Petspace Podcast

We made it to the new year, can you believe it? To celebrate, we’re looking back at the second half of the episodes that brought us here, with highlights from PetSpace Podcast episodes 11-20.Guests include viral sensations, trailblazers in animal welfare, and more folks fighting the good fight to raise awareness and make the world a better place – for us, and for all our furry friends. Thanks as always for listening!The Petspace Podcast is:Hosted by Catie Voglio,Recorded & Edited by Roger Gomez,Produced by Cameron Kell,To learn more about Wallis Annenberg Petspace visit us at our website annenbergpetspace.org

2024 is almost over, which means it’s a perfect time to look back at the episodes of the podcast that got us here. Today, we’re celebrating our first full year on the air by diving back into our favorite moments from our first 10 episodes.This eclectic collection of guests has really helped us explore just how broad the world of rescue can be…and how many unique humans it takes to save lives. Our interviewees include A-list  celebrities, a CNN Hero of the Year, and plenty of people fighting the good fight to raise awareness and make the world a better place.The Petspace Podcast is:Hosted by Catie Voglio,Recorded & Edited by Roger Gomez,Produced by Cameron Kell,To learn more about Wallis Annenberg Petspace visit us at our website annenbergpetspace.org

For some shelters and rescues, “every dog every day” might only be an aspiration, but for Aimee Sadler, it defines her entire approach to canine enrichment. As CEO of Dogs Playing For Life, Aimee has traveled the country to introduce shelters to the idea of playgroups, a perfect way for dogs to get their ya-ya’s out; in doing so, Aimee has changed the experience of tens of thousands of shelter dogs across America.On this episode of the PetSpace Podcast, Aimee talks about her winding journey through animal welfare, how playgroups allow shelter staff and volunteers to better work together, and why it’s just so important for shelter dogs to get some play into their lives.For more from Aimee and Dogs Playing for Life, check out their website, and follow them on Instagram and Facebook.The Petspace Podcast is:Hosted by Catie Voglio,Recorded & Edited by Roger Gomez,Produced by Cameron Kell,To learn more about Wallis Annenberg Petspace visit us at our website annenbergpetspace.org

Wesley Swainston is on the run – literally – to help shelter dogs get the exposure they need to find their forever homes. You may have seen him on TikTok or Instagram, inviting you to join him on a run as he gives a dog a much-needed break from a kennel at a shelter. Wesley’s videos combine his lifelong passion for volunteering with his more recently found skills in dog training, and they’ve given plenty of views, and fresh air, to shelter dogs in need.On this episode of the PetSpace Podcast, Wesley shares how he approaches amped-up dogs who need a good run, what he loves about volunteering at his shelter, and how he’s planning on running with his newfound audience to make dog training more accessible.For more from Wesley, check out @ForTheDogs on TikTok and Instagram.The Petspace Podcast is:Hosted by Catie Voglio,Recorded & Edited by Roger Gomez,Produced by Cameron Kell,To learn more about Wallis Annenberg Petspace visit us at our website annenbergpetspace.org

There’s beauty in everything, even a litter of rambunctious puppies, running through their own poop. And for videographer Thom McCallum, capturing the beauty and joy of fostering is just one part of the job – because ultimately, Thom’s role is to say farewell to as many pups as possible, so he can continue to make room for more little lives to come into his home.On this episode of the PetSpace Podcast, Thom shares how fostering turned his neighborhood into a community, gives his tips on how to avoid foster-failing, and reflects on how embracing rescue has brought meaning, balance, and purpose back into his life.For more from Thom and his fosters, follow him on Instagram.The Petspace Podcast is:Hosted by Catie Voglio,Recorded & Edited by Roger Gomez,Produced by Cameron Kell,To learn more about Wallis Annenberg Petspace visit us at our website annenbergpetspace.org

