This week, Kathy is joined by one of her all-time favorite authors, Sy Montgomery. Sy is the international bestselling author of The Good Good Pig, The Soul of an Octopus, and her most recent release The Hawk’s Way. In their joyful conversation, Kathy and Sy talk about:Sy’s childhood growing up with animal friends and how these interspecies relationships influenced her professional careerWhy Sy is so optimistic about “being alive” in this tumultuous time The importance of seeing all animals as equals, rather than “underlings” or “babies”How loving hawks without expecting any affection in return was “liberating” to SyNancy Cowan, the master falconer who taught Sy and influenced her new book The Hawk’s WayChristopher Hogwood, the 750 pound star of her bestselling book, who changed her life by teaching her that family doesn’t have to include those of the same genetics or speciesSy’s books are available wherever you buy books - but she hopes you’ll consider purchasing from a local bookstore. Her favorite is The Toadstool Bookshop.Connect with Kathy Stevens:Facebook: Kathy Stevens, Catskill Animal SanctuaryTwitter: @CASanctuaryBook: Where the Blind Horse SingsWebsite: CASanctuary.orgInstagram: @catskill_animal_sanctuaryYouTube: Catskill Animal SanctuaryTikTok: @CASanctuary

In this special episode of Herd Around the Barn, Kathy is joined by her podcast producer, Clare, to talk about some recent news surrounding the animals at Catskill Animal Sanctuary. In their conversation, they discuss:How CAS protected their rescued birds from avian influenza through building innovative "birdios"Buddy III’s passing at the age of 35 and how his friend, Buddy IV, is coping with his lossHow Kathy is staying optimistic about the future, thanks to the all star team at CASThe upcoming Goat Games virtual fundraiser, which was recently featured in The L.A. TimesWhy fundraising is so vital for sanctuaries right now due to inflation and Covid-19 related financial issuesIf you're interested in signing up for The Goat Games, register as an athlete here.To attend a Break All the Rules Tour with Kathy, buy your tickets here.Connect with Kathy Stevens:Facebook: Kathy Stevens, Catskill Animal SanctuaryTwitter: @CASanctuaryBook: Where the Blind Horse SingsWebsite: CASanctuary.orgInstagram: @catskill_animal_sanctuaryYouTube: Catskill Animal SanctuaryTikTok: @CASanctuary

Disclaimer: This conversation contains graphic depictions of cruelty toward chickens.This week, Kathy is joined by Harvard Law graduate and founder of the non-profit Legal Impact for Chickens, Alene Anello. In their lively conversation, the two discuss:Alene’s relationship with her pet cockatiel, Conrad, who changed her view of animals foreverHow working at PETA and the Animal Legal Defense Fund made Alene want to work for animal rights “forever”LIC’s lawsuit against Costco, citing animal welfare law violations, following a gruesome Mercy for Animals undercover investigationThe horrific ways that chickens suffer in production plants and why Costco’s treatment of chickens demands legal actionKathy compares Alene’s work to the Nonhuman Rights Project’s work to represent animals in a court of lawAlene teases some exciting new projects for her team at LICTo support Legal Impact for Chickens, follow them on social media:FacebookInstagramTwitterLinkedInConnect with Kathy Stevens:Facebook: Kathy Stevens, Catskill Animal SanctuaryTwitter: @CASanctuaryBook: Where the Blind Horse SingsWebsite: CASanctuary.orgInstagram: @catskill_animal_sanctuaryYouTube: Catskill Animal SanctuaryTikTok: @CASanctuary

