Hope for the Animals

In honor of the millions of turkeys bred and killed for the upcoming holidays, this episode features United Poultry Concerns President Karen Davis sharing her many years of research and knowledge about turkeys. This in-depth discussion includes the fascinating and tragic history of the turkey in the Americas and how far turkey hen mothers will go to protect their young. Karen tells Hope about modern turkey farming and how every newborn turkey in the mechanical hatchery longs for her mother and siblings and will always feel lost without the comfort and security of her family. Karen also talks about some of the turkeys she has met in her many years of rescue work, and how each turkey has expressed his or her own unique personality. Resources:Book: More Than A Meal, The Turkey in History, Myth, Ritual and Reality by Karen DavisUPC Information on TurkeysReason for Vegan Series 4: The Turkey Meat Industry Exposed

In this series of short shows, Hope focuses in on specific aspects of animal agriculture and answer the question of why are we vegan. In this ninth installment of the Reason for Vegan Series she talks about fish and the fishing industry. Hope explores the different commercial fishing methods and how they affect fish. She explains how fish farming can be even worse than wild caught fish for individual fishes and the environment. She also dives into the environmental impact of fishing and the state of our oceans. Resources:www.fishfeel.orgWhat A Fish Knows by Johnathan Balcombe 

In Episode 13, Hope reviews two new documentaries focused on climate change and the environmental impact of animal agriculture. Countdown to Year Zero and EndGame 2050 are both powerful films with eco-vegan themes, but they resonate in different ways. Hope will break down what she thought of the two films and why she recommends them both.Next on the podcast is a lively interview with Jane Velez-Mitchell of Jane Unchained. You might remember Jane from her network TV show many years ago where she tackled hard-hitting animal rights issues. She continues the fight for animals today with Jane Unchained News, a Facebook Live video series, a vegan cooking show called New Day New Chef, and more.Jane tells the story of her transition from working in mainstream media to being a full-time activist. She also talks about her ingenious project, Plant-Based Neighbor, a social media app that connects vegans with other veg-neighbors in their area. Also on the podcast, Jane tells Hope about the new season of her vegan cooking show New Day New Chef:Support and Feed Edition. The Support and Feed Edition offers hope for vegan restaurants that are struggling in the pandemic. The show features celebrities supporting plant-based restaurants so they can offer meals to hungry kids, doctors and nurses on the frontlines, and others in need. Resources:VegMovies.comJane Unchained NewsNew Day, New ChefPlant-based Neighbor Countdown To Year Zero EndGame 2050

In this series of short shows, Hope will focus on specific aspects of animal agriculture and answer the question of why we are vegan. In this eighth installment of the Reason for Vegan Series she talks about fish; who they are, what their lives are like, and why we should care about them. Hope will uncover the emotional, cognitive, and complex life of fish. Science is discovering so much about our underwater cousins and Hope will dive into that research and help us answer questions about pain, parenting, emotion, communication, memory, and more. Resources:www.fishfeel.orgFaceBook: Let Fish LiveWhat A Fish Knows  by Johnathan Balcombe 

In Episode 12, Hope starts us off with a discussion about language. Our use of language shapes how we perceive the world. Our language around animals is especially important because it can influence how society thinks and feels about animals. Hope offers some suggestions for changing and improving our language to help people see animals as individuals. To recognize them beyond mere property, and see animals as sentient beings deserving of our protection and respect. Next on the podcast we have the fun and fabulous, Jasmine Leyva. Jasmine is an actress and filmmaker who created the documentary The Invisible Vegan. This 90-minute independent documentary brings to light the health and wellness possibilities for the African-American community with a plant-based vegan diet and lifestyle. The Invisible Vegan offers both historical and contemporary perspectives on dietary trends among African-Americans. Hope and Jasmine talk about the importance of supporting vegan voices from black communities and all communities of color to help create the diverse, compassionate, interconnected vegan world we all want to see. Resources and Links:Understanding Euthanasia: When Life and Words Become Worthless by Karen DavisWatch The Invisible Vegan on:Amazon Prime (Free with Prime subscription) Tubi TV (Free) KweliTV (Black female-owned streaming service) 

