The Animal That Changed You

Latest Episodes:

Meet Jenny Franz: The New Cohost of The Animal That Changed You Jul 20, 2022

Show notes

Episode 50, you guys! And today's guest is truly a special one. Not only is she an incredibly remarkable woman, but she’s also going to be the new cohost of The Animal That Changed You season 2!

Meet Jenny Franz, founder and president of Better Together Dog Rescue in Massachusetts. She is funny AF, my pal, a badass mom, and obsessed with my Pitbull . You’re going to learn all about Jenny in this episode - how she got into rescuing dogs, what her relationship is like with other animals, and how motherhood fits into her purpose, a theme which will remain close to our hearts as we head into season 2. From allowing children to find their own passions, to listening to and following children’s instincts, from Texas transports to the varying nature of animal welfare, this conversation made me drop in all the way.

So tune in, meet your new cohost, and let's do what we’ve always done best - celebrate the animals that change us.
Join The Animal That Changed You community on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook -- we're waiting to welcome you! Feel free to check out the website while you're at it.
Please leave a rating or review of the show. Your support matters so much!
Feel free to call ‪(415) 787-3159 to leave a short story about the animal who changed you - we might play yours on our next episode!
Woof, meow, oink, moo, cheep (of course you know that means thanks for listening.)

Produced by Adode Media; a full-service podcast production agency.

How Awareness Helps in the Fight for Animal Equality with Sharon Nuñez Jul 13, 2022

Show notes

Sharon Nuñez is the co-founder and president of Animal Equality - an international organization working with governments, companies, and society at large to end cruelty to animals.

She joins the show today to have an incredibly important conversation about animal rights, about animal equality in the truest sense of those words, about what it means to be alive. Sharon shares a behind-the-scenes look into what it takes to work for her nonprofit, and talks about the experiences that undercover investigators go through, how they carry on after witnessing first-hand the many atrocities farmed animals each day of their lives. We discuss the power of shifting mindsets and why self-care is so incredibly important when it comes to fighting for animals. Last but not least, Sharon tells us how we can make a difference and why being aware is an act of resistance in and of itself.

I hope you listen to this episode with an open mind and open heart. I hope you take in what Sharon shares and consider supporting Animal Equality's tremendous mission. I hope you join in the fight so that every living being gets the chance they deserve to be free.
Join The Animal That Changed You community on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook -- we're waiting to welcome you! Feel free to check out the website while you're at it.
Please leave a rating or review of the show. Your support matters so much!
Feel free to call ‪(415) 787-3159 to leave a short story about the animal who changed you - we might play yours on our next episode!
Woof, meow, oink, moo, cheep (of course you know that means thanks for listening.)

Produced by Adode Media; a full-service podcast production agency.

How to Support and Nurture a Foster Dog (with me, a serial Foster Mom) Jul 06, 2022

Show notes

Fostering a dog is one of the most rewarding and magical experiences available. All we have to do is open our hearts and our homes. When you say yes to a foster dog, not only will you see the positive impact you make in their life, but you will also learn so much about yourself. About what you're capable of. About how good giving feels. You too will change and bloom.

In today’s episode, I talk you through the process of bringing home a shelter dog and how you can support and nurture him or her while they are in your care. Then I move into sharing my favorite tips, the practical advice you need to know before you bring that rescue pup into your actual house. A mindset of patience is important as there may be challenges. But by establishing a routine and giving your foster dog downtime so they can self-soothe, by setting them up to succeed and allowing them to decompress, the feedback loop will begin to build. That feedback loop created between you and your foster dog is the most sacred part of the exchange. You hear each other. You communicate. You bond. You trust the dog and the dog trusts you. And you trust you more too because of it. You feel stronger, healing parts of yourself you didn't even know needed love.

Fostering dogs has elevated my life. It's part of our family culture. Having them around is a daily practice that brings me closer to the More Than Me out there, and I don't want you to miss out on that ride. If you’ve ever thought about taking in a dog in need then this episode is for you. So you’re prepared. So you're supported. So it's fun! So you know you're not alone. Animal shelters everywhere are full. Wonderful dogs hope beyond bars. Fostering is worth it, the animals are worth it, the community you become part of is worth it, you're worth it. There is great friendship waiting for you.
Join The Animal That Changed You community on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook -- we're waiting to welcome you! Feel free to check out the website while you're at it.
Please leave a rating or review of the show. Your support matters so much!
Feel free to call ‪(415) 787-3159 to leave a short story about the animal who changed you - we might play yours on our next episode!
Woof, meow, oink, moo, cheep (of course you know that means thanks for listening.)

Produced by Adode Media; a full-service podcast production agency.

Showing Kindness and Compassion for Animals and People with the Vegan Godfather Prabhat Gautam Jun 29, 2022

Show notes

I’m so excited to be joined by one of the most dedicated animal rights advocates I know, Prabhat Gautam. Prabhat is the founder of the Animal Advocacy Museum, he’s organized and coordinated hundreds of vegan and animal welfare events, and he’s also earned the nickname of "Vegan Godfather!"

In today’s episode, Prabhat shares his wisdom on the importance of radical, rigorous kindness and how it's based on the abandonment of judgment. We discuss some of the anger that animal activists might hold, and explore the importance of forgiveness and honoring healthy detachment as a way of life. I even tell Prabhat about my experience making amends through action, which was not easy but definitely necessary. Hearing his take on the overlap between passion and trauma is something I will continue to unpack, as Prabhat breaks down the tendency towards all-consuming beliefs while reminding me that the best thing we can do as people is to show compassion and be present with those who need us at any given moment. Whether we agree with them or not. And he does all of this while also making me laugh.

This is an episode that will inspire you to practice kindness not just for animals, but for yourself and those around you. Not just in what you do, but in how you think and how you are.
Join The Animal That Changed You community on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook -- we're waiting to welcome you! Feel free to check out the website while you're at it.
Please leave a rating or review of the show. Your support matters so much!
Feel free to call ‪(415) 787-3159 to leave a short story about the animal who changed you - we might play yours on our next episode!
Woof, meow, oink, moo, cheep (of course you know that means thanks for listening.)

Produced by Adode Media; a full-service podcast production agency.

Addiction, Depression, and How Animals Saved Us with Chris Dale Jun 22, 2022

Show notes

Okay, I won’t lie, this episode may be a tad … heavy. But it’s important, and there’s still some levity too, I promise!

Today’s talk with fellow writer and my dear friend, Chris Dale, is an exercise in honesty and recovery. We don’t hold back as we both revisit some of the most difficult times in our lives. From struggling with addictions to how we found healing, Chris and I reflect on our ongoing journeys and more importantly, how our rescues dogs played an integral role in finding wellness. Chris’s stories about his senior dog, Vector, and how Vector helped him rebuild his self-esteem and self-worth are so heartwarming and beautiful. And even hearing him share his fear over losing Vector one day, just as I feared the loss of my sweet Ophelia, brings about a conversation of deep meaning as we discuss the interwoven relationship between our recovery and our beloveds.

Tune into this raw and vulnerable episode and hear evidence of how animals are uniquely poised with a remarkable ability to save us from ourselves.

**TW: This episode mentions alcoholism, addiction, suicide ideation, and eating disorders.

Join The Animal That Changed You community on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook -- we're waiting to welcome you! Feel free to check out the website while you're at it.
Please leave a rating or review of the show. Your support matters so much!
Feel free to call ‪(415) 787-3159 to leave a short story about the animal who changed you - we might play yours on our next episode!
Woof, meow, oink, moo, cheep (of course you know that means thanks for listening.)

Produced by Adode Media; a full-service podcast production agency.

Celebrating Pets Everyday with Beth Bellanti Jun 15, 2022

Show notes

Welcome back to another episode of The Animal That Changed You! I am so excited to have a chance to chat with my good friend Beth Bellanti. She is, simply put, a beautiful soul.

You might wonder what Tito's Handmade Vodka has to do with pets. It might sound like kinda a stretch, but it's not. Beth works with Tito’s Handmade Vodka because the heart of the company is a bunch of dog lovers who work hard and do good. Today we chat about how Tito got into his business, about the power of their partnerships throughout the city of Austin and beyond, and about the unbreakable bond animal lovers have for those they rescue. Hearing Beth trace her lifelong love for pets back to childhood, hearing how her passion has grown into much more than she could have imagined, hearing how a corporate company invokes compassion and service, well...it just makes me want to be better person. It makes me hope the very systems that might look away can learn to lean in.

Thanks for listening to this great conversation focused on taking big action, loving animals hard, and maybe toasting yourself with a little drink (nonalcoholic or vodka-based!) at the end of the day.
Join The Animal That Changed You community on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook -- we're waiting to welcome you! Feel free to check out the website while you're at it.
Please leave a rating or review of the show. Your support matters so much!
Feel free to call ‪(415) 787-3159 to leave a short story about the animal who changed you - we might play yours on our next episode!
Woof, meow, oink, moo, cheep (of course you know that means thanks for listening.)

Produced by Adode Media; a full-service podcast production agency.

