07/23/24
EP 35: Exploring Match-Striking For Beginners: Laying Down Your Safety in Activism with Calen Otto
In this episode of The Disruption Podcast, Tracey Breeden and Michelle Pelton delve into a conversation with Calen Ann Otto about the impact of laying down your safety in the name of justice. Calen expands on disruptive activism, sharing personal stories of protests and the camaraderie found within the movement. They also draw parallels between veganism and other social justice movements, such as feminism and LGBTQ+ rights, shedding light on speciesism and the urgent need to rethink our treatment of animals.
Calen is an anti-speciesist travel blogger who explores the big wide world on a very small budget. After completing a solo trip across the USA at the age of 19 with only $300 and a bike, Calen discovered that there are so many alternative ways to travel that cost less.
Inspired by their love of meeting strangers and sharing their incredible stories, Calen created the Unruly Travel blog. There they share photos, videos, articles, and podcast episodes from their unique travels in hopes to inspire others to get out and grow. Calen has been to 5 continents, 35 states, 20 National Parks, and more than 20 countries as a vegan and is passionate about doing the least amount of harm wherever they go. They wrote and published ‘The Art Of Unruly Travel On A Budget’ travel guide book to make travel more accessible to all.
In this episode Tracey, Michelle, and Calen talk about:
- Veganism as a social justice movement.
- Drawing similarities between speciesism with other discrimination forms.
- The importance of having courage to stand up for your beliefs.
- Calen’s experiences with disruptive animal rights activism.
- The need for accessible, plant-based foods for all communities.
- How to manage and address risks in activism: physical harm, emotional challenges, legal consequences.
Tracey’s book is now available for purchase! Whether you want to ignite your inner superhero or harness collective power, Tracey’s new book is your ultimate guide. “Match-Striking for Beginners” offers essential practices and bold strategies to help you overcome obstacles and unleash your personal power to create lasting impact. Order your copy today and join the movement for positive change!
Connect with Tracey, Calen and Michelle: