

Freedom of Species
The Freedom of Species Team
Animal advocacy on the airwaves, hosted by a team of local animal advocates.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 22, 2025 • 0sec
Ari - conflict in activist spaces part 2
Our guest on today's show is Ari, who returns for a follow up conversation on conflict in activist spaces and in community group settings. Ari (they/them) is a community organiser, mediator and support worker who is passionate about exploring the transformative potential of generative conflict and accountability work. Working primarily in community organising settings, Ari believes that how we relate to each other directly impacts our political capacities, and that although large-scale political organising is vital, most change happens at the relational and community level. Their work is informed by abolitionist and transformative justice frameworks, which are ways of being and organising rooted in indigenous knowledge and BiPoc communities in which there have historically been other ways of dealing with conflict than the models white supremacy culture teaches us today. Authors and organisers who have inspired them greatly are Andrea Ritchie, adrienne maree brown, Mia Mingus, Mariame Kaba, Dean Spade and many more. When not organising workshops or supporting comrades in conflict resolution, they enjoy learning about generative somatics, dancing and moving their body and supporting community events. They grew up in Germany and are currently living on unceded Wurrendjeri Woi-Worrung Land. Links: Part 1 of our chat with Ari is here https://www.3cr.org.au/freedomofspecies/episode/ari-conflict-activist-spaces A really helpful resource is the booklet Working with conflict in our groups: A guide for grassroots activists produced by Seeds for Change UK. You can download a PDF here https://www.seedsforchange.org.uk/downloads/conflictbooklet.pdf Andrea Ritchie https://www.andreajritchie.com/ Mia Mingus https://leavingevidence.wordpress.com/ adrienne marie brown https://adriennemareebrown.net/ Mariame Kaba https://mariamekaba.com/ Dean Spade https://www.deanspade.net/ If you would like to get in touch with Ari about conflict workshops, you can reach them at zorita22@proton.me Music we played: Blak Britney by Miss Kaninna https://open.spotify.com/track/0c6C5ec7t86kjS06xQjZtK?si=1c09deaeaeab4d72 Dast by MADANii https://open.spotify.com/track/5SSr4HGGR8XtEbpV9tDPHx?si=2b611c8ac6504e53 Long Live Palestine by Lowkey https://open.spotify.com/track/6V3OLZgJzFTTOKmOk7joMr?si=35b7c4142cb24e34 Please note that for copyright reasons we cannot include the songs played on the show in the podcast. The songs have been added to the Freedom of Species Spotify playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3TJQujKYjGFoFP6LhBbaTS?si=bfcb55c3f763...(link is external) June is Radiothon month at 3CR and we need your support! 3CR is unique and so are our listeners. We created our mission to fight against the commercial homogenisation of the radio waves almost 50 years ago and our listeners share our values of independence, integrity and individuality. If you'd like to contribute to the Freedom of Species Radiothon goal, please donate at https://www.givenow.com.au/cr/freedomofspecies Thank you for listening. Please contact us with any feedback on our shows at freedomofspecies@gmail.com 3CR - Your Station, Your Voice

Jun 15, 2025 • 0sec
Freedom of Species Radiothon Animal Trivia Show 2025
On Sunday June 15, the Freedom of Species team had another fun-filled animal trivia show to raise donations for 3CR's Radiothon 2025! Can you guess the answers before listeners and the hosts? Have a listen and hear the animal noises and other trivia! Please support 3CR Community Radio so we can keep operating as a genuinelyindependent and non-commercial broadcast service. Donations are the best way to help. A strong result in 2025 means we will be able to stay on air and sets us up well for a sustainable future. Our expenses are rising; we need your donation to keep up! You can donate via the GiveNow page: https://www.givenow.com.au/cr/freedomofspecies or you can call 3CR or donate via the 3CR website and nominate Freedom of Species. Phone donations during business hours can be made at tel. + 61 3 9419 8377or online at www.3crorg.au/donate The music we played on the show: Excuse Me by The Decline https://open.spotify.com/track/07fjXzVpgJ1TjLLqvcwFgT?si=ecf2cc2d57254852 I wrote my will on a chalkboard in case things change by Myles Bullen https://open.spotify.com/track/3NqJZ3zOWOh4O6L4tzNiht?si=20fd96612d7f4c09 Grab your balaclava by Richy Tofu https://totalliberationrecords.bandcamp.com/album/benefit-compilation-for-vegan-in-palestine All of the songs are available on the Freedom of Species Spotify playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3TJQujKYjGFoFP6LhBbaTS?si=1e8461c2376544f5 Thank you for your support! Please send us any feedback via freedomofspecies@gmail.com

