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

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, Vegetables, and Herbs from Urban Backyard to Rural Farmyard, as well as the new North American Veganic Certification Standard. ABOUT OUR GUEST Jimmy Videle is a farmer, activist, naturalist, consultant, and researcher. He has been a consultant and researcher with A.U.M. Films (producers of Cowspiracy and What the Health), Humane Party USA, and the Animal Protection Party, Canada. He lives with his wife, Mélanie Bernier, and five rescue cats on the small-scale veganic farm, La Ferme de l’Aube, in Boileau, Québec. A full-time organic farmer since 2005, he is also the author of the recently released The Veganic Grower’s Handbook: Cultivating Fruits, Vegetables, and Herbs from Urban Backyard to Rural Farmyard, the host of The Veganic Grower’s Hour YouTube show, and the co-founder of the North American Veganic Certification Standard. RESOURCES ‘Poisoned: The Dirty Truth About Your Food’: Everything You Need to Know The Truth About Your Bacon A new investigation exposes the stomach-churning practice that goes into making your bacon Activists call it rescue. Farms call it stealing. What is ‘open rescue’? The Veganic Growers Handbook Jimmy Videle Facebook Jimmy Videle – Veganic Grower on YouTube North American Veganic Certification Standard La Ferme de l’Aube Interview transcript available on our website. _____________________________________________ Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcatcher, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review! Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series. Join us in the Our Hen House Community, or follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren. __________________________ This episode is brought to you in part through the generosity of A Well-Fed World. A Well-Fed World provides the means for change by empowering individuals, social justice organizations, and political decision-makers to embrace the benefits of plant-based foods and farming. Learn more at awfw.org.

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 Salpeter, who holds a Ph.D. in engineering, is, along with Anna Sweet, a co-founder of Sweet Farm, which is a place of education, inspiration, and innovation through farm animal rescue, regenerative agriculture, and technology initiatives to scale accessible change in the food and climate systems globally. Nate is also an investor in the alternative protein, agriculture technology, and sustainability sectors and a general partner at SNØCAP, an emerging climate innovation fund that aims to enable sector shifts and unlock the potential for previously unimaginable companies to exist. Shira Jacobson is a marketing and social media specialist and the Development and Communications Manager at Sweet Farm, where she works to make the world a kinder, more sustainable place for all. RESOURCES Save the Planet, Put Down that Hamburger What’s a Plant-Based Diet? Here’s What You Need to Know to Eat Less Meat. Calling Plant-Based Food ‘Vegan’ Makes Fewer People Choose It, Study Finds Sweet Farm’s website Sweet Farm on Instagram Sweet Farm on Facebook Interview transcript available on our website. _____________________________________________ Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcatcher, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review! Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series. Join us in the Our Hen House Community, or follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren. __________________________ This episode is brought to you in part through the generosity of A Well-Fed World. A Well-Fed World provides the means for change by empowering individuals, social justice organizations, and political decision makers to embrace the benefits of plant-based foods and farming. Learn more at awfw.org.

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 activists in the municipality of Didim. ABOUT OUR GUEST Zeynep Sağlamöz is an animal rights activist in Türkiye. After seven years in the ad-land as an art director & graphic designer, she became vegan and left her corporate job, having realized that she was creating work promoting a speciesist industry. She now uses her expertise and know-how to expose the truth about animal agriculture by directing and producing thousands of powerful multilingual graphics for Animal Save Movement, where she serves as the Global Graphics Coordinator. She has two cat friends, Delilah and Pixel. Zeynep on Instagram zeynep@animalsavemovement.org RESOURCES The next pandemic could spring from the US meat supply, new report finds The Save Movement website Plant Based Treaty Website Interview transcript available on our website. _____________________________________________ Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcatcher, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review! Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series. Join us in  the Our Hen House Community, or follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren. __________________________ This episode is brought to you in part through the generosity of A Well-Fed World. A Well-Fed World provides the means for change by empowering individuals, social justice organizations, and political decision makers to embrace the benefits of plant-based foods and farming. Learn more at awfw.org.