Many people would gladly settle for a successful career in music, but for Sterling “TrapKing” Davis, rapping was merely a stepping stone towards his true calling: TNR and community cat management. After doing years of outreach and education, Sterling founded TrapKing Humane Cat Solutions in 2017. Today, his nonprofit continues to champion TNR and provide trapping resources to rescues and communities in need. On this episode of the PetSpace Podcast, Sterling shares when he realized he was a Cat Guy, how he’s bridging the gap between Black communities and predominantly white welfare organizations, and how he’s truly leaning into his motto: “You don’t lose cool points for compassion.”For more from TrapKing, follow Sterling on Instagram and visit TrapKing Humane Cat Solutions’ website.The Petspace Podcast is:Hosted by Catie Voglio,Recorded & Edited by Roger Gomez,Produced by Cameron Kell,To learn more about Wallis Annenberg Petspace visit us at our website annenbergpetspace.org

Let’s be real: dog groomers are the unsung heroes of the pet industry. They’re the ones who battle through the matted coats, risk life and limb to clip nails, and make it look so easy to keep our pets well-maintained, happy, and healthy. And who better to talk about dog grooming than Jess Rona, groomer to the stars and a star in her own right? As an aspiring comedian, Jess found her way into the world of pet grooming at a young age and used her creativity via social media to highlight how cool and creative the grooming industry can really be. On this episode of the PetSpace Podcast, Jess talks about how the world of dog grooming has changed so much over the past 10 years, why she tells aspiring groomers to start as bathers, and why dog grooming – as messy and chaotic as it can be – sustains her. For more from Jess, follow her on Instagram, visit her website, and check out her YouTube channel.The Petspace Podcast is:Hosted by Catie Voglio,Recorded & Edited by Roger Gomez,Produced by Cameron Kell,To learn more about Wallis Annenberg Petspace visit us at our website annenbergpetspace.org

Sometimes, the rescue world can be heavy. But today’s guest – creator, filmmaker, and author Kelsey Darragh – somehow captures the most magical moments, especially with her ever rotating cast of foster dogs. Admittedly, Kelsey was a pro at saying goodbye… until Hippo came along. She shares how one dog seemingly changed her life for nothing but the best and how she continues to champion for her foster dogs with the help of one squatty, crop-eared nugget by her side. On this episode of the PetSpace Podcast, Kelsey talks about why animal shelters are a great place to make friends, how fostering is good for your mental health, and why it took her so much longer than everyone else to realize that she and Hippo were meant for each other.For more from Kelsey and Hippo, follow Kelsey on Instagram and TikTok and check out her book, Don’t F*cking Panic: The Sh*t They Don’t Tell You in Therapy About Anxiety Disorder, Panic Attacks, & Depression.The Petspace Podcast is:Hosted by Catie Voglio,Recorded & Edited by Roger Gomez,Produced by Cameron Kell,To learn more about Wallis Annenberg Petspace visit us at our website annenbergpetspace.org

Not all rescue stories are “love at first sight”; often, it’s simply about helping an animal in need, and the bond that grows from there. Sometimes that electric feeling is undeniable where you know that you and your pet-to-be are absolutely perfect for each other. That’s what happened when Vanessa Villela met her cat, Osita, here at PetSpace.On this episode of the PetSpace Podcast, Vanessa describes her first meeting with Osita, how she knew she was ready to adopt a new pet, and why, when a breeder offered her a free puppy, she turned them down.For more from Vanessa and Osita, you can follow Vanessa on Instagram, and you can also follow Osita on Instagram.The Petspace Podcast is:Hosted by Catie Voglio,Recorded & Edited by Roger Gomez,Produced by Cameron Kell,To learn more about Wallis Annenberg Petspace visit us at our website annenbergpetspace.org

Our guest on today’s episode, Brett Yates, is involved in more pet-friendly initiatives than you can shake a stick at. Pet-inclusive housing? You’ve got it. Community outreach and support? Throw it on the list. Research to incentivize and rapidly develop a single-dose, nonsurgical sterilant that would change spay/neuter practices forever? Yeah, why not? As the CEO of the Michelson Found Animals Foundation, Brett oversees a bevy of truly incredible projects and measures, all aimed at improving the lives of pets and their people.On this episode of the PetSpace Podcast, Brett explains how his desire for purpose-driven work led him to joining the team at Michelson Found Animals and diving into their philanthropic work headfirst. From funding state-of-the-art veterinary medical research to partnering with us at Annenberg PetSpace to train up groomers and other pet professionals, Brett’s contributions to MFA are changing the world of animal welfare for generations to come.To learn more about everything that Brett and the team are cooking at Michelson Found Animals, visit their website, follow them on Instagram, and check out their Facebook.The Petspace Podcast is:Hosted by Catie Voglio,Recorded & Edited by Roger Gomez,Produced by Cameron Kell,To learn more about Wallis Annenberg Petspace visit us at our website annenbergpetspace.org

