What if the stories of our ancestors are still shaping us - and still shaping the dogs who walk beside us?

In this Samhain-timed episode of Mystic Dog Mama, I sit down with Irish mythologist and anthropologist Jen Murphy, founder of The Celtic Creatives. Rooted in her grandmother’s storytelling and decades of study in Celtic mythology, anthropology, and Jungian psychology, Jen helps people remember their shining soul by bringing ancient wisdom into modern life.

Together, we explore:

🌑 What it means to be a modern mystic
🔥 How Irish myth and folklore reconnect us to our roots
🍂 Samhain and the Celtic Wheel of the Year - and why this season matters
✨ Simple, meaningful ways to honour the seasons in everyday life
🐾 The mythic role of the hound and how dogs guide us spiritually
🌙 Dreamwork, archetypes, and living with a story that supports your soul
💚 Re-centring the sacred in the ordinary

This conversation is rich, warm, and rooted in belonging - a perfect listen as the veil thins and we turn inward with our dogs curled at our feet. 🐕✨

Jen Murphy is an Irish mythologist, anthropologist and founder of The Celtic Creatives. A Dubliner born and bred, from the time she could talk, Jen's grandmother Frances O'Sullivan filled her ears with tales from Irish myth and folklore, fuelling a now 40-year fascination with the stories of her lineage. Jen's apprenticeship to following her soul's breadcrumbs has guided her formal studies in Medieval Irish and Celtic Studies, Anthropology, and Jungian Psychology. Jen supports people to remember that they have a shining soul, to dream Celtic spirituality into their modern lives by making the Celtic soul a living aesthetic—centring the soul in the everyday experience of life—through mythwork, dreamwork, and the body.

Connect with Jen Murphy:
Website → https://www.celticcreatives.com/
Substack → https://celticcreatives.substack.com/
Instagram → @celticembodiment

Connect with me:

Website → https://mysticdogmama.com

Email → alexia@mysticdogmama.com

Instagram → https://instagram.com/mysticdogmama

Come join our F.E.T.C.H. in Action Live Cookalong happening Saturday, November 29th from 10am-1pm UK time! Together, we will make a batch of raw or gently cooked food specific for your dog! It’s limited to 8 participants so you’ll get personal attention and all your questions answered so that you feel confident in the canine kitchen. Email me for more information at: alexia@mysticdogmama.com

Sometimes the best way to understand F.E.T.C.H. is to see it in action.

In this F.E.T.C.H. First Friday episode, we wanted to show you what F.E.T.C.H. looks like in real life - beyond theory.

We sit down to look at our lovely Learn F.E.T.C.H. members, Sarah’s dog, Jess, a 13-year-old Rottweiler rescue who’s navigating arthritis and ongoing gut issues. Together, Stacey Renphrey and I walk through Jess’s care using the F.E.T.C.H. framework to explore how small, thoughtful shifts across fresh food, energetics, targeted support, curiosity, and holistic care can bring more comfort, balance, and vitality.

You’ll hear how Jess’s guardian, Sarah, is already supporting her beautifully, what adjustments could help as the weather cools, and how to think about seasonal nourishment for older dogs in a way that’s practical, compassionate, and deeply attuned.

This conversation is an invitation to slow down, observe, and meet your dog right where they are body, mind, and soul.

In this episode:

• How to warm and nourish an aging body in colder months
• Filling the gaps in a homemade diet
• Fresh food ideas for joint and gut support
• Simple, targeted additions that make a difference
• What holistic care really means in daily life

Whether you’re caring for a senior dog or simply want to deepen your understanding of whole-being care, this episode will leave you inspired to look at your dog with fresh eyes, and a softer heart.

Join our free F.E.T.C.H. First Light Facebook group, our sanctuary where soulful dog mamas like you find clarity, confidence, and connection. https://facebook.com/groups/fetchfirstlight

Grab your FREE copy of our Learn F.E.T.C.H. Starter Pack to begin your F.E.T.C.H. journey with your dog today! https://www.learnfetch.com/pages/fetch-starter-pack

Follow us: https://instagram.com/learn.fetch

Disclaimer: The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease, or replace medical guidance. Please speak with your veterinarian.

In this deeply nourishing episode, I’m joined by Catherine Grist - a nutritionist and somatic and health coach who helps people reconnect to their innate intelligence through food, pleasure, and the wisdom of the natural world.

We explore:

✨ The spiritual messages in our relationship with food

✨ Food as soul care - for us and our dogs

✨ Cooking as the ultimate form of alchemy

✨ Reconnecting to instinct and intuition with our dogs as guides

✨ Nourishment over just nutrition (always)

✨ How food can help us reconnect to the natural cycles
✨ Using food as an offering during this season of remembering

This conversation is a reminder that nourishment is an act of devotion - to our bodies, our animal companions, and the living world that feeds us.

