Radiolab – "What is a Pig Worth?" (May 1, 2026)
Overview
In this episode, hosts Latif Nasser and Jay Minard, along with producer Sindhunyana Sambandan, dive into the complex intersection of animal rights, the law, and societal values, centering on the criminal trial of animal rights activist Wayne Chung. Through the lens of Wayne’s dramatic rescue of two piglets from a Smithfield Foods factory farm—and the legal odyssey that followed—the episode explores the fundamental and often paradoxical question: What is the value of a pig? The story unpacks shifting legal, moral, and personal frameworks—showing how a seemingly straightforward act forces a courtroom, jury, and listeners to confront what animals really mean to us.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Wayne Chung’s Early Experience with Animals and Ethical Awakening
- As a child, Wayne’s deep attachment to his dog planted the seeds for questioning cultural norms, especially after witnessing dogs in cages at a restaurant in China that served various animals (02:34–04:34).
- Quote:
“This is the first time I realized not everything that I’m taught is right. And that sense of distrust ended up being very important to the next 30 plus years of my life.” – Wayne Chung (04:21)
2. From Activism to Felony Charges
- Wayne grows up, reads Peter Singer, becomes a legal scholar, and co-founds Direct Action Everywhere.
- His activism leads to the undercover documentation and rescue operation at Smithfield’s Circle Four farm—resulting in viral videos and, ultimately, criminal charges (burglary, theft) after rescuing two sick piglets, named Lily and Lizzie, which were later featured in a New York Times story (04:56–06:59).
3. Wayne’s Unorthodox Legal Defense
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Wayne defends himself in court, openly admitting to the rescue (09:16–09:33), but argues the piglets had "no value" due to their condition, making theft inapplicable.
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Despite being continually objected to, Wayne persistently tries to shine light on factory farm conditions, which the judge and prosecution repeatedly block (10:56–13:10).
Notable Exchange:
- Judge: “Smithfield’s not on trial, Mr. Chung, you are.” (11:00)
- Latif Nasser: “Curious strategy for a defense attorney.” (09:36)
4. Jury’s Struggle: Value—Legal, Economic, and Moral
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Law requires “value” for theft; Wayne’s defense is the piglets were worth less than nothing (the cost to heal them exceeded their economic value) (14:13–15:50).
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The jury feels stuck deciding what kind of “value” matters: economic, inherent, or moral? The law gives no guidance; the judge leaves it up to them (22:03–22:44).
Memorable Moment:
- The judge requires Wayne to present cutout paper piglets to the jury instead of photos with their mother—prompting a juror to question what is being hidden (17:32–18:11).
5. The Big Legal and Philosophical Question
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Animal law professors are brought in to explain three frameworks for animal value in law:
- Property—animals as things to be used.
- Property + Human Value—animals as property but valued for the benefit they give us (pets, service animals).
- Quasi-Personhood—animals deserving protection for their own sake (rare, e.g., in testing bans).
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Context (pet vs. livestock, etc.) determines which framework is applied—even to the same animal (25:54–27:30).
Quote:
“A rabbit cuts across all these categories.” – Prof. Justin Marceau (26:56)
6. Jury Deliberations: Torn Between Law and Conscience
- Jurors debate for seven hours, oscillating between property arguments and appeals to the inherent value of life (28:32–29:49).
- One juror uses an analogy of a pig in a box: “If you’re holding this pig, this pig has huge amounts of value to you…What if we put it in the hands of Smithfield Farms? Does this pig have value?” (32:28–33:08)
7. Verdict and Aftermath
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Jury finds Wayne not guilty on both burglary and theft (30:34–32:02).
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Though not a legal precedent, the trial catalyzes legislative change: Utah passes a law barring the “worthless animal” defense for activists (35:18–35:32).
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Prosecutors elsewhere retreat to less risky charges (trespass instead of theft) to avoid public value debates (35:43–36:16).
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The case's real impact is forcing public, legal, and personal confrontation with animal status—a slow, emotional shift rather than a legal revolution.
Quote:
“Fundamentally, all of the field of animal law is about asking people to answer this question for themselves.” – Prof. Kristen Stilt (39:53)
8. Personal Changes for the Jury
- Post-trial, the jury bonds, socializes, and several jurors reflect on their own consumption habits. While shifts are incremental, at least one juror finds it “hard” to eat bacon after the trial (37:11–38:13).
9. The Fate of Lily and Lizzie
- The two rescued piglets recovered at a sanctuary, where the jurors later visited them and marveled at their transformation (40:18–41:11).
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)
- On facing hard truths:
“When you look at the things that scare you, there’s a chance for a deeper truth to show itself.” — Jay Minard (00:52)
- On breaking rules for right:
“Against the advice of pretty much all the attorneys I’ve talked to, I’m going to tell you exactly what we did…”— Wayne Chung (09:20)
- On legal paradox:
“The logic flips…What kind of value are we talking about here?” — Jay Minard and Latif Nasser (21:55–22:03)
- On naming animals:
“Once you start seeing people referring to them by the name, then conceptually, you’re recognizing that there’s something more than, you know, Smithfield245.” — Prof. Justin Marceau (34:09)
- On the legal impact:
“He was too successful too early.” — Latif Nasser (35:13)
- On animal law’s slow change:
“It’s going to be this incremental process that’s going to be hard sometimes…just like with the jurors, it’s going to be tearful.” — Prof. Kristen Stilt (39:53)
- Jury’s reaction to evidence:
“We’re not going to let you see this because it could be too upsetting…” — Juror (17:54–18:04)
- The paper piglets moment:
“I was just sitting at the defense table with a pair of scissors, cutting out eight little paper piglets…” — Wayne Chung (17:34)
Timestamps for Important Segments
| Segment Topic | Timestamp |
|-------------------------------------------------------|------------|
| Wayne’s formative childhood experience | 02:34–04:34|
| Smithfield farm undercover operation | 04:56–06:39|
| Legal defense and courtroom battle | 09:16–15:50|
| Cutting out paper piglets for jury | 17:32–18:11|
| Jury struggles with defining value | 22:03–22:44|
| Legal scholar frameworks for animal status | 24:49–27:30|
| Jury deliberations & analogy of pig in a box | 28:32–33:08|
| Verdict: Not guilty | 31:26–32:02|
| Utah’s legislative pushback after trial | 35:18–35:32|
| Post-trial jury transformations | 37:11–38:13|
| Lily & Lizzie at sanctuary | 40:18–41:11|
Conclusion
What is a Pig Worth? doesn’t lay out easy answers. Instead, it cracks open the messy, unresolved, and very human ways we grapple with animals’ status in our world: sometimes property, sometimes kin, sometimes something else altogether. The story arc, from Wayne Chung’s boyhood to a Utah jury room to a changed law, exposes how the law, just like the rest of us, struggles to pin down the value of a pig—or any animal—forcing society to look, debate, and feel. The episode leaves listeners reflecting on their own beliefs, appetites, and where we might be headed next.
For further information:
- Direct Action Everywhere (Wayne’s group): https://www.directactioneverywhere.com/
- Background on the legal arguments: [Referenced animal law scholars: Prof. Kristen Stilt (Harvard), Prof. Justin Marceau (U. of Denver)]
This summary highlights the major themes, legal arguments, emotional beats, and thought-provoking moments of the episode, equipping anyone to engage deeply with the questions at its heart.
