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

Our Hen House welcomes Richie Bowie, Senior Editor of VegNews Magazine, for an engaging, critical conversation about what vegan media is and what it needs to be in order to change the world. Richie joins Jasmin to discuss how the misperception that veganism is a white movement has withstood the test of time despite the higher percentage of Black Americans identifying as vegan or vegetarian than the rest of the US population. Richie also shares how the world’s leading plant-based magazine is challenging this false idea, including how it is  promoting the values of the Black Lives Matter movement within vegan communities. But that’s not all! On the lighter side, Richie gives us a behind-the-scenes look into his day-to-day role at VegNews and shares some not-to-be-missed inside tips on the recent food trends he’s especially excited about. Richie Bowie is the Senior Editor of VegNews, the largest vegan media brand in the world. His passions for plant-based living, storytelling, photography, editing, and design mean that Richie has found his perfect fit managing VegNews Magazine. A full-blown lover of food media, you can usually spot this Southern California native at vegan restaurants and pop-ups standing on chairs and borrowing other people’s drinks to compose the perfect Instagram shot. Richie reports that the vegan dish he would cook to dazzle a veg-curious but still carnivorous friend would be Beyond Meat tostadas with cabbage and cashew sour cream. “Veganism is not a perfect movement, and we don’t want to pretend otherwise. We want to be honest about what’s going on, be accountable to ourselves, and actually make change.” – Richie Bowie Highlights: How Richie progressed from intern to Senior Editor at VegNews in just six years How VegNews incorporates the impact of the Black Lives Matter movement How COVID-19 impacted vegan media The importance of incorporating diverse perspectives Why it is important to Richie to cover deep societal issues within VegNews How Richie and his team deal with the backlash over controversial topics they cover Vegan taste testing Exactly how much Richie loves the food-focused part of his job Whether there is still a place for print media How Richie’s path towards veganism began with self-introspection and reflection into his internalized prejudices Why Richie sees overlap between identifying as LGBTQ and identifying as vegan The times when Richie has felt the need to step away from activism and what made it feel safe to come back What people can expect from future issues of VegNews Magazine Connect with Richie Bowie: VegNews Website VegNews on Facebook Richie Bowie on Instagram VegNews on Twitter Connect with Graphic Designer, Weronika Kolinska: Weronika’s Website Weronika on Instagram Weronika on Etsy Connect with Our Hen House: Our Hen House Website Le Twisted Spoon 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! We just kicked off our end-of-year matching campaign, meaning that between now and December 31, your donations will be TRIPLED, dollar-for-dollar, up to $20,000! That means with your donation—plus our Barnyard Benefactors and an added boost from an anonymous donor—we are hoping to raise $60k total. We can’t do it without you! The only way we’ll receive the matching funds is if we successfully reach our goal of raising $20k from our loyal supporters by the end of the year.  So, if you like Our Hen House, if you believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, if you find community and solace in our shows and resources, and if you believe in the change-making power of indie media, please make a donation today. __________________________ 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. __________________________ 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! Of course, we would be thrilled if you would also consider making a donation, or becoming a member of our flock (especially if you’re a regular listener). Any amount is hugely appreciated, and Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible! Thank you for helping us create quality content, and for helping us bring you a new podcast episode each week! Don’t forget to tune into Our Hen House’s other two podcasts: The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and The Animal Law Podcast. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

Our Hen House is honored to bring you the final episode of the four-part audio series of the groundbreaking book, Antiracism in Animal Advocacy: Igniting Cultural Transformation. Our Hen House’s very own Jasmin Singer is the editor of this recently released anthology published by Lantern Books and Media, in collaboration with Encompass, Sentient Media, and, of course, Our Hen House.  The book is a collection of essays written by farmed-animal protection advocates who are committed to exploring and prioritizing racial equity as we work to create a more just animal protection movement. We wish to document our stories and processes in an exploratory space from which we can grow and use our words to hold ourselves and our peers accountable, ultimately creating new paths forward. The final episode of this audio series is labeled Leading, corresponding with the fourth section of the print copy of the book. In this episode, we hear from the following four essay authors, each of them sharing their insights:  Michelle Rojas-Soto (she/her) is the Chief Talent and Equity Officer at KIPP SoCal charter schools. She previously served as Managing Director of Encompass, where she trained, coached and consulted with animal protection leaders and organizations. Stien van der Ploeg (she/they) leverages her management and fundraising experience pro bono for effective animal advocacy organizations in order to help make our world more hospitable to all. Michelle Graham (Michelle/Michelle’s) is the Executive Director of Wild Animal Initiative and a Ph.D. candidate in the Socha Lab at Virginia Tech. Aryenish Birdie (she/her) is the founder and executive director of Encompass, building a racially equitable animal protection movement. These essays are followed by an afterword written and narrated by Michelle Rojas-Soto.  You can purchase the hard copy of Antiracism in Animal Advocacy: Igniting Cultural Transformation wherever books are sold, or find out more information at encompassmovement.org/book. “I have a hard time accepting diversity as a synonym for justice. Diversity is a corporate strategy. It’s a strategy designed to ensure that the institution functions in the same way that it functioned before, except now you have some Black faces and brown faces. It’s a difference that doesn’t make a difference. Diversity without structural transformation simply brings those who were previously excluded into a system as racist, misogynist, as it was before.” —Angela Davis Resources: This anthology was originally an online collaboration between Encompass, Our Hen House, and Sentient Media, and was titled Encompass Essays: Pursuing Racial Equity in Animal Advocacy. For citations of any of these essays, please visit the online version. Sentient Media is a robust digital platform that publishes thoughtful articles about animal agriculture and its impact on the world (don’t miss Our Hen House’s interview with Sentient Media’s Executive Director, Ana Bradley).  Connect with Our Hen House: Our Hen House Website Our Hen House on Facebook Our Hen House on Instagram Our Hen House on Twitter __________________________ 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. __________________________ 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! Of course, we would be thrilled if you would also consider making a donation, or becoming a member of our flock (especially if you’re a regular listener). Any amount is hugely appreciated, and Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible! Thank you for helping us create quality content, and for helping us bring you a new podcast episode each week! Don’t forget to tune into Our Hen House’s other two podcasts: The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and The Animal Law Podcast. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

Our Hen House is excited to welcome plant-based food advocate and political candidate Pearl Brunt to the podcast this week. Pearl is running for a seat on the Town Council in Pittsford, NY. She joins Mariann to discuss how her political aspirations intersect with her love of promoting healthy, ethical food choices and introducing people to plant-based foods. A firm believer in the power of the dollar, Pearl explains how we send businesses a strong message when we choose to purchase food that is good for us. She also shares how she started Le Twisted Spoon, a community of plant-based foodies and advocates, and how the passion project evolved from the simple desire to feed her family healthy meals. Pearl Brunt wears many hats: she is a US Business Liaison/Foreign Relations Consultant, a home educator, public speaker, and a passionate plant-based food advocate. She is currently running for Pittsford Town Council on a plant-based platform and is endorsed by the Democratic Party and Working Families Party. Pearl has hosted a series of innovative conversations engaging her community in discussions on zoning, community solar plans, and community composting. She is the organizer of the nationally recognized Pittsford Community Celebrates Juneteenth. “I genuinely believe that once you start thinking about the choices you’re making in one area of your life, it opens the door to start thinking about other things you can do. Education is always a great place to start—educating people as to the damage and the harm that can come from these unsustainable practices and farming.” – Pearl Brunt Highlights: Why it’s difficult to talk about real sustainability and change without addressing the things that people can do on a daily basis Why it’s so important to support sustainable agriculture How food, environmental issues, pesticides, and promoting organic gardens are interrelated and how Pearl, as a town board member, could inspire people to include them in their lifestyle Why diversity and inclusion should be about culture, not just demographics, and how that relates to what we eat Why living in other countries gave Pearl the opportunity to see issues in the US from the outside and the two main lessons she learned from living abroad Why Black veganism has taken off, and why the Black community is at the forefront of promoting a healthy food system Pearl’s passion project, Twisted Spoon, and how she has developed it to inspire others Why Pearl views plant-based eating as a gateway drug that led her family to grow some of their own food, try to become zero waste, and genuinely consider what they can do on a personal level and on a daily basis to make a difference in the world Connect with Pearl Brunt: Pearl Brunt’s Website Pearl Brunt on Facebook Pearl Brunt on Instagram Pearl Brunt on Twitter Connect with Our Hen House: Our Hen House Website Le Twisted Spoon Our Hen House on Facebook Our Hen House on Instagram Our Hen House on Twitter __________________________ 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. __________________________ 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! Of course, we would be thrilled if you would also consider making a donation, or becoming a member of our flock (especially if you’re a regular listener). Any amount is hugely appreciated, and Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible! Thank you for helping us create quality content, and for helping us bring you a new podcast episode each week! Don’t forget to tune into Our Hen House’s other two podcasts: The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and The Animal Law Podcast. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

Welcome to the third episode of the four-part audio series of the groundbreaking book, Antiracism in Animal Advocacy: Igniting Cultural Transformation. Our Hen House’s very own Jasmin Singer is the editor of this recently released anthology published by Lantern Books and Media, in collaboration with Encompass, Sentient Media, and, of course, Our Hen House.  The book is a collection of essays written by farmed-animal protection advocates who are committed to exploring and prioritizing racial equity as we work to create a more just animal protection movement. We wish to document our stories and processes in an exploratory space from which we can grow and use our words to hold ourselves and our peers accountable, ultimately creating new paths forward. The third episode of this audio series, produced by Our Hen House, is labeled Accountability, corresponding with the third section of the print copy of the book. In this episode, we hear from the following essay authors, each of them opening up with us about their experiences:  Cailen LaBarge (she/her) is co-founder of Strategies for Ethical and Environmental Development (SEED), a nonprofit organization focused on dismantling capital-intensive industrial animal agriculture and advocating for a just transition that is fair and sustainable for animals, people, and the planet. Dana McPhall (she/her) is a lawyer, humane educator, antiracism activist, and animal advocate who has led an Institute for Humane Education alumni working group examining racial justice and white supremacy issues since 2017. Brooke Haggerty (she/her) is a life-long animal advocate and is currently the executive director for Faunalytics, a nonprofit that provides research and resources to help advocates maximize their effectiveness to reduce animal suffering. You can purchase the hard copy of Antiracism in Animal Advocacy: Igniting Cultural Transformation wherever books are sold, or find out more information at encompassmovement.org/book. “The beauty of antiracism is that you don’t have to pretend to be free of racism to be an antiracist. Antiracism is the commitment to fight racism wherever you find it, including in yourself. And it’s the only way forward.” —Ijeoma Oluo Resources: This anthology was originally an online collaboration between Encompass, Our Hen House, and Sentient Media, and was titled Encompass Essays: Pursuing Racial Equity in Animal Advocacy. For citations of any of these essays, please visit the online version. Sentient Media is a robust digital platform that publishes thoughtful articles about animal agriculture and its impact on the world (don’t miss Our Hen House’s interview with Sentient Media’s Executive Director, Ana Bradley).  Connect with Our Hen House: Our Hen House Website Our Hen House on Facebook Our Hen House on Instagram Our Hen House on Twitter __________________________ 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. __________________________ 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! Of course, we would be thrilled if you would also consider making a donation, or becoming a member of our flock (especially if you’re a regular listener). Any amount is hugely appreciated, and Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible! Thank you for helping us create quality content, and for helping us bring you a new podcast episode each week! Don’t forget to tune into Our Hen House’s other two podcasts: The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and The Animal Law Podcast. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

