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

In this spirited episode of Rising Anxieties, Mariann Sullivan ditches the intro song and dives headfirst into the media’s maddening blind spots around animal agriculture. With her trademark blend of righteous indignation and sharp wit, Mariann unpacks how mainstream outlets consistently fail to connect the dots between soy production, deforestation, and animal feed—all while industry spin doctors work overtime to rebrand environmental destruction as “regenerative” farming. Between The Guardian’s contradictory climate reporting and the Environmental Defense Fund’s cozy relationship with dairy producers, there’s plenty to raise your blood pressure. This episode explores: How media outlets consistently omit animal agriculture’s massive role in climate change, with less than 4% of climate news stories mentioning it The widespread misconception about soy production, with most people unaware it primarily feeds livestock, not humans The meaningless greenwashing term “regenerative agriculture” and how it allows the industry to make empty environmental claims Why smaller influencers may be more effective at promoting veganism than mega-celebrities who frequently abandon plant-based diets   We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read this episode's interview. _____________________________________________ Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content! Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcatcher, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review! Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series. Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, or Bluesky. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

In this thought-provoking episode of the Animal Law Podcast, we dive into a First Amendment case that cuts straight to the heart of animal advocacy: can the government prevent activists from showing the public what actually happens to animals in industrial agriculture? Mariann speaks with Sara Berinhout of FIRE (Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression) and John Greil of the University of Texas Law School’s Law and Religion Clinic about their representation of Daraius Dubash and Dr. Faraz Harsini. These dedicated animal advocates were arrested and threatened with arrest, respectively, for conducting a peaceful “Cube of Truth” demonstration in Houston’s Discovery Green park. Their crime? Simply showing silent documentary footage of standard farming practices. The case raises profound questions about whether the government can delegate its constitutional obligations to private entities, whether religious motivations for animal advocacy deserve special protection, and most importantly, whether the truth about animal agriculture is too disturbing to be seen in public spaces—even as those same spaces host barbecue festivals celebrating the end products of that system. Key Points First Amendment and Animal Advocacy: The case challenges whether showing footage of standard factory farming practices is protected speech in public parks. Religious Freedom for Animal Activists: Daraius Dubash’s Hindu practice of ahimsa (non-violence) makes his animal advocacy a constitutionally protected religious expression. Public Parks and Free Speech: The lawsuit questions whether local governments can evade First Amendment obligations by delegating management of public spaces to private entities. Content-Based Censorship: Park officials explicitly prohibited the silent documentary footage (from the film Dominion) because of its content while allowing other forms of protest. The Paradox of Legal Cruelty: The government’s own characterization of the footage as showing “torture” highlights the contradiction—they acknowledge the fact that the footage communicates to viewers the disturbing nature of common practices while preventing the public from seeing them. ABOUT OUR GUESTS Sara Berinhout is a First Amendment attorney at FIRE (Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression), bringing expertise in constitutional law and free speech defense. A Harvard Law School magna cum laude graduate who clerked for Judge James C. Ho of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Berinhout previously practiced appellate litigation at Ropes & Gray LLP, where she specialized in complex civil litigation and white-collar defense, giving her unique insight into government restrictions on protected speech and religious expression in public forums. John Greil is a Clinical Professor of Law who co-teaches the Law and Religion Clinic at the University of Texas School of Law, specializing in First Amendment religious liberty cases and constitutional litigation. A Harvard Law School graduate and former clerk for Chief Judge Jennifer Walker Elrod of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Greil’s expertise in religious freedom law has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Religion News Service, and Texas Public Radio, making him a leading authority on the intersection of religious practice and animal advocacy under the Free Exercise Clause. We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read this episode's interview. ********** You can listen to the Animal Law Podcast directly on our website (at the top of this page) or you can listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcatcher. Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it on Apple Podcasts, and don’t forget to leave us a friendly comment! Of course, we would be thrilled if you would consider making a donation or becoming a member of our flock (especially if you’re a regular listener). Contributions of any amount will go towards our fundraising goal and are hugely appreciated. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content! Don’t forget to also listen to the award-winning,  weekly signature OHH podcast — now in its fifteenth glorious year!

