ARZone Podcast 56: Jonathan Balcombe - Pleasurable Kingdom

Episode 56 features ethologist, author, public speaker and vegan advocate, Dr. Jonathan Balcombe.  

Dr. Balcombe speaks with ARZone about his work with the newly launched Humane Society University, about the Experience of Pleasure and the Elimination of Suffering, as well as about the complex inner lives of fishes, language and communication in other animals, and much more. Audio Podcast, approx 57 minutes.

Dr. Balcombe has three biology degrees, including a PhD in ethology (the study of animal behaviour) from the University of Tennessee. Jonathan has published more than 40 scientific papers on animal behaviour, humane education and animal research. He is also the author of four books, The Use of Animals in Higher Education: Problems, Alternatives and Recommendations, Pleasurable Kingdom: Animals and the Nature of Feeling Good, Second Nature: The Inner Lives of Animals, and The Exultant Ark: A Pictorial Tour of Animal Pleasure. Jonathan was formerly the Senior Research Scientist with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, and is currently Chair of the Animal Studies Department with the Humane Society University.  

Please watch Dr. Balcombe's video presentation on the complex inner lives of fishes.

You may also listen H E R E, or visit this webpage to subscribe using iTunes, and please remember to visit ARZone on the web at www.ARZone.net.

ARZone Podcast 53: David Cantor - Responsible Policies for Animals

Episode 53 features special guest David Cantor.http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7392026724731048755#editor/target=post;postID=1699410862535916337

A full-time animal advocate with national organizations since 1989, in late 2002 David Cantor founded and since then has served as the Executive Director of Responsible Policies for Animals (RPA), a group that engages in what he refers to as “strict rights advocacy”. RPA rejects both the traditional animal welfare strategy as well as abolitionism. Audio podcast, running time approx 48 mins.


David believes and argues that “rights precede abolition”. RPA promotes unalienable equal basic autonomy, ecology, and dignity rights of all animals, including humans; an end to rights of corporations and a number of other initiatives and strategies.

You may also listen H E R E, or visit this webpage to subscribe using iTunes, and please remember to visit ARZone on the web at www.ARZone.net.

To learn more about the Responsible Policies for Animals (RPA) please visit the RPA website at www.RPAforall.orgTo see RPA's lecture schedule for Fall 2012 please click here.

ARZone Podcast 45: Marc Bekoff

An interview with Marc Bekoff, world renowned animal behaviorist, biologist, author (Animals Matter) and advocate for other animals.

Marc talks about the need to connect hearts and minds by "rewilding" ourselves, his ideas about compassionate conservation, what we know about the minds of other animals, and how the way forward for other animals is for human advocates to stop their bickering and learn to work for a common purpose.

Prof. Bekoff is a former Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder, a Fellow of the Animal Behavior Society and a past Guggenheim Fellow. His main areas of research include animal behavior, cognitive ethology (which is the study of animal minds), and behavioral ecology; Marc has also published extensively on the need to change how humans regard, treat and use other animals. Named to the advisory board of GreenVegans in 2010, Marc has served as an advisor or board member to numerous organizations throughout his career, including as co-founder with Jane Goodall of Ethologists for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Marc has published more than 300 essays (both scholarly and for mass media) and 22 books, including Species of mind: The philosophy and biology of cognitive ethology (with Colin Allen) and the Encyclopedia of animal rights and animal welfare. Professor Bekoff has appeared on national and international television programs, and has been published in major newspapers and magazines. He currently writes a popular column called Animal Emotions for Psychology Today. 

In 1986 Marc became the first American to win his age-class at the Tour du Var bicycle race (also called the Master's … or age-graded Tour de France).

It’s safe to say that Prof. Bekoff is a recognized expert in animal cognition and behavior, and a trusted voice both inside and outside of the animal advocacy community.


You may also listen H E R E, or visit this webpage to subscribe using iTunes, and please remember to visit ARZone on the web at www.ARZone.net.

Please click the following links to read Marc's articles that are discussed in this podacst:

Rewilding Our Hearts: Maintaining Hope and Faith in Trying Times. 

Animals and Inmates: Science Behind Bars

Do Dogs Really Feel Pain and Are They Really Conscious?

Bears Can "Count"

Animal Consciousness and Science Matter: Anthropomorphism is not anti-science

Compassion Begets Compassion

The Hearts and Minds of Animals: A Discussion with Dr. Marc Bekoff

ARZone Podcast 8. The Ethics of "Wildlife" Rehabilitation.

This time the ARZone team of Carolyn Bailey, Barbara DeGrande, Tim Gier, and Roger Yates are joined by "wildlife rehabilitator" Emma Kaczmarczyk to talk about the rehabilitation of "wildlife" and, in particular, the ethics of feeding flesh or other animal products to the recovering animals and birds.

What to do about - or with - free-living beings is far from a settled issue in terms of animal rights thought and practice.



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