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

Vegan Outreach India’s Richa Mehta joins us this week to talk about the spread of veganism in India.  As Director of Programs, Richa tells us how Vegan Outreach is focusing on college students and explains in detail what they are doing to educate those students about the atrocities of the dairy and meat industries while advocating for veganism, as not only more compassionate, but as a greener, more environmentally conscious approach to living. In this conversation with Jasmin, Richa also focuses specifically on dairy, and delves into the Western perception of the sacred status of cows in India, explaining the dichotomy between this belief and the reality of the country’s large dairy industry. Richa Mehta is based in Agra, India, where she is the Director of Programs at Vegan Outreach India, an organization founded in 1993 that aims to end violence towards animals. Richa has many years of experience with animal and environmental protection nonprofits and has been instrumental in the success of Vegan Outreach’s Green Tuesday Initiative, in addition to her extensive in-person outreach activities in India. Richa is also the Vice President of the Pratibha Foundation, Gujarat, India, which focuses on facilitating quality education and healthcare for underprivileged children in rural areas.  “In the long term, veganism and a complete evolution in the way we eat are the only ways we can change what is happening to animals.” – Richa Mehta Highlights for Episode 630: How the 10 Weeks to Vegan program works and why it smooths the transition to becoming vegan How Richa and her team’s outreach activities help bust the myths people believe about veganism How COVID-19 changed the way Vegan Outreach pursues their campaigns The surprising discovery that webinars are even more effective than in-person outreach Measurable results they’ve seen as a result of their efforts to help people become vegan How the Green Tuesday campaign works with corporations and other organizations to change the way that people eat Why it’s so crucial in any outreach effort to not just talk about problems, but offer a solution Richa’s factory farm investigations and why she focuses on the environment when encouraging people to change their eating habits The background of vegetarianism in India and how it fits with modern vegetarian and vegan practices Whether arguments regarding animal welfare have more traction In India than in other places Richa’s work with the Pratibha Foundation and what they have been doing to improve the lives of children in India during the pandemic What gives Richa hope for the future Resources: Farm Forward Survey Reveals Widespread Confusion about Welfare Labels Our Hen House Episode 585 w/ Soledad Robledo Connect with Richa Mehta: Vegan Outreach India Website Vegan Outreach India on Facebook Vegan Outreach India 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. 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.

On this week’s podcast,  we are joined by Jeff Sebo, who is the director of New York University’s Animal Studies M.A. Program, to discuss his brand new book, Saving Animals, Saving Ourselves: Why Animals Matter for Pandemics, Climate Change, and Other Catastrophes. Jeff apparently can see into the future, since he began writing this incredibly prescient book in 2017—three years before the world plunged into COVID-19. We discuss why pandemic and climate change preparedness has been so inadequate and why governments even now are slashing pandemic preparedness budgets, despite what we have been through the past two years and the likelihood that things could get even worse in the future.  Jeff’s forthcoming book doesn’t just outline why societies need to end factory farming to save ourselves, it’s intensely about the animals themselves. He points out that taking responsibility for this ever increasing amount of non-human suffering is both necessary and possible and ponders what we need to do for animals to be taken seriously. Jeff also tells us about an important new report from New York University’s Guarini Center that he co-authored entitled Towards Plant-Forward Diets: A Toolkit for Local Policy Makers. This important guide is custom made for activists working with local governments to move laws and policy in a vegan direction. Jeff is a Clinical Associate Professor of Environmental Studies, Affiliated Professor of Bioethics, Medical Ethics, and Philosophy, and Director of the Animal Studies M.A. Program at New York University. His current research focuses on bioethics, animal ethics, and environmental ethics, with a particular focus on animals, pandemics, and climate change; the moral, legal, and political status of animals; and the ethics of activism, advocacy, and philanthropy. His book Saving Animals, Saving Ourselves: Why Animals Matter for Pandemics, Climate Change, and Other Catastrophes will be published soon, and he has co-authored the books Chimpanzee Rights and Food, Animals, and the Environment. Jeff also works with animal protection and animal studies organizations. He is a board member at Minding Animals International, a mentor at Sentient Media, and a