You probably don't need to be convinced that there is something special to the human animal connection, the "beastie bond". Maybe you appreciate how, compared to navigating the complexity of relationships with fellow humans, the one you share with your horse, your cat, or your dog more predictably leaves you feeling more seen and unconditionally accepted. But have you ever wondered, beyond how good it feels to always have someone clearly glad to see you, what measurable impacts it may have on your physiology?

Today's guest, Dr. Nancy Gee,  Director of the Center for Human Animal Interaction at Virginia Commonwealth University, stands in the sweet spot of a heart-led, research-backed perspective of the beastie bond. 

Check out Nancy’s new book, The Role of Companion Animals in the Treatment of Mental Disorders

By Nancy Gee (Editor), Lisa Townsend (Editor) & Robert Findling (Editor)

Resources Related to this Episode’s Theme:

https://chai.vcu.edu/

https://www.inverse.com/science/do-therapy-dogs-work

Join our community on social media! Follow the show on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook! We’d love to hear what you think of the stories our guests share, and see pictures of your own beasties!

Beastie Bonds theme:

King James by Ghost Beatz, Podcastle.ai Royalty-free Library

Additional music featured in this episode includes:

Music by Olexy from Pixabay

In this bonus episode, AJ celebrates the 1-year anniversary of the show! Hear highlights from the past year and some updates from the past year of podshow guests!

Want to help us celebrate?! Please please please rate and review the show, and be sure to join our community on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook! We’d love to hear what you think of the stories our guests share and see pictures of your own beasties.

The Beastie Bonds theme:

King James by Ghost Beatz, Podcastle.ai Royalty-free Library

Additional music featured in this episode includes:

Assorted past episode tracks, all from Podcastle.ai Royalty-free Library

Music by Leonid Timachev from Pixabay

This episode features one of my favorite kinds of stories: those in which a fortuitous string of seemingly unrelated events all lead to an incredible outcome! 

According to the American Kennel Club, the Great Pyrenees is a dog breed known to be trustworthy and mellow companions; vigilant guardians of home and family. Meet Moose, a dog who lived up to this reputation and then some.

One rainy Friday afternoon, Chris Cushna & Sheila Jane, their granddaughter Luna (age 8) &  their 2 children Anya (age 10), Logan (age 12) were looking for something to do and decided to “check out” a dog from the Portsmouth Humane Society’s “field trips for shelter dogs” Paws Around P-Town program. You won’t believe what happened next!

Learn more about, and consider supporting the Portsmouth Humane Society, where Moose lived before hero-dom!

To learn more about Chris and Sheila’s process of rebuilding after the fire, or to make a donation to help them out, please visit their GoFundMe Hero Dog Saves Portmouth Family, set up by friend James Cullen.

News Articles Relating to the event include:

Foster Dog Saves Virginia Family From ‘Really Big Inferno’ Houseboat Fire (msn.com)

 'A really big inferno': Foster dog helps save family from boat fire (kcra.com)

For more information about Moose’s breed visit:

Great Pyrenees Dog Breed Information (akc.org)

Here’s where you can see Chris singing the song he wrote about Moose (featured after the credits in this episode!) https://www.facebook.com/1574507554/videos/605096911824139/

Join our community on social media! Follow the show on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook! We’d love to hear what you think of the stories our guests share and see pictures of your own beasties.

Beastie Bonds theme:

King James by Ghost Beatz, Podcastle.ai Royalty-free Library

Additional music & sounds effects featured in this episode include:

Storm Before the Calm by LNDO, Podcastle.ai Royalty-free Library

Sound Effect from Pixabay (fire)

Sound Effect by Miku Aalto from Pixabay (dog)

Sound Effect from Pixabay (boat)

Sound Effect from Michael at Pixabay (rain)

Sounds Effect by Howard Lee at Pixabay (dogs1)

Sounds Effect by Howard Lee at Pixabay (dogs2)

Piano Music by Juan Sanchez at Pixabay

Sound Effect from Pixabay (crowd)

In this episode, Maddalena Bearzi, my guest from Episode 20, returns to the show to share her insights about the so-called orca "uprising," a series of recent animal/orca "attacks" (aka encounters) which have been making headlines in the US and around the world. Why have these beautiful and intelligent animals started ramming and sinking boats?!

Maddalena Bearzi is the President and co-founder of Ocean Conservation Society in southern California.

