Laura Broxson has been deeply involved in Ireland’s animal rights movement for over two decades. They founded NARA – the National Animal Rights Association - in 2007. This is a voluntary, vegan animal rights group, working towards a world where animals are free from use, abuse, and exploitation.

In 2019, they successfully brought about a ban on fur farming in Ireland with a multifaceted strategy which involved undercover investigations, working with politicians to bring about legislative change, and engaging with the public at large to mobilise groundswell of support.

They are now applying the strategy to other campaigns like the banning of blood sports, such as fox-hunting and hare-coursing, as well as seeking to put an end to Ireland’s pig industry.

They actively promote a transition to plant-based agriculture by offering animal farmers a practical path out of the industry (in collaboration with James O’Donovan from Nature Rising).

We covered these topics and more - and the depths and breadth of Laura’s knowledge and enthusiasm became obvious as they responded cheerfully to any question with expert ease. Their calm confidence and determination offers a beacon for all animal rights advocates, and indeed anybody wanting to bring about positive change in the world.

https://www.naracampaigns.org/

Irish Pig Farm videos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwmyaHZrjRY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xHFCYxR9pE

Hare-coursing video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQDqLGotOSE

James O’Donovan (Nature Rising) report: Transition to an Irish Vegan Agricultural System.

https://naturerising.ie/transition-to-an-irish-vegan-agriculture-system/

https://naturerising.ie/

Dr. Alice Brough.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alice_thepigvet/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@alice_thepigvet/videos

Support Animal Free Research Ireland: https://safrireland.com/

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Harper Garrison is a high school student from Austin, Texas. She raised a lamb (who she named Onion!) through the Future Farmers of America (FFA) program. They soon formed a bond and Harper began to question Onion's fate; to be returned to the farm at the end of the program where she would be used as a 'breeder' and then sent to slaughter, once she was no longer profitable.

Harper got help from LEAP (Leaders for Ethics, Animals and the Planet), PETA2 and Austin Farm Sanctuary to remove Onion from the program and move her to the farm sanctuary where she now lives, enjoying her days and hanging out with other animals.

Harper tells her story of the rescue, as well as her growing involvement in animal advocacy. She talks about the organisations that helped, and her increasing awareness of the plight of farm animals. We discuss the encouraging growth of organisations that promote empathy and compassion, groups that are facilitating a new way to engage with animals.

Sources:

https://leapforanimals.org

https://leapforanimals.org/saving-onion-the-sheep-from-slaughter/

https://www.peta2.com/culture/harper-onion/

https://www.austinfarmsanctuary.org/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/showlambpage/posts/9928691373925428/

Dr Crystal Heath on Healthification podcast:

https://strongbodygreenplanet.com/what-vets-arent-taught-about-animal-rights-with-dr-crystal-heath/

FFA website:

https://www.ffa.org/

Further resources:

https://www.teachkind.org/

https://www.teachkind.org/ffa-4h-school-agriculture-programs/

https://www.peta.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Empathy-Now-Guide-for-Schools-8.5x11-PRINT-VERSION-2022_300.pdf

Danielle Hanosh, founder of LEAP, on the Better Life for Animals podcast:

https://betterlifeforanimals.com/podcast/024-danielle-hanosh/

Alternatives to 4H:

https://thehumaneleague.org/article/alternatives-to-4-h

Jessica Long – the case of Cedar the goat:

https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/23669586/goat-girl-4-h-shasta-county-seizure

Featured music:

Another Good Day by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoon
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Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
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Jack Morley has a background in media and advertising and he is now using those creative skills to illustrate and convey the beauty of Irish nature and wildlife, as well as some of the many challenges facing our native plants, insects, birds, fish and mammals.

He wants to amplify the stories of the people around the country who are making efforts to restore and revitalise our natural environment and he blends history, botany, ecology and humour into an appealing mix that educates and entertains.

In this episode we talk about the different ways in which we communicate about nature and you'll be able to answer questions like: What is Ireland's only legally protected insect? How did wasps help to write the Irish Constitution? Which are some of the butterflies that use nettles as a host plant? What IS a host plant?

...and where did that deer go?

LINKS

https://www.youtube.com/@TheRewildlife

https://www.instagram.com/the_rewildlife/

An Irish Wildlife Haven. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQ8Xj2wJLIo

Shifting baseline Syndrome. https://www.instagram.com/p/DJ_-IG_Ms8i/

Oak gall wasps. https://www.instagram.com/p/DIUCHvHsfB4/

Mombretia. https://www.instagram.com/p/DMp2xdqMfSx/

Badger. https://www.instagram.com/p/DRNHQPXDEKA/

Fox and deer video. https://www.instagram.com/p/DQnCIEvjJj-/

Marsh Fritillary. https://www.instagram.com/p/DLDZSLvs8tN/

https://iwt.ie/species-of-the-week-marsh-fritillary/

The film Birdsong on RTE Player.

https://www.rte.ie/player/movie/birdsong/506726951986

The film Listers on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zl-wAqplQAo&t=457s

Nature Spy cameras. https://naturespy.org/

Craghoppers fleece with birdsong soundwaves.

https://www.craghoppers.com/ie/CMA1425_1GG/

Featured Music:

San Fran by Schematist | http://www.schematistmusic.com
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Billie Talyn Groom has worked with a wide variety of dogs for over three decades. She is an award-winning behavioural therapist as well as an author, a podcaster, a TEDx speaker and the founder of the Institute of Canine Psychotherapy.

The Institute is an online educational platform which allows anyone to learn Canine Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, a method developed by Billie and one which can be applied to any dog over the age of 6 months, especially those dogs that might be termed difficult or challenging.

“With the increased acceptance of animals as sentient beings, CCBT is quickly becoming a recognised method and a sustainable solution in the canine behaviour and animal welfare sectors.”

Billie is highly motivated to spread awareness of her method in an effort to help the high number of dogs in shelters and rescue organisations that are unable to find homes due to behavioural issues. With CCBT exercises, dogs like these can be helped to reset their thought patterns and to self-regulate.

We talked about the evolution of her method as well as the need to consider dogs’ motivations and reasoning, not just their behaviour.

https://www.instituteofcaninepsychotherapy.com/

Why analyzing behaviour is important – Dog Training DisrUPted podcast

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5vdd4s8Zi1wYtJPGoHc5nr

Beyond Dog Training: The Movement toward Sentience. (TEDx talk)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avUugazybwc

“Rescued Dogs; the Misunderstood Breed” by Billie Groom.

https://www.amazon.com/Urban-People-Adopted-Rescued-Methodology/dp/1525547283/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1653954372&sr=8-1

Featured Music:

New Funk by Vlad Gluschenko | https://soundcloud.com/vgl9
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Project Wild is a wildlife media company that promotes ethical wildlife tourism by showcasing the organisations that bring tourists and wildlife together in a way that respects the animals’ natural behaviours.

I was delighted to talk to the founder, Connie Needham, about her years of experience in wildlife conservation and her studies in anthrozoology that led her to set up Project Wild.

With thousands of followers and an active social media presence, she is driven to show that wildlife conservation is open to everybody and that we can all make a difference through our actions and the messages we put out to the world.

https://www.projectwild.uk/

https://www.instagram.com/connie.needham

https://www.linkedin.com/in/connie-needham-2031b3240/

For the Love of Monkeys

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eW_aZl0O1zo&t=7s

Queen of the Primates

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdNcZjXUP_o

Featured Music:

New Funk by Vlad Gluschenko | https://soundcloud.com/vgl9
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Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)
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Kate Galli is a vegan health coach, author and master podcaster - with over 900 episodes of her podcast, Healthification.

Listen in as we discuss how she draws inspiration from her guests, the painful pathway that led to her intention to lead with love, compassion and deliciousness, as well as some of her tips for defining your goals, dealing with overwhelm and developing confidence and consistency in your life.

http://strongbodygreenplanet.com/

https://strongbodygreenplanet.lpages.co/plant-positive-journal-v2/

https://www.instagram.com/strongbodygreenplanet/

https://www.facebook.com/KateGalli/

https://strongbodygreenplanet.com/chef-babette-ageing-strong-and-why-love-is-easier-than-hate/

https://strongbodygreenplanet.com/e552-dr-melanie-joy-carnism-and-creating-effective-communication-between-vegans-and-non-vegans/

https://strongbodygreenplanet.com/638-petas-ingrid-newkirk-animals-are-not-ours-to-experiment-on-eat-wear-use-for-entertainment-or-abuse-in-any-other-way/

https://strongbodygreenplanet.com/transforming-anger-into-strength-after-great-loss-with-vegan-bodybuilder-geoff-palmer/

https://strongbodygreenplanet.com/dr-michael-greger-and-how-not-to-age-the-scientific-approach-to-getting-healthier-as-you-get-older/

https://strongbodygreenplanet.com/what-vets-arent-taught-about-animal-rights-with-dr-crystal-heath/

Featured Music:

Dreamy - Soft Piano And Strings by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoon
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FarmKind are on a mission to help people who love animals to help the animals most in need: those in factory farms.

They identify charities with the best track record of making farming kinder and help introduce them to you, the potential donor, with the aim of making your donation do as much good as it possibly can.

Thom Norman - one of the co-founders of FarmKind - spoke on the podcast about reaching out to their growing community of people who love animals and want to help make farming kinder, not just for the animals, but for the planet too.

https://www.farmkind.giving/

Try the Compassion Calculator:

https://www.farmkind.giving/compassion-calculator

Clip taken from Dan Harris podcast:

https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-science-of-generosity-why-it-makes-you-happier/id1087147821?i=1000645223359

Organisations mentioned:

https://www.joinhive.org/

https://veganhacktivists.org/

https://www.ambitiousimpact.com/

https://philzoothropy.com/

Featured Music:

San Fran by Schematist | http://www.schematistmusic.com
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It's that time when we start getting ready for one of the biggest festive celebrations of the year!

It's not what you think...I'm talking about Veganuary!

Veganuary is a celebration of veganism that happens in January (and throughout the year) and it's going from strength to strength. People from over 228 countries and territories have taken part and more than 2,100 new vegan products and menu items were launched for Veganuary 2024.

Anyone can take part. Just sign up with your email at https://veganuary.com/ to join the fun and learn about veganism in a friendly environment. There's no pressure and no judgement - everyone and anyone can participate.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Sandra Hungate (U.S. Director of Veganuary) and learned about the start of Veganuary as well as how they spread the word through engagement with retailers, restaurants and organisations. Sandra obviously loves her work and her enthusiasm is contagious. She recommends starting to think about Veganuary now and getting your preparations ready for the new year.

Veganuary - give it a go!

https://veganuary.com/

Featured Music:

Another Good Day by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoon
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