Episodes
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How Animals Won on Election Day: Colorado’s No on 83 Victory and Beyond | Episode 97
On November 3, voters across America delivered a series of extraordinary victories for animal welfare. But perhaps none was more dramatic than the defeat of Colorado’s Amendment 83 — a measure backed by powerful national trophy-hunting interests that threatened to undermine decades of hard-won...
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New World Screwworm: Protecting Animals Without Closing the Door on Rescue | Episode 96
A flesh-eating parasite threatens animals across the country. But could efforts to contain it also cost thousands of homeless dogs and cats their chance at a new life? New World screwworm poses a serious threat to livestock, horses, pets, wildlife, and even people. As animal-movement restrictions...
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The Endangered Species Act Under Attack: Habitat, Owls, and America’s Wildlife Future | Episode 95
For more than 50 years, the Endangered Species Act has served as America’s most effective law for preventing extinction. At its core is a simple idea: protecting wildlife means protecting the habitats they depend upon. But a major policy change by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service could...
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The End of Horse-Drawn Carriages? New York City’s Historic Choice | Episode 94
Two recent deaths—a carriage horse named Deniz and an 18-year-old tourist named Romanch Mahajan—have reignited one of New York City's longest-running animal welfare debates. As momentum builds to end horse-drawn carriage rides in Manhattan, host Joseph Grove sits down with two of the movement's...
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Kangaroos Win the World Cup | Episode 93
For decades, the world’s top soccer players laced up boots made from the skins of wild kangaroos. Manufacturers claimed kangaroo leather offered unmatched performance, and millions of kangaroos were commercially killed across Australia each year to supply the global athletic footwear industry.…
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The Ridglan Rescue: 1,500 Beagles, a Broken System, and the Fight to End Animal Testing | Episode 92
What began as one of the largest dog rescue efforts in American history may become a turning point in the movement to end animal testing. In this special episode of the Animal Wellness Podcast, host Joseph Grove takes listeners inside the remarkable rescue of approximately 1,500 beagles from...
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The Humane Economy Under Fire: 10 Years Later | Episode 91
Ten years ago, Wayne Pacelle, head of Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy, made a disruptive case in “The Humane Economy: How Innovators and Enlightened Consumers Are Transforming the Lives of Animals.” He argued that the biggest gains for animals would come not just from...
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Rethinking Human Exceptionalism | Episode 90
What if the idea that humans stand above all other animals isn’t a scientific truth—but a cultural myth? In this episode of the Animal Wellness Podcast, host Joseph Grove is joined by primatologist and NYU professor Christine Webb, author of “The Arrogant Ape: The Myth of Human Exceptionalism and...
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The Hidden Crisis Facing Military Working Dogs | Episode 89
Military working dogs are among the most highly trained and loyal members of America’s armed forces. They detect explosives, patrol bases, and protect U.S. service members in some of the world’s most dangerous environments. Their work saves lives. But what happens when these animals, who serve...
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Thoroughbred Racing and the Impact of HISA | Episode 88
In this episode of The Animal Wellness Podcast, host Joseph Grove examines the rapidly changing landscape of American horse racing—an industry facing growing scrutiny over safety, doping, and the welfare of racehorses. A series of high-profile breakdowns and medication scandals, including the...
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Lead Ammunition, Wildlife Poisoning, and Public Health: Science and Policy at a Crossroads | Episode 87
In this episode of the Animal Wellness Podcast, host Joseph Grove examines the mounting scientific and policy concerns surrounding lead ammunition — a persistent environmental toxin with consequences that extend far beyond the hunt. Each year, tons of lead from spent bullets and shotgun pellets…
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Mac’s Mission, Dogfighting Survivors, And the Push for the FIGHT Act | Episode 86
Dogfighting is often misunderstood as a relic of the past — or as a cruelty confined to the margins of society. In reality, organized fighting networks continue to operate across the United States, leaving behind a pipeline of animals who are brutalized, discarded, and in urgent need of highly...
