Best The Open Sanctuary Project Inc Podcasts (2025)

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45 - Advocacy In Animal Sanctuary Spaces 15:19

9d ago15:19

15:19

Nonprofit Specialist Julia and Community Education Specialist Andie discuss animal sanctuaries' role as advocates. From a movement standpoint, sanctuaries are essential vectors of change when it comes to society’s view of animals. In terms of education and even legal advocacy, sanctuaries do a great deal to change hearts and minds while supporting …

1
44 - Introducing Our New Animal Database System With Kyle Behrend 26:58

24d ago26:58

26:58

Executive Director Mckenzee and our friend and volunteer Kyle Behrend discuss The Open Sanctuary Project’s brand new Animal Database! This project was long requested by the sanctuary community because keeping thorough, up-to-date records of your residents’ health and life events is a critical aspect of sanctuary care. To make the record-keeping pro…

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43 - An Introduction To Different Animal Sanctuary Staff Roles 29:17

1M ago29:17

29:17

Executive Director Mckenzee and Nonprofit Specialist Julia discuss different staff positions that may benefit operations at your animal sanctuary. Assigning sanctuary tasks to appropriately skilled staff can help maximize your efficiency and effectiveness as an organization, which is very helpful for long-term sustainability! Listen on to learn mor…

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42 - Three Ways To Minimize Liability At Your Animal Organization 33:47

2M ago33:47

33:47

Executive Director Mckenzee and Nonprofit Specialist Julia discuss three tools The Open Sanctuary Project offers to help your sanctuary minimize liability. These include a resource discussing and analyzing insurance options, a liability waiver template and its accompanying resource, and a free system you can download to easily track visitor liabili…

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41 - Sanctuary Considerations For Assisting With Cruelty Cases 35:05

2M ago35:05

35:05

Executive Director Mckenzee and Nonprofit Specialist Julia have another discussion about sanctuary capacity, this time about cruelty, seizure, bust, and escapee cases. We review all the questions your organization needs to consider before working on these cases. Some of these questions you may anticipate, and some you may not! Please note that we w…

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40 - The Importance Of Accuracy & Transparency For Animal Organizations 26:06

3M ago26:06

26:06

Executive Director Mckenzee and Nonprofit Specialist Julia discuss the critical importance of accuracy and transparency in communicating with supporters and the public. We discuss how these two values work hand in hand to maintain organizational integrity, how they might prevent your sanctuary or rescue from getting into adverse situations with oth…

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39 - The Differences Between Animal Sanctuaries And Petting Zoos 32:38

3M ago32:38

32:38

Executive Director Mckenzee and Nonprofit Specialist Julia discuss how animal sanctuaries differ from petting zoos. While this topic might seem evident to many in the sanctuary movement, expectations from the public based on past experiences might lead to conflations between the two environments. We also discuss how animal sanctuaries and advocates…

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38 - Introduction To Governance And Education Resources At The Open Sanctuary Project 25:23

4M ago25:23

25:23

The Open Sanctuary Project’s Community Education Specialist, Andie, and Nonprofit Specialist, Julia, offer an introduction to The Open Sanctuary Project’s offerings in our education and governance departments! Did you know that in addition to our direct care resources, we also have a vast array of resources on these two essential subjects for anima…

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37 - Zoning Laws And Their Impact On Your Animal Organization 21:47

4M ago21:47

21:47

Community Education Specialist Andie and Nonprofit Specialist Julia discuss zoning laws and their importance to animal sanctuary and rescue work! We’ve done a few podcast episodes about capacity variables, and zoning is often touched upon. While zoning may not be the first thing you think about in terms of capacity limits, it’s critical for you to …

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36 - Language Choices In Animal Sanctuary Education & Advocacy 22:24

4M ago22:24

22:24

In this episode, The Open Sanctuary Project’s Executive Director Mckenzee and Nonprofit Specialist Julia discuss the importance of language choices. Language is how we interface with and categorize the world around us. Our choice of language plays a significant role in how we consider others, so your language choices can have a tangible impact on p…

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35 - The Open Sanctuary Project's 2024 Year In Review 33:48

5M ago33:48

33:48

In this episode of The Open Sanctuary Podcast, Executive Director Mckenzee and Nonprofit Specialist Julia celebrate our seventh year of operation by discussing our year in review! We know that our audience of compassionate caregivers is often caught up in the day-to-day work of direct care for animals, so this is your chance to catch up with what’s…

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34 - Adoption Program Considerations For Animal Sanctuaries 25:04