senior research affiliate at the Legal Priorities Project. “Our treatment of animals is absolutely relevant to these global threats. The way we treat animals in factory farming, deforestation, the wildlife trade, and other industries are significant drivers of pandemics, climate change, and other threats.” – Jeff Sebo Highlights for Episode 629: Whether Jeff feels there has been a turning point in public consciousness during the pandemic about what we’re doing to the world Jeff points out how we can only evaluate the worth of individual animal lives from a human vantage point and how we should not let the perfect be the enemy of the good How we have to take into account all of the limitations on our knowledge, power, and political will if we want to help animals responsibly Why Jeff thinks we should prioritize fighting factory farming Jeff’s opinions on whether there’s a fundamental flaw in human nature that explains how otherwise good people treat animals Why mink farms have turned out to be a microcosm during this pandemic and what he believes it means about our relationship to animals, and how it will affect our ability to manage the future How the Towards Plant-Forward Diets: A Toolkit for Local Policymakers report produced by the Guarini Center at NYU focuses on reducing the consumption of meat and how it could help to improve public health and reduce harm to animals and the environment Why the report is an excellent place to start for policymakers at a local level and some of the steps that cities have taken that Jeff considers positive Innovative policies that might prove to be a good way forward Resources Mentioned:  Article: An animal rights activist was in court on criminal charges. Why was the case suddenly dismissed? Unchained TV Our Hen House on Unchained TV  NY Times Article: Vegan Travel: It’s Not Fringe Anymore Connect with Jeff Sebo: Jeff Sebo’s Website Jeff Sebo on Facebook Jeff Sebo on Instagram Jeff Sebo 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. 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.

PJ Nyman joins the podcast this week to discuss how understanding animal exploitation on a global landscape creates bridges to other movements which, in turn, help us address the exploitation of animals in a more multifaceted way. PJ, a contributing author featured in Antiracism in Animal Advocacy: Igniting Cultural Transformation, shares what prompted them to investigate the overlap between the history of human control over nature and eating animals. They also touch on their experience coming out as LGBTQ and as an animal advocate and how the two experiences intersected. And, as an added bonus, PJ shares the books—written by a diverse array of authors—they would recommend to new vegans for varied perspectives on the importance of animal advocacy and how it overlaps with other social justice issues. PJ Nyman earned their Master’s degree in Social and Political Thought from York University and is currently pursuing a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Simon Fraser University. Formerly a program manager for Animal Place, a sanctuary for farmed animals in Northern California, PJ now works as a Corporate Relations Specialist for Mercy For Animals in Toronto, Canada, and sits on the Board of Encompass, a capacity-building organization that helps animal protection organizations and advocates advance diversity, equity, and inclusion. “Animal advocates who are experienced in marginalization and oppression approach animal advocacy with added depth.” – PJ Nyman Highlights for Episode 628: The work PJ does for Mercy for Animals in corporate relations and how they work with food companies to improve animal welfare policies PJ’s involvement with Encompass, their role there, and their essay for Antiracism in Animal Advocacy: Igniting Cultural Transformation Why PJ turned their back on an academic career in favor of animal advocacy Tendencies that disappointed PJ when they became active within the mainstream animal rights movement Why we need to expand how we do advocacy in order to encompass a broader message as a movement so that we’re meeting people where they are and speaking to a wide range of people in many different ways Understanding animal exploitation as a tool of oppression and a system of domination and why that approach makes our movement more powerful Whether PJ believes that there are different levels to the advocacy movement to change the world for animals and how they would characterize those levels How the reformation and improvement of animal welfare standards can impact workers in the industry How working on welfare reforms rather than liberation works for PJ philosophically Tangible ways forward in achieving equity for people working in the animal protection movement Why PJ feels it’s necessary to promote veganism in a way that challenges us rather than allows us to be complacent What PJ is hopeful about in animal advocacy moving into 2022 Connect with PJ Nyman: Encompass Website Mercy for Animals Website Antiracism in Animal Advocacy: Igniting Cultural Transformation 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. 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.

