If you aspire to learn Animal Communication or improve your ability to receive clear and accurate messages, you want to listen to this episode. Paloma Baertchi has been teaching Animal Communication for over twenty years, and she has noticed there are certain blocks that keep us from doing our best at receiving messages from animals. In this episode, she explains in clear and simple terms how to overcome these blocks of self-doubt, being in your head, and pressure to get results. She explains that the secret to effective animal communication is to cultivate the heart space where animals live. Paloma offers two simple exercises that will immediately help you to connect more accurately and deeply with the animals in your life. Telling stories about her own journey with communicating with her rabbit named Spot, she inspires you to realize you can do this! It is only natural to communicate with animals.

EPISODE NOTES: The Three Blocks to Animal Communication with Paloma Baertschi

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Some cats cry incessantly, leaving owners worried and frustrated. As a shelter volunteer, I've witnessed owners surrendering their pets out of desperation. But there's hope! Tapas Fleming, a pioneer in Energy Psychology with over 30 years of experience in Tapas Acupressure Technique (TAT), explains that crying in cats can often be resolved. Many are sensitive to negative energy patterns, which can cause distress. In this episode, Tapas shares transformative stories of animals whose lives improved after removing these energy blocks. Plus, she works with my dog, Sophia, tackling her physical and behavioral issues. Witness Sophia's relief after just one session addressing energetic disruptions. Curious if your pet is affected by similar disturbances? Don't miss this enlightening episode.

EPISODE NOTES: Why is My Cat Crying?

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Discover the extraordinary tale of Doc Key, once a slave, who trained the most intelligent horse in history – Beautiful Jim Key. Under the gentle guidance of Doc Key, Jim Key learned the alphabet, spelling, basic math, and a myriad of tricks that captivated millions at World’s Fairs. But beyond his feats, Doc Key forged a profound bond with his horse, Jim Key, enabling them to communicate deeply and mesmerize audiences of all ages. Their partnership inspired three million children to sign a kindness pledge to all animals. Jim Key was a trailblazer in the burgeoning anti-cruelty movement. Donna Janell Bowman's book, Step Right Up, celebrates their story, resonating with readers of all ages. Illustrated beautifully by Daniel Minter, this inspiring tale is a staple in our

EPISODE NOTES: The Smartest Horse: Beautiful Jim Key

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Ellie Laks from The Gentle Barn and I share some of our favorite, joyful, inspiring stories about communicating with animals and discovering their rich inner lives. We don’t always realize how multi-dimensional their worlds can be. In this episode, a horse named Whisper who, has gone on to the Rainbow Bridge “appeared” – literally as a shadow that kept crossing the room (you can see this on the YouTube video podcast) – until Ellie told Whisper’s very moving story of healing and transformation. I tell a story about my cat Wolfie, who told me when it was time to pass – the exact day and time. When you open the door to animal communication, you enter a rich and delightful world that opens our eyes in so many ways. These heartwarming stories will inspire you go deeper in all your interactions with animals. And they will love you even more for joining them on this delightful journey.

EPISODE NOTES: Whispers from the Rainbow Bridge: Animal Messages of Love

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TRAK which is Therapeutic Ranch for Animals and Kids brings people of all ages together with animals for fun, comfort, healing, and education. They have four Therapy Donkeys who help kids who might be afraid of larger horses experience a taste of gentleness with a four-legged equine. They have goats, chickens, bunnies, mini horses and of course, retired racehorses for riding lessons. They have seen the transformative power of children of all abilities and adults working with animals to gain more confidence, more understanding of their own emotions – and how animals react to their emotional states. Interacting with animals is very grounding for children and helps them connect to their senses. TRAK also has senior animals there who live out there days in peace and companionship with animals and the people who love them.

EPISODE NOTES: Animals Help Kids Find Their Gentleness

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Does your animal have a choice about what they do or don’t do? Retired psychology Professor, Deborah Jones has been training dogs for over three decades and has developed a philosophy and method she calls Cooperative Care. This method is about giving dogs choices whenever possible during training and in daily interactions. Although there will always be situations where the dog has no choice (such as being examined at the vet’s office!), but we can best prepare dogs for this experience by finding and training situations where they can let us know how they are feeling. By paying attention to the way they are communicating with us, we can observe and correctly interpret their feelings — are they comfortable in this situation? What is bothering them? Are they tired? Are they reacting to our tension or agenda? We can greatly improve all situations for the animals who share our lives when we respect their feelings and provide opportunities for them to choose pace, duration and timing.

EPISODE NOTES: Animals Have Feelings Too

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Jordan Sucato is a sixteen-year-old high school student with her own non-profit organization. She has raised over ten thousand dollars (of her twenty-thousand-dollar goal) to provide booties for dogs who share their lives with homeless folks. She lives in Phoenix, Arizona, where summer temperatures can go to 120 degrees, making the pavement 140 degrees. Many dogs who share their lives with homeless families will walk several miles a day in the hot sun. Jordan loves all animals, and her life has found a total sense of purpose with her mission to provide booties for dogs who are living on the streets with their people. The stories of love and joy she tells will delight and inspire you. She tells students her age, “Don’t let anything stop you from your dream of helping animals.”

EPISODE NOTES: Teen Gives Booties to Homeless Doggies

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This week on The Human Animal Connection, host Genie Joseph welcomes Jesse Sternberg, author of Enlightened Dog Training, for a thoughtful conversation about creating peace and harmony in our relationships with dogs. Drawing from decades of experience—including his early days running a doggie daycare—Jessie shares his deep understanding of pack dynamics, canine communication, and how mindful, non-coercive training techniques can transform the way we live with and care for our pets. Genie and Jessie explore the energetic influences of group settings, the subtle art of interspecies connection, and how embracing new, enlightened approaches can lead to more joyful, balanced lives for both humans and dogs. If you're curious about expanding your bond with your dog using compassionate, consciousness-based methods, this episode is not to be missed.

EPISODE NOTES: Enlightened Dog Training: Peaceful Solutions for a Harmonious Pack

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Discover the enchanting world of donkeys with Ellie Laks, the co-founder of The Gentle Barn, as she unveils the hidden depths of these gentle creatures. Often misunderstood, donkeys are not only kind and empathic but also surprisingly playful and soulful members of the zebra family. Ellie shares heartwarming tales of the therapy donkeys at The Gentle Barn, revealing how they effortlessly connect with humans in profound ways beyond words. Unlike many animals that resist newcomers, donkeys and cows welcome strangers with open hearts, treating them like long-lost family members. Despite enduring myths of stubbornness, Ellie's stories shatter these misconceptions, showcasing donkeys' true nature as peaceful, wise animals that prioritize safety and embody healthy boundaries. Join us for an inspiring journey into the world of donkeys, where their warm gazes and serene presence can settle spirits and touch something deep within ourselves.

EPISODE NOTES: Donkeys are the REAL Unicorns

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For thousands of years, donkeys have walked beside us—carrying our burdens, plowing our fields, and offering quiet companionship in times of peace, war, and hardship. These remarkable beings are far more than beasts of burden; they are deeply intelligent, profoundly social, and, perhaps most importantly, natural healers. Their gentle, steady presence is exactly what the world needs right now.

In this heartfelt episode, I sit down with Suzanne Velasquez, Director of Forever Home Donkey Rescue and Sanctuary, a 30-acre safe haven in Benson, Arizona, where over 30 rescued donkeys roam freely, at last experiencing the love and kindness they deserve.

Yet, the story of donkeys is not always one of kindness. Too often, they have been misunderstood, mistreated, and unfairly judged. But if you take the time to truly see them—to look into their soulful eyes—you’ll understand the truth: donkeys are extraordinary. Their ability to sense human emotions and offer comfort as therapy animals is nothing short of life-changing. Therapy donkeys can be our partners in healing. With their deep sensitivity and unshakable calm, they have an innate ability to guide people toward safety—both physically and emotionally. For those who have endured suffering and trauma, simply standing in their presence can be transformative. Donkeys show us what it means to trust, to heal, and to find peace.

This World Donkey Day, we invite you to celebrate with us. Join The Human-Animal Connection and Forever Home Donkey Rescue in honoring and protecting these incredible animals. These stories of resilience, love, and healing will stay with you long after you’ve listened. Tune in and let the magic of donkeys touch your heart.

EPISODE NOTES: Forever Love with Donkeys

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What makes life in a zoo better for animals? Being able to make their own choices and bonding with individuals who care for them. In this episode we meet a warm and joyous zookeeper whose job it was among other things, to prepare crocodiles for their regular medical exams. Crocodiles, who can learn their own names, and will come when called are not only the first species you think of when you talk about “animal intuition” – but how do they know it is time for once every two-year medical exam? Learn how they knew from what shirt the zookeeper was wearing they could predict what was coming that day. What makes them suddenly disappear when it is time for a blood test? Learn all about Albert Ferraro’s experiences with these and other zoo animals, including exotic Tapers with personalities and affection, and Siamang monkeys who delighted with a handheld mirror and other joyful tales about how bonding with one special human can make 

EPISODE NOTES: What a Zookeeper Learned from Animals

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Flying animals out of disaster areas, or from shelters that are overrun is the mission of Pilots to the Rescue. Pilot Michael Schneider tells heart-warming stories of helping animals get out of bad situations and get to better ones! Michael explains that every year close to a million homeless pets are euthanized in the US, primarily due to a lack of space in crowded shelters. With their non-profit organization, they are able to coordinate with shelters who are in dire circumstances and transport the animals to help them find loving homes with families who have open arms and hearts. Helping at risk animals is the mission of Pilots to the Rescue, and learn how the animals do in flight, as they make their way to safety. Their goal for the year 2025 is to save 2,500 animal souls. Listen to this show and feel inspired about how we change the destiny of animals.

EPISODE NOTES: Pilots to the Rescue

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Penelope Smith, Author of Animal Talk, Interspecies Telepathic Communication, has been lecturing and teaching Animal Communication all over the world for decades. In this episode she explains her deep feelings and understanding of Animal Consciousness. She more conscious than we are about love and life. This is a delightful conversation that will inspire you to open your own heart and mind to the world of Animal Communication.
explains that all beings are conscious. They have emotions and make choices and decisions; they have intentions and a purpose in life. We can learn so much from communicating with them about what is important to them, what they think of us, and how they can teach us so much about who we really are.

Penelope talks about the cost to humans of having a false dividing line between humans and other animals, how the notion of hierarchy is dangerous because it leads to treating “others” as less than, whether that is different species, different races or genders, it is time to no longer give power to the idea that humans are superior. There is nothing like communicating directly with animals to help us recognize that they are often
EPISODE NOTES: Penelope Smith on Animal Consciousness

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Healing is in your hands when you learn the art of Tapping, which is like acupuncture without needles. This gentle and friendly technique, called EFT for Emotional Freedom Technique, is loved by most animals and you can learn how to do it yourself to increase the bond and to promote physical, mental and emotional healing. In this episode, Jondi Whitis explains how she uses tapping to bring calm, relieve separation anxiety and help all animals feel better in their bodies and minds. Tapping has no side effects, and you can’t do it wrong, so it is the perfect method to add to your animal-wellness toolbox. Jondi first learned tapping to help herself and other humans, but soon discovered what a powerful method it was for all beings.

EPISODE NOTES: Tapping

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Nobody wants to think about euthanasia. It is one thing if an animal is ill, suffering, and has reached the end of the possibilities of medical intervention. It is quite another thing to consider putting a physically healthy animal down who has mental illness and behavioral issues that are dangerous to themselves or others. This is a difficult subject to face, but thousands of people live lives of quiet desperation, unable to let their dog interact with others, or not able to easily leave the dog alone.

In this episode, Meredith Tollison, Animal Communicator and Behavioral Dog Trainer engages us with a very honest conversation about what happens when an animal and human can’t live together happily, safely and peacefully. It is almost as if some people are trapped with these animals. They feel at the mercy of their concerns about how their animal might react in a variety of situations. While this episode discusses hard-to-face issues, it also is inspirational as Meredith talks about communicating with animals after they have been euthanized and passed into the beyond. Many of these animals did not enjoy life in a body, in a human home, and now feel that they are truly home, safe, calm and ready to connect at a spiritual level. Be brave and listen, you will be glad you did!

