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

In September of 2021, Alicia Santurio and Baywatch actor Alexandra Paul rescued Jax and Ethan, two gravely ill chickens, from a transport truck heading for a slaughterhouse owned by Foster Farms. The activists faced misdemeanor charges for petty theft, and this March, they stood before a 12-person jury as part of a nine-day trial, previously unheard of for such charges.  Alexandra and Alicia join us to discuss the rescue and how they ultimately chose to take the case to trial despite being offered five different plea deals. They describe the importance of shining light on the cruelty in animal agriculture through court trials and the “necessity defense” as it relates to animals in the eyes of the law. We also get into Alicia and Alexandra’s thoughts about personhood for animals and how organizations can help promote ethical choices. *We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read Mariann’s interview with Alexandra Paul & Alicia Santurio* Alicia Santurio is a committed animal rights activist who dedicates herself full-time to the cause. Currently serving as a Fellow with Direct Action Everywhere, she plays a crucial role in the organization as a Paralegal/Legal Aide and Lead Investigator, working closely with the legal team. Before this, Alicia gained valuable animal care experience, which informed her passion for animal welfare. Alexandra Paul, a well-known actress, political activist, and environmentalist, has been advocating for animal rights for more than three decades. She has been a member of PETA since 1991 and has been actively involved in promoting animal welfare through various campaigns and demonstrations. Alexandra has been arrested multiple times for her involvement in animal rights protests. She is also the cohost of the Switch4Good podcast. “We need to continue doing grassroots open rescues all over the world, shedding light on what goes on behind closed doors, and challenging these systems in courts.” – Alexandra Paul “Animals have protections under the law, and that shows that they’re not just things—they are someone.” – Alicia Santurio Highlights for Episode 693:  How much planning Alicia and Alexandra put into their recent open rescue The distress of chickens being transported, including Ethan and Jax, whom they were able to rescue and nurse An overview of the recent trial, including the four defenses presented The “value defense” and how it was established that the chickens were of no value to Foster Farms How their philosophy of openness and honesty helped their case Why Alexandra and Alicia decided to turn down plea deals involving zero jail time and minor penalties The importance of having strategies and theories of change as animal activists  How legal action against animal rights advocates can change attitudes about factory farming Resources: When ‘The Kitten Lady’ met ‘The Cat Photographer’ An Eagle Who Adopted a Rock Becomes a Real Dad What a Girl’s Goat Teaches Us About Our Food Connect with Alicia Santurio and Alexandra Paul: Alexandra Paul on Facebook Alexandra Paul on Instagram Alexandra Paul on Twitter Alicia Santurio on Twitter Connect with Our Hen House: Our Hen House Website Our Hen House on Facebook Our Hen House on Instagram Our Hen House on Twitter _____________________________________________ Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. You can listen to our podcast directly on our website, or subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcatcher! Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it and leave us a comment on Apple Podcasts! Don’t forget to check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series. Join the Our Hen House Community online! The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren. __________________________ This episode is brought to you in part through the generosity of A Well-Fed World. A Well-Fed World provides the means for change by empowering individuals, social justice organizations, and political decision makers to embrace the benefits of plant-based foods and farming. Learn more at awfw.org.

