Gary Yourofsky: podcast appearances and interviews

Gary Yourofsky is an American animal rights activist, lecturer, and educator born on August 19, 1970. He has significantly influenced contemporary veganism through his classroom lectures and public speeches, most notably delivering a speech at the Georgia Institute of Technology titled “The Most Important Speech You Will Ever Hear.” This speech has garnered millions of views online and is widely shared within vegan activism circles. Between 2002 and 2005, Yourofsky was sponsored by the organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and has given numerous public lectures promoting veganism. His activism gained international attention in 2010 after a YouTube video of his speech went viral, especially in Israel. The video has been translated into many languages, amplifying his influence. Yourofsky's activism has also been controversial; he has been praised for his dedication but also criticized for views deemed extreme. He was arrested 13 times between 1997 and 2001, including a 77-day imprisonment in Canada following the raiding of a fur farm in 1997, during which he released 1,542 minks. As a result of his activism, he has been permanently banned from entering Canada and the United Kingdom. On March 30, 2017, Yourofsky declared an end to his activism, citing exhaustion, but in 2025, he announced his return to activism by joining Anonymous for the Voiceless in Cologne, Germany, and participating in outreach activities.