Episodes

  • The Cost of Caring: Finding Balance Beyond Compassion Fatigue with Jen Blough, LPC
    Sep 27 2025

    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

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    1 hr and 8 mins
  • Sled Dogs, Survival, and Spirit: Preserving Greenland's Living Heritage with Manumina Lund Jensen
    Sep 20 2025

    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.

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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • Sacred Spaces, Sacred Selves: Reclaiming Power Through Your Home with Paula Agudelo
    Sep 13 2025

    What if your home could become a mirror of your healing - a living, breathing reflection of who you are becoming?

    In this episode of the Mystic Dog Mama podcast, I sit down with sacred interiors designer Paula Agudelo to explore how the spaces we live in hold the energy of our past and the potential of our future. Paula shares her deeply moving story of awakening to the wisdom of our homes and how she now supports women in transforming their spaces into sanctuaries that empower, nourish, and inspire.

    Together, we dive into:
    ✨ How the story your home tells can either tether you to the past or call you forward
    ✨ Turning everyday rituals like meal prep for you and your pups into sacred practices
    ✨ What it means to “let a space breathe” so your home becomes a living vision board
    ✨ Soul contracts with our homes and our dogs - and why the spaces we inhabit are part of our healing
    ✨ How creating peace within your home helps ripple compassion and change out into the world

    Paula reminds us that when we bring conscious intention into the places we inhabit, our homes stop being static and start becoming allies in our transformation.

    Connect with Paula:
    Instagram: https://instagram.com/sacredinteriors
    Website: https://sacredinteriors.design

    Tune in, and let’s begin a new kind of conversation with the spaces that hold us.

    Connect with me!

    Instagram: https://instagram.com/mysticdogmama

    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


    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.



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    1 hr and 10 mins
  • FETCH First Friday: "Pawzempic", Puppuccino Culture & The Weight of Responsibility - Rethinking Canine Obesity
    Sep 5 2025

    Ozempic-style appetite-suppressing drugs are coming for our dogs.

    Headlines are already calling them “Pawzempic” — implants that promise to “fix” the so-called canine obesity epidemic by turning off your dog’s hunger. But here’s the thing: our dogs don’t feed themselves.

    In this FETCH First Friday episode, we dive beneath the headlines to explore what this trend really reveals — not just about pet health, but about us as guardians, consumers, and culture-makers.

    Because when we reach for a jab before we ask deeper questions, we risk missing the truth: obesity isn’t the root cause — it’s a symptom.

    What You’ll Learn in This Episode

    * The rise of “Pawzempic” → How GLP-1 drugs work, what’s being developed for dogs, and why the marketing is so seductive

    * The root causes of canine obesity → From ultra-processed pet food to lack of enrichment, environmental stress, and even our own emotional projection

    * The microbiome connection → Why weight is about more than calories, and how gut health shapes metabolism, inflammation, and wellbeing

    * The deeper questions → Are we unconsciously transferring human struggles with weight, control, and shame onto our dogs? What happens when we silence natural hunger cues instead of listening to them?

    * A different path forward → Species-appropriate fresh food, microbiome-friendly choices, emotional co-regulation, and practical, natural ways to support your dog’s health — without shame or shortcuts

    Why This Matters

    This isn’t just a conversation about weight loss. It’s about the stories we’re told — and sold — about our dogs, our bodies, and what “health” really means.

    It’s about reclaiming our role as guardians, not consumers. About moving from control to connection.

    And about creating a life where our dogs thrive because we’re finally willing to ask:

    ✨ What’s actually causing imbalance?

    
✨ Who profits when we medicate the symptoms instead of healing the system?


    ✨ And how can we step back into relationship — with our dogs, with food, and with ourselves?

    Your dog isn’t broken. But the systems around them often are.

    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

    WSAVA Body Condition Score Guide: https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Body-Condition-Score-Dog.pdf

    If you would like to attend the Mind Body Spirit Festival in Birmingham UK November 14-16th, and would like to receive a 25% discount on one-day standard tickets, you can use the following affiliate link and discount code at checkout!

    Full disclosure, as exhibitors at the festival, Stacey Renphrey and I receive a commission, at no cost to you, when you purchase your tickets using this affiliate link.

    Affiliate Link to Purchase Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mind-body-spirit-festival-nec-birmingham-2025-tickets-1091070704849?aff=learnfetch

    Discount Code: NEC-25EXHIFAM

    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.

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    43 mins
  • When Your Dog Hurts: Spotting the Subtle Signs & Finding the Right Support, with Luisa Greig
    Aug 30 2025

    Sometimes, you just know. 
Something in your gut tells you your dog isn’t quite themselves.

