Every Pawprint! Every Story!

Daniel Popovic
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Pets & Animals
  • Updated Weekly

A weekly conversation space where people honor pets they’ve lost, celebrate the joy pets bring, and support one another through pet grief. Each episode centers on a guest’s memories, the rituals that keep those pets present in daily life, and the lessons of love and loss that pets teach us!

  1. 4d ago

    Winston: The Dog Who Helped Rob Heal

    Send us Fan Mail A dog can do more than keep you company, it can help your nervous system feel safe again. I sit down with executive coach, speaker, and author Rob Kalwarowsky,  (Capitalizing on Chaos) to talk about the real role his labradoodle Winston played while Rob worked through depression, suicidal ideation, anxiety, and intense therapy. Rob connects the dots between EMDR-style “safe place” work, Internal Family Systems, and the simple, steady presence of a pet that offers unconditional love without asking you to perform. We also dig into co-regulation and why a goofy moment can pull you out of a spiral faster than another hour in your own head. Rob shares what daily life looks like in Costa Rica with a 95 to 100-pound dog, including leash walks that turn heads and run-ins with aggressive neighborhood dogs. Then he tells the story of Sasha, a farm dog who followed him home, accepted care, and ultimately chose a new life, plus what it takes to work through resource guarding with patience and trust. If you care about pet mental health benefits, dog companionship, rescue dogs, and the overlap between pets and leadership, this one delivers. Rob even explains how Winston shows up in his talks and his TED Talk “How to Deal with a Bad Boss,” turning dog behavior into lessons on emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and healthier goal setting. Subscribe, share this with a fellow pet person, and leave a review with the biggest thing your dog or cat has taught you. Purchase the Book that inspired the PodcastWant to share your pets story on a future podcast?  Send us a message: SUBSCRIBEAll new, the first ever Pet Journal - start logging your memories with your PetClick -> Pet Journal

  2. Jul 29

    How a Lifetime of Loving Pets Inspired a Mission to Help Pet Caregivers Thrive

    Send us Fan Mail A rescue event, a blurry profile photo, and one look across a room was enough for Liana to know Ellery was hers. Ellery is now 16, and his story opens up something bigger than a cute meet-cute: what it really takes to love and care for an aging rescue dog when anxiety, behavior quirks, and health changes are part of the package. We talk about the language we use for love, including Liana’s “heart pets” versus “soul pets” distinction, and why it can be validating when grief doesn’t feel the same for every animal you’ve loved. You’ll hear how routines shift with senior pet care, why slow daily “sniffs” can become a meditative practice, and what working from home looks like when your dog’s happiest place is right at your feet. Then we go to the hard places caregivers recognize instantly: separation anxiety, introducing new pets, chronic illness, and the way pet loss ripples through the whole household. Liana shares the caregiving reality behind cats and dogs who needed support across their lives, plus the emotional side of mourning, wakes, and helping other pets understand a death. We also dig into pet caregiver strain, sleep deprivation, fear, guilt, and anticipatory grief, and why syncing your pet’s needs with your own wellbeing helps you advocate better with your vet and stay steady over time. Liana also previews her new work at Pet Guardian Wellness, including a six week coaching group focused on navigating pet caregiving strain with resilience. Find her at petguardianwellness.com. If this conversation helps, subscribe, share it with a fellow pet parent, and leave a review so more caregivers can find support. Purchase the Book that inspired the PodcastWant to share your pets story on a future podcast?  Send us a message: SUBSCRIBEAll new, the first ever Pet Journal - start logging your memories with your PetClick -> Pet Journal

  3. Jul 23

    What 62 Foster Animals Taught Me About Raising Children, Building Resilience, and Letting Go

    Send us Fan Mail A dog who barks at everyone becomes “the best behaved dog” at assisted living, and it happens because one guest shows up with a simple plan and a pocket full of kibble. We sit down with Cindy, a longtime foster who has seen how small choices, steady routines, and realistic expectations can completely change a pet’s world, especially when you’re living with a reactive dog. Shiloh’s path from foster to adoption to returning home years later also opens up an honest conversation about responsible rehoming and why contacting the original rescue can be the kindest move for a family in crisis.  Then we shift to cats that break stereotypes. Cindy tells the story of Checkers, a tuxedo kitten found at a gas station with back legs that didn’t work right, who grows up into a ball-chasing, fetch-playing character with serious resilience. We also talk about Jazzy, a tiny tabby in a “respite fostering” arrangement that keeps her out of the shelter while her person rebuilds housing and stability, with a planned reunion that’s as hopeful as it is bittersweet. If you care about animal shelter overcrowding, rescue cats, and keeping pets with their people, this part will stick with you.  Finally, Cindy connects fostering to family life and mental health. After a sudden pet loss and during the toughest teen years, fostering became a daily practice in individualized care, the same skill set her family needed while learning about ADHD and anxiety. She shares how that mindset shaped her memoir, Mom Loves the Dogs More, and what she’s learning now about writing, publishing, speaking, and finding the right readers. If this conversation helps you, subscribe, share it with a fellow pet person, and leave a review with the biggest lesson your own pet has taught you. Purchase the Book that inspired the PodcastWant to share your pets story on a future podcast?  Send us a message: SUBSCRIBEAll new, the first ever Pet Journal - start logging your memories with your PetClick -> Pet Journal

