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

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

Jasmin Singer and Mariann Sullivanwww.ourhenhouse.org
Join hosts Jasmin Singer and Mariann Sullivan for intimate conversations with leading vegan activists, animal rights advocates, and changemakers transforming our world. Each week, Our Hen House brings you inspiring stories from the frontlines of animal liberation, practical activism strategies, and the latest developments in the fight for animal rights. Whether you’re a seasoned activist or newly vegan, discover how to make a difference for animals through engaging interviews and actionable insights.
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Episodes

The Great Water Heist: How Meat Production Is Draining America’s Aquifers | Rising Anxieties

In this week’s parched edition of Rising Anxieties, Mariann dives into the meat industry’s growing water crisis – where aquifers are disappearing faster than industry excuses. While Texas suffers floods, livestock regions face exceptional drought conditions with vital aquifers dropping several feet annually. The meat industry’s brilliant solution? Water-free animals and air-to-water technology! Meanwhile, lab-grown salmon makes a splash in Portland’s…

Jul 08, 202517 min

The Hen Report: “Don’t just feel free, feel obligated.” : Persuasion, Pig Fat, and Public Lands

In this spirited episode, Jasmin introduces her newest family member—a senior Chihuahua named June—while Mariann delivers both encouraging and concerning news from the animal rights world. The duo dives into Kenny Torrella’s thought-provoking Vox article about the surprising effectiveness of showing people the reality of factory farming through well-made documentaries like Dominion, challenging current conventional wisdom about animal advocacy strategies. They…

Jul 03, 202544 min

Estate Tax Battles, Butter Wars, and Royal Outrage: Animal Ag’s Growing Panic | Rising Anxieties

In this episode of Rising Anxieties, Mariann Sullivan dives into the latest concerns from the animal agriculture industry—and what’s concerning us about them. From beef producers lobbying for the “Big Beautiful Bill” that would allow them to pass on up to $30 million tax-free to their heirs, to the American Butter Institute’s meltdown over Country Crock’s dairy-free products, the industry’s anxieties…

Jul 01, 202515 min

Redefining Democracy: How Constitutional Law Could Embrace All Sentient Life

In a groundbreaking episode of The Animal Law Podcast, we explored radical new concepts that could fundamentally transform how constitutional law treats animals. Host Mariann Sullivan welcomed Cambridge University’s Raffael Fasel and Queen Mary University’s John Adenitire to discuss their book “Animals and the Constitution: Towards Sentience-Based Constitutionalism” – a work that challenges centuries of legal tradition by proposing constitutional frameworks…

Jun 27, 20251 hr 2 min

The Hen Report: “The Only Mentally Stable People in the World” | Family Dynamics, Anti-Vegan Psychology, and Wildlife Wins

In this lively episode of The Hen Report, Jasmin and Mariann swap stories from Vermont road trips to unexpected animal activism, all while tackling the psychological framing of veganism and celebrating rare wins for wildlife. Between family dinner dynamics and debunking anti-vegan psychology, our hosts remind us why standing firm in our ethics isn’t a “psychological prison” but rather a path…

Jun 26, 202531 min

Border Battles & Bank Boycotts: Animal Ag’s Double Crisis | Rising Anxieties

This week on Rising Anxieties, we dive into the agricultural industry’s panic attack over Trump’s flip-flopping immigration policies. From ICE raids causing dairy farm labor shortages to the bizarre 1300% surge in white South African H-2A visa workers, the industry’s self-interest is on full display. Financial institutions wielding their power against conventional animal agriculture practices The flesh-eating screwworm nightmare threatening to…

Jun 24, 202516 min

Behind Enemy Lines: ARM’s Undercover War Against Animal Cruelty

The fearless founder of Animal Recovery Mission takes no prisoners in his quest to expose the darkest corners of animal exploitation. Richard “Kudo” Couto, a former Miami Beach real estate developer turned undercover investigator, joins us to reveal how his organization infiltrates illegal slaughterhouses, exposes factory farm abuses, and challenges corporate giants like Coca-Cola’s Fairlife. From Miami’s underground horse meat trade…

Jun 20, 202544 min

The Hen Report: “It’s about consent and agency” | Slaughter-Free Dairy, Public Lands Crisis, John Robbins’ Legacy

This week on The Hen Report, Jasmin and Mariann explore the ethical complexities of “slaughter-free” dairy, the alarming push to sell public lands, and the passing of vegan pioneer John Robbins. Between tales of their recent adventure to Lily Dale (a town of spiritualists) and the Lucille Ball Museum, they dive into why even the most humane dairy operations ultimately prove…

Jun 19, 202533 min

Big Ag’s Immigration Racket | Rising Anxieties

This week, Mariann Sullivan dives into the disturbing synergy between immigration policies and the meat industry, exposing a system designed to exploit vulnerable workers. From the Trump administration’s extension of dangerous line speed waivers to the calculated immigration “crisis” that may lead to even more exploitative visa programs, the podcast reveals how Big Ag thrives on maintaining a vulnerable workforce. With…