Author and award-winning journalist Rachel Krantz has written a truly extraordinary book,  Open: An Uncensored Memoir of Love, Liberation, and Non-Monogamy. This week, she and Jasmin sit down to discuss this raw, vulnerable, and truly inspirational account of Rachel’s journey into the sometimes complicated world of polyamory and how that journey of self-discovery has interwoven with her veganism and animal rights activism. This wide-ranging conversation between two friends is not only a fascinating exploration of self-discovery, but depicts a story that will resonate with anyone who allows their instincts about the importance of animals and veganism to influence the course of their life. Rachel Krantz is on the advisory board for Sentient Media, and we are lucky to have her on the board of directors of Our Hen House. She is the recipient of the Peabody Award, the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights International Radio Award, the Investigative Reporters and Editors Radio Award, and the Edward R. Murrow Award for her work as an investigative reporter. Rachel was a Lead Writer for Mercy for Animals and is also one of the three founding editors of Bustle, where she served as Senior Features Editor and before that as Senior News Editor. “When it comes to veganism, people are so defensive; there’s so much cognitive dissonance. Vegans in pop culture are often the brunt of a joke, but we are understandably trying to advocate for the animals.” – Rachel Krantz Highlights for Episode 627: Why Rachel wanted to tell the story of her first open relationship, which was also the relationship that saw her turn vegan How personal narrative can be an essential ingredient for social change and why it is crucial to put aside our egos in telling our truth Rachel’s work at Mercy for Animals and why she needed to shift away from mainstream media to focus on animal rights reporting How Rachel and Jasmin connected based on their shared passion for animal activism The importance of creating high-quality, well-referenced content when it comes to veganism How Rachel’s memoir recounts how both veganism and her primary romantic relationship contributed to her personal development How her disordered eating played out and the impact of veganism on her relationship with food Why the polyamory community might be open to veganism Connect with Rachel Krantz: Rachel Krantz’s Website Rachel Krantz on Instagram Rachel Krantz on Twitter Open: An Uncensored Memoir of Love, Liberation, and Non-Monogamy by Rachel Krantz Recommend Open to your local library 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. 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.

Matt Johnson of Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) is an investigator, a press coordinator, and an animal rights activist extraordinaire.  About to go to trial in Iowa on felony charges, including under Iowa’s infamous Ag Gag statute, for rescuing a piglet, now named Gilly, from certain death, he shares with us the harrowing story of entering factory farms under conditions of ventilation shutdown during the early days of the pandemic, after being tipped off by a company truck driver that animals had been left to slowly suffocate to death. He also tells us about the philosophy and legal arguments behind the Right to Rescue that DxE activists argue render their actions in rescuing animals who are at risk of suffering and death justified under well-established law.  While, in addition to Matt’s, a number of trials where this theory will be argued by the defense will be coming up in the next few months, we learn in some detail how this has played out so far under very real world circumstances with his inside look into the recent trial of Wayne Hsiung, founder of DxE, for rescuing a baby goat named Rain from a farm in North Carolina in 2018. Matt Johnson is an investigator and Press Coordinator with DxE, a global grassroots network of animal rights activists. DxE activists have rescued hundreds of animals from slaughterhouses, laboratories, and other places of violence. Matt is personally facing felony burglary charges because of his part in saving Gilly the piglet from certain death. He has also been involved in many other animal rescues and in highlighting the plight of animals facing violence and pain. “The genesis of the Iowa Select Farms case was not brought about by animal rights activists saying that they object to what’s happening inside of these facilities; it was somebody who sees it all day, every day and is part of this industry.” — Matt Johnson Highlights for Episode 626: Matt’s role in the May 2020 expose of Iowa Select Farms and its use of ventilation shutdown to kill thousands of pigs How DxE learned what was happening at Iowa Select Farms from a local truck driver for the company and how they investigated and gathered intel on the atrocity How Matt rescued Gilly the piglet from certain death and how she is today Why the police picked up Matt during a raid after the rescue, despite him offering no resistance to arrest and not being a flight risk Why the FBI seemed more interested in discrediting Matt than learning the specifics of why he removed Gilly from the farm The Ridglan Farms dog breeding and research facility case, where DxE activists rescued three beagles in 2017, and why, four years later, charges are being brought against them Additional strategies DxE is using to create systemic change Matt’s appearance on Fox Business, what inspired it, and how it played out Matt’s vision for the future on how animals and humans can live in harmony on our shared planet Connect with Matt Johnson: Direct Action Everywhere Website Matt Johnson 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. 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. __________________________ 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. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

We’re so honored to welcome Anita Krajnc and Nicola Harris to help us start off 2022 with dynamic and effective activism for animals and the planet! Anita is the co-founder of Animal Save Movement and Nicola serves as the nonprofit’s Director of Communications. They talk about their decision to establish climate- and health-focused chapters of Animal Save Movement, in addition to the animal rights chapter, in order to connect with a larger audience. They also share why, as part of the climate chapter, Animal Save Movement has launched the Plant Based Treaty, an international movement fighting for a treaty that will center food systems in the fight against climate change. They also tell us how they are currently working to gather grassroots support from communities around the globe so that, ultimately, the treaty can be positioned as a companion to the Paris Agreement. They also share with us their related efforts to end animal-gifting programs that provide communities in developing nations around the world with farmed animals. Anita Krajnc co-founded Animal Save Movement with the mission of spreading the idea that we all have a moral duty to bear witness, end animal agriculture, and reforest the earth. Animal Save Movement first launched in December 2010. Toronto Pig Save came soon after, after Anita adopted her dog, Mr. Bean. Anita Krajnc is a co-founder of Toronto Pig Save. She holds a PhD in Political Science from the University of Toronto and her doctoral thesis was based on the role of scientific knowledge and public education in building international environmental regimes.  Nicola Harris is a communications director at Animal Save Movement. She became a vegan activist and Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC) campaigner in 2002. When she took on the role of communications in 2007, Nicola became a victim of state repression and, alongside other campaigners, received a prison sentence for her activism under controversial and undemocratic legislation targeting freedom of expression. Nicola is currently a core participant in a UK Government inquiry into the policing of protests and is listed in the miscarriage of justice category. “Having something slightly less bad is not an option—this is code red for humanity.” —Nicola Harris “The root cause of our climate crisis is how we treat other animals. Once we change that, then we’ll move toward a completely different way of living on the planet, where we have forests we co-habitat with other species.” – Anita Krajnc Highlights for Episode 625: The goals and mission of the Plant Based Treaty The three principles of the Plant Based Treaty, who needs to sign it, and the strategy for turning the powerful principles into policy How the Fossil Fuel Treaty campaign has been a model for how to offer solutions to the life-threatening climate crisis The short term solutions that animal agriculture is offering to combat climate change and why they won’t work Why everybody should be taking the plant-based treaty to their local representatives and urging them to take action How Animal Save Movement is helping people all over the world pressure their politicians Suggestions for policies that cities and towns can institute  Why Anita and Nicole are excited about New York City having a plant-based mayor Where people can find out more about the Plant Based Treaty and how to sign it The recent UN Climate Change Conference, how they managed to deny science, and why their disappointing conclusions have made grassroots action even more critical What the Stop Animal Gifting campaign entails and why they are so passionate about ending the practice How Anita and Nicola respond to arguments that plant-based diets undermine the traditions and freedoms of indigenous peoples The importance of bearing witness to animals’ suffering by holding vigils Connect with Anita Krajnc & Nicola Harris: Animal Save Movement Plant Based Treaty Animal Save Movement on Instagram Animal Save Movement on Facebook Animal Save Movement on Twitter Animal Save Movement on TikTok Animal Save Movement on YouTube Plant Based Treaty on Instagram Plant Based Treaty on Facebook Plant Based Treaty on Twitter Plant Based Treaty on YouTube 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! We invite you to join our end-of-year matching campaign where your donations will be TRIPLED, dollar-for-dollar, up to $20,000, between now and December 31! That means with your donation—plus our Barnyard Benefactors and an added boost from an anonymous donor—we are hoping to raise $60k total. We can’t do it without you! The only way we’ll receive the matching funds is if we successfully reach our goal of raising $20k from our loyal supporters by the end of the year.  Any amount is hugely appreciated, and Our Hen House is a  nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible! If you’re a regular listener and would like to connect with us more personally, we invite you to join our flock for $10/month or $100/year. So, if you enjoy our podcasts, if you believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, if you find community and solace in our shows and resources, and if you believe in the change-making power of indie media, please make a donation today. __________________________ 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. __________________________ 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. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

