Think upgrading your pet’s food means draining your wallet? Think again.

In this episode, Amy Castro gets expert pet advice from Kat Donatello, founder of Austin and Kat, on how to improve your dog or cat’s diet without overspending. If you’ve been struggling with pet costs, unsure which supplements actually help, or just need real pet parenting solutions that fit your budget, this conversation is for you.

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL DISCOVER:
• Simple, low-cost pet food savings tricks you can try today
• Pet saving hacks most cat care and dog owners overlook
• What most pet parents misunderstand about supplements and nutrition
• Why starting early sets your pets up for a healthier future
• How to practice pet care on a budget without sacrificing quality

Pet parenting struggles are real — from managing pet behavior to keeping food costs under control. This episode gives you practical, expert pet advice you can use right away, whether you’re feeding one cat, a new puppy, or managing multiple pets.

CONNECT WITH KAT:
Austin and Kat

P.S. In this episode, you’ll hear us refer to the show as Starlight Pet Talk — that’s what we called it before we upped our game. Don’t worry, you’re in the right place. 

Support the show

Love the show? Share it with someone navigating the chaos of pet parenting, and please leave a 5-star review so others can find the pet advice they need.

Follow:🌍Official Site |📱Facebook |📺YouTube | 🍏 Apple |🎵Spotify

Pet parenting gets overwhelming fast, especially with behavior issues, rising costs, and conflicting advice. This show gives you pet care solutions, pet behavior help, and pet budgeting tips you can use right away.

Each week brings clear pet parenting advice plus expert guidance on dog and cat behavior, dog training, nutrition, stress free vet visits, and routines that make life easier. We also tackle issues like cat anxiety, emergency vet decisions, hidden hazards, and how to stay ahead of the everyday problems that create stress for pets and their people.

No fluff, no guilt, just practical tools that save money and help you enjoy a calmer home and life with pets.

Follow so you can stop chasing your tail and start enjoying your pets again.

Contact: [email protected]

©Ⓟ 2025 Amy Castro

What No One Tells You About Losing a Pet

Do you feel like you're already grieving your pet… even though they're still here?

That heartbreak has a name and in this episode, you’ll learn how anticipatory grief affects both you and your pet, and why it’s one of the most misunderstood parts of pet loss.

Whether you're nearing the end of your pet's life or supporting someone who is, this conversation with grief expert Nancy Gordon, LCSW, will help you prepare emotionally, avoid guilt, and find peace,  before and after goodbye.

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL LEARN:

• What anticipatory grief is and why it matters more than you think
• How to prepare for end-of-life decisions with less fear and more clarity
• Why words like “put down” matter — and the uplifting alternative that changes everything

CONNECT WITH NANCY GORDON
GrowBeyondGrief.com
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn
Instagram
Media Page

PS: In this episode, you’ll hear us refer to the show as Starlight Pet Talk — that’s what we called it before we decided to embrace the fur, mess, and mayhem. Don’t worry, you’re in the right place!

Support the show

Love the show? Share it with someone navigating the chaos of pet parenting, and please leave a 5-star review so others can find the pet advice they need.

Follow:🌍Official Site |📱Facebook |📺YouTube | 🍏 Apple |🎵Spotify

Pet parenting gets overwhelming fast, especially with behavior issues, rising costs, and conflicting advice. This show gives you pet care solutions, pet behavior help, and pet budgeting tips you can use right away.

Each week brings clear pet parenting advice plus expert guidance on dog and cat behavior, dog training, nutrition, stress free vet visits, and routines that make life easier. We also tackle issues like cat anxiety, emergency vet decisions, hidden hazards, and how to stay ahead of the everyday problems that create stress for pets and their people.

No fluff, no guilt, just practical tools that save money and help you enjoy a calmer home and life with pets.

Follow so you can stop chasing your tail and start enjoying your pets again.

Contact: [email protected]

©Ⓟ 2025 Amy Castro

What really drives someone to choose a specific breed? And what happens when that desire bumps into reality?

In this heartfelt episode, Amy chats with speaker and leadership coach Laurie Hall about her journey from planning to buy a purebred to ultimately rescuing not one, but two shelter dogs. Together, they unpack the emotions, myths, and eye-opening moments that shaped Laurie’s shift from breed shopping to adoption.

You’ll hear about everything from grief and letting go of expectations to learning what makes a dog truly the right fit. This is a must-listen for anyone navigating their own pet decision—or judging someone else’s.

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL DISCOVER:

• Why wanting a certain breed doesn’t make you a bad person
• How grief, timing, and lifestyle can reshape your vision of the “perfect” dog
• What rescue groups wish more adopters knew before bringing home a pet

Shoutouts in this episode:

Starlight Outreach and Rescue
https://starlightoutreachandrescue.org

SAVE Rescue Coalition
https://saverescue.org

P.S. You’ll hear us refer to the show as Starlight Pet Talk—that’s what we called it before we fully embraced the fur, mess, and mayhem. Don’t worry, you’re in the right place!

Support the show

Love the show? Share it with someone navigating the chaos of pet parenting, and please leave a 5-star review so others can find the pet advice they need.

Follow:🌍Official Site |📱Facebook |📺YouTube | 🍏 Apple |🎵Spotify

Pet parenting gets overwhelming fast, especially with behavior issues, rising costs, and conflicting advice. This show gives you pet care solutions, pet behavior help, and pet budgeting tips you can use right away.

Each week brings clear pet parenting advice plus expert guidance on dog and cat behavior, dog training, nutrition, stress free vet visits, and routines that make life easier. We also tackle issues like cat anxiety, emergency vet decisions, hidden hazards, and how to stay ahead of the everyday problems that create stress for pets and their people.

No fluff, no guilt, just practical tools that save money and help you enjoy a calmer home and life with pets.

Follow so you can stop chasing your tail and start enjoying your pets again.

Contact: [email protected]

©Ⓟ 2025 Amy Castro

Welcome to Muddy Paws and Hairballs, the no-fluff podcast that tells it like it is when it comes to life with pets.

I'm Amy Castro, your host—an animal rescue founder, former vet assistant, pet industry expert, and someone who's fostered more than 4,000 pets (and counting!). I've seen it all—pee on the carpet, chewed-up shoes, and plenty of heartwarming moments in between.

Whether you're wrangling a mischief-loving pup, a spicy cat, or a house full of animals, this podcast is for pet parents who embrace the chaos—and love their pets for who they really are.

Each week, we dig into the hilarious, heartwarming, and sometimes frustrating realities of pet ownership. You’ll hear expert advice from trainers, vets, and groomers, plus unfiltered stories from fellow pet lovers who’ve been in the trenches.

If you're tired of picture-perfect social media pets and want real talk about keeping your animals happy, healthy, and in your home for life, you've found your pack.

Hit play, and let’s get real about pets!

Send us a text

Love the show? Please share it with another pet parent who wants less chaos and more clarity. Please leave a 5-star review to help others find real-life, judgment-free advice.

🎧Get your free guide: 10 Tips for Bonding With Your Pet

Follow:
🌍Official Site |📱Facebook |📺YouTube | 🍏 Apple |🎵Spotify


Big pet challenges we help pet parents solve include: puppy training, cat behavior, pet budgeting, stress-free vet visits, solutions for multi-pet households, and more.

Contact: [email protected]

©Ⓟ 2025 by Amy Castro.

Every podcast starts somewhere, and this one began with a name that meant a lot to me. In this episode, I’m sharing the story behind the show, why it originally launched as Starlight Pet Talk, and how that name connected to my rescue work and the pets who shaped my mission.

My best friend, Bev Brooks, joins me as we talk about where this idea came from, the early days of the podcast, and why the purpose behind the show has stayed the same even as the name changed.

If you’re new to the podcast, this is the perfect place to start. You’ll learn what pushed me to create a space for real talk about life with pets, the heart behind the mission, and how you can be part of the community moving forward

Shoutouts in this episode:
Starlight Outreach and Rescue
Rockland County 4-H
Wildcare Cape Cod

Support the show

Love the show? Share it with someone navigating the chaos of pet parenting, and please leave a 5-star review so others can find the pet advice they need.

Follow:🌍Official Site |📱Facebook |📺YouTube | 🍏 Apple |🎵Spotify

Pet parenting gets overwhelming fast, especially with behavior issues, rising costs, and conflicting advice. This show gives you pet care solutions, pet behavior help, and pet budgeting tips you can use right away.

Each week brings clear pet parenting advice plus expert guidance on dog and cat behavior, dog training, nutrition, stress free vet visits, and routines that make life easier. We also tackle issues like cat anxiety, emergency vet decisions, hidden hazards, and how to stay ahead of the everyday problems that create stress for pets and their people.

No fluff, no guilt, just practical tools that save money and help you enjoy a calmer home and life with pets.

Follow so you can stop chasing your tail and start enjoying your pets again.

Contact: [email protected]

©Ⓟ 2025 Amy Castro