“In conservation, the lost causes are the best worth fighting for.” This week, Kathy speaks with Damien Mander, the renowned war veteran and founder of the International Anti-Poaching Foundation. In this informative episode, Kathy and Damien discuss:Damien’s unique path to animal activism after an extensive military career ultimately led to establishing found the IAPFHow Damien transitioned to a vegan lifestyle in 2012 after realizing that he “ran out of excuses” for not going plant-based sooner: “I was saving some and eating others.”Why nature is the “best self-regulating system” and how IAPF approaches environmental issues through social justice activism, including scholarships and health care reform, in neighboring communitiesAkashinga: Africa’s first armed, plant-based, all-women anti-poaching unit whose lives are completely changed by finding their voices and purpose in their workKatana, the newest canine member of IAPF, and the role of working dogs as part of the ranger team in AfricaTo follow the IAPF and stay updated on their work, check out their social media pages here:FacebookInstagramTwitterFind the Akashinga documentary short from National Geographic here.Watch Damien’s Ted Talk here.Connect with Kathy Stevens:Facebook: Kathy Stevens, Catskill Animal SanctuaryTwitter: @CASanctuaryBook: Where the Blind Horse SingsWebsite: CASanctuary.orgInstagram: @catskill_animal_sanctuaryYouTube: Catskill Animal SanctuaryTikTok: @CASanctuary

This week, Kathy announces some news regarding the podcast and talks about exciting upcoming developments for Catskill Animal Sanctuary!Connect with Kathy Stevens:Facebook: Kathy Stevens, Catskill Animal SanctuaryTwitter: @CASanctuaryBook: Where the Blind Horse SingsWebsite: CASanctuary.orgInstagram: @catskill_animal_sanctuaryYouTube: Catskill Animal SanctuaryTikTok: @CASanctuary

Kathy takes a few minutes this week to talk about the devastating impact fireworks have on all animals. She shares her personal struggles to keep her rescue Pitbull, Chumbley, calm during Fourth of July fireworks.Connect with Kathy Stevens:Facebook: Kathy Stevens, Catskill Animal SanctuaryTwitter: @CASanctuaryBook: Where the Blind Horse SingsWebsite: CASanctuary.orgInstagram: @catskill_animal_sanctuaryYouTube: Catskill Animal SanctuaryTikTok: @CASanctuary

This week, Kathy is joined by John Di Leonardo, the founder and president of Humane Long Island. John’s work with PETA, and now with HLI, is the embodiment of “think globally, act locally” approach to social change. During a very lively conversation, Kathy and John talk about:John’s work to eliminate animal use in entertainment on Long Island, including direct protests to Ringling Brothers Circus and the horrific “Banana Derby”Humane Long Island’s incredible victory to prevent an aquarium from being built in a local mallJohn’s connection to water fowl and birds who face dumping and abandonment on Long Island, and how HLI hopes to create a “transitional sanctuary” to help these animals in needThe recent PETA protest at a Manhattan Starbucks, where John joined Oscar-nominated actor James Cromwell to urge for plant-based milk upcharges to be eliminatedHLI’s teaming up with Horseracing Wrongs to protest the Belmont Stakes earlier this monthTo support Humane Long Island and stay updated on John’s work, you can find them on social media:FacebookInstagramConnect with Kathy Stevens:Facebook: Kathy Stevens, Catskill Animal SanctuaryTwitter: @CASanctuaryBook: Where the Blind Horse SingsWebsite: CASanctuary.orgInstagram: @catskill_animal_sanctuaryYouTube: Catskill Animal SanctuaryTikTok: @CASanctuary

Referred to as the “Queen of the Animal Rights Movement” by Rich Roll, PETA co-founder and bestselling author Ingrid Newkirk joins Kathy on the podcast this week to talk about the 30th anniversary edition of her landmark novel, Free The Animals: The Amazing, True Story of the Animal Liberation Front in North America. In this incredible episode, Kathy and Ingrid will talk about:How Ingrid responds to criticism about PETA’s more “controversial” protest tacticsFree The Animals unique story as a fictional novel “completely based on fact” from the early days of the animal rights movementThe role of the Animal Liberation Front in PETA’s early days in the 1980s, and the widespread misunderstanding the ALF faced from the government and the mediaThe Research Modernization Deal, a fully constructed proposal from PETA to create animal-free testing in the United StatesThe story of Britches, a monkey who was rescued from horrific lab testing and eventually found a happily ever after with a surrogate mother The exciting news that animal activist and Oscar-winning actor Joaquin Phoenix acquiring the film rights for the bookFind Free The Animals anywhere books are sold!AmazonBarnes & NobleBookshopTo find cruelty-free products and services online, check out PETA’s links here:Bunny Free AppBeauty Without Bunnies DatabaseFollow PETA on all social media:FacebookInstagramTikTokTwitterLinkedInConnect with Kathy Stevens:Facebook: Kathy Stevens, Catskill Animal SanctuaryTwitter: @CASanctuaryBook: Where the Blind Horse SingsWebsite: CASanctuary.orgInstagram: @catskill_animal_sanctuaryYouTube: Catskill Animal SanctuaryTikTok: @CASanctuary