Come Spend a Day with Me at the Austin Animal Center Jun 08, 2022

Show notes

Hello friendas and friendos! Today I'm taking you on a field trip to the Austin Animal Center where I am lucky enough to volunteer. We’re peeling back the curtain on what it’s like to walk among all those kennels of homeless pets. Maybe you've never been to a shelter before, maybe you have adopted your dog from one but have never been back. Maybe the thought of going scares you or makes you cry. But I'm still bringing the shelter to you because volunteering is all about truth and beauty, and yes some pain, but more than anything, it's about hope.
As I take you behind the scenes, walk around the shelter campus, meet and interact with the shelter dogs and the badass, wonderful people who work there and volunteer there, I'll be chatting with you about the importance of caring for animals. Because it's never just about animals. It touches every person who that animal ever has or will ever love. It's about community.
If you’re an animal lover who has thought about volunteering at the shelter, this episode is for you. I hope you will join me there someday! And if you're already volunteering, dedicating your weekends, making the animals more adoptable by your very presence, I bow down to you. Simply put, you make the world a better place, not for glory, but for meaning. Your good energy is a lifeline, animal shelter volunteers and staff. You are so fun. You are my favorite peeps. You are heroes.
Join The Animal That Changed You community on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook -- we're waiting to welcome you! Feel free to check out the website while you're at it.
Please leave a rating or review of the show. Your support matters so much!
Feel free to call ‪(415) 787-3159 to leave a short story about the animal who changed you - we might play yours on our next episode!
Woof, meow, oink, moo, cheep (of course you know that means thanks for listening.)

Produced by Adode Media; a full-service podcast production agency.

Finding Inspiration and Creativity in Our Relationship with Animals with Author Steven Rowley Jun 01, 2022

Show notes

You guys know that my two heartbeats are animals and writing. So I'm super excited about today's conversation with none other than author Steven Rowley! This episode explores the overlap between animals and writing, particularly as it pertains to Steven’s incredible work. He shares about his career journey, offers advice for any authors out there who might feel impatient with the process, and provides a hefty does of inspiration by being his witty self.
Steven and I also discuss what makes pets the greatest teachers, and it's an honor to hear about the incredible relationship he had with the dog who inspired him to write Lily and the Octopus. Through his passion for animals and by understanding the unique relationship between humans and their pets, Steven delves into what it really means to surrender fully to love, as well as to loss after a pet's time comes.

This is a great episode for animal lovers and creatives alike. So tune in and get ready to put your pen to paper. Perhaps (hopefully!) you will write your own story too.
Join The Animal That Changed You community on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook -- we're waiting to welcome you! Feel free to check out the website while you're at it.
Please leave a rating or review of the show. Your support matters so much!
Feel free to call ‪(415) 787-3159 to leave a short story about the animal who changed you - we might play yours on our next episode!
Woof, meow, oink, moo, cheep (of course you know that means thanks for listening.)

Produced by Adode Media; a full-service podcast production agency.

A Behind the Scenes Look at Dog Rescue Culture with Nicole Patrick May 25, 2022

Show notes

Nicole Patrick is a successful actress, a singer-songwriter, and an animal activist. She is also the founder of Chic Chien Chateau, a boutique non-profit, foster-based pet rescue located in NY and CT . She joins us today to share about her upbringing steeped in the arts and how it lead to loving animals. Hearing her describe how she awakened to the reality of pet stores, puppy mills, and backyard breeders is a story you won't want to miss. And then there was her life-changing experience working with animals in Africa that left her more determined than ever to make a positive impact on all living beings.
Nicole is passionate not only about saving animals but also about streamlining the adoption process. She shares some much-needed, brilliant ideas with us about how to potentially go about it, while giving us a peek into what it takes to run a rescue, with it's highs (helping people adopt!) and it's lows ( when rescuers get cliquey.)

This is an especially fun episode for dog lovers who are artists! Tune in to hear Nicole talk about how those worlds collide into something quite special.

Join The Animal That Changed You community on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook -- we're waiting to welcome you! Feel free to check out the websitewhile you're at it.
Please leave a rating or review of the show. Your support matters so much!
Feel free to call ‪(415) 787-3159 to leave a short story about the animal who changed you - we might play yours on our next episode!
Woof, meow, oink, moo, cheep (of course you know that means thanks for listening.)

Produced by Adode Media; a full-service podcast production agency.

How to Prevent Cruelty and Suffering for Community Cats with Sterling TrapKing Davis May 18, 2022

Show notes

The founder of TrapKing Humane, an animal welfare non-profit organization helping community cats, is here with us today. Sterling "TrapKing" Davis is a truly impressive, authentic, and beautiful person who left his career in music to follow his heart and help animals.

In this episode, Sterling shares his important work with us along with the touching story of the animal who changed him. From what TNR is to why education and inclusion is vital in animal welfare, Sterling gives us a glimpse into his commitment for cats, which involves his travel-packed van life. He breaks down why it’s so important to pursue what fulfills you, why humane solutions are necessary when it comes to vulnerable creatures, and how the biggest enemy people in animal welfare face is often each other.

This is an eye-opening episode that will encourage you to follow your passions and inspire you to prevent suffering for community cats. It'll make you want to take action. It'll make you want to live by Sterling's motto of high-five's and hugs.

Join The Animal That Changed You community on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook -- we're waiting to welcome you! Feel free to check out the websitewhile you're at it.
Please leave a rating or review of the show. Your support matters so much!
Feel free to call ‪(415) 787-3159 to leave a short story about the animal who changed you - we might play yours on our next episode!
Woof, meow, oink, moo, cheep (of course you know that means thanks for listening.)

Produced by Adode Media; a full-service podcast production agency.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

The Animal That Changed You

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected