Our Hen House

Welcome to the 264th episode of Our Hen House, featuring Chloe Falkenheim and Eric Mills. On today’s episode, we squawk about eating at non-vegan restaurants, seeing Italy through a vegan lens, and where the New York Times gets it right… and wrong. We have two very special guests joining today on Our Hen House. First, teen activist Chloe Falkenheim will tell you how she’s plugging in high school and college students everywhere with changing the world for animals, and helping them embrace veganism, by way of her incredible work with VegYouth. There’s lots of pertinent advice for us grown-ups here, too, so listen closely. Then, seasoned activist Eric Mills of Action for Animals will tell us about his long career fighting the rodeo industrial complex. His stories from the frontlines will surely blow your mind.  (Please note: We are happy to offer a written transcript of this important interview with Eric.) All that, vegan banter, and of course, current events from the world of animal rights. You can listen to our podcast directly on our website (beneath this paragraph!) or you can listen and subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher! Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it on iTunes and Stitcher, and don’t forget to leave us a friendly comment! Of course, we would be thrilled if you would also consider making a donation, or becoming a member of our flock (especially if you’re a regular listener). Any amount is hugely appreciated and Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible! You can also dedicate a podcast episode! Don’t forget – we’re reader and listener supported. Plus, we offer some fantastic thank you gifts for your donations. Thank you for helping us create quality content, and for helping us bring you a new podcast episode each week! The Our Hen House theme song is written and sung by the incredible Michael Harren.  Special thanks to OHH Media Coordinator Alessandra Seiter for acting as the Associate Producer of the Our Hen House podcast! “It is not necessary to accept the choices handed down to you by life as you know it.” ~Hunter S. Thompson.  

Welcome to the 263rd episode of Our Hen House, featuring an interview with Pradeep Nath and a review by Alessandra Seiter. In today’s episode, we will discuss a banana diet, a smart mouse, and a very long elevator ride with an anti-animal activist fur-wearer. There’s lots of “Rising Anxieties” today, too. Joining us is Pradeep Nath, an animal activist for over 40 years, and the mastermind behind one of India’s largest farmed animal sanctuaries, The Kindness Farm. Pradeep will be joining us today from India, and you won’t want to miss what he has to say about the incredible programs he is involved with to change the world for animals. (Please note: We are happy to offer a written transcript of this important interview with Pradeep.) For our review, Our Hen House’s Media Coordinator Alessandra Seiter (of Chickpeas & Change, her new blog!) will give us the skinny on Kristy Turner’s new cookbook, But I Could Never Go Vegan! (Bonus: Don’t miss Alessandra’s GIVEAWAY of this book! You have until 1/30 to enter for your chance to win a copy!) All that, vegan banter, and of course, current events from the world of animal rights. You can listen to our podcast directly on our website (beneath this paragraph!) or you can listen and subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher! Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it on iTunes and Stitcher, and don’t forget to leave us a friendly comment! Of course, we would be thrilled if you would also consider making a donation, or becoming a member of our flock (especially if you’re a regular listener). Any amount is hugely appreciated and Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible! You can also dedicate a podcast episode! Don’t forget – we’re reader and listener supported. Plus, we offer some fantastic thank you gifts for your donations. Thank you for helping us create quality content, and for helping us bring you a new podcast episode each week! The Our Hen House theme song is written and sung by the incredible Michael Harren.  Special thanks to OHH Media Coordinator Alessandra Seiter for acting as the Associate Producer of the Our Hen House podcast! “The sad truth is that most evil is done by people who never make up their minds to be good or evil.” ~Hannah Arendt

