109. The Machine (Tyson Foods)
Added 2024-04-30 02:13:09 +0000 UTCA multinational meat processing company wreaks havoc on animals and people in pursuit of profits.
Prelude: Cody Easterday's $233 million "ghost cattle" scheme.
Thanks for being a ValuedListener™! :-)
Use coupon code PATRON20 to receive 20% off your order at SwindledPodcast.com/Shop
Original music for Swindled is written and performed by Trevor Howard (Deformr).
Comments
Those poor pigs! The sounds of that suffering pig will haunt my dreams forever. Awful
Christina Arena
2025-01-30 03:35:14 +0000 UTCI did the same. Awful
Christina Arena
2025-01-30 03:34:26 +0000 UTCHere comes the bird flu. This is gonna get worse
Thomas Cain
2024-12-30 02:57:51 +0000 UTCThis 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.
Elin Stenqvist
2024-12-02 07:32:51 +0000 UTCI chose the wrong week to listen to this episode 😅
Alyssa Stuart
2024-11-08 09:31:30 +0000 UTCThis 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....
Tanisha Roberson
2024-10-24 19:01:11 +0000 UTCI listened to this and haven't eaten flesh since.
Lynn M.
2024-10-08 22:16:04 +0000 UTCI 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.
Kim Yvette
2024-09-18 19:07:51 +0000 UTCPoor 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!
Brittany Newell
2024-07-08 20:40:01 +0000 UTCSo 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.
Jeff Henry
2024-06-29 14:22:48 +0000 UTCTough listen but important to know.
mbx
2024-06-17 15:21:28 +0000 UTCI 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
Amber Adams
2024-05-29 19:20:33 +0000 UTCThe 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.
Julia
2024-05-20 08:19:52 +0000 UTCThe pigs. I wish I didn't hear it.
Jess
2024-05-15 13:27:08 +0000 UTCThe 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
Soph Emm
2024-05-12 11:40:42 +0000 UTCACC 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
Emily Drake
2024-05-10 21:06:24 +0000 UTCI wish more people supported small producers like you. I have raised chickens, not to consume, but for help controlling the grasshopper population. They are egg producers, so they have a longer life span than most meat birds. ACC is correct when he said they are smart and have personalities. The only beef I will eat is from the steer we raised on open pasture. I know that is a privilege most people don't have.
kathy rosprim
2024-05-07 15:49:40 +0000 UTCThanks 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. 🤘
MLR
2024-05-07 11:22:25 +0000 UTCACC 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.
Michelle Hebert
2024-05-07 02:06:38 +0000 UTCEnjoyed the episode. Hard truths are always hard to find. Thank you!
Sundeen
2024-05-06 20:34:59 +0000 UTCWelp, another episode that has me rooting for the extinction of humans to save the planet.
Sharon Rosenblatt
2024-05-06 17:08:12 +0000 UTCThanks for your comment. I was debating whether I could stomach this episode.
Dee Ra Ko
2024-05-05 17:41:59 +0000 UTCWhat are you gonna do? Hit me again ACC.
Swunkie
2024-05-04 11:54:00 +0000 UTCThis 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'.
Travis
2024-05-04 01:20:09 +0000 UTCThis 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
STEPh Zssssss
2024-05-04 00:50:19 +0000 UTCWell that was the shove I needed to actually be vegan. I can’t. I knew it was bad, but this is on another level. 🤢
Alex McCain
2024-05-03 21:53:47 +0000 UTCOof, 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.
Luzah
2024-05-03 16:29:54 +0000 UTCFuck, 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!
Aneta Hrušková
2024-05-03 12:56:32 +0000 UTCThe irony of Josh Hawley, advocate for reducing child labor laws and labor regulations, claiming to care about Tyson's horrible practices is crazy.
Cameron Lee
2024-05-03 00:12:26 +0000 UTCI did cackle at the end snippet of "damn comfortable." Thanks for that.
janaxwildlife
2024-05-02 22:15:54 +0000 UTCThank you for doing what you do.
janaxwildlife
2024-05-02 21:57:12 +0000 UTCYou 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.
janaxwildlife
2024-05-02 21:56:46 +0000 UTCNo one said that but you bro.
iRescue TxDeafDogs
2024-05-02 19:32:34 +0000 UTCOh. 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.
