Animals & Us - Voices of a New Paradigm

In this episode, we chat with Sydney Kuppenbender, a Métis-Ukrainian-French Canadian researcher and environmental advocate from rural Northern Saskatchewan. Sydney’s powerful vision for the future of the environmental sector emphasizes the need for animals and the land to be consulted as equals in conservation and land management processes. Sydney recently completed her Master’s degree in Environment and Sustainability at the University of Saskatchewan, where her research focused on the role ...

In this episode of Animals & Us - Voices of a New Paradigm, we are joined by the incredible Kristina Hunter, founder of the Eco-Impact Academy, and a passionate advocate for sustainability and personal wellbeing. Kristina has dedicated over 20 years to teaching about environmental sustainability and green building, and she believes that the health of the planet, our communities, and ourselves are all interconnected. Kristina’s work centres around the deep connection between personal heali...

In this episode, we share a conversation with me (Avantika Mathur) on Dani Fankhauser's Spirit Doggies Podcast. Here's a little bit more about the episode, from that podcast: "If your first thought was that animal communication doesn't exactly sound science-based, you wouldn't be alone. This week's guest combined her drive for a purposeful career with her academic roots to become a leader in the field of animal communication research. She set aside her own initial doubts and put on her res...

In this episode of Animals & Us - Voices of a New Paradigm, we are joined by the renowned Dr. Marc Bekoff, an animal behavior specialist. With a rich background that includes collaboration with the iconic Jane Goodall, Dr. Bekoff shares his profound insights into the emotional lives of animals and their spiritual connections with humans. We delve into topics such as intuitive interspecies communication, the intrinsic value of all living beings, and how recognizing animals' spiritual exper...

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Vanessa Wijngaarden, a passionate researcher with a curious mind and a love for animals. She's a social anthropologist and filmmaker who has spent years studying the lives of indigenous communities, particularly in East-African Maasailand. Her award-winning documentaries have shed light on the rich cultural lives of the Maasai people and their deep connection to their environment and animals. In this episode, Vanessa shares her fascinating journey into th...

In this episode, we sit down with a canine behaviour pro, Rachel Gabriel, and hear about her insights gained from a lifetime of working with our four-legged friends. Rachel opens up about the journey that led her to her remarkable work, building relationships and trust with dogs and helping them thrive. We explore concepts like pack mentality and the importance of being a pack leader in our dogs' lives, shedding light on the nuances of discipline and the balance between corrections and positi...

In this episode, we dive into the world of meditation-based Animal Reiki with Leah D'Ambrosio, Co-Founder and Vice President of the Shelter Animal Reiki Association (SARA). With over 400 members across 85 shelters worldwide, SARA focuses on supporting rescued animals and their caregivers through the transformative power of meditation. Leah shares her journey working with animals and tells us about her mission is to empower people to develop healing connections with their animals. We explore t...