Jun 17, 202518 min

Animal Rights Go Viral: Natalie Fulton Reaches Beyond the Echo Chamber

In this captivating conversation, media strategist Natalie Fulton reveals how she’s transformed animal advocacy through her work at Pro Animal Future and her popular YouTube channel. Moving beyond the typical vegan food content, Natalie shares her journey from pandemic-inspired vegan to digital storyteller activist who successfully brings animal rights messaging to mainstream audiences. From her strategic shift toward political advocacy through…

Jun 13, 202554 min

The Hen Report: “A bandaid fix on something rotten to the core” | Vegan Mac & Cheese, Swiss Fur Ban, Melanie Joy’s Fiction Debut

This week on The Hen Report, Jasmin Singer and Mariann Sullivan navigate challenging political times while delivering animal rights news with their signature blend of insight and humor. They cover everything from labor issues in animal agriculture to exciting vegan product launches before welcoming psychologist and author Dr. Melanie Joy to discuss her surprising pivot from non-fiction to fiction with her…

Jun 12, 202551 min

Bird Flu Takes Flight While Meat Scientists Plot World Domination | Rising Anxieties

In this eye-opening episode of Rising Anxieties, Mariann Sullivan dives into alarming developments that should have everyone’s anxiety levels soaring. From the CDC’s confirmation that the bird flu virus infecting a Michigan dairy worker is capable of airborne transmission, to the meat industry’s coordinated efforts to combat what they call “anti-meat activism” through manipulative messaging, to how industrial farming operations are…

Jun 10, 202516 min

Roots & Rising: Connecting Grassroots Voices | OHH Panel

In this illuminating episode of Our Hen House, listeners dive into the vibrant ecosystem of grassroots animal advocacy with three powerhouse changemakers who are transforming the movement from the ground up. James Hattersley (We The Free), Carrie LeBlanc (Compassion Works International), and Steven Rouk (Connect For Animals) share their innovative approaches to building sustainable activism networks that create real-world impact. With…

Jun 06, 20251 hr 13 min

The Hen Report: “The Disneyland of Packing Plants” | Cultivated Salmon, Vegan Menopause, Activist Arrests

In this week’s Hen Report, Jasmin and Mariann navigate the delicate balance of activism while celebrating groundbreaking developments in food technology. From Mariann’s new camera angle (complete with curious pets) to troubling industry revelations, the hosts offer their characteristic blend of wit and wisdom on living compassionately in a complex world. Cultivated Salmon Milestone: Wild Type’s cultivated salmon becomes the first…

Jun 05, 202534 min

Bird Flu Bonanza and Beef in the Classroom | Rising Anxieties

This week on Rising Anxieties, Mariann Sullivan dives beak-first into the taxpayer-funded fever dream that is the animal agriculture industry’s response to bird flu. From senators begging for vaccine handouts to pork producers suddenly discovering biosecurity (better late than never!), it’s a masterclass in how industrial farming turns every crisis into a government funding opportunity. Meanwhile, the beef industry is busy…

Jun 03, 202515 min

A Wave of Change: Banning Octopus Factory Farming with Amanda Fox, Brenna Anderst & Allie Taylor

In this eye-opening episode, Mariann Sullivan speaks with three pioneering advocates who are successfully preventing octopus factory farming across the United States. Amanda Fox (Executive Director of Animal Rights Initiative), Allie Taylor (President of Voters for Animal Rights), and Brenna Anderst (Senior Policy Advisor at The Humane League) share how their coalition has already secured bans in Washington and California, with…

May 30, 202551 min

The Hen Report: “All Hens, All the Time” | Postal Service Chick Deaths, Hospital Food Revolution, and Children’s Books for Animal Freedom

In this Hen Report, Jasmin recounts her adventures at a vegan-friendly baby shower (complete with vegan trivia!), while Mariann contemplates deep philosophical questions. From air-fried apples with caramel salt to the explosion of pistachio milk in mainstream grocery stores, the duo weaves serious animal rights discussions with their trademark humor and warmth, proving once again that changing the world for animals…

May 29, 202533 min

Screwworms and Exploding Grain: This Week’s Ag Disasters | Rising Anxieties

In this episode of Rising Anxieties, Mariann serves up a buffet of agricultural catastrophes that have the industry shaking in their boots. From parasitic invasions to explosive grain silos to the pork industry’s bizarre meltdown over a health report that barely mentions them, it’s a masterclass in how industrial animal agriculture consistently creates its own problems—then demands taxpayers foot the bill…

May 27, 202516 min

Is Ventilation Shutdown Legal? Private Citizens Fighting Factory Farm Cruelty

In this episode of the Animal Law Podcast, Mariann Sullivan welcomes back Will Lowrey, legal counsel for Animal Partisan, alongside David Rosengard, managing attorney for the Animal Legal Defense Fund‘s Criminal Justice Program. They dive into an obscure but potentially game-changing legal tool: laws in certain states that allow private citizens to obtain search warrants when they have evidence of animal…

May 23, 202551 min

The Hen Report: “It’s Not All About the Food” | Shrimp Welfare, AVA Summit, and Wildlife Crossings

