In this live episode of the Engaged Jain Studies Podcast, Arihanta Institute professor and lead organizer of the Vegan Studies Initiative, Jonathan Dickstein, PhD, sits down with acclaimed author, educator, and longtime vegan advocate Victoria Moran for a wide-ranging and deeply reflective conversation on the evolution of veganism. Vegetarian since the late 1960s and vegan since the early 1980s, Moran offers a rare, firsthand account of the movement’s countercultural beginnings and its transformation into a more visible—though still contested—mainstream presence.
Drawing on more than five decades of compassionate living, Moran reflects on what first awakened her to the injustices faced by animals, the cultural and gendered dynamics of early animal advocacy, and the shifting focus of her prolific writing career, including works such as Compassion: The Ultimate Ethic and Main Street Vegan. Throughout the conversation, she explores veganism not only as a lifestyle choice but as a spiritual and ethical path—one that continues to deepen over time. Together, Dickstein and Moran invite listeners to consider what compassionate living demands today and how veganism can remain both grounded and visionary in the years ahead.
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ABOUT OUR PODCAST GUEST
Vegetarian since the late 1960s and vegan since the early '80s, Victoria Moran she earned a BA in comparative religions and in 1985 wrote her first book, Compassion the Ultimate Ethic: An Exploration of Veganism. She followed up with a dozen more titles including the international bestseller Creating a Charmed Life, the iconic Main Street Vegan, and her new book, Age Like a Yogi. She appeared on Oprah! twice and is included by VegNews on their list of "Top 10 Living Vegetarian Authors."
A certified life coach, certified holistic health counselor, and RYT-200 registered yoga teacher, Moran is founder and director of Main Street Vegan Academy, certifying Vegan lifestyle coaches and educators. She hosts of the award-winning Main Street Vegan Podcast and is a founder of the Compassion Consortium, an online spiritual center for people who celebrate all living beings. Moran led the production team for the 2019 documentary A Prayer for Compassion, looking at spirituality and food choices. In 2024, she was inducted into the Vegan Hall of Fame, and along with her husband, Interfaith minister William Melton, was awarded the 2025 Homo Ahimsa award.
ABOUT OUR PODCAST HOST
Dr. Jonathan Dickstein specializes in South Asian Religions, Religion and Ecology, and Comparative Religious Ethics. He received his doctoral degree in Religious Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he wrote his dissertation on ancient Indian animal taxonomies and their relevance for religious ritual and dietary practice. Jonathan’s current work focuses on Jainism and contemporary ecological issues, and accordingly extends into Critical Animal Studies, Food Studies, and Diaspora Studies.
Jonathan has published in a wide array of interdisciplinary journals on topics such as veganism and politics, yoga and diet, Jain veganism, and the ethic of nonviolence (ahiṃsa). Jonathan considers himself a scholar-practitioner, having spent many years not only in libraries but also in public advocating for justice for both humans and nonhumans alike.
ABOUT ARIHANTA INSTITUTE
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit academic institution, Arihanta Institute is dedicated to advancing education, scholarship, critical research, and public dissemination of real-world application of the Jain principles of non-violence (ahiṃsā) and compassion (karuṇā). Our mission is to empower individuals with knowledge to embrace and apply these principles as a force for positive change, addressing the most pressing issues of our time with courage and compassion.
