Join Dr. Dana Kolsky on the AFSA podcast as she delves into the world of animal rights activism with Nathan McGovern from Animal Rising. Discover insights into their controversial campaigns against animal testing, particularly targeting the MBR Acres beagle breeding facility, and the legal ramifications that followed. McGovern shares his journey into activism, the power of open rescue, and the future of animal testing in the UK. This episode highlights the complexities of ethical protest, legal consequences, and the evolving landscape of animal rights advocacy.

For more information on Animal Rising and their campaigns head to https://www.animalrising.org/
Or, visit their Facebook and Instagram.

To see AFSA's campaign for mandatory rehoming of research dogs and cats click here.

For the full show transcript click here.

Thanks for listening!

In this episode of the AFSA Podcast, Dr. Dana Kolsky and Dr. Elena Schaller unravel the findings of our 2025 national opinion poll on animal testing in Australia. Commissioned by AFSA and conducted by Nexus Research, the results are both surprising and encouraging.

Dana and Elena discuss how public sentiment toward animal experimentation has evolved over the years and explores the broader implications of these attitudes. From a revealing study that surveyed 1,000 Australians, they dive deep into the public's growing awareness and demand for transparency and ethical reform in animal research.

Click here to read more on AFSA's recent opinion poll.

Read the transcript.

*Note: Re the discussion on animal rehoming in Australia, there is legislation in NSW that mandates the rehoming of dogs and cats after 3 years of use in research (the NSW Animal Research Amendment Act (Right to Release Act) 2022).

In this engaging episode of the AFSA Podcast, we are joined by Dr. Lawrence Hansen, a distinguished neuropathologist and advocate for animal-free research. We delve deep into the issues of animal experimentation in neuroscience research, addressing some of the ethical and scientific implications. The episode highlights how outdated methodologies persist despite advancements in human-relevant research techniques, emphasizing the need for a paradigm shift in scientific research practices.

Dr. Hansen outlines the challenges inherent in studying neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s with animal models, pointing out that these models fall short of replicating the human condition. He passionately argues for a shift towards human-based research applications that show promising advancements and efficacy over traditional animal testing methods. The discussion also uncovers systemic issues in scientific communities and funding bodies that sustain outdated practices, highlighting ethical concerns and potential pathways for advocacy and change.

*Note: The first two questions include quite scientific explanations—but don’t worry, the conversation quickly opens up into broader ethical issues, so we encourage all listeners (even those without a science background) to stay tuned!

For more info visit AFSA.
Click here to read more about primate experimentation in Australia.

Read the transcript here.