Our Hen House: Vegan & Animal Rights Movement | Stories from the Frontlines of Animal Liberation
388 episodes — Page 3 of 8
The Hen Report: “Who invited the vegan?” | The Squirrel Who Crossed the Political Divide
In this week’s episode of The Hen Report, we welcome back our favorite constitutional law scholar and wingman Michael Dorf to dish about the viral saga of Peanut the Squirrel. What started as a heartbreaking story about a beloved social media star squirrel and his raccoon friend Fred—both killed by New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation under troubling circumstances—turned into a…
Rising Anxieties: Shareholder Activism, Cultivated Meat, and Media Bias
In this week’s emotional rollercoaster of righteous indignation, Mariann dives headfirst into the meat industry’s latest shenanigans. From legal battles over lab-grown meat to the absurdity of milk being crowned official state beverage in 20 states (water, anyone?), to the heartbreaking reality of dairy farm fatalities, this episode serves up a buffet of reasons why the meat industry should be nervous.…
Forget the Judgment, Remember the Bond: Carol Mithers on “Rethinking Rescue”
In her eye-opening book, Rethinking Rescue, journalist Carol Mithers examines how poverty and economic inequality create impossible choices for pet owners who love their animals but lack resources to keep them. Through the remarkable story of Lori Wiese, who pioneered community-based animal care in Los Angeles’ most underserved neighborhoods, Mithers demonstrates not only that we can’t adopt our way out of…
The Hen Report: “It’s the Cow, Not the How” | Media Critique & Food System Myths
In this eye-opening episode of The Hen Report, hosts Jasmin Singer and Mariann Sullivan welcome back Jan Dutkiewicz, professor of political science at Pratt Institute and co-author of the forthcoming book Feed the People: Why Industrial Food is Good and How to Make it Even Better. The conversation centers on a problematic New York Times article about animal rights activism in…
Rising Anxieties: Shareholder Activism, Cultivated Meat, and Media Bias
In this week’s episode of Rising Anxieties, Mariann Sullivan examines several developments causing concern within the meat industry. From evolving shareholder activism tactics to questionable comparisons between cultivated meat and lab-grown diamonds, the episode reveals how animal agriculture interests are responding to various challenges while continuing to rely on government support and biased media coverage. This episode explores: The evolution of…
Animal Law Breakthrough: Court Recognizes Dogs as Family Members with Christopher Berry
This episode of the Animal Law Podcast features Christopher Berry, Executive Director of the Nonhuman Rights Project, discussing a groundbreaking court case that recognizes companion animals as family members in certain legal contexts. Mariann and Christopher explore how this New York decision challenges decades of precedent that treated beloved pets as mere property rather than family, potentially opening new doors for…
The Hen Report: “It’s Not Happening” | Protein Myths and Animal Rights Advocacy
In this week’s Hen Report, Jasmin and Mariann weave through a tapestry of topics with their signature blend of wit and passion. From Rochester’s unseasonably cold August weather to the legal victory against “Alligator Alcatraz,” the conversation takes delightful detours while tackling serious issues like the persistent protein myths still plaguing vegans and the complexities of meat reduction trends worldwide. This…
Factory Farms are VULNERABLE: Water Scarcity and Activism Are Changing Animal Agriculture | Rising Anxieties
In this week’s episode of Rising Anxieties, we examine the meat industry’s growing concerns. From water scarcity issues affecting livestock-heavy regions to unexpected anti-vax policy changes impacting animal agriculture, Mariann walks listeners through the headlines that have industry executives worried. The episode covers everything from depleting aquifers in agricultural states to the prosecution of mink liberation activists, while also exploring challenges…
Little Red Barns: Exposing Factory Farms and Fascism with Will Potter
