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

This week, Mariann speaks with Rita McMahon of Wild Bird Fund about the incredible work her organization does for pigeons and other birds, why you should never pick up a baby bird from the sidewalk, and why amend building codes to require bird safe glass is vital for bird safety. Rita McMahon conducted market research for major TV networks in New York City, but she also nursed sick and injured animals in an apartment full of cages and pet carriers. Despite her busy schedule, Rita pursued an education in rehabilitation via conferences, research, and observing vets. In 2003, she became an NYS licensed wildlife rehabilitator and saw patients at a local veterinary hospital—300 in her first year. In 2005, Rita co-founded the Wild Bird Fund, which earned a federal license to treat migratory birds the following year. In 2011, Rita gave up her TV consulting to devote herself fully to the work of WBF, including animal care and fundraising. The time was ripe to create New York City’s first wildlife rehabilitation and education facility, which opened in 2012. That first year, the Wild Bird Fund treated 1,500 animals. This year the number of WBF patients will surpass 7,000. In the intro to this episode Jasmin and Mariann share their stories of trying the Impossible Whopper at their nearby Burger Kings, and Jasmin tells how an upcoming vacation led to a realization of how wonderful the Our Hen House community is. They also talk about an amazing upcoming art project you should know about, The Art of Compassion Project. Later in the episode, Mariann brings us more Rising Anxieties. As always, the award-winning weekly Our Hen House podcast is hosted by Mariann Sullivan and Jasmin Singer. This week’s episode is brought to you in part through a generous donation from BetterHelp. Use the promo code “henhouse” for a listener discount on BetterHelp’s services. 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. Our Hen House is now part of the iROAR podcast network. 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! The Our Hen House theme song is written and sung by the incredible Michael Harren, who is also OHH’s Director of Communications! 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.

This week, Jasmin talks to Angela Lovell about what it means to identify as a witch, how being a witch relates to animals and the connection between psychic energy and consuming animal products. She tells us about Indigo Children and empaths, and the challenging of communicating to people who aren’t empaths. If you want to hear about how working with animals shaped her psychic career and how you can discover your spirit and power animals, listen to this fascinating interview. Angela Lovell is a 4th generation psychic, Indigo Child, empath, witchy bitch, and paranormal magnet with an entourage of mystical creatures. She co-hosts Where The Magick Happens, a podcast about witchcraft, the paranormal, spirit guides, astrology, and everything else you need to live your most magickal life. You can find her on Twitter @AngelaLovell and in Los Angeles with her many foster-fail familiars and faeries. In the intro to this episode Mariann and Jasmin discuss the value of Democratic presidential nominee Julian Castro’s Protecting Animals and Wildlife (PAW) plan, Jasmin’s new subway rat tattoo, and a correction from last week’s show about Poke Bowls. Later in the episode, Mariann brings us more Rising Anxieties. As always, the award-winning weekly Our Hen House podcast is hosted by Mariann Sullivan and Jasmin Singer. This week’s episode is brought to you in part through a generous donation from BetterHelp. Use the promo code “henhouse” for a listener discount on BetterHelp’s services. 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. Our Hen House is now part of the iROAR podcast network. 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! The Our Hen House theme song is written and sung by the incredible Michael Harren, who is also OHH’s Director of Communications! 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.

This week, Mariann talks to Dr. Trent Grassian about his recent evidence-based research into seven UK-based meat reduction and vegan campaigns. He talks about his discoveries about the effectiveness of meat reduction, how motivation to save animals is a more powerful motivator than the health motive, the lack of diversity he discovered in vegan and animal rights organizations, and much more. Dr. Trent Grassian recently completed his PhD, after earning a Master’s in Public Administration. Trent conducted research with non-profit organisations promoting meat reduction and veganism, in the largest study of its kind and has given presentations all over the world about the project. He is also a passionate intersectional advocate and helps run London Vegan Voices, a London-based pro-intersectional vegan group, and the on-line group, Vegan Researchers & Enthusiasts. In a former life, he worked as a Special Needs Education teacher in California for half a decade and helped found a local volunteering non-profit branch. He is a passionate animal advocate, who has volunteered with animals on three continents and spends most of his free time helping others adopt cruelty-free cooking skills and hanging out with his dog, Rigby. In the intro to this episode Mariann and Jasmin talk about Jasmin’s move to West Hollywood and all the vegan food near her, HappyCow in the age of the Impossible Whopper, and the people giving them hope in the age of climate crisis. Later in the show, Mariann brings us some Rising Anxieties about “vegetarian butchers” and more. As always, the award-winning weekly Our Hen House podcast is hosted by Mariann Sullivan and Jasmin Singer. This week’s episode is brought to you in part through a generous donation from BetterHelp. Use the promo code “henhouse” for a listener discount on BetterHelp’s services. 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.   Our Hen House is now part of the iROAR podcast network. 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! The Our Hen House theme song is written and sung by the incredible Michael Harren, who is also OHH’s Director of Communications! 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.

