Tag: #youth

Episode 121: Kindness Is Saving 25 Cats From Qatar

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Filmmaker Mye Hoang joins Anitha to talk about her latest documentary, 25 CATS FROM QATAR.

Mye is a cat lover who shares her home with five cats so it makes sense that a visit to a cat café in Milwaukee, USA lead to her filming a documentary about the owner of the café, Katy McHugh. Mye films Katy’s rescue mission to Qatar where she brings 25 cats back to the US and finds them their forever homes.

Mye shares what it was like being a part of this incredible journey to Qatar, a country with so much wealth yet at the same time filled with so many suffering animals. The cats are not native to Qatar. They were brought in years ago to help control the rat population. Sadly, the cats weren’t spayed or neutered and their numbers increased to the point that local rescuers are overwhelmed and cannot care for all the cats.

This was such a privilege for Anitha to speak with Mye, who donates profits from the documentary and from the sale of merchandise to local rescues.

The film is being shown throughout the United States and Mye hopes to take the film to other countries.

To learn more about 25 CATS FROM QATAR and find out when it’s coming to your area, check out their website and these social media links.

25 Cats From Qatar website

Instagram

Trailer on YouTube

As a thank you to Mye for sharing her story, Anitha donated to 25 CATS FROM QATAR so Mye can continue to support local rescues.

To hear the full episode, please click here:

Episode 118: Kindness Is Pikala Bikes & More

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Anitha met her guest Louisa Battioui in Marrakech, Morocco at an incredible bike rental place called Pikala. Founded by Cantal Bakker, a then 24-year-old from the Netherlands, Pikala is the colloquial Arabic word for bicycle.

Louisa talks about Cantal, who created Pikala to fight the pollution from cars and scooters in Morocco with the goal of making Marrakesh the cycling capital of Morocco. Louisa shares her experience working at Pikala which offers so much more than bike tours—from employing youth, to educating children, to giving the women of Morocco an opportunity to gain independence by learning how to cycle.

In addition to Pikala, Louisa talks about using her background in education to take part in a novel approach to educating youth in Morocco. She also shares her journey to becoming a vegan in Morocco.

A conversation full of hope and positivity about making the world a more inclusive, kinder and healthier place.

To learn more about Louisa, check out her Instagram page: Louisa’s Instagram

To learn more about Forum_2040 and its goals for education, check out their website

Forum 2040 Website

As a thank you to Louisa for sharing her story, Anitha donated to Morocco Animal Aid. This team of volunteers, rescues and rehabilitates hundreds of street animals in Morocco. To learn more about what they do, please visit their website.

Website:MoroccoAnimal Aid

To hear the full episode, click here:

Episode 117: Kindness Is Being The Rebel Vegan

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Former dairy farmer Todd Sinclair joins Anitha to talk about his journey from growing up on a Canadian dairy farm to becoming a vegan.

Todd gives listeners the rare opportunity to find out what life on a dairy farm is truly like for the animals. Listeners may be surprised to hear that life for dairy cows is not all happy and carefree—like many dairy farmers want the public to believe when they falsely advertise smiling cows on products such as milk, yogurt and cheese.

Todd explores the reasons behind the relative low cost of animal-based protein compared to plant-based protein—Governments subsidize the animal agricultural industry with our tax dollars, allowing these industries to sell their products at a reduced price—A price that does not reflect the true cost of animal-based protein.

Todd also talks about the fun Instagram posts he shares every Monday where he showcases happy news about animals and animal welfare.

To learn more about Todd and to see his uplifting Happy Monday posts, check out these links:

Todd’s Website

Instagram

Facebook

Todd has authored The Rebel Vegan Book Series.

To find out about these books, click the following links:

Amazon Canada

Amazon USA

Amazon UK

As a thank you to Todd for sharing his story, Anitha donated to Animal Aid in the UK. This non-profit began in 1977 with a goal of ending animal cruelty. To learn more about what they do, please visit their website.

Animal Aid Website

To hear the full episode, click here:

Episode 116: Kindness Is Everyone Is Welcome Here

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Earlier this year, an Idaho middle school teacher was told by their school district to take down a classroom sign that said EVERYONE IS WELCOME HERE. The reason given by the district was that the sign was deemed “a violation of the district’s content neutrality policy”. The teacher refused to comply.

Upon hearing this story, Boise Idaho resident, Chris Stewart, wanted to support the actions of this brave teacher. Chris talks to Anitha about how his initiative to create t-shirts with the same words as the sign, EVERYONE IS WELCOME HERE, brought an entire community together.

Chris also talks about some of his other acts of kindness—

Buying a realistic doll and donating it to a nursing home—folks with dementia often find these dolls a source of great comfort.

Rallying his community together to help a 93-year-old war veteran. Chris shares the story of Mac, a war veteran who was out with his family when some teens threw eggs and several of the eggs hit Mac. Chris inspired his community to raise funds to treat Mac to a new wardrobe, a limo ride, and a dinner at a nice restaurant for Mac and his family.

An engaging conversation with someone who shows how our voices can make a huge difference in helping others.

To follow Chris and his acts of kindness, check out his Instagram account— instagram

To order your own EVERYONE IS WELCOME HERE t-shirt or sweatshirt, click on this link: Brigade Screenprinting

As a thank you to Chris for sharing his story, Anitha donated an EVERYONE IS WELCOME HERE sweatshirt to those who want a sweatshirt, but are unable to afford one at this time. 

