The Long Leash with James Jacobson

Talented writer and journalist Rebecca Ascher-Walsh is known for her inspired and inspiring coverage of everything from entertainment to travel to advertising to U.S. history. She contributes to many newspapers and national magazines, including Entertainment Weekly, the Los Angeles Times, and Adweek.

She’s fast, witty, and full of stories. Oh, and she also LOVES dogs.

Living in her hometown of New York City, gives Ascher-Walsh plenty of opportunities to both meet dogs and help dogs. Whether it’s timing her elevator ascent so her dogs can avoid the bulldog on fourteen heading down for his walk … or giving a shelter dog one last morning stroll before her scheduled euthanasia, she’s seen, heard, and done it all.

Many of her stories eventually make their way into books published by National Geographic. Devoted, Loyal, and Love Unleashed are packed with tales of extraordinary dogs.

When Ascher-Walsh is not writing about our canine companions, she’s rescuing them. As Director and founder of Deja Foundation, she ensures that medical care and training costs of dogs rescued from high-kill shelters are taken care of.

Ascher-Walsh joins us to give us a peek into the world of high-kill shelters, advocacy journalism, and a deep discussion on how we in the media have a responsibility to help pit bulls regain their original reputation of being a “nanny dog.”

About Rebecca Ascher-Walsh

Rebecca Ascher-Walsh is the author of Devoted, Loyal, and Love Unleashed, books about extraordinary dogs and their people published by National Geographic. She lives with her family, which includes a pit bull named Joe and a rabbit named Oreo, in New York.

The Deja Foundation: http://www.dejafoundation.org/

Devoted: 38 Extraordinary Tales of Love, Loyalty, and Life With Dogs: https://amzn.to/3aZh8Rl

Loyal: 38 Inspiring Tales of Bravery, Heroism, and the Devotion of Dogs: https://amzn.to/3b1NWcp

Love Unleashed: Tales of Inspiration and the Life-Changing Power of Dogs: https://amzn.to/3C5mWEW

*As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases.

About The Long Leash 

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James Gorman dog lover, science writer for The New York Times, author and narrator, is stepping away from the newspaper after almost three decades.

He is the author of books on hypochondria, penguins, dinosaurs and the ocean around Antarctica. He writes about animals, viruses, archaeology and the evolution of dogs and he’s also taught science writing at New York University, Fordham University and as part of Stanford University’s online program.

In this conversation he deep dives into many of his articles over the years including his most recent ‘How old is the Maltese really?’. He also lifts the lid on his approach to telling fascinating science stories and shares his thoughts around the science and reporting on the COVID pandemic.

About James Gorman 

James Gorman is a science writer at large for The New York Times and the author of books on hypochondria, penguins, dinosaurs and the ocean around Antarctica. He writes about animals, viruses, archaeology and the evolution of dogs. He has been at The Times since 1993, as an editor on The New York Times Magazine, deputy science editor, editor of a personal technology section, outdoors columnist, science columnist and editor of Science Times. From 2013 to 2019 he wrote and narrated the video feature “ScienceTake.” Over the course of his career at the Times and elsewhere, James Gorman has written about everything from the invention of flea collars to the nature of consciousness. Most recently he has covered the lives of animals, the evolution of dogs and viral diseases in animals.

The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/by/james-gorman

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jimgorman

About The Long Leash 

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Jane Cowan is an Australian journalist who has reported from around the world including as a foreign correspondent in the United States. But as life would have it, her biggest assignment as an investigative journalist would be the one that set her on the path to save her dog’s life.

Jane spent 20 years at Australia’s national broadcaster the ABC, reporting on some of the biggest stories. When she returned home to Australia to work as a photojournalist, it was finally time to get a dog.

But in 2018 everything changed when her Boxer dog Shiva got very sick and almost died. He went from a happy, healthy 18-month-old puppy to being unable to bend down or move his neck. He was diagnosed with an autoimmune condition and prescribed steroids as treatment.

But the drug damage that came from that decision, set Jane on an investigative journey that would see her dive head-first into the world of canine health and wellbeing, swapping her decades in news reporting to become a dog blogger and author of a book on how to raise a healthier dog.

About Jane Cowan 

Jane Cowan is the author of Supercanine: How to Raise a Healthier Dog or Revitalize a Sick One. The book is drawn from her experiences restoring her own dog’s health after drug damage caused by steroids prescribed for an autoimmune condition. Jane spent two decades as an award-winning journalist for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, including six years as a foreign correspondent based in the United States, before walking away from it all to apply her investigative training to canine health and wellbeing. She writes the Boxer Dog Diaries, a comprehensive resource for Boxer owners and the blog Shiny Happy Doggy. 

The Boxer Dog Diaries: https://boxerdogdiaries.com/

Shiny Happy Doggy: https://shinyhappydoggy.com/home/

Supercanine: https://www.amazon.com/Supercanine-Raise-Healthier-Revitalize-Sick-ebook/dp/B08W9Z2HPF

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Supercanine-103004585163202

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boxerdoglife/

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At the top of his game, Rich Bassman was a high-ranking Disney executive, big-time concert promoter, TV and Movie producer and owned Professional Wrestling and Mixed martial Arts brands & fighting gyms.

But at the bottom he battled Stage 4 testicular and lung cancer, homelessness, poverty, addiction and was shot, stabbed and bitten. So, who and where is he now?

Rick Bassman is an American entrepreneur, talent agent, author and podcaster among other things. He is unlike anyone you’ve probably ever met – in his words, he is a contradiction in terms. Someone who is just as apt at digging a bullet out of his belly as he is to cry at a love story. 

He counts, among his best friends, career criminals, environmentalists, hard-drinking street brawlers and business leaders. But as he says, they all have one thing in common, they are good people.

In this Long Leash, Rick talks candidly about his near-death in his teens, the day his mother left and never came home, his love of dogs, love for life and his mission to change perceptions about Pit Bulls.

About Rick Bassman 

Like his guests on his podcast Talking Tough, Rick Bassman was also at the top of his world. Also like his guests, he crashed to the bottom in spectacular fashion. From being the highest-ranking executive ever hired by The Walt Disney Company without a college degree and winning an Emmy Award, to travelling the world with artists like Guns N Roses, to owning his own successful Pro Wrestling and Mixed Martial Arts brands. And his “highs” were always interspersed with “lows…” including Stage 4 cancer, the loss of many close to him, countless street fights, a wrecked spine, life-threatening infections which led him to choose three decades-long depression, homelessness and addiction. And also like his Guests, Rick is rising again, taking responsibility for his life, consciously finding an ever-widening path to peace and spirituality, and giving his all to be of service.

Talking Tough podcast: https://www.talking-tough.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wewinnow/about

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wewin2177/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickbassman/

Linda Blair Worldheart Foundation: http://www.lindablairworldheart.org/

About The Long Leash 

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In the last 20 years pets have gone from the backyard to sleeping on our beds, then showing up in every corner of America. But what has this complete shift in our relationship with pets meant for society?

Lawyer, strategist and author Mark Cushing has explored this phenomenon in his book Pet Nation, which tells the story of this seismic shift and the economic, media, legal, political, and social dramas springing from this cultural transformation.

So, what was it that happened in the 1990’s when things started to change? What were the forces at play that saw our dogs and pets became treasured members of the family?

In this conversation, Mark speaks widely about the foundation of the book, as well as his work to help regulate, develop policy and provide strategic advice, at state and federal levels, to animal health and veterinary clients across all sectors.

About Mark Cushing 

Mark Cushing is the Founder & CEO of the Animal Policy Group. A long-time political strategist, government regulatory advisor, corporate executive and former litigator, Mark focuses his advocacy practice on providing high-level strategic advice and services to clients with needs at any level of government, and key trade/industry associations in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Since 2004, Mark has specialized in animal health, animal welfare, veterinary and veterinary educational issues and accreditation, developing a cutting-edge practice across these sectors. He currently leads several industry coalitions and initiatives. Mark has guided successful accreditations for a growing list of veterinary colleges and is co-founder of the Veterinary Virtual Care Association. Mark has recently penned Pet Nation, a book that tells the inside story of how companion animals are transforming our homes, culture, and economy.

Pet Nation: https://www.marklcushing.com/

Animal Policy Group: https://animalpolicygroup.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marklcushing

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark.l.cushing/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marklcushing/

About The Long Leash 

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One-Eyed Leo is not the usual children’s book. It takes children and their parents on a journey of discovery, love, life, play, learning, joy and heartbreak when it comes to dog ownership. But it is a story like no other, where, as Ciaran Walsh explains ‘the magic of everyday tasks appears in the detail and vanishes into the cold reality of responsibility’.

Within the 38 pages of this powerful book, the idea of owning a dog is explored in an educational and realistic way. In fact, Ciaran is possibly the only author in the world who is happy that people don’t like his book, because there is a much bigger play at stake.

Ciaran Walsh is a humble Irishman, who makes clear that One Eyed Leo is definitely a team effort, with 50 experts contributing to the book and it is one he hopes will open eyes, change minds and give children and parents alike, a renewed appreciation about pet ownership.

About Ciaran Walsh 

Ciaran Walsh is the Founder at Dog Internet of Things, an internet platform that assists would be dog owners to consider all the responsibilities and all aspects of canine ownership. Ciaran is behind 'One-Eyed Leo', a book for children and parents and the latest innovation in pre-adoption welfare. Seeking partners to bring it global. Dog Internet of Things is an on-line business dedicated to changing dog welfare from pre-adoption to the end of the journey. It provides an on-line basic education in dog ownership. Ideal for anyone considering the idea of getting a dog, or for anyone seeking to improve their relationship with their pet.This venture has been supported by the Local Enterprise Board, Enterprise Ireland and won the Social Entrepreneurs Ireland Academy Award 2019.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ciaran-walsh-169a64150/

https://www.doginternetofthings.ie/

As heard in this episode: Rebound Dog https://reboundog.com/

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Patch Baker’s is an inspiring story. One born partly during, and partly after his time in the military. His life has been full of high highs and very low lows, all which have made him the man he is today.

Patch spent nearly 15 years serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa. When his time in the military ended, he joined the State and Secret Service and in 20-13 he was shot in the chest in Bagdad. His next move would be to return to civilian life and the so called ‘real world.’ What would follow would be a challenging and fascinating transition to life after the military.

Now Patch spends most of his time helping businesses create extraordinary results and growth… with a particular focus on the veteran community.

This is a deep and wide-ranging conversation about Patch’s evolution and we start in a very important place, talking about his P-T-S-D service dog, best friend and protector, Reacher.

About Patch Baker 

Patch Baker spends most of his time helping businesses create extraordinary results and growth within their respective markets. Although his focus in on the Veteran Community, he works diligently to connect non-Veteran owned businesses, and individual Patriots, with brands and businesses which support our Nation’s Warfighters. Patch spent nearly 15 years serving the United States and is a Service Disabled Veteran of the United States Marine Corps. Patch is a serial entrepreneur, expert marketer, investor, speaker, and has acquired a unique set of skills through multiple acquisitions and business exits. His consulting clients range from Fortune 500 clients to Veteran-owned start-ups.

https://www.patchbaker.com/

https://www.facebook.com/patchbakerusmc/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/patchbaker/

https://www.instagram.com/patchbakerusmc/

About The Long Leash 

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“He was not old. It was not his time, I will spare you the drama, except to say I lived in the pupil of his eye,’ Dead Dog by Lisa Underwood.

That poem is among 52 stories from people around the world in author Jim Mitchem’s book “Gone Dogs” – a tribute to the dogs that have left us, written by the people who loved them. 

But the crowd-sourced book only really came to be, after Jim wrote a blog post about his dog’s passing. It was a simple tribute that generated such a strong response, he realized that all dog owners have something important in common — eventually, we must all say goodbye.

Jim and his design partner Laurie Smithwick collected the stories to create a special coffee table book, which may just be the greatest collection of love stories about dogs ever published.

In this Long Leash, Jim tells the story behind the many heart-warming tributes in the book, but also how writing Gone Dogs changed his life.

About Jim Mitchem 

Jim Mitchem is a writer based in Charlotte. He's married and is the father of two daughters who are both in college. He has a few human friends but prefers the company of dogs. As a copywriter, he makes a living coming up with ways to get people to think differently about things. He’s written a novel, Minor King, a novella, Mongoose, and has a thousand files containing a thousand other stories and poems that really need my attention. I am also the publisher and editor of Gone Dogs, a crowd-sourced book about the dogs of our lifetimes. Dogs who are gone, but who will never be forgotten. With his partner, designer and artist Laurie Smithwick, the pair pulled together the greatest dog book ever published after five years of falling down and getting up again and again and again. In his own words: “I'm reminded of why this book is important every time someone tells me how much they love it, or how it's helped them overcome the grief of their own gone dogs. That was the idea--to put something beautiful into the world that anyone who has ever loved a dog can identify with. Deeply.”

Buy a copy of Gone Dogs through Amazon by clicking this link

Jim Mitchem’s links

https://www.QuickLikeMongoose.com

https://www.facebook.com/GoneDogsBook/

https://twitter.com/GoneDogs

https://www.instagram.com/gonedogs/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesmitchem/

About The Long Leash 

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Victoria Stilwell is probably best known as the star of the international hit TV and YouTube series “It’s me or the Dog” where she helps owners tame their unruly pups.

But there is so much more to this world-renowned dog trainer, best-selling author, award winning TV presenter, animal rescuer and dog ambassador, who has been educating and entertaining audiences across 120 countries since 2005.

A passionate advocate for positive reinforcement dog training methods, Stilwell is editor-in-chief of Positively.com and CEO of Victoria Stilwell Positively Dog Training, via which she has created a global network of world-class positive reinforcement dog trainers. 

Victoria originally trained as an actress and had parts in TV shows and on the stage, but it was dogs that stole her heart from when she was a little girl.

In this Long Leash, she shares her story from childhood, and sheds light on one email that would catapult her into homes around the world and give her the perfect platform to show people a kinder way to train dogs.

About Victoria Stilwell 

Victoria Stilwell is a world-renowned dog trainer best known as the star of the international hit TV and YouTube series It's Me or the Dog. Having filmed over 110 episodes plus multiple other TV projects, Stilwell reaches audiences in over 100 countries with her philosophy of positive training methods. A best-selling author, Stilwell appears frequently in the media and is widely recognized as a leader in the field of animal behavior. As a passionate advocate for positive dog training methods, Stilwell is the Editor-in-Chief of Positively.com and Positively TV, the founder of the Victoria Stilwell Academy for Dog Training & Behavior, and the CEO of Victoria Stilwell Positively Dog Training – the world’s premier global network of positive reinforcement dog trainers. The recipient of multiple awards, Stilwell is committed to helping the cause of animal rescue and rehabilitation and is heavily involved with organizations around the world to increase awareness of puppy mills, dogfighting, animal abuse, pet overpopulation, dog bite prevention and other animal-related causes, but she is best known as a champion for force-free positive reinforcement dog training methods. She is an Ambassador for the RSPCA, International Ambassador for the Soi Dog Foundation and serves on the Advisory Boards of RedRover, The Georgia Pet Coalition, The Grey Muzzle Foundation, DogTV, Dognition, and Canine Assistants.

https://www.facebook.com/VictoriaStilwell

https://twitter.com/victorias

https://www.youtube.com/victoriastilwell

https://www.instagram.com/victoriastilwell/

https://www.facebook.com/vsdogacademy/

About The Long Leash 

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As a talent executive for the likes of late show host Conan O’Brien, Lori Levine knows better than most ‘the show must go on’. But how do you do that when you lose three four-legged friends in one year?

That was Lori’s family’s reality in 2020, when amid the Coronavirus pandemic and the many associated stresses, they said goodbye to their dogs Suki, Casey and Kipper one after another.

How she coped and the insights she gained came as a result of some hard-won wisdom from her past, a special Warren Zevon song and a tight knit ‘Brady Bunch’ family unit, who carried each other through a difficult time.

Lori is sharing her story in the hope it will help you face your dog’s death when the time comes. It is probably a good idea to have a tissue on hand … but brace yourself for some belly laughs too, as this dynamo is one waggish storyteller.

About Lori Levine

Lori Levine, founder of Flying Television, is a pioneer in the world of strategic entertainment marketing and events. The driving force behind some of the most recognizable entertainment promotions and parties of the past decade, Lori harnesses the power of celebrity to elevate brands above the clutter of the modern media landscape. As a talent executive for NBC’s “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” Lori earned widespread acclaim for her ability to keep the show at the cutting edge of pop culture and ensure a constant flow of A-list guests. The list of celebrities who look to her for insight and counsel – among them Kate Hudson, Usher, Will Smith, Robert Downey Jr., Jimmy Fallon, and Kim Kardashian – is a testament to her ability to make and keep friends close.

Social Media

Instagram: @FlyingTV, @LoriLevineFTV 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lori-levine-721b9b4/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FlyingTelevision/ 

About The Long Leash

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