Since its founding in 1986, Farm Sanctuary has advocated for farmed animals and large-scale institutional reform with the ultimate goal of removing animals from the food system. Senior Director of Advocacy Aaron Rimmler-Cohen joins the podcast this week to discuss Farm Sanctuary’s Food Systems Shift program. In our conversation, Aaron discusses the disastrous policy of government subsidies of animal products and explains why the nonprofit is shifting resources to community-based organizations building sustainable, plant-based food systems. He also highlights three key ways it encourages the federal government to support such a community-focused shift. *We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read Jasmin’s interview with Aaron Rimmler-Cohen* Aaron Rimmler-Cohen (he/his) is the new Senior Director of Advocacy at Farm Sanctuary. He has spent the last 18 months as the Senior Manager of Farm Sanctuary’s “Food System Shift” program, investigating how a platform of just and sustainable food system transformation can end animal agriculture over the long term. He has previously held relevant, director-level roles in politics, agriculture, and at a community-based food system consultancy in North Carolina, has a Master of Public Policy degree from Duke University, and has also served as a co-instructor on “Well-Being Economics.” “We need systems change. We can achieve this by organizing together and building a food system where crops are grown, and money flows back into the community.” – Aaron Rimmler-Cohen Highlights for Episode 692:  How Farm Sanctuary aims to shift financial, social, and political resources toward community-based organizations that build sustainable, plant-based food systems Why farmed animal sanctuaries provide a good starting point for advocacy  How Farm Sanctuary approaches coalition building by meeting people where they are and working together to build a food system that works for everyone, including animals, people, and the planet The allies Farm Sanctuary is working with to bridge the divide between vegan organizations and advocates for small animal agriculture operations The problem with commodity subsidies that support large-scale industrial farming while leaving out fruits and vegetables  Aaron’s vision for a community-focused approach to food infrastructure Three key things the federal government can do to provide support for a shift to community food infrastructure  How the Healthy Future Students and Earth Pilot Programme Act, as well as the Food and Farm Act, could support a more widespread switch to a vegan diet The impact factory farming is having on the acceleration of the climate crisis Connect with Aaron Rimmler-Cohen: Farm Sanctuary Website Farm Sanctuary on Facebook Farm Sanctuary on Instagram Connect with Our Hen House: Our Hen House Website Our Hen House on Facebook Our Hen House on Instagram Our Hen House on Twitter _____________________________________________ Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. You can listen to our podcast directly on our website, or subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcatcher! Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it and leave us a comment on Apple Podcasts! Don’t forget to check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series. Join the Our Hen House Community online! The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren. __________________________ This episode is brought to you in part through the generosity of A Well-Fed World. A Well-Fed World provides the means for change by empowering individuals, social justice organizations, and political decision makers to embrace the benefits of plant-based foods and farming. Learn more at awfw.org.

Humor can be a powerful tool to promote change – and vegan actress and musician Kate Nash knows how to wield it to hilarious effect. We’re thrilled to welcome Kate for a discussion about her recent film, Coffee Wars, which manages to deliver a powerful pro-animal message while, at the same time, making everyone laugh. As we all know, that’s not that easy to do.  In our conversation, Kate introduces us to her character Jo, who owns a vegan coffee house, and explains how the film uses the snobbery that surrounds that particularly favored caffeinated brew as a central joke to encourage viewers to think about what they are putting in their coffee and in their mouths. Plus, Kate tells us about how she first learned about the cruel treatment of animals trapped in agriculture and how that realization changed her life in unexpected ways. *We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read Mariann’s interview with Kate Nash* Kate Nash studied at the BRIT School before launching her music career in 2005. Her 2007 single “Foundations” became a sleeper hit and brought her to public attention in the UK. Her debut album, Made of Bricks, peaked at #1 in the UK. Kate subsequently won the award for Best British Female Artist at the 2008 Brit Awards. Aside from music, Kate has acted in various films and TV series. Most notably, she starred in the 2012 film Greetings from Tim Buckley, as well as the 2013 films Powder Room and Syrup. Kate was part of the cast of the acclaimed Netflix series GLOW, where she portrayed Rhonda “Britannica” Richardson for its entire three season run. She is a supporter of the LGBTQ community and has a large LGBTQ following, and has described her 2010 song “I’ve Got a Secret” as “an anti-homophobic rant.” She is a vocal feminist and campaigns to fight gender inequality within, and beyond, the music industry. In 2013, she became the Global Ambassador for Because I Am a Girl and partnered with them for her own campaign, Protect a Girl. For her role as Jo in Coffee Wars, Kate was awarded the Rising Star Award at the Maui Film Festival. Kate is a vegan and extremely committed to creating positive change in the world. “I hope people watch Coffee Wars, and then when they go to a coffee shop, they say, ‘Maybe I’ll get an oat milk latte.’” — Kate Nash Highlights for Episode 691:  Kate shares details about Coffee Wars, her character Jo, and why Jo’s veganism is an integral part of the story Why the filmmakers wanted to use humor to share the critical message behind the film The measures taken to ensure that the film set was vegan and cruelty-free Kate’s personal journey to vegetarianism and then to veganism Why people have such a disconnect between their love of animals and eating meat Some of the fantastic vegan food options available in London, where Kate now lives, and in Bogota, Colombia, where they filmed part of Coffee Wars What’s next for Kate, including performing at festivals over the summer Connect with Kate Nash: Coffee Wars Website Coffee Wars on Instagram Coffee Wars on Facebook Kate Nash’s Website Connect with Our Hen House: Our Hen House Website Our Hen House on Facebook Our Hen House on Instagram Our Hen House on Twitter _____________________________________________ Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. You can listen to our podcast directly on our website, or subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcatcher! Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it and leave us a comment on Apple Podcasts! Don’t forget to check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series. Join the Our Hen House Community online! The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren. __________________________ This episode is brought to you in part through the generosity of A Well-Fed World. A Well-Fed World provides the means for change by empowering individuals, social justice organizations, and political decision makers to embrace the benefits of plant-based foods and farming. Learn more at awfw.org.

Dr. Milton Mills, a prominent advocate for plant-based diets and a practicing physician, joins us this week for an in-depth discussion about the misconceptions surrounding vegan diets and how such misunderstandings have evolved over time. Dr. Mills, who offers extensive evidence that humans aren’t innate omnivores, thoroughly debunks the myth that humans need meat to be healthy and explains how taking responsibility for our own health through our diet can be more effective than relying solely on Western medicine. But for Dr. Mills, it’s not just about your health.  He also shares his thoughts on the deeply problematic societal norm of killing animals for food and how his spiritual beliefs align with his vegan lifestyle. *We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read Mariann’s interview with Dr. Milton Mills* Milton Mills, MD, practices urgent care medicine in the Washington DC area and has served previously as Associate Director of Preventive Medicine and as a member of the National Advisory Board for Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM). He has been a major contributor to position papers presented by PCRM to the United States Department of Agriculture regarding Dietary Guidelines for Americans and has been the lead plaintiff in PCRM’s class action lawsuit that asks for warning labels on milk. Dr. Mills earned his medical degree at Stanford University School of Medicine and completed an Internal Medicine residency at Georgetown University Hospital. He has published several research journal articles dealing with racial bias in federal nutrition policy. He frequently donates his time by practicing at free medical clinics and travels widely, speaking at hospitals, churches, and community centers throughout the country. He was featured in the wildly popular film “What the Health.” “It’s important not only to be vegan for the animals, but to be vegan for yourself, and that means being a healthy vegan.” – Dr. Milton Mills Highlights for Episode 690:  Why it’s encouraging to see that veganism is surpassing vegetarianism as a popular lifestyle choice, and why this shift is happening Dr. Mills debunks the idea that humans need meat to be healthy  and explains why a plant-based diet is the best way to provide the necessary nutrients for a healthy lifestyle Why we need to start taking responsibility for our own health through our diet, rather than relying solely on Western medicine, and how this approach can be effective in treating chronic diseases Dr. Mills shares the two central reasons why we don’t have to sacrifice our health for animal rights  The fundamental principle of a healthy vegan diet and why this is so important How Dr. Mills’ experience as a Black man in America has prepared him for vegan advocacy Connect with Dr. Milton Mills: Dr. Milton Mills Dr. Milton Mills on Instagram Connect with Our Hen House: Our Hen House Website Our Hen House on Facebook Our Hen House on Instagram Our Hen House on Twitter _____________________________________________ Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. You can listen to our podcast directly on our website, or subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcatcher! Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it and leave us a comment on Apple Podcasts! Don’t forget to check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series. Join the Our Hen House Community online! The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren. __________________________ This episode is brought to you in part through the generosity of A Well-Fed World. A Well-Fed World provides the means for change by empowering individuals, social justice organizations, and political decision makers to embrace the benefits of plant-based foods and farming. Learn more at awfw.org.

