Our Hen House: Vegan & Animal Rights Movement | Stories from the Frontlines of Animal Liberation

Do you try to keep up with animal-related legislation but sometimes find yourself wondering what it all means? This week we get some answers regarding the hugely important EATS Act and the effort to eradicate state animal welfare laws from Chris Green, Executive Director of the Brooks McCormick Jr. Animal Law & Policy Program at Harvard Law. ABOUT OUR GUEST Chris…

There is no place more relaxing than a beautiful garden, and nothing better to eat than homegrown fruits and vegetables, but what is a vegan to do when all of the potting soils and fertilizers are riddled with animal products? Jimmy Videle has the answers, and he joins us today to discuss his new book, The Veganic Grower’s Handbook: Cultivating Fruits,…

Panicked about climate? Wondering what to do? Nate Salpeter and Shira Jacobson join us to discuss Sweet Farm, a sanctuary that is attacking the climate crisis from many different angles. From animal rescue to the most sophisticated agriculture technology, from plant-based regenerative ag to composting, Sweet Farm will give you hope and inspire you on your journey! ABOUT OUR GUESTS Nate…

Ever felt motivated to be more active but didn’t know where to find the resources to get started? This week Mariann speaks with Zeynep Sağlamöz, Global Graphics Coordinator for Animal Save Movement, about the fantastic resources they have made available to activists. She also tells us about animal rescue efforts during Turkey’s recent devastating earthquakes and the awe-inspiring progress made by&...

Has a painting or piece of artwork ever stopped you immediately, demanding your full attention? Such is so often the case with Jane O’Hara’s paintings. This week, Jane joins us for a conversation about her artwork, which highlights  “the failure of the human-animal bond and the tendency of humans to impose their own agenda despite the risks.” We specifically discuss her…

Faraz Harsini, Ph. D., realized something was missing from the animal rights movement and decided to fill that gap. The organization he founded, Allied Scholars for Animal Protection (ASAP), is helping university students and others on campus build ongoing, lasting advocacy organizations. We discuss ASAP’s long-term plans for expansion, how students can get help starting their own chapter, the sup...

Chris Allieri is on a mission to save the Piping Plover, a species of beach-nesting shorebirds at risk of extinction. Founder of the NYC Plover Project, Chris, tells us about these delightful birds, their habitat, and the factors driving their potential demise. Chris discusses how he, alongside his team of volunteers, helps ensure the birds’ safety as best they can in…

Writer, liberator, and self-described DELINQUENT Aiyana Goodfellow joins the podcast this week for an eye-opening conversation that just might shift your perspective on many things, including veganism, anti-speciesism, and activism.  Aiyana shares their thoughts on the mainstream vegan movement and the importance of developing one’s own ideology instead of simply “performing goodness” in your life...

Comedian Myq Kaplan is back on the podcast this week to discuss the intersection of animal rights, activism, and the creative arts. We discuss Myq’s latest comedy album, A.K.A., as well as the recently widely released Live In Between Albums, and he gives us a behind-the-scenes look into his creative process. The vegan comedian also dishes on his upcoming appearance at…

When it comes to thinking about animals, Bob Fischer believes we should be doing it more often and more deeply. A professor of philosophy at Texas State University and the author of, among other things, Animal Ethics—A Contemporary Introduction, Bob joins the podcast this week for a conversation about animal ethics, philosophy, and activism. Bob shares how empirical data and philosophical…

From Texas cattle ranchers to vegan sanctuary founders, Renee King-Sonnen and Tommy Sonnen have turned around their lives and are helping others, both animal and human, to do the same. Now, the incredible story of how they have rescued and continue to care for 137 animals has caught the attention of filmmaker Jason Goldman, who embarked on capturing their daily lives…

Longtime animal advocates may be familiar with the term total liberation, but what exactly does this mean? Yvette Baker joins us today for an exploration of total liberation activism and its profound influence on her own animal advocacy. In our conversation, she sheds light on oppressive language commonly used when representing animals and urges everyone to unlearn and challenge it for…

This episode of Our Hen House features an animal rights legend, renowned philosopher, and ethicist, Peter Singer. In this thought-provoking conversation, we explore a range of topics, including the principle of equal consideration of interests, the nuance between sentience and consciousness, and the evolution of the animal movement since Peter’s groundbreaking book Animal Liberation was firs...

This week we dive into the world of documentary filmmaking with renowned photographer and documentary film director Louie Psihoyos. Louie is perhaps best known for his 2009 film, the Academy Award-winning documentary The Cove, which shed a brutal light on the remarkably cruel dolphin hunt in Taiji, Japan. In our conversation, Louie shares how movies can help change the world and…

The Standard American Diet—heavy in dairy and meat products—has long been known to contribute to chronic, diet-related illnesses, including type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Long-time vegans know this quite well, but what about the general public?  Dr. Ted Barnett and Carol Barnett join the podcast to discuss the Rochester Lifestyle Medicine Institute and how they support those looking to switch&...

Last autumn, the Alaska Department of Fish & Game canceled the crabbing season for the Alaskan snow crab for the first time in history after the crustaceans’ population dropped an astonishing 87 percent. This is only one of the stories recently covered in depth by ecologist and journalist Spencer Roberts, who joins us on the podcast for an overarching conversation about…

Just five years ago, a very small herbivorous chef who resides in a modest tree stump took Instagram by storm, impressing thousands with his culinary expertise and tiny, plant-based eats—and he hasn’t slowed down since. In fact, he even helms his very own show on Nick Jr. The Tiny Chef has captured hearts worldwide, and this week, director and animator Rachel…

In September of 2021, Alicia Santurio and Baywatch actor Alexandra Paul rescued Jax and Ethan, two gravely ill chickens, from a transport truck heading for a slaughterhouse owned by Foster Farms. The activists faced misdemeanor charges for petty theft, and this March, they stood before a 12-person jury as part of a nine-day trial, previously unheard of for such charges.  Alexandra…

Since its founding in 1986, Farm Sanctuary has advocated for farmed animals and large-scale institutional reform with the ultimate goal of removing animals from the food system. Senior Director of Advocacy Aaron Rimmler-Cohen joins the podcast this week to discuss Farm Sanctuary’s Food Systems Shift program. In our conversation, Aaron discusses the disastrous policy of government subsidies of anim...

Humor can be a powerful tool to promote change – and vegan actress and musician Kate Nash knows how to wield it to hilarious effect. We’re thrilled to welcome Kate for a discussion about her recent film, Coffee Wars, which manages to deliver a powerful pro-animal message while, at the same time, making everyone laugh. As we all know, that’s not…

Dr. Milton Mills, a prominent advocate for plant-based diets and a practicing physician, joins us this week for an in-depth discussion about the misconceptions surrounding vegan diets and how such misunderstandings have evolved over time. Dr. Mills, who offers extensive evidence that humans aren’t innate omnivores, thoroughly debunks the myth that humans need meat to be healthy and explains how ta...

Did you know dietary supplements often contain hidden animal-based ingredients, and there are no requirements for this to be disclosed on the label? This week, Terraseed founder Maria Cebrian joins the podcast to discuss vitamins for vegans and the challenges of sourcing high-quality plant-based ingredients and truly eco-friendly packaging. She also describes how Terraseed has partnered with Anima...

When Marcus Daniell isn’t on the tennis court winning Olympic titles, he’s focused on high-impact charitable giving. He joins us on the podcast from New Zealand for a conversation about his organization, High Impact Athletes, which helps athletes create world-changing impacts through charitable donations. In our discussion, Marcus details athletes’ historical donating patterns and how High Impact...

Before he was a cat rescuer, Sterling “TrapKing” Davis was a rapper—a unique trajectory in the field of animal rescue. Sterling—who dedicated himself to improving the lives of stray cats after a lifelong connection to them—joins us today for a delightful conversation about, among other things, trap-neuter-return (TNR) and how he’s working to increase diversity within cat rescue.  In our discussion...

Disrupting the global food system is one of the most pressing issues of our lifetimes—and it’s no small lift. Today, we welcome two powerhouses working to help the world shift to a kinder, plant-based food system. David Meyer and Galina Hale serve as the CEO and Chief Research Officer, respectively, of Food System Innovations (FSI). They join us this week to…