EPISODE NOTES: Behavioral Euthanasia

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Animal Chaplains help people through all stages and phases of their animal’s life. Many times, when people are preparing for the transition, there are so many complex emotions, and you really want to talk to someone who understands the depths of the experience of pet loss. Animal Chaplains are non-denominational and accept people from all faiths, no faiths, and belief systems. Animal Chaplains can help you identify what you need to process this experience, or to create a customized ceremony to celebrate the life of an animal. Animal Chaplains respect the human-animal relationship in all its many phases of love, joy and loss. It is always good to have a plan for transition and Animal Chaplains can walk with you through this experience, so that it may be as beautiful and sacred as possible. Rev. Sarah Bowen is the cofounder of Compassion Consortium, and trains potential Animal Chaplains. Her book Sacred Sendoffs is available online.

EPISODE NOTES: What is An Animal Chaplain?

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Kate Hawkes was raised in Australia with and by horses! Her father gave her some very wise advice when she was ten years old after a horse “threw her.” He said, “The horse didn’t throw you. You fell off. What were you doing – or not doing – that make the horse knock you off?” The wisdom of recognizing that horses are mirrors for our energy, our behavior, our deeper feelings has helped shape Kate’s healing work with others. The wisdom of horses has inspired Kate to work with many people who are on their healing journey to express their creativity and to truly be themselves. Horses are expert teachers at being true to their own feelings, and because of this, they can clearly see our own selves. Being around healing horses and being truly seen -- can help us to recognize our inner lives and to learn to express ourselves in creative, honest, and joyful ways.

EPISODE NOTES: How Horses Inspire Our Creativity

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With so many abandoned dogs in shelters, it is easy to lose hope. But for the dogs who do get adopted, lives are changed forever. Not just for the dogs -- but for the people who open their homes and hearts. Katherine Carver is the author and photojournalist of the beautiful book: Abandoned: Chronicling the Journeys of Once Forsaken Dogs which has been endorsed by Jane Goodall. It shows heartfelt photos of dogs left in shelters – sad, lonely, hungry – and then once adopted a follow-up one year later in photos and stories of their happy lives and the joy they have brought to their new families. These inspiring stories of resilience will make you want to run to your shelter and take a little ball of love home!

EPISODE NOTES: Abandoned Dogs Give Hope to Many

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Spot is a rabbit. But not just your “everyday rabbit.” He is a philosopher who has narrated a book on human-life to his person, Animal Communicator Paloma Baertschi. The book is called “You Set Your Own Limits” and offers much practical wisdom to those of us living in human bodies. This book tells the remarkable story of how Spot insisted that his person needed to learn more before he would speak to her. For two years, he repeated the message that he was a philosopher, and she wasn’t ready to understand what he had to say. Paloma didn’t give up. She refined her understanding and her skills of animal communication, and to this day, the conversation continues.

Spot’s partner (the mother of their children) is named Luna. She has her own gifts of communication and is often the expert when animals have to go to the veterinarian, and the causes of illness are not understood. The rabbit Luna telepathically understands what is needed and is often able to help the veterinarian understand what needs to be done to save the animal’s life, even in surgery situations. You will never underestimate Animal Consciousness and wisdom after you listen to this episode.

EPISODE NOTES: Down the Rabbit Hole – A Conversation with a Rabbit Named Spot & Paloma Baertschi

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When was the last time you had a serious conversation with a Turkey? For Ellie Laks, co-creator of the Gentle Barn, this is a regular occurrence. At her rescue barn, the female turkeys love to cuddle with kids and adults. Looking the person in the eye, they spread their wings, exposing their hearts, and meet people at such a pure and profound level that it often brings tears to their eyes – the human’s eyes! Ellie has been an animal communicator since childhood, and she has had such powerful conversations with her rescue turkeys that it will make your jaw drop and your heart open. These are not just “dumb animals” or meals for holidays. These turkeys have expressed very specific desires and have shown just how truly in service they are to the human race. Ellie Laks is the author of My Gentle Barn and Cow Hug Therapy. For more information visit GentleBarn.org

EPISODE NOTES: Talking Turkey with Ellie Laks - The Gentle Barn

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