What happens when spirituality, animal ethics, veganism, and sentientism collide? In this wide-ranging conversation, writer and artist Mari Andrew explores faith, doubt, morality, and our relationship with non-human animals, from Christianity and myth to veganism, hierarchy, and what it really means to live compassionately in a complex world.In episode 243 of Sentientism, New York Times Bestselling author Mari Andrew reflects on her journey from childhood spirituality and existential OCD to animal advocacy, creativity, and her latest book How to Be a Living Thing. Together, we explore whether morality needs God, whether myth and science can coexist, why hierarchy is the hardest thing humans give up when they stop exploiting animals, and how joy, creativity, and embodiment can guide ethical change.We discuss veganism without dogma, the moral status of animals beyond “cute” species, disability ethics, liberation theology, and how small shifts in perspective can ripple into a better world. This is a conversation about curiosity, humility, and expanding compassion — for humans and non-human sentients alike.Mari Andrew is a writer, artist, speaker, teacher, and needle-felting enthusiast. Her first book, Am I There Yet? is a New York Times Bestselling collection of observations from her 20s. Her second book, My Inner Sky, focuses on her recovery from illness back to a flourishing life. Her third book, How to be a Living Thing, focuses on human nature, inspired by living through the COVID pandemic. In Sentientist Conversations we talk about the most important questions: “what’s real?”, “who matters?” and "how can we make a better world?" Sentientism answers those questions with "evidence, reason & compassion for all sentient beings." The video of our conversation is here on YouTube. 00:00 Clips “I saw these beautiful herds of cattle grazing under the eucalyptus trees and it was so idyllic and it just seemed so wholesome and so simple. And then I would just see these massive rows of the containers where they put the baby cows. And I realized, oh, okay, this is evil.”“It's not a sacrifice. We've always learned how to eat differently. Nothing's being taken away from you. But I realized in actually writing this book that hierarchy is taken away. And I think that's the scariest thing for humans to reconcile with.”“My husband... He was the easiest convert ever. I took him to a farm sanctuary.”01:07 Welcome04:18 Mari’s Intro09:32 What’s Real?37:08 What Matters?48:52 Who Matters?1:11:01 A Better World?1:26:00 Follow Mari:- ByMariAndrew - @bymariandrew - Mari's SubstackAnd more... full show notes at Sentientism.info. Sentientism is “Evidence, reason & compassion for all sentient beings.” More at Sentientism.info. Join our "I'm a Sentientist" wall via this simple form. Everyone, Sentientist or not, is welcome in our groups. The biggest so far is here on FaceBook. Come join us there!
