What happens when ordinary people decide to speak up for animals? In this episode, Matthew King joins Nicole to talk about how cities big and small across the U.S. are banning rodeo and bull riding through grassroots action, community pressure, and people who simply refuse to stay silent.

Matthew A. King is the president of the Christian Animal Rights Association, which he co-founded with his wife, Nina. He is the author of I Will Abolish the Bow: Christianity, Personhood, and the End of Animal Exploitation, Meat: The New Cigarette: Patient Advocacy and the Plant-Based Diet, and Pride Goes Before Destruction: Human Vanity, Animal Agriculture, and the New Covenant Solution. He is also a registered nurse.

Matthew hosts ‘The Peaceable Kingdom Hour,’ a biweekly hour-long show where he discusses issues involving the intersection of animal rights and the Bible. Finally, Matthew has an upcoming book titled, The Christian Case for Cultivated Meat, that will be published by Wipf & Stock in mid to late 2026.

https://christiananimalrights.com/

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In this New Year’s episode, Nicole sits down with Stephanie and Tiffany, two of the founders of Revolution Philadelphia, for a heartfelt and inspiring conversation about grassroots activism. They share how they got started, the campaigns they’ve taken on, and why community and friendship are so important in the fight for animals. This episode is a reminder that anyone can get involved — and that real change starts with people who care.

Tiffany Stair has been a lifelong animal lover and nurse for over 20 years. She went vegan in 2017 after seeing a series of clips from the documentary Earthlings and never looked back. “I basically went vegan overnight.” Soon after going vegan, Tiffany started to see a lot of activism content on social media and quickly became engaged with the local community, getting a crash course on animal rights activism. With the lack of a grassroots animal rights movement in Philadelphia, Revolution Philadelphia was born in 2020. The group proudly obtained its 501(c)(3) in 2023. Since then, RP has taken on multiple local campaigns and are working toward making a lasting difference for animals.

Stephanie Curson has spent the past 23 years teaching elementary school, where she loves weaving compassion for animals into her lessons whenever she can. A vegan for nearly a decade and an animal rights advocate for more than 15 years, she’s passionate about making the world kinder for all beings. She is proud to be a part of Revolution Philadelphia and loves working on campaigns with the other strong, like minded, and inspiring women. For the last three years, Stephanie has organized Phoenixville VegFest and is excited to keep growing and expanding the event. A lifelong animal lover, she feels a deep responsibility to speak up for animals and push back against the cruelty they face worldwide. Since going vegan, she’s also become a full-on foodie—and she’ll happily point you to all the best vegan spots around.

Revolution Philadelphia:

https://www.rev-philly.org/

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Can art change the way we see animals? Nicole chats with artist Lisa Goldberg about how creativity becomes a powerful form of activism. A contributor to the #FreeHappy billboard campaign and the NYC Animal Rights March, Lisa’s “animal artivism” blends compassion and visual storytelling to give animals a voice and challenge us to rethink our relationship with them.

Lisa Goldberg is a mixed-media artist and illustrator, working in both traditional and digital mediums. She is captivated by the intersection between figurative and abstract art, and by the ways that images and words can come together to tell a story. Since awakening to the profound suffering of animals in our human-centric world, the focus of much of her work has been on the animals who are most often used and exploited by humans for food, clothing, research, labor, and entertainment. She tries with every artwork to portray animals as individuals with their own interests and reasons for being. Her hope is that her work may spark the recognition that these sentient beings have the same capacity to thrive and to suffer - and the same innate right to live life on their own terms - that humans and their beloved companion animals do.

Lisa is the illustrator of two children’s books: SADIE'S SHABBAT STORIES, written by Melissa Stoller; and TEDDY, written by Willie Devargas. She lives on the Lower East Side of New York City with her husband, daughter, and two spoiled cats.

Lisa's Website: https://www.lisagoldbergillustration.com/

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New here? Go ahead — binge the backlog! Grab a cruelty-free snack, press play, and join us for some real talk about animals, activism, and living with heart.

Join the conversation on our free Substack.

Podcast Website: Inbehalfofanimals.org

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What does a lifetime of speaking up for animals look like?

In this Activist Spotlight episode, longtime San Diego advocate Ellen Ericksen brings not only decades of powerful activism—but also sharp wit, honesty, and laugh-out-loud moments. Ellen shares how she’s organized major protests, confronted cruelty at SeaWorld, racetracks, and rodeos, and inspired countless new activists along the way.

This conversation is energetic, candid, and funny, offering a refreshing look at what grassroots advocacy really feels like. A reminder that speaking up for animals can be bold, joyful, messy, motivating—and entirely human.

Come hang out with us! Subscribe, follow and start listening for insights, interviews, and stories from the heart. Every episode of In Behalf of Animals is a little different, but all are about animals and action.

New here? Go ahead — binge the backlog! Grab a cruelty-free snack, press play, and join us for some real talk about animals, activism, and living with heart.

Join the conversation on our free Substack.

Podcast Website: Inbehalfofanimals.org

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Ellen Ericksen is a very outspoken animal rights vegan activist based in San Diego, California. She has been an animal rights and an environmental activist since a very early age. She was very young when she made the self realization about the cruelty to animals and has been on this path her entire life.

Ellen has organized some of the largest protests and marches in Southern California to raise awareness about animal cruelty and promote ending all cruelty by means of animal liberation.

Ellen is particularly passionate about ending the use of animals for entertainment whether it be at Sea World, racetracks, rodeos and zoos. She has lead hundreds of protests against these cruel industries with success at changing hearts and minds.

Ellen has lectured at several universities, colleges in San Diego and at high schools and middle schools as well.

Ellen was awarded the grassroots Activist of the year at the Animal Rights Conference in Los Angeles and with the Pollination Project. She is also certified in Plant-Based Nutrition.

Through her activism, Ellen hopes to inspire others to take action and make a difference in the lives of animals. She believes that by working together, we can create a more compassionate world where animals are treated with the respect and the dignity they deserve.

Contact Ellen: ellenericksen@gmail.com

Follow Ellen:

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TikTok - tiktok.com/@passionatevegan

Dominion: https://www.dominionmovement.com/watch

You’re invited! Spend some time with us on Vegan Thanksgiving!

This bonus episode is all about connection, gratitude, and celebrating compassion! Patrick and Nicole reflect on Thanksgivings past and present, and explore what activism means during the holidays.

We welcome you into our lives as we share stories, and hear from fellow activists about their vegan Thanksgiving traditions, how they honor animals, and ways they bring connection and meaning into this time of year.

Pull up a chair, share in our stories, and let’s celebrate a Vegan Thanksgiving filled with compassion — together. 🦃💚

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Come hang out with us! Subscribe, follow and start listening for insights, interviews, and stories from the heart. Every episode of In Behalf of Animals is a little different, but all are about animals and action.

New here? Go ahead — binge the backlog! Grab a cruelty-free snack, press play, and join us for some real talk about animals, activism, and living with heart.

Join the conversation on our free Substack.

Podcast Website: Inbehalfofanimals.org

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What can turkeys teach us about compassion and leading with love?

In this episode, Kathy Stevens of Catskill Animal Sanctuary shares the true lives, intelligence, and emotions of turkeys, and explores how connecting with rescued animals can open hearts. She also reflects on how we can approach family gatherings during the holidays with compassion—for both people and animals.

Kathy Stevens is a lifelong educator, author, and sanctuary pioneer whose work has shaped the modern farmed-animal sanctuary movement. In 2001 after ten years as an English teacher, Kathy founded Catskill Animal Sanctuary in New York’s Hudson Valley. Under her leadership over the next 25 years, CAS became one of the most respected sanctuaries in the world — a refuge for thousands of animals and a model for compassionate education. Kathy is the author of Where the Blind Horse Sings and Animal Camp, co-author of the vegan cookbook Compassionate Cuisine, and a contributor to numerous anthologies on animal rights. She is a sought-after speaker, podcaster, and mentor, known for connecting hearts and minds through the power of story. Newly retired, she is enjoying her behind-the-scenes work in supporting a variety of animal causes, particularly efforts to guide sanctuaries towards sustainability and impact.

Catskill Animal Sanctuary (CAS) https://casanctuary.org/

Carols with the Cows - 12/13/25 - 12/14/25 https://casanctuary.org/carols-with-the-cows/

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Kathy's Books:

Animal Camp

Where the Blind Horse Sings

Visit our Substack and learn more about Turkeys: https://nicolearciello.substack.com/p/lets-start-talking-about-turkeys

Leave us a 5 star review on your favorite podcast app or on our website inbehalfofanimals.org

What if we could end rodeos once and for all? Most people have no idea what really happens behind the scenes at rodeo events. Animals face blatant, intentional abuse, including a violent practice called steer tailing—where steers are deliberately injured for entertainment. In this episode, Steve Hindi of SHARK (SHowing Animals Respect and Kindness) and Jodie Wiederkehr of Chicago Alliance for Animals, take us inside their fight to ban steer tailing in Illinois, and explain how you can take action to protect these animals.