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 extraordinary new series State of the Union, currently on exhibit at the New Bedford Art Museum in Massachusetts. The series, at once appearing extremely familiar and yet vaguely surreal, is a visual and auditory examination of the animal experience across the US. We dig into Jane’s artistic process and the pivotal moment she realized she wanted to embrace a vegan lifestyle, and she also shares the story of her late cat Nellie, why she decided to use Nellie as an anchor in the State of the Union series, and the difference in how we tend to treat companion animals and farmed animals. *We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read Jasmin’s interview with Jane O’Hara* Jane O’Hara is a contemporary American artist,  curator and founder of Jane O’Hara Projects. She received a BFA in painting from Boston University. Jane’s work has been presented and exhibited across the US. She is an honoree of the Courage of Conscience Award from the Peace Abbey, honoring individuals and organizations that have distinguished themselves through humanitarian causes, peace and social justice activism. “The arts have played a strong part in opening my eyes.” – Jane O’Hara Resources:  What will we be eating in 2040? Highlights for Episode 706:  An overview of Jane’s State of the Union series and how she picked the themes for each painting Jane explains why she chose to supplement each painting with an audio component  Why so many of Jane’s paintings include the theme of  industrial farming and how she approaches it in each work  The story of Nellie the Cat and why Jane decided to incorporate her throughout the State of the Union series Jane shares the story of how her art became intertwined with her animal activism The pivotal moment that prompted Jane to become a vegan and animal activist  The profound connection between the viewer and the artist and why  visual art often affects people so profoundly The interplay of humor and irony in Jane’s work and how she manages to bring that into her paintings despite their often tragic themes   Compassion Art and what artists gain from being a part of the collective The Beasts of Burden series and how it demonstrates how deeply integrated animals are into our lives  Jane’s artistic process and how she plans her research and painting Podcast Transcript: We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read this episode's interview. Connect with Jane O’Hara: Jane O’Hara’s Website Jane O’Hara Projects on Facebook Jane O’Hara Projects on Instagram Connect with Our Hen House: Our Hen House Website Our Hen House on Facebook Our Hen House on Instagram Our Hen House on Twitter _____________________________________________ Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. You can listen to our podcast directly on our website or subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcatcher! Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it and leave us a comment on Apple Podcasts! Don’t forget to check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series. Join the Our Hen House Community online! The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren. __________________________ This episode is brought to you in part through the generosity of A Well-Fed World. A Well-Fed World provides the means for change by empowering individuals, social justice organizations, and political decision makers to embrace the benefits of plant-based foods and farming. Learn more at awfw.org.

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 support ASAP offers, and why Faraz believes connecting animal rights folk on campus is crucial. He also tells us about his role at The Good Food Institute and the research they’re doing to scale the production of cultivated meat. *We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read Mariann’s interview with Dr Faraz Harsini* Dr. Faraz Harsini has advocated for animal rights for over ten years. He is a biomedical scientist and Allied Scholars for Animal Protection (ASAP) CEO and founder. This non-profit organization supports students interested in advocating for animal protection and pursuing careers that can make a difference. He is also a Bioprocessing Senior Scientist at Good Food Institute, where he works on advancing scientific and technological methods to produce alternative proteins on a large scale. Dr. Harsini believes that the root cause of many global issues affecting humans and animals is linked to the food system. Therefore, he aims to change the food system through his work at GFI and to train and support students to become future leaders in animal protection through ASAP. “I’m sick of animal rights organizations and student organizations becoming inactive because of a lack of support, lack of infrastructure, or lack of mentorship.” – Faraz Harsini Resources:  Pale and gelatinous: I tried vegan seafood so you don’t have to Highlights for Episode 705:  The three key areas ASAP focuses on: outreach, education, and empowerment How they’re supporting student dining halls to go plant-based and make veganism as accessible as possible Why so many university students struggle to remain vegan How Faraz aims to show students how to take their passions and channel them into long-term animal advocacy  ASAP’s goal of establishing chapters where vegans can connect and access education and lectures  Faraz’s tips for students who want to advocate for veganism on their campus effectively How students can set up an ASAP chapter at their university and the infrastructure support ASAP offers The Elwood Dog Meat spoof and the impact it had on the student body at Texas Tech Faraz’s position at The Good Food Institute and what he does as a Bioprocessing Senior Scientist to help scale the production of cultivated meat Connect with Dr. Faraz Harsini: Allied Scholars’ Website Dr. Faraz Harsini’s Website Allied Scholars on Twitter Allied Scholars on Facebook Allied Scholars on Instagram Dr. Faraz Harsini on Twitter Dr. Faraz Harsini on YouTube Dr. Faraz Harsini on LinkedIn Connect with Our Hen House: Our Hen House Website Our Hen House on Facebook Our Hen House on Instagram Our Hen House on Twitter _____________________________________________ Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. You can listen to our podcast directly on our website or subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcatcher! Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it and leave us a comment on Apple Podcasts! Don’t forget to check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series. Join the Our Hen House Community online! The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren. __________________________ This episode is brought to you in part through the generosity of A Well-Fed World. A Well-Fed World provides the means for change by empowering individuals, social justice organizations, and political decision makers to embrace the benefits of plant-based foods and farming. Learn more at awfw.org.

