Puppies, Pandemics, and Public Health

About Puppies, Pandemics, and Public Health

Welcome to Puppies, Pandemics, and Public Health—a podcast for smart, curious listeners who are tired of being misled by clickbait headlines and not always sure which headlines to believe. Hosted by Dr. Johnny Lieberman—internist, infectious diseases physician, accidental dog dad, and now with an Animal Law Degree - this show pulls back the curtain on the interconnected and opaque systems that shape our food, medicine, environment, and public health. From factory farms to pharmaceutical labs, from the dog in your home to the label on your lunch meat—what’s marketed as “healthy” or “humane” is often anything but. Each episode investigates the real stories behind the headlines: the science, the policy, the ethics, and the consequences. Dr. Lieberman brings a sharp, witty, no-fluff perspective—armed with over 20 years of medical experience and a deep drive to uncover truth. Through solo episodes, expert interviews, and roundtable discussions, you’ll learn how to navigate misinformation, advocate for better systems, and make decisions that align with your values. If you’ve ever wondered what’s really in your food, how pandemics emerge, or whether you’re accidentally supporting abusive industries—this is the podcast for you.

Publisher

Dr. Johnny Lieberman

Category

education · health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

1 Aug 2025

Latest episode

14 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

32 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   14 Oct 2026

   Stewardship of Creation: How Factory Farming Challenges Catholic Values | S2 Ep.04

   EPISODE SUMMARY Ten billion land animals are farmed in the U.S. every year, and 99% of them live on factory farms. Kristin Dunn, founder of the Saint Francis Institute for Animals, explains why she believes Catholics have a moral obligation to confront this reality, and how faith can become a powerful force for animal protection. IN THIS EPISODE - The three numbers everyone should know: 10 billion, 99%, and double - Why factory farming is not "the way it's always been" but a recent and rapidly growing system that causes so much harm to so many - How Kristin went from "not an animal person" to founding a Catholic animal advocacy nonprofit - Pope Francis's 2015 encyclical Laudato Si' and what it says about animals and stewardship - The disconnect between Catholic values and current treatment of farmed animals-and how to rectify that - Why awareness is the first step toward meaningful change KEY TAKEAWAYS 1. Factory farming has doubled in the last 35-40 years. This is not ancient history. It is a modern system that can be changed. 2. Most people, including many Catholics, simply do not know what happens inside factory farms. Education is the starting point. 3. Catholic teaching already calls for compassion toward animals. The work is not inventing new values but amplifying ones that already exist. 4. You do not have to be vegan or even vegetarian to start making choices that reduce animal suffering. 5. Everyone has something to contribute. Skills, ideas, and passion all matter in this work. KEYWORDS Kristin Dunn, Saint Francis Institute for Animals, Catholic animal advocacy, factory farming, Laudato Si', Pope Francis, animal welfare, faith and animals, stewardship, Catholic social teaching, farmed animals, plant-based, animal protection, Catholic ethics, food choices

2. 

   30 Sept 2026

   Animal Welfare: Why Protecting Animals Means Protecting Ourselves | S1 Ep30

   EPISODE SUMMARY Fur farms still exist, and most people have no idea. Lesley Fox, Executive Director of The Fur-Bearers, explains why these facilities are a public health risk, an environmental hazard, and a drain on taxpayer dollars. If this industry didn't already exist, no one would argue for starting it now. IN THIS EPISODE - The origins of fur farming in 1800s Canada and how it spread globally as a get-rich-quick scheme - How fur farms resemble actory farms and puppy mills in their confinement practices and negative externalities - Why COVID brought new attention to fur farming's public health risks - How taxpayer funding turns a "private" industry into a public concern - Why NOW is the best time to take action to end mink farming - Multiple entry points for advocates: animal welfare, environment, public health, workers' rights, or government accountability KEY TAKEAWAYS 1. Fur farms are factory farms for fashion, cramming wild animals into small cages to produce a non-essential product. 2. When an industry receives public funding and creates public health risks, it stops being a private business matter. 3. The fur farming industry is weaker now than at any point in history, making this a winnable fight for advocates. 4. Tradition is not a justification for continuing harmful practices when new information shows the damage being done. 5. You don't have to care about animal welfare to oppose fur farming. Pick your issue: environment, workers, taxes, or disease. KEYWORDS Lesley Fox, The Fur-Bearers, fur farming, mink farms, animal welfare, public health, zoonotic disease, factory farming, wildlife protection, Canada, COVID, taxpayer funding, fashion fur trade, animal advocacy, environmental impact

3. 

   16 Sept 2026

   Dogs in Labs: A Former Researcher on Why She Changed Sides | Ep. 29

   EPISODE SUMMARY Dogs are still being used in medical research, and the science behind it is weaker than most people realize. Daria Bednarczyk, a former lab worker turned animal law advocate, joins Dr. Lieberman to unpack the outdated regulations, the ethical blind spots, and why better alternatives already exist but aren't being used. IN THIS EPISODE - Why dogs are still used in research despite being seen as pets by most people - The emotional burnout researchers experience when working with lab animals - How World War II era FDA regulations still dictate what counts as "gold standard" testing - New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) and why they're not being adopted faster - The low translatability rate of animal testing to human outcomes - Daria's personal journey from lab researcher to animal law advocate - Why the system pays scientists to keep using animal models - The disconnect between loving your pet at home and experimenting on animals at work KEY TAKEAWAYS 1. Animal testing remains the default not because it works best, but because laws and regulations haven't caught up to current science, and researchers are still paid to perform experiments on animals. 2. New technologies can produce more human-relevant data than animal models, but adoption is blocked by outdated approval processes and a system set on maintaining the status quo. 3. Challenging long-held beliefs, especially ones tied to your identity or career, is uncomfortable but necessary for real change. 4. The conversation to move beyond animal research needs scientists, lawyers, animal advocates and the public at the same table. KEYWORDS Daria Bednarczyk, dogs in research, animal testing, lab animals, New Approach Methodologies, NAMs, FDA regulations, animal law, research ethics, translatability, animal advocacy, emotional burnout, alternatives to animal testing, public health

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

11 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

6 ratings

Contact Puppies, Pandemics, and Public Health

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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