Animal Law

Join animal law professor and longtime activist Mariann Sullivan as she explores groundbreaking legal cases shaping the future of animal protection. Each episode features in-depth discussions with leading attorneys, scholars, and advocates about critical developments in animal law—focusing on significant court decisions and their enforcement. Whether you’re a legal professional, animal advocate, or concerned citizen, discover how case law is evolving to recognize and protect animals. From landmark litigation to emerging legal theories, the Animal Law Podcast makes complex legal issues accessible while examining their impact on animals and society.

Can an S.P.C.A. Prevent Cruelty to Cows? with Alene Anello
Apr 30, 2025 – 43:41
The Case of the Cows, the Gas, and the Money with Kelsey Eberly and Skye Walker
Mar 26, 2025 – 50:55
The Case of the Frankenchicken with Edie Bowles
Feb 26, 2025 – 38:05
The Case of the Thirsty Elk: Saving Point Reyes’ Tule Elk with Chris Green and Rebecca Garverman
Jan 29, 2025 – 1:10:56
The Case of the Cultivated Chicken with Paul Sherman
Dec 25, 2024 – 1:05:17
Animal Law Podcast 114: The Case of the Not-So-Clean Water Act
Nov 27, 2024 – 1:00:53
Animal Law Podcast 113: The Case of the Cows Who Sought Sanctuary
Oct 30, 2024 – 1:19:00
Animal Law Podcast 112: The Case of the Monster Dairy
Sep 25, 2024 – 54:48
Animal Law Podcast 111: A Lamb to the (Botched) Slaughter
Aug 28, 2024 – 56:39
Animal Law Podcast 110: Will JBS Investors Get the Truth about Animals and Climate?
Jul 31, 2024 – 1:23:52
Animal Law Podcast 109: The Case That Didn’t Happen
Jun 26, 2024 – 53:23
Animal Law Podcast 108: The Case of Compelled Dairy Promotion
May 29, 2024 – 44:04
Animal Law Podcast 107: Prosecuting Cruelty
Apr 24, 2024 – 56:22
Animal Law Podcast #106: A Case Farms Case of Cruelty
Mar 27, 2024 – 40:18
Animal Law Podcast #105: Breaking the Rules?: Taxpayer-Funded Animal Research Outside the US
Feb 28, 2024 – 40:38
Animal Law Podcast #104: The Biogas Nightmare
Jan 31, 2024 – 53:35
Animal Law Podcast #103: The Case of the Ad on the Bus
Dec 27, 2023 – 52:10
Animal Law Podcast #102: A Case of Justice Delayed for Endangered Animals
Nov 29, 2023 – 1:02:00
Animal Law Podcast #101: The Case of the FBI at the Meat Conference
Oct 25, 2023 – 48:00
Animal Law Podcast #100: The Case of the Drugged Cattle
Sep 27, 2023 – 59:37
Animal Law Podcast #99: The Case of the Prohibited Protest
Aug 30, 2023 – 52:13
Animal Law Podcast #98: The Animal Law Firm
Jul 26, 2023 – 53:43
Animal Law Podcast #97: The Case of the Miserable Monkeys and the Apathetic Agency
Jun 28, 2023 – 1:08:08
Animal Law Podcast #96: What Happened to the Pigs at the Supreme Court?
May 24, 2023 – 1:01:43
Animal Law Podcast #95: The Case of A Little Girl and Her Goat
Apr 26, 2023 – 38:08
Animal Law Podcast #94: The Case of the Illegal Secrets
Mar 29, 2023 – 41:12
Animal Law Podcast #93: The Apparently Never-ending Case of Sanctuary for Chimpanzees
Feb 22, 2023 – 56:37
Animal Law Podcast #92: Must New Vegan Foods Be Tested on Animals?
Jan 25, 2023 – 1:09:45
Animal Law Podcast #91: So You Want to Teach Animal Rights Law
Dec 28, 2022 – 56:32
Animal Law Podcast #90: The Case of Costco’s Chickens
Nov 30, 2022 – 54:04
Animal Law Podcast #89: The Supreme Court Considers the Lives of Pigs
Oct 26, 2022 – 53:18
Animal Law Podcast #88: Going to Prison for Rescuing Animals?
Sep 28, 2022 – 1:03:22
Animal Law Podcast #87: The Case of the Vanishing Comments
Aug 31, 2022 – 48:42
Animal Law Podcast #86: A Case of (Un)”Sustainable” Salmon
Jul 27, 2022 – 46:57
Animal Law Podcast #85: Desmond’s Law
Jun 29, 2022 – 1:08:21
Animal Law Podcast #84: The Case of the (Un)Ethical Eggs
May 25, 2022 – 1:05:28
Animal Law Podcast #83: The Case of the Slaughtered Chickens
Apr 27, 2022 – 49:06
Animal Law Podcast #82: Maybe Cruelty Laws CAN Protect Farmed Animals!
Mar 30, 2022 – 45:04
Animal Law Podcast #81: Fundamental Rights for Swiss Primates, Yes or No?
Feb 23, 2022 – 1:11:05
Animal Law Podcast #80: Teaching Animal Rights
Jan 26, 2022 – 53:28
Animal Law Podcast #79: The Case of the Filth in the Water
Dec 29, 2021 – 56:29
Animal Law Podcast #78: The Case of Happy, an Elephant
Nov 24, 2021 – 1:02:45
Animal Law Podcast #77: The Animal Defense Partnership
Oct 27, 2021 – 49:27
Animal Law Podcast #76: Creating a Sanctuary State
Sep 29, 2021 – 56:21
Animal Law Podcast #75: The Case of the Suffering Salmon ft. Piper Hoffman and Jay Shooster
Aug 25, 2021 – 49:29
Animal Law Podcast #74: The Case of the Water-Guzzling Slaughterhouse
Jul 28, 2021 – 50:41
Animal Law Podcast #73: The Case of the Missing Ice
Jun 30, 2021 – 38:55
Animal Law Podcast #72: Wildlife as Property Owners
May 26, 2021 – 1:06:56
Animal Law Podcast #71: A Case of Bird Flu
Apr 28, 2021 – 1:16:18
Animal Law Podcast #70: The Case of the “Teachable Moments”
Mar 31, 2021 – 51:49

Recent Reviews

ValRose233

A+ Podcast

Interesting, timely, informative; this is a great listen for anyone interested in animal welfare or animal welfare law. Highly recommend!
KCHNC

Excellent for anyone interested in animal rights

I am not a lawyer, but I am scholar who studies animal rights/welfare discourse. This podcast is very informative and engaging, and Mariann has a casual but respectful interviewing style.
Marrajess

Fascinating!

Unfortunately I’m not very knowledgeable about the law but I really enjoy this podcast. I don’t always understand everything and sometimes it goes over my head but I still love hearing what Mariann and her guests have to say especially since it’s so important to the animals. Thank you, Mariann!
Deeeev

Fantastic podcast

Im into animal rights, but don’t know much yet. So im learning a lot here!
midas133

Excellent, informative podcast

Very happy to have discovered this podcast!
EllieRobbins

Great podcast

This podcast is really informative! I’m a second year law student and I haven’t gotten the chance to take any animal law classes but I am learning so much just from listening to this podcast!
ken swensen

an expert guide

Great podcast for animal advocates that want to understand the power and shortcomings of our legal system. Mariann is an expert guide. She's smart, informed, funny - and has engaging conversations with committed legal activists.
caroline voldstad

Necessary and enjoyable

This podcast offers such an engaging and accessible way to dive into so many of the different branches of animal law and animal welfare issues- highly recommend! Great tone of humor also woven into these intense issues
Cathyvil

The Guests are Interesting

I enjoy the guests but this gets three stars as i find the host sanctimonious, self-righteous, and narcissistic to a fault that can detract from the issue at hand.
Juanita O'Brien

Engaging and informative

I’ve learned a great deal about animals and the law from this podcast and appreciate the host’s no-nonsense speaking style and biting humor.
Kimbellerart.com

Very infomative.

I love listening to this podcast. Mariann Sullivan is brilliant, sharing both expertise and compassion. I learn something new with every episode.
Cameron Meyer Shorb

Fascinating and enlightening

An unparalleled resource for anyone interested in animal welfare, animal law, or administrative law. Goes deep into the weeds but accessible to anyone. Fun way to get a working understanding of with judicial and administrative (especially USDA and EPA) procedures. Detailed coverage of the Animal Welfare Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Administrative Procedures Act, and the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), with all sorts of constitutional law and obscure legislation thrown in.
Viveca1

Important & pioneering podcast

This podcast is a teriffic contribution to an important area of law, and to all of us who care about how the law impacts humans, animals and the environment alike. The combination of Mariann's knowledge, skillfulness and thoughtful questioning with her guests' expertise and first-hand experience makes for very informative listens. I eagerly look forward to new episodes!
JFree_xxx

Great show on a little known subject

Love this podcast! Intellectually challenging show on a subject that I know precious little about. But I am learning thanks to The Animal Law podcast. Dispells the notion that animal activists are all leftist crazies.
Mimistrawberry

Amazing!

The only one of its kind, and the host is so lovely and knowledgeable, as are all the guests. I enjoy every episode.
~~~Swirls!!!~~~Yay!!!~~~

Super informative!

I absolutely adore this podcast! I do know know much about law, but this podcast makes it super easy for me (in the finance/accounting field) to understand what’s going on with cases and how that could help/hurt animals. I’ve listened to every single episode and never been confused! Thank you so much for making this important side of the AR movement accessible to your average activist!
Reyes 25

Amazingly awesome

Great podcast if interested in animal law. It is super interesting how you can understand the issues discussed without being an expert. Thank you for offering so much information to the community.
janetkearney

Highly informative

This is such an experience to listed to the podcasts. Just the knowledge base of the host and the way she is able to bring everything down to its simplistic base so everyone can understand is a true dedication
i <3 adam lambert

Incredibly informative! Awesome interviews

This is a terrific podcast! They have excellent guests every time and cover all sorts of cases - mariann Sullivan does a great job making the information accessible for non-lawyers
Big TTj

Ignores science for emotion

Ignores science in favor of emotion
OfraL

Amazing podcast

Really great podcast, presents the info in such an insightful and inspiring way
BeckyBain

Awesome podcast

Informative podcast on newsworthy animal law issues. Host is Columbia U professor and is totally amazing that these are available for everyone. For free. Done in an entertaining and user friendly way that non-lawyers can understand. Highly recommend!
caribvegan

Great in-depth coverage

I enjoy Mariann’s deeper dive into cases and issues pertaining to animal law. I’m not an attorney and appreciate her ability to provide context for her discussions with animal law experts that make it approachable and easy to understand. Can’t wait to hear the next episode!
DJBeaks

Brilliant!

This is one of my favourite new podcasts! Mariann and her guests bring a perfect blend of intelligence and compassion to this important subject.
Wrenaissance

The animals need this podcast!(--and I do, too!)

This podcast is extremely important because of its specific focus on legislation regarding animal rights. As a person rather obsessed with keeping abreast of the animal rights movement, this cast offers just the grounding and arming discussion I need. Also, Mariann has such a gorgeous voice.
nawh1423

love it!

first off, i love mariann on the “our hen house” podcast, so i was immediately excited for this. i never had much interest in law, but after taking a few courses in college last semester, along with regularly hearing about issues by virtue of being vegan, i was definitely interested to learn more. listening to mariann is like having a conversation with someone who is infinitely smarter than you, but because she’s so accessible and down-to-earth, you don’t feel intimidated by the subject matter. seriously though, just check her out--she’s the best!
JLuv79

Insightful & informative

I love this podcast! I can't wait for the next episode. I think that the better informed we are, the more we can do. :)
qwerty26

Mariann does it again (in a good way)

If you are an academic who enjoys scintillating discussions on relevant news topics,... or a law student interested in the growing area of animal law,....... or a vegan who wants to learn more about activism through law, ........... or if you're just a person at the gym, desperate for intellectual distraction while you hit the treadmill, this podcast is for you! Keep up the great work Mariann:) @Vegan05
AllyB1988

PhD

Excellent, smart, and timely podcast. Useful and necessary information, and I'm so happy to hear a new show on this topic.
ekraffty

fascinating insight into the world of animal lawR

Really interesting discussions about the ins and outs of animal law, featuring guests who are experts in the field. Although the discussions are in depth, they are at a level that a non-lawyer can understand and enjoy.