Episode 144: Helping Animals, Finding Balance with Brent Ratkovich
MUSIC BONUS on this episode! Join Hope for a wonderful conversation with vegan musician Brent Ratkovich. A singer and guitarist, Brent has recently been focused on a recording project that will produce three animal rights, vegan themed songs. They will be released as an EP called Three to Set Them Free in October of 2026. Listen and enjoy two of Brent’s new songs on this episode!
Brent shares the challenges of writing vegan themed lyrics and his inspiration and process to create animal freedom songs. He also talks about activist burnout and the importance of finding balance and even joy in your life. He and Hope discuss how music and art can help us create the world we want to see, adding emotion and humane creativity to messaging.
Brent is a passionate animal advocate who launched his solo advocacy project, One Cow Army, in 2015 donning a cow mask and taking his message to the streets. Brent has worked as an animal sanctuary caregiver, co-founded an Animal Save chapter, and participated in multiple large-scale rescues of thousands of hens from egg farms. Now based in Eugene, Oregon, Brent continues his commitment to animal protection volunteering with numerous local sanctuaries, the Eugene VeganFest, and founding A.C.E. – Animal Compassion Eugene, organizing outreach events and protests.
Brent’s Songs and Social Media:
Bluesky, @elementalvegan.bsky.social
Lyrics to Brent’s Songs:
Trying
Searching for the perfect words
Hoping their voices will be heard, I’m trying
You’ll say anything to hide the truth,
cuz you don’t wanna know what they go through,
I’m trying
Knowing they never see the sun, suffer every day
to die so young, I’m crying
Why can’t you see, they struggle to be free?
Make a kinder choice, just hear your inner voice
I shouldn’t have to prove, they’re just like me and you
You’re hoping that the farmers treat them well
You’ll buy every promise they try to sell,
they’re lying
If you were in their place I’d fight for you,
Why’s it hard to see they’re friends not food,
they’re dying
Why can’t you see, they struggle to be free?
Make a kinder choice, just hear your inner voice
I shouldn’t have to prove, they’re just like me and you
I look into their eyes and someone’s there
Hoping for a world we all can share,
I’m trying
Brent Ratkovich
Copyright 2026
Not Enough
All they want is their freedom
For every reason, that you and I take for granted
Free to love and free to play
To live life their own way
But we enslave them every season
And they tell us every day
It’s not enough to say humane
It’s not enough that we can build a bigger cage
The billions pay the price, from all the welfare lies
The truth is there for you to see
We’re told a story when we’re young
Of happy farms that do no harm
And a sun that shines on everyone
But every label tells a lie
Cuz they’re just babies when they die
And their fight for life is never won
Still they’re screaming every day
It’s not enough to say humane
It’s not enough that we can build a bigger cage
The animals pay the price, through all the welfare lies
The truth is there for us to see
It’s not enough to buy free range
It’s not enough to hope they’re killed a “better” way
We’re free to say goodbye, to all the welfare lies
It’s up to us to set them free
Set them free!
Brent Ratkovich
Copyright 2026j
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