Can Finance Activism End Factory Farming? AI, Divestment, and Animal Advocacy with Richie Richardson

Can Finance Activism End Factory Farming? AI, Divestment, and Animal Advocacy with Richie Richardson

This episode of the Our Hen House interview features Thomas “Richie” Manandhar Richardson — AI Impact Director at Vegan Hacktivists and former Director of Research at Bryant Research — in a wide-ranging conversation about two urgent frontiers for the animal movement: financial activism targeting factory farming and the growing role of artificial intelligence in animal advocacy. Richie breaks down why divestment campaigns largely fail to cut off funding for factory farming (and the rare exceptions where they can work), how international development banks in the Global South represent a more promising pressure point, and what it means to stigmatize an industry financially— the way coal has been stigmatized. He then shifts to AI, covering how animal organizations can leverage tools like ChatGPT and Claude for research, communications, and even building software — and why those who are producing pro-animal content online may literally be shaping the values of the next generation of AI models. * Financial activism and its limits — Divestment campaigns rarely cut off funding because capital simply flows elsewhere; Richie cites research suggesting 85% of US wealth would need to divest from fossil fuels before companies feel real impact, with similar dynamics in factory farming. * Where financial pressure can work — International development banks (like the World Bank’s IFC) are a more viable target in lower- and middle-income countries, because if they cancel a loan, no commercial bank typically steps in — a tactic that successfully blocked a $200 million loan to Brazilian beef giant Marfrig. * Stigmatizing factory farming as a risky investment — Framing factory farming risks (disease outbreaks, insurance costs, stranded assets) in financial terms — as outlets like FAIRR and the Financial Times already do — can shift how investors perceive the industry over the long term, similar to what happened with coal. * AI as a force multiplier for animal advocates — AI tools can help under-resourced organizations and grassroots activists produce research, build websites, analyze data, and run campaigns at a scale previously impossible; Vegan Hacktivists’ free Amplify for Animals AI course is returning soon. * Shaping the AI models of the future — Publishing pro-animal content on blogs, Substacks, and YouTube may influence how future AI models are trained, and organizations like Sentient Futures and CAML are actively working with AI labs to build benchmarks that increase AI compassion toward animals. ABOUT OUR GUEST [https://www.ourhenhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/952-OHH-quote-template-360x360.png]https://www.ourhenhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/952-OHH-quote-template-360x360.png Thomas Manandhar-Richardson, also known as Richie, is the AI Impact Director at Vegan Hacktivists. There, he builds AI automations and provides AI education and consulting for organizations to help them have more impact for animals. Previously, he was the Director of Research at Bryant Research, where he conducted research primarily on the economics and finance of factory farming, as well as food security and alternative proteins. * Bryant Research [https://bryantresearch.co.uk/] * Vegan Hacktivists [https://veganhacktivists.org/] * Stop Financing Factory Farming [https://stopfinancingfactoryfarming.com/] * Bank for Nature [https://bankfornature.org/] * Richie’s Substack [https://richiemanandhar.substack.com/] _____________________________________________ Donate Now! [https://www.ourhenhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/donate-button2-2-300x111.png]https://www.ourhenhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/donate-button2-2-300x111.png [http://ourhenhouse.org/support] Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today [https://www.ourhenhouse.org/support]. Contributions of any amount are hugely appreciated. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content! Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/our-hen-house/id350069146] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@ourhenhouse/videos], or your favorite podcatcher, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review! Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast [https://www.ourhenhouse.org/animallaw/], The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast [https://www.ourhenhouse.org/cooking/], and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series [https://www.ourhenhouse.org/audio-series/]. Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/ourhenhouse/], Facebook, [https://www.facebook.com/OurHenHouse/]Instagram, [https://www.instagram.com/ourhenhouse/?hl=en]TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@ourhenhouse], Threads [https://www.threads.net/@ourhenhouse], or Bluesky. [https://bsky.app/profile/ourhenhouse.bsky.social] The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren. [http://michaelharren.com/]

The Hen Report: “We Won” | Ridglan Closes & the March to Marshall BioResources Begins

