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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
Animal Behavior
Dog Training
Dogs
Human-Animal Connection
Dog Behavior
Chickens
Animal Advocacy
Sex and Animals
Animal Reproduction
Human Intervention
Aggression
Emotional Connection
Animal Consciousness
Mother Cow
Ethics
Predation Behavior
Animals
Art

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 monthlyEpisodes166Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureScience

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Artwork for The Deal with Animals with Marika S. Bell

Latest Episodes

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

Special Bonus Content Episode - Sneak Preview from Patreon!

This special bonus‑preview episode shares three curated clips from past conversations — deeper dives, tangents, and moments that didn’t make it into the main show. You’ll hear Scott Giacopp... more

Episode 5 of Series 16: The Captivity Conversation - Transcript

Amber reveals what happens when an animal’s entire life is shaped around the profitability of her reproductive system, and what it means to rethink captivity from the inside out.

Gues... more

Episode 4 of Series 16: The Captivity Conversation Transcript

Dr. Culum Brown's insights challenge our assumptions about agency underwater and ask us to reconsider what captivity means for animals whose intelligence we’ve long underestimated.

Gues... more

Episode 3 of Series 16: The Captivity Conversation - Transcript

In this episode, animal welfare scientist Lauri Torgerson‑White unpacks how sanctuaries can become true multispecies communities, exploring what agency, choice, and ethical care look l... more

Episode Two of Series 16: The Captivity Question- Transcript (linked)

Primatologist, Andy Gray explains how primate sanctuaries exist to provide lifelong, species‑appropriate care—especially social companionship—for primates who often arrive with tr... more

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Recent Guests

Tobias Leenaert
Longtime vegan advocate, co-founder of ProVeg International, author of How to Create a Vegan World
ProVeg International
Episode: 147. Why Adults Get Stuck: PHAIR Animal Advocacy Conference 2/5
Joshua Rottman
Psychology professor at Franklin & Marshall College
Franklin & Marshall College
Episode: 147. Why Adults Get Stuck: PHAIR Animal Advocacy Conference 2/5
Brooke Haggerty
Executive Director of Faunalytics
Faunalytics
Episode: 147. Why Adults Get Stuck: PHAIR Animal Advocacy Conference 2/5
Matthew Ruby
Senior lecturer in psychology
Latrobe University
Episode: 147. Why Adults Get Stuck: PHAIR Animal Advocacy Conference 2/5
Chris Hopwood
Professor of personality psychology
University of Zurich, FAIR Society
Episode: 147. Why Adults Get Stuck: PHAIR Animal Advocacy Conference 2/5
Antonia Gefahrt
Social psychologist at the University of Salzburg
University of Salzburg
Episode: 146. How We Learn to See Animals: PHAIR Animal Advocacy Conference ep. 1/5
Katja Liebal
Behavior biologist and comparative psychologist
Radboud University (implied through work), Global Children and Nature Project
Episode: 146. How We Learn to See Animals: PHAIR Animal Advocacy Conference ep. 1/5
Sue O'Neill
Advocate and co-founder (Voiceless)
Voiceless
Episode: 146. How We Learn to See Animals: PHAIR Animal Advocacy Conference ep. 1/5
Jared Piazza
Senior lecturer at Lancaster University; psychologist
Lancaster University
Episode: 146. How We Learn to See Animals: PHAIR Animal Advocacy Conference ep. 1/5

Host

Marika S. Bell
Host with expertise in animal behavior and welfare, focusing on ethics, captivity, and public engagement.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
142. Creating a Multispecies Community with Animal Welfare Scientist, Lauri Torgerson-White (S16)
Q: What three practical steps should someone take first if they want to start a sanctuary?
1) Do thorough research to understand the scale and implications; 2) Prepare for substantial ongoing financial needs and fundraising; 3) Learn animal welfare science and husbandry to keep animal numbers low enough for individualized care.
142. Creating a Multispecies Community with Animal Welfare Scientist, Lauri Torgerson-White (S16)
Q: What is a good sanctuary to look like in practice?
A sanctuary should have clear criteria across multiple categories, prioritize animal autonomy and welfare, maintain long-term commitments, and ensure governance and funding are structured to support high-quality care while balancing safety and residents' agency.
138. Crows, Cuckoos, and the Evolution of Avian Communication with researchers Kaeli Swift and Will Feeney
Q: How do crows decide when to share information about a predator with others?
Naive birds learn by watching experienced birds respond to threats; there's a real-time, observational learning process that propagates alarm responses across the flock.

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

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

This show centers on the human-animal relationship, exploring how interactions with animals shape society, ethics, science, and daily life. Recent episodes span captivity, welfare, and sanctuary design; primate care and ethics; humane training; animal communication; and the cognitive and social lives of birds and reptiles. The host frequently chats with researchers, practitioners, and advocates who bring practical guidance, ethical frameworks, and firsthand experiences, making complex topics accessible for a broad audience. A standout throughline is a commitment to animal welfare and scientific transparency, often challenging traditional norms and encouraging listeners to rethink how they connect with non-human life. The show tends to blend... more

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1. The Bitey End of the Dog
2. Fenzi Dog Sports Podcast
3. Ologies with Alie Ward
4. Heavyweight
5. Animal Training Academy

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this podcast launched 5 years ago and published 166 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. Tobias Leenaert
2. Joshua Rottman
3. Brooke Haggerty
4. Matthew Ruby
5. Chris Hopwood
6. Antonia Gefahrt
7. Katja Liebal
8. Sue O'Neill

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