Welcome back to another episode of the Plant Based News podcast! In this episode, we spoke to metal drummer Dirk Verbeuren. Dirk joined Megadeth, one of the world’s biggest thrash metal bands, in 2016. Dirk has always been an animal lover, but - like many people - he previously didn’t realize what was happening to animals in our food system. His wife Hannah opened his eyes to animal agriculture back in 2005, prompting him to ditch meat and go vegetarian. He went vegan eight years ago after learning more about how animals are being treated for food. We sat down with Dirk to discuss the link between veganism and metal music, the animal causes close to his heart, the importance of using his social following to stand up for animals, and much more. Dirk's story is a testament to the power of personal change, informed by love for animals and a quest for a more compassionate lifestyle. Follow Dirk here - https://www.instagram.com/dirkverbeuren/ Host: Polly Foreman Audio Editor: Phil Marriott Social Media: Darrell Sawczuk Producer: Xisca Taylor 00:00:00 An introduction to Dirk Verbeuren 00:01:50 The start of Dirk’s vegan journey 00:03:15 Are we genuine animal lovers? 00:05:07 The “lightbulb moment” 00:06:05 Sharkwater: an investigation of sharks' importance to ecosystems and humankind's mass destruction of shark species worldwide (movie clip) 00:10:15 Raising awareness of animal welfare, environmental activism and veganism on social media 00:12:40 Negative experiences on social media 00:16:15 Discovering ‘Mr Brightside’ by The Killers long after it was a hit 00:18:46 Veganism within the metal community 00:21:30 Megadeth ‘Night Stalkers Chapter II’ (music clip) 00:22:38 Misconceptions about veganism 00:24:23 Favourite plant-based foods 00:31:05 The environmental benefits of a vegan lifestyle 00:46:10 Advice for anyone wanting to go vegan