Antonia Bruce had to stay off her feet due to a health issue. When she was easing back into walking again, it was doing so with new puppies at her side that gave her the strength and motivation to keep going.
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'The Year of the Dog' filmmaker Rob Grabow talks about the struggles of addiction and sobriety, and how dogs can be a helpful and integral part of the process.
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Kimo Pokini adopted his dog, Jazz, when he moved to a new city as an adult. He found so much love and courage that he decided to finally come out to his parents after over 20 years. Kimo knew Jazz would be enough of a family to support him, no matter what happened.
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Therapy dogs are sometimes found at the elementary school or college level – even in corporate settings. But high schools often tend to be left out of the picture. Through her organization, Empathic Paws, Dr. Jessica Maricevic is trying to change that.
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Topher Brophy returns to the podcast to discuss his new book Dog Dad and the valuable lessons he's learned from his canine companions. From following their example to be better to each other and to tap into the best versions of ourselves, Topher has realized how much our lives can be improved if we are receptive to the many gifts that dogs offer to teach us.
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Throughout a tough childhood, Annette found solace in two things: dogs and nature. To escape from a difficult home situation, being outdoors with a dog by her side felt freeing – and was a connection to the natural world that Annette would continue into her adult years to keep her going through any difficult situations that arose.
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After finishing his service in the Marines and working with the CARE humanitarian organization, Robert Macpherson was trying to figure out his way in the world. Eventually, he found his answer in the form of Blue the service dog.
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Jack Jackson is the Co-Founder of the Don’t You Want Me Project, which aims to highlight the strength and healing that the trans and queer community have found through their rescue dogs by capturing compelling portraits and pairing them with personal narratives.
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After leaving his corporate job, Nick’s new puppy Otto made him realize he’d been lost in the daily work cycle, not open to the small details of the world anymore. Through that experience, Nick was willing to try out a Men’s mental health wellness group he came across, Dudes & Dogs, around guys going for walks with their dogs and opening up about their feelings. It turned out to be extremely cathartic, and so much so that he’s now become one of the dog walk hosts with Otto by his side.
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Kate Leaver is a journalist, book author, and speaker. Her new book, Good Dog, draws on science and real-life examples to show how much a dog can help with dealing with life hardships. This includes her own story of navigating her lifelong battle with mental health and how much of a difference her dog, Bert, made after coming into her life. He's brought her companionship, got her outside and embracing of nature, and managed to provide comfort during even the most stressful times.
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Before getting his dog Rosenberg, Topher Brophy had been going through the motions in life, feeling like he had an emotional void and was too self-absorbed. It was only after becoming a Dog Dad that he started putting others first, which also prepared for his later step into family and fatherhood. He now has multiple kids with his wife and co-creator, Chantal Adair, The Dog Styler.
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When Dr. Robert Garofalo learned of his own HIV diagnosis, he found it impossible to follow the same advice he had been giving his patients on how to cope. It wasn't until he adopted a Yorkie that balance and joy were restored in his life. Later he started a non-profit charity in honor called Fred Says - which supports organizations across the U.S that care for HIV+ youth. Now, Rob and our former guest, photographer Jesse Freidin, have launched a new book When Dogs Heal that looks at how dogs have helped people with HIV across the country.
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Porochista Khakpour was struggling with an undiagnosed case of late-stage Lyme Disease, having to go through medical treatments every day. As a suggestion to help Porochista get through her disease recovery, her doctor encouraged her to consider an emotional support dog. She got a poodle puppy and never looked back. That dog, Cosmo, has been her inseparable furry soulmate ever since.
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Amy Shelle is the Founder of Dogs for GRETA, which trains service dogs for survivors of sexual assault diagnosed with PTSD. Usually, civilians have few options for service dog training as it is typically reserved for veterans. As a sexual assault survivor, Amy recognized an unmet need for service dogs for people with similar situations to hers and started her own specialized service dog training program.
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Dr. Chris Blazina is a licensed psychologist, retired professor, and award-winning author. He has been in practice for nearly 25 years, focusing in particular on men and their depression, anxiety, life transitions, grief & loss, relationship problems, and pet bereavement. In his work, Chris has found dogs to be an important companion and part of a male’s life that is not able to be found in the same way as with any human.
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Around two years ago, Grace French started having intense nightmares while dealing with personal trauma, getting little-to-no sleep. She turned to training with a dog to help wake her up during them and overall help with her anxiety. The results made a big difference, and Grace has been able to keep improving and moving forward ever since with the help of her trusty sidekick, Bentley. In addition, Grace is the Founder and President of The Army of Survivors, a national organization focused on education, advocacy, and support for child athlete survivors of sexual violence.
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Ruchi Vikas went through a really tough period in her life when she lost a friend to suicide, which led to her adopting her dog Ponyboy. He’s been a big part of her finding her way forward, including traveling with Ruchi around to 48 states and counting. Ponyboy has also helped her become better at different aspects of her job in the psychiatry field, including learning how to better listen to patients and be more open.
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Julie Watson-Daly was going through a tough divorce and was figuring out her next steps. But with the help of different rescue dogs coming into her life, she's been able to keep making her way through this new stage of her life and finding happiness again. Additionally, she's gotten involved with the One Love Animal Rescue organization in New Jersey as a result, where she's found fulfillment and a purpose from as well.
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Marika Meeks is an entrepreneur, wife, and mom who was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 41. Unsure of survival, she made it through and found her joy and purpose again after her dog Stella came into her life. Now, she’s made it her mission to give a second chance to other dogs, just like she was blessed with. Marika is doing this through her own non-profit, named Incredibull Stella. The organization spreads pit bull breed awareness, teaches the benefits of pet ownership, and supports shelters that save dog lives. Recently, she also wrote a book “Incredibull Stella: How the Love of a Pit Bull Rescued a Family” about her journey.
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Austin Moss is the owner of Zoë, the first emotional support dog on an NFL team. Working for the San Francisco 49ers as their Director of Player Engagement, Austin’s job is to help the team’s players across the board. Zoë is a French bulldog who has become the team’s official emotional support dog, and has helped Austin in his role.
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