In this deeply personal and inspiring episode, we sit down with Dr. Michael W. Fox, a pioneering veterinarian, ethologist, and longtime advocate for the welfare and dignity of animals. With a career spanning more than six decades, Dr. Fox’s work has profoundly influenced how we understand and relate to animals - ethically, emotionally, and spiritually. Dr. Fox shares what inspired him to become a veterinarian, reflecting on his lifelong commitment to healing the fractured relationship between...
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In this deeply personal and inspiring episode, we sit down with Dr. Michael W. Fox, a pioneering veterinarian, ethologist, and longtime advocate for the welfare and dignity of animals. With a career spanning more than six decades, Dr. Fox’s work has profoundly influenced how we understand and relate to animals - ethically, emotionally, and spiritually. Dr. Fox shares what inspired him to become a veterinarian, reflecting on his lifelong commitment to healing the fractured relationship between...
In this deeply personal and inspiring episode, we sit down with Dr. Michael W. Fox, a pioneering veterinarian, ethologist, and longtime advocate for the welfare and dignity of animals. With a career spanning more than six decades, Dr. Fox’s work has profoundly influenced how we understand and relate to animals - ethically, emotionally, and spiritually. Dr. Fox shares what inspired him to become a veterinarian, reflecting on his lifelong commitment to healing the fractured relationship between...
In this episode, we speak with Denise Nestel and Christine Noble Seller, two inspiring women from the nonprofit Giving Animals Voice, an organization dedicated to transforming how we care for, understand, and advocate for animals - especially those living in shelters, rescue organizations and sanctuaries. Denise, the founder of Giving Animals Voice, shares how years of working in animal care led her to realize that something crucial was missing: a way to truly hear what animals were trying to...
In this episode, Barbara and Avantika talk about how Avantika's PhD program in Belgium is going. She started working with the ANICOM project in February 2025 and is about to start her research fieldwork in Canada and India. ANICOM stands for Animal Communicators: Intuitive interspecies communication as a key to dialogic multispecies methods. For more information, visit the project website here. There was also an earlier podcast episode with Avantika's PhD supervisor and the person...
In this episode, we speak with Dr. Cara Gubbins, animal communicator, author, and founder of the Animal Communicator Academy. Cara shares the personal and spiritual journey that led her to animal communication—including the unforgettable encounters with grey whales that cracked her open to new levels of healing and growth. We talk about the wisdom animals offer us when we’re willing to listen—lessons about curiosity, openness, presence, and the simple truth that animals and humans aren’t all ...
This meditation, titled Evolutionary Remembering, has been adapted from the book, Thinking Like a Mountain, and read aloud by Lisa Christel. We thank Lisa and the beautiful birds that gave life to the audio for this special episode. We also thank John Seed (interviewed in our last episode), Joanna Macy, Pat Flemming, and Arne Ness, for bringing this book into the world.
In this special episode of Animals & Us – Voices of a New Paradigm, we share an impromptu conversation with legendary environmental activist and deep ecologist John Seed. John has spent over four decades defending rainforests and advocating for the Earth - not only through direct action, but by inviting us to transform how we see ourselves in relation to the natural world. As the founder of the Rainforest Information Centre and co-author of Thinking Like a Mountain, John’s work has inspir...
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 wildlife photographer Dan Elster, whose work captures the raw, authentic moments of animals in the wild. Dan’s unique approach to wildlife photography goes beyond just snapping a picture - he shares how he establishes a deep, respectful connection with the beings he photographs, often creating a silent space that allows for the magic to happen in the interaction. We dive into the process behind his...
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 special episode of Animals & Us - Voices of a New Paradigm, Avantika shares a significant life change—her move to Belgium to pursue her PhD. This marks the beginning of a new academic chapter, one that aligns closely with her personal aspirations and her grandfather’s legacy. Avantika reflects on the excitement and challenges of this new adventure and the personal significance of this step in her journey. Her upcoming research will be with the ANICOM project—a groundbreaking study...
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 pioneer in the field of animal communication research. She set aside her own initial doubts and put on her re...
In this episode of Animals & Us - Voices of a New Paradigm, we welcome the wonderful Dr. Estella Carolye Kuchta, a passionate researcher and educator. With her recent PhD completion, Dr. Kuchta explores the transformative potential of love in our understanding of the natural world and our connections with it. Join us as we jump into her fascinating research on intuitive interspecies communication (IIC) and how love serves as a vital bridge in fostering deeper connections with animal...
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 Miki Jacobs, an acclaimed psychic medium, spiritual counselor, and author, to dive deep into the profound connections between humans, animals, and the spiritual world. Miki shares her extraordinary journey—from growing up in a conservative Jewish household and serving in the Israeli army, to discovering her spiritual calling after moving to the United States and leaving her corporate career behind. Miki delves into the key themes of her latest book, *Sacred ...
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...
We had the privilege of attending Dr. Jane Goodall 90th birthday celebration in Vancouver, Canada, a few weeks ago. We both left feeling the event absolutely mesmerized and deeply inspired. We wanted to share our highlights and takeaways with all of you, as this was you once in a lifetime event that we will keep in our heart forever, and remember fondly for the rest of our lives.
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 sat down with Dr. Jeff Feinman, a molecular biologist, devout researcher and a pioneering figure in the field of veterinary medicine. Driven by a commitment to holistic care, Dr. Jeff delved into the realm of homeopathy, recognizing its potential to offer profound healing where conventional therapies fell short. His dedication to mastering this ancient healing art led him to become the first Certified Veterinary Homeopath in Connecticut. He's a passionate educator, and is ...
In this deeply personal and inspiring episode, we sit down with Dr. Michael W. Fox, a pioneering veterinarian, ethologist, and longtime advocate for the welfare and dignity of animals. With a career spanning more than six decades, Dr. Fox’s work has profoundly influenced how we understand and relate to animals - ethically, emotionally, and spiritually. Dr. Fox shares what inspired him to become a veterinarian, reflecting on his lifelong commitment to healing the fractured relationship between...