This episode explores the powerful connections between factory farming, political repression, and the rise of authoritarianism with award-winning investigative journalist Will Potter. In a thought-provoking conversation about his new book Little Red Barns: Hiding the Truth from Farm to Fable, Potter reveals how his decade-long investigation uncovered the dangerous intersection between industrial agriculture and fascist movements. With authenticity and passion, Mariann…
The Hen Report: “A Relatively Uncontroversial Proposition” | Animal Rights Strategy with Michael Dorf
This episode features a conversation with Michael Dorf, Cornell Law School professor and animal advocate, who shares insights from his presentations at Vegan Summerfest. Jasmin and Mariann discuss their upcoming “staycation” plans while reflecting on the early days of Our Hen House. This episode explores: How human rights frameworks can be applied to animal rights advocacy The nationwide shelter crisis and…
Senior Dog Rescue Champions: A Conversation with Sherri Franklin of Muttville
In this heartwarming episode, Jasmin and Mariann welcome Sherri Franklin, founder and executive director of Muttville Senior Dog Rescue, a groundbreaking organization that has saved over 13,000 senior dogs since 2007. What began with just 27 dogs in Sherri’s kitchen has transformed into a revolutionary cage-free shelter in San Francisco that now rescues more than 27 dogs every week. Through Sherri’s…
The Hen Report: “YouTube Is Ruining My Personality” | Content Creation Challenges & Animal Rights News
In this delightfully candid episode of The Hen Report, Jasmin and Mariann dive into a mix of animal rights victories, personal news, and the peculiarities of content creation in the digital age. Episode Highlights: Jasmin’s Big News: Jasmin reveals she’ll be playing Judy Garland in “End of the Rainbow” at Center Stage Theater in Rochester this December. Fur Industry Collapse: Discussion…
Animal Ag’s Legal Panic: Activism Crackdowns, Banned Dairy Ads, and Perdue’s Fishy Chicken Nuggets | Rising Anxieties
In this week’s delightfully disturbing dive into animal agriculture’s paranoia, Mariann Sullivan unpacks the industry’s latest pearl-clutching over those pesky activists who have the audacity to…checks notes…document actual conditions on farms. Gasp! From Canadian farmers fretting about undercover investigations to Perdue shaping chicken meat into cute sea creatures while the plant-based industry gets crucified for “confusing” labeling, the hypocrisy reaches ocean…
Defending Animal Protection Laws: Legislative Strategies Against Big Ag Pushback
In this collaborative episode with Animal Policy Alliance, Our Hen House explores the critical defensive battles being waged in state legislatures to protect animals from harmful agricultural industry bills. From blocking anti-drone legislation in Missouri to defeating rabbit farming expansion in Connecticut, our guests share their strategies for legislative success despite being outspent and outmaneuvered by powerful industry interests. Successfully blocked…
The Hen Report: “Lie, lie, lie. Deny, deny, deny” | Fairlife Dairy Investigation Shutters Factory Farm
In this episode of The Hen Report, Mariann and Jasmin welcome back Richard “Kudo” Couto of Animal Recovery Mission (ARM) for a crucial follow-up to his interview from episode 819. When Kudo first appeared on the show, his major investigation into Woodcrest Dairy was just breaking, and he couldn’t share all the details. Now he returns to reveal how ARM’s…
Trump’s Egg-scuses, Pork Politics, and Farmers’ Crocodile Tears: This Week in Animal Ag Absurdity | Rising Anxieties
In this week’s Rising Anxieties, Mariann Sullivan dives into the theater of the absurd that is animal agriculture politics. From the Trump administration’s laughable attempt to blame California’s cage-free egg laws for nationwide price hikes (spoiler alert: it’s actually bird flu), to pork industry lobbyists desperately trying to justify their existence by fighting animal welfare laws nobody asked them to fight.…
Challenging “Alligator Alcatraz”: The Legal Fight to Protect the Everglades with Elise Bennett
In this compelling episode, Mariann Sullivan speaks with Elise Bennett, Senior Attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity, about the lawsuit challenging the controversial immigration detention facility in Florida’s Everglades. Bennett details how this hastily constructed center in Big Cypress National Preserve threatens endangered species, water quality, and the integrity of a crucial ecosystem that has received billions in restoration funding…
The Hen Report: “Corporate Greenwashing at Industrial Scale” | Methane Digesters, Dairy Industry Spin, Bird Flu Updates
In this compelling episode, Mariann Sullivan speaks with Elise Bennett, Senior Attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity, about the lawsuit challenging the controversial immigration detention facility in Florida’s Everglades. Bennett details how this hastily constructed center in Big Cypress National Preserve threatens endangered species, water quality, and the integrity of a crucial ecosystem that has received billions in restoration funding…
Agricultural Absurdities: From Edited Screams to Forced Labor | Rising Anxieties
In this episode of Rising Anxieties, Mariann Sullivan dives into the agricultural industry’s latest pearl-clutching moments. From state fair organizers panicking over PETA’s “Hell on Wheels” truck to a farmer claiming slaughterhouse screams are “edited,” this episode exposes the absurd lengths the animal agriculture industry will go to avoid confronting reality. Meanwhile, Trader Joe’s is suing activists, and politicians are suggesting…
Can Fungi Save Us? with Aishwarya Veerabahu
This week we dive into the mysterious kingdom of fungi with infectious enthusiasm and scientific precision. Our conversation with ecologist Aishwarya Veerabahu takes us on a journey from underground mycelial networks to the emerging world of mushroom-based alternatives to animal products. The unique perspective bridges the gap between ecological understanding and animal rights, demonstrating how our relationship with the fungal world…
The Hen Report: “People Don’t Want This” | Good News for Animals in a Sordid World
In a world seemingly drowning in sordid headlines, Jasmin and Mariann take a refreshing dive into some genuinely positive developments for animals. From chimpanzees finally escaping laboratory confinement to plant-based milk options becoming more accessible in schools, this episode serves up a welcome plate of good news with just enough irreverent commentary to keep it real. The hosts navigate through victories…
Egg Lawsuits, Salmonella Deaths, and Dairy Delusions: Animal Ag’s Anxiety Spiral | Rising Anxieties
In this delightfully sardonic edition of Rising Anxieties, Mariann Sullivan takes us on a whirlwind tour through the landscape of animal agriculture’s latest woes. From the Trump administration’s absurd lawsuit blaming California’s modest animal welfare laws (not bird flu!) for egg price hikes, to the stomach-turning news of deadly salmonella outbreaks from those same eggs, this episode showcases the industry’s spectacular…
Meat’s Moral Reckoning: Philosopher John Sanbonmatsu on “The Omnivore’s Deception”
In this thought-provoking episode of Our Hen House, Mariann Sullivan interviews philosopher John Sanbonmatsu about his groundbreaking book The Omnivore’s Deception: What We Get Wrong About Meat, Animals, and Ourselves. With intellectual rigor and a touch of irreverence, Sanbonmatsu dismantles the cultural narratives that keep some people comfortably consuming animals while knowing better. From exposing the “humane meat” mythology popularized by…
The Hen Report: “Hens before Mens” | Greenwashing Methane, Welfare Trade Wars, and Monkey Labor
In this delightfully chaotic episode of The Hen Report, Jasmin Singer and Mariann Sullivan stumble through podcast identity confusion before diving into pressing animal rights news and media recommendations. The pair balance serious discussions about animal welfare trade policies and methane production with lighthearted moments about Jasmin’s new senior dog adoption and her “Hens Before Mens” t-shirt that sparks unexpected veganism…
The Great Water Heist: How Meat Production Is Draining America’s Aquifers | Rising Anxieties
In this week’s parched edition of Rising Anxieties, Mariann dives into the meat industry’s growing water crisis – where aquifers are disappearing faster than industry excuses. While Texas suffers floods, livestock regions face exceptional drought conditions with vital aquifers dropping several feet annually. The meat industry’s brilliant solution? Water-free animals and air-to-water technology! Meanwhile, lab-grown salmon makes a splash in Portland’s…
