My Rescue Rocks with Rebekah Nemethy

Get links to everything we talked about at http://myrescuerocks.net/45

Welcome to the season finale of My Rescue Rocks! It’s kind of become the tradition for each season to end with a conversation, and today’s conversation is all about a powerful concept that’s totally changed my life over the past few years.

In 2010 I was working hard to establish myself as a professional photographer, I was building my portfolio, working any and all photo-related jobs from portraits to products. For most of that year it was all work and no play for me… I’m not sure what first inspired me, but a holiday was coming up, Nick was going away, and I found a bag full of Yoshi’s beautiful feathers that I’d collected over the years… he’s an orange-winged amazon, so his feathers are really colorful and unique. Somehow, free time and inspiration collided and I found myself playing with my camera.

I got two really beautiful photos out of my playtime, but more than that, I felt really charged and refreshed and I wondered why I didn’t play with my camera more often. So I decided that I would.

This is essentially the story of how I became an artist, but I don’t want you to zero in on the artist outcome, what’s more important than that, and what I want you to know is, that this is also the story of how I recognized that I was creative.

My point being, not everyone wants to be an artist, I know that, but everyone is creative in some way, and everyone can really benefit from having creative play in their lives.

So, after playing around for awhile, I showed one of my flower photos to a photographer I assisted, and he told me that it reminded him of Georgia O’Keefe. I was floored, he was comparing my photo to a real artist, a real and quite famous artist. It might sound silly, but before I had that validation, I always told myself that I wasn’t creative.

In fact, if I knew that photography could be so creative, I probably would’ve been afraid to pursue it. But to make a long story short, that was the spark that inspired me to keep making art and to figure out what it would take to become an artist.

And that, my friends, is how I discovered today’s guest. I assume I Googled “how to become an artist,” or “how to sell art,” and I came across an online course that would teach me all about it. The course had two teachers, one taught all the tactical approaches to running an online art business, and the other taught us how to overcome the mindset issues that plague us in the pursuit of creativity. Both teachers gave us so much value, but being able to recognize and put a stop to all the negative voices in my head is the skill I value most these days, and I’m not sure I would have developed it at all if it weren’t for Melissa Dinwiddie.

That course doesn’t exist anymore, but I’ve followed Melissa ever since. Her blog, and now, her podcast too, have inspired and empowered me over the past few years, and I’m honored to be able to bring her into your ears today.

And, because this is a podcast about adopted pets, I asked Melissa to share the story of how she met her soul-kitty, because I knew you’d enjoy it. But this episode is more about you, and we quickly move into the fascinating ways that creative play can make your world a better place.

Ok, here we go, I hope you enjoy our conversation.

Get links to everything we talked about at http://myrescuerocks.net/45

Please help us spread our rescue stories by sharing this show with a friend, PAWlease, I’d really appreciate it!

You can also help out by subscribing, and leaving a rating and review on either iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks so much for your support!

Get all the spooky stuff we talked about right here: http://myrescuerocks.net/44

Happy Halloween!! Well if you’re listening to this on the day it goes out that is, if not well you’re about to regress a little bit, because this is a Halloween special and things are about to get spooky.

Back when Britany and I were making plans to do these Q&U shows together I sent her a list of possible questions I wanted to send out to you and when she told me that her favorite question was the same as mine, I got so excited, because it was my favorite question too! We wanted to know if your pets have ever done anything to make you believe in their 6th sense. We got a few intriguing answers, too. Animals are so amazing…

The other thing that made me giddy about this episode, is that Britany spent some time as a paranormal investigator, so we dig into a bunch of her creepy and strange experiences with the supernatural, as well as a couple of ghost stories of my own… Some spooky stuff has been going on in our new house…

So, here we go, there’s a few minutes of behind the scenes, podcasty, technical talk in the beginning, but that’s just what happens when you try to be real… I hope you enjoy our conversation… it’s a little spooky, but all true!