Learn more about Maddalena Bearzi, PhD

 Maddalena's op ed in the LA Times

Books authored by Maddalena Bearzi include:

STRANDED: Finding Nature in Uncertain Times

Beautiful Minds: The Parallel Lives of Great Apes and Dolphins

Dolphin Confidential: Confessions of a Field Biologist

Explore Ocean Conservation Society (OCS)’s education, research and conservation resources 

Donate to support the work of OCS

Follow OCS on social media: Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube

Sources for this episode include:

Orcas: Is there an 'orca uprising'? Like orcas themselves, the answer is complex. - ABC7 Chicago

Orca uprising: Why are killer whales sinking boats? | indy100

‘Orca uprising’: Why are orca whales targeting boats? | News | Al Jazeera

Orca Attack Leaves Yacht Heading for Rock Collision (msn.com)

Join the Beastie Bonds community on social media! Follow the show on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook! We’d love to hear what you think of the stories our guests share and see pictures of your own beasties.

Beastie Bonds Theme:

King James by Ghost Beatz, Podcastle.ai Royalty-free Library

Episode Theme Music includes:

Growing Pains by Featherland, Podcastle.ai Royalty-free Library

My guest, Maddalena Bearzi, has been actively studying the ecology of marine mammals with a strong conservation bias since the 1990s. One day, her research team was observing a pod of dolphins when all of a sudden, the entire group stopped feeding and rushed out to sea. Maddalena’s team followed, and were shocked by what they found.

Maddalena Bearzi is the President and co-founder of Ocean Conservation Society in southern California. She has authored many peer-reviewed articles and books. She was born and raised in Italy but now lives in Los Angeles, California, with her husband and dog. 

Learn more about Maddalena Bearzi, PhD

Books authored by Maddalena Bearzi include:

STRANDED: Finding Nature in Uncertain Times

Beautiful Minds: The Parallel Lives of Great Apes and Dolphins

Dolphin Confidential: Confessions of a Field Biologist

Explore Ocean Conservation Society (OCS)’s education, research and conservation resources 

Donate to support the work of OCS

Follow OCS on social media: Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube

Sources for this episode include:

https://gizmodo.com/did-dolphins-really-save-a-suicidal-girl-1585058404

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2648352/Did-dolphins-save-girl-SUICIDE-Mammals-formed-ring-drowning-swimmer-guiding-boat-aid-claims-scientist.html

Join the Beastie Bonds community on social media! Follow the show on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook! We’d love to hear what you think of the stories our guests share and see pictures of your own beasties.

Beastie Bonds Theme:

King James by Ghost Beatz, Podcastle.ai Royalty-free Library

Episode Theme Music includes:

Clouds by Acreage, Podcastle.ai Royalty-free Library

Piano Moment by Daddy_s_Music, Pixabay.com Royalty Free Music

Serious Moving Sad Piano composed by Ashot-Danielyan, Pixabay.com Royalty Free Music

I'm excited to bring you a bonus episode featuring my conversation with the co-hosts of the Puppy Dog Tales podcast, Anika and Hannah! We had a lot of fun connecting about our shows' which both feature incredible true stories about animals and their humans. 

Be sure to check out the Puppy Dog Tales podcast wherever you download your podcasts. And find and follow them- @puppydogtalespod.

Join our community on social media! Follow the show on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook! We’d love to hear what you think of the stories our guests share and see pictures of your own beasties.

Beastie Bonds theme:

King James by Ghost Beatz, Podcastle.ai Royalty-free Library

Additional music in this episode features:

Candy Shop by Matt Wigton, Podcastle.ai Royalty-free Library

Today on the show, I’m finishing off the series on K9 search and rescue with a conversation with an incredible expert in the field. Ann Wichmann’s journey has been ground-breaking. She has created and continues to shape a legacy that has benefited countless others in the US and beyond. And yet, despite her remarkable background, years of teaching and mentoring, and technical know-how, I experienced Ann as a deeply intuitive philosopher as she shared some of the experiences she has had with the animals in her life. It is such a privilege to be able to bring her voice to you.

Learn more about Ann Wichmann and the work she is doing at Jenner’s Run

Join our community on social media! Follow the show on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook! We’d love to hear what you think of the stories our guests share and see pictures of your own beasties.

Beastie Bonds Theme:

King James by Ghost Beatz, Podcastle.ai Royalty-free Library

Other Episode Music:

This is Love by Alsever Lake, Podcastle.ai Royalty-free Library

Her Majesty by Moments, Podcastle.ai Royalty-free Library

Slowly Comin Around by Heartland Nights, Podcastle.ai Royalty-free Library

Tibet by SergeQuadrado, Pixabay.com