In this week’s mouth-watering new episode, Kathy is joined by Hannah Sunderani - the powerhouse vegan blogger and author of The Two Spoons Cookbook. During their lively conversation, Kathy and Hannah discuss:The incredible, and sometimes tumultuous, relationship between CAS sheep Hannah and Rambo, featured in Kathy’s booksHannah’s unconventional road to veganism, stemming from GI issues that developed in her early 20s after losing her partner to cancerThe sometimes-hilarious experience of being vegan and living abroad in France, the land of foie gras, chocolate, and cheeseHow anyone can cook French cuisine, as shown in Hannah’s ongoing Instagram series “Mitch in the Kitch”The struggle of developing The Two Spoons Cookbook while struggling with infertility, but now celebrating its release with her son, OliverFollow TwoSpoons and Hannah’s work on:FacebookInstagramTikTok.Find the book at:The Two Spoons websiteBarnes & NobleBookshopOr wherever you buy books online!Connect with Kathy Stevens:Facebook: Kathy Stevens, Catskill Animal SanctuaryTwitter: @CASanctuaryBook: Where the Blind Horse SingsWebsite: CASanctuary.orgInstagram: @catskill_animal_sanctuaryYouTube: Catskill Animal SanctuaryTikTok: @CASanctuary

This Saturday marks the 154th running of the Belmont Stakes - the third and final leg of the Triple Crown races. To honor the horses who suffer needlessly for gambling and entertainment, we are re-releasing Kathy's conversation with longtime animal-rights activists Nicole Arciello and Patrick Battuello, founders of Horseracing Wrongs,In this episode, they discuss:Kathy’s childhood on a thoroughbred farm, and how it informed her attitude toward horseracingthe lives of racehorses from training to racing, to what happens when their racing careers are overwhy Patrick and Nicole believe that “reforming” the industry fails to address the worst of the abuseswhy they believe that horseracing is a dying industry, and how you can help bring about its endFollow Horseracing Wrongs on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.Connect with Kathy Stevens:Facebook: Kathy Stevens, Catskill Animal SanctuaryTwitter: @CASanctuaryBooks: Where the Blind Horse SingsWebsite: CASanctuary.orgInstagram: @catskill_animal_sanctuaryYouTube: Catskill Animal SanctuaryTikTok: @CASanctuary

In this re-released episode, Kathy discusses: How an animal who had never known love, kindness, or safety changed her life, and how his lessons inform much of what Catskill Animal Sanctuary is today.The choice to believe in humanity’s goodness, people’s capacity, and their willingness to change. Key Takeaways: All animals want their lives as much as we want ours.Animals have infinitely more capacity than most people understand.Choosing to recognize the disastrous path we are on is the first step to help animals, improve your health dramatically, and reduce your environmental footprint. "Rambo taught me that there were many more far-reaching lessons to be learned from animals than all the ones I learned when I was a kid." – Kathy Stevens Connect with Kathy Stevens:Facebook: Kathy Stevens, Catskill Animal SanctuaryTwitter: @CASanctuaryBook: Where the Blind Horse SingsWebsite: CASanctuary.orgInstagram: @catskill_animal_sanctuaryYouTube: Catskill Animal SanctuaryTikTok: @CASanctuary

In this mouth-watering episode, Kathy is joined by Shenarri Freeman, the superstar executive chef of Cadence. In just a year, Cadence has become one of NYC’s most exclusive reservations and was named one of the Top 50 Restaurants in the U.S. by The New York Times. During their lively conversation, Kathy and Shenarri discuss:Shenarri’s unlikely journey from cooking as part of a large family in Virginia to becoming a James Beard Award semifinalist for her vegan cuisineThe important role veganism played in her life after losing her partner in 2018, and her inspiring step forward to attend culinary schoolOverthrow Hospitality and Cadence’s incredibly diverse staff and the importance of compassion within the organization, extending among staff and customersShenarri’s favorite reactions from non-vegan guests who were blown away by the plant-based menu - including Grammy Award winner SolangeWhat the future holds for Cadence, and Shenarri, after a showstopper first year in businessCheck out Cadence’s menu and make reservations on their website.Follow Cadence and Overthrow Hospitality on social media:FacebookInstagramFollow Shenarri Freeman on social media:InstagramConnect with Kathy Stevens:Facebook: Kathy Stevens, Catskill Animal SanctuaryTwitter: @CASanctuaryBook: Where the Blind Horse SingsWebsite: CASanctuary.orgInstagram: @catskill_animal_sanctuaryYouTube: Catskill Animal SanctuaryTikTok: @CASanctuary

While most of us have at least one social media account, we may not be using it as an effective way to advocate for the animals we so dearly love. Today, Kathy is joined by social media professional and vegan activist John Oberg, to talk about:His personal journey to veganism after watching the groundbreaking documentary Earthlings while he was in collegeHow social media’s “share” ability is one of the most important, yet overlooked, aspects of online activismThe importance of overcoming speciesism on social media in order to help “less cuddly” animals such as chickens, turkeys, and sea creaturesSocial media’s role as the ultimate “word of mouth” advocating for any cause, with exponential growth capabilitiesJohn’s online courses for animal advocates, including his latest addition Mastering Social Media to Change the WorldStay up to date on John’s work on:TwitterInstagramFacebookLinkedInSupport John’s activism on Patreon and DonorBox.Connect with Kathy Stevens:Facebook: Kathy Stevens, Catskill Animal SanctuaryTwitter: @CASanctuaryBook: Where the Blind Horse SingsWebsite: CASanctuary.orgInstagram: @catskill_animal_sanctuaryYouTube: Catskill Animal SanctuaryTikTok: @CASanctuary

Iowa Farm Sanctuary opened its doors in 2016 as the first farmed animal sanctuary in the state of Iowa. Today, the co-founders of the accredited sanctuary, Shawn and Jered Camp, join Kathy for an inspiring conversation about sticking to your values in the face of adversity. In this episode, they discuss:Jered’s unconventional path to animal advocacy after being raised in a hunting family and as a 4-H memberThe environmental impact of Iowa’s farming industry - the second largest in the nation - and how the waste produced by livestock is comparable to more than 45x the state’s human populationIowa Farm Sanctuary’s mission to “infiltrate the epicenter” of factory farming by bringing animal advocacy, liberation, and activism to Iowa communitiesThe daunting pig rescue Iowa Farm Sanctuary attempted after devastating floods ravaged the MidwestThe incredible stories of two IFS residents - Auggie, the special needs cow with an extensive wardrobe, and The Unsinkable Molly Brown, a pig who survived a dramatic escape from the slaughterhouseFor more information on the Pignic, go to Iowa Farm Sanctuary’s website.Stay up to date on Iowa Farm Sanctuary by following them on social media:FacebookTwitterInstagramTikTokConnect with Kathy Stevens:Facebook: Kathy Stevens, Catskill Animal SanctuaryTwitter: @CASanctuaryBooks: Where the Blind Horse SingsWebsite: CASanctuary.orgInstagram: @catskill_animal_sanctuaryYouTube: Catskill Animal Sanctuary

The End of Medicine is a new film, out May 10th, from BAFTA-winning director Alex Lockwood that could not be more timely. This urgent documentary features medical experts, animal activists, and social justice advocates speaking about the disastrous health effects of factory farming. In this week’s episode, Kathy is joined by Alex and Dr. Alice Brough, the film’s whistleblower and protagonist, to talk about:The all-star team of producers who helped make the film, including Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara, and activist producer Keegan KuhnThe eerily prescient message of the film, which started production in early 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic beganDr. Alice’s life-changing decision to leave her career as a livestock pig vet to become a vegan activist, speaking about the cruelty and suffering she found in animal agricultureThe influence of large companies from the dairy, meat, and pharmaceutical industries on lawmakers who refuse to change factory farming regulationsHow animal agriculture contributes to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a process in which viruses, bacteria, and parasites no longer react to medicinal treatmentStream The End of Medicine on AppleTV and iTunes starting May 10th!Stay up-to-date on The End of Medicine:InstagramFacebookFollow Alex Lockwood and his company, Lockwood Film, on:InstagramLinkedInTwitterFollow Dr. Alice Brough on:InstagramTwitterPatreonOther great documentaries from Keegan Kuhn and Alex Lockwood:73 CowsCowspiracyWhat The HealthThey're Trying to Kill UsMilkedConnect with Kathy Stevens:Facebook: Kathy Stevens, Catskill Animal SanctuaryTwitter: @CASanctuaryBooks: Where the Blind Horse SingsWebsite: CASanctuary.orgInstagram: @catskill_animal_sanctuaryYouTube: Catskill Animal Sanctuary

In this informative episode, Kathy is joined by Monica Engebretson, the North American Campaign Manager for Cruelty Free International. What “cruelty free” really means and how you can identify products that haven’t been tested on animals by looking for the Leaping Bunny logoThe history of animal testing and why it is not the most accurate way to predict human reactions to chemicalsExciting new legislation, both in New York State and at the federal level, that would ban animal testing and spare millions of animals from needless sufferingNew humane, non-animal based research that will help ensure more accurate studies in laboratories through the HEARTS ActThe CARE Act, which will ensure that dogs, cats, and rabbits are placed in loving homes rather than being killed after they are considered “no longer useful” in research To support Cruelty Free International and learn more about their work, follow the link here. To support and learn more about the legislation mentioned in this episode, go to:Make New York Cruelty Free: Action Page Humane Cosmetics Act: Action PageHEARTS Act: Action PageCARE Act: Action PageStay up-to-date on Cruelty Free International at the following links:FacebookInstagramTwitterYouTubeLinkedInConnect with Kathy Stevens:Facebook: Kathy Stevens, Catskill Animal SanctuaryTwitter: @CASanctuaryBooks: Where the Blind Horse SingsWebsite: CASanctuary.orgInstagram: @catskill_animal_sanctuaryYouTube: Catskill Animal Sanctuary

This year marks the 52nd anniversary of Earth Day - an annual campaign that calls attention to the many threats to our planet from human kind and urges each of us to act as better Earth stewards . This week, Kathy tag teams with her podcast producer, Clare O’Brien, to talk about the connection between factory farming and climate change. Today, the two discuss:How animal agriculture is one of the top causes of climate change - and why it’s so difficult to find exact data of its impactThe devastating impact of methane, a greenhouse gas 10x more destructive than carbon dioxide, produced by cows who are used for meat and dairy productsa brief history of Earth Day, dating back to its origins as a protest in the early 1970sThe effects climate change has had on the Catskill Animal Sanctuary property, including heat waves that canceled events and ice storms and “microbursts” that have destroyed dozens of treesThe urgency of adopting a plant-based diet and utilizing the power of influence, rather than waiting for corporations or the government to battle climate change effectivelyFind the Earth as an Apple experiment here.Some recommendations from Kathy:Our Great National Parks with President Barack ObamaCowspiracyEating Our Way to ExtinctionEating AnimalsConnect with Kathy Stevens:Facebook: Kathy Stevens, Catskill Animal SanctuaryTwitter: @CASanctuaryBooks: Where the Blind Horse SingsWebsite: CASanctuary.orgInstagram: @catskill_animal_sanctuaryYouTube: Catskill Animal Sanctuary

