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Artwork for The Deal with Animals with Marika S. Bell

The Deal with Animals with Marika S. Bell

Marika S. Bell
Animal Welfare
Animal Communication
Dog Training
Animal Behavior
Dogs
Animal Advocacy
Human-Animal Connection
Dog Behavior
Chickens
Sex and Animals
Animal Reproduction
Human Intervention
Aggression
Emotional Connection
Animal Consciousness
Mother Cow
Ethics
Predation Behavior
Captivity
Veganism

Humans interact with animals every day of our lives: diet, wildlife, clothes and even medicines, are all intersections we often don’t think about. This is a podcast about the interactions and connections between humans and non-human animals. Our mission is to make research more accessible to the public while sharing the voices and lived experience of our human connection with animals.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes171Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ScienceSociety & Culture

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Artwork for The Deal with Animals with Marika S. Bell

Latest Episodes

Episode 7/8 of Series 16 : The Captivity Conversation - Transcript

Maddy describes multispecies design as moving beyond human-centered design to consider how products, systems, and services affect non-human lives. We discuss sanctuaries as “safe bu... more

Episode 7 of Series 16: The Captivity Conversation- Transcript

Dogs live under profound human control and their wellbeing depends on how we understand their agency, sensory world, and autonomy. This conversation asks us to observe our dogs like eth... more

Episode 6 of Series 16: The Captivity Conversation- Transcript

Victoria Stilwell joins me to talk about how we shape dogs’ lives through training, communication, and the choices that determine whether they feel safe, understood, and able to express ... more

Episode 5 looks outward: how to apply the psychology of eating animals, behaviour‑change research, and cross‑disciplinary insights to build a more effective, culturally aware, globally relevant animal‑advocacy movement. The episode argues that progre... more

Episode 4 examines the tension and opportunity where animal-advocacy goals and research on the psychology of eating animals overlap, drawing on conversations from the PHAIR conference. Researchers and advocates discuss credibility, bias, conflicts of... more

Episode 3 shifts from frustration to forward motion. This episode looks at the strategies that genuinely help people change — not the ones we wish worked, but the ones supported by evidence. Researchers and advocates unpack how small, well‑designed i... more

Adults don’t simply lose empathy for animals — they learn out of it. This second episode of the PHAIR Mini-series: traces how early openness narrows into adult resistance. Researchers describe the developmental arc: children begin with flexible, gene... more

First episode in a five‑episode series recorded at the Psychology of Human–Animal Intergroup Relations (PHAIR) Conference, exploring how beliefs, identity, childhood perception, and social norms shape human–animal relationships. Across conversations ... more

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Recent Guests

Madelena Mañetto Quick
Lecturer in visual communication design focusing on multi-species design and more-than-human worlding
Massey University
Episode: 153. World Building with Animals: Madelena Mañetto Quick on Multispecies narratives
Jessica Pierce
Bioethicist and writer focusing on canine ethics and living with dogs
Author of Run Spot Run; Co-author of Unleashing Your Dog
Episode: 152. Captivity at Home: Jessica Pierce on Dogs and Moral Responsibility
Victoria Stilwell
Dog behavior consultant; founder of Positively.com and Victoria Stilwell Academy
Positively.com; Victoria Stilwell Academy
Episode: 151. Let Your Dog Choose with Victoria Stilwell on Agency, Stress, and Home Environments (S16)
Tobias Linnart
Advocate emphasizing collaboration across disciplines
Advocacy and education communities
Episode: 150. Building the Future of Animal Advocacy: PHAIR Animal Advocacy Conference 5/5
Joshua Rotman
Researcher advocating for environment-enabled behavior change
Academic and advocacy circles
Episode: 150. Building the Future of Animal Advocacy: PHAIR Animal Advocacy Conference 5/5
Tobias Leenaert
Animal advocate, Pro-Veg International co-founder, author
Pro-Veg International
Episode: 148. What Actually Changes Behaviour: PHAIR Animal Advocacy Conference 3/5
Brooke Haggerty
Executive Director of Faunalytics
Faunalytics
Episode: 148. What Actually Changes Behaviour: PHAIR Animal Advocacy Conference 3/5
Matthew Ruby
Senior lecturer in psychology, La Trobe University
La Trobe University
Episode: 148. What Actually Changes Behaviour: PHAIR Animal Advocacy Conference 3/5
Matt Ruby
See Matthew Ruby (duplicate entry) – include if treated as separate guest?
La Trobe University
Episode: 148. What Actually Changes Behaviour: PHAIR Animal Advocacy Conference 3/5

Host

Marika Bell
Host and producer focused on animal ethics and education; affiliated with the show's network

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

152. Captivity at Home: Jessica Pierce on Dogs and Moral Responsibility
Q: What does it mean to consider dogs as participants with agency within a home environment?
Pierce argues that recognizing a dog's autonomy matters because it directly affects their emotional well-being and reflects our responsibility as caregivers living with them; agency should be seen as a moral imperative rather than a mere training preference.
149. The Science/Advocacy Tension: PHAIR Animal Advocacy Conference 4/5
Q: What does it look like in practice for academics to engage with the public and with advocacy groups?
It involves partnerships with advocacy organizations, designing interventions and policies, and ensuring findings are interpreted and reported objectively to maintain trust while accelerating real-world impact.
149. The Science/Advocacy Tension: PHAIR Animal Advocacy Conference 4/5
Q: Can researchers be advocates without losing the trust of the public?
The guests discuss balancing advocacy with objectivity, noting conflicts of interest and the need for transparency about biases, while emphasizing practical collaboration to make research more accessible and useful for advocates.
144. Engineered for Exploitation with Amber Canavan (S16)
Q: How accurate are cage-free and free-range labels in reflecting the birds' actual living conditions?
Labels like cage-free often mean little in practice, as birds are still kept in overcrowded sheds with minimal outdoor access, and the marketing creates a misleading perception of freedom that hides ongoing welfare issues.
144. Engineered for Exploitation with Amber Canavan (S16)
Q: What do you think most people would be genuinely surprised to learn about the egg production process?
The most shocking reality is that the harm starts long before hens are visible in a cage-free setting—genetic manipulation and intensive selective breeding drive production, leading to severe health issues and a life spent primarily on a reproductive treadmill.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show consistently centers on human–animal interactions across everyday life, from pets and domestic captivity to broader issues in animal welfare, ethics, and advocacy. Episodes frequently feature researchers, practitioners, and advocates who dissect how science and policy intersect with real-world care, training, and societal norms around animals. Notable strengths include a clear translational angle—making academic concepts accessible to a general audience—along with guests who bring rigorous empirical perspectives and practical advocacy experience. The format often mixes behavioral science, ethics, and systemic design to explore how environments, education, and messaging can improve animal welfare and public understanding. This combi... more

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1. Drinking From the Toilet: Real dogs, Real training
2. The Bitey End of the Dog
3. Outside Podcast
4. Animal Training Academy
5. The Ezra Klein Show

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this podcast launched 5 years ago and published 171 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Madelena Mañetto Quick
2. Jessica Pierce
3. Victoria Stilwell
4. Tobias Linnart
5. Joshua Rotman
6. Tobias Leenaert
7. Brooke Haggerty
8. Matthew Ruby

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