Our Hen House

Making “Xtranormal” Videos

Posted on31. Dec, 2010 by Jasmin Singer.

There is a new video tool out there that literally anybody can use, no matter your tech skills. It’s called Xtranormal and its mission is “to bring movie-making to the people.” This easy and fun (!) new tool…

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An Introduction to Animals and the Law

Posted on30. Dec, 2010 by Mariann Sullivan.

Joan Schaffner is one of the most tireless spokespersons for animals that I know. And I couldn’t be happier about that because now the rest of us get to take advantage of her hard work by reading her brand new…

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“There is no reason for any animal to die for the sake of dance.”

Posted on29. Dec, 2010 by Jasmin Singer.

Cynthia King is a choreographer like no other. Not only is her dance school — aptly named Cynthia King Dance Studio — the go-to place for any kid in NYC who wants to master a jeté or a…

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“Making a More Peaceful World, One Letter at a Time”

Posted on28. Dec, 2010 by Visiting Animal.

Jenna McDavid is one of my favorite people on the planet. In addition to having a truly beautiful and ethical soul, Jenna is an activist like no other. When it comes to her advocacy, she is positive, wise, and innovative.…

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How ’bout a Hotline?

Posted on27. Dec, 2010 by Jasmin Singer.

The stray/abandoned dog and cat issue is, obviously, a Herculean one. That millions of animals are killed each year for no good reason is tragic, especially when so many ignorant people are buying dogs and cats from breeders and pet…

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Episode 50: “Nothing is more powerful than an individual acting out of his own conscience…”

Posted on25. Dec, 2010 by Jasmin and Mariann.

Welcome to the 50th podcast episode of Our Hen House, featuring Mary and Mark Hardy from The Lodge, a vegan retreat in Grenada. Also featuring Alexis Brill as part of our New Vegan Series.

In today’s episode,…

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Changemaking Tip: Fur Activism (with Joshua Katcher)

Posted on24. Dec, 2010 by Visiting Animal.

In Concrete Catwalk, Joshua Katcher (of The Discerning Brute) prances around Soho posing as a fashion correspondent. Before they know it, the unsuspecting fur-wearers are being told where fur really comes from. The video, much like Joshua, is brilliant and…

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Changemaking Tip: Blogging Tips and Tricks (with Michael Parrish DuDell)

Posted on23. Dec, 2010 by Visiting Animal.

Whenever I finish a conversation with Michael Parrish DuDell, I am left feeling a sense of electricity. I am motivated, ready to conquer my projects. He’s that kind of a guy, just shooting you up with motivation and ideas. He’s…

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Changemaking Tip: Restaurant Outreach (with Eddie Garza)

Posted on22. Dec, 2010 by Visiting Animal.

We visited Dallas just in time for the Texas State Veggie Fair, a vegan version of the “other” fair. During our amazing trip, which we podcasted about in detail, we had the honor of meeting a handful of truly incredible…

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Our Hen House Etsy Shop Now Open! With NYC Special!

Posted on21. Dec, 2010 by Jasmin Singer.

We interrupt our regularly scheduled program (our Changemaker series that is — which will continue on through Christmas Eve) to bring you a special announcement! Our Hen House has opened our very own Etsy Shop! Here to tell you about…

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Changemaking Tip: Spread a Vegan Message for the Holidays (with Isa Chandra Moskowitz)

Posted on21. Dec, 2010 by Visiting Animal.

In addition to being the guest of our highest rated podcast episode, Isa Chandra Moskowitz is a bestselling vegan cookbook author, bringing hedonism to a new (and press-worthy) level. Even though I am slightly intimidated by how fabulous she is…

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Changemaking Tip: Speaking With the Opposition (with Gene Baur)

Posted on20. Dec, 2010 by Visiting Animal.

One reason I am so fond of Gene Baur, one of the founders of the farm animal rights movement, is because of his cool, calm, and collected demeanor — which, I can attest, is the Real Gene. He is truly…

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Changemaking Tip: Citizen Lobbying (with Patrick Kwan)

Posted on19. Dec, 2010 by Visiting Animal.

Citizen lobbying is up there as one of The Most Important Tools for anyone who cares about animals and wants to influence legislation to help advance their cause. Case in point: Last year, the nearly two hundred 2010 New York…

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Episode 49: “As long as there are slaughterhouses, there will be battlefields.”

Posted on18. Dec, 2010 by Jasmin and Mariann.

Welcome to the 49th podcast episode of Our Hen House, featuring Bart Potenza and Joy Pierson.

Joining us today are two of our favorite change-makers, Bart Potenza and Joy Pierson, the couple behind the best vegan restaurant on the planet,…

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Changemaking Tip: Office Place Activism (with Jordana Reim)

Posted on17. Dec, 2010 by Visiting Animal.

