The Animal Communication Podcast

Mind Body Spirit.fm

The Animal Communication Podcast, hosted by Julie Hirt, Karen Dendy Smith and Meredith Tollison, is the place to hear directly from the animals on why they do what they do. Every week, Meredith, Karen and Julie will share their experiences of being Soul Level Animal Communicators®. They will explore topics such as health, behavior, play, and spiritual practices, all from the perspective of the many animals - both alive and in-spirit - they have worked with throughout their careers. Learn how your pet is inviting you to deepen your relationship through Soul Level Lessons to embrace the amazing life meant for you!

  1. The Year of the Fire Horse

    1D AGO

    The Year of the Fire Horse

    As we approach the rare Year of the Fire Horse, Meredith, Julie and Karen explore what this bold, catalytic energy invites - and what it asks us to tend with care. Reflecting on personal astrology, Chinese zodiac wisdom, and lived experience with horses, the hosts discuss leadership, momentum, self-expression, and the nervous system realities of change. With horses as both metaphor and teacher, this episode offers grounded insight into how to move forward without overriding tenderness, intuition, or grief - and how partnership, rather than force, may be the key to navigating the year ahead. Do YOU want to be an animal communicator or learn more about Soul Level Intuitive Coaching®? Check out the new classes and Be Open Community offered by our teacher, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Danielle MacKinnon⁠⁠⁠⁠. It’s a great place to learn Energy Management, trusting yourself and even finding a great, supportive community.  YOUR HOSTS Julie is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Heart Animal Soul Professional Communicator, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Spirit Animal Sacred Alchemy Practitioner and Certified Trauma-Informed Grief Coach. She writes the column ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠“Trust the Animals”⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Substack and is a teaching assistant for the Danielle MacKinnon School. Find out more about her at her website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.juliehirt-intuitive.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Karen is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Pangu Shengong (qigong) Instructor and Energy Healer. She is an End-of-life Companion Animal Doula through the UVM certificate program and a teaching assistant for the Danielle MacKinnon School. She is also on the board of NicaLove Animal Rescue and the Founder and a Director of The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.karendendysmith.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Meredith is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Let Animals Lead® Animal Reiki Practitioner, and certified dog trainer with a focus on behavior modification and positive reinforcement. She is also a Director of The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.meredithtollison.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can find all of our episodes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MindBodySpirit.fm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Reach out to us with questions or comments via the Contact Us form on our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. And learn more about the fundraising work Karen, Meredith and Julie do with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Animal Communication Collective⁠.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    45 min
  2. Lisa Tully - Sacred Animal Medicine

    FEB 9

    Lisa Tully - Sacred Animal Medicine

    In this episode animal healer and communicator Lisa Tully joins the co-hosts for a deeply moving conversation about mirroring, healing, and the profound ways our animals reflect what we carry emotionally and spiritually. Drawing from animal communication, Chinese medicine, flower essences, and lived experience, Lisa shares how animals act as loving barometers for imbalance, often expressing through their bodies and behaviors what we may not yet be able to name. Together, the conversation explores tenderness, grief, and the heart as a place of wisdom, offering listeners a compassionate lens for understanding their animals, themselves, and the sacred bond that connects them. RESOURCES: Lisa Tully’s website: https://animalhealing.ie/ Do YOU want to be an animal communicator or learn more about Soul Level Intuitive Coaching®? Check out the new classes and Be Open Community offered by our teacher, ⁠⁠⁠Danielle MacKinnon⁠⁠⁠. It’s a great place to learn Energy Management, trusting yourself and even finding a great, supportive community.  YOUR HOSTS Julie is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Heart Animal Soul Professional Communicator, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Spirit Animal Sacred Alchemy Practitioner and Certified Trauma-Informed Grief Coach. She writes the column ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠“Trust the Animals”⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Substack and is a teaching assistant for the Danielle MacKinnon School. Find out more about her at her website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.juliehirt-intuitive.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Karen is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Pangu Shengong (qigong) Instructor and Energy Healer. She is an End-of-life Companion Animal Doula through the UVM certificate program and a teaching assistant for the Danielle MacKinnon School. She is also on the board of NicaLove Animal Rescue and the Founder and a Director of The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.karendendysmith.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Meredith is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Let Animals Lead® Animal Reiki Practitioner, and certified dog trainer with a focus on behavior modification and positive reinforcement. She is also a Director of The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.meredithtollison.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can find all of our episodes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MindBodySpirit.fm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Reach out to us with questions or comments via the Contact Us form on our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. And learn more about the fundraising work Karen, Meredith and Julie do with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Animal Communication Collective.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    55 min
  3. How Animals Help with Grief with Keri Kenney

    FEB 2

    How Animals Help with Grief with Keri Kenney

    In this deeply moving episode, the co-hosts sit down with trauma-informed yoga instructor and grief guide Keri Kenney for an honest, tender conversation about grief, healing, and the animals who walk beside us through our darkest moments. Keri shares her profound personal story of loss and how her dogs, Lola and Carlos, quite literally helped her survive the unimaginable by teaching her how to stay present, nourish herself, and keep her heart open even in devastation. Together, the hosts explore how animals help us remain connected to tenderness rather than bypassing pain, and how grief, when met with presence, compassion, and support, can become a pathway back to love, connection, and embodied healing. Learn more about Keri and her work at https://www.kerikenney.com. Do YOU want to be an animal communicator or learn more about Soul Level Intuitive Coaching®? Check out the new classes and Be Open Community offered by our teacher, ⁠⁠Danielle MacKinnon⁠⁠. It’s a great place to learn Energy Management, trusting yourself and even finding a great, supportive community.  YOUR HOSTS Julie is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Heart Animal Soul Professional Communicator, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Spirit Animal Sacred Alchemy Practitioner and Certified Trauma-Informed Grief Coach. She writes the column ⁠⁠⁠⁠“Trust the Animals”⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Substack and is a teaching assistant for the Danielle MacKinnon School. Find out more about her at her website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.juliehirt-intuitive.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Karen is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Pangu Shengong (qigong) Instructor and Energy Healer. She is an End-of-life Companion Animal Doula through the UVM certificate program and a teaching assistant for the Danielle MacKinnon School. She is also on the board of NicaLove Animal Rescue and the Founder and a Director of The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.karendendysmith.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Meredith is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Let Animals Lead® Animal Reiki Practitioner, and certified dog trainer with a focus on behavior modification and positive reinforcement. She is also a Director of The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.meredithtollison.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can find all of our episodes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠MindBodySpirit.fm⁠⁠⁠⁠. Reach out to us with questions or comments via the Contact Us form on our ⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠. And learn more about the fundraising work Karen, Meredith and Julie do with ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Animal Communication Collective. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    47 min
  4. Overwhelm and Our Animal's Perspective

    JAN 26

    Overwhelm and Our Animal's Perspective

    Your co-hosts explore the lived experience of overwhelm and how our animals respond when life feels like too much, too fast, and too soon. Through personal stories, client examples, and animal wisdom, they reveal how overwhelm shows up energetically and behaviorally, and how animals lovingly interrupt the cycle by modeling presence, boundaries, grounding, and rest. This conversation offers a compassionate reframe of overwhelm as an invitation to slow down, listen, and come back into balance—with our animals as guides. Do YOU want to be an animal communicator or learn more about Soul Level Intuitive Coaching®? Check out the new classes and Be Open Community offered by our teacher, ⁠Danielle MacKinnon⁠. It’s a great place to learn Energy Management, trusting yourself and even finding a great, supportive community.  YOUR HOSTS Julie is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Heart Animal Soul Professional Communicator, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Spirit Animal Sacred Alchemy Practitioner and Certified Trauma-Informed Grief Coach. She writes the column ⁠⁠⁠“Trust the Animals”⁠⁠⁠ on Substack and is a teaching assistant for the Danielle MacKinnon School. Find out more about her at her website: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.juliehirt-intuitive.com/⁠⁠⁠ Karen is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Pangu Shengong (qigong) Instructor and Energy Healer. She is an End-of-life Companion Animal Doula through the UVM certificate program and a teaching assistant for the Danielle MacKinnon School. She is also on the board of NicaLove Animal Rescue and the Founder and a Director of The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.karendendysmith.com/⁠⁠⁠ Meredith is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Let Animals Lead® Animal Reiki Practitioner, and certified dog trainer with a focus on behavior modification and positive reinforcement. She is also a Director of The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.meredithtollison.com/⁠⁠⁠ You can find all of our episodes at ⁠⁠⁠MindBodySpirit.fm⁠⁠⁠. Reach out to us with questions or comments via the Contact Us form on our ⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠. And learn more about the fundraising work Karen, Meredith and Julie do with ⁠⁠⁠The Animal Communication Collective. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    42 min
  5. Rita Hogan, The Canine Herbalist

    JAN 19

    Rita Hogan, The Canine Herbalist

    In this powerful and wide-ranging conversation, we’re joined by clinical canine herbalist and author Rita Hogan to explore what it truly means to connect - with our dogs, with plants, and with the living ecosystems we share. Rita shares her personal journey into herbalism, her deep relationships with plants and trees, and how dogs reflect the emotional and environmental patterns of the homes they live in. Together, we talk about plants as teachers, weeds as misunderstood allies, and the profound healing that becomes possible when we slow down, listen, and reconnect to the natural world. This episode is an invitation to remember that connection is not something we create, it’s something we return to. RESOURCES: Rita Hogan Website - The Canine Herbalist Ethos School of Canine Herbalism Rita’s book - The Herbal Dog Do YOU want to be an animal communicator or learn more about Soul Level Intuitive Coaching®? Check out the new classes and Be Open Community offered by our teacher, Danielle MacKinnon. It’s a great place to learn Energy Management, trusting yourself and even finding a great, supportive community.  YOUR HOSTS Julie is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Heart Animal Soul Professional Communicator, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Spirit Animal Sacred Alchemy Practitioner and Certified Trauma-Informed Grief Coach. She writes the column ⁠⁠“Trust the Animals”⁠⁠ on Substack and is a teaching assistant for the Danielle MacKinnon School. Find out more about her at her website: ⁠⁠https://www.juliehirt-intuitive.com/⁠⁠ Karen is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Pangu Shengong (qigong) Instructor and Energy Healer. She is an End-of-life Companion Animal Doula through the UVM certificate program and a teaching assistant for the Danielle MacKinnon School. She is also on the board of NicaLove Animal Rescue and the Founder and a Director of The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: ⁠⁠https://www.karendendysmith.com/⁠⁠ Meredith is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Let Animals Lead® Animal Reiki Practitioner, and certified dog trainer with a focus on behavior modification and positive reinforcement. She is also a Director of The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: ⁠⁠https://www.meredithtollison.com/⁠⁠ You can find all of our episodes at ⁠⁠MindBodySpirit.fm⁠⁠. Reach out to us with questions or comments via the Contact Us form on our ⁠⁠website⁠⁠. And learn more about the fundraising work Karen, Meredith and Julie do with ⁠⁠The Animal Communication Collective. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 1m
  6. Beginnings for 2026

    JAN 12

    Beginnings for 2026

    It’s our season 3 premiere! Julie Hirt, Karen Dendy Smith, and Meredith Tollison reunite after a holiday pause to reflect on grief, embodiment, boundaries, and the deep wisdom of lived experience. Julie shares openly about navigating the second year of grief after her father’s death, while Karen and Meredith offer their own reflections on cellular memory, seasonal grief, and learning to be with what arises rather than pushing through it. Together, they explore how honoring emotions, saying no without justification, and listening to the body’s timing can become profound acts of connection; to ourselves, to one another, and to the unseen guidance that weaves through our lives and relationships with animals. RESOURCES: Do YOU want to be an animal communicator or learn more about Soul Level Intuitive Coaching®? Check out the new classes and Be Open Community offered by our teacher, ⁠Danielle MacKinnon⁠. It’s a great place to learn Energy Management, trusting yourself and even finding a great, supportive community.   YOUR HOSTS Julie is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Heart Animal Soul Professional Communicator, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Spirit Animal Sacred Alchemy Practitioner and Certified Trauma-Informed Grief Coach. She writes the column ⁠“Trust the Animals”⁠ on Substack and is a teaching assistant for the Danielle MacKinnon School. Find out more about her at her website: ⁠https://www.juliehirt-intuitive.com/⁠ Karen is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Pangu Shengong (qigong) Instructor and Energy Healer. She is an End-of-life Companion Animal Doula through the UVM certificate program and a teaching assistant for the Danielle MacKinnon School. She is also on the board of NicaLove Animal Rescue and the Founder and a Director of The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: ⁠https://www.karendendysmith.com/⁠ Meredith is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Let Animals Lead® Animal Reiki Practitioner, and certified dog trainer with a focus on behavior modification and positive reinforcement. She is also a Director of The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: ⁠https://www.meredithtollison.com/⁠ You can find all of our episodes at ⁠MindBodySpirit.fm⁠. Reach out to us with questions or comments via the Contact Us form on our ⁠website⁠. And learn more about the fundraising work Karen, Meredith and Julie do with ⁠The Animal Communication Collective⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    34 min
  7. Listener Questions Season Finale