And if you’ve been curious about cooking fresh food for your dog but don’t know where to start, I’d love to invite you to join me for a brand new live cook-along workshop happening Saturday, the 29th of November 10am-1pm UK time on Zoom. It’s a small group experience - no more than eight dog guardians - so you’ll get plenty of support.

You’ll learn how to make simple, nourishing raw or gently cooked meals with confidence, and you’ll leave feeling excited to feed fresh food your dog will love. The beta price is just £39.

If you want to learn more, drop me an email at hello@learnfetch.com, and I’ll send you the information!

Connect with Catherine:

Website: www.catherinegrist.com

Events: www.catherinegrist.com/events

Email: hello@catherinegrist.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/the_health_alchemist

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catherine.thehealthalchemist

Join our free F.E.T.C.H. First Light Facebook group, our sanctuary where soulful dog mamas like you find clarity, confidence, and connection. https://facebook.com/groups/fetchfirstlight

Grab your FREE copy of our Learn F.E.T.C.H. Starter Pack to begin your F.E.T.C.H. journey with your dog today! https://www.learnfetch.com/pages/fetch-starter-pack

Disclaimer: The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease, or replace medical guidance. Please speak with your veterinarian.

What if grooming was actually one of the most intimate and insightful forms of care your dog receives?

In this episode, I’m joined by Liz Hampton, Master Groomer and Director of Grooming and Education at Fluffology in North Hollywood, California. Liz has spent over three decades redefining what grooming can be. She is part of a growing movement to raise the standards of education in an unregulated industry - and to remind us that a good groomer isn’t just about style, but about whole-being care.

We talk about:
💫 The deep relationship you can build with your groomer as an essential part of your dog’s healthcare team
👁️ What groomers can notice about your dog’s health and behaviour that you or even your vet might miss
🌬️ How your energy influences your dog’s experience at the groomer
🧠 How to choose the right groomer — and the questions to ask
🐕 The importance of nail care, regular maintenance, and how small changes can have big effects on your dog’s comfort and mobility

Connect with Liz: https://fluffology.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lizsizzers/

Join our free F.E.T.C.H. First Light Facebook group, our sanctuary where soulful dog mamas like you find clarity, confidence, and connection. https://facebook.com/groups/fetchfirstlight

Grab your FREE copy of our Learn F.E.T.C.H. Starter Pack to begin your F.E.T.C.H. journey with your dog today! https://www.learnfetch.com/pages/fetch-starter-pack

Follow us: https://instagram.com/learn.fetch

Disclaimer: The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease, or replace medical guidance. Please speak with your veterinarian.

What if our obsession with “complete and balanced” feeding isn’t really about our dogs at all… but about our fear of losing them?

In this rich, honest conversation with Georgina of Georgina’s Kitchen, we unpack the deeper story beneath the formulas - the way fear, control, and love can all blur together when we just want to do right by our dogs.

Georgina shares how her own journey began when her dog started having seizures at just three years old - a moment that led her to question everything she’d been told about nutrition. Her curiosity opened a door to independent research, including a small but eye-opening study testing zinc levels in local beef liver samples that completely changed her understanding of “balance.”

Together, we explore what it really means for a dog to thrive - not through micromanaging numbers, but through trust, intuition, and food as a living, intelligent force.

We talk about:

• Why “complete and balanced” guidelines were never meant to define thriving — and how they became a tool of fear-based marketing.
• What Georgina’s zinc testing revealed about the wild variation in natural foods, and why that’s not a flaw but a sign of life.
• The quiet freedom that comes when we loosen our grip on control and let nature take the lead.
• What street dogs in India can teach us about adaptability, intuition, and the power of relationship with place.
• The growing push toward vegan diets for dogs, and why honouring individuality matters more than ideology.
• How we can support balance across seasons, climates, and energies - without falling into “just in case” or “more is better.”
• The difference between food-based and nutrient-based thinking, and why one nourishes the whole being while the other fragments it.

This is a conversation for anyone who’s ever felt overwhelmed by information, scared of getting it wrong, or tangled in the pressure to be the “perfect” dog guardian. It’s a reminder that the goal isn’t control - it’s connection.

When we feed from trust instead of fear, food relationship, and magic.

Connect with Georgina:

https://georginaskitchen.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/georginaskitchen.blr

Join our free F.E.T.C.H. First Light Facebook group, our sanctuary where soulful dog mamas like you find clarity, confidence, and connection. https://facebook.com/groups/fetchfirstlight

Grab your FREE copy of our Learn F.E.T.C.H. Starter Pack to begin your F.E.T.C.H. journey with your dog today! https://www.learnfetch.com/pages/fetch-starter-pack

Follow us: https://instagram.com/learn.fetch

Connect with me!

https://mysticdogmama.com

https://instagram.com/mysticdogmama

Disclaimer: The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease, or replace medical guidance. Please speak with your veterinarian.

