NBSV 222: Paul Erlandson on ethical veganism and running an animal sanctuary

NBSV 222: Paul Erlandson on ethical veganism and running an animal sanctuary

From No-Bullsh!t Vegan by Karina Inkster

May 12, 2026 · 54 min · Episode 222

About this episode

Karina Inkster interviews Paul Erlandson about ethical veganism and the founding of Rivendell Sanctuary.

What does it mean to treat veganism not just as an identity, but as a practice? I'm joined by Paul Erlandson, co-founder of Rivendell Sanctuary, for a conversation about animal sanctuaries, ethical veganism, mindfulness, and the relationships we build with farmed animals when we actually get to know them as individuals. Paul shares the story of how he and his wife started their sanctuary from scratch during the pandemic, why their first rescued pigs changed everything, and how his decades-long spiritual practice shaped his approach to veganism. We also get into some nuanced territory: rescue chickens and eggs, veganism as a "practice" versus an "identity," the discomfort of being the only vegan at the table, and why sanctuaries can be such powerful catalysts for change. We discuss: How and why Paul went from musician to sanctuary founder Why veganism isn't a "lifestyle preference" How sanctuaries help people connect the dots between dogs, cats, and farmed animals Why delicious vegan food is part of activism …and much more!

People in this episode

Host: Karina Inkster

Guest: Paul Erlandson

Topics covered

  • ethical veganism
  • animal sanctuaries
  • mindfulness
  • farmed animals
  • veganism as practice

Keywords

  • veganism
  • animal sanctuary
  • mindfulness
  • farmed animals
  • spiritual practice
  • rescue animals
  • vegan food

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Rivendell Sanctuary

More episodes of No-Bullsh!t Vegan

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the No-Bullsh!t Vegan podcast page.