UNRULY BY NATURE: Exploring the Wisdom of Animals, Plants, and Our Connection to Nature

We'd LOVE to hear from you!

What if dogs were never meant to fit perfectly into our human playbook?

In this episode of Unruly By Nature, we explore what happens when we stop trying to control every outcome and start allowing life, nature, and our dogs to unfold more organically. 

Inspired by the energy of Beltane and the wild expansion of spring, this conversation dives into the tension between structure and freedom, instinct and expectation, and why so many humans feel exhausted trying to “raise the perfect dog.”

Inside this episode:

•  Why nature doesn’t need a playbook to thrive 
•  The pressure humans place on themselves to “get dogs right” 
•  How control creates stress in human-dog relationships 
•  The difference between guidance and over-management 
•  Why dogs love experimentation, chaos, and feedback 
•  How sensitive dogs push us toward deeper self-awareness 
•  The beauty of fun, curiosity, and being truly present with your dog 
•  Letting dogs express their instincts safely instead of suppressing them 

This episode is a reminder that life isn’t meant to be perfectly managed.

 It’s meant to be experienced.

Connection grows when we stop trying to strangle it with control and allow it to find it's own unique and thriving path.

Thanks for wandering the wild edges with us on Unruly By Nature.

 If you loved this conversation, share it with someone who’s ready to explore the deeper side of life with dogs.

Rachel Knott - Animal Communicator

Website: rachelknott.com

Instagram: @rachelknott1

Kim Howatt - Author and Imaginal Adventurer

Website: kimberlyhowatt.com

Substack: https://kimberlyhowatt.substack.com/

Sue Mimm - Life Explorer

Substack: https://suemimm.substack.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pawsreflectconnect

Until next time — stay curious, stay connected, stay unruly.

xoxo 

Kim, Sue, and Rachel

We'd LOVE to hear from you!

What should you really be feeding your dog?  That depends...

In this episode of Unruly By Nature, we answer a powerful listener question that opens the door to a much bigger conversation about dog nutrition, health, and the pressure to “get it right.” 

From raw feeding to home-cooked meals, picky eaters to “perfect diets,” we explore how feeding your dog often becomes less about food and more about fear, control, and hyper-responsibility.

Inside this episode:

•  Discussion into raw, cooked, and commercial dog food 
•  Why your dog might not be “picky”, just unheard 
•  How your own relationship with food might mirro your dog’s 
•  The pressure, guilt, and fear around feeding dogs “correctly” 
•  Why rigid feeding rules potentially create more stress 
•  How to trust your dog’s body and instincts 
•  The deeper connection between diet, health, and emotional wellbeing 
•  Why love and presence matter more than perfection 

This conversation goes beyond nutrition…
 It’s about learning to listen, letting go of control, and allowing the feedback your dog is already giving you to guide your decisions.

Because there is no perfect diet. There’s only what works. For you and your dog.

Thanks for wandering the wild edges with us on Unruly By Nature.

 If you loved this conversation, share it with someone who’s ready to explore the deeper side of life with dogs.

Rachel Knott - Animal Communicator

Website: rachelknott.com

Instagram: @rachelknott1

Kim Howatt - Author and Imaginal Adventurer

Website: kimberlyhowatt.com

Substack: https://kimberlyhowatt.substack.com/

Sue Mimm - Life Explorer

Substack: https://suemimm.substack.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pawsreflectconnect

Until next time — stay curious, stay connected, stay unruly.

xoxo 

Kim, Sue, and Rachel

We'd LOVE to hear from you!

What if nothing has gone “wrong” with your dog… or you?

In this episode of Unruly By Nature, we explore the deeper truth behind living with sensitive and reactive dogs, and how the pain points become powerful catalysts for our own growth. 

This conversation dives into what it really means to let go of control, release guilt, and step out of the exhausting cycle of self-blame that so many dog owners experience. 

From emotional real-life moments to shifting long-held beliefs about behavior, training, and responsibility, this episode is raw, honest, and deeply relatable.

Inside this episode:

•  Why sensitive dogs aren’t a problem and a powerful catalyst for change
•  The hidden weight of guilt, blame, and needing to “get it right” 
•  Replacing illusions of control with animal-led perspectives
•  How our dog reflects our emotional world 
•  Navigating reactive moments without spiraling into shame 
•  The truth about conflict (and how it’s actually a gift) 
•  Expanding beyond judgment into curiosity and awareness 
•  Living authentically (even when it looks unconventional)

This episode isn’t about fixing your dog.