This episode of The Hen Report celebrates two major animal rights victories — the closure of the notorious Ridglan dog testing facility and Philadelphia’s ban on horse-drawn carriages — then pivots to the next big fight. Hosts Jasmin Singer and Mariann Sullivan are joined by animal advocate and poet Gretchen Primack and Sexy Fit Vegan founder Ella Magers to announce an ambitious 200-mile march from Albany, NY to Marshall BioResources (September 12–26), the largest animal experimentation breeding facility in the country, with over 20,000 animals. * Ridglan Farms closes for good — after years of activism, protests, and open rescues, the notorious beagle-breeding lab is shutting down and sending all dogs to rescue, marking a landmark win for the animal rights movement * Philadelphia bans horse-drawn carriages — Revolution Philadelphia’s years-long campaign pays off, with advocates now setting their sights on New York City * Albany to Marshall March announced — Gretchen Primack and Ella Magers are organizing a 15-mile-per-day, two-week march from Albany to Marshall BioResources (September 12–26) to demand an end to animal experimentation * How to get involved — join as a marcher (full or partial), volunteer on a logistics/outreach committee, or follow updates at savethedogs.io; contact Gretchen (@gretchenprimack) or Ella (@sexyfitvegan) on Instagram * Marshall BioResources is next — with 20,000+ dogs, pigs, ferrets, and cats, this facility dwarfs Ridglan and is now the movement’s primary target as momentum builds post-Ridglan [https://www.ourhenhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/951-OHH-2photos-2quotes-template-360x360.png]https://www.ourhenhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/951-OHH-2photos-2quotes-template-360x360.png RESOURCES * * * * * Hundreds of dogs to be sent to rescue as US beagle research facility shuts down [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/16/wisconsin-beagle-research-facility-shut-down] * Philadelphia Just Banned Horse-Drawn Carriages [https://www.onegreenplanet.org/news/philadelphia-just-banned-horse-drawn-carriages/] * Now let’s get 20,000+ beagles out of Marshall. [http://savethedogs.io] * Sexy Fit Vegan website [https://sexyfitvegan.com/] * Gretchen Primack’s website [https://gretchenprimack.com/] *  We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here [https://www.ourhenhouse.org/ep951/#pod-transcript] to read this episode's interview. _____________________________________________ Donate Now! [https://www.ourhenhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/donate-button2-2-300x111.png]https://www.ourhenhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/donate-button2-2-300x111.png [http://ourhenhouse.org/support] Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today [https://www.ourhenhouse.org/support]. Contributions of any amount will go towards our fundraising goal and are hugely appreciated. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content! Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/our-hen-house/id350069146] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@ourhenhouse], or your favorite podcatcher, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review! Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast [https://www.ourhenhouse.org/animallaw/], The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast [https://www.ourhenhouse.org/cooking/], and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series [https://www.ourhenhouse.org/audio-series/]. Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on Facebook, [https://www.facebook.com/OurHenHouse/]Instagram, [https://www.instagram.com/ourhenhouse/?hl=en]TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@ourhenhouse], or Bluesky. [https://bsky.app/profile/ourhenhouse.org] The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren. [http://michaelharren.com/]

Screwworms, Spy Drones, and a Ballot Initiative That Could Break the Meat Industry | Rising Anxieties

[https://www.ourhenhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/950-RA-QUOTE-TEMPLATE-360x360.png]https://www.ourhenhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/950-RA-QUOTE-TEMPLATE-360x360.pngThis week on Rising Anxieties, Mariann covers the EU’s ongoing (and apparently never-ending) effort to strip plant-based foods of their meat-adjacent vocabulary, the Oregon ballot initiative that has the animal agriculture industry writing fever-dream op-eds, and a Russian company claiming it’s wiring dairy cows’ brains for remote-controlled lactation — which is either the future or a war crime, possibly both. Also: the Save Our Bacon Act is losing sponsors, India’s dairy industry is built on a quiet lie, and America’s dairy farmers can’t find anyone willing to take over their farms.  * EU plant-based food labeling ban: After years of deliberation, the European Parliament banned dozens of meat-adjacent terms for vegan and vegetarian products — while somehow allowing “burger” and “nuggets” — and is now eyeing restrictions on pro-plant-based NGOs * Oregon IP 28: The anti-animal-cruelty ballot initiative would effectively end livestock slaughter, hunting, and fishing in Oregon — and opponents are so scared they’re lying about what it actually does * Save Our Bacon Act update: Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas dropped his co-sponsorship of the farm bill amendment targeting California’s Prop 12, a small but real win for animal welfare advocates * India’s dairy truth: A new report reveals India — widely assumed to protect cows on religious grounds — is actually the world’s single largest beef exporter, thanks to legal loopholes that reclassify most bovines as not-cows * Brain chips for dairy cows: A Russian neurotech company claims to have implanted electrodes into cows’ brains to trigger lactation on demand, because apparently the industry hadn’t yet hit rock bottom We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here [https://www.ourhenhouse.org/ep950/#pod-transcript] to read this episode's interview. _____________________________________________ Donate Now! [https://www.ourhenhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/donate-button2-2-300x111.png]https://www.ourhenhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/donate-button2-2-300x111.png [http://ourhenhouse.org/support] Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today [https://www.ourhenhouse.org/support].  Contributions of any amount will go towards our fundraising goal and are hugely appreciated. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content! Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/our-hen-house/id350069146] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@ourhenhouse], or your favorite podcatcher, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review! Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast [https://www.ourhenhouse.org/animallaw/], The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast [https://www.ourhenhouse.org/cooking/], and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series [https://www.ourhenhouse.org/audio-series/]. Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/ourhenhouse/], Facebook, [https://www.facebook.com/OurHenHouse/]Instagram, [https://www.instagram.com/ourhenhouse/?hl=en]TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@ourhenhouse], Threads [https://www.threads.net/@ourhenhouse], or Bluesky. [https://bsky.app/profile/ourhenhouse.bsky.social] The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren. [http://michaelharren.com/]

