Better Life for Animals

Veterinarian and activist Dr. Crystal Heath has built a groundbreaking career rooted in courage, conscience, and compassion. As the executive director of Our Honor , she leads a growing movement of veterinarians who challenge unethical practices in animal testing, factory farming, and education. In this episode, Dr. Heath discusses her journey from 4-H to animal advocacy, how she stood against ven...

If you've ever wondered how one small moment can completely change the course of your life, this episode is for you. It started with a baby monkey named Samantha riding on the back of a poodle. That single image changed everything for Kari Bagnall. She walked away from a successful career in interior design and built a sanctuary that now gives nearly 200 monkeys a safe and loving home. In today's...

What if the biggest barrier to living our values isn't ignorance, but comfort? In this eye-opening conversation, longtime activist and author Hope Bohanec joins Kathleen to reveal the truth behind "humane" and "sustainable" labels. These words make us feel better about consuming animal products—but do they actually make a difference? You'll learn why many so-called ethical food labels are designed...

In the heart of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where animal agriculture dominates the landscape, Lancaster Farm Sanctuary stands as a beacon of compassion. Co-founders Sarah Salluzzo and Jonina Turzi launched the sanctuary in 2017 with the mission to rescue farmed animals, educate the public, and build a plant-based community grounded in kindness and connection. What began as a small property wit...

Naomi Alicia-Hallum, CEO of Generation Vegan (Gen V), shares her journey from growing up in a rural English farming village to leading one of the most influential global vegan organizations. Under her leadership, Gen V has delivered over 360,000 vegan meals, guided 160,000 people toward plant-based living, and inspired international campaigns challenging leaders to act for animals, the planet, and...

In 1985, only 200 mountain gorillas were left in the wild. Today their numbers are growing thanks to conservation and ecotourism. In this episode, Cheryl welcomes Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, author and founder of Joyful Vegan Trips, to discuss how we can live more compassionately every day. Colleen shares why labeling food as vegan can sometimes turn people away and how focusing on flavors and ingre...

A single plant-based meal can save 1,000 gallons of water. That simple fact fuels Paige Parsons Roache's mission to build a kinder, more compassionate world. Host Cheryl Moss sits down with Paige, a full-time activist and media professional whose journey began when her daughter chose to go vegan. That decision led Paige from family cooking experiments to animal vigils, and eventually to a leadersh...

Austin Farm Sanctuary, founded by Chris and Angela Fuller-Wigg, has grown from rescuing two goats on a half-acre to providing refuge for more than 240 farm animals on 95 acres in Cedar Creek, Texas. In this episode, Chris shares how a simple act of compassion became a thriving mission built on respect, sustainability, and community. From events like Doya Palooza to youth programs and virtual tours...

Most people do care about animals, yet support industries that harm them. On this episode of the Better Life for Animals Podcast , I talk with Dr. Faraz Harsini about why this happens and what we can do to change it. Dr. Harsini shares his personal journey from believing animal use was "necessary" to becoming a leading voice in plant-based science and student empowerment. He outlines how Allied Sc...

Most people have heard of burnout. Fewer recognize it as the deeper emotional exhaustion known as compassion fatigue—a condition that can affect anyone who spends their life caring for others. In this powerful episode of the Better Life for Animals Podcast , host Cheryl Moss sits down with Juliette Watt, an Emmy-nominated writer, former ATP pilot, and long-time animal rescuer, to explore what happ...

Most horses are rehomed an average of seven times during their lifetime. This instability often results in neglect, emotional distress, or a tragic end in the slaughter pipeline. In this episode of the Better Life for Animals Podcast, Cheryl Moss speaks with Lidia Kuleshnyk, also known as Lady Apona, founder of AponaHealing.com. Lidia discusses her mission to heal the disconnection between humans...

Can a 5-acre sanctuary in suburbia change how we treat farmed animals? Michele Waldman says yes—and she's living proof. In this episode of the Better Life for Animals Podcast , Michele shares how she founded Rosie's Farm Sanctuary in a residential Maryland neighborhood to bring compassion closer to home. A licensed psychotherapist, Michele uses her deep understanding of trauma to connect people wi...

More than 70 billion land animals are raised and slaughtered every year, yet most people rarely think about the individuals behind those numbers. Elizabeth Novogratz, founder of Species Unite, is working to change that. In this conversation with Better Life for Animals Podcast host Cheryl Moss, Elizabeth shares her journey from witnessing cruelty in the global animal trade to building a nonprofit...