“The dogs are good again this week.” Over the years, Matt Nelson of WeRateDogs has delivered some iconic lines in support of man’s best friend, and as WeRateDogs’ presence has grown, so has Matt’s ambitions to give back to the community of dog-lovers that he has amassed. Enter the 15/10 Foundation, inspired by the followers of WeRateDogs this foundation now covers medical bills to make shelter dogs more adoptable.On this episode of the PetSpace Podcast, Matt talks about why he was personally inspired to start the 15/10 Foundation, how a small college in North Carolina led to the creation of internet sensation WeRateDogs, and how he and his team are constantly working to earn and retain the trust of their community.For more from WeRateDogs, check out their website, and follow them on Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram.The Petspace Podcast is:Hosted by Catie Voglio,Recorded & Edited by Roger Gomez,Produced by Cameron Kell,To learn more about Wallis Annenberg Petspace visit us at our website annenbergpetspace.org

Nathan Kehn is many things: an actor, a video game designer, an influencer, a budding TNR enthusiast… but first and foremost, he identifies as a “crazy cat lady” in the best of ways. He found that leaning into being a “cat lady” was a superior alternative to “Nathan the Cat Daddy” (trust us, he very quickly learned why). Nathan the Cat Lady hasan innate talent for writing skits and has grown it into a purpose-driven platform that strives to make the world a better place for cats and cat-lovers alike.On this episode of the PetSpace Podcast, Nathan talks about how he has benefitted from the cat distribution system, why crazy cat ladies totally rule, and how he’s constantly learning more about being an ambassador for saving as many cats as possible.For more about Nathan, visit his website, and follow him on Instagram and TikTok.The Petspace Podcast is:Hosted by Catie Voglio,Recorded & Edited by Roger Gomez,Produced by Cameron Kell,To learn more about Wallis Annenberg Petspace visit us at our website annenbergpetspace.org

“Who rescued who?” It’s something you hear often when it comes to our pets, but for Zach Skow, the sentiment couldn’t be truer. Faced with end-stage liver disease and an uphill battle with addiction, Zach credits his dogs with getting him through his darkest days, and he’s been returning the favor ever since. His rescue, Marley’s Mutts, has been going strong for more than a decade, and he joined us on the PetSpace Podcast to talk about one of its newer programs, Pawsitive Change, a comprehensive canine training program for inmates.In this episode, Zach talks about how Pawsitive Change provides enrichment for everyone it touches, what’s in store for the program’s future, and how he’s learned first-hand just how important it is to give everyone – humans and animals – a second chance.For more on the Pawsitive Change Program, you can find them on Instagram, Facebook, and the Marley's Mutts website. You can also follow Zach on Instagram. The Petspace Podcast is:Hosted by Catie Voglio,Recorded & Edited by Roger Gomez,Produced by Cameron Kell,To learn more about Wallis Annenberg Petspace visit us at our website annenbergpetspace.org

Okay, so let’s say you were inspired by our last episode with Puppy Bowl ref Dan Schachner, who fostered dogs for a decade before finally adopting one for himself. Or maybe fostering has been on your to-do list, or it’s a New Year’s Resolution of yours, but you don’t know where to start. Well, today’s guest on the PetSpace Podcast, Holly Allen, has been rescuing animals for basically her entire life, and she has years of experience and advice for all you would-be fosters out there.Holly stopped by PetSpace to share all the finer points of fostering, like how she avoids foster-failing, why transporting is a great entryway into the world of rescue, and how she’s learned to care for herself – and her own pets – while fostering.For more from Holly, follow her on Instagram and TikTok.The Petspace Podcast is:Hosted by Catie Voglio,Recorded & Edited by Roger Gomez,Produced by Cameron Kell,To learn more about Wallis Annenberg Petspace visit us at our website annenbergpetspace.org

