The Animal Wellness podcast is produced by Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy. It focuses on improving the lives of animals in the United States and abroad through legislation and by influencing businesses to create a more humane economy. The show is hosted by veteran journalist and animal-advocate Joseph Grove. Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify and Podbean offer subscriptions to the free show.
BLM Mistruths: What’s really going on with America’s wild horses? | Episode 39
May 26th, 2022
The wild horse and burro herds in the American west are being rounded up by helicopter and removed from our public lands on an historic scale by the Bureau of Land Management.
The BLM has embarked on a broad viral disinformation campaign aimed at persuading Americans that the roundups are necessary. In reality, the horses are being cleared for the benefit of private, for-profit rancher and livestock companies. Director of Campaigns Scott Beckstead and journalist Vickery Eckhoff take a critical, no-holds-barred look at the BLM’s mistruths and set the record straight.
The sad fate of Thoroughbred horses, with Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron | Episode 38
May 4th, 2022
After the thrill and spectacle of Thoroughbred races, the athletes themselves too often face a cruel, horrific fate. One Kentucky Derby winner, Ferdinand, was actually sold for human slaughter. Before the races, they are likely to experience doping to mask their pain, resulting in on-track breakdowns that are lethal for them and dangerous for jockeys. Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron has become a vocal opponent of these practices.
Animal Wellness Action, Marley’s Mutts Team Up to Help Bring Dogs Home | Episode 37
April 6th, 2022
Jennifer Skiff, the director of international programs for AWA and the Center for a Humane Economy, and Zach Skow, founder of Marley’s Mutts, talk about Mission Possible, the flight that brought 285 animals out of Afghanistan and into Canada. It was a long and difficult mission since the CDC banned the import or return of dogs and cats from 113 countries before the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan last summer – forcing many U.S. troops, Foreign Service members and U.S. citizens to evacuate without their pets.
Carole ”Tiger King” Baskin updates us on the Big Cat Public Safety Act | Episode 36
Mar 20th, 2022
Carole Baskin rocketed to global stardom after Netflix released “The Tiger King” in 2020. Rather than capitalizing on her frame for personal success, however, she has worked harder than ever for legal protections for lions, tigers and other big cats. She shares a little about her personal adventures and digs deep into the legislation she is fighting so hard to make become law.
Rep. Nancy Mace talks about her work for animals | Episode 35
Jan 26th, 2022
Rep. Mace (R-S.C.), rising star in Congress elected in 2020, has already proven to be a formidable force for change on Capitol Hill, especially when it comes to animal-welfare. Working with advocacy groups such as AWA and colleagues on both sides of the aisle, she has supported a ban on the factory-farming of mink, challenged the U.S. Postal Service to stop its shipment of birds overseas for cockfighting and lent her name to the FDA Modernization Act.
Rep. Mike Quigley and his fight for lions, tigers – and roosters | Episode 34
Jan 26th, 2022
U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.) discusses the steps he and other legislators are taking to ensure existing postal regulations are enforced so that thousands of fighting roosters won’t be shipped overseas every year to where the bloodsport remains a cruel cultural staple.
Image Credit: Big Cat Facts – Tiger
Milk: It does a body bad | Episode 33
Dec 13th, 2021
In this shocking episode, Dr. Martin Mills and Olympic cyclist Dottsie Bausch discuss this terrible waste of tax dollars, the systemic racism in the school lunch program that foists milk upon our school children and the cruelty among our bovine friends.
Team Biden: Are they helping animals? | Episode 32
Oct 16th, 2021
The report on the Biden administration from the perspective of animal welfare isn’t good. Not enough is being done to undo or curtail Trump administration policies, and little – if anything – is being initiated to realize the hopes of many advocates.
Minks, COVID and captivity: What’s bad for them is bad for us | Episode 31
Jul 24th, 2021
Mink captivity for human consumption is cruel, and it represents real and present danger to people. We feature Dr. Jim Keen, co-author of a new report about the deadly link between COVID-19 and humans and what we need to do about it now.
Emotions, spirituality and the rich, valuable lives of animals | Episode 30
Jun 22nd, 2021
In her new book, Enter the Animal, Teya Brooks Pribac examines academic and popular discourse on animals’ experiences of grief and spirituality. She shares her firsthand experiences and research on the complex, little understood topic of animal emotions.
Wild horses and the fight against round-ups and slaughter | Episode 29
Jun 17th, 2021
Guest Carol Walker, a fierce advocate for wild horses and partners with us for legislative and regulatory protections, discusses the more than 70,000 domestic and wild horses being rounded up each year to be shipped to Mexico and Canada for processing and human consumption in around the world.
Bob Baffert, doping and an industry in need of further reform | Episode 28
May 29th, 2021
Our guest is Joe Gorajec, former head of the Indiana Horse Racing Commission and the founder of Horse Racing Integrity Consulting. The panel discusses Bob Baffert, the 2021 Kentucky Derby doping scandal and the need for additional reforms and enforcement in Thoroughbred racing.
Good intentions with a tragic result for a bear | Episode 27
Apr 30th, 2021
Oregon first-responder and Greensville fire chief Gene Davies tells the story of how the best of intentions resulted in criminal charges for him and the barrel of a gun for a young, friendly bear that he took home while arrangements were being made with a rescue agency.
David Brooks on his new book, “Animal Dreams” | Episode 26
Apr 16th, 2021
David Brooks, an Australian author, poet and essayist discusses his newest book, “Animal Dreams.” The collection of essays examines what non-human animals think of other animals and, by extension, how they treat them.
Kangaroos are NOT shoes! | Episode 25
Feb 10th, 2021
Kangaroos are the No. 1 commercially slaughtered mammal in the world. A new micro-documentary produced by guest Gavin Polone shows how athletic wear is made from among nature’s most fascinating and unique creatures. Go here to sign a petition for Nike, one of the largest retailers of these products.
Animal Wellness: What’s ahead in 2021 | Episode 24
Jan 14th, 2021
Not since FDR swept Herbert Hoover from office in 1932 has there been such a seismic shift in the nation’s government. What does that mean for animals as their advocates prepare to navigate a new political landscape? We look ahead, as well as to review some accomplishments and disappointments in their work with the outgoing Congress.
Are mink farms about to undo the work toward a Covid vaccine? | Episode 23
Dec 8th, 2020
Scott Beckstead, the newly appointed director of campaigns for Animal Wellness Action, discusses his childhood experiences on a mink farm as well as the mink’s extraordinary ability to catch, mutate and re-lease the Corona virus to humans. Will we ever learn?
PAST Act faces challenges, featuring Clant Seay | Episode 22
Nov 22nd, 2020
Animal Wellness Action finds its PAST Act momentum challenged by groups inside the animal-welfare community. Anti-soring grassroots organizer Clant Seay, a.k.a. Billy Go Boy, makes an impassioned appeal to get the bill voted and signed into law.