Humans’ relationships with the other creatures on this planet range from deep love to dreadful cruelty and everything in between. What are the roots of this confused and contradictory reality? This week, we are joined by Dr Pia Salk to discuss the mysteries of human psychology as it relates to animals. Pia Salk is a clinical psychologist and expert on the human-animal bond. In her clinical work and her writing, Dr. Salk addresses topics ranging from the loss of a companion animal to the...

What does a night out at the theater (or theatre, in this case) have to do with activism? A whole lot if it’s up to Anastasia Bunce & Grace Howarth, who join us this week to discuss Patch Plays, the vegan troupe that is producing theater that pays attention to the lives, and deaths, of animals.  Grace Joy Howarth is a playwright, author, and composer from London. She is one of Patch Plays’ Associate Writers and has been vegan since birth. Theatrical writing credits include ‘Blood on...

Everyone who lives with an animal would think it rather obvious that they dream, but believe it or not, this is not an accepted fact in the scientific community. This week, we speak with David Peña-Guzmán about his book When Animals Dream: The Hidden World of Animal Consciousness. David M. Peña-Guzmán is associate professor of humanities at SF State and co-host of the podcast Overthink. He specializes in animal studies, the history and philosophy of science, theories of consciousness, and...

Horseracing’s popularity has declined over the years, so how is this industry still alive? This week we are joined by Patrick Battuello of Horseracing Wrongs, who sheds light on the brutality and corruption that is the horseracing industry. Patrick Battuello has been writing on animal-rights issues since 2009 when he launched the Animal Rights blog for the Albany Times Union, one of the first of its kind in the nation. His work from this period appeared in a high-school text book, "The...

Have you ever thought, “Animals are suffering, I have to DO something!!! But what?” Kimberly Carroll of Animal Justice Academy joins us to discuss the amazing, free, online program designed to help people who care about animals turn themselves into people who are doing something about it. Kimberly Carroll is a coach for changemakers, campaigns strategist with Animal Justice, director of Animal Justice Academy, and a director with the Toronto Vegetarian Food Bank. With over 13 years as a...

The work of activists brought the use of ventilation shutdown as a “depopulation” method during avian flu and COVID slowdowns to light, but what is the status of this cruel method of killing? Dr. Crystal Heath joins us once again to discuss the use of heat stroke in factory farms and the campaigns to combat this cruelty. Dr. Crystal Heath is a graduate of the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and currently works as a shelter veterinarian for several shelters and non-profits...

Every once in a while, someone comes up with a brand new idea for getting people to try and love delicious vegan food. Nil Zacharias joins us to talk about how he is making his brilliant idea a reality with Plantega, a ready-to-launch vegan menu that has been adopted by bodegas across New York City and is getting ready to take over the world. Nil Zacharias is an entrepreneur, author, and strategic advisor with a passion for food systems change. He is the Founder and CEO of Plantega, a...

When animals are neglected or abused, whose responsibility is it to respond? Kendra Coulter, author of Defending Animals, joins us to discuss her book’s deep dive into the patchwork of governmental and non-profit organizations that make up animal response teams. Kendra Coulter is Professor in Management and Organizational Studies at Huron University College at Western University and a Fellow of the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics. Dr. Coulter is an award-winning author of influential...

What do animal rights and veganism have to do with hip hop? So much more than you might think! Keith Tucker of Hip Hop is Green joins us this week to discuss the organization’s extraordinary work spreading the word in the hip hop community. Keith Tucker founded nonprofit Hip Hop is Green, the first hip hop organization to provide BIPOC families plant-based meals nationwide. A unique visionary and social entrepreneur for over 30 years, he has worked with hundreds of businesses, youth...

There is so much animal activism going on around the world, but how does it all get funded? Jessika Ava joins us to discuss the work of Thrive Philanthropy, a global grantmaker that accelerates alternatives to industrial animal agriculture and amplifies just, sustainable, plant-based food systems across the world. Jessika Ava, MS, MPA is one of the first Native Americans to sit in a leadership position in the vegan philanthropic space. Jessika is the CEO and founder of Thrive Philanthropy,...

When it comes to food, taking away people’s choices generally won’t work, but it’s entirely possible to help them make better ones. Greener By Default’s Katie Cantrell & Ilana Braverman join us this week to discuss their successes in making the plant-based choice the obvious one on event menus and in cafeterias and dining halls around the world. Katie is a social entrepreneur passionate about creating a healthy, sustainable, and just food system. As the founder of the Factory Farming...

Molly Elwood joins us to discuss how Elwood’s Organic Dog Meat has brilliantly channeled repulsion into activism that gets people thinking about who they might have on their plate. Molly Elwood is a writer, copywriter, storyteller, and creative strategist. Between creative agencies and in-house creative teams, she has spent more than ten years writing and humanizing for her clients. She is also the creator of Elwood's Organic Dog Meat, a satirical, comprehensive, and wickedly effective...

Billboards. They’re everywhere, whether you like it or not, so why not use them to help animals? Jane Casteline & Shannon Johnstone join us this week to discuss their project, Picturing Pigs, and the challenges they had to overcome to get their message onto billboards in the home of factory farming and why this is a form of activism that we can all get involved in. Shannon Johnstone’s photographic work deals with themes that reclaim what has been discarded and make visible that which...

