“For Good”: What Wicked Taught Me About Animals, Compassion, and the Journey to a Plant-Based Life

Last night, I had the opportunity to see Wicked again — this time, as part of the “Wicked for Good” tour. Like many, I was captivated by the powerful performances and the deeply moving story of friendship, misunderstood intentions, and the pain of being othered. But as I sat there, something hit me on a deeper level than it ever had before — the theme of voicelessness.

In Wicked, the Animals (yes, with a capital A) begin to lose their voices — both literally and metaphorically. Once respected members of society, they are gradually silenced, their value diminished, and their personhood stripped away. It’s portrayed as a dystopian unraveling of empathy and justice… and yet, it’s precisely what we do to animals every single day in our world.
We silence them. We strip them of dignity. We exploit them.
This moment of clarity hit me hard — even as someone who has dedicated much of my life to animal welfare. I’ve always had compassion for animals. I pursued a degree in Veterinary Pathobiology, not just to study disease, but to understand animals better — to help them. But that education also gave me an insider view of the food animal industry.
I’ve walked through industrial chicken and pork facilities. I’ve seen the conditions these animals endure. I've seen the emptiness in their eyes, the injuries, the crowding, the noise, and the despair. For decades, I used my voice to speak out against factory farming, advocating for more humane choices: family farms, wild-caught fish, pasture-raised options.
And yet — I still believed that I personally needed meat to survive.
As a young child, I struggled with chronic health problems. I had frequent ear infections, stomach issues, and was chronically anemic. Every time I tried to eliminate meat or dairy, I felt weak or unwell. I believed, like many people do, that my biology simply required animal products.
It wasn’t until my 40s that I began to unlearn that narrative.
With the help and inspiration of my wife Anita — a vegetarian since the 1980s and a certified Forks Over Knives plant-based chef — I’ve discovered how to nourish my body with plants in a way that truly supports my health. No more anemia. No more feeling drained. I now feel better eating this way — more energetic, more vibrant, and, importantly, more aligned with my values.
And here’s what I’ve learned along the way:
Humans are not biologically designed to be meat-eaters. We lack the claws, sharp canine teeth, and short acidic intestines of carnivores. Instead, we have molars for grinding, long intestines meant for digesting plant fibers, and we sweat through our skin (rather than panting, like predators). Our anatomy points us toward a plant-based lifestyle — one that many people thrive on when they learn how to do it properly.
So why don’t more people make the shift?
Part of the problem is cultural conditioning. We’re raised to believe animal products are necessary. Part of it is convenience — meat is easy to flavor, and it dominates most restaurant menus. And part of it is misinformation about what a balanced vegetarian or vegan diet actually looks like.
Anita and I are on a mission to change that.
We just returned from a cruise from Australia to New Zealand. The landscapes were breathtaking — truly a once-in-a-lifetime trip. But the food? For plant-based eaters like us, it was uninspired. The vegetarian meals were bland, repetitive, and treated like afterthoughts. Meanwhile, the meat dishes were elaborate, well-seasoned, and thoughtfully presented. It made us reflect: if chefs put the same love, creativity, and attention into their plant-based offerings, everyone — not just vegetarians — would want to eat them.
That’s why we’ve decided to create a video series teaching people how to make healthy, delicious, and satisfying plant-based meals. Anita, with her Forks Over Knives certification and decades of experience, is the perfect teacher. We want to show that this lifestyle is not only sustainable, but joyful. Flavorful. Abundant. Nourishing.
But most importantly, we want to do it for the animals.
Factory farming is one of the greatest ethical crises of our time. Every year, billions of animals are slaughtered — many of them as infants, never knowing the feel of the earth beneath them or the sun on their backs. Others are kept alive just long enough to exploit their reproductive systems, forced to give birth over and over again or produce eggs or milk until their bodies give out.
They are sentient. Intelligent. Emotional. And they deserve better.
If watching Wicked reminded me of anything, it’s that silence in the face of injustice is complicity. The Animals in the show were silenced until someone stood up for them. In real life, animals still have no voice — and we are their only advocates.
If you’ve ever felt uneasy about how animals are treated… if you’ve ever wondered whether it’s possible to thrive without meat… if you want to live a life that aligns with your values of compassion and kindness — we invite you to join us.
Let’s create a world where we stop butchering babies for food. Where we no longer normalize suffering. Where we cook with love, nourish with plants, and live in harmony with the other beings who share this planet.
For the animals.
For our health.
For the future.
For good. 💚

Want to learn more about our upcoming plant-based cooking videos or get involved in the movement to end factory farming? Stay tuned and follow our journey — we can’t wait to share more with you.​

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