and drumlines, and why these outdated methods fail to keep swimmers safe. We break down why they provide a false sense of security, and the non-lethal alternatives that can protect both humans and wildlife.

We also explore the incredible work of the Envoy Foundation, how a documentary project turned into an international movement, and the urgent environmental issues the team is tackling right now.

If you care about ocean conservation, science-backed solutions and the power of community — this episode is a must-watch!

About Envoy Foundation: envoy.foundation

Watch Envoy: Shark Cull: envoy.foundation/projects/envoy-shark-cull

Sign the petition: change.org/nosharkcull

Connect with Andre: linkedin.com/in/andreborell/

Details for the Animal Rights Forum:

February 21st-22nd 2026

Sydney Masonic Centre

More information at animalrightsforum.org/

Get tickets at: trybooking.com/events/landing/1460942

Support The Vegan Compass Podcast:

NEW PODCAST MERCH! Get yours at vegancompass.theprintbar.com

Support the show with a ‘follow’ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or ‘subscribe’ on YouTube.

If you’re loving the show, please leave us a review or rating.

Instagram: @thevegancompass_podcast

Facebook: The Vegan Compass Podcast

In this week’s episode, we sit down with Peter Varvaressos, the ingenuitive mind behind some of Sydney’s most loved vegan food businesses: Greens Supermarket, Vandal and Kimusabi. From creating a community hub for plant-based groceries to redefining sushi and Mexican street food, Pete has played a huge role in shaping Sydney’s vegan food culture.

We start by exploring Peter’s background, having grown up around his parent’s catering company and how that influenced his career path. He shares the moment he realised there were major gaps in the vegan food scene and how that insight inspired him to create businesses that are innovative and loved by even the harshest of critics.

Pete walks us through the biggest mistakes he sees vegan food businesses make, and the key ingredients that have contributed to his long-term success in a rapidly changing industry.

Pete is passionate and constantly dreaming up the next venture, so tune in to get the scoop on what new ideas are brewing and where to follow his journey.

Connect with Pete:

Instagram: @greens.supermarket @vandal_sydney and @kimusabi.katering

Email: peter@greensfood.com.au

Details for the Animal Rights Forum:

February 21st-22nd 2026

Sydney Masonic Centre

More information at animalrightsforum.org/

Get tickets at: trybooking.com/events/landing/1460942

Support The Vegan Compass Podcast:

NEW PODCAST MERCH! Get yours at vegancompass.theprintbar.com

Support the show with a ‘follow’ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or ‘subscribe’ on YouTube.

If you’re loving the show, please leave us a review or rating.

Instagram: @thevegancompass_podcast

Facebook: The Vegan Compass Podcast

In this week’s episode, we sit down with Amanda Dorn, Western Australia’s first Animal Justice Party MP, whose journey from dedicated volunteer to elected representative is nothing short of inspiring.

Amanda shares how her vegan journey began nine years ago after watching powerful documentaries like Dominion. Before politics, she built a career in Real Estate and became a small business owner—but everything shifted the day she attended an event for “this vegan political party” and realised she had found her community.

In this episode, we explore her path to becoming an MP, including years of campaigning and the deep belief that kept her motivated even after previous election losses. Amanda also gives us a look at the campaigns she’s already diving into, including the export of hermit crabs for the pet trade.

This is an uplifting and energising conversation about persistence and the power of political change for animals.

Connect with Amanda

Watch Amanda’s inaugural speech: amandadornmp.com/news/inaugural

Fighting hermit crab exports: amandadornmp.com/news/hermits-ms

Instagram: @amanda.dorn.ajp

Facebook: facebook.com/amanda.dorn.ajp

Email: Amanda.Dorn@mp.wa.gov.au

Become an AJP Member: animaljusticeparty.org/join

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Support The Vegan Compass Podcast

NEW PODCAST MERCH! Get yours at vegancompass.theprintbar.com

Support the show with a ‘follow’ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or ‘subscribe’ on YouTube.

If you’re loving the show, please leave us a review or rating.

Follow us on Instagram

@thevegancompass_podcast

Like us on Facebook

@TheVeganCompassPodcast

In today’s episode we chat with Forest Nash, a natural bodybuilding champion and online fitness and nutrition coach. He is passionate about breaking down stereotypes as a strong, fit vegan role model, and helping others to truly thrive and achieve their fitness goals on a plant-based diet.

Forest was raised as an ethical vegetarian from birth, and has been vegan since 2015. In our conversation, Forest shares what it was like growing up without meat, how his upbringing led him into bodybuilding, and the lessons he’s learned from competing (and winning) against non-vegan athletes.

He is an NASM Certified Personal Trainer, RP Certified Nutrition Coach, and holds a Certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from Cornell University. He is also a member of the Vegan Strong PlantBuilt team, the largest organisation of competitive vegan strength and physique athletes in the world.

Forest specialises in using evidence-based training and whole-food plant-based nutrition to help people lose fat and build muscle in a healthy and sustainable way, providing practical tips throughout the episode.

