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

In this powerful episode, we welcome Frances Gonzalez, founder of Little Logan’s Farm, who shares her inspiring journey of creating a veganic sanctuary and educational space in New York’s Hudson Valley. After experiencing profound personal loss, Frances channeled her grief into building a community space that champions veganic farming and compassionate living. Through innovative farm-to-table events and educational programs, she’s breaking new ground in showing how sustainable, animal-free agriculture can bring people together and heal communities. This episode explores: The story behind Little Logan’s Farm in Gardiner, NY, and how it became a safe haven for both humans and animals Biocyclic vegan agriculture and its importance in creating truly cruelty-free farming systems How farm-to-table experiences can showcase plant-based cuisine without exploiting animals Frances’s work with Puerto Rico VegFest and expanding vegan education globally The intersection of sustainable farming, community building, and healing through nature ABOUT OUR GUEST Frances Gonzalez is a pioneering force in the vegan movement, serving as both the founder of Vegfest Puerto Rico and co-founder of Little Logan’s Farm, a sustainable sanctuary in New York’s Hudson Valley. At Little Logan’s Farm, she has created an innovative fusion of veganic farming practices and elegant event spaces, offering farm-to-table experiences, sustainable wedding venues, wellness retreats, and educational programming. Through her work in both Puerto Rico and New York, Frances demonstrates how plant-based living, environmental sustainability, and animal welfare can harmoniously combine in modern spaces while maintaining a deep connection to nature. RESOURCES  Derek Sarno on Youtube How vernal ponds are saving Rochester’s frogs It’s Weird That Eggs Were Ever Cheap Why Big Pharma wants you to eat more meat Vegan ‘Anora’ Star Mikey Madison Wins ‘Best Actress’ Oscar The Most Ambitious Plant-Based College Dining Initiative Yet Comes to Texas INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT 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 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, Threads, or Bluesky. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

On this week’s Hen Report, Jasmin and Mariann explore how we maintain focus on animal advocacy during times of broader crisis, discussing everything from the power of repetition in countering industry narratives to the latest developments in vegan food innovation. Through personal stories and current events, they examine why animal rights remains a crucial lens for understanding and addressing global challenges. Key Discussion Points: How the “illusory truth effect” impacts animal advocacy Recent developments in vegan alternatives and industry response The significance of the UK’s first vegan Michelin star restaurant Updates on the bird flu crisis and egg alternatives Personal experiences navigating vegan advocacy in daily life The enduring importance of animal rights in times of crisis RESOURCES Mariann’s article in The Cornell Law Review: Desperate Times and Desperate Measures Animal Law Podcast 117: The Case of the Frankenchicken The effects of repetition frequency on the illusory truth effect Vegan Restaurant Wins Michelin Star In UK First Is Fake Meat Better for You Than Real Meat? Dunkin’ is no longer charging extra for nondairy milk Bone appétit! Dog treats from lab-grown meat are hitting the U.K. market The Unnatural History of Bird Flu One state’s flawed, desperate new plan to fix its egg shortage Just Egg Becomes America’s Most Reliable Egg Wild fish use visual cues to recognize individual divers Lab mice may give ‘first aid’ to unconscious mates INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT 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 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 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 X (formerly Twitter). The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

Scientist Dr. Rachel Mason joins us to break down her groundbreaking research on dismantling industrial animal agriculture through systems thinking. From her work with Animal Charity Evaluators to her current research using AI to track factory farms globally, Dr. Mason reveals how different forms of activism can work together for maximum impact in challenging factory farming. This episode explores: How the mechanisms supporting factory farming extend beyond the farms themselves Why coordinated activism across different approaches creates more effective change The role of emerging technologies in tracking and challenging industrial agriculture How local initiatives like Denmark’s plant-based food plan demonstrate systems thinking in action Ways activists can contribute to systemic change from their individual positions ABOUT OUR GUEST Dr. Rachel Mason is a multidisciplinary scientist whose research bridges agriculture, data science, and sustainable food systems. After earning her PhD in Astronomy and working at leading observatories worldwide, she redirected her focus to address urgent environmental challenges on Earth. Through her MS in Plant & Soil Science, she specialized in sustainable agriculture and food system transformation. Dr. Mason’s groundbreaking research examines the environmental impact of animal agriculture, sustainable farming practices, and food system sustainability through innovative approaches including machine learning and remote sensing. As an independent researcher, she tackles complex intersectional issues in food justice, agricultural systems, and animal welfare, applying her unique scientific perspective to advance more ethical and sustainable food production methods. RESOURCES  Factory Farm Pollution Can Be Seen From Space, Scientists Say The Friend on Bookshop.org A System-Focused Approach To Industrial Food Animal Production Institute for Agriculture & Trade Policy website Seed the Commons website New Roots Institute website Rachel Mason on Linkedin INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT 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 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, Threads, or Bluesky. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

