Barking Mad Podcast

Another Darwin’s advisory and another DCM lawsuit. This month on Zoomies, Jordan Tyler and Dr. Stephanie Clark revisit two recurring pet food stories and the arguments that keep them making headlines. They discuss the latest Salmonella concerns involving Darwin’s raw cat food, why serving raw meat to pets is different from cooking it for your family, and how food safety decisions can affect more than the animal eating the food.Then, a DCM-related lawsuit involving Champion Petfoods sparks a conversation about scientific evidence and consumer trust. Along the way, Jordan and Dr. Steph share their Halloween costumes, including a family of Barbies and an unexpectedly coordinated SpongeBob ensemble.Helpful Links 📋Read the full statement from Darwin’s Natural Pet Foods: https://www.darwinspet.com/blogs/resources/darwins-fda-lawsuit-response🍂September’s episode of Zoomies: https://bsmpartners.net/barking-mad-podcast/september-zoomies-the-scoop-on-new-dcm-research🐶Our episode with the Clean Label Project and Ellipse Analytics: https://bsmpartners.net/barking-mad-podcast/superzoo-2026-heavy-metals-contaminants-and-other-things-that-go-bump-in-the-bowlEpisode Chapters00:00 – Welcome to October Zoomies 00:34 – Remembering Pets for Día de los Muertos 02:25 – Halloween Costume Chaos 08:37 – Another Darwin’s Advisory 12:20 – Darwin’s Responds to the FDA 15:23 – Raw Pet Food Safety 20:26 – DCM Lawsuits and Consumer Trust

Not everything that ends up in your pet's food makes it onto the ingredient list. From heavy metals and pesticides to environmental contaminants, some unwanted substances can still creep into the bowl. In this episode of Barking Mad, we sit down with Dr. Sean Callan of Clean Label Project and Matt Rigushi of Ellipse Analytics at SUPERZOO 2026 to unmask the hidden world of food contamination. Drawing on recent dog and cat food studies, join us as we explore how modern testing is revealing what labels can't, why safety standards haven't always kept pace, and how smarter sourcing and greater transparency can help keep these uninvited guests out of the food bowl. No tricks, just science!Show Notes🧪 Learn more about Clean Label Project and Ellipse Analytics.🐱 Explore research connecting environmental and industrial contaminants, like lead, to commercial cat food products: https://cleanlabelproject.org/cat-food-study/ Dive into research investigating the presence of heavy metals, pesticides, and other unwanted substances in commercial dry dog food products: https://cleanlabelproject.org/dog-food-study/ Episode Chapters00:00 – Things That Go Bump in the Bowl01:32 – Meet Clean Label Project and Ellipse Analytics02:47 – What Does Food Safety Really Mean?04:00 – How Contaminants Sneak Into Pet Food06:03 – When Science Outpaces Safety Standards08:03 – The Problem With Outdated Regulations09:48 – Cleaner Ingredients, Smarter Sourcing11:11 – What Recent Cat Food Research Reveals13:08 – Why Food Contamination Matters to Everyone

What happens when a Hollywood producer trades film sets for meat grinders? In this episode of Barking Mad, Jordan Tyler sits down with Sierra Obioha, founder of My Raw Dawg, to explore how her dog Bojangles’ health struggles sparked a career change and a whole lot of questions about pet food. Sierra shares the messy reality of moving from DIY raw feeding to launching a brand— including kitchen experiments, packaging setbacks, and learning just how much she didn’t know.Fresh off her win at the Black Pet Business Network’s Next Wave Pitch competition at SUPERZOO 2026, Sierra also opens up about finding community among fellow founders, putting education at the center of her business, and building a brand that reflects her personality. Plus, we get the story behind the name everyone told her not to choose!Helpful Links: 🐶 Check out My Raw Dawg: https://myrawdawg.com/💻 Take a look at the Black Pet Business Network YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoULWLo6X1qGl3rnz0PX2Aw 💼 More about the Black Pet Business Network and Next Wave Pitch Competition at SUPERZOO 2026: https://www.petfoodprocessing.net/articles/20811-black-pet-business-network-presents-industry-honors-during-superzoo 🎧 Our previous episode with Autumn and Dr. Wendt: https://bsmpartners.net/barking-mad-podcast/built-different-the-founders-shaking-up-superzoo-2026📲 Follow Sierra and My Raw Dawg on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/sierraobioha/https://www.instagram.com/my.rawdawg/Episode Chapters: 00:00 – From Hollywood to My Raw Dawg 01:40 – How Bojangles inspired a career change 07:58 – Learning the ropes along the way 12:51 – My Raw Dawg’s approach to education 19:04 – Building a business 20:46 – Winning at SUPERZOO 2026 24:29 – What’s next for My Raw Dawg? 26:12 – The name everyone said not to use 30:01 – Connect with Sierra and My Raw Dawg

