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

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 and its vegan food scene. Meanwhile, Mariann dives into how Catholicism’s own teachings on animal welfare contradict modern practices, shares alarming news about Trump administration policies favoring the meat industry, and explores how narcissism affects our collective response to climate change and animal suffering. Jasmin explores LA neighborhoods and visits the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, complete with peacocks and old Hollywood glamour The hosts reflect on their recent visit to Harriet Tubman’s house and her extraordinary heroism Mariann reveals how Catholic doctrine actually states it’s “contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer or die needlessly” They discuss a Vox article detailing six ways the Trump administration has catered to the meat industry, including faster slaughter lines The conversation examines how narcissism impacts animal advocacy RESOURCES Every president is friendly to the meat industry — but Trump is taking it to another level Global narcissistic collapse: A metaphorical lens on humanity’s ecological crisis Meat Industry PR Group Hosts Panel at DC Climate Week Project Drawdown presents: The Climate Crisis on Our Plates: Rethinking Food and Farming Pets on Apple TV+ Ziggy’s Refuge on Instagram 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 will go towards our fundraising goal and 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.

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 experience” in slaughterhouses. Seriously? How The New York Times misrepresents animal testing by using euphemistic language like “sacrifice” and “euthanasia” New research from Denmark proving we can create sustainable food systems by reducing poultry and pork consumption while ELIMINATING beef entirely   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 LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, or Bluesky. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

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 evolved from traditional outreach to confrontational activism targeting decision-makers How to create a “moral crisis” to shift public perception about animal agriculture Why focusing on federal policy and corporate leaders creates more leverage than individual outreach The importance of building grassroots momentum alongside policy work for meaningful change Practical strategies for new activists to overcome fear and make an impact in spaces of power ABOUT OUR GUEST Robert Grillo is an activist, author, and speaker working for a transition to a plant-based food system. Since 2009, he has been spearheading the work of the grassroots activism group Free from Harm, organizing actions and events around the country where the highest-level powerholders are making the biggest deals and decisions about our food system, impacting billions of animals, consumers, and the planet. Free From Harm website Free From Harm on Facebook Free From Harm on Instagram Free From Harm on YouTube 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 LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, or Bluesky. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

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 horrifying reality of bird flu “depopulation” practices, where underage workers without proper protection are tasked with killing millions of birds in often inhumane ways A significant victory against pigeon poaching in New York City, highlighting how public awareness and police action are finally addressing a long-standing animal exploitation issue The community-led beaver relocation project in Oregon that demonstrates how grassroots environmental restoration can thrive even when government funding is cut The hosts also discuss Animal Equality’s latest undercover investigation, innovative “air butter” technology that could eliminate the need for dairy, and recommend powerful new books documenting the hidden realities of factory farming and animal exploitation. RESOURCES NYC Crowned Best US City For Vegans In 2025 Big win/big arrest made in the big apple Underage workers, millions of dollars and trucks full of dead chickens — inside the business of killing in response to bird flu Trump’s Plan for Bird Flu is a Big Ag Giveaway Exposé of Caged Pigs at Kansas Farm Linked to Major Supermarket Chains This Is What Community-Powered Restoration Looks Like Volunteers turned out in force to welcome beavers back to degraded mountain meadows. Scientists Are Ditching Cows to Make Butter From Greenhouse Gases Censored Landscapes by Isabella La Rocca González Out of Sight by Gail Eisnitz 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 will go towards our fundraising goal and 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.

In this episode of Rising Anxieties, Mariann dives into the animal agriculture industry’s publications to uncover what’s making them sweat these days. As she often points out, only two groups truly know what happens behind closed factory farm doors: advocates and the industry itself. The Rising Anxieties podcast uses their own words to pull back the curtain on what they are really worried about.. This episode explores: The industry’s panic over international tariffs creating a “mad scramble” to find new outlets for meat products originally destined for China—with producers likely expecting taxpayers to bail them out Why large-scale poultry producers in Brazil are having a meltdown over Indigenous communities starting small chicken farms The shockingly common phenomenon of “grain entrapment” killing dozens of workers annually—with industry more focused on body recovery than prevention How California sheriff departments are moonlighting as environmental policy critics by opposing wolf protection measures to please livestock producers Rising Anxieties offers a revealing glimpse into what agricultural publications inadvertently tell us about industry vulnerabilities. By reading between the lines of their own communications, we gain valuable insight into the economic, safety, and political challenges that might just be tipping the scales toward a more compassionate food system. **Editor’s note: In this episode, you’ll notice slightly tinnier audio quality due to an accidental mic switch during recording. The insights are as sharp as ever—only the packaging is different this time. Thanks for your understanding!** 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 LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, or Bluesky. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

