Episode 137:Kindness Is Coffees For Gaza—How donating the cost of a coffee can make a positive impact.

Published on October 8, 2025 by anitharobinsonLeave a comment

Dr. Inda Ahmad Zahri is a surgeon, a story creator, and one of the founders of Coffees For Gaza, a grassroots initiative to help families in Gaza.

Since Anitha is a children’s author, the two begin the conversation talking about books and how Dr. Zahri combines what seems like polar opposites—the science of medicine and the art of writing.

The conversation then moves to Palestine and how the genocide spurred the creation of Coffees For Gaza. Dr. Zahri shares the reason for the name and the initiative itself. Dr. Zahri also shares stories of some of the 25 families who have been helped with the funds raised through Coffees for Gaza.

The situation in Palestine is horrific but Dr. Zahri believes there is still hope that together we can and will demand for this genocide to end.

To learn more about Dr. Zahri and Coffees For Gaza, check out these links:

Inda Binda on Instagram

Inda’s Website

Coffees For Gaza on Instagram #peacetober2025 coming up!

Donate to Coffees For Gaza here

Links to other things Dr. Zahri mentioned:

Story Sunbirds Summit

The Tide Pool

Preorder Tabkha

As a thank you to Dr. Zahri fro sharing her story, Anitha donated to The Ghassan Abu Sittah Children’s Fund. This fund is dedicated to providing medical attention to the children of Gaza. To learn more about this fund, click here:

Children’s Fund

To hear the full episode, click here:

Episode 136:Kindness Is Helping Primates Together—How a group of sanctuaries work together to help primates.

Published on October 1, 2025 by anitharobinsonLeave a comment

Amanda (Andy) Gray joins Anitha to talk about NAPSA (North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance) an incredible organization dedicated to uniting the primate sanctuary community.

Of course, Andy and Anitha talk about the wonderful work NAPSA sanctuaries are doing to provide enrichment and professional lifetime care to primates. But they also talk about the reasons primates, who are not native to North America, end up in sanctuaries in this part of the world. From bio-medical research to entertainment to the exotic pet trade, all of these industries use and cause primates immense harm and suffering.

Fortunately, sanctuaries such as those who are part of NAPSA work tirelessly to end the exploitation of primates.

A compelling conversation about caring for our closest relatives and how we can all advocate on their behalf.

To learn more about NAPSA, their member sanctuaries and how you can support their work, check out the following links:

NAPSA’s website

NAPSA on Facebook

NAPSA on Instagram

As a thank you to Andy for sharing her story, Anitha donated to GIVING DAY FOR APES. In its 12th year, Giving Day for Apes is a worldwide event bringing together thousands of donors to rescue and protect apes across Africa, Asia, and North America. The live event takes place on Tuesday, October 7th, but you don’t have to wait – Early Giving is open now!

To learn more about GIVING DAY FOR APES, click here:

Giving Day For Apes

To hear the full episode, click here:

Episode 135: Kindness Is Ethical Wildlife Tourism—How to enjoy your trip while respecting wildlife

Published on September 29, 2025 by anitharobinsonLeave a comment

Travelling to faraway places can create lovely memories but does it come at the expense of wildlife?

Connie Needham joins Anitha to talk about ways to enjoy your holiday without causing harm to animals.

The two chat about experiences such as elephant rides and photo-ops with wildlife and the harm these activities inflict on the animal and most likely their family and habitat.

Connie shares things we can all do to have fun on our holiday while increasing the likelihood that our actions don’t cause harm to another being.

A great episode for those who love to travel and love animals.

To learn more about ethical wildlife tourism you can follow Connie here:

As a thank you to Connie for sharing her story, Anitha donated to Wild Futures Monkey Sanctuary, a registered charity founded in 1964. This charity is committed to protecting primates and habitats all over the world. To learn more about the work they do, check out their website:

Wild Futures

To hear the full episode, click here:

Episode 134: Kindness Is Zoocheck— Advocating to end the abuse, neglect & exploitation of wild animals.

Published on September 17, 2025 by anitharobinsonLeave a comment

Rob Laidlaw, the founder of Zoocheck joins Anitha to talk about his journey into animal activism. For over 40 years, Rob has been speaking up for wildlife. From his initial efforts to close down horrific roadside zoos to helping three elephants, who spent their lives in captivity, find a sanctuary, there is no limit to the kind and compassionate actions Rob has taken for the benefit of wildlife.

Despite witnessing the many atrocities animals are subjected to at the hands of humans, Rob shares why he is still optimistic for the future of wildlife.

An episode full of hope and kindness, and one you don’t want to miss.

To learn more about the amazing work Zoocheck is doing, check out the following links:

Zoocheck – website

Zoocheck on Facebook

Zoocheck on Bluesky

Zoocheck on Twitter/X

As a thank you to Rob for sharing his story, Anitha donated to the New Cat City Rescue & Sanctuary. This small animal rescue located in Toronto, Ontario is a permanent home for animals with special needs and requirements. To learn more about their work, check out their website:

New Cat City Website

To hear the full episode, click here:

Episode 133: Kindness Is Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary—A place where primates heal & recover from trauma.

Published on September 10, 2025September 10, 2025 by anitharobinsonLeave a comment

Rachelle Hansen joins Anitha to talk about Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary, located in Ontario, Canada. Rachelle shares stories of the residents who currently live and have lived at the sanctuary. She talks about the friendships they have made, things they enjoy doing and how the folks at the sanctuary do their best to make the lives of the residents as happy and comfortable as possible, given they can never be returned to their natural homes in the wild.

Of course, Rachelle talks about Pockets Warhol, the famous white-capped capuchin monkey who loves to paint. His art work is highly sought after.

Rachelle also talks about the residents’ lives before coming to the sanctuary—many were victims of the pet trade, bio-medical experiments and zoos.

During their conversation, Rachelle shares the horrific plight of more than 6,000 endangered Cambodian macaques arriving in Canada for the past 19 months to be used in laboratory testing. These wild-caught primates, typically between one and two years of age, are illegally trafficked from Cambodia to Montreal, Canada in tiny crates, often without food or water. If they survive the trip, they then endure immense pain, suffering and terror as they are subjected to experiments, even though it is well documented that these drug experiments consistently fail to improve human health. This is such a tragedy, BUT there is something everyone can do to help. Rachelle, shared the following link, where folks can sign a petition and email the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Julie Dabrusin to urge her to stop the importation of long-tailed macaques into Canada.

Horrible things are happening in the world, but here is one instance where you can help. Please click on the link and sign the petition.

Help Cambodian Macaques

To learn more about Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary and to book a visit, check out their website and Instagram account.

Story Book Farm Website

Story Book Farm Instagram

As a thank you to Rachelle for sharing her story, Anitha donated to Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary. Located in Sierra Leone, Tacugama is dedicated to enforcing wildlife laws, and rescuing and rehabilitating critically endangered orphaned Western chimpanzees. To learn more about Tacugama, check out their website. You can also listen to episode 55 of the Kindness Is Everything podcast, where Dr. Izzy Hirji, a veterinarian, talks about volunteering with both Tacugama and Story Book Farm.

Tacugama Website

Episode 55: Kindness Is Dr. Izzy Goes Wild

To hear the full episode, click here:

Episode 132: Kindness Is Being Annick Press—How a Canadian publisher is standing up for diversity & representation in their books, their authors, and their publishing team.

Published on September 3, 2025September 3, 2025 by anitharobinsonLeave a comment

Rick Wilks, the co-founder of Annick Press joins Anitha to talk about publishing children’s books. He shares his journey, memories and even his list of favourite books.

The two also talk about book banning—what it is, the harm it causes creators, publishers and children. Rick talks about how important it is for books to showcase all voices, especially those that have been underrepresented in the past, (LGBTQ+, black, indigenous, and people of colour).

Annick press is determined to advocate for books from underrepresented communities. One way is through their Mentorship Program, launched in 2021. This yearly program supports works in progress of emerging, underrepresented writers whose access to children’s publishing may have been limited. The application window is for the month of September 2025! Check out Annick’s website for all the details.

Of course, Anitha asked Rick what he is looking for in submissions—always a key question for writers. Here is link to their submission guidelines: Submission Guideline

A great conversation about books, diversity and how important it is for folks in positions of power and privilege to use their position to help others.

To learn more about Annick Press as they celebrate 50 years in publishing, check out their website. It’s full of information about books, sources for educators and for the month of September, the Mentorship Program!

Here’s Rick’s list of recommended books, which can be found on Annick’s website.

Nonfiction:

*More Than Money: How Economic inequality affects EVERYTHING

*Fatty Legs

Comics and graphic novels

*The Wolf Suit

Picture Books

*The Man with the Violin

*Abuelita and Me

*The Paper Bag Princess

As a thank you to Rick for sharing his story, Anitha donated to the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC). NCC is a non-profit organization that partners with individuals, corporations, foundations, Indigenous communities and other non-profit organizations and governments at all levels to protect Canada’s plants and wildlife. Since 1962, NCC and its partners have helped to protect more than 15 million hectares, coast to coast.

To learn more about the Nature Conservancy of Canada, check out their website.

Nature Conservancy of Canada

To hear the full episode, click hear:

Episode 131:Kindness Is Oscar’s Place—A sanctuary for donkeys.