Jun 8, 2025 • 0sec
Ari - conflict in activist spaces
Our guest on today's show is Ari, and we're talking about conflict in activist spaces and in community group settings. Ari (they/them) is a community organiser, mediator and support worker who is passionate about exploring the transformative potential of generative conflict and accountability work. Working primarily in community organising settings, Ari believes that how we relate to each other directly impacts our political capacities, and that although large-scale political organising is vital, most change happens at the relational and community level. Their work is informed by abolitionist and transformative justice frameworks, which are ways of being and organising rooted in indigenous knowledge and BiPoc communities in which there have historically been other ways of dealing with conflict than the models white supremacy culture teaches us today. Authors and organisers who have inspired them greatly are Andrea Ritchie, adrienne maree brown, Mia Mingus, Mariame Kaba, Dean Spade and many more. When not organising workshops or supporting comrades in conflict resolution, they enjoy learning about generative somatics, dancing and moving their body and supporting community events. They grew up in Germany and are currently living on unceded Wurrendjeri Woi-Worrung Land. Links: A really helpful resource is the booklet Working with conflict in our groups: A guide for grassroots activists produced by Seeds for Change UK. You can download the guide as a PDF file here https://www.seedsforchange.org.uk/downloads/conflictbooklet.pdf Ari's workshop in Naarm/Melbourne at Black Spark Cultural Centre is on Sunday June 15 between 3.00-6.00pm. Registration is required as it's limited to a small group. Please complete the registration form if you're interested. https://tinyurl.com/accountabilityws Please note that for copyright reasons we cannot include the songs played on the show in the podcast. The songs have been added to the Freedom of Species Spotify playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3TJQujKYjGFoFP6LhBbaTS?si=bfcb55c3f7634f0e The music we played on the show: Trans 101 (Scarim) by Bobby Sanchez https://open.spotify.com/track/2qlHAUxjsB0mBpGOKSqNx3?si=4nyByc0tRmud5kNL1-rR4A Cavaliers by Mansfield TYA https://open.spotify.com/track/07F8ojojIcr19BWqHJFLyo?si=-x8qtJzcTc6oMpGKMD8rzw&nd=1&dlsi=eb00fc0e895541d3 A Bigger Cage is still a Prison by Cistem Failure https://open.spotify.com/track/29Klq6FWTjZg22v8eei9sZ?si=w1hftqycSxyIrqwfk5ERLw&nd=1&dlsi=3bbccd65c29f4e96 June is Radiothon month at 3CR Community Radio. The station needs your support to keep going and by donating you are investing in the future of 3CR. Please tune in next Sunday June 15 at 1pm for Freedom of Species' Radiothon Animal Trivia show. We invite listeners to text in their answers to the trivia questions on 0488 809 855. If you would like to donate to Freedom of Species' 2025 Radiothon target of $1500, our GiveNow page is here: https://www.givenow.com.au/cr/freedomofspecies?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2jsVKFa8k Thank you for listening and please feel free to contact us and share any feedback with us at freedomofspecies@gmail.com

