The Animal Wellness Podcast

Milk: It Does a Body Bad | Episode 33

The U.S government pays to dump millions of gallons of milk down the drain every year. Worse, the drink is foisted upon our school children, most of whom experience digestive issues and resultant academic hindrances if they consume it.
All the while, diary cows face lives of suffering and exploitation that exceeds even those experienced by beef cattle.
In this shocking episode, Dr. Martin Mills and Olympic cyclist Dottsie Bausch join Animal Wellness Action to discuss this terrible waste of tax dollars, the systemic racism in the school lunch program and the cruelty among our bovine friends. Also explored are the myriad benefits of eschewing dairy in our diets.
Wayne Pacelle and Marty Irby from Animal Wellness Action join host Joseph Grove.
 
Music from https://filmmusic.io: "Fearless First" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com); License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Team Biden: Are they helping animals? | Episode 32

The report on the Biden administration from the perspective of animal welfare isn't good, according to Wayne Pacelle and Marty Irby from Animal Wellness Action. 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.
"I'm disappointed in that they're largely indifferent to animal issues," Pacelle said. "I don't believe there's anyone in the White House saying, 'Animal welfare is important and we should be doing something about it.'"
Joseph Grove hosts the podcast.
Music from https://filmmusic.io: "Fearless First" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com); License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Minks, COVID and captivity: What's bad for them is bad for us--Episode 31

Mink captivity for human consumption is among the most cruel, and it represents real and present danger to people. The animals--captive wild, not domesticated--suffer terribly, and their unique vulnerability to the Corona virus and ability to communicate it back to human makes them an existential threat to efforts to eradicate the virus.
This episode features 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.
Marty Irby and Scott Beckstead, both with Animal Wellness Action, join host Joseph Grove.
Music from https://filmmusic.io: "Fearless First" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com); License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
 

Emotions, Spirituality and the Rich, Valuable Lives of Animals--Episode 30

In her new book, Enter the Animal, Teya Brooks Pribac examines academic and popular discourse on animals’ experiences of grief and spirituality, which are rooted in our intrinsic capacity and propensity for connections and relations, and highlights important ethical implications of humans’ treatment of other species. She shares her firsthand experiences and research on the complex, little understood topic of animal emotions.
 
Wayne Pacelle and Marty Irby from Animal Wellness Action join host Joseph Grove.
 
Music from https://filmmusic.io: "Fearless First" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com); License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Wild horses and the fight against round-ups and slaughter | Episode 29

While horse slaughter does not currently occur on U.S. soil, more than 70,000 domestic and wild horses are rounded up each year to be shipped to Mexico and Canada for processing and human consumption in other parts of the world. Guest Carol Walker is a fierce advocate for wild horses and partners with Animal Wellness Action for legislative and regulatory protections.
 
She joins Marty Irby and Scott Beckstead from AWA to discuss the issue and possible solutions.
 
Music from https://filmmusic.io: "Fearless First" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com); License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Bob Baffert, doping and an industry in need of further reform--Episode 28

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. 
Wayne Pacelle and Marty Irby from Animal Wellness Action join host Joseph Grove.
 
Music from https://filmmusic.io: "Fearless First" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com); License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Good intentions with a tragic result for a bear--Episode 27

Oregon first-responder Gene Davies took an unusual call on April 7: A young bear was playing on a rural road in Greensville, where Davies is fire chief. After Davies arrived, the friendly animal insisted on staying with him, so to make sure the bear would be safe, he took it home while arrangements were made with a rescue agency. Enter the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and yet more proof that when it comes to animal rescue, it is often true that no good deed goes unpunished.
 
Davies tells host Joseph Grove and Scott Beckstead, Oregon director of campaigns for Animal Wellness Action, the story of how the best of intentions resulted in criminal charges for him and the barrel of a gun for the bear.
 
Music from https://filmmusic.io: "Fearless First" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com); License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

David Brooks on his new book, "Animal Dreams"--Episode 26

David Brooks is an Australian author, poet and essayist who visited The Animal Wellness Podcast to discuss 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.
 
Wayne Pacelle and Marty Irby from Animal Wellness Action are joined by host Joseph Grove.
 
Music from https://filmmusic.io: "Fearless First" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com); License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)