For Love & Justice

Elise Williams Rikard

For Love & Justice is committed to shedding light on the real issues, building connections, and laughing while we do hard things together. Host Elise Williams Rikard, writer and recently diagnosed neurodivergent person, does her best to make sense of all the BS hurled at Americans daily— while spilling the tea with the best and brightest of her central Arkansas communitea. Join us for candid talks on politics, relationships, mental health, grief, books,reality TV, and pop culture – and brace yourself for an unapologetically unlimitless dose of Mean Girls quotes and all things Taylor Swift (the limit does not exist).

  1. 08/26/2025

    Rescue Pets, Black Cat Myths, & the Realities of Animal Adoption

    From rescue stories to black cat myths to why adoption matters — join me (and my furbabies!) for a cozy, heartfelt dive into animal advocacy. Today’s episode is a little different — and a lot furrier. I’m joined by my very special co-hosts: my rescue cat Lazarus, my gentle pup Ginger, and my chaos-loving ferret Mochi. Together, we’re diving into the messy, magical, and meaningful world of animal advocacy and adoption. ✨ What we cover in this episode: The origin stories of Laz, Ginger, and Mochi (and the life lessons they’ve taught me 🐕🐈🦦) Why adopt don’t shop matters — and how adoption saves lives The tough stuff: vet bills, underfunded shelters, and misinformation about “difficult” animals (pit bulls, ferrets, black cats & more) The JOY animals bring: from emotional support to the literal healing power of a cat’s purr How loving animals is also an act of justice, compassion, and everyday care 📊 Quick stats: In 2024, 5.8 million cats and dogs entered U.S. shelters. 4.2 million were adopted, but over 600,000 were euthanized due to lack of space and resources. Adoption, fostering, and advocacy truly make a difference. 🐾 How you can help: Adopt or foster from a shelter near you Donate or volunteer at local rescues (many have Amazon wishlists!) Support community spaces like cat cafés that partner with shelters (shoutout Gibson’s Cat Café in Conway, AR!) 💌 If this episode made you smile, please like, subscribe, and share — it helps spread the For Love & Justice message and supports animal rescue. Because at the end of the day, loving animals isn’t just cute — it’s a radical act of compassion.

    16 min

About

For Love & Justice is committed to shedding light on the real issues, building connections, and laughing while we do hard things together. Host Elise Williams Rikard, writer and recently diagnosed neurodivergent person, does her best to make sense of all the BS hurled at Americans daily— while spilling the tea with the best and brightest of her central Arkansas communitea. Join us for candid talks on politics, relationships, mental health, grief, books,reality TV, and pop culture – and brace yourself for an unapologetically unlimitless dose of Mean Girls quotes and all things Taylor Swift (the limit does not exist).