The Juniper Podcast (Juniper)

Tune in for a dog-walk-length dose of camaraderie. Then join the Juniper Community to meet more dog parents like you!

Inspired by our free guide: 101 Easy Dog Enrichment Ideas, in this episode Haley and Ebony share their “enrichment days in the life” with their dogs!

Tune in to learn the go-to ways we fulfill our dogs and to hear about:

• How much our dogs really like to walk 🦮
• Dog TV & whether it works 📺
• Backyard feeding for dogs who love to sniff 🦴
• When & how to teach “leave it” 💧
• The stigma around muzzles & when they’re necessary 🐾
• Ebony’s key takeaways & Haley’s enrichment list for her dog 🐩

📍 Here at Juniper, we make content for your favorite pet brands. We're 100% women owned and operated, and you can hire us to create your articles, blogs, videos, email marketing campaigns, lead generation guides, and more. Visit us at www.juniperpet.co to learn more.

This week on the Juniper podcast we’re getting to know our cohost and founder, Allison Medina, who shares how her experience founding Tech Ladies eventually led her to pivot into the world of pets and start Juniper.

Tune in for a dog-walk-length dose of encouragement to make big changes in your work and life. Then join the Juniper Community to meet more dog parents like you!

📍 Episode Highlights:

• Haley 3:10 — Being an adventurous homebody — I got excited about this idea of being an adventurous homebody.
• Haley 3:45 — How a van can help you adventure — That’s the reason I love living in a van so much. It’s not because I’m cool, it’s because I’m a little bit of a wimp and I need my crutch. The van is my crutch.
• Haley 33:05 — Making lifestyle choices for your family — It doesn’t matter if someone thinks living in a van is weird or if they hate it or they can’t imagine it, because it’s been so great for me and Sean and Scout.

🦴 We love Optimeal and we think your dog will too. Get 20% off their natural pet food with the code 20JuniperPet or at this link. (sponsored)

Welcome back to the Juniper podcast! Today, Haley’s talking to canine enrichment aficionado Taylor Finton, the voice behind the popular social media account, Bindi's Bucket List.

We’re so excited to talk to Taylor about her new book, The Happiest Dog on the Block. In this episode, we discuss:

Tune in to hear about accessible, easy things to do at home that will make your dog the happiest on the block! Then join the Juniper Community to meet more pet parents like you.

📍 Here at Juniper, we make content for your favorite pet brands. We're 100% women owned and operated, and you can hire us to create your articles, blogs, videos, email marketing campaigns, lead generation guides, and more. Visit us at www.juniperpet.co to learn more.

This week on the Juniper podcast Haley is joined by Dr. Orazie Cook, the founder of Praline's Backyard Foundation, a nonprofit organization that helps survivors of domestic violence leave unhealthy situations and not have to worry about the well-being of their pets while they're in a period of housing transition.

We discuss:

• Why it’s hard to leave pets with an abuser [3:00]
• How deeply intertwined human and animal welfare is [7:00]
• How people can foster, donate or request help housing their pet [10:00]
• Orazie’s future hope to help survivors holistically by extending support for legal services, housing and childcare [14:30]
• Stories that inspire Orazie to keep doing this work [19:00]

Tune in to learn more about this incredible nonprofit linking people who need help with people who want to help. Then join the Juniper Community to meet more pet parents like you!

📍 Here at Juniper, we make content for your favorite pet brands. We're 100% women owned and operated, and you can hire us to create your articles, blogs, videos, email marketing campaigns, lead generation guides, and more. Visit us at www.juniperpet.co to learn more.

Welcome back to the Juniper podcast! Michael J. Baines's journey from restaurant owner to dog shelter founder in Thailand began with a single moment: locking eyes with a dog in need.

Today, Michael has 1200 dogs in his care, a full staff, and a heart that’s been softened by the love and gratitude of his canine family.

Grab your tissues and get ready to hear about Michael’s journey to becoming “The Man Who Rescues Dogs.”

