In episode 29 we delve into the topic of grief. We are joined in this episode by Irene, a fellow researcher from the University of Exeter, who is just starting her PhD research on morethanhuman-animal grief. We frame the discussion by highlighting the various dimensions of grief, extending beyond the human realm to explore how animals, particularly social species like elephants, also experience and express grief.

The conversation unfolds with the exploration of different definitions and perspectives on grief, emphasizing the contextual nature of grief definitions, grief as a disruptive emotion challenging societal norms and touch on the diverse causes of grief, including loss of habitat, forced relinquishment, and the death of individuals.

The discussion broadens to encompass disenfranchised grief, where society invalidates or minimizes the grief experienced by individuals, especially in the context of animal companionship. We touch on the criminalization of grief in certain situations, such as in incarceration institutions.

Our podcast references Judith Butler's concept of grievable lives, where irreplaceability, transformative effect, and embodied experience define lives worthy of grief. We acknowledge the subjectivity of what society deems grievable and highlight the coping mechanisms, including compassion fatigue and emotional calluses, that individuals develop in response to constant exposure to grief.

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PodCrew

Dr. Kris Hill PhD Candidate, University of Exeter kh458@exeter.ac.uk https://katzenlife.wordpress.com/

Dr. Michelle Szydlowski ms835@exeter.ac.uk
www.internationalelephants.org @intl_elephants

Sarah Oxley Heaney PhD Candidate, University of Exeter sh750@exeter.ac.uk ​hwww.kissingsharks.com/

Podlet Guest

Irene Perrett PhD Student, University of Exeter, ip323@exeter.ac.uk

References found here: https://theanthrozoologypodcast.files.wordpress.com/2024/01/ep2930-refs.pdf?fbclid=IwAR25u8RcU9HFJsl4548bonnAg_F-GHBkgLs7sfPaLVzGJ_FMrHJ-NQ3_2aY