Animals Today Radio
Summary: The signature program of the nonprofit, Advancing the Interests of Animals (AIA), is its weekly, one-hour nationally syndicated radio show, Animals Today. Currently in its seventh continuous year, this show provides a worldwide platform where individuals and organizations concerned about the welfare of animals can present their viewpoints and promote their causes. It is a communication hub where listeners learn about a wide variety of animal welfare issues as well as the actions they can take to help animals locally and around the globe. Hosted by Dr. Lori Kirshner and co-host/producer Dr. Peter Spiegel, Animals Today airs in multiple markets with a potential audience of millions of listeners. Listeners worldwide may enjoy live shows via internet streaming, and past shows are archived on the Animals Today website and YouTube for free access anytime. Shows can also be accessed as podcasts on iTunes, on Spreaker, on Tune in radio, and on i heart radio. Different than other radio programs whose focus is merely on pets, Animals Today delves deeper by also promoting increased respect, compassion and kindness toward animals in the wild and farmed animals. Via analysis and commentary, it provides the latest thinking and news about animal rights with the goal of educating listeners of all ages about the current status of animals in society and how people can treat them more humanely. The show’s hosts conduct interviews on a wide variety of animal-related topics with news items from around the globe. Programs have focused on such diverse subjects as the dangers wind farms pose to eagles, shark conservation efforts and language and communication research in non-human animals. Guests on the show have included celebrities, filmmakers, politicians and government officials, lawyers, authors, scientists, ecologists, food producers, naturalists and activists working in the field. They all share a desire to improve the lives of animals around the world. A few of Animals Today’s noteworthy guests have included Bob Barker, Author Dean Koontz, Actress Tippi Hedren, US Representative Tom Marino, CA Assemblymember Richard Bloom, CT State Representative Fred Camillo, award-winning independent journalist Will Potter, and President, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, Dr. Neal Barnard. Lori and Peter have gone on site to cover The Best Friends National Conference, the FARM animal rights conference, the Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary in Texas, and other events and locations of interest.
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- Artist: Dr. Lori Kirshner
Podcasts:
Lori begins the show by taking on the still controversial topic of laws and regulations aimed at specific dog breeds, generally referred to as breed specific legislation. There are hundreds of such laws and regulations on the books across the US, which regulate or ban certain dog breeds. Breed specific legislation (BSL) typically targets pit bull […]
We begin with Peter reporting on a new article which provides more details on the amazing color changing abilities of octopuses. Their tiny color altering organs are highly specialized and under the exquisite, fine control of the animals’ nervous system. The abilities of octopuses to control their displays improve as they mature. Peter continues discussing […]
Animals Today Radio May 8, 2022. Chickens are very smart and have individual personalities: Celebrating a special day for chickens. Animal knowledge challenge. The question about the chicken and the egg has puzzled people since antiquity and has served as a metaphor for many circumstances in our world. Lori begins the show offering up some […]
In recognition of World Rat Day, Lori kicks off the show by going deep on these ubiquitous mammals. Rats are very social, affectionate, and intelligent. They get lonely and anxious when isolated. But when in their family group (referred to as a mischief) they will care for the injured and sick. Rats can be trained […]
Lori begins speaking about the disaster for animals in Ukraine with Chris DeRose and Cindy Beal DeRose from Last Chance for Animals (LCA). The situation on the ground for animals continues to be bleak and deadly. Terrified abandoned dogs are starving and do not know where to go. Dogs, cats and other animals are enduring […]
Lori begins with an update on the situation in Ukraine and the war region with Robert Misseri, founder and President of Paws of War. The situation Robert describes is very fraught, with starving and terrified animals roaming and hiding, worsened by severe hindrances to relief efforts due to the ever-present danger. Sometimes, dumping bags of […]
What toxins and poisons would you guess are most commonly ingested by our dogs and cats? Well, the data on this question actually exists, thanks to the ASPCA, which recently published a list of the most common exposure and ingestion incidents from the ASPCA Poison Control Center (APCC). Lori explores this list, adding our personal […]
Lori begins with big news from Florida where the captive Orca named Lolita (also known as Tokitae) has finally been permitted to “retire.” Lori recounts the life of this poor, lonely creature, ripped from her mother at age four for a life in captivity at the Miami Seaquarium. Lolita has been performing for 52 years! […]
We begin speaking with Wayne Pacelle about pending legislation in both the House and Senate, the FDA Modernization Act, which would eliminate the animal testing mandate for development and approval of new pharmaceutical drugs for human use. Mr. Pacelle, as President of Center for a Humane Economy, Founder of Animal Wellness Action, and CEO of […]
Lori begins this show honoring the iconic Lion, Cecil, who was killed in 2015. Some of our younger listeners may not remember this tragic event, but its reporting broke through to the popular press and social media, raising awareness about the horrors of sport hunting and trophy hunting. Cecil was a large, black-maned male Lion […]
We begin with the very big story of the first transplant of a heart from a pig to a human. Xenotransplantation, organ transplant between species, has been a medical goal for decades. The main hinderances to “progress” in this field have been related to organ rejection owing to the brisk immune response to foreign tissues. […]
Lori begins the show with a discussion of the myriad problems with testing of consumer products like cosmetics on animals. Despite rapid advances in technology that is capable of replacing animal testing, antiquated and cruel methods still are often employed in the US and Canada. Notably, the FDA does not require animal testing and 40 […]
The show begins with Lori sharing fascinating animal news items. First, a 21-year-old man broke into a Georgia home and was mauled to death by the homeowner’s 2 dogs. The dogs were confiscated but later returned to the owner. Lori analyzes the many important legal and social elements here such as, who is responsible for […]
Lori begins the show with news about some aggressive urban squirrels in Queens, NYC, who are reportedly jumping onto people and attacking them. Authorities advise against hand feeding, which probably contributed to the bold behaviors these animals are displaying. Fortunately squirrels rarely harbor rabies, and no documented case of transmission of rabies to humans has […]
Toward the end of 2020, without public notification, the East Bay Parks District in Oakland, California began killing (specifically, shooting) free roaming cats. After a local news report exposed the actions, the story exploded, as cat lovers, rescuers and the community at large became shocked and enraged by the sanctioned cruelty. The city claimed that […]
