Episodes

Horse Brain, Human Brain was one of the first books I read when I was trying to understand horses better. So when I had the chance to sit down with its author, Janet Jones, for the podcast, I was pretty excited. Janet is a neuroscientist, horsewoman, and the author of her new book, A Horse's World. We talked about trust, fear, learning, the horse's sensory system, and some of the things horses notice that humans often miss. One thing that really stood out to me was this: Dogs...

Today I’m talking with Toni Mattson of Trinity Equestrian Center in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Toni and her team work with horses alongside veterans, first responders, youth, and individuals facing trauma, PTSD, dementia, and other life challenges. We talk about what horses notice about people, why they respond so honestly to emotion, and how animals can help people reconnect with hope, trust, and themselves. We also discuss Toni’s book Unlikely Recruits, her work with veterans, and Trinity...

What happens after the horse reacts? In this conversation, I talk with carriage driving trainer Christine Beattie about how driving changes the way we communicate with a horse — and why it can have such a big impact on the relationship. We talk about ground driving, working horses in real-world environments, and what horses need from us when things feel uncertain. A big part of this conversation comes down to something simple: It’s not whether the horse reacts… it’s wha...

In this episode of The Empathetic Trainer, I talk with Heather Mishefske of Embark Dog Training School. I’ve spent my whole life with herding dogs. Then I got an Australian Terrier… and realized pretty quickly that my usual way of doing things wasn’t going to work. This little guy has opinions. So I went looking for help, and that’s how I found Heather. We talk about what it’s like to live with dogs in a very human world, and why so many of the struggles we see make more sens...

Send a text In this episode of The Empathetic Trainer Podcast, I talk with horsewoman and educator Gabi Neurohr about building trust with horses, understanding horse behavior, and creating a true partnership between horse and human. From the moment we started talking, I felt an immediate connection to the way Gabi sees horses. So much of what she said rang true for me and my own experience working with them. We talk about what horses are really trying to tell us, how trust between horse and...

“Find a dog that’s going to make you happy.” I sit down with Denise Fenzi to talk about choosing the right dog for your real life — not the one you think you should want. We talk about fit, expectations, training, and working with the dog in front of you. https://www.empathetic-trainer.com/ Website links- denisefenzi.com fenzidogsportsacademy.com thedogathlete.com thehighdrivedog.com

In this episode of The Empathetic Trainer, I talk with Amelia Thomas about what it really means to listen to animals. We’re not talking about techniques or quick fixes. We’re talking about slowing down, paying attention, and noticing what animals are already showing us—often in very quiet, subtle ways. Amelia shares how listening starts with presence, not interpretation, and how that shift can change the way we relate to animals. If you live or work with animals and have ever felt like there’s more going on than you can put into words, this conversation is for you.