This week on Best Bets for Pets, Michelle Fern sits down with the one and only Brooke Shields! The iconic actress, model, and lifelong animal advocate shares her deeply personal journey into pet wellness and her new partnership with Prospect Pet—a brand dedicated to clean, transparent, and conscious pet care. After her beloved dog Pepper fell ill, Brooke was inspired to take action, asking why it was so hard to find high-quality, healthy products for pets. That question led her to Prospect Pet, ...
Jul 18, 2025•21 min
This week on Best Bets for Pets, Michelle Fern chats with David Mann, founder of Haikubox — the innovative backyard bird listening device that’s revolutionizing birdwatching and conservation. From his childhood birding adventures in Cornell’s Sapsucker Woods to earning a PhD in bioacoustics from MIT and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, David’s lifelong passion for birds has taken flight with Haikubox. Developed with longtime colleague Dr. Holger Klinck at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Hai...
Jul 15, 2025•24 min
This week on Best Bets for Pets, host Michelle Fern welcomes Scott Grillo, National Sales Manager for FurZapper – the wildly popular, reusable pet hair remover that's winning over pet parents worldwide. With over 55,000 glowing reviews on Amazon, FurZapper is making waves for its simple yet effective solution to a hairy problem—removing pet hair from clothes, bedding, and laundry without hassle. Tune in as Scott shares why this little yellow gadget has become a grooming game-changer and laundry ...
Jun 27, 2025•23 min
This week on Best Bets for Pets, host Michelle Fern welcomes a very special guest—her producer and fellow pet expert, Mark Winter! In this sizzling Summer 2025 episode, Michelle and Mark share essential tips for keeping your dogs and cats safe, healthy, and happy during the hot months ahead. From heatwave hazards to hydration musts, they cover everything pet parents need to know to beat the heat and enjoy a safe, sun-filled season with their furry friends. EPISODE NOTES: Hot Pets, Cool Tips: Sum...
Jun 09, 2025•28 min
This week on Best Bets for Pets, Michelle Fern chats with Lindsey Campbell, co-founder of TEEF for Life, about their latest innovation in pet dental health: TEEF’s brand-new Lickable Treat Powder! Available in mouthwatering freeze-dried wild-caught salmon or beef liver, this guilt-free protein powder turns any meal, treat, or lick pad into a powerful tool for better oral hygiene. While pets think it’s just a delicious snack, pet parents will love knowing each sprinkle delivers TEEF’s patented Pr...
May 22, 2025•22 min
This week on Best Bets for Pets, Michelle Fern chats with Debra Mastic, devoted dog mom and inventor of the Fluff Trough—an innovative, ergonomic elevated pet feeder designed to make mealtime healthier and more comfortable for pets of all shapes and sizes. Debra shares the heartfelt story behind FluffTrough.com, born from her mission to help her own pug eat safely, and how her research revealed that how you feed your pet matters just as much as what you feed them. From flat-faced and elderly pet...
May 08, 2025•22 min
This week on Best Bets for Pets, Michelle Fern welcomes Kevin Bauer, founder of Furvor Pet, a brand devoted to elevating pet wellness through premium, natural bone broth products. Inspired by a family passionate about the health and vitality of active dogs, Furvor’s bone broth topper is crafted to support mobility, skin and coat health, gut health, hydration, and energy — delivering optimal nutrition even when solid foods aren’t ideal. Tune in to learn how adding a simple, delicious boost like F...
Apr 29, 2025•33 min
This week on Best Bets for Pets, host Michelle Fern chats with Dr. Evan Zhao, Co-Founder of Pacagen, the revolutionary biotech brand helping cat lovers breathe easier—literally! After his wife’s severe cat allergies nearly derailed their adoption of British Shorthair Miaomiao, Dr. Zhao used science to solve the problem, creating Pacagen’s Cat Allergen Neutralizing Spray. Now, their new Cat Food Topper delivers 98% effectiveness in reducing allergens. Learn how innovation, love, and a little biot...
Apr 11, 2025•30 min
This week on Best Bets for Pets, host Michelle Fern welcomes Nick Hayhoe, Co-founder of Heel, to introduce an exciting innovation in pet technology—the world’s first virtual dog leash! In this episode, you’ll discover: • What exactly is a virtual leash, and how does it work? • How Heel is revolutionizing dog walking safety & control • The technology behind this game-changing pet innovation • Who this product is best suited for & how it benefits pet parents If you're a tech-savvy pet owne...
Mar 17, 2025•28 min
This week on Best Bets for Pets, Michelle Fern chats with Rob Downey, President of Annamaet Petfoods, a family-owned company dedicated to providing top-quality nutrition for dogs and cats for over 35 years. Annamaet’s formulas are backed by decades of research in pet nutrition and are crafted with premium, sustainable ingredients to support pet health while protecting the environment. With a commitment to quality, Annamaet ensures all ingredients meet human-grade standards, and their eco-friendl...
Feb 27, 2025•37 min
This week on Best Bets for Pets, Michelle Fern chats with Ryan Fong, creator of Super Feedy, the innovative 4-in-1 slow feeder revolutionizing mealtime for dogs! Frustrated by the lack of effective slow feeders that also offered mental stimulation, durability, and versatility, Ryan designed Super Feedy to combine a slow feeder, reversible lick mat, food prep bowl, and travel dog bowl—all in one. With an anti-skid suction base, vet-approved design, and eco-friendly, non-toxic materials, this feed...
Feb 19, 2025•22 min
On this episode of Best Bets for Pets, Michelle Fern chats with Matt Terrill, Co-founder & CEO of ChefPaw, the world’s first pet food maker of its kind! With fresh dog food subscriptions costing a fortune, ChefPaw offers an innovative solution—allowing pet parents to cook nutritious, homemade meals for their dogs in just 40 minutes, saving time and money. Featuring a built-in scale, self-cleaning mode, and a smart app with 35+ vet-approved recipes, ChefPaw makes fresh feeding easier than eve...
Feb 07, 2025•34 min
On this episode of Best Bets for Pets, Michelle Fern welcomes Kirsten Brand, creator of PAWNIX, the innovative noise-canceling headphones designed specifically for dogs—featured on Shark Tank! Inspired by top human noise-canceling technology, PAWNIX helps reduce anxiety caused by fireworks, thunderstorms, and other loud noises by lowering sound levels up to 30 decibels. Kirsten shares how her muse, Emma, and other dogs have benefited from this groundbreaking solution, allowing pets to stay calm ...
Jan 22, 2025•29 min
This week on Best Bets for Pets, host Michelle Fern welcomes Mike Leon, President and inventor of the innovative Bike Tow Leash. Discover how this American Pet Association-approved biking attachment transforms the way you ride with your dog, keeping both of you safe and happy. Engineered with a durable, pre-assembled design, the Bike Tow Leash prevents tipping, tangling, and steering issues while encouraging proper leash behavior. Perfect for preventing boredom and under-stimulation, the Bike To...
Jan 07, 2025•31 min
This week on Best Bets for Pets, Michelle Fern chats with Dr. Allan Coopersmith, the founder of ChewMate! Discover the award-winning TreatBrush, a genius pet toothbrush cleverly disguised as a toy that brushes and flosses your pet's teeth while they play! Perfect for both dogs and cats, the TreatBrush even has a spot to add your pet's favorite treat for extra motivation. With a focus on dental health for a healthier heart and planet, ChewMate uses all-natural materials and eco-friendly packaging...
Dec 19, 2024•32 min
This week on Best Bets for Pets, Michelle Fern welcomes Dr. Michelle B. Slater, the author of the touching and transformative book Soulmate Dog. In this heartfelt memoir, Dr. Slater shares the incredible bond she had with her German Shepherd, Brady. Soulmate Dog explores the deep love and inevitable loss that comes with such relationships, delving into the unspoken, even telepathic, language that can exist between humans and their animal companions. When Brady faced a life-threatening illness at...
Dec 08, 2024•33 min
On this festive episode of Best Bets for Pets, Michelle Fern and Cheryl Kaye (from Unleashed on Pet Life Radio) and bring the holiday cheer to your pet gift-giving plans! Michelle and Cheryl dive into the world of pet presents, sharing their top picks for gifts that are sure to make your fur babies' holidays memorable. From high-tech toys and interactive feeders to cozy beds and the latest in pet fashion, they cover a range of creative ideas for every type of pet personality. Listen in as they s...
Nov 12, 2024•26 min
This week Michelle Fern is joined by Dexter Blanch, the inventor of the Hydro Leash, which allows you to keep your dog hydrated while they are being walked. The Hydro Leash features a unique design where a mouthpiece and stem sit on their side and when your dog needs a drink, they can get one themselves! EPISODE NOTES: The Hydro Leash Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/best-bets-for-pets-the-latest-pet-product-trends-pets-animals-pet-life-radio-original--6667904...
Nov 06, 2024•26 min
Michelle Fern welcomes Dr. Kwane Stewart, chief veterinary officer for Kismet pet food. Created by John Legend and Chrissy Teigen, Kismet an extraordinary pet lifestyle brand. Food is such an important part of their lives, and as such, was a no brainer when it came to their fur babies. All products are formulated by a team of board certified veterinary nutritionists and expert formulators to develop a high quality food for dogs that's as nutritious as fresh – but more convenient and accessibly p...
Oct 24, 2024•30 min
This week Michelle Fern welcomes Ashley Hejlik and Lee Kaufman, Co-Founders of SoyKitty. Cat owners who demand an odor-free household without hurting the planet choose SoyKitty; a nontoxic, sustainable cat litter made of plant byproducts. Peace of mind for a fresher home and a healthier planet. SoyKitty litter uses simple ingredients made by Mother Nature: soybeans, guar gum, and cornstarch. It's all-natural, renewable, and sustainable. It's completely free of toxins, or harmful additives, offer...
Oct 09, 2024•30 min
This week Michelle Fern is joined by Vanessa Woods, co-author of Puppy Kindergarten: The New Science of Raising a Great Dog. Written with Brian Hare, Puppy Kindergarten is the first book about raising puppies to be written by evolutionary scientists - moreover, Duke University’s Puppy Kindergarten is the first large-scale study tracking puppy development since 1950. This husband-and-wife team, along with a retired service dog named Congo, have meticulously observed and documented the growth of o...
Sep 25, 2024•39 min
This week Michelle Fern chats with Dr. Andria Beal the founder of EpiPaws Pet Age Test that helps pet owners find peace of mind by discovering their pet's age with an easy at-home epigenetic (DNA) test. Customers simply obtain a kit online or through a retailer, do an easy mouth swab on their pet, and send in the sample for analysis. Results are provided online and are downloadable, and include an age estimation, suggested birthday, life stage designation, and health insights catered to the life...
Sep 13, 2024•28 min
This week Michelle Fern highlights a new card game for training your dog! Discover the joy of training your dog with Bruno’s Pawsitive Dog Coaching Cards. This engaging card game set, inspired by our smart and adorable Bruno, includes Basic Commands, Advanced Commands, Fun Tricks, and Action Cards, offering a dynamic training experience. It's a perfect activity for family, friends, and your furry companion, enhancing bonding while teaching essential skills. Then Michelle welcomes Julianna Carell...
Aug 01, 2024•29 min
Michelle Fern chats with Cheryl Kaye, host of Unleashed on Pet Life Radio about keeping your pets safe and cool for the summer! From traveling with your pets to just going outside during the hottest months of the year, you won’t want to miss helpful hints for your pets. EPISODE NOTES: What’s in Store for Summer? Hot Tips to Keep Your Pets Cool! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/best-bets-for-pets-the-latest-pet-product-trends-pets-animals-pet-life-radio-origina...
Jul 24, 2024•27 min
This week Michelle Fern is joined by Dr. Amy Attas - pet expert and founder of City Pets, and author of the new book, Pets and the City: True Tales of a Manhattan House Call Veterinarian. Drawing from her extensive career spanning over three decades as a house call veterinarian in New York City, Dr. Attas takes readers from Park Avenue to the city projects, sharing the shocking, sometimes heartbreaking, often funny, life-affirming experiences she has faced through her storied career, treating th...
Jul 10, 2024•37 min
Michelle Fern welcomes Rachel Markowitz, Marketing Manager at Brightkins this week to chat about Brightkins products including the new Brightkins Tough & Tumble durable treat dispenser line. Brightkins offers a range of playful training activity kits, enrichment tools, and interactive treat puzzles designed to keep your furry friends engaged and entertained. EPISODE NOTES: Brightkins – Bright Ways for Pets to Play! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/best-bet...
Jun 18, 2024•19 min
Michelle Fern welcomes Bill Wasik and Monica Murphy, authors of OUR KINDRED CREATURES: How Americans Came to Feel the Way They Do About Animals. This fascinating work of nonfiction dives into the three decades after the Civil War when the attitude of the American public towards animals radically changed. OUR KINDRED CREATURES makes a case for seeing the fight over animal cruelty as a crucial thread in America's history. Readers are introduced to the activists, scientists, and moguls who helped c...
May 30, 2024•30 min
Wouldn’t it be great to be able to create a genuine connection between people and pets through the power of DNA? Well, Dave Latorra and Stephanie Ford of DNA is Love figured out a way to do that! Michelle Fern chats with the co-founders about their desire is to offer DNA is love products and shared stories as a powerful and intimate reminder of the interconnectedness of all living things. Beautiful products with your pet’s (living or passed) DNA! Amazing! EPISODE NOTES: DNA is Love – Jewelry and...
May 24, 2024•28 min
This week Michelle Fern tackles ticks with Tick Mitt father-daughter founders, Steve & Olivia Abrams. The Tick Mitt was designed to brush off the ticks after any outdoor activity. Now there is a simple and highly effective way to brush ticks off after any activity in nature-bring the Tick Mitt and do random sweeps on you and your pet and before you go indoors. Ticks attach themselves to clothes, fur and hair and work their way in, to get to the skin. The Tick Mitt brushes ticks off before th...
May 06, 2024•24 min
This week Michelle Fern welcomes Jonathan Willbanks, founder of Arterra. Arterra provides daily support for healthy aging and combines the power of multiple supplements into just one scoop, making it the easiest health habit you can do for your dog. It slows the aging process with everyday health formulated to enhance and extend the life of your dog over its entire life span by targeting the core hallmarks of aging. Visit arterrapet.com and get 30% off your first month’s subscription! EPISODE NO...
Apr 27, 2024•33 min
