Episode 156: “Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle.”

Welcome to the 156^th episode of Our Hen House, featuring PETA’s Carney Anne Small; PCRM’s Lea Pickard; Doug White; Stewart David; and Terri David.
In today’s episode – our 3^rd consecutive week from the road – we’re finally making some progress on the great Our Hen House road trip from Portland to back home in New York City. We will bring you along with us to Louisiana (including Lake Charles, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans), Mississippi (including Jackson), Alabama (including Montgomery), Georgia (including Atlanta), North Carolina (including Asheville), and Tennessee.
Today, we bring you three very different interviews with animal rights activists, including PETA attorney Carney Anne Small, who not only showed us around New Orleans, but also enlightened us about the legal issues she’s working on, including an update on Ben the Bear; Lea Pickard and Doug White, who made us green smoothies in Jackson, MS, and chatted with us about everything from PCRM’s vegan advocacy (also known as Lea’s day job), to terrible treatment of slaughterhouse workers (also known as Doug’s dissertation topic); and we even talk to their 8-month-old, Jack, the official youngest person interviewed on Our Hen House. We’ll also have the opportunity to catch up with Asheville-based activists Stewart and Terri David, who have strong and compelling opinions about grassroots advocacy, and writing letters to the editor. When it comes to talking with Stewart, who was, by the way, the first-ever Our Hen House podcast guest, and his other half, Terri, we each have much to learn. They are true pioneers and animal rights heroes.
In addition to speaking with this fine group of changemakers, we will chat about captivity, criminal defense, health food stores, civil rights, hope, vegan food, of course, and chicory coffee. As with the past couple weeks, today’s podcast episode was largely recorded while on the road, quite literally, so before you listen, you might want to have some Dramamine nearby.
For our review, we will discuss the children’s novel, A Dog Named Randall, by Marian Hailey-Moss. This wonderful read – which truthfully, is appropriate for all ages – tells the story of Ned, a boy who discovers an abandoned dog, and then opens his heart to veganism. Don’t miss our takeaway from this unique and fast read.
All that, vegan banter, and of course, current events from the world of animal rights.
This week’s news items include:

• “Animal rights group settles circus case” from CNN
• “Israeli Law Banning Sale of Animal Tested Products Goes Into Effect” from The Jewish Press
  
• “Mexico City lawmakers approve prison punishment in animal cruelty case” from The Washington Post
• “College student’s turtle project takes dark twist” from US National Headlines
• “Going Vegan Doesn’t Mean Missing Out on Favorites” from NPR

“Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle.” -Martin Luther King
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