May 25, 2025 • 0sec
Dingo talks! with Sonya & Alix
In today’s show, Betty interviews Sonya Takau from Dingo Culture and Alix Livingstone from Defend the Wild all about the native Australian dingo. We learn about the character of the dingo, their role in Australian ecosystems and what makes them unique. We go on to discuss some of the significant threats facing the dingo and strategies for securing their future led by First Nations land custodians.
Sonya Takau is a Jirrbal Rainforest Aboriginal woman living in Tully, Far North Queensland. The dingo is highly significant to Sonya and her family. To Sonya, the dingo is kin, and she has a cultural obligation to protect them from harm. As well as Sonya’s cultural ties to the dingo, she has a particular personal passion for the species and shares her home with an orphaned wild-dingo named Bina.
Sonya is the director of Dingo Culture, a platform dedicated to representing the Aboriginal perspective on the dingo, which has been drowned out for the past 233 years. Dingo Culture’s mission is to create legislative change to recognise and protect dingoes as culturally significant animals.
In 2023, Sonya played a key role in bringing about the first of its kind National Inaugural First Nations Dingo Forum, which brought together First Nations people from across the country to have their say on current dingo management across the country. At the conclusion of the forum a historic National First Nations Dingo Declaration was produced, which outlined the cultural significance of the dingo and called for a new, non-lethal, model - caring for Dingoes on Country.
Alix Livingstone is the Founding Director of Defend the Wild. She is motivated by a desire to address the complex challenges confronting Australian wildlife. Alix possesses a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to collaborating with various stakeholders on the ground to ensure that solutions can be found that benefit wildlife, ecosystems, and communities.
Alix is highly skilled in crafting high-impact public awareness campaigns aimed at reshaping public perceptions and driving positive change. She actively participates in lobbying efforts targeting Government and peak industry bodies to advocate for legislative and policy reforms that prioritise the welfare of communities, wildlife, and the environment.
Alix spearheaded the development of Defend the Wild's Dingo campaign, which was featured on ABC's 7.30 program, shedding light on the government-sanctioned treatment of Dingoes across Victoria. Additionally, she played a pivotal role in launching the #DropCroc campaign, featured on Channel 10's 'The Project,' unveiling the practice of factory farming Saltwater Crocodiles under the guise of conservation.
For more information follow and support:
Dingo Culture:
https://www.dingoculture.com/
Defend the Wild:
https://www.defendthewild.org/
Music played:
Run Dingo – Nooky:
https://soundcloud.com/nooky-mc/run-dingo
Dingo - Buddy Williams:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_L9zkHGSBr0
Dingo - Ruby Fields:
https://soundcloud.com/rubyfields-music/dingo
You can subscribe to 3CR here: https://www.3cr.org.au/subscribe and you can nominate Freedom of Species as the show you want to support.

May 18, 2025 • 0sec
Anas and Laura from Plant the Land Team Gaza
This interview was recorded with Anas Arafat in Gaza and Laura Schleifer in the US on May 17, 2025. We are very grateful for their time and their work, and the unimaginable hardship that Anas is enduring in Gaza. We thank them for this interview. Our conversation starts with the formation of Plant the Land Team Gaza as a grassroot collaboration between local Gazan community activists and international solidarity activists within the vegan community and beyond to provide life-sustaining foods and services in a way that respects and sustains all life. Anas shares details of the situation in Gaza since the blockaid of all aid including food, water and medical supplies since March 2. Palestinians are suffering immense hardship with ongoing violence under the illegal occupation of their land and the genocide and ethnic cleansing being committed by the state of Israel. We discuss the Nakba: both in it's remembrance this week and the ongoing Nakba being perpetrated in Gaza and the West Bank. Anas and Laura talk about Palestinian solidarity and what people can do to support Palestine. Please follow Plant the Land Team Gaza here: https://www.planttheland.org/ https://www.facebook.com/PlantTheLandTeamGaza Anas on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008448283358 Laura on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008448283358 Also the BDS Movement https://bdsmovement.net/ Vegan BDS https://www.instagram.com/veganbds/ Links to fundraisers that will get dontions directly to Anas in Gaza to continue this work: - GoFundMe: Support Mutual aid in Gaza fundraiser (AUD) https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-mutual-aid-in-gaza - Muslim Giving: Help for Gaza fundraiser (Pounds Stirling) https://www.muslimgiving.org/g4za2025?fbclid=IwY2xjawKV-PVleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETEycm5BQnB5c0Y2MlVFYzkzAR5IolTSUK4DGseF8PgoHe_e6XCyU2N2RcAuMoa9ibUHLj3MXlKg006lNTB__Q_aem_fEs35cZScBkRLsHgbw6N1w - Bonfire Plant the Land Team Gaza t-shirt fundraiser (USD) https://www.bonfire.com/plant-the-land-team-gaza-1/ Music we played on the show: - Falstini Ana by Zain Daqqa - Ya Tal3een by Dana Salah Please note that due to copyright legislation we are not able to include the songs in our podcast. You can find the songs on the Freedom of Species Spotify playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3TJQujKYjGFoFP6LhBbaTS?si=6ghUWmzkQpyv...