Did you know dietary supplements often contain hidden animal-based ingredients, and there are no requirements for this to be disclosed on the label? This week, Terraseed founder Maria Cebrian joins the podcast to discuss vitamins for vegans and the challenges of sourcing high-quality plant-based ingredients and truly eco-friendly packaging. She also describes how Terraseed has partnered with Animal Save Movement for the Transparent Label Campaign. Maria, an entrepreneur with 13 years of experience, tells us how becoming vegan inspired her to create a company that puts animal equality at its center and why she believes it is important to build a person-first business that treats team members as human beings, not resources. *We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read Jasmin’s interview with Maria Cebrian* Maria Cebrian, the co-founder and CEO of Terraseed,  is a third-time entrepreneur and a Forbes 1000 honoree. She has 14 years of experience in the digital and wellness industries, and her second company was acquired by Gaia. Her current company, Terraseed, was the first vegan company to be selected by the accelerator Techstars and has already been recognized by the Natural Products Industry with a NEXTY award. “I wanted to build a supplement that was fully aligned with the values and the lifestyle of a vegan person.” – Maria Cebrian Highlights for Episode 689:  How Maria’s interest in food and nutrition led her to gradually remove meat and fish from her diet and eventually adopt a healthy, whole-foods vegan diet Why removing animal products from her diet improved not only Maria’s digestion but also enhanced her athletic performance, mood, sleep, and sense of connection with the earth and its animals Why fish are middlemen when it comes to sources of Omega 3, and how we can farm a plant-based source for use in supplements  How Maria’s interest in creating vegan vitamins stems from her desire to address the lack of high-quality, vegan-friendly supplements on the market Maria’s perspective on building a company that values human beings not just as resources Why Maria feels so strongly about embracing attributes like kindness and caring in business Resources: 50 Percent of Supplements Contain Hidden Animal Byproducts. New Campaign Pushes for Transparency. Connections: Discussing California’s so-called “bacon law” and what it would mean for farmers and consumers, if enacted Former TV star, now a chicken ‘rescuer,’ found not guilty of Foster Farms theft Connect with Maria Cebrian: Terraseed Website Terraseed on Instagram Maria Cebrian Fernandez on LinkedIn Connect with Our Hen House: Our Hen House Website Our Hen House on Facebook Our Hen House on Instagram Our Hen House on Twitter _____________________________________________ Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. You can listen to our podcast directly on our website, or subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcatcher! Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it and leave us a comment on Apple Podcasts! Don’t forget to check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series. Join the Our Hen House Community online! The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren. __________________________ This episode is brought to you in part through the generosity of A Well-Fed World. A Well-Fed World provides the means for change by empowering individuals, social justice organizations, and political decision makers to embrace the benefits of plant-based foods and farming. Learn more at awfw.org.

