You Know What I Mean?

Bethany Johnson and Kait Stankowski
  • 0.0 (0)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

This is the conversation that starts with dogs and somehow ends up being about everything else. You Know What I Mean is hosted by Bethany and Kait - two dog trainers who accidentally built their lives, businesses, and friendships around the dogs they love. Each week, we talk about real-life dog stuff - not training drills, but the messy, funny, humbling, meaningful parts of it. The business side. The friendship side. The “can you imagine?!” moments. The parts that change you. It’s honest. It’s a little ridiculous sometimes. And it’s the kind of conversation you’d usually have over coffee.

  1. 3D AGO

    Raccoons, Roleplay & Reactive Dogs

    This week on You Know What I Mean, Kait and Bethany catch up on life, wildlife, and dog training chaos. Kait shares the terrifying night she thought an intruder was breaking into the house while Casey was away… only to discover the real culprit was a raccoon with very strong opinions about bird feeders. Meanwhile, Bethany gives a front yard gardening update and talks about the unexpected emotional growth that comes with realizing your neighbors might actually like you after all. The girls also answer a listener question about dogs losing their minds at the front door - covering place command, meaningful e-collar levels, practicing before the “big moment,” and why waiting until your dog is already spiraling usually makes everything harder.

    39 min

  2. MAY 13

    Glimmers, Therapy & Loose Chickens

    This episode starts exactly how you’d expect from us - mid-conversation, laughing, and absolutely no formal intro energy. We talk glimmers (including sweet potatoes, butterflies, and bird sounds at sunrise), relationship therapy breakthroughs, growing together in marriage, and how differently families communicate. Somewhere along the way: Bethany has to chase escaped chickens mid-recordingKait confesses to buying herself flowers at the roller rink and pretending they were from a crushWe relive our high school soundtrack era featuring Britney Spears, Spice Girls, JoJo, and Limp BizkitWe talk about confidence, growing up insecure, and why feeling truly seen matters so muchPlus: reactive dog boarding guilt, giving family members dog instructions, and why one bad weekend won’t ruin your dog’s trainingHonestly? This episode feels like sitting at the kitchen table with friends while everyone talks over each other in the best possible way.

    1h 17m

  3. MAY 7

    From Book Club to Murderous Chickens

    In this episode of You Know What I Mean, Bethany and Kait start with a simple idea — share three “glimmers” from the week — and somehow end up talking about everything from books and backyard ecosystems to irrational pet peeves and the lives they’re trying to build. What begins as a light, feel-good exercise turns into something deeper. They talk about the small moments that bring joy (and how easy they are to overlook), the weird things that make them irrationally defensive, and the tension between where they are now and the lives they’re working toward. There’s no real structure. No dog training deep dive. Just honest, unfiltered conversation — the kind that makes you feel like you’re sitting at the table with them. And honestly? That’s kind of the point. In this episode, we talk about: What “glimmers” actually are — and why noticing them mattersThe difference between big wins and small, everyday joyKait’s unexpected reading streak and living in multiple “worlds” at onceBethany’s current obsession with gardening and backyard lifeThe moment things took a turn… (yes, the chicken story) Comfort shows, book vibes, and why some things just hit differentlyThe question: what feels unreachable right now?Building a life that blends ambition with easeWanting more — while also being content with what you haveThe things that make us irrationally defensive (this gets honest)Family dynamics, boundaries, and unspoken tensionPet peeves, gym “icks,” and inside thoughts that should stay insideWhy this podcast doesn’t feel like work — and why we love it

    1h 8m

  4. APR 29

    From Constipation to Controversy

    This episode starts off exactly how you’d expect — catching up, talking about life, and yes… a very detailed conversation about homemade lattes and a recent bathroom situation. But somewhere between ice cream habits, baking dilemmas, and full-on garden mode, we end up having a really honest conversation about dog training — specifically, the growing gap between what people believe online and what actually works in real life. We talk about: why certain narratives around e-collar training stick — even when they don’t match realitythe difference between hearing about something and actually experiencing ithow overcomplicating dog training can leave owners feeling stuckand why clear, simple communication often gets overlookedWe also get into: addictive personalities (coffee edition ☕️)the mental gymnastics of having sweets in the houseplant care becoming a full personality traitand the chaos of trying to “tighten things up” after a few weeks of living your best lifeIt’s one of those episodes that feels like a real conversation — a little all over the place, unexpectedly honest, and somehow still tied together in a way that makes you think.