On this episode of the PetSpace Podcast, we’re joined by someone who truly scored a touchdown when he landed the role of a lifetime: as the referee – or “ruffaree,” as the case may be – of the Puppy Bowl. Each year, Dan Schachner attempts to maintain order for the 100+ puppies who participate in the event, while also highlighting adoptable puppies and helping their rescues find homes for dogs in need.Dan joined us at PetSpace to talk about the finer points of “ruffareeing,” how Puppy Bowl has evolved in the 13 years he’s been refereeing the event, and why, after 10 years of fostering, he has finally adopted a dog of his own.For more from Dan, follow him on Instagram, and check out puppybowl.com to learn all about Puppy Bowl XX.The Petspace Podcast is:Hosted by Catie Voglio,Recorded & Edited by Roger Gomez,Produced by Cameron Kell,To learn more about Wallis Annenberg Petspace visit us at our website annenbergpetspace.org

What would you do if you found an abandoned kitten in a tree? Hopefully we’d all do something to help, but for Hannah Shaw, stumbling upon her cat-to-be, Coco, literally changed her life. And in the years since, as the Kitten Lady, she’s made it her mission to educate people on how to care for neonatal kittens, the most vulnerable – and incredibly cute – population found at shelters across the country .On this episode of the PetSpace Podcast, Hannah shares her advice for avoiding burnout in animal welfare, how she’s gotten so good at managing houseguests who need to eat every 3 hours, and how she’s worked to become the type of resource she wished she had when she first started rescuing neonatal kittens.For more from the Kitten Lady aka Hannah Shaw, follow her on Instagram, find her library of unparalleled knowledge on Youtube, and check out her website.The Petspace Podcast is:Hosted by Catie Voglio,Recorded & Edited by Roger Gomez,Produced by Cameron Kell,To learn more about Wallis Annenberg Petspace visit us at our website annenbergpetspace.org

Our guest on this episode of the PetSpace Podcast, Susan Michals has spent close to a decade producing events that challenge typical “cat people” stereotypes. A former writer and producer at E!, Susan decided to marry her love of cats and her art background into the first Cat Art Show; impressed by the turnout, she created CatCon a year later, and the rest is history.Coming up on the 10th year of Cat Art Show, Susan joined us to talk about the origins of her feline-focused events, how rescue and visitor experiences separated CatCon from the pack, and why she’s made it her mission to create the equivalent of “in-real-life dog parks” for cat people.For more on Cat Art Show, January 19-21, 2024 at our own Annenberg PetSpace, check out the website and Instagram.For more on CatCon, August 3-4, 2024 in Pasadena, check out CatCon’s website and its Instagram.And for more on Susan, you can check out her website too.The Petspace Podcast is:Hosted by Catie Voglio,Recorded & Edited by Roger Gomez,Produced by Cameron Kell,To learn more about Wallis Annenberg Petspace visit us at our website annenbergpetspace.org

As the human half of Liberty Mutual’s buddy-cop pair LiMu Emu and Doug, writer/actor David Hoffman is pretty famous for working with animals… well, one specific animal. But, as he confesses on this episode of the PetSpace Podcast, despite his rapport with his emu partner, he has actually been afraid of dogs for most of his life. The keyword there is “most,” as David shares how his rescue dog, Duke, has considerably changed his outlook on Man’s Best Friend.On this episode, David talks about the relatable origins of his fear of dogs, how Duke has fit right into his newfound family, and why, even as a cat person, he always advocated to Adopt, Not Shop.For more on David, you can visit his website here, and check out his Instagram for cute pics of him and Duke.The Petspace Podcast is:Hosted by Catie Voglio,Recorded & Edited by Roger Gomez,Produced by Cameron Kell,To learn more about Wallis Annenberg Petspace visit us at our website annenbergpetspace.org