Welcome to the 262nd episode of Our Hen House, featuring an interview with Kristen Stilt, a review by Ethan Ciment and Michael Suchman, and a special appearance by JL Fields. On today’s episode, we’ll first be joined by Kristen Stilt, a professor at Harvard Law School who is the mastermind behind the brand new Animal Advocacy Program there. Kristen will let us in on all of the groundbreaking details. We have a feeling that if you’re feeling any kind of winter blues, you’ll be refreshed and hopeful after getting a glimpse into this new changemaking endeavor that will forever shift the animal rights movement. Then, the always charming JL Fields will tell us all about her brand new cookbook, new this week, called Vegan Pressure Cooking. But before you run out and invest in a pressure cooker (and trust us, you’ll want one…), you’ll also want to get the two cents from the fabulous guys behind Vegan Mos — Ethan Ciment and Michael Suchman — who will be giving us their expert take on this winter hobby that will fill your belly and soul. All that, vegan banter, and of course, current events from the world of animal rights. You can listen to our podcast directly on our website (beneath this paragraph!) or you can listen and subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher! Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it on iTunes and Stitcher, and don’t forget to leave us a friendly comment! Of course, we would be thrilled if you would also consider making a donation, or becoming a member of our flock (especially if you’re a regular listener). Any amount is hugely appreciated and Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible! You can also dedicate a podcast episode! Don’t forget – we’re reader and listener supported. Plus, we offer some fantastic thank you gifts for your donations. Thank you for helping us create quality content, and for helping us bring you a new podcast episode each week! The Our Hen House theme song is written and sung by the incredible Michael Harren.  Special thanks to OHH Media Coordinator Alessandra Seiter for acting as the Associate Producer of the Our Hen House podcast! “Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end.” ~John Lennon

Welcome to the 255th episode of Our Hen House, a place to find our way to change the world for animals. It’s a celebratory day today, as this is our podcast’s fifth anniversary! We have literally never missed a week of our show since starting five years ago almost to the day. (Time for a martini?) Today’s exciting episode features the lucky seventh edition of highlights from the Our Hen House TV show, a co-production with Brooklyn Independent Media. Our diverse cast of interviewees includes vegan chocolatier Sarah Gross, animal and environmental activists Mia MacDonald and Josphat Ngonyo, Farm Sanctuary co-founder Gene Baur, restaurateur extraordinaire Joy Pierson, healthy school food instituter Kelley Wind, and former undercover investigator Cody Carlson. Once again, we welcome our Media Coordinator Alessandra Seiter of Farmers Market Vegan to curate these segments. Be sure to check out our “100 Ways to Change the World for Animals” that we squawk about in today’s episdoe! You can listen to our podcast directly on our website (beneath this paragraph!) or you can listen and subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher! Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it on iTunes and Stitcher, and don’t forget to leave us a friendly comment! Of course, we would be thrilled if you would also consider making a donation, or becoming a member of our flock (especially if you’re a regular listener). Any amount is hugely appreciated and Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible! You can also dedicate a podcast episode! Don’t forget – we’re reader and listener supported. Plus, we offer some fantastic thank you gifts for your donations. Thank you for helping us create quality content, and for helping us bring you a new podcast episode each week! The Our Hen House theme song is written and sung by the incredible Michael Harren.  Special thanks to OHH Media Coordinator Alessandra Seiter for acting as the Associate Producer of the Our Hen House podcast! “When we drop fear, we can draw nearer to people, we can draw nearer to the earth, we can draw nearer to all the heavenly creatures that surround us.” ~bell hooks

Welcome to the 260th episode of Our Hen House, featuring an interview with Tara Baxter, a review of DIY beauty products by Alessandra Seiter, and a special appearance by James McWilliams. On today’s episode –the first one of 2015 – we squawk about Sweden’s new use of the word “hen”; why we were hemming and hawing about moving and what that has to do with tofu scramble and purebred dogs; and we’ll celebrate a huge victory that you helped Our Hen House to accomplish. Plus, we’ll give you a glimpse into this year’s upcoming plans that we have in store for changing the world for animals. There will be lots of “Rising Anxieties” today, too; and, as a bonus, author and historian James McWilliams will be a special guest for one of our stories. He’ll also tell us all about his new book that’s coming out this week, Modern Savage. Then, joining us will be rabbit activist Tara Baxter, who will give us her take on the Whole Foods controversy involving the selling of rabbit meat. She’ll tell us about some of her campaign work in this realm, too. For our review, Our Hen House’s own Alessandra Seiter — of Farmers Market Vegan — will get our skin ready for the New Year, making our skin-less wallets happy while she’s at it, with her tips on cruelty-free, budget-friendly, DIY beauty products. Check out the following links for detailed information on how to recreate the DIY products featured in the review for yourself: baking soda exfoiliating cleanser, apple cider vinegar & white tea facial toner, and “no-poo” hair care. All that, vegan banter, and of course, current events from the world of animal rights. You can listen to our podcast directly on our website (beneath this paragraph!) or you can listen and subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher! Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it on iTunes and Stitcher, and don’t forget to leave us a friendly comment! Of course, we would be thrilled if you would also consider making a donation, or becoming a member of our flock (especially if you’re a regular listener). Any amount is hugely appreciated and Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible! You can also dedicate a podcast episode! Don’t forget – we’re reader and listener supported. Plus, we offer some fantastic thank you gifts for your donations. Thank you for helping us create quality content, and for helping us bring you a new podcast episode each week! The Our Hen House theme song is written and sung by the incredible Michael Harren.  Special thanks to OHH Media Coordinator Alessandra Seiter for acting as the Associate Producer of the Our Hen House podcast! “You may never know what results come of your actions, but if you do nothing, there will be no results.” ~Mahatma Gandhi

Welcome to the 259th episode of Our Hen House, featuring an interview from Alissa Hauser and Ariel Nessel of The Pollination Project, and a review of Miyoko’s Kitchen Vegan Cheese by Alessandra Seiter. In today’s episode, we discuss bocce ball, having hope, oxford shoes addictions, and why we should all support indie media. There’s lots of “Rising Anxieties,” too, of course, so worry not. Joining us today are Ariel Nessel and Alissa Hauser from The Pollination Project, a forward-thinking organization founded by Ari, which gives away $1,000 a day in startup grant money to individual changemakers and projects that promote compassion around the world. Ari and Alissa will share their unique take on philanthropy, and on why animal rights is so near to their hearts, and to their life missions. Then, Our Hen House’s own Media Coordinator Alessandra Seiter — the mastermind behind the blog Farmer’s Market Vegan — will be giving us her official take on Miyoko Schinner’s new vegan cheeses, a food that might single-handedly change the shape of veganism as we know it. All that, vegan banter, and of course, current events from the world of animal rights. You can listen to our podcast directly on our website (beneath this paragraph!) or you can listen and subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher! Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it on iTunes and Stitcher, and don’t forget to leave us a friendly comment! Of course, we would be thrilled if you would also consider making a donation, or becoming a member of our flock (especially if you’re a regular listener). Any amount is hugely appreciated and Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible! You can also dedicate a podcast episode! Don’t forget – we’re reader and listener supported. Plus, we offer some fantastic thank you gifts for your donations. Thank you for helping us create quality content, and for helping us bring you a new podcast episode each week! The Our Hen House theme song is written and sung by the incredible Michael Harren.  Special thanks to OHH Media Coordinator Alessandra Seiter for acting as the Associate Producer of the Our Hen House podcast! “Animals run no risk of going to hell. They are there already.”  ~Victor Hugo

Welcome to the 258th episode of Our Hen House, featuring an interview with Stephanie Feldstein from the Center for Biological Diversity, and a review of the documentary Virunga by Donny Moss. On today’s episode, we will be joined by Stephanie Feldstein from the Center for Biological Diversity’s campaign, Meatstinction: Take Extinction Off Your Plate. Stephanie will tell us all about this unique program, and why her organization is in the vast minority of environmental groups that are connecting the dots between animal agriculture and environmental devastation. Also joining us today is Donny Moss, who will be giving us his take on the documentary, Virunga, which tells the story of four people fighting to protect Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, home to the world’s last mountain gorillas. All that, vegan banter, and of course, current events from the world of animal rights. You can listen to our podcast directly on our website (beneath this paragraph!) or you can listen and subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher! Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it on iTunes and Stitcher, and don’t forget to leave us a friendly comment! Of course, we would be thrilled if you would also consider making a donation, or becoming a member of our flock (especially if you’re a regular listener). Any amount is hugely appreciated and Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible! You can also dedicate a podcast episode! Don’t forget – we’re reader and listener supported. Plus, we offer some fantastic thank you gifts for your donations. Thank you for helping us create quality content, and for helping us bring you a new podcast episode each week! The Our Hen House theme song is written and sung by the incredible Michael Harren.  Special thanks to OHH Media Coordinator Alessandra Seiter for acting as the Associate Producer of the Our Hen House podcast! “One day we will see our animals again in eternity of Christ. Paradise is open to all God’s creatures.” ~Pope Francis (or did he say it?? tune in to this week’s current events for more on that…)

