Advertise on podcast: The Animal That Changed You

I’m incredibly excited to be joined by one of the most incredible 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 known as the vegan godfather. In today’s episode, Prabhat shares his wisdom on the importance of utter kindness and the abandonment of judgment. We address some of the anger that animal activists might have towards people who work in factory farming establishments. Then, we explore why it is that these people might feel angry or act untoward towards an animal. We have a conversation about forgiveness and honoring healthy detachment, as well as my experience with making amends through action. Prabhat talks about how people who are either incredibly passionate or have experienced trauma can become all-consumed with their experiences and beliefs. However, he also shares why the best thing we can do as people is to show kindness, compassion, and be present with those who need us at that moment. This is an episode that will inspire you to practice kindness and compassion not just for animals, but for yourself and those around 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.)

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.)

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.)

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.)

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.)

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.)

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.)

My husband Eric is back on the show today and we’re keeping things casual! Join us as we daydream and share our vision for the future. We discuss the types of animals I’d love to help and rescue, the type of space I wish to create, and the lifestyle I envision for our family, which he doesn't necessarily see but is kind enough to roll with! I ask Eric some fun questions about what animals he'd let me bring home, he shares his thoughts on rescuing cats, and we agree on how many senior dogs he’d be alright with having at one time. Tune in to this lighthearted conversation and don’t forget to share your visions for the future with us 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 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.)

Why is there a negative connotation around being a crazy cat person? Why don't more people get involved in Trap-Neuter-Release within their local communities?  How can we look at taking care of homeless animals as an addition in our lives? How can we bear uncomfortable, difficult conversations in order to save more lives? These are some of the many questions we explore today with Anna Dickerson-Homan, a cat rescuer and the force behind The Kitten Factory, with all those adorable pictures on Instagram! From feeding colonies to fostering kitties, she tells us how she tackles many of the feline issues (and myths) she faces so she can inspire more people to help orphaned kittens along with her. Because simply put: cats need our help! And community cats desperately need our help. In today's meow-heavy episode, Anna and I chat about what sparked her passion for rescue, the hard work that goes into TNR, and why taking action, no matter how small, is what will truly help move the needle forward when it comes to saving animals. Just. Do. Something. It takes all of us. It affects all of us. We need you. They need you. And there are so many gifts to joining an animal-loving group.  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.)

Jamie Wallace Grenier is an angel on this Earth. Big statement, still true! She has turned her land in Central Texas into a haven for animals and children who need connection, compassion, and unconditional love. She’s making a difference in her community by opening her gates at Safe In Austin and inviting in every human and animal who wants to be a part of her sacred space.  In this episode, we’re deep-diving into some beautiful topics, including how she has learned to let go of her protectiveness and let people do what they do, the importance of being kind and being present for animals and children, the struggle to balance motherhood and purpose, and why an animal’s love is so particularly healing.  Tune in to hear how Jamie brings people together and changes the world through helping animals.  Tune in to be inspired. Tune in and feel the warm circle you belong to. 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.)

Mark Gagliardi and Hal Lublin from We Got This are here! This dynamic duo of improv performers, actors, and fellow podcast hosts are among the funniest people I've ever talked to. Today we chat about everything animal - from the animals who scare them to the ones that changed their lives. We dive deep into why we chase special relationships with our pets, why some people go gaga for men who love cats, and what actually makes us feel what we feel about animals. One of these hilarious guys also reveals a secret fascination with Silver Backed Gorillas, and there's a bit about some very impressive improv bears. Tune in to listen to this incredible episode filled with jokes, puns, and a healthy dose of stories from the heart. 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.)

Surprise! The vets are taking over and they’re here to add a unique perspective to The Animal That Changed You. Dr. Scott and Dr. Mike from The Vets Unleashed are here to share stories all about the animals and patients that changed them. They take a walk down memory lane as Dr. Scott shares about the patient that changed him back when he was a brand new vet. Dr. Mike shares a story of a particular case that has stuck with him for years and how it has changed the way he treats his patients. From their unique experiences working with animals to offering a behind-the-scenes look into the world of veterinary medicine, the vets are here to share their love for animals and their clients’ pets. 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.)