On this episode of the PetSpace Podcast, celebrity stylist and rescue dog dad, Brad Goreski, joined us in-studio to share what he loves most about his resced dogs,how he is using his Instagram as a platform for rescue activism, and how he can no longer imagine a night where he isn't sleeping snugly with a pup on either side.During our conversation, Brad confessed that one of his goals for 2023 was to conquer his fear of visiting an animal shelter; like many people, he worried that visiting a shelter might be too sad or too difficult. So we seized the opportunity, hit the road and took Brad on an adventure to one of LA’s highest volume municipal shelters. With careful guidance from friend of the podcast, Rita Earl Blackwell, Brad dove right into the deep end. Spoiler alert: he didn’t bring them all home, his heart didn’t break, he made a difference, the dogs LOVED the time out of their kennels, and Brad has continued to make trips to share the pets who are waiting for another chance at love. So, there you have it! Visit a shelter!If you have not yet listened to our episode featuring Rita Earl Blackwell, you can find it here. For more on Brad, follow him on Instagram.The Petspace Podcast is:Hosted by Catie Voglio,Recorded & Edited by Roger Gomez,Produced by Cameron Kell,To learn more about Wallis Annenberg Petspace visit us at our website annenbergpetspace.org

On this episode of the PetSpace Podcast, we are joined by one of our most treasured rescue networkers and fairy dogmother, Rita Earl Blackwell. This time we took the show on the road to Rita’s home away from home - one of LA County’s Animal Care Centers. Rita has repeatedly gone viral for her videos and photos of shelter dogs in need. This incredible human has helped many rescue organizations – including PetSpace – identify and transfer in some of their most incredible dogs. We all got a little teary-eyed as Rita shared how she’s dedicated her life to rescue, how every dog she meets and posts is unique and special, and how she first realized she could use her camera and now her phone to save lives.For more on Rita and her work in LA’s animal shelters, you can follow her on Instagram and visit her website.The Petspace Podcast is:Hosted by Catie Voglio,Recorded & Edited by Roger Gomez,Produced by Cameron Kell,To learn more about Wallis Annenberg Petspace visit us at our website annenbergpetspace.org

On this episode of the PetSpace Podcast, Caitlin and Maxwell Benson, founders of the comedy production company, Can’t Even Comedy – but most importantly, repeat PetSpace adopters – give us the scoop on how they have mastered weaving their love for their pets into their work and their everyday lives. We had no shortage of laughs as the duo shared stories of how a crusty old chihuahua helped cement their love, how they have managed to find laughter in tragedy, and how they plan to expand their passion for animal welfare into their future. For more from the Can’t Even Comedy co-founders, visit their website, find them on Instagram, or you can follow their dogs, Pepper and Bootsy, on Instagram as well.The Petspace Podcast is:Hosted by Catie Voglio,Recorded & Edited by Roger Gomez,Produced by Cameron Kell,To learn more about Wallis Annenberg Petspace visit us at our website annenbergpetspace.org

As the saying goes… “eyes are the windows to the soul”, and Sophie Gamand’s work proves this is not just  applicable to us humans, but animals as well, especially those waiting for their forever homes. An award-winning artist and photographer, Sophie has made a career out of humanizing dogs, first with her viral series “Wet Dog” and “Pit Bull Flower Power,” and later by documenting trips to dog farms in South Korea, shelters in Puerto Rico, and rescue ride-alongs in Moldova.On this episode of the PetSpace Podcast, Sophie talks about how her love for photography blossomed into an award winning, globe-spanning career, why she’s drawn to making thought provoking and sometimes uncomfortable art that forces us to look deeper at the connection we share with canines, and how we as humans can advocate for a species that has developed a bond with us unlike any other..Find out more about Sophie and her work on her website, and follow her latest adventures on Instagram.The Petspace Podcast is:Hosted by Catie Voglio,Recorded & Edited by Roger Gomez,Produced by Cameron Kell,To learn more about Wallis Annenberg Petspace visit us at our website annenbergpetspace.org