    11/24/2025

    Listener Questions Season Finale

    It’s our season 2 finale, and we’re celebrating with a full listener Q&A episode! Over the past few months, so many of you have written with thoughtful, heartfelt, and incredibly important questions. Some came through email, some through Instagram, and some through clients we’ve worked with. Today, we’re answering as many as we can so sit back and enjoy the conversation. And if you have a question for next season (coming in January 2026!) you can email us at info@thenaimalcommunicationpodcast.com. Do YOU want to be an animal communicator or learn more about Soul Level Intuitive Coaching®? Check out the new classes and Be Open Community offered by our teacher, ⁠⁠Danielle MacKinnon⁠⁠. It’s a great place to learn Energy Management, trusting yourself and even how to do the inner work we mention in this episode.  YOUR HOSTS Julie is a Certified Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Certified Heart Animal Soul Professional Communicator, Certified Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Certified Spirit Animal Sacred Alchemy Practitioner and Certified Trauma-Informed Grief Coach. She writes the column ⁠⁠“Trust the Animals”⁠⁠ on Substack and is a teaching assistant for the Danielle MacKinnon School. Find out more about her at her website: ⁠⁠https://www.juliehirt-intuitive.com/⁠⁠ Karen is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Pangu Shengong (qigong) Instructor and Energy Healer. She is an End-of-life Companion Animal Doula through the UVM certificate program and a teaching assistant for the Danielle MacKinnon School. She is also on the board of NicaLove Animal Rescue and the Founder and a Director of The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: ⁠⁠https://www.karendendysmith.com/⁠⁠ Meredith is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Let Animals Lead® Animal Reiki Practitioner, and certified dog trainer with a focus on behavior modification and positive reinforcement. She is also a Director of The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: ⁠⁠https://www.meredithtollison.com/⁠⁠ You can find all of our episodes at ⁠⁠MindBodySpirit.fm⁠⁠. Reach out to us with questions or comments via the Contact Us form on our ⁠⁠website⁠⁠. And learn more about the fundraising work Karen, Meredith and Julie do with ⁠⁠The Animal Communication Collective⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    59 min
  8. Reflections on Our Year of the Snake

    11/17/2025

    Reflections on Our Year of the Snake

    Back in February, we did an episode where we discussed the Chinese New Year moving us from Year of the Dragon into the Year of the Snake (episode can be found here. Now that we’re mostly through 2025, we’re realizing it has been a helluva a year. It’s been a year of personal growth, realization and transformation just like the Wood Snake said it would be. Today, the three co-hosts share their reflections on a big year of change. RESOURCES: Website Karen mentions Do YOU want to be an animal communicator or learn more about Soul Level Intuitive Coaching®? Check out the new classes and Be Open Community offered by our teacher, ⁠Danielle MacKinnon⁠. It’s a great place to learn Energy Management, trusting yourself and even how to do the inner work we mention in this episode.  YOUR HOSTS Julie is a Certified Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Certified Heart Animal Soul Professional Communicator, Certified Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Certified Spirit Animal Sacred Alchemy Practitioner and Certified Trauma-Informed Grief Coach. She writes the column ⁠“Trust the Animals”⁠ on Substack and is a teaching assistant for the Danielle MacKinnon School. Find out more about her at her website: ⁠https://www.juliehirt-intuitive.com/⁠ Karen is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Pangu Shengong (qigong) Instructor and Energy Healer. She is an End-of-life Companion Animal Doula through the UVM certificate program and a teaching assistant for the Danielle MacKinnon School. She is also on the board of NicaLove Animal Rescue and the Founder and a Director of The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: ⁠https://www.karendendysmith.com/⁠ Meredith is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Let Animals Lead® Animal Reiki Practitioner, and certified dog trainer with a focus on behavior modification and positive reinforcement. She is also a Director of The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: ⁠https://www.meredithtollison.com/⁠ You can find all of our episodes at ⁠MindBodySpirit.fm⁠. Reach out to us with questions or comments via the Contact Us form on our ⁠website⁠. And learn more about the fundraising work Karen, Meredith and Julie do with ⁠The Animal Communication Collective⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    42 min

Trailer

4.9
out of 5
35 Ratings

About

The Animal Communication Podcast, hosted by Julie Hirt, Karen Dendy Smith and Meredith Tollison, is the place to hear directly from the animals on why they do what they do. Every week, Meredith, Karen and Julie will share their experiences of being Soul Level Animal Communicators®. They will explore topics such as health, behavior, play, and spiritual practices, all from the perspective of the many animals - both alive and in-spirit - they have worked with throughout their careers. Learn how your pet is inviting you to deepen your relationship through Soul Level Lessons to embrace the amazing life meant for you!

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