In this thought-provoking episode, Jasmin and Mariann welcome back Our Hen House’s “wingman” Michael Dorf to discuss a recent Daily Show segment that mockingly covered efforts to improve shrimp welfare. The conversation delves into the challenges of advocating for less charismatic animals, the complexities of welfare reforms, and the surprising effectiveness of humor in introducing animal suffering to mainstream audiences. Later,…

May 22, 20251 hr 4 min

The Panic Button: Meat Industry Predicts Its Own Extinction | Rising Anxieties

In this episode of Rising Anxieties, Mariann Sullivan examines current developments in animal agriculture and political food policies so you don’t have to. From RFK Jr.’s contradictory stances on vaccines and ultra-processed foods to industry insiders acknowledging that cultivated protein may replace conventional meat production in the future, this episode dives into the contradictions and potential changes within the food system. …

May 20, 202516 min

How to Kickstart a Successful Vegan Nonprofit: Expert Advice from Sebastian Joy

Sebastian Joy, founder of Kickstarting for Good, shares his innovative approach to transforming our global food system. Sebastian, who went from leading a tiny vegetarian society to helping build a worldwide movement at ProVeg International, reveals how mentorship has helped launch initiatives raising over $500 million for plant-based innovation. With candid stories about developing B12-fortified toothpaste (when everyone said it was…

May 16, 202542 min

The Hen Report: “Steamed Tofu and Broccoli” | Religion, Politics & Vegan Travel

In this delightfully loopy episode of The Hen Report (affectionately dubbed “Henry Port” by hosts Jasmin Singer and Mariann Sullivan), the duo spans topics from coast to coast while delivering their signature wit and animal rights commentary. Jasmin checks in from Los Angeles, where she’s attending the Animal and Vegan Advocacy Summit, reminiscing about her time living in the sprawling city…

May 15, 202538 min

Animal Ag is DESPERATE: Regenerative Agriculture Claims & Teen Slaughterhouse Tours | Rising Anxieties

In this episode of Rising Anxieties, Mariann Sullivan exposes how the animal agriculture industry is desperately attempting to rebrand itself while facing mounting environmental and ethical challenges. This episode explores: How factory farming is co-opting “regenerative agriculture” as their newest meaningless buzzword to greenwash industrial practices The meat industry’s shocking new strategy to recruit teenagers aged 16-18 by giving them “hands-on…

May 13, 202520 min

In the Room Where it Happens: How Robert Grillo Confronts Animal Agriculture’s Power Brokers

In this powerful episode, we sit down with activist Robert Grillo, founder of Free From Harm, who shares his strategic approach to creating systemic change for animals. From disrupting congressional hearings to confronting food industry executives, Robert explains how his organization uses targeted activism to challenge the status quo and push for a transition to a plant-based food system. How Robert…

May 09, 202549 min

The Hen Report: “Liberation, baby.” – Animal Rights & Grassroots Activism News

This Hen Report episode explores the concerning developments in animal agriculture and the inspiring grassroots efforts fighting back against institutional apathy. Jasmin and Mariann deliver a news roundup that examines: How the Trump administration’s $1 billion bird flu plan funnels taxpayer money to the poultry industry while ignoring the root causes of the crisis and the spread to dairy cows The…

May 08, 202540 min

Factory Farms Panic: Tariffs, Wolves, and Deadly Grain Bins | Rising Anxieties

In this episode of Rising Anxieties, Mariann dives into the animal agriculture industry’s publications to uncover what’s making them sweat these days. As she often points out, only two groups truly know what happens behind closed factory farm doors: advocates and the industry itself. The Rising Anxieties podcast uses their own words to pull back the curtain on what they are…

May 06, 202511 min

Sanctuaries as Classrooms: Revolutionizing Humane Education with Danielle Hanosh

Danielle Hanosh, co-founder and executive director of LEAP (Leaders for Ethics, Animals, and the Planet), returns to Our Hen House to share how this innovative program has grown to 18 sanctuaries nationwide with plans to expand into Canada. LEAP provides middle and high school students with hands-on humane education at farm sanctuaries, offering an ethical alternative to traditional 4H and FFA…

May 02, 20251 hr 40 min

The Hen Report: “Learning what’s really going on is a way not to give up” – Fighting for Animals in Challenging Times

This Hen Report episode explores the disturbing parallels between systems of oppression, from ICE operations to the meat industry, and the looming threats to public health from factory farming. Jasmin and Mariann deliver a sobering Hen Report that examines: How the meat industry and immigration enforcement share similar dehumanizing tactics, with both systems relying on workers who must carry out brutal…

Apr 25, 20251 hr 28 min

Going to Prison for Rescuing Hens?!? Animal Activism on Trial with Zoe Rosenberg

This week, we welcome hero activist Zoe Rosenberg, who generously joined us amid her ongoing legal battle to discuss Direct Action Everywhere’s campaign against Petaluma Poultry. Zoe provided valuable context about the deceptive marketing of this Purdue subsidiary, which claims to offer “free range” and “organic” chickens while investigations reveal deplorable conditions. She shared her personal journey from early investigations to…

Apr 18, 20251 hr 35 min
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