Flock Only: TONS of Inside Scoop from the Coop, Plus Mariann Sullivan’s Birthday Wish

Dear Flock,
There’s so much I want to tell you (IT’S BEEN TOO LONG!), so I hope you don’t mind this letter being a bit all over the place. I’ll try to focus on the main points, rather than obsessing about things like the Chocolate Puerh tea that I cannot stop drinking. #PRIVATE#
Mariann and I are currently gearing up for a trip to Basel, Switzerland, to cover an animal law/animal studies conference — The Animal Turn and the Law — for our TV show and podcast. We were generously sponsored to go by two supporters who are (almost) as passionate about Basel as they are about animal rights, and they wanted us to shed light on the growing AR and vegan scene there for our devoted and lovely viewers and listeners. Though we’re extremely excited about going, to be honest, we haven’t really begun to wrap our heads around it too much — because we’ve been busy, busy bees. But now that the trip is in two days, it’s clearly REAL — and the opportunity to be in Basel for this groundbreaking conference, and to interview some incredible activists and changemakers, is thrilling. I hope that you’ll join us in experiencing the media we publish about this hotbed of social change. Stay tuned for that. Oh, and we’re equally tickled by the opportunity to meet several of our listeners and supporters who are in the Basel-area! How much fun is that?! (And we’ll be sure to try our share of vegan Swiss chocolate, too.)
Later today, Episode 3 of our TV show will air! It will feature the beautiful, pro-animal music of Joy Askew, and the yummy smoothies of Jose Franco from Stoop Juice, here in Brooklyn. I totally loved this episode and hope that you watch it. This past weekend, in addition to recording and producing Episodes 221 and 222 of the podcast so that you have something to listen to while we’re in Switzerland, we shot Episodes  4 and 5 of the TV show! Episode 4 will have writer, lawyer, and thinker Piper Hoffman, as well as Danny Carabano — the creator of V Spot. And Episode 5 will have 13-year-old activist Rose McCoy, as well as Annie and Dan Shannon, of Meet the Shannons (also the authors of Betty Goes Vegan). Let’s just say that we ate well on Saturday.
It’s kind of totally surreal to be doing this TV show, as you can probably imagine. We keep saying, “I can’t believe we’re getting away with saying this stuff!” Our Executive Producer is all about giving a voice to the marginalized groups — and to the marginalized groups who are speaking out and up for other marginalized groups. The folks over at Brooklyn Independent Media are absolutely dedicated to redefining media, and, specifically, TV. So — in addition to checking out our TV show — we encourage you to check out the other programs that this station is producing.
In other (more personal) news, we received this truly stunning painting from artist Joanne Ehret, entitled “The Mother Dreams of the Stolen Baby.” It’s currently at the frame store, and will be ready for us to hang on our wall just as soon as we return from Basel. Mariann and I find such solace in surrounding ourselves with animal rights art — and we try to find the perfect balance between harrowing and hopeful. This stunning piece will fit in really well in our living room (which is also our office), a room that is full of animal paintings. Do you surround yourself with animal rights themed art?

Also on a personal note, spring has sprung here in Brooklyn. In addition to that resulting in me once again dreaming of one day acquiring a cute spring-inspired Vaute Couture coat like the one that founder Leanne Mai-ly Hilgart showed us when she was on Episode 2 of our TV show, it also means that our garden is needing attention — and fast. Though many of you have sent me ideas for books (which I’ve bought) and other resources (which I’ve bookmarked), every morning I still wind up standing in my slippers, coffee in hand, just staring at the potential (or potential catastrophe) in front of me in the back. Then I go back inside and start my work, putting the promise for petunias out of my head, until I partake in the same pondering the following day. Here’s to procrastination! (I’m terrified.)
That is nothing more than a rant, and my apologies for spending our time together complaining to you. But I feel if I continue to be forthright about my terror at the prospect of gardening, I will magically overcome my fears, and grow a carrot. Here’s hoping…
That’s about it from me today. I hope you’ve been enjoying the giveaways, discount codes, and inside scoop from the coop that we offer to you darling flock members! Please do us a solid and leave us a friendly review for our podcast (on iTunes and Stitcher), as well as a friendly review of The Lines We Draw on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iBooks (remember — flock members get it for free — but keep that link to yourselves). As you know, we’re reader and listener supported and could only do what we do — continue to produce quality content to change the world for animals — with your help. So, if you like what you read/see/hear, please continue to support our efforts. Speaking of which, Mariann’s birthday is coming up on Monday, and Our Hen House’s Outreach Manager, Danielle Legg, is throwing her an online fundraiser! Mariann’s heart and soul is in animal rights work — for two decades now! When she’s not an adjunct professor of Animal Law at Columbia Law School and Cardozo Law School, she is working tirelessly on the many outreach efforts of OHH. Thanks for showing your appreciation of her work by contributing to her birthday wish!
And, just to embarrass the birthday girl, here’s a photo of (a very beautiful) Mariann at her first communion:

Guete Aabig!
xo jasmin