    They’re slowing down, moving differently, leaning into you more, or pushing their head into your hand in that way that makes your heart tighten.

    But when you try to explain it, you can’t quite put your finger on what’s wrong. If you’ve ever found yourself here—caught between intuition and not knowing, between loving your dog deeply and feeling helpless about how to support them—this episode is for you.

    I’m joined by Luisa Greig, a canine myotherapist, McTimoney therapist, and Reiki practitioner who has spent years helping dogs and their guardians navigate the hidden layers of chronic pain.

    Luisa brings not only her technical expertise but a deep, compassionate understanding of what it’s like to care for a dog who’s struggling, and the emotional toll it can take on us as guardians.

    Together, we explore:


    🐾 The subtle signs of pain — what to look for in your dog’s body, behaviour, and energy


    🐾 The power of knowing your dog’s “normal” and noticing trends over time


    🐾 Why your dog leaning their head into you could be a sign of neck or muscle tension


    🐾 How chronic pain and compensation patterns can affect the whole body


    🐾 Free and low-cost ways to start supporting your dog today


    🐾 How to speak openly with your vet about pain—even when it challenges your holistic views


    🐾 Tips for choosing the right therapist for your dog and the kinds of questions to ask


    🐾 Why community, trust, and intuition are just as important as any therapy

    This isn’t just a conversation about pain—it’s about deepening your connection with your dog, trusting what you feel, and finding the support you both need on this journey.

    If your heart’s been telling you that something’s not quite right with your dog, you are not alone—and you don’t have to figure it out on your own.

    If you would like to attend the Mind Body Spirit Festival in Birmingham UK November 14-16th, and would like to receive a 25% discount on one-day standard tickets, you can use the following affiliate link and discount code at checkout!

    Full disclosure, as exhibitors at the festival, Stacey Renphrey and I receive a commission, at no cost to you, when you purchase your tickets using this affiliate link.

    Affiliate Link to Purchase Tickets: ⁠https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mind-body-spirit-festival-nec-birmingham-2025-tickets-1091070704849?aff=learnfetch⁠

    Discount Code: NEC-25EXHIFAM

    Links & Resources:

    Connect with Luisa: ⁠https://luisagreig.co.uk⁠

    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

    Canine Arthritis Management ⁠https://caninearthritis.co.uk⁠

    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.

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    1 hr and 12 mins
  • Synergy: Rewilding Ourselves, Our Food & Our Future with Emma-Louise Smith
    Aug 23 2025

    What if the key to healing our planet — and ourselves — lies in remembering that we are not separate from nature, but a living, breathing part of it? 🌿

    In this week’s episode of Mystic Dog Mama, I’m joined by wildlife conservationist, agroecology advocate, and energy worker Emma-Louise Smith for a powerful conversation about synergy: the unseen threads that weave together the land, our food systems, the animals we share this Earth with, and our own inner well-being.

    Emma’s work lives at the intersection of science, spirituality, and storytelling. Through her initiative Keep the Wild Alive, she’s helping us reconnect emotionally with the natural world — because lasting change starts when we feel our place within it.

    Together, we explore:
    🌱 How the energy we bring to growing, preparing, and eating food ripples out into our health, our ecosystems, and our collective future
    🦌 What animals can teach us about peaceful co-living and interconnection
    🌳 Communicating with trees, elementals, and the unseen forces that guide us back into balance
    💚 The importance of collaboration — between farmers, conservationists, and communities — in regenerating the land
    ✨ Why healing the Earth begins with returning to ourselves, our bodies, and our innate sense of belonging

    This episode is an invitation to slow down, listen deeply, and remember your place in the wider web of life. It’s about reimagining our relationship with nature — and with the wild, instinctive wisdom within us all.

    If you’ve been longing to live more gently, consciously, and connected to the rhythms of the Earth, this conversation will awaken something inside you. 🌎✨

    To connect with Emma-Louise:

    https://ecowise.co.uk

    https://www.linkedin.com/company/keep-the-wild-alive

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-louise-smith-4b90a8209/


    If you would like to attend the Mind Body Spirit Festival in Birmingham UK November 14-16th, and would like to receive a 25% discount on one-day standard tickets, you can use the following affiliate link and discount code at checkout! Full disclosure, as exhibitors at the festival, Stacey Renphrey and I receive a commission, at no cost to you, when you purchase your tickets using this affiliate link.

    Affiliate Link to Purchase Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mind-body-spirit-festival-nec-birmingham-2025-tickets-1091070704849?aff=learnfetch


    Discount Code: NEC-25EXHIFAM


    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.