The Hen Report: “Don’t just feel free, feel obligated.” | Persuasion, Pig Fat, and Public Lands
In this spirited episode, Jasmin introduces her newest family member—a senior Chihuahua named June—while Mariann delivers both encouraging and concerning news from the animal rights world. The duo dives into Kenny Torrella’s thought-provoking Vox article about the surprising effectiveness of showing people the reality of factory farming through well-made documentaries like Dominion, challenging current conventional wisdom about animal advocacy strategies. They…
Estate Tax Battles, Butter Wars, and Royal Outrage: Animal Ag’s Growing Panic | Rising Anxieties
In this episode of Rising Anxieties, Mariann Sullivan dives into the latest concerns from the animal agriculture industry—and what’s concerning us about them. From beef producers lobbying for the “Big Beautiful Bill” that would allow them to pass on up to $30 million tax-free to their heirs, to the American Butter Institute’s meltdown over Country Crock’s dairy-free products, the industry’s anxieties…
Redefining Democracy: How Constitutional Law Could Embrace All Sentient Life
In a groundbreaking episode of The Animal Law Podcast, we explored radical new concepts that could fundamentally transform how constitutional law treats animals. Host Mariann Sullivan welcomed Cambridge University’s Raffael Fasel and Queen Mary University’s John Adenitire to discuss their book “Animals and the Constitution: Towards Sentience-Based Constitutionalism” – a work that challenges centuries of legal tradition by proposing constitutional frameworks…
The Hen Report: “The Only Mentally Stable People in the World” | Family Dynamics, Anti-Vegan Psychology, and Wildlife Wins
In this lively episode of The Hen Report, Jasmin and Mariann swap stories from Vermont road trips to unexpected animal activism, all while tackling the psychological framing of veganism and celebrating rare wins for wildlife. Between family dinner dynamics and debunking anti-vegan psychology, our hosts remind us why standing firm in our ethics isn’t a “psychological prison” but rather a path…
Border Battles & Bank Boycotts: Animal Ag’s Double Crisis | Rising Anxieties
This week on Rising Anxieties, we dive into the agricultural industry’s panic attack over Trump’s flip-flopping immigration policies. From ICE raids causing dairy farm labor shortages to the bizarre 1300% surge in white South African H-2A visa workers, the industry’s self-interest is on full display. Financial institutions wielding their power against conventional animal agriculture practices The flesh-eating screwworm nightmare threatening to…
Behind Enemy Lines: ARM’s Undercover War Against Animal Cruelty
The fearless founder of Animal Recovery Mission takes no prisoners in his quest to expose the darkest corners of animal exploitation. Richard “Kudo” Couto, a former Miami Beach real estate developer turned undercover investigator, joins us to reveal how his organization infiltrates illegal slaughterhouses, exposes factory farm abuses, and challenges corporate giants like Coca-Cola’s Fairlife. From Miami’s underground horse meat trade…
The Hen Report: “It’s about consent and agency” | Slaughter-Free Dairy, Public Lands Crisis, John Robbins’ Legacy
This week on The Hen Report, Jasmin and Mariann explore the ethical complexities of “slaughter-free” dairy, the alarming push to sell public lands, and the passing of vegan pioneer John Robbins. Between tales of their recent adventure to Lily Dale (a town of spiritualists) and the Lucille Ball Museum, they dive into why even the most humane dairy operations ultimately prove…
Big Ag’s Immigration Racket | Rising Anxieties
This week, Mariann Sullivan dives into the disturbing synergy between immigration policies and the meat industry, exposing a system designed to exploit vulnerable workers. From the Trump administration’s extension of dangerous line speed waivers to the calculated immigration “crisis” that may lead to even more exploitative visa programs, the podcast reveals how Big Ag thrives on maintaining a vulnerable workforce. With…
Animal Rights Go Viral: Natalie Fulton Reaches Beyond the Echo Chamber
