Profound and life-changing encounters with animals, with wildlife photographer Dan Elster

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Send us a textIn 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 researcher hat to find out.This interview absolutely blew my mind! There's already so much work underway in understanding and making practical use of animal communication, on both small and large scales.Avantika Mathur is an academic researcher with a master of science in Global Health, co-host of the Animals & Us podcast, and is currently completing a research fellowship focused on Intuitive Interspecies Communication. She's a trailblazer in this space, both in coordinating events and editing for academic journals on the topic.Learn more about the podcast here: ⁠dogdeities.comIn this episode: Avantika's career pivot into studying animal communicationAdoption story of her first dog, SimbaThe current academic research around animal communicationWhat humans can learn from animals, and their perception of us and our contributions to the globe (!!)How intuitive interspecies communication (IIC) can help address major global issues like climate change, without fear or shame tactics"

Send us a textIn 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 animals, particularly trees. Dr. Kuchta shares her insights on how each being possesses intrinsic value, not only for their contributions to our lives but simply for existing.Here’s what we talked about:The Role of Love in Interspecies Communication: Dr. Kuchta shared her research on how love enables intuitive communication with animals, particularly trees. She believes that by tuning into love, we can become more responsible and caring members of Earth.Re-envisioning Education: We discussed the need for a paradigm shift in educational practices, moving beyond traditional "green" initiatives to address the deeper values embedded in our systems.Messages from Trees: Dr. Kuchta revealed the insights she received from trees about how to communicate with them and the important messages they want to share with humanity.Skepticism and Fear: She shared a story about a friend who transitioned from skepticism to understanding, highlighting the often-fear-based roots of skepticism regarding intuitive communication.Future Vision for Education: Dr. Kuchta articulated her vision for integrating love and environmental awareness into educational systems, emphasizing the importance of changing how we think about our relationships with nature.About Dr. Kuchta:Dr. Estella Carolye Kuchta teaches ecocriticism and research writing at Langara College in Vancouver, Canada. Her doctoral research investigated the epistemological potential of love and the redefining of love from an ecological perspective. She is the coauthor with Sean Blenkinsop of Ecologizing Education: Nature-Centered Teaching for Cultural Change (Cornell, 2024). Her ecocritical research into Canadian love stories resulted in the novel Finding the Daydreamer(Elm Books, 2020). She has worked as a research assistant to Dr. Gabor Maté (MD), an editor for Susila Dharma International, and an intern for the CBC Radio, and is a long-time member of the International Love Research Network and the interfaith group Subud. 

Send us a textIn 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 experiences can transform public perceptions and policies around animal rights and welfare. Dr. Bekoff discusses the powerful bonds we share with our animal companions and how these relationships can foster deeper understanding and compassion.What we talked about:The spiritual lives of animals: Dr. Bekoff shared his insights into how animals experience what we would consider spiritual moments—a topic he has explored in his essays like "Do Animals Have Spiritual Experiences? Yes, They Do."Animal emotions: We tackled the age-old question, "Do animals have emotions?" (Spoiler: Yes, they do!), and discussed why these emotional lives are so important to understanding animals’ intrinsic value.Skepticism from the scientific community: Dr. Bekoff reflected on the skepticism he’s faced over the years, particularly from the scientific community. But the tides are shifting—more people are opening their minds to the reality of animal emotions and spirituality.Spirituality and conservation: We also explored how acknowledging the spiritual side of animals can shift the way we approach conservation and animal rights. How does this deeper connection lead to a greater drive for protecting the fellow beings we share our home with?Collaboration with Dr. Jane Goodall: Dr. Bekoff shared the story of how he met and began working with Dr. Jane Goodall, one of the greatest champions of animal welfare.About Dr. Marc Bekoff:A professor emeritus of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder, Marc has published 31 books (or 41, depending on how you count multi-volume encyclopedias). He has won many awards for his research on animal behavior, animal emotions (cognitive ethology), compassionate conservation, and animal protection, has worked closely with Jane Goodall as co-chair of the ethics committee of the Jane Goodall Institute, and is a former Guggenheim Fellow. He also works closely with inmates at the Boulder County Jail. In June 2022, Marc was recognized as a Hero by the Academy of Dog Trainers. His books include The Animals' Agenda: Freedom, Compassion, and Coexistence in the Human Age, Canine Confidential: Why Dogs Do What They Do, Unleashing Your Dog: A Field Guide to Giving Your Canine Companion the Best Life Possible, and A Dog's World: Imagining the Lives of Dogs in a World Without Humans. Marc’s latest books are Dogs Demystified: An A to Z Guide to All Things Canine, the second edition of The Emotional Lives of Animals: A Leading Scientist Explores Animal Joy, Sorrow, and Empathy―and Why They Matter, and

Send us a textIn 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 Wild: The Spiritual World of Animals, Including Pets, and Its Interconnections with Ours*. She explains how animals are not only our companions but also spiritual equals, helping us evolve on our soul’s journey. We explore what it means for animals to have soul missions, and the deep spiritual bond that transcends life and death. We also discuss what happens after one passes. Miki channels messages of comfort and healing from departed pets, offering solace to those grieving their loss. Her unique perspective on soulmates, soul contracts, and reincarnation sheds light on the timeless connections we share with both animals and humans alike.Join us for an inspiring conversation that will give you food for thought on how you view your relationship with animals and how to open your heart to the spiritual wisdom they offer. Miki’s work is a testament to the deep love, guidance, and healing that animals bring into our lives, both in the physical realm and beyond.Find out more about Miki here:https://mikijacobs.com

Send us a textIn 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 the world of intuitive interspecies communication (IIC). We talk about her research with animal communicators across Europe and Africa, exploring how different cultures perceive and practice IIC. Vanessa also discusses her groundbreaking new research project, "Animal Communicators: Intuitive Communication as a Key to Dialogic Multispecies Methods," which aims to bridge the gap between nature and culture by engaging animals as active participants in research.Join us as Vanessa shares the challenges she has faced, and the profound insights she has gained. From her time with the Maasai to her current work on IIC, Vanessa's story is one of passion, perseverance, and a deep commitment to understanding the world around us.Whether you're an academic, a practitioner of animal communication, or simply curious about the possibilities of intuitive connections with animals, we hope you will leave this episode feeling curious, excited and inspired about what's on the horizon with IIC research. Tune in to hear Vanessa's unique perspective and learn more about the exciting future of interspecies communication. She talks about her advice for those who want to explore their own IIC abilities, her vision for the future of her research, and how you can connect with her and follow her innovative work. 

Send us a textWe 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.

Send us a textIn 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 positive reinforcement.We dove into her passion and years of observation of canine psychology, discussing different forms of aggression and the best approaches to handling them. Rachel offers invaluable advice on choosing the right dog for you, navigating breed tendencies, and seamlessly introducing a new canine family member into your home.Rachel truly "speaks dog" and understands canines as energetic beings. We talk about whether they can read our minds, and how we can deepen our connection with them on a deeper level.