Better Life for Animals

Imagine spending decades confined in a windowless laboratory, never experiencing the freedom to explore the outdoors. For many rescued chimpanzees, this was their reality before arriving at sanctuary.

In Episode 089 of Better Life for Animals, host Cheryl Moss welcomes Diana Goodrich, co-director of Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest, to explore the extraordinary resilience of chimpanzees rescued from biomedical research, roadside zoos, and other captive environments.

Diana shares how her experience working with Washoe, the famous chimpanzee who learned American Sign Language, transformed her understanding of animal intelligence and compassion.

She also discusses the Cle Elum 7...

Farm animals need enough room to stand, turn around, and stretch their limbs. Yet even these basic protections remain the subject of an intense political fight. In Episode 088 of Better Life for Animals, Cheryl Moss welcomes back Matthew Dominguez of Compassion in World Farming to discuss the Save Our Bacon Act and what he sees as its threat to progress against extreme confinement.

Matthew explains how California's Proposition 12 and other state measures have become important tools for improving conditions for farmed animals. He describes the effort to challenge these protections through federal legislation and explains why advocates...

Animal protection laws can only help when they are enforced. Attorney Vanessa Shakib joins me, Cheryl Moss, to discuss how legal advocacy can expose hidden suffering, challenge unlawful business practices, and hold government agencies accountable.

As co-founder and co-director of Advancing Law for Animals, Vanessa uses civil litigation to protect animals exploited in research and industrial food production. She explains how animals' legal status as property creates obstacles and how her organization uses existing laws to bring their interests before the courts.

Our conversation covers taxpayer-funded animal experimentation, oversight of foreign laboratories, a challenge to...

What happens when an animal sanctuary becomes more than a place of rescue?

In this episode of Better Life for Animals, host Cheryl Moss talks with Simone Scampoli, Executive Director of Capra Libera Tutti, an animal sanctuary in Italy where rescued farmed animals are given the opportunity to make choices, form relationships and live as individuals.

Simone shares the remarkable story of how a former farm became an animal sanctuary and why animal agency is central to the work of Capra Libera Tutti.

They discuss farm animal rescue, animal rights, vegan education, sanctuary...

Is cage-free really a victory for animals when hens are still being used as part of the same food system?

Dan Shannon, CEO of The Humane League, joins Cheryl Moss to explore why the answer isn't as simple as yes or no.

Dan explains what life is like for hens confined in battery cages, how cage-free systems can reduce suffering, and why incremental reforms can provide a strategic foundation for much bigger changes.

The conversation also explores corporate accountability, the Farm Bill, protecting hard-won animal welfare laws, and why giving more people ways...

Five rescued pigs became twelve in just two months. For Kathy Cullen, founder of Jolene's Retreat, that unexpected turn was the beginning of a much bigger journey.

Kathy spent 25 years as a teacher before animal advocacy changed the direction of her life. When five pigs suddenly needed somewhere safe to go, she wasn't prepared to take them. But when she learned they could otherwise go to slaughter, she said yes.

Soon she discovered two of the females were pregnant. Five pigs quickly became twelve.

In this episode of Better Life for Animals, Cheryl...

What does it mean to truly see an animal rather than simply look and move on?

Writer, animal photojournalist, and activist Diana Hulet joins Cheryl Moss to explore how photography and storytelling can help people recognize animals as individuals with full lives, relationships, and experiences of their own.

Diana shares how her childhood connection with photography eventually became part of her animal advocacy. After decades of teaching yoga, meditation, and philosophy, she could no longer reconcile teachings about nonviolence with the exploitation of animals she saw around her. She returned to the camera and began...

Internationally recognized fine art photographer Robert Sturman has spent more than two decades documenting dignity, resilience and healing. His work has taken him into prisons, military communities and cultures around the world. Then a rescued coonhound named Otis entered his life and gave his work an entirely new purpose.

Otis survived the laboratory-testing industry and still carries an identification tattoo inside his ear. When Robert agreed to foster him, it took only moments for him to understand that Otis had found his permanent home.

In this moving conversation with host Cheryl Moss, Robert shares how...

What happens when the life you built no longer reflects what you believe?

For Chiara Saitta, becoming vegan changed far more than what she ate. It prompted her to leave a career in fashion and film, help open Rome's first vegan patisserie, and eventually dedicate herself to caring for rescued animals in Portugal.

In this episode of the Better Life for Animals podcast, Chiara shares the experiences that led her to Riza Animal Sanctuary, where she helps care for around 60 animals through a fully volunteer-run operation.

From meeting a rescued pig to watching...

A donkey can grieve so deeply after losing a bonded companion that they stop eating.

That is only one of the powerful truths Amber Raleigh and Edj, co-founders of Donkey Dreams Sanctuary, reveal in this unforgettable conversation with Cheryl Moss.

Donkeys are often dismissed as stubborn or treated like smaller versions of horses. But these intelligent, emotionally complex animals think, love, remember, form lifelong relationships, and experience profound grief.

Amber and Edj care for nearly 100 wild burros and rescued donkeys at their GFAS-certified sanctuary in Arizona. Their approach is built around trust, respect...

Young people care deeply about animals, but many don't realize how much power they already have to create change.

In this episode of the Better Life for Animals Podcast, Cheryl Moss talks with Danielle Hanosh, co-founder and executive director of LEAP, Leaders for Ethics, Animals and the Planet, about helping the next generation turn compassion into meaningful action.

Danielle shares how LEAP gives young people an alternative path for learning about animals, humane education, advocacy and leadership. She and Cheryl explore the many ways young people can make a difference, from animal law, policy and...

Pigeons are one of the most familiar birds in the world, yet they are also among the most misunderstood.

In this episode of the Better Life for Animals Podcast, Cheryl Moss talks with Susan Joyce, affectionately known as "The Pigeon Lady," about how an unexpected encounter with pigeons changed the direction of her life.

Susan shares how she went from working in veterinary practice to caring for hundreds of pigeons and eventually becoming a passionate advocate for birds that are often dismissed as pests. She challenges common misconceptions about pigeons, shares some fascinating facts about...

What does it take to create real, lasting change for animals?

In this episode of the Better Life for Animals Podcast, Cheryl Moss talks with Amber Canavan, Associate Director of Vegan Campaigns at PETA, about more than two decades of animal advocacy, vegan activism, corporate campaigns, animal rescue, legislation, and the persistence required to challenge industries that profit from animal exploitation.

Amber shares how a high school paper first opened her eyes to the realities of animal suffering and ultimately helped set the direction for her life's work. Since then, she has been involved in...

Most animal sanctuaries begin with compassion.

Shy 38 Animal Sanctuary began with a single cow.

She wasn't known by a name. She was simply Number 38, one of dozens of cows grazing in a neighboring pasture. Yet by quietly observing her and the rest of the herd, founder Chris Taylor and her young children witnessed something that would forever change the course of their lives.

They saw mothers form deep bonds with their calves. They watched friendships develop within the herd. And each autumn, they witnessed the heartbreaking grief that followed when calves were taken...

What does it really take to create a no-kill community and save more animals in shelters?

In this episode of the Better Life for Animals Podcast, Cheryl Moss talks with Tawny Hammond of Best Friends Animal Society about the leadership, policies, partnerships, and community involvement needed to transform animal shelters and save lives.

Tawny shares lessons from decades in public service and animal services leadership, including her experience in Austin, Texas, where the city achieved a 98 percent save rate for more than 17,000 animals in a single year.

Cheryl and Tawny explore what no-kill...

What happens when you meet a pig and begin to see someone instead of something?

Suki Player, founder of Little Pigs at Home Animal Sanctuary in West Wales, shares how one pig changed the direction of her life and led to a mission of rescue, education, and changing hearts one pig at a time.

In this episode of the Better Life for Animals Podcast, Suki talks with Cheryl Moss about the intelligence, emotional lives, and distinct personalities of pigs. She shares stories of pigs who arrived frightened, grieving, disabled, overweight, in pain, or simply unwanted...

Why do an estimated 95% of drugs that pass animal testing fail in human clinical trials? If animal experimentation often produces poor results for people, why is it still widely used in medical research?

In this episode of the Better Life for Animals Podcast, Cheryl Moss speaks with Meredith Blanchard, Senior Manager of Advocacy and Policy at the National Anti-Vivisection Society (NAVS), about the science, ethics, and future of replacing animal testing with human-based research methods.

Meredith explains why animal models frequently fail to predict human outcomes and discusses innovative alternatives that are already transforming biomedical...

Foxes are intelligent, emotional individuals who form bonds, experience grief, express joy, and have unique personalities. Yet foxes continue to be bred and exploited for the fur industry and exotic pet trade.

In this episode of the Better Life for Animals podcast, host Cheryl Moss talks with Nicole Navarro, founder and executive director of Pawsitive Beginnings, a fox sanctuary in Key Largo, Florida.

Nicole shares how meeting two surrendered foxes changed the direction of her life and eventually led her to create a sanctuary for foxes rescued from fur farms and the exotic pet industry...

For more than four decades, Gail Eisnitz has gone where few people are willing to go. As Chief Investigator for the Humane Farming Association, she has spent her career documenting the hidden realities of factory farms and slaughterhouses, exposing cruelty that most consumers never see and many industries would prefer remain hidden.

In this powerful episode of Better Life for Animals, host Cheryl Moss sits down with Gail to discuss her extraordinary journey, the emotional cost of bearing witness to animal suffering, and the resilience that has allowed her to continue fighting for animals despite enormous personal...

Most people never see what happens behind the walls of animal testing facilities. In this powerful episode of Better Life for Animals, host Cheryl Moss sits down with animal advocate Pamela Smith to discuss her involvement in the widely publicized open rescue at Ridglan Farms, a Wisconsin facility that breeds beagles for laboratory testing.

Pamela shares her personal journey from becoming an ethical vegan to taking direct action on behalf of animals. She offers a firsthand account of the rescue effort, the emotional reality of helping beagles destined for experimentation, and why she believes public awareness is...

Most people think animal advocacy begins and ends with awareness. But according to Amit Dhuleshia, lasting change for animals requires something much bigger: political action, grassroots organizing, and long-term strategy.

In this episode of Better Life for Animals, Cheryl Moss sits down with Amit Dhuleshia, co-founder of Strategic Action for Animals and creator of the Action for Animals app, to discuss how advocates can move beyond reacting to crises and begin building systems that create lasting protections for animals.

Amit shares his journey from the software industry into animal advocacy and explains why he believes...

What if the animals in our lives are here to teach us how to heal?

In this episode of Better Life for Animals, Cheryl Moss welcomes author, animal communicator, Reiki practitioner, and podcast host Stephanie Stephan for a powerful conversation about the emotional wisdom animals carry and the lessons humans can learn from them.

Stephanie shares deeply personal stories about rescue animals, sanctuary experiences, energy healing, and the profound impact animals have had on her spiritual and emotional journey. Through her work and her book, The Path to Unconditional Love: Lessons in Heart-Centered Living from...

Can what we eat really influence the future of the planet?

In this episode of the Better Life for Animals Podcast, Cheryl Moss speaks with Matthew Dominguez, U.S. Executive Director of Compassion in World Farming (CIWF), about the far-reaching consequences of factory farming and why transforming our food systems has become one of the most urgent issues of our time.

Matthew shares how growing up on a cattle ranch shaped his understanding of animals and how his path through environmental law ultimately led him into animal advocacy. Today, he works at the forefront of...

Most people move through life without questioning the systems around them.

Then something changes.

Maybe it's watching footage from a factory farm. Maybe it's meeting a rescued animal and realizing they are far more emotionally complex than we were taught to believe. Or maybe it's the unsettling realization that the products we once consumed without thought are connected to immense suffering hidden behind closed doors.

For many vegans, that moment creates a profound psychological shift. The world no longer looks the same.

In this deeply thought-provoking episode of the Better Life...

Chickens are often overlooked, misunderstood, and treated as commodities. But as Erica Camp of Second Hen'd shares in this powerful episode of Better Life for Animals, spending just a few minutes with a rescued hen can completely change the way people see these intelligent, emotional animals.

In this conversation, Erica discusses the heartbreaking reality facing egg-laying hens, the work of rescuing and rehoming chickens, and why compassion for farmed animals matters more than ever. She also shares how meaningful human connection with rescued animals can inspire lasting change.

Listen and subscribe:
https://BetterLifeForAnimals.com...

Why do so many people care deeply about animals, yet still struggle to connect the dots when it comes to farmed animals?

In this compelling episode of the Better Life for Animals podcast, Cheryl Moss sits down with Ayelette Robinson for a conversation that goes far beyond veganism and advocacy slogans. Together, they explore the emotional and cultural barriers that shape how society views animals and why connection, not confrontation, is often what creates lasting change.

Ayelette shares her fascinating journey from corporate law and technology into animal advocacy, sanctuary leadership, and storytelling. She opens...

What does it really mean for animals to be safe, respected, and protected for life?

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Jessica Harris, Farmed Animal Program Director at the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS), to explore what separates true animal sanctuaries from places that simply use the name. If you care about animal welfare, vegan living, or ethical treatment of farmed animals, this is a conversation you don't want to miss.

Most people have never met a pig, a sheep, or a chicken. And that lack of connection is exactly why it's...

Orangutans are facing rapid extinction due to deforestation, palm oil expansion, and habitat loss. In this episode of Better Life for Animals, Cheryl Moss speaks with Leif Cocks, founder of The Orangutan Project, about what it will take to protect orangutans, restore rainforests, and secure a future for wildlife.

Leif shares his journey from working in zoos to becoming a global advocate for orangutan conservation. He explains why captivity is not a solution for saving endangered species and why protecting large, connected rainforest ecosystems is essential for survival.

This conversation covers the impact of palm...

When Anne Dinshah reflects on the state of the world, one number stands out. When her father helped found the American Vegan Society, an estimated 8 billion land animals were killed each year for food. Today, that number exceeds 80 billion.

That staggering shift is exactly why Anne continues her life's work. Not from a place of overwhelm, but from a grounded belief that each of us can do the most good and the least harm, every single day.

On episode 061 of the Better Life for Animals podcast, Anne shares how compassion, consistency, and practical choices can...

2,300 animals rescued. Colombia's first farm animal sanctuary. One woman who decided at just five years old that animals were not food—and never looked back.

In this episode of Better Life for Animals, Juliana Castañeda shares the powerful journey behind building a sanctuary that has saved more than 2,300 animals and continues to care for nearly 200 at any given time. But what stands out most is not just the rescue work—it's her unwavering belief that rescue alone will never be enough.

Juliana explains why education is the only true path to ending animal suffering, and h...

Change for animals does not happen by chance. It happens when people decide to act.

In this episode of Better Life for Animals, Karen Bacon shares her experience working to create real change through focused advocacy efforts. From challenging rodeo practices to mobilizing community support, she breaks down what it takes to move issues forward.

This conversation goes beyond awareness and into action. You will hear how petitions, outreach, and persistence play a role in shifting outcomes for animals, and why individual voices still matter.

If you have ever wondered how to make...

Most businesses start with a plan. Dave Graham's did not.

A weekend stay at a vegan bed and breakfast in Australia turned into an unexpected opportunity when the owner asked if he could build a website. Dave said yes. That one project led to another, and soon he was working with vegan professionals, nonprofits, and mission-driven businesses around the world.

What began as a side project quickly evolved into a full-time career. But it was not until Dave began working closely with animal sanctuaries that everything clicked into place.

Why Animal Sanctuaries Became...

When people think about social media growth, they usually talk about algorithms, hashtags, or viral tricks.

Molly Hodgdon has a different philosophy.

People may not remember every post you publish. They may not remember your captions or the details of a campaign. But they will remember how your posts made them feel.

And that simple insight has helped Molly raise more than $100,000 for animals, grow a sanctuary's online following by over 1,000 percent, and turn a hobby account about antique cat photos into a powerful philanthropic engine.

In this episode of the...

Sometimes the shift into veganism doesn't happen all at once. It happens in layers. A documentary. A book. A conversation. And then one day something clicks so deeply that you can never see the world the same way again.

In this special episode of the Better Life for Animals Podcast, the tables are turned as Kathleen Gage, the producer behind the show and founder of Vegan Visibility, steps in front of the microphone.

Host Cheryl Moss sits down with Kathleen for an honest and deeply reflective conversation about the moment she fully connected the dots...

What happens when a powerful industry operates entirely behind closed doors? Investigative journalist and author Will Potter has spent over a decade answering that question. In this episode of the Better Life for Animals podcast, we dive deep into the legal and political tactics used to shield factory farms from public scrutiny.

Potter, the author of Green Is the New Red and the new investigative work Little Red Barns, explains how the battle over industrial agriculture has evolved into a battle over transparency itself. We discuss the rise of "Ag-Gag" laws, the FBI's labeling of a...

A wild owl spent his entire life in a cage — until he escaped. Flaco, a Eurasian eagle owl born in captivity at the Central Park Zoo, could not fly freely for years.

When he escaped, millions of people followed his story and instinctively rooted for his freedom.

Why did his story resonate so deeply? And what does it reveal about zoos, wildlife captivity, and the state of animal protection laws in the United States? In this episode of the Better Life for

Animals podcast, animal law attorney and award-winning author Christine Mott examines th...

Chickens are intelligent, emotionally complex animals, yet they remain among the most underestimated and commodified beings in modern agriculture. In this episode of Better Life for Animals, host Cheryl Moss speaks with Liz Wheeler, co-founder of Secondhand Stories Chicken Sanctuary, about chicken sentience, sanctuary advocacy, and reshaping cultural narratives around farmed animals.

Liz shares the pivotal moment that led her into sanctuary work — meeting a rescued chicken named Ellen whose personality challenged deeply embedded stereotypes about chickens. That experience ultimately inspired the creation of a sanctuary operating under a capacity-for-care model, prioritizing lifelong quality of life over sc...

Factory farming impacts billions of animals, but the story does not end there. Behind the system are struggling farmers, vulnerable workers, and communities searching for better solutions. In this powerful episode, Leah Garcés shares what more than two decades of advocacy has taught her about transforming one of the most entrenched systems in our world.

From collaborating with farmers to exposing the hidden human cost of industrial agriculture, Leah offers a thoughtful and hopeful perspective on what real change requires and how each of us can help build a more compassionate food system.

Whether y...

What happens when more than 45,000 people connect with rescued farmed animals in a single year? Perspectives shift. Awareness grows. And compassion becomes personal.

In this episode of the Better Life for Animals Podcast, host Cheryl Moss sits down with Kelly Nix, Executive Director of Luvin Arms Animal Sanctuary in Colorado, to explore how sanctuaries are helping reshape the way people see animals and their role in creating a more humane world.

Drawing on her background as a special education teacher and school principal, Kelly explains why compassion is not simply taught. It is modeled and...

Most people say they care about animals. Far fewer are willing to disrupt their own comfort to protect them.

In this episode of the Better Life for Animals Podcast, host Cheryl Moss speaks with Rose Patterson, Co-Director of Animal Rising, about what it actually takes to challenge systems built on animal suffering and why polite advocacy often fails to create change.

Rose has spent more than a decade on the front lines of animal advocacy, leading some of the most visible and controversial campaigns in the UK. From rescuing beagles from laboratory testing facilities to...