What keeps a pet brand relevant for years, decades, or even centuries? At SUPERZOO 2026, Jordan and Dr. Steph talked with pet industry veterans about how established businesses keep finding new ways to care for animals, from a family company founded in 1805 that helped popularize lickable cat treats to scientists developing AI tools for checking dogs’ teeth.These conversations reveal a shared challenge for pet products. They need to appeal to the people buying them while meeting the needs of the animals using them. In this episode, our hosts explore how science shapes meaningful innovation and where treating pets like children gets complicated, because what catches our eye on the shelf isn’t necessarily what serves them best.Helpful Links:🍃Check out Central Garden & Pet: https://www.central.com/🐶 See what INABA has going on right now: https://inabafoods.com/🐱 Take a look at Mars Pet Nutrition: petcare And visit the Waltham Petcare Science Institute: https://www.waltham.com/ Don’t forget to check out GREENIES Toothscan: https://www.greenies.com/pages/greenies-canine-dental-check/ https://www.pethonesty.com/🐕 See what Animal Essentials has to offer: https://animalessentials.com/🍪 Take a peek at Three Dog Brands: our-story🎤 Exlore Kallman Worldwide: https://www.kallman.com/Episode Chapters: 00:00 Industry Veterans, Fresh Thinking 01:21 Meaningful Innovation and Consumer Trust 07:20 A New Way to Bond with Pets 10:34 Prioritizing Research and Proactive Pet Care 15:00 Putting Product Promises to the Test 19:17 Rethinking What Pets Really Need 23:51 Human-Inspired Treats for Dogs 27:44 Connecting the Pet Industry Across Borders 30:45 Human Expectations, Animal Needs

Pet food packaging gives us plenty to compare, but how much does it actually tell us about the food? Recorded at SUPERZOO 2026, this episode brings Fromm Family Pet Food’s PhD nutritionist, Dr. Danielle Opetz, together with hosts Jordan Tyler and Dr. Stephanie Clark to unpack Fromm’s guiding philosophy. They explore why digestibility, nutrient availability, and processing deserve more attention than the latest buzzword, and how marketing can leave pet owners feeling guilty, when they should be feeling informed.Plus, Danielle shares the thinking behind Fromm’s commitment to independent pet retailers and what’s next for targeted nutrition. Along the way, cats get some attention, pet treats start looking suspiciously like toddler snacks, and “human-grade” gets a reality check.Helpful Links:🐶Learn more about Fromm Family Pet Food: https://frommfamily.com/🐕And check out Fromm Family Nutritionals: https://frommfamily.com/nutritionals-dog/Episode Chapters: 00:00 — Intro: Meet Fromm's Dr. Danielle Opetz 02:27 — The Danger of Over-Supplementing Pets (More Isn't Better) 05:39 — Targeted Pet Nutrition & Local Pet Store Advice 09:44 — How to Avoid Pet Food Fads & Marketing Myths 16:33 — "Human-Grade" Cat & Dog Food Claims Explained (SUPERZOO) 21:20 — The Future of Fromm Pet Food & Upcoming Innovations

Grain-free dog food has spent years in the DCM hot seat, but what is the research actually saying?In this month’s Zoomies, September Zoomies, Jordan Tyler and Dr. Stephanie Clark revisit the controversy surrounding dilated cardiomyopathy and unpack the recent Dog Aging Project findings. Together, they trace how an investigation became a source of widespread fear and discuss the research gaps that still exist between diet and canine heart health. From mistaken diet histories to the limits of taurine testing, their conversation explores why finding answers is more complicated than pointing to an ingredient list. Jordan and Dr. Steph also share helpful advice for pet parents, including questions to ask pet food brands, a breakdown of why a dog’s individual health needs belong in diet discussions, and heart health warning signs to bring to your vet’s attention. Helpful Links 🦴Here are some of our previous episodes about DCM and pet research: diets-and-dcm-in-dogs-are-the-answers-found-in-poop behind-the-research-revealing-the-truth-about-diet-and-dcm-in-dogs fellowship-of-iron-and-earth-from-farm-to-bowl-with-tim-mcgreevythink-twice-even-bad-science-can-get-published🐕 The most recent Dog Aging Project study: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/vms3.71213 🩺 And Dr. Steph’s take on it: decoding-the-dog-aging-project-data-grain-free-diets-cardiac-diagnoses-and-what-the-latest-research-really-means 🐾 Read BSM Partners’ research on DCM in dogs here: dcmChapters:00:00 — Grain-Free Dog Food & Heart Health: The DCM Debate Explained02:05 — DCM in Dogs Explained: What Is Dilated Cardiomyopathy?07:23 — Grain-Free Dog Food & DCM: What Started the Investigation?10:34 — Can Blood Tests Detect DCM in Dogs? Understanding the Limitations 21:30 — Dog Aging Project: What the Study Found About Dog Food & DCM25:38 — Dog Food & DCM: Why Pet Owner Reports Can Be Misleading29:41 — How to Choose the Right Dog Food: Questions to Ask36:15 — DCM in Dogs: Early Warning Signs & Symptoms

What turns a personal passion, an unexpected opportunity, or a problem with your own pet into a business? At SUPERZOO 2026, we sat down with six founders whose very different paths led them to one place: building products they believe can make life better for pets and the people who love them.In this episode of Barking Mad, hear from Dr. Lindsay Wendt of Botanical Bones, Autumn Smith of Parents 2 Pawz, Ashton Hood of Shepherd Boy Farms, Dr. Michelle Dulake of Fera Pets, Jessica Berger of Bundle x Joy, and Carrie Van Wert of Giddy Kitty. From a veterinarian whose experience with her own dog changed the way she practiced medicine to a goat farmer who stumbled into pet nutrition and an entrepreneur rethinking enrichment specifically for cats, these founders share the stories behind their brands and what it really takes to turn an idea into a pet business. Show NotesLearn more about the brands and founders featured in today’s episode:🦴Botanical Bones: https://botanicalbones.com/ 🐶Parents 2 Pawz: https://www.parents2pawz.com/ ☀️Shepherd Boy Farms: https://shepherdboyfarms.com/ 🐕Fera Pets: https://www.ferapets.com/ 💙Bundle x Joy: https://bundlexjoy.com/ 🐱Giddy Kitty: https://giddykitty.com/ Episode Chapters:00:00 — Pet Industry Founders: Six Stories of Innovation & Entrepreneurship01:18 — Botanical Bones: A New Approach to Pet Wellness05:49 — Parents 2 Pawz: Turning a Pet Product Idea Into Innovation 09:23 — Shepherd Boy Farms: The Accidental Start of a Pet Food Brand 13:03 — Fera Pets: From Veterinary Medicine to Pet Wellness Brand17:57 — Bundle x Joy: Building a Pet Brand Without the Guilt21:44 — Giddy Kitty: Rethinking Cat Toys & How Cats Play24:57 — Pet Care Innovation: Six Founders, One Mission

What makes a great pet toy? It turns out there’s a lot more to the squeakers, stuffing, and strange shapes than meets the eye. In this episode of Barking Mad, we explore how animal behavior, safety, sustainability, health, and even pop culture are influencing the next generation of pet toy design.Recorded at Interzoo 2026 in Nuremberg, Germany, Jordan Tyler sits down with veteran toy designer Sandra Vartanian of Lelo Designs, Victor Carpio of Inventor Cat, and Brandon Lu of PAWTY Toys to explore three very different approaches to innovation. From designing toys that safely satisfy a dog’s natural instinct to destroy to turning feline dental care into play, these conversations reveal how thoughtful design can make play safer, more enriching, and a whole lot more fun.Show Notes:🐶Check out BarkBox here: https://bark.co/pages/join-barkbox-fext-ff 🎾 And listen to a previous episode where we sit down with Derek Rippe from BARK: https://bsmpartners.net/barking-mad-podcast/superzoo-2026-part-i-the-blood-sweat-and-treats-of-dog-toy-design-with-bark🦴Take a look at what the team at Lelo Designs is cooking up: https://lelodesigns.com/🐕Explore more from Outward Hound here: https://outwardhound.com/🦷Learn more about Inventor Cat and their unique approach to cat dental hygiene: https://www.inventorcat.co.uk/🎉Check out PAWTY Toys’ fun and trendy designs here: https://pawty.com/Episode Chapters: 00:00 — The Surprising Science Behind Pet Toys 02:13 — How the Pet Toy Industry Got Started 05:39 — Are Dogs Supposed to Destroy Their Toys? 07:07 — Sustainability & the Future of Toy Design 09:41 — Turning Cat Dental Care Into Play 14:57 — When Pet Toys Meet Pop Culture 19:24 — Designing Toys with More Than One Life 22:37 — Thanks for Listening & See You Next Time!

Social media has become a go-to source for pet nutrition advice, but how do you know who to trust? In this episode of Zoomies, Jordan Tyler and Dr. Stephanie Clark sit down with Bryce Francois of BK Pets to talk about his journey from following and promoting unsupported pet nutrition beliefs to questioning the evidence behind it and becoming an outspoken advocate for science-backed information. Bryce shares his experience of publicly changing his mind, the personal and financial consequences of challenging his former community, and why pet parents should verify credentials and be open to changing their minds when evidence evolves.Plus, Jordan and Stephanie recap what caught their attention at SUPERZOO, from a growing focus on digestion and functional products to buzzwords like “longevity” and “vitality,” and weigh in on the latest pet food news and recalls from August. It’s a spicy, fast-paced conversation about misinformation, marketing, and what it really means to make informed choices for our pets.Show Notes 🐶 Check Out the BK PetsOn Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebkpets/?hl=enOn TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thebkpetsOn YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebkpets⚖️ Learn More About DOJ’s Civil Complaint against Darwin’s Natural Pet Products: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-files-complaint-stop-washington-firm-manufacturing-and-selling-0🐾 Read About This Month’s RecallsFromm Family Foods: https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/fromm-family-foods-voluntarily-recalls-turkey-pate-wet-food-dogs-and-diner-classic-milos-meatloafOma’s Pride: https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/updated-omas-pride-voluntarily-recalls-one-lot-woof-complete-canine-chicken-recipe-6-lb-bag-becauseYears: https://www.years.com/pages/care?srsltid=AfmBOorx8UptZjCpMIoZirDrcP-f2nn7e13nRcZsNjBeXhmxe0hQ1yCZhttps://www.petfoodindustry.com/safety-quality/pet-food-recalls/news/15833010/years-recalls-fresh-meals-over-dog-eye-illness🎧 Listen to Past Episodes of Zoomies here:April 2026: https://bsmpartners.net/barking-mad-podcast/april-zoomies-headlines-from-the-world-of-petMay 2026: https://bsmpartners.net/barking-mad-podcast/may-zoomies-growing-meat-recalls-and-pet-food-goes-to-courtJune 2026: https://bsmpartners.net/barking-mad-podcast/june-zoomies-boy-kibble-recalls-and-one-nasty-flyJuly 2026: https://bsmpartners.net/barking-mad-podcast/july-zoomies-beagle-backlash-pet-food-lawsuits-and-superzoo-betsEpisode Chapters00:00 — Welcome to August Zoomies01:01 — Where are You Getting Your Pet Nutrition Info?02:26 — Introducing Bryce Francois of BK Pets12:05 — Publicly Changing Your Mind20:20 — Evaluating Pet Food Claims and Credentials27:02 — Our SUPERZOO Impressions36:18 — This Month's Pet Food News and Recalls45:37 — That’s a Wrap! See You Next Month

What do birthing cows, treat-dispensing trolls, and character development have in common? They’re all part of the wonderfully weird world of BARK, where making great dog toys requires a surprising mix of creativity, engineering, behavioral science, and best of all, unhinged creativity. Recorded live from the SUPERZOO 2026 show floor, this special episode goes behind the scenes at BARK to explore the creativity, science, and obsession behind some of the brand’s most memorable and joy-inducing products.Show NotesLearn more at https://bark.co/.Check out BARK’s new Licksters enrichment system: https://bark.co/products/licksters-toy Searching for more? https://bark.co/pages/barkbox-changed-my-lifeRead more about what went down at SUPERZOO 2026! https://www.petfoodprocessing.net/keywords/429-superzoo (And stay tuned for more episodes from the show floor coming soon!)Episode Chapters00:00 – Welcome to SUPERZOO 2026 & Meet BARK01:34 – Bertha the Birthing Cow & BARK’s Weirdest Toys03:36 – Designing Dog Toys for Two Audiences07:30 – How BARK Turns Weird Ideas Into Play10:20 – Licksters, Enrichment & the Future of Dog Toys14:02 – Where Enrichment and Play Collide15:28 – Why Dogs Actually Want to Destroy Their Toys18:01 – The Surprising Science Behind How Dogs Play22:21 – Inside BARK’s Massive Toy Design Machine25:35 – Blood, Sweat & Treats: Bringing a New Toy to Life29:21 – Meet the Weird and Wonderful Characters of BARK31:50 – Putting Dogs First—and Loving Every Minute of It32:56 – Pet Parenting Around the World