In this engaging episode, documentary filmmaker Austin Meyer and sanctuary director Zoe Novic share how improvisation techniques can revolutionize animal advocacy. From their work leading “Advocacy Playground” workshops at the Animal and Vegan Advocacy Summit to Austin’s compelling animal-focused documentaries, the couple demonstrates how creativity and playfulness can strengthen activism while building essential skills like listening and adaptability. Their unique approach combines professional expertise with a deep commitment to animal protection, offering fresh perspectives on advocacy techniques. This episode explores: How improv principles like “Yes, and” can enhance activist communication and campaign planning The importance of incorporating play and creativity into serious advocacy work Strategies for telling compelling animal stories through documentary filmmaking Ways to build connection and trust within animal advocacy organizations The value of bringing National Geographic-style storytelling to farm animal narratives ABOUT OUR GUESTS Zoe is the Executive Director of the Center for Animal Protection and Education (CAPE). By day, she combines her passion for animal advocacy, public health, and education at the CAPE animal sanctuary. By night, Zoe can be found playing music, performing in live theater, or leading improv-based leadership workshops with her partner, Austin. Austin is a documentary filmmaker, National Geographic Explorer, and theatrical improviser. By day, he takes the chaos around him and tries to arrange it into meaningful stories, both with his camera and on stage. By night, Austin can be found running in the mountains, playing mandolin, and wondering how he got so lucky to call Zoe his partner in crime and in life. RESOURCES  Water Bear documentary Center for Animal Protection & Education (CAPE) website Collective Capital website Austin Meyer Films website CAPE on Linkedin CAPE on Instagram CAPE on Facebook Austin Meyer on Instagram Austin Meyer Youtube INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT 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 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, Threads, or Bluesky. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

In this eye-opening episode, conservation scientist Dr. Bec Gooley challenges our perceptions of one of the most maligned animals – rats. From debunking disease myths to exposing the devastating environmental impact of rodenticides, Dr. Gooley shares groundbreaking research about how rat poisons are affecting entire ecosystems. As both a scientist and policy advocate, she discusses California’s landmark legislation restricting anticoagulant rodenticides and explores compassionate alternatives for human-wildlife coexistence. This episode explores: • The truth about rats’ intelligence, social behavior, and role in ecosystems • How rodenticides impact wildlife, with over 90% of mountain lions testing positive for rat poison • California’s groundbreaking legislation restricting anticoagulant rodenticides • Science-based, humane alternatives to lethal rat control • The One Health approach to human-wildlife conflict resolution ABOUT OUR GUEST Dr. Bec Gooley is a conservation scientist specializing in wildlife disease ecology and environmental toxicology, with groundbreaking work on rodenticide impacts on ecosystems. After completing her Ph.D. at the University of Sydney and postdoctoral research at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, she now serves as a David H. Smith Conservation Research Fellow at UC Davis. Her research on rat poison’s devastating effects on wildlife led to landmark legislation prohibiting anticoagulant rodenticides in California. Combining scientific expertise with advocacy, she champions compassionate coexistence strategies and develops innovative solutions for human-wildlife conflict, particularly focusing on ethical approaches to rodent populations.  Contact her at rebecca.m.gooley@gmail.com RESOURCES  How hospitals are tackling the environmental crisis in health care How U.S. Taxpayers Bailed Out the Poultry Industry, and Helped Entrench Avian Flu Insisting on Cheaper Eggs Is a Huge Mistake Exclusive: New healthy drink guidelines for kids say no caffeine before age 19 n meat- and fish-loving Japan, veganism is making a comeback ‘Insanely tasty green food’: how the meaty Danes embraced a world-first plant-based plan How Trader Joe’s got caught up in a farmgirl TikTok beef A Well Fed World: Climate-friendly food guide Dr Bec Gooley on Instagram WISDOM Good Works website INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT 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. _____________________________________________ The Learn Veganic Online Gardening Course is starting on February 12th, 2025. You’ll learn how to grow a thriving fruit and veggie garden using fully vegan techniques, without any animal byproducts like bonemeal or manure. You can save $15 with the code OURHENHOUSE at https://learnveganic.com/ _____________________________________________ 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 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, Threads, or Bluesky. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