As the leaves fall and the air cools, autumn reminds us that change is not just inevitable—it’s necessary. Our dogs feel this seasonal shift as much as we do.

In this episode of FETCH First Friday, we explore:

• 🍂 The autumn energetics of Traditional Chinese Medicine (lungs, large intestine, grief, letting go).
• 🥣 How to support your dog with seasonal foods like pumpkin, pears, and warming broths.
• 🌬 Why your dog might be showing subtle changes in skin, digestion, or emotions this time of year.
• ✨ A soulful reflection on autumn as a season of release—for both you and your dog.

By tuning into the rhythms of the season, you’ll discover new ways to nourish your dog’s body and your own spirit.

Join our free F.E.T.C.H. First Light Facebook group, our sanctuary where soulful dog mamas like you find clarity, confidence, and connection. https://facebook.com/groups/fetchfirstlight

Grab your FREE copy of our Learn F.E.T.C.H. Starter Pack to begin your F.E.T.C.H. journey with your dog today! https://www.learnfetch.com/pages/fetch-starter-pack

Follow us: https://instagram.com/learn.fetch

Disclaimer: The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease, or replace medical guidance. Please speak with your veterinarian.

Caring deeply is a gift… but it can also come at a cost.

If you’ve ever felt exhausted from worrying about your dog, questioning if you’re doing enough, or carrying the weight of the world because your heart is so wide open, you’re not alone. What you may be feeling is compassion fatigue - the very real toll of loving, giving, and advocating without pausing to refill your own cup.

In this episode I sit down with Jennifer Blough, a licensed professional counsellor, pet loss specialist, and host of The Compassion Fatigue Podcast. Jen has dedicated her work to helping animal lovers, activists, and caregivers navigate the “cost of caring” with more resilience, balance, and grace.

Together we explore:
✨ What compassion fatigue actually is and how to recognise it in yourself
✨ Why dog mamas (especially those with challenging or special-needs pups) are especially at risk
✨ The difference between pain and suffering
✨ How guilt and “never enough” thinking fuel burnout
✨ Why prioritising your mental health is not selfish, but essential
✨ Simple ways to protect your heart while still making a difference
✨ How to keep showing up for your dogs, your community, and the planet—without losing yourself in the process

This conversation is an invitation to release the shame, honour your limits, and remember that you can’t pour from an empty cup. Because when you care for yourself, you create the capacity to care even more deeply, and sustainably, for the beings who depend on you.

Learn more about Jen’s work: https://beyondcompassionfatigue.com

Join our free F.E.T.C.H. First Light Facebook group, our sanctuary where soulful dog mamas like you find clarity, confidence, and connection. https://facebook.com/groups/fetchfirstlight

Grab your FREE copy of our Learn F.E.T.C.H. Starter Pack to begin your F.E.T.C.H. journey with your dog today! https://www.learnfetch.com/pages/fetch-starter-pack

In Greenland, sled dogs are not just animals - they are family, livelihood, and a way of life that has sustained human survival in the Arctic for thousands of years.

In this episode, I sit down with Manumina Lund Jensen, PhD researcher at the University of Greenland and cultural historian, whose work is dedicated to preserving the oral histories and living knowledge of Greenland’s sled dog culture.

Together, we explore:

* The deep ties between hunters, families, and their dogs in Greenlandic tradition

* How Inuit sled dogs once acted as *gateway animals*, enabling human migration into the Arctic

* The mythology of wolves as spiritual guides and their role in ecology

* The impact of climate change and urbanisation on sled dog culture

* How feeding and caring for dogs in a hunting culture differs from modern approaches

* Manumina’s own personal story of the first dog gifted to her by her father, and the song he wrote to honour her

This conversation invites us to see dogs as more than companions. They are cultural carriers, memory keepers, and lifelines that shape the way we live and imagine our place in the world.

To connect with Manumina:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/manumina-lund-jensen-5495891a/

https://uk.uni.gl/find-employee/department-of-cultural-social-history/manumina-lund-jensen/

Grab your copy of our guide to speaking with your vet, which is included in our free FETCH Starter Pack: https://www.learnfetch.com/pages/fetch-starter-pack

Join FETCH First Light, our free Facebook group for like-hearted guardians https://facebook.com/groups/fetchfirstlight

Connect with me!

https://mysticdogmama.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/mysticdogmama

Disclaimer: The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease, or replace medical guidance. Please speak with your veterinarian.