Cow Trip: How a Dairy Calf Rescue Road Trip Became a Viral Documentary

In this episode of Our Hen House, filmmaker Joanna Zelman and her father, retired emergency medicine physician Dr. Jared Zelman, join hosts Jasmin Singer and Mariann Sullivan to discuss their viral short documentary Cow Trip, which follows a chaotic road trip rescuing two dairy calves from Vermont to a Maryland farm sanctuary. The conversation dives into life inside the dairy industry, the unexpected compassion shown by farmworkers, and what it takes to tell an authentic animal story.

• The making of Cow Trip: How a calf rescue transport video led to a full documentary about the dairy industry featured in a 2-page spread of The Washington Post, on Good Morning America, First Look, ABC, and CBS.
• Life on a dairy farm: Inside the emotional realities faced by farmers and farmworkers who care for animals bound for slaughter
• Storytelling with animal agency: Joanna Zelman’s approach to filming animals as individuals, not just subjects
• The power of authenticity on camera: Why staying true to the real story—flaws, bloopers, and all—resonates with audiences
• Where Mickey and Moose are now: An update on the rescued calves four years after their journey to Rosie’s Farm Sanctuary

ABOUT OUR GUESTS

Joanna Zelman is a Washington, DC-based filmmaker and writer who has spent her career telling stories about animals, climate, and social justice. She spent 10 years as Executive Producer of The Dodo, the world’s #1 animal brand, where she helped grow the team to garner over 1 billion views per month. Additional producing credits include Dodo Heroes (Animal Planet), My Pack Life (Discovery+), and Rescued by Roman (Disney+). 

Dr. Jared Zelman is a retired emergency medicine physician based in Connecticut. He is a founding member of the EMS Institute Inc. in Connecticut and has served as a volunteer EMT for 35 years. He enjoys gardening and bicycling, and is the proud father of two daughters, grandfather to three grandsons, and dog dad to two senior dogs.

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