In this episode, we are honored to host Captain Paul Watson, the visionary founder of the Captain Paul Watson Foundation, as he delves into the world of oceanic conservation and the philosophy of biocentrism. Captain Watson shares his extraordinary journey from co-founding Greenpeace. to founding Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and his resignation, to the Captain Paul Watson Foundation's bold and often controversial missions to protect marine life. Through engaging stories and profound insights, he reveals the fundamental principles of biocentrism that shape his approach to environmental activism. Join us for an inspiring conversation that challenges anthropocentric views and advocates for a harmonious coexistence with all living beings in our oceans.

About the Guest: Captain Paul Watson is a marine wildlife conservation and environmental activist. Watson was one of the founding members and directors of Greenpeace. In 1977, he left Greenpeace and founded the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.

A renowned speaker, accomplished author, master mariner, and lifelong environmentalist, Captain Watson has been awarded many honors for his dedication to the oceans and to the planet.

Among many commendations for his work, he received the Genesis Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1998, was named as one of the Top 20 Environmental Heroes of the 20th Century by Time Magazine in 2000 and was inducted into the U.S. Animal Rights Hall of Fame in Washington D.C. in 2002. He was also awarded the Amazon Peace Prize by the president of Ecuador in 2007. In 2012, Captain Watson became only the second person, after Captain Jacques Cousteau, to be awarded the Jules Verne Award, dedicated to environmentalists and adventurers. In 2022, Captain Paul Watson continues his fight for marine wildlife conservation with the new Captain Paul Watson Foundation – paulwatsonfoundation.org

Co-Creator & Host: Alexander Taylor Clayton - https://alexanderscorner.com/

Co-Founder & Brought To You By: ROLDA - The Romanian League in Defense of Animals - https://rolda.org/

To see the video version of the interview, visit https://rolda.org/paws-and-reflect/

If you would like to donate and support this podcast and ROLDA's efforts, visit https://rolda.org/donate/

In this episode of "Paws & Reflect," Dr. Aysha Ahktar joins us to explore the profound connections between human and animal health. Dr. Ahktar, a renowned neurologist and public health specialist, delves into her work on how animal welfare and human well-being are intrinsically linked. She shares compelling insights from her book "Our Symphony with Animals," highlighting stories of resilience and healing. By examining the ethical, medical, and emotional dimensions of our interactions with animals, Dr. Ahktar makes a powerful case for compassionate conservation and a more empathetic approach to both human and animal health.

About the Guest: Aysha Akhtar, M.D., M.P.H., is the Co-founder and CEO of the Center for Contemporary Sciences, (CCS) which is pioneering the transition to replace the use of animals in experimentation with more effective human-relevant testing methods and reduce the risks of pandemics and other human health threats by tackling root causes. A military veteran, she is a double-board certified neurologist and preventive medicine specialist, with a background in public health. Previously she served as Deputy Director of the U.S. Army Traumatic Brain Injury Program. As a Commander in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, Dr. Akhtar frequently deployed to assist with national public health emergencies.

For a decade, Aysha was a Medical Officer at the Food and Drug Administration, most recently in the Office of Counterterrorism and Emerging Threats, implementing studies on vaccine effectiveness and safety and using her Top-Secret Security Clearance to develop national preparedness strategies for public health threats. An international speaker, her work has appeared in numerous articles including those in The Independent, LA Times, The Hill and Salon. She has been interviewed for the New Yorker, New York Times, National Geographic, and WIRED, among others. Publications include the Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics, Pediatrics, Journal of Public Health Policy, Lancet, and Reviews in the Neurosciences.

Aysha is a Fellow of the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics. She is the author of the two books, Our Symphony With Animals. On Health, Empathy and Our Shared Destinies and Animals and Public Health, which argues for the need for health institutions to include animals as part of the “public” in public health. Aysha is a TEDx speaker.

Co-Creator & Host: Alexander Taylor Clayton - https://alexanderscorner.com/

Co-Founder & Brought To You By: ROLDA - The Romanian League in Defense of Animals - https://rolda.org/

To see the video version of the interview, visit https://rolda.org/paws-and-reflect/

If you would like to donate and support this podcast and ROLDA's efforts, visit https://rolda.org/donate/

In this episode of "Paws & Reflect," we delve into the concept of ethical conservation, emphasizing humane approaches to preserving ecosystems and species. Ethical conservation prioritizes the well-being of individual animals while striving to protect and restore natural habitats. We explore key principles such as non-invasive research techniques, the intrinsic value of animals, and sustainable coexistence. Through real-world applications and detailed case studies, we showcase the successes and challenges of ethical conservation efforts, highlighting the importance of community involvement and sustainable practices.

We feature case studies including habitat restoration in the Florida Everglades, translocation of black rhinos in Africa, and community-led conservation in Nepal, alongside a critical look at the controversial practice of managing barred owls to protect spotted owls. By examining these examples, we provide insights into the ethical dilemmas conservationists face and discuss emerging trends and technologies that support humane and effective conservation practices. Join us to learn how you can contribute to these vital efforts and help create a more compassionate world for all species.

Co-Creator & Host: Alexander Taylor Clayton - https://alexanderscorner.com/

Co-Founder & Brought To You By: ROLDA - The Romanian League in Defense of Animals - https://rolda.org/

To see the video version of the interview, visit https://rolda.org/paws-and-reflect/

If you would like to donate and support this podcast and ROLDA's efforts, visit https://rolda.org/donate/

Guest: Dr. Marc Bekoff - A professor emeritus of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder, Marc has published 31 books (or 41, depending on how you count multi-volume encyclopedias). He has won many awards for his research on animal behavior, animal emotions (cognitive ethology), compassionate conservation, and animal protection, has worked closely with Jane Goodall as co-chair of the ethics committee of the Jane Goodall Institute, and is a former Guggenheim Fellow. He also works closely with inmates at the Boulder County Jail. In June 2022, Marc was recognized as a Hero by the Academy of Dog Trainers. His books include The Animals' Agenda: Freedom, Compassion, and Coexistence in the Human Age, Canine Confidential: Why Dogs Do What They Do, Unleashing Your Dog: A Field Guide to Giving Your Canine Companion the Best Life Possible, and A Dog's World: Imagining the Lives of Dogs in a World Without Humans. Marc’s latest books are Dogs Demystified: An A to Z Guide to All Things Canine, the second edition of The Emotional Lives of Animals: A Leading Scientist Explores Animal Joy, Sorrow, and Empathy―and Why They Matter, and Jane Goodall at 90: Celebrating an Astonishing Lifetime of Science, Advocacy, Humanitarianism, Hope, and Peace. Many of his books can be seen here.) He also publishes regularly for Psychology Today. His homepage is marcbekoff.com. In 1986, Marc won the Master’s Tour du Haut, aka the age-graded Tour de France.

Co-Creator & Host: Alexander Taylor Clayton - https://alexanderscorner.com/

Co-Founder & Brought To You By: ROLDA - The Romanian League in Defense of Animals - https://rolda.org/

To see the video version of the interview, visit https://rolda.org/paws-and-reflect/

If you would like to donate and support this podcast and ROLDA's efforts, visit https://rolda.org/donate/