When Philosophy Meets Butchery: Zeph Shepard's Journey of All Things Meat

Making Oregon

On this edition of Making Oregon, we chat with Zeph Shepard, founder of Proletariat Butchery (https://proletariatbutchery.com/). Listen as we discuss the “Journey of All Things Meat,” beginning with Zeph’s fascination with a pig roast he attended when he was 15 years old. We’re going to find out how Zeph’s big idea of Saving the Earth lead to becoming a butcher and opening a butcher shop, and how Zeph’s family life and his philosophical bent have led him to re-think the social and environmental impact of food, and what responsible stewardship of the planet entails. We’ll also discuss how Zeph’s rationale aligns with vegans and vegetarians. We learn about his experience as an apprentice on a farm where he learned his craft, and how the idea of starting his own shop grew over time. We also unpack the name “Proletariat Butchery” and its significance to Zeph. Lastly, we also asked Zeph, a determined “do it yourself-er”, to open up about what it means to hit your limits as a business owner and why he had to learn to ask for help and expertise that are crucial to his business.