Danielle Hanosh, co-founder and executive director of LEAP (Leaders for Ethics, Animals, and the Planet), returns to Our Hen House to share how this innovative program has grown to 18 sanctuaries nationwide with plans to expand into Canada. LEAP provides middle and high school students with hands-on humane education at farm sanctuaries, offering an ethical alternative to traditional 4H and FFA programs while teaching leadership skills, animal ethics, and environmental stewardship. This episode explores: How LEAP creates sanctuary-based learning experiences where students interact with animals on the animals’ terms The powerful impact of teaching adolescents about animal agriculture when they’re naturally questioning authority Why building community for animal-loving teens is crucial for their development as advocates How sanctuary education programs face funding challenges despite their effectiveness LEAP’s evolution from scholarship offerings to supporting graduates with animal advocacy internships ABOUT OUR GUEST Danielle Hanosh is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of LEAP, Co-Founder of Blackberry Creek Farm Animal Sanctuary in Northern California, and also serves on the board of the wildlife conservation NGO, Women for Wolves. With a teaching credential, MA in Education, a decade of experience as a public school teacher, and ten years of experience running a non-profit farm sanctuary, she is delighted to be using her unique background to ensure children and teenagers across the country have access to critical hands-on humane education and leadership development. She is also a professional ghostwriter, passionate storyteller and animal advocate, and the author of several children’s books about animals. RESOURCES  Do Androids Dream of Animal Rights? If A.I. Systems Become Conscious, Should They Have Rights? NIH to prioritize human-based research technologies Washington state becomes twelfth state to restrict circus animal use Nearly Half Of All Americans Would ‘Consider’ Plant-Based Diet, Survey Finds New 44-acre nature reserve for former dairy farm Ex-NFL Player Faces Charges After Largest-Ever Federal Dogfighting Investigation USDA withdraws a plan to limit salmonella levels in raw poultry US FDA suspends milk quality tests amid workforce cuts Garrett Broad on Bluesky: Trump’s trade war with China might accidentally crush the US beef and pork industries. Zoe Rosenberg on Instagram: Trial Postponed ACTION ALERT: Center for Biological Diversity – Save the Endangered Species Act Our Hen House on YouTube 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 LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, or Bluesky. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

This Hen Report episode explores the disturbing parallels between systems of oppression, from ICE operations to the meat industry, and the looming threats to public health from factory farming. Jasmin and Mariann deliver a sobering Hen Report that examines: How the meat industry and immigration enforcement share similar dehumanizing tactics, with both systems relying on workers who must carry out brutal policies created by those in power The alarming spread of bird flu through dairy farms and other animals, with scientists warning it could potentially become a devastating human pandemic How the USDA is taking funds from school food programs to fight bird flu while the dairy industry continues expanding in New York A special appearance by Kathy Stevens, who announces her retirement from Catskill Animal Sanctuary after 25 years and discusses her concerns about the Trump administration’s impact on animal protection The hosts also highlight the New York Times’ problematic celebration of meat’s “comeback,” the USDA’s failure to regulate antibiotics in meat labeled “antibiotic-free,” and the inspiring story of an 87-year-old vegan ultramarathoner raising funds for animal rights. RESOURCES Meat Is Back, on Plates and in Politics Scientists warn what future bird flu mutations could mean for people | 60 Minutes Massive Chobani plant to be built near Utica, upping demand on dairy farmers USDA’s $1B bird flu plan uses money intended for schools, food banks Federal Inspectors Found Antibiotics in Beef ‘Raised Without Antibiotics.’ They Took No Action Trump Opens a Huge Marine Protected Zone to Commercial Fishing New Documentary Follows ‘Incredible’ 87-Year Old Vegan Ultrarunner Paul Youd The Economic Impacts Of A Plant-Based Transition: Exploring Two Growth Scenarios Free From Harm’s Adam Schiff Instagram post Spanish Government Allows Vegans to Eat Vegan Food in School Canteens WATCH: Elephants form ‘alert circle’ during earthquake at San Diego Zoo Safari Park Ridglan Farms sues Dane4Dogs over protests and social media campaigns Animal Activism Collective foie gras protest on Instagram MADNESS: The Deep Driver of Our Climate Crisis Lessons From My Family Farm By Jim Mason Sub-Human A 21st-Century Ethic; On Animals, Collective Liberation, and Us All by Emma Hakansson To Those Who Were Our First Gods by Nickole Brown Creature Needs Writers Respond to the Science of Animal Conservation – Lucy Spelman (Editor) , Christopher Kondrich (Editor) , Susan Tacent (Editor) The Vegnews Guide to Being a Fabulous Vegan Look Good, Feel Good & Do Good in 30 Days by Jasmin Singer & Vegnews Magazine 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.  Between now and December 31, all donations will be TRIPLED up to $20,000! Contributions of any amount will go towards our fundraising goal and 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.

Zoe Rosenberg, founder of Happy Hen Animal Sanctuary, is a passionate animal rights activist currently facing felony charges for rescuing sick hens from a slaughterhouse. In a compelling discussion, she reveals the troubling realities behind Petaluma Poultry's misleading marketing while sharing her personal journey into activism. Zoe also talks about the urgent medical needs of the rescued chickens, critiques the lack of government action on animal cruelty, and emphasizes the importance of community support in navigating her legal struggles.

Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, a recognized expert on compassionate living and author of 'A Year of Compassion,' joins the discussion to explore mindfulness in everyday choices. She talks about redefining compassion in secular contexts and overcoming psychological barriers to align our actions with values. Colleen highlights practical steps for sustainable living, from rewilding gardens to fostering biodiversity. She weaves in her personal journey, emphasizing that even small efforts contribute to meaningful change.

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.