Apr 13, 2025 • 0sec
Animal Free Science Advocacy: Primate Experimentation Interview with Robyn
Animal Free Science Advocacy spokesperson Robyn delves into the sad story of primate research in Australia, the individual lives, the ongoing work that AFSA do to collate and tell the story of primates who have been experimented on, and the advocacy and promotion of awareness of the plight of these indivduals. You can find more information about Animal Free Science Advocacy on their website here: www.animalfreescienceadvocacy.org.au Music we played on this show: - Not Human-E by Leuspage - Why does my heart feel so bad by Moby https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qT6XCvDUUsU&list=RDqT6XCvDUUsU&start_radio=1 - A change is gonna come by Sam Cooke https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEBlaMOmKV4&list=RDwEBlaMOmKV4&start_radio=1 - Lost on you by LP https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hn3wJ1_1Zsg&list=RDhn3wJ1_1Zsg&start_radio=1 Please note that for copyright reasons we cannot include the songs played on the show in the podcast. Our guests' songs have been added to the Freedom of Species Spotify playlist where possible here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3TJQujKYjGFoFP6LhBbaTS?si=bfcb55c3f763... Please share any feedback on our shows with us via freedomofspecies@gmail.com Thank you for listening to Freedom of Species and supporting independent, radical radio on 3CR Community Radio.

Apr 6, 2025 • 0sec
A Tribute to Liz Dealey (03/10/1956 - 28/03/2025)
This episode is dedicated to animal rights and vegan activist Liz Dealey or Lizzie as she was affectionately known. Lizzie was tireless and relentless in her aim to bring more kindness and consideration into the world. Her whirlwind energy saw her found Melbourne Chicken Save, and dedicate decades of focus, passion and time into the animal rights activist landscape, especially in Melbourne. Her inclusive leadership, her sense of humour, the heart on her sleeve way she carried herself, and her punk rock energy endeared her to several generations of activists. Lizzie's life and works are remembered here in this episode by Stace from Melbourne Chicken Save, Pam Ahern from Edgar's Mission, and with written tributes by many more. Some of Liz's music histroy: The Sputniks (1979-1980) - Liz on Bass 'Second Glance / Our Boys' (1979) Acid drops (1982-1985) - Liz on Vocals & Guitar 'Surfin' Prostitute Beat' (1984) The Twenty Second Sect (1986-1991) - Liz on Vocals & Guitar 'The Wailing House' (1986) 'Get That Charge' (1988) 'UXB' (1989) 'Unexploded' (1989) Pure Purple - Liz on Vocals & Guitar 'Demo Album' (unreleased) Music played: 'Kiss My Ass' Pure Purple (from 'Demo Album' - 90's) 'Hey Baby' The Twenty Second Sect (from 'Unexploded' - 1989) 'I'll Be Your Navigator' The Twenty Second Sect (from 'Get That Charge' - 1988) 'Look Her In The Eye' Pure Purple (from 'Demo Album' - 90's) 'Abbatoir' Pure Purple (from 'Demo Album' - 90's)