Father Massimo da Qumran of the Sacred Order of the Hesychasts of San Giovanni Climaco, a spiritual community with residences near Milan and Florence, joins the podcast for this Christmas episode. He shares with us how he practices Christianity, how that practice relates to animals and veganism, and why religion often neglects the relationship between God and animals and their purpose on Earth. A priest and monk in the Old Catholic Church of Utrecht, with a belief system rooted in the very early practice of Christianity by the Essenes, Father Massimo explains his belief in the equality of humans and animals. He illustrates how he and others practice this belief by keeping animals off their plates, rescuing animals from slaughterhouses, running animal sanctuaries, rehabilitating wildlife, and incorporating animals into prayer. The Sacred Order of the Hesychasts of San Giovanni Climaco teaches people to truly connect with themselves to experience a deeper relationship with God and nature. Among their outreach efforts, during the ongoing pandemic, they launched a vegan food program for the surrounding community and increased their digital outreach efforts, helping them grow their community. Father Massimo belongs to the Sacred Order of the Hesychasts of San Giovanni Climaco established by Archiepiscopal Decree and belonging to the Old Catholic Church of Utrecht. Members of this community do not eat meat or fish and believe in the equality of humans and animals. The community is part of the religious and spiritual tradition of the Christian Church of the East, that values above all the spiritual development of man, a contemplative life of quiet prayer, and attaining a mystical union with the Divine. Their two residential communities, Eremo degli Angeli and Montecuccoli Abbey, where Father Massimo is based, include animal sanctuaries and accept visitors who are interested in cultivating a lifestyle based on respect for nature, for others, and for animals. Very special thanks to Julia Klauss to providing translation for portions of Father Massimo’s interview. To listen to the entire interview, complete with full Italian replies, click here. “Jesus Christ came for animals, too.” —Father Massimo Highlights for Episode 624: How the Sacred Order of the Hesychasts of San Giovanni Climaco teaches people how to connect with themselves, and through this, experience a connection with God How the order incorporates respect for all beings into everyday life Living alongside animals rescued from slaughterhouses  Their special program for international volunteers to help care for the animals who live at Montecuccoli Abbey, near Florence How veganism relates to Christianity Why the Order considers eating animals to be a sin Online activities that expanded during the pandemic and how their community grew by hundreds of people who then visited the Abbey and took courses with the Sacred Order of the Hesychasts of San Giovanni Climaco How widespread veganism is in Italy and whether people are becoming more interested in adopting a diet without animals Why Father Massimo and the Order are working on a television ad regarding our relationship with animals and how that integrates into their advocacy efforts How the Sacred Order celebrates Christmas How you can visit the monastery or learn more about its work Connect with Father Massimo: Abbey of Montecuccoli Website Hermitage of the Angels 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! We invite you to join our end-of-year matching campaign where your donations will be TRIPLED, dollar-for-dollar, up to $20,000, between now and December 31! That means with your donation—plus our Barnyard Benefactors and an added boost from an anonymous donor—we are hoping to raise $60k total. We can’t do it without you! The only way we’ll receive the matching funds is if we successfully reach our goal of raising $20k from our loyal supporters by the end of the year.  Any amount is hugely appreciated, and Our Hen House is a  nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible! If you’re a regular listener and would like to connect with us more personally, we invite you to join our flock for $10/month or $100/year. So, if you enjoy our podcasts, if you believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, if you find community and solace in our shows and resources, and if you believe in the change-making power of indie media, please make a donation today. __________________________ 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. __________________________ 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. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

The trailblazing Monica Chen, Executive Director of Factory Farming Awareness Coalition (FFAC), joins the podcast this week for an inside look into how the nonprofit is working to change the world for animals through education and mentorship. FFAC has recently shifted its educational programming to focus on high school and college students, and is seeing outstanding results.  Also, despite the challenges presented by the pandemic, FFAC’s outreach and programming continues to inform the public about the enormous harms of animal agriculture to animals, the environment, and human health.  Among other strategies, they are connecting with community and religious organizations to deepen relationships and open minds about what’s really happening behind closed doors in our broken food system. Monica Chen is is responsible for overseeing FFAC’s administration, programs, and strategic planning. She joined the team in 2018 and helped found the organization’s intern program. Before joining FFAC, Monica worked in residential environmental education, taught sexual health, and served as an instructor for the Prison University Project at San Quentin. She currently volunteers her time as a crisis support counselor, and her activism is focused on the interconnectedness of social justice issues. Monica also loves walking and spending time with her guinea pig, Emcee. “It’s so much more powerful when students come to their own conclusions and recognize the impact they can have in choosing to eat differently and partaking in various campaigns. We’re thinking about systemic solutions, institutional solutions, and individual solutions.” – Monica Chen Highlights for Episode 623: Topics covered in FFAC’s programs for students, educators, and individuals How FFAC connects with students via the Student Mentorship Program and why linking high school students with college student mentors has proved so beneficial on an individual and organizational level How 2020 changed the way the organization conducts outreach activities What prompted the FFAC team to reflect and be intentional