Mystic Dog Mama

In a time of great unlearning, how do we reconnect with what’s real, true, and soul-aligned?

In this powerful and down-to-earth conversation, I’m joined by Stephanie Banks—intuitive channel, author, and the voice behind Soul Insight—to explore the art of channeling, our relationship with the more-than-human world, and how to walk the spiritual path with our dogs by our side.

A former speech pathologist turned professional channel, Stephanie shares her journey of rediscovering her intuitive gifts, opening to guidance from Gaia and canine consciousness, and learning to trust the deep wisdom that flows through all of us—when we get quiet enough to listen.

Together, we explore what it means to:

• Tap into your own channeling abilities
• Know whether what you're sensing is real or true
• Embrace your soul agreements with your dog
• Co-create the future through presence and stewardship
• Be a spiritual being navigating uncertainty—with paws beside you 🐾

This episode is both mystical and practical, intimate and expansive—a heart-centered invitation to deepen your intuition, root into your purpose, and remember that you are never alone on this path.

🌿 Topics We Explore:

• Stephanie’s path from speech pathologist to professional channel
• What channeling really is—and how you can access it
• The role of dogs and animals as soul allies and messengers
• Guidance from Gaia and canine consciousness
• Discernment: how to tell what’s true in a time of collective noise
• Soul agreements and why our dogs choose us
• Living and leading through the collective paradigm shift
• Channeling as remembrance, not performance
• What it means to be a steward of the Earth—and of our own evolution

💬 This episode is for you if:

• You’ve ever sensed your dog was guiding you in ways you can’t explain
• You’re feeling the call to trust your inner voice—but don’t know where to start
• You’re curious about intuitive communication and want to deepen your connection with Earth, animals, and your higher self
• You’re walking through uncertainty and longing for soul-level guidance

Learn More:

Connect with Stephanie at https://soulinsight.com

Head over to learnfetch.com and grab our free PDF guide:
“Energy Healing Practices for You and Your Dog.”
It’s a beautiful introduction to the energetic side of holistic dog care, and it’s my way of helping you deepen your bond—mind, body, and soul.

And if you’re not already hanging out with us inside FETCH First Light, our free community for mystic dog mamas, come join us! We’d love to have you. Join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/fetchfirstlight

https://www.mysticdogmama.com

https://instagram.com/mysticdogmama

Today, we are asking, What if the key to supporting your dog’s health and happiness wasn’t just physical—but energetic?

In this episode of Mystic Dog Mama, I’m joined by Dr. Neal Loh, a Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) practitioner with a deep understanding of how the Five Elements—Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water—shape who our dogs are on every level.

These elemental constitutions go far beyond breed or behaviour. They speak to the essence of your pup’s personality, their emotional patterns, physical tendencies, and the specific ways they seek balance.

Dr. Neal walks us through each of the Five Elements and shares how identifying your dog’s constitution can radically shift how you nourish, train, and connect with them. It’s ancient wisdom made beautifully accessible for modern, soul-led dog mamas.

In this soulful and enlightening conversation, we explore:

• What the Five TCVM Elements are and how they relate to your dog’s body, mind, and spirit
• The unique traits of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water dogs
• How to identify your dog’s dominant constitution
• Why understanding your dog’s elemental type can support more personalized care
• How to bring your dog into balance through food, lifestyle, and energetic support
• Real-life examples from Dr. Neal’s practice that illustrate each type

This episode is an invitation to see your dog not just as a companion—but as an energetic being with deep wisdom of their own.

🌿 Connect with Dr. Neal Loh:

Instagram: https://instagram.com/neal.holisticpetvet
Website: https://www.holitreats.com.au/

💫 Want to explore more?

Join our free Facebook group FETCH First Light to connect with other holistic dog mamas diving into energetics, fresh food, natural healing, and soul-led care. I’ve left the link in the show notes

👉 Join here https://facebook.com/groups/fetchfirstlight

And if you’re not sure whether you’ve got a warm fire dog or a cool water dog, grab your free copy of our FETCH guide to your dog’s unique energetic pawprint here! https://bit.ly/FETCH_Energetics

https://mysticdogmama.com

https://instagram.com/mysticdogmama

*Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your own veterinarian or doctor.

Can you love animals, care about the planet, and still feed your dog meat?

In this listener-requested episode of our FETCH First Friday series we have a grounded, grace-filled conversation on the vegan and lab-grown meat dog food debate—sparked by a recent Dragons' Den episode that funded a vegan kibble brand.

Together, we explore the complexities, contradictions, and sacred responsibilities of feeding a carnivore in a world increasingly uncomfortable with the realities of nature, death, and biology.

This episode isn’t about shame or sides—it’s about curiosity, critical thinking, and compassion as we examine the deeper stories at play behind the marketing, science, and ethics of what we put in our dogs' bowls.

✨ Topics We Explore:

• What is a dog, really?
: Reconnecting with biology over belief, and why understanding your dog’s physiology matters.

• The illusion of "clean" food:
How modern marketing disconnects us from the sacredness of death and the truth of nature.

• What wasn’t said on Dragons’ Den:
The missing context in the vegan dog food pitch—and why it matters.

• Bioavailability and the myth of macronutrient math:
Why feeding isn’t just about numbers, and what gets lost in lab-based logic.

• Technocracy, control, and false saviours:
Questioning the rise of food technologies that promise utopia but often serve profit and power.

• Ethics without biology is ideology:
What happens when good intentions override physiological truths.

• Re-sacralising the bowl:
How to return reverence, relationship, and grounded ethics to the act of feeding your dog.

• Insects—innovation or industrial illusion?:
The hype vs. the harm behind insect-based dog foods.

We’re not here to preach—we’re here to hold paradox with grace.

TIME STAMPS

00:22 Introduction

02:33 Meet Stacey Renphrey and Dr Alexia Mellor, the team behind Learn FETCH

05:35 Overview of the discussion - the Dragon’s Den episode that backed a vegan ultraprocessed kibble— what is this teaching us about our values system and food system

09:30 Looking at feeding through biology and not just philosophy and ethics 

13:35 Dogs tolerate carbs but don’t thrive on them 

15:45 Our disconnect from the reality of death as a core part of the life cycle 

20:00 A breakdown of The Dragon’s Den episode

22:30 Vegan kibble: Innovation or just replacing one UPF for another

25:50 The Myth of Macronutrient and Micronutrient Math - what are the guidelines shaping the dog food industry

41:45 What are the implications of a technocratic food system?

48:45 Ethics without biology is ideology

57:25 Embedding ceremony and sacredness in feeding

59:40 How we change the industrial food system

1:04:35 Insect protein for dogs?

1:10:00 Some of the bigger questions we need to ask when thinking about feeding our dogs

1:13:30 Why Dragon’s Den missed the point

1:16:50 An inivtation to Steven Bartlett and Deborah Meaden, a call for new metrics of what the ROI could be

🐕‍🦺 Keep the Conversation Going: Join our free Facebook group FETCH First Light where dog mamas like you are asking the big questions, exploring ancient wisdom, and nourishing their dogs (and themselves) in more conscious, connected ways.

👉 Join here https://facebook.com/groups/fetchfirstlight

Things we mention:

🎙️ Taking the Fear & Complexity out of Fresh Food Feeding with Kay Stewart, Feed Real Institute: https://youtu.be/4P8W-s6gh8Q?si=s6_-9q_wbBNExE-v

🎙️ Honoring Our Animals + Ourselves: Normalizing Pet Loss Grief with Beth Bigler https://youtu.be/9abmuDAosro?si=QT0mM9LNO2FsJF74

🎙️ F.E.T.C.H. First Friday: Turning the Tables on Parasite Prevention https://youtu.be/69Q02shCEwE?si=WfR2AgKHqYuMkHXm

And grab a copy of our FETCH Fact Check Guide Vegan Dog Food PDF on the studies mentioned!

https://bit.ly/Fact-CheckGuide_VeganDietsforDogs

Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/learn.fetch

Website: https://learnfetch.com

What if our dogs are smarter than we think—but just in different ways than we’re used to measuring?

