Advertise on podcast: RSPCA Australia's Great & Small Talk

What does a horse need to live a good life? In this episode of RSPCA's Great & Small Talk, Kasey Bridge, Senior Manager of Capacity, Intake & Emergency Response, RSPCA NSW, and Dr Anne Chester, Senior Veterinary Ambassador, RSPCA QLD, explore what good horse welfare actually looks like. From mental wellbeing, environment, and enrichment, to the responsibilities that come with ownership, they discuss the key factors that help horses thrive.  Whether you're a horse owner, an equine enthusiast or simply curious about animal welfare, this is a fascinating conversation that may change the way you think about horses and their needs.

From building one of Australia's most iconic brands to championing animal welfare, Peter Alexander has always led with heart. 🐾❤️ In this special episode of RSPCA Australia's Great and Small Talk, Peter reflects on his long-standing relationship with the RSPCA, the legacy he hopes to leave, and why protecting animals has remained one of his greatest passions. Along the way, he shares behind-the-scenes stories from his career, the inspiration behind his work, and some very special tales about the rescue pets who have changed his life. It's a warm, honest conversation about compassion, purpose and the incredible bond we share with animals.

What happens when animal suffering becomes entertainment? In this episode of RSPCA's Great & Small Talk, Dr Di Evans, RSPCA Australia, and Dr Cath Henshall, Charles Sturt University, join host Brian Daly to explore the animal welfare concerns associated with rodeos. They discuss the physical and psychological impacts on animals, as well as the broader implications of normalising animal stress and harm as entertainment, particularly for younger generations encouraged to participate. Tune in for an insightful discussion on the science, ethics and animal welfare concerns behind rodeo events.

What does life look like for the more than 700 million chickens farmed for meat in Australia each year?  In the latest episode of Great & Small Talk, host Brian Daly is joined by Melina Tensen, Senior Scientific Officer (Farm Animals) RSPCA Australia, to discuss the realities of meat chicken welfare in Australia. From fast-growing breeds and housing conditions, to husbandry practices and the changes needed to improve animal welfare, this conversation explores an issue that affects millions of animals every year. Whether you're passionate about animal welfare, conscious about farming practices, or simply want to better understand the lives of farmed animals, this episode offers valuable insights into one of Australia's largest animal industries.

This week on the RSPCA Great and Small Talk podcast, we’re joined by Dr Melissa Meehan to dive into the world of pet insurance. What it is, how it works, and what pet owners really need to know.  From breaking down common misconceptions to explaining the fine print, Dr Meehan shares practical insights to help you make informed decisions for your furry family members.  Whether you already have pet insurance or are considering it for the first time, this episode is packed with helpful advice for navigating the options and understanding why being prepared can make all the difference.

What happens in a crisis when an animal is in urgent need of help?  In our latest podcast episode, we sit down with Dr Elaine Ong OAM and Nicole de Haan from Vets for Compassion, to talk about rescuing and caring for animals in the middle of a crisis situation. Through bushfires, floods, domestic situations and more, her team intervenes when animals need them the most, often in challenging conditions that render other services unable to help.  Shedding light on the risks and welfare impacts of the modern world for animals today, along with some incredible stories from their work on the frontline - this is an episode not to be missed.

Shark nets are often seen as a simple solution for beach safety, but at what cost? In this episode, we’re joined by Andre Borell, founder of Envoy and Rachel Woodrow from RSPCA QLD, to dive deep into the complex issue of shark safety, unpacking how shark nets actually work, their effectiveness, and the impact they have on marine life. Tune in to hear the facts, the debates, and what the future of shark safety could look like.

We know animals are sentient, but do we really understand what that means, and why it’s important to recognise?  In this episode, we are joined by Dr Kris Descovich, Senior Scientific Officer at RSPCA Australia to explore animal sentience and what science tells us about the emotions, consciousness and inner lives of animals.   From curiosity and play to fear and pain, we explore how different species perceive and respond to their environments and why it matters.

Animal videos are everywhere on social media, but what’s really happening beyond the screen? In this episode, our host Brian Daly is joined by the Nicola O’Brien from the Social Media Animal Cruelty Coalition (SMACC) to unpack the hidden realities of viral animal content. From staged rescues to exploitative trends, we uncover how seemingly “cute” videos can sometimes come at a serious cost.

Are indoor cats safer? And is letting your cat roam freely doing more harm than good? In this episode, our host Brian Daly is joined by Dr Gemma Ma, veterinary policy and project officer at RSPCA NSW, to discuss the risks of roaming, the potential challenges of containment and what cats really need for optimal physical and mental wellbeing. With advice on outdoor enclosures, catios and creating enriching indoor spaces cats will love, Dr Ma breaks down what responsible containment can look like and why it matters

Since 2020, a total of 857 dogs have been killed on the racetrack, it's an alarming statistic.  In this episode of Great and Small Talk, we confront the uncomfortable realities behind Australia’s greyhound racing industry. An industry which, despite repeated inquiries, high injury rates, declining participation, and persistent welfare failures, continues to operate thanks to government support.  Join our host Brian Daly as he speaks to Dr Di Evans, RSPCA Australia, and Debbie King, RSPCA WA about this highly charged topic, as they break down industry myths, poor welfare practices and what needs to change to protect Australia's greyhounds.

There's currently a lot of discussion about how to effectively manage cats in Australia, for many reasons including safeguarding our native wildlife, and also to ensure cats are kept safe and responsibly cared for.  A big part of the conversation is how to manage 'stray' or unowned domestic cats. Often misunderstood, stray cats are a relatively small group compared to owned cats or feral cats, they are an important part of the issue as they may interact with both groups with potential risk of unplanned litters or spread of diseases, and for the unowned cats themselves the welfare issues that impact them in their difficult lives. In this episode our host Brian Daly delves into the issue of cat management with Dr Gemma Ma, Community Veterinarian at RSPCA NSW, discussing the impacts of unowned cats, the common misconceptions, and what can be done to help them while reducing the number of unowned and unplanned cats in Australia.

RSPCA Inspectors play an extremely important role in enforcing animal welfare legislation across the states and territories. Theirs is a role that can be both heartwarming and heartbreaking, sometimes all in the same day. This week we chat with Andrea Lewis, Head of Animal Welfare, RSPCA SA and Scott Meyers, Chief Inspector, RSPCA NSW to hear their stories from on the field, including their journey's to becoming RSPCA Inspectors, the highs, surprises and frustrations that come with the role plus many more questions and insights into helping all creatures great and small.

"Just the mere act of housing animals in a laboratory environment has negative welfare impacts, so whatever happens to these animals as part of a study adds to this stress and suffering." Every day across Australia millions of animals of all species are used for research including mice, rats, fish, reptiles, rabbits, cats, dogs, farmed animals and monkeys.  Many people are unaware of the scope and breadth of these experiments and the myriad of welfare impacts that result. Join our host Brian Daly as he speaks with Dr Di Evans, Senior Scientific Officer RSPCA Australia on the current realities of life for animals used in research, the welfare impacts, the urgent improvements needed and animal-free alternatives as a way forward.

There's no such thing as a bad dog, but all dogs can have good and bad days.  The reasons that dogs may display aggressive or unwanted behaviours are varied and can often be a response to fear, anxiety, or past traumas they have experienced. Understanding dog behaviours and the signs they communicate to us through their body language is an important factor in managing and preventing aggression or fear-based incidents. Join our host Brian Daly as he discusses all things dog behaviour and dog safety with Dr Gabrielle Carter, Veterinary Specialist in Animal Behaviour, RSPCA Victoria and Georgie Caspar, Head of Animal Care, RSPCA NSW.