education – Anitha Rao-Robinson

Episode 124: Kindness Is Speaking Up—How more than ever, standing up against injustice matters.

Published on July 9, 2025 by anitharobinsonLeave a comment

Dr. Crystal Heath generously joins Anitha for a third time. During her previous two appearances on the podcast, Dr. Heath focused on the importance of speaking up for animal welfare. This time, she talks about the injustices many humans are facing and why she is standing up for those who can’t protect themselves.

Like others who are upset by the actions of the current US administration at detaining immigrants, Dr. Heath was documenting a peaceful protest in Los Angeles outside a federal detention centre, when she and others were ‘kettled’ and arrested.

In addition to sharing this harrowing experience, Dr. Heath talks about the inaccurate depiction of LA as a place filled with violent demonstrators.

She and Anitha also discuss how folks who stand up for human justice, just like those who stand up for animal rights, are mistreated and coerced into silence.

An incredible episode for anyone who wants to know what is actually happening in Los Angeles.

To learn more about this issue and the other injustices Dr. Heath bravely speaks out against, check out the following links:

Our Honor Website

Our Honor Instagram Dr. Heath Instagram

Our Honor FaceBook Dr. Heath Facebook

Our Honor LinkedIn Dr. Heath LinkedIn

Our Honor BlueSky Dr. Heath BlueSky

Our Honor YouTube Dr. Heath YouTube

As a thank you to Dr. Heath for sharing her story, Anitha donated to Our Honor, a non-profit organization that supports veterinary students, veterinarians, and other animal professionals in speaking their conscience to create more ethical systems that consider the best interests of all species.

To hear the full episode, click here:

Episode 105: Kindness Is Animal Justice

Published on January 22, 2025 by anitharobinsonLeave a comment

Anitha is joined by Rhea Badhwar, a law student at Lincoln Alexander School of Law. Rhea talks about navigating her love of animals and the world of law.

Rhea is the President of LASL Animal Justice club. Animal Justice, which was founded in 2008, legally fights for animal protection laws in Canada. They offer a student program which gives students such as Rhea opportunities to get active in helping animals while still in law school.

Members of LASL and Osgoode Hall’s Animal Justice Club visiting the cows at Farmhouse Garden Animal Home

This episode provides hope that compassionate students like Rhea are dedicated to protecting animals now and in the future.

To learn more about Animal Justice and the Lincoln Alexander School of Law’s Animal Justice club, check out these links:

Instagram LASL Animal Justice Club

Website Animal Justice

As a thank you to Rhea for sharing her story, Anitha donated to Farmhouse Garden Animal Home. This animal sanctuary was originally the site of a cattle ranch, owned by farmer Mike Lanigan. In 2016, after spending time with a calf, Mike decided to stop raising animals for slaughter and converted his property into an organic vegetable farm and animal sanctuary.

To learn more about Farmhouse Garden Animal Home, click this link:

Website Farmhouse Garden Animal Home

To hear the full episode click here:

Episode 75: Kindness Is Being Jenny Vegan McQueen

Published on June 26, 2024 by anitharobinsonLeave a comment

Jenny McQueen is a true hero for animals. She joins Anitha to talk about leading and participating in peaceful anti-fur protests, bearing witness of animals as they are trucked off to slaughter, co-founding Animal Rights Toronto, and so much more.

Jenny has been arrested eight times for peacefully raising awareness about violence against animals, in particular those used in the animal agricultural industry.

She also talks about the devastating death of Regan Russell in 2020. Regan was bearing witness to the last moments of pigs’ lives when she was killed by a slaughterhouse truck driver.

To learn more about all the amazing work Jenny is involved in, check out her Instagram account:

https://www.instagram.com/jennyveganmcqueen/

To learn about Animal Rights Toronto, the organization Jenny co-founded, check out their website:

https://animalrightstoronto.com/

As promised, here is a photo of the documentaries to watch and the many animal rights organizations you can support:

As a thank you to Jenny for sharing her story, Anitha donated to Promised Land Animal Sanctuary, a safe haven for animals who have been neglected, abused, abandoned or forgotten.

Promised Land Animal Sanctuary cares for horses, chickens, ducks, pigs, donkeys, alpacas, goats, sheep, dogs and cats. They provide all these animals lifelong care and shelter.

To learn about this sanctuary, check out their website: https://www.promisedlandsanctuary.org/

You can hear the full episode here:

Episode 69: Kindness Is Justin’s Frog Projects

Published on April 16, 2024 by anitharobinsonLeave a comment

Thirteen-year-old Justin Sather joins Anitha to talk about his love for one of Earth’s smallest beings—frogs.

Justin shares how a children’s book and a childhood blanket inspired Justin to clean up his community’s wetland, and how that project has grown to cleaning up rivers and oceans, protecting acres of rainforest and collaborating with other young people from all over the world.

A truly incredible episode about how one person can create a movement to bring about great change.