In this essential episode for animal advocates, environmental experts Jennifer Molidor (Center for Biological Diversity) and Ashley Capps (A Well Fed World) expose how the meat industry uses “regenerative grazing” claims to greenwash factory farming. From debunking myths about grass-fed beef to revealing the devastating impact of cattle grazing on wildlife and climate change, this conversation equips our flock with science-backed responses to common pro-meat environmental claims. This episode explores: • The scientific evidence debunking regenerative grazing as a climate solution • Why grass-fed beef requires more land and produces more methane than factory farming • How the meat industry co-opts environmental terminology to mislead consumers • The connection between cattle grazing and global deforestation • Plant-based solutions for genuine environmental sustainability ABOUT OUR GUESTS Dr. Jennifer Molidor is Senior Food Campaigner at the Center for Biological Diversity, where she leads the “Take Extinction Off Your Plate” campaign and drives Population and Sustainability program initiatives addressing industrial agriculture’s impact on wildlife conservation and climate change. With expertise in sustainable food systems and environmental policy, she previously served at the Animal Legal Defense Fund and as an assistant professor at Kansas State University. Dr. Molidor, who holds a Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame, focuses on the intersection of food choices, farming practices, biodiversity protection, and environmental sustainability. Ashley Capps is a writer, researcher, and poet who combines her creative background with animal rights advocacy at A Well-Fed World, where she focuses on food justice and climate solutions. As founder of the Mothers Against Dairy campaign and a frequent contributor to Free from Harm, she brings a unique perspective to environmental and animal rights activism. An NEA fellowship recipient and published poet, Ashley leverages her creative writing expertise to advocate for plant-based solutions and animal welfare. She currently lives in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, where she continues her work in animal advocacy while co-editing an upcoming animal poetry anthology for Trinity University Press. RESOURCES  Animal Law Podcast 116 The Case of the Thirsty Elk The Animal Industry Has No Chance to Survive ‘A Dangerous Virus’: Bird Flu Enters a New Phase The Media Is Obsessed with Ultra-Processed Foods in 2025 — but Coverage Is Missing the Forest for the (Broccoli) Trees China Opens $11M Cultivated Meat Centre with Support From Local Govt & Businesses USDA pushing beans over meat is music to our ears Submit a comment on the dietary guidelines Learn Veganic Online Gardening Course Jennifer Molidor’s website Jennifer’s FoodX Newsletter Ashley Capps’ website Grazing Facts website Center for Biological Diversity’s regenerative agriculture campaign page Regenerative Agriculture policy primer A Guide to the Impact of Beef Production on Wildlife and Biodiversity Cows and Climate Change Factsheet The Problem with Regenerative Beef Factsheet Slaughterhouse Factsheet Climate Friendly Food Guide The New Sent(i)ence anthology’s Facebook The New Sent(i)ence Anthology’s Instagram INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT 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. _____________________________________________ The Learn Veganic Online Gardening Course is starting on February 12th, 2025. You’ll learn how to grow a thriving fruit and veggie garden using fully vegan techniques, without any animal byproducts like bonemeal or manure. You can save $15 with the code OURHENHOUSE at https://learnveganic.com/ _____________________________________________ 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 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, Threads, or Bluesky. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

Join us for an eye-opening conversation with family physician Dr. Zach Burns about transforming healthcare through plant-based nutrition. From examining the pharmaceutical industry’s influence on medical education to exploring practical solutions for chronic disease prevention, discover how integrating lifestyle medicine could revolutionize our approach to health. Through candid discussion about medical training, patient care, and systemic change, Dr. Burns shares insights about creating a more compassionate and effective healthcare system. Key Discussion Points: • The pharmaceutical industry’s impact on healthcare • Integrating plant-based nutrition into medical education • Making lifestyle medicine accessible to all patients • Balancing ethics and medicine in clinical practice • The future of preventive healthcare • Breaking down barriers to healthy eating ABOUT OUR GUEST A plant-based nutrition advocate, Zach Burns, DO, MPH practices medicine to improve the lives of human and non-human beings. He is an assistant professor of family medicine at the University of Rochester as well as associate director for Moving Medicine Forward, a non-profit led by the pioneering plantrician Michael Klaper to cultivate a new generation of health professionals who have the nutritional literacy to tackle chronic disease. His writing and blog can be found at www.herbivores.life. Dr Zach Burns’s website Moving Medicine Forward website RESOURCES Jan Dutkiewicz on Bluesky Meatpacking Companies to Pay $8 Million for U.S. Child Labor Violations Peter Kalmus on Bluesky Herbivore on Bluesky Ridglan: Cruelty May Be Illegal, Unless It’s Called Research Animal Law Podcast episode 109 Earthlings (3 book series) INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT 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 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, Threads, or Bluesky. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