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 the shoreline areas of New York City and New Jersey. Chris also discusses the importance of activism and how vegan activists who see the big picture regarding animals can reach others by focusing their activism in a positive way on the members of a single, vulnerable species. He also shares the story of Bean, the lop-eared bunny he rescued in 2016, and how their bond set him on the path to veganism. *We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read Jasmin’s interview with Chris Allieri* Chris Allieri is the founder of NYC Plover Project, a non-profit organization he began in March 2021 upon seeing a need to protect endangered Piping Plovers in New York City, who were otherwise left to fend for themselves. In just over two years, the organization has grown to a staff of 4 and a force of 250 volunteers who have performed more than 10,000 volunteer hours protecting nesting plovers and their chicks on the busiest beaches in the city. NYC Plover Project was awarded the 2021 Hartzog Award as the non-profit volunteer group of the year for the entire National Park Service, with whom they have a partnership. In 2023, the group forged a partnership with NYC Parks & Recreation, the largest city park system in the U.S.  Chris is also the founder of Mulberry & Astor, a communications firm focused on climate tech startups. A long-time resident of NYC, Chris grew up on the beaches of southern New Jersey, where he first saw a Piping Plover at a young age with his late father, Carl. “My challenge to the birding community is that it’s not enough just to look at these birds. We have to do something about their survival.” – Chris Allieri Resources:  Surging vegan food demand inspires RIT to trade tenderloin for tempeh Killer Whales Are Not Our Friends Highlights for Episode 704:  The rescue rabbit that was the catalyst to Chris becoming vegan, joining the Board of Farm Sanctuary and the Board of the Wild Bird Fund How Chris’ love for Piping Plovers is linked to his childhood at the South Jersey shoreline The vagrant bird Chris found in a Brooklyn park and how she saved his life when the COVID-19 pandemic came around Why Chris is so fascinated by his spark bird, the Piping Plover, and how they encouraged him to start the NYC Plover Project More about the Piping Plover—where they travel to and from, how they live, their connection to New Jersey, and why their situation is so dire How the NYC Plover Project brings people together to help protect the birds, especially in communities like Rockaway  Why Chris believes that endangered species can help people see the bigger picture regarding animal welfare Why feral cats are such a huge issue for Plovers The difference between birders and people who volunteer to protect birds  Why the NYC Plover Project never posts nest locations online  Chris’ disappointment that climate activists don’t make the connection between animal agriculture, widespread species extinction, and planetary health Connect with Chris Allieri: NYC Plover Project on Instagram NYC Plover Project on Twitter NYC Plover Project on Facebook NYC Plover Project on TikTok Connect with Our Hen House: Our Hen House Website Our Hen House on Facebook Our Hen House on Instagram Our Hen House on Twitter _____________________________________________ Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. You can listen to our podcast directly on our website or subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcatcher! Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it and leave us a comment on Apple Podcasts! Don’t forget to check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series. Join the Our Hen House Community online! The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren. __________________________ This episode is brought to you in part through the generosity of A Well-Fed World. A Well-Fed World provides the means for change by empowering individuals, social justice organizations, and political decision makers to embrace the benefits of plant-based foods and farming. Learn more at awfw.org.

