This week’s bonus content from episode 645 is here to bring you a Dash of hope straight from Uganda. Dash Meizler of the Podrska Foundation continues to wow us with his enlightened views on marrying the fight for human and animal rights. He also clues us in to the reason he received the nickname Dash and shares the very big plans for the future …
The inimitable Dash Meizler joins the podcast this week from Kampala, Uganda, for a truly inspiring conversation about leveraging our activism to better advocate for animal rights and marginalized communities. Founder of the Podrska Foundation, Dash outlines how the organization is fighting for farmed animals while empowering women, providing schools with vegan meals, fighting poverty through home-based vegetable gardens, and more. …
Join us for this week’s bonus where we further the conversation from episode 644 with Gwendolyn Church of Friends of Philip Fish Sanctuary. In this meaningful discussion Gwendolyn talks bringing farmed fish into the farmed animal conversation, plans for expanding the sanctuary, and how the word fishes help to emphasize the individuality of these remarkable beings. You won’t want to miss …
The remarkable Gwendolyn Church joins the podcast this week for an awe-inspiring conversation about Friends of Philip Fish Sanctuary, the aquatic animal sanctuary she founded, based in Reno, NV. Gwendolyn tells the tale of Philip, the betta fish that changed the trajectory of her life and inspired the sanctuary. This passionate animal activist also discusses the misconceptions around fish sentience and …
This week’s bonus clip from episode 643 with Mamta Valderrama has us digging further into Jain beliefs. Mamta also dishes out some advice for getting started with a career in animal protection and discusses helping animal farmers transition to plant-based farming. You definitely want to check this out! Tell us what you think about this bonus content or recent podcast guests over …
Mamta Jain Valderrama joins the podcast for an insightful discussion about Jainism and the many ways in which its beliefs intersect with veganism. Jainism is one of the oldest religions in existence, having taken form in ancient India some time between the 7th and 5th centuries BCE. In our conversation, Mamta explains the philosophy of ahimsa, or non-violence, that practitioners of …
Join us for this moving bonus segment with Danielle Hanosh, our guest on episode 642. Danielle shares details about her powerful book The Other Side. Inspired by all of the animals who have been lost, this book was written to help the humans left behind find comfort in what may be waiting on the other side of the rainbow bridge. She also touches on …
The remarkable Danielle Hanosh joins us on the podcast for a conversation about a revolutionary new program that you will definitely want to hear about. LEAP—short for Leaders for Ethics, Animals, and the Planet—offers high school students humane education, hands-on experience caring for rescued farmed animals, volunteer experience at animal sanctuaries, and scholarship opportunities. Teaching compassion instead of slaughter, LEAP, teaches …
This week we bring you a continuation of the fascinating conversation from episode 641 with Dr. Christopher Carter that touches on everything from the importance of eating practices to the carrying on of ancestral legacies through more healthful translations of traditional recipes. This bonus track will have us all wanting to join Dr Carter in reclaiming the kitchen as a sacred space. …
Dr. Christopher Carter joins us on the podcast this week to discuss his new book The Spirit of Soul Food: Race, Faith, and Food Justice. This groundbreaking work covers everything from the history of soul food to choosing how to eat in a way that helps us “live into our fullest sense of self.” Dr. Carter shares why he centers the …
This week’s bonus content from episode 640 brings the moving story of how librarian and artist Stacy Russo learned to let go of expectations through the adoption of a rescue dog. Stacy also shares how she discovered zines as a form of art and activism and how she finds hope in creativity. You won’t want to miss this heartfelt conversation! We …
She’s an activist, artist, librarian, professor, and more. The multi-hyphenate Stacy Russo joins us on the podcast for a deep dive into Love Activism. Created by Stacy in 2013, Love Activism is a daily, holistic, and radical activism rooted in kindness. In our conversation, Stacy outlines the eight elements of this activist approach and describes how they can empower us every …
In this week’s bonus content for episode 639 we are joined by Gemunu De Silva for an extended chat about his investigative work. Gem talks more about getting into (and out of) dangerous situations, creating videos for different audiences and the his newest project. You won’t want to miss it! We love hearing from you! Head on over to the flock …
The trailblazing Gemunu De Silva, a United Kingdom-based undercover investigator of animal exploitation, joins us this week on Our Hen House. Gem, one of the first and longest-serving investigators of the worldwide hidden mistreatment of animals, tell us about his path into the world of animal activism and the animal rights movement. It was his very first factory farm investigation in …
Excerpt from article: “This Rochester couple wants their ‘Net Zero’ home to inspire more affordable, eco-friendly living” by WXXI News Jasmin Singer and her wife, Moore Rhys, had long wanted to align their lifestyle with their environmental values. They found their opportunity with a decision to move across the country. At the start of the pandemic, the couple had been working …
Join us for episode 638‘s bonus chat with LoriKim Alexander. This week, LoriKim continues giving us a peek into her awe-inspiring work and thought processes. Hear a further discussion of the work of The North Bronx Collective and of the power of believing the change we are working for will come. You won’t want to miss this inspiring conversation. We would …
LoriKim Alexander can do it all—from her core organizing role with Black VegFest to her work in the fields of anthropology and biology. She joins us on Our Hen House to discuss how The Cypher, the organization she founded, places emphasis on veganism’s true, anti-oppressive meaning. LoriKim shares how The Cypher started off as an educational, political book club on Facebook …
In this week’s bonus content from episode 637, Dr Hope Ferdowsian joins us to share an excerpt from the introduction of her book Phoenix Zones: Where Strength Is Born and Resilience Lives. Phoenix Zones combines stories of survivors with the latest science on resilience to help us understand the link between violence against people and animals and the biological foundations of recovery, peace …
Hope Ferdowsian, President and CEO of Phoenix Zones Initiative (PZI)—a non-profit organization committed to advancing the interconnected rights, health, and wellbeing of people and animals—joins us on the podcast to discuss how the organization is striving to realize optimal health outcomes for humans and non-human animals alike. More specifically, Hope shares how, by expanding upon the One Health approach, PZI is …
In this week’s bonus content from episode 636, the conversation really gets cooking with Rob Nipe and Nora Rubel of Grass Fed, Rochester’s all vegan butcher shop. Rob & Nora dig into hanging onto hope, veganizing meaningful recipes and vegan cottage cheese! Give it a listen! We love hearing from you! Get in touch with us to share your thoughts on …
Faithful listeners will know this to be true: we can’t get enough of Grass Fed, Rochester’s premier vegan butcher shop and deli. Thus, this week, we couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome Rob Nipe and Nora Rubel, founders of Grass Fed, to the podcast. The husband-and-wife team joins us to dish why they view Grass Fed as training wheels for veganism, and …
Check out this bonus content from episode 635 featuring Joan E. Schaffner, JD and Rajesh K. Reddy, JD, founding members of the lawyers for the Convention on Animal Protection (CAP). This (at times baffling) conversation includes discussion about the One Health paradigm, the lack of consideration for zoonotic diseases by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the shadow pandemic we aren’t talking …
Joining us on the Our Hen House podcast this week are Joan E. Schaffner, JD and Rajesh K. Reddy, JD, PhD. Joan and Raj are founding members of Lawyers for the Convention on Animal Protection, an international team of law practitioners and academics committed to advocating for a global animal protection agreement. They join the podcast to share details about the …
In this week’s bonus track we extend the conversation from episode 634 with powerhouse total liberation activist Eloísa Trinidad. Eloísa digs into the advice she would give her childhood self, practicing self care as self liberation, and the importance of honoring emotions while channeling them to support your work. You do not want to miss this! We value your opinions! Let …
According to powerhouse activist and community organizer Eloísa Trinidad, an anti-colonial framework is fundamental to how she approaches activism. Eloísa, who serves as Executive Director of both the Vegan Activist Alliance and the food justice organization Chilis on Wheels New York, is a total liberation activist. She is unapologetically adamant that species does not define personhood and emphasizes the importance of …
This week we continue the conversation from episode 633 with Rachel Dreskin, CEO of both the Plant Based Foods Association (PBFA) and their sister nonprofit the Plant Based Foods Institute (PBFI). In this bonus track, Rachel talks about the PBFI’s initiatives, including research and partnerships to realize a transformation of our food system. Check it out! We would love to know what …
Rachel Dreskin, CEO of the Plant Based Foods Association (PBFA), joins the podcast this week to discuss why it is so vital for vegan foods to have a trade association. Rachel tells us how the organization, which advocates at both the federal and state levels, is working to even the playing field to help plant-based brands compete against animal-based products and …
Join us for this week’s bonus conversation from episode 632 with David van Beveren of Vegan Hacktivists. David shares some insight into the challenges of quantifying effectiveness, the momentum of the movement and the diversity of opinions in animal rights activism. Give it a listen! We would love to hear your opinions on this bonus content, the main episode and anything …
The ingenious David van Beveren, founder of Vegan Hacktivists, joins the podcast this week for an inspiring conversation about using our unique skill sets to help propel the animal rights movement forward. A software developer by trade, David details the important work Vegan Hacktivists is doing to help animal rights organizations and activists expand their web presence. The organization, composed of …
This week’s bonus content has arrived! Check out an extension of the conversation from episode 631 with Aline Silva of CreatureKind. Aline talks leading congregations, waking up to animal issues, and Afro-Indigenous religious expression. Join us! Get squawking with us about this bonus content, the full episode or what’s going on in your life over in the flock Facebook group. Thank …
CreatureKind’s Aline Silva joins the podcast this week for a discussion about food, animals and Christianity. Reverend Silva, who serves as CreatureKind’s Co-Director, gives us an overview of the religious nonprofit, which encourages Christians to recognize faith-based reasons for caring about the well-being of all living creatures and helps them implement plant-based practices within their church communities. Founded on the belief …
This week’s bonus content is a continuation of our conversation from episode 630 with human and animal rights activist Richa Mehta. Richa shares more about becoming vegan, reminding yourself to be patient, the hope of seeing a vegan world and more. We hope you’ll join us! Let us know what you think about this bonus episode, thoughts on content you’d like …
Vegan Outreach India’s Richa Mehta joins us this week to talk about the spread of veganism in India. As Director of Programs, Richa tells us how Vegan Outreach is focusing on college students and explains in detail what they are doing to educate those students about the atrocities of the dairy and meat industries while advocating for veganism, as not only …
We can’t wait to share this week’s bonus content from episode 629 featuring professor and author Jeff Sebo! In this intriguing conversation, Jeff talks us through the joy of teaching, the importance of keeping an open mind and the convergence of utilitarian and rights theories. Check it out and let us know what you think of this bonus interview, what you’d …
On this week’s podcast, we are joined by Jeff Sebo, who is the director of New York University’s Animal Studies M.A. Program, to discuss his brand new book, Saving Animals, Saving Ourselves: Why Animals Matter for Pandemics, Climate Change, and Other Catastrophes. Jeff apparently can see into the future, since he began writing this incredibly prescient book in 2017—three years before …
Join us for this introspective bonus interview from episode 628 with world-changer PJ Nyman! They will delve into inherent childhood compassion for animals, the path to vegetarian and veganism, and the necessity of hope. Witness a beautiful new friendship between Jasmin & PJ blossoming in real time! Engage in the discussion about this episode, future bonus content or anything else you’d …
PJ Nyman joins the podcast this week to discuss how understanding animal exploitation on a global landscape creates bridges to other movements which, in turn, help us address the exploitation of animals in a more multifaceted way. PJ, a contributing author featured in Antiracism in Animal Advocacy: Igniting Cultural Transformation, shares what prompted them to investigate the overlap between the history …
We are so thrilled to share this week’s bonus from episode 627 with media maven Rachel Krantz! In this flock-only content, Rachel touches on her experiences growing up, the importance of sharing vegan content online and what “no mud, no lotus” means to her. You won’t want to miss it! Engage in the discussion about this episode, future bonus content or …
Author and award-winning journalist Rachel Krantz has written a truly extraordinary book, Open: An Uncensored Memoir of Love, Liberation, and Non-Monogamy. This week, she and Jasmin sit down to discuss this raw, vulnerable, and truly inspirational account of Rachel’s journey into the sometimes complicated world of polyamory and how that journey of self-discovery has interwoven with her veganism and animal rights …
This week’s bonus content is from episode 626 with investigator, press coordinator, and an animal rights activist extraordinaire, Matt Johnson of Direct Action Everywhere (DxE). In this enlightening conversation, Matt talks about what it’s like to be a DxE activist, shares what he was like as a kid, and so much more. Tune in! Leave us your thoughts on this clip, …
Matt Johnson of Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) is an investigator, a press coordinator, and an animal rights activist extraordinaire. About to go to trial in Iowa on felony charges, including under Iowa’s infamous Ag Gag statute, for rescuing a piglet, now named Gilly, from certain death, he shares with us the harrowing story of entering factory farms under conditions of ventilation shutdown …
Click here to play this week’s bonus interview! This week’s bonus content comes from episode 625 featuring inspiring activists Anita Krajnc and Nicola Harris for a conversation you don’t want to miss! Anita is the co-founder of Animal Save Movement and Nicola serves as the nonprofit’s Director of Communications. Among the many interesting topics they touch on in this exclusive interview, …
We’re so honored to welcome Anita Krajnc and Nicola Harris to help us start off 2022 with dynamic and effective activism for animals and the planet! Anita is the co-founder of Animal Save Movement and Nicola serves as the nonprofit’s Director of Communications. They talk about their decision to establish climate- and health-focused chapters of Animal Save Movement, in addition to …
For this week’s bonus content, we continue the intriguing conversation from episode 624 with Father Massimo da Qumran of the Sacred Order of the Hesychasts of San Giovanni Climaco, a spiritual community with residences near Milan and Florence. In this exclusive interview, Father Massimo shares his background, talks about how he relates to different animals, explains what is is like to …
Father Massimo da Qumran of the Sacred Order of the Hesychasts of San Giovanni Climaco, a spiritual community with residences near Milan and Florence, joins the podcast for this Christmas episode. He shares with us how he practices Christianity, how that practice relates to animals and veganism, and why religion often neglects the relationship between God and animals and their purpose …
