Episode 179: “The most revolutionary thing one can do is always to proclaim loudly what is happening.”

Welcome to the 179^th episode of Our Hen House, Official Honoree of the 2013 Webby Awards. Today’s episode features Kathy Stevens from Catskill Animal Sanctuary, with a special appearance by Ari Solomon from Mercy for Animals.

In today’s episode, we come to you from Provincetown, Massachusetts, where we’re checking out the vegan scene on the Cape, and wondering what the locals mean when they say “dog-friendly.” On today’s show, we’ll discuss the good, the bad, the ugly, and the potential of Meatless Mondays. And we’ll include a “Rising Anxieties” segment in that discussion, thanks to the folks over at Beef Magazine. Jasmin will talk about her Grandma’s quest to get vegan food at her assisted living facility in New Jersey, and we’ll ruminate on everything from the Tony Awards to why some women talk like little girls.
Joining us today is Kathy Stevens, the modern-day hero who is the force behind Catskill Animal Sanctuary. Kathy will chat with us about her book, Animal Camp: Reflections on a Decade of Love, Hope, and Veganism at Catskill Animal Sanctuary, which was just re-released with some new stories that will move you to tears and action. When she’s not telling some of her favorite stories from the sanctuary, Kathy will weigh in on whether she thinks that a particular species of animal can be considered, as Jasmin likes to call it, the “gateway drug” to a broader enlightenment about animal issues. She’ll tell us about a story she wrote as a little girl – which, even then, centered around compassion for animals – and she’ll explain how that incident set her on the path to become a writer and an activist. Plus, she’ll offer her opinion on what it takes to run a sanctuary. In other words, for those of you who have that pipe dream of one day starting one, this interview might help you decide if that dream should stay in the pipes.
For our review, we will report back to you on your thoughts on how to best use peanut butter! We asked you for your opinions, and boy, oh, boy did you share them. You’ll learn the results of our unofficial, unscientific Facebook survey, including the best ways to consume peanut butter in a savory meal, or as a sweet dish, as well as the simplest ways to enjoy peanut butter, and – get out your pencils – the key to using peanut butter to help animals. Oh yes, you read that correctly.
All that, vegan banter, and of course, current events from the world of animal rights. Joining us today for our news section is Our Hen House’s Ari Solomon, who also wears the hat of Communications Director for Mercy for Animals. Ari is joining us today to share the latest about Mercy for Animals brand new investigation, which broke this week. And wow, this one’s a doozy. You won’t want to miss what Ari has to say about it.
For a list of the news items we discuss in today’s episode, and then some, take a look at the breaking news ticker at the top of the page, and also check out our list of archived news items.
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“The most revolutionary thing one can do is always to proclaim loudly what is happening.” -Rosa Luxemburg