Truth, Lies, and Puppy Mills
We are bringing podcast back!! This will allow our team to go in-depth on the various facets of the puppy mill industry, the issues that advocates across the country face, as well as interviews with industry experts as we all work together to create lasting change for the animals trapped in commercial breeding facilities.
Episodes
55 episodes
Ep54: KP Goes National!
Y'all this week we are TIRED! Kristen flew across the country to table at her first ever national conference and then we recorded this one day after she got back (and one hour after our monthly free pet food pantry!) So you are most defin...
Ep53: Indiana Puppy Mill Bust
On this week's episode of "Truth, Lies, and Puppy Mills", Alexis, Kristen, and Mindi talk about the recent puppy mill bust in Indiana and how lax laws across the country allow for animals to fall between the cracks. We discuss our research into...
Ep52: Benji is 15!
Our little baby organization is officially 15 years old! So much has happened during that time and we have already accomplished so much. Tune in this week as Kristen and Mindi walk back through time and chat about some of the biggest ways that ...
Ep51: Helping Both Ends of the Leash
For years, “animal rescue” meant putting animals first no matter what. But the conversation is quickly changing and, because of that, so is the impact.In our latest podcast episode, Kristen and Jalaine sit down with Cayla from The Pet P...
Ep50: Animal Rights vs Animal Welfare
On this week's episode, Mindi and Kristen take a closer look at the conversation around animal rights and animal welfare. These two approaches are often talked about, but are not always understood or recognized as two different belief systems. ...
Ep49: The Trauma of it All
What happens when the work you love starts to shape who you are or when the baggage you carry dictates where you go?In this week's episode, Jalaine and Kristen dig into something we don’t talk about enough in animal welfare: trauma. Not ...
Ep48: Great Research, Greater Responsibility
As our research has expanded over the years, our understanding of the industry has deepened. With that came a strong sense of responsibility to turn away from generalizations and approximations, and instead focus on what we know... The research...
Ep47: The Greater Good
On this week's episode of "Truth, Lies, and Puppy Mills", we invite you to step outside of the usual outrage cycle and into something a little more nuanced and hopeful. As the USDA proposes changes that could reshape oversight of the commercial...
Ep46: Lessons Learned
After a busy few weeks, Mindi and Kristen are back in the nook talking updates! On this week's episode we chat about Mindi's trip to DC and how she was able to learn from a few Chiefs of Staff about effective advocacy and how to get your messag...
Ep45: Hello, Clarisse
This week Alexis and Kristen sit down with our intern/part time employee Clarisse to talk about her passion for animals and how she found our organization! We met Clarisse through the group she volunteered for "Students Helping Rescue Animals"....
Ep44: The USDA's Puppy Mill Crackdown!
On this week's episode of "Truth, Lies, and Puppy Mills", join Alexis, Kristen, and Mindi as we chat through the USDA's plan on how they will be cracking down on puppy mills. We talk about what they say, what we think, and what we hope will com...
Ep43: Transparency Goes Live!
On this week's episode, join Mindi and Alexis as they chat about the release of our NEW directory! This website allows you to see even more of our research at your finger tips. You can search pet stores, online websites, breeders, brokers, and ...
Ep42: Pedigrees, Popularity and Perception
This week we invite you to tune in and listen to our stream of consciousness as we try to work through some of the harder conversations surrounding pedigrees and breeds! We want to remind people that we always tell you what we absolutely know, ...
Ep41: Dispatch, Driving, and Dogs
This week Alexis and Mindi chat with Rosie, our part-time assistant research analyst! On top of working 911 dispatch in Des Moines, Iowa and monitoring USDA records for our team, Rosie volunteers for two Shiba Inu rescues. Listen as we talk abo...
Ep40: Rethinking Puppy Mill Messaging
The words we use every day matter. They shape perception, they influence behavior, and they have the power to tear someone down or build them up. After taking the time to reflect on puppy mill advocacy and the language we use, our team sat down...
Ep39: This Is Not Normal...
In today’s brief episode, we’re pausing our regular programming to acknowledge the heaviness that so many of us are carrying. At Bailing Out Benji, our work is rooted in research, accountability, and protecting dogs and their families from harm...
Ep38: What's in a Message?
What if the way we talk about animal welfare is just as important as the policies we fight for?In this episode, we’re joined by Hanna Lentz from SPARC for a candid and necessary conversation about the messaging that happe...
Ep37: Times are Changin'
This week's episode was recorded back in November, but the sentiment remains the same! The times are changing and we are excited to be leading the charge. Sit with Alexis, Kristen, and Mindi as they chat about a few conferences they...
Ep36: Our Year of Impact!
HAPPY NEW YEAR and welcome back to Truth, Lies, and Puppy Mills! Join Alexis, Jalaine, Kristen, and Mindi this week as we chat about the impact that we had in 2025 and what our goals are for 2026. With an amazing volunteer team and a world of s...
Ep35: Podcast Pause
Happy Wednesday and thank you for joining us for another week of "Truth, Lies, and Puppy Mills!" Tune in to this very short episode to hear why we are taking a little break from recording and when to expect us back! If you have ever...
Ep34: Heart Work + Hard Work
In this lighthearted episode full of laughter and smiles, we sit down with two members of Bailing Out Benji’s admin who help drive our mission every day: Alexis, our research analyst, and Jalaine, our volunteer coordinator. They s...
Ep33: Online Sleuth Team
Last week you heard us talk about the online world of puppy sales and what our team is doing to try and get a handle on it! This week Alexis and Kristen sit down with Ally and Sarah , two of our volunteers who helped jumpstart our online resear...
Ep32: Click, Click, Sold
On this week's episode, Alexis, Kristen, and Mindi dig deep into the world of online puppy mills. We talk about the history of regulation and go into the work we are doing to try and wrangle the wild-wild-west of puppy sales. Love t...
Ep 31: The One With The Questions
We didn't know what to expect when we opened ourselves up for questions, but we are here to answer all of them- even the tough ones! Join us this week as we wrap up with part two of our Q&A style episode and continue having nuan...
Ep30: Thirty and Thriving!
Whoop whoop! Our team has released 30 episodes so far!! Thank you for sticking with us as we found our groove. We have had thousands of listeners tuning in on various podcast apps and several dozen watching each week through Youtube! We are hea...
