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Episode 6 of the series: Sex and Animals Transcript

Dr. Jonathan Balcombe elaborates on the nuanced distinctions between consciousness and sentience, emphasizing that emotions and feelings play crucial roles in animals' daily lives, much like in humans.

Guest: Dr. Jonathan Balcombe is a biologist and ethologist whose work has reshaped how we think about animal consciousness and behavior. Born in England and raised in New Zealand and Canada, he spent decades in the U.S. before settling in southern Ontario, where he balances his scientific pursuits with a love for biking, baking, birding, and observing the ever-mysterious squirrels in his neighborhood.

Jonathan has authored five popular science books, including What a Fish Knows, Pleasurable Kingdom, and Super Fly, bringing compelling research on animal intelligence and emotion to a wide audience. His contributions extend beyond writing—he has published over 60 scientific papers, led academic departments, and worked as an editor, shaping conversations on animal sentience and protection. Jonathan works as an independent author, and performs editing services for aspiring and established authors. More...

Book Recommendation: Watership Down by Richard Adams

Related Episodes: 116. Creative Courtship: Lessons from Animal Others with Author, Dr. Carol Gigliotti (S13)

112. A Very Banksy Roundtable with Claudia Hirtenfelder and Shannon Johnstone

115. The Genitalia Arms Race! with Dr. Patty Brennan

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Episode 5 of Series 13: Sex and Animals Transcript

The spaying and neutering of dogs has often been a controversial topic. Along with the world renowned, Dr. Stanley Coren, the episode explores how spaying and neutering might affect canine behavior, questioning common practices and suggesting alternative approaches.

Guest Bio: Stanley Coren, PhD, DSc, FRSC, is an influential voice in the study of canine behavior and human-canine interactions. He served as a psychology professor at the University of British Columbia, where he directed the Human Neuropsychology and Perception Laboratory until his retirement in 2007.

Coren has published over 1,000 articles and 40 books, many of which have become bestsellers. His award-winning contributions to canine studies, such as How to Speak Dog, have been translated into more than 30 languages and recognized globally.

He continues to share insights on canine behavior through his blog, Canine Corner, on Psychology Today's website. Further information is available on Wikipedia.

Book Recommendations: Dogs Demystified: An A-to-Z Guide to All Things Canine by Dr. Marc Bekoff and King Solomon's Ring by Konrad Lorenz

Related Episodes: 81: Expanding Understanding in Canine Behavior Evaluations with Suzanne Clothier (Part 1) S8

82: Expanding Understanding in Canine Behavior Evaluations with Suzanne Clothier (Part 2) S8

84: How To Build a Bond With a New Dog with Stacey Colino and Jen Golbeck (December Special!)

67: May Special!: Barking Up the Right Tree: Applied Etho

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Special Episode!

" it seems to me that development could be as revolutionary as the domestication of animals itself 10, 000 years ago." - Dr. Shapiro

Technology's role in animal advocacy and science takes center stage. Lab-grown meat and alternatives to animal testing, such as organs on a chip, are highlighted as transformative developments that could profoundly reduce animal exploitation.

Guest Bio: Dr. Kenneth Shapiro is cofounder and President of the Board of Animals and Society Institute, and founding editor of Society and Animals and other human-animal studies publications. With a BA from Harvard in American Studies and a PhD in Clinical and Personality Psychology from Duke, his work spans vegetarianism, animal advocacy, and critiques of lab research. He’s published books, including Animal Models of Human Psychology (1998), and guides on treating animal abuse. Based in Washington Grove, MD, he tends to a bluebird trail, a pollinator meadow, and enjoys vegan cooking. Learn more at animalsandsociety.org.

Book Recommendation: Abundant Earth: Toward an Ecological Civilization by Eileen Crist

Related Episodes: 93: Human Relevant Testing: A Conversation on Enhancing Human Health and Animal Welfare with Dr. Aysha Akhtar (S9)

43: October Special! The Beagle Project with Lindsey Hamrick, HSUS

E21: Spring Special! Hal Herzog: On the the Past, Present, and Future of Anthrozoology

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Episode 4 of series 13: Sex and Animals Transcript

Being a researcher thoroughly acquainted with the Shackleford Banks horses during her PhD, she was uniquely positioned to investigate the behavioral changes noticed by the National Park Service when they introduced contraceptive management. This intervention aimed to control the horse population to protect the island's endangered plants and animals that were being impacted by overgrazing.

Guest Bio: Dr. Cassandra Nunez is interested in the effects of wildlife management practices on target species’ behavior and physiology, and how these patterns can better inform management and advance basic knowledge of the linkages among animal behavior, physiology, and the surrounding ecology.

As human populations continue to grow, the management of wildlife species is becoming increasingly necessary. As stewards of wild populations, we have a responsibility to manage them with the most effective and ethical means possible.

My research suggests that if we are to achieve this goal, we must better understand the potential individual- and population-level side-effects of our management practices. I incorporate the natural history, behavioral ecology, and the physiology of species to better understand these issues, to more effectively conserve and manage animal populations, and to better understand the basic biology of organisms.

Book Recommendations: An Immense World by Ed Yong and Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are? by Frans de Waal

Related Episodes: 99. Reintroductions and Management with Dr Liz Peterson, Dr. Julie Young, and Dr. Rachel Chock (S10)

97. Urbanization and Industrialization (It's Effects on Behavior and Cognition) with Dr. Kathleen Church and Dr. Lauren Stanton (S10)

94. Rapid Environmental Change with Dr. Rachel Blakey and Dr. Kasey Fowler-Finn (S10)

E15: The History of the Conservation Movement with Author and Journalist, Michelle Nijhuis

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Episode 3 of Series 13, Sex and Animals

Renowned as a feminist, vegan advocate, and author, Carol J. Adams, brings us into the intricate relationship between these movements in a fascinating conversation that reveals cultural narratives reinforcing gender norms and animal consumption.

Guest Bio: Carol J. Adams is a feminist scholar and activist whose work explores the cultural construction of overlapping and interconnected oppressions, as well as the ethics of care. In December 2024, Adams’s iconic The Sexual Politics of Meat: A Feminist-Vegan Critical Theory, will appear in a 35th anniversary edition.

Her articles have appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, Ms. Magazine, Tikkun, and Truthdig, among others. She has been an activist against sexual violence, racism, and homelessness, and for reproductive justice and fair housing
www.caroljadams.com

Book Recommendation: The Sexual Politics of Meat - 35th Anniversary Edition by Carol J. Adams and "A good Vegan Cookbook"- Try this... The Free Celebrity Veganuary Cookbook!

Related Episodes: 86: Can Dog Cuddling Influence Reduced Meat Consumption? Care Ethics with Dr. Maurice Hamington (S9)

104. Exploring Hinduism, Dairy & Mother Cow with Yamini Narayanan (Featured Ep.66/S7)

64: Animals in World Religions with Author, Dr. Lisa Kemmerer (S7)

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Episode 2 of Series 13, Sex and Animals: Transcript

"Creativity is all about problem solving." - Dr. Gigliotti

Guest Bio: Carola Gigliotti is an author, artist, animal activist, and scholar whose work focuses on the reality of animals’ lives as important contributors to the biodiversity of this planet. She is Professor Emerita of Design and Dynamic Media and Critical and Cultural Studies at the Emily Carr University of Design, Vancouver, BC. CANADA

To connect with Carol: https://www.facebook.com/carol.gigliotti, @carolgigliotti.bsky.social, https://carolgigliotti.com/dir/

Book Recommendation: The Emotional Lives of Animals (revised): A Leading Scientist Explores Animal Joy, Sorrow, and Empathy ― and Why They Matter by Marc Bekoff

Related Episodes: 113. The Animal Turn Crossover ...with Carol Gigliotti and Claudia Hirtenfelder (S12)

105. What Can Animals Tell Us About Ancient Egypt? with PhD, Linda Evans (S12: Animals in Art and Culture)

47: Expressions of Emotion in Animals with Dr. Mariska Kret (S6)

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Episode 1 of Series 13 Transcript

In this episode, Dr. Patricia Brennan explores the evolutionary battles between male and female genital adaptations, revealing how animals like ducks and dolphins develop complex reproductive strategies. Through her work, she highlights the surprising ways that nature grants females reproductive autonomy despite intense sexual conflict.

Guest Bio: Dr. Patricia Brennan is an evolutionary biologist specializing in reproductive anatomy and sexual selection, with research spanning birds, snakes, bats, dolphins, and sharks. Originally from Colombia, she earned her undergraduate degree in Marine Biology and conducted marine mammal research around the Galápagos before shifting her focus to birds during her PhD at Cornell University. Her groundbreaking work on avian genitalia has expanded to broader studies on genital coevolution, exploring how reproductive structures evolve in response to mating strategies. Now based in Amherst, MA, she continues to lead innovative research, currently supported by an NSF Career Grant to study genital evolution in snakes.

Book Recommendations: Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage by Rachel Gross and Bitch: On the Female of the Species by Lucy Cooke

Related Episodes: E22: Ecofeminism and Entangled Empathy with Lori Gruen

93: Human Relevant Testing: A Conversation on Enhancing Human Health and Animal Welfare with Dr. Aysha Akhtar (S9)

57: Valentines Special!: Furry Fandom with Victoria Gersdorf

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Special Episode! Transcript
Dr. Amy Shroff’s work focuses on implementing sustainable solutions for managing stray animal populations globally through the TNVR method—Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, and Release.

“The goal is not just rescuing animals, but teaching communities how to manage their stray populations humanely, ensuring long-term solutions for both the animals and the people they live with.”- Dr. Amy Shroff

Guest Bio:
Dr. Amy Shroff is a veterinarian, founder of Let's Save the Strays International, and a passionate advocate for the humane management of stray animal populations. She specializes in the TNVR approach, helping marginalized animals in countries such as Thailand, Ukraine, and beyond. Dr. Shroff has worked internationally to improve stray animal welfare, reducing human-animal conflict while promoting sustainable solutions for overpopulation.

Guest Book Recommendation: The Hummingbird's Gift by Sy Montgomery

Related Episodes:
Episode 74: On The Move: Exploring Companion Animal Transport with Dr. Lori Jervis (S8)

Episode 63: EVAT Mini-series (Part 6): Free-Living Cats and Farm Animal Sanctuaries a Round Table with Kris Hill and Dr. Jacqui Sadashige

Episode 49: The Culture of Free Living Dogs with Sindhoor Pangal (S6)

Episode18: Breaking stereotypes and talking about cats with The Trap King, Sterling Davis

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