about what they wanted to achieve How they pivot their messaging so it resonates with each unique audience The importance of networking to spread the message of equality for animals Why Monica was initially reluctant to call herself an animal-rights activist and how her perspective changed Why diversity and inclusivity in the animal-rights movement is essential The importance of meeting people where they are at Monica’s belief that people are starting to become more aware of the connections between animal agriculture and climate change Why labor conditions in the animal agriculture industry resonate so profoundly with people Growing awareness of the relationships between food justice and racial justice Monica’s personal experience as a Chinese-American woman in a leadership role in the animal rights movement How Monica makes sure to hold space for the emotional experiences of the young people that she works with Connect with Monica Chen: Factory Farming Awareness Coalition Website Factory Farming Awareness Coalition on Facebook Factory Farming Awareness Coalition on Instagram Factory Farming Awareness Coalition 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! We invite you to join our end-of-year matching campaign where your donations will be TRIPLED, dollar-for-dollar, up to $20,000, between now and December 31! That means with your donation—plus our Barnyard Benefactors and an added boost from an anonymous donor—we are hoping to raise $60k total. We can’t do it without you! The only way we’ll receive the matching funds is if we successfully reach our goal of raising $20k from our loyal supporters by the end of the year.  Any amount is hugely appreciated, and Our Hen House is a  nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible! If you’re a regular listener and would like to connect with us more personally, we invite you to join our flock for $10/month or $100/year. So, if you enjoy our podcasts, if you believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, if you find community and solace in our shows and resources, and if you believe in the change-making power of indie media, please make a donation today. __________________________ 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. __________________________ 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. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

Keegan Kuhn and John Lewis, the remarkable filmmakers behind the new documentary, They’re Trying to Kill Us, join the podcast this week for a critical conversation about the deadly effects of the meat-centric standard American diet, how it impacts Black communities with particular harshness, and how hip-hop artists are a crucial part of the movement to save Black lives through diet change. In our discussion of the film, which is executive produced by vegan NBA player Chris Paul and vegan Grammy Award-winner Billie Eilish, Keegan and John share why they see hip-hop as such an important tool for the empowerment and survival of Black communities and why artists of the genre—such as Mýa, Ne-Yo, Styles P., and Mathematics from the Wu-Tang Clan (all featured in the film)—are so passionate about the need to change what people eat.  We talk about intentionality, whether there’s an effort to destroy Black communities through a lack of nutritional education, and, regardless of intent, that the obvious bottom line is that profits consistently are considered more important than people. We also discuss the questions that arise regarding communicating the facts of animal abuse when a film centers primarily on the health impacts of an animal-centered diet. Keegan Kuhn is the award-winning co-director of the highly acclaimed documentary film Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret, which was executive produced for Netflix by Leonardo DiCaprio, What The Health, executive produced by Joaquin Phoenix, and Running For Good: The Fiona Oakes Documentary, executive produced by James Cromwell. He is also the owner and operator of First Spark Media, a digital film production company tailored to creating films for social justice. Fitness expert John Lewis has spent over two decades in the health industry and played Division I college basketball. His education in business coupled with his love for health and fitness gave him the ability to start his venture – Bad Ass Vegan – a health and nutrition company that strives to educate individuals on plant based nutrition.  Together, John and Keegan have teamed up to create They’re Trying to Kill Us, which seeks answers to why Americans of color suffer from disproportionately higher rates of chronic disease and explores the links between food, disease, race, poverty, and institutional racism. “Veganism is the biggest middle finger you can give the government. What better way to show a system—that wants to keep you sick, down, and unhealthy—who’s the boss than to be healthy, happy and thriving.” – John Lewis “Veganism is social justice, and social justice is veganism. I think we have to see that all forms of oppression are connected. If you care about non-human animals, and that’s the reason why you’re vegan, you should also care about human animals as well and the oppression that they face.” – Keegan Kuhn Highlights for Episode 622: Why the influence of hip-hop as a way to spread the vegan message intrigued John and made him believe that it could be an important tool to reach people Why some of the artists featured in the film became vegans after filming The hip-hop artists in the movie, including Mýa, Neo, Styles P., and Mathematics from the Wu-Tang Clang Why systemic racism and political issues that are explored within hip-hop are the centerpiece of the film and how veganism connects to them Why it is important that white people should go vegan to undermine racism, and why it’s a tough connection for a lot of people to make Why John was inspired to engage in activism and why he decided that this was going to be the way he was going to change the world How John’s mother’s illness