    59 min

  5. APR 22

    Therapy, Rodeos, and the Dogs We Love (and Sometimes Don’t)

    This episode starts off normal… and then quickly goes in about ten different directions. We talk about: the wildest rodeo story (you’ll know when you hear it 😳)why some dogs are just… harder — even when you’re doing everything rightthe difference between reactivity, whining, and the behaviors that actually wear you downwhat it looks like when owners realize their dog isn’t “easy” — and how validating that can beAnd then we get into life. We talk about therapy, relationships, family dynamics, and what it’s like when things feel a little heavier than usual — even when everything looks “fine” on the outside. There’s also: shadow program insights you don’t usually hearthe reality of emotional vs neutral dog handlingoverthinking, over-talking, and trying to do things “right”and somehow… Amazon packages getting sent to the wrong house (again)It’s one of those episodes that feels like a real conversation — the kind where you laugh, go off on tangents, and then accidentally say something that actually matters.

    1h 9m

  6. APR 15

    Basically a Dog Training Podcast

    This one is… a lot. In the best way. We start with a Stanley cup mix-up that somehow turns into one of the most “on brand” stories we’ve ever told, get into vision boards, Hobby Lobby chaos, and the ongoing saga of the Rogue bench… and eventually (kind of) make our way into dog training. We talk about what it actually looks like to use the e-collar in real life - not the internet version, not the black-and-white opinions - but the in-the-moment decisions, the nuance, and why it can be such a powerful tool for the dogs who need it most. There’s also: A nervous dog breakthrough that felt like a deep breath at the end of the leashThe reality of online opinions vs real-world resultsWhy we’re not here to convince everyone — and why that mattersBird feeders (a lot of bird feeders)A childhood book that unexpectedly explains… a lotIt’s one of those episodes that feels like you’re just sitting with us, talking about dogs, life, and whatever else comes up. And honestly… that might be our favorite kind.

    1h 16m

  7. APR 8

    The High Highs, The Low Lows - And Everything In Between

    This episode starts in one place and ends somewhere completely different - you know what I mean. Kait shares a really personal life update about Birdie’s recent cancer diagnosis, the emotional weight of going through something like this again, and what it’s like trying to hold it together while also supporting someone you love. We talk about that weird in-between feeling of being “not good, but not bad,” how life can feel like one thing after another, and what it actually looks like behind the scenes when you’re still showing up for work, clients, and everyday life. And then… naturally… we end up talking about TV shows, jury duty, bird feeders, childhood trauma via bug stories, and whether it would be weird to mail someone a dead lizard. Because that’s life too.

    1h 15m

  8. APR 1

    Couch Hair, Crime Shows, and Questionable Life Decisions

    In this episode, Bethany and Kait record in the afternoon for once… and it shows — in the best way. What starts as a casual catch-up about hair appointments, eyebrows, and TV shows quickly spirals into a mix of hilarious stories, random thoughts, and surprisingly meaningful moments. They talk about: The comfort of background shows (and why The Great British Bake Off fixes everything)The crime shows currently taking over Bethany’s brain Laughing so hard you can’t breathe (and the exact moment it happens)The tiny, unexpected things that bring joy — like growing lemons or spotting something meaningful on a walkWhy noticing small moments might actually change your dayFamily dynamics, holidays, and navigating grief in real lifeThe blurred lines between being a dog trainer and being humanAnd… a very questionable idea involving interviewing strangers in publicThis episode is light, honest, a little all over the place — and exactly what it feels like to sit down and catch up with a friend when there’s no agenda. Because sometimes the best conversations are the ones that don’t go anywhere… and somehow end up meaning something anyway. You know what we mean.

    1h 1m
See All (14)

About

This is the conversation that starts with dogs and somehow ends up being about everything else. You Know What I Mean is hosted by Bethany and Kait - two dog trainers who accidentally built their lives, businesses, and friendships around the dogs they love. Each week, we talk about real-life dog stuff - not training drills, but the messy, funny, humbling, meaningful parts of it. The business side. The friendship side. The “can you imagine?!” moments. The parts that change you. It’s honest. It’s a little ridiculous sometimes. And it’s the kind of conversation you’d usually have over coffee.

Information

  • Creator
    Bethany Johnson and Kait Stankowski
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Bethany Johnson and Kait Stankowski
  • Show Website
    You Know What I Mean?

You Might Also Like