In this episode of Mystic Dog Mama, I’m joined by the incredible Jennifer Holland—New York Times bestselling author and science writer—who takes us on a fascinating journey into the canine mind through her new book, Dog Smart. This isn’t just about tricks or obedience; it’s about honoring the many forms of intelligence our dogs express, from emotional depth to intuitive knowing.

Together, we explore what it means to be “smart” in dog terms, how different breeds embody unique cognitive gifts, and how we, as dog mamas, can better meet our dogs where they are. This conversation is equal parts science and soul—a reminder that our dogs are always communicating, always teaching, and always inviting us to expand how we see the world.

In this heart-opening and brain-tingling conversation, Jennifer and I dive into:

• The many types of canine intelligence—from nose smarts to emotional genius
• Why “smart” doesn’t always mean “trainable”
• What Jennifer learned by being voluntarily attacked by a police dog (!)
• How breed tendencies and individuality intersect
• The power of letting dogs lead in their own learning
• Why meeting dogs where they are can transform our bond with them

Whether you're a lifelong dog lover or just beginning to tune in more deeply to your pup’s inner world, this episode will inspire you to see your dog with new eyes—and celebrate the brilliance that lives behind every bark, tail wag, and soulful gaze.

🌟 Connect with Jennifer:

Instagram: https://instagram.com/dogsmartbookauthor
Website: https://www.jenniferhollandwriter.com/

💫 Continue the Conversation:

If this episode lit something up in you, come join us inside FETCH First Light—our free Facebook group for soul-led dog mamas who are walking the holistic path with their pups. It's a cozy space to connect, share, and be supported by a like-hearted community that gets it.

👉 Join FETCH First Light here https://facebook.com/groups/fetchfirstlight

*Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your own veterinarian or doctor.

What if letting your dog follow their nose was more than just enrichment—but a path to healing the Earth and ourselves?

In this heart-expanding episode, I’m joined by Laura Holder, Owner of Conservation Dogs Collective, whose work with scent-detection dogs is not only protecting endangered species and ecosystems but also inviting us to reconnect with nature in powerful ways.

We explore the incredible ways dogs are being trained to track native wildlife, detect invasive species, and support conservation efforts across the country. But we also dive deeper—into what it means to let our dogs truly be dogs, how sniffing is their way of engaging with the world, and how tuning into their natural instincts can help us remember our own.

This conversation is a call to slow down, honour the wisdom of the natural world, and step more fully into our role as stewards of the planet—paw in hand.

Before we get started, I wanted to let you know that this episode is sponsored by FETCH. This conversation builds upon the FETCH First Friday episode that Stacey Renphrey of Hozho Hounds and I did on how to take a different approach to parasite prevention in order to protect our dogs and the environment. 

🌿 Want to support your dog’s health with a more holistic approach?
If you’re curious about how to evaluate your own dog’s parasite risk and prevent parasites naturally—without harsh chemicals—you’ll love our FETCH Parasites & Our Dogs: A Paradigm Shift ebook. Grab your copy at https://mysticdogmama.com/shop, and feel empowered to protect your pup, naturally.

To get in touch with Laura and to learn more about what the conservation dogs are up to, check out their website https://conservationdogscollective.org

Join our FREE Facebook group, FETCH First Light, where we dive deep into how to take a whole dog, whole person approach to your dog’s health: https://facebook.com/groups/fetchfirstlight

In this special episode for Stress Awareness Month, we’re diving deep into the energetics of calm, clarity, and connection.

I’m joined by the radiant Liz Clifton, calm leadership coach, mentor, and Animal Reiki practitioner. Through her powerful story — including her journey with a shutdown Romanian rescue dog and her own healing after a dysfunctional relationship — Liz offers a deeply compassionate and practical path back to inner calm.