When Marcus Daniell isn’t on the tennis court winning Olympic titles, he’s focused on high-impact charitable giving. He joins us on the podcast from New Zealand for a conversation about his organization, High Impact Athletes, which helps athletes create world-changing impacts through charitable donations. In our discussion, Marcus details athletes’ historical donating patterns and how High Impact Athletes helps connect them with effective charities. Marcus also shares his thoughts on the benefits and limitations of Effective Altruism, the future of cultivated meat, and the cognitive dissonance some folks have when it comes to eating certain animals but not others. *We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read Jasmin’s interview with Marcus Daniell* Marcus is the founder and Executive Director of High Impact Athletes. He is also an Olympic bronze medallist tennis player with 5 ATP titles, quarterfinal appearances at both Wimbledon and the Australian Open (twice), and numerous caps for the New Zealanc Davis Cup Team. He has been Giving Effectively since 2014. On January 4th, 2021, Marcus took the Giving What We Can pledge to donate at least 10% of his annual winnings to effective organizations for the rest of his life. Alongside his tennis career, Marcus has completed a B.A. from Massey University in Psychology and Spanish and has been awarded the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award for his work with HIA, joining recipients such as Nelson Mandela and Roger Federer. “Every inch of progress that we make will result in a better world.” – Marcus Daniell Highlights for Episode 688:  High Impact Athletes, the organization’s goals, and how it hopes to make giving back in meaningful ways the norm in professional sports How millennials view philanthropy and why it may differ from other generations’ views How High Impact Athletes works to make donations as impactful as possible Some of Effective Altruism’s blind spots, including  a lack of diversity Why Marcus is such a keen supporter of the Good Food Institute, and how hopeful he feels about the long-term possibility of replacing our animal-centric food system Athletes’ diets and why Marcus believes that they don’t need meat to perform at a high level The issue of cultivated meat’s price point and whether Marcus believes it will ever be affordable enough for regular consumption Marcus’ almost-vegan diet and why he makes the choices he does  High-welfare egg production and what happens to animals that outlive their commercial use, including male chicks or non-laying hens High Impact Athlete’s most popular charities and how their members prefer to donate Resources: Bringing Back Former Vegans And Vegetarians: An Obstacle Analysis Connect with Marcus Daniell: High Impact Athletes High Impact Athletes on Instagram High Impact Athletes Facebook High Impact Athletes on Twitter Marcus Daniell on Instagram Marcus Daniell on LinkedIn Connect with Our Hen House: Our Hen House Website Our Hen House on Facebook Our Hen House on Instagram Our Hen House on Twitter _____________________________________________ Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. You can listen to our podcast directly on our website, or subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcatcher! Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it and leave us a comment on Apple Podcasts! Don’t forget to check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series. Join the Our Hen House Community online! The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren. __________________________ This episode is brought to you in part through the generosity of A Well-Fed World. A Well-Fed World provides the means for change by empowering individuals, social justice organizations, and political decision makers to embrace the benefits of plant-based foods and farming. Learn more at awfw.org.

Before he was a cat rescuer, Sterling “TrapKing” Davis was a rapper—a unique trajectory in the field of animal rescue. Sterling—who dedicated himself to improving the lives of stray cats after a lifelong connection to them—joins us today for a delightful conversation about, among other things, trap-neuter-return (TNR) and how he’s working to increase diversity within cat rescue.  In our discussion, Sterling tells us stories about trapping cats, explains how he’s using his personal experiences and insights to make cat rescue more inclusive, and tells us why, for him, veganism is such an important part of caring about animals.. *We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read Mariann’s interview with Sterling “TrapKing” Davis* Sterling “TrapKing” Davis is a well-traveled, ex-military, music and cat enthusiast who has always loved entertaining and interacting with people. Since childhood, he was also the only guy in his neighborhood that loved cats. After working at a local shelter and learning about trap-neuter-return (TNR), the only way to humanely control cat overpopulation, in 2017, he started his own nonprofit, Trapking Humane Cat Solutions, where he focuses on educating, assisting, and doing TNR and community cat management.  Davis has also made several national television appearances on shows such as the Drew Barrymore Show, Access Hollywood, and Shark Tank, as part of his business representing a cat dating app called Tabby Dates. In 2021, he was also featured on the Netflix documentary, Cat People. A longtime vegan, he lives in his Trapking RV with his three cats, Damita Jo, Alanis Mewisette, and Nipsey Cuddle. “I love showing people something that I never saw growing up. I never saw some cool guy that was hip and compassionate at the same time.” – Sterling “TrapKing” Davis Highlights for Episode 687:  How Sterling became involved with his local cat rescue while in between music tours How trap-neuter-return (TNR) helps feral cat colonies stay healthy  Why Sterling began living out of his van in order to help as many cats as he could, and why a 24-hour gym membership was a crucial expense The people and organizations Sterling works with and how he reaches out to veterinarians and rescuers to collaborate Why Sterling is so committed to changing the stereotypes of men in cat rescue and how he’s helping people get over the misconception that loving cats isn’t masculine How a lack of inclusivity in the animal welfare field hurts animals and how Sterling is working to combat this via events, conferences, and outreach The childhood experience that made Sterling go vegetarian and then ultimately vegan Sterling’s bond with the neighborhood cats as a child  Why Sterling set up the Rescuing the Rescuers Facebook group as a way to help people who rescue cats come together as a way of practicing self-care Resources: “Never Having Loved at All”: An Overlooked Interest that Grounds the Abortion Right Is There an Ethical Way to Kill Rats? Should We Even Ask? Rainbow plates: the chefs reawakening Africa’s taste for vegan food Connect with Sterling “TrapKing” Davis: TrapKing Humane Sterling “TrapKing” Davis on Instagram TrapKing Humane Cat Solutions on Facebook Connect with Our Hen House: Our Hen House Website Our Hen House on Facebook Our Hen House on Instagram Our Hen House on Twitter _____________________________________________ Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. You can listen to our podcast directly on our website, or subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcatcher! Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it and leave us a comment on Apple Podcasts! Don’t forget to check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series. Join the Our Hen House Community online! The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren. __________________________ This episode is brought to you in part through the generosity of A Well-Fed World. A Well-Fed World provides the means for change by empowering individuals, social justice organizations, and political decision makers to embrace the benefits of plant-based foods and farming. Learn more at awfw.org.

Disrupting the global food system is one of the most pressing issues of our lifetimes—and it’s no small lift. Today, we welcome two powerhouses working to help the world shift to a kinder, plant-based food system. David Meyer and Galina Hale serve as the CEO and Chief Research Officer, respectively, of Food System Innovations (FSI). They join us this week to discuss the nonprofit’s mission to transform the food system, diving into, among other things, the enormous funding disparities between research beneficial to animal ag and that geared toward alternative proteins. They also discuss the public perception of “processed” plant-based foods and the differences in labeling requirements for animal-based and plant-based foods. Plus, they share details of some projects FSI is currently spearheading. *We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read Mariann’s interview with David Meyer & Galina Hale* David Meyer is an executive with deep experience at the nexus of the nonprofit and for-profit sectors and a strong interest in environmental sustainability, animal welfare, and working to find sustainable solutions that benefit a diverse set of stakeholders. He is co-founder and CEO ofFood System Innovations and Humane America Animal Foundation. He is also a trustee for the Food System Research Fund. He was the interim Executive Director and is a strategic advisor to the Plant Based Foods Association, and advises the Good Food Institute, the Plant Based World Conference and Expo, the Material Innovation Initiative, Pivot Food Investment, and many other nonprofits and for-profits in the space. Galina Hale  is a Professor of Economics at UC Santa Cruz and the co-founder and Chief Research Officer of Food System Innovations. She served as a Research Advisor at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, and as an assistant professor in the economics department of Yale University.  Galina is a director of the CEBRA’s IFM program and a co-director of the UCSC Center for Analytical Finance (CAFIN).   Galina has been recently working on ways economists can inform policymakers on how to make the food system more sustainable. She serves on editorial boards of a number of Economics journals and on multiple boards and committees in animal welfare and animal agriculture space. “People are bombarded with pro-animal food messaging all day.” – Galina Hale “It’s hard for people to admit that they’re part of the problem.” – David Meyer Highlights for Episode 686:  Food Systems Innovations (FSI) and how it’s working to transform present-day food systems Funding disparities between research within the meat industry versus research geared toward replacing animal agriculture Why ironing out funding issues is crucial to bringing alternative meat research to universities  How the Food System Research Fund works How people’s concerns regarding climate change impact research funding  How FSI approaches the impact eggs and poultry have on the climate How David and Galina are encouraging small NGOs worldwide to become involved in plant-based meat research Some of the ways they are trying to fast-track the educational, professional, and operational abilities of people in the animal rights movement Future possibilities for making meat replacement products taste authentic and appetizing Why there is a perception that plant-based meat substitutes are “processed” rather than natural David and Galina’s thoughts on making consumer messaging more effective when encouraging people to adopt plant-based diets Resources: Alone and Exploited, Migrant Children Work Brutal Jobs Across the U.S. Regenesis: Feeding the World Without Devouring the Planet by George Monbiot Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer Connect with David Meyer and Galina Hale: Food System Innovations Website Humane America Animal Foundation Website Adopt-a-Pet.com Website Galina Hale’s Website David Saves Pets on Twitter Galina Hale on Twitter Connect with Our Hen House: Our Hen House Website Our Hen House on Facebook Our Hen House on Instagram Our Hen House on Twitter _____________________________________________ Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. You can listen to our podcast directly on our website, or subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcatcher! Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it and leave us a comment on Apple Podcasts! Don’t forget to check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series. Join the Our Hen House Community online! The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren. __________________________ This episode is brought to you in part through the generosity of A Well-Fed World. A Well-Fed World provides the means for change by empowering individuals, social justice organizations, and political decision makers to embrace the benefits of plant-based foods and farming. Learn more at awfw.org.