We chat about:

• How the Wheelchair Mafia came to be
• Why sometimes leaving a dog on the street is the best choice
• How Michael balances caring for his dogs and caring for himself
• Michael’s upcoming book
• And more!

💯 And if hearing Michael’s story makes you want to spend a little more time with your pup, get our FREE guide with 101 Easy Dog Enrichment Ideas!

Jess Adam is a licensed therapist who runs Handlers & Humans, a coaching program that helps dog owners manage their emotions — especially with complex, sensitive, or reactive dogs.

If you or someone you know is overwhelmed by their pet’s challenging behavior, tune in to learn more about:

• Dog dreams vs. dog realities
• Examining expectations for yourself and your dog
• How dogs can amplify our emotions
• Creating sustainable mindsets vs. overwhelm
• How to support others with challenging dogs
• The Complex Canine Community

Tune in for an episode reminding us how to appreciate our pets and ourselves. Then join the Juniper Community to meet more pet parents like you!

🦴 We love Optimeal and we think your pet will too. Get 20% off their natural pet food with the code 20JuniperPet or at this link. (sponsored)

This week on the Juniper podcast, we’re unpacking what we thought dog mom life would look like, and what having a dog has actually been like.

If you’ve ever felt embarrassed in training class, experienced the puppy blues, or compared your dog (or yourself) to your local #dogfluencer, this episode is for you.

Tune in for a dog-walk-length dose of camaraderie. Then join the Juniper Community to meet more dog parents like you!

📍 Episode Highlights:

• Haley 00:45 — Loving your dog for who they are — When I first adopted Scout, I thought that if I worked hard enough and trained her well enough, then I could make her into anything. And that’s a really nice idea, and it’s not completely untrue … but I can’t fundamentally change who my dog is. She’s not a robot that I’m programming.
• Allison 3:38 — Letting go of naiveté and embracing dog training — I was so naive. I was like “dogs! they’re cool. they hang out. they sit.” I understood naively that there were some dogs that have challenges, but I thought they were extreme cases. But no, with most dogs you’re going to have to do some level of training and adjust your expectations.
• Haley 12:38 — Puppy blues — I think sometimes the puppy blues come from understanding that you’ve committed to this creature, and sometimes a sense of feeling a little trapped or worried that you’ve made this decision that feels irreversible and is shaking up your whole life.

🦴 We love Optimeal and we think your dog will too. Get 20% off their natural pet food with the code 20JuniperPet or at this link. (sponsored)

This month for our mini-episode co-host Haley is joined by former podcast guest and new Juniper team member, Ebony Richardson!

Join us as we answer questions like:

• How can you afford dog training while also paying dog trainers well? 🦮
• What do different careers in animal welfare look like? 🐾
• What’s the deal with clickers & do they really work? 🧐
• What quick things can you do to improve pet behavior? ✅

Tune in for pet tips, relatable stories, and a dose of dog lover camaraderie. Then join the Juniper Community for more!

🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES

• Check out the Juniper website + sign up for our newsletter
• Follow Haley’s van life on Instagram @paws.andreflect
• Follow Ebony’s nonprofit work on Instagram @atldogmomsocialclub
• Listen to our episode with Ebony
• Explore our guides for pet parents

📍 Here at Juniper, we make content for your favorite pet brands. We're 100% women owned and operated, and you can hire us to create your articles, blogs, videos, email marketing campaigns, lead generation guides, and more. Visit us at www.juniperpet.co to learn more.

Kassidi Jones is a first-time dog mom, social justice advocate, Ph.D. candidate, and the content creator behind @gingers_naps. And Ginger is her three-year-old mixed breed pup!

This week Kassidi is here to share her journey with Ginger and to teach us about antiracist animal advocacy, including:

• Hard truths about racism in the pet industry
• Bias in animal rescue
• The Pet POC Directory
• How Kassidi approaches the content she creates
• Critter Fixers
• Racist and classist origins of pitbull hate
• And more!

Tune in for a dog-walk-length dose of antiracist pet education. Then join the Juniper Community to meet more dog parents who want to make the world a better place for humans and animals!

🦴 We love Optimeal and we think your pet will too. Get 20% off their natural pet food with the code 20JuniperPet or at this link. (sponsored)

Ivana Tay is the founder of the pet brand Playfield and the proud steward of her soul dog Bailey.

This week she joins us to talk about how she left her job at Google to create The Bailey Kit, a multifunctional dog-walking system that makes it easy to head out on a walk anytime and anywhere.

Tune in for a plenty of inspiration to make your dog walks even better and more fun. Then join the Juniper Community to meet more dog parents like you!

📍Episode Highlights:

• Ivana 7:40 — Connecting your everyday life with your dog — Your life with your dog is not so separate from your everyday life. I think it’s so interwoven. Bailey hardly leaves us, and we hardly leave her. So we needed things that fit seamlessly between our lifestyle and our lifestyle with Bailey
• Ivana 11:00 — The value of community — There are so many communities out there. You just have to seek them out.
• Ivana 16:10 — Getting to know your customers — You can’t build in a silo. You can’t just have an idea and work on and not tell anybody about it. There’s a balance where you want to make sure you get enough feedback from the right people. So not talking to friends and family, but for me, talking to dog parents. I’d go to the dog park and go up to total strangers and ask them questions about their dog.
• Ivana 21:55 — How to test your ideas — If you have an idea, test it. Go talk to people. Go analyze and try to do it outside your own circles.
• Ivana 24:50 — The key to success — No matter what, if you don’t give up and you’re not willing to give up, you will eventually succeed. And I really genuinely believe that. If you’re open to feedback, you’re open to pivoting, you’re open to asking for help, and you’re not stubborn about the direction you’re going in — as long as you don’t give up, you will be fine, and you will eventually be successful.

🦴 We love Optimeal and we think your pet will too. Get 20% off their natural pet food with the code 20JuniperPet or at this link. (sponsored)

Welcome to season two of the Juniper podcast!

Tune in to catch up with the Juniper crew — Allison, dog mom of Addie, and Haley, dog mom of Scout — as we answer questions like:

• How long can Haley live in a van with her dog and her partner? 🚐
• What does Juniper actually do? 🧐
• How did Addie handle her first agility class? 🐕‍🦺
• What about cat content?? 🐈
• What do we really think about Bluey? 🩵
• Why are so many luxury brands getting into the pet space? 🎀
• Who wants perfume for dogs? 👃
• What’s our take on pet activity trackers? ⏱️

Tune in for pet news, brand updates, and a dose of cat and dog lover camaraderie. Then join the Juniper Community for more!

🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES

• Check out the new Juniper website + sign up for our newsletter
• Follow Haley’s van life on Instagram @paws.andreflect
• Listen to our episode with Ebony of Atlanta Dog Mom Social Club
• Explore our guides for pet parents
• Read Inside of a Dog and Being a Dog by Alexandra Horowitz

Ebony Richardson has worked in animal welfare for nearly a decade, and she started Atlanta Dog Mom Club as a hobby. But to her surprise, the representation she brought to the dog mom space was much needed and immediately embraced by her community.

So over the past eight months, Ebony has turned Atlanta Dog Mom Club into a full-fledged social club and founded a non-profit pet pantry and thrift store.

In this episode, we’re chatting about how she works to make pet care more accessible for everyone, including:

• How Ebony’s love of animals bloomed at an early age
• What advocacy in the pet space looks like for both animals and humans
• Busting the myth that there’s an ideal income for pet owners
• The prejudices that exist when it comes to adopting dogs from shelters
• Gatekeeping in the pet industry and what can be done about it
• How the Atlanta Dog Mom Club goes above and beyond to make sure all dogs (and their moms!) feel welcome and accepted

Tune in for a conversation that we need to have way more often in the pet space. Then join the Juniper Community to meet more pet parents like you!

📍 Here at Juniper, we make content for your favorite pet brands. We're 100% women owned and operated, and you can hire us to create your articles, blogs, videos, email marketing campaigns, lead generation guides, and more. Visit us at www.juniperpet.co to learn more.

Welcome back to the Juniper podcast!

