Best Animal Rights Podcasts (2024)

1
Signs of Life with Sarah Cox 31:08

2h ago31:08

31:08

More than 5,000 wild species are at risk of extinction in Canada right now – it’s an overwhelming, staggering number, and it begs the question: what are we doing about it? Environmental journalist Sarah Cox explores this question with hope and curiosity in her new book, Signs of Life: Field Notes from the Frontlines of Extinction. Featuring intervi…

1
Humans and Other Animals w/ Mark Devries 1:29:32

2h ago1:29:32

1:29:32

Wouldn’t it be great to have a single place laying out all the information and reasons behind animal rights? Well, now there is! This week, filmmaker Mark Devries joins us to discuss his new film, Humans and Other Animals, which aims to do just that. ABOUT OUR GUEST Mark DeVries is a documentary filmmaker whose award-winning work, including his pri…

1
Veganizing Cyprus w/ Farah Shammas 1:26:03

7d ago1:26:03

1:26:03

What happens when you’ve dedicated your life to the family business and suddenly become vegan? This week, we are joined by Farah Shammas, who tells us all about how she has helped make her family’s resort hotel and the restaurants therein into a vegan-friendly oasis. She also dishes on the vegan scene in Cyprus and tells us about her books! ABOUT O…

1
Tales of the Urban Wild with Dr. Tiffany Yap and Meital Smith 36:40

5d ago36:40

36:40

What’s the world like for a Puma in California? What would they encounter, and what would they make of the humans acting strangely in the landscape? Scientist Dr. Tiffany Yap and artist Meital Smith put together what they think that may look like in the incredible Tales of the Urban Wild: A Puma’s Journey, now available from Reverberation Books. Dr…

1
The Hen Report: “Who’s gonna match my freak?” 1:17:45

14d ago1:17:45

1:17:45

This week, we try something completely new as Jasmin and Mariann discuss recent happenings. Tune in for the latest animal rights and vegan news in pop culture, potlucks, activism, climate, rising anxieties, and also some wins from the movement! RESOURCES Danish livestock farmers to be taxed for cow and pig-made greenhouse gases Renowned Plant-Based…

1
Bears in our Backyards with Paul Johnson 1:03:33

12d ago1:03:33

1:03:33

Black bears in British Columbia face an impossible reality: find new places to live, without being near people, while we continue to remove habitat and ecological connectivity from the landscape. It’s a struggle that journalist and documentarian Paul Johnson wanted to profile – in hopes of making a change. Bears in our Backyards: The Struggle to Su…

1
The Impactful Vegan w/ Robert Cheeke 1:14:35

21d ago1:14:35

1:14:35

How can we do the most good for animals with the resources available to us? This week, we are joined by author and vegan bodybuilder Robert Cheeke to discuss the answers to that question in his most recent book, The Impactful Vegan. ABOUT OUR GUEST Robert is the author of Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness, Shred It!, Plant-Based Muscle, the New York Tim…

1
Animal Law Podcast #109: The Case That Didn’t Happen 53:23

17d ago53:23

53:23

Christopher Carraway and Steffen Seitz of the Animal Activist Legal Defense Project join us on this episode to talk about the case that didn’t happen. You may have heard about a criminal trial that was supposed to take place back in March in Wisconsin, where three activists affiliated with Direct Action Everywhere, Wayne Hsiung, Paul Picklesimer, a…

1
Nakoda's Story with John E. Marriott 26:20

19d ago26:20

26:20

Nakoda was a grizzly bear who lived in Yoho National Park. She was a well-known bear, having been tracked by Parks Canada as Bear 178, and popular with photographers and tourists who caught a glimpse of her famous blonde-white fur. Tragically, on the evening of June 6, 2024, Nakoda was struck by a vehicle on the Trans-Canada highway near the park, …

1
Our Kindred Creatures w/ Bill Wasik & Monica Murphy

28d ago

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What lessons are there to be learned by studying the history of the movement, and how can we apply those lessons to our activism today? This week, we are joined by Bill Wasik & Monica Murphy to discuss the research and writing of their book Our Kindred Creatures: How Americans Came to Feel the Way They Do About Animals. ABOUT OUR GUESTS Bill Wasik …

1
How Do You Sell Compassion? w/ Chris Bryant

1M ago

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The question constantly on our minds is how to figure out the most effective ways to reach people regarding what is happening to animals and maybe even get them to stop eating them. Chris Bryant joins us this week to discuss the work of Bryant Research, a company conducting social science research to aid in the protein transition. ABOUT OUR GUEST C…