On this Hope for the Animals Podcast, we have another installment of Glimmers of Hope. In this recurring segment, Hope shares positive stories about animals from around the globe. The Glimmers of Hope segment features good news for animals that you might have missed with so many other news stories dominating 2020. We can use a little good news in these challenging times so we hope you enjoy Glimmers of Hope! Next we have an informative interview with Food Empowerment Project’s lauren Ornelas. lauren talks about her three decades of dedicated activism for animals. She founded the Food Empowerment Project in 2006 to bridge food justice issues by exposing injustices in our food system for humans and nonhuman animals. In this podcast, we hear about her undercover investigations of animal agriculture in the 1990s and her more recent work exposing food deserts in vulnerable communities. Hope and lauren also discuss vegan food accessibility, child slave labor in the chocolate industry, and much more. Join us for this informative and important interview with one of the most powerful voices in the animal rights movement today. Resources:www.FoodIsPower.orgwww.VeganMexicanFood.comwww.VeganFilipinoFood.comlauren’s TED Talk 

In this series of short shows, Hope will focus in on specific aspects of animal agriculture and answer the question of why are we vegan. In this seventh installment of the Reason for Vegan Series she talks about goat dairy, goat yogurt, sheep cheese and the unfortunate new tread of non-cow animal dairy. Hope explains the rise in popularity of using non-traditional animals for dairy production and how breeding and using lactating mothers for dairy is fundamentally cruel, no matter which animal species is used or the size of the farm. The Reason for Vegan Series is supplemental to our regular episodes and is perfect for pre-vegans who want to learn more about animal agriculture and veganism, so please share this series with your non-vegan friends. This series is also great for new and existing vegans to get in-depth information about the animal farming industry so they will be excellent advocates for all farmed animals. 

For “Episode 10” of the Hope for the Animals Podcast, Hope announces UPC’s upcoming Humane Hoax Chicken Webinar, the first-ever webinar dedicated solely to chickens, and offers a brief overview of the featured presentations. The Humane Hoax Chicken Webinar will be on Saturday, September 12 and you can sign up for free by going to www.humanehoax.orgNext on the show, we have chicken advocate and rooster rescuer extraordinaire Justin Van Kleeck of Triangle Chicken Advocates. Justin will: Expose the hidden issues with backyard chicken keeping and how roosters are affected by the egg industry. Introduce us to the concept of a microsanctuary and the importance of supporting small-scale rescue and lifetime care of non-traditional animals. Share how the experience of rescue and caregiving has the potential to expand what it means to be vegan.Resources and Links:Humane Hoax Chicken Webinar (sign up for free! September 12, 2020)Triangle Chicken AdvocatesMicrosanctuary Resource Center 

In the latest episode of the Hope for the Animals Podcast, Hope will answer the question, “Can there be ethical eggs?” Some people are learning that humane labels like “cage-free” and “free-range” are misleading consumers about the treatment of the animals, yet they believe there are still other ways to find “ethical” eggs. Some think they can find a “better” egg at a farmer’s market, a small farm, or from a neighbor. But are those eggs truly ethical? Next we have an informative interview with the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s Kelsey Eberly. Kelsey is a Staff Attorney with the ALDF who will share her experience exposing humane-washing in animal agriculture. On behalf of ALDF, Kelsey files false advertising lawsuits that uncover cruel farming practices hidden behind humane labels. Hope and Kelsey explore the fascinating world of animals and the law, new plant-food product label restrictions, and ag-gag laws. 

In this series of short shows, Hope will focus in on specific aspects of animal agriculture and answer the question of why are we vegan. In this sixth installment of the Reason for Vegan Series she talks about cows exploited in the dairy industry and the hidden cruelties of cow’s milk, yogurt, cheese, and other dairy products.