This week, Mariann and Jasmin celebrate the 500th episode of the Our Hen House podcast! Over ten years, Our Hen House has released episodes every single week without missing a beat. The show has utilized its philosophy of indefatigable positivity to elevate the voices of activists and leaders all over the globe who are working tirelessly to change the world for animals. Jasmin and Mariann would like to extend a sincere THANK YOU to every guest who has ever been on the show, all of the current and former Flock members, and everyone who has ever listened to the show or supported us in any way. We’re looking forward to the next 500 episodes! This episode was recorded live at Woodstock Farm Sanctuary, and features an amazing interview with Gene Baur of Farm Sanctuary. Gene talks about the changes he has seen in the animal welfare movement over the last ten years, the importance of media outlets like Our Hen House for changing the world for animals, and the changes he predicts over the next ten years. Gene Baur has been hailed as “the conscience of the food movement” by Time magazine. For more than 25 years he has traveled extensively around the country, campaigning to raise awareness about the abuses of industrialized factory farming and our current food system. A pioneer in the field of undercover investigations, Gene has visited hundreds of farms, stockyards, and slaughterhouses documenting their deplorable conditions. His pictures and videos exposing factory farming cruelties have aired nationally and internationally, educating millions about the plight of modern farm animals. In 2008, Gene’s book, Farm Sanctuary: Changing Hearts and Minds About Animals and Food, became a national bestseller. Gene, who began his activist career selling veggie hotdogs out of a VW van at Grateful Dead concerts to fund farm animal rescues, is currently Farm Sanctuary’s president.  With shelters in New York and California, Farm Sanctuary provides rescue, refuge, and adoption for hundreds of farm animals each year, enabling visitors to connect with farm animals as emotional, intelligent individuals. This episode also features a fascinating interview between Jasmin and Tricia Stevens, the Charitable Giving and Ethical Campaigns Manager at LUSH North America. Tricia tells us about the incredible work that LUSH does to increase consumer awareness around environmental issues and corporate accountability, build powerful partnerships with groups who are changing the way animals are perceived, and how LUSH uses media campaigns to advance their messaging. As always, the award-winning weekly Our Hen House podcast is hosted by Mariann Sullivan and Jasmin Singer. This week’s episode is brought to you in part through a generous donation from BetterHelp. Use the promo code “henhouse” for a listener discount on BetterHelp’s services. 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! The Our Hen House theme song is written and sung by the incredible Michael Harren, who is also OHH’s Director of Communications! The photo in this week’s cover art was taken by our good friend Derek Pashupa Goodwin! 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.

This week, Mariann talks to Cheryl Leahy about Compassion Over Killing‘s most-recent dairy investigation; how investigations and advocacy reveal the horrors of industrial farming and impact movements for change; COK’s new podcast, The Vegan Family Podcast; and how children respond to conversations about animal ethics. Since 2006, Cheryl has served as Compassion Over Killing’s General Counsel targeting large-scale abuse of farmed animals through proactive litigation and undercover investigations. Her work includes challenging cruel, yet standard, practices forced upon farmed animals as well as the misleading marketing of meat, milk, and eggs often found in grocery stores. Cheryl also co-hosts the Vegan Family Podcast. She received a J.D. from UCLA School of Law and a B.A. from the University of Chicago in Environmental Studies. In the intro to this episode Mariann and Jasmin rant about how it’s much harder to eliminate single-use plastics than it is to go vegan, but everything we do has an impact. They also discuss the uproar over Chipotle branding plant-based meat as “too processed.” Later, Mariann brings us another round of Rising Anxieties. As always, the award-winning weekly Our Hen House podcast is hosted by Mariann Sullivan and Jasmin Singer. This week’s episode is brought to you in part through a generous donation from BetterHelp. Use the promo code “henhouse” for a listener discount on BetterHelp’s services. 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! The Our Hen House theme song is written and sung by the incredible Michael Harren, who is also OHH’s Director of Communications! 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.