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 lifestyle and activism. We dive into why strategy is the backbone of successful activism and how Aiyana tailors their message of anti-speciesism to meet their audience where it’s at. Aiyana also discusses themes of their first book, Radical Companionship: Rejecting Pethood and Embracing Our Multispecies World, and shares details of their upcoming book, INNOCENCE AND CORRUPTION. *We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read Jasmin’s interview with Aiyana Goodfellow* Aiyana Goodfellow (he/she/they) is a writer, liberator, and DELINQUENT artist and organizer based in London, UK. They are the author of Radical Companionship: Rejecting Pethood & Embracing Our Multispecies World, which they published at the age of 15. “The exploitation of animals has always existed in tandem with the exploitation of marginalized humans.” – Aiyana Goodfellow Resources:  Jimmy Turner, MD on Twitter Highlights for Episode 703:  What Aiyana means when they describe themself as a DELINQUENT and how, along with their writing and liberation work, this identity intersects with their animal activism Aiyana’s book, Radical Companionship: Rejecting Pethood and Embracing Our Multispecies World, and the importance of unlearning our oppressive tendencies toward the animals that share our homes  How we can build a more liberated way of engaging with non-human animals of all kinds What Aiyana means when they say “animals create,” why understanding this is a practice of nature, and how it can help us connect with other animals and with the world around us How animal advocacy and anti-speciesism fit into Aiyana’s anti-colonial philosophy  How the term “white veganism” relates to white supremacy Why veganism has become a capitalist term that refers to diet rather than a holistic ideology that includes a political and moral framework How Aiyana is trying to educate people on what being a vegan really means How allyship changes your material reality and why performative allyship is harmful to marginalized communities, including non-human animals More about Aiyana’s Black-led, UK-based micro-publishing house, The Anima Print, and her upcoming book Innocence and Corruption castles, and the accent Connect with Aiyana Goodfellow: Aiyana Goodfellow’s Website Aiyana Goodfellow on Instagram The Anima Print Connect with Our Hen House: Our Hen House Website Our Hen House on Facebook Our Hen House on Instagram Our Hen House on Twitter _____________________________________________ Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. You can listen to our podcast directly on our website or subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcatcher! Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it and leave us a comment on Apple Podcasts! Don’t forget to check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series. Join the Our Hen House Community online! The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren. __________________________ This episode is brought to you in part through the generosity of A Well-Fed World. A Well-Fed World provides the means for change by empowering individuals, social justice organizations, and political decision makers to embrace the benefits of plant-based foods and farming. Learn more at awfw.org.

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 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, his “ImPerfect” show (which he co-created with his girlfriend, Rini), and what he has in store following his summer in Scotland. *We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read Jasmin’s interview with Myq Kaplan* Myq Kaplan has appeared on the Tonight Show, Conan, Letterman, James Corden, Seth Meyers, Comedy Central, Last Comic Standing, and America’s Got Talent. He has a one-hour standup special on Amazon, “Small, Dork, and Handsome,” and two podcasts, The Faucet and Broccoli and Ice Cream. His debut album, “Vegan Mind Meld,” was one of iTunes’ top 10 comedy albums of the year, and his newest album, “A.K.A.,” debuted at #1 and was called “invigoratingly funny” by the NY Times! “I want to talk about things that are important to me. I want to talk about things I care about.” – Myq Kaplan Highlights for Episode 702:  Why Myq recorded Live Between Albums and how it might represent a little downtime for vegan activists How Myq collects and collates his reflections on life and turns them into content that resonates with other people The two key phases of Myq’s creative process: the blooming phase and the pruning phase Why Myq isn’t worried that he’ll be replaced by artificial intelligence Trends in comedy right now and how shows have evolved to appeal to all sorts of audiences Myq’s idea for a new comedy hour based on astrology and the instinct to categorize different types of people Why the things that make us laugh are so personal Why Myq is so excited to take his show, ImPerfect, to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2023 — including the food, the castles, and the accent Connect with Myq Kaplan: Myq’s new album – Live in Between Albums Myq Kaplan’s Website  Myq’s newsletter Arty Har-Hars  Myq’s Podcasts: Broccoli and Ice Cream  and The Faucet with Myq Kaplan  Myq Kaplan on Facebook Myq Kaplan on Instagram Myq Kaplan on Twitter Connect with Our Hen House: Our Hen House Website Our Hen House on Facebook Our Hen House on Instagram Our Hen House on Twitter _____________________________________________ Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. You can listen to our podcast directly on our website or subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcatcher! Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it and leave us a comment on Apple Podcasts! Don’t forget to check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series. Join the Our Hen House Community online! The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren. __________________________ This episode is brought to you in part through the generosity of A Well-Fed World. A Well-Fed World provides the means for change by empowering individuals, social justice organizations, and political decision makers to embrace the benefits of plant-based foods and farming. Learn more at awfw.org.

