Barking Mad Podcast

In this episode of Barking Mad, Dr. Stephanie Clark and Jordan Tyler crack open the case file on the fragrance underworld—candles, essential oils, sprays, diffusers, and the like—and investigate whether these everyday comforts are harmless pleasures or hidden culprits in your pet’s environment. Featuring toxicology experts Dr. Tina Wismer of the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center and Dr. Renee Schmid of Pet Poison Helpline, plus Pete Stirling of Skout’s Honor, this true-crime-style deep dive exposes how concentration, species, and even the word “natural” can determine whether a scent is safe or suspicious. Stay tuned for the next two episodes, which will uncover other common pet toxicities around the home, in the garden, in the kitchen, and in your medicine cabinet.

Helpful Links

Learn more about:

• ASPCA Pet Poison Control: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control
• Pet Poison Helpline: https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/
• Skout’s Honor: https://www.skoutshonor.com/

ASPCA Pet Poison Control Phone Number: (888) 426-4435

Pet Poison Helpline Phone Number: (855) 764-7661

Show Notes

00:00 – Welcome Back!

01:12 – Inside the Episode

04:09 – Introducing Today’s Experts

07:46 – Why Are Pets Sensitive to Strong Fragrances?

11:18 – It’s All About Concentration

14:04 – A Message for the Birds

16:04 – Essential Oils: Harmless or Hazardous?

19:58 – Is “Natural” Always Safer?

22:51 – Purr-fume and Canine Cologne

26:44 – Tips for Pet Parents

33:03 – Today’s Key Takeaways

Many of the industry’s boldest ideas are bubbling up from fresh, fearless entrepreneurs reshaping the future of pet care. In this episode of Barking Mad, recorded live on the SUPERZOO 2025 show floor, hosts Dr. Stephanie Clark and Jordan Tyler spotlight the startups and innovators rewriting the rules of pet nutrition and wellness. From fresh, vet-formulated diets and allergy-friendly treats to nutrient-dense regenerative organ blends, cost-effective functional ingredients, and a novel H2GO hydration gel, you'll hear firsthand how these brands are transforming pet owners’ pain points into opportunities.

Helpful Links

🎧 Hear more candid conversations from the SUPERZOO 2025 show floor in each of these three previous episodes:

• Beyond the Brands: Your Backstage Pass to SUPERZOO 2025
• Candid Conversations from the SUPERZOO Show Floor: Real Talk with Daniel Schulof
• Candid Conversations from the SUPERZOO Show Floor: Celebrating Neighborhood Pet Store Day!

🧠 Learn more about the brands featured in today’s episode:

• Wynwood Dog Food: https://wynwooddogfood.com/
• Ambeezy’s Organic Treats: https://ambeezystreats.com/
• Petbeing: https://petbeing.shop/
• Phelps Pet Products: https://www.phelpspet.com/
• Skout’s Honor: https://www.skoutshonor.com/  
• WagWell: https://wagwellpet.com/

🎙️ Tune in to our previous episodes with Cico Rodriguez to hear why regenerative agriculture could very well be the future of farming:

• The Beautiful Story of Regenerative Agriculture: Does the Future of Pet Food Start with Soil? https://bsmpartners.net/barking-mad-podcast/the-beautiful-story-of-regenerative-agriculture-does-the-future-of-pet-food-start-with-soil
• Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Science—Behind the Brand with Cave Pets: https://bsmpartners.net/barking-mad-podcast/ancient-wisdom-meets-modern-science-behind-the-brand-with-cave-pets

Show Notes

00:00 – Inside the Episode

01:34 – The Wynwood Dog Food Story

08:14 – Behind the Brand with Ambeezy’s Organics

13:15 – Amplifying Ingredients Through Regenerative Agriculture

20:29 – Blussels: A Functional and Affordable Ingredient Innovation

24:03 – Phelps Pet Products’ Hydration Gel for Dogs

29:29 – Innovating Old Dogs: Doggy Shampoo and Wipes

33:09 – WagWell Breaks the Mold

37:48 – Today’s Key Takeaways

Independent pet retailers are the lifeblood of the pet industry—they’re the shops that know your dog’s name, guide you through tricky nutrition questions, and bring innovation to communities long before Amazon catches on. At SUPERZOO 2025, we sat down with the people and brands working to ensure indie retailers don’t just survive, but thrive. Tune in for candid insights from IndiePet, Earthwise Pet, Hollywood Feed, Dave’s Pet Food, and FirstMate Pet Foods about why the independent channel matters, how retailers are adapting to new challenges, and the role brands and organizations play in supporting them. We also spotlight Neighborhood Pet Store Day, happening this year on Saturday, Sept. 27, a nationwide celebration of IndiePet retailers that combines great deals, expert advice, and community connection.

Helpful Links

🐾 Learn more about Neighborhood Pet Store Day!

✨ Find more information about the organizations and brands featured in today’s episode:

• IndiePet: https://www.indiepet.org/
• Earthwise Pet: https://earthwisepet.com/
• Hollywood Feed: https://www.hollywoodfeed.com/
• Dave’s Pet Food: https://davespetfood.com/
• FirstMate Pet Foods: https://firstmate.com/ 

Show Notes

00:20 – Inside the Episode

01:50 – Meet Todd Dittman and IndiePet

07:43 – About Neighborhood Pet Store Day

10:46 – Meet Lisa Senafe and Earthwise Pet

14:32 – Meet Shawn McGhee and Hollywood Feed

20:52 – Meet Dave Ratner and Dave’s Pet Food

26:28 – Meet Lizzie Schwakopf and FirstMate Pet Foods

25:33 – Today’s Key Takeaways

Live from the show floor at SUPERZOO 2025, we sit down with Daniel Schulof, Founder and CEO of KetoNatural Pet Foods and author of Dogs, Dog Food, and Dogma. In this candid conversation, Schulof pulls no punches on one of the most debated topics in pet nutrition—carbohydrates. From AAFCO’s upcoming Pet Nutrition Facts label changes to the spread of misinformation in pet nutrition, we explore how transparency in labeling could reshape consumer choices and companion animal health. This episode cuts through the noise with hard questions, bold insights, and a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges—and opportunities—facing the pet food industry today.

Helpful Links

📖 Read more about AAFCO’s upcoming changes pet food label requirements: https://www.petfoodprocessing.net/articles/17244-aafco-approves-new-label-regulations-for-pet-food

📈 State of Pet Health 2016 Report from Banfield shows rising rates of diabetes in dogs: https://www.banfield.com/State-of-pet-health#:~:text=Download%202016%20Report%20%2D%20What%20diseases%20are%20affecting%20dogs%20and%20cats

🎧 Hear more from the SUPERZOO 2025 show floor in this episode! https://bsmpartners.net/barking-mad-podcast/beyond-the-brands-your-backstage-pass-to-superzoo-2025

👀 Check out this past episode—The Billion-Dollar Deception of DCM: https://bsmpartners.net/barking-mad-podcast/the-billion-dollar-deception-of-dcm-inside-ketonaturals-class-action-lawsuit

🔬 KetoNatural’s research suggests a better standard-of-care approach for dogs with diabetes: https://academic.oup.com/tas/article/doi/10.1093/tas/txaf017/8008740?login=false, https://academic.oup.com/tas/article/doi/10.1093/tas/txaf018/8003283?login=false

Show Notes

00:19 – Inside the Episode

03:33 – From Guaranteed Analysis to Pet Nutrition Facts

05:13 – Why Carbohydrate Disclosure Matters in Pet Food

10:32 – Processing Reality Check

13:54 – Market Challenges for Low-Carb Pet Food

17:27 – The Role of Misinformation

20:37 – Keto Natural’s Research on Doggy Diabetes

22:05 – Rising Rates of Diabetes in Dogs

23:07 – Misinformation in Pet Nutrition

25:33 – Today’s Key Takeaways

26:42 – Behind the Booth at SUPERZOO 2025

27:47 – Stay Tuned for More Candid Conversations!