This week, Mariann speaks with Nancy Lawson about some really wonderful ways to put humane gardening into practice. This interview is a must-listen for anyone with an experienced green thumb or looking to start their own garden. They discuss how gardening has been portrayed similarly to factory farming; the importance of planting native plants; how to identify the plants and animals living around your home; and the advantages and disadvantages of bird-feeders. Nancy Lawson is the author of The Humane Gardener: Nurturing a Backyard Habitat for Wildlife, a columnist for All Animals magazine, and the creator of the award-winning website, HumaneGardener.com. A frequent speaker on garden ecology, she founded Humane Gardener to pioneer and promote animal-friendly landscaping methods. Lawson’s book and wildlife habitat have been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Oprah Magazine. Certified as a Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional, she previously led the creative teams behind the magazines of The Humane Society of the United States. She volunteers as a master gardener and master naturalist in central Maryland. In the intro to this episode Mariann has an encounter at the gym with someone who wanted to eat meat at an animal sanctuary,  Jasmin is infuriated by the awful dairy farm episode of Queer Eye, and Mariann gets into a conversation about the Beyond Burger and GMOs. As always, the award-winning weekly Our Hen House podcast is hosted by Mariann Sullivan and Jasmin Singer. This week’s episode is brought to you in part through a generous donation from BetterHelp. Use the promo code “henhouse” for a listener discount on BetterHelp’s services. 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! The Our Hen House theme song is written and sung by the incredible Michael Harren, who is also OHH’s Director of Communications! 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.

This week, Jasmin talks to Ryan Patey of T.O.F.U Magazine about publishing a DIY magazine, how his travels influence his views of animal issues, and why looking back at your own early work isn’t always the best idea. T.O.F.U. started in 2007 in Canada, but has since gone on to establish a worldwide audience. Nominated as one of the best vegan magazines in 2018’s VegfestUK Awards, the magazine takes a pro-intersectional, anti-oppression approach to veganism in an effort to extend the conversation beyond the plate. In the intro to this episode Jasmin has some interesting experiences on an Amtrak train while trying to write her new book, including one lovely gesture from a fellow passenger. As always, the award-winning weekly Our Hen House podcast is hosted by Mariann Sullivan and Jasmin Singer. This week’s episode is brought to you in part through a generous donation from BetterHelp. Use the promo code “henhouse” for a listener discount on BetterHelp’s services. 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 iTunes or your favorite podcatcher! Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it and leave us a comment on iTunes! 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! The Our Hen House theme song is written and sung by the incredible Michael Harren, who is also OHH’s Director of Communications! 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.

This week, Mariann sits down with Dale Jamieson to talk about his work with the Center for Environmental and Animal Protection at New York University, his work in creating the Environmental Studies program at NYU, the skepticism around animal studies programs, and effective ways to engage with animal advocacy courses. Dale Jamieson is a Professor of Environmental Studies and Philosophy; Director, Center for Environmental and Animal Protection; Affiliated Professor of Law; Affiliated Professor of Medical Ethics, School of Medicine; Associated Faculty, Center for Bioethics, College of Global Public Health; New York University. He has been involved in animal issues since the late 1970s and was colleagues with Tom Reagan, Peter Singer, and Marc Bekoff as well as Lori Gruen’s teacher.  Dale was one of the original signers of the 1993 declaration on the rights of apes.  He has written on a range of issues from animal ethics to animal minds, some of which is collected in Morality’s Progress: Essays on Humans, Other Animals, and the Rest of Nature, (Oxford:  Oxford University Press, 2002), ix + 380pp. since coming to NYU in 2003 he’s been involved in founding NYU’s animal studies initiative and the ma program in animal studies, as well as the center referred to above. In the intro to this episode Jasmin is obsessed with Oatley, we are thrilled to get a kind response from Heidi Schrek (What The Constitution Means to Me), and we discuss the horrors of the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act. As always, the award-winning weekly Our Hen House podcast is hosted by Mariann Sullivan and Jasmin Singer. This week’s episode is brought to you in part through a generous donation from BetterHelp. Use the promo code “henhouse” for a listener discount on BetterHelp’s services. 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 iTunes or your favorite podcatcher! Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it and leave us a comment on iTunes! 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! The Our Hen House theme song is written and sung by the incredible Michael Harren, who is also OHH’s Director of Communications! 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.

