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

Laura Reese, co-founder of Agriculture Fairness Alliance (AFA), joins the podcast this week for a riveting conversation about food and farm policy and how each of us potentially has the power to influence it. A former Silicon Valley engineer, Laura explains how she shifted from product planning to federal policy in hopes of helping farmers and policymakers craft policy to allow for a plant-rich future. She gives us a bird’s eye view of the current problems with American food policy and describes what is happening at the United States Department of Agriculture under President Biden. Laura also shares how she finds motivation and hope for the future even when there are so many hurdles between her and what AFA aims to accomplish. Laura Reese co-founded Agriculture Fairness Alliance in 2019 and now leads a team of volunteers lobbying for change in federal farm policy. She is an ex-Silicon Valley engineer and holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Southern California in biomedical and electrical engineering. Prior to 2019, the bulk of Laura’s career was spent in semiconductor product planning, culminating in her publishing a book about co-planning with customers called Align: Get Your Team on the Same Page, Discover Clients’ Needs, Develop Better Products. “We don’t have to be experts in everything; we can work with experts and have that inform our lobbying agenda, so we can focus on the things that are opportunities.” – Laura Reese Highlights: The AFA’s mission and vision for the future How subsidies currently work and who’s getting what The types of changes AFA is focusing on Why AFA has a current lobbying agenda, a long-term lobbying agenda, and the difference between the two Laura’s interest in the Farmer and Rancher Mobility Sustainability Amendment, which was set up to prioritize helping socially disadvantaged farmers Why it’s so essential to subsidize transitions for farmers currently engaged in animal agriculture Why Laura expects discussion around climate change in Congress to increase Tips and advice on what listeners can do right now to support good food and farm policy Connect with Laura Reese: Agricultural Fairness Alliance 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 __________________________ 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 couldn’t be more excited to welcome youth activist Genesis Butler back to the podcast, this time joined by her powerhouse mom, Genelle Butler! In this awe-inspiring conversation, Genesis and Genelle share how the cruel reality behind chicken nuggets encouraged the 14-year old activist to stop eating meat at only three years of age. Genelle also shares how her daughter’s curiosity about breastfeeding and cow’s milk ultimately encouraged Genesis and her family to go vegan. A passionate animal rights activist, Genesis shares why she founded Genesis for Animals and Youth Climate Save, and Genelle tells us the importance of honoring kids’ questions and their innate desire to do good. Genesis Butler is the founder of Genesis for Animals, a non-profit organization aiming to provide funding to sanctuaries and rescues who give animals a permanent home, and the youth environmental charity, Youth Climate Save. One of the youngest people ever to give a TEDx Talk, Genesis is an ethical vegan who has traveled the world advocating for animals and encouraging people to eat plant-based for animals and the planet. Genelle Butler is an activist, organizer, and mother of five vegan children. She went vegan after Genesis convinced her it was the right thing to do for the animals. Genelle is the co-director of Youth Climate Save, alongside Genesis. In addition, she is also a coordinator for the Animal Save Movement. “There are a lot of ways to get the message out—you just have to find a way to start. Once you start, it will show you a lot of things in a way that you didn’t see them before.” – Genesis Butler Interview Highlights: What Genesis thinks about the portrayal of animals on TV programing for kids Why Genelle always knew that Genesis would be a leader, even when she was a baby Why Genesis was inspired to become vegan and why the whole family followed her lead Genelle’s commitment to emboldening her daughter to be an ambassador for animals How Genesis sees the disconnect between concern about the climate and consuming animal products Ways listeners can work with their communities to make changes in their lives to benefit animals What Genelle has done to help Genesis realize her goals How other kids react to Genesis’ animal advocacy How Genesis got to be a Marvel superhero AND meet the Pope Genesis’ collaboration with Million Dollar Vegan Connect with Genesis and Genelle Butler: Youth Climate Save Youth Climate Save on Instagram Genesis for Animals Genesis for Animals on Instagram Genesis Butler 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 Resources:  A 10-Year Old’s Vision for Healing the Planet | Genesis Butler | TEDxCSULB Book Launch: Antiracism in Animal Advocacy __________________________ 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 welcomes author Henry Mance to the podcast this week for an insightful conversation about his debut book, How to Love Animals In a Human-Shaped World. Henry tells us how his young daughters inspired him and his hopes for the impact his book will have on readers: to help them understand what it truly means to love animals and learn how we can demonstrate this in our everyday lives. He shares why he believes social media is changing the ways we treat animals, discusses how individual choices to eschew animal products