Podcasts

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The inimitable Dash Meizler joins the podcast this week from Kampala, Uganda, for a truly inspiring conversation about leveraging our activism to better advocate for animal rights and marginalized communities. Founder of the Podrska Foundation, Dash outlines how the organization is fighting for farmed animals while empowering women, providing schools with vegan meals, fighting poverty through home-based vegetable gardens, and more.…

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The remarkable Gwendolyn Church joins the podcast this week for an awe-inspiring conversation about Friends of Philip Fish Sanctuary, the aquatic animal sanctuary she founded, based in Reno, NV. Gwendolyn tells the tale of Philip, the betta fish that changed the trajectory of her life and inspired the sanctuary. This passionate animal activist also discusses the misconceptions around fish sentience and…

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Mamta Jain Valderrama joins the podcast for an insightful discussion about Jainism and the many ways in which its beliefs intersect with veganism. Jainism is one of the oldest religions in existence, having taken form in ancient India some time between the 7th and 5th centuries BCE. In our conversation, Mamta explains the philosophy of ahimsa, or non-violence, that practitioners of…

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The remarkable Danielle Hanosh joins us on the podcast for a conversation about a revolutionary new program that you will definitely want to hear about. LEAP—short for Leaders for Ethics, Animals, and the Planet—offers high school students humane education, hands-on experience caring for rescued farmed animals, volunteer experience at animal sanctuaries, and scholarship opportunities. Teaching compassion instead of slaughter, LEAP,  teaches…

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On this episode I will be talking, once again, to Kelsey Eberly, who is now with Harvard Law School’s Animals, Law and Policy Program, as well as with Dena Jones of the Animal Welfare Institute about the deeply troubling topic of chicken slaughter. Specifically, we will be discussing Animal Welfare Institute v Vilsack, a case involving the rather confusing landscape of…

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Dr. Christopher Carter joins us on the podcast this week to discuss his new book The Spirit of Soul Food: Race, Faith, and Food Justice. This groundbreaking work covers everything from the history of soul food to choosing how to eat in a way that helps us “live into our fullest sense of self.” Dr. Carter shares why he centers the…

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She’s an activist, artist, librarian, professor, and more. The multi-hyphenate Stacy Russo joins us on the podcast for a deep dive into Love Activism. Created by Stacy in 2013, Love Activism is a daily, holistic, and radical activism rooted in kindness. In our conversation, Stacy outlines the eight elements of this activist approach and describes how they can empower us every…

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The trailblazing Gemunu De Silva, a United Kingdom-based undercover investigator of animal exploitation, joins us this week on Our Hen House. Gem, one of the first and longest-serving investigators of the worldwide hidden mistreatment of animals, tell us about his path into the world of animal activism and the animal rights movement. It was his very first factory farm investigation in…

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LoriKim Alexander can do it all—from her core organizing role with Black VegFest to her work in the fields of anthropology and biology. She joins us on Our Hen House to discuss how The Cypher, the organization she founded, places emphasis on veganism’s true, anti-oppressive meaning. LoriKim shares how The Cypher started off as an educational, political book club on Facebook…

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On this week’s podcast I will be talking to Will Lowrey of Animal Outlook about a case that really has everyone in the animal law community talking. Several years ago Animal Outlook conducted an undercover investigation of Martin Farms, in Pennsylvania, a dairy farm that proved to be the locus of much hideous cruelty to animals. Some of that cruelty was…

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Hope Ferdowsian, President and CEO of Phoenix Zones Initiative (PZI)—a non-profit organization committed to advancing the interconnected rights, health, and wellbeing of people and animals—joins us on the podcast to discuss how the organization is striving to realize optimal health outcomes for humans and non-human animals alike. More specifically, Hope shares how, by expanding upon the One Health approach, PZI is…

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Faithful listeners will know this to be true: we can’t get enough of Grass Fed, Rochester’s premier vegan butcher shop and deli. Thus, this week, we couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome Rob Nipe and Nora Rubel, founders of Grass Fed, to the podcast. The husband-and-wife team joins us to dish why they view Grass Fed as training wheels for veganism, and…

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Joining us on the Our Hen House podcast this week are Joan E. Schaffner, JD and Rajesh K. Reddy, JD, PhD. Joan and Raj are founding members of Lawyers for the Convention on Animal Protection, an international team of law practitioners and academics committed to advocating for a global animal protection agreement. They join the podcast to share details about the…

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According to powerhouse activist and community organizer Eloísa Trinidad, an anti-colonial framework is fundamental to how she approaches activism. Eloísa, who serves as Executive Director  of both the Vegan Activist Alliance and the food justice organization Chilis on Wheels New York, is a total liberation activist. She is unapologetically adamant that species does not define personhood and emphasizes the importance of…

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Rachel Dreskin, CEO of the Plant Based Foods Association (PBFA), joins the podcast this week to discuss why it is so vital for vegan foods to have a trade association. Rachel tells us how the organization, which advocates at both the  federal and state levels, is working to even the playing field to help plant-based brands compete against animal-based products and…

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Welcome to the Animal Law Podcast. This is Mariann Sullivan and this week’s guest is Charlotte Blattner, a Swiss lawyer and professor of law, who will be talking about primates in Switzerland and a recent ballot initiative held in Basel initiated by the Swiss organization Sentience regarding their rights. Charlotte and I will discuss this very recent effort, the pluses and…

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The ingenious David van Beveren, founder of Vegan Hacktivists, joins the podcast this week for an inspiring conversation about using our unique skill sets to help propel the animal rights movement forward. A software developer by trade, David details the important work Vegan Hacktivists is doing to help animal rights organizations and activists expand their web presence. The organization, composed of…

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CreatureKind’s Aline Silva joins the podcast this week for a discussion about food, animals and Christianity. Reverend Silva, who serves as CreatureKind’s Co-Director, gives us an overview of the religious nonprofit, which encourages Christians to recognize faith-based reasons for caring about the well-being of all living creatures and helps them implement plant-based practices within their church communities. Founded on the belief…

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Vegan Outreach India’s Richa Mehta joins us this week to talk about the spread of veganism in India.  As Director of Programs, Richa tells us how Vegan Outreach is focusing on college students and explains in detail what they are doing to educate those students about the atrocities of the dairy and meat industries while advocating for veganism, as not only…

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On this week’s podcast,  we are joined by Jeff Sebo, who is the director of New York University’s Animal Studies M.A. Program, to discuss his brand new book, Saving Animals, Saving Ourselves: Why Animals Matter for Pandemics, Climate Change, and Other Catastrophes. Jeff apparently can see into the future, since he began writing this incredibly prescient book in 2017—three years before…

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Welcome to the Animal Law Podcast. This is Mariann Sullivan, and this week we will be doing something a little bit different. Sherry Colb is a professor at Cornell Law School where, among many other things, she teaches an animal centric course that, to my knowledge, is quite different from most of the courses relating to animals taught at law schools.…

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PJ Nyman joins the podcast this week to discuss how understanding animal exploitation on a global landscape creates bridges to other movements which, in turn, help us address the exploitation of animals in a more multifaceted way. PJ, a contributing author featured in Antiracism in Animal Advocacy: Igniting Cultural Transformation, shares what prompted them to investigate the overlap between the history…

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Author and award-winning journalist Rachel Krantz has written a truly extraordinary book,  Open: An Uncensored Memoir of Love, Liberation, and Non-Monogamy. This week, she and Jasmin sit down to discuss this raw, vulnerable, and truly inspirational account of Rachel’s journey into the sometimes complicated world of polyamory and how that journey of self-discovery has interwoven with her veganism and animal rights…

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Matt Johnson of Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) is an investigator, a press coordinator, and an animal rights activist extraordinaire.  About to go to trial in Iowa on felony charges, including under Iowa’s infamous Ag Gag statute, for rescuing a piglet, now named Gilly, from certain death, he shares with us the harrowing story of entering factory farms under conditions of ventilation shutdown…

