NBSV 208: Matthew C. Halteman on the joyful case for going vegan
Document Type
Podcast
Abstract
Veganism isn’t about saying no; it’s about saying yes. Philosophy professor and author Matthew C. Halteman joins me to make the joyful case for going vegan. It’s an invitation to live in alignment with your values — and eat ridiculously good food while you’re at it. We dig into why most people already want a more vegan world (even if they don’t call themselves vegan yet), how to move from guilt and obligation to abundance and flourishing, cognitive dissonance (why people get defensive about veganism even when they agree with you), how to be an actually effective advocate without burning out or blowing up every family dinner, and much more. Matt also shares his own journey from meat lover to ethical vegan, how his dog Gus changed his worldview, and why he thinks veganism should feel like possibility, not pressure.
Important topics we discussed:
>> The idea of our “inner family” (from Internal Family Systems therapy) and how veganism can harmonize it
>> Why going vegan isn’t about stopping something terrible, but starting something beautiful
>> The importance of patience, failure, and joy in any long-term lifestyle change
>> Karina’s upcoming TEDx talk on a very similar subject
Publication Date
12-5-2025
Recommended Citation
Halteman, Matthew C., "NBSV 208: Matthew C. Halteman on the joyful case for going vegan" (2025). University Faculty Publications and Creative Works. 1013.
https://digitalcommons.calvin.edu/calvin_facultypubs/1013