Mar 23, 2025 • 0sec
The Story of Victorian Koalas with researcher Anthony Amis
Meg and Trev interview Friends of the Earth land use researcher Anthony Amis. Listen in to learn about the interesting story of koalas in Victoria, their populations, genetic and environmental challenges, the lack of government priority in conservation of land that supports koala friendly ecosystems, and the dedicated network of people who have been gathering data and conducting scientific reseach to help us understand what needs to be done to save the koals. Friends of the Earth www.foe.org.au Koalathon website: https://koalathon.raiselysite.com/ Koala map https://strzkoala.australianmap.net/ Information on Mullungdung https://www.melbournefoe.org.au/mullungdung_reserve_campaign Photo courtesy of Friends of the Earth

Mar 9, 2025 • 0sec
Caring for Companion Animals with Significant Health Issues – as Individuals and Societies
Adam and Nick reflect on their personal experiences and practical issues around caring for companion animals who have significant health issues. They also consider what policy/societal changes could be made to better support companion animals and their human carers. Music: Animal Liberation by Los Fastidios: https://www.losfastidios.net/ Dogs Are The Best People by The Fauves: https://thefauves.com/store Dogs Of My Neighbourhood by Jeffrey Lewis: https://jeffreylewis.bandcamp.com/track/dogs-of-my-neighborhood-2 The Staffie Song by Maria Daines: https://maria-daines.com/songs-for-a-cause

Feb 23, 2025 • 0sec
Dr. Leila Dehghan - decolonising nutrition
Dr. Leila Dehghan is a doctor-turned-nutritionist, activist, and educator. Her journey to veganism began as an animal rescuer, but she later discovered the healing power of a whole food, plant-based diet, which helped her overcome debilitating migraines. This experience shifted her career focus, leading her to earn a Master’s in Clinical and Public Health Nutrition from University College London. Leila is the founder of Plant-based Health Justice, a nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness about the interconnectedness of oppression and advocating for a healthier, sustainable world by fostering justice, equity, and compassion for all. Her passion for education also led her to create PlantEd Academy, where she develops courses, workshops, and resources that promote the benefits of plant-based diets in a culturally sensitive and inclusive way. Through her work, she challenges Eurocentric dietary norms and empowers individuals and communities to decolonize nutrition and reclaim their health. Links: Leila's free nutrition course https://plantedacademy. com/planted-guide-to-plant-based-eating/ Dr Leila on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/drleilad/ Leila's previous interview on FoS https://www.3cr.org.au/freedomofspecies/episode/dr-leila-dehghan-plant-based-health-justice We mentioned our friend Anas Araft, co-founder of Plant the Land Team Gaza who coordinates mutual aid initiatives to provide clean water, food, blankets, and warm clothes to people in need in Gaza. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008448283358 The Ramadan fundraiser to help Anas's mutual aid efforts to supply food packages to families in Gaza. Please donate if you can and share this link with others https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-ramadan-in-gaza Music we played on the live show: Aateny El Nay We Ghanny by Fairuz Ajab Sabri Khoda Darad by Sattar Hind's Hall by Macklemore. Please note that to adhere with copyright requirements we cannot include the songs in the podcast. The songs have been added to the FoS Spotify playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3TJQujKYjGFoFP6LhBbaTS?si=6ghUWmzkQpyv... Thank you for listening to Freedom of Species. If you would like to subscribe to 3CR please visit https://www.3cr.org.au/subscribe and consider nominating Freedom of Species as the show you wish to support. Paid subscriptions to 3CR Community Radio keep independent, grassroots media on the airwaves.