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

In this lively episode of The Hen Report, hosts Jasmin Singer and Mariann Sullivan navigate the evolving landscape of animal advocacy with their signature blend of wit and wisdom. From discussing the first recorded death from “meat tick” syndrome to analyzing a New York Times article on grass-fed beef’s environmental impact, they balance serious animal rights content with moments...

In this entertaining episode of Rising Anxieties, Mariann Sullivan and legal expert Michael Dorf dive headfirst into the bizarre world of RFK Jr.’s controversial new food pyramid and dietary guidelines. With equal parts horror and humor, they dissect how these scientifically questionable recommendations prioritize beef consumption while dismissing plant-based diets through deeply flawed anal...

In this profound conversation with animal rights lawyer Wayne Hsiung, we explore the reasons for his journey into seminary studies, his wife Rose Patterson’s upcoming legal battles for rescuing beagles from MBR Acres and sheep from King Charles’s farm in the UK, and the potential watershed moment for ending animal experimentation with RFK Jr.’s recent statements as Secretary of H...

In this thought-provoking episode of The Hen Report, Mariann Sullivan is joined by Cornell Law professor and animal advocate Michael Dorf to explore the complex phenomenon of “strange bedfellows” in the animal rights movement. They examine how activists navigate situations where they find themselves aligned with unexpected allies on animal issues, while potentially disagreeing on other...

In this episode of Rising Anxieties, Mariann Sullivan dives into the meat industry’s desperate attempts to declare veganism “dead” while simultaneously scrambling to rebrand their unsustainable practices. With her signature blend of skepticism and hope, Mariann unpacks Jessica Scott-Reid’s insightful Sentient Media article that reveals how Big Animal Ag’s obituaries f...

In this thought-provoking conversation, Mariann Sullivan speaks with Matthew Dominguez, US Executive Director of Compassion in World Farming, about creating meaningful change for farmed animals through strategic advocacy. Dominguez shares insights from his extensive career working on welfare reforms while building toward systemic change in our food system. From the inefficiency of feeding crops to...

In a bold legal challenge that could redefine animal protection law, PETA is taking on the Maine Lobster Festival for steaming 16,000 lobsters alive on public parkland. The case hinges on Maine’s unique animal cruelty statute that protects “every living sentient creature” – a definition that evolves with scientific understanding. PETA’s Director of Litigation, Asher S...

In this festive episode of The Hen Report, Jasmin and Mariann weave through holiday greetings, literary achievements, and thought-provoking discussions about animal advocacy in unexpected places. From Jasmin’s exciting book deal as a literary agent to reflections on grief, pet cloning ethics, and the subtle (and not-so-subtle) ways animal rights themes are appearing in mainstream literature,...

In this eye-opening interview, journalist Melanie Kaplan takes us behind the closed doors of animal research facilities through the lens of her powerful book Lab Dog. After adopting Hammy, a beagle rescued from a laboratory, Kaplan embarked on a cross-country journey to investigate the secretive world of dog testing and breeding facilities. With remarkable compassion and journalistic integrity, sh...

In this heartwarming holiday edition of The Hen Report, Jasmin and Mariann blend seasonal cheer with serious animal advocacy updates. The hosts navigate between lighthearted holiday traditions and the sobering realities facing animals worldwide, demonstrating Our Hen House’s signature ability to balance urgency with accessibility. This episode explores: The crisis facing animal shelters nati...

In this eye-opening episode of Rising Anxieties, Mariann Sullivan dissects the agricultural industry’s transparent anxiety about the growing popularity of plant-based diets. From Farm Babe’s desperate defense of animal agriculture’s “sustainability” to Oklahoma’s hypocritical farmland ownership laws that conveniently exempt Chinese-owned Smithfield Foods, we wit...

This episode explores how writers can authentically represent animals in literature with authors and publishers John Yunker and Midge Raymond, who discuss their new book Animal Writes and their Writing for Animals workshop. They share techniques for portraying animals as individuals rather than stereotypes, and offer guidance for writers who want to advocate for animals through their work. This ep...

This episode explores the changing landscape for animals as major media companies and the fashion industry take a stand against fur, while activists continue to face challenges in their fight for justice. Jasmin and Mariann discuss recent victories in the fur-free movement, including Hearst magazines and New York Fashion Week banning fur, alongside the sobering news of activist Zoe Rosenberg&#8217...