This week we’re getting to know our cohost Haley Young of Paws and Reflect and talking about how she lives on the road with her partner, Sean, and dog, Scout.

Tune in for a dog-walk-length dose of imagining all the lives you can live with your dog. Then join the Juniper Community to meet more dog parents like you!

📍 Episode Highlights:

• Allison 3:50 — The relationship between the pet industry and tech — What’s been fun for me is that the pet space seems to be a little bit suspicious about tech and technology and tech solutions in pets. Which I’ve found really interesting and refreshing.
• Allison 6:05 — Taking the leap — It’s really easy for people to say, “I’ve only ever done this, so I can’t go into that.” I didn’t even really think about that. I just started a new company in pets, because that’s what I wanted to do.
• Allison 9:15 — How an active dog can change your workday — After I got Addie, my dog, I always joke about my step count going up. … We need to walk. We need to get out. We need to be running. We go running together now. So getting those ten to twelve thousand steps a day is a new non-negotiable. And when you start to put that into your workday, it changes everything.
• Allison 11:00 — Helping dogs helps people — At first I was like, “well I love dogs, so sure, let’s help dogs.” But now I realize that any time you’re doing that, you’re also helping people, too. It’s so interconnected.
• Haley 26:30 — How our content can support dog parents & dogs — I might factually understand a piece of information but I just haven’t touched it in so long, haven’t thought about it, and it’s not top of mind. A nicely curated piece of content can jog my memory and make me think, “oh yeah, when was the last time I gave Scout a designated chew?”

🦴 We love Optimeal and we think your dog will too. Get 20% off their natural pet food with the code 20JuniperPet or at this link. (sponsored)

Sophie Vershbow runs social and influencer marketing at Eventbrite and is a freelance journalist based in New York City.

In this episode, she tells us about her journey with fostering, how she adopted her Instagram-famous dog Simon from Hearts & Bones Rescue, and why she just started calling herself a writer after 50 bylines.

We also discuss:

• Why Simon loves the Upper West Side
• How Sophie started her career as a freelance journalist
• The importance of pitching and practice for writers
• Fostering pets as a way of resetting and grounding yourself
• How she handles negative attention on social media
• And more!

Tune in for a conversation about fostering and forever homes. Then join the Juniper Community to meet more pet parents like you!

🦴 We love Optimeal and we think your pet will too. Get 20% off their natural pet food with the code 20JuniperPet or at this link. (sponsored)

Do you want to cook for your dog at home, but worry that the recipes will be too complicated or lack essential nutrients? Meet Nicole Marchand. She solved that problem when she founded Dog Child, the leading recipe community for dog parents.

Today Nicole is here to share what inspired her to start Dog Child (spoiler, it was her dog!) and why she’s passionate about helping us all feel more confident about cooking for our fur babies.

We also chat about:

• The benefits of adding whole foods to your dog’s diet
• Getting over the intimidation factor
• Why making your own treats is a great place to start
• Nicole’s journey from investor to founder
• How Nicole grew the Dog Child community to 250,000+ dog parents
• And more!

Psst! We collaborated with Dog Child to create a guide with 7 easy homemade dog treat recipes— grab it HERE!

Erin Simpson is a self-taught designer who started her journey in marketing and PR. But if you asked her to describe herself today, she would use two words: “cat person.”

As the founder of Wild Cat, Erin creates feline furniture and accessories that cats would design for themselves. How did she go from PR at start-ups to creating our favorite cat products of all time? Tune in to find out!

In this episode, we chat about:

• Erin’s cat-loving origin story
• The importance of curating your cat’s environment to encourage positive behavior
• How Erin turned DIY cat products into a full-blown business
• The inspiration behind Wild Cat’s instantly recognizable branding
• Advice for pet brands on how to improve your PR
• And more!

Tune in for a dose of Big Cat Energy. Then join the Juniper Community to meet more pet parents like you!

📍 Here at Juniper, we make content for your favorite pet brands. We're 100% women owned and operated, and you can hire us to create your articles, blogs, videos, email marketing campaigns, lead generation guides, and more. Visit us at www.juniperpet.co to learn more.

