Russ Rankin has been outspoken about his political stances and done many charity actions. Particularly with Good Riddance, he has participated in benefit concerts, donated a portion of their records sales and distributed animal rights literature at their live shows. He became a vegetarian in the early 1990s and has been a vegan since 1993. Rankin has been straight edge since 1987. According to Buddhist teacher and author Noah Levine, Rankin "spends most of his time these days touring internationally and spreading political and spiritual awareness through his lyrics."