What does a lifetime of speaking up for animals look like?
In this Activist Spotlight episode, longtime San Diego advocate Ellen Ericksen brings not only decades of powerful activism—but also sharp wit, honesty, and laugh-out-loud moments. Ellen shares how she’s organized major protests, confronted cruelty at SeaWorld, racetracks, and rodeos, and inspired countless new activists along the way.
This conversation is energetic, candid, and funny, offering a refreshing look at what grassroots advocacy really feels like. A reminder that speaking up for animals can be bold, joyful, messy, motivating—and entirely human.
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Podcast Website: Inbehalfofanimals.org
Ellen Ericksen is a very outspoken animal rights vegan activist based in San Diego, California. She has been an animal rights and an environmental activist since a very early age. She was very young when she made the self realization about the cruelty to animals and has been on this path her entire life.
Ellen has organized some of the largest protests and marches in Southern California to raise awareness about animal cruelty and promote ending all cruelty by means of animal liberation.
Ellen is particularly passionate about ending the use of animals for entertainment whether it be at Sea World, racetracks, rodeos and zoos. She has lead hundreds of protests against these cruel industries with success at changing hearts and minds.
Ellen has lectured at several universities, colleges in San Diego and at high schools and middle schools as well.
Ellen was awarded the grassroots Activist of the year at the Animal Rights Conference in Los Angeles and with the Pollination Project. She is also certified in Plant-Based Nutrition.
Through her activism, Ellen hopes to inspire others to take action and make a difference in the lives of animals. She believes that by working together, we can create a more compassionate world where animals are treated with the respect and the dignity they deserve.
Contact Ellen: ellenericksen@gmail.com
Follow Ellen:
X - @passionatevegan
Instagram - @passionatevegan
TikTok - tiktok.com/@passionatevegan
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