Recorded just a few months before P-22’s tragic passing, this episode features Beth Pratt of #SaveLACougars and the National Wildlife Foundation. Beth, aka “the Cougar Lady,” joins the PetSpace Podcast to talk about how P-22 became an iconic presence in LA, and in doing so, revolutionized the way people think about our relationship with urban wildlife. Beth has also spent years working on the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, which is designed to give wildlife safe passage over the 101 freeway in Agoura Hills, CA. The project is monumental, is set to be finished in 2025, and as Beth explains in the episode, it’ll help tons of species of flora and fauna in the area (and that, of course, includes cougars too).To learn more about the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, check out 101wildlifecrossing.org.You can find Beth Pratt on Instagram and Twitter, and learn more about her work at SaveLACougars.org.The Petspace Podcast is:Hosted by Catie Voglio,Recorded & Edited by Roger Gomez,Produced by Cameron Kell,To learn more about Wallis Annenberg Petspace visit us at our website annenbergpetspace.org

Our pets have all sorts of silly, goofy, adorable little quirks, and Matt Hobbs has made a career out of turning those funny quirks and cute moments into catchy songs – or, more specifically, Puppy Songs. What started as a fun hobby during the COVID lockdown has blossomed into something way way larger: thanks to songs like “Cheese Tax” and “Big Stretch,” Matt has racked up over 16 million likes on TikTok and millions of plays on Spotify.On this episode, Matt shares how he went from selling toilets on the internet to writing viral songs about his pups, how he knows when he has a banger of a Puppy Song on his hands, and what the future of Puppy Songs may hold. Plus, he performs his new song, “If I Were Your Pup,” live!Follow Matt, Leni, and Mar Pup on TikTok, Instagram, and Spotify, and check out the official video for “If I Were Your Pup” on Youtube.The Petspace Podcast is:Hosted by Catie Voglio,Recorded & Edited by Roger Gomez,Produced by Cameron Kell,To learn more about Wallis Annenberg Petspace visit us at our website annenbergpetspace.org

Dr. Kwane Stewart has been a practicing veterinarian for over 20 years, and he has worked in both private practice as well as public municipal animal shelters. But it wasn’t until he became The Street Vet that he felt like his purpose in life became clear. On this episode of the PetSpace Podcast, Dr. Kwane talks with us about the emotional toll of working in animal welfare, the importance of the human-animal bond, and how his foundation, Project Street Vet, is offering a new way forward for veterinarians, the unhoused, and their pets.You can find Dr. Kwane Stewart on Instagram and Twitter; learn more about his work and foundation at ProjectStreetVet.orgThe Petspace Podcast is:Hosted by Catie Voglio,Recorded & Edited by Roger Gomez,Produced by Cameron Kell,To learn more about Wallis Annenberg Petspace visit us at our website annenbergpetspace.org

Kicking off with a guest who needs no introduction, Kristen Bell. To call Kristen an “animal lover” is most certainly an understatement – after understanding at a young age that all living things have significance in this world, she leaned into her love of animals and the safe space that they provided her. Kristen has rescued and fostered countless dogs (particularly seniors who have experienced trauma and needed a little extra love), and at every step of her life, has gone out of her way to make the world a better place for animals of all shapes and sizes. On this episode of the PetSpace Podcast, Kristen talks about how her childhood dog helped her deal with anxiety, how she and her daughters bonded over fostering during the Pandemic, and why she can’t help but keep adopting “dead dogs” (her family’s words, not hers).You can find Kristen Bell on Instagram.The Petspace Podcast is:Hosted by Catie Voglio,Recorded & Edited by Roger Gomez,Produced by Cameron Kell,To learn more about Wallis Annenberg Petspace visit us at our website annenbergpetspace.org

What was the moment you knew your life would never be the same because of an animal? Whether it was a childhood pet or a connection made at a time you least expected, animals can shape and transform our lives in incredible ways.Brought to you by Wallis Annenberg Petspace, The PetSpace podcast is here to explore the human-animal bond and these undeniable experiences with celebrity guests, industry professionals, and your everyday animal lovers.The Petspace Podcast is:Hosted by Catie Voglio,Recorded & Edited by Roger Gomez,Produced by Cameron Kell,To learn more about Wallis Annenberg Petspace visit us at our website annenbergpetspace.org