Learning from animals at sea and on land with Dr Sarah Pye • Animals & Us E21
Dr Sarah Pye was born in Gibraltar, spent 13 years sailing in nature with her family, then moved onto a boat, learning from animals, weather, and the world around her. She has always loved animals. Night watches at sea, meeting dolphins and whales, resulted in her developing a deep appreciation for hands-on animal encounters that […]
Twenty years numb: Karl Germann on complex trauma, queerness, and finding himself at 46 | Pride I…
The 20-year fog Karl grew up in apartheid South Africa in a wealthy but emotionally distant Austrian-South African family, experiencing what he now understands as complex trauma rooted in his mother’s narcissism and his father’s clinical detachment. For decades he dissociated, unaware he was queer until his late twenties when he met a partner and […]
Sharks for Kids founder Jillian Morris: eye contact with apex predators and rewriting the shark n…
Jillian grew up obsessed with the ocean and marine life, sparked by an encounter with a nurse shark at age 8 in Florida. As she became a marine scientist, she noticed a stark disconnect: people hated and feared sharks intensely despite knowing nothing about them. Rather than accept this narrative, she committed to becoming a […]
Resilience, courage, and caring for others with Andrew Mac Donald • Animals & Us E03
Andrew grew up in Sydney with a rare bone disorder (XLH), underwent painful surgeries, and experienced contrasting childhoods with his healthy twin brother. Despite physical challenges, Andrew pursued music and sound engineering, then became a Bunnings manager, utilising his organisational and managerial skills. At 24, Andrew confronted robbers at Bunnings, displaying bravery but subsequently faced […]
Vets Beyond Borders: global care for animals with Dr Ian Douglas • Animals & Us E18
In this episode of Animals and Us, we meet Dr Ian Douglas, a pioneering veterinarian whose career spans five decades, continents, and countless animal lives improved through his dedication to welfare and education. From his beginnings in Scotland to his long-standing leadership with Vets Beyond Borders, Ian’s work has shaped international animal health programs across […]
Learning to live a life free of limits with Michael Hingson • Animals & Us E15
Michael was born blind and grew up in Chicago and California. His early years lacked access to braille, but he learned math in his head and stayed curious about science. Michael got proper braille education in fourth grade. With his mother’s support and a new resource teacher, he caught up in school, joined the Boy […]
Healing relationships between humans and dingos with Dr Julie Funnell • Animals and Us E07
Julie grew up in the bushland of the Blue Mountains in New South Wales, where her love for animals began with a rescued kitten at age two and a childhood spent exploring nature. That early connection with the environment led her to study Environmental Biology and complete a PhD on bird migration. After working for […]
Megan Hensley: The Donkey Farrier Teaching the World to Listen Before They Lead
Episode Summary Megan Hensley grew up outside Sacramento with animals as her closest companions — the kids at school didn’t get her, but the animals always did. After dropping out of high school at 15, a stint in the US Army, conservation work that brought her to Australia, and a chance apprenticeship with a compassionate […]
Why every dog deserves to be loved with Lya Battle • Animals & Us E19
Lya Battle Bonilla is the Founder of Territorio de Zaguates, a sanctuary in Costa Rica with over 15 years of experience. More than 1,800 rescued dogs now live in freedom, safety, and love. What started as a small rescue effort from her own home slowly grew into a lifelong mission, to give every dog, no […]
Dealing with loss and finding purpose with Kobe Steele • Animals & Us E02
Kobe Steele has always been an animal person in Australia, having lived with dogs and cats her whole life, treating them as beloved family members. After a successful career in media as a TV and radio host and before finding her calling in conservation, Kobe brought her communication skills to important environmental causes. After the […]