We all know that China is an important piece of the puzzle when it comes to vegan advocacy, but what is the status of advocacy there? Join us as Jian Yi sheds light on his work with The Good Food Fund and China Vegan Society. JIAN Yi (简艺/簡藝) is an independent filmmaker and food activist. He is currently a Visiting Fellow at Harvard Law School’s Animal Law and Policy Program (2022-24) and the founder and president of Good Food Fund, a leading initiative in China’s food systems...

Factory farms destroy lives, both animal and human. Jamie Berger joins us this week to discuss the making of the documentary The Smell of Money and the devastation caused to eastern North Carolina and its residents by this evil industry. Jamie Berger is a writer and filmmaker born and raised in North Carolina. Her writing has been featured in Vox, The Guardian, USA Today, NowThis, The News & Observer, and more. Throughout her career, she has used writing and visual storytelling to draw...

Are you excited about ChatGPT? Do you hate the very thought of Chat GPT? Have you never heard of ChatGPT? No matter, you need to listen to this episode to find out how generative AI can help activists get more done for animals in less time. Join us as Tom Conger reveals all about new tools to help us help animals. As Executive Director, Tom oversees grantmaking, research, and collaborations for Stray Dog Institute, which works to cultivate dignity, justice, and sustainability in the food...

Recently, we had a very special excursion that we cannot wait to share with you. Land that used to be a farm is now overflowing with native plants, which, of course, draw in native insects. So then the native birds move in, and suddenly, it’s heaven! And did we mention the beavers??? Join us for this guided tour with Matt Perry, our guest this week, and find out what the world should look like. Matt Perry is the Conservation Director and Resident Naturalist at Spring Farm CARES in Clinton,...

It isn’t easy to write about animals, especially if the goal is to actually portray them as they are and not just use them, as so often happens, as symbols, metaphors, and mirrors. In order to confront these difficulties, Sangamithra Iyer recently launched The Literary Animal Project to bring writers and readers into conversation to explore the many quandaries in writing about animals and try to find effective, and literary, ways forward. Sangamithra Iyer is a writer, engineer,...

Organizations in the animal protection movement are overflowing with passion, but how can they create more efficient systems and healthy workplaces? Tania Luna is here to tell us more about her organization, Scarlet Spark, which just might have the answers to make the movement more effective. TANIA LUNA, who is the author of LEAD TOGETHER: Stop Squirreling Away Power and Build a Better Team, is an entrepreneur, psychology researcher, and writer. She has founded and grown multiple...

Students today really want to learn about the future of food, but sadly, and amazingly, most universities have little or nothing to offer that is of value. Enter Samantha Derrick, who decided to do more than complain about it and just make it happen, not only in her own university but everywhere! Join us to be inspired by Samantha and the Plant Futures Initiative. Samantha Derrick is the Founder and Executive Director of Plant Futures Initiative, a 501c3 academic course and global student...

It’s not every day that you come across a book that has been reviewed in The New York Times with “vegan” in the title, but somehow Andrew Lipstein managed it. He joins us this week to discuss his latest novel, The Vegan. Andrew Lipstein is a New York-based writer. He is the author of Last Resort (2022), The Vegan (2023), and the forthcoming Something Rotten (2025). Thanks for tuning in! If you enjoy the Our Hen House podcast, please leave us a positive review! To view the show notes...

What started with the question, “Is there a spiritual way to kill an animal?” has become the newest investigative documentary from Kip Anderson, of Cowspiracy fame, and Kam Waters. Join the journey to discover why so many religions who hold compassion as a sacred tenet turn a blind eye to animal suffering. Kip Andersen has changed the way the world looks at eating animals. After producing some of Netflix’s most-watched documentaries, Cowspiracy, What The Health, and Seaspiracy, working...

We are thrilled to present this very special holiday episode of Sanctuary: A Radio Play, an annual Thanksgiving tradition at Our Hen House! This special performance marks the world premiere of John Yunker’s Sanctuary at New York City’s Symphony Space during the Culture & Animals Foundation’s Compassion Arts Festival. A dark comedy, Sanctuary tells the story of Richard (John Frusciante) and Lisa (Mariann Sullivan), a happily married couple whose blissful retirement to small-town Oregon...

Vegan SoulFest, the Black Veg Society, Maryland Vegan Restaurant Month, plus fabulous vegan soul food restaurant, The Land Of Kush. What do all of these things (and more) have in common? Naijha Wright-Brown, that’s what. Join us to find out how Naijha does it all, and how she keeps it all edu-taining (education and entertaining) for her audience. Plus, we have a quick update from Almira Tanner, lead organizer of Direct Action Everywhere, about the recent trial and conviction of activist...

Ever wondered where the movement would be if we could just stop infighting? Melanie Joy joins us on the podcast this week to discuss her most recent work that aims to tackle the issue of infighting and to get activists communicating more compassionately. Dr. Melanie Joy (she/her) is an award-winning psychologist and educator and she’s the author of seven books, including the bestselling Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows; Beyond Beliefs; and How To End Injustice Everywhere. Her work...