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 considerations can help challenge society’s cruel treatment of animals and even encourage more compassion toward them. We also discuss why people might be persuaded to care about chickens and even have their heartstrings tugged by cows but generally fail to empathize with insects. Plus, Bob tells us why quantifying animal suffering can help activists prioritize the best use of their resources, including both time and money. *We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read Mariann’s interview with Bob Fischer* Bob Fischer is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at Texas State University, a Senior Research Manager for Rethink Priorities, and the Director of the Society for the Study of Ethics and Animals. His most recent books are Animal Ethics—A Contemporary Introduction (Routledge) and Weighing Animal Welfare: Comparing Wellbeing across Species (Oxford University Press). “Veganism is the very beginning of a long journey toward actually doing what’s right.” – Bob Fischer Highlights for Episode 701:  The complexities behind one of the basic tenets of animal activism: If we don’t have to cause extraordinary suffering, then we shouldn’t Why Bob doesn’t follow any particular school of philosophical thought How we can assess what pain and pleasure look like for animals How philosophical theory helps us decide how to act in the best interest of animals How the philosophical case for animal equality has changed over the last 25 years due to developments in animal welfare science Philosophical ways we think about sentience, how we identify markers in all creatures, and why it’s critical to understand the big picture when discussing what sentience means Activism at large and how everyone plays a unique, individual role The importance of using philosophical questions to examine our activism Bob’s latest book, Weighing Animal Welfare: Comparing Wellbeing across Species, and why it could be helpful to animal activists  Whether quantifying animal suffering can make people rethink their lifestyle choices Resources: How to Clear 500,000 Feral Cats from New York’s Streets FakeMeats.com coupon code HENHOUSE23 for 15% off Plant Basics products Connect with Bob Fischer: Bob Fischer’s Website  Connect with Our Hen House: Our Hen House Website Our Hen House on Facebook Our Hen House on Instagram Our Hen House on Twitter _____________________________________________ Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. You can listen to our podcast directly on our website or subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcatcher! Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it and leave us a comment on Apple Podcasts! Don’t forget to check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series. Join the Our Hen House Community online! The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren. __________________________ This episode is sponsored by Our friends at FakeMeats.com. Since 2011, FakeMeats.com has been your one-stop shop for meat substitutes, meatless jerky, egg replacers, seasonings, and more. They recently introduced their own product line called Plant Basics. The unflavored, soy-based Hearty Proteins come in ground, strips, and chunks, and they also offer a pea protein crumble option! This new line also included powdered Plant-Based Seasonings that can make anything taste Just Like Chicken, Just Like Beef, or Just Like Ham. They have been kind enough to provide an exclusive coupon for Our Hen House listeners to give them a try: 15% off Plant Basics products on FakeMeats.com using code HENHOUSE23 through July 2023, only on FakeMeats.com. __________________________ This episode is brought to you in part through the generosity of A Well-Fed World. A Well-Fed World provides the means for change by empowering individuals, social justice organizations, and political decision makers to embrace the benefits of plant-based foods and farming. Learn more at awfw.org.

