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From Hollywood to Hay: Lena Dunham on Life with Her Pigs

Release Date: 07/15/2025

Sitting with Pigs: A Visit to Mary Bermingham’s Burren Nature Sanctuary

The Pet Pig Podcast

www.burrennaturesanctuary.ie In this heartwarming episode of The Pet Pig Podcast, Autumn speaks with Mary from Burren Nature Sanctuary ( Kinvara, Co Galway, Ireland). Mary shares her inspiring journey from growing up in London to running a 50-acre conservation farm on Ireland’s west coast — a place where people reconnect with nature through joyful experiences with animals, especially pigs. Mary introduces listeners to Amelia, her beloved Juliana pig who leads woodland walks that have become one of Ireland’s most unique...

When the Pig Becomes the Leader - Fixing Spoiled Pig Syndrome

The Pet Pig Podcast

Welcome back to The Pet Pig Podcast! In this week’s episode Autumn tackles a big topic that so many pig families struggle with — Spoiled Pig Syndrome, or SPS. This is when your sweet, cuddly pig suddenly starts acting bossy, demanding, or even aggressive. They may bite, charge, scream for attention, steal food, or destroy things around the house. It can feel discouraging, but as Autumn explains, it’s not your fault — and it’s absolutely fixable. Spoiled Pig Syndrome happens when a pig believes they’re the leader of...

Be a Good Leader: Preventing Spoiled Pig Syndrome

The Pet Pig Podcast

Welcome back to The Pet Pig Podcast! In this episode of a two-part series, Autumn dives into one of the most common challenges pig families face — Spoiled Pig Syndrome, or SPS. Don’t let the name fool you — SPS isn’t a hopeless situation or a sign that you’ve failed as a pig parent. It’s a natural result of unclear boundaries and leadership, and the good news is that it’s 100% preventable and fixable. Autumn explains how pigs view the world through hierarchy and body language, not words, and why...

Can You Support Rescues AND Ethical Breeders?

The Pet Pig Podcast

This week on The Pet Pig Podcast, Autumn takes on one of the most emotional and misunderstood topics in the pig world: Can you support both rescues and ethical breeders? For many people, the words “breeder” and “rescue” feel like opposing sides of a battle, but Autumn makes the case that both are not only important—they are absolutely necessary for the future of pet pigs. In this heartfelt and informative episode, Autumn unpacks why breeders as a whole often carry such a negative reputation. She...

Life with Chucky: Ariana's Pet Pig Story

The Pet Pig Podcast

Autumn sits down with Ariana, a passionate animal lover who took the leap into pig parenting after years of curiosity and research. As an adult, she decided to bring home her first pig — a miniature Juliana named Chucky — and her life hasn’t been the same since. Ariana takes listeners through every stage of her journey — from months of careful preparation and reading to the day she finally met her pig. Despite all her research, she quickly learned that nothing can truly prepare you for...

What to Expect the First 7 Days with a New Piglet

The Pet Pig Podcast

Bringing home a piglet is one of the most exciting moments for any pig parent—but it can also be overwhelming, confusing, and a little emotional. In this episode of The Pet Pig Podcast, Autumn takes you step by step through what to expect in the very first week with your new piglet and how to set them (and yourself) up for success. Autumn shares practical tips for preparing your home before your piglet arrives, including how to set up a safe starter space that feels like a nursery, not a...

Book Review of "The Marvelous Pigness of Pigs" by Joel Salatin

The Pet Pig Podcast

In this episode of The Pet Pig Podcast, Autumn takes a step outside the usual world of pet pigs to review Joel Salatin’s book The Marvelous Pigness of Pigs. While Salatin writes from the perspective of a regenerative farmer raising pigs for food, his core message resonates with all pig people: pigs deserve the right to fully express their “pigness.” Autumn unpacks Salatin’s big ideas—why rooting, foraging, wallowing, and exploring are essential to a pig’s wellbeing—and connects them directly to life with pet...

Rooting, Bonding, and Baby Brain Chemistry: How Piglets and Human Infants Aren't So Different

The Pet Pig Podcast

In this episode of The Pet Pig Podcast, Autumn takes listeners on a thoughtful exploration of one of the most common yet most misunderstood piglet behaviors: rooting. We all know piglets root for food, for warmth, or just because it’s instinct — but what if there’s more happening beneath the surface? What if rooting is not just a survival behavior, but also a powerful tool for bonding, comfort, and brain development? Autumn draws fascinating connections between piglets and human...

Is Your Home Safe for a Pig? Piggy Proofing Your Home

The Pet Pig Podcast

In this episode of The Pet Pig Podcast, Autumn shines a spotlight on one of the most critical yet often overlooked parts of pig parenting: pig proofing your home and yard. Many new pig parents underestimate just how curious, determined, and strong pigs are, which can quickly turn everyday household items into serious hazards. Autumn explains why pig proofing matters by comparing pigs to toddlers with hooves—they explore with their snouts, can open cabinets, and will chew or swallow things you’d never expect. Inside the...

Piggy the PTSD Therapy Pig: A Story of Healing, Friendship, and Hope

The Pet Pig Podcast

In this powerful and heartwarming episode of the Pet Pig Podcast, Autumn welcomes Kevin to share the remarkable journey of his beloved pig, Piggy. Kevin’s love for animals began in childhood, but severe allergies to cats and dogs made it nearly impossible for him to have a traditional pet. After years of searching for the right companion — and even navigating the need for a doctor’s prescription to keep a pig within city limits — Kevin’s path led him to Piggy, a Juliana pig who would forever change his life. Piggy...

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In this heartwarming and hilarious episode, Autumn welcomes actress, writer, and director Lena Dunham to share her deeply personal and refreshingly honest journey into the world of pig parenting. From childhood dreams of being a pig farmer (without knowing what that truly meant) to life with her two beloved pigs, Victor and Cherry, Lena brings humor, insight, and an immense love for pigs to the mic.

Lena recounts the magical — and messy — experience of bringing Victor home for the first time, learning how different pigs are from dogs, and the eye-opening lessons about boundaries, bonding, and behavior that raising pigs has taught her (including some that surprisingly apply to human relationships). She also shares how discovering The Pet Pig Podcast helped her navigate those early days of confusion and joy, and how Cherry, who came from Autumn’s program, became the perfect companion for Victor.

Together, Autumn and Lena explore what it really takes to be a good pig parent, from respecting pigs as pigs — not dogs or babies — to understanding their intelligence, emotional complexity, and social needs. Whether you’re already living with pigs or dreaming of the day, Lena’s story is a charming, honest, and educational ride from the red carpet to the pig pen.

Lena reminds us that pigs have a way of changing our lives — not by fitting into our world, but by inviting us into theirs. This episode is a celebration of that transformation, of embracing imperfection, and of learning to meet our animals where they are. It’s a must-listen for anyone who’s ever loved a pig — or been surprised by how much a pig could teach them about life, love, and letting go.

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