In this captivating conversation, media strategist Natalie Fulton reveals how she’s transformed animal advocacy through her work at Pro Animal Future and her popular YouTube channel. Moving beyond the typical vegan food content, Natalie shares her journey from pandemic-inspired vegan to digital storyteller activist who successfully brings animal rights messaging to mainstream audiences. From her strategic shift toward political advocacy through…
The Hen Report: “A bandaid fix on something rotten to the core” | Vegan Mac & Cheese, Swiss Fur Ban, Melanie Joy’s Fiction Debut
This week on The Hen Report, Jasmin Singer and Mariann Sullivan navigate challenging political times while delivering animal rights news with their signature blend of insight and humor. They cover everything from labor issues in animal agriculture to exciting vegan product launches before welcoming psychologist and author Dr. Melanie Joy to discuss her surprising pivot from non-fiction to fiction with her…
Bird Flu Takes Flight While Meat Scientists Plot World Domination | Rising Anxieties
In this eye-opening episode of Rising Anxieties, Mariann Sullivan dives into alarming developments that should have everyone’s anxiety levels soaring. From the CDC’s confirmation that the bird flu virus infecting a Michigan dairy worker is capable of airborne transmission, to the meat industry’s coordinated efforts to combat what they call “anti-meat activism” through manipulative messaging, to how industrial farming operations are…
Roots & Rising: Connecting Grassroots Voices | OHH Panel
In this illuminating episode of Our Hen House, listeners dive into the vibrant ecosystem of grassroots animal advocacy with three powerhouse changemakers who are transforming the movement from the ground up. James Hattersley (We The Free), Carrie LeBlanc (Compassion Works International), and Steven Rouk (Connect For Animals) share their innovative approaches to building sustainable activism networks that create real-world impact. With…
The Hen Report: “The Disneyland of Packing Plants” | Cultivated Salmon, Vegan Menopause, Activist Arrests
In this week’s Hen Report, Jasmin and Mariann navigate the delicate balance of activism while celebrating groundbreaking developments in food technology. From Mariann’s new camera angle (complete with curious pets) to troubling industry revelations, the hosts offer their characteristic blend of wit and wisdom on living compassionately in a complex world. Cultivated Salmon Milestone: Wild Type’s cultivated salmon becomes the first…
Bird Flu Bonanza and Beef in the Classroom | Rising Anxieties
This week on Rising Anxieties, Mariann Sullivan dives beak-first into the taxpayer-funded fever dream that is the animal agriculture industry’s response to bird flu. From senators begging for vaccine handouts to pork producers suddenly discovering biosecurity (better late than never!), it’s a masterclass in how industrial farming turns every crisis into a government funding opportunity. Meanwhile, the beef industry is busy…
A Wave of Change: Banning Octopus Factory Farming with Amanda Fox, Brenna Anderst & Allie Taylor
In this eye-opening episode, Mariann Sullivan speaks with three pioneering advocates who are successfully preventing octopus factory farming across the United States. Amanda Fox (Executive Director of Animal Rights Initiative), Allie Taylor (President of Voters for Animal Rights), and Brenna Anderst (Senior Policy Advisor at The Humane League) share how their coalition has already secured bans in Washington and California, with…
The Hen Report: “All Hens, All the Time” | Postal Service Chick Deaths, Hospital Food Revolution, and Children’s Books for Animal Freedom
In this Hen Report, Jasmin recounts her adventures at a vegan-friendly baby shower (complete with vegan trivia!), while Mariann contemplates deep philosophical questions. From air-fried apples with caramel salt to the explosion of pistachio milk in mainstream grocery stores, the duo weaves serious animal rights discussions with their trademark humor and warmth, proving once again that changing the world for animals…
Screwworms and Exploding Grain: This Week’s Ag Disasters | Rising Anxieties