“Not just dogs…lambs!” Just in time for Easter, Kathy is joined by Brendon Smale - the founder of Saint Beans Animal Sanctuary, the first rescue in New Zealand dedicated solely to the protection of lambs and sheep. During their wonderful conversation, Kathy and Brendon discuss:The life-changing encounter with a newborn lamb that led Brendon to leave his corporate career and pursue animal activismBeans, the adventurous lamb who started it all, and his other sheep friends who serve as “Lambassadors” of the animal sanctuaryHow animal activists can promote plant-based eating in the face of holiday traditions (ex: Turkey on Thanksgiving, Lamb on Easter, etc.)The myth that wool is an acceptable animal product that does not harm the sheep who are stuck in the industryBrendon’s goals to help people “make the connection” through visiting his sanctuary and meeting the animals who are as individual and intelligent as traditional companion animalsTo follow Brendon, Beans, and the other “Lambassadors,” find them on Instagram.To learn more about Saint Beans Animal Sanctuary, or make a donation, go to www.saintbeans.orgConnect with Kathy Stevens:Facebook: Kathy Stevens, Catskill Animal SanctuaryTwitter: @CASanctuaryBooks: Where the Blind Horse SingsWebsite: CASanctuary.orgInstagram: @catskill_animal_sanctuaryYouTube: Catskill Animal Sanctuary

“If the oceans die, we die.” – Captain Paul WatsonKathy is joined by the legendary Captain Paul Watson, founder of the international non-profit Sea Shepherd and co-founder of Greenpeace. For fifty years, Captain Watson’s mission has been to eradicate illegal fishing and whaling on the high seas, and his achievements on behalf of marine life are extraordinary. In this riveting conversation, he and Kathy discuss:Capt. Watson’s life-changing encounter with whales that saved his life and led him to establish Sea Shepherd in 1977How essential phytoplankton are to the oceans and the planet as a whole, serving as a vital source of oxygen and life, and how illegal fishing methods endanger itThe dangers of “bycatch,” where marine life will be harmed, and often killed, by fisheries working to fish out shrimp and salmonSea Shepherd’s vegan ships filled with volunteer staff who risk their lives to protect the animals of the world’s oceansThe thrilling missions Sea Shepherd has made to arrest illegal fishers and enforce government regulations around the worldTo stay updated on Sea Shepherd and Capt. Paul Watson, find them at the links below:Capt. Paul Watson: Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.Sea Shepherd: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. To watch the acclaimed documentary, Watson, find it on Amazon Prime.To purchase Sea Shepherd’s vegan cookbooks, follow the links below:Cookin’ Up A Storm: SeaShepherd.org, Amazon, Barnes & NobleThink! Eat! Act!: AmazonConnect with Kathy Stevens:Facebook: Kathy Stevens, Catskill Animal SanctuaryTwitter: @CASanctuaryBooks: Where the Blind Horse SingsWebsite: CASanctuary.orgInstagram: @catskill_animal_sanctuaryYouTube: Catskill Animal Sanctuary

“We can’t forget that humans are animals, too.” In this eye-opening episode, Kathy is joined by Rev. Sarah Bowen, a founding member of Compassion Consortium and author of the new book Sacred Sendoffs: An Animal Chaplain’s Advice For Surviving Animal Loss, Making Life Meaningful, & Healing The Planet (out April 5th!). Stay tuned for her conversation with Kathy, where they discuss:Sarah’s early relationships with animals, including a beloved family cat and the squirrels outside her windowHow Sarah’s farmer grandfather influenced her views of animals, and the “aha” moment that changed her lifeThe themes of understanding animal loss and grief discussed in her new book The basic steps anyone can take to better understand the animals around them, including meditation with their own companion animalsCompassion Consortium's goal to support those who feel something is “missing” from their pre-existing spiritual practicesFind the book Sacred Sendoffs anywhere you buy books. To stay updated on Rev. Sarah’s work and the Compassion Consortium, follow them at:Rev. Sarah Bowen: Instagram and Facebook.Compassion Consortium: Instagram and Facebook.Connect with Kathy Stevens:Facebook: Kathy Stevens, Catskill Animal SanctuaryTwitter: @CASanctuaryBooks: Where the Blind Horse SingsWebsite: CASanctuary.orgInstagram: @catskill_animal_sanctuaryYouTube: Catskill Animal Sanctuary