In this episode of The Hen Report, Jasmin and Mariann cover a wide range of topics: Jasmin shares behind-the-scenes moments from her theater rehearsal, including an organic conversation about veganism, tallow lotion, and gelatin that unfolded among cast members without any agenda-pushing on her part. She also pays tribute to the legacy of Tommy Raskin, animal rights activist and son of Congressman Jamie Raskin, drawing from Jamie’s memoir Unthinkable. The hosts then dig into the story of marine biologist Emma Smart, who liberated a lobster from a UK fishmonger and faced a shockingly heavy-handed legal response, before closing with a rich discussion on Project Slingshot — a new UK campaign challenging factory farming with the slogan “Don’t Buy It” — and what it means for animal advocacy strategy. Project Slingshot & the anti-factory farming movement: Mariann breaks down this new UK pressure campaign, its broad definition of factory farming, its “Don’t Buy It” slogan, and the ongoing debate about whether explicit vegan messaging helps or hinders progress toward animal liberation. The lobster liberation story: Marine biologist Emma Smart rescued a lobster from a UK fishmonger, was strip-searched, and faced five criminal charges — raising urgent questions about how society and law enforcement respond to peaceful animal advocacy. Tommy Raskin’s legacy: A reflection on Congressman Jamie Raskin’s memoir Unthinkable and his son Tommy, a passionate animal rights activist whose final words called on people to care for animals and the global poor. Vegan identity vs. vegan options advocacy: Mariann draws a key distinction between advocacy that encourages people to go vegan versus advocacy that simply seeks to make vegan options more accessible and normalized. Kickstarting for Good & other opportunities: Applications are open for the Kickstarting for Good 2026 incubator (apply by May 31) and the Anima International 2026 Fellowship in Warsaw (apply by May 17); the Grassroots Animal Rights Summit is also coming to DC, May 15–17. RESOURCES I liberated a lobster and got crushed Don’t Buy It Why Factory Farming Need Cultural Pressure, Not Just Education Kickstarting for Good Anima International Fellowship Grassroots Animal Rights Summit  We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read this episode's interview. _____________________________________________ 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. 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, YouTube, 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, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series. Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or Bluesky. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.