To hear the full episode, click here:

Episode 111: Kindness Is Being Ben Kennedy

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Anitha is joined by Ben Kennedy who helps care for animals from kittens to wildlife, and also helps humans by raising awareness for the trans community, all while working on his PhD.

Ben shares heartwarming stories of fostering kittens, dogs and getting married at the humane society. He also talks about the social media post that went viral (and not in a good way) when he shared Cross Fit’s new anti-trans policy. Ben also generously talks about going through fertility treatments.

An open and honest conversation with an incredibly open and kind person.

To learn more about Ben, check out his Instagram account: Ben Kennedy

As a thank you to Ben for sharing their story, Anitha donated to the San Diego Humane Society. This organization started in 1880 and has grown to provide many services including taking in abandoned dogs and cats and working to find them new and forever homes, community spay and neuter programs, community pet pantry and more. To learn more about the San Diego Humane Society, check out their website: San Diego Humane Society

To hear the full episode click here:

Episode 109: Kindness Is Being Cole The Deaf Dog & Friends

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Cole & Sullivan

Anitha chats with Chris Hannah, a music teacher and the lucky human who shares his life with not one, but four incredible dogs who show people that being deaf, deaf and blind, or deaf with a cleft palate are superpowers.

Cole, an adorable pitbull, was the first to come into Chris’ life. Chris talks about Cole’s journey as a therapy dog and the positive impact Cole has made on so many lives—both within Chris’ school community and beyond.

Chris also shares stories about Cece, Alice and Sullivan, also rescue dogs.

A heartwarming episode about resilience, acceptance, kindness and love.

To learn more about Chris, Cole, Cece, Alice and Sullivan, click on these links:

Website: cole the deaf dog

Instagram: cole the deaf dog

Facebook: Cole The Deaf Dog

TikTok: @deafcole

As a thank you to Chris for sharing his story, Anitha donated to Cole The Deaf Dog and Friends Foundation, so that Chris, Cole, Cece, Alice and Sullivan can continue to raise awareness about acceptance, kindness, compassion for all beings. 

To hear the full episode, click here:

Episode 108: Kindness Is Staying With Good Will Good Karma

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Anitha chats with 15-year-old Will Finch. Will and his sister Jada appeared on the podcast back in 2021 to talk about their incredible efforts to help stray dogs and cats find forever loving homes. The siblings created an organization called GOOD WILL GOOD KARMA. Will returns to talk about all that been happening with their non-profit animal rescue—including birthday fundraisers, starting a clothing line to raise money for animal rescue, heartwarming stories of dogs and cats they’ve helped, AND, that to date, GOOD WILL GOOD KARMA has raised a whopping $1 million for animals in need!

Flight Angels
Flight Angels
Tesha
Will & Groot

An episode full of heart and inspiration of what it means to create GOOD WILL and GOOD KARMA for all beings.

To learn more about Will and all he is doing to help animals, check out these links:

Instagram:  GoodWillGoodKarma

Facebook: GoodWillGoodKarma

As a thank you to Will for sharing his story, Anitha donated to Autism Dog Services. This charity, provides service dogs for individuals over three years of age who have autism and related disorders in most parts of Southwestern Ontario.

To learn more about ADS, check out their website: autism dog services

To hear the full episode, click here:

Episode 106 Kindness Is Recovering Stuffies For Kids

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For much of January 2025, the world watched as portions of Los Angeles were devastated by wildfires. People and animals lost their lives, homes were destroyed, and there was so much suffering. Anitha chats with Ashley Reckdenwald, the founder of Working Mom Notes. Initially created to help working moms find resources and a community, Ashley started an initiative within this social media account to help children who lost their beloved stuffed animals in the wildfires.

Ashley and Anitha talk about the importance of stuffed animals to children and adults, the incredible response to this initiative and the positive impact it has had on children and their families who have lost so much in the wildfires.

An episode full of all the good “feels” many of us need right now.

To learn more about Working Mom Notes and the LA Wildfire Stuffed Animal Recovery project, check out these links.

Instagram working mom notes

Facebook: working mom notes

TikTok: @ashleyreckdenwald

LinkedIn: Ashley Reckdenwald

As a thank you to Ashley for sharing her story, Anitha donated to Back To Play. This non-profit provides children who are in crisis backpacks containing kid-related items. To learn more about this organization, click here:

Website Back To Play

To hear the full episode, click here:

Episode 105: Kindness Is Animal Justice

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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 103: Kindness Is Jamie’s Corner

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Animal activist, YouTuber and podcast host, Jamie Logan joins Anitha, as we continue to celebrate Veganuary—the month of January where folks from all over the world explore veganism and plant-based diets.

A vegan since 2018, Jamie shares how she found a way to help and raise awareness for animals— from her yoga practice to her creative animal rights campaigns.

Jamie also talks about the anger she feels at companies who make billions of dollars from the suffering of billions of animals, and how she takes this anger and uses it to fuel her actions of kindness and empathy.

An in-depth conversation with an incredible activist.

To learn more about Jamie and all the work she is doing to help animals, check out these links:

Instagram itsjamielogan

Instagram itsjamiescorner

Website

As a thank you to Jamie for being a guest on the podcast, Anitha donated to Compassion Kind. This charity is dedicated to ending the suffering of all beings through compassion.

To learn more about Compassion Kind, check out their website:

Compassion Kind