Interview: Derek Goodwin

Interview by Tom Epler

I'm an unapologetically Suburban Homebody Vegan: In bed each night by nine, and out the door for work each morning by eight. Still, I can't help but sometimes marvel at how awesome it would be to be Derek Goodwin. Enjoy this conversation with a True Renaissance Vegan who's as likely to be photographing Farm Sanctuary animals as he is to be photographing vegan weddings, and as likely to be finding inspiration at Burning Man as he is to be teaching at an upcoming retreat in Costa Rica.

New Vegan Age: Please tell us how you came to veganism. Was there any foreshadowing of it in your childhood?

Derek Goodwin: I grew up in Syracuse, NY. My maternal grandfather and uncle were dairy farmers in Kansas, and we would go visit once every year or so. On one of these visits I was big enough to feed the calves, who were kept in spacious (by today's standards) stalls. This was done with a quart sized baby bottle filled with synthetic milk. I bonded with an all black calf who I named Blacky, and spent lots of time with him.

Blacky, 1975

A year or so later, I was looking through my photo album and saw a picture of Blacky, and asked my mom how he was. She then informed me honestly that he was probably auctioned to become a veal calf. Twenty years later, in 1994, I started to wean myself off of red meat, to eat healthier by the conventional wisdom of the time. By 1996 I was fully vegan, having learned of the atrocities of industrial farming in John Robbin’s Diet for a New America. Looking back, I see now that it was the trauma of learning Blacky’s fate that was the true catalyst. The mind and heart work in mysterious ways!

NVA: You have a unique background and varied interests—more so than most of us. What usually leads you in a new direction, both geographically and professionally? Is it more of an internal compass that you obey, or have there been friends and mentors who inspired you to follow them into new endeavors?

With Robert Cheeke, 2011

DG: I am someone with a lot of creative energy. While my main passions are photography, yoga and music, I find that any form of self-expression is fun to explore, and I love to work with my hands. I believe that the best way to be an advocate for animals or any other cause, is to use the talents the universe has given you. I don’t want to be an angry vegan, I want to be one who attracts curiosity by the way I am in the world, and invite people who resonate with what I am doing to explore other ways of living. The vegan diet, and its underlying ethics, are easier to spread when people see they are gaining beauty and community in their life rather than losing a comfort.

NVA: One of your many fun and unusual endeavors is The Vegan Bus. Tell us more about it. How and when did it come into being? What did it accomplish? What is its current status?

DG: The Vegan Bus evolved out of the experience I had at the 2006 Burning Man Festival. It was a mind-expanding time in my life, where the psychedelic and unbounded self-expression of the festival inspired me to want to bring the vegan message there. I formed a band of friends in Western MA, and we fund-raised enough to buy a used school bus and converted it to run on used vegetable oil. We drove it across country to Burning Man in 2007, barely making it intact but having fun and attracting a lot of attention.

NVA: You're a certified Jivamukti yoga teacher. How does your veganism inform your yoga practice, and vice versa?

DG: I was attracted to Jivamukti Yoga because the founders, Sharon Gannon and David Life, promote the animal rights message by connecting it to the philosophy of yoga. The most-referenced yogic text in the west is the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, a 2,000 year-old book of aphorisms that I view as a non-denominational handbook for living in tune with the universe. The path that Patanjali lays out for reaching higher consciousness and contentment starts with what are called the yamas. Yama is Sanskrit for ‘restraint’ and there are 5 of them; non-harming, truthfulness, not stealing, not misusing sexual energy, and not being greedy. This is how Patanjali teaches us that we should act in the world towards others, if we want to cultivate happiness in our own lives.

The Sanskrit world for non-violence is ahimsa, and it is the first yama. The goal is to practice ahimsa in thought, word, and action. Thought is of the most importance, as all actions arise from thought. The very first step of the path is non-violence, and even the second yama (satya, truthfulness) can be broken to support that practice, if truthfulness will cause harm. So non-harming is the foundation, and the physical practice of asana (seat, or pose) that yoga has become identified with in the west is reliant upon that foundation. Some yogis can do amazing things with their bodies, but the connection to the universe is really through cultivating a real love of all beings. That is the most important teaching.