Rebecca Oprish
2024-05-01 21:35:43 +0000 UTCMe too...
Rebecca Oprish
2024-05-01 21:32:47 +0000 UTCI literally cried listening to this episode. You’re right. It’s hard to accept my own culpability.
MelissaEmily
2024-05-01 20:27:01 +0000 UTCYo what the hell is wrong with these people.
Shelby Halley
2024-05-01 18:27:54 +0000 UTCACC, 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.
Jane S
2024-05-01 16:44:52 +0000 UTCJust 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?
Janet Marie
2024-05-01 14:02:36 +0000 UTCThis podcast just gets better and better. I tell everyone about it. Just wanted to thank ACC for this absolutely amazing content.
Terrence Carroll
2024-05-01 13:00:36 +0000 UTCSo vegans are fine with hunters?
Kelli Blue
2024-05-01 11:56:25 +0000 UTCThe difference is that animals kill other animals for a source of food. Humans don't simply kill animals and eat them - they put the animals through a long, cruel process prior to their death that is unnecessary.
Renae Bartlett
2024-05-01 11:55:20 +0000 UTCI 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.
Kazza
2024-05-01 04:51:32 +0000 UTCYou could probably do another one about how Tyson treats its workers
Dana Contini
2024-05-01 02:49:38 +0000 UTCHoly shit. What an amazing episode! Thank you.
Angela Snelson
2024-05-01 02:04:19 +0000 UTCFucking hell, this was a tough listen, but worth powering through.
Sarah Kenneally
2024-05-01 01:05:49 +0000 UTCI knew that was gonna be Alec Baldwin 🤣
Nico H
2024-05-01 00:06:23 +0000 UTCI 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.
Rose Kiewitz
2024-04-30 22:48:45 +0000 UTCI... did? Twice?
Haydn
2024-04-30 21:19:48 +0000 UTCSo good, damn you.
Nicole Price
2024-04-30 20:01:45 +0000 UTCI'm surprised people who torture animals for fun like that are walking around unafraid.
VH
2024-04-30 19:39:34 +0000 UTCGod, 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 :*(
Nicole Lutton
2024-04-30 19:24:11 +0000 UTCHumans=garbage
Kelsie DeZarn
2024-04-30 19:12:04 +0000 UTCGood episode, made me hungry tho, think I’m gonna cook up some chicken
Joshua
2024-04-30 19:00:34 +0000 UTCDamn......
Haley Ashton
2024-04-30 18:30:12 +0000 UTCAmazing 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.
Alan
2024-04-30 18:00:06 +0000 UTCI’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.
Aislinn Hargadon
2024-04-30 17:35:14 +0000 UTCHow is this shit legal?!
Stephanie Q DeMon
2024-04-30 17:20:15 +0000 UTCWell, 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!
Crusty D Clown
2024-04-30 16:32:07 +0000 UTCNope I understand Veganism. I’m wonder why some vegans speak of this world where all live in harmony. When factually the world is a circle of life at its most balanced. I didn’t see your comment as sarcastic or rude. I’m a conversationalists:)
Kelli Blue
2024-04-30 16:24:20 +0000 UTCThat pig squealing is straight nightmare fuel
sucriC drawkcaB
2024-04-30 16:11:38 +0000 UTCIt’s so fucked. We have a small scale farm and we grow indoors. We just got our good agricultural practice audit done and passed. It’s not required but we wanted the USDA audit done. I don’t understand how these industries aren’t audited and regulated often. This is such a terrible situation. I know the veg industry is full of shit too but there’s plenty of small farms trying. I can’t believe there’s no one regulating this and protecting the farms and the public health 😳 this is like a cycle of abuses.
Cas Thibeau
2024-04-30 16:04:52 +0000 UTCIf you think the vegetable industry isn’t fucked as well, you’re sorely mistaken 😆😆
Ryan Rogers
2024-04-30 15:45:13 +0000 UTCThank you so much for all your research and for making shitty facts manageable with your wit and charm!
Annette Wallace
2024-04-30 15:38:13 +0000 UTCNothing 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!!!
Jenny Long
2024-04-30 15:36:48 +0000 UTCMy 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.
