This episode reveals the winning strategies behind successful fur ban legislation, featuring advocates who have convinced communities to ditch cruel fashion! From Massachusetts towns passing bans unanimously to a creative campaign strategies in Washington DC, our guests share how grassroots advocacy, coalition-building, and strategic planning are creating a domino effect of animal protection laws across the country.

This episode explores:

• How Massachusetts advocates built an unstoppable fur sales ban movement that spread from town to town with overwhelming support
• The creative DC campaign that included a sustainable fashion show featuring alternatives to animal fur
• Why fur bans are the perfect “gateway” animal protection legislation that builds momentum for bigger changes
• How coalitions between national organizations and local advocates create the perfect recipe for legislative success
• The economic collapse of the fur industry and why now is the perfect time to push for these bans

ABOUT OUR GUESTS

Conor Lamkin is the Assistant Policy Counsel on the Public Policy team at The Humane League. Conor provides legal and policy research, legislative drafting, and strategy development for the Animal Policy Alliance, focusing on state and federal policies.

Max Broad is the Founder and Executive Director of DC Voters for Animals. As a long-time climate advocate, Max saw how influential a small group of passionate citizens can be in the policy process. He has worked on successful legislation to ban ivory and rhino horn in DC, to require DC buildings to use bird-safe building materials that prevent collisions, to prohibit cat declawing, breed restriction in housing, and pet store sales of animals, and food procurement standards to support climate-forward dining in DC schools, jail, and more. With a master’s in environmental science and management from UC Santa Barbara, Max has worked at the National Wildlife Federation, as a contractor at the US Department of Energy, and AmeriCorps NCCC. 

Kara is the Director of Advocacy at the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA). She has a law degree from Suffolk University Law School. She has held leadership positions in the Massachusetts Animal Coalition, the Mass. Bar Association’s Animal Law Practice Group and the Link Up Education Network (a group that addresses the link between animal cruelty and human violence). She has worked to pass a wide range of legislation in Massachusetts that protects companion animals, animals used in food production and farming, wildlife, wild animals used in traveling acts, and animals used in research. She also has worked with advocates across the state to pass local measures to ban the sale of animals in pet shops, prevent the use of wild animals in traveling acts, restrict the use of anticoagulant rodenticides, and prohibit the sale of fur. She has also worked on three ballot questions (wildlife trapping, greyhound racing, and the 2016 “Question 3” on the confinement of farmed animals).

RESOURCES 

• ALP 188: The Case of the Cows, the Gas, & the Money
• WXXI Environmental Connections: Hot topics — the climate issues affecting Rochesterians today
• WXXI Environmental Connections: Climate action in the face of governmental opposition
• Revolution Philadelphia’s Instagram coverage of SNL
• Cory Booker on Animal Rights, Veganism, and How to Change the World
• Woodstock Farm Sanctuary on Bluesky
• This little-known company is a major funder of right-wing politics. You’ve probably eaten their chicken.
• Trump Uses Taxpayer Money to Fund the Torture of Billions of Animals
• The Flawed Ideology That Unites Grass-Fed Beef Fans and Anti-Vaxxers
• Can Climate-Resilient Chickens Help Fight Poverty?
• Want To Save The Bees? Focus On Habitat, Not Honey Bees
• DC Voters for Animals website
• DC Voters for Animals on Instagram
• DC Voters for Animals on Facebook
• DC Voters for Animals on Bluesky
• DC Voters for Animals on LinkedIn
• MSPCA Advocate for Animals website
• MSPCA on Instagram
• MSPCA on Facebook
• MSPCA Animal Action team on Threads
• Animal Policy Alliance website
• The Humane League website

INTERVIEW 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.

_____________________________________________

The Animal Policy Alliance, established by The Humane League, is a powerful collective of local and state-level animal advocacy groups throughout the United States. We serve as a trusted resource, providing knowledge, strategies, connection opportunities, and grants to our member organizations. We lead with purpose, empowering alliance members to build toward our shared vision of a world without animal abuse.

_____________________________________________

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. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content!

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.

Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, or Bluesky.

The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Natalie Ahwesh of Humane Action Pennsylvania and Hannah Truxell of The Animal Policy Alliance about creating effective animal protection legislation at the local level. Learn how grassroots organizations can work with national resources to pass meaningful laws for animals, from foie gras bans to broader farmed animal protections.

This episode explores:

• How to build relationships with local legislators

• Strategic approaches to animal protection legislation

• The importance of language and messaging in animal advocacy

• Building from local victories to state-level change

• Working across different advocacy approaches

• Resources available for grassroots organizations

• Tips for starting local animal protection efforts

ABOUT OUR GUESTS

Natalie Ahwesh monitors and evaluates pending policy, regulatory, and legal action at the federal, state, and local levels that may impact animal protection. She works with local stakeholders, including policymakers, law enforcement, and community members, to ensure current laws and policies are being enforced.  As Executive Director, she directs and supervises all campaigns, programs, and personnel at Humane Action Pennsylvania, while also spearheading educational initiatives. Natalie has several awards and accolades, including the 2024 City & State Above and Beyond, 2023 City & State PA Power 100, 2019 Incline’s “Who’s Next” Animal Advocates and PUMP’s and Pittsburgh Magazine’s 40 Under 40 honorees, 2017 Humane Society District Leader of the Year, and is a founding member of The Humane League’s Animal Policy Alliance. She was also awarded a Rotary International Paul Harris Fellowship in 2023. 

Hannah Truxell is the Senior Policy Counsel with The Humane League, where she leads a team of researchers who focus on providing support to THL’s Animal Policy Alliance. She and her team focus on state, federal, and local policy research, drafting model legislation, and legislative and campaign strategy. Hannah led THL’s internal research and support for the organization’s legal team’s success in defending California’s Proposition 12 before the U.S. Supreme Court. She previously served as Assistant General Counsel of The Humane League, counsel at Farm Sanctuary, and pro bono counsel with the Animal Welfare Institute. Hannah is the current Chair of the Kentucky Bar Association’s Animal Law Section and co-founded a Kentucky grassroots nonprofit, Kentucky Animal Action.

RESOURCES 

• Despite Temporary Closures, Avian Flu Spreads in NYC’s Live Animal Markets
• Who’s Afraid of Lab-Grown Meat?
• The Facts About Protein: Why Science Says More Isn’t Always Better
• These vegan meat brands taste almost as good as the real thing. Taste tests prove it.
• Finally Free! Alamogordo Chimps Find Sanctuary at Last
• Turkey farm in Italy suspended after mistreatment caught on camera
• Humane Action PA website
• Animal Policy Alliance website
• The Humane League website

INTERVIEW 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.

_____________________________________________

The Animal Policy Alliance, established by The Humane League, is a powerful collective of local and state-level animal advocacy groups throughout the United States. We serve as a trusted resource, providing knowledge, strategies, connection opportunities, and grants to our member organizations. We lead with purpose, empowering alliance members to build toward our shared vision of a world without animal abuse.

_____________________________________________

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. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content!

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.

Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, or Bluesky.

The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

Leading researchers from the Psychology of Human Animal Intergroup Relations (PHAIR) Society join us to explore the science behind effective animal advocacy. Social psychologists Kristof Dhont and Jared Piazza share evidence-based insights about why people resist changing their behavior toward animals despite claiming to care about them and what this means for vegan advocacy and animal rights activism.

This episode explores:

• Understanding cognitive dissonance and the “meat paradox” – key psychological barriers to veganism
• Research-backed strategies for effective animal rights advocacy and behavior change
• How social identity, masculinity, and food familiarity impact plant-based eating
• Science-based approaches to reducing animal product consumption and promoting veganism

ABOUT OUR GUESTS

Dr Kristof Dhont is a Reader in Psychology at the University of Kent (UK). He is founder and director of SHARKLab and co-founder and President of the PHAIR Society, dedicated to the psychological study of human-animal relations. He investigates the psychological underpinnings and ideological roots of speciesism, racism, and sexism, and the moral psychology of eating and exploiting animals. He has co-edited Why We Love and Exploit Animals (Dhont & Hodson, 2020) and currently serves as Associate Editor for the journal Psychology of Human-Animal Intergroup Relations (PHAIR). Previously, he served as Associate Editor for Group Processes & Intergroup Relations (GPIR) and as Consulting Editor for the European Journal of Personality (EJP). 

Dr Jared Piazza is a Senior Lecturer of Psychology at Lancaster University (UK). He studies moral decision making as it relates to consumer choices, our treatment of animals, and one another. His research applies perspectives from moral, social, and developmental psychology. He is co-founder and Vice President of the Society for the Psychology of Human-Animal Intergroup Relations (PHAIR), serves as an Associate Editor of the PHAIR journal, and chief editor of the PHAIR blog.

RESOURCES 

• Some Vegans Were Harmed in the Watching of This Movie
• The animal agriculture industry’s obstruction of campaigns promoting individual climate action
• Rich nations could see ‘double climate dividend’ by switching to plant-based foods
• American Red Cross Working To Provide Plant-Based Options In Shelters
• Goodbye, ‘soy boys.’ Hello, swole vegans.
• Both Democratic And Republican Voters Favor Politicians Who Support Animal Protection
• PHAIR Society website
• PHAIR Animal Advocacy Conference 2025
• Jared R Piazza Publications and In Press Papers

INTERVIEW 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.

_____________________________________________

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. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content!

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.

Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, or Bluesky.

The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

Christine Kim, founder of My Dog is My Home, joins us to discuss the critical intersection of housing justice and animal companionship. This eye-opening conversation explores how homeless services, emergency shelters, and housing policies can better serve people and their companion animals, challenging systemic barriers that often force families to choose between shelter and keeping their pets.

This episode explores:

• The difference between “pet-friendly” and truly “pet-inclusive” housing policies
• How co-sheltering programs successfully keep people and pets together
• The connection between breed restrictions and racial discrimination in housing
• Emergency disaster response protocols for families with companion animals
• Innovative solutions for accessible homeless services

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Christine Kim is a macro social worker with a specialized interest in building programs and policies that recognize the power of the human-animal bond. During her time working in supportive housing, Christine became acutely aware of the barriers people experiencing homelessness with animals face when attempting to access shelter and housing services. Christine’s research and work with human-animal homeless families includes a publication in the pioneering book Animals in Social Work: Why and How They Matter (Palgrave Macmillan, 2014), an exhibition for The Animal Museum called My Dog Is My Home and the founding of the non-profit organization by the same name. She served as the first director of the NYC Mayor’s Office of Animal Welfare under Mayor Bill de Blasio, and she is the recipient of the ASPCA’s 2021 Public Service Humane Awards for her leadership at the NYC Mayor’s Office during the COVID-19 pandemic. Christine currently serves as Vice Chair of the board of directors for Animal Care Centers of NYC.

RESOURCES 

• Elon Musk Should Take a Hard Look at One Agency Truly Wasting Taxpayer Dollars
• Piglets Left to Die in Art Exhibition Are Stolen in Denmark
• We’re being nudged to eat meat. What if the tables were turned?
• More Than Half Of Brits Unaware Cows Must Be Impregnated To Produce Milk, Survey Finds
• My Dog Is My Home website
• My Dog is My Home’s virtual conference takes place March 25-27, 2025. Use code henhouse2025 for $65 off registration.

INTERVIEW 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.

_____________________________________________

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. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content!

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.

Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, or Bluesky.

The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

In this powerful episode, we welcome Frances Gonzalez, founder of Little Logan’s Farm, who shares her inspiring journey of creating a veganic sanctuary and educational space in New York’s Hudson Valley. After experiencing profound personal loss, Frances channeled her grief into building a community space that champions veganic farming and compassionate living. Through innovative farm-to-table events and educational programs, she’s breaking new ground in showing how sustainable, animal-free agriculture can bring people together and heal communities.

This episode explores:

• The story behind Little Logan’s Farm in Gardiner, NY, and how it became a safe haven for both humans and animals
• Biocyclic vegan agriculture and its importance in creating truly cruelty-free farming systems
• How farm-to-table experiences can showcase plant-based cuisine without exploiting animals
• Frances’s work with Puerto Rico VegFest and expanding vegan education globally
• The intersection of sustainable farming, community building, and healing through nature

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Frances Gonzalez is a pioneering force in the vegan movement, serving as both the founder of Vegfest Puerto Rico and co-founder of Little Logan’s Farm, a sustainable sanctuary in New York’s Hudson Valley. At Little Logan’s Farm, she has created an innovative fusion of veganic farming practices and elegant event spaces, offering farm-to-table experiences, sustainable wedding venues, wellness retreats, and educational programming. Through her work in both Puerto Rico and New York, Frances demonstrates how plant-based living, environmental sustainability, and animal welfare can harmoniously combine in modern spaces while maintaining a deep connection to nature.