Published on August 27, 2025 by anitharobinsonLeave a comment

For the inaugural audio and video episode of the podcast, Ron King joins Anitha to talk about Oscar’s Place, a sanctuary for donkeys to heal and live happy donkey lives.

Ron talks about the many individuals at the sanctuary and how people don’t realize that donkeys are incredibly affectionate, smart and love to hug!

Ron also shares his journey of healing and how the sanctuary and the donkeys helped him.

An incredible conversation about the power of love.

To learn more about Oscar’s Place check out their website. It’s full of information about donkeys, how to sponsor or adopt a donkey, and of course photos of adorable donkeys to fall in love with.

Oscar’s Place Website

As a thank you to Ron for sharing his story, Anitha donated to Jarjeer Mules. Anitha and Ron have both visited this donkey and mule rescue located in Marrakech, Morocco. Anitha also had the pleasure of chatting with the founder of Jarjeer Mules on episode 119.

To learn more about Jarjeer Mules and listen to their podcast episode, click the following links:

Jarjeer Mules Website

Kindness Is Jarjeer Mules

To hear the full episode, click here:

Episode 130: Kindness Is Fauna Foundation—Canada’s only chimpanzee sanctuary offers refuge for those who suffered from medical research.

Published on August 20, 2025 by anitharobinsonLeave a comment

Mary Lee Jensvold joins Anitha to talk about Fauna Foundation, a place of healing for chimpanzees used and abused in the medical research industry.

Mary Lee shares stories of the many primates rescued by Fauna Foundation. She speaks about the incredible capacity of these individuals to heal from years of painful and invasive experiments. And most remarkable of all—their willingness to forgive the very species who caused them so much harm.

Though these chimpanzees can never return to their rightful home in Africa, Mary Lee talks about the ways Fauna provides residents with as much comfort and enrichment as possible.

Mary Lee and Anitha also talk about the many cruelty-free alternatives to animal testing and hope listeners will support companies who opt for these kinder alternatives.

To learn more about Fauna Foundation and fall in love with the chimpanzees, check out their website and YouTube channel.

Fauna Foundation Website

Fauna Foundation YouTube Channel

As a thank you to Mary Lee for sharing her story, Anitha donated to Fauna Foundation.

To hear the full episode, click here:

Episode 129: Kindness Is Being Dr. Grace Gilbert—The journey from being a home-schooled conservative to bravely speaking out against current US Government policies.

Published on August 13, 2025 by anitharobinsonLeave a comment

Dr. Grace Gilbert joins Anitha to talk about what it was like growing up in a Christian Conservative home, being home-schooled and the obstacles she faced to go to college and eventually become a doctor.

She shares why she no longer adheres to Conservative Christian beliefs and instead uses her medical knowledge and social media platform to share how recent changes to Medicaid, Planned Parenthood, Immigration and other policies are negatively affecting the healthcare of her patients and the healthcare industry as a whole.

A timely and honest conversation about issues many folks are dealing with.

To follow Dr. Gilbert check out the following links.

Dr. Grace on TikTok

Dr. Grace on Instagram

As a thank you to Dr. Gilbert for sharing her story, Anitha donated to The Trevor Project, a non-profit organization for LGBTQ+ young people. They provide information & support, including suicide prevention and crisis management, to LGBTQ+ young people 24/7, all year round.

To learn more about The Trevor Project, check out their website: The Trevor Project

To hear the full episode, click here:

Episode 128: Kindness Is Otis The Handsome Hound—How an Animal Testing Survivor Is Living His Best Life & Raising Awareness

Published on August 6, 2025August 6, 2025 by anitharobinsonLeave a comment

Otis, a coonhound, was born into the cruel world of animal testing and subjected to many invasive and painful procedures. But Otis is one of the lucky ones, he was rescued by Robert Sturman who joins Anitha to talk about Otis’ life—then and now.

Robert talks about the harsh world of animal testing that subjects millions of animals to painful procedures despite their being cruelty free alternatives.

But the majority of the conversation focuses on Otis, from his favourite things to do (car rides, running on the beach, and joining Robert on the yoga mat) to his immense capacity for forgiveness. Despite being harmed by humans, Otis loves people.

An incredible episode showcasing the healing power of love.

To learn more about Otis and follow him as he celebrates life while also raising awareness about the animal testing industry, check out his Instagram account:

Otis The Handsome Hound

As a thank you to Robert for sharing Otis’ story, Anitha donated to Gentle Jake’s Coonhound Rescue. This Ontario based not-for-profit is dedicated to the memory of the founder’s beloved Coonhound, Jake. This rescue is dedicated to helping homeless and abandoned Coonhounds find their loving and forever homes.

To learn more about this rescue, check out their website: Gentle Jake’s Coonhound Rescue

To hear the full episode, click here: