In this episode of the Engaged Jain Studies Podcast, Arihanta Institute professor Jonathan Dickstein, PhD interviews Pratt Institute political economist Jan Dutkiewicz, PhD. Professor Dutkiewicz shares his journey from business and journalism to the academic study of the politics, economics, and social implications of factory farming. The conversation also touches on the importance of law, personal habits, and social norms in fostering systemic change for a better world.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

• Factory Farming & Cheap Meat: An in-depth look at the factors enabling the rise of industrial animal farming.
• Just and Sustainable Food Systems: Insights into Dutkiewicz's forthcoming book and his work on rethinking food systems.
• Vox Contributions: Highlights of his articles on animal farming and food systems for Vox.

Professor Dutkiewicz is also teaching an upcoming live 4-week online course for Arihanta Institute's Vegan Studies Initiative, October 7 - November 1, 2024: "Feeding the World: Toward a Plant-Based Food System."

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES & LINKS

• Course 1016 | Feeding the World: Toward a Plant-Based Food System
• Jan Dutkiewicz | Website
• Vegan Studies Initiative  | Courses, Speaker Series, Research & More!

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ABOUT OUR PODCAST GUEST

Jan Dutkiewicz is Assistant Professor in the School of Social Science and Cultural Studies at the Pratt Institute and a Contributing Writer at Vox. He has written about the politics of food for The New Republic, The Guardian, The Washington Post, WIRED and The Wall Street Journal.

ABOUT OUR PODCAST HOST

Jonathan Dickstein, PhD, Assistant Professor at Arihanta Institute

Dr. 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.