Better Life for Animals

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...

According to Oxford researcher Joseph Poore, going vegan is "the single biggest way" to reduce your environmental footprint. On this episode of the Better Life for Animals Podcast , Cheryl Moss sits down with Professor Matthew Halteman, author of Hungry Beautiful Animals: The Joyful Case for Going Vegan . This heart-opening conversation explores how joy, not shame, can drive powerful change. From...

Why 82% of Starving Children Live in Countries Growing Feed for Western Livestock Eighty-two percent of starving children live in countries where crops are grown to feed animals eaten in the West. That staggering fact is just one of the many insights shared by John Vallimarescu in this episode of the Better Life for Animals Podcast, hosted by Cheryl Moss. John transitioned from a career in economi...

Can compassion heal the world? Dr. Will Tuttle, acclaimed author of The World Peace Diet and former Zen monk, believes it can—and it starts with how we treat animals. In this episode of the Better Life for Animals Podcast, Dr. Tuttle reveals how animal sanctuaries offer a powerful model for reversing centuries of violence, environmental destruction, and injustice. Sanctuaries aren't just rescue sp...

Many animal sanctuaries are underfunded, yet they play a critical role in protecting animals and educating the public. Faik Bouhrik, cosmologist, educator, and founder of Veggies , is turning that challenge into opportunity. On this episode of Better Life for Animals , hosted by Cheryl Moss, Bouhrik shares how his platform— Veggies (veggius.com) —connects vegan-friendly travel and events with dire...

Studies show that children who grow up with animals tend to develop stronger empathy and social skills. In this episode of the Better Life for Animals Podcast, host Cheryl Moss speaks with Susan Hargreaves - founder of Animal Hero Kids and Be An Animal Hero - about how early humane education shapes lifelong compassion.  With over four decades of experience in animal advocacy and youth education, S...

Did you know that 97% of all animal welfare funding goes to companion animals—while farm animal sanctuaries receive less than 3% ? In this episode of the Better Life for Animals Podcast , host Cheryl Moss talks with Helen Demas , founder of Sunset Farm Sanctuary, about the funding crisis that's threatening sanctuaries across the country. Helen shares her incredible journey from intelligence analys...

Why do so many people say they care about animals and the planet—but stop short of real change? In this powerful episode, Mark Starmer—a leadership expert turned full-time animal advocate—joins host Cheryl Moss to explore the disconnect between values and action. Mark shares his journey from corporate boardrooms to founding the Peace of Heaven Project, a sanctuary in British Columbia that's home t...

Most people consider themselves compassionate—yet every day, choices at the dinner table contribute to immense animal suffering. Hidden behind sanitized labels and clever marketing, the brutal truth of animal agriculture remains largely unseen. But what happens when the veil is lifted? In this powerful episode of the Better Life for Animals Podcast , host Cheryl Moss welcomes Dr. Angela Crawford—a...

The Climate Crisis Starts with Animal Exploitation—Dr. Sailesh Rao Reveals the Path Forward Industrial farming is fueling climate change—and the solution starts with compassion. In this powerful episode of the Better Life for Animals Podcast , host Cheryl Moss sits down with renowned climate scientist and founder of Climate Healers, Dr. Sailesh Rao , to explore how animal suffering is deeply inter...

Linda Middlesworth, known as The Vegan Mentor, has been a passionate ethical vegan for over 37 years. Now 81, she continues to lead with energy, purpose, and compassion—advocating for animals, plant-based living, and sustainable health around the world. In this episode of the Better Life for Animals Podcast, host Cheryl Moss speaks with Linda about her journey from personal health crisis to becomi...

Advocating for animals has never been more urgent—or more powerful. In this episode of the Better Life for Animals podcast, renowned animal advocate and digital strategist John Oberg shares how he has reached over 500 million people online with compelling pro-animal content. Since dedicating his life to animal rights in 2012, John has become a leading voice in the movement, using social media to c...

Better Life for Animals Podcast | Stories of Rescue, Hope, and Compassion Each year, more than 70 billion animals are raised and killed for food—many without ever knowing kindness, freedom, or fresh air. But behind these overwhelming numbers are real stories of survival, healing, and second chances. The Better Life for Animals podcast brings those stories to life. Hosted by animal advocate and chi...

In this inaugural episode of Better Life for Animals , host Cheryl Moss introduces the mission and heart behind the podcast. Animal sanctuaries around the world provide safe havens for animals rescued from abuse, neglect, and exploitation—offering them the love, care, and dignity they deserve. But behind every rescue is a story of resilience, as well as the immense dedication it takes to keep thes...