109. The Machine (Tyson Foods)

That pig squealing will haunt my dreams.

Can't wait to discuss this over Thanksgiving dinner

Those poor pigs! The sounds of that suffering pig will haunt my dreams forever. Awful

Here comes the bird flu. This is gonna get worse

This is the only episode I couldn't finish. I can stomache a lot, but this was too much even for me. So glad I don't live in the US.

I chose the wrong week to listen to this episode 😅

This was super tough to listen to. Especially the part with a pig was screaming in pain oh my that just had to cover my ears I couldn't even....

I listened to this and haven't eaten flesh since.

I already didn't eat Tyson foods because they're known for being filthy, but the animal issues let me know I'm not missing anything.

Poor sweet pigs :( they are as intelligent as a human toddler and form intricate social structures and bonds, they can die of grief when one of their friends dies and they will actively mourn with real tears :( I wish everyone treated them with the respect we give dogs!

So much of this is caused by the corporate structure of maximum profits, minimize costs. I work in the big corporate world. There's no soul inherent in the system.

Tough listen but important to know.

I already knew about some of this... but it's worse than I thought. I want to tell ALL my ppl in my life, but they gotta be ready to hear this truth. UGH

The pigs screaming made me cry. I’m vegan already so I don’t go out of my way to watch the propaganda. It hurts too much cause all I can think about is my loved ones who hear and watch it and still eat the torture-fuelled meat.

The pigs. I wish I didn't hear it.

The bit talking to the little baby chick and it going to the warehouse caught me off guard and now I’m weeping on the bus

ACC could you do a story about Larry Ray? Or is there already an episode on this story? https://www.thecut.com/article/larry-ray-sarah-lawrence-students.html

Thanks for another well researched and presented piece. Based on your comments, it has obviously affected you to be so close to this subject matter. I often get dragged down by the futility of individual action in the face of such widespread cruelty and corruption. That being said, I do my best to take personal responsibility for what I eat. And I hope that others do the same. McDonalds and the other fastfood chains in particular - it's trendy now to boycott them over the Israel/ Palestine conflict, but these multinationals are raping and pillaging with impunity as a direct result of lazy, unconscious consumer habits. Just my 2cents. Keep up the good work. 🤘

ACC once again makes it clear it is often the spoiled brat nepotistic offspring of the company founder who, out of extreme greed, corrupts the company.

Enjoyed the episode. Hard truths are always hard to find. Thank you!

Welp, another episode that has me rooting for the extinction of humans to save the planet.

What are you gonna do? Hit me again ACC.

This was a tougher listen than the Bonus #44 (Monkey torture ring). The sound clips were awful to hear - I feel I am desensitised working in child protection and DV; the pig clip made me tear up and the chicken boning made me cringe. Let's rightly get angry about dogs being eaten in Asia whilst turning a blind eye to our own practices. Thank you for not shying away from the shit humans do animals for 'farming'.

This was horrible to listen to but so much truth to the meat machine man has created I actually listened to this episode twice because the writing is so good on everything with you however I think I am going to be vegan for awhile until my brain can erase the suffering noises that I forced myself to listen to

Well that was the shove I needed to actually be vegan. I can’t. I knew it was bad, but this is on another level. 🤢

Oof, forcing myself to listen to the whole thing was daaaamn hard. Thank you for this, though. I was already vegan, but this just made me feel so helpless for these animals.

Fuck, this was hard. But it’s good to be reminded on my own privileges, not having to rely on Tyson for food or employment. It was heartbreaking but as a single consumer there’s only so much one can do, but being aware of the problem is the first step I guess…Thank you for your work ACC!

The irony of Josh Hawley, advocate for reducing child labor laws and labor regulations, claiming to care about Tyson's horrible practices is crazy.

I did cackle at the end snippet of "damn comfortable." Thanks for that.

You nailed it, 100%. "The average American has no idea how their food ends up on their plate." By design, by The Machine. I find this abhorrent and disgusting in every way.

Oh. My. Gawd. This episode was a hard one but completely necessary. I was literally looking at packages of chicken, something I buy once a year, and put it right back down. I'll stay a crunchy vegetarian, tyvm.

I literally cried listening to this episode. You’re right. It’s hard to accept my own culpability.

Yo what the hell is wrong with these people.

ACC, you called it. This was so hard to listen to. But it's obviously the only way to bring home the point. Listening to the pigs scream I almost started screaming myself. I would rank this with the Orcas.

Just after listening, I heard a report that this disgraceful company is being investigated because it dumped over 37 million pounds of toxic waste into American waters in just 5 years by just 40 or so of its plants. Can they do ANYTHING moral or ethical at all?

This podcast just gets better and better. I tell everyone about it. Just wanted to thank ACC for this absolutely amazing content.

I listened to this just before bed, and now I can’t stop weeping. My conscience won’t allow me to consume any more animal products. Holy shit, are we humans evil.

You could probably do another one about how Tyson treats its workers

Holy shit. What an amazing episode! Thank you.

Fucking hell, this was a tough listen, but worth powering through.

I knew that was gonna be Alec Baldwin 🤣

I work with my family on our small organic farm here and we also slaughter small batches of chickens (about 1,000) a year. People are always welcome to come and see our birds at any time and you can see and taste the difference with how we treat them. Hearing this I feel so sad for the animals, nothing we eat should be treated in such a disgusting disrespectful way.

So good, damn you.

I'm surprised people who torture animals for fun like that are walking around unafraid.

God, this was harder to hear than the woman in the PG&E episode not wanting to leave her dogs to die in the fire. Thanks for all the tears, Concerned Citizen. Sad, sad vegan tears :*(

Humans=garbage

Good episode, made me hungry tho, think I’m gonna cook up some chicken

Damn......

Amazing episode, nice touch on the clips in the outro. Rough but necessary. Listeria, our old friend, had to make an appearance 😅 Most diabolical non-multi-part episode since maybe United Fruit Co.

I’m glad I learned about this in college! 😆 As someone who worked for an immigration attorney for years, I was told that Tyson also used to (or maybe still does?) pay some workers in boxes of raw chicken.

How is this shit legal?!

Well, back on the vegan train I go. Thank you for this reminder as to why I initially went vegan decades ago. Only problem is, I gained so much weight being vegan. That pasta will getcha!

If you think the vegetable industry isn’t fucked as well, you’re sorely mistaken 😆😆

Thank you so much for all your research and for making shitty facts manageable with your wit and charm!

Nothing like falling asleep listening then being awoken to the sound of squealing pigs!! 😲😲then listening to the horrific details. The first thing I think of is....do they hire psychopaths to work in these places? Not only do people abuse the animals but the coworkers stand around and laugh!! They are ALL psychpaths!!!

My God this was a rough one. I have Tyson products in my freezer. After listening to all of the reports at the end about the recalls, I just might have to chuck them all out of caution.

This animal abuse was a so hard to listen to. This is so dark 😭

Well played at the 46 minute mark. Not for nothing, I yelled "goddamṅit" at the end when listeria was mentioned.

Thank you for doing this episode! If you haven't seen it watch Dominion https://youtu.be/LQRAfJyEsko?si=UYGPsgHN4lyOjTRo

This is exactly why I am vegan (but not like the vegan swindler lol)

What will you do with the animals that eat other animals?

Excellent research and writing. This one shook me to my core. I'm disturbed sickened and scared for the animals. I have been aware of this horror as I live in Black Hawk County Iowa. Thank you for doing this. I'm sure it was hard for you.

Not sure where to start; farmers being pressured into this system, the workers being so depraved, the conditions these animals live in. I'm not surprised, but definitely disappointed by us humans.

38:00 was a hard stop for me. Fuck.

I was vegan for 5 years until I broke and got lazy and started eating animal products again. In 2024 I made it a goal to switch back to veganism, this episode quickly helped that. I'm out meat industry, might just be a drop in the ocean but no animal will suffer for my comfort again.

Damn this was a rough episode. I knew it would be as someone aware of what goes on in this industry. Thank you for bringing this forward

Fun nuggets!!!

I had to take breaks on this one. Those poor souls....

Someone I may/may not know a person who works as a communicable disease scientist for this company and they won't even touch chicken they haven't raised/harvested themselves. She once told my grandfather that it would be safer to lick the floor in a porn theater than eat chicken from there...obvious hyperbole on her part but a point was definitely made.

My daddy always said, “Life is like a train… you never know when you’re gonna get hit”.

This was hard to listen to but has definitely motivated me to find humanely produced meat or go vegetarian.

Ah fuck this was awful

I don't think I have the guts for this one just from reading the synopsis. I feel like the horrors I'm imagining will pale in comparison to the reality.

As someone who has had (and might currently have) Tyson foods in their fridge recently, I am terrified to start this episode.

ACC I'm not having fun right now

For a comedic reprieve from the horror of this episode; Google image search “Don Tyson” in his stupid uniform and shit eating grin.

Omg…. Those poor creatures. :’( Seriously this is some screwed up crap!!

If the Monkeys gave you problems, that warning is no joke at the beginning this episode is extremely ruff.

I really wanted to skip this episode but I couldn't bring myself to stop listening. We hunt, collect, and grow our own, and being indigenous, our relationship with food is different. But the fact that this is the reality for millions of people who can't do that for themselves makes me sad. We need better options for urban consumers and low income communities.

PETA as a source… yikes. They’re basically worth an episode in of themselves.

anyone else scared for their life

LETS FUCKING GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO