Sarah Maslin Nir is here today to talk to us about the powerful relationship between horses and humans. From her compulsion to seek justice, to the beautiful safety she explains that prey animals need, to her honesty about horses being her refuge, Sarah's obsession is a gift. She shares what horses mean to her and how they bring people together; she shares horse history and the lesser-known intricacies of the equestrian world only a horse crazy person would know. As a journalist and staff report...
Dec 29, 2021•39 min•Season 1Ep. 21
Are you basically listening to two long-time friends gab about all things dog in this episode? Yes, you are. But you'll also hear personal stories, an homage to horses, and the gratitude we feel for the animals who've stuck with us through thick and thin. Laura London is a highly-qualified, certified dog trainer who is unafraid to shed light on why most behavioral issues ultimately stem from the owner, and why we need to evaluate ourselves before placing blame on our pets. But we also have an im...
Dec 22, 2021•53 min•Season 1Ep. 20
This is where it's at. James and Jennifer Evans are here to talk to us about elevating BIPOC voices in animal welfare and bringing in people from all walks of life. By challenging assumptions and suspending judgments, we can better stay true to honest narratives instead of getting caught up in the stories we tell ourselves about other people. Because to help animals, we need to participate in communities. Because to help animals, we need to be inclusive and that means reckoning with our privileg...
Dec 15, 2021•50 min•Season 1Ep. 19
Michaela Watkins is our guest today and it's a gift to hear her share about her queen cat Izzy, her dopey cat Joe, cuddly Jeff the Dog, and Wuzzabear, the pup supermodel, all who have changed her life. This episode contains stories about lovers, liars, and narcissistic assholes, but it also delves into the pure love only animals can offer and what a good hang they can be. Cat allergies are discussed, you'll probably never think about the David Letterman theme song in the same way again, and list...
Dec 08, 2021•51 min•Season 1Ep. 18
Matt McConkey and Michael Grassi are the pet adoption dream couple. In this episode, you’ll hear one of the best gotcha stories about a dignified senior dog who became the cornerstone for a love story. A beautiful soul whose head smelled like oatmeal cookies inspired communication between two people and united them as family, but she also brought them out of their heads and made them feel cool. From being thirsty for dog kisses to reframing how we think about rescuing senior pets, from seeing yo...
Dec 01, 2021•39 min•Season 1Ep. 17
Our Thanksgiving week episode is with the cohosts of Our Hen House, here to tell us about Calhoun, the special dog who changed Mariann, and Rudy the rescue chicken with prosthetic feet who changed Jasmin. These two incredible activists delve into the overlap between animal rights and antiracism, why we don't have to try to change our families, and the importance of boundaries, especially around the holiday table. We discuss the nature of animal law and being okay with finding your people and you...
Nov 24, 2021•39 min•Season 1Ep. 16
OMG! Can I Pet Your Dog's cohosts are with us today! Renee Colvert and Alexis B. Preston are here to discuss the threat of authenticity, horoscopes up and down, and the amazing gotcha stories of their dogs', Tugboat, Cricket and Crumb. Listen to these remarkable women share about Molly and Nikki, the childhood pups who came first, and why it can be healing to talk to our pets since passed, whether it be to ask them for forgiveness or for help finding a husband. You will definitely want to hang o...
Nov 17, 2021•49 min•Season 1Ep. 15
Michael Beran is here to have a nuanced conversation about his animal rescue service. From his days growing up in the swamps of Louisiana to his show on Animal Planet & Discovery+, Beran never uses gloves to deal with a removal even though he'll likely get bit. This is because of his reverence for animals, a commitment to letting them feel him as he feels them. Though Beran keeps us guessing the whole episode about who changed him, it's an unbelievable discovery! Plus, Michael shares his kno...
Nov 10, 2021•42 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Travis Brorsen joins us this week to talk about all things dog. From growing up on a farm to the pain of losing a pig he loved to winning the Greatest American Dog Trainer reality TV show, Travis shares how he learned not only how to live with dogs, but also how to open up and feel because of them. It’s because of his willingness to admit the things he did wrong, how he forgave and kept trying, that Travis inspires hope. Now through his own company, Travis teaches pet parents the tools they need...
Nov 03, 2021•42 min•Season 1Ep. 13
Henry Mance wrote a beautiful book. And it's an important one because it's an honest account of a journalist trying to find out the truth. In this week's episode, Henry and Katya talk about journalism, our natural tendency to care about animals, creating a world his daughters can enjoy, and writing. Tune in and hear a guest who cares deeply for wild animals and wild spaces, who is an advocate for living a good life, and above all someone who is rational and balanced in sharing his heart. P.S. Yo...
Oct 27, 2021•44 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Rebecca Corry is not afraid to speak her mind and put her heart on the line. In this week's episode, she joins us to do both as she talks about her beloved Angel, a most noble, gentle soul wrapped in a Pittie body, who brought Rebecca to her purpose. Now this funny lady is the founder and president of her incredible nonprofit and a fierce advocate for the inherently good Pitbull type dogs she works tirelessly to provide spay and neuter for, to help save, and to love. Rebecca and Katya discuss br...
Oct 20, 2021•30 min•Season 1Ep. 11
It's not easy being a multi-hyphenate, unless you are Deanna Cheng who kicks ass as an actress, writer, director, and business owner. But it's her role as Dog Mom that has changed her the most, a hard-won title she never anticipated. It took a pandemic. It took overcoming her fear of dogs and making peace with a bite history. And she did it! And she will make you laugh about it, even as you feel so much that your feels will feel! For her courage to keep creating and evolving, she was rewarded wi...
Oct 13, 2021•52 min•Season 1Ep. 10
If you want to hear how a Puerto Rican street dog got to live his best life, listen to this week's episode with the adventurous spirit that is Henry Friedman. We talk about how every foster pet teaches us something, about the power of soul dogs, and about how traveling with his best boy, Finn, changed his experience of van dwelling. Henry recounts for us how he followed his curiosity to live without walls, and then as if the Universe wanted to give him a gift for it, here came Finn to help him a...
Oct 06, 2021•47 min•Season 1Ep. 9
You may never think of cat ladies in the same way again after this week's episode. Our guest, Laura Lux, is an influencer, an entrepreneur, and a badass kitty mama. As we talk about the joys of fostering and the awe we feel for those who do TNR, Laura shares how taking in kittens gives her meaning and how she found the gift out of a crappy situation because it led to adopting her precious, blind Evie. This beautiful woman (inside and out) specializes in fostering felines with eye issues, nurses ...
Sep 29, 2021•39 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Few people walk the walk like today's guest and do it with such authenticity, regardless of who likes it or not. Gavin Polone is a film and TV producer and director, a magazine writer, and a talent manager, but above of all he is a voice for animals. In this episode, he opens up about Chiquita, the neighborhood cat who changed him when he was just a boy being bullied, and all the animals who have shaped his life since. We discuss the patience cats demand to earn their trust, if it's harder to lo...
Sep 22, 2021•46 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Magical Unicorns do exist, thanks to A Purposeful Rescue. This nonprofit, committed to saving dogs from high-kill shelters in Los Angeles, takes in the most overlooked pets like seniors and intense medical cases. In this episode, CEO and founder Hillary Rosen talks to us about the first time she visited an animal shelter, the bruja powers that give her the ability to see the best in dogs, and what pack mentality really feels like. With over 90K followers on Instagram, APR shares the journey from...
Sep 15, 2021•30 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Check out today's episode with Amy Mills, CEO of Emancipet, a non-profit organization building a national affordable veterinary care system that serves the underserved. Their low-cost clinics help keep over 200,000 pets a year healthy, happy, and safe with their families! Amy talks to us about reframing challenges when you're working for social change, how asking for money is giving an opportunity, and how her innate love for all creatures led to a career focused on protecting the bond between h...
Sep 08, 2021•44 min•Season 1Ep. 5
This week June Diane Raphael shares about her childhood fear of dogs, a pet rabbit named Scooter, her beautiful journey toward adopting Meatball, and the wonderful grandpa-looking-through-coupons energy this dog has brought into her life. Hearing her authentically talk about parenting, family, feeling overwhelmed, The Jane Club and more, will not only make you laugh your buns off, but it will also give you the warm fuzzies your heart craves. And yes, there is nose wiping with socks instead of ti...
Sep 01, 2021•54 min•Season 1Ep. 4
This episode is with the incomparable Abbie Moore, COO and CPO of Adopt-a-Pet.com, which is like the best dating website ever because it's for finding your next rescue pet! Abbie talks to us about being bullied as a kid, working in Hollywood, impostor syndrome, and Pierre, the bird who changed her life. To listen to Abbie is to consider giving animals, other people, and ourselves second chances, even third chances, and to realize that an animal can be the hero of your story. Stay connected to Ab...
Aug 25, 2021•39 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Hang out with Jordan and Rory Scovel on episode two of The Animal That Changed You! This wonderful, witty couple talks about the animals who've made an impact in their lives, helped them learn about themselves, and showed them what they're made of. As we discuss mistakes, marriage, reincarnation and canine communication, these guests bring an incredible amount of honesty, humor, and heart to the show. Also, their gotcha story is pretty spectacular and their sweet rescue dog just may have sent a ...
Aug 18, 2021•34 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Join us for our first episode of The Animal That Changed You with none other than the extraordinarily funny Sklar Brothers as guests! Randy and Jason talk about the animals that have made a difference in their lives, but of course these comedy twins will make you laugh your a$$ off while you listen. They also mock libraries, recount dog-sitting drama, and make you willing to forget about the pee-stain on your rug. Oh, but before that, get ready to meet Ophelia, the reason I started this podcast,...
Aug 11, 2021•36 min•Season 1Ep. 1
Are you an animal lover? Do your friends tease you for being obsessed with your dog? Do you worry about stray cats when it rains? Do you feel for the world? Are you unable to watch what happens to a horse during a war scene in a movie, but have no problem watching what befalls the dude on the horse? Welcome to The Animal That Changed You, a weekly podcast that explores the love of animals, what it offers, and how it can help heal us. Lean into your animal love and subscribe to this non-aggro, he...
Aug 04, 2021•2 min
