The Hen Report: “Animal Rights will do that to you.” | Seaquarium Closes, USDA Failures & Cultivated Cat Food

In this week’s episode of The Hen Report, Jasmin and Mariann balance the melancholy of fall with a lively rundown of animal rights news. Between linguistic deep dives and Jasmin’s theatrical preparations (complete with “lozengers” of questionable etymology), the duo delivers updates that actually matter for animals. They discuss the USDA’s increasingly toothless enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act, celebrate the long-overdue closure of the notorious Miami Seaquarium, and explore promising developments in cultivated meat cat food. The hosts also reflect on how everyday institutions normalize animal exploitation for children, reminding us that the fight for animal rights extends far beyond the obvious battlegrounds.

This episode explores:

• How the USDA’s enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act has deteriorated, with warnings replacing actual penalties for violators
• The encouraging shift away from animal testing at NIH, proving that even strange political bedfellows can deliver positive outcomes
• The long-awaited closure of the Miami Seaquarium after decades of animal rights activism
• Promising developments in cultivated meat technology specifically designed for carnivorous companion animals
• How cultural institutions subtly normalize animal exploitation through children’s exhibits and displays

RESOURCES

• • • Animal abusers are getting let off the hook. Trump and his Supreme Court are partly to blame.
    • Can Trump End This Impossibly Cruel Practice?
    • The Miami Seaquarium was once beloved. It’s shutting down after accusations of neglect.
    • Omni Pet Files First Patent for Cat Food That Blends Cultivated Meat and Plant Proteins
    • Flock members and activists extraordinaire Goose and Silvia Rodriguez have written a bilingual (English/Spanish) vegan-themed children’s book called Someone, Not Something: ALGUIEN, NO ALGO

We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read this episode’s interview.

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The Veganic Summit is a free online event from November 7th-9th, 2025. You’ll learn how plant foods can be grown using techniques that are both vegan and organic, without any chemical fertilizers or any animal byproducts like manure or bonemeal. If you’d like to start your own veganic garden or learn about sustainable plant-based farming, sign up for the Veganic Summit today at https://veganicsummit.com/

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Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. Contributions of any amount will go towards our fundraising goal and are hugely appreciated. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content!

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Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series.

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The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

Join hostesses Jasmin Singer and Mariann Sullivan on this unique and fun award-winning podcast that focuses on changing the world for animals.

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