Get all the spooky stuff we talked about right here: http://myrescuerocks.net/44

Please help us spread our rescue stories by sharing this show with a friend, PAWlease, I’d really appreciate it!

You can also help out by subscribing, and leaving a rating and review on either iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks so much for your support!

Get the show notes at http://myrescuerocks.net/43. 

Ya know, even though I’ve been involved in animal rescue for a few years, I feel like the rabbit hole is never ending. It’s more like a black hole than a rabbit hole, because ever since I dipped my toe into the inky blackness I got totally sucked in and I haven’t been able to climb back out… not that I want to climb back out. No, I’d rather know the truth, which is another funny thing because I used to live by that whole ignorance is bliss rule, and while that expression might still be true, ignorance is also just ignorance.

Ever since I started this podcast, I feel like I’ve been on this journey and it’s taken me places I never expected to go. I mean, I have to give you credit, because if I didn’t have anyone listening I probably wouldn’t dig nearly as deep as I do… making these podcasts propels me more than anything else has so far. And, I thank you for riding along with me as I learn and grow.

So, I was introduced to today’s guest by the Debs, and if you haven’t listened to our past two storytellers I highly recommend you check out episode 39 and episode 41. They are two of the most courageous stories I’ve had the pleasure to share on this show. They told me they had a friend who runs an animal sanctuary who’d love to share some stories on the show.

Today’s guest discovered her passion for animals with the same gateway drug I was always high on… dog love. I’m honored to introduce Sandra Cordero and this is her story… 

To access links to resources and see some photos submitted by our storyteller, please visit http://myrescuerocks.net/43.

Please help us spread our rescue stories by sharing this show with a friend, PAWlease, I’d really appreciate it!

You can also help out by subscribing, and leaving a rating and review on either iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks so much for your support!

Get the show notes at http://myrescuerocks.net/42

A couple of weeks ago we learned all about how we can overcome some of the challenges Pit Bull parents face… and even though it is Pit Bull Awareness Month and I mention that particular label quite a bit in this show, Pit Bulls are not the only dogs who get stereotyped. I’ve seen more than one rental property ad that listed Rottweilers and Dobermans and even German Shepherds as banned breeds.

These dogs are thrown under the “dangerous” category, while other breeds are automatically labeled as “safe” or “friendly.” These stereotypes are accepted subconsciously by many of us – our conditioning simply a product of too much faith in the mass media, in my opinion anyway. But when you take a minute to think about it, dog breed stereotypes are just as ridiculous as labeling any one race of human as dangerous or safe. We are individuals and so are dogs.

“Dogs are individuals.” I say that in quotes because I can’t take credit for this simple truth… I see it on bumper stickers all the time now, because this is actually the slogan of Animal Farm Foundation, which is a local animal shelter that’s been educating the public on breed equality for the past several years.

Today’s guest was the assistant director of Animal Farm Foundation until 2015, and she continued to speak on their behalf even after she moved onto her dream job… as you’ll soon hear she now works as the Director of Operations at HeARTs Speak, and it’s through HeARTs Speak’s Perfect Exposure Project that I got the chance to bond with her this past spring.

And just in case you’re new here, or you need a little refresher, the Perfect Exposure Project is a 2-day photography and marketing workshop that has visited shelters all over the country.

It’s also through HeARTs Speak that I was guided to a post on the Animal Farm Foundation blog that totally intrigued me, it was called “Breed Labels: When Guesses Turn into Predictions.” That’s the issue we’re talking about today, and my lovely guest, Caitlin Quinn, is here to tell us what some shelters are doing to fix it!

To access links to resources and see some photos submitted by our storyteller, please visit http://myrescuerocks.net/42

Please help us spread our rescue stories by sharing this show with a friend, PAWlease, I’d really appreciate it!

You can also help out by subscribing, and leaving a rating and review on either iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks so much for your support!

To access links to resources and see some photos submitted by our storyteller, please visit http://myrescuerocks.net/41. 