  4. Jul 20

    What If Community Starts With A Dog Hello

    Send us Fan Mail Seven pets. Two brand-new Golden Retriever puppies. A black kitten who barely makes an appearance because she’s still settling in. And one legendary Chihuahua mix who apparently has a social calendar downtown. We sit down with Melissa and Durski in Ackworth, Georgia and quickly realize their “furkid” story is equal parts hilarious and deeply human.  We talk through how Leo and Commander Riker come home from the same litter, why naming a dog can feel like fate, and what it’s like to manage the real-life chaos of puppies, cats, and the everyday mess that comes with a full house. Along the way, we also touch on the hard stuff: missing pets, the anxiety of not knowing, and how that changes the way you protect the animals you love. If you’ve ever searched for a lost cat, worried about an escape artist, or made the call to keep a new rescue strictly indoors, you’ll feel understood here.  Then the story widens from one home to a whole community. Melissa shares how a Golden Retriever Day meetup turned into a monthly golden retriever meetup with dozens of dogs and new friendships, plus a big vision for a Southeast Golden Retriever festival inspired by the famous gathering in Golden, Colorado. It’s a practical look at how dog-friendly events get started and why “show up with your leash” can turn into something that genuinely supports your mental health.  If you love Golden Retrievers, rescue stories, dog meetups, or honest conversations about pet grief and the unconditional love that keeps us going, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a fellow pet person, and leave a review with the one thing your pet does that instantly resets your day. Purchase the Book that inspired the PodcastWant to share your pets story on a future podcast?  Send us a message: SUBSCRIBEAll new, the first ever Pet Journal - start logging your memories with your PetClick -> Pet Journal

  5. Jul 9

    The Dog I Got for Safety Changed My Life

    Send us Fan Mail A solo trail run, a stranger moment that would rattle anyone, and a big dog built for endurance all collide into a story that is equal parts funny, practical, and unexpectedly moving. We’re talking with McKenzie from Rome, Georgia about her two dogs Hazel, a Rhodesian Ridgeback, and Emma, a Coonhound mix, and what it really takes to live with high-drive personalities while still keeping life fun, safe, and grounded.  We get into the details Ridgeback owners love to debate: what the “ridge” is, why some purebred ridgebacks are ridgeless, and why this breed can be a tough first dog. McKenzie shares what puppyhood looked like for Hazel, from mouthy chaos to learning that training is less about forcing obedience and more about building a partnership the dog actually wants to join. We also talk about choosing a second dog for companionship, the challenges of a rescue who had never lived indoors, and how routines can be flexible when your household needs it.  Then things get fascinating: dryland mushing and canicross. Think sled dog racing without snow, with a pulling harness, a human hip belt, a line, and verbal cues that let your dog lead while you steer. We break down how it works for runners and bikers, what gear matters, why trails are the best place to start, and why canicross can be surprisingly welcoming even if your dog is reactive or “not trained enough.” McKenzie also explains how this sport built a true community for her and why she started organizing events through Capitolina Racing in Georgia.  If you’ve been looking for a dog podcast that blends real-life dog ownership with trail running, dog sports, canicross basics, and practical training perspective, this conversation will give you ideas you can use right away. Subscribe for more pet stories, share this with a friend who needs a new outdoor hobby, and leave a review to help more dog people find the show. Purchase the Book that inspired the PodcastWant to share your pets story on a future podcast?  Send us a message: SUBSCRIBEAll new, the first ever Pet Journal - start logging your memories with your PetClick -> Pet Journal

  6. Jul 2

    The Dog Who Made Me More Honest (About Everything)