From horse-drawn carriages finally facing political opposition in NYC to innovative cultivated meat farms in the Netherlands, this week’s Hen Report serves up a feast of animal rights news with a side of irreverent commentary. Jasmin and Mariann dive into Kenny Torrella’s eye-opening Vox article quantifying chicken suffering (spoiler alert: it’s worse than you think), celebrate animal rights pioneer Jim Mason’s 85th birthday, and share exciting news about a Swiss researcher establishing legal foundations for animal rights. Plus, they explore the fascinating concept of “meat farms” that could help animal producers transition to more compassionate food production. This episode explores: How all NYC mayoral candidates are now opposing the horse-drawn carriage industry (is change finally possible?) Kenny Torrella’s research showing the average factory farm chicken experiences 700+ hours of pain in their short 1,100-hour lives Swiss lawyer Saskia Stucki’s groundbreaking work establishing theoretical foundations for animal rights The world’s first cultivated meat farm coming to the Netherlands, offering traditional farmers a compassionate transition Jim Mason’s 85th birthday and his pioneering work exposing factory farming’s brutal reality RESOURCES The cheapest way to stop animal cruelty Latsis Prize 2025: Saskia Stucki aims to establish animal rights Episode 223: “Hell is empty and all the devils are here.” Horse-drawn carriage ride in Central Park for NYC trip? Mayoral hopefuls say think again The ‘World’s First’ Cultivated Meat Farm Is Coming To The Netherlands We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read this episode's interview. _____________________________________________ Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. Contributions of any amount will go towards our fundraising goal and are hugely appreciated. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content! Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcatcher, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review! Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series. Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or Bluesky. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

In this week’s episode of Rising Anxieties, Mariann Sullivan dives headfirst into the meat industry’s surveillance state that would make Big Brother blush. From the Animal Agriculture Alliance’s creepy database of 2,400 activists (complete with tracking their romantic partners) to their direct line to the FBI, we discover that taking photos of farm conditions is now considered “extreme activity” while the industry portrays itself as the victim. Meanwhile, McDonald’s Canada unveils a veggie burger—a revolutionary concept that hasn’t quite made it across the border yet. Apparently, anxieties are rising everywhere… especially in the meat industry’s paranoid war rooms. Episode Highlights: The Animal Agriculture Alliance has created a database tracking over 2,400 animal rights activists, including monitoring their personal relationships and social media activity Industry surveillance includes sharing activists’ information with the FBI and Department of Homeland Security, classifying activities like “observing farm conditions” as “extreme” The meat industry funds professional security firms to monitor activists and counter their messaging while portraying themselves as victims McDonald’s Canada launches a new plant-based option that can be ordered vegan by omitting the mayo Mariann teases an upcoming Animal Law Podcast interview about a significant First Amendment case involving animal rights activists We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read this episode's interview. _____________________________________________ Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content! Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcatcher, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review! Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series. Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, or Bluesky. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

Our Hen House presents an eye-opening conversation about the growing movement to limit factory farming through state legislation, focusing on New York’s efforts while exploring the broader national implications. This episode explores how advocates are working to address the environmental devastation and animal suffering caused by industrial animal agriculture through policy change. This episode explores: The details of New York’s proposed legislation to ban new large-scale factory farms and its potential impact on the dairy industry How agricultural policy has shifted to favor massive industrial operations at the expense of smaller, independent farms The connection between factory farms, climate change, and the troubling rise of “biogas” as a false climate solution How coalitions of environmental, animal welfare, and community groups are finding success in states like Oregon The political challenges of regulating factory farms and strategies for building public awareness about these issues ABOUT OUR GUESTS Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal represents the 67th Assembly District, which includes the Upper West Side and parts of Hell’s Kitchen in Manhattan. She is a lifelong resident of the Upper West Side and serves as Chair of the Assembly Housing Committee. Since taking office in 2006, Assemblymember Rosenthal has passed more than 200 laws that have helped to improve the lives of all New York State residents. Rosenthal is a leading advocate for animal welfare, having passed the first-in-the-nation ban on cat declawing, ending the sale of dogs, cats and rabbits in pet stores and prohibiting the sale of cosmetics tested on animals. She has also passed laws protecting survivors of domestic violence, preserving affordable housing, strengthening women’s rights, environmental protection, data privacy and more. Alex Beauchamp is the Northern Region Director with the national advocacy organization Food & Water Watch. He is based in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. Krissy Kasserman is the Factory Farm Organizing Director with the national advocacy organization Food & Water Watch. She is based in Pender County, North Carolina. We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read this episode's interview. _____________________________________________ Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content! Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcatcher, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review! Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series. Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, or Bluesky. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