Edward
2024-04-30 15:12:40 +0000 UTCThis animal abuse was a so hard to listen to. This is so dark 😭
Cas Thibeau
2024-04-30 15:08:19 +0000 UTCWell played at the 46 minute mark. Not for nothing, I yelled "goddamṅit" at the end when listeria was mentioned.
Dylan Donahoe
2024-04-30 15:08:18 +0000 UTCWhat does that even mean? Veganism is about reducing harm to animals as much as feasibly possible. It isn't about denying carnivores. Edit. I understand you might not have known what veganism actually hopes to accomplish so I'm sorry if my comment was sarcastic. If you have time watch Dominion and make your own mind up.
Nick Saunders
2024-04-30 14:37:28 +0000 UTCThank you for doing this episode! If you haven't seen it watch Dominion https://youtu.be/LQRAfJyEsko?si=UYGPsgHN4lyOjTRo
Nick Saunders
2024-04-30 14:36:26 +0000 UTCThis is exactly why I am vegan (but not like the vegan swindler lol)
Sara Mark
2024-04-30 14:35:21 +0000 UTCAlso, this episode made me cry. Your call out on human nature was spot-on and so depressing. But like you said, don't come to Swindled for optimism.
Anastasia Martin
2024-04-30 14:33:29 +0000 UTCWhat will you do with the animals that eat other animals?
Kelli Blue
2024-04-30 14:20:58 +0000 UTCMake yourself listen.
Sarah Clausen
2024-04-30 14:18:59 +0000 UTCExcellent 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.
Sarah Clausen
2024-04-30 14:18:19 +0000 UTCNot 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.
Anastasia Martin
2024-04-30 14:12:46 +0000 UTC38:00 was a hard stop for me. Fuck.
butt nugger
2024-04-30 14:06:46 +0000 UTCI 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.
EddieDramaMama
2024-04-30 14:02:39 +0000 UTCDamn 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
Cristi Hyndman
2024-04-30 13:38:25 +0000 UTCFun nuggets!!!
MetalMatt
2024-04-30 13:35:52 +0000 UTCI had to take breaks on this one. Those poor souls....
ShampooBeer
2024-04-30 13:26:20 +0000 UTCSomeone 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.
Josh Acton
2024-04-30 13:08:48 +0000 UTCMy daddy always said, “Life is like a train… you never know when you’re gonna get hit”.
Mr. Clark
2024-04-30 12:58:34 +0000 UTCThis was hard to listen to but has definitely motivated me to find humanely produced meat or go vegetarian.
Wilma
2024-04-30 12:41:13 +0000 UTCTurns out I do have the guts for this - just about. Agree with everyone else here about the depravity in this one - extremely well produced as always, but I hope you're doing alright after all that.
Haydn
2024-04-30 10:57:26 +0000 UTCAh fuck this was awful
SalBee
2024-04-30 10:06:56 +0000 UTCI 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.
Haydn
2024-04-30 08:36:55 +0000 UTCAs someone who has had (and might currently have) Tyson foods in their fridge recently, I am terrified to start this episode.
Jenny Lloyd
2024-04-30 08:01:57 +0000 UTCACC I'm not having fun right now
Sophia Stahl
2024-04-30 05:40:47 +0000 UTCYou know it’s bad when peta isn’t in the wrong
Thomas Cain
2024-04-30 05:15:38 +0000 UTCFor a comedic reprieve from the horror of this episode; Google image search “Don Tyson” in his stupid uniform and shit eating grin.
Lex
2024-04-30 05:03:13 +0000 UTCOmg…. Those poor creatures. :’( Seriously this is some screwed up crap!!
Amie Redman
2024-04-30 03:54:25 +0000 UTCBut, Extremely informative.
sucriC drawkcaB
2024-04-30 03:50:26 +0000 UTCIf the Monkeys gave you problems, that warning is no joke at the beginning this episode is extremely ruff.
sucriC drawkcaB
2024-04-30 03:48:39 +0000 UTCI 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.
Dani Whitaker
2024-04-30 03:19:54 +0000 UTCPETA as a source… yikes. They’re basically worth an episode in of themselves.
Bronwen
2024-04-30 03:09:42 +0000 UTCanyone else scared for their life
misery
2024-04-30 02:21:25 +0000 UTCLETS FUCKING GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Memo
2024-04-30 02:15:39 +0000 UTC
