Animal rights educator Shivam Nandi (Voice of Vegans) joins Sustainable Tea with Shreya for an unfiltered deep dive into ethics, culture, and power. He traces a blunt journey from “hardcore non-veg” to vegan after confronting his own cognitive dissonance, then dismantles the comforting myths around “ethical” dairy and eggs: forced breeding, calf-mother separation, mass disposal of male chicks, and supply-chain links between dairy, beef, and leather. A feminist lens runs through the conversation about body autonomy, exploitation of female reproductive systems, and why compassion that excludes animals is just selective empathy. Religion and ritual aren’t spared either: when sacred narratives are used to justify harm, that’s not devotion, that’s convenience.And from there the discussion further widens into food politics in India, caste, festivals, and performative activism and why animal liberation must be a political project, not just a personal diet. Shivam calls out bad-faith arguments head-on: the protein panic is about awareness, not meat; “veganism is elitist” is a dishonest shield used by the privileged; and fitness influencer culture routinely sells whey while hiding the exploitation behind it. He lays out a pragmatic path: start with the “why” think from the victim’s perspective, then learn the “how,” because plant-based nutrition is achievable when knowledge replaces habit. If dogs deserve empathy, so do hens, goats, cows, and fishes; species don't grant moral permission.Watch, reflect, and if the “why” lands, let the “how” follow.In this Episode00:00 - Start of the Podcast 02:02 - The Awakening: From Habit to Ethics08:01 - Unmasking the Dairy Illusion15:01 - Feminism and Animal Exploitation20:01 - Religion, Ritual, and Moral Dissonance27:01 - Food, Caste, and Cultural Power33:01 - Veganism as Political Resistance39:01 - Protein Myths and Fitness Culture45:01 - Elitism and Accessibility in Diet52:01 - Why Vegan, Then How Vegan1:00:00 - Egg Industry and Hidden Cruelty1:04:01 - Selective Compassion and Conditioning1:09:01 - From Awareness to Action1:13:01 - Activism, Discomfort, and Courage1:17:01 - Bollywood, Influence, and Hypocrisy1:21:01 - Hope, Change, and Moral Agency1:23:25 - End of the Podcast Where bold ideas meet brewed conversations. ☕ Sustainable Tea with Shreya is India’s biggest sustainability podcast, hosted by climate communicator and plant based lifestyle advocate Shreya Ghodawat. In each episode, we sit down with changemakers across the globe, think climate scientists, clean-tech innovators, chefs, ethical fashion founders, indigenous leaders, and more, talking about everything that matters in a bid to live better. This is a space for curious minds and conscious conversations. For people who care, question, and want to understand what sustainability looks like in the real world, from policy to personal choices. If you're done with surface-level conversations and want to hear us spill the tea on how everyday choices connect to change the impact. Pull up a chair, sip on your favourite brew, and explore insights that move the needle.Sustainable Tea with Shreya, Sustainability, Vegan, Veganism , Non-vegetarian, Animal exploitation, Animal husbandry, Protein myths, Animal leather, Eggs, Vegan diet, Plant diet, Plant protein, Dark side of dairy, Cruelty, Dairy free, Lactose intolerance, Lactose free milk, Dairy free diet, STWS

For guest suggestions & collaborations:

📩 Email – podcast@shreyaghodawat.com

Follow Sustainable Tea with Shreya on Social Media:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SustainableTeaWithShreya

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sustainableteawithshreya/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shreyaghodawat/

Follow Dr. Shailesh Rao:

Website: https://climatehealers.org/sailesh-rao/

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Dr. Shailesh Rao joins Sustainable Tea with Shreya in this hard-hitting conversation that exposes the hidden drivers of climate change and the urgent need for a global shift in how we eat and live.

From animal agriculture as the “killing machine” to the shocking reality that dairy is the world’s longest-running scam, Dr. Rao uncovers why our food system, not just fossil fuels, is at the center of our ecological destruction. This episode dives deep into the health impacts of meat and dairy, the 30 million lives lost each year to diet-related chronic disease, and why going vegan may be the most powerful climate solution available to us.

Together, we explore the consequences of everyday food choices, the ethics of ahimsa (non-violence), and how systemic change in diets and industries could redefine our future. This is a conversation about more than climate change. It's about survival, justice, and the urgent decisions that will shape the fate of our planet.

Whether you’re an environmentalist, student, policymaker, or someone questioning the link between health, sustainability, and climate, this episode will challenge your perspective and inspire action.

#ClimateChange #AnimalAgriculture #Sustainability #SustainableTeaWithShreya

Timestamps:

0:00 – Meet Dr. Shailesh Rao

3:40 – The Hidden Driver of Climate Change

9:25 – Why the World Must Go Vegan

16:42 – The Dairy Scam Exposed

24:18 – “Killing Machine” vs. “Burning Machine”

31:56 – How Meat & Dairy Damage Our Health

39:44 – 30 Million Deaths Every Year

47:29 – Fossil Fuels Aren’t the Only Threat

55:10 – The True Cost of Animal Agriculture

1:02:37 – Ahimsa and the Food System

1:10:25 – Can the World Go Plant-Based?

1:18:50 – Rethinking Food Systems for the Future

1:27:05 – Climate Denial and Policy Roadblocks

1:34:22 – Why the Next Generation Holds the Key

1:41:15 – Dr. Rao’s Final Call to Action

1:46:57 – Closing

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Where bold ideas meet brewed conversations. ☕

Sustainable Tea with Shreya is India’s biggest sustainability podcast, hosted by climate communicator and plant based lifestyle advocate Shreya Ghodawat.

In each episode, we sit down with changemakers across the globe, think climate scientists, clean-tech innovators, chefs, ethical fashion founders, indigenous leaders, and more, talking about everything that matters in a bid to live better. This is a space for curious minds and conscious conversations.

For people who care, question, and want to understand what sustainability looks like in the real world, from policy to personal choices. If you're done with surface-level conversations and want to hear us spill the tea on how everyday choices connect to change the impact.

Pull up a chair, sip on your favourite brew, and explore insights that move the needle.

For guest suggestions & collaborations:📩 Email – podcast@shreyaghodawat.comFollow Sustainable Tea with Shreya on Social Media:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SustainableTeaWithShreyaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/sustainableteawithshreya/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shreyaghodawat/Follow Vinamrasagar Ji’s Teachings & Updates:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vinamrasagarji/------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------In this special episode of Sustainable Tea with Shreya, Jain Muni Vinamrasagar Ji shares profound wisdom on the real meaning of life, the roots of inner peace, and how modern generations—especially Gen Z—can navigate stress, overthinking, and distractions.In this powerful conversation with Jain Muni Vinamrasagar Ji, we explore why so many of us today feel lost, restless, and trapped in the endless cycle of desires and distractions. Rooted in the timeless wisdom of Jain philosophy, this episode sheds light on how living consciously and sustainably can transform our lives. We discuss the principle of Ahimsa (non-violence) as the foundation of both inner and outer harmony, and how it can guide us toward peace in a chaotic world. The discussion also offers practical steps to cultivate mindfulness, simplicity, and balance in our daily routines, while addressing why success without peace ultimately feels empty. Finally, we uncover the path to clarity and calm in the age of social media and hustle culture, making this episode a must-watch for anyone seeking deeper meaning and lasting fulfillment.This conversation is not just about spirituality—it’s about redesigning the way we live. Muni Vinamrasagar Ji brings timeless insights that connect deeply with the struggles of our modern world.Whether you’re a student, young professional, or seeker on a spiritual path, this episode will leave you with practical wisdom and peace of mind. #jainism #spirituality #sustainableteawithshreya Timestamps: 0:00 – Can Ancient Wisdom Survive Social Media?2:38 – Jainism in One Sentence (For Gen Z)3:00 – Is Jainism Too Strict? (The Truth)4:00 – 3 Jain Practices That Can Change Your Life6:01 – Why a Monk Chose Instagram Over Temples8:40 – Talking to Youth vs Elders: The Language Gap10:55 – How Monks Handle Hate Online13:00 – The Most Controversial Topics in Jainism15:34 – Gen Z Growth, But Still Anxious—Why?17:06 – The Real Formula for Success19:20 – Jain Wealth Paradox: Rich Yet Spiritually Poor?22:35 – A Poem That Destroys Fake Social Status24:09 – How to Be Rich Without Feeling Empty25:17 – When Non-Violence Becomes Convenient27:54 – The Pet Food Paradox 31:43 – From Leather to Liberation: A Monk’s Awakening34:27 – Awareness: From Questioning to Feeling37:33 – Message to Jain Youth: Come Back Home41:25 – How We Use Language to Hide Violence43:36 – 5 Types of Ahimsa for Modern Living47:31 – Can Jainism Solve the Climate Crisis?49:16 – Why Jainism Is the Most Scientific Way of LifeWhere bold ideas meet brewed conversations. ☕ Sustainable Tea with Shreya is India’s biggest sustainability podcast, hosted by climate communicator and plant based lifestyle advocate Shreya Ghodawat. In each episode, we sit down with changemakers across the globe, think climate scientists, clean-tech innovators, chefs, ethical fashion founders, indigenous leaders, and more, talking about everything that matters in a bid to live better. This is a space for curious minds and conscious conversations. For people who care, question, and want to understand what sustainability looks like in the real world, from policy to personal choices. If you're done with surface-level conversations and want to hear us spill the tea on how everyday choices connect to change the impact. Pull up a chair, sip on your favourite brew, and explore insights that move the needle.