Thanks for this, Matt. I really like how you described being vegan as part of your efforts to reduce harm (maybe that can be my new simple answer when asked). When everything feels so overwhelming, I’m going to be doing that no matter what. Also practice patient and endure minor inconveniences. I can keep doing that. (Appreciate the numbers, facts, and figures, too.) Deep gratitude to you and Michelle and your partners and hope your time off is worthy of you! Happy holidays!
We’re all just trying our best and I think a big part of trying is not supporting these companies directly responsible for so many problems our modern world grapples with.
I am still a meat-eater but I learn more and more each day from you two and I'm leaning away from it. I am also learning more about the prevalence of corn in every fucking thing. Thank you for continuing to speak your mind.
And that’s okay, nearly everyone I know is a meat eater. I’m not out to shame anyone but highlight that the producers of the protein we put on our plates are cartoonishly evil corporations.
That they are. I learn more every day and I'm spending my money more carefully insofar as how my protein gets to my plate. It ain't cheap, but then again, it's usually better quality, and for how little beef I eat, I can pay that.
I blame Michael Pollan, since I just finished The Omnivore's Dilemma, which I really think ought to be required reading if you eat. It's in so many processed foods as a filler item and high fructose corn syrup is also pretty prevalent as a sweetener. It's cheap, I get it, but given the free-handed use of pesticides for everything, I'm not real sure how much I want to ingest of all that. I'm trying to reduce the amount of processed junk I eat (which is a lot, bc it's engineered to be very tasty, and it is!) and corn is a big ingredient in processed foods. I also come from farming communities and I've seen firsthand how Big Ag makes it really expensive to earn a basic living growing corn, but that's a whole other tangent. :)
So appreciate your words, work and clearly stated-facts- about big AG and how our system of government continues to support it and the suffering of millions of sentient beings.....to our own demise
My personal journey has been an education and I don’t fault my omnivore friends/family, cognitive dissonance is a powerful tool. But fuck these companies.
Great column..Just wondering—before I found y’all, I discovered Dr. Michael Greger..he has a just released book “How Not to Age.” Maybe a good read during your break(?) his story of why he’s dedicated his entire professional career to nutrition is amazing. Just like your books, I pre-order as soon as they’re announced.
Also, a nonsequitor question: why do you never use Instant Pots??
Dr. Greger is a homie. We hosted him on our podcast when he released his book "How Not to Die" and we'll def give his new book a spin thanks for the rec. Nah we don't really use instant pots unless it's for something basic like rice and we're being lazy. We don't get alot of requests for those but we can consider it for the future.
I think the Instant Pots help people eat healthier, like a slow cooker. When you leave work, if you know dinner’s made and waiting for you at home, you’re not tempted to do the fast food drive through thing..same thing with making breakfast ahead-if it’s already made when you get up, you won’t skip it…just my thoughts
Perhaps your commitment to harm reduction could include not calling people "bitch". I know my opinion may be in the minority, but to me it's the equivalent of the "n word".
“Practice patience and endure minor inconveniences. None of us will ever be perfect but goddamnit we can try. “ Thank you for that final statement. Good advice all around and I agree with Angela, I think harm reduction will be my new easy answer as well.
Love your work Matt. Call it like it is. Its beyond belief in 2023 when we are in an environmental crisis, greed & laziness rule the day. We are grateful for the work yourself and Michelle do and love your rants. Happy Christmas and peace to all.
Really enjoyed that you closed with that Micheal Pollen quote! Most aptly said! I think it would be really interesting to hear from you and Michelle about more scientific and health readings or podcasts or anything you guys have found helpful over the years.
What a stone cold delightful read, and a great reminder to tune my inner radio to harm reduction daily.
Happiest of holidays for everyone! I'm looking forward to making the falafel waffle from the new book tomorrow night and topping it with an unholy amount of hummus, slaw, and whatever my fool heart desires.
Amen!!!! And, this is not new news... what is shocking is that it actually comes as a surprise to ALMOST EVERYBODY. Like, how tf do people not know (*care) that the corruption in our food system goes so deep and is so disturbing. We walk around with our puppies and poodles but wolf down the grotesquely tortured dead bodies of most other types of animals. We just have to keep plugging away at educating people to raise awareness. I think it'll happen because when I first stopped consuming animals, it was 1992 and we have come a LONG way since then. Thanks for the "rant" 👏🍾💥
Oof, I couldn’t imagine living next to that. Driving thru Central Valley California it’s impossible to ignore the stench of cattle ranches. The communities get fucked by these farms and the farmers get fucked by these companies. The profit margins aren’t razor thin, they’re non-existent and that’s why we have to subsidize them. Shits gotta change.
Thanks for this, Matt. I really like how you described being vegan as part of your efforts to reduce harm (maybe that can be my new simple answer when asked). When everything feels so overwhelming, I’m going to be doing that no matter what. Also practice patient and endure minor inconveniences. I can keep doing that. (Appreciate the numbers, facts, and figures, too.) Deep gratitude to you and Michelle and your partners and hope your time off is worthy of you! Happy holidays!