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‘Carnism’: Loving One Animal, Eating the Other | Episode 85
Why do we love some animals as family while treating others as commodities? In this episode of The Animal Wellness Podcast, host Joseph Grove is joined by Melanie Joy, Ph.D. — Harvard-educated psychologist, international speaker, and author of the landmark book, “Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and...
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Saving America’s Horses: Thalia Fischer on Rescue and Reform | Episode 84
Despite the closure of U.S. horse slaughter plants nearly two decades ago, tens of thousands of American horses are still exported every year to Canada and Mexico for slaughter. The practice persists quietly, fueled by policy loopholes, weak enforcement, and public misunderstanding—while horses…
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Paul Shapiro and Clean Meat | Episode 83
What if we could produce real meat—without animals? For decades, the animal-welfare movement has worked to reduce suffering by changing laws, corporate practices, and consumer behavior. Those efforts have delivered meaningful progress. And yet, billions of animals are still raised and killed each...
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Cody Roberts and the Hatred of Wolves | Episode 82
In early 2024, a video emerged from western Wyoming showing a wolf being chased down by a snowmobile, brought into a bar, tormented, and killed. The man at the center of the video, Cody Roberts, has since been criminally charged and pleaded not guilty—turning a viral act of cruelty into a legal...
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What Baboons Teach Us | Episode 81
For decades, dominant narratives in evolutionary biology have told us that conflict, competition, and dominance are the fundamental drivers of social life — both in animals and humans. But what if that story is not only incomplete, but misleading? In this deeply reflective conversation, host…
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Ask the Dog: Teaching Children How to Approach Animals | Episode 80
This episode features Steve Dale, one of the nation’s most trusted voices on companion-animal behavior. For decades, Steve has helped millions of pet guardians better understand the animals who share their lives—through his long-running radio show “Steve Dale’s Pet World,” national television...
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Our Annual Year-End Review | Episode 79
In this year-end episode of the Animal Wellness Podcast, host Joseph Grove is joined by Animal Wellness Action leaders to reflect on major wins for animals in 2025—and the critical fights ahead in 2026. • Jennifer Skiff, director of international programs, shares progress in the Kangaroos Are Not...
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Man and Deer: The Unique Adventure of a Writer and a Foal | Episode 78
In this episode of the Animal Wellness Podcast, we explore the extraordinary true story behind “Penelope: The World of Each Other” with author Paul Bochner. His memoir recounts a years-long relationship with a disabled, abandoned fawn who appeared unexpectedly on his property. What began as a...
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Flaco the Owl: An Interview with Children’s Author Christine Mott | Episode 77
In February 2023, Flaco—a majestic Eurasian eagle-owl—made headlines after escaping the Central Park Zoo when vandals damaged his enclosure. Born in captivity and confined for more than 13 years, few expected him to survive in the wild. But Flaco defied the odds, becoming a symbol of resilience…
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The Complex Forces Behind Animal Festivals | Episode 76
From the running of the bulls in Spain to groundhog weather predictions in Pennsylvania, festivals featuring animals exist all over the world. Some are celebrated as cultural treasures, while others are seen as outdated, even cruel. These events often raise difficult questions: Are they harmless...
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Philosophical Help for the Reluctant Vegan | Episode 75
What can a philosopher teach us about veganism and how to make the change when confronted with old habits, latent desires, and an apprehension of the difficulty the adjustment would mean to those who share our dinner tables? That’s the focus of this episode. Host Joseph Grove talks to Matthew C....
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Animal Rescue Amid the Wildfires of Los Angeles | Episode 74
This show focuses on the Los Angeles wildfires, what is being done to save domestic and wild animals involved. As of recording, January 15, the massive blazes in Southern California have killed at least 25 people and destroyed thousands of houses and other buildings. We’ll never know how many...
