The Whole Pack

By Where animal care professionals come together for the animals.

The Whole Pack brings together professionals across the animal care world to explore the many ways we support animals and the humans who love them.

Hosted by Melissa Sherman and Sunny Gandara, the po... more

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FAQs about The Whole Pack:

How many episodes does The Whole Pack have?

The podcast currently has 29 episodes available.

The Whole Pack episodes:

July 14, 2026 Energy Healing for Dogs and Cats
“The body knows what to do. Sometimes it simply needs the right environment to remember.”
In this episode, Sunny interviews co-host Melissa Sherman about energy healing, animal communication, nervous system regulation, and why supporting the energetic body may be one of the most overlooked pieces of holistic care.
Together they discuss what happens during an energy healing session, common misconceptions about energy work, why guardians are often part of the healing process, and how modalities such as Reiki, EFT, scalar work, shamanic techniques, and frequency support can work alongside veterinary and holistic care.
If you've ever wondered whether energy healing could help your dog or cat, this episode is for you.
Learn More About Melissa’s Work
Melissa Sherman is an Animal Communicator and Energy Healing Practitioner who supports animals and their families through a blend of intuitive communication, nervous system support, and holistic healing modalities.
Her work includes:
* Animal Communication
* Energy Healing Sessions
* EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique)
* Reiki, BioScalar Wave
* Frequency-based support
* Shamanic healing techniques
* End-of-life support
* Sensitive Dog and Sensitive Cat Programs designed to support both the animal and the guardian
Melissa believes healing is rarely one size fits all, which is why every session and support plan is personalized to the individual animal and family.
🌿 Website: Calming Creek
📧 Email: [email protected]
📱 Instagram: @calmingcreekhealing
If you’re curious whether one of these approaches might support your animal, Melissa would love to hear from you.
Timestamps
00:00 Meet Melissa: animal communicator and energy practitioner
02:00 What energy healing actually means
06:00 What happens during an energy session
10:00 What energy healing can support
17:30 Myths, misconceptions, and staying open to possibility
21:00 Stories that still blow Melissa’s mind
24:30 Where to begin if you’re curious about energy healing
Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional veterinary or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your veterinarian or a qualified professional regarding your animal’s health.
If you enjoyed this conversation, consider subscribing to The Whole Pack on Substack or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Follow The Whole Pack:
Instagram: @thewholepack_
Facebook: @thewholepack
YouTube: @thewholepack
Connect with the hosts:
Melissa Sherman – Calming Creek
Website: calmingcreek.com
Instagram: @calmingcreekhealing
Sunny Gandara – Nacho Average Dog Health Coach
Website: nachoaveragedoghealthcoach.com
Instagram: @nachoaveragedoghealthcoach

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thewholepack.substack.com
...more
29min
July 07, 2026 When Productivity Becomes Emotional Avoidance
Have you ever wondered if staying busy is actually keeping you from feeling what's underneath?
In this episode, Melissa and Sunny are joined by holistic cat therapist and author Julie-Anne Hart to explore productivity as emotional avoidance, emotional regulation, boundaries, grief, and the powerful lessons our cats can teach us about presence and rest.
Together, they discuss how busyness can become a coping mechanism, why emotions need to be felt instead of avoided, how animals reflect our emotional state, and practical ways to reconnect with ourselves without guilt.
00:00 Why productivity can become emotional avoidance
06:45 What our cats teach us about rest and presence
14:30 Boundaries, grief, and emotional regulation
24:15 The Feelings Wheel and reconnecting with emotions
34:00 Final reflections and practical takeaways
For additional resources, including Julie-Anne's recommendations, links to her work, and more, visit the full show notes on Substack.
Connect with Julie-Anne Hart
Naturally Cats
Website: naturallycats.co.uk
Instagram: @naturallycatsuk
Felines & Frequencies: @felinesandfrequencies
Julie-Anne is a holistic cat therapist, author, energy practitioner, and educator who helps cats and the people who love them through behavior support, emotional healing, animal communication, and frequency work.
Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional veterinary or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your veterinarian or a qualified professional regarding your animal’s health.
If you enjoyed this conversation, consider subscribing to The Whole Pack on Substack or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Follow The Whole Pack:
Instagram: @thewholepack_
Facebook: @thewholepack
YouTube: @thewholepack
Connect with the hosts:
Melissa Sherman – Calming Creek
Website: calmingcreek.com
Instagram: @calmingcreekhealing
Sunny Gandara – Nacho Average Dog Health Coach
Website: nachoaveragedoghealthcoach.com
Instagram: @nachoaveragedoghealthcoach

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thewholepack.substack.com
...more
55min
June 30, 2026 When Your Business Starts Consuming Your Personality
When does building your business start costing you... yourself?
In this episode, Melissa and Sunny explore the hidden emotional cost of personal branding, social media, and the pressure to constantly create content.
They discuss creator burnout, losing hobbies to hustle culture, protecting your nervous system, setting healthier boundaries with social media, and why your worth isn't determined by how often you post.
If you've ever felt guilty for taking a day off or struggled to separate your identity from your business, this conversation is for you.
For additional resources and links mentioned in this episode, visit the full show notes on Substack.
Timestamps
00:00 When Your Life Becomes Content
08:00 Losing Hobbies to Hustle Culture
15:00 Privacy, Presence & Nervous System Health
22:00 Creator Burnout & Content Pressure
28:00 You Don't Need to Be Everywhere
Resources Mentioned:
How to Do Nothing by Jenny Odell
Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon
Follow The Whole Pack
Instagram: @thewholepack_
Facebook: @thewholepack
YouTube: @thewholepack
Connect with the hosts:
Melissa Sherman – Calming Creek
Website: calmingcreek.com
Instagram: @calmingcreekhealing
Sunny Gandara – Nacho Average Dog Health Coach
Website: nachoaveragedoghealthcoach.com
Instagram: @nachoaveragedoghealthcoach
Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional veterinary or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your veterinarian or a qualified professional regarding your animal’s health.
If you enjoyed this conversation, consider subscribing to The Whole Pack on Substack or wherever you listen to podcasts.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thewholepack.substack.com
...more
38min
June 23, 2026 Where Pet Healthcare Is Headed: Trends, Tensions, and What We’re Missing
Are We Feeding Our Dogs All Wrong?
What if one of the most overlooked aspects of animal health isn't what we feed our animals, but how we feed them?
In this episode, Melissa and Sunny sit down with Carol Smeja, co-founder of Mine Pet Platter and a researcher with a background in nutrition, psychology, and eating behavior. Carol shares how observing her own dog led her to study feeding behavior in wolves and wildlife, ultimately challenging many common assumptions about feeding companion animals.
Together, they discuss digestion, stress, nutrient absorption, elevated feeders, convenience culture, veterinary industry trends, and the future of pet healthcare.
Carol also shares her vision for what she calls P³: a future built around predictive, preventative, and personalized care.
For additional resources, links, and Carol's special listener discount, visit the full show notes on Substack.
Timestamps
07:00 Feeding Behavior, Digestion, and Nutrient Absorption
15:00 Trends in Veterinary Medicine and Industry Changes
25:00 Prevention and Pet Parent Education
31:00 Feeding from the Animal's Perspective
40:00 Stress, Cortisol, and Meal Satisfaction
47:00 The Future of Pet Healthcare (P³)
51:00 One Thing Every Pet Parent Should Observe
Resources
Mine Pet Platter
https://minepetplatter.com
Use code THEWHOLEPACK for 10% off through July 10, 2026.
After July 10, be sure to check Mine Pet Platter’s website for any current promotions or offers.
If you enjoyed this conversation, consider subscribing to The Whole Pack on Substack or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Follow The Whole Pack:
Instagram: @thewholepack_
Facebook: @thewholepack
YouTube: @thewholepack
Connect with the hosts:
Melissa Sherman – Calming Creek
Website: calmingcreek.com
Instagram: @calmingcreekhealing
Sunny Gandara – Nacho Average Dog Health Coach
Website: nachoaveragedoghealthcoach.com
Instagram: @nachoaveragedoghealthcoach
Disclaimer:This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional veterinary or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your veterinarian or a qualified professional regarding your animal’s health.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thewholepack.substack.com
...more
58min
June 16, 2026 Email Marketing Without the Ick
Email marketing.
Just hearing those words can make some business owners want to run the other direction.
In this episode, Melissa and Sunny explore the fears, beliefs, and misconceptions many practitioners have around email marketing and why an email list may be one of the most valuable assets you can build.
They discuss permission-based marketing, lead magnets, welcome sequences, nurture emails, unsubscribes, and the difference between visibility and genuine connection. The conversation also explores how email can help practitioners create deeper relationships, reach more people, and build businesses that don't rely entirely on one-on-one client work.
If you've ever worried about being too salesy, annoying your audience, or wondering whether anyone actually wants your emails, this episode is for you.
For Sunny's recommended reading list and additional email marketing resources, visit the full show notes on our Substack.
If you'd like to connect with Sunny about email marketing strategy, list building, or nurture sequences, you can reach her at [email protected].
Timestamps
04:00 Permission Marketing and Owning Your Audience09:00 Reframing Email as an Invitation12:00 Lead Magnets and Growing Your List16:00 Welcome Sequences and Building Trust22:00 What Should You Actually Email People?30:00 Unsubscribes, Open Rates, and Getting Back on Track36:00 Creating a Sustainable Business Beyond 1:1 Sessions
Disclaimer:This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional veterinary or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your veterinarian or a qualified professional regarding your animal’s health.
If you enjoyed this conversation, consider subscribing to The Whole Pack on Substack or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Follow The Whole Pack:
Instagram: @thewholepack_
Facebook: @thewholepackY
ouTube: @thewholepack
Connect with the hosts:
Melissa Sherman – Calming Creek
Website: calmingcreek.com
Instagram: @calmingcreekhealing
Sunny Gandara – Nacho Average Dog Health Coach
Website: nachoaveragedoghealthcoach.com
Instagram: @nachoaveragedoghealthcoach

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thewholepack.substack.com
...more
43min
June 09, 2026 The Death of the Girlboss
The girlboss era promised women that we could have it all: successful careers, thriving businesses, perfect homes, meaningful relationships, and limitless ambition.
But somewhere along the way, many of us learned to equate exhaustion with success.
In this episode, Melissa and Sunny explore the rise of hustle culture, the pressure to constantly achieve, and the growing movement of women redefining success on their own terms. They discuss burnout, productivity, ambition, motherhood, entrepreneurship, pricing, boundaries, and the powerful question that changed Melissa's perspective entirely.
What does your ideal day actually look like?
This conversation is an invitation to step back from inherited definitions of success and create one that feels sustainable, meaningful, and aligned with your life.
For additional resources, including Melissa's "ideal day" exercise and Sunny's discussion of the Norwegian concept of friluftsliv, visit our Substack.
Timestamps:
09:00 Burnout as a System, Not a Personal Failure
13:00 Productivity vs. Success
16:00 The MLM Boom and the Promise of Having It All
21:00 What Do You Actually Want?
25:00 Melissa's Ideal Day Exercise
34:00 Pricing, Boundaries, and Sustainable Business
37:00 Friluftsliv: The Norwegian Philosophy of Open-Air Living
40:00 Giving Yourself Permission
Disclaimer:This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional veterinary or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your veterinarian or a qualified professional regarding your animal’s health.
If you enjoyed this conversation, consider subscribing to The Whole Pack on Substack or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Follow The Whole Pack:
Instagram: @thewholepack_
Facebook: @thewholepack
YouTube: @thewholepack
Connect with the hosts:
Melissa Sherman – Calming Creek
Website: calmingcreek.com
Instagram: @calmingcreekhealing
Sunny Gandara – Nacho Average Dog Health Coach
Website: nachoaveragedoghealthcoach.com
Instagram: @nachoaveragedoghealthcoach

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thewholepack.substack.com
...more
44min
June 02, 2026 When to Refer Out: Knowing When a Client or Case Is No Longer the Right Fit
In this episode of The Whole Pack, Melissa and Sunny explore one of the hardest parts of working in the holistic pet space: knowing when to refer out a case or let go of a client relationship that is no longer serving the animal.
They discuss intuition, compliance, burnout, boundaries, scarcity, difficult client dynamics, and how referrals can actually become a form of deeper support rather than failure.
This conversation also explores the importance of collaboration, building trusted referral networks, and staying grounded in integrity while navigating emotionally complex cases.
Timestamps:
01:55 Melissa’s First Referral Experience
04:50 Sunny’s Chronic Cat Case
09:28 Ignoring Intuition
11:20 Discovery Calls + Readiness
18:00 Referral Networks
22:00 Scarcity + Difficult Cases
26:00 Collaboration Between Practitioners
31:30 Referrals + Integrity
Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional veterinary or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your veterinarian or a qualified professional regarding your animal’s health.
If you enjoyed this conversation, consider subscribing to The Whole Pack on Substack or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Follow The Whole Pack:
Instagram: @thewholepack_
Facebook: @thewholepack
YouTube: @thewholepack
Connect with the hosts:
Melissa Sherman – Calming Creek
Website: calmingcreek.com
Instagram: @calmingcreekhealing
Sunny Gandara – Nacho Average Dog Health Coach
Website: nachoaveragedoghealthcoach.com
Instagram: @nachoaveragedoghealthcoach