 It is about transforming yourself, trusting your intuition, and building a relationship rooted in honesty and connection.

Life isn’t perfect… It’s messy and real.

Thanks for wandering the wild edges with us on Unruly By Nature.

 If you loved this conversation, share it with someone who’s ready to explore the deeper side of life with dogs.

Rachel Knott - Animal Communicator

Website: rachelknott.com

Instagram: @rachelknott1

Kim Howatt - Author and Imaginal Adventurer

Website: kimberlyhowatt.com

Substack: https://kimberlyhowatt.substack.com/

Sue Mimm - Life Explorer

Substack: https://suemimm.substack.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pawsreflectconnect

Until next time — stay curious, stay connected, stay unruly.

xoxo 

Kim, Sue, and Rachel

We'd LOVE to hear from you!

How did we actually get here? 

This is no April Fool, LoL

The origin story of Rachel, Kim, and Sue. How we working with dogs, behavior, communication, and everything in between.

In this episode of Unruly By Nature, we answer a listener question that turned into something much bigger: the real stories behind how each of us started working with dogs and the challenges that shaped how we ended up where we are today.

From corporate careers to rescue work… from “perfect dogs” to life-altering struggles… this conversation dives into the toughest moments, the sensitive moments. The moments that shifted our perspective, and ultimately led us away from fixing and into intuitive listening.

Most of us didn’t start here. We started frustrated, overwhelmed, and trying to get it “right.” We started trying to "fix" everything. And we realized our dogs are helping us understand more about life than we ever could have imagined.

Inside this episode:

• The unexpected paths that led us into working with dogs
• The dogs that changed everything (and nearly broke us)
• Why the “fix-it” mindset keeps you stuck
• How perspective shifts change your entire relationship
• The moment intuition starts to replace control

This is the episode for anyone who feels like they’ve tried all the textbook solutions. It is for the oned who know there’s something deeper waiting to be understood. It's for the curious.

Because your dog isn’t here to be fixed, they are here to walk through this life by your side. Carefree and connected.

xoxo

Rachel, Sue, and Kim

Thanks for wandering the wild edges with us on Unruly By Nature.

 If you loved this conversation, share it with someone who’s ready to explore the deeper side of life with dogs.

Rachel Knott - Animal Communicator

Website: rachelknott.com

Instagram: @rachelknott1

Kim Howatt - Author and Imaginal Adventurer

Website: kimberlyhowatt.com

Substack: https://kimberlyhowatt.substack.com/

Sue Mimm - Life Explorer

Substack: https://suemimm.substack.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pawsreflectconnect

Until next time — stay curious, stay connected, stay unruly.

xoxo 

Kim, Sue, and Rachel

We'd LOVE to hear from you!

Got daisies?

Spring brings more than warmer weather, it awakens curiosity, connection, and the wild rhythms that dogs naturally understand.

In this episode of Unruly By Nature, Kim, Rachel, and Sue explore the magic of the changing seasons and how spring invites us to slow down, observe, and reconnect with the natural world alongside our dogs.

From muddy adventures and the first wildflowers of the season to herbal wisdom, flower essences, and even “moon water,” the conversation wanders through the fascinating ways plants, animals, and natural energy influence our lives. The hosts also dive into intuitive animal communication, discussing why listening without forcing questions can reveal deeper insights about our dogs, ourselves, and the world around us.

Along the way, they explore:

• How seasonal changes affect both our and our dogs’ behavior and energy
• The joy of spring walks, wild plants, mud, and nature observation
• Dogs’ instinctive relationship with seasons, water, plants, and natural environments
• Experiments with flower essences, herbal infusions, and energetically structured water
• Why intuitive communication often works best when we listen first and allow the animal an opportunity to lead instead of asking questions
• The deeper wisdom animals and plants reveal when we slow down and pay attention

This episode is a reminder that nature is always speaking through the seasons, through our dogs, and through the small moments we often take for granted like the joy of playing in the mud or basking in the fresh textures and smells awakening in spring.

So grab your boots, head outside, and maybe stop to admire the daisies.

xoxo

Kim, Rachel, and Sue

Thanks for wandering the wild edges with us on Unruly By Nature.

 If you loved this conversation, share it with someone who’s ready to explore the deeper side of life with dogs.

Rachel Knott - Animal Communicator

Website: rachelknott.com

Instagram: @rachelknott1

Kim Howatt - Author and Imaginal Adventurer

Website: kimberlyhowatt.com

Substack: https://kimberlyhowatt.substack.com/

Sue Mimm - Life Explorer

Substack: https://suemimm.substack.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pawsreflectconnect

Until next time — stay curious, stay connected, stay unruly.

xoxo 

Kim, Sue, and Rachel

We'd LOVE to hear from you!

In this episode of Unruly By Nature, we explore intuition, nervous system regulation, and dog behavior through the lens of safety, control, and perception. What if the way we experience “safety” is shaped more by conditioning than by actual danger?

Sue, Kim, and Rachel unpack how attachment, expectation, and past experiences influence our reactions, both in ourselves and in our dogs.

Through real stories and reflections, we explore:

• How the nervous system responds to perceived vs. actual threat
• Why safety can be both biological and constructed
• The difference between intellectual insight and full-body knowing
• How animal communication shifts perception instantly
• The subtle ways our dogs respond to our internal state
• What happens when we stop trying to “figure it out”

From riding fast in a car to questioning long-held assumptions about control, this conversation invites curiosity over certainty.

Insight doesn’t always arrive as logic. Sometimes it arrives as a shift in your body or a ping of deep knowing, like you knew it all your life. And your dog may feel the shift before you even perceive it in yourself.

Thanks for wandering the wild edges with us on Unruly By Nature.

 If you loved this conversation, share it with someone who’s ready to explore the deeper side of life with dogs.

Rachel Knott - Animal Communicator

Website: rachelknott.com

Instagram: @rachelknott1

Kim Howatt - Author and Imaginal Adventurer

Website: kimberlyhowatt.com

Substack: https://kimberlyhowatt.substack.com/

Sue Mimm - Life Explorer

Substack: https://suemimm.substack.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pawsreflectconnect

Until next time — stay curious, stay connected, stay unruly.

xoxo 

Kim, Sue, and Rachel

We'd LOVE to hear from you!

Episode 12 is a deep, reflective conversation about what happens when humans truly listen to nature.

Inspired by Sue’s recent journey to South Africa, this episode explores how environment shapes behavior, how animals live in balance without overconsumption or fear, and what the wild reveals about resilience, perception, and belonging.

Through stories of wild animals, dogs, ecosystems, and lived experiences, the conversation challenges the human habit of control, judgment, and interference. From lions, leopards, and warthogs to wolves, dogs, plants, insects, scent, sound, and silence—this episode invites listeners to remember that nature doesn’t need fixing. It needs witnessing.

This episode is an invitation to step out of separation and disconnection.

We are not outside the ecosystem. We are part of it.

Topics include:

• How environment impacts humans, dogs, and animals
• Why animals aren’t anxious the way humans are
• Ecosystem intelligence and natural balance
• Resilience, injury, and perception
• What animals show us about fear, safety, and trust
• Why nature doesn’t rush—and neither should we

A grounding, perspective-shifting episode for anyone craving reconnection with life beyond the human lens.

Cheers!

Thanks for wandering the wild edges with us on Unruly By Nature.

 If you loved this conversation, share it with someone who’s ready to explore the deeper side of life with dogs.

Rachel Knott - Animal Communicator

Website: rachelknott.com

Instagram: @rachelknott1

Kim Howatt - Author and Imaginal Adventurer

Website: kimberlyhowatt.com

Substack: https://kimberlyhowatt.substack.com/

Sue Mimm - Life Explorer

Substack: https://suemimm.substack.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pawsreflectconnect

Until next time — stay curious, stay connected, stay unruly.

xoxo 

Kim, Sue, and Rachel

We'd LOVE to hear from you!

Here we go again! Happy Groundhog Day week!

The same lessons, the same cycles, and the same reminder that nothing here is broken.

Groundhogs are the ultimate symbol of cycles, repetition, and the opportunity to do things differently.

As we step into a numerology 1 year, marking the beginning of a brand-new cycle, we’re revisiting one of our earliest conversations on Unruly By Nature: Episode 4, the last episode before the podcast officially became a podcast.