The incredibly talented Isa Leshko joins the podcast this week for an inside look into her one-of-a-kind photography book, Allowed to Grow Old: Portraits of Elderly Rescued Farm Animals. Isa’s black-and-white portraits of aging animals, members of species whose other members, numbering in the billions, are typically killed in their infancy, would make anyone think twice about what, or who, is on their plate. The vegan photographer shares how the project came to be, and how it helped her process grief and examine her fear of aging. Isa also talks about the ethics of photographing animals and how she learned, largely from the animals themselves, how best to approach the images as portraits. Her insights into why photography has become a critical part of advocacy help inform why her photos evoke such strong emotion and spark critical thinking. Isa is an artist and writer whose work examines animal rights, aging, and mortality. Her images are published in The Atlantic, The Boston Globe, The Guardian, Harper’s Magazine, and The New York Times. In May 2019, the University of Chicago Press published her first monograph, Allowed to Grow Old: Portraits of Elderly Rescued Farm Animals, including essays by activist Gene Baur, bestselling author Sy Montgomery, and curator Anne Wilkes Tucker. Isa has received fellowships from the Bogliasco Foundation, the Culture & Animals Foundation, the Houston Center for Photography, the Millay Colony for the Arts, and the Silver Eye Center for Photography. “Aging can be a luxury and is a luxury — these animals are survivors, and I did want to celebrate that.” – Isa Leshko Highlights: How Isa resisted treating the animals as proxies for her own concerns, and why it seemed exploitative for her to treat animals as metaphors or teaching tools for humans Why it is equally thought-provoking to approach advocacy with photos that appeal to the heart as it is to take photos that horrify the viewer The media’s reaction to Isa’s work and the recognition of the ageism that also exists in how we perceive animals The challenge for animal advocates in going beyond preaching to the choir Isa’s process of taking the photographs in her book and how she spent time getting to know the animals The ethics of photographing animals and the importance of respecting who they are as individuals Isa’s further plans to continue working with animals Connect with Isa Leshko: Isa Leshko’s Website Isa Leshko on Facebook Isa Leshko on Instagram Isa Leshko 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 __________________________ 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. __________________________ 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! Of course, we would be thrilled if you would also consider making a donation, or becoming a member of our flock (especially if you’re a regular listener). Any amount is hugely appreciated, and Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible! Thank you for helping us create quality content, and for helping us bring you a new podcast episode each week! Don’t forget to tune into Our Hen House’s other two podcasts: The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and The Animal Law Podcast. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

Our Hen House is proud to offer you the second episode of the four-part audio series of the groundbreaking book, Antiracism in Animal Advocacy: Igniting Cultural Transformation. Our very own Jasmin Singer is the editor of this new anthology published by Lantern Books and Media, in collaboration with Encompass, Sentient Media, and, of course, Our Hen House.  The book is a collection of essays written by farmed-animal protection advocates who are committed to exploring and prioritizing racial equity as we work to create a more just animal protection movement. We wish to document our stories and processes in an exploratory space from which we can grow and use our words to hold ourselves and our peers accountable, ultimately creating new paths forward. The second episode of this audio series is labeled Introspection, corresponding with the second section of the print copy of the book. In this episode, we hear from the following four essay authors, each of them sharing their eye-opening experiences:  Christopher “Soul” Eubanks (he/him) is a climate, human, and animal rights activist dedicated to doing advocacy work to combat all forms of oppression. Jamie Berger (she/her) is an independent documentary filmmaker and the chief of staff at Mercy For Animals. Unny Nambudiripad (he/him) is a wellness facilitator and animal activist based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Malina Tran (she/her) is a software engineer based in Los Angeles, California who writes for Sentient Media, a nonprofit organization that advocates for animal rights.  You can purchase the hard copy of Antiracism in Animal Advocacy: Igniting Cultural Transformation wherever books are sold, or find out more information at encompassmovement.org/book. “There is no such thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives.” —Audre Lorde Resources: This anthology was originally an online collaboration between Encompass, Our Hen House, and Sentient Media, and was titled Encompass Essays: Pursuing Racial Equity in Animal Advocacy. For citations of any of these essays, please visit the online version. Sentient Media is a robust digital platform that publishes thoughtful articles about animal agriculture and its impact on the world (don’t miss Our Hen House’s interview with Sentient Media’s Executive Director, Ana Bradley).  Connect with Our Hen House: Our Hen House Website Our Hen House on Facebook Our Hen House on Instagram Our Hen House on Twitter __________________________ 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. __________________________ 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! Of course, we would be thrilled if you would also consider making a donation, or becoming a member of our flock (especially if you’re a regular listener). Any amount is hugely appreciated, and Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible! Thank you for helping us create quality content, and for helping us bring you a new podcast episode each week! Don’t forget to tune into Our Hen House’s other two podcasts: The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and The Animal Law Podcast. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

Dynamic vegan activist and speaker Joanne Kong, PhD, joins Jasmin on the podcast this week for an inspiring discussion about her personal journey into veganism and why she has dedicated herself to promoting veganism globally. Dr. Kong also provides insight into the brand new book that she curated and edited, Vegan Voices: Essays by Inspiring Changemakers, which brings together the stories of vegan activists from all over the world. She also shares how animal rights activists not only will be inspired by these essays, but can use them in their own efforts to fight for animals. She strongly believes that this is the moment when the public is finally open to having difficult conversations surrounding animal rights and veganism and that now is the time to bring our activism to a new level. Joanne Kong has been praised throughout the country as one of the most compelling advocates for plant-based nutrition, raising awareness that greater compassion for animals and our planet is vitally necessary for transformative growth and positive world change. She is the author of If You’ve Ever Loved an Animal, Go Vegan and has been profiled in the groundbreaking book Legends of Change, which is about vegan women who are changing the world. She has given presentations in Italy, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, Canada and  India. Dr. Kong appears in the upcoming documentaries Eating Our Way to Extinction and Taking Note and is a Sustainability Leadership Award recipient at the University of Richmond. “Veganism is really part of a big picture. It’s all about ‘what does your life mean?’ ‘What is your identity?’ ‘What are the things that are important to you?’ And it’s becoming clearer and clearer, of course, how animal agriculture is harming the planet.” – Joanne Kong Highlights: Kong’s vegan story, including her journey from simply going vegan to giving talks about veganism across the world How she uses her personal story to encourage others to listen to what she has to say about animals How she became involved with Vegan Voices: Essays by Inspiring Changemakers and the overarching themes of the book Kong’s target audience for the book, and how Our Hen House listeners can support her in getting the word out and use this book in their own advocacy efforts More about If You’ve Ever Loved an Animal, Go Vegan Why she feels that talking about the plight of animals is something people are more open to than they have been in the past Kong’s advice to people who want to communicate more effectively about going vegan Connect with Joanne Kong: Vegans Make a Difference Website Joanne Kong on Facebook Joanne Kong on Twitter Joanne Kong 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 __________________________ 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. __________________________ 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! Of course, we would be thrilled if you would also consider making a donation, or becoming a member of our flock (especially if you’re a regular listener). Any amount is hugely appreciated, and Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible! Thank you for helping us create quality content, and for helping us bring you a new podcast episode each week! Don’t forget to tune into Our Hen House’s other two podcasts: The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and The Animal Law Podcast. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

Our Hen House is pleased to welcome you to the first episode of the four-part audio series of the groundbreaking book, Antiracism in Animal Advocacy: Igniting Cultural Transformation. Our very own Jasmin Singer is the editor of this new anthology published by Lantern Books and Media, in collaboration with Encompass, Sentient Media, and, of course, Our Hen House.  The book is a collection of essays written by farmed-animal protection advocates who are committed to exploring and prioritizing racial equity as we work to create a more just animal protection movement. We wish to document our stories and processes in an exploratory space from which we can grow and use our words to hold ourselves and our peers accountable, ultimately creating new paths forward. We begin the first of this audio series with a glossary of terms to best clarify the meaning of words or phrases relating to antiracism which may be referenced throughout the essays (thank you to Encompass for providing this glossary!). We then bring you the foreword presented by Aryenish Birdie (she/her), the founder and executive director of Encompass, which focuses on building a racially equitable animal protection movement. This is followed by the introduction to the book by Our Hen House’s co-founder and Executive Director, Jasmin Singer (she/her)—editor of this anthology, author, and longtime animal activist and public speaker.  The first episode of this audio series is labeled Awakening and corresponds with the first section of the print copy of the book. In this episode, we hear from the following four essay authors, each of them sharing their eye-opening experiences:  Shayna Rowbotham (she/her) is the organizing manager for the US for Mercy For Animals, an international farmed animal protection organization; she’s based in New York, New York. PJ Nyman (they/them) is a Corporate Relations Specialist at Mercy For Animals and holds a Master’s Degree in Social & Political Thought from York University in Toronto. Mikaela Saccoccio (she/her) is the Executive Director of Farmed Animal Funders, a donor learning community whose members give $250k+ annually to charitable initiatives fighting factory farming. (Please note: Mikaela’s essay is narrated by Jasmin.)  Rachel Huff-Wagenborg (she/her) is an ardent animal activist making strides to open her eyes and heart to all injustices, and currently works as the Vice President of Operations at The Humane League. You can purchase the hard copy of Antiracism in Animal Advocacy: Igniting Cultural Transformation wherever books are sold, or find out more information at encompassmovement.org/book. “If you have come to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you recognize that your liberation and mine are bound up together, we can walk together.” —Lilla Watson Resources: This anthology was originally an online collaboration between Encompass, Our Hen House, and Sentient Media, and was titled Encompass Essays: Pursuing Racial Equity in Animal Advocacy. For citations of any of these essays, please visit the online version. Sentient Media is a robust digital platform that publishes thoughtful articles about animal agriculture and its impact on the world (don’t miss Our Hen House’s interview with Sentient Media’s Executive Director, Ana Bradley).  Connect with Our Hen House: Our Hen House Website Our Hen House on Facebook Our Hen House on Instagram Our Hen House on Twitter __________________________ 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. __________________________ 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! Of course, we would be thrilled if you would also consider making a donation, or becoming a member of our flock (especially if you’re a regular listener). Any amount is hugely appreciated, and Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible! Thank you for helping us create quality content, and for helping us bring you a new podcast episode each week! Don’t forget to tune into Our Hen House’s other two podcasts: The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and The Animal Law Podcast. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

Our Hen House is thrilled to welcome Kate Wall, Senior Legislative Manager for the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), to the podcast this week. Kate give us an overview of her work lobbying at the federal level and provides a detailed breakdown of the worsening biodiversity crisis and what can be done to limit it. The bottom line is that we are losing wild species at an unprecedented rate that is simply too fast for evolution to keep up with, and there is still far too little attention being paid. Kate also shares her legislative priorities, some possible upcoming good news and her passion for educating people about the inextricable links between humans and wildlife—including zoonotic diseases and pandemics. Since adopting a kitten from her local SPCA at the age of two, Kate’s love and compassion for animals have been an unwavering pillar of her life. While working toward an undergraduate biology degree in Philadelphia, Kate pursued her love for animals by working as a veterinary technician and volunteering at a wildlife rescue facility. Kate now serves as IFAW’s Senior Legislative Manager for the US office, presenting wildlife and habitat conservation, wildlife trafficking, and appropriations priorities before Congress. Her skills and knowledge of the strategic legislative framework are anchored in both experience and a never-ending commitment to ensure the wellbeing animals, humans, and our shared ecosystems. “There is a false belief held by people in all levels of society, from individuals all the way up to decision-makers, that there is a dichotomy, that it’s a sort of a zero-sum game. You either protect the economy or you protect the environment. But actually, the majority of our economy is based on the environment.” – Kate Wall Highlights: How IFAW is working on issues of animal welfare across the globe Kate’s lobbying, legislative, and policy work in the United States How climate change drives biodiversity loss and why biodiversity loss contributes to climate change How human economies are tied to biodiversity Why our decision-makers must take biodiversity into account when planning for the future Why ending animal exploitation could protect us and future generations from more global pandemics like COVID-19 The reasons that it is so detrimental to humans to encroach on animal’s habitats Whether Kate feels that we are seeing progress in Congress under the current administration, particularly in relation to the Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act The difference between wildlife