    Send us Fan Mail A sensitive dog can change your whole world, then teach you how to rebuild it with intention. We sit down with Haley, who’s been living full-time van life for nearly three and a half years with Scout, her Australian cattle dog mix rescue, and the story is equal parts adventure and hard-won calm. From a Wisconsin shelter to a home that fits on four wheels, Scout’s journey shows how safety is often less about where you are and more about what stays consistent. Haley gets candid about what “reactivity” really looked like for Scout after a dog attack, and how easily fear can be mislabeled as stubbornness or “bad behavior.” We dig into dog mental health, environmental sensitivity, and the reality that some dogs don’t explode when overwhelmed they freeze, which can trick us into thinking they’re fine. One of the most useful threads is the training pivot: shifting away from obsessing over stillness and toward play-based confidence, where engagement becomes a better signal than silence. You’ll also hear what it’s like to travel 49 states with a dog, why public land and wide-open space can be a game changer for reactive dogs, and how the Florida Keys brought a rare season of staying put while Haley volunteers as a campground host. If you’ve ever felt isolated by training challenges or overwhelmed by loud online advice, this conversation offers a grounded way forward: define your priorities, read your dog, and build resilience together. Subscribe for more real pet stories, share this with a friend who loves dogs and travel, and leave a review telling us what part of Scout’s journey you related to most. Purchase the Book that inspired the PodcastWant to share your pets story on a future podcast?  Send us a message: SUBSCRIBEAll new, the first ever Pet Journal - start logging your memories with your PetClick -> Pet Journal

  7. Jun 25

    How A Tuxedo Cat Named Hiccup And An Aussie Named Max Changed One Life

    Send us Fan Mail A kitten gets attacked, surrendered at an emergency vet, and ends up becoming a 13-year-old tuxedo cat who still runs the house. That’s how Alex’s story begins, and it quickly turns into something bigger: what it really means to care for animals when life gets messy, expensive, emotional, and unpredictable. Alex joins me from Seattle to talk about Hiccup’s rescue, the strange little “raptor noises” that come with a big personality, and why one split-second decision at a veterinary hospital can change a life forever.  We also spend time on the side of veterinary medicine most pet parents never see. Alex shares what it’s like to move from grief-heavy rooms to happy puppy visits, and why compassion fatigue is a real part of the job for vet teams. From there, we talk about Pow, an older cat who has battled IBD, chronic kidney failure, and diabetes, and how chronic illness can force hard but loving choices about what care is realistic.  Then we meet Max, a blue merle Australian Shepherd who becomes far more than a high-energy dog in an apartment. Alex explains how training, routine, and connection helped her navigate her own chronic illness, and why scent work and nosework can build confidence, support emotional regulation, and help dogs settle. If you’re searching for dog training tips, nosework basics, or a pet podcast that treats grief and joy with equal honesty, this one stays with you. Subscribe, share this with a fellow pet parent, and leave a review so more listeners can find these stories. Purchase the Book that inspired the PodcastWant to share your pets story on a future podcast?  Send us a message: SUBSCRIBEAll new, the first ever Pet Journal - start logging your memories with your PetClick -> Pet Journal

  8. Jun 18

    The Quiet Heroes Who Care for Our Furkids

    Send us Fan Mail Your pet can look “fine” one minute and be in real danger the next. That whiplash is exactly what we get into with Dr. Jessica Corley, an ER veterinarian and medical director with VEG ER, as we talk about the moments that shape families, the animals who become our heart companions, and the split second decisions that can change an outcome.  We start with Dr. Corley’s own furkids and the unexpected ways they trained her as much as she trained them, from Nino the dog like cat to Pixel the “ray of sunshine” she holds onto when the work gets heavy. We also talk openly about pet loss and grief, including Mia’s kidney disease and Onyx’s sudden cancer related bleed, plus what pre grieving looks like when you can sense change before it’s obvious.  Then we go deep on emergency vet reality through our story with Marley and, later, Marshall’s GDV bloat. We break down what GDV is, why time is everything, what helped Marshall make it to surgery, and what pet owners should watch for when their dog is pacing, uncomfortable, or acting “not right.” Dr. Corley also shares the most common emergency surgeries she sees, how the VEG model supports families during crisis, and why compassion fatigue is so common in veterinary medicine when love, limits, and money collide.  If this conversation helps you, subscribe, share it with a fellow pet parent, and leave a review so more families can find it when they need it most. What’s one pet emergency lesson you wish everyone knew? Purchase the Book that inspired the PodcastWant to share your pets story on a future podcast?  Send us a message: SUBSCRIBEAll new, the first ever Pet Journal - start logging your memories with your PetClick -> Pet Journal

See All (28)

About

A weekly conversation space where people honor pets they’ve lost, celebrate the joy pets bring, and support one another through pet grief. Each episode centers on a guest’s memories, the rituals that keep those pets present in daily life, and the lessons of love and loss that pets teach us!

Information

  • Creator
    Daniel Popovic
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    28
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Every Pawprint! Every Story!
  • Show Website
    Every Pawprint! Every Story!