In this episode, Professor Jonathan Dickstein interviews animal law scholar, advocate, and filmmaker Nirva Kapasi Patel to discuss her groundbreaking work at the intersection of law, justice, and animal liberation. From her early moments of “radicalization” to her leadership roles at Harvard and Boston University, Professor Patel reflects on what it means to see animal rights as a social justice movement—and how legal systems both uphold and challenge speciesist hierarchies.

They explore the field of animal law in academia, opportunities for young people entering the space, and the critical role that legal strategy plays in transforming dominant narratives about animals. Professor Patel also shares how her Jain background and community continue to inform her advocacy—from federal petitions to local victories like banning fur sales in her hometown.

The conversation includes a preview of her upcoming course at Arihanta Institute, Animal Law in the United States, launching February 2, 2026. Designed for students, activists, and those who care about animal advocacy, law, ethics, and social justice, this course unpacks the ways U.S. law governs—and often fails—nonhuman life, while highlighting legal strategies for change. With 4 hours of lecture content and live Q&A sessions throughout February, all sessions are recorded and available for flexible study.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES & LINKS

• Course 1022 | Animal Law in the United States - Launching February 2, 2026
• Voices in Vegan Studies Speaker Series | May - Oct 2026
• Vegan Studies Initiative @ Arihanta Institute | Courses, Speaker Series, Research & More!

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ABOUT OUR PODCAST GUEST

Professor Nirva Kapasi Patel teaches animal law at Boston University School of Law. Nirva previously served several roles at Harvard Law School’s Animal Law & Policy Program including Executive Director, Clinical Instructor and Global Research Fellow. She most recently worked with students to file a groundbreaking federal petition on behalf of the Jain community to urge the USDA to accommodate for religious diet accommodations for all faiths that adhere to a diet free of animal products. Professor Patel served on several animal protection boards, including as Farm Sanctuary Board Chair. She received her B.S in Biomedical Engineering from Boston University, her J.D. in law from New England School of Law and her Masters in Animals and Policy from the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. Professor Patel is the Executive Producer of several award-winning documentaries including The Game Changers, 2019’s best-selling documentary on iTunes. Professor Patel lives in Weston (suburb of Boston where she banned the sale of fur via a citizens petition) with her husband, four teenagers, father-in-law, and pet rabbit who was rescued from the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. In her free time Professor Patel enjoys yoga, gardening and cooking vegan recipes.

ABOUT OUR PODCAST HOST

Dr. Jonathan Dickstein specializes in South Asian Religions, Religion and Ecology, and Comparative Religious Ethics. He received his doctoral degree in Religious Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he wrote his dissertation on ancient Indian animal taxonomies and their relevance for religious ritual and dietary practice. Jonathan’s current work focuses on Jainism and contemporary ecological issues, and accordingly extends into Critical Animal Studies, Food Studies, and Diaspora Studies.

Jonathan has published in a wide array of...