RESOURCES 

• Derek Sarno on Youtube
• How vernal ponds are saving Rochester’s frogs
• It’s Weird That Eggs Were Ever Cheap
• Why Big Pharma wants you to eat more meat
• Vegan ‘Anora’ Star Mikey Madison Wins ‘Best Actress’ Oscar
• The Most Ambitious Plant-Based College Dining Initiative Yet Comes to Texas

INTERVIEW 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.

_____________________________________________

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. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content!

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.

Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, or Bluesky.

The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

On this week’s Hen Report, Jasmin and Mariann explore how we maintain focus on animal advocacy during times of broader crisis, discussing everything from the power of repetition in countering industry narratives to the latest developments in vegan food innovation. Through personal stories and current events, they examine why animal rights remains a crucial lens for understanding and addressing global challenges.

Key Discussion Points:

• How the “illusory truth effect” impacts animal advocacy
• Recent developments in vegan alternatives and industry response
• The significance of the UK’s first vegan Michelin star restaurant
• Updates on the bird flu crisis and egg alternatives
• Personal experiences navigating vegan advocacy in daily life
• The enduring importance of animal rights in times of crisis

RESOURCES

• Mariann’s article in The Cornell Law Review: Desperate Times and Desperate Measures
• Animal Law Podcast 117: The Case of the Frankenchicken
• The effects of repetition frequency on the illusory truth effect
• Vegan Restaurant Wins Michelin Star In UK First
• Is Fake Meat Better for You Than Real Meat?
• Dunkin’ is no longer charging extra for nondairy milk
• Bone appétit! Dog treats from lab-grown meat are hitting the U.K. market
• The Unnatural History of Bird Flu
• One state’s flawed, desperate new plan to fix its egg shortage
• Just Egg Becomes America’s Most Reliable Egg
• Wild fish use visual cues to recognize individual divers
• Lab mice may give ‘first aid’ to unconscious mates

INTERVIEW 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.

_____________________________________________

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. Contributions of any amount are hugely appreciated. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content!

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.

Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or X (formerly Twitter).

The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

Scientist Dr. Rachel Mason joins us to break down her groundbreaking research on dismantling industrial animal agriculture through systems thinking. From her work with Animal Charity Evaluators to her current research using AI to track factory farms globally, Dr. Mason reveals how different forms of activism can work together for maximum impact in challenging factory farming.

This episode explores:

• How the mechanisms supporting factory farming extend beyond the farms themselves
• Why coordinated activism across different approaches creates more effective change
• The role of emerging technologies in tracking and challenging industrial agriculture
• How local initiatives like Denmark’s plant-based food plan demonstrate systems thinking in action
• Ways activists can contribute to systemic change from their individual positions

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Dr. Rachel Mason is a multidisciplinary scientist whose research bridges agriculture, data science, and sustainable food systems. After earning her PhD in Astronomy and working at leading observatories worldwide, she redirected her focus to address urgent environmental challenges on Earth. Through her MS in Plant & Soil Science, she specialized in sustainable agriculture and food system transformation. Dr. Mason’s groundbreaking research examines the environmental impact of animal agriculture, sustainable farming practices, and food system sustainability through innovative approaches including machine learning and remote sensing. As an independent researcher, she tackles complex intersectional issues in food justice, agricultural systems, and animal welfare, applying her unique scientific perspective to advance more ethical and sustainable food production methods.

RESOURCES 

• Factory Farm Pollution Can Be Seen From Space, Scientists Say
• The Friend on Bookshop.org
• A System-Focused Approach To Industrial Food Animal Production
• Institute for Agriculture & Trade Policy website
• Seed the Commons website
• New Roots Institute website
• Rachel Mason on Linkedin

INTERVIEW 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.

_____________________________________________

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. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content!

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.

Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, or Bluesky.

The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

In this engaging episode, documentary filmmaker Austin Meyer and sanctuary director Zoe Novic share how improvisation techniques can revolutionize animal advocacy. From their work leading “Advocacy Playground” workshops at the Animal and Vegan Advocacy Summit to Austin’s compelling animal-focused documentaries, the couple demonstrates how creativity and playfulness can strengthen activism while building essential skills like listening and adaptability. Their unique approach combines professional expertise with a deep commitment to animal protection, offering fresh perspectives on advocacy techniques.