This week, Jasmin talks to Melanie Joy about her upcoming book, Powerarchy: Understanding the Psychology of Oppression for Social Transformation. They talk about what powerarchy is and why it’s an important concept for vegans and non-vegans; how powerarchy relates to intersectionality; how powerarchy is at work in social justice movements as well as in our relationships to ourselves; and practical, mindful ways that we can transform powerarchy within our circles. Dr. Melanie Joy is a Harvard-educated psychologist, international speaker, strategic vegan advocacy trainer, and relationship coach. She is the author of five books, including the award-winning Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows as well Powerarchy: Understanding the Psychology of Oppression for Social Transformation. Dr. Joy was a lecturer at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, for 11 years, where she taught courses on privilege and oppression, feminist psychology, and animal rights. She has given talks and trainings on six continents and in over 45 countries, and her work has been featured in major media outlets around the world. She is the eighth recipient of the Ahimsa Award – previously given to the Dalai Lama and Nelson Mandela – for her work on global nonviolence. Dr. Joy is also the founding president of the charitable organization Beyond Carnism, co-director of the Center for Effective Vegan Advocacy, and co-founder of ProVeg International. You can learn more about her work at carnism.org. In the intro to this episode an incident in the middle of the Broadway show What The Constitution Means To Me inspires Jasmin to send a note to the artist, foie gras, and the difference between being righteous and being self-righteous.  After the interview, Mariann brings us some Rising Anxieties. More info in the show notes! As always, the award-winning weekly Our Hen House podcast is hosted by Mariann Sullivan and Jasmin Singer. This week’s episode is brought to you in part through a generous donation from BetterHelp. Use the promo code “henhouse” for a listener discount on BetterHelp’s services. 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 iTunes or your favorite podcatcher! Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it and leave us a comment on iTunes! 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! The Our Hen House theme song is written and sung by the incredible Michael Harren, who is also OHH’s Director of Communications! 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.

This week, Mariann talks to David Clough, a Professor of Theological Ethics at the University of Chester, about why Christians have faith-based reasons for caring about animals, what the bible says about animal ethics, his unique take on the story of Jesus going into the wilderness, and what practical Christians can take around the issues of animals. David Clough is Professor of Theological Ethics at the University of Chester and has just finished a term as President of the Society for the Study of Christian Ethics. He co-wrote Faith and Force: A Christian Debate about War (2007), debating just war and pacifism in a 21st century context, and has recently completed the landmark two-volume monograph On Animals (2012, 2018), on the place of animals in Christian theology and ethics. He is the founder of CreatureKind, a project aiming to engage Christians with farmed animal welfare; founder of DefaultVeg, a simple policy for institutions to adopt for events catering; and Principal Investigator for a three-year UK Research Council funded project on the Christian Ethics of Farmed Animal Welfare in partnership with major UK churches and Compassion in World Farming. In the intro to this episode Mariann and Jasmin are fresh from the recording of Our Hen House’s 500th episode live at Woodstock Farm Sanctuary, and they talk about the beauty and importance of sanctuaries for creating change. They also take a day trip to Troy, NY for shopping and lunch. After the interview, Mariann brings us some Rising Anxieties. More info in the show notes! As always, the award-winning weekly Our Hen House podcast is hosted by Mariann Sullivan and Jasmin Singer. 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 iTunes or your favorite podcatcher! Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it and leave us a comment on iTunes! 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! The Our Hen House theme song is written and sung by the incredible Michael Harren, who is also OHH’s Director of Communications! 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.