We love hearing from people around the world who care about animals, and this week’s guest definitely fills the bill. Tune in to hear about all of the work Musisi Mike, founder of Luv4All Uganda, is doing to grow compassion for both animals and humans, including running Uganda’s first all-vegan school.
Jasmin and Mariann
This week, we continue our conversation from episode 714 with Gina Song Lopez. Gina talks about the intersection of the plant-based movement and traditional Chinese medicine, the recognition of meat consumption as a health issue, as well as the status of cultured meat in China and Taiwan. Join us in the Our Hen House Community to connect with other listeners and …
For this week’s bonus track, we are joined by Esther Salomon of Animal Think Tank, our guest from episode 713. Esther stays on the line to chat about the narrative surrounding animal freedom, the synergy between personal and institutional change, and what she does to let off steam in her free time. Check it out! We hope to see you in …
Strategy is a big topic of debate amongst animal activists. What is the best way forward to create the most change? Esther Salomon of Animal Think Tank joins us to discuss the strategies and many lessons the animal rights community can learn from other justice movements throughout history.
This week, we stay on the line with animal-friendly journalist Jessica Scott-Reid, our guest from episode 712, to hear more about her Instagram cooking adventures. Jessica also tells us about the vegan scene in Winnipeg and shares her tactics for managing anxiety. Join us online in the Our Hen House Community to connect with other listeners and flock members. We would …
Every activist knows that journalists who are willing to cover serious animal stories are all too rare, but this week we will be talking to someone who has carved out a career doing exactly that. Freelance journalist and animal advocate Jessica Scott-Reid shares her experience in the world of animal-related journalism.
Listen in this week as we continue the conversation with Sneha Shrestha, our guest from episode 711 and founder of Sneha’s Care, an animal sanctuary in Nepal. Sneha tells us the story of the rescue of a dancing bear named Dhuturu, as well as her personal journey into the world of animal rescue and veganism. Join us online in the Our …
There’s nothing we love more than talking to people who are saving animals in places we’ve never been to, and today we’ll be talking to Sneha Shrestha in Nepal about her extraordinary work saving dogs, helping farmed animals, and spreading veganism through her organization, Sneha’s Care.
This week we continue the conversation with Chris Green, our guest from episode 710. Listen in as Chris tells us more about the media success of a Harvard report regarding policy on live animal markets and their role in the spread of disease as well as his next career move. You don’t want to miss it! Join us in the Our …
Do you try to keep up with animal-related legislation but sometimes find yourself wondering what it all means? This week we get some answers regarding the hugely important EATS Act and the effort to eradicate state animal welfare laws from Chris Green, Executive Director of the Brooks McCormick Jr. Animal Law & Policy Program at Harvard Law.
Listen in this week as we continue the conversation with veganic farmer Jimmy Videle, our guest from episode 709. Jimmy gives us more details about what readers can expect to learn from The Veganic Growers Handbook and also talks about some of the tough decisions involved in veganic growing. Join us in the Our Hen House Community to connect with a …
There is no place more relaxing than a beautiful garden, and nothing better to eat than homegrown fruits and vegetables, but what is a vegan to do when all of the potting soils and fertilizers are riddled with animal products? Jimmy Videle has the answers, and he joins us today to discuss his new book, The Veganic Grower’s Handbook: Cultivating Fruits, …
This week we stay on the line with Nate Salpeter & Shira Jacobson of Sweet Farm Climate Sanctuary, our guests from episode 708. Shira tells us a little bit about some of the animal residents, and we discuss how Sweet Farm and nearby Farm Sanctuary complement each other’s work in the movement. Click on over to the Our Hen House Community …
Panicked about climate? Wondering what to do? Nate Salpeter and Shira Jacobson join us to discuss Sweet Farm, a sanctuary that is attacking the climate crisis from many different angles. From animal rescue to the most sophisticated agriculture technology, from plant-based regenerative ag to composting, Sweet Farm will give you hope and inspire you on your journey!
For this week’s bonus content Zeynep Sağlamöz, our guest from episode 707, shares how a cat helped open her eyes and ultimately led her to change not only her lifestyle but her career as well. Check it out! Join us over in the Our Hen House Community to connect with people who get it about animals! Share local activism opportunities, connect …
Ever felt motivated to be more active but didn’t know where to find the resources to get started? This week Mariann speaks with Zeynep Sağlamöz, Global Graphics Coordinator for Animal Save Movement, about the fantastic resources they have made available to activists. She also tells us about animal rescue efforts during Turkey’s recent devastating earthquakes and the awe-inspiring progress made by …
Jane O’Hara, our guest from episode 706, stays on the line with us to dig deeper into the life experiences that led her to where she is today. Jane confesses that she initially thought that becoming vegan would be restrictive but discovered a new kind of freedom instead. You will want to experience this meaningful conversation. Let us know what you …
Has a painting or piece of artwork ever stopped you immediately, demanding your full attention? Such is so often the case with Jane O’Hara’s paintings. This week, Jane joins us for a conversation about her artwork, which highlights “the failure of the human-animal bond and the tendency of humans to impose their own agenda despite the risks.” We specifically discuss her …
In this week’s bonus content, we keep Dr. Faraz Harsini, our guest from episode 705, on the line to share more inspiring content. Faraz discusses growing up in Iran, becoming involved in human rights activism there, and his reaction to being called out as a hypocrite for claiming to love animals while also eating them. He also shares ways to reframe …
Faraz Harsini, Ph.D., realized something was missing from the animal rights movement and decided to fill that gap. The organization he founded, Allied Scholars for Animal Protection (ASAP), is helping university students and others on campus build ongoing, lasting advocacy organizations. We discuss ASAP’s long-term plans for expansion, how students can get help starting their own chapter, the support ASAP offers, …
Check out this week’s extended conversation with Chris Alleiri, our guest from episode 704 and founder of NYC Plover Project. Chris discusses the magic of The Rockaways and the surrounding wildlife preserves, as well as the opportunities for the area. Join us in the Our Hen House Community to connect with your fellow listeners and let us know what you want …
Chris Allieri is on a mission to save the Piping Plover, a species of beach-nesting shorebirds at risk of extinction. Founder of the NYC Plover Project, Chris, tells us about these delightful birds, their habitat, and the factors driving their potential demise. Chris discusses how he, alongside his team of volunteers, helps ensure the birds’ safety as best they can in …
This week we continue our intriguing conversation with Aiyana Goodfellow, our guest from episode 703. Aiyana discusses why they believe it is so important that we all develop our collaboration skills, why they see hope as a practice rather than a feeling, and also shares more about their recent acting projects. They also give insight into their feeling that planning for …
Writer, liberator, and self-described DELINQUENT Aiyana Goodfellow joins the podcast this week for an eye-opening conversation that just might shift your perspective on many things, including veganism, anti-speciesism, and activism. Aiyana shares their thoughts on the mainstream vegan movement and the importance of developing one’s own ideology instead of simply “performing goodness” in your lifestyle and activism. We dive into why …
For today’s bonus content, we stay on the line to dive deeper with Myq Kaplan, our guest from episode 702. Jasmin & Myq dig into how we can all deal with the despair that attempts to creep in when we consider everything happening in the world and the weight that can come with that knowledge. Throughout the conversation, Myq shares various …
Comedian Myq Kaplan is back on the podcast this week to discuss the intersection of animal rights, activism, and the creative arts. We discuss Myq’s latest comedy album, A.K.A., as well as the recently widely released Live In Between Albums, and he gives us a behind-the-scenes look into his creative process. The vegan comedian also dishes on his upcoming appearance at …
In this bonus content, we kept the debate going with philosopher and ethicist Bob Fischer, our guest from episode 701. Bob shares the status of philosophical work being done regarding animals before talking more about his surprise at the outcomes of recent open rescue trials. Mariann shares one of her favorite quotes, and Bob shares his shifting view of societal change. …
When it comes to thinking about animals, Bob Fischer believes we should be doing it more often and more deeply. A professor of philosophy at Texas State University and the author of, among other things, Animal Ethics—A Contemporary Introduction, Bob joins the podcast this week for a conversation about animal ethics, philosophy, and activism. Bob shares how empirical data and philosophical …
This week Renee King-Sonnen and Tommy Sonnen of Rowdy Girl Sanctuary keep chatting with us after episode 700. Renee discusses the traumatic event that led her on a journey of spiritual discovery. Tommy then discusses the experience of being an elder in the church while transitioning to veganism, and Renee shares one particularly difficult experience with someone in that community. Share …
From Texas cattle ranchers to vegan sanctuary founders, Renee King-Sonnen and Tommy Sonnen have turned around their lives and are helping others, both animal and human, to do the same. Now, the incredible story of how they have rescued and continue to care for 137 animals has caught the attention of filmmaker Jason Goldman, who embarked on capturing their daily lives …
For this bonus content, we kept our intriguing conversation going with Yvette Baker, our guest from episode 699. Yvette delves into the importance of personal divestment from animal agriculture while supporting efforts for systemic change. She and Mariann discuss the role of climate change in bringing more people to veganism, and Yvette shares her hope that young people will conduct their …
Longtime animal advocates may be familiar with the term total liberation, but what exactly does this mean? Yvette Baker joins us today for an exploration of total liberation activism and its profound influence on her own animal advocacy. In our conversation, she sheds light on oppressive language commonly used when representing animals and urges everyone to unlearn and challenge it for …
This week we continue the conversation from episode 698 with Peter Singer as he goes into a bit more detail about Animal Liberation Now, the 50th-anniversary edition of the original Animal Liberation. Peter then shares his hope for the future success of the movement, as well as his thoughts on the effectiveness of direct action for animals. Get in touch with …
This episode of Our Hen House features an animal rights legend, renowned philosopher, and ethicist, Peter Singer. In this thought-provoking conversation, we explore a range of topics, including the principle of equal consideration of interests, the nuance between sentience and consciousness, and the evolution of the animal movement since Peter’s groundbreaking book Animal Liberation was first released 50 years ago. Peter …
Join us as we continue our conversation with award-winning documentary filmmaker Louie Psihoyos from episode 697. In this bonus episode, Louie talks about creating the best camera in the world to capture the beauty of nature in the hopes of encouraging people to save it. He also explains why, though a part of Hollywood, the business of documentary filmmaking is quite …
This week we dive into the world of documentary filmmaking with renowned photographer and documentary film director Louie Psihoyos. Louie is perhaps best known for his 2009 film, the Academy Award-winning documentary The Cove, which shed a brutal light on the remarkably cruel dolphin hunt in Taiji, Japan. In our conversation, Louie shares how movies can help change the world and …
We start this week’s bonus content with Ted & Carol Barnett of the Rochester Lifestyle Medicine Institute by continuing the conversation from episode 696 about Vegan Summerfest, which is returning this year for the first time since lockdown. Carol then talks about finding her purpose; Ted & Carol both share more about their relationship with food earlier in life and where …
The Standard American Diet—heavy in dairy and meat products—has long been known to contribute to chronic, diet-related illnesses, including type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Long-time vegans know this quite well, but what about the general public? Dr. Ted Barnett and Carol Barnett join the podcast to discuss the Rochester Lifestyle Medicine Institute and how they support those looking to switch …
This week we stay on the line with animal rights and environmental journalist Spencer Roberts, our guest on episode 695. In this bonus track, Spencer discusses his theory of change, talks about coalition building, and shares more about the shocking practices he is uncovering through his research. You will want to hear this! Join the conversation in the Our Hen House …
Last autumn, the Alaska Department of Fish & Game canceled the crabbing season for the Alaskan snow crab for the first time in history after the crustaceans’ population dropped an astonishing 87 percent. This is only one of the stories recently covered in depth by ecologist and journalist Spencer Roberts, who joins us on the podcast for an overarching conversation about …
After we fell in love with The Tiny Chef Show‘s Rachel Larson on episode 694, we were lucky enough to have her join us for this extended conversation to discuss her personal journey, including how she got involved in stop-motion animation. We learn more about little Rachel growing up feeling like she didn’t fit in, as well as her path to …
Just five years ago, a very small herbivorous chef who resides in a modest tree stump took Instagram by storm, impressing thousands with his culinary expertise and tiny, plant-based eats—and he hasn’t slowed down since. In fact, he even helms his very own show on Nick Jr. The Tiny Chef has captured hearts worldwide, and this week, director and animator Rachel …
In this week’s bonus content, we get a little more personal with Alexandra Paul & Alicia Santurio, our guests from episode 693. The animal champions tell us how lucky they both are to have family members involved in animal activism. Then we discuss Direct Action Everywhere‘s approach to systems change through activism. Join us in the Our Hen House Community to …
The Foster Farms Rescue and Trial, w/ Alexandra Paul and Alicia Santurio
In September of 2021, Alicia Santurio and Baywatch actor Alexandra Paul rescued Jax and Ethan, two gravely ill chickens, from a transport truck heading for a slaughterhouse owned by Foster Farms. The activists faced misdemeanor charges for petty theft, and this March, they stood before a 12-person jury as part of a nine-day trial, previously unheard of for such charges. Alexandra …
This week we continue to connect with Farm Sanctuary’s Aaron Rimmler-Cohen, our guest from episode 692, in this delightful bonus conversation. Aaron discusses combining surnames with your partner and details how he became involved in the work he is doing. Then, he and Jasmin converse in-depth about generationally shifting societal norms. We hope you enjoy the chat as much as we …
Since its founding in 1986, Farm Sanctuary has advocated for farmed animals and large-scale institutional reform with the ultimate goal of removing animals from the food system. Senior Director of Advocacy Aaron Rimmler-Cohen joins the podcast this week to discuss Farm Sanctuary’s Food Systems Shift program. In our conversation, Aaron discusses the disastrous policy of government subsidies of animal products and …
We were overjoyed to stay on the line with vegan singer-songwriter and actress Kate Nash, our guest from episode 691 and the star of the new film Coffee Wars. In this bonus content, Kate dishes on her favorite meals to cook at home, tells us about the rescue of the animals in the film, and chats more about her thoughts on …
Coffee Wars w/ Kate Nash
Humor can be a powerful tool to promote change – and vegan actress and musician Kate Nash knows how to wield it to hilarious effect. We’re thrilled to welcome Kate for a discussion about her recent film, Coffee Wars, which manages to deliver a powerful pro-animal message while, at the same time, making everyone laugh. As we all know, that’s not …
Dr. Milton Mills, our guest from episode 690 and a pioneering plant-based physician, continued our lively chat for this week’s bonus content. In this conversation, Dr. Mills shares with us how he continues with his work without falling into despair, explains more about his spiritual belief and how it led him to give up eating animals, and shares his thoughts on …
Dr. Milton Mills, a prominent advocate for plant-based diets and a practicing physician, joins us this week for an in-depth discussion about the misconceptions surrounding vegan diets and how such misunderstandings have evolved over time. Dr. Mills, who offers extensive evidence that humans aren’t innate omnivores, thoroughly debunks the myth that humans need meat to be healthy and explains how taking …
This week we stayed on the line with Maria Cebrian, our guest from episode 689 and founder of Terraseed, to get to know her better. Maria discusses growing up in Spain and her diet as a kid. She talks about starting out being a kid who didn’t question anything to becoming an adult who asks it all. She also shares how …
Did you know dietary supplements often contain hidden animal-based ingredients, and there are no requirements for this to be disclosed on the label? This week, Terraseed founder Maria Cebrian joins the podcast to discuss vitamins for vegans and the challenges of sourcing high-quality plant-based ingredients and truly eco-friendly packaging. She also describes how Terraseed has partnered with Animal Save Movement for …
We were so thrilled to keep the conversation going with Marcus Daniell, our guest from episode 688 and Founder and Executive Director of High Impact Athletes. In this extended chat, Marcus discusses growing up in a generational animal-farming family, tofu smuggling, and the relationship tensions that can arise when speaking up about animal cruelty. Marcus also gives us a glimpse into …
When Marcus Daniell isn’t on the tennis court winning Olympic titles, he’s focused on high-impact charitable giving. He joins us on the podcast from New Zealand for a conversation about his organization, High Impact Athletes, which helps athletes create world-changing impacts through charitable donations. In our discussion, Marcus details athletes’ historical donating patterns and how High Impact Athletes helps connect them …
In this week’s bonus content from episode 687, we are treated to an extra helping of Sterling “TrapKing” Davis’s positivity! Sterling teaches us the ins and outs of clicker/whistle training for cats, talks about dealing with the ick factor of non-vegan foods used to trap cats, and tells us some of the amazing places he’s traveled to while spreading his message …
Before he was a cat rescuer, Sterling “TrapKing” Davis was a rapper—a unique trajectory in the field of animal rescue. Sterling—who dedicated himself to improving the lives of stray cats after a lifelong connection to them—joins us today for a delightful conversation about, among other things, trap-neuter-return (TNR) and how he’s working to increase diversity within cat rescue. In our discussion, …
This week we continue our conversation with our guests from episode 686, David Meyer & Galina Hale of Food System Innovations. First, we dive into what David & Galina eat to support their athletic endeavors. David tells us how he shares his vegan diet with other martial artists, while Galina tells us what motivated her to become an Ironman. The group …
Disrupting the global food system is one of the most pressing issues of our lifetimes—and it’s no small lift. Today, we welcome two powerhouses working to help the world shift to a kinder, plant-based food system. David Meyer and Galina Hale serve as the CEO and Chief Research Officer, respectively, of Food System Innovations (FSI). They join us this week to …
Dr. Krista Hiddema stayed on the line following episode 685 this week to dive deeper into our discussion about what she believes activists can do to make a difference. During the conversation, she gets vulnerable about her past health-related struggles and how she felt, at the time, about their relation to veganism. And finally, she lets us know where it is …