In this episode of Rising Anxieties, Mariann serves up a buffet of agricultural catastrophes that have the industry shaking in their boots. From parasitic invasions to explosive grain silos to the pork industry’s bizarre meltdown over a health report that barely mentions them, it’s a masterclass in how industrial animal agriculture consistently creates its own problems—then demands taxpayers foot the bill…
Is Ventilation Shutdown Legal? Private Citizens Fighting Factory Farm Cruelty
In this episode of the Animal Law Podcast, Mariann Sullivan welcomes back Will Lowrey, legal counsel for Animal Partisan, alongside David Rosengard, managing attorney for the Animal Legal Defense Fund‘s Criminal Justice Program. They dive into an obscure but potentially game-changing legal tool: laws in certain states that allow private citizens to obtain search warrants when they have evidence of animal…
The Hen Report: “It’s Not All About the Food” | Shrimp Welfare, AVA Summit, and Wildlife Crossings
In this thought-provoking episode, Jasmin and Mariann welcome back Our Hen House’s “wingman” Michael Dorf to discuss a recent Daily Show segment that mockingly covered efforts to improve shrimp welfare. The conversation delves into the challenges of advocating for less charismatic animals, the complexities of welfare reforms, and the surprising effectiveness of humor in introducing animal suffering to mainstream audiences. Later,…
The Panic Button: Meat Industry Predicts Its Own Extinction | Rising Anxieties
In this episode of Rising Anxieties, Mariann Sullivan examines current developments in animal agriculture and political food policies so you don’t have to. From RFK Jr.’s contradictory stances on vaccines and ultra-processed foods to industry insiders acknowledging that cultivated protein may replace conventional meat production in the future, this episode dives into the contradictions and potential changes within the food system. …
How to Kickstart a Successful Vegan Nonprofit: Expert Advice from Sebastian Joy
Sebastian Joy, founder of Kickstarting for Good, shares his innovative approach to transforming our global food system. Sebastian, who went from leading a tiny vegetarian society to helping build a worldwide movement at ProVeg International, reveals how mentorship has helped launch initiatives raising over $500 million for plant-based innovation. With candid stories about developing B12-fortified toothpaste (when everyone said it was…
The Hen Report: “Steamed Tofu and Broccoli” | Religion, Politics & Vegan Travel
In this delightfully loopy episode of The Hen Report (affectionately dubbed “Henry Port” by hosts Jasmin Singer and Mariann Sullivan), the duo spans topics from coast to coast while delivering their signature wit and animal rights commentary. Jasmin checks in from Los Angeles, where she’s attending the Animal and Vegan Advocacy Summit, reminiscing about her time living in the sprawling city…
Animal Ag is DESPERATE: Regenerative Agriculture Claims & Teen Slaughterhouse Tours | Rising Anxieties
In this episode of Rising Anxieties, Mariann Sullivan exposes how the animal agriculture industry is desperately attempting to rebrand itself while facing mounting environmental and ethical challenges. This episode explores: How factory farming is co-opting “regenerative agriculture” as their newest meaningless buzzword to greenwash industrial practices The meat industry’s shocking new strategy to recruit teenagers aged 16-18 by giving them “hands-on…
In the Room Where it Happens: How Robert Grillo Confronts Animal Agriculture’s Power Brokers
In this powerful episode, we sit down with activist Robert Grillo, founder of Free From Harm, who shares his strategic approach to creating systemic change for animals. From disrupting congressional hearings to confronting food industry executives, Robert explains how his organization uses targeted activism to challenge the status quo and push for a transition to a plant-based food system. How Robert…
The Hen Report: “Liberation, baby.” – Animal Rights & Grassroots Activism News
This Hen Report episode explores the concerning developments in animal agriculture and the inspiring grassroots efforts fighting back against institutional apathy. Jasmin and Mariann deliver a news roundup that examines: How the Trump administration’s $1 billion bird flu plan funnels taxpayer money to the poultry industry while ignoring the root causes of the crisis and the spread to dairy cows The…