In this episode of Just So You Know, Jamie and Justina sit down with Ashley Byrne, Director of Outreach Communications at PETA, to talk about one of the most paralyzing moments an animal lover faces and exactly what to do when it happens.

This conversation goes deeper than surface level takes. We explore what it actually means to respond to an animal emergency, why so many people freeze in the moment, and how being prepared can be the difference between life and death for an animal in need.

We get into:

• Step-by-step actions to take when you find an injured animal

• How to navigate cruelty and neglect when authorities won’t act

• Building your own animal rescue kit before you ever need it

• When to call PETA — and how they can help 24/7

• Why staying calm is the most powerful thing you can do

• Real rescue stories straight from the streets of New York City

This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being prepared, being brave, and knowing that one person really can make a difference.

If you’ve ever frozen in the moment… felt helpless watching an animal suffer… or just didn’t know who to call,

this episode is for you.

⸻

IF THIS EPISODE RESONATED

👍 Like

💬 Comment your thoughts (we read everything)

🔔 Subscribe to stay tapped in for Season 2

⭐ Rate us on Spotify + Apple Podcasts

⸻

FOLLOW ASHLEY BYRNE:

https://www.peta.org

https://www.facebook.com/peta

https://www.instagram.com/ashlovesmongo

https://www.instagram.com/peta

⸻

FOLLOW JUST SO YOU KNOW:

https://www.instagram.com/jsykpodcast/

https://open.spotify.com/show/7D38Vg8MJKTYD8TKQe3KfZ?si=71510dba30a04af5

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/just-so-you-know/id1726036677

https://www.youtube.com/@jsykpodcast

⸻

FOLLOW US:

Jamie:

itsjamiescorner.com

https://www.youtube.com/@JamiesCornershow

https://www.instagram.com/itsjamiescorner/

https://www.tiktok.com/@itsjamiescorner

https://x.com/itsjamiescorner

https://www.facebook.com/itsjamiescorner

Justina:

https://www.instagram.com/justina.justina?igsh=NmhtbmhzZHRiMHZh&utm_source=qr

https://www.instagram.com/justinaveganjourney?igsh=MTM0bDByMnZnZWdiaQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

https://www.youtube.com/@Justinadayinmylife

⸻

🕒 CHAPTER MARKERS

00:00 Cold Open + Setting the Scene

00:56 Season 2 Intro + Why This Episode Matters

02:48 Why People Freeze in Animal Emergencies

05:43 Meet Ashley Byrne & Her Work at PETA

08:53 Step One: Stay Calm & Assess the Situation

13:17 Should You Handle It Yourself?

15:13 Build Your Rescue Kit Before You Need It

17:04 What to Keep in Your Car & Bag

19:44 When to Call Authorities

21:22 When Authorities Won’t Show Up

23:11 How PETA Can Help — 24 Hours a Day

25:32 Ronald the Pigeon & Real Street Rescue Stories

29:50 The Homeless Man, His Dog & the Hard Call

33:08 Open Admission Shelters & the Euthanasia Reality

36:31 The Crab in the Purse

42:07 Baby Animals & the Mistakes Well-Meaning People Make

45:31 Why You Should Never Feed an Injured Animal

47:33 Children & Animals — An Overlooked Danger at Home

53:33 Bunnies, Exotic Pets & Selfish Ownership

55:34 Getting Past the Fear of Looking Crazy

01:00:16 Jamie’s Bus Story — Always Say Something

01:03:08 How to Confront Abusers Without Putting Yourself at Risk

01:08:48 Final Resources & How to Stay Ready

In this episode of Just So You Know, Jamie and Justina sit down with legendary French chef Alexis Gauthier to talk about what it really means to be a chef in a world where animals are still treated like ingredients.

What happens when a Michelin-starred French chef wakes up to the truth… and decides he can no longer profit from animal suffering?

Alexis shares his powerful journey from serving foie gras, horse meat, and classical French cuisine built around animals… to completely transforming his restaurant, his career, and his voice into one rooted in compassion.

This conversation goes deeper than food. It’s about ethics, courage, creativity, and the responsibility that comes with feeding people.

We get into:

• How Alexis went from traditional French chef to vegan advocate

• The protestors who helped spark his transformation

• Why chefs have a moral responsibility to rethink what they serve

• How he turned a Michelin-starred restaurant fully vegan

• The pushback he got from customers, staff, and the culinary world

• Why some chefs are still too scared to change

• Whether plant-based food can really be “fine dining”

• The creativity required to cook without relying on animals

• Why restaurants that go back to serving animals are missing the point

• His message to chefs who know the truth but still won’t act

This isn’t just about food.

It’s about conscience, leadership, and what it means to stop hiding behind tradition.

If you’ve ever wondered whether great chefs can lead real change…

this episode is for you.

⸻

IF THIS EPISODE RESONATED

👍 Like

💬 Comment your thoughts (we read everything)

🔔 Subscribe to stay tapped in for Season 2

⭐ Rate us on Spotify + Apple Podcasts

⸻

FOLLOW ALEXIS GAUTHIER:

https://www.gauthiersoho.co.uk

https://www.facebook.com/gauthiersoho/?ref=NONE_xav_ig_profile_page_web

https://www.instagram.com/gauthierinsoho/

⸻

FOLLOW JUST SO YOU KNOW:

https://www.instagram.com/jsykpodcast/

https://open.spotify.com/show/7D38Vg8MJKTYD8TKQe3KfZ?si=71510dba30a04af5

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/just-so-you-know/id1726036677

https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@jsykpodcast⁩ (https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UC48ZL4XeAHU17l0M7a9DF4A)

⸻

FOLLOW US:

Jamie:

itsjamiescorner.com

https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@JamiesCornershow⁩ (https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UC6IvbjvnCaYp3M-rHUAyULw)

https://www.instagram.com/itsjamiescorner/

https://www.tiktok.com/@itsjamiescorner

https://x.com/itsjamiescorner

https://www.facebook.com/itsjamiescorner

Justina:

https://www.instagram.com/justina.justina?igsh=NmhtbmhzZHRiMHZh&utm_source=qr

https://www.instagram.com/justinaveganjourney?igsh=MTM0bDByMnZnZWdiaQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@Justinadayinmylife⁩ (https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCqaLAHOyrWAOF6nMKGpeW_A)

⸻

🕒 CHAPTER MARKERS

00:00 Intro + Why Alexis Gauthier Matters

01:04 Why a Vegan French Chef Is So Powerful

03:11 Meet Alexis Gauthier

04:22 From Horse Meat to Michelin-Starred Chef

06:03 The Protest That Changed Everything

08:34 Rebuilding a French Restaurant Without Animals

11:41 The Challenges of Going Fully Vegan in Business

14:29 Would He Have Changed Without Protestors?

16:19 Why Some Restaurants Go Backwards

19:27 Why Lazy Chefs Hide Behind Animal Products

22:27 Why He Refuses to Hide the Word Vegan

24:58 Looking in the Mirror After the Change

27:08 What He Says to Curious but Fearful People

29:52 Why He’s Tough on Chefs Who Know Better

32:33 Why He Questions Their Humanity

36:53 Where to Find Alexis + His Work

In this episode of Just So You Know, Jamie and Justina sit down with wildlife advocate and reality TV fan-favorite Blake Moynes to talk about the urgent realities of wildlife trafficking, rehabilitation, and conservation work happening around the world.

This conversation goes deeper than surface level takes. We explore what it actually means to rescue animals in the wild, how trafficking and habitat destruction are affecting vulnerable species, and why conservation is far more complex than most people realize.

We get into:

• How Blake’s love for animals turned into a real conservation mission

• The truth about wildlife trafficking and rescue work abroad

• What animal rehabilitation actually looks like behind the scenes

• Zoos, sanctuaries, and the ethical gray areas in conservation

• The emotional and financial challenges of protecting wild animals

• Why reconnecting people to nature could be part of the solution

This isn’t just about loving animals. It’s about what it really takes to protect them in a world built on exploitation.

If you’ve ever dreamed of working with wild animals… questioned the ethics of zoos and sanctuaries… or wondered what conservation really looks like on the ground,

this episode is for you.

⸻

IF THIS EPISODE RESONATED

👍 Like

💬 Comment your thoughts (we read everything)

🔔 Subscribe to stay tapped in for Season 2

⭐ Rate us on Spotify + Apple Podcasts

⸻

FOLLOW BLAKE MOYNES:

https://thesosa.com

https://www.instagram.com/blakemoynes?igsh=MTF0azRna2FhMXowMg==

https://www.instagram.com/the.sosa?igsh=Znk5cGo5ZmVoMzNq

⸻

FOLLOW JUST SO YOU KNOW:

https://www.instagram.com/jsykpodcast/

https://open.spotify.com/show/7D38Vg8MJKTYD8TKQe3KfZ?si=71510dba30a04af5

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/just-so-you-know/id1726036677

https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@jsykpodcast⁩ (https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UC48ZL4XeAHU17l0M7a9DF4A)

⸻

FOLLOW US:

Jamie:

itsjamiescorner.com

https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@JamiesCornershow⁩ (https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UC6IvbjvnCaYp3M-rHUAyULw)

https://www.instagram.com/itsjamiescorner/

https://www.tiktok.com/@itsjamiescorner

https://x.com/itsjamiescorner

https://www.facebook.com/itsjamiescorner

Justina:

https://www.instagram.com/justina.justina?igsh=NmhtbmhzZHRiMHZh&utm_source=qr

https://www.instagram.com/justinaveganjourney?igsh=MTM0bDByMnZnZWdiaQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@Justinadayinmylife⁩ (https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCqaLAHOyrWAOF6nMKGpeW_A)

⸻

🕒 CHAPTER MARKERS

00:00 Cold Open + Bachelor Fangirl Energy

00:56 Season 2 Intro + Why This Episode Matters

01:18 Why Blake Was the Dream Guest

03:25 Meet Blake Moynes

05:00 How a Childhood Love for Animals Became His Mission

11:53 What “Conservation” Actually Means

17:58 How SOSA Adventures Supports Real Animal Rescue

20:35 Zoos, Sanctuaries, and the Ethics Debate

30:00 Wildlife Trafficking, Airports, and Where Rescued Animals Go

40:09 The Hard Truth About Animal Lovers Who Still Eat Animals

41:23 What People Don’t See Behind the Scenes of Conservation

46:26 Inside a Real Wildlife Rescue Operation

53:13 What Gives Blake Hope for the Future of Wildlife

58:49 Is Blake Vegan? The Honest Answer

01:06:05 Final Reflections + Why This Work Matters