Dear Flock,
Thank you so much for taking part in the OHH flock survey in October! I want you to know how much we value your input! We really, really do! When we surveyed you in 2014, so many of your requests and suggestions were implemented into our 2015 programming and planning, and the same holds true now. I wanted to pull out a few of your comments and suggestions and directly address them here.
#PRIVATE#
You said the weekly podcast remains the most important to you.
We hear that, and we will continue to strive to improve it. Most of you reported that our Rising Anxieties segment is your favorite! Ours too! Thank you! We’ll keep looking for some great topics to discuss, and we look forward to your suggestions on the private flock Facebook page. We also hope that now that The Animal Law Podcast and The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast are under way, you will subscribe to and enjoy those, too.
Speaking of which, many of you said that you’re listening and enjoying Mariann’s Animal Law Podcast, and that you find the information in it to be accessible even to non-lawyers.
One of you told us: “I enjoy hearing about issues relating to the animal law world. I don’t know a lot about it, but I think Mariann and her guests explain things in a very easy to understand way.”
Someone else said: “I’ve only listened to one so far, but not because of lack of interest. It’s more because the Animal Law podcast requires more of my undivided attention, so I’ll be listening to it closely this winter while I do my vegan knitting! I can’t wait!! With my limited knowledge of that one, I would just say that I like the timeliness of it? (Ironically, since I’m listening to it late). But, once I get caught up this winter, I think that going forward, I will love knowing that I can hear of a big legal event in the A/R world & then be able to go to Mariann’s podcast for all the deets and the full scoop.”
One question that I can answer quickly: What happened to the TV show? Well, to be honest, we weren’t happy with the new production team and their vision for the future of the show. They wanted it to all be on-location, and pretty fluffy, and were unhappy with the lack of attention our new crew was giving to OHH. If we were going to be on-location, we could just maintain total creative control and do it ourselves — but better! So we produced our Coming Out for Animals video, and we have other ideas for videos to make in the future. It was a really terrific, fun two seasons there, and we’re excited about all of the content we produced during our time working with Brooklyn Independent Media. But we’re even more excited about moving forward in a way that jives with our mission, and with what we’re best at — which is why we keep expanding our podcast media platform.
We’re really happy that your favorite part of OHH in general is the community it provides for people from all over who want to change the world for animals. (Your favorite flock perk is the community of the Facebook page. And that was a result of last year’s survey, so thank yourself!)
Here are some of your comments about community that we love:
“What’s most important to me is that you keep doing this. It has helped me be a better vegan and I imagine it’s doing the same for others. I think for some it’s harder to STAY vegan than GO vegan and Our Hen House is a place where I can listen and feel like I have a vegan community and people who understand my choice to go vegan.”
“First and foremost [my favorite aspect of OHH is] Jasmin & Mariann. The really personal nature of Our Hen House as linked to your charismatic personalities is the best. After that, for me it’s like getting a continuing education in Animal Rights & Advocacy. I treat it like it’s a Master’s Degree (or Doctorate) program, almost! It’s keeps me current & educated in this world which helps me to be a more effective advocate for the animals. I love it!!”
“It is so important to have a weekly podcast featuring two amazing WOMEN speaking out on behalf of animals. So many large AR organizations and articles are run by and authored by MEN. I appreciate the voices of two women leaders in the movement who are offering something new and useful to the world in the form of original multi-media projects. I love your unique spin on devastating news (Rising Anxieties!) and how framing it in that way encourages so many of us to push forward. Bravo!”
We value our flock now more than ever, as we are in planning mode for 2016. Some of your suggested directions for 2016 are:
- Continue to focus on the signature weekly OHH podcast, and possibly reduce the length of the show;
- Reduce the number of items on the online magazine;
- Devote additional time to promoting the Animal Law Podcast and the Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast
I wanted you to know that we hear you. Feel free to continue to add your thoughts on the FB flock page, or by emailing us: info [at] ourhenhouse [dot] org.
Here’s to always getting better and bigger, and to changing the world for animals!
xo jasmin