We can’t wait to share this week’s bonus interview from episode 623 with the trailblazing Monica Chen! In this riveting conversation, Monica tells us about stepping into the role of Executive Director of Factory Farming Awareness Coalition (FFAC), discusses her work in other areas, shares what gives her hope, and so much more. Leave us your thoughts on this clip, and …
The trailblazing Monica Chen, Executive Director of Factory Farming Awareness Coalition (FFAC), joins the podcast this week for an inside look into how the nonprofit is working to change the world for animals through education and mentorship. FFAC has recently shifted its educational programming to focus on high school and college students, and is seeing outstanding results. Also, despite the challenges …
This week’s bonus is from episode 622 with John Lewis and Keegan Kuhn, the brilliant filmmakers behind the new documentary, They’re Trying to Kill Us. In this exclusive bonus interview, John and Keegan get personal, telling us all about their backgrounds, talking about hope, and so much more. Leave us your thoughts on this clip, and anything else you’d like to …
Keegan Kuhn and John Lewis, the remarkable filmmakers behind the new documentary, They’re Trying to Kill Us, join the podcast this week for a critical conversation about the deadly effects of the meat-centric standard American diet, how it impacts Black communities with particular harshness, and how hip-hop artists are a crucial part of the movement to save Black lives through diet …
This week’s bonus is from episode 621 featuring vegan change agent, award-winning public health nutritionist, speaker, and best-selling author, Tracye McQuirter, MPH! Definitely tune into this intriguing conversation where Tracye talks about her background, journey to veganism, favorite meals, and so much more. Don’t miss it! Leave us your thoughts on this clip, and anything else you’d like to see as …
We’re absolutely thrilled to welcome Tracye McQuirter, MPH, back to the podcast this week to discuss her remarkable program: 10 Million Black Vegan Women. Initially launched last year as 10,000 Black Vegan Women, Tracye is back after she realized she had been thinking too small about how many people this accessible, online program could reach. So, after exceeding expectations by helping …
If you haven’t yet listened to the latest Our Hen House podcast episode with incredible actress and activist, Evanna Lynch, be sure to check it out! You undoubtedly recognize from Evanna from role as Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter films and we are truly honored to feature her in this week’s exclusive bonus interview! She opens up to us about …
Wow! We are truly over the moon to be joined this week by the incredibly talented actress and activist, Evanna Lynch, who you undoubtedly recognize from her role as Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter films. Yup, you read that right! A passionate vegan animal rights advocate, Evanna joins Jasmin for a thought-provoking conversation that ranges from advocacy approaches, to overcoming …
This week’s bonus is a very special reading (recorded just for you!) from the remarkable Katja M. Guenther, PhD who joined us on episode 619. As a Professor of Gender & Sexuality Studies at the University of California, Riverside, Katja’s main areas of research, writing, and activism are feminist politics and the human exploitation of non-human animals. In this exclusive bonus …
Welcome to this very special holiday episode in which we present Sanctuary: A Radio Play, an annual Thanksgiving tradition at Our Hen House! This special performance marks the world premiere of John Yunker’s Sanctuary at New York City’s Symphony Space during the Culture & Animals Foundation’s Compassion Arts Festival. We were thrilled to have been a part of this witty, engaging, …
The remarkable Katja M. Guenther, PhD joins the podcast this week for an eye-opening interview about companion animal shelters and their practices, and the intersections of poverty, race, stigma, and animals. This is an interview you won’t want to miss. Dr. Guenther, a sociologist and author of The Lives and Deaths of Shelter Animals, describes her three years of ethnographic research …
We’re so pleased to share this week’s bonus content from the first of our two interviews on episode 618 featuring animal rights activist (and our very own flock member!) Sue Fischer. In this exclusive interview, Sue tells us about her background as a dietician, discusses her approach to advocacy, and reveals how her work on California’s Point Reyes National Seashore has …
This week, Our Hen House is excited to welcome two amazing guests to the show, each an inspirational example of what is happening at the grassroots of the vegan movement! Our first guest, animal rights activist (and flock member!) Sue Fischer joins us to discuss the damage cattle ranchers and dairy farmers are inflicting on the land and wildlife of California’s …
This week’s bonus content comes from episode 617 with the extraordinary Crystal Heath, DVM, where we get even more of the inside scoop behind the veterinary profession and the alarming attitude of so many of its members toward animal rights. In this exclusive interview, Dr. Heath shares with us the personal pushback she has received as an animal rights activist in …
The extraordinary Crystal Heath, DVM, joins the podcast this week for a desperately needed conversation about the veterinary profession and the alarming attitude of so many of its members toward animal rights. Dr. Heath, who is a vegan animal rights activist herself, shares shocking truths about the influence the animal agriculture industry holds over veterinary schools across the country. In fact, …