Oliver Loos joins Anitha to talk about his journey into animal activism, veganism and being a part of a group called Anonymous for the Voiceless. This not-for-profit animal rights organization does all they can to make our world a kinder place for all beings. They specialize in using conversation and standard practice footage of animals in captive situations to enlighten and educate the public about animal exploitation.
For Oliver, it’s very simple, if you were the one suffering, wouldn’t you want someone speaking out for you? Wouldn’t you want the suffering to stop right now?
That’s the goal—to end the pain and torture of innocent beings.
To learn more about Oliver and Anonymous for the Voiceless, check out the following links:
**This episode does mention suicide and may trigger or be challenging for some listeners. Please be kind to yourself.**
Nadia Kean-Ayub returns to talk to Anitha about her organization called Rainbow Spaces and the current environment in the United States towards folks in the LGBTQ+ community.
It has been just over a year since Nadia was originally on the show and sadly, a lot of communities in the United States feel unsafe, including LGBTQ+. Fortunately, there are people like Nadia who continue to support and advocate for communities who have been marginalized and in some cases fear for their safety.
Nadia created Rainbow Spaces, a place where youth can gather and be who they are, without fear of discrimination.
To learn more about Rainbow Spaces, check out these links:
As a thank you to Nadia for coming back as a guest to update listeners on the well-being of folks in the LGBTQ+ community under the current US administration’s policies, Anitha donated to Rainbow Spaces.
If you or anyone you know is in crisis, help is available. Please reach out to someone.
In Canada and the US: Suicide Crisis Hotline- text or call 9-8-8
Anitha talks with Jo-Anne McArthur, the founder of We Animals. Jo-Anne and the team of photographers at We Animals bravely go into places where animals and the cruelty these sentient beings are forced to endure, is often hidden from the public.
Through their photos, the folks at We Animals show us the suffering but also the “humanity” of the animals we eat and wear, the animals who are used in entertainment or research.
An incredible episode of compassion and discovering the importance of ‘seeing’ versus ‘looking’ at another being.
To learn more about We Animals and the incredible work they do, check out these links.
Kindness Is Elevating Access—Ensuring folks have access to life-saving healthcare, even if it comes at self-risk.
Launched in 2022, Elevated Access is a non-profit that provides pilots and planes at no cost to those seeking access to life-saving healthcare.
Kira from Elevated Access joins Anitha to talk about the devastating healthcare bans in many States throughout the USA which affects those seeking gender affirming and abortion care. Elevated Access was created with the sole purpose of helping folks receive the healthcare they need.
Elevate Access saves lives! But providing this service comes at a risk for those who want to help, yet folks like Kira do it anyway.
Kira and Anitha then pivot their conversation to the many cats and dogs in Kira’s life. It should come as no surprise that someone as kind as Kira, extends this kindness to all beings. She has fostered over 130 cats and dogs, and currently has many fur-babies of her own.
An episode overflowing with kindness and compassion for others.
To learn more about Elevated Access, check out the following links:
Kimberly Elliott, the founder of the Be Like Josh Foundation, joins Anitha to talk about how falling in love with Josh, a 10-month-old Golden Doodle with a brainstem disorder, inspired her to create a foundation that now helps so many dogs with disabilities live their best lives.
The Be Like Josh Foundation is a non-profit organization, dedicated to the care and advocacy of dogs with neurological disabilities. Josh, who is now nine-years old, has a brainstem disorder which Kimberly describes as a ‘disconnect between the way his brain talks to his body.’ She says his movements are similar to a person with Cerebral Palsy.
In addition to talking about how Josh came into her life and transformed it for the better, Kimberly also talks about the misconception folks have about dogs with disabilities. She says dogs with disabilities aren’t sad. If the dog looks happy, they are happy. Disabled bodies can experience joy.
For this reason, it’s really important to Kimberly that potential adopters of a special needs dog see themselves as a “Service Human” to that dog, similar to a Service Dog who helps a human with a disability. Kimberly wants these dogs to live with people who will of course, love them but also enhance their lives.
An episode full of all the feels and one that is sure to make you want to hug a dog.
To learn more about the Be Like Josh Foundation and the incredible work they do, check out the following links:
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.
Abdalhade FamilyRafif at schoolOday Dental ClinicMalak & JoodAmeera’s Kids in rubbleMahmoud surrounded by rubbleBasel, Lulu, Mira
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:
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:
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.
Bob & ColletteNora & MojoNjeriMax under his blanketDarwinBoo & Gerdie
Of course, Rachelle talks about Pockets Warhol, the famous white-capped capuchin monkey who loves to paint. His art work is highly sought after.
Pockets
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.
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.
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.
Sue EllenMary Lee with Tatu & Louis
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.
Anitha Rao-Robinson 