Welcome to the 200th episode of Our Hen House, featuring dead prez‘s stic.man, and Afya Ibomu [transcript of stic.man and Afya Ibomu]. In today’s extra special anniversary episode, we talk about Nicholas Kristof’s self-proclaimed “ambivalence,” A Vegan Taste of Chinatown, and the new animated feature, Free Birds – which tells the story of a turkey who goes back in time to change …
Ari Solomon
Episode 193: “It is not only influential people whose voices are needed — all of our voices are needed.”
Welcome to the 193rd episode of Our Hen House, featuring Yossi Wolfson [transcript], with a review by Ari Solomon. In today’s episode, we give you our thoughts on a ridiculous article in Grist that seriously barked up the wrong tree; a new Chipotle ad that, on one hand, is completely wonderful, and on the other, is missing the point entirely; a new …
Episode 190: “Some people talk to animals. Not many listen though. That’s the problem.”
Welcome to the 190th episode of Our Hen House, featuring Father Frank Mann [transcript], with special guest Laura George [transcript], and a review by Ari Solomon. In today’s episode, we’ll revisit last week’s contentious discussion about purebred dogs, and address some of the passionately felt comments we received. We’ll also ruminate about our trip to visit non-vegan family and the challenges inherent in …
Episode 186: “The only thing of importance, when we depart, will be the traces of love we have left behind.”
Welcome to the 186th episode of Our Hen House, a place to find our way to change the world for animals, featuring Ruby Roth [transcript], with a review by Ari Solomon. On today’s episode, we discuss a film we saw that went inside an anarchist collective and the world of environmental activism. We’ll also share our thoughts on whether it’s okay to …
Welcome to the 185th episode of Our Hen House, featuring Marisa Miller Wolfson and Brian Flegel of Vegucated [transcript], with special guest Kathy Stevens of Catskill Animal Sanctuary, and Our Hen House reviewer Ari Solomon. On today’s episode, we start by discussing a few light topics — such as abortion — specifically in regards to how people compare it to animal rights. …
Welcome to the 184th episode of Our Hen House, featuring Virginia Messina, R.D. and JL Fields [transcript]. In today’s episode, Jasmin will tell you about 3 restaurants in the Midwest where she ate last week (which might just be the best restaurants she’s ever been to in the whole wide world). We’ll chat about what went down on Mariann’s chat with the amazing …
Welcome to the 181st episode of Our Hen House, Official Honoree of the 2013 Webby Awards. Today’s episode features James McWilliams, with a special appearance by Ari Solomon. In today’s episode, we discuss our feelings about a new website devoted to calling out ex-vegans. We lament about junk food, and about the massive lack of education regarding nutrition. We’ll report back …
Episode 179: “The most revolutionary thing one can do is always to proclaim loudly what is happening.”
Welcome to the 179th 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 …
Episode 173: “…being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances…”
Welcome to the 173rd episode of Our Hen House, 2013 Official Honoree of the Webby Awards. Today’s episode features Iris Ho, with special appearances by Jay Astafa and Ari Solomon. In today’s episode, we tell you about an 8-course vegan popup restaurant that we attended here in New York City, and we’ll chat with the dynamite 20-year-old chef, Jay Astafa. Find …
Episode 160: “Few are those who see with their own eyes and feel with their own hearts.”
Welcome to the 160th episode of Our Hen House, featuring Josh Balk. In today’s episode, we discuss how to develop good habits, and we’ll confess why we apparently can’t. We’ll chat about being sent random animal stories from people who aren’t necessarily tuned in to animal rights issues – and we’ll ponder when that can be edifying and when it can …
Episode 144: “And you can’t walk the walk, in the world of our future, in the world ahead of us, in the world of our children, NOT eating a plant-based diet.”
