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 celebrate Mexico’s landmark ban on marine mammals in captivity and discuss Switzerland’s new meat labeling requirements, while examining the evolving landscape of cultivated meat technology and public lands protection.

Episode Highlights:

• Dominion’s Impact: New research suggests that showing people high-quality footage of factory farming conditions can reduce meat consumption by 12.2%
• Mexico Makes History: Unanimous vote bans marine mammals in captivity, affecting approximately 350 dolphins
• Public Lands Protected: Provision to sell public lands removed from controversial legislation
• Switzerland’s New Labels: The country now requires labeling of meat products from animals subjected to certain painful procedures without anesthesia
• Cultivated Meat Progress: Advancements in pig fat cell production could transform the market
• Animal Welfare Act Weakened: Supreme Court decision further limits enforcement capabilities
• Open Rescue and Necessity: Discussion of Mariann’s law review article examining legal defenses for animal rescuers

RESOURCES

• • • Can New York keep sewage sludge out of our food system?
    • Environmental Connections on WXXI
    • Sen. Mike Lee removes public lands provision from Trump’s “big, beautiful bill”
    • Mexico bans use of captive marine mammals for entertainment
    • Pig Fat Cell Production Could Transform Lab-Grown Meat
    • Labs Once Fined Pennies, Now Not Fined At All
    • Is it even possible to convince people to stop eating meat?
    • From July 1, food labels in Switzerland will have to disclose whether products of animal origin involve painful practices. The Swiss federal government has approved a series of ordinances requiring the labelling of meat, eggs and foie gras.
    • The Real Cost of Eggs
    • Desperate Times and Desperate Measures: When Is Rescuing Animals “Necessary?”

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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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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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