In this week’s edition of Rising Anxieties, Mariann Sullivan dives into the animal agriculture industry’s latest nightmares—which, unsurprisingly, include you. From hand-wringing about the movement’s supposed $865 million war chest to the Reddit whistleblower exposing paid anti-vegan trolls, we’re clearly living rent-free in Big Ag’s collective consciousness. Meanwhil...

This episode continues our special series featuring the Animal Policy Alliance, showcasing how policy advocates are creating institutional change for animals across America. Jodi Gruhn of Wholesome Minnesota, Judy Wolf of Animal Protection New Mexico, and Brenna Anderst of the Animal Policy Alliance discuss their collaborative strategies to increase plant-based food accessibility in schools and go...

In this week’s episode of The Hen Report, Jasmin and Mariann explore how animal rights themes are increasingly appearing in mainstream media – from the explicit animal liberation narrative in Wicked to the vegan consciousness in Apple TV’s Pluribus. They celebrate recent policy victories while examining why veganism often faces social resistance, emphasizing that effective advoca...

This week, Mariann dives headfirst into the murky waters of the UK’s “Spycops Scandal,” where undercover officers infiltrated animal rights groups with tactics ranging from the questionable to the downright duplicitous. Then, brace yourself for Mariann’s special brand of eye-rolling commentary on the self-congratulatory bubble of animal agriculture, where farming isn’...

In this intellectually stimulating episode of the Animal Law Podcast, Mariann Sullivan speaks with constitutional law expert Michael Dorf about his innovative course “Animals and the Constitution.” Dorf shares how fundamental legal principles intersect with animal protection, revealing both the limitations and opportunities within our constitutional framework for advancing animal right...

This Thanksgiving episode of The Hen Report serves up a hearty helping of gratitude alongside meaningful animal advocacy discussions. Jasmin and Mariann reflect on the growth of Our Hen House, which now reaches thousands of listeners weekly through multiple podcast formats. The episode features producer Vicki Beechler’s thoughtful review of Kendra Coulter’s new novel “The Tortois...

This Thanksgiving, Our Hen House proudly presents our beloved holiday tradition: “Sanctuary: A Radio Play.” First performed in 2017  at New York City’s Symphony Space during the Culture & Animals Foundation’s Compassion Arts Festival, this darkly comedic tale continues to resonate with anyone who has navigated vegan ethics around holiday dinner tables. This episode explores:...

In this irreverent episode of Rising Anxieties, Mariann Sullivan unpacks the latest worries keeping animal agriculture executives up at night—from avian influenza contingency plans to the surprising alliance between premium meat brands and animal advocates. With her trademark wit, Mariann dissects the absurdity of turkey “pardoning” ceremonies, exposes the dairy industry’s push t...

In this thought-provoking episode, Jasmin and Mariann sit down with Seth Green from Stanford’s Humane and Sustainable Food Lab and Benny Smith from Allied Scholars for Animal Protection to tackle the million-dollar question: how do we actually get people to stop eating animals? The conversation dives into Seth’s fascinating meta-analysis of intervention studies and sparks a passionate...

In this episode of The Hen Report, Jasmin and Mariann reflect on the peculiar psychology behind our collective blind spots to animal suffering, inspired by a thought-provoking Carl Sagan quote about the painful process of acknowledging when we’ve been “bamboozled.” From unexpected wildlife encounters to groundbreaking animal testing reforms, the duo navigates the latest developme...

In this awkwardly revealing Thanksgiving episode, Mariann dives into the meat industry’s internal civil war as beef enthusiasts attempt a coup against Big Turkey just in time for the holidays. We witness the spectacle of industry professionals clutching their pearls when faced with market competition while simultaneously patting themselves on the back for their “noble sacrifice”...

Filmmakers Annie Laurie Medonis and Tracy Nichole Cring discuss their documentary A Culinary Uprising, which chronicles Bloodroot, one of the last remaining feminist restaurants in America. Founded in the 1970s, this Connecticut establishment has spent nearly five decades creating a unique space where veganism, feminism, and community intersect through intentional food practices and inclusive prin...