Why do women in the institutional animal rights movement often feel unable to speak up? Why are animal rights organizations losing too much talent to burnout because of negative employment experiences? Dr. Krista Hiddema joins us to discuss her doctoral research on women’s experiences working professionally within the animal rights movement and the factors that, she asserts, too often drive them away. Krista details her findings and shares recommendations on how organizations can improve working conditions, as well as the experience of volunteer advocates. She also shares myriad ways in which she believes this could positively impact the success of animal activism across the board. *We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read Jasmin’s interview with Dr. Krista Hiddema* Dr. Krista Hiddema is the Executive Director of For The Greater Good, where she consults with animal protection organizations on organizational development, strategic planning, and board governance. Krista holds a doctorate in social sciences, where her research focused on the need to utilize ecofeminist principles in matters of board governance within the animal rights movement, with an emphasis on economic health, ecological health, and social health. She holds five other degrees in human resources, was formerly a partner at an employment law firm, and was also the vice president of human resources for an international software company.   “If we do not focus on collective power, then we are never going to win because unearned power, money-based power, is the very definition of privilege. And unearned power is the engine behind much of what’s happening in our movement.” – Dr. Krista Hiddema Highlights for Episode 685:  What good governance looks like and why Krista introduced a governance model in her dissertation that ensures volunteers feel as valued as paid staff  Krista’s goals when interviewing women regarding their employment experiences within the institutional animal rights movement Why Krista wanted to record the experiences of both cisgender and trans women in her research Why she felt it was so crucial to shine a light on these issues The limitations of effective altruism The experiences of a number of the women Krista interviewed regarding potential negative repercussions for criticizing effective altruism The danger of using NDAs to erase women’s stories  Where the animal rights movement should look for a grand objective that binds its advocates together  The roles of poetry, novels, and art in activism Krista shares some of the short and long-term strategies for making women in the animal rights movement feel cared for, including learning more about social justice theory  The importance of boards of directors prioritizing healthy workplaces where people feel valued Resources: $1.2M expansion of local cat rescue includes surgical suite, kitten castle and catios Brian Kateman on Twitter Effective Altruism As It Relates to Animal Rights: An Open Ended Approach to Advocacy Join the new Our Hen House Community and RSVP for the launch party with Gene Baur & Myq Kaplan Connect with Krista Hiddema: Krista Hiddema’s Website Krista Hiddema on Facebook Krista Hiddema on Instagram Krista Hiddema’s Blog State of the Movement — Krista Hiddema Effective Altruism – The Impact is Fear, Corruption and it is also not ‘Good’ for Animals  The Good It Promises, the Harm It Does: Critical Essays on Effective Altruism eds. Carol J. Adams,  Alica Crary, and Lori Gruen Connect with Our Hen House: Our Hen House Website Our Hen House on Facebook Our Hen House on Instagram Our Hen House on Twitter _____________________________________________ Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. You can listen to our podcast directly on our website, or subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcatcher! Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it and leave us a comment on Apple Podcasts! Don’t forget to check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren. __________________________ This episode is brought to you in part through the generosity of A Well-Fed World. A Well-Fed World provides the means for change by empowering individuals, social justice organizations, and political decision makers to embrace the benefits of plant-based foods and farming. Learn more at awfw.org.

