Are we really still doing this in the 21st century? Horseracing is a “sport” built on the backs of animals who are kept in isolation and confinement for 23 hours of every day, die by the thousands every year on the track, are illegally drugged and doped, and whose reward after retiring from a successful “career” is to be slaughtered and sold for their flesh for human (yes, human!) consumption outside the U.S. And not only that, your tax dollars are funding it!

Nicole Arciello, who's been vegan for over 14 years, has been active in the animal-rights movement in Upstate New York for over a decade. Shortly after becoming a regular contributor on the Times Union Animal Rights blog, she co-founded Albany Animal Rights, a local advocacy group protesting various animal-use industries – circuses, rodeos, puppy mills, fur, etc. Nicole went on to become the co-founder and executive director of Horseracing Wrongs, a non-profit committed to ending the cruel horseracing industry in the United States.

But Nicole's talents aren't limited to advocacy! She also has over 12 years of experience as a vegan chef and baker. Her message is that anything, and everything, can be made – and made better – vegan. Who can argue with that?!

Resources mentioned:

Horseracing Wrongs on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/inbehalfofanimals/

Instagram: @inbehalfofanimals

Twitter: @nicolearciello

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-arciello-082716268/

Website: https://horseracingwrongs.org/

Nicole's latest favorite (vegan!) anti-romance romance, Marrying Myself by Christine Melanie Benson: https://www.amazon.com/Marrying-Myself-Christine-Melanie-Benson/dp/1685130763

Skinny Bitch: https://www.amazon.com/Skinny-Bitch-No-Nonsense-Tough-Love-Fabulous/dp/0762435410

Animal Rights: The Abolitionist Approach by Gary Francione: https://www.abolitionistapproach.com/

Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chrissy-benson/support