Philosopher and researcher Bob Fischer joins us to explore the fascinating and complex world of insect consciousness. From fruit flies being used as depression models to bees playing with marbles, discover how new science is challenging everything we thought we knew about sentience. Through candid discussion about the scale of insect farming, the evidence for insect consciousness, and the practical implications for animal advocates, Bob helps us navigate these challenging ethical waters with both wisdom and humility. Key Discussion Points: • Current scientific evidence for insect sentience • The scale and scope of insect farming • Practical implications for animal advocates • Balancing different forms of animal advocacy • The future of insect welfare science • Navigating moral uncertainty ABOUT OUR GUEST Bob Fischer is a senior researcher at Rethink Priorities and associate professor of philosophy at Texas State University, where he specializes in animal ethics and applied ethics. As director of the Society for the Study of Ethics and Animals, he has published extensively on animal rights, ethics, and epistemology. His current research focuses on insect sentience and the moral implications of emerging science about animal consciousness. Bob Fischer’s website RESOURCES The art of normalizing (and boycotting) violence As Bird Flu Concerns Increase, Don’t Forget About Normalcy Bias Antibiotic emergency ‘could claim 40 million lives in next 25 years’ The US Chains Still Charging Extra For Dairy-Free Milk What the headlines missed about alt proteins in 2024 I Might Go to Prison in 2025. I Need Your Help More Than Ever. The Barrett Lab INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT 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 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, Threads, or Bluesky. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

Step inside Toronto’s Wishbone Animal Rights Lab, an innovative 1,270-square-foot activist hub providing everything from recording equipment to fake blood (yes, really) for animal advocates. This groundbreaking community space serves as a prototype for activist centers worldwide, combining practical resources with a strict “no drama” policy and the occasional karaoke night to create sustainable, accessible advocacy. Key Discussion Points: • Creating and managing sustainable spaces for animal rights activism • Building bridges between activist communities and the general public • Developing replicable models for community organizing • Using arts and entertainment to advance animal advocacy ABOUT OUR GUEST Sue Spahr is the co-founder and Lab Director of Wishbone Animal Rights Lab, an innovative community space in downtown Toronto dedicated to developing strategies for animal liberation. With over four decades of animal advocacy experience, Spahr brings her ‘Mad Scientist’ approach to reimagining activism and challenging systemic animal exploitation. Alongside co-founders Sharon Spahr and Alec Bosse, she creates collaborative spaces for activists to think critically, share ideas, and develop effective approaches to animal advocacy. Having advocated for all species – from insects to farm animals – since 1980, Spahr brings determination and strategic thinking to the movement for animal liberation. RESOURCES Mexico’s President Supports Constitutional Reforms Against Animal Cruelty Pioneering the future of egg production with In OVO sexing technology The First US Bird Flu Death Is a Stark Warning How Big Meat Worked to Rebrand in 2024 — Using Disinformation I Could Never Go Vegan Despite claims, chicken not the most affordable protein David Graeber Institute on Bluesky Wishbone AR Lab Wishbone AR Lab on Instagram Wishbone AR Lab on Facebook INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT 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 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, Threads, or Bluesky. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

Science journalist and author Brandon Keim joins us to discuss his groundbreaking book “Meet the Neighbors,” exploring how recognizing animals as thinking, feeling beings transforms our relationship with nature. From urban wildlife to conservation ethics, Keim bridges the gap between scientific research and public understanding of animal intelligence, while offering hope for meaningful change in how we interact with the creatures around us. Key Discussion Points: • How scientific understanding of animal intelligence has evolved • The intersection of journalism, activism, and animal advocacy • Indigenous perspectives on wildlife and conservation • Creating change at both systemic and personal levels • Finding hope for animals in uncertain times ABOUT OUR GUEST Brandon Keim, contributing editor at Nautilus and acclaimed science journalist, explores animal consciousness and human-wildlife relationships in his work. His latest book, ‘Meet the Neighbors,’ investigates animal personhood and cognitive abilities, examining how recognizing animals as thinking, feeling beings transforms our relationship with nature. His groundbreaking reporting on animal intelligence, wildlife conservation, and environmental science appears in The New York Times, National Geographic, and The Atlantic. Based in Maine, Keim bridges the gap between scientific research and public understanding of animal sentience. RESOURCES 20 big cats die from bird flu at Washington wildlife sanctuary Liv Boeree Finishes Fourth For the Biggest Ever Female Player Score! Episode 491: Garrett Greer is Betting on Everyone Going Vegan Experts Recommend US Dietary Guidelines Prioritize Plant-Based Proteins Veganuary website Animal Journalism with Jessica Scott-Reid How Easy Is It to Get a Humane Label for Meat? Very Brandon Keim’s website The Catbird Seat: Brandon Keim’s Substack INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT 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 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, Threads, or Bluesky. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.