Invasive fish and marine animals are wreaking havoc on local waterways, economies, and even taking a toll on recreational fishing and boating, but a new wave of innovators is flipping the script. In this episode of Barking Mad, Dr. Stephanie Clark and Jordan Tyler dive into the wild world of invasive species—and how they might just be the next novel proteins in pet nutrition. From Asian carp in the Midwest to green crabs in New England and lionfish in the Gulf, meet the entrepreneurs and innovators turning ecological chaos into sustainable, nutrient-rich pet food. It’s part science, part strategy, and all about reimagining where we get our protein to feed the growing population of pets and people alike.

Helpful Links

🐟 Learn more about the rebrand from Asian carp to Silver copi: https://wildlifemanagement.institute/outdoor-news-bulletin/august-2022/if-you-cant-beat-em-eat-em-illinois-rebrands-invasive-asian-carp#

📖 Read about the invasive species opportunity (and the challenges) from Dr. Stephanie Clark: https://bsmpartners.net/insights/untapped-potential-navigating-the-murky-waters-of-invasive-species-in-pet-food/

Get the scoop on the brands and companies featured in today's episode!👇

• Learn more about Archway Pet ([email protected]) and contact Gabe at: [email protected].
• Learn more about Pezzy Pets: https://pezzypets.com/
• Learn more about Polka Dog: https://www.polkadog.com/
• Learn more about Colgan Carp: www.colgancarp.com
• Learn more about Channel Fish Co.: https://channelfish.com/

🧪 Read more about fish fraud from this University of Singapore study: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2022.836941/full

🌱 Tune in to our previous sustainability episodes

• 🪰 Bug Appétit: From Ick to Innovation on Insect-Based Pet Food: https://bsmpartners.net/barking-mad-podcast/bug-appetit-from-ick-to-innovation-on-insect-based-pet-food
• ♻️ Is Recyclable Pet Food Packaging A Lie? Unraveling The Pet Industry’s Plastic Waste Problem: https://bsmpartners.net/barking-mad-podcast/is-recyclable-pet-food-packaging-a-lie-unraveling-the-pet-industrys-plastic-waste-problem
• 🍎 One Man’s Trash Is Another Dog’s Treasure: The Story of Upcycled Pet Food: https://bsmpartners.net/barking-mad-podcast/one-mans-trash-is-another-dogs-treasure-the-story-of-upcycled-pet-food
• 🚜 The Beautiful Story of Regenerative Agriculture: Does the Future of Pet Food Start with Soil?: https://bsmpartners.net/barking-mad-podcast/the-beautiful-story-of-regenerative-agriculture-does-the-future-of-pet-food-start-with-soil
• 🐱 Looking for Love: Swiping Right on Sustainable Cat Litter: https://bsmpartners.net/barking-mad-podcast/looking-for-love-swiping-right-on-sustainable-cat-litter

Show Notes

00:00 – Inside the Episode

01:24 – What Are Invasive Species?

05:00 – Introducing Brands Working with Invasives

14:49 – Asian Carp: A Copious Catastrophe

18:49 – The Devil Fish: Armored Catfish Causing Trouble

20:23 – Lionfish: A Beautiful Nuisance

22:12 – Green Crab: The Kelp Killers

23:59 – Putting Invasive Fish to Better Use: The Nutritional Merits

30:40 – Caution: More Research Needed!

32:42 – Swimming Upstream: Barriers for Turning Invasives into Food

37:37 – The Catch 22 of Sustainable Fishing Certifications

41:26 – Change is Hard: How to Get Pet Owners On Board

46:24 – The Future of Invasive Species in Pet Nutrition

52:31 – Today’s Key Takeaways

Step onto the show floor at SUPERZOO 2025, North America’s largest pet industry trade show, without leaving the comfort of your home! In this episode, co-hosts Dr. Stephanie Clark and Jordan Tyler take you behind the booths and into their conversations with first-time exhibitors, longtime industry veterans, and innovators shaping what’s next for pets and their people. From playful product launches to thought-provoking insights on humanization, co-manufacturing, and what real innovation looks like, this is your backstage pass to the buzz, the lessons, and the laughs that made this year’s SUPERZOO experience unforgettable. And stay tuned for more episodes from the SUPERZOO 2025 show floor!

Helpful Links

Learn more about SUPERZOO: https://www.superzoo.org/

Check out the organizations and brands mentioned in today’s episode:

• World Pet Association
• Ambeezy’s Organic Treats
• Wynwood Dog Food
• Dash & Lili on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook
• PetAg
• Three Dog Brands
• Bulldog Marketing & Sales and Petbeing
• Pet Pro Media and Pet Industry Network
• Plato Pet Treats
• Phelps Pet Products
• Dave’s Pet Food

Tune in 🎧 Innovation or Imitation? Inside Zoomark 2025

Read more about WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines from Dr. Bradley Quest, Principal of Veterinary Services at BSM Partners: https://wsava.org/global-guidelines/global-nutrition-guidelines/

Show Notes

00:00 – Inside the Episode

02:23 – SUPERZOO Past and Present

09:22 – SUPERZOO 2025 By the Numbers

09:51 – First Impressions from Emerging Brands and Pet Influencers

17:09 – Insights from Industry Veterans

21:12 – Humanization is Here to Stay

23:46 – Jordan Eats a Dog Treat

24:55 – True Innovation, or Just Good Marketing?

29:57 – DYK? The Scoop on Co-Manufacturing

35:26 – A Healthy Industry

37:18 – Dave Ratner’s Crucial Message for Pet Parents

39:15 – Today’s Key Takeaways

Bugs: your dog’s been eating them anyway—why not make it official? In this episode of Barking Mad, Jordan and Dr. Steph dig deep into the world of insect-based pet nutrition—from black soldier fly larvae to crickets to mealworms. You’ll hear from scientists, brand leaders, and strategists about the surprising nutritional benefits, sustainability wins, and cultural hurdles of feeding bugs to our pets. Whether you’re intrigued or totally grossed out, this episode will challenge what you thought you knew about both “ick” and innovation.

Helpful Links

🦗 Learn more about the companies and brands featured in today’s episode:

• North American Coalition for Insect Agriculture (NACIA): https://www.nacia.org/  
• Enviroflight: https://www.darlingii.com/enviroflight
• Protix: https://protix.com/
• Entosystem: https://entosystem.com/en/
• Ynsect: https://www.ynsect.com/
• Yora Pet Foods: https://yorapets.com/uk/
• Tuggs: https://www.tuggs.uk/
• Wilder Harrier: https://www.wilderharrier.com/

🔬 Check out Protix’s cutting-edge research on the nutritional benefits of black soldier fly-based dog and cat food: https://protix.com/discovery-centre

🦐 The surprising similarity of bugs and crustaceans:  https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/you-might-think-of-shrimp-as-bugs-of-the-sea-but-a-remarkable-discovery-shows-the-opposite-bugs-are-actually-shrimp-of-the-land-180986303/

🤔 Did you know there are already bugs in your food? Read more here: https://bsmpartners.net/insights/creepy-crawly-cuisine-when-banning-synthetics-comes-with-tradeoffs/

🌱 Tune in to our previous sustainability episodes

• ♻️ Is Recyclable Pet Food Packaging A Lie? Unraveling The Pet Industry’s Plastic Waste Problem: https://bsmpartners.net/barking-mad-podcast/is-recyclable-pet-food-packaging-a-lie-unraveling-the-pet-industrys-plastic-waste-problem
• 🍎 One Man’s Trash Is Another Dog’s Treasure: The Story of Upcycled Pet Food: https://bsmpartners.net/barking-mad-podcast/one-mans-trash-is-another-dogs-treasure-the-story-of-upcycled-pet-food
• 🚜 The Beautiful Story of Regenerative Agriculture: Does the Future of Pet Food Start with Soil?: https://bsmpartners.net/barking-mad-podcast/the-beautiful-story-of-regenerative-agriculture-does-the-future-of-pet-food-start-with-soil
• 🐱 Looking for Love: Swiping Right on Sustainable Cat Litter: https://bsmpartners.net/barking-mad-podcast/looking-for-love-swiping-right-on-sustainable-cat-litter

Show Notes

00:00 – Inside the Episode

02:45 – Why Bugs?

04:44 – Current Regulatory Approval

06:12 – The Buzz on BSFL Nutrition: Brain Fuel, Bacteria-Fighting Peptides, and Chitin

16:48 – Mealworm Nutrition for Pets: Low-Fat, Natural Fiber, and Hypoallergenic

19:29 – The Crunch on Crickets: Complete Protein, Essential Vitamins, and Chitin

20:20 – Unearthing the Sustainability Story

23:52 – Are Insects Tasty to Our Pets?

25:10 – Sticker Shock

28:12 – The Ick Factor

30:46 – A Marketer’s Perspective

39:54 – The More You Know

42:01 – Final Thoughts

44:30 – Today’s Key Takeaways

Confused by the term “holistic” on pet food labels? You’re not alone. In this episode of Barking Mad, we unpack what holistic pet nutrition really means—from food energetics and antioxidants to species-appropriate diets and the One Health approach. With expert guests and a no-nonsense approach, join us as we help you navigate the science, the claims, and the gray areas of holistic pet nutrition so you can feed with confidence, not confusion.

Helpful Links

🔗 The Lifestyle Link: How Home Environments Shape Your Dog’s Health and Happiness: https://bsmpartners.net/insights/the-lifestyle-link-how-home-environments-shape-your-dogs-health-and-happiness/

🤔 What does “minimally processed” even mean? https://bsmpartners.net/insights/understanding-minimally-processed-what-it-really-means-for-your-pets-food/

🙆 Find more on the CDC’s One Health initiative: https://www.cdc.gov/one-health/about/index.html

🔋 Learn more about energetics: https://www.naturopathy-uk.com/news/news-cnm-blog/blog/2020/07/16/the-energy-of-foods-in-chinese-medicine/

🌐 Check out Dr. Chris Bessent’s brand, Herbsmith, and Dr. Dody Tyneway-Robi’s brand, Holistic Vet Blend. 

📖 Find Rita Hogan’s book, The Herbal Dog, and learn more about her work: https://www.theherbaldog.com/ 

Show Notes

00:00 – Inside the Episode

02:09 – What’s Driving This Trend?

04:34 – Food is Love—And There Is Such a Thing as Too Much

07:47 – A One Health Approach

09:28 – Not a Category, But a Concept

14:21 – Other Trends Driving Interest in Holistic Pet Nutrition

20:45 – Key Principles of Holistic Pet Nutrition

24:22 – A Quick Note on Energetics

29:00 – Taking an Integrative Approach

32:00 – Tips on Who to Trust

35:15 – The Herbal Dog by Rita Hogan

37:10 – Questions to Ask About Your Pet’s Holistic Dinner

38:01 – More Research Needed

39:56 – Today’s Key Takeaways

Tons of brands say their packaging is recyclable. But what does that really mean—and how does it actually happen? In this episode of Barking Mad, we unpack the truth behind pet food packaging: misleading claims, infrastructure gaps, consumer confusion, and the realities that make flexible plastics so difficult to recycle. With expert voices from packaging engineers, sustainability leaders, and recycling innovators, we explore where the system is currently breaking down—and the creative solutions shaping a more circular future. From mono-material films to diaper-inspired designs and return-to-retail programs, this conversation is anything but trash.

Helpful Links

🚮 How much recycled content actually gets recycled? https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/chasing-arrows-what-does-mean-recycling-bsm-partners-tm80c/?trackingId=1suOpuDas%2BvZdnnFKVNzEQ%3D%3D

⛴️ Learn more about the US’s exportation of recycling waste: https://repurpose.global/blog/post/us-waste-exporting-explained

🌠 Read more about wishcycling: https://www.weforum.org/stories/2021/11/what-is-wishcycling-circular-economy/

🌱 Check out this study weighing the tradeoffs of bio-based packaging: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41578-021-00407-8

♻️ State-by-state comparison – how well does your state do recycling?: https://www.ball.com/sustainability/real-circularity/50-states-of-recycling

☕ Keurig’s expensive case of greenwashing: https://www.canada.ca/en/competition-bureau/news/2022/01/keurig-canada-to-pay-3-million-penalty-to-settle-competition-bureaus-concerns-over-coffee-pod-recycling-claims.html

