cultivating understanding and a more compassionate world one sanctuary at a time
What could be better than hanging out at a farm sanctuary with rescued animals? Not much! Situated in the hills of the Mid-Hudson Valley, Safe Haven Farm Sanctuary, founded by Dr. William (Bill) Crain, and Dr. Ellen Crain is home to over 100 rescued farm…
Last week I took a trip from the Hudson Valley to Jp Farm Animal Sanctuary in Litchfield, Connecticut to visit Lynn and Oscar, Britt, and Yvonne, and the beautiful Scottish Highland cows who are now living safely and happily ever after at the Sanctuary. Going…
Hope Spot Hatteras is a sanctuary for marine life. Blog post and podcast coming soon.
In mid-May we ventured to the Blue Ridge Mountains to our new home just outside of Asheville, North Carolina. We are settling in and loving our new property and all the nature here. I don’t miss cars driving by my house every day….. We are…
In this new series, “Caregivers Corner,” I sit down with caregivers from different sanctuaries to talk about their work as caregivers. Joy Gomez is the farm manager and a caregiver at Safe Haven Farm Sanctuary in Poughquag, New York. Joy and I discuss their recent…
Maya Gottfried, Author of several books including “Vegan Love – Dating and Partnering for the Cruelty – Free Gal, With Fashion, Makeup & Wedding Tips” and I sit down in her home in the Hudson Valley to discuss this book, Our Farm, and much more.
Maya talks about her favorite part about writing the book. (Listen to the podcast for the answer!)
In addition to the stories of over thirty people who are interviewed for the book, there are also many tips, facts, and so much information about veganism and how to navigate not only dating and partnering, but also moving towards a more cruelty-free lifestyle. From facts about what happens to different animals in factory farming, to how and where to find vegan/cruelty free makeup, Maya shares it all!
We discuss some of the stories in the book and how many of the omnivore partners eventually went vegetarian or vegan after being with their vegan counterpart.
“Our Farm” is a book that is near and dear to Maya. She shares her story about writing this book, what made her go vegan on the spot, and her experience spending time at Farm Sanctuary where she met the animals who inspired the poetry. She is raw and honest about her interactions with different animals, especially a special hen that she met, who initiated change and the beginning of Maya’s vegan journey. Maya shares her personal battle with cancer and how this book, “Our Farm” was her beacon of hope and kept her going through the toughest times, during her treatments, and recovery.
Maya shares with our listeners what she writes for Veg News Magazine, what is coming next for her, and what vegan LOVE means to her.
Please listen, share, rate, and review this podcast so that more and more people can find us and enjoy!
To learn more about Maya and her work, purchase her books, and follow her, please visit her website:
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Kathy Stevens, Founder of Catskill Animal Sanctuary, author of Where the Blind Horse Sings, and Animal Camp, public speaker, educator and much more, sits down with me at the sanctuary amidst the goats, chickens, sheep, turkeys, and other animal friends whom she calls the “under-foots.”…
Jonathan Brant is an animal rights activist, a writer, an artist, a musician and singer, a student at Eastern Michigan University, and author of “An Open Letter to a Curious Omnivore.” In this episode, Jonathan and I are back together again discussing important issues surrounding…
*Audio typo correction!! – In this episode I say 100 billion animals have died in Australia wildfires. I meant 1 billion. Sorry for the audio typo!
Happy New Year! This episode is different from others in that there is no guest. In this raw and authentic episode, Kim Beller talks candidly about her start to the new year, the Australia wildfires and what everyone can do to help ALL animals in the world….. How we can all cultivate peace in the world through our daily practices, and her best goat friend named Violet.
Kim talks about how to combat compassion fatigue, her own daily meditation practice, and the mantra she chants 108 times each day. {LOKAH SAMASTAH SUKHINO BHAVANTU} – This Sanskrit mantra translates to “May all beings everywhere be happy and free and may the thoughts, words and actions in my own life contribute to that happiness and freedom for all.”
Offering a meditation for caregivers, volunteers, sanctuary workers, and anyone who works with animals or animal rights in any way, Kim guides listeners through a pranayama and meditation that can be done anywhere – any time. She talks about Ahimsa and how living and practicing Ahimsa will reduce pain and suffering around the world.
Kim encourages anyone listening to reach out to her when compassion fatigue sets in and offers tips and ideas to help with this struggle.
Sanctuary Tour is growing and is now officially a non-profit organization. We have started an emergency care fund that will be distributed as needed for animal sanctuaries and organizations in need. The basis of this work is to support sanctuaries by providing a platform to share stories, work, and ways we can support, as well as to provide monetary help as needed.
Please click on donate to make a donation supporting this work. If you or someone you know would like to sponsor this podcast, please send an email.
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Mike Barootijian is the owner and head chef of Party Animals Catering – A vegan catering service and meal plan service in the Hudson Valley in New York. It was a pleasure to sit down with Mike and discuss his work, his vegan story, and…
Sarah Beth is an animal rights activist and avid volunteer living in upstate New York. After learning about the many deaths of horses associated with horse racing, Sarah began protesting with Horseracing Wrongs, an organization founded by Patrick Battuello, that exposes the many wrongs in…
Helena Lundblad and I discuss the details of how Magical Creatures of Hamakua began and how she became a large sanctuary overnight. She tells the story of her best friend Janice the goat and how she nursed her back to health after Janice burned all four feet in a campfire.
Helena shares the story of a cow rescue on the Big Island and what goes on there in animal .
We discuss compassion fatigue and burnout and how Helena deals takes time to recharge.
To support this magical sanctuary, please visit their website.
https://www.magicalcreaturesofhamakua.org
Cows Come Home Sanctuary located in Talbott, Tennessee is such a magical place filled with lots of love and a very inspiring story. Randie and I sit down on her front porch overlooking the cow pasture, and have a heartfelt conversation. She shares her story…