make room for governments to act on a larger scale, and how zoos negatively warp children’s understanding of animals. Henry Mance is the chief features writer for the Financial Times, where he focuses on long-form pieces. He was named interviewer of the year at the 2017 British Press Awards and frequently appears on BBC radio and TV news programs. His new book is a personal journey into our evolving relationships with animals and a thought-provoking look at how those bonds are being challenged and reformed across disciplines. “We make a choice every time we have breakfast, every time we have lunch, every time we have dinner. We make choices all throughout our lives about how to affect other animals, so it’s possible to do better.” – Henry Mance Interview Highlights: Why Henry believes that his book can inspire people to make dramatic changes in their lives His hopes that society will progress through the cognitive dissonance that allows us to both love animals and accept abhorrent practices such as factory farming Why it makes more political sense to seek subsidies for plant-based foods rather than seek a “meat tax” The problem with how we shape children’s views of animal rights and welfare, including meat in school meals Why veganism is part of a positive vision for restoring much-needed forests, wetlands, and grasslands all over the world The problems with teaching children about animals by taking them to zoos, where animals are not in their natural environment Why he firmly believes that loving animals has become an integral part of being a good human being Connect with Henry Mance: Henry Mance’s Website Henry Mance on Twitter Henry Mance 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 Some Resources Mentioned:  Grass Fed Rochester Cuties Los Angeles Happy Cow Vegan Guide Carl Safina, author New York City Bar Association Animal Law Committee __________________________ 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.

Jan Dutkiewicz, a political economist and Harvard Law policy fellow, dives into the murky waters of meat consumption and its greater implications. He unpacks why mainstream media often overlooks the role of animal agriculture in climate change. Jan explores the political hesitance to address meat's detrimental effects, while also discussing the future of cultured meat as a potential game changer. His insights shed light on how collective advocacy can push for meaningful reform in the food industry, advocating for ethical shifts towards sustainable alternatives.

John Adenitire, PhD, joins the podcast this week for a truly fascinating episode about the philosophical underpinnings of animal law. A lawyer and a lecturer in the School of Law at Queen Mary University of London, John explains the differences between legal and moral philosophy, outlines the substantive theory of animal rights, and underscores why the rule of law is relevant, and crucial, to the lives of nonhuman animals. He also explores the role of animal welfare laws under current theories of philosophy of law and shares why those theories fail to protect the sentient beings who desperately need legal protection. John Adenitire, who was born in Nigeria and grew up in Italy, is now a Strategic Lecturer in the School of Law at Queen Mary University London and a Fellow of the Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences. He completed his PhD at the University of Cambridge, Faculty of Law, Fitzwilliam College. He has taught and researched at Cambridge, Durham, Birmingham, the UCL Constitution Unit, the Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law, and the UK Commission on a Bill of Rights. In the beginning of this episode, we are honored to be joined by Peter Brandt, Senior Attorney for Farm Animal Litigation at the Humane Society of the United States who has played an instrumental role in fighting some of the most challenging cases of animal abuse in the last ten years. Peter joined us as a guest in episode 559 and we’ve invited him back now to read a section from his book, Indefensible: Adventures of a Farm Animal Protection Lawyer. The book is part memoir, part manifesto and chronicles the development of Peter’s awareness of factory farming and the harm it does not only to animals but to human health and the environment, especially  for those who live near them. “Once we recognize a certain being has sentience and important basic interests—interest in living, interest in being alive and free from torture and physical intervention, a life of freedom to do as as they please, within limits—then we should recognize that they have certain fundamental rights that the law should recognize.” – John Adenitire Interview Highlights: The problems with various philosophical theories of the rule of law as they pertain to animals John’s alternative theory that animals should be seen as victims of arbitrary power Why aquatic animals are often left unprotected by law The difference between power and arbitrary power How the law works to protect the fundamental interests that humans and nonhuman animals share Why an adequate substantive theory of the rule of law would require enormous changes in the legal system How the rule of law could accommodate the need for different species to have different rights Are there certain situations where it would be justifiable for humans to kill animals and how should the law accommodate them? Resources: The Rule of Law for All Sentient Animals (pre-publication version) Peter Brandt’s Book: Indefensible: Adventures of a Farm Animal Protection Lawyer Connect with John Adenitire:  John Adenitire 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.