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We’re so honored to welcome Anita Krajnc and Nicola Harris to help us start off 2022 with dynamic and effective activism for animals and the planet! Anita is the co-founder of Animal Save Movement and Nicola serves as the nonprofit’s Director of Communications. They talk about their decision to establish climate- and health-focused chapters of Animal Save Movement, in addition to…

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On this episode of the Animal Law Podcast, I speak with Tyler Lobdell about Food and Water Watch v Environmental Protection Agency, in which the 9th Circuit recently held that the EPA, in setting forth permitting requirements under the Clean Water Act for the way Idaho factory farms dispose of the staggering amount of manure that they are producing, was not,…

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Father Massimo da Qumran of the Sacred Order of the Hesychasts of San Giovanni Climaco, a spiritual community with residences near Milan and Florence, joins the podcast for this Christmas episode. He shares with us how he practices Christianity, how that practice relates to animals and veganism, and why religion often neglects the relationship between God and animals and their purpose…

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The trailblazing Monica Chen, Executive Director of Factory Farming Awareness Coalition (FFAC), joins the podcast this week for an inside look into how the nonprofit is working to change the world for animals through education and mentorship. FFAC has recently shifted its educational programming to focus on high school and college students, and is seeing outstanding results.  Also, despite the challenges…

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Keegan Kuhn and John Lewis, the remarkable filmmakers behind the new documentary, They’re Trying to Kill Us, join the podcast this week for a critical conversation about the deadly effects of the meat-centric standard American diet, how it impacts Black communities with particular harshness, and how hip-hop artists are a crucial part of the movement to save Black lives through diet…

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We’re absolutely thrilled to welcome Tracye McQuirter, MPH, back to the podcast this week to discuss her remarkable program: 10 Million Black Vegan Women. Initially launched last year as 10,000 Black Vegan Women, Tracye is back after she realized she had been thinking too small about how many people this accessible, online program could reach. So, after exceeding expectations by helping…

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Wow! We are truly over the moon to be joined this week by the incredibly talented actress and activist, Evanna Lynch, who you undoubtedly recognize from her role as Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter films. Yup, you read that right! A passionate vegan animal rights advocate, Evanna joins Jasmin for a thought-provoking conversation that ranges from advocacy approaches, to overcoming…

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On this episode of the Animal Law Podcast, I speak, once again, with Steven Wise, founder and president of the Nonhuman Rights Project (NhRP). He joins me to talk about a truly extraordinary, potentially groundbreaking, case now pending in the highest court in New York State. As in the other cases Steve has joined us to discuss in the past, the…

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Welcome to this very special holiday episode in which we present Sanctuary: A Radio Play, an annual Thanksgiving tradition at Our Hen House! This special performance marks the world premiere of John Yunker’s Sanctuary at New York City’s Symphony Space during the Culture & Animals Foundation’s Compassion Arts Festival. We were thrilled to have been a part of this witty, engaging,…

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The remarkable Katja M. Guenther, PhD joins the podcast this week for an eye-opening interview about companion animal shelters and their practices, and the intersections of poverty, race, stigma, and animals. This is an interview you won’t want to miss. Dr. Guenther, a sociologist and author of The Lives and Deaths of Shelter Animals, describes her three years of ethnographic research…

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This week, Our Hen House is excited to welcome two amazing guests to the show, each an inspirational example of what is happening at the grassroots of the vegan movement! Our first guest, animal rights activist (and flock member!) Sue Fischer joins us to discuss the damage cattle ranchers and dairy farmers are inflicting on the land and wildlife of California’s…

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The extraordinary Crystal Heath, DVM, joins the podcast this week for a desperately needed conversation about the veterinary profession and the alarming attitude of so many of its members toward animal rights. Dr. Heath, who is a vegan animal rights activist herself, shares shocking truths about the influence the animal agriculture industry holds over veterinary schools across the country. In fact,…

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Our Hen House welcomes Richie Bowie, Senior Editor of VegNews Magazine, for an engaging, critical conversation about what vegan media is and what it needs to be in order to change the world. Richie joins Jasmin to discuss how the misperception that veganism is a white movement has withstood the test of time despite the higher percentage of Black Americans identifying…

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Our Hen House is honored to bring you the final episode of the four-part audio series of the groundbreaking book, Antiracism in Animal Advocacy: Igniting Cultural Transformation. Our Hen House’s very own Jasmin Singer is the editor of this recently released anthology published by Lantern Books and Media, in collaboration with Encompass, Sentient Media, and, of course, Our Hen House.  The…

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On this episode of the Animal Law Podcast, I speak with David Ebert, co-founder of The Animal Defense Partnerhip, about the work of this “pro bono counsel for animal protection charities.” As David points out, the purpose of ADP is not to litigate animal rights issues, but to provide animal protection nonprofits with the legal services that any type of organization…

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Our Hen House is excited to welcome plant-based food advocate and political candidate Pearl Brunt to the podcast this week. Pearl is running for a seat on the Town Council in Pittsford, NY. She joins Mariann to discuss how her political aspirations intersect with her love of promoting healthy, ethical food choices and introducing people to plant-based foods. A firm believer…

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Welcome to the third episode of the four-part audio series of the groundbreaking book, Antiracism in Animal Advocacy: Igniting Cultural Transformation. Our Hen House’s very own Jasmin Singer is the editor of this recently released anthology published by Lantern Books and Media, in collaboration with Encompass, Sentient Media, and, of course, Our Hen House.  The book is a collection of essays written…

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The incredibly talented Isa Leshko joins the podcast this week for an inside look into her one-of-a-kind photography book, Allowed to Grow Old: Portraits of Elderly Rescued Farm Animals. Isa’s black-and-white portraits of aging animals, members of species whose other members, numbering in the billions, are typically killed in their infancy, would make anyone think twice about what, or who, is…

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Our Hen House is proud to offer you the second episode of the four-part audio series of the groundbreaking book, Antiracism in Animal Advocacy: Igniting Cultural Transformation. Our very own Jasmin Singer is the editor of this new anthology published by Lantern Books and Media, in collaboration with Encompass, Sentient Media, and, of course, Our Hen House.  The book is a…

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Dynamic vegan activist and speaker Joanne Kong, PhD, joins Jasmin on the podcast this week for an inspiring discussion about her personal journey into veganism and why she has dedicated herself to promoting veganism globally. Dr. Kong also provides insight into the brand new book that she curated and edited, Vegan Voices: Essays by Inspiring Changemakers, which brings together the stories…

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Our Hen House is pleased to welcome you to the first episode of the four-part audio series of the groundbreaking book, Antiracism in Animal Advocacy: Igniting Cultural Transformation. Our very own Jasmin Singer is the editor of this new anthology published by Lantern Books and Media, in collaboration with Encompass, Sentient Media, and, of course, Our Hen House.  The book is…

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Our Hen House is thrilled to welcome Kate Wall, Senior Legislative Manager for the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), to the podcast this week. Kate give us an overview of her work lobbying at the federal level and provides a detailed breakdown of the worsening biodiversity crisis and what can be done to limit it. The bottom line is that…

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On this episode of the Animal Law Podcast, I speak with David Michelson, Oregon-based animal rights activist and chief petitioner of the Yes On IP13 campaign, which is the effort to pass a ballot initiative that would dramatically change the legal landscape for animals in that state. Basically, what they are trying to do is to make Oregon’s anti-cruelty law do…

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▶ PLAY THIS EPISODE Cara Achterberg joins the podcast this week for an important conversation about the many dogs currently in animal rescues and shelters waiting for a home that may never come. Author of 2020’s One Hundred Dogs and Counting: One Woman, A Thousand Miles, and a Journey into the Heart of Shelters and Rescues, Cara shares how she gradually…