I’m super excited about today’s show not just because it’s an amazing story, but also because we’re breaking the paw barrier with this episode, that’s right, no dogs or cats in today’s story… nope, today we have a story about saving piggies!

Two weeks ago, Deb Ozarko shared her story with us, and our storyteller for today was actually her partner in crime in the puppy rescue she told us about. I also told you about her book, and one of the tear-jerkers inside, was a touching story, about a pivotal time in her partner’s life.

This woman both stunned and inspired me with her impulsive nature… I was really intrigued about how she was able to practically flip a switch and change everything about her life. It wouldn’t have shocked me if she did it for money or fame… people chase these dreams anywhere… but no, today’s guest was changing her entire life for love and love alone.

Love for herself, love for her partner, love for animals, and love for this planet.

I found out later on, that shortly after she moved on from her previous life, our storyteller also spent some time working for the International Fund for Animal Welfare and rescuing animal victims of natural, and not-so-natural, disasters all over the world.

I’m thrilled to present to you, Deb Gleason… and this is her story. 

To access links to resources and see some photos submitted by our storyteller, please visit http://myrescuerocks.net/41. 

Please help us spread our rescue stories by sharing this show with a friend, PAWlease, I’d really appreciate it!

You can also help out by subscribing, and leaving a rating and review on either iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks so much for your support!

Get the show notes at: http://myrescuerocks.net/40 

It’s October, and that means it’s also Pit Bull awareness month, so we’re mixing it up a little bit! Instead of our regularly scheduled Q&U episodes, I thought it would be great to bring a couple of experts onto the show to talk about some of the issues that are near and dear to my heart. 

If you’re new to this show you might not know that my soul mutt is a short-haired, stocky girl with droopy jowls and a block for a head. Her head might be big, but it’s tiny when you compare it to her heart. Ever since we adopted her I’ve been rudely awakened to the stereotypes that surround dogs that look like her, and some other breeds of dogs that have been classified as quote on quote dangerous.

If you’ve ever struggled to find a place to live or an insurance company that would cover you because of your dog’s appearance or breed, this episode is going to give you resources and tactics that’ll help. There are even a few tips here that are gold for ALL dog parents… so even if you’ve never dealt with breed discrimination, I hope you’ll still listen, learn, and help to spread awareness about this issue.

I met today’s expert on Instagram, someone tagged her on an old Q&U question when I asked the rescue community what steps we could take to get rid of breed specific discrimination. That particular episode had already been recorded, but she had a ton of info on the topic, specifically on finding housing. At the time, my housing crisis was still fresh in my mind. My boyfriend and I had struggled for nearly a year to find a place that would accept our whole family, and that deal almost fell through because of the Pit Bull stereotype… I knew I wasn’t alone, and I knew this topic deserved it’s own show, and so here we are today!

Today’s expert is not only the Executive Director of My Pit Bull is Family, she’s also a burlesque dancer, a grad student, and, of course, a proud rescue momma… I’m so excited to share with you my conversation with Shannon Glenn.

To access links to resources and see some photos submitted by our expert, please visit http://myrescuerocks.net/40

Please help us spread our rescue stories by sharing this show with a friend, PAWlease, I’d really appreciate it! 

You can also help out by subscribing, and leaving a rating and review on either iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks so much for your support!

To access links to resources and see some photos submitted by our storyteller, please visit http://myrescuerocks.net/39.

I’m so excited to introduce today’s storyteller, not only because of her fascinating and slightly shocking, story, but because she’s not afraid to follow her heart, like so many of us are, myself included.

I actually have to thank Sean Howard, from episode 13, for introducing me to the Unplug Podcast, which is produced by today’s guest. He told me all about this compassionate rescue advocate he was friends with and so I listened to his interview on the Unplug Podcast first, and then I started binge listening to all the other shows.

Looking back at my first impressions about this passionate lady, what really sticks out is how she said she’d never take on any sponsors for her show. To me, that was huge, and it made me instantly trust every word out of her mouth.