Together, we explore:

🐾 What calm leadership truly is — and how your dog is already modeling it for you
🌬️ Simple, soulful techniques to return to (and stay in) a state of calm
🌀 The energetic connection between you and your dog, and how stress is mirrored
🔥 How to reclaim your voice in perimenopause and beyond
🌱 Redefining purpose in a way that feels nourishing — because it gets to be simple
💫 From “have to” → “get to”: a shift in language that shifts everything
✨ A powerful perspective-shifting exercise to ground and empower you in difficult moments

Whether you’re feeling the weight of stress, or simply seeking a deeper connection with your dog and your self, this conversation will gently guide you home — to your body, your breath, and your own calm frequency.

Tune in, breathe deep, and remember: calm isn’t something you chase — it’s something you return to.
And your dog? They’ve been showing you how all along.

To connect with Liz, visit her website: https://www.lizclifton.co.uk/

🐶💫 Ready to deepen your connection with your dog through energy healing?
Join our FETCH newsletter and receive our free FETCH Energy Healing Practices guide with simple, transformative techniques to help you deepen your bond and restore balance. Because when you nourish the energy between you and your dog, you both thrive — together. 

Get it here: 

https://bit.ly/FETCH_Holistic

https://mysticdogmama.com

https://instagram.com/mysticdogmama

https://youtube.com/@mysticdogmama

Disclaimer: The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease, or replace medical guidance. Please speak with your veterinarian.

In this week’s episode, I chat with Bean Bindloss, a perimenopause doula who supports women with her unique combination of nutritional therapy, integrative hypnosis and spiritual magic.

Bean works with women who value a body-heart-mind-soul approach and who don’t want to sleep through this major midlife transition. This stage of a woman’s life has been widely misunderstood to be a miserable ending, when in fact it is a new beginning, and I absolutely agree with her when she says it’s time to revolutionise the narrative around perimenopause.

And that’s just what we do in today’s episode.

Bean and I talk about: 

• What a perimenopause doula actually is, and why you might need one
• Why perimenopause is actually a spiritual awakening
• Some of the symptoms of perimenopause you might not think of, like struggling to do #allthethings when that was so easy for you before
• Healing the witch wound (you know I love this topic!)
• And how we just may be in a collective, cultural perimenopause!

Bean also shares some practical nutrition and lifestyle tips to help you navigate the physical and emotional changes that come with perimenopause.

To connect with Bean:

https://www.instagram.com/thenutritionalbean/

https://www.thenutritionalbean.com/

[email protected]  

Bean is also running a 6-week course sharing the essentials you need to thrive in perimenopause, with simple, grounded and practical guidance that you can trust. She is very kindly offering anyone who joins the course a complementary 60 minute 1:1 session Just use the Code: MYSTICDOG when you book! You can visit her website:

https://www.thenutritionalbean.com/perimenopause-foundations

Download your FREE copy of our FETCH Guide to Decoding Your Dog’s Energetic Pawprint here:

https://bit.ly/FETCH_Energetics

Check out the orb that flies behind me when I am talking about love over fear! 57:19

OK, on that note, let’s go!

https://mysticdogmama.com

https://instagram.com/mysticdogmama

https://youtube.com/@mysticdogmama

Disclaimer: The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease, or replace medical guidance. Please speak with your veterinarian.