Sometimes it is easy for all of us who care about animals to forget what an extraordinary contribution sanctuaries make to our understanding of the animals we try to serve. Elan Abrell joins us this week to remind us never to take sanctuaries for granted. Elan is a cultural anthropologist who’s dedicated himself to animal studies and, recently, to a close and thoughtful look at animal sanctuaries. His book, Saving Animals: Multispecies Ecologies of Rescue and Care, examines how sanctuary caregivers respond to an extraordinary range of moral issues while working with minimal resources. He describes what his role as a cultural anthropologist entails, walks us through his decisions on which sanctuaries to study, including one for companion animals, one for exotic animals, and one for farmed animals, and shares how he evaluated their general philosophy in regard to interacting with and caring for animals. Elan also gives an overview of the differences in various sanctuary approaches and whether he believes sanctuaries can provide animals with genuinely happy lives. *We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read Mariann’s interview with Elan Abrell* Elan Abrell is a cultural anthropologist whose research and writing focus on human-animal interactions, environmental justice, and food politics. His book, Saving Animals: Multispecies Ecologies of Rescue and Care (University of Minnesota Press 2021) — an ethnography of animal sanctuaries and winner of the 2022 Gregory Bateson Book Prize from the Society for Cultural Anthropology — examines how sanctuary caregivers respond to a range of ethical dilemmas and material constraints while attempting to meet the various and sometimes conflicting needs of rescued animals. Elan is an assistant professor of the practice in Environmental Studies, Science in Society, and Integrative Sciences at Wesleyan University. He is also the coordinator of Wesleyan’s new Animal Studies Minor. “Just the idea that sanctuaries exist shifts the way that others see animals—from objects that satisfy your needs or desires to beings who are worthy of care and support.” – Elan Abrell Highlights for Episode 684:  Elan explains how animal sanctuaries, despite sharing fundamental principles, can differ when it comes to what they hope to achieve The attitudes surrounding animal deaths at the sanctuaries Elan visited  The anomaly of sanctuaries, such as those for companion animals  or exotic animals, that are run by individuals who don’t adhere to vegan diets The conflicts around the decision to euthanize animals in sanctuaries The problems with sanctuaries serving as tourist attractions The goal of the sanctuary movement and ideas for how humans and animals could live in harmony Why so many people want to start a sanctuary and Elan’s thoughts on the challenges of creating an animal sanctuary Why Elan believes that caring for animals should be a governmental function The impact sanctuaries have on the way people think about animals Elan’s chapter in the new book The Good it Promises, the Harm It Does: Critical Essays on Effective Altruism, and why he is dubious about the focus some supporters of effective altruism have adopted Resources: Join the new Our Hen House Community and RSVP for the launch party with Gene Baur & Myq Kaplan Connect with Elan Abrell: Elan Abrell on Twitter Elan Abrell on LinkedIn Saving Animals: Multispecies Ecologies of Rescue and Care by Elan Abrell The Good It Promises, the Harm It Does: Critical Essays on Effective Altruism eds. Carol J. Adams,  Alica Crary, and Lori Gruen Connect with Our Hen House: Our Hen House Website Our Hen House on Facebook Our Hen House on Instagram Our Hen House on Twitter _____________________________________________ Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. You can listen to our podcast directly on our website, or subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcatcher! Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it and leave us a comment on Apple Podcasts! Don’t forget to check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren. __________________________ This episode is brought to you in part through the generosity of A Well-Fed World. A Well-Fed World provides the means for change by empowering individuals, social justice organizations, and political decision makers to embrace the benefits of plant-based foods and farming. Learn more at awfw.org.