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HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons hosts the most downloaded sports podcast of all time, with a rotating crew of celebrities, athletes, and media staples, as well as mainstays like Cousin Sal, Joe House, and a slew of other friends and family members who always happen to be suspiciously available.
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In this thought-provoking episode of the Research Bites Podcast, Dr. Kristina Spaulding is joined by Dr. Mike Mendl, professor of Animal Behavior and Welfare at the University of Bristol’s Veterinary School, for a deep dive into what it truly means to support positive animal welfare.
From competence and resilience to cognitive bias and decision-making, Dr. Mendl explores how animals perceive and interact with the world—and why individual differences matter so much. You’ll hear how animal-based indicators can reveal nuanced welfare states, why emotions play a pivotal role in behavior, and how the dimensional model of emotion can help us better understand and assess an animal’s experience.
Along the way, we discuss:
- How competence and resilience shape behavior and well-being
- How animals set and pursue their own goals
- Cognitive bias testing as a window into welfare states
- Recognizing when hidden medical issues influence behavior
- Using positive states—not just the absence of negatives—to improve lives
- Future directions for research in welfare and emotion
Whether you’re a trainer, behavior consultant, veterinarian, or simply a science-curious animal lover, this conversation offers both practical insights and a deeper appreciation for the complexity of animal minds. By connecting the latest welfare science with real-world applications, Dr. Mendl’s work challenges us to move beyond preventing suffering and toward actively fostering lives worth living.
For more information, please check out my website and social media links below!
- Website: https://sciencemattersllc.com/
- Unlocking Resilience: https://sciencemattersllc.com/unlocking-resilience
- Research Bites: https://sciencemattersllc.com/research-bites
- Join the Science Matters newsletter
- ...
Chapters
1. Introduction to the Research Bites Podcast (00:00:00)
2. Upcoming Class: Unlocking Resilience (00:00:36)
3. Guest Introduction: Dr. Mike Mendel (00:01:47)
4. Dr. Mendel's Journey into Animal Welfare Research (00:04:08)
5. Challenges in Studying Animal Behavior (00:05:22)
6. Defining Positive Animal Welfare (00:06:19)
7. Importance of Competence and Resilience (00:07:15)
8. Can Animals Have Goals? (00:14:45)
9. Individual Differences in Animal Welfare (00:25:35)
10. Assessing Animal Welfare with Cognitive Bias Tests (00:32:56)
11. Hidden Medical Issues and Behavior Problems in Dogs (00:38:36)
12. Investigating Inactive States and Depression in Animals (00:39:48)
13. The Role of Emotion in Animal Behavior Assessments (00:42:39)
14. Understanding Animal Affect and Decision Making (00:45:30)
15. Dimensional Models of Emotion in Animals (00:51:18)
16. Improving Animal Wellbeing Through Positive States (01:04:17)
17. Future Directions in Animal Welfare Research (01:08:43)
18. Conclusion and Resources for Further Learning (01:11:30)
37 episodes
