The Animal Turn

05/08/2026

Vivisection is an old word for a practice that still shapes modern medicine: using living bodies as tools for knowledge. Claudia Hirtenfelder talks with Lauren Stein, and Richard Miller from the National Anti-Vivisection Society (NAVS) to unpack some of vivisection’s history, how scientists understand it and think through the ethics of it, as well as the emergence of alternatives to its use.

Learn more: https://www.theanimalturnpodcast.com/bonus-episodes/anti-vivisection

27/07/2026

Claudia talks with Kathryn Gillespie about “haunting” as a way to notice how harm and care shape everyday human–animal relationships. They discuss everything, from feeding urban crows to grieving orcas and lab beagles learning what grass feels like. They consider the role of attentiveness in relations with animals and ask what becomes visible when we stop treating violence as background noise.

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23/07/2026

During the latest interview on The Animal Turn, Claudia spoke to John Sanbonmatsu about what constitutes deception. They discussed the various ways in which it operates, from the systemic to the psychological.

How do you think deception functions?

Access the full episode here: https://www.theanimalturnpodcast.com/bonus-episodes/deception

21/07/2026

read this quote during his interview. It is from the conclusion of his book "The Omnivore's Deception." It speaks to the authenticity of care and interactions between humans and animals at . John argues that we should not view movements away from the exploitation of animals as a denial of pleasure and purpose but rather as an opportunity to live lives full of better, more nourishing, relations.

Access the full episode here: https://www.theanimalturnpodcast.com/bonus-episodes/deception

Listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts.

20/07/2026

Bonus Episode: Deception with John Sanbonmatsu

joins Claudia on the show to discuss ‘deception,’ a concept in the title of his recently published book “The Omnivore’s Deception.” They explore how deception operates in understandings of meat and human relations with animals, including how industries actively deceive the public but also how individuals engage in practices of bad faith and self-deception.

Access the full episode here: https://www.theanimalturnpodcast.com/bonus-episodes/deception

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Subscribe to The Animal Turn wherever you get your podcasts and leave a review on Apple itunes, podchaser or Spotify.

26/05/2026

11/05/2026

A scientific abstract can tell you a species is declining. A story can make you feel what that loss means and why it should change how you live. In this episode Claudia talks to Lucy Spelman, Susan Tacent, and Christopher Kondrich, the co-editors behind Creature Needs, a striking book that juxtaposes conservation science with poems, essays, and fiction written in response. They discuss the book, writing as a means of connection, and the politics of conservation.

03/05/2026

In this highlight, Rosa questions whether zoos could be thought of as “living collections” that objectifying animals in ways that are similar to the animal objects one finds in a museum or archive. She considers the internet sensation Moo Deng and asks whether her fame has achieved much in the way of the conservation goals for pygmy hippos.