In this candid conversation, Jasmin and Mariann explore how animal advocates maintain their focus during politically challenging times, reminding listeners that their commitment to changing the world for animals remains central even when everything else feels overwhelming. This episode explores: How animal rights activism provides perspective during politically tumultuous times Zoe Rosenberg’s trial for rescuing chickens from a Purdue slaughterhouse Colombia’s groundbreaking constitutional court ban on bullfighting and other cruel animal spectacles The successful community opposition that stopped Charles River Laboratories from building a primate testing facility in Texas Jasmin’s thrifting tip for finding affordable vegan leather items on Shop Goodwill’s website Preview of an upcoming interview with Food and Water Watch about limiting factory farm expansion at the state level RESOURCES Felony Animal Rescue Trial Begins Colombia’s Constitutional Court Not Only Upholds Bullfighting Ban, But Bans More Animal Spectacles SIGN: STOP PLANS TO BUILD RESEARCH PRIMATE HOUSING FACILITY IN TEXAS Lament of Hathor We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read this episode's interview. _____________________________________________ Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. Contributions of any amount will go towards our fundraising goal and are hugely appreciated. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content! Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcatcher, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review! Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series. Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or Bluesky. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

Dive into the absurdities of the meat industry, from ridiculous claims linking AI to protein production to the troubling rollback of slaughterhouse waste regulations by the EPA. Explore how Temple Grandin's mythology serves as a smokescreen for industry practices, and marvel at a significant legal victory that empowers advocates to prosecute animal cruelty. The shocking rise in beef production per cow showcases a grim reality while the notion of AI reshaping livestock practices prompts vital questions about animal welfare.

What happens when a casual vegan dinner leads to one of the most significant open rescue cases in US animal rights history? This week, we’re joined by Adam Durand, who went from rule-following citizen to jailbird activist after exposing conditions at Wegmans Egg Farm back in 2004. Adam shares the wild journey of sneaking into a factory farm with a ragtag crew, rescuing hens who then lived long sanctuary lives, distributing DVDs via BitTorrent (oh, the early 2000s!), and ultimately facing down a vindictive judge who sentenced him beyond what the law allowed. All because he couldn’t unsee what he saw inside those dusty, forgotten sheds filled with living beings. In this episode: How a simple vegan dinner party in 2002 set Adam on his path to activism The shocking discovery of Wegmans’ “mechanical monstrosity” housing 750,000 hens The rescue of 13 birds, 11 of whom went on to live long lives at sanctuaries Adam’s experience facing felony charges that could have meant 21 years in prison What it was like serving time in jail, including being forced to serve eggs to inmates The concept of “vystopia” and how activists can care for themselves while fighting for animals Adam’s current work protesting Marshall BioResources, America’s largest breeder of beagles for experimentation Why animal sanctuaries remain vital to both rescue work and movement building Adam’s story reminds us that individual actions matter, courage is contagious, and sometimes the most effective activism comes from ordinary people willing to question “how it’s always been done.” ABOUT OUR GUEST Adam Durand is a videographer and animal rights activist with over two decades of history in the movement. He gained recognition in 2005 for exposing cruelty at Wegmans Egg Farm in a case where he spent 35 days in jail before being released by an appellate court. Adam’s advocacy has included open rescues, strategic campaigns, and support for farm animal sanctuaries such as Mockingbird Farm Sanctuary where he serves as a Lead Caregiver. His impact has been featured in national publications (including earlier this year in Vox) and cited by Our Hen House’s own Mariann Sullivan. We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read this episode's interview. _____________________________________________ Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content! Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcatcher, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review! Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series. Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, or Bluesky. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

In this week’s episode of The Hen Report, we welcome back our favorite constitutional law scholar and wingman Michael Dorf to dish about the viral saga of Peanut the Squirrel. What started as a heartbreaking story about a beloved social media star squirrel and his raccoon friend Fred—both killed by New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation under troubling circumstances—turned into a fascinating case study of how animal issues can transcend political divides. Episode Highlights: The Peanut Saga: How a rescued squirrel—and social media sensation—was seized and killed by New York authorities, sparking widespread outrage The surprising demographic of Peanut supporters who aren’t typically perceived as aligned with animal rights causes Activism Opportunities: How animal advocates might reach new audiences through individual animal stories Political Divisions: The challenges of building coalitions across political lines for animal causes Intersectionality Challenges: The potential costs and benefits of linking animal rights to broader social justice movements Philosophical Foundations: The problem with “they were bred for this purpose” arguments RESOURCES Dorf on Law blog If we didn’t eat them, they wouldn’t exist The Animals’ Lawsuit Against Humanity We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read this episode's interview. _____________________________________________ Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. Contributions of any amount will go towards our fundraising goal and are hugely appreciated. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content! Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcatcher, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review! Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series. Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or Bluesky. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

Dive into the chaotic world of the meat industry, where Texas faces legal turmoil over its cultivated meat ban, intended to shield beef producers. Discover the outrageous decision of 20 states declaring milk as their official beverage while Indiana wisely opts for water. Uncover the heartbreaking incident at a Colorado dairy, where a toxic gas tragedy took six lives, exposing serious safety lapses. The podcast pairs humor with activism, revealing the absurdities and dangers lurking in animal agriculture.