We’re all just trying our best and I think a big part of trying is not supporting these companies directly responsible for so many problems our modern world grapples with.
I am still a meat-eater but I learn more and more each day from you two and I'm leaning away from it. I am also learning more about the prevalence of corn in every fucking thing. Thank you for continuing to speak your mind.
And that’s okay, nearly everyone I know is a meat eater. I’m not out to shame anyone but highlight that the producers of the protein we put on our plates are cartoonishly evil corporations.
That they are. I learn more every day and I'm spending my money more carefully insofar as how my protein gets to my plate. It ain't cheap, but then again, it's usually better quality, and for how little beef I eat, I can pay that.
Ok. What's up with corn? Curiousity, not confrontation. I wanna learn.
Oh you wanna corn rant *cracks knuckles* I’LL GIVE YOU A CORN RANT
I should have just waited bc this is going to be fucking classic! BRING IT ON!
I blame Michael Pollan, since I just finished The Omnivore's Dilemma, which I really think ought to be required reading if you eat. It's in so many processed foods as a filler item and high fructose corn syrup is also pretty prevalent as a sweetener. It's cheap, I get it, but given the free-handed use of pesticides for everything, I'm not real sure how much I want to ingest of all that. I'm trying to reduce the amount of processed junk I eat (which is a lot, bc it's engineered to be very tasty, and it is!) and corn is a big ingredient in processed foods. I also come from farming communities and I've seen firsthand how Big Ag makes it really expensive to earn a basic living growing corn, but that's a whole other tangent. :)
So appreciate your words, work and clearly stated-facts- about big AG and how our system of government continues to support it and the suffering of millions of sentient beings.....to our own demise
My personal journey has been an education and I don’t fault my omnivore friends/family, cognitive dissonance is a powerful tool. But fuck these companies.
Well said!
Great column..Just wondering—before I found y’all, I discovered Dr. Michael Greger..he has a just released book “How Not to Age.” Maybe a good read during your break(?) his story of why he’s dedicated his entire professional career to nutrition is amazing. Just like your books, I pre-order as soon as they’re announced.
Also, a nonsequitor question: why do you never use Instant Pots??
Happy holidays..enjoy your break
Dr. Greger is a homie. We hosted him on our podcast when he released his book "How Not to Die" and we'll def give his new book a spin thanks for the rec. Nah we don't really use instant pots unless it's for something basic like rice and we're being lazy. We don't get alot of requests for those but we can consider it for the future.
Great about the doctor!!
I think the Instant Pots help people eat healthier, like a slow cooker. When you leave work, if you know dinner’s made and waiting for you at home, you’re not tempted to do the fast food drive through thing..same thing with making breakfast ahead-if it’s already made when you get up, you won’t skip it…just my thoughts
Oscar style standing ovation 👏🏼 Thank you!
Excellent essay, Matt. And I do truly love the modifer "Pulitzer-ignored rant." :)
Their silence on my rants is deafening.
Excellent, sir!
Perhaps your commitment to harm reduction could include not calling people "bitch". I know my opinion may be in the minority, but to me it's the equivalent of the "n word".
“Practice patience and endure minor inconveniences. None of us will ever be perfect but goddamnit we can try. “ Thank you for that final statement. Good advice all around and I agree with Angela, I think harm reduction will be my new easy answer as well.
Love your work Matt. Call it like it is. Its beyond belief in 2023 when we are in an environmental crisis, greed & laziness rule the day. We are grateful for the work yourself and Michelle do and love your rants. Happy Christmas and peace to all.
Really enjoyed that you closed with that Micheal Pollen quote! Most aptly said! I think it would be really interesting to hear from you and Michelle about more scientific and health readings or podcasts or anything you guys have found helpful over the years.
What a stone cold delightful read, and a great reminder to tune my inner radio to harm reduction daily.
Happiest of holidays for everyone! I'm looking forward to making the falafel waffle from the new book tomorrow night and topping it with an unholy amount of hummus, slaw, and whatever my fool heart desires.
Amen!!!! And, this is not new news... what is shocking is that it actually comes as a surprise to ALMOST EVERYBODY. Like, how tf do people not know (*care) that the corruption in our food system goes so deep and is so disturbing. We walk around with our puppies and poodles but wolf down the grotesquely tortured dead bodies of most other types of animals. We just have to keep plugging away at educating people to raise awareness. I think it'll happen because when I first stopped consuming animals, it was 1992 and we have come a LONG way since then. Thanks for the "rant" 👏🍾💥
Oof, I couldn’t imagine living next to that. Driving thru Central Valley California it’s impossible to ignore the stench of cattle ranches. The communities get fucked by these farms and the farmers get fucked by these companies. The profit margins aren’t razor thin, they’re non-existent and that’s why we have to subsidize them. Shits gotta change.
"Cowschwitz" 😪 Shit does have to change
Happy holidays to you too Peter!