#volunteering – Anitha Rao-Robinson

Episode 156: Kindness Is Furball Confidential—A podcast all about folks and the adorable animals they share space with.

Published on February 18, 2026 by anitharobinsonLeave a comment

Jen Moroz has run some of Canada’s largest radio shows, including CBC’s The Current and Q. She has also developed several popular podcasts. Now she has her own podcast called Furball Confidential. She joins Anitha to talk about the inspiration behind the podcast (a lovable dog named Clutch), how it feels to be on the other side of the camera, and she shares conversations she’s had with some of her guests.

An uplifting episode all about folks and their fur-babies!

As a thank you to Jen for sharing her story, Anitha donated to Save Our Scruff. This dog rescue advocate for dogs in many different spaces. To learn more about Save Our Scruff, check out their website:

Save Our Scruff

To hear the full episode, click here:

Episode 155: Kindness Is Keeping Neighbours Safe—Helping black & brown folks in Minneapolis/St. Paul as ICE descends upon this community.

Published on February 11, 2026 by anitharobinsonLeave a comment

Mike Hotz joins Anitha to talk about what is happening in the twin cities of Minneapolis/St. Paul as ICE rounds up people of colour. Mike shares stories of law-abiding folks who have been detained by ICE based solely on the colour of their skin. He also talks about how some of his neighbours are afraid to leave their homes and go to work, take their kids to school, shop, walk their dogs . . . and how he and others are doing all they can to help them.

In the midst of the cruelty, racism and often lawless actions committed by ICE and the current US Administration, this conversation provides hope that kindness and empathy do make a difference.

For those who want to help, Mike provided the following links of places that are doing good work by supporting members of the community:

Whittier Wildflowers Preschool Website

Ice Hurts Animals, Too: Website

Urban Village: Website

Indigenous Roots: Website

As a thank you to Mike for sharing his story, Anitha donated to Whittier Wildflowers Preschool, a licensed, non-profit preschool for 2- to 5-year-olds in the Whittier Neighbourhood of Minneapolis. Their mission is to provide children and families from all backgrounds an innovative, affordable early childhood education. Donations help families by subsidizing their tuition costs.

To hear the full episode, click here:

Episode 154: Kindness Is Social Media For Good—Using the power of social to advocate for animals

Published on February 4, 2026 by anitharobinsonLeave a comment

Johnny Oberg is an animal advocate dedicated to making the world a kinder place for animals by utilizing the power of social media.

He joins Anitha to talk about his journey to becoming a full-time animal activist, what it means to bear witness as these sentient beings are transported to their death and using the power of social media to advocate for them. Johnny’s posts have been viewed 500 million times and thousands of people have been influenced by his work.

This episode is for animal lovers and also those who want to use social media to make a difference.

To learn more about Johnny, check out these links:

As a thank you to Johnny for sharing his story, Anitha donated to Plant Dining Partnerships. This organization provides resources for businesses to increase plant-based food options. To learn more about what they do, check out their website:

Plant Dining Partnerships Website

To hear the full episode, click here:

Episode 150: Kindness Is The Animal Save Movement—Creating an eco-friendly vegan world, for the animals, the planet, and health.

Published on January 7, 2026January 7, 2026 by anitharobinsonLeave a comment

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:

The Save Movement 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:

Better Food Foundation

To hear the full episode, click here:

Episode 149: Kindness Is Loving Octopuses—A young girl dedicated to helping octopuses.

Published on December 31, 2025 by anitharobinsonLeave a comment

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:

Lily & Swim For Impact on Instagram

One Ocean Planet Website

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:

Animal Rights Initiative Website

To hear the full episode, click here:

Episode 147: Kindness Is Bags Without Barriers—Providing essential supplies so all individuals can be successful.

Published on December 18, 2025 by anitharobinsonLeave a comment

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:

Bags Without Barriers

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:

Save Our Scruff

To hear the full episode, click here:

Episode 143: Kindness Is Being Anonymous for the Voiceless—Speaking out against history’s largest and longest-standing injustice.

Published on November 19, 2025 by anitharobinsonLeave a comment

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:

Oliver’s Linktree

Anonymous for the Voiceless Website

Cube Of Truth

As a thank you to Oliver for sharing his story, Anitha donated to Anonymous for the Voiceless.

To hear the full episode, click here:

Episode 142:Kindness Is Continuing To Fight For Rainbow Spaces—Protecting LGBTQ+ youth

Published on November 12, 2025 by anitharobinsonLeave a comment

**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:

Website Rainbow Spaces

Instagram-Rainbow Spaces

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

International: www.crisistextline.org/

You can hear the full episode here:

Episode 141: Kindness Is Being We Animals—Advocating For Animals Through Photojournalism.

Published on November 5, 2025 by anitharobinsonLeave a comment

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.

Website We Animals

Instagram We Animals

Facebook We Animals

As a thank you to Jo-Anne, for sharing her story, Anitha donated to We Animals.–

To hear the full episode, click here:

Episode 140: Kindness Is Elevating Access—Ensuring folks have access to life-saving healthcare, even if it comes at self-risk.

Published on October 29, 2025 by anitharobinsonLeave a comment

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.