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Laura Reese, co-founder of Agriculture Fairness Alliance (AFA), joins the podcast this week for a riveting conversation about food and farm policy and how each of us potentially has the power to influence it. A former Silicon Valley engineer, Laura explains how she shifted from product planning to federal policy in hopes of helping farmers and policymakers craft policy to allow…

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Our Hen House couldn’t be more excited to welcome youth activist Genesis Butler back to the podcast, this time joined by her powerhouse mom, Genelle Butler! In this awe-inspiring conversation, Genesis and Genelle share how the cruel reality behind chicken nuggets encouraged the 14-year old activist to stop eating meat at only three years of age. Genelle also shares how her…

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Our Hen House welcomes author Henry Mance to the podcast this week for an insightful conversation about his debut book, How to Love Animals In a Human-Shaped World. Henry tells us how his young daughters inspired him and his hopes for the impact his book will have on readers: to help them understand what it truly means to love animals and…

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Political economist Jan Dutkiewicz, PhD, joins the podcast for a fascinating conversation about the ethical, political, legal, social, and environmental intersections of meat consumption. A policy fellow at Harvard Law and a postdoctoral fellow at the Swiss National Science Foundation, Jan shares his thoughts on something we have all wondered about — why does mainstream media fail to cover animal agriculture’s…

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On this episode of the Animal Law Podcast, I speak with Piper Hoffman of Animal Outlook and, once again, to Jay Shooster, of the Richman Law Group, about Animal Outlook v Cooke Aquaculture, a consumer protection case brought in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia based in allegations of deceptive advertising about the welfare of fish, specifically the salmon…

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John Adenitire, PhD, joins the podcast this week for a truly fascinating episode about the philosophical underpinnings of animal law. A lawyer and a lecturer in the School of Law at Queen Mary University of London, John explains the differences between legal and moral philosophy, outlines the substantive theory of animal rights, and underscores why the rule of law is relevant,…

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We couldn’t be more excited to welcome animal activist and Direct Action Everywhere organizer Almira Tanner onto the podcast this week to discuss the groundbreaking legislation recently passed in Berkeley, CA drastically limiting the amount of animal-based products the city purchases, with a long-term goal of phasing out all animal products. Almira shares a behind-the-scenes look into Direct Action Everywhere’s first-of-its-kind…

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Actress and animal-rights advocate Amy Jackson joins the podcast this week for an engaging conversation you definitely don’t want to miss! Known internationally for her work in award-winning Indian films, Amy discusses the very moment she realized animals are sentient and why she decided to devote her life to advocating for them. She shares the movie set experience that compelled her…

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Our Hen House is thrilled to welcome author and longtime animal activist Mark Hawthorne back on the podcast for an engaging conversation all about rabbits. Mark is here to talk about his latest book, The Way of the Rabbit, which explores the world of rabbits and hares and their unexpectedly large influence on human culture. Obviously this book was a work…

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On this episode of the Animal Law Podcast, I speak with Cristina Stella, a managing attorney at the Animal Legal Defense Fund, about ALDF v Foster Poultry Farms, currently pending in Superior Court in Merced County, California. This fascinating case is rooted in a provision of the California state constitution governing water use. I have to say even I was shocked…

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Thomas Goodman joins the podcast this week for an engaging conversation about advancing the accessibility of plant-based foods and how we can all get involved in this crucial work. Founder of the non-profit Plant Dining Partnerships (PDP), Thomas discusses how PDP provides resources to help increase vegan options in restaurants, schools, hospitals, and more. He outlines their two-pronged approach: raising awareness…

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Our Hen House is excited to welcome back Aysha Akhtar, MD, MPH, to the podcast this week for a critical conversation about animal testing and experimentation. President and CEO of the Center for Contemporary Sciences, Aysha outlines how the Center is working with academic institutions, governmental agencies, investors, and researchers to catalyze a shift away from the outdated use of animals…