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thewholepack.substack.com
...more
36min
May 26, 2026 The Comparison Trap: Social Media, Self-Doubt, and Losing Your Voice in Holistic Pet Care
In this episode of The Whole Pack, Melissa and Sunny explore how social media comparison impacts holistic pet professionals and animal care practitioners.
They discuss the pressure to keep up online, comparison and self-doubt, pricing anxiety, perfectionism, visibility, and how easy it is to lose your authentic voice while trying to follow trends or perform for the algorithm.
This conversation also explores how comparison affects confidence, creativity, and nervous system regulation, and how to create healthier boundaries with social media while still growing your business.
An honest discussion about staying grounded in your own work, trusting your voice, and building a business that feels aligned instead of performative.
Timestamps
00:34 The Comparison Trap03:40 Why It Gets Personal08:20 Comparison + Triggers09:45 Losing Your Voice11:25 Pricing Anxiety18:00 Auditing Your Feed24:00 Content Batching28:15 Returning to Your Why33:15 Final Thoughts
Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional veterinary or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your veterinarian or a qualified professional regarding your animal’s health.
If you enjoyed this conversation, consider subscribing to The Whole Pack on Substack or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Follow The Whole Pack:
Instagram: @thewholepack_
Facebook: @thewholepack
YouTube: @thewholepack
Connect with the hosts:
Melissa Sherman – Calming Creek
ebsite: calmingcreek.com
Instagram: @calmingcreekhealing
Sunny Gandara – Nacho Average Dog Health Coach
Website: nachoaveragedoghealthcoach.com
Instagram: @nachoaveragedoghealthcoach

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thewholepack.substack.com
...more
36min
May 19, 2026 What Happens When a Vet and Holistic Pet Coach Actually Work Together
In this special episode of The Whole Pack, Melissa and Sunny welcome their first guest, Dr. Michelle Rocque of Full Circle Veterinary Hospital.
Together, they explore what real collaboration between veterinarians and holistic pet professionals can look like, and why integrative care may be the future of pet wellness.
They discuss corporate veterinary medicine and burnout, nutrition and raw feeding, vaccine titers, communication in veterinary care, and how collaborative care can create better outcomes for animals and their people.
This is an honest, hopeful conversation about what happens when practitioners stop competing and start working together.
Timestamps:
00:33 Introducing Dr. Michelle Rocque03:03 Dr. Michelle’s Integrative Journey08:58 Corporate Vet Medicine17:00 Challenges in Veterinary Practice20:20 How the Collaboration Started27:16 Raw Feeding + Veterinary Resistance31:00 Nutrition in Vet School35:05 Why This Collaboration Matters
About Dr. Michelle Rocque
Dr. Michelle Rocque is the owner of Full Circle Veterinary Hospital in the Hudson Valley region of New York. Her practice integrates conventional veterinary medicine with holistic modalities including nutrition, herbal medicine, homeopathy, and nutraceutical support.
Website: fullcirclevethospital.com
Phone: 845-234-4417
Facebook: Full Circle Veterinary Hospital
Instagram: @full_circle_vet
Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional veterinary or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your veterinarian or a qualified professional regarding your animal’s health.
If you enjoyed this conversation, consider subscribing to The Whole Pack on Substack or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Follow The Whole Pack:
Instagram: @thewholepack_
Facebook: @thewholepack
YouTube: @thewholepack
Connect with the hosts:
Melissa Sherman – Calming Creek
Website: calmingcreek.com
Instagram: @calmingcreekhealing
Sunny Gandara – Nacho Average Dog Health Coach
Website: nachoaveragedoghealthcoach.com
Instagram: @nachoaveragedoghealthcoach

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thewholepack.substack.com
...more
41min
May 12, 2026 How to Start a Holistic Pet Business: Marketing, Niching, and Getting Your First Clients
In this episode of The Whole Pack, Melissa and Sunny talk about what it really looks like to start a holistic pet business when you have little or no business experience.
They explore:
> how to get your first clients
> why conversations matter more than perfect branding
> how to niche down without boxing yourself in
> visibility, perfectionism, and fear of being seen
> and why “done” is often better than perfect
This episode is filled with practical advice for holistic pet professionals, animal communicators, pet coaches, and wellness practitioners trying to turn their passion into a sustainable business.
Timestamps
00:05 Starting a Holistic Pet Business05:03 Conversations vs. Perfect Websites07:44 Sell It Before You Build It11:10 Talking About What You Do15:15 Niching Down20:27 Visibility + Fear24:20 Charging From Day One30:30 Action Over Perfection
Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional veterinary or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your veterinarian or a qualified professional regarding your animal’s health.
If you enjoyed this conversation, consider subscribing to The Whole Pack on Substack or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Follow The Whole Pack:
Instagram: @thewholepack_
Facebook: @thewholepack
YouTube: @thewholepack
Connect with the hosts:
Melissa Sherman – Calming Creek
Website: calmingcreek.com
Instagram: @calmingcreekhealing
Sunny Gandara – Nacho Average Dog Health Coach
Website: nachoaveragedoghealthcoach.com
Instagram: @nachoaveragedoghealthcoach

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thewholepack.substack.com
...more
42min

FAQs about The Whole Pack:

How many episodes does The Whole Pack have?

The podcast currently has 29 episodes available.