This episode explores:

• How improv principles like “Yes, and” can enhance activist communication and campaign planning
• The importance of incorporating play and creativity into serious advocacy work
• Strategies for telling compelling animal stories through documentary filmmaking
• Ways to build connection and trust within animal advocacy organizations
• The value of bringing National Geographic-style storytelling to farm animal narratives

ABOUT OUR GUESTS

Zoe is the Executive Director of the Center for Animal Protection and Education (CAPE). By day, she combines her passion for animal advocacy, public health, and education at the CAPE animal sanctuary. By night, Zoe can be found playing music, performing in live theater, or leading improv-based leadership workshops with her partner, Austin.

Austin is a documentary filmmaker, National Geographic Explorer, and theatrical improviser. By day, he takes the chaos around him and tries to arrange it into meaningful stories, both with his camera and on stage. By night, Austin can be found running in the mountains, playing mandolin, and wondering how he got so lucky to call Zoe his partner in crime and in life.

RESOURCES 

• • • • Water Bear documentary
      • Center for Animal Protection & Education (CAPE) website
      • Collective Capital website
      • Austin Meyer Films website
      • CAPE on Linkedin
      • CAPE on Instagram
      • CAPE on Facebook
      • Austin Meyer on Instagram
      • Austin Meyer Youtube

INTERVIEW 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.

_____________________________________________

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. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content!

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.

Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, or Bluesky.

The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

In this eye-opening episode, conservation scientist Dr. Bec Gooley challenges our perceptions of one of the most maligned animals – rats. From debunking disease myths to exposing the devastating environmental impact of rodenticides, Dr. Gooley shares groundbreaking research about how rat poisons are affecting entire ecosystems. As both a scientist and policy advocate, she discusses California’s landmark legislation restricting anticoagulant rodenticides and explores compassionate alternatives for human-wildlife coexistence.

This episode explores:

• The truth about rats’ intelligence, social behavior, and role in ecosystems

• How rodenticides impact wildlife, with over 90% of mountain lions testing positive for rat poison

• California’s groundbreaking legislation restricting anticoagulant rodenticides

• Science-based, humane alternatives to lethal rat control

• The One Health approach to human-wildlife conflict resolution

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Dr. Bec Gooley is a conservation scientist specializing in wildlife disease ecology and environmental toxicology, with groundbreaking work on rodenticide impacts on ecosystems. After completing her Ph.D. at the University of Sydney and postdoctoral research at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, she now serves as a David H. Smith Conservation Research Fellow at UC Davis. Her research on rat poison’s devastating effects on wildlife led to landmark legislation prohibiting anticoagulant rodenticides in California. Combining scientific expertise with advocacy, she champions compassionate coexistence strategies and develops innovative solutions for human-wildlife conflict, particularly focusing on ethical approaches to rodent populations.

•  Contact her at rebecca.m.gooley@gmail.com

RESOURCES 

• • • • How hospitals are tackling the environmental crisis in health care
      • How U.S. Taxpayers Bailed Out the Poultry Industry, and Helped Entrench Avian Flu
      • Insisting on Cheaper Eggs Is a Huge Mistake
      • Exclusive: New healthy drink guidelines for kids say no caffeine before age 19
      • n meat- and fish-loving Japan, veganism is making a comeback
      • ‘Insanely tasty green food’: how the meaty Danes embraced a world-first plant-based plan
      • How Trader Joe’s got caught up in a farmgirl TikTok beef
      • A Well Fed World: Climate-friendly food guide
      • Dr Bec Gooley on Instagram
      • WISDOM Good Works website

INTERVIEW 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.

_____________________________________________

The Learn Veganic Online Gardening Course is starting on February 12th, 2025. You’ll learn how to grow a thriving fruit and veggie garden using fully vegan techniques, without any animal byproducts like bonemeal or manure. You can save $15 with the code OURHENHOUSE at https://learnveganic.com/

_____________________________________________

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. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content!

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.

Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, or Bluesky.

The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

In this essential episode for animal advocates, environmental experts Jennifer Molidor (Center for Biological Diversity) and Ashley Capps (A Well Fed World) expose how the meat industry uses “regenerative grazing” claims to greenwash factory farming. From debunking myths about grass-fed beef to revealing the devastating impact of cattle grazing on wildlife and climate change, this conversation equips our flock with science-backed responses to common pro-meat environmental claims.

This episode explores:

• The scientific evidence debunking regenerative grazing as a climate solution

• Why grass-fed beef requires more land and produces more methane than factory farming

• How the meat industry co-opts environmental terminology to mislead consumers

• The connection between cattle grazing and global deforestation

• Plant-based solutions for genuine environmental sustainability

ABOUT OUR GUESTS

Dr. Jennifer Molidor is Senior Food Campaigner at the Center for Biological Diversity, where she leads the “Take Extinction Off Your Plate” campaign and drives Population and Sustainability program initiatives addressing industrial agriculture’s impact on wildlife conservation and climate change. With expertise in sustainable food systems and environmental policy, she previously served at the Animal Legal Defense Fund and as an assistant professor at Kansas State University. Dr. Molidor, who holds a Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame, focuses on the intersection of food choices, farming practices, biodiversity protection, and environmental sustainability.

Ashley Capps is a writer, researcher, and poet who combines her creative background with animal rights advocacy at A Well-Fed World, where she focuses on food justice and climate solutions. As founder of the Mothers Against Dairy campaign and a frequent contributor to Free from Harm, she brings a unique perspective to environmental and animal rights activism. An NEA fellowship recipient and published poet, Ashley leverages her creative writing expertise to advocate for plant-based solutions and animal welfare. She currently lives in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, where she continues her work in animal advocacy while co-editing an upcoming animal poetry anthology for Trinity University Press.

RESOURCES 

• • • Animal Law Podcast 116 The Case of the Thirsty Elk
    • The Animal Industry Has No Chance to Survive
    • ‘A Dangerous Virus’: Bird Flu Enters a New Phase
    • The Media Is Obsessed with Ultra-Processed Foods in 2025 — but Coverage Is Missing the Forest for the (Broccoli) Trees
    • China Opens $11M Cultivated Meat Centre with Support From Local Govt & Businesses
    • USDA pushing beans over meat is music to our ears
    • Submit a comment on the dietary guidelines
    • Learn Veganic Online Gardening Course
    • Jennifer Molidor’s website
    • Jennifer’s FoodX Newsletter
    • Ashley Capps’ website
    • Grazing Facts website
    • Center for Biological Diversity’s regenerative agriculture campaign page
    • Regenerative Agriculture policy primer
    • A Guide to the Impact of Beef Production on Wildlife and Biodiversity
    • Cows and Climate Change Factsheet
    • The Problem with Regenerative Beef Factsheet
    • Slaughterhouse Factsheet
    • Climate Friendly Food Guide
    • The New Sent(i)ence anthology’s Facebook
    • The New Sent(i)ence Anthology’s Instagram

INTERVIEW 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.

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The Learn Veganic Online Gardening Course is starting on February 12th, 2025. You’ll learn how to grow a thriving fruit and veggie garden using fully vegan techniques, without any animal byproducts like bonemeal or manure. You can save $15 with the code OURHENHOUSE at https://learnveganic.com/

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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. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content!

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.

Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, or Bluesky.

The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

Join us for an eye-opening conversation with family physician Dr. Zach Burns about transforming healthcare through plant-based nutrition. From examining the pharmaceutical industry’s influence on medical education to exploring practical solutions for chronic disease prevention, discover how integrating lifestyle medicine could revolutionize our approach to health. Through candid discussion about medical training, patient care, and systemic change, Dr. Burns shares insights about creating a more compassionate and effective healthcare system.

Key Discussion Points:

• The pharmaceutical industry’s impact on healthcare

• Integrating plant-based nutrition into medical education

• Making lifestyle medicine accessible to all patients

• Balancing ethics and medicine in clinical practice

• The future of preventive healthcare

• Breaking down barriers to healthy eating

ABOUT OUR GUEST

A plant-based nutrition advocate, Zach Burns, DO, MPH practices medicine to improve the lives of human and non-human beings. He is an assistant professor of family medicine at the University of Rochester as well as associate director for Moving Medicine Forward, a non-profit led by the pioneering plantrician Michael Klaper to cultivate a new generation of health professionals who have the nutritional literacy to tackle chronic disease. His writing and blog can be found at www.herbivores.life.

• Dr Zach Burns’s website
• Moving Medicine Forward website

RESOURCES

• • Jan Dutkiewicz on Bluesky
  • Meatpacking Companies to Pay $8 Million for U.S. Child Labor Violations
  • Peter Kalmus on Bluesky
  • Herbivore on Bluesky
  • Ridglan: Cruelty May Be Illegal, Unless It’s Called Research
  • Animal Law Podcast episode 109
  • Earthlings (3 book series)

INTERVIEW 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.

_____________________________________________

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. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content!

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.

Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, or Bluesky.

The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.