In this FETCH First Friday episode, Stacey Renphrey of Hozho Hounds, and I talk about Lucky’s and my journey moving back to the UK from Mexico! But, specifically, we’ll talk about how the FETCH framework helped me prepare Lucky, and handle some little health blips that showed up once we arrived. If you’re new here and wondering what FETCH is, FETCH stands for Fresh food, Energetics, Targeted approaches, Curiosity, and Holistic health. These are what Stacey and I see as the pillars to our dogs’ health, and it’s the same framework we use in our canine nutrition consultations to help our clients support their dogs to experience optimal health. Today, you’ll learn how I used Lucky’s energetic pawprint to target supplements to support him before travel and to handle an upset tummy. You’ll also hear how an understanding of the Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine body clock, and meridian pathways, clued me into what Lucky’s itching and zoomie hour were showing me, and how I was able to support him. And, I’ll share about what I found most helpful in navigating the stress of international travel with a dog - we are talking planes, trains, automobiles, and chuck in an overnight ferry, to boot!If you enjoy this way of approaching your dog’s health journey, come join our free Facebook group, FETCH First Light, and be surrounded by a community of likeminded folks who want to integrate evidence-based nutrition with spiritual wisdom in order to create optimal health for their dogs - and themselves!FETCH First Light Facebook Grouphttps://facebook.com/groups/fetchfirstlightNot sure what your dog’s energetic pawprint is? Download our FREE guide when you sign up for our newsletter!https://bit.ly/FETCH_Energeticshttps://mysticdomama.comhttps://hozhohounds.comhttps://instagram.com/mysticdogmamahttps://instagram.com/hozho_hounds*Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your own veterinarian or doctor.

Welcome to the March Minisodes series that I’m doing this month! Lucky and I are in the midst of a new adventure, so, for the month of March, I’ll be sharing some short, solo episodes with you that are some of the musings I’ve had lately, and that I hope might be helpful to you. 

We are covering topics like:

*How to honour your dog’s spiritual journey during times of transition 

* The Telepathy Tapes and connecting with your dog

* How you can quickly use our F.E.T.C.H. Framework to confidently move through overwhelm and gain clarity for dome if the most common questions you have about your dog

And more!

And don’t forget, our F.E.T.CH. First Friday episode on all things PARASITES airs next week, March 7th! I promise you, it’s a conversation like no other, and you won’t want to miss it!

And if exploring some these ideas I’m sharing in the minisodes series and bringing together evidence-based nutrition with spiritual wisdom resonates with you and you are looking to be surrounded by other likeminded dog guardians, Stacey Renphrey of Hozho Hounds and I would love to welcome you into our FETCH membership! We have two tiers depending on the kind of support and resources you’d benefit from, but you can start out with us for less than the cost of a cup of coffee per month! We are currently open to founding members, which means that you’ll benefit from entering at the lowest price we will offering, and you get to help shape this community! We’d love to have you there. 

Come on over to patreon.com/learnfetch for more details and to join!

Instagram: https://instagram.com/mysticdogmama

https://mysticdogmama.com

Grab your copy of our FREE FETCH Guide to Decoding Your Dog’s Energetic Pawprint PDF here:

https://bit.ly/FETCH_Energetics

Welcome to the March Minisodes series that I’m doing this month! Lucky and I are in the midst of a new adventure, so, for the month of March, I’ll be sharing some short, solo episodes with you that are some of the musings I’ve had lately, and that I hope might be helpful to you. 

We are covering topics like:

*How to honour your dog’s spiritual journey during times of transition 

* The Telepathy Tapes and connecting with your dog

* How you can quickly use our F.E.T.C.H. Framework to confidently move through overwhelm and gain clarity for dome if the most common questions you have about your dog

And more!

And don’t forget, our F.E.T.CH. First Friday episode on all things PARASITES airs next week, March 7th! I promise you, it’s a conversation like no other, and you won’t want to miss it!

And if exploring some these ideas I’m sharing in the minisodes series and bringing together evidence-based nutrition with spiritual wisdom resonates with you and you are looking to be surrounded by other likeminded dog guardians, Stacey Renphrey of Hozho Hounds and I would love to welcome you into our FETCH membership! We have two tiers depending on the kind of support and resources you’d benefit from, but you can start out with us for less than the cost of a cup of coffee per month! We are currently open to founding members, which means that you’ll benefit from entering at the lowest price we will offering, and you get to help shape this community! We’d love to have you there. 

Come on over to patreon.com/learnfetch for more details and to join!

Instagram: https://instagram.com/mysticdogmama

https://mysticdogmama.com

Grab your copy of our FREE FETCH Guide to Decoding Your Dog’s Energetic Pawprint PDF here:

https://bit.ly/FETCH_Energetics