Ep. 165 - Stephanie Stephan on Unconditional Love

This week I talk with Stephanie Stephan, a lifelong animal lover who transformed her childhood dream of veterinary medicine into a unique practice of Reiki energy healing for animals. In this episode, Stephanie explores the profound spiritual connection between humans and their animal companions, explaining how pets mirror our emotional states, teach us essential life lessons, and even physically manifest our health issues. Discover how animals naturally operate at healing frequencies, why your dog might have chosen you based on lessons you need to learn, and practical ways to raise your emotional frequency through music, nature, and presence. This fascinating discussion bridges ancient healing wisdom with modern science, revealing that our furry friends are far more than companions—they're our greatest teachers and healers. To learn more about Stephanie's work you can find her online at  www.unconditional-love-frequency-with-stephanie-stephan.com/  and to sign up for one of her classes you can visit www.kumaraacademy.com/courses-classes.Sponsor:LIX - check out www.lixpetwellness.com to learn more about CBD for pets. Use code Rescuepod20 for 20% off your first order! Thanks for listening! If you liked what you heard, please rate, review, and subscribe. If you have ideas for future guests please email me at [email protected] or follow me @theanimalrescuepod on Instagram. You can also learn more about the organizations I interview and how to listen/watch at www.theanimalrescuepodcast.my.canva.site

This week I talk with Patti Eddington, author of "Don't Look in the Freezer: The Very Strange Life of a Veterinarian's Wife," who shares her experiences as the spouse of veterinarian Jim, including the challenges of frequent moves, financial struggles, unexpected client home visits, and memorable incidents like confrontations with irate clients and poor hiring decisions. The book addresses misconceptions about veterinary costs while highlighting the compassion and emotional demands of veterinary work, including performing euthanasias while dealing with personal grief. This book is a must read! "Don't Look in the Freezer" is available April 28 everywhere books are sold. But you should definitely support your local indie bookstore! You can also learn more about Patti's work at www.pattieddington.com and on social media @pattieddingtonauthor.Sponsor:LIX - check out www.lixpetwellness.com to learn more about CBD for pets. Use code Rescuepod20 for 20% off your first order! Thanks for listening! If you liked what you heard, please rate, review, and subscribe. If you have ideas for future guests please email me at [email protected] or follow me @theanimalrescuepod on Instagram. You can also learn more about the organizations I interview and how to listen/watch at www.theanimalrescuepodcast.my.canva.site

This week I talk with Genevieve Frederick, founder of Feeding Pets of the Homeless, a national nonprofit founded in 2008 that operates in all 50 states to help homeless individuals care for their beloved pets. Through five key programs - pet food collection, emergency veterinary care, wellness clinics, shelter crates, and veteran support - the organization has collected over 2.7 million pounds of pet food and spent over $1.1 million in 2025 alone providing medical treatment to more than 1,600 pets. Partnering with over 2,000 veterinary hospitals nationwide and operating entirely on donations and grants, Feeding Pets of the Homeless recognizes that for the 33% of homeless individuals who have pets, these animals provide irreplaceable companionship, protection, and purpose, making the human-animal bond essential to their wellbeing. To learn more about Feeding Pets of the Homeless you can find them at www.petsofthehomeless.org and on social media @feedingpetsofthehomeless.Sponsor:LIX - check out www.lixpetwellness.com to learn more about CBD for pets. Use code Rescuepod20 for 20% off your first order! Thanks for listening! If you liked what you heard, please rate, review, and subscribe. If you have ideas for future guests please email me at [email protected] or follow me @theanimalrescuepod on Instagram. You can also learn more about the organizations I interview and how to listen/watch at www.theanimalrescuepodcast.my.canva.site

This week I talk with Josh from Red Barn Rescue and the Rescueality Podcast. Josh has been rescuing animals since age 5 and founded Red Barn Rescue in Mexico in 2018 with his mom, successfully adopting over 1,500 dogs primarily to the U.S. Currently caring for about 70 dogs—including 25-30 permanent sanctuary residents—Josh and his mom run operations that have included massive adoption events, like placing 84 out of 85 dogs in Washington. Beyond rescue work, Josh launched the Rescueality Podcast to tackle the controversial and difficult topics the rescue community often avoids, from border crossing challenges and cultural differences to corruption, fake rescues, and the realities of managing pack dynamics, disease, and dog fights. His mission is simple: prioritize dogs' welfare and bring transparency to what rescue truly involves beyond the social media highlights. To learn more about Josh's work you can find him on YouTube and social media @rescuealitypodcast and @redbarnrescueranch. You can also go towww.redbarnrescue.org to learn more about the rescue.Sponsor:LIX - check out www.lixpetwellness.com to learn more about CBD for pets. Use code Rescuepod20 for 20% off your first order! Thanks for listening! If you liked what you heard, please rate, review, and subscribe. If you have ideas for future guests please email me at [email protected] or follow me @theanimalrescuepod on Instagram. You can also learn more about the organizations I interview and how to listen/watch at www.theanimalrescuepodcast.my.canva.site

This week I talk with Roger Devine of SchoolAuction.net. For many animal rescue organizations, fundraising is one of the hardest parts of running the organization. What type of fundraiser should you host? How will you get community support? Are you even ready to host a large event? Roger talks us through many of these points breaking things down into manageable steps. If fundraising leaves you freeze mode, this may be the episode for you! To learn more about SchoolAuction.net you can find them online or on social media @SchoolAuction. You can also reach out to Roger to talk through some of your thoughts and pick his brain on what may be the best fit for your group!Sponsor:LIX - check out www.lixpetwellness.com to learn more about CBD for pets. Use code Rescuepod20 for 20% off your first order! Thanks for listening! If you liked what you heard, please rate, review, and subscribe. If you have ideas for future guests please email me at [email protected] or follow me @theanimalrescuepod on Instagram. You can also learn more about the organizations I interview and how to listen/watch at www.theanimalrescuepodcast.my.canva.site

Wildlife SOS, founded in 1995 by Kartick Satyanarayan and Geeta Seshamani, is an Indian animal welfare organization that has made remarkable impact through compassionate, community-focused conservation. Their groundbreaking Dancing Bears Project rescued 628 sloth bears from brutal exploitation while providing alternative livelihoods and education to 3,000 families in the Kalandar community, successfully ending this cruel practice. Building on this success, they established India's first elephant hospital and ambulance service, currently caring for 40 elephants and operating mobile clinics that have helped 142 elephants in 2025 alone. Through their five pillars—rescue and rehabilitation, outreach, education, training, and prevention—Wildlife SOS continues to protect India's wildlife while empowering local communities to become partners in conservation. To learn more about the work of Wildlife SOS you can find them online at www.wildlifesos.org or on social media @wildlifesos.Sponsor:LIX - check out www.lixpetwellness.com to learn more about CBD for pets. Use code Rescuepod20 for 20% off your first order! Thanks for listening! If you liked what you heard, please rate, review, and subscribe. If you have ideas for future guests please email me at [email protected] or follow me @theanimalrescuepod on Instagram. You can also learn more about the organizations I interview and how to listen/watch at www.theanimalrescuepodcast.my.canva.site

This week I talk with Sara Deen Kimball, a dedicated volunteer with the Louisiana State Animal Response Team (LSART) who stumbled into animal rescue through a technical large animal emergency course and never looked back. After volunteering during the 2010 BP oil spill, Sara became deeply involved in disaster response work, helping overwhelmed animal control departments during hurricanes and other emergencies by setting up temporary shelters, performing technical large animal rescues, and decontaminating animals exposed to hazardous floodwaters. She's also the creator of the innovative "Ralph Responders Go Bag" and author of the children's book series starting with "Rowan and the Animal Shelter," which teaches kids about the important work of animal control officers. In this episode, Sara shares her inspiring journey, the critical work LSART does to protect animals during disasters, and how she's educating the next generation about animal welfare through her engaging books and free resources available at LSART.org.Sponsor:LIX - check out www.lixpetwellness.com to learn more about CBD for pets. Use code Rescuepod20 for 20% off your first order! Thanks for listening! If you liked what you heard, please rate, review, and subscribe. If you have ideas for future guests please email me at [email protected] or follow me @theanimalrescuepod on Instagram. You can also learn more about the organizations I interview and how to listen/watch at www.theanimalrescuepodcast.my.canva.site

This week I talk with Aaron "AC" Christensen, founder of Animal Advocacy Network, to discuss his remarkable journey in animal disaster relief spanning two decades. From his beginnings during Hurricane Katrina to rescuing over 500 animals during the 2025 LA fires, AC shares powerful stories from the front lines of disaster response, including his pivotal role in passing California's AB478 legislation that grants certified volunteers access to disaster zones for animal rescue. He also recounts a dramatic river rescue that took an unexpected turn. Finally, we also announce an exciting new collaboration between AC and The Animal Rescue Podcast called "West Coast Wednesdays" – a podcast series dedicated to California's animal rescue community featuring experts and celebrities working to save animals in crisis. To learn more about AC's work you can find him on Instagram @animaladvocacynet or @thatvegasguy and online at ⁠www.animaladvocacynetwork.org⁠.Sponsor:LIX - check out ⁠www.lixpetwellness.com⁠ to learn more about CBD for pets. Use code Rescuepod20 for 20% off your first order! Thanks for listening! If you liked what you heard, please rate, review, and subscribe. If you have ideas for future guests please email me at [email protected] or follow me @theanimalrescuepod on Instagram. You can also learn more about the organizations I interview and how to listen/watch at ⁠www.theanimalrescuepodcast.my.canva.site

This week I am thrilled to talk with Richie Marino, a balanced dog trainer from New Jersey whose personal journey from emergency services to dog training is as compelling as his training philosophy. After battling alcoholism and PTSD, Richie credits his rescue German Shepherd Greta with saving his life, which inspired him to dedicate his career to helping dogs stay in their homes through clear, kind communication and balanced training methods. In this episode, Richie breaks down what it really means to be a leader for your dog, why we need to stop talking so much and start understanding canine body language, and how to cut through social media's unrealistic portrayals of "perfect" dogs. Whether you're struggling with your own dog or looking for a trainer, Richie shares invaluable insights on building structure, setting boundaries, and honoring dogs for who they truly are—not as humans or objects, but as dogs. Bonus, my husband, Dan, joins in on the fun to get some of his own questions answered! To learn more about Richie and his work you can find him on social media @gretatrainsdogs and online at www.gretasdogtraining.com.Sponsor:LIX - check out www.lixpetwellness.com to learn more about CBD for pets. Use code Rescuepod20 for 20% off your first order! Thanks for listening! If you liked what you heard, please rate, review, and subscribe. If you have ideas for future guests please email me at [email protected] or follow me @theanimalrescuepod on Instagram. You can also learn more about the organizations I interview and how to listen/watch at www.theanimalrescuepodcast.my.canva.site

This week I talk with Anna Nichols from Down and Dirty Dogs, a nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming the lives of shelter dogs through positive reinforcement training. Anna shares her inspiring journey from volunteering at the Humane Society of Tennessee Valley to becoming an Animal Behavior Specialist, and introduces us to Down and Dirty Dogs—a team of five passionate women working to improve adoptability and prevent returns by providing crucial training and post-adoption support. You'll hear about the power of mental stimulation, the importance of understanding breed genetics, and a touching story about Burgundy, a dog whose case reinforced Anna's commitment to this vital work. Join us as we explore how even minimal training intervention can make a life-changing difference for shelter dogs and their future families. To learn more about Down and Dirty Dogs you can find them online at www.downanddirtydogs.com or on social media @downanddirtydogs. You can also reach Anna @thelazydogtrainer with any questions!Sponsor:LIX - check out www.lixpetwellness.com to learn more about CBD for pets. Use code Rescuepod20 for 20% off your first order! Thanks for listening! If you liked what you heard, please rate, review, and subscribe. If you have ideas for future guests please email me at [email protected] or follow me @theanimalrescuepod on Instagram. You can also learn more about the organizations I interview and how to listen/watch at www.theanimalrescuepodcast.my.canva.site