Tails of Hope Podcast | Season 2 | Episode 1 (Finale)
Guest: Mark Westcombe, Founder & Director – Animal Think Tank (UK)
When history looks back on our time, will it see a society that turned away from violence — or one that rationalised it? In this powerful finale of Episode 1 (Part 2) of Tails of Hope Season 2, we sit again with Mark Westcombe, Founder and Director of Animal Think Tank, UK, to reflect on where the movement for animals stands today, and where it must go tomorrow.
Mark has walked the long road — from grassroots activism to academia, from management consulting to being a key strategist for animal freedom. He has not onlystudied movements but helped build them. In this conversation, his insights invite us to imagine: What will it take for animal freedom to truly become a societal reality?
Mark speaks candidly about the UK’s evolving stance on animal protection. He contrasts the “old school” days of animal rights — defined by direct action, raw politics, and grassroots gatherings — with the rising wave of today: ayounger generation embracing veganism, rethinking lifestyles, and demanding systemic change.
Yet, he doesn’t romanticize progress. Mark identifies the gaps: the need for legislative courage, political accountability, and the reshaping of culturalnarratives that still normalize exploitation. From the halls of power to the language of everyday life, the movement must learn to embed itselfeverywhere.
What’s striking is how Mark weaves his professional expertise into activism. Drawing from decades in management science, impact delivery for long-termprojects, and operational research, he explains how animal advocacy can — and must — adopt rigorous frameworks. Mass organising, he argues, isn’t about isolated passion; it’s about sustained structure, storytelling, and strategy that can endure decades.
Why does this conversation matter to you, the listener? Because it’s not just about animal rights — it’s about how movements succeed or fail. Whether you care about animals, climate change, gender equality, or justice in any form,the principles Mark shares illuminate the pathways of transformation.
You will hear about:
Most importantly, Mark’s reflections spark an inner question: Where do I stand? If movements are not built by others but by us, then what role can I play in building a future where compassion is non-negotiable?
👉 Don’t miss this season opener finale of Tailsof Hope Podcast Season 2. It is not just an episode — it is a blueprint for courage, a compass for movement building, and a reminder that history bends towards those who choose differently.
🔗 Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon,YouTube & Castbox.
💬 Share this with someone who has ever wondered what meaningful activism looks like in practice.
❤️ And let it inspire you to carry hope forward — not as an idea, but as action.
The struggle for animal freedom is not over. But as Mark Westcombe reminds us, the movement is reforming, reshaping, and rising. And so must we.
📝 Guest Bio: Mark Westcombe
Mark Westcombe is the Founder and Director of Animal Think Tank, UK. The organisation is dedicated to building mass organising for Animal Freedom, focusing on political & legal strategy, cultural and narrative development,and movement building.
A grassroots activist for 25+ years, Mark has worked across environmental, LGBTQ+, and communal living movements. Professionally, he was a management consultant specialising in impact delivery for long-term projects, an AssociateProfessor in Management Science at Lancaster University, and a trainer for the Operational Research Society.
In his free time, Mark enjoys fell running, foraging, cooking, winter mountaineering, and spending time in the outdoors.
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