We couldn’t be more excited to welcome animal activist and Direct Action Everywhere organizer Almira Tanner onto the podcast this week to discuss the groundbreaking legislation recently passed in Berkeley, CA drastically limiting the amount of animal-based products the city purchases, with a long-term goal of phasing out all animal products. Almira shares a behind-the-scenes look into Direct Action Everywhere’s first-of-its-kind campaign. She explains how the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic made their work all the more urgent while presenting new outreach challenges. Almira also discusses her veganism and the felony charges she is facing for rescuing animals, and gives listeners advice on how they can start a campaign similar to the one waged in Berkeley in their own communities. Almira Tanner is a lead organizer with Direct Action Everywhere, a grassroots network of animal-rights activists working to achieve revolutionary social and political change for animals in one generation. The organization has mobilized thousands of people to take action in cities across the globe and has rescued hundreds of animals from slaughterhouses, laboratories, and other places of violence since 2013. “Being vegan is a very powerful expression of anti-speciesism, and it’s one of the ways I think that we can express our values in our day-to-day actions.” – Almira Tanner Highlights: Why Direct Action Everywhere had to switch up some of its campaign tactics in light of the COVID-19 pandemic Almira’s goal of total divestment from animal agriculture in Berkeley and how the campaign played out Direction Action Everywhere’s central focus on preventing harm to animals and how that key goal intersects with convincing stakeholders that animal agriculture is a climate disaster Why Almira believes that local activism is an essential strategy for the movement How listeners who want to become politically active within their communities can advocate for divesting from animal cruelty Why symbolic victories can help spread the word and make legislative victories even more meaningful Direct Action Everywhere’s No More Factory Farms campaign and how they are hoping to persuade the state of California to place an immediate moratorium on the expansion of or construction of slaughterhouses or factory farms Connect with Almira Tanner: Direct Action Everywhere Website Almira Tanner 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 __________________________ 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.

Actress and animal-rights advocate Amy Jackson joins the podcast this week for an engaging conversation you definitely don’t want to miss! Known internationally for her work in award-winning Indian films, Amy discusses the very moment she realized animals are sentient and why she decided to devote her life to advocating for them. She shares the movie set experience that compelled her to work alongside People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and the heart-wrenching trip that motivated her to work with the Elephant Family. The actress also shares the cultural differences in India, the US, and the UK, where she grew up, when comes to caring deeply about animal issues. Amy Jackson is an actress, animal-rights advocate, and has served as a PETA ambassador since 2016. Passionate about justice and equality, Amy is a strong supporter of the Elephant Family, an organization dedicated to protecting Asia’s wildlife and enabling coexistence between living beings. Amy also works with the Sneha Sargar Society orphanages for girls and, in 2018, was honored with the United Nations’ International Day of the Girl Child award. When Amy isn’t advocating for animals, she can be seen acting in film and television. “We are their mouthpiece, we stand up for them. When I see injustice, especially towards somebody who can’t fight for themselves, whether they’re human or animal, I have an instinctive calling to do something about it.” – Amy Jackson Highlights: How Amy’s trip to Zambia expanded her awareness of animal issues and how it provided the inspiration for her TEDx talk How people can support animal welfare charities The Coexistence Story, and how the multisensory exhibition of carved elephants represents coexisting in harmony with Mother Nature Amy’s insights on the global ivory ban How cruelty-free cosmetic brands provide a positive entry point for talking about the exploitation of animals Amy’s interest in vegan fashion and the trends helping people get animal products out of their closets How Amy winds down at the end of the day Connect with Amy Jackson: Amy Jackson’s TEDx Talk Amy Jackson on Wikipedia Amy Jackson on social media: Twitter, Facebook, and 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 thrilled to welcome author and longtime animal activist Mark Hawthorne back on the podcast for an engaging conversation all about rabbits. Mark is here to talk about his latest book, The Way of the Rabbit, which explores the world of rabbits and hares and their unexpectedly large influence on human culture. Obviously this book was a work of the heart — this is a man who truly loves rabbits — but Mark also hopes for this book to have an impact on those who, perhaps unthinkingly, contribute to one of the many ways that rabbits are exploited, whether as food, in experiments, as sometimes poorly treated companions, etc., etc., as well as on those who too often consider them mere “pests” when seen in the garden.  Mark also tells us why he fosters rabbits and the joys of having these beautiful animals hopping around his home. Mark Hawthorne is the author of four books on animals, animal rights, and social justice including The Way of the Rabbit, Striking at the Roots: A Practical Guide to Animal Activism, A Vegan Ethic: Embracing a Life of Compassion Toward All, and Bleating Hearts: The Hidden World of Animal Suffering. Through his writing, Mark aims to empower people across the globe to get active in the fight to make the world a better place for animals. He stopped eating meat after an encounter with one of India’s many cows in 1992 and became and ethical vegan a decade later. Mark’s writing is also featured in Vegan’s Daily Companion, journals, and several anthologies written on behalf of animals.   “I have always been fascinated by what rabbits represent, such as magic and abundance and creativity and rebirth.” – Mark Hawthorne Highlights: Why Mark decided to write this affectionate and warm-hearted history and how it’s a departure from his usual books on animal exploitation and activism Why rabbits are nature’s most surprising species How rabbits became such an integral part of human culture and still play play such a significant role in mythology, literature, and art today Why and how the rabbit came to be associated with Easter Mark’s favorite rabbit stories, including The Tale of Peter Rabbit, Watership Down, and the poetry of William Cowper Why Mark feels it’s essential to have fictionalized, anthropomorphized depictions of animals to help us see them in a different way Connect with Mark Hawthorne: Mark Hawthorne’s Website Mark Hawthorne on Facebook Mark Hawthorne on Instagram Mark Hawthorne 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.