has made him feel about the repercussions of the lack of nutritional information and healthy food available in Black communities Why John and Keegan have both dedicated themselves to putting information out there and helping people reach their own solutions Why they talk only tangentially about the conditions of animals in the documentary Follow the film: They’re Trying to Kill Us documentary They’re Trying to Kill Us on Facebook They’re Trying to Kill Us on Instagram Connect with John Lewis: John’s Website John on Instagram John on Facebook John on YouTube Connect with Keegan: Keegan on Instagram Keegan on Facebook First Spark Media 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! We invite you to join our end-of-year matching campaign where your donations will be TRIPLED, dollar-for-dollar, up to $20,000, between now and December 31! That means with your donation—plus our Barnyard Benefactors and an added boost from an anonymous donor—we are hoping to raise $60k total. We can’t do it without you! The only way we’ll receive the matching funds is if we successfully reach our goal of raising $20k from our loyal supporters by the end of the year.  Any amount is hugely appreciated, and Our Hen House is a  nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible! If you’re a regular listener and would like to connect with us more personally, we invite you to join our flock for $10/month or $100/year. So, if you enjoy our podcasts, if you believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, if you find community and solace in our shows and resources, and if you believe in the change-making power of indie media, please make a donation today. __________________________ 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. __________________________ 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. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

We’re absolutely thrilled to welcome Tracye McQuirter, MPH, back to the podcast this week to discuss her remarkable program: 10 Million Black Vegan Women. Initially launched last year as 10,000 Black Vegan Women, Tracye is back after she realized she had been thinking too small about how many people this accessible, online program could reach. So, after exceeding expectations by helping 15,000 Black women go vegan the first time around, this time her improved and expanded plan will help 1 million Black women adopt a plant-based lifestyle every year for the next 10 years. In discussing this not-for-profit program, much of which will be available for free, Tracye talks about why Black women are in the midst of a health crisis and how a shift in diet can positively impact so many chronic health conditions.  But her goals are not just related to individual health. She also shares why the Black Lives Matter movement has played a role in incentivizing people to think seriously about adopting a plant-based lifestyle and how changing one’s diet can open one up to so many social justice issues, including animal rights. Tracye McQuirter is a vegan change agent, award-winning public health nutritionist, speaker, and best-selling author of By Any Greens Necessary, the first vegan diet book for Black women. In 2020, Tracye created the 10,000 Black Vegan Women program, which encourages women to go vegan for 21 days and experience the extraordinary health benefits of the plant-based lifestyle. Tracye was a health advisor for the Black Women’s Health Imperative, an advisor for the Spelman College Wellness Revolution, an adjunct professor at the University of the District of Columbia Center for Nutrition, Diet, and Health, and the program director of the first federally funded vegan nutrition program. “I would love for half of the women, half of the Black women in the United States—Black women and girls—to go vegan in 10 years.” – Tracy McQuirter Highlights for Episode 621: Why COVID-19 highlighted the health and social issues Black women face How the results of the 10,000 Black Vegan Women program encouraged Tracye to launch a campaign with the goal of reaching 10 million women What it’s like participating in the 10 Million Black Vegan Women program, including recipes, exercise advice, and guest speakers Tracye’s vision for her next ten years in promoting the vegan lifestyle Tracye’s future plans to start a certification program for Black women to be trained as vegan coaches for other women The major obstacles that people face when first trying a plant-based diet Why Tracye believes that veganism is both a personal and a political act Tracye’s blueprint for eating a healthy, affordable vegan diet Connect with Tracye McQuirter: 10 Million Black Vegan Women Website 10 Million Black Vegan Women on Instagram By Any Greens Necessary Website Tracye on Facebook Tracye on Instagram Tracye 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! We invite you to join our end-of-year matching campaign where your donations will be TRIPLED, dollar-for-dollar, up to $20,000, between now and December 31! That means with your donation—plus our Barnyard Benefactors and an added boost from an anonymous donor—we are hoping to raise $60k total. We can’t do it without you! The only way we’ll receive the matching funds is if we successfully reach our goal of raising $20k from our loyal supporters by the end of the year.  Any amount is hugely appreciated, and Our Hen House is a  nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible! If you’re a regular listener and would like to connect with us more personally, we invite you to join our flock for $10/month or $100/year. So, if you enjoy our podcasts, if you believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, if you find community and solace in our shows and resources, and if you believe in the change-making power of indie media, please make a donation today. __________________________ 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. __________________________ 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. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.