Send us a text

Barn & Soul – Episode 17
🎙️ The Invisible Work of Farm Animals: More Than Meat, Milk, and Eggs

When most people think about farm animals, they picture food—eggs, meat, milk. But that’s never been the whole story.

In this episode, we explore the unseen, often uncelebrated roles that animals have played in our survival and our stories. From providing warmth through wool, to powering early economies, to offering emotional support and companionship, farm animals have done more than feed us—they’ve walked alongside us.

Join me as we take a heart-centered journey through the history, labor, and quiet legacy of the animals who’ve given humanity far more than we often realize.

🐐 Wool as survival gear
🐄 Cattle as currency
🐎 Animal-powered labor
🐖 Emotional connection & therapeutic presence

Let’s slow down, honor their impact, and reconnect with the invisible work that still matters today.

📚 References & Sources

1. International Wool Textile Organization (IWTO)
   Wool and Sustainability Report 2023
   https://iwto.org/wool-sustainability
2. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations
   Livestock and Cultural Heritage
   https://www.fao.org/livestock
3. National Institutes of Health (NIH)
   Animal-Assisted Therapy: Effects on Stress, Anxiety, and Depression (2020–2024)
   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8790605/
   (Example from 2022: Stress Reduction through Human-Animal Interaction)
4. Journal of Animal Science
   Historical Uses of Oxen in Agriculture
   https://academic.oup.com/jas
5. National Geographic Education
   The Role of Animals in Human History
   https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/animals-and-humans-through-time
6. Smithsonian Magazine
   “Chickens and the Invention of Capital”
   https://www.smithsonianmag.com
7. American Psychological Association (APA)
   Animal-Assisted Therapy in Clinical Settings: Meta-Analysis and Review
   https://www.apa.org
8. BBC Travel & History
   “Why Wool Was Once More Valuable Than Gold”
   https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20220201-wool-warmth-wealth

Support the show