NVA: We actually learned about you through your photography—through your work with the major New York farm sanctuaries and the vegan events you've done. Tell us what led you to photography, where in the world it has taken you, and whether you plan to continue with it. (We hope so!)

DG: I started taking pictures as a kid with a 110mm today camera. If you are under 40 you may have to Google that! I fell in love with the process. I actually failed my photography class in high school, because I was focused on the high more than the school. Eventually I pursued photography at the Rochester Institute of Technology and graduated with honors. 

I started my photo business in 2000 focused on weddings, but through an early connection with Joseph Connelly (VegNews founding editor) I was able to place an ad in VegNews, back when it was a B&W magazine on news print! Mostly I got angry vegans telling me film was not vegan, but Samantha Ragsdale from Farm Sanctuary reached out to me to photograph their first Gala fundraiser in NYC. From that relationship I began the journey of photographing farm animals in sanctuaries, that has brought me some small notoriety in the vegan world. I like to look back to that first photo I took of Blacky as the beginning of my Farm Animal photography journey!

NVA: How do potential clients usually learn about your yoga instruction? Web searches? Word of mouth? Both? Other ways? How about your photography work?

DG: Currently I teach at yoga studios, most prominently the Jivamukti Yoga School in Union Square, NYC. I also work with animal sanctuaries and vegan organizations to teach classes and retreats. I have taught at Farm Sanctuary, Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary, and the Catskill Animal Sanctuary. I have a newsletter that your readers can use to keep in touch.

NVA: Would you recommend converting interests into income for young vegans—people in high school and college who are just starting to navigate an uncertain job market? What are the main pros and cons of piecing together a freelance career based on one's varied interests?

DG: Pros are doing what one loves, and the freedom in scheduling your life. Con is the need to always be looking for the next job. If you put sufficient effort into researching SEO strategies & networking in the physical world and on social media, then you can do it. If you are attached to the security of a 9-5 job, that’s ok too.

NVA: Can you identify a single common thread that ties together your life and work to date? How will it continue? Any new prospects, ideas, or interests you would like to follow up on in the next decade—and beyond?

DG: Creativity is the thread, combined with curiosity and a belief in greater purpose. If I dedicate my work to something other than myself, it keeps me motivated. Currently I am focused on my photography and creating yoga classes, workshops and events. What I have learned is to not overextend myself. I have another podcast in mind, but need to make some space in my life to manifest it. I hope to travel and teach and spread positive messages, and make inspiring images and videos of the things I experience.

NVA: Thank you, Derek! We look forward to following your interests as they continue to evolve, on Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.

A perfect time to stop eating animals

This deliciously-seasoned, nutritious,
colorful holiday stuffing is just one
of thousands of recipes that prove
giving up meat isn't a sacrifice. 

Would you be able to kill an animal? If not, and you still eat meat, you're not living in alignment with your values.

I know, I know. People sometimes say, "Animals kill and eat each other. We're no different."

Well, as one of my heroes, Harvey Diamond, first pointed out to me in his brilliant Fit For Life books, could you kill an animal yourself? Could you do what other animals do—chase it down, strangle or smother it, tear it apart with your bare hands, and swallow it raw?

If you react to this question with disgust—and couldn't or wouldn't yourself actually go through with killing a living being—you're already a vegetarian in belief, if not yet practice. In addition to the growing number of health and environmental reasons to turn exclusively to plants for nutrition, many vegans and vegetarians stop eating animals because they would not ask someone else to do for them what they themselves would not do.

"I would not kill a creature," said another of my heroes, Peace Pilgrim. "And I would not ask someone else to kill it for me, so I will not eat the flesh of the creature."

Other signs that you might "already" be a vegetarian or vegan include:

• You find the sight—or even idea—of a butchered animal or slaughterhouse unsettling
• You sometimes sense a "vague uneasiness" when you buy, order, or eat animal products
• You sometimes feel like you're not living in alignment with your "true self" 
• You've wondered why some cultures eat certain animals and not others, and why they're not always the same animals
• You've stopped and thought about how eating horses, cats, pigs, dogs, chickens, fish, or cows is any different—especially if this happened when your beloved pet was gazing at you

After Thanksgiving 1997, I realized I no longer wanted to have others kill on my behalf, and I declared that Holiday the last time I'd ever eat turkey. A month later, I made Christmas the last time I'd ever eat ham. That New Year's Day's became a natural time to celebrate the "good luck" tradition of pork and sauerkraut with the resolution to never eat animals again. (In the years since then, delicious vegan alternatives for all of these products have become available.)

You know, the Holidays are the perfect time to give yourself, the planet, and animals this gift. It's already a time of reflection, of renewal, of gratitude, of introspection, of compassion, and, of course, of commitment. If the thought of killing your dog or cat—or any animal—gives you a lump in your throat and a knot in your stomach, you're already a vegetarian in belief, and you're ready to take this exciting next step.

Best of all, there's no sacrifice at all in being vegetarian or vegan—only the rewards of a rich variety in food, improved health, and a much lighter spirit.

A version of this article originally appeared on this site on November 21, 2011.

Interview: Paula Sandin and Jennifer Sandin Adams

Jennifer Sandin Adams & Paula Sandin

After the publication of Why aren't more Christians vegan?, I met Paula Sandin and Jennifer Sandin Adams, vegan sisters who were "totally healed from a litany of incurable diseases" by adopting a whole foods, plant-based diet.

The sisters' transformation was so successful that they co-founded A Litttle Light, a Christian t-shirt business with designs that make the Christian/ vegan connection and inspire healthy eating. They're also writing a book about their individual journeys from debilitation to excellent health.

New Vegan Age: Tell us about your lives. Where were you born? How did you come to be vegan? When and how did you come to start your business?

Paula: We grew up in Rockville, Maryland, a suburb of Washington, D.C. In 2006, I got very sick with a number of debilitating conditions and, as a result, lost my job. (I was eventually diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and its many accompanying corollary illnesses). After having been denied disability insurance, I was thinking about how to make an income. It was nearing Christmas, and I had gone on-line to look for uplifting Christian tee shirts as gifts for my sister and best friend. I could find none that appealed to me. Most were a little scary, to be frank. It was at that time that I thought there might be a market for tee shirts with positive and loving Christian/ inspirational messages. Thus, A Litttle Light, LLC was born. My sister was very involved from the beginning and eventually decided to officially become co-owner with me. 

In May 2008, Jennifer suffered from a complete collapse resulting from heart problems and seizures. After many months of doctors’ appointments, she, too, was diagnosed with a litany of chronic and “incurable” illnesses. After a few years of research and still suffering with the “incurable” illnesses, my sister and I adopted a whole food, plant-based diet leading us both to completely restored health. The food did for us what no doctor or medicine could. We are now both healthier than we have ever been in our lives.

As a result of our vegan lifestyles, and our belief that our food choices should reflect deeply held Catholic Christian values about respecting all of life, we created a "Change the Food, Change the World" line of tee shirts that inspire healthy eating.

NVA: I love the name of your business—that the "misspelling" of "Little" with three ts is intentional, to symbolize the three crosses on Calvary. How did you settle on specializing in t-shirts, and not another product?

Paula: Seeing the great success of Life is Good tee shirts and their uplifting messages, we knew there was broad public interest in inspirational tee shirts with cute designs. A Little Light, LLC appeals to a somewhat narrower niche market. Our inspirational tee shirts are also uplifting and whimsical, but they point specifically to God, our true Inspiration.

NVA: In addition to the impetus for starting it, what makes the business vegan? Sourcing? Materials? A percentage of profits to vegan charities?