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 at the sanctuary and has recently released Rowdy Girl, which premiered at Toronto’s prestigious Hot Docs film festival. The film tells the story of Renee and Tommy’s tireless dedication, their profound impact on the lives of the animals they have rescued, and their remarkable ability to reach others with their message of compassion and the rejection of violence. Renee and Tommy join us on the podcast this week to share this remarkable journey. Renee tells us how forging a deep and meaningful relationship with a cow named Rowdy Girl set her on a transformative path and changed her life forever (and Tommy’s along with it). Renee and Tommy share what it’s like to run a sanctuary in cattle country and also tell us about their Rancher Advocacy Program, which supports farmers and ranchers looking to transition away from animal agriculture. *We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read Mariann’s interview with Renee King-Sonnen and Tommy Sonnen* Renee King-Sonnen, Rowdy Girl Sanctuary’s founder and executive director, along with her husband, co-founder Tommy Sonnen, were featured on the CBS Evening News in 2016, launching an international following and fan base. In 2016, Renee won the VegNews “Vegan Rookie of the Year” Award and can now be heard on podcasts, news stories, documentaries, and magazine interviews all over the world. Rowdy Girl is the first documented beef cattle ranch to transition to a vegan farm sanctuary and veganic farm and has been at the forefront of the farm transition conversation. Renee and Tommy are currently featured in the documentary Rowdy Girl, which had its world premiere in Toronto at Hot Docs, the largest documentary film festival in North America. “The violence I experienced and the purity of the animals have come together to create my mission.” – Renee King-Sonnen “When I started looking at statistics about what we’re doing to the earth, I realized that there’s more than one reason to stop eating meat.” – Tommy Sonnen Highlights for Episode 700:  Rowdy Girl, the cow who ignited Renee’s vegan journey  Some of the stories of the 137 beautiful animals the sanctuary has rescued and how Renee and Tommy share their work with others  Why the couple decided to work with Jason Goldman on the Rowdy Girl film and what it felt like being filmed 24/7 going about their day at the sanctuary Renee’s experience being raised by an alcoholic father in a violent household and how that shaped her life as an adult and ultimately inspired her to start an animal sanctuary How the animals that live at the sanctuary change as they acclimate to their new lives  Why they created the Rancher Advocacy Program to help farmers and ranchers  Renee’s thoughts on using AI-driven slaughter methods The reasons people use health concerns as a way to transition to becoming vegan How Renee communicates effectively with ranchers to share her animal rights philosophy and why it’s essential to understand how much they want a life on the land in a rural setting Renee shares her religious and spiritual beliefs and how they impact her work at the Rowdy Girl Sanctuary Why Renee is writing a book, The Secret Diary of a Cattle Rancher’s Wife, and what she hopes to do by pulling back the curtain on her life How to watch Rowdy Girl Resources: Three Teens Killed and Ate a New York Village’s Beloved Swan, Police Say FakeMeats.com coupon code HENHOUSE23 for 15% off Plant Basics products Connect with Renee King Sonnen & Tommy Sonnen: Rowdy Girl Sanctuary Website   Rowdy Girl Sanctuary on Facebook  Rowdy Girl Sanctuary on Instagram Rowdy Girl Sanctuary on Twitter  Rowdy Girl Sanctuary on YouTube  Renee King-Sonnen on TikTok  Rancher Advocacy Program Website  Rancher Advocacy Program on Facebook  The Rancher Advocacy Program on Instagram Rancher Advocacy Program on Twitter Connect with Our Hen House: Our Hen House Website Our Hen House on Facebook Our Hen House on Instagram Our Hen House on Twitter _____________________________________________ Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. You can listen to our podcast directly on our website or subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcatcher! Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it and leave us a comment on Apple Podcasts! Don’t forget to check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series. Join the Our Hen House Community online! The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren. __________________________ This episode is sponsored by Our friends at FakeMeats.com. Since 2011, FakeMeats.com has been your one-stop shop for meat substitutes, meatless jerky, egg replacers, seasonings, and more. They recently introduced their own product line called Plant Basics. The unflavored, soy-based Hearty Proteins come in ground, strips, and chunks, and they also offer a pea protein crumble option! This new line also included powdered Plant-Based Seasonings that can make anything taste Just Like Chicken, Just Like Beef, or Just Like Ham. They have been kind enough to provide an exclusive coupon for Our Hen House listeners to give them a try: 15% off Plant Basics products on FakeMeats.com using code HENHOUSE23 through July 2023, only on FakeMeats.com. __________________________ This episode is brought to you in part through the generosity of A Well-Fed World. A Well-Fed World provides the means for change by empowering individuals, social justice organizations, and political decision makers to embrace the benefits of plant-based foods and farming. Learn more at awfw.org.