Talking Animals

Melanie Joy--professor and author

Melanie Joy–a professor who teaches psychology and sociology at the University of Massachusetts, Boston and author, most recently of “Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs and Wear Cows: An Introduction to Carnism”—reprises the hypothetical dinner scene that opens her new book,

outlines some of the fundamental tenets of “Carnism” (in many respects, the opposite of vegetarianism), addresses where in the Carnism scheme of things Flexitarians land on the ideological and meat-eating/eschewing continuum, explains the inner discomfort that eating animals creates in some people and the “psychic numbing” used to neutralize that discomfort, assesses the outcomes she anticipates will result from people reading the book, and responds to several listener questions and comments. [www.MelanieJoy.org]

COMEDY CORNER: Tom Papa’s “Pet People” (www.TomPapa.com)

MUSIC: The Starlight Mints’ “Rhino Stomp,” Norah Jones’ “Man Of The Hour,” instrumentals

NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Prince’s “When Doves Cry”