Barks and Biomes – Season 1, Episode 3: Flight or Fight
Length: 13:11

In this episode, Helen explores the biology of fight or flight through the eyes of prey animals, predators and people. From a grazing deer and a stalking lion to exams, crowded trains and everyday stress, this episode looks at how the nervous system responds to danger and why ancient survival pathways still shape modern anxiety. Helen also reflects on cortisol, chronic stress, behaviour, the microbiome and what humans can learn from animals about returning to calm, balance and the present moment.

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Content note: This episode includes discussion of anxiety, stress responses and PTSD-like effects in humans and animals. It does not include detailed descriptions of self-harm or violence. This podcast is for information and storytelling purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical, psychological or veterinary advice. If you are struggling with anxiety or low mood, please speak to your GP or a qualified health professional. In the UK, you can contact Samaritans 24/7 on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org.

Disclaimer 

Barks and Biomes is for education and storytelling only. The stories and examples in this episode are Helen’s own, and any science mentioned comes from published research and trusted sources listed in the show notes. This podcast is not a substitute for medical, nutritional or veterinary advice – always speak to a qualified professional about your own or your animals’ health.

BARKS & BIOMES
Episode 2– The Power of Connection: Community, Longevity, and a Very Unlikely Friendship in the Amazon
Runtime: 14 mins 13 secs

In this episode Helen explores how community shapes health – in humans, dogs, and even wild animals. From a small Italian-American town where neighbourly connection seemed to protect hearts, to Okinawan moai friendship groups, we look at why strong social ties sit alongside food and movement as a key piece of the longevity puzzle. Helen then dives into the gut–brain axis to unpack how stress and loneliness can disturb our microbiome and mood chemicals like serotonin, GABA and dopamine – and how life with a dog, plus a good dog park chat, might help bring things back into balance. Finally, we travel to the Peruvian Amazon, where camera traps have caught an ocelot and an opossum calmly strolling together at night, hinting at a surprising cross-species partnership and reminding us how much of social life in nature we still have to discover.

LINKS & REFERENCES

1. The Roseto Effect – social ties and the 50% survival figure (Isa Robinson Nutrition):
   https://isarobinsonnutrition.co.uk/blog/rosetoeffect
2. The Roseto Effect – meta-analyses and survival statistics explained (Ali Zaidi MD):
   https://www.alizaidimd.com/post/the-rosetto-effect
3. Palo Alto teen suicide cluster – CDC investigation (ABC News):
   https://abcnews.go.com/Health/disturbing-suicide-cluster-prompts-cdc-start-investigation-palo/story?id=36953874
4. Ocelots and opossums in the Peruvian Amazon – the original research paper:
   Camerlenghi et al. (2025). Beyond predator and prey: first evidence of an association between ocelot and opossum individuals. Ecosphere.
   https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.70322

ENJOYED THIS EPISODE?
Please share it with a friend or fellow animal lover, follow Barks & Biomes on Facebook, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. It really does help the show grow – thank you so much.

DISCLAIMER
The content of Barks & Biomes is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or veterinary advice. Helen is an animal science student, not a qualified clinician. Nothing in this podcast should be taken as a diagnosis for you or your pet. Always consult a qualified GP, registered nutritionist, holistic health practitioner, or vet before making any changes to your own or your pet's health, diet, or supplement routine.

Barks and Biomes – Season 1, Episode 1: Welcome
Length: 13:11

In this welcome episode of Barks and Biomes, Helen asks a deceptively simple question: what is the “best” food for pets, people and wildlife if we care about health, longevity and the planet we share? From muddy English country lanes and Amazon rivers to Florida’s algae‑closed beaches, she weaves together stories of dogs, jaguars and humans to show how invisible microbiomes, land use and deforestation connect our bowls, our bodies and our biomes. As a mature animal science student, Helen shares why she started the podcast, why nutrition and microbes are fundamental to life on Earth, and how tech, tradition and natural behaviour all intersect in animal and human wellbeing. She closes with a happy  fact about stingless bees in Peru gaining legal protection, and invites you to join a community that’s curious, compassionate and ready to rethink what we feed, how we live, and how we protect the ecosystems that keep us alive.

EcoJurisprudence (2025) ‘Perú National Law: stingless bees a matter of national interest’, EcoJurisprudence Monitor, 8 January. Available at: https://ecojurisprudence.org/initiatives/peru-national-law-stingless-bees-a-matter-of-national-interest/

ENJOYED THIS EPISODE?
Please share it with a friend or fellow animal lover, follow Barks & Biomes on Facebook, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. It really does help the show grow – thank you so much.

Disclaimer 

Barks and Biomes is for education and storytelling only. The stories and examples in this episode are Helen’s own, and any science mentioned comes from published research and trusted sources listed in the show notes. This podcast is not a substitute for medical, nutritional or veterinary advice – always speak to a qualified professional about your own or your animals’ health.