corridors and wildlife crossings and why they are so vital for wildlife to be able to migrate Connect with Kate Wall: International Fund for Animal Welfare Website International Fund for Animal Welfare on Facebook International Fund for Animal Welfare on Instagram International Fund for Animal Welfare 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 __________________________ 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. __________________________ 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! Of course, we would be thrilled if you would also consider making a donation, or becoming a member of our flock (especially if you’re a regular listener). Any amount is hugely appreciated, and Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible! Thank you for helping us create quality content, and for helping us bring you a new podcast episode each week! Don’t forget to tune into Our Hen House’s other two podcasts: The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and The Animal Law Podcast. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

PLAY THIS EPISODE Cara Achterberg joins the podcast this week for an important conversation about the many dogs currently in animal rescues and shelters waiting for a home that may never come. Author of 2020’s One Hundred Dogs and Counting: One Woman, A Thousand Miles, and a Journey into the Heart of Shelters and Rescues, Cara shares how she gradually came to the realization that shelters will never have enough money or space to care for all the dogs in need. She dives into the reasons so many have the mistaken belief that we have fixed the homeless dog problem and why she set out to educate herself about the real story behind the headlines. Cara also discusses why she has focused her interest on dog pounds in the rural south, why so many abandoned dogs are still being killed, and how fostering is absolutely crucial to saving dogs and how people interested in fostering can dip in their toes. Cara and her family have fostered nearly 150 dogs and puppies, plus two kittens, for Operation Paws for Homes, an all-breed rescue made up of a network of foster homes in Maryland, Washington, DC, Virginia, and south-central Pennsylvania. She is an author, blogger, and creative writing teacher who is passionate not just about saving dogs, but about organic gardening, writing fiction, and the mountains of Virginia. A successful novelist, Cara has written two non-fiction books about her experience fostering rescue animals and working with shelters all over the southern United States: Another Good Dog: One Family and Fifty Foster Dogs, and One Hundred Dogs and Counting: One Woman, A Thousand Miles, and a Journey into the Heart of Shelters and Rescues.  “The bare fact is that we don’t have an overpopulation of dogs. If just one third of all the people who are currently looking for a dog chose to adopt, we would empty our shelters in a day.” – Cara Achterberg Highlights: How Cara and her family became involved with Operation Paws for Homes Why Cara’s mission is to tell people what is still going on in shelters and rescues across the southern states, and elsewhere in the United States Why many dog pounds don’t even attempt to arrange adoptions, their policies primarily consisting of shipping dogs to other places where hopefully they can be saved, or simply killing them The reasons people are ignorant about and therefore reluctant to adopt dogs they consider to be pit bulls How to encourage dog owners to spay and neuter How to change people’s attitudes so they see that dogs have intrinsic value Why shelters are overwhelmed with dogs even after the phenomenon of the ‘lockdown dog’ when so many families decided it was the right time to get a companion animal Why people are negative about moving dogs from the rural south to localities that still have their own homeless dog populations, or bringing in dogs to adopt from abroad, and how Cara feels about the issue The problems of statistics and shelters, what shelters mean when they talk about their live release rates, and whether we’re really getting accurate information Why Cara believes the North Carolina model requiring accurate statistics is a step in the right direction How a small, rural shelter turned its fortunes around by becoming a community resource Connect with Cara Achterberg: Who Will Let the Dogs Out? Website Who Will Let the Dogs Out? on Facebook Who Will Let the Dogs Out? on Instagram Who Will Let the Dogs Out? on YouTube Connect with Our Hen House: Our Hen House Website Our Hen House on Facebook Our Hen House on Instagram Our Hen House on Twitter __________________________ 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. __________________________ 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! Of course, we would be thrilled if you would also consider making a donation, or becoming a member of our flock (especially if you’re a regular listener). Any amount is hugely appreciated, and Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible! Thank you for helping us create quality content, and for helping us bring you a new podcast episode each week! Don’t forget to tune into Our Hen House’s other two podcasts: The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and The Animal Law Podcast. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.