Less than 3% of American students receive humane education, yet it's one of the strongest predictors of ethical leadership. In this powerful episode of Better Life for Animals , host Cheryl Moss speaks with Danielle Hanosh , co-founder of LEAP (Leaders for Ethics, Animals, and the Planet) and Blackberry Creek Farm Animal Sanctuary . A former middle school teacher, Danielle shares how her passion f...

Most people don't expect to find a thriving farm animal sanctuary nestled on just four acres of land in Indiana. But Jessica Wallace isn't most people. A lifelong animal lover with a background in equine sciences and veterinary care, Jessica joined Cheryl Moss on the Better Life for Animals Podcast to share how her small but mighty sanctuary is making a big difference, especially for goats. A Life...

Factory farming produces over 70 billion land animals every year—yet most students are never taught to question the system behind it. In this eye-opening episode of the Better Life for Animals Podcast , we sit down with Zoe Weil , co-founder and president of the Institute for Humane Education (IHE) , to explore how education can be a powerful force for compassion, justice, and change. Zoe introduc...

Can $23 a Month Offset Animal Suffering? Thom Norman of FarmKind Explains Can a small monthly donation create massive impact for animals? In this episode of Better Life for Animals , host Cheryl Moss sits down with Thom Norman, co-founder and director of Outreach at FarmKind, to explore how $23 a month can reduce the suffering caused by an average omnivorous diet. Thom introduces the concept of di...

Unity Farm Sanctuary in Sherborn, Massachusetts is home to over 250 rescued animals, including cows, pigs, goats, turkeys, ponies, and llamas. Founded in 2016 by Kathy and John Halamka, the sanctuary provides lifelong refuge to farmed animals while serving as a hub for humane education and community outreach. Co-founder Kathy Halamka brings her background in business and the arts to every aspect o...

Less than 1 percent of U.S. animal product consumers ever witness the conditions inside factory farms. Brent Ratkovich is part of the small percentage who has, and he has turned that truth into tireless action. In this episode, Cheryl Moss sits down with longtime animal advocate Brent Ratkovich, whose journey from personal health transformation to frontline activism highlights the power of everyda...

Over 70 billion land animals are killed for food every year, yet many of the people rescuing them, those running animal sanctuaries, struggle with visibility, funding, and the time it takes to spread their message. On this episode of the Better Life for Animals podcast, host Cheryl Moss welcomed bestselling author and vegan book strategist Mitali Deypurkaystha, also known as The Vegan Publisher, t...

Animal sanctuaries are lifelines for creatures rescued from exploitation, yet their existence often remains overlooked. Pair that with the fact that fewer than 2 percent of Americans identify as vegan, and the urgency for education and advocacy becomes undeniable. Dr. Lisa Kemmerer, a global leader in animal ethics and founder of the educational nonprofit Tapestry of Peace, brought this message to...

What is it like to be born and raised vegan in a world that normalizes animal exploitation? Sarina Farb, a lifelong ethical vegan, activist, and co-founder of the International Vegan Earth Day March, shares how she turns her values into action through education, outreach, and advocacy. She travels the country in a vegan-themed camper van, reaching millions with her message that veganism is not jus...

Why are 95 percent of dogs used in U.S. biomedical research purpose-bred beagles? And what does this reveal about our relationship with animals? In this compelling episode of Better Life for Animals , host Cheryl Moss sits down with renowned ethologist Marc Bekoff, PhD—author, activist, and longtime collaborator with Jane Goodall—to explore how society must shift from outdated ideas of animal welf...

From the moment Shelley Britenbucher stood up in her school classroom in the 1970s and declared, "I'm going to start a farm sanctuary when I grow up," the seed was planted. Decades later, that dream became reality. During this episode of the Better Life for Animals Podcast , hosted by Cheryl Moss, Shelley shared the remarkable journey behind the founding of Shangri-La Farm Sanctuary in Litchfield,...

Jordi Casamitjana is a vegan zoologist, animal rights activist, and author whose work spans science, sanctuary care, legal advocacy, and compassionate living. Originally from Catalonia and now based in the UK, Jordi's journey into veganism began with an unexpected moment involving a wasp. That encounter sparked a lifelong commitment to seeing the value in all animals, no matter how overlooked. He...