Animals Unbound Is Helping Animals in Crisis Zones Around the World

In this episode of the Our Hen House interview, Jasmin Singer and Mariann Sullivan speak with Liliana Pacheco and Gregg Tully, co-founders of the newly launched nonprofit Animals Unbound — an organization working at the intersection of animal crisis intervention, capacity building, and fundraising to support animals and the local groups that protect them in some of the most under-resourced and dangerous places on earth. * Ukraine crisis response: The organization has delivered over 1,200 tons of food and coordinated nearly 10,000 spay/neuter surgeries for abandoned pets left behind by the war. * Local-first model: Animals Unbound prioritizes empowering on-the-ground organizations — from a wildlife sanctuary in Zimbabwe to an animal hospital in India — because local groups provide the sustainable, long-term presence that international organizations cannot. * Broad species scope: Their work spans domestic animals, farmed animals, and wildlife, including chimpanzees at the Second Chance Chimpanzee Refuge in Liberia and anti-octopus-farming campaigns in the US. * STRATEGIC CAPACITY BUILDING: BEYOND EMERGENCY RELIEF, ANIMALS UNBOUND HELPS ANIMAL ORGANIZATIONS DEVELOP MULTI-YEAR PLANS, RUN EFFECTIVE ADVOCACY CAMPAIGNS, AND MEASURE THE REAL-WORLD IMPACT OF THEIR PROGRAMS. ABOUT OUR GUESTS [https://www.ourhenhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/949-OHH-2photos-2quotes-template-360x360.png]https://www.ourhenhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/949-OHH-2photos-2quotes-template-360x360.png Gregg Tully is the CEO and founder of Animals Unbound, where he builds the capacity of animal protection organizations by helping them develop strategic plans, strengthen leadership, and implement practical solutions to the most pressing threats facing animals worldwide. A Ph.D. biologist and seasoned nonprofit leader, he previously served as CEO of PASA (Pan African Sanctuary Alliance) and Soi Dog Foundation, growing both organizations significantly during his tenure. He has also coordinated donations of more than 1,200 tons of food for dogs and cats in Ukraine and facilitated spay/neuter surgeries for nearly 10,000 animals there. Liliana Pacheco is a licensed psychologist with master’s degrees in primatology and gender violence who brings 20 years of nonprofit leadership to the work of empowering animal protection organizations worldwide — from community development to wildlife conservation. She is the head of a wildlife sanctuary in Guinea, West Africa for animals confiscated from the illegal wildlife trade, and previously spent a decade as founding Director of the Jane Goodall Institute in Senegal and Guinea, where she led chimpanzee conservation research, launched community development projects, helped establish a Nature Reserve, and worked to combat wildlife trafficking through WARA, a member of the EAGLE Network. We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here [https://www.ourhenhouse.org/ep949/#pod-transcript] to read this episode's interview. _____________________________________________ Donate Now! [https://www.ourhenhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/donate-button2-2-300x111.png]https://www.ourhenhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/donate-button2-2-300x111.png [http://ourhenhouse.org/support] Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today [https://www.ourhenhouse.org/support]. Contributions of any amount are hugely appreciated. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content! Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/our-hen-house/id350069146] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@ourhenhouse/videos], or your favorite podcatcher, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review! Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast [https://www.ourhenhouse.org/animallaw/], The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast [https://www.ourhenhouse.org/cooking/], and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series [https://www.ourhenhouse.org/audio-series/]. Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/ourhenhouse/], Facebook, [https://www.facebook.com/OurHenHouse/]Instagram, [https://www.instagram.com/ourhenhouse/?hl=en]TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@ourhenhouse], Threads [https://www.threads.net/@ourhenhouse], or Bluesky. [https://bsky.app/profile/ourhenhouse.bsky.social] The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren. [http://michaelharren.com/]

The Hen Report: “When Is This Gonna Change?” | Animal Rights Wins, Farm Bill & Carriage Horses

