Welcome to the 410th episode of Our Hen House!



We are so excited to share this with you! This week’s episode is the recording of our recent world-premiere performance of John Yunker’s radio play, Sanctuary, recorded live at NYC’s Symphony Space during the Compassion Arts and Culture & Animals Festival last month!

Sanctuary tells the story of Richard and Lisa, a happily-married couple whose blissful retirement to a small town is upended when Lisa not only suddenly decides to go vegan, but offers their guest studio to her new animal-activist friend Meg and decides to celebrate Thanksgiving sans turkey. A blindsided Richard invites his unsuspecting pal Charley in the hopes of forcing Lisa to stick with the traditional meal. The resulting tensions soon push relationships over the edge. Equal parts poignant and humorous, the piece provides moments of genuine identification for anyone who has experienced the struggles and joys of navigating their vegan ethics around loved ones who might not quite understand. “When we think of animal-rights activism, we often think of protests,” says Yunker. “But equally vivid conflicts are taking place over dining room tables and in restaurants and at barbecues.” Sanctuary was written by playwright John Yunker, and this production was directed by John Frusciante. Live sound effects were provided by Eric Milano, with pre-recorded sound effects by Michael Harren. The episode’s cast features John Frusciante as Richard, Michael Harren as Charley, Eric Milano as The Narrator, Jasmin Singer as Meg, and Mariann Sullivan as Lisa. Jasmin, a long-time proponent of using the arts, especially theater, as a way to advocate for veganism, says, “The arts, and theater in particular, offer a unique lens through which an audience can safely confront their own behaviors, such as what they choose to eat, and why. In Sanctuary, Yunker accomplishes just that, with dark humor and quick wit as the moving forces behind this powerful play.” Mariann is pleased that “none of the characters are heroes and none are villains. These are just ordinary people struggling with what happens when they become aware of what is happening to animals and have to do something about it.”

As always, the award-winning weekly Our Hen House podcast is hosted by Mariann Sullivan and Jasmin Singer.

This episode is brought to you in part through the generosity of A Well-Fed World. A Well-Fed World is a hunger relief and animal protection organization chipping away at two of the world’s most immense, unnecessary and unconscionable forms of suffering… the suffering of people hungry from lack of food, and the suffering of animals used and abused for food. Mending our unjust food system is a critical part of solving the world’s most destructive and persistent problems. Fortunately, the plant-based foods that promote health and well-being are the same foods that conserve resources to better feed the world, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting the environment. A Well-Fed World provides the means for change by empowering individuals, social justice organizations, and political decision makers to embrace the benefits of plant-based foods and farming. Learn more at awfw.org.

You can listen to our podcast directly on our website (beneath this paragraph!) or you can listen and subscribe on iTunes or your favorite podcatcher! Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it on iTunes, and don’t forget to leave us a friendly comment! Of course, we would be thrilled if you would also consider making a donation, or becoming a member of our flock (especially if you’re a regular listener). Any amount is hugely appreciated, and Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible! Thank you for helping us create quality content, and for helping us bring you a new podcast episode each week!

The Our Hen House theme song is written and sung by the incredible Michael Harren, who is also OHH’s Director of Communications! Don’t forget to tune into Our Hen House’s other two podcasts: The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and The Animal Law Podcast.

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