Episode 151: “New and stirring things are belittled because if they are not belittled the humiliating question arises ‘Why then are you not taking part in them?’”

Welcome to the 151^st episode of Our Hen House, featuring Frances Carlisle, who will discuss estate planning for companion animals.
In today’s episode, we discuss the shit that went down with Ellen DeGeneres casually proclaiming that she now eats eggs, which she gets from her neighbor’s hens, because they’re “happy,” she says. We’ll debunk that silly and misguided notion, and talk about the open letter we wrote to Ellen, and the pushback we received because of it.
Then we’ll report back on our Thanksgiving, including the Tofurky Trot we helped to organize, which raised money for victims of Hurricane Sandy, supporting the efforts of the vegan food truck The Cinnamon Snail, which is providing free vegan grub to those still without power or, in some cases, a home.
We’ll talk about evolution versus revolution, and when we should redefine oppressive traditions in a compassionate way — or if we should obliterate the traditions completely. This, of course, relates to both Thanksgiving and veganism, and so much more!
We’ll also chat about Disney, grocery store outreach, and Internet comments. Plus, in a segment we like to call “The Professor and Mariann,” where Mariann tells us all about what she covered in her animal law classes from the previous week, she will talk about everything from fish-farming to wildlife laws.
Joining us today is Frances Carlisle, a lawyer who been working tirelessly for animal rights since the 1970’s, who will speak to us about trusts and estates law as it applies to companion animals. Fran will give all of us some necessary information about estate planning for our companion animals, as well as the skinny on pet trusts, care-taking for animals when we ourselves get sick or injured, and lessons learned from Leona Helmsley.
For our review, we’ll tell you all about our adventures using a tempeh maker! If homemade tempeh intrigues you – or perhaps frightens you – don’t miss this review.
All that, vegan banter, and of course, current events from the world of animal rights.
This week’s news items include:

• “No More Hunting of Any Kind in Botswana” from National Geographic
• “Pork Investigation By ‘Consumer Reports’ Finds Rampant Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria” from Huffington Post
• “Stronger Shark Finning Ban Endorsed by European Parliament” from Project Aware  
• “No more curtain calls for elephants” from Los Angeles Times

“New and stirring things are belittled because if they are not belittled the humiliating question arises ‘Why then are you not taking part in them?’” -H.G. Wells

The Our Hen House podcast is sponsored by The Seed: A Vegan Experience, which is currently gearing up for a Yoga Week – 5 days of urban zen and plant-based empowerment. The Seed brings you events, conferences, and happenings that raise awareness about the many delicious, cruelty-free alternatives to animal products.
You can listen to our podcast directly on our blog (below!) or you can listen and subscribe on iTunes. Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it on iTunes, and don’t forget to leave us a friendly comment! Of course, we would be thrilled if you would also consider making a donation. If you’re a weekly listener, you might consider making a recurring monthly donation. Any amount is hugely appreciated, and Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so it’s tax-deductible! Don’t forget — we’re reader and listener supported. Plus, we offer some fantastic thank you gifts for your donations. Thank you for helping us to create quality content, and for helping us bring you a new, hour-long podcast each week!