The Whole Pack

In the first episode of The Whole Pack podcast, holistic pet health practitioners Sunny Gandara and Melissa Sherman introduce their judgment-free space for challenging black-and-white thinking in pet care and supporting a truly integrative approach that can include western medicine when needed.

They share how polarization and confusion in the holistic pet health world inspired them to create a community focused on the individual animal rather than rigid “right vs. wrong” protocols.

Sunny recounts her 20-year career as a chef and how losing her dog Nacho to hemangiosarcoma led her into canine nutrition, TCVM, herbalism, and developing her concert of “parallel nutrition” for humans and dogs.

Melissa describes leaving a 20-year financial services career, finding Reiki for anxiety, and being shaped by experiences with her cat Jolie and dog Denny that expanded her work into nutrition, homeopathy, animal communication, and energy modalities.

They preview episode two on bio-individuality and why cookie-cutter protocols can harm, and close with an educational disclaimer to consult veterinarians.

00:00 Welcome to Whole Pack

00:42 Why This Podcast Exists

02:23 Sunny’s Chef Roots

03:43 Nacho’s Wake Up Call

04:53 Training and Parallel Nutrition

06:46 From Overwhelm to Results

08:10 What Keeps Sunny Going

10:03 Melissa’s Wall Street Past

11:15 Reiki and Energy Work

12:58 Jolie and Denny Lessons

15:56 Leaping Into Full Time

18:37 What’s Next

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

Sunny Gandara and Melissa Sherman introduce The Whole Pack, a new podcast launching March 17, created as a judgment-free space for holistic pet and animal professionals to have open, respectful conversations that move beyond black-and-white thinking.

They discuss how competition, scarcity mindset, and social media fanatics can lead to bullying and ego-driven conflict that ultimately harms the animals they aim to help. Emphasizing mind-body-spirit foundations, they invite diverse viewpoints, including disagreement, and highlight that different protocols can help different animals with the same diagnosis.

The hosts also underscore collaboration, finding your voice, and supporting quieter practitioners so the community can share resources, experiences, and success stories. Listeners are encouraged to follow on Instagram and Facebook, subscribe wherever they get podcasts, and suggest future topics.

00:00 Welcome to The Whole Pack

00:40 Podcast Launch and Mission

01:03 Why Nuance Matters

03:30 Scarcity and Bullying Culture

04:16 Back to Holistic Basics

05:25 Finding Your Voice Together

07:16 Collaboration and Community

08:24 Launch Date and How to Join

08:52 Final Thanks and Share