This is a week packed with animal rights wins and sobering setbacks. Jasmin & Mariann open with a review of The Sheep Detectives, a fun animated film with some meaningful (if imperfect) animal messaging, then dive into a string of legislative victories: Portland’s foie gras sales ban, New York State’s octopus farming ban headed to the governor, and promising momentum around the Save Our Bacon Act, which would protect state-level farmed animal welfare laws from federal override. They also report on a damning follow-up undercover investigation at Cooke Aquaculture in Maine—exposing broken promises by the company’s CEO—alongside disturbing revelations about the University of Wisconsin’s purchase of Ridglan beagles for research, and yet another carriage horse collapse in New York City, prompting renewed calls for Rider’s Law. * Legislative wins for animals: Portland bans foie gras sales, New York State passes an octopus farming ban, and the Save Our Bacon Act—protecting Prop 12-style state laws banning gestation crates—shows strong momentum in the Farm Bill fight. * Corporate accountability in animal agriculture: A follow-up undercover investigation at Cooke Aquaculture reveals ongoing fish cruelty despite a public apology, underscoring why animal agriculture companies cannot be trusted to self-regulate. * University of Wisconsin & the Ridglan beagles: Records reveal UW-Madison purchased beagles from the recently exposed Ridglan Farms for invasive research, and the university is now under fire for investigating the student animal advocacy club that publicized the rescue. * NYC carriage horses & Rider’s Law: Another horse collapses and dies on New York City streets, reigniting calls to pass Rider’s Law, legislation that would retire carriage horses and transition the industry away from animal use. * Know your rights as an animal activist: A highlight from the Grassroots Animal Rights Summit—a YouTube talk by lawyers Chris Carraway and Darius Fulmer—offers practical guidance on protest rights and legal protections for activists. [https://www.ourhenhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/948-OHH-2photos-2quotes-template-360x360.png]https://www.ourhenhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/948-OHH-2photos-2quotes-template-360x360.png RESOURCES * * * * * Portland City Council Narrowly Passes Foie Gras Ban [https://www.wweek.com/news/city/2026/06/04/city-council-narrowly-passes-foie-gras-ban/] * Octopus Farming Ban Passes New York Assembly [https://www.instagram.com/p/DZMX6LilgL_/?img_index=1] * Michael Storer’s Wikipedia [https://www.instagram.com/p/DZMX6LilgL_/?img_index=1] * Warning for Senate Republicans: MAHA voters oppose Save Our Bacon Act [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/op-eds/4592670/warning-senate-republicans-maha-oppose-save-our-bacon-act/] * Meat companies keep promising to do better. They almost never do. [https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/490786/fish-farm-cooke-meat-industry-trust] * School Investigates Student Organization Connected to Ridglan Farms Beagle Rescue [https://www.instagram.com/p/DZXfGY4lEFR/] * Records show Ridglan beagles at UW-Madison were injected with blue dye, then euthanized and dissected [https://www.thecooldown.com/green-tech/beagle-research-experiments-uw-madison-2023/] * UW-Madison details anesthesia study involving dogs sourced from Ridglan Farms [https://www.wmtv15news.com/2026/06/05/uw-madison-details-anesthesia-study-involving-dogs-sourced-ridglan-farms/?fbclid=IwY2xjawSWOWxleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFxbGVzVjFtUU5tZEwwb2Z0c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHg7ugReujl8_tYcd9eeyoWb3vvlHSSzZs-wvcitLtOF9D3g9MyVd07nIU9fF_aem_DiWBydRE9J-UhHzYmqaQ-g] * Another Carriage Horse Collapses and Dies in New York City [https://www.instagram.com/p/DZYwa3RG5ur/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==] * House Committee Includes Horse Slaughter Ban in Transportation Bill [https://www.instagram.com/p/DYpVfShm4gj/?img_index=1] * Know Your Rights w/ Chris Carraway and Darius Fullmer /// Grassroots Animal Rights Summit 2026 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOR4zv_5NiQ] *  We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here [https://www.ourhenhouse.org/ep948/#pod-transcript] to read this episode's interview. _____________________________________________ Donate Now! [https://www.ourhenhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/donate-button2-2-300x111.png]https://www.ourhenhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/donate-button2-2-300x111.png [http://ourhenhouse.org/support] Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today [https://www.ourhenhouse.org/support]. Contributions of any amount will go towards our fundraising goal and are hugely appreciated. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content! Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/our-hen-house/id350069146] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@ourhenhouse], or your favorite podcatcher, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review! Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast [https://www.ourhenhouse.org/animallaw/], The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast [https://www.ourhenhouse.org/cooking/], and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series [https://www.ourhenhouse.org/audio-series/]. Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on Facebook, [https://www.facebook.com/OurHenHouse/]Instagram, [https://www.instagram.com/ourhenhouse/?hl=en]TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@ourhenhouse], or Bluesky. [https://bsky.app/profile/ourhenhouse.org] The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren. [http://michaelharren.com/]