In this episode of Just So You Know, Jamie and Justina sit down with longtime activist and organizer Rachel Ejsmont to talk about the real impact of street activism, pressure campaigns, open rescues, and what it actually takes to fight for animals in public.

This conversation goes deeper than surface level takes. We explore what it means to show up for animals when it’s uncomfortable, inconvenient, and sometimes even risky and why being visible can create real, lasting change.

We get into:

• How Rachel first became active in the movement

• Why she was protesting before she even went fully vegan

• The connection between anti-fur activism and veganism

• How pressure campaigns actually work

• What goes into organizing a major march or protest

• Crashing fashion events and disrupting cruelty in powerful ways

• Why rescue and liberation work matter so much

• The emotional toll of witnessing suffering up close

• How to avoid burnout and stay grounded in activism

• Why infighting hurts the movement

• What makes street activism effective

• How new activists can get involved and find their place

This isn’t just about protesting. It’s about using your voice, your body, and your presence to challenge cruelty in real time.

If you’ve ever wondered whether activism in the streets actually makes a difference,

this episode is for you.

⸻

IF THIS EPISODE RESONATED

👍 Like

💬 Comment your thoughts (we read everything)

🔔 Subscribe to stay tapped in for Season 2

⭐ Rate us on Spotify + Apple Podcasts

⸻

FOLLOW RACHEL EJSMONT:

https://www.facebook.com/rachel.ejsmont

https://www.instagram.com/rachel_levy_ejsmont

https://www.instagram.com/@armnyc2022_2023

⸻

FOLLOW JUST SO YOU KNOW:

https://www.instagram.com/jsykpodcast/

https://open.spotify.com/show/7D38Vg8MJKTYD8TKQe3KfZ?si=71510dba30a04af5

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/just-so-you-know/id1726036677

https://www.youtube.com/@jsykpodcast

⸻

FOLLOW US:

Jamie:

itsjamiescorner.com

https://www.youtube.com/@JamiesCornershow

https://www.instagram.com/itsjamiescorner/

https://www.tiktok.com/@itsjamiescorner

https://x.com/itsjamiescorner

https://www.facebook.com/itsjamiescorner

Justina:

https://www.instagram.com/justina.justina?igsh=NmhtbmhzZHRiMHZh&utm_source=qr

https://www.instagram.com/justinaveganjourney?igsh=MTM0bDByMnZnZWdiaQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

https://www.youtube.com/@Justina.Justina

⸻

🕒 CHAPTER MARKERS

00:00 Intro + Meeting Rachel Ejsmont

01:14 Rachel as the “Fairy Godmother” of Activism

03:21 How Rachel Helped Build Community

04:31 What It Takes to Organize a Major March

08:12 What First Made Rachel Go Vegan

15:11 Why Street Activism Matters So Much

18:12 Reaching People Through Different Approaches

20:03 How Pressure Campaigns Actually Work

24:16 Crashing Coach at New York Fashion Week

28:05 Why Fashion Disruptions Matter

30:08 Rescue Stories That Changed Rachel Forever

34:18 Why Rachel Focuses on Campaigns That Can Win

37:57 The Emotional Toll of Activism

41:17 How Rachel Avoids Burnout

54:28 What Hurts the Animal Rights Movement Most

58:50 Where to Follow Rachel + Get Involved

In this episode of Just So You Know, Jamie and Justina sit down with Dr. Andrew Knight, professor, and one of the leading voices researching plant-based nutrition for dogs and cats.

This conversation goes deeper than surface level takes. Because while many people are open to veganism for themselves, the conversation changes fast when it comes to their pets.

Can dogs really thrive on a vegan diet?

What about cats?

Is it safe, nutritionally complete, and actually backed by science?

We get into:

• Why Dr. Andrew Knight started researching vegan pet food

• The biggest myths around dogs and cats eating plant-based

• What the science actually says about health outcomes

• Nutrients like taurine, amino acids, and supplementation

• The difference between homemade diets vs. nutritionally complete commercial foods

• Why allergies, obesity, and vet visits may improve on plant-based diets

• The cost issue, accessibility, and why this topic is so emotional for pet parents

This conversation is eye-opening, practical, and deeply important, especially if you love animals but have never questioned what goes into your pets’ bowls.

If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s possible for your dogs or cats to be healthy on a vegan diet,

this episode is for you 🐾

⸻

IF THIS EPISODE RESONATED

👍 Like

💬 Comment your thoughts (we read everything)

🔔 Subscribe to stay tapped in for Season 2

⭐ Rate us on Spotify + Apple Podcasts

⸻

FOLLOW DR. ANDREW KNIGHT:

https://www.andrewknight.info

https://www.sustainablepetfood.info

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100046421604769

https://www.instagram.com/andrewknightvet

⸻

FOLLOW JUST SO YOU KNOW:

https://www.instagram.com/jsykpodcast/

https://open.spotify.com/show/7D38Vg8MJKTYD8TKQe3KfZ?si=71510dba30a04af5

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/just-so-you-know/id1726036677

https://www.youtube.com/@jsykpodcast

⸻

FOLLOW US:

Jamie:

itsjamiescorner.com

https://www.youtube.com/@JamiesCornershow

https://www.instagram.com/itsjamiescorner/

https://www.tiktok.com/@itsjamiescorner

https://x.com/itsjamiescorner

https://www.facebook.com/itsjamiescorner

Justina:

https://www.instagram.com/justina.justina?igsh=NmhtbmhzZHRiMHZh&utm_source=qr

https://www.instagram.com/justinaveganjourney?igsh=MTM0bDByMnZnZWdiaQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

https://www.youtube.com/@Justina.Justina

⸻

🕒 CHAPTER MARKERS

00:00 Weekend Recap + Beagle Rescue Updates

02:29 Why This Pet Food Conversation Matters

04:51 Can Dogs & Cats Be Vegan?

07:27 Meet Dr. Andrew Knight

09:14 Why He Started Researching Plant-Based Pets

11:19 The Pushback From the Veterinary World

14:51 What Nutrients Dogs & Cats Actually Need

17:07 The 2022 Dog Study + What It Found

20:54 Can Cats Be Vegan Too?

23:26 How to Choose a Nutritionally Sound Vegan Pet Food

26:35 Transitioning Your Pets to a Plant-Based Diet

31:59 Why Vegan Pet Food Costs More

35:53 Raw Diet Myths + The Hidden Risks

42:20 The Huge Environmental Impact of Pet Food

48:16 Our Honest Reactions After the Interview

54:03 What We’d Change for Our Own Pets

57:24 Outro + Why This Conversation Matters

In this episode of Just So You Know, Jamie and Justina sit down with Jessica Cruz — founder of Vegan Street Fair, Vegan Exchange, and Vegan Creator Con — to talk about one of the most underrated tools in the animal rights movement... Joy.

This conversation goes deeper than surface level takes. We explore why leading with joy, community, and inclusion is not selling out, it’s strategy. And why the vegan movement desperately needs more of it.

We get into:

• Why Jessica ditched aggressive activism for joy-based outreach

• How Vegan Street Fair became a gateway for non-vegans

• The funnel theory of veganism and where joy fits in

• Why vegans cannibalizing each other is hurting the movement

• How to create viral social media content that actually converts

• The difference between rage bait and real impact

• Why guilt and shame are the lowest vibrational tools we have

• Burnout, breast cancer, and why you must protect your energy

• How Vegan Creator Con is creating the next generation of vegan voices

• What the movement needs more of right now

This isn’t about being soft. It’s about being strategic and understanding that joy is the most powerful seed you can plant.

If you’ve ever felt burned out by activism… wondered if your approach is actually working… or just needed permission to have fun while fighting for animals, this episode is for you.

⸻

IF THIS EPISODE RESONATED

👍 Like

💬 Comment your thoughts (we read everything)

🔔 Subscribe to stay tapped in for Season 2

⭐ Rate us on Spotify + Apple Podcasts

⸻

FOLLOW JESSICA CRUZ

https://www.veganstreetfair.com

https://www.facebook.com/veganstreetfair

https://www.instagram.com/jessicaamycruz

https://www.instagram.com/veganstreetfair

https://www.instagram.com/vegancreatorcon

⸻

FOLLOW JUST SO YOU KNOW

https://www.instagram.com/jsykpodcast/

https://open.spotify.com/show/7D38Vg8MJKTYD8TKQe3KfZ?si=71510dba30a04af5

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/just-so-you-know/id1726036677

https://www.youtube.com/@jsykpodcast

⸻

FOLLOW US

Jamie

itsjamiescorner.com

https://www.youtube.com/@JamiesCornershow

https://www.instagram.com/itsjamiescorner/

https://www.tiktok.com/@itsjamiescorner

https://x.com/itsjamiescorner

https://www.facebook.com/itsjamiescorner

Justina

https://www.instagram.com/justina.justina?igsh=NmhtbmhzZHRiMHZh&utm_source=qr

https://www.instagram.com/justinaveganjourney?igsh=MTM0bDByMnZnZWdiaQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

https://www.youtube.com/@Justina.Justina

⸻

🕒 CHAPTER MARKERS

00:00 Cold Open + Pisces Energy

01:30 Introducing Jessica Cruz

03:00 What Made Jessica Go Vegan

05:00 The SeaWorld Moment That Changed Everything

08:00 From Aggressive Activist to Joy-Based Organizer

10:30 Starting a Facebook Group That Changed the Movement

13:00 Why Vegan Street Fair Was Born

15:30 Joy Is Not Weakness-It’s Strategy

18:00 The Funnel Theory of Veganism Explained

21:00 How to Reach People Who Don’t Want to Be Reached

24:30 Vegan Creator Con and Why It Matters

28:00 How Nemanja Reached 250 Million People a Month

30:00 The Biggest Challenge Jessica Faces as an Organizer

33:00 Vegans Cannibalizing Each Other-Why It Has to Stop

36:00 How to Handle Trolls Without Losing the Mission

39:30 Viral Social Media Strategy That Actually Works

43:00 Is Rage Bait Helping or Hurting the Movement?

46:30 The Scale of Human Emotion and Why Joy Wins

49:00 Guilt and Shame Are the Lowest Tools We Have

52:00 Justina’s Honest Reflection on Dark Content and Burnout

55:00 What the Vegan Movement Needs More Of Right Now

58:00 Where to Find Jessica + Final Thoughts