Oliver Scholfield, an Olympic Athlete, joins Anitha to talk about creating a business that combinec his love of sport with his passion for the environment. Racing To Zero is dedicated to addressing the negative impact the sporting world has on the climate AND coming up with solutions to reduce this impact.
Oliver shares some of the simple solutions sporting organizations can implement to minimize their harm on the environment. An episode that makes you believe positive change is possible.
To learn more about Oliver and Racing To Zero, check out these links:
As a thank you to Oliver for sharing his story, Anitha donated to High Impact Athletes. This organization connects athletes to the most impactful causes in the world. They focus on three areas, Global Health and Poverty, Animal Welfare and Climate Change. At Oliver’s request, Anitha donated to the Environmental Portfolio.
To learn more about High Impact Athletes and the causes they support, check out their website:
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.
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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.
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.
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 