5M ago25:04

25:04

Executive Director Mckenzee and Nonprofit Specialist Julia discuss the cases for and against adoption policies at your animal organization and the considerations you must consider when implementing one. We talk about vetting homes, the paperwork you should have in place, the templates we have to help you, and more! To learn even more about how your…

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33 - Three Helpful Tools For Administering Your Animal Sanctuary 26:38

6M ago26:38

26:38

Executive Director Mckenzee and Nonprofit Specialist Julia discuss three administrative tools that are helpful (and in some cases necessary) for the effective administration of your animal organization: board bylaws, registered agents, and land surveys! --- This Episode’s Referenced Open Sanctuary Project Resources: Nonprofit Board Basics For Anima…

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32 - Fostering Farmed Animal Agency in Sanctuary Education, Part Two 37:24

6M ago37:24

37:24

Community Education Specialist Andie Springirth welcomes back special guest and Open Sanctuary Project contributor Dr. Emily Tronetti to discuss specific agency-supportive practices that sanctuaries can implement in their onsite educational endeavors to nurture the well-being of the residents and increase the effectiveness of their programming. In …

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31 - Ten Questions To Ask Yourself Before Starting An Animal Sanctuary 30:19

7M ago30:19

30:19

Executive Director Mckenzee and Nonprofit Specialist Julia discuss ten critical questions that you should ask yourself before you start a sanctuary! This resource is excellent for those new to the sanctuary movement and a helpful refresher for established sanctuaries and rescue organizations. It serves as a guide to some of the many considerations …

1
30 - Resident Drinking Water Considerations At Your Animal Sanctuary 31:05

7M ago31:05

31:05

Senior Advisor Tara and Nonprofit Specialist Julia discuss the ins and outs of an essential sanctuary consideration: resident drinking water! Ensuring your residents receive the nutrients they require for their health and well-being is an essential aspect of animal care, but the importance of water and the logistics around providing it are sometime…

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29 - Fostering Farmed Animal Agency in Sanctuary Education, Part One 20:04

8M ago20:04

20:04

Community Education Specialist Andie Springirth welcomes back special guest and Open Sanctuary Project contributor Dr. Emily Tronetti to discuss the importance of fostering farmed animal agency in sanctuary education. In addition to exploring why agency-centered education is so vital to the well-being of sanctuary residents, this episode also highl…

1
28 - Collaborating With Other Animal Organizations 25:32

8M ago25:32

25:32

Executive Director Mckenzee and Nonprofit Specialist Julia talk about collaboration and cooperation between organizations! They list common pitfalls to relationship building, how to avoid them, and also how to communicate and work together in ways that enhance your capacity! Building community with like-minded organizations is a great way to streng…

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27 - Introduction To Agency With Dr. Emily Tronetti 28:15

9M ago28:15

28:15

In this episode of The Open Sanctuary Podcast, Community Education Specialist Andie Springirth is joined by special guest and Open Sanctuary Project contributor Dr. Emily Tronetti to discuss farmed animal agency and how to start centering it at your sanctuary to improve the overall health and well-being of the residents. In addition to exploring wh…

1
26 - The Importance Of Observation In Animal Caregiving 26:31

9M ago26:31

26:31

In this episode of The Open Sanctuary Podcast, Community Education Specialist Andie and Senior Advisor Tara discuss the vital role observation plays in many aspects of animal caregiving, focusing on how we can use our observation skills to assess our residents’ health and catch subtle signs of concern. --- This Episode’s Referenced Open Sanctuary P…

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25 - Finding Good Information For Your Animal Organization 31:06

10M ago31:06

31:06

In this episode of The Open Sanctuary Podcast, Senior Advisor Tara and Nonprofit Specialist Julia discuss the guiding principles we use to source compassionate care information. From examining the challenges of finding reliable sources that value the individual lives of animals as sentient beings to explaining how we assess specific care recommenda…

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24 - Common Visitor Questions And How To Respond To Them For Animal Sanctuaries 15:22

10M ago15:22

15:22

Community Education Specialist Andie and Senior Advisor Tara discuss some helpful strategies and tips on how your animal organization can thoughtfully approach and respond to common visitor questions that sanctuaries get asked by visitors. --- This Episode’s Referenced Resources: A Starter Guide to Common Questions Your Sanctuary Gets Asked and How…

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23 - Effective Tabling Strategies and Tips for Animal Sanctuaries 38:47

11M ago38:47

38:47

Community Education Specialist Andie and Nonprofit Specialist Julia discuss some helpful strategies and tips on how your animal organization can table at outreach events as effectively as possible. They offer insight on how tabling can be a beneficial way to connect with the public and raise awareness about issues that are important to your organiz…

1
22 - Being Kind To Bees At Your Animal Organization 31:28

11M ago31:28

31:28

Research Specialist Amber, Community Education Specialist Andie, and Nonprofit Specialist Julia discuss how your animal organization can “bee” more friendly to bees and other pollinators! They offer insight into how bees and pollinators can support your sanctuary (and can help support you and your efforts), actionable tips on how to support pollina…

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21 - Spring Green Pastures: Managing Sanctuary Resident Consumption Safely 29:23

12M ago29:23

29:23

Research Specialist Amber Barnes and Senior Advisor Tara Hess discuss the importance of understanding how fresh, lush pastures can affect ruminant, camelid, and equine residents. In this episode, we talk about the joys of spring for residents and care staff but also the potential risks that may come along with the season. We take a peek into potent…

1
20 - Donkeys Are Different 35:53

1y ago35:53

35:53

Research Specialist Amber and Nonprofit Specialist Julia talk about donkeys! Amber explains some of the physiological, behavioral, social, and nutritional needs differences between horses and donkeys and how these impact what caregivers must consider in their day-to-day care of these individuals. We also talk about mules and the traits that make th…

1
19 - Addressing Biases That Can Harm Farmed Animals 27:04

1y ago27:04

27:04

Community Education Specialist Andie Springirth and Executive Director Mckenzee Griffler discuss combatting biases that can harm farmed animals. Since much of human thinking, feeling, and behavior is guided by our biases, understanding biases that can negatively impact farmed animals is an important undertaking for animal sanctuaries. As communitie…

1
18 - Goat Resident Safety For Animal Sanctuaries 39:12

1y ago39:12

39:12

Senior Advisor Tara Hess and Community Education Specialist Andie Springirth delve into the topic of goat resident safety. Why goat resident safety specifically? While sanctuary caregivers need to make sure residents of all species are safe, ensuring the safety of goats, in particular, can be a bit tricky, especially if you aren’t aware of the uniq…

1
17 - Animal Sanctuary Capacity Part 2: Managing Capacity Limitations Responsibly 38:07

1y ago38:07

38:07

Executive Director Mckenzee Griffler and Nonprofit Specialist Julia Magnus continue discussing animal sanctuary capacity. We review some of the many elements that play a role in determinations around capacity and discuss ways to make it easier for your organization and team when capacity limitations dictate that you say “no,” and discuss other ways…

1
16 - Defining Sanctuary Capacity And Sustainability 39:22

1y ago39:22

39:22

Executive Director Mckenzee Griffler and Nonprofit Specialist Julia discuss an essential metric for all sanctuaries to consider regularly: capacity. In this episode, we discuss many elements that play a role in determining an organization’s capacity, including spatial, quarantine, personnel, financial, regulatory, and emergency response capacity. W…

1
15 - Mitigating The Risk Of Zoonotic Disease Transmission For Sanctuary Personnel 31:37

1y ago31:37

31:37

Community Education Specialist Andie and Senior Advisor Tara revisit the topic of zoonotic disease, this time with a focus on mitigating the risk of transmission for sanctuary personnel. We start by sharing five measures folks can implement today to help protect personnel and then discuss three additional measures folks can implement that may take …

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14 - Introduction To Fundraising For Animal Organizations 36:20

1y ago36:20

36:20

Executive Director Mckenzee Griffler and Nonprofit Specialist Julia discuss some of the issues that can make fundraising an emotional challenge for those who come from a caregiver background. We also talk about the intersections between fundraising, capacity and storytelling, how to find a balance between these elements, and how we can bring some "…

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13- Rooster Stigma Part 2: Sharing A New Framework For Understanding Roosters 32:16

1+ y ago32:16

32:16

In this episode of The Open Sanctuary Podcast, “Sharing A New Framework For Understanding Roosters,” Senior Advisor Tara and Nonprofit Specialist Julia continue their rooster stigma discussion, debunking common rooster myths and stereotypes. We share ways that you as a sanctuary can actively bust rooster stigma through the adoption of careful langu…

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12 - Rooster Stigma Part 1: Dismantling Rooster Stigma in Your Caregiving and Education Practices 22:42

1+ y ago22:42

22:42

In this episode of The Open Sanctuary Podcast, Senior Advisor Tara and Nonprofit Specialist Julia discuss some common myths about roosters that perpetuate rooster stigma. We address several common misconceptions, stigmas, and stereotypes about roosters, dismantle them one by one, and offer a new framework for understanding rooster behavior. --- Thi…

1
11 - Zoonotic Disease Transmission and Onsite Sanctuary Education 47:04

1+ y ago47:04

47:04

In this episode of The Open Sanctuary Podcast, Community Education Specialist Andie Springirth and Senior Advisor Tara Hess delve into zoonotic disease transmission. What are zoonoses, and what are the ways in which they can spread? Why is it important to understand zoonotic disease transmission from an educational standpoint, and what are some of …

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10 - Caring For Chickens Indoors Part 2: Practical Considerations 36:24

1+ y ago36:24

36:24

Senior Advisor Tara and Nonprofit Specialist Julia discuss the practical considerations of caring for indoor chickens. In our last episode on the subject of indoor chickens, we talked about why caring for chickens in this way is a great idea for the chickens, for caregivers, and for the movement. In this episode, we’re talking practice and the nitt…

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09 - Caring For Chickens Indoors Part 1: Why Indoor Chickens? 24:46

1+ y ago24:46

24:46

Senior Advisor Tara and Nonprofit Specialist Julia discuss why we should consider caring for chickens as indoor companions! Keeping chickens inside may sound strange for people outside of the sanctuary world, although more and more people are realizing that chickens can make great indoor companions. In fact, sometimes taking care of chickens indoor…

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08 - How Your Animal Sanctuary Or Rescue Can Collaborate With Animal Shelters 39:25

1+ y ago39:25

39:25

Nonprofit Specialist Julia, Research Specialist Amber, and Community Education Specialist Andie discuss animal sanctuary and rescue collaboration considerations with animal shelters. While the word “shelter” can be evocative for many, and many folks may have a lot of feelings about them, it’s important to realize that shelters are often an essentia…

1
07 - Mission & Vision Statements For Your Animal Organization 25:28

1+ y ago25:28

25:28

Executive Director Mckenzee Griffler, Community Education Specialist Andie Springirth, and Nonprofit Specialist Julia Magnus delve into the question of mission and vision statements. Why are these two simple sentences so important for the internal operations of animal organizations, both grassroots and nonprofit? How do they help your organization …

1
06 - Predator Proofing For Avian Residents At Your Animal Sanctuary 33:57

1+ y ago33:57

33:57

Senior Advisor Tara and Nonprofit Specialist Julia talk about the many considerations that go into protecting avian residents from predators. We’ll touch on the risks that predators present, how to familiarize yourself with predator types in your environment, and how to site avian living spaces appropriately. We’ll also talk about the importance of…

1
05 - Sanctuary In-Person Education Options, Part 1 30:37

1+ y ago30:37

30:37

Whether you’re just getting started or have been running an animal sanctuary for quite some time now, education often becomes an important part of your organization’s mission. Though many sanctuaries choose to facilitate onsite tour programs as part of their education strategy, there are a number of other ways to provide in-person educational oppor…

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04 - Communicating With Youth About Animal Exploitation 36:53

1+ y ago36:53

36:53

At the Open Sanctuary Project, we know that the idea of unpacking animal exploitation with youth might seem like a daunting task. But if we want younger generations to help us imagine and create a world that is free from animal exploitation, it’s essential that we engage them in anti-speciesist thinking and challenge their human-centered behaviors …

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03 - Starting A Nonprofit Animal Sanctuary Or Rescue with Julia, Amber, and Andie 30:26

1+ y ago30:26

30:26

At The Open Sanctuary Project, we not only advocate for compassionate animal care, but also for thoughtful and well-considered governance practices. We believe combining these two elements can help with long-term sanctuary sustainability! In this episode, our Nonprofit Specialist Julia chats with Community Education Specialist Andie, and Research S…

1
02 - Building And Maintaining A Good Relationship With Your Veterinarian with Amber, Julia, and Tara 22:40

1+ y ago22:40

22:40

At The Open Sanctuary Project, we strongly advocate that you provide appropriate veterinary care for each and every one of your animal residents. This can be tricky at times when it comes to “less traditional” animal companions, like many farmed animal species, among others. Establishing a good relationship with your veterinarian is a critical part…

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01 - Easy Sanctuary Enrichment Tips with Amber, Andie, and Tara 20:13

1+ y ago20:13

20:13

At The Open Sanctuary Project, we believe that animal resident enrichment should be incorporated as an aspect of general care, rather than seen as an "extra". To make the sometimes daunting prospect of enrichment feel a bit simpler, more accessible, and more affordable, our Research Specialist Amber discusses some easy enrichment tips with Andie an…

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