One of the themes that came up early was the idea that good welfare isn’t just about meeting basic needs. It’s about recognising that animals have preferences, histories, and ways of navigating the world that don’t always line up with our plans. Lauri talks about agency in a very down‑to‑earth way: who chooses where to be, who initiates interaction, who opts out. These aren’t dramatic moments, but they tell you a lot about whether an environment is working for the individuals

director of the North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance, Andy Gray helps us rethink what captivity means for primates who arrive at sanctuary after lives shaped by the pet trade, entertainment, research, or other NAPSA Director, Andy Gray human‑controlled environments. Rather than focusing on cages or enclosures, Andy invites us to consider captivity as a set of histories, traumas, and learned survival strategies that primates carry with them

Often, captivity evokes images of cages and confinement, but as Dr. Friedman illuminates, it's also about the limitations on an animal’s natural behaviors and choices. Within this episode, we discuss how environments can be reshaped to offer animals more autonomy and meaningful interactions.

A Conversation withPatricia McConnell. Many listeners will know her from The Other End of the Leash, For the Love of a Dog, and The Education of Will — books that helped an entire generation of trainers understand dogs with more nuance, empathy, and scientific grounding. But this time, Patricia isn’t writing nonfiction. She’s written a murder mystery. Her new novel, Away to Me, brings together her decades of experience as an animal behaviourist and more!

Publishing my first research paper has been a milestone I have been working towards (slowly) for years. This week, I am thrilled to share that my work is officially published and available for readers through the International Association of Animal Behaviour Consultants. This moment marks not just the end of a long process but the beginning of new opportunities to contribute to my field and engage with a wider academic community. Also a HUGE thank you to my colleagues and fri

explore the often‑misunderstood world of reptile communication and how birds learn from one another—sometimes within a species, sometimes across species lines.

This first part of series 15 explores the many ways humans and other animals try to understand one another — from shared signs and gestures, to the scientific language we use to describe animals, to the intuitive connections some people believe allow us to communicate across species. We look at what “communication” really means, how it shapes our relationships with animals, and what happens when we start listening more closely to the beings who share our world. In this first

As Series 14 enters its final chapters, we shift from exploring how we think about dogs to how we work with them—ethically, practically, and compassionately. These last four episodes dive into the complexities of canine behavior, from instinctual drives to the evolving philosophies behind modern training.

This new format allows us to delve deeper into these themes and reflect on what it truly means to live harmoniously with our canine companions. In the second episode, originally from Series One: Health and Wellbeing, we explore the research on bite risks, The episode also touches on broader themes of human-animal relationships, mutual respect, and the complexity of living alongside free-living animals.

This season, we’re exploring questions surrounding our relationship with dogs. How do we live with them, and more intriguingly, how do they live with us? These conversations, from earlier episodes, newly edited, will challenge and inspire as we explore the intricate threads of emotion and individuality that bind us to our canine companions.

Imagine a world where societal norms revolve around cooperation, connection, and shared leadership. This is the reality for bonobos, who live in matriarchal societies governed by pleasure-driven interactions and collective collaboration.

Dr. Marino detailed the psychological toll such confined environments take on these animals. The stereotypies—repetitive, abnormal behaviors—found in captive animals are a testament to their chronic stress.

This discussion reiterates the critical intersection where psychology meets animal advocacy. This knowledge is not just for academics but for anyone eager to contribute to a world where compassion extends beyond species boundaries.

Dr. Jonathan Balcombe, a biologist and ethologist known for his work on animal consciousness and behavior. Our conversation focused on how animals experience emotions, particularly pleasure and pain, and what that means for our interactions with them.

In North America, spaying and neutering pets has become almost a cultural norm. However, Dr. Coren invites us to reconsider these practices by examining the potential behavioral impacts.

while humanity grapples with environmental and ethical challenges, adopting a more unified, empathetic approach to all living beings offers a hopeful path forward.

The introduction of contraception was driven by the need to balance the ecological impact the horses had on the environment.

parallels between women's objectification and animals' dehumanization as both products of the same patriarchal system.

Dr. Gigliotti shares her views on how animals use creativity in their mating rituals and lessons about bio-diversity for humans.

Dr. Brennan shares her surprising discovery while studying birds — many species, such as ducks, have remarkably diverse genital structures.