Bearing witness to a truck full of pigs being carted off to slaughter while walking her dog, drove Anita Krajnc to become an animal activist. Together she and her dog Mr. Bean, co-founded The Animal Save Movement.
Anita talks about the love-based, grassroots approach to activism the organization follows. She shares why it is important to bear witness as the pigs are being driven into the kill facilities. Since its inception in 2010, the organization has grown and includes chapters all over the world. An incredible conversation about finding our humanity and kindness.
To learn more about The Animal Save Movement, check out their website:
As a thank you to Anita for sharing her story, Anitha donated to the Better Food Foundation. This organization is focused on building more sustainable and compassionate food systems by advancing plant-based food solutions. To learn more about them, check out their website:
Eleven-year-old Lily Niederhofer joins Anitha to talk about her favourite animal—the octopus!
Lily raises awareness about the plight of octopuses, in particular the horrible conditions they would endure in an octopus farm. As an avid swimmer, she uses her skills to raise money to help protect oceans and the marine life who call it home, including octopuses.
An uplifting episode to say goodbye to 2025 and hello to 2026. This one is full of hope and inspires us all to be kind.
To learn more about Lily and her activism, check out these links:
As a thank you to Lily for sharing her story, Anitha donated to Animal Rights Initiative. This organization works to dismantle the systemic use and abuse of animals in the food, health, entertainment and fashion industries. To learn more about their work, check out their website:
Isaias Hernandez, an environmentalist, storyteller and content creator, joins Anitha to talk about advocating for animals, the environment and folks from underrepresented communities.
A timely episode as the holidays remind us to show compassion for all beings.
To learn more about Isaias, the work they do to create a kinder space for all, and follow their social media accounts, check out their website:
As a thank you to Isaias for being a guest on the podcast, Anitha donated to Food Empowerment Project. This non-profit advocates that food choices can change the world. By making informed, ethical food choices, we can all take a stand against human and non-human animal abuse. You can learn more about them on their website:
Justin Osei-Dwumoh joins Anitha to talk about his amazing initiative called Bags Without Barriers.
When Justin realized that not everyone has access to essential school supplies—items that are not only necessary to succeed in school, but also can affect one’s self worth, he decided to help.
Partnering with organizations such as Herschel Supply Co., Justin fills backpacks with paper, pencils, markers, and more. Then, he hands them out in areas where the need is great.
In addition to helping students, Bags Without Barriers also supports underserved new moms by providing them with diaper bags filled with vital supplies to help them and their children.
The perfect episode to showcase the meaning of compassion, important all year round, but especially meaningful at this time of the year.
To find out more about Bags Without Barriers and the wonderful work they are doing, check out their website:
As a thank you to Justin for sharing his story, Anitha donated to Save Our Scruff. A dog rescue that grew organically from a community wanting to give their time and efforts to advocate for dogs in many different spaces. To learn more about Save Our Scruff, check out their website:
Mariah Madigan, the founder of Frankie’s World joins Anitha to talk about her journey to creating a sanctuary for rats.
Mariah first fell in love with rats when an adorable rat named Frankie came into her life. Frankie was such a great companion for Mariah and when Frankie passed, Mariah decided to create a sanctuary to honour her soulmate.
Mariah realizes that most folks have negative preconceptions about rats but she also knows that once folks meet a rat their opinions quickly change. Folks realize how smart and clean and affectionate rats truly are. Sadly, rats have been treated very badly in society. From being subjected to cruel experiments and medical testing, to being depicted as dirty and basically maligned. But once you actually learn the truth about rats, you realize they are clean, smart, very affectionate and make great companions.
This is such heartwarming episode to get us into the holiday spirit of love and compassion for all beings.
To find out more about Mariah and the incredible sanctuary she has created, check out these sites:
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:
Pam Ahern, the founder of Edgar’s Mission, a farm sanctuary in Australia, joins Anitha to talk about her journey to help animals.
Pam talks about meeting Edgar for the first time and how a one-time photo shoot to raise awareness about the plight of farmed animals, turned into a lifelong adventure to rescue pigs, chickens, cows, sheep, goats, donkeys, alpacas, turkeys and others who were once part of the meat and dairy industry.
Pam & Edgar
Pam shares stories of some of the individuals she has had the privilege of knowing. From Edgar, who inspired Pam to start the sanctuary to a cow named Clarabelle who was pregnant when she came to Edgar’s Mission. Clarabelle, like all dairy cows, was impregnated over and over to produce milk for human consumption. And her babies? They were always ripped away from her soon after birth. But safe in sanctuary, Clarabelle finally had a baby she could keep forever. Pam shares more heartwarming stories of other residents, too!
Clarabelle & baby ValentineClarabelle & ValentinePam & Miss ClementinePam & Crocodile Rock & Rocket ManPam & Red BaronPam & Ruby
Despite knowing all she knows and seeing all she has, Pam believes there is kindness in the world. Her voice is full of hope when she talks about the sanctuary and all the humans who have helped it become what it is today—a safe and loving home for rescued farmed animals.
An episode full of resilience and hope and love.
To learn more about the kind folks at Edgar’s Mission and the wonderful beings they care for, check out these links:
As a thank you to Pam for sharing her story, Anitha donated to The Open Sanctuary Project. This organization provides free and accessible digital resources for anyone wanting to responsibly create or manage an animal sanctuary and/or provide the best possible care for animals so they can live long and healthy lives. To learn more about this organization, check out their website:
Anitha Rao-Robinson 