1
Beyond Animal Control with Jennifer Toussaint 47:42

1M ago47:42

47:42

Mustachioed dog-nappers chasing animated pooches around the city may be what’s in some of our heads when it comes to animal control, but the important front-line officers in our communities go well beyond that trope. In Arlington, Virginia, the community knows they can rely on the Animal Welfare League of Arlington to help, whether it’s support for…

1
Save the Animals, Save the Planet w/ Leif Cocks 1:18:53

1M ago1:18:53

1:18:53

Almost everyone loves an elephant. Or an orangutan. Or a tiger. So, how can we leverage that love to save the planet? This week, Leif Cocks joins us again to discuss his many projects that help protect forests, including The International Tiger Project. ABOUT OUR GUEST Leif Cocks is the Founder of Wildlife Conservation International, which incorpor…

1
California's Room to Roam Act with Dr. Tiffany Yap 44:10

1M ago44:10

44:10

Room to roam for wildlife is essential to their health, particularly as they face increasing pressures related to development and the climate crisis. But many communities aren’t planned with wildlife in mind – or ecological connectivity between neighbourhoods and boundaries. The California state assembly has passed the Room to Roam Act, which compe…

1
Listening to the Animals w/ Mickey Pardo 1:19:25

2M ago1:19:25

1:19:25

We all wish for the superpower to understand what animals are communicating. This week, we are joined by biologist Mickey Pardo to discuss his work studying animal communication and social cognition in animals ranging from elephants to woodpeckers. ABOUT OUR GUEST Mickey Pardo is a biologist specializing in animal communication, animal cognition, a…

1
Animal Law Podcast #108: The Case of Compelled Dairy Promotion

2M ago

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Deborah Dubow Press, an attorney with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, joins us to talk about Williamson v USDA. This case involves both the Los Angeles school system and the USDA’s school lunch program, which influences what kids are eating in virtually every school in the country. We will be looking at some of its insane rules r…

1
Perceptions of Urban Coyotes in Ontario with Nicole Murphy + Dr. Stephanie Rutherford 41:10

2M ago41:10

41:10

Traditional media has long portrayed coyotes in a negative light – and you don’t have to take my word for it. Nicole Murphy, a student at Peterborough’s Trent University took on the issue of how coyotes are perceived by undertaking a three-part project: she ran an analysis of media reporting on coyotes across the Greater Toronto Area, surveyed staf…

1
Vegan Land Movement w/ Gina Bates 1:07:33

2M ago1:07:33

1:07:33

Wouldn’t it be great if we could keep land from falling into the hands of animal agriculture and just give it to wild animals instead? That is exactly what the U.K.’s Vegan Land Movement is doing, and Gina Bates is here to tell us how they are doing it and why you should do it too. ABOUT OUR GUEST Following art college and a career in design, Gina …

1
Scotch and Hope w/ Marc Bekoff 1:24:01

2M ago1:24:01

1:24:01

Darwin was onto something. So how did scientists then go so completely wrong in understanding who animals really are, and where are we now? This week, we are joined by field biologist, professor, and author Marc Bekoff for a glimpse into The Emotional Lives of Animals. We also hear more about his friendship with Jane Goodall and how that led to the…

1
Climate Grief with Dr. Shawna Weaver 1:00:15

2M ago1:00:15

1:00:15

Some days are hard. The world feels like it’s falling apart, forests are burning, ecosystems are breaking down, and hope can be a long, long way away. But you’re not alone in this feeling – and there are ways to manage and cope that not only support you but can make for a healthier community and planet. Climate Grief, From Coping to Resilience and …

1
Animal Policy Alliance w/ Gabriel Wildgen 1:17:31

2M ago1:17:31

1:17:31

How do we put farmed animals on the agenda for policymakers? This week, Gabriel Wildgen joins us to discuss the Animal Policy Alliance, a project of The Humane League that is working to connect state and local animal organizations across the US to each other and help them get what they need to compete with animal agriculture. ABOUT OUR GUEST Gabrie…

1
How To Talk To A Science Denier with Dr. Lee McIntyre (repost) 56:12

2M ago56:12

56:12

Episode originally released September 2021. The idea of walking into a flat earth convention makes my tummy hurt. For Dr. Lee McIntyre, it was an exercise in curiosity explored in the introduction of his new book, How To Talk To A Science Denier. Dr. McIntyre is an author, a research fellow at the Center for Philosophy and History of Science at Bos…

1
An Unnatural Order w/ Jim Mason 1:15:40

3M ago1:15:40

1:15:40

How did humans’ relationship with the other animals go so completely awry? The incomparable Jim Mason – author, lawyer, thinker, and animal rights OG – joins us to discuss his seminal work, An Unnatural Order: The Roots of Our Destruction of Nature, for a discussion about where humanity went wrong, why it matters now more than ever, and how we can …

1
A Forever Home for Hooves with Michelle Singleton 39:34

3M ago39:34

39:34

The search for home is something most people can relate to, at some point in their lives. Regardless of circumstance, that need for the place that is yours, surrounded by the people you love, and the sense of wellness that comes with it, is a universal desire. And it’s not just for humans. Animals bred and kept as livestock – or farmed animals – ha…

1
Rescuing Animals from Climate Change w/ Kathy Stevens 1:14:57

3M ago1:14:57

1:14:57

Rescued animals at some sanctuaries are now facing a new hurdle before they can be truly safe: climate change. We are joined this week by Kathy Stevens of Catskill Animal Sanctuary to discuss this new challenge. ABOUT OUR GUEST Kathy Stevens is the co-founder and executive director of Catskill Animal Sanctuary. Since then, Catskill has saved more t…

1
Animal Law Podcast #107: Prosecuting Cruelty 56:22

3M ago56:22

56:22

Jake Kamins joins us to talk about his groundbreaking work as an Animal Cruelty Resource Prosecutor in the Oregon Department of Justice. This position, which was created very recently, not only allows him to prosecute animal cruelty cases but, perhaps even more importantly, also allows him to act as a kind of roving resource, as his title indicates…

1
The Emotional Lives of Animals with Dr. Marc Bekoff 58:43

3M ago58:43

58:43

Making an emotional connection to a non-human animal is a defining moment in many peoples’ lives. It could be the family dog, a squirrel who hops past a window every day, or a black bear known to meander through a local forest. It’s that connection that can help people understand the depth of non-human animal emotion and make changes in how they vi…

1
The Human-Animal Bond w/ Dr Pia Salk 1:13:23

3M ago1:13:23

1:13:23

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. ABOUT OUR GUEST Pia Salk is a clinical psychol…

1
VICTORY: Fighting Ag-Gag in Ontario with Camille Labchuk 32:27

3M ago32:27

32:27

Investigations into farms by animal advocacy groups is an essential tool to exposing serious, systemic abuses of animals, failures to follow basic policy, and have led to criminal charges. But the Ontario government wanted to stop that – and introduced Bill 156 in 2020. The Bill, Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act, was challenged…

1
How Theater Can Change the World for Animals w/ Grace Howarth & Anastasia Bunce 1:16:50

3M ago1:16:50

1:16:50

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. ABOUT OUR GUESTS Grace Joy Howarth is a playwright, au…

1
When Animals Dream w/ David Peña-Guzmán 1:48:29

4M ago1:48:29

1:48:29

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. ABOUT OUR GUEST David M. Peña-Guzmán is an associate professor of hu…

1
Horseracing Wrongs w/ Patrick Battuello 1:15:30

4M ago1:15:30

1:15:30

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. ABOUT OUR GUEST Patrick Battuello has been writing on animal rights issues since 2009, when he launched the A…

1
Animal Law Podcast #106: A Case Farms Case of Cruelty 40:18

4M ago40:18

40:18

Sarah Gold of Legal Impact for Chickens joins us to discuss litigation against giant poultry factory Case Farms. As you may know, I am a big fan of efforts to get anti-cruelty laws to do what they were meant to do, that is, protecting animals from cruelty. What a concept! Those efforts can be extraordinarily difficult to mount, and so I was particu…

1
Depaving Hamilton with Green Venture 28:05

4M ago28:05

28:05

A concrete laden Barton Street runs the distance of lower Hamilton, marking the transition from residential housing to commercial and industrial spaces – what many people think of when they hear Steel City. But along this busy street something magical is happening: swatches of concrete are vanishing, to be replaced by naturalized gardens. Flowers, …

1
Animal Justice Academy w/ Kimberly Carroll 1:04:57

4M ago1:04:57

1:04:57

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. ABOUT OUR GUEST Kimberly Carroll is a coach for changemakers…

1
Humane Canada's Summit for Animals 16:05

4M ago16:05

16:05

If you don’t already have passes to Humane Canada’s Summit for Animals May 5 to 7 in Halifax, you’re going to miss out on an awful lot! The annual event is organized by Humane Canada, the national federation of humane societies and SPCAs, and presenting sponsor PetSmart Charities of Canada. The Summit for Animals brings together people who work on …

1
Stop Ventilation Shutdown! w/ Dr Crystal Heath 1:10:12

4M ago1:10:12

1:10:12

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. ABOUT OUR GUEST Dr. Crystal…

1
The Art of Simone Diamond 31:15

4M ago31:15

31:15

Simone Diamond is a Coast Salish artist who creates art pieces in the Coast Salish style. You may have seen Simone’s designs featured on products from companies like Native Northwest, on her popular Instagram account, or in The Fur-Bearers’ kids activity book. Simone joins Defender Radio to talk about how spirituality is infused with her art, the i…

1
Plantega w/ Nil Zacharias 1:21:08

4M ago1:21:08

1:21:08

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. ABOUT…

1
Defending Animals w/ Kendra Coulter 1:31:28

5M ago1:31:28

1:31:28

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. ABOUT OUR GUEST Kendra Coulter is a Professor in Management and Organizational Studies …

1
Animal Law Podcast #105: Breaking the Rules?: Taxpayer-Funded Animal Research Outside the US 40:38

5M ago40:38

40:38

Vanessa Shakib joins me once again, and this time, we will be discussing litigation brought by her client, White Coat Waste Project, about a really extraordinary situation at the National Institutes of Health. As you probably know, the NIH funds massive, massive amounts of research on animals. What you may not know is that much of that research doe…

1
Hip Hop is Green w/ Keith Tucker 1:11:22

5M ago1:11:22

1:11:22

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. ABOUT OUR GUEST Keith Tucker founded the nonprofit Hip Hop is Green, the first hip hop organization to provid…

1
Thrive Philanthropy w/ Jessika Ava 1:11:00

5M ago1:11:00

1:11:00

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. ABOUT OUR GUEST Jessika Ava, MS, M…

1
The Lives of Wild Dogs with Dr. Valli Fraser-Celin 43:05

5M ago43:05

43:05

Improving the lives of dogs across Canada and around the world is a hefty goal – but by talking about the lives of wild dogs, Dr. Valli Fraser-Celin is getting closer to reaching that goal every day. Dr. Fraser-Celin, who has worked with African wild dogs, dogs in Indigenous communities in Canada, and identifying how a one-health approach makes an …

1
Greener by Default w/ Katie Cantrell & Ilana Braverman 1:03:57

5M ago1:03:57

1:03:57

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. AB…

1
The Switch: Winter Planting for Wildlife 4:41

5M ago4:41

4:41

It’s grey, generally cold, damp, and rather unpleasant in early February across Canada. Fortunately, it’s a great time of year to get outside and start planting! Now, I know I’m out on a bit of a limb here, but late winter and early spring are actually ideal for sowing many vital, native plant species across Canada. To tie this into how it helps wi…

1
Who Are We Having for Dinner? w/ Molly Elwood 1:09:10

6M ago1:09:10

1:09:10

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. ABOUT OUR GUEST Molly Elwood is a writer, copywriter, storyteller, and creative strategist. Between creative agencies and in-house creative teams, she has spent more tha…

1
Animal Law Podcast #104: The Biogas Nightmare 53:35

6M ago53:35

53:35

Christine Ball-Blakely of the Animal Legal Defense Fund joins us to discuss the work of a coalition of organizations that has filed petitions for rulemaking regarding the unbelievable subsidization, with your tax money, of “biogas,” aka factory farm gas, which, as far as I am concerned, appears to be an out and out scam to prop up factory farming, …

1
Trapped In The Past Documentary Series with John E. Marriott 41:55

6M ago41:55

41:55

Killing neck snares are cruel devices that experts and scientists have shown to be ineffective and inhumane. Yet they remain common across Canada. A new documentary series, Trapped In The Past, is challenging why killing neck snares remain legal to use, what impact they have on wildlife, and how a lack of updated regulations puts wildlife, people, …

1
Picturing Pigs w/ Jane Casteline & Shannon Johnstone 1:04:11

6M ago1:04:11

1:04:11

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…

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Animal Rights Podcasts

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