Welcome to the 257th episode of Our Hen House, featuring interviews with Giacomo Marchese and Dani Taylor of PlantBuilt, and Alokparna Sengupta of Humane Society International/India. On today’s episode, we’ll talk about our newest addition to our already-weird morning drink; our new adventures in a very painful healing art; and how annoying it is when obviously unenlightened people call us on our shit. We’ll discuss fair-trade gifts for this holiday season, and when (and why) DIY vegan gifts should be on Santa’s list. We’ll give you a glimpse into what the world would look like if an alien from another planet beamed down and saw how we were treating animals, and then we’ll give you the latest in “Rising Anxieties.” Today we have two guest segments. First, joining us are Giacomo Marchese and Dani Taylor, the muscle-y masterminds behind PlantBuilt, an athletic movement that is infiltrating bodybuilding competitions everywhere, with vegans coming out on top. Then, joining us will be Alokparna Sengupta, the Deputy Director for Humane Society International/India and the campaign manager for Be Cruelty-Free, India, which successfully persuaded the Indian government to ban the testing of animals for cosmetics and the import of animal-tested cosmetics in the country. All that, vegan banter, and of course, current events from the world of animal rights. You can listen to our podcast directly on our website (beneath this paragraph!) or you can listen and subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher! Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it on iTunes and Stitcher, and don’t forget to leave us a friendly comment! Of course, we would be thrilled if you would also consider making a donation, or becoming a member of our flock (especially if you’re a regular listener). Any amount is hugely appreciated and Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible! You can also dedicate a podcast episode! Don’t forget – we’re reader and listener supported. Plus, we offer some fantastic thank you gifts for your donations. Thank you for helping us create quality content, and for helping us bring you a new podcast episode each week! The Our Hen House theme song is written and sung by the incredible Michael Harren.  Special thanks to OHH Media Coordinator Alessandra Seiter for acting as the Associate Producer of the Our Hen House podcast! “This dream today embattled, With its back against the wall – To save the dream for one, It must be saved for all.” ~Langston Hughes

Welcome to the 256th episode of Our Hen House, featuring Ingrid Newkirk, with a review by the Vegan Mos’ Ethan Ciment and Michael Suchman. On today’s episode, we discuss a new study (from Humane Research Council) that details why ex-vegans have fallen off the wagon. We’ll tell […]

Welcome to the 255th episode of Our Hen House, a place to find our way to change the world for animals. Today, we have a super special round of highlights from the Our Hen House TV show, a co-production with […]

Welcome to the 254th episode of Our Hen House, featuring Piper Hoffman, with a review by Ari Solomon, plus a special appearance by Karen Dawn. In today’s episode, Mariann and I will let you know what it’s like to be back in the […]

Welcome to the 253rd episode of Our Hen House, featuring Kim Stallwood, with a review by Danielle Legg, and a special memorial to Sue Eakin. On today’s episode, we discuss seeing the world through new glasses; a theater class gone wrong; our experiences speaking at […]

Welcome to the 252nd episode of Our Hen House, featuring Marla Rose, with a review by Alessandra Seiter, and a special appearance by James McWilliams. In today’s episode, we’ll give you the skinny on everything from conflicting feelings about carousels, to vegan-hating […]

Welcome to the 251st episode of Our Hen House, featuring JL Fields, with a review by Ari Solomon, and a special appearance by Our Hen House’s own Anne Green. In today’s episode, we discuss why we were so excited to run into our favorite […]

Welcome to the 250th episode of Our Hen House, featuring Sharon Gannon and Alessandra Seiter. On today’s very special 250th episode, we chat about where veganism has come since we started recording five years ago, and where we see it going. Speaking […]