Jamie's Corner

What the hell is up?

In this episode of Jamie’s Corner, I sit down with Anmol, an animal rescuer and caretaker at Govardhan Eco Village in India, where I’ve been spending the past month during my Jivamukti Yoga training.

We talk about the reality of animals in India — from the millions of stray dogs living on the streets to the complicated relationship people have with cows, dairy, and traditional culture.

Anmol shares his story of growing up eating animals while rescuing them… and the moment he realized he couldn’t keep doing both.

We also dive into some big questions:
• Why do people sometimes harm animals?
• What is the most effective way to reduce suffering?
• Is euthanasia ever ethical?
• What role does spirituality and yoga play in animal rights?
• And can traditions evolve toward greater compassion?

We also talk about the real solution to the stray dog crisis in India: spay and neuter programs that prevent millions of animals from being born into suffering. Helping animals here is surprisingly affordable — and Anmol has started an animal shelter here with two operating rooms for spay and neuter costing under $25 per surgery.

This conversation is honest, sometimes uncomfortable, and ultimately hopeful. Because change doesn’t happen overnight… but it does start with a conversation.

DONATING TO ANMOL AND SHELTER:
For donations abroad the following links could be used (just specify in description "for dog shelter")USAhttps://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/donate-to-change-lives-5250Other countrieshttps://shareyourcare.com/#donate-syc

🎧 Jamie's Corner is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube! 

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🕙 CHAPTER MARKERS:
00:00 Cold open: “Why are we drinking another species’ milk?”
00:52 Intro: Jamie + Anmol at the Govardhan Eco Village
01:54 What this episode covers (solutions + Anmol’s story)
02:17 Growing up in India + how animals are treated
04:47 The contradiction: rescuing animals while eating them
06:45 Why cruelty happens (frustration, survival, scapegoating)
09:27 How Govardhan Eco Village’s animal care evolved
12:00 Sharon Gannon’s impact 
16:43 How Anmol got into animal rescue
20:05 Burnout, grief, and staying in the work
21:40 Biggest solution in India: spay/neuter + community care
24:08 Euthanasia: karma vs ending suffering
26:23 Jamie’s personal story about her dog
31:58 The temple dog Mangul + animals and death
35:42 The stray dog crisis + why sterilization is the answer
37:21 What animals live at GEV + gaushala context
42:01 Dairy ethics debate + “why not outlaw dairy?”
50:10 The ideal future: stop breeding domesticated animals into existence
55:56 “We’re thriving, not surviving” (vegan is possible)
01:00:22 Future vision + building programs/sanctuary
01:05:14 Handling resistance: plant seeds, don’t impose
01:15:56 How far donations go + wrap / links

What the hell is up everyone? Today’s episode is a hard one… but an important one.

I’m sitting down with Bonnie Klapper (animal rights lawyer) and Brandy Cherven (Executive Director of Run 2 the Rescue) to talk about the reality of the dog meat trade — what’s actually happening beyond the headlines, beyond the Yulin festival, and beyond the myth that this is just “cultural.”

We break down:
• How rescue operations actually work
• The massive paperwork + costs to bring dogs to safety
• The emotional toll of watching cruelty — and how they keep going
• Heartwarming rescue stories (bring tissues)
• Why saving one life still matters

This conversation isn’t just about dogs in China. It’s about the line we draw. Why do we love one animal on the couch… and eat another on a plate? Why does cruelty shock us in one context but feel normal in another? If you’ve ever felt outraged watching footage from Yulin… this episode will challenge you to expand that compassion across the board.

🐾 Want to support Run 2 the Rescue?
Instagram + Facebook: @run2therescue
Website: https://run2therescue.com
(501c3 nonprofit)

They need:
• Adopters in the U.S.
• Transport volunteers
• Grant writers
• Video editors
• Fundraising support
If we can’t get the dogs here — they don’t get out.

🎧 Jamie's Corner is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube! 

If this episode moved you, please:
👍 Like
💬 Comment
🔔 Subscribe
⭐ Rate the podcast: 
Spotify - 
https://open.spotify.com/show/4EfzXcBI227SSYcTS55kqo?si=53863a4ac58d4c88
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jamies-corner/id1616904718

👉 Follow us:
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run2therescue.com

📚 Instagram:
instagram.com/itsjamiescorner
instagram.com/run2therescue

🙏 Support the show:
https://www.patreon.com/c/itsjamiescorner

🕙 CHAPTER MARKERS:
00:00 Content Warning + The Dog Meat Trade: What’s Really Happening
00:59 Meet Bonnie Klapper + Brandy Cherven (Run 2 the Rescue)
01:58 How It Started: Sunny, Charlie, and Going All-In on Rescue
06:17 Myth-Busting: Yulin vs. 365 Days a Year + “Humane” Illusions
09:35 The Rescue Reality: Paperwork, Costs, Vetting, and Placement
10:06 “Why Save 1?” Effective Altruism, the Train Track, and Moral Worth
13:19 Why It Persists: Demand, Superstition, and the Global Cruelty System
18:04 Case Study: 77 Lab Beagles (Mass Rescue with No Plan)
20:49 Who They Save: Seniors, Injured Dogs, Truck Interceptions
24:05 Trauma + The Rule of 3’s (3 Days / 3 Weeks / 3 Months)
32:29 How They Survive Emotionally (and Why It’s Worth It)
34:55 Brandy’s Breaking Point: Naming “Mercy”
39:08 How You Can Help: Editing, Fundraising, Grants, Adopter Network
43:02 The Empathy Bridge: “Organic Dog” Demo + Extending Compassion
49:00 What’s Next: Beijing Expansion + Quarantine + Meeting the Dogs
59:45 Where to Find/Support Run 2 the Rescue + Wrap

What the hell is up? In this episode of Jamie’s Corner, I sit down with longtime animal rights advocate and PETA veteran Ashley Byrne to unpack a difficult but necessary conversation: how infighting, online drama, and activist-on-activist attacks are weakening the animal rights movement—and why powerful industries benefit from it.From trolls and bots to clout-chasing creators and even historical examples of infiltration, this episode explores how division is manufactured, why it spreads so easily online, and how activists can protect their energy, their mental health, and the animals by staying focused on the bigger picture.This is a conversation about unity without uniformity, disagreement without destruction, and how to handle conflict in a way that actually creates change.If you care about animals, activism, or social movements—this episode is essential listening. Key topics:• Why activist infighting is so damaging• Industry smear campaigns and division tactics• “Vegan-on-vegan” harassment and misinformation• How to respond to trolls without fueling them• Self-care and emotional regulation for activists• Why the animals don’t care about our politics🎧 Jamie's Corner is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube!

👉 Follow us:itsjamiescorner.competa.org📚 Instagram:instagram.com/itsjamiescornerinstagram.com/ashlovesmongo🙏 Support the show:https://www.patreon.com/c/itsjamiescornerSpotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4EfzXcBI227SSYcTS55kqo?si=53863a4ac58d4c88Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jamies-corner/id1616904718

🕙 CHAPTER MARKERS:
00;00;00;00 — Why Division Weakens Movements
00;02;05;12 — Unity for the Animals (Episode Purpose)
00;03;41;25 — When Attacks Come From Inside the Movement
00;06;08;08 — There’s No “Right” Way to Be an Activist
00;09;27;23 — Industry Smear Campaigns & Manufactured Conflict
00;14;26;03 — How the Outside World Sees Vegan Infighting
00;20;19;00 — Infiltration, Bots, and Paid Division
00;24;11;07 — Healthy Disagreement vs Destructive Drama
00;37;31;25 — Self-Care, Equilibrium & Activist Longevity
00;58;47;03 — Final Reminder: It’s About the Animals

What the hell is up? In this episode of Jamie’s Corner, Taimoor joins us to break down his groundbreaking documentary Ending Real Fur—and the five-year investigation that helped take down the fur industry as we know it.

We talk:
- Why wearing fur is a massive red flag 🚩
- The shocking truth behind “luxury” fur brands
- How exposing animal cruelty pushed Taimoor to go fully vegan
- Inside fur farms, whistleblowers, and industry lies
- Turning a documentary into real political change
- Why controversy, discomfort, and public pressure actually work

This conversation is raw, unfiltered, and unapologetic—about animals, accountability, and what it really takes to create change.

🎧 Jamie's Corner is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube! 

🎬 Watch Ending Real Fur:
https://www.realfurfilm.com

👉 Follow us:
itsjamiescorner.com
realfurfilm.com

📚 Instagram:
instagram.com/itsjamiescorner
https://www.instagram.com/realfurfilm

🙏 Support the show:
https://www.patreon.com/c/itsjamiescorner

Spotify - 
https://open.spotify.com/show/4EfzXcBI227SSYcTS55kqo?si=53863a4ac58d4c88

Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jamies-corner/id1616904718

🕙 CHAPTER MARKERS:
00:00 – Wearing Fur = Red Flag 🚩
01:00 – Meet the Filmmaker Who Took on Fur
02:00 – From Diamonds to Animal Activism
03:30 – Witnessing Cruelty Up Close
04:30 – Why Fur Had to Go
05:30 – Going Vegan to Tell the Truth
06:30 – You Might Be Wearing a Dog
07:45 – Canada Goose & Greenwashing
09:00 – How One Focus Creates Change
10:45 – Turning Anger into Action
12:30 – What to Do With Fur You Own
13:45 – Karma, Energy & Consequences
15:15 – Almost Quitting the Film
16:45 – Turning a Movie into Law
18:30 – Controversial Protests That Work
21:00 – Empowerment vs Exploitation
24:00 – Why Public Shame Works
26:15 – Inside a Fur Farm
30:00 – Whistleblowers Speak Out
33:00 – Imagine This Was Your Dog
35:45 – Veganism Changed Everything
38:30 – A Film That Outlives Us
42:15 – Where to Watch & Take Action
44:30 – Final Words

In this episode of Jamie’s Corner, Jamie Logan sits down with Andy Stepanian — animal rights activist, SHAC 7 defendant, and former political prisoner — for one of the most raw and revealing conversations we’ve ever had on the show.

Andy traces the path from early environmental activism to the SHAC 7 campaign, explaining how strategic pressure can expose corporate cruelty and bring down multi million dollar industries. He shares the deeply human side of being a political prisoner — the isolation, the unexpected community, and the fight to stay vegan and stay sane inside solitary confinement.

We dive into prison life, unexpected friendships with people labeled “terrorists,” and the lessons he carries forward to today’s movement — including why activists must unite, how identity politics can fracture impact, and what we must do right now to support activists like Zoe Rosenberg, facing years for rescuing chickens.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone who cares about animals, justice, or the power of speaking truth to power.

🎧 Jamie's Corner is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube! 

👉 Follow us:
itsjamiescorner.com
https://www.petaindia.com

📚 Instagram:
instagram.com/itsjamiescorner
instagram.com/andystepanian

🙏 Support the show:
https://www.patreon.com/c/itsjamiescorner

Spotify - 
https://open.spotify.com/show/4EfzXcBI227SSYcTS55kqo?si=53863a4ac58d4c88

Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jamies-corner/id1616904718

🕙 CHAPTER MARKERS:
00:00 Introduction & the early days of activism
02:11 Andy's path to veganism
04:27 Shift to high-risk direct action (targeting fur shops)
07:22 The SHAC 7 Campaign 
09:15 Targeting the financial pillars of Huntington Life Sciences (HLS)
10:03 The strategy of "starving the organism" and the campaign's success
12:50 The conviction: The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act vs. protected speech
19:45 Life as a Political Prisoner
21:59 Maintaining a vegan diet in solitary confinement (losing 28 lbs)
26:59 Unexpected friendships
30:30 Helping a fellow inmate 
30:30 Supporting Activists: The Case of Zoe Rosenberg
41:34 Intersectionality and movement unity
42:40 Why divisiveness is counterproductive
46:13 Building coalition
54:10 How veganism is foundational to global peace
01:05:22 Conclusion