Most dog parents think their fur babies are smart, but how much do we actually know about the nuances of canine intelligence?!

Today we’re nerding out about dogs with Jennifer Holland, longtime journalist, best-selling author and National Geographic contributor.

Her book Unlikely Friendship spent almost a year on the New York Times bestseller list, and she just published a new one called Dog Smart, all about canine intelligence.

In this conversation, we explore:

• Surprising facts about dog intelligence [3:00]
• How to communicate with your dog [7:00]
• Jennifer’s work at National Geographic [8:00]
• Primates vs canines [11:00]
• Unlikely friendships between animals [13:00]
• Why we should give our dogs more opportunities to make choices [23:00]
• And so much more!

Tune in for a masterclass in dog cognition and beyond. Then join the Juniper Community to meet more pet parents like you!

📍 Here at Juniper, we make content for your favorite pet brands. We're 100% women owned and operated, and you can hire us to create your articles, blogs, videos, email marketing campaigns, lead generation guides, and more. Visit us at www.juniperpet.co to learn more.

Do you dream of opening an animal rescue? Or maybe there’s a soft spot in your heart for “hard-to-adopt” dogs?

Today we’re joined by Lisa Mattuchio (known on social as @eddieonwheels) who runs Eddie’s Ranch — a rescue inspired by her late beloved rescue dog.

Lisa is here to pull back the proverbial doggy door on what it takes to start an animal rescue from scratch and the special bonds we create with dogs with disabilities.

We chat about:

• The first steps that Lisa took to open up Eddie’s Ranch [1:00]
• Why Lisa prioritizes senior and special-needs animals [8:15]
• Pushing through the intimidation of caring for a special needs animal [12:20]
• What a typical day running the rescue looks like [18:00]
• The hardest part about rescue [26:15]
• Ways you can support your local animal shelter even with limited time [33:30]

Tune in for an inspiring story about the special needs dog that left a legacy. Then join the Juniper Community to meet more pet parents like you!

📍 Here at Juniper, we make content for your favorite pet brands. We're 100% women owned and operated, and you can hire us to create your articles, blogs, videos, email marketing campaigns, lead generation guides, and more. Visit us at www.juniperpet.co to learn more.

Do you love taking photos of your pup? So does Winnie Au.

Winnie is a professional photographer who lives in Brooklyn where she spends her time photographing people, animals, food, and the spaces where all of these things live.

This week, she’s publishing a book called Cone of Shame, featuring over 125 color photographs of dogs wearing one-of-a-kind cones, which started as a photography series to help raise awareness for rescue dogs with urgent medical needs.

Today Winnie’s here to share what she loves about welcoming a variety of dogs into her photography studio. We also chat about:

• How Winnie got started with dog photography
• The inspiration behind Winnie’s “cone of shame” concept
• What Winnie loves about capturing the individuality of each dog she photographs
• The biggest differences between photographing dogs vs other subjects
• How you can take more unique photos of your pups (just for fun!)

Tune in for a peek behind the curtain of an amazing dog photographer. Then join the Juniper Community to meet more pet parents like you!

📍 Here at Juniper, we make content for your favorite pet brands. We're 100% women owned and operated, and you can hire us to create your articles, blogs, videos, email marketing campaigns, lead generation guides, and more. Visit us at www.juniperpet.co to learn more.

This week on the Juniper podcast, we have journalist and authorCarol Mithers speaking about her newest book, Rethinking Rescue, which explores animal welfare and social justice through the work of Lori Weise atDowntown Dog Rescue in Pasadena, California.

We discuss:

• High standards for pet ownership and the urge to judge others [3:00]
• Veterinary price inflation affecting owners’ ability to keep their pets [10:00]
• The narrative of saviorism in pet adoption [17:00]
• The benefits of breeders and finding an ethical one [27:30]
• The challenge of constructing her book’s narrative [34:00]

Tune in for a conversation about this welcome and refreshing book we couldn’t put down. Thenjoin the Juniper Community to meet more pet parents like you!

📍 Here at Juniper, we make content for your favorite pet brands. We're 100% women owned and operated, and you can hire us to create your articles, blogs, videos, email marketing campaigns, lead generation guides, and more. Visit us atwww.juniperpet.co to learn more.

Today, Allison is talking with Meghan Wolfgram, CEO and founder of SwiftPaws, a company that creates playful enrichment products. If you’ve ever wondered how to provide your pet with the fun they crave, this one’s for you!

We chat about:

• How Meghan’s tenacious miniature pincher kickstarted SwiftPaws [1:00]
• Performance sports vs. dog showing [3:00]
• How the accessibility of dog sports has changed [8:00]
• DIY and product solutions for adding enrichment to pets’ lives based on their behaviors [15:30]
• Her experience pitching on Shark Tank and owning a business with a small team [21:00]

Tune in for a fun episode that your tenacious pet will be glad you listened to. Then join the Juniper Community to meet more pet parents like you!

📍 Here at Juniper, we make content for your favorite pet brands. We're 100% women owned and operated, and you can hire us to create your articles, blogs, videos, email marketing campaigns, lead generation guides, and more. Visit us at www.juniperpet.co to learn more.

Welcome back to another mini episode of the Juniper podcast! This new format is an opportunity for the Juniper team to chat about pet trends, share advice, and answer YOUR questions!

Join us as —Allison, dog mom of Addie, andHaley, dog mom of Scout — answer questions like:

• What does emergency prep look like for pet owners? 🚨
• How do we deal with vacation guilt when leaving pets behind? 🏝
• What are our approaches to using pet sitters or boarding facilities? 🦮
• Why is it important to rotate your pet’s favorite toys? 🎾
• What about toys for cat enrichment? 🐈
• Which toys are good for senior pets? 🤔

🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES

• Check out the new Juniper website + sign up for our newsletter
• Follow Haley’s van life on Instagram@paws.andreflect
• Listen to our episode with Ebony of Atlanta Dog Mom Social Club
• Explore ourguides for pet parents
• ReadInside of a Dog andBeing a Dog by Alexandra Horowitz

Tune in for pet tips, relatable stories, and a dose of cat and dog lover camaraderie. Thenjoin the Juniper Community for more!

📍 Here at Juniper, we make content for your favorite pet brands. We're 100% women owned and operated, and you can hire us to create your articles, blogs, videos, email marketing campaigns, lead generation guides, and more. Visit us at www.juniperpet.co to learn more.

Welcome to the Juniper podcast!

In our first episode you’ll meet the Juniper crew — Allison, dog mom of Addie, and Haley, dog mom of Scout — as we unpack the juicy question:

Are we crazy for loving our dogs this much??

Tune in for a dog-walk-length dose of camaraderie. Then join the Juniper Community to meet more dog parents like you!

📍 Episode Highlights:

• Haley 8:58 — Finding fellow dog-lovers — I was so heartened finding other people who cared about their dogs to the degree that I did and who wanted to invest that time in learning how to care for them and learning how to deepen that relationship.

• Allison 13:10 — How advocating for your dog can help you let go of people-pleasing — Obviously I’m gonna advocate for her and speak up to a stranger and tell them, “No, sorry, we don’t do unleashed greetings or whatever.” I was surprised at how much people-pleasing I still had in my personality at this age of my life. If you had asked me, I think I thought I was further along than I was, until I got a dog that I had to speak up for.

• Haley 16:12 — Letting yourself love the things you love — That overall question of like, 'am I crazy for loving my dog so much?' is really this larger reflection of like, 'am I crazy for loving any of the things that I love so much?' And of course the answer is no.

• Allison 28:10 — Learning to be present — Addie would always pull me into the moment and pull me into real life. It's completely the opposite of what being on my phone is like. And that is what’s interesting to me. It’s just like they’re so real, and you can’t ignore them, and it’s so fun and rewarding. And that reward is not being hijacked by a social media company.

🦴 We love Optimeal and we think your dog will too. Get 20% off their natural pet food with the code 20JuniperPet or at this link. (sponsored)