Welcome to the 144th episode of Our Hen House, featuring Del Sroufe, with a special appearance by Ari Solomon. In today’s episode, we talk about everything from the airplane-like motor on our Vitamix, to the gallant gentleman who asked Jasmin to dance at a swing club (approximately 20 years too late), to feelings of gluttony associated with having too much living …
Welcome to the 136th episode of Our Hen House, featuring Seth Tibbott, founder of Tofurkey, with special guest Ari Solomon. In today’s episode, we bite the bullet and talk Chick-fil-A, including having our own discussion that was spurred by some fellow animal advocates’ take on the recent controversy. Our apologies in advance if we piss you off (and our gratitude for …
Welcome to the 130th episode of Our Hen House, featuring Honey LaBronx, with special guest Ari Solomon. In today’s episode, our first coming to you from our great American road trip adventure, we’ll tell you about our fond farewell to the Big Apple – temporarily, anyway – as we make our way out West. We’ll include banter about our sayonara at …
Episode 123: “We should remember in our dealings with animals that they are a sacred trust to us…[They] cannot speak for themselves.”
Welcome to the 123rd episode of Our Hen House, featuring professional basketball player (and vegan!), Milani Malik. In today’s episode, we will tell you all about our experiences speaking at The Brooklyn Food Festival, including conversations that arose from Mariann’s panel, “The Ethics of Eating Meat,” and our – shall we say –– interesting… interactions with the “Milk Not Jails” table …
Episode 120: “You are entitled to your own opinion, but not your own facts.”
Welcome to the 120th episode of Our Hen House, featuring vegan chef Ayinde Howell. In today’s episode, we talk all about The Seed: A Vegan Experience, which is set to come to Soho on June 16 and 17. We’ll tell you why you don’t want to miss this event, and we’ll talk about our involvement in this groundbreaking and delicious happening. We’ll also …
Episode 112: “It is now life and not art that requires the willing suspension of disbelief.”
Welcome to the 112th episode of Our Hen House, featuring Patty Shenker, Nathan Runkle, and Kim Sturla. In today’s episode, we come to you from Los Angeles, where Mariann was a judge in the Lewis & Clark Animal Law Moot Court, held this year at UCLA. When we weren’t in that neck of Tinseltown, we were eating our way through this …
Welcome to the 103rd episode of Our Hen House, featuring Gena Hamshaw from Choosing Raw. In today’s episode, we are putting aside our stomach virus and sharing with you – not our virus – but our feelings about the recent 42 million dollar donation to Heifer International, our experiences being perceived as the difficult vegans at our Christmas dinner, and our …
Episode 102: “There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root.”
Welcome to the 102nd episode of Our Hen House, featuring Jamie Kilstein from Citizen Radio. In today’s episode, as Christmas approaches, we are doing our best to be nice and not naughty… but we’re failing miserably. We will share with you our retort to one website’s question regarding whether feminists should be vegan. And we’ll vent a little regarding the latest …
Episode 101: “Knowing is not enough, we must apply. Willing is not enough, we must do.”
Welcome to the 101st episode of Our Hen House, featuring Liuba Grechen from Sweet Cheeks Vegan Bakery, with a special appearance by vegan artist extraordinaire, Sue Coe. In today’s episode, we discuss our recent foray into de-tchotchke-ifying our lives, and our need for nesting. We also talk about health – including some ruminations on the differences between a junk food vegan …
Episode 98: “…find the common ground that will bring us together in our efforts.”
Welcome to the 98th episode of Our Hen House, featuring Cheri Ezell-Vandersluis from Maple Farm Sanctuary and Bill Crain from Safe Haven Farm Sanctuary. In today’s episode, we will tell you about everything from our excursion to Queens – including the delicious vegan Indian food we had – to Mariann’s appearance on an LGBT-themed radio show, where she discussed the horrors …
Episode 83: “Lots of people talk to animals… Not very many listen, though… That’s the problem.”
Welcome to the 83rd episode of Our Hen House, featuring Jo-Anne McArthur of We Animals, Karol Orzechowski of Maximum Tolerated Dose, with special guests Jessica Almy of VegBooks, and our very own Hollywood correspondent, Ari Solomon. In today’s episode, we come to you from Toronto, where we are eating our way through this glorious, and oh-so-vegan-friendly, Canadian city. We will tell …
Welcome to the 82nd episode of Our Hen House, featuring Farm Sanctuary‘s National Shelter Director, Susie Coston. In today’s episode, we tell you about our vegan happenings back here in New York City, including a frolic uptown to check out Ayurveda Café (where we met the Shannons), then on to see an old Molly Ringwald movie. We’ll also discuss the importance of …
Episode 81: “When no one else cared, I can tell you, the little old ladies cared.”
Welcome to the 81st episode of Our Hen House, featuring Jackie Horrick of Alternative Outfitters, and Ari Solomon of A Scent of Scandal Candles. In today’s episode, we come to you from Los Angeles, California, where we’re speaking at the National Animal Rights Conference, and enjoying the vegan and activist scene here in Tinseltown. We’ll give you some inside stories of …
Welcome to the 74th episode of Our Hen House, featuring Kathy Freston. In today’s episode, we will talk about everything from the mouse in our house, to our big vegan trip to Philadelphia, and our farewell to one of our favorite restaurants. Joining us today is bestselling author Kathy Freston, who will talk about her belief in the power of positivity. …
Welcome to the 71st episode of Our Hen House, featuring Joshua Katcher. In today’s episode, we’ll tell you about the vegan happenings in our world, including an incredible clothing swap that provided us with an entire new wardrobe, our long overdue night at the prom, and our fabulous night out at Farm Sanctuary‘s 25th Anniversary Gala, where Jasmin played ace reporter. …
Episode 67: “The fate of animals is of greater importance to me than the fear of appearing ridiculous.”
Welcome to the 67th episode of Our Hen House, featuring Joe Cross, filmmaker behind Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead. In today’s episode, we will tell you about Jasmin’s adventure with corsets — all for the animals, of course. We’ll report on how Jasmin’s “Writing for Animal Rights” talk went, and we’ll make you jealous with the food we had afterwards. We’ll …
Episode 64: “We could have saved the Earth but we were too damned cheap.”
Welcome to the 64th episode of Our Hen House, featuring Jane Velez-Mitchell. In today’s episode, we will tell you about a panel we attended here in NYC all about local agriculture. We’ll give you all the gory details, including the skinny on the 3 meat-obsessed panelists, as well as the one voice of reason on the stage, our saving grace, environmentalist …
Episode 63: “When I see bacon, I see a pig; I see a little friend, and that’s why I can’t eat it. Simple as that.”
Welcome to the 63rd episode of Our Hen House, featuring Paul Waldau. In today’s episode, we’ll give you the trials and tribulations of the latest Food Network stunt, and how that pertains to us vegans. You’ll find out why the producers of the new show “Meat and Potatoes” just don’t get it! We’ll give the latest on our fast for health …
Welcome to the 56th podcast episode of Our Hen House, featuring ethologist Jonathan Balcombe. In today’s episode, we will give you our reactions to Oprah’s Vegan Challenge, including the good, the bad, and the unbelievably annoying. Joining us today is scientist, ethologist and author Jonathan Balcombe, who will discuss his research and findings on the sentience of animals, as well as …
Welcome to the 54th podcast episode of Our Hen House, featuring Elizabeth Olsen. In today’s episode, we’ll tell you about our big trip to New Jersey, including our visit to Kaya’s Kitchen, the vegan restaurant in Belmar that you simply have to visit during your next excursion to the Jersey Shore. Joining us today is Elizabeth Olsen, the mastermind behind the vegan …
Episode 53: “In matters of conscience, the law of majority has no place.”
Welcome to the 53rd episode of Our Hen House, featuring John Goodwin. On today’s episode – our first anniversary – we will fill you in on the workshop Jasmin did at Bluestockings bookstore on Going Vegan in 2011. We will also answer some questions from you about our own plans for 2011. Joining us today is John Goodwin, the manager of animal …
Episode 49: “As long as there are slaughterhouses, there will be battlefields.”
Welcome to the 49th podcast episode of Our Hen House, featuring Bart Potenza and Joy Pierson. Joining us today are two of our favorite change-makers, Bart Potenza and Joy Pierson, the couple behind the best vegan restaurant on the planet, Candle 79, and of course, the absolutely delectable Candle Café. Joy and Bart will tell us about how a winning lottery …
Welcome to the 44th episode of Our Hen House, featuring Mark Middleton and Ari Solomon. In today’s episode, we will give you the low-down on two animal rights events we attended here in NYC — one having to do with false labeling, and the other centered all around vegan fashion. We’ll also update you on the pain and gain of our …