Animals & Us (Kintsugi Heroes)

Kintsugi Heroes

The Animals and Us podcast series explores and celebrates the transformative power of human-animal connections. Each episode features guests sharing their lived experience of the influence animals have had on their lives, revealing stories of connection, healing, and transformation. Additionally, the podcast includes experts in relevant fields such as eco-psychology, animal therapy, compassion, and animal communication. The series is produced by Kintsugi Heroes and created and hosted by Natalie Stockdale.

  1. HACE 1 DÍA

    Protecting the wild and self-healing with Alison Papas • Animals & Us E17

    Alison grew up in a big Mauritian family in Australia, always surrounded by cousins, sleepovers, warmth and laughter, with family playing a central role throughout her childhood. When she was ten, abuse by a family member changed her sense of safety and shaped her early years, bringing complexity and hardship that affected her growth and identity. Over four years, Alison coped by shrinking herself and fawning, trying to be invisible and please others to stay safe, a survival response that shaped her behaviour into adulthood. At sixteen, Alison disclosed her abuse to two family members during an argument. Support was limited and understanding lacking, leaving her to process trauma mostly by herself. Alison developed fierce independence, became guarded, and struggled to let people in. For years, she kept her secret, believing she could only rely on herself. In 2020, she opened up to her younger sister, seeking authenticity and healing. This led to powerful changes, strengthened relationships, and eventually sharing her story publicly. Alison is now a survivor advocate and memoir author who works with her therapy dog Louis, offering coaching, breathwork, and hope to other trauma survivors on their healing journeys. Alison works as the Director of Advancement and Communications at Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary in Ontario Canada where a small but mighty team of five staff—and hundreds of volunteers—work to protect Ontario’s wildlife. With over 30 years in marketing and PR, Alison connects people to the Sanctuary’s mission through social media, newsletters, media stories, public events, and educational outreach. She’s also an Ontario Certified Teacher who loves hiking with her Golden Retrievers when she’s not busy helping keep wildlife wild. Links www.aspenvalley.ca IG = aspenvalleywildlifesanctuary FB = Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary ***** We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Animals & Us (Kintsugi Heroes). Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group. If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here - https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contact We hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories! Warmly, The Kintsugi Heroes team YouTube || Facebook || Instagram || LinkedIn || Website Theme Song: "Follow the Sun" by Xavier Rudd

    43 min
  2. 15 SEP

    The path to healing and self-empowerment with Caroline Brunne • Animals & Us E16

    Caroline Brunne grew up in a large, fun-loving, close-knit Mauritian family in Australia. At age ten, she experienced four years of abuse by a family member, learning early about trauma responses like fawning and shrinking herself to stay safe in her own home. During her teens, Caroline struggled to cope and kept her secret for years. At 16, she disclosed the abuse to two family members amidst complex family reactions. Adulthood brought Caroline both success as a business owner and ongoing challenges from trauma. She sought healing, different types of therapy and took steps to reclaim self-care and autonomy. Caroline bonded powerfully with Louis, a border collie who arrived just as she began publicly sharing her story and writing her memoir. Training Louis as a therapy dog, she noticed how his gentle presence helped others feel safe. Together they began offering support to survivors through breathwork sessions, workshops and animal-assisted coaching. For over two decades, Caroline, a high-functioning trauma survivor, has supported individuals in transforming their lives through coaching, life management, and personal growth. Her work has been featured on many platforms, such as Channel 7’s Sunrise, Mamma Mia, Women’s Health, and numerous podcasts and publications. She has spoken at conferences and events across Australia, contributing to media discussions and sharing insights that empower others to embrace their healing journeys.   In 2020, she took her first steps toward unpacking and healing her lived experiences. That journey led her to a place of transformation, and in 2022, Caroline self-published her debut book, More Than One Thing Can Be True.  In her book, Caroline shares her lived experience of overcoming child sexual abuse, incest, and trauma. Her goal is to inspire individuals and communities to open conversations about these experiences, to replace shame with understanding, and to illuminate the path to healing.  In 2024, Caroline created