Thomas Goodman joins the podcast this week for an engaging conversation about advancing the accessibility of plant-based foods and how we can all get involved in this crucial work. Founder of the non-profit Plant Dining Partnerships (PDP), Thomas discusses how PDP provides resources to help increase vegan options in restaurants, schools, hospitals, and more. He outlines their two-pronged approach: raising awareness of the plant-based lifestyle nationally and promoting change by ensuring that consumers are offered a range of vegan food wherever they fall on the dietary spectrum. Thomas also shares how the organization builds relationships with restaurants across the country and partners with social meetup groups to build a supportive plant-based community. Thomas Goodman, Founder and President of Plant Dining Partnerships, is a lifelong animal lover who was raised meat-free and became a professional advocate in 2014. Throughout his career, he has worked across various initiatives, including corporate outreach; federal, state, and regulatory advocacy; and the promotion of Meatless Mondays. He is committed to promoting healthy, environmentally friendly plant-based options and offer compassionate and tasty alternatives to our current mainstream food system. “People are asking for change, and they’re willing to spend their dollars to create change.” – Thomas Goodman Highlights: How Thomas started out as an activist and campaigner bringing plant-based options into the mainstream Thomas’ tips for how to succeed with online petitions How to leverage technology to build relationships with big brands How Thomas and the Plant Dining Partnerships team are promoting dietary change at a grassroots level How they empower their volunteers to engage with local restaurants Why Thomas likes to get to know other people involved in advocacy and build valuable relationships How people can get involved and volunteer for Plant Dining Partnerships Thomas’ story of growing up meat-free Connect with the Plant Dining Partnerships: Plant Dining Partnerships Website Plant Dining Partnerships on Facebook Plant Dining Partnerships on Instagram Plant Dining Partnerships 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 excited to welcome back Aysha Akhtar, MD, MPH, to the podcast this week for a critical conversation about animal testing and experimentation. President and CEO of the Center for Contemporary Sciences, Aysha outlines how the Center is working with academic institutions, governmental agencies, investors, and researchers to catalyze a shift away from the outdated use of animals in science and towards animal-free research methods that are not only more humane but are far superior. Aysha discusses the extraordinary scientific developments that are changing the attitudes of many scientists and also shares her opinions on the development of the COVID-19 vaccines and why she believes they could have been produced without testing on animals. Aysha Akhtar is a double-board certified neurologist, preventive medicine specialist, and serves as president and CEO of the Center for Contemporary Sciences. She is a former Deputy Director of the U.S. Army Traumatic Brain Injury Program where she developed the Army’s brain injury prevention and treatment strategies. As a Commander in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, Aysha was frequently deployed to assist with national public health emergencies. She is also a Fellow of the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics and author of the two books, Our Symphony With Animals: On Health, Empathy and Our Shared Destinies and Animals and Public Health, which argues for the need for health institutions to include animals as part of the “public” in public health. “We want to build the next generation of scientists and create academic curriculums that are integrated into programs so that the next generation of medical students are trained in human-based testing methods and not in animal testing.” – Aysha Akhtar Highlights: Why Aysha believes we need to get back to studying human biology instead of creating artificial models and using animals to study human disease Whether animal research is actually reliable in predicting human outcomes Why the Center for Contemporary Sciences is a proponent of human-based technology and what that means in terms of research Who the opponents of their mission are and why some people are still fighting to keep animal research Why Aysha believes the Center’s primary purpose is supporting and educating the public about the shortcomings of animal testing How the Center is working on policy changes to open the door to allow for more innovation and more governmental funding for non-animal testing methods Connect with the Center for Contemporary Sciences:  Center for Contemporary Sciences Website Center for Contemporary Sciences on Facebook Center for Contemporary Sciences on Instagram Center for Contemporary Sciences 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.