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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • Conscious Cooking: Alchemy, Nourishment & The Kitchen As Sacred Space, with Georgie Soskin
    Aug 16 2025

    What if the kitchen could be more than a place to prepare meals—what if it could be a space for alchemy, healing, and connection?

    In this tender and unfiltered conversation, I sit down with Georgie Soskin, a seasoned cooking professional, mum, and dog mum, on a mission to connect people back to their magic - through cooking. Georgie and I explore the magic that happens when we approach cooking with presence. Together, we unravel the myths of “perfect” holistic living, soften the grip of the shoulds, and remember that nourishment is so much more than the nutrients on a plate.

    This episode is an invitation to:

    • See cooking as ceremony—a daily moment to connect with yourself, your dog, and the earth.
    • Shift from feeding to true nourishment that softens, steadies, and restores.
    • Let go of comparison and the false ideals we see online.
    • Find empowerment and confidence in the kitchen without perfectionism.
    • Embrace the rhythms and seasons—both in sourdough and in life.
    • Discover simple, grounding ways to always create delicious, health-giving meals.
    • Honour your own “levels” when it comes to food and self-care.

    Georgie shares her own journey with her dog Teddy, her family, and her relationship with food—offering a perspective that is as practical as it is soulful. This is for anyone who’s ever felt the tension between wanting to “get it right” and wanting to feel free.

    Cooking, it turns out, is not just about what’s on the plate. It’s about how we show up, the energy we bring, and the love we infuse into every bite.

    To connect with Georgie:

    https://georgiesoskin.com

    Use the code DOGMAMA30 to get 30% off her Conscious Cooking course starting this September!

    If you would like to attend the Mind Body Spirit Festival in Birmingham UK November 14-16th, and would like to receive a 25% discount on one-day standard tickets, you can use the following affiliate link and discount code at checkout! Full disclosure, as exhibitors at the festival, Stacey Renphrey and I receive a commission, at no cost to you, when you purchase your tickets using this affiliate link.

    Affiliate Link to Purchase Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mind-body-spirit-festival-nec-birmingham-2025-tickets-1091070704849?aff=learnfetch


    Discount Code: NEC-25EXHIFAM


    Connect with me!

    https://mysticdogmama.com

    Instagram: https://instagram.com/mysticdogmama

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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • Your Dog's Body Is Speaking - Are You Listening? A Deep Dive Into Allergies, Intolerances & Sensitivities with Dr Katie Woodley
    Aug 9 2025

    Is your dog endlessly itchy, gassy, or struggling with chronic tummy troubles—despite multiple diet changes and "allergy-friendly" food trials? You’re not alone.

    In this powerful and practical episode, I’m joined by holistic veterinarian Dr. Katie Woodley (The Natural Pet Doctor) to unravel one of the most misunderstood and emotionally charged topics in dog care: allergies, intolerances, and sensitivities.

    Together, we explore how to stop chasing symptoms and start listening to what your dog’s body is really trying to say.


    🌿 In this episode, we cover:

    • The difference between food allergies, intolerances, and sensitivities
    • What a true allergic immune response looks like—and why it’s actually rare
    • Why your dog’s symptoms might be an indication they are struggling with processing food, not the food itself
    • Common symptoms like vomiting, diarrhoea, itchy skin, hot spots, gas, and gurgly guts
    • Why some allergy tests might not be that helpful
    • The problem with prescription hydrolysed diets
    • The role of stress, nervous system dysregulation, and immune overload
    • Herbs, foods, and TCVM approaches to reduce inflammation and support healing
    • How your dog might be able to eat the very foods they once reacted to—once the body is balanced
    • When variety is helpful—and when it’s not
    • Why probiotics or FMTs may not be working (and what to do instead)


    Resources & Links:

    • Dr. Katie Woodley’s Website – https://thenaturalpetdoctor.com
    • Follow Dr. Katie on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thenaturalpetdoctor
    • Download your FREE copy of our FETCH Starter Pack to kickstart your dog’s health journey: ⁠https://www.learnfetch.com/pages/fetch-starter-pack⁠
    • Join our FETCH First Light Facebook community with other like-hearted dog guardians: https://facebook.com/groups/fetchfirstlight


    Connect with Us:

    • Instagram: https://instagram.com/mysticdogmama
    • Website: https://mysticdogmama.com
    • Subscribe to the Mystic Dog Mama Podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favourite platform
    • Leave a review if this episode resonated with you—it helps more soul-led dog mamas find us 🐾

    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.

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    1 hr and 3 mins