I remember being a young teenager and going to Burger King with my cousin, Jordana, who was somewhere around 9 at the time. I was still 6 years away from my own vegetarianism (and 11 years from veganism), and was…

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Changemaking Tip: Leafleting 101 (with Matt Ball)

Posted on16. Dec, 2010 by Visiting Animal.

Vegan Outreach is one of my favorite organizations. They use good old-fashioned grassroots tactics to make very big change. Through their Adopt-A-College program, where animal advocates hand out vegan pamphlets to students nationwide, they have distributed over 7 million leaflets!…

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Changemaking Tip: Meetup Activism (with Demetrius Bagley)

Posted on15. Dec, 2010 by Visiting Animal.

Here in NYC, the veg Meetups are a Very Big Deal. The core crew of organizers have their fingers on the pulse of all things animal rights, and if you look at the Meetup calendars, you will find that there…

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Changemaking Tip: Media Outreach (with Meredith Turner)

Posted on14. Dec, 2010 by Visiting Animal.

Surely it’s no secret that media is the way in for animals… at least, we think so. What other arena carries with it more attention and power? One of my favorite media mavens — the brilliant and ethical Meredith Turner…

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Changemaking Tip: Twitter & Facebook (with Glenn Gaetz)

Posted on13. Dec, 2010 by Visiting Animal.

It’s a good thing Glenn Gaetz resides in British Columbia, because if he were any closer to New York City, I would have to adopt him. Thank dog for Skype, too, since I use it several times a day to…

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Calling All Abolitionist Pundits — Here’s Your Chance!

Posted on12. Dec, 2010 by Mariann Sullivan.

Here’s an enormous opportunity from the environmentalists over at Grist to talk to a whole lot of people about how you really feel about eating animals. The intermittent “Food Fight” series, in which writers are chosen to represent…

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Episode 48: “For as long as men massacre animals, they will kill each other…”

Posted on11. Dec, 2010 by Jasmin and Mariann.

Welcome to the 48th podcast episode of Our Hen House, featuring Dr. Joel Fuhrman.

In today’s episode, we will give you our take on the NYC premier of the film, Forks Over Knives, which filled up a…

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Announcing Our Changemaker Series

Posted on10. Dec, 2010 by Jasmin Singer.

Surprise! For the next two weeks, I’m delighted to tell you that Our Hen House will be hosting a Changemaker Series, where we will be educated and enlightened by movers and shakers within the animal rights movement on a panoply…

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Our Hen House is Your Hen House

Posted on09. Dec, 2010 by Jasmin and Mariann.

Our Hen House has hit the big screen! Well, the little screen anyway. Sure, we’ve made videos before. But this time, the tables have turned, and the focus is us, Our Hen House.

We hope that you’ll watch our 8-minute…

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sex/gender/species

Posted on08. Dec, 2010 by Mariann Sullivan.

Really interesting conference coming up at Wesleyan University. When we blogged about the call for papers, we hoped the conference would produce some interesting research, and it certainly seems to have done so. For those of a scholarly…

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Book Review: Change of Heart

Posted on07. Dec, 2010 by Kyle Knies.

As activists, we work tirelessly to create change. For us, the issues run deep. But is the amount we care and the number of hours we work really what makes us effective activists? In Change of Heart: What Psychology Can Teach…

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Fight Factory Farming, Save the Planet

Posted on06. Dec, 2010 by Mariann Sullivan.

Three amazing new resources are now available for anyone who is doing research on the disastrous internationalization of factory farming. The fabulous Brighter Green has just put out  three policy papers on climate change and the globalization of industrial…

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Episode 47: “Each person must live their life as a model for others.”

Posted on04. Dec, 2010 by Jasmin and Mariann.

Welcome to the 47th podcast episode of Our Hen House, featuring Bruce Friedrich.

In today’s episode, we will be talking Hanukah – and we’ll let you know what newest kitchen gadget of ours will result in us no longer needing…

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Book Review: Animal Camp

Posted on03. Dec, 2010 by Jennifer Parrucci.

Jennifer Parrucci is back to give another review! This one is on Animal Camp: Lessons in Love and Hope from Rescued Farm Animals, by Kathy Stevens.

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Book Review: Animal Camp

Kathy Stevens’ second book, Animal Camp:…

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Amazing Holiday Deal from Our Hen House

Posted on02. Dec, 2010 by Jasmin Singer.

Ninety-Five: Meeting America’s Farmed Animals in Stories and Photographs, is one of our favorite books of the year, and maybe of all time. And now, we are privileged to be making this exciting offer – the first fifty people who donate $25…

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“Vegan Corner” Launches TODAY

Posted on01. Dec, 2010 by Jasmin Singer.

UPDATE — 12/9/2010: THE LOVELY FOLKS AT VEGAN CORNER CONTACTED US AND TOLD US THAT DUE TO SOME TECH ISSUES, THEY NEEDED TO TEMPORARILY SHUT DOWN THE WEBSITE. IT WILL RELAUNCH IN FEBRUARY 2011!

Vegan Corner, which launches today, is a…

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