By Angela Schneider
5
88 ratings
The podcast currently has 92 episodes available.
Hand2Paw is a nonprofit that connects homeless youth with meaningful employment opportunities in animal shelters. In this week's episode, we chat with Penny Ellison, Hand2Paw’s leader and passionate animal advocate, about how this innovative program is changing lives and creating a brighter future for young people facing homelessness.
Penny shares her journey from a corporate law career to dedicating her life to animal advocacy, highlighting how her experiences shaped the mission of Hand2Paw. Learn how the organization provides essential job training and support to homeless youth while promoting the well-being of animals in shelters. Discover the transformative power of compassion and connection, and how caring for animals can foster personal growth, responsibility, and a sense of purpose.
We also discuss the challenges and successes of working with at-risk youth, the importance of community involvement, and how listeners can get involved to make a difference. Tune in to hear how Penny's vision is not just about saving animals, but about empowering youth to rise above their circumstances and build a brighter future.
Where to find Hand2Paw
Hand2Paw.org
Crates can be … ah … not the most attractive piece of furniture in your home.
But some people find them quite useful in training and containing their dogs. So why not have a crate that becomes a part of your décor?
That's where Danny Nathan comes in.
He's the founder and CEO of Apollo 21, a company that sits at the intersection of a business consultancy, a product design studio and a venture studio.
Essentially, he designs cool shit.
Like a sleep platform to overland in his SUV.
And more recently, dog crates.
But you don't just buy the crate. Oh no, my friends. Danny designs cool shit then creates design manuals so you can do it yourself.
I think it sounds like fun, and Danny fills us in on the how and why in this episode.
Where to find Stay. Good Dog crates
StayGoodDog.com
You're not weird if you see a dog in a muzzle and think, "He's so scary looking."
You're not weird if you see a dog in a muzzle, pick up your chihuahua and hurriedly cross the street.
But you might be wrong.
Kylee Doyle of Kylee Doyle Photography in Sacramento, California, has embarked on an incredibly meaningful personal project: photographing dogs in their muzzles.
She hopes to educate people that dogs wear muzzles for a variety of reasons, not just because they might be aggressive or reactive.
Kylee sits down with me today to tell me all about her project and what she hopes it can mean to the dog community, not just in Northern California but around the world.
Where to find Kylee
KyleeDoylePhotography.com
Do you end up with a wooly ball of anxiety every time you have to go to the vet?
Where to find Latah Creek Animal Hospital
LatahCreekAH.com
I get so fired up when I connect with someone who wants to talk about the deeper meaning for dogs in our lives.
Like when I chat with a fellow believer that dogs teach us who we are and who we need to be.
It didn't take long before I was mesmerized with Saro Boghozian's words.
After becoming a certified dog trainer through The College of Canine Behavioral Science, Saro quickly recognized he also needed learn about human psychology so that he could help his two-legged clients understand the root causes of their dogs' behavior.
Together, we explore the profound impact dogs have on our personal growth and well-being.
Where to find Saro
Saro Dog Training
YouTube
I know you know what I'm talking about when I say sometimes our veterinarians aren't the best communicators.
Hell's bells, Dani McVety told us as much on the podcast last fall. They're introverts. They'd rather be dealing with our animals, not us.
So sometimes they tell us a lot of words that go in one ear and out the other. Or we run home and start Googling, doing our best to remember the words and take our best shot at spelling them.
Enter Tyler Sugerman.
An emergency vet in Tacoma, Washington, Tyler bridges the gap between vet jargon and pet guardians on his podcast Vetsplanation.
With a goal to help pet guardians keep their animals happy, healthy and safe, Tyler breaks the science of vet care down into simple, understandable terms.
Today, he shares that journey with us.
Where to Find Tyler
Vetsplanation website
YouTube
We've spent a lot of time on this podcast talking about grief over the loss of our beloved companion animals.
Much of the content has revolved around anticipatory grief and the loss of a pet due to a terminal illness or old age.
But there are many more types of loss pet guardians can face.
Runaways.
Accidents.
Surrenders.
Custody battles.
Behavioral euthanasia.
And they all carry with them trauma and nuanced, complex emotions.
My dear friend Coleen Ellis of Two Hearts Pet Loss Center joins me to unravel those emotions and how guilt and grief intertwine.
Where to Find Coleen
Two Hearts Pet Loss Center
Diana Lundin's journey from journalist to dog photographer has been a winding one, filled with challenges and personal growth.
Now she's bringing her life full circle, joining journalism and dog photography together to shine a spotlight on the way climate change is affecting our animal species.
She leaped at a recent volunteer opportunity that took her on an adventurous cross-country road trip to relocate animals for a farm sanctuary. The 3,600-mile journey was not without its obstacles, as the team navigated weather challenges, vehicle issues and a rather hungry llama.
She documented the trip while driving the bus and caring for the animals and she intends to use the experience and her storytelling skills to bring light to the important
Where to Find Diana
You want adventure? OK, drive an animal sanctuary across the country -- Medium
Diana Lundin Photography
In a world where power dynamics often leave us feeling disempowered and disconnected, Carmen Theobald has found a unique, transformative way to help humans reclaim their personal power and reconnect with their true selves.
Through her work at Horse Sense North, Carmen harnesses the healing power of horses to guide individuals on a journey toward empowerment and authenticity.
At Horse Sense North, the belief is that true empowerment comes from a place of balance and heart-centeredness. It is about finding the strength within ourselves to be who we are meant to be, without fear or inhibition. Carmen understands the challenges that come with navigating power dynamics and strives to provide her clients with the skills and tools necessary to move through the world with confidence and grace.
Carmen joins us to chat about the Horse Sense North mission that is centered on clarity, connection and courage. And how through the horses' unique ability to provide immediate, non-judgmental feedback, clients often rediscover their authentic selves and embark on profound inner journeys of healing and self-discovery.
And of course we talk about that one horse that changed Carmen.
What to Listen For
Where to Find Carmen
Horse Sense North
TikTok
YouTube
Today is a throwback to this podcast's roots in the grief we endure when our best fur friends die.
My good Beth Bigler and I had this chat before I decided to rebrand the pod and expand the subject matter beyond that niche.
As I continued to study grief, it struck me that a number of folks out there might not seek professional help with their grief for the pet.
We exist in a world where our sorrow is called "disenfranchised grief," in which our loss is not necessarily accepted, respected and acknowledged by some people in our lives and the world at large.
Because it's "just a pet," right?
We know better.
And Beth helps dispense the notion that it's just too darn silly or shameful to seek professional help.
Beth is a licensed pet loss grief counselor and her Instagram account, @honoring our animals, is one of the comprehensive resources for pet loss you can find on the internet.
In this episode, she offers insights into the challenges faced by individuals navigating this grief alone.
What to Listen For
Disenfranchised grief: How society's perception of pet loss as insignificant can lead to stigma, hindering individuals from seeking support.
Challenges of seeking help: Beth sheds light on common misconceptions and barriers faced by those reaching out for counseling or support groups.
Missteps in counseling: The discussion touches on ineffective counseling experiences and the importance of finding a counselor who understands the unique dynamics of pet loss.
Creating a supportive environment: Beth shares strategies for creating a safe space where pet owners can express their grief without judgment.
Building community: The role of community in healing, offering insights into how shared experiences can provide comfort and validation.
Where to Find Beth
Honoring Our Animals website
The podcast currently has 92 episodes available.