Whether you’re a long-time gym-goer, or just curious about how to optimise your health through vegan nutrition — this conversation will inspire you to challenge limits and lead by example.

Connect with Forest:

Website: www.forestnash.com.au

Email: info@forestnash.com.au

Instagram: www.instagram.com/forest.nash

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ForestNashFitness

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Support The Vegan Compass Podcast

NEW PODCAST MERCH! Get yours at vegancompass.theprintbar.com

Support the show with a ‘follow’ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or ‘subscribe’ on YouTube.

If you’re loving the show, please leave us a review or rating.

Follow us on Instagram

@thevegancompass_podcast

Like us on Facebook

@TheVeganCompassPodcast

In this week’s episode, we sit down with Dr. Dana Kolsky, a qualified veterinary surgeon also on the team at Animal Free Science Advocacy (AFSA), an organisation at the forefront of efforts to end animal experimentation in Australia.

Dana shares the uncomfortable truth about what life for animals used in science really looks like, how these experiments are approved, and why these outdated methods continue to be used despite more ethical and accurate alternatives.

You’ll hear about the shocking studies into intimate partner violence, involving strangulation and traumatic brain injury, as well as AFSA’s campaigns to end primate research in Australia and their push to reform the Australian Code.

But it’s not all grim – Dana highlights some of the exciting non-animal testing methods that are paving the way for a more ethical and accurate future in science.

This conversation is insightful but incredibly tough in places. We encourage you to push through and use the real life experiences of animals in labs to ignite a fire for positive change.

Connect with AFSA

Website: animalfreescienceadvocacy.org.au

On violence in animal research (including IPV studies and aggressive restraint) - https://animalfreescienceadvocacy.org.au/issues/violence-in-animal-research/

On primate research - https://animalfreescienceadvocacy.org.au/ending-primate-experiments/

On the issue of no reporting/available data - https://animalfreescienceadvocacy.org.au/statistics-of-animal-use/

On the issue of drug development and its translation to humans - https://animalfreescienceadvocacy.org.au/rethinking-drug-safety/

Instagram: @animalfreescienceadvocacy

Facebook: facebook.com/AnimalFreeScienceAdvocacy

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Support The Vegan Compass Podcast

NEW PODCAST MERCH! Get yours at vegancompass.theprintbar.com

Support the show with a ‘follow’ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or ‘subscribe’ on YouTube.

If you’re loving the show, please leave us a review or rating.

Follow us on Instagram

@thevegancompass_podcast

Like us on Facebook

@TheVeganCompassPodcast

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Emma Hurst MP, elected member for the Animal Justice Party in NSW Parliament. A psychologist, animal protection campaigner, and former vegan bodybuilder, we dive into Emma’s remarkable journey from a young animal advocate to the halls of parliament.

Emma shares how her passion for animals began at a young age and the winding path that led her from roles with PETA, World Animal Protection and Animal Liberation NSW to creating legislative change for animals in New South Wales parliament. We go behind the scenes of her political work to discuss the issues she and her team are tackling right now, the creative strategies that have helped push animal protection forward, and the standout wins that keep her motivated.

Beyond politics, Emma opens up about the mental resilience needed to stay in the fight for animals, how her background as a registered psychologist shapes her advocacy, and the importance of staying grounded amid public scrutiny.

Connect with Emma

Instagram: @emma.hurst

Facebook: facebook.com/EmmaHurstMP

Email: emma.hurst@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Become an AJP Member: animaljusticeparty.org/join

____

Support The Vegan Compass Podcast

NEW PODCAST MERCH! Get yours at vegancompass.theprintbar.com

Support the show with a ‘follow’ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or ‘subscribe’ on YouTube.

If you’re loving the show, please leave us a review or rating.

Follow us on Instagram

@thevegancompass_podcast

Like us on Facebook

@TheVeganCompassPodcast

In this episode, we sit down with Kate Galli, vegan health coach, host of the Healthification podcast, and author of The Plant Positive Journal.

Kate is passionate about helping people create their fittest, strongest, most confident selves while living in alignment with their values through a plant-based lifestyle.

Kate opens up about her own transformation, including the shift from being an “angry vegan” to leading with love, and how this approach has shaped both her advocacy and her coaching practice.

We also dive into practical advice for anyone wanting to thrive on plants, including Kate’s top strategies for busy people, her approach to balance, and why mindset is often the key that unlocks long-term success.

Connect with Kate

Instagram: @strongbodygreenplanet

Listen to The Healthification Podcast: podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-healthification-podcast/id856696884

Grab your copy of The Plant Positive Journal: Plant Positive Journal

Join the Plant Positive Skool Community: skool.com/plant-positive/about

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Support The Vegan Compass Podcast

NEW PODCAST MERCH! Get yours at vegancompass.theprintbar.com

Support the show with a ‘follow’ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or ‘subscribe’ on YouTube.

If you’re loving the show, please leave us a review or rating.

Follow us on Instagram @thevegancompass_podcast

Like us on Facebook @TheVeganCompassPodcast