Steve Hindi is an American animal rights activist and businessman. Founder and President of SHowing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK), an organization focused on documenting and protesting animal cruelty. He transitioned from a hunting and fishing background in 1989 to becoming a vocal opponent of practices like live pigeon shoots, rodeos, cockfighting, and more.

Jodie Wiederkehr is the founder and executive director of the Chicago Alliance for Animals (CAA), an all-volunteer, grassroots animal protection organization.

Jodie also formed the Partnership to Ban Horse Carriages Worldwide in 2017, where she guides animal advocates in numerous cities around the world to ban the inhumane and dangerous trade where they live.

Almost one year to the date of Chicago’s horse carriage vote, CAA succeeded in passing Chicago's Puppy Mill Bill Loophole Law, which shut down the remaining pet stores that were selling dogs from unscrupulous sources such as puppy mills and backyard breeders.

In addition, she founded the Center For Ethical Science (CFES), which is dedicated to educating the public on the egregious cruelty, immense tax dollar waste, and misleading and unreliable results of animal experimentation as well as the daily flouting of the federal Animal Welfare Act.

CAA's current campaigns include the fights to #FreeSpur, a huge Sulcata tortoise who was trafficked from her home and family in Africa and who's languished in a tiny, incredibly unnatural display case for nearly thirty-five years in Lincolnwood, Illinois as well as #FreeRocky, the lonely coyote/pack animal, who's been stuck all alone in a small cage in Chicagoland's bitter cold winters for more than five years now.

Jodie has also been hosting an animal rights radio show on WCPT AM 820 for the last two years called ‘If Cage Walls Could Talk’. It airs every Saturday evening from 5-6 pm CST and features interviews with well-known leaders in the world of animal protection and dedicated grassroots activists who are making such positive change for those without a voice.

Find contact information mentioned by Jodie and Steve and the full action you can take on our Substack here: https://nicolearciello.substack.com/

SHARK:

https://www.sharkonline.org/

https://www.instagram.com/sharkonlineorg/

https://www.facebook.com/sharkonlineorg

https://www.youtube.com/user/SHARKonlineorg

https://www.tiktok.com/@sharkonlineinvestigation

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Hindi#SHARK

Jodie Wiederkehr

https://chicagoalliancefor.wixsite.com/chicagoaa

https://heartlandsignal.com/programs/if-cage-walls-could-talk/

https://x.com/ChiAnimalRights

https://www.instagram.com/chicago_alliance_for_animals/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/www.chicagoallianceforanimals.org

https://www.youtube.com/@ChicagoAllianceForAnimals

Think backyard chickens are a kinder alternative to factory-farmed eggs? Think again. In this episode, Suzanne from Pennsylvania Voters for Animals explains how backyard flocks can still support factory farming and shares the important advocacy work she’s doing to protect animals in Pennsylvania.

Join the conversation on Substack: https://nicolearciello.substack.com/

Show Website: https://www.inbehalfofanimals.org/

About Suzanne:

Suzanne Gonzalez is a Pennsylvania resident and has worked for many years as a Registered Nurse and as senior management within the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. Since retirement, Suzanne focuses her time and energy advocating for the advancement of more robust animal protection legislation, rescuing animals in need (including farmed animals), and serves as a volunteer for several animal rescue organizations.

Through her animal rescue work, as well as her grassroots advocacy and activism, Suzanne has identified an urgent need for the enactment of stronger, more impactful animal protection legislation across her home state of Pennsylvania. Her vision and commitment to forging a more compassionate and caring community for PA’s animals led her to establish the 501-c4 non-profit organization, Pennsylvania Voters For Animals (PAVFA). Suzanne is also deeply committed to putting her compassion into action by embracing a vegan lifestyle since 2015.

Suzanne resides in Bucks County, PA with her loving and supportive husband. She holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing.

Pennsylvania Voters For Animals: https://www.pavotersforanimals.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560278284022

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pavotersforanimals?igsh=amNuN2F2aGNjd3Y4&utm_source=qr