Podcast 28

In this episode of the Engaged Jain Studies Podcast, Arihanta Institute professor and lead organizer of the Vegan Studies Initiative Jonathan Dickstein, PhD, speaks with Laila Kassam, Executive Director of Project Phoenix, a UK-based advocacy organization dedicated to building public will for animal liberation. Their conversation examines the past and present landscape of the animal movement—its strategic gains, missed opportunities, and the urgent need for more coordinated public-facing work in the years ahead.

Together, they reflect on the evolution of animal advocacy, consider how theories of social change can reorient movement strategy, and explore how organizations like Project Phoenix are reshaping what it means to organize for animal freedom at scale in 2025 and beyond.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES & LINKS

• Project Phoenix | Join the Animal Freedom Movement
• Subscribe to the Arihanta Institute Newsletter
• Vegan Studies Initiative @ Arihanta Institute | Courses, Speaker Series, Research & More!

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ABOUT OUR PODCAST GUESTS

Laila is Founder and Executive Director of Project Phoenix.  As Executive Director, she leads Project Phoenix’s development, strengthening organizational capacity, and guiding strategic planning, leadership, and culture, to ensure its impact aligns with its mission and values. As Network Power Lead, she cultivates a national network of organizations and individuals working toward shared goals for animal freedom.

Laila is a Co-Founder and former Director of Animal Think Tank where she served for six years. She is co-editor of the book Rethinking Food and Agriculture: New Ways Forward which envisions a truly just and sustainable food system. She is on the Advisory Board of Animal Advocacy Careers and The Empathy Project and a mentor for Kickstarting for Good. Laila has been involved in social change for most of her career having previously worked in international development for 15 years. She has a PhD in Development Economics (SOAS) and an MSc in Development Management (LSE).

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.

Copyright 2025 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.