Our Hen House

Jasmin and Mariann open the show with a review of the National Geographic mini-documentary, Akashinga: The Brave Ones, which follows a group of women fighting poachers in Zimbabwe and why they are so committed to the cause of protecting and preserving elephants from extinction. They also discuss the hot-button issue of mask-wearing and how navigating the conversation around this new norm…

Jasmin and Mariann open the show discussing a recent article Jasmin edited for Kinder Beauty’s blog about how China is updating its regulations regarding testing cosmetics on animals, which could have enormous impact worldwide on the number of animals suffering in testing labs.  Mariann then talks about dealing with the chaos of today’s political climate and the pandemic and how it is…

Jasmin starts off the show with how excited she is about a new article, Using Research and Data to Create an Inclusive Animal Rights Movement, which is part of Encompass Essays, the new collaboration among Our Hen House, Encompass and Sentient Media that Jasmin is editing. Then, putting on her actor hat, she’s tickled pink about booking a national commercial and…

In the intro to the show, Mariann and Jasmin discuss the huge coronavirus outbreaks at slaughterhouses and talk about some Bloomberg reporting regarding how the meat industry is just not going to do anything about it. They also reflect on how they both recently watched Christopher Robin to cheer themselves up during this challenging time and to feel not quite so…

In the intro to the show Mariann talks to Jasmin about her new favorite book, Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead, by Nobel Prize winner Olga Tokarczuk and what a pleasure it is to read a book that really gets it about animals. Jasmin announces that she’ll likely be participating in The Goat Games, a virtual event that challenges participants to finish a 5-kilometer run, walk, bike, hike, or swim at a location of their choosing between August 8 and 16 to raise funds for Catskill Animal Sanctuary. Recently, Catskill, like many other sanctuaries, has lost 30% of it’s funding due to COVID-19. Then, in our continued effort to support vegan-owned businesses, we’re shouting out Charlie Fyffe and his  amazing guide to 70+ Black owned vegan businesses in Los Angeles. Over 70!  Then, Jasmin talks to Zach Skow. Zach is the founder of Marley’s Mutts, an animal shelter with a difference in Kern County, California. He turned to his dogs to help him when his diagnosis with end-stage liver disease meant that he had t

In the intro to the show Jasmin announces that she’s moving back to New York, so start spreading the news! Jasmin and Mariann also announce their new Director of Operations, Jen Riley. Jen is a long time animal rights activist and organizer and has long been the mastermind behind the Animal Rights Conference. In other exciting news, Jasmin will be speaking at the Farmed Animal Conference E-Summit. This year the summit will be happening virtually. We also continue our Supporting Vegan Businesses program by shouting out the LA Food Truck, Lettuce Feast.  Then, Jasmin speaks with Kelly Holt and Dan McKernan, stars of Animal Planet’s Saved by the Barn and founders of Barn Sanctuary, in Chelsea, MI, which has rescued around 400 farmed animals from abuse and neglect. They launched Barn Sanctuary from Dan’s family farm after the decision to go vegan inspired them to look into the treatment of farmed animals across the world. Their mission is to give their rescued animals a safe place to live out the rest of their li

-This episode is brought to you in part by the Barnard Medical Center. To set up a telehealth appointment today call 202-527-7500 or on pcrm.org. -In the intro to the show, Jasmin and Mariann debate the idea of a vegan company hiring non-vegan employees, and a recent "article" from Safeway in the Washington Times about plant-based foods. We also continue our Supporting Vegan Businesses program by shouting out Sam & Gertie's Vegan Jewish Deli and Uptown Veg. Later in the episode, Mariann brings us Rising Anxieties!Later in the episode, Mariann brings us Rising Anxieties! -Mariann talks to filmmaker Liz Marshall about her new film Meat the Future, a documentary about the "cultivated meat" revolution in food production. Liz talks about the making of the film, the impact she hopes it will have, and trying to market a film during a global pandemic. (24:55) -Mariann brings us the latest Rising Anxieties from the industrial animal ag world. (1:06:45)

-This episode is brought to you in part by the Barnard Medical Center. To set up a telehealth appointment today call 202-527-7500 or on pcrm.org. -In the intro to the show, Jasmin and Mariann present virtually at Main Street Vegan Academy, Jasmin's interview with Joaquin Phoenix is now available, and Mariann recorded a new Animal Law Podcast episode. We also talk about the new collection of essays Jasmin edited for Encompass and the ongoing quarantine. We also continue our Supporting Vegan Businesses program by shouting out Compton Vegan. Later in the episode, Mariann brings us Rising Anxieties! -Mariann talks to author and activist Deb Olin Unferth about her new novel, Barn 8, and how she came to the story of auditors going rogue and plotting to free one million chickens. She delves into the research she did leading up to writing the book, how her investigations into the egg industry informed the book, and the inspiration she took from recording the chatter of chickens. (23:10) -Mariann brings us the latest

-This episode is brought to you in part by the Barnard Medical Center. To set up a telehealth appointment today call 202-527-7500 or on pcrm.org. -In the intro to the show, we play a sample of a new song from Neal Barnard's band, CarbonWorks. Then, Jasmin and Mariann reflect on the tragic death of animal activist Regan Russell, and the pain of grief. We also continue our Supporting Vegan Businesses program by shouting out Planet Protein, Nina Raizel Jewelry, and Elife Restaurant. Later in the episode, Mariann brings us Rising Anxieties! -Jasmin speaks with Dr. Neal Barnard about his new book Your Body In Balance and how some of the common health conditions that people face may be the result of hormone imbalances caused by foods we eat. Dr. Barnard also tells us about how Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) is responding in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, and the challenges of and opportunities for tele-health services during the Coronavirus pandemic. (18:45) -Mariann brings us the

-This episode is brought to you in part by the Barnard Medical Center. To set up a telehealth appointment today call 202-527-7500 or on pcrm.org. -In the intro to the show, Jasmin has an interesting intersection with a Trump relative, and Mariann and Jasmin discuss Mary Oliver and what to do with our wild, precious lives in the time of social change and Coronavirus. We also continue our Supporting Vegan Businesses program by shouting out Might Be Vegan, Vegan Wines, and Brewing Good Coffee Company. -Mariann speaks with novelist and poet David G. Brooks about his new book, The Grass Library, his life-changing shift to veganism and animal-centric writing, his thoughts on anthropomorphism, and the devastating effects that Australia's recent fires had on the animal population.(26:00) -Mariann brings us the latest Rising Anxieties from the industrial animal ag world. (1:05:30)

-This episode is brought to you in part by the Barnard Medical Center. To set up a telehealth appointment today call 202-527-7500 or on pcrm.org. -In the intro to the show, Jasmin and Mariann discuss the ongoing Black Lives Matter protests and the challenge of how to talk to vegans who don't recognize the importance of social justice movements. Then we present a reading by Z. Zane McNeill from the new book Queer and Trans Voices: Achieving Liberation Through Consistent Anti-Oppression, an anthology they co-edited with Julia Feliz Brueck and which includes a contribution from Jasmin! We also continue our Supporting Vegan Businesses program by shouting out VeeCoco, 24 Karrots Cafe,  and Slutty Vegan in Atlanta. -Mariann speaks with Kristina Mering, founder and president of the Estonian branch of Anima International, Nähtamatud Loomad. She discusses the work that she and her organization have done towards building an animal rights movement in Estonia and how the history of political and social change in the regi

-In the intro to the show, Jasmin and Mariann discuss the Black Lives Matter protests currently happening all over the country, how animal activism and veganism are connected to all social justice movements and activism, and Jasmin's exciting new project with Encompass. We also continue our Supporting Vegan Businesses program by shouting out Simply Mix, vegan drag queen Honey LaBronx, and Trio Plant Based. -Jasmin interviews Jim Richards, CEO of Milkadamia, about the origins of the company, why Milkadamia is so committed to making products without palm oil which is ravaging the planet, and why he is a big proponent of Regenerative Agriculture. (17:45) -Mariann brings us the latest Rising Anxieties from the industrial animal ag world. (50:35)

-In the intro to the show, Mariann tries to watch the show "Sweet Magnolia" but is disgusted by the anti-animal references, Jasmin discusses the connections between HBO's Westworld and animal agriculture, and we continue to anguish over the plight of animals during this pandemic. We also continue our Supporting Vegan Businesses program by shouting out Bodhi Bowl and Vegan Viridity. -Mariann interviews author and scholar Eva Meijer about her books When Animals Speak, Animal Languages, and Bird Cottage. Eva talks about how human perspectives on animal languages have helped to limit the rights of animals in political decisions and social policy, and the incredible recent discoveries that have been made about how non-human animals communicate with each other and how they attempt to communicate with humans. (17:44) -Mariann brings us the latest Rising Anxieties from the industrial animal ag world. (1:19:00)

-Mariann examines the animal rights themes in Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds" and Jasmin tries to get a question about veganism answered by Tara Brach. We also continue our Supporting Vegan Businesses program by shouting out The Striped Cat Metalworks, All Y'alls Foods, and Bitchin' Sauce. -Jasmin interviews Merissa Underwood, who was named Miss Montana 2020 and caused a stir when she used her platform to talk about veganism and environmentalism. Merissa tells the story of how she introduced these topics into the Miss Montana competition, the campaign of social media harrassment waged against her because of her outspoken veganism, and how her experience in Future Farmers of America shaped her views about animals (23:20) -Mariann brings us the latest Rising Anxieties from the industrial animal ag world. (1:01:20)

-Jasmin and Mariann try to manage their anger towards people who aren't wearing masks or practicing social distancing. Mariann reads an inspiring section from the book Living The Good Life by Helen and Scott Nearing, and poet Gretchen Primack reads her beautiful new poem "Covid."  We also continue our Supporting Vegan Businesses program by shouting out Seva Foods, Odeene Soaps, and BeLeaf Vegan's amazing egg substitute. -Mariann interviews Josh Berson, author of The Meat Question, about what people really mean when they talk about a "paleolithic" diet, zoonotics and the role of animal-source foods in facilitating their leap into human populations, and why meat became regarded as what wealthy people ate. He also shares his insight about "street food," and tells us why he is hopeful for the future. (23:50) -Mariann brings us Rising Anxieties about Coronavirus and animal consumption. (1:00:35)