As it turned out, around the same time that I started listening to her show, she was having a really hard time with the loss of her soul-dog Jesse.

When I reached out to her about sharing her story here, it was kind of surreal to me, it was like I was talking to a future version of myself, a much kinder and more authentic me… at least the me I wish I could be.

Well as you all know, I like to start from the beginning, and, as a side note the real beginning of our recording, was too hilarious to not include somewhere in this show. So if you listen past the music at the end of this episode, you’ll hear a behind the scenes clip of our conversation about cat poop and what vegans feed their pets.

Alright! Here we go, I am thrilled to introduce you all to the passionate, purposeful, and worldchanging, Deb Ozarko. This is how Deb’s lifetime of love got started: 

To access links to resources and see some photos submitted by our storyteller, please visit http://myrescuerocks.net/39.

Please help us spread our rescue stories by sharing this show with a friend, PAWlease, I’d really appreciate it!

You can also help out by subscribing, and leaving a rating and review on either iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks so much for your support!

To access links to resources and see some photos submitted by our storyteller, please visit http://myrescuerocks.net/38.

As animal lovers we have all had our share of meeting distressed animals in the wild. This episode shares listener wild animal rescue stories as well as a few tips about when you should rescue and when you shouldn’t.

There are a few other things I added in this off the cuff episode… but you’ll have to listen to find out what!

To access links to resources, photos, and more, submitted by other listeners like you, please visit http://myrescuerocks.net/38.

Please help us spread our rescue stories by sharing this show with a friend, PAWlease, I’d really appreciate it!

You can also help out by subscribing, and leaving a rating and review on either iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks so much for your support!

To access links to resources and see some photos submitted by our storyteller, please visit http://myrescuerocks.net/37.

Sean O’Daniels has been a concept artist for video games and movies for most of his artistic career. And, in case any of you are wondering what exactly a concept artist is, it’s basically a designer who creates the look and feel of environments and characters in movies and games.

More recently, though, Sean’s work has evolved into something else, and his inspiration is, not surprisingly, his rescue dog, Rocky.

Before we go any further I just have to tell you that Sean’s dog art is, not only beautiful, it’s fun too! His latest series is dubbed YappyHour and features dogs next to their owner’s favorite drinks. My favorite, is this little Chihuahua next to a cosmo… it’s actually titled cosmo if you want to look for it later in Sean’s store…

But I’m getting ahead of myself, because none of this happened until Sean met Rocky…

To access links to resources and see some photos submitted by our storyteller, please visit http://myrescuerocks.net/37.

Please help us spread our rescue stories by sharing this show with a friend, PAWlease, I’d really appreciate it!

You can also help out by subscribing, and leaving a rating and review on either iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks so much for your support!

To access links to resources and see some photos submitted by our storyteller, please visit http://myrescuerocks.net/35.

As a storyteller, and an accidental journalist, it’s easy to find stories that grab me, but they don’t always fully satisfy my curiosity. Sometimes the stories I discover were never written down, and sometimes they’re just short online posts that just fill me up with more questions than they answer. When I found Seamus’s story, though, I soon realized that it was all already there, and there was really nothing I could do to make it any better, and why try?

So today’s guest was willing to share his amazing story with us as it was first published on his blog, and I’m so grateful for this! I have to also just shout out Amy Dalton from episode 33 here too, because even though I didn’t mention it, she surprised me with a prepared story for her interview, and made me realize how nice it is to have it all laid out for me already. I have to say I’m feeling a little spoiled with how little editing I’ve had to do lately… but anyway…

Today’s storyteller is an actor, a professor, a director, a writer, and, of course, an animal lover… this is Scott Plate, and this is his story: 

To access links to resources and see some photos submitted by our storyteller, please visit http://myrescuerocks.net/35.

Please help us spread our rescue stories by sharing this show with a friend, PAWlease, I’d really appreciate it!

You can also help out by subscribing, and leaving a rating and review on either iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks so much for your support!