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Wolves, Dogs, and a Man Who Knows Them Both | Episode 73
Oliver Starr came to our attention when he spoke in an Animal Wellness Action webinar about wolves and stole the show—and the hearts of attendees—by taking his camera out among the small pack of wolves at Tahoe Wolf Center, where he is executive director. His passion and his endearing bond with…
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Bird Flu, Cockfighting, and a Crisis on the Horizon | Episode 72
The only thing we learn from history is that we don’t learn anything from history. That was the summary comment of host Joseph Grove in a conversation about the federal government’s lackadaisical response to the emergent bird flu crisis. The podcast was recorded shortly after the virus claimed…
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Our Annual Review and Look Ahead for Animals | Episode 71
Wayne Pacelle again joins the show as he and host Joseph Grove recount the accomplishments of the past year and how Animal Wellness Action and sister organization Center for a Humane Economy have set things for a successful 2025. Along the way, they discuss the differences among distinct…
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How Did the Animals Fare? A 2024 Election Recap | Episode 70
Animal Wellness Action this year intensified its efforts to help elect candidates who vote with animals in mind and to defeat incumbents who don’t. In 2024, the Washington D.C.-based group invested heavily in nine races across the country and prevailed in seven of them. Wayne Pacelle, president…
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Dan Ashe Debunks Prop 127 Opponents | Episode 69
The Proposition 127 ballot initiative in Colorado has garnered national attention even as the presidential election and other national races dominate the headlines. The initiative, launched and supported by the Cats Aren’t Trophies campaign, seeks to modify state law by criminalizing, according…
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YES on Proposition 127 | Episode 68
The episode comes from a webinar hosted by Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy relative to the Yes on Prop 127 | Cats Aren’t Trophies ballot initiative in Colorado. The two groups are members of a broad coalition supporting the initiative, which would make illegal the…
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Meet the Rescuers | Episode 67
Many of our shows deal with complex legislative and veterinary issues, so every once in a while we like to meet up with people on the ground, deep in day-to-day work with animals. This is one of those episodes. In it, we talk to: Paul Collins, the Wisconsin state director for Animal Wellness...
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Our Top Wins for 2023 and Goals for 2024 | Episode 66
The past year was busy on the animal-wellness front. Not only did Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy see some major wins outside of Congress, we worked to set up major legislative victories for when the 118th Congress returns for its second and final year. In this podcast,...
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The International Fight for Kangaroos | Episode 65
About 1.5 million kangaroos a year are shot, bludgeoned or left to starve to death or die of their injuries. This occurs because companies like Adidas and New Balance still pay hunters to head into the Australian wilderness to hunt the animals. The hunters make the kills, the kangaroos are…
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One Teen’s Heroic Fight against Dairy | Episode 64
Last May, Marielle Williamson was an anonymous teenager doing anonymous teenager things. Like her classmates at Eagle Rock High School in Los Angeles, California, she was busy preparing to graduate and to leap across the threshold into adulthood. The last thing on her mind was becoming the…
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Don’t be a DICK’S | Episode 63
Don’t be a Dick’s. That’s the message of a new campaign initiative by Animal Wellness Action and its sister organization, the Center for a Humane Economy. It’s targeted at Dick’s Sporting Goods, the largest sporting-goods retailer in the United States, and intends to call attention to the chain’s...
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Debunking the Myths Against Soy | Episode 62
Animal Wellness Action is one of many organizations pushing for Congress to pass the ADD SOY Act, a bill that would require the USDA to make soy milk available as a beverage alternative to the 30 million children who are part of the National School Lunch Program. Every year, about $300 million in...
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Save the Salmon for Orcas | Episode 61
For decades, a wide range of man-made and environmental threats have endangered Southern Resident Orca—thinning the population in the Pacific Northwest to only 73. Today, they’re looking directly at extinction. The urgency of the orcas’ plight cannot be overstated. While many agencies and...
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Waging War for Wolves | Episode 60
After the horse, no animal better represents the frontier heritage and pastoral expanse of the United States than does the wolf. Revered by some, demonized by others, enthralling to all—it’s also the case that no other wild animal brings such strong emotions to Americans. No wonder, then, they…
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Animals, Prop 12 and the Supreme Court: How Pigs Won the Day | Episode 59
After numerous battles in lower courts, the National Pork Producers Council and others finally convinced the Supreme Court to hear their challenge to California’s Proposition 12. That state initiative, passed by a powerful majority of California voters, mandates that no producer may sell products...
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’Wild Beauty’: A Film About the Tragic Fate of Our Wild Horses | Episode 58
Our special guest is filmmaker Ashley Avis, whose new WILD BEAUTY: MUSTANG SPIRIT OF THE WEST is available for pre-order on iTunes after earning multiple awards from film festivals across the country. The release date is May 12, 2023. You can watch the trailer here. The Winterstone Pictures...
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The Emotional Lives of Fighting Roosters | Episode 57
Jewel Johnson joins our podcast to talk about the emotional lives of fighting roosters, whom she rescues from seizures at busted cockfights and other surrenders. She does this through her 30-acre sanctuary in Colorado called Danzig's Roost. Contrary to expectations, the animals are incredibly...
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Ursula Goodenough and ’The Sacred Depths of Nature’ | Episode 56
In this episode, author Julie Marshall and host Joseph Grove talk with Ursula Goodenough about her new release, the second edition of "The Sacred Depths of Nature: How Life Has Emerged and Evolved." The book provides a brief but powerful commingling of science and spirituality to help readers…
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How Far Is Too Far When It Comes to Animal Advocacy? | Episode 55
How far is too far when it comes to animal advocacy? In this episode of the Animal Wellness Podcast, two veteran activists with somewhat different approaches discuss the best tactics to effect change for animals. Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane...
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What’s Up with Horses? | Episode 54
In this episode of the Animal Wellness Podcast, the team says farewell to Marty Irby, executive director of Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy. Marty has been a guest on virtually every show and served the organizations and the podcast since their inceptions. One of…
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Will Cockfighting Lead to a Bird Flu Pandemic? | Episode 53
While the Corona virus has largely receded from the daily consciousness of most folks, it's not gone away completely. Just the other day, someone told reported that some hospitals are beginning to enact new masking policies. Regional and national hotspots remain across the globe. Countless people...
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Horse Slaughter: The Endurance and Cruelty of ‘America’s Dirty Secret’ | Episode 52
Australia has its kangaroos. China, its beloved pandas. In the United States, we have horses. We love them. We revere them. Children delight in seeing them. We cheer them on when they race around tracks from sea to shining sea. But there’s a rancid underbelly to our treatment of horses, and a new...
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From Lethal to Compassionate Conservation: The North American Model and How We Can Do Better | Episode 51
The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation is less a structured paradigm of how Americans and their neighbor animals can co-exist than a set of tenets that benefits "sportsmen," who take advantage of the model to hunt, trap and poison their way through much of our wildlife population, and...
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2023: The Year Ahead in Animal Welfare | Episode 50
2022 was extraordinarily successful for Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy. But Wayne Pacelle , president, and Marty Irby, executive director, tell host Joseph Grove they have even bigger plans for 2023. In this episode of the Animal Wellness Podcast, the animal-welfare...
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2022: The Year in Review for Animal Welfare | Episode 49
Wayne Pacelle and Marty Irby from Animal Wellness Action join host Joseph Grove to discuss accomplishments for animals this year, including the Big Cat Public Safety Act and the Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act, as well as progress toward modernizing the FDA. Recorded December 21, 2022. Music from...
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Crate Free USA’s Battle Against Extreme Confinement of Factory-Farm Animals | Episode 48
Thanksgiving turkeys. Christmas hams. The holiday season is inextricably linked to these staples of holiday indulgence. While we amble through the darkening days of the year, however, the animals whose lives will be sacrificed to feed us are far worse than they need to be. And that is so because…
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About this show
Dedicated to knowing and supporting laws and lawmakers that benefit animals.
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Animal Wellness Action
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