To learn more about Justin, check out these links:

WEBSITES:

www.JustinsFrogProject.com

Parallel Projects www.TheParallelProjects.com

And his newest website going live on Earth day: www.recreate.world

SOCIAL MEDIA:

@justinsfrogproject – instagram

Justin Sather – facebook

To support Justin’s projects, please click on the following links:

MILLION LETTERS CAMPAIGN:

Join the Million Letters Campaign

DONATIONS:

Justin’s main Go Fund Me Campaign: Go Fund Me Kid Hero Campaign

(Funds collected through this campaign are sent directly to projects Justin is working on to protect the rainforest and waterways. Projects such as, Parallel Projects and Team Trees)

Or you can donate Directly to Reserva Rainforest in Colombia- Justin

Links to the books that started Justin on his journey to help frogs:

What Do You Do with an Idea?

What Do You Do with a Chance?

As a thank you to Justin for sharing his story, Anitha donated to the Reserva Rainforest Project.

Listen to the episode here:

Episode 68: Kindness Is Creating For Children

Published on April 10, 2024 by anitharobinsonLeave a comment

Anitha is joined by M.O. Yuksel and Omar Abed, two creators who write books for children.

M.O. Yuksel

Omar Abed

In addition to talking about their amazing books, M.O. and Omar share their thoughts about the role of a children’s author when actual children in the world are being harmed.

It’s an honest conversation about an important issue.

Here are the covers of the beautiful picture books written by M.O. Yuksel and Omar Abed

To connect and learn more about these incredible authors, please click on the links below.

For M.O.

Instagram http://www.Instagram.com/moyuksel.author

For Omar

OmarAbed.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/omarabedwrites

There are many groups posting about what’s happening in Palestine, but one both M.O. and Omar are a part of is KidLitSoul. To find out what this group is sharing, check out their Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/kidlitsoul/

As a thank you to M.O. and Omar, for sharing their stories, Anitha donated to MECA For Peace. MECA, which stands for The Middle East Children’s Alliance is a non-profit organization working for the rights and the well-being of children in the Middle East. To learn more about this group and the work they are doing, please check out their website: https://www.mecaforpeace.org/

Meca Home

Episode 65: Kindness Is Founding Farm Sanctuary

Published on March 8, 2024 by anitharobinsonLeave a comment

Anitha was over-the-moon star struck to chat with the incomparable Gene Baur. Gene is the founder of the Farm Sanctuary, an animal advocate, author and so much more. He has been on shows such as The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and Larry King Live, and now The Kindness Is Everything podcast!

Gene talks about his incredible journey from doing commercials for companies like McDonalds and KFC, to advocating for the shutdown of factory farms. Animals are forced to endure tortuous conditions at factory farms and these places supply companies like McDonalds and KFC.

Gene talks about his optimism for animal welfare and how he’s been able to help bring in legislation to end such cruel practices as gestational crates.

He also shares the amazing rescue story of Hilda the sheep. She was Farm Sanctuary’s first rescue.

Hilda & Gene (photo credit Farm Sanctuary)

As a thank you to Gene for sharing his story, Anitha donated to Farm Sanctuary. This sanctuary provides shelter to more than 400 rescued cows, pigs, turkeys and other farm animals. They help animals used and abused by the animal agriculture through rescue, education and advocacy.

Anitha is looking forward to personally visiting the sanctuary this summer.

To learn more about Farm Sanctuary, please check out their website or follow them on IG.

Homepage

https://www.instagram.com/farmsanctuary

Episode 32: Kindness Is Saying ‘Bye Bye Plastic Bags’

Published on November 27, 2021 by anitharobinsonLeave a comment

In 2013, twelve-year old Melati Wijsen and her ten-year old sister, Isabel were inspired by a lesson they had in school about significant people such as Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Ghandi.

Melati and Isabel decided they too wanted to do something to make a difference, and from this desire was born BYE BYE PLASTIC BAGS.

The organization has grown within Bali and across the world.

Anitha was delighted to speak with Raina Hwong and Dara Ginthing who are part of this amazing organization.

Raina and Dara spoke about the goals of Bye Bye Plastic Bags and some of the projects they are involved with, from Mountain Mamas to reaching out to schools and young people all over the world.

To learn more about Bye Bye Plastic Bags and all the incredible work they do, please check out their website: http://www.byebyeplasticbags.org/

As a thank you for sharing their stories, Anitha donated to Sungai Watch—a community river clean-up organization with the mission to protect waterways starting in Indonesia. To learn more about Sungai Watch, check out their website: https://makeachange.world/sungaiwatch

Episode 17: Kindness Is Never Saying Never

Published on April 25, 2021December 21, 2021 by anitharobinsonLeave a comment

Andrew West suffered a stroke before he was born. His parents were told he may never walk, talk or feed himself. Andrew shares heartwarming stories of how he not only learned to walk, talk and feed himself, but played soccer, ran a 5K marathon and was part of his school band.

He credits his family, friends and his community for helping him succeed at his goals. The sixteen-year old also talks about how he has given back to his community and helped others.

Please join Anitha for this wonderful, feel good episode.

Anitha learned about Andrew from author Paul Coccia. Not only did Paul connect Anitha and Andrew, he generously sponsored the donation to United Way, as a thank you to Andrew for sharing his story.

To watch some inspiring videos of Andrew, click on this link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNdDTK7BYwkEZxFZXr2kCWX0RXmuFIEJa

To learn more about author Paul Coccia, click here: https://www.paulcoccia.com/

And to learn more about the United Way, please click here: https://www.unitedway.ca/