In this revealing episode of Rising Anxieties, Mariann Sullivan peels back the paper-thin veneer of PR to expose what’s really making Big Meat break into a sweat. From industry giants simultaneously fighting and adopting plant-based alternatives to the hilariously transparent attempts to convince consumers that dairy cows don’t actually care about their calves (spoiler alert: they absolutely do), we’re treated to a masterclass in cognitive dissonance that would make George Orwell slow-clap in appreciation. When farmers earnestly declare “bye boys” to the steers they’re shipping to slaughter while claiming deep love for these animals, you can almost hear the industry’s collective anxiety rising to a fever pitch.

This episode explores:

• How corporate animal welfare campaigns are making meaningful progress despite industry pushback and denial
• Why meat giant JBS is launching plant-based brands in Europe while abandoning similar efforts in the US
• How weight-loss drugs like Ozempic represent an existential threat to meat consumption patterns
• The increasingly desperate industry narratives attempting to justify separating dairy calves from their mothers
• The revealing language farmers use when discussing animals destined for slaughter, exposing the disconnect between claimed care and actual practice

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