⚖️ How state legislation can influence federal laws: https://bsmpartners.net/insights/capitol-copycat-how-small-state-laws-can-go-full-on-federal/

✒️ Learn more about Extended Producer Responsibility: https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/publications/reports/2024/04/extended-producer-responsibility_4274765d/67587b0b-en.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com

🎙️ Learn more about today’s guests:

• Tyler Packaging: https://www.tylerpackaging.co.uk/
• Veloflex by Thanh Phu: https://www.thanhphupack.com/veloflex.html
• Film Source Packaging: https://www.filmsourcepackaging.com/
• rePurpose Global: https://repurpose.global/
• Petsmart & TerraCycle: https://www.terracycle.com/en-US/brigades/petsmart
• Pet Sustainability Coalition: https://petsustainability.org/sustainable-packaging/

Show Notes

00:00 – Inside the Episode

02:31 – All The Things We Ask of Packaging

04:39 – Looking at the Full Life Cycle

07:51 – Why Are Multi-Layer Plastics So Hard to Recycle?

09:24 – Wishcycling

11:55 – How the Pet Industry is Innovating

12:34 – The Impact Hierarchy

14:53 – Leveraging Non-Virgin Plastics (And The Challenges)

18:44 – Breaking Down the Difference Between Biodegradable and Compostable

19:55 – Mixed Feelings About Bio-Based Materials

22:27 – Greenwashing: Buyer, Beware!

24:51 – From Diapers to Pet Food Packaging

28:11 – Bridge Solutions: rePurpose Global and PetSmart/TerraCycle

37:37 – Return-to-Retail Programs Across the Atlantic

38:43 – Investing in Curbside Collection

42:35 – State-by-State Recycling Rates

46:42 – The Hidden Impact of Secondary Packaging

49:49 – Certifications and Consumer Advocacy

52:46 – Understanding Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

54:58 – Inspiring the Future of Sustainable Packaging

57:17 – Today’s Key Takeaways

Confused by conflicting headlines about pet nutrition? In this episode, we break down how to spot trustworthy research, avoid common pitfalls in scientific studies, and use AI tools to become a savvier, science-minded pet parent—no PhD required. Join co-hosts Jordan Tyler and Dr. Stephanie Clark with expert guest Dr. David Harmon as they speak truth to misinformation, give you the confidence to separate facts from fiction, and advocate for sound science when it comes to your pet’s health.

Helpful Links

🎙️ This episode calls back to several previous episodes:

• The Billion-Dollar Deception of DCM: Inside KetoNatural’s Class-Action Lawsuit: Learn more about the DCM scandal and how it’s shaped the pet food industry.
• Copper Confusion: Separating Science from Speculation in Pet Nutrition: Why we should pump the brakes on changing copper level guidelines for pet diets.
• Think Twice: Even Bad Science Can Get Published: Sharpen your critical thinking by exploring how flawed studies make it to print.
• Pawing Through the Research: Uncovering the Fatal Flaws of DCM: Dive deep into the data gaps driving the ongoing DCM debate.

🧠 Check out these AI-powered research tools!

• Start digging your own rabbit hole with Research Rabbit
• Get evidence-based answers to your questions with Consensus AI
• Elicit—your one-stop shop for literature reviews
• Upload research and NotebookLM connect the dots for you

📚 Expand your research toolbox with trusted resources like Google Scholar, Semantic Scholar, and PubMed.

Show Notes

00:00 – Inside the Episode

02:06 – We’ve Seen This Movie Before…

04:26 – Introducing Dr. David Harmon

06:44 – Understanding the Research Pyramid

08:56 – The Gold Standard: Peer-Reviewed

11:00 – The Components of Scientific Literature

14:13 – Common Pitfalls in Reading Research

22:00 – Starting With a Solid Framework

26:20 – AI-Powered Tool to the Rescue!

33:58 – Dr. Harmon’s Take on AI Tools

35:42 – Remember: AI Is Just a Tool!

37:34 – Today's Key Takeaways