Danielle Hanosh, co-founder and executive director of LEAP (Leaders for Ethics, Animals, and the Planet), returns to Our Hen House to share how this innovative program has grown to 18 sanctuaries nationwide with plans to expand into Canada. LEAP provides middle and high school students with hands-on humane education at farm sanctuaries, offering an ethical alternative to traditional 4H and FFA programs while teaching leadership skills, animal ethics, and environmental stewardship.

This episode explores:

• How LEAP creates sanctuary-based learning experiences where students interact with animals on the animals’ terms
• The powerful impact of teaching adolescents about animal agriculture when they’re naturally questioning authority
• Why building community for animal-loving teens is crucial for their development as advocates
• How sanctuary education programs face funding challenges despite their effectiveness
• LEAP’s evolution from scholarship offerings to supporting graduates with animal advocacy internships

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Danielle Hanosh is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of LEAP, Co-Founder of Blackberry Creek Farm Animal Sanctuary in Northern California, and also serves on the board of the wildlife conservation NGO, Women for Wolves. With a teaching credential, MA in Education, a decade of experience as a public school teacher, and ten years of experience running a non-profit farm sanctuary, she is delighted to be using her unique background to ensure children and teenagers across the country have access to critical hands-on humane education and leadership development. She is also a professional ghostwriter, passionate storyteller and animal advocate, and the author of several children’s books about animals.

RESOURCES 

• Do Androids Dream of Animal Rights?
• If A.I. Systems Become Conscious, Should They Have Rights?
• NIH to prioritize human-based research technologies
• Washington state becomes twelfth state to restrict circus animal use
• Nearly Half Of All Americans Would ‘Consider’ Plant-Based Diet, Survey Finds
• New 44-acre nature reserve for former dairy farm
• Ex-NFL Player Faces Charges After Largest-Ever Federal Dogfighting Investigation
• USDA withdraws a plan to limit salmonella levels in raw poultry
• US FDA suspends milk quality tests amid workforce cuts
• Garrett Broad on Bluesky: Trump’s trade war with China might accidentally crush the US beef and pork industries.
• Zoe Rosenberg on Instagram: Trial Postponed
• ACTION ALERT: Center for Biological Diversity – Save the Endangered Species Act
• Our Hen House on YouTube

We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read this episode's interview.

_____________________________________________

Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content!

Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcatcher, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review!

Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series.

Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, or Bluesky.

The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.