Ivy Pepin
Award-winning actress Alicia Silverstone joins us to talk about animal advocacy, entrepreneurship and motherhood, and the healing power of compassion.
You might know her from the movie "Clueless." And she’s dedicated her life to making sure people are anything *but* clueless about the cruelty happening on factory farms. We’re talking about none other than Alicia Silverstone—award-winning actress, entrepreneur, bestselling author, mother, and outspoken animal advocate. As a pillar in the animal rights movement, Silverstone has partnered with Farm Sanctuary, PETA, and many more organizations to fight cruelty and spread compassion. We sat down with her to learn more about her advocacy, her backstory, and what fuels her passion for helping animals.
“There are so many good people out there who love their dogs and their cats,” says Silverstone. “We’re compartmentalizing when we say, ‘This creature’s okay to murder and torture, and this one isn’t.’ And that’s the disconnect that I want to bring lightness to, because all animals have the same capacity for joy. They want to live, and they don’t want to be harmed.”
“All animals have the same capacity for joy. They want to live, and they don’t want to be harmed.”
Throughout her life, Silverstone has been vocal in speaking up on behalf of animals—from mother cows in the dairy industry to the countless animals subjected to cruel laboratory testing. “The bottom line is—when I saw how animals were suffering, when I saw how they were treated, I was so shocked,” she says. “So disturbed. I care so much about waking people up so we can stop the suffering.” And she does wake people up, with gentleness and grace.
Silverstone is committed to making veganism more attainable for everyone—uplifting easy, affordable ways to integrate more compassion into lifestyles and routines. In partnership with other activists, she pressured Starbucks to drop its extra charge for vegan milk in 2021, pointing out: “These charges may seem small, but they penalize customers who are making humane and environmentally friendly choices.” On her blog, The Kind Life, she dishes on all things kindness and sustainability—from yummy, simple vegan recipes to cruelty-free makeup and fashion.
Along with advocating for animals, Silverstone also advocates for the planet. “(Animal agriculture) is unnecessary, and it’s hurting the world,” she says. “It’s so destructive to our earth. And I’m a truthseeker… When I see that something’s wrong, and I know lies are being told about it, I want to expose it. And that’s what the food industry is.”
Silverstone speaks passionately about the connections between climate change, wasted resources, and world hunger. “Nine million people die of hunger every year,” she points out. “And it’s not because there isn’t enough food right now on the planet for everyone to eat. It’s because we feed the food that could go directly into their mouths to animals. By doing that, you’re wasting all these precious resources.”
The actress's advocacy is also deeply informed by her experience as a mother and her relationship with her son, Bear. Her second book—The Kind Mama: A Simple Guide To Supercharged Fertility, A Radiant Pregnancy, A Sweeter Birth, And A Healthier, More Beautiful Beginning—became a New York Times bestseller. “When you’re a child, you love animals,” she says. “That’s our nature. And the natural instinct of a child to love another creature is a beautiful one.”
“The natural instinct of a child to love another creature is a beautiful one.”
Above all, kindness is integral to Silverstone's philosophy, and her compassion shines through in everything she does. “I think that we all, somewhere inside, are wounded people that need healing and love,” she says. “That’s why I have the podcast, ‘The Real Heal,’ where we ask: how are we really going to heal ourselves, our planet, our communities? What is it really truly going to take?”
“I feel like people doing bad things are just wounded babies," she goes on to say. "Some of us get to begin that healing process and try to heal, and some never heal. And so I think compassion is so important, and awareness that everyone is probably doing the best they can. But we have to stop the wounded babies from destroying the earth—and that’s big agriculture. These are bad industries, and we’re letting them rule our entire world. But we can fix it.”
Finally, we asked what drew Silverstone to The Humane League, out of the many animal protection organizations that exist. “I heard of The Humane League through peers,” she said. “I was wondering who the best organizations were to donate to. I wanted to donate to people who really need it, but also people who are using the money in the best possible way. And your organization comes up often as one where each dollar donated is directly going to the cause. When I’m supporting an organization financially, the most important thing to me is that they’re extraordinarily effective. And my understanding is that you guys are! That’s the word on the street.”
You can keep up with Alicia Silverstone and support her advocacy work on her blog, The Kind Life, and her podcast, 'The Real Heal.' And to support our work for animals at The Humane League, visit the link below!
