Women PetPreneurs

Dean Koontz fans make a strong case for starting with his earlier work, where suspense, literary references, supernatural questions, and animals with real purpose collide. The discussion starts with Sacheen Mobley revisits Fear Nothing and Seize the Night, following Christopher Snow through Moonlight Bay, where missing children, corrupt officials, sentient animals, and a possible government experiment keep the truth just out of reach.DeniseHeroux tests whether Koontz still holds up decades after high school by reading the 2024 novel The Bad Weather Friend. She finds a lighter, supernatural story about a relentlessly unlucky man, a nonhuman guardian figure, and a mission to uncover who set his misfortune in motion.The conversation also returns to Watchers, a longtime favorite of Mary Oquendo centered on a remarkable golden retriever named Einstein, a troubled man, and a government-created threat known as the Other. Along the way, the discussion covers audiobook rereads, disappointing film adaptations, Koontz’s use of animals, and why his early books may offer the clearest view of his range as a writer.

In this episode of Women Petpreneurs Presents Book Club, Mary Oquendo talks with Dr. Sacheen Mobley about the everyday anxiety that can hide behind high achievement, entrepreneurship, and simply “working through” difficult moments.Dr. Mobley reads the introduction and first chapter of The Anxiety Solution, exploring anxiety triggers, physical and behavioral symptoms, harsh self-criticism, avoidance, and the difficulty of staying present. The discussion also focuses on the book’s workbook format, recognizing personal triggers, distinguishing anxiety from potential health concerns, and shifting from rumination toward realistic, achievable solutions.The episode offers a relatable introduction to understanding anxiety and explains where listeners can currently find the ebook on Gumroad.

In this episode of Women Petpreneurs Presents Book Club, Mary Oquendo, Denise Heroux, and Sacheen Mobley, review Ben Azadi’s Metabolic Freedom, a book recommended after Michelle Knowles reportedly lost 40 pounds and experienced significant health improvements. The discussion centers on intermittent fasting, keto, individual body chemistry, and the limits of one-size-fits-all diet advice. Mary Oquendo shares her early results with intermittent fasting, dropping eight pounds, while other perspectives in the conversation question whether fasting and keto can work safely for every body. The strongest criticism involves the book’s medical and scientific claims, particularly suggestions about diabetes, insulin resistance, and autoimmune conditions. The conversation ultimately emphasizes caution, qualified medical guidance, and remembering that a strategy that works for one person may create serious problems for someone else.

This week, Denise Heroux chose Cal Newport’s So Good They Can’t Ignore You to the discussion. She shares how the book’s focus on building skills, learning through small steps, and turning overwhelming tasks into new abilities reflects her own path in animal-focused work. The conversation takes a sharper turn as the book’s central argument gets challenged by Mary Oquendo and Sacheen Mobley. The discussion questions whether Newport’s examples truly support choosing skill over passion, especially when so many career stories begin with curiosity, circumstance, or a passion that develops along the way. It also raises a more pointed criticism: the book missed an opportunity to spotlight women who built remarkable careers in industries where they were never expected to belong.Along the way, the group imagines a different book, one centered on women who became impossible to ignore because of the skills they developed and the barriers they overcame. Denise also gets a recommendation for Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers as a stronger exploration of success and circumstance.

In this episode, Mary talks with Amanda McGrath, author of The Groomer’s Monthly Master Plan, an undated planner built specifically for grooming businesses. Amanda McGrath explains how the book brings monthly planning, social media, finances, inventory, time blocking, employee development, and equipment maintenance into one place.The conversation also covers the value of writing business details down, tracking subscriptions and expenses, scheduling staff meetings, recording employee wins, and keeping notes that make year-to-year review easier. Amanda McGrath shares where to buy the planner at both Amazon and her Etsy Shop-PineLaneConsulting, while Mary explains why she wishes she’d had a grooming-specific tool like this during her own grooming career.

Welcome to Healthy, Wealthy, And Wise! In today’s episode, hosts Denise Heroux and Mary Oquendo dive into the vital topic of pet first aid—why it matters, what real-life emergencies have taught them over more than 50 years of combined grooming experience, and why every pet professional needs hands-on training. From freak accidents to common grooming mishaps, our hosts share hard-earned lessons, tips for preparedness, and advice on protecting your business and clients through proper protocols and insurance. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just getting started, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom and essential information to help you keep pets safe and your business running smoothly. Let’s get started!

Welcome to another episode of Women Petpreneurs Presents Book Club! In today's lively and laughter-filled discussion, the group dives into Douglas Adams's iconic classic, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. The conversation focused on the book's quirky origin as a radio show, its evolution through different media; including a notoriously tricky video game and a campy movie adaptation, and why its absurd, whimsical style continues to build a community of dedicated fans. A key theme that emerged was how Adams satirizes bureaucracy, human behavior, and the search for meaning, with inside jokes like the answer "42" and the all-important towel acting as club passwords for those in the know. The discussion explored what makes the book both maddeningly ridiculous and irresistibly fun, why sometimes a silly read is a necessary break from the serious, and how sharing these cult classics forges unexpected connections. Whether you're a longtime fan or a newcomer who missed the bulldozer, this episode promises a lighthearted journey through one of sci-fi's most beloved, bewildering adventures. Don't forget your towel!

Welcome to another episode of Women Petpreneurs Presents Book Club! In this episode, Mary, Sacheen, and Denise dive into the world of cookbooks, celebrating their underrated status and sharing personal favorites and creative approaches to cooking. Whether you’re a seasoned chef, a kitchen newbie, or someone who usually relies on DoorDash, there’s something in this conversation for everyone. The hosts discuss everything from complex vegan soup recipes and handy kitchen gadgets to family cooking traditions, influencer-inspired cookbooks, and the joy of collecting recipes from magazines and old family binders. Tune in for a lively, relatable discussion about food, family, and finding inspiration in the kitchen!

Welcome to another inspiring episode of Women Petpreneurs Presents Book Club! In this live book reading, we’re joined by Cassandra Smith; known to many as The Unlimited Groomer, to explore her transformative new release, Blossom: An Anti-Compassion Fatigue Journal for Pet Professionals. Cassandra opens up about her personal journey from coaching and burnout to thriving as a pet groomer and thought leader. She details the realities of compassion fatigue, how her background in psychology influenced the journal, and why she designed this interactive tool specifically for the unique challenges faced by animal care professionals. You’ll also get behind-the-scenes insights into the process of writing, publishing, and formatting her groundbreaking 800-page journal, plus a special reading of her heartfelt poem, "I Am a Lighthouse." Whether you’re an avid journaler, an aspiring author, or someone seeking lasting resilience in the pet industry, you won’t want to miss this honest, actionable, and uplifting conversation.

Welcome to the first  episode of Book Club For Pet Groomers Live Reading! In this debut live book reading, Mary Oquendo sits down with Denise Heroux, an industry speaker and business owner, to launch her brand-new book, "Build it Right: The Professional Pet Grooming Business." Denise Heroux shares the journey behind creating this actionable workbook, designed not just for aspiring pet grooming business owners but for anyone looking to strengthen and reassess their business foundation. You’ll hear a candid reading from chapter one, where Denise Heroux confronts the myths versus real challenges of ownership, and reveals why understanding your motivation—your "why"—is essential to building lasting success. Plus, get details on where you can get your hands on the book and what’s coming up in future Book Club Live Reading episodes.