Jennifer: We aspire to be able to support a number of charitable organizations, including farm sanctuaries and vegan food/water charities that feed the poor and hungry. In 2014, A Litttle Light, LLC donated to Esther the Wonder Pig’s Indiegogo animal sanctuary campaign. Our ultimate goal is to create a foundation that supports farmers who want to switch from animal-based to organic, plant-based agriculture.

We are also very interested in partnering with non-profits to which we would donate a percentage of t-shirt sales. The types of organizations with which we are most interested in working are those that are Catholic (and other Christian denominations), as well as those organizations that support animal welfare and other pro-life issues.

NVA: You've found a way to combine your closeness as sisters with your strong personal beliefs, business passion, and life experience. Where and how do you market and sell your shirts? How do most of your customers find you?

Paula: A Litttle Light, LLC is an internet-based company, so our commerce is primarily done on-line. However, we did exhibit at the 2013 DC VegFest trade show and may exhibit at the Northern Virginia Christmas show at the Dulles Expo Center in mid-November.

NVA: Tell us about the design and manufacturing processes.

Jennifer: Together we develop the ideas for tee shirt messages and designs and sketch (read: scratch) them out on a piece of paper. My husband, Steve, then uses his own creative talent and graphic design skills to create something beautiful for us. We use a local company to print our tee shirts.

NVA: Do your offerings rotate seasonally? Annually?

Jennifer: We do offer seasonal designs, which also include holiday designs. For instance, we have created designs that are more appropriate for spring and summer, and we also have specific designs for Christmas. Right now, we are featuring our Fall collection of crisp apple tees. They celebrate the season and its abundant harvest of delicious, healthy foods.

NVA: What's been your most popular product to date? Why do you think it resonates with your customers?

The Bee Still design

Paula: We have three very popular designs: (1) our Bee Still shirt, featuring a whimsical bumble bee with the words “Bee Still” underneath, (2) our Green Apple shirt, with the words, “Every seed bearing fruit shall be your food,” surrounding a green apple, and (3) our American Flag shirt with the words “In God We Trust” below the flag.

Jennifer: The Bee Still shirt may be popular because it reminds people to slow down and give God the reigns. It has a double meaning, as well. It subtly reminds us about our need to protect bees from extinction. Aside from their own value as God’s Creatures, they also help us to maintain our food supply through pollination. We want the bees to still be around for future generations, hence “Bee Still”.

Paula: Our Green Apple shirt is popular with vegan audiences because it points back to God’s original plant-based eating plan for humanity.

Our In God We Trust Flag tee is popular because it points to the foundation upon which our nation was founded. As well, the three stars represent The Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In fact, any tee that features “three” of something is our way of pointing to The Trinity.

NVA: Congratulations on finding a much-needed niche! We hope it will continue to find new markets and hearts as veganism grows. Will you offer any discounts or promotions for the upcoming back-to-school and holiday seasons? If so, how can readers take advantage of them at checkout?

Paula: We regularly offer discounts and promotions. We try to widely communicate them by announcing them on our website homepage and on Facebook and Twitter. Our best communications come from our satisfied customers who tell others about A Litttle Light, LLC.

NVA: Anything else we haven't yet discussed? Any other upcoming projects or plans you'd like to mention here?

Jennifer: We have just finished writing a book, Pick Up Your Mat…And Follow God to Divine Health, which chronicles our journeys from debilitating sickness to extreme good health by following God and adopting a whole food, plant-based diet (God’s eating plan found in Genesis 1:29). The book is currently with our publisher undergoing an initial editorial review.

Paula: In conjunction with the book, our vision is to be able to speak to audiences, including churches and colleges, about our health and spiritual journeys and share the incredible health benefits of eating a plant-based diet. So many people are sick (or will be), and we want them to know there is a way out of illness and debilitation.

NVA: Thank you so much, Jennifer and Paula. All the best to both of you as you continue your important work, and please stay in touch! We look forward to reading your book when it is ready.