This discussion feels just as relevant now as it did the first time around.

In this episode, Kim, Rachel, and Sue explore a deceptively simple question:

What is truly meaningful about working with dogs and their people?

From there, the conversation spirals (in the best way) into curiosity, connection, essential oils, embodiment, and the familiar human habit of trying to fix what we don’t yet understand. Through stories about Angelica root, lemon, fennel, animal behavior, and everyday moments with dogs, the trio reflects on how meaning reveals itself when we stop pushing against life and start listening.

This episode is a reminder that:

• Not everything uncomfortable needs fixing
• What irritates us often carries intense wisdom
• Curiosity opens doors control never will
• Growth happens in cycles and not straight lines

So if you’ve ever felt like you’re reliving the same lesson (with your dog, your work, or yourself), this Groundhog Day (week) rerun is your sign:

You’re not stuck. You’re cycling toward deeper understanding.

Thanks for wandering the wild edges with us on Unruly By Nature.

 If you loved this conversation, share it with someone who’s ready to explore the deeper side of life with dogs.

Rachel Knott - Animal Communicator

Website: rachelknott.com

Instagram: @rachelknott1

Kim Howatt - Author and Imaginal Adventurer

Website: kimberlyhowatt.com

Substack: https://kimberlyhowatt.substack.com/

Sue Mimm - Life Explorer

Substack: https://suemimm.substack.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pawsreflectconnect

Until next time — stay curious, stay connected, stay unruly.

xoxo 

Kim, Sue, and Rachel

We'd LOVE to hear from you!

In this episode of Unruly By Nature, Kim, Rachel, and Sue explore the subtle yet powerful ways words, nicknames, tone, and energy affect our dogs, our relationships, and ourselves.

Starting with the question of how dogs respond energetically to nicknames, the conversation expands into a deep exploration of empathy versus sympathy, nervous system regulation, embodiment, fear, and how meaning is created through experience.

Through personal stories involving dogs, dreams, illness, fireworks, and essential oils, the trio reflects on what happens when we stop trying to fix, override, or label experiences, and instead learn to listen, witness, and allow.

This episode invites listeners to become more aware of how intention, language, and presence shape emotional safety, healing, and connection for both humans and animals.

Thanks for wandering the wild edges with us on Unruly By Nature.

 If you loved this conversation, share it with someone who’s ready to explore the deeper side of life with dogs.

Rachel Knott - Animal Communicator

Website: rachelknott.com

Instagram: @rachelknott1

Kim Howatt - Author and Imaginal Adventurer

Website: kimberlyhowatt.com

Substack: https://kimberlyhowatt.substack.com/

Sue Mimm - Life Explorer

Substack: https://suemimm.substack.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pawsreflectconnect

Until next time — stay curious, stay connected, stay unruly.

xoxo 

Kim, Sue, and Rachel

We'd LOVE to hear from you!

In this episode of Unruly By Nature, Kim, Rachel, and Sue reflect on the teachers, mentors, animals, and experiences that shaped the way they work with dogs, people, plants, and life itself.

From pioneers like Caroline Ingraham, Carolyn Myss, Sarah Fisher, and Cathy Skipper, to the animals who challenged conformity and demanded curiosity, this conversation explores what it truly means to learn, evolve, and step into your own way of doing things.

The trio discusses courage in the face of pushback, blending science with intuition, honoring those who came before us, and releasing the need to conform to rigid systems. Woven throughout are reflections on rebellion, experimentation, mentorship, naming animals, essential oils, and trusting what resonates.

This episode is an invitation to honor your influences, question authority with compassion, and give yourself permission to follow the path that feels true — even when it’s unruly.

Thanks for wandering the wild edges with us on Unruly By Nature.

 If you loved this conversation, share it with someone who’s ready to explore the deeper side of life with dogs.

Rachel Knott - Animal Communicator

Website: rachelknott.com

Instagram: @rachelknott1

Kim Howatt - Author and Imaginal Adventurer

Website: kimberlyhowatt.com

Substack: https://kimberlyhowatt.substack.com/

Sue Mimm - Life Explorer

Substack: https://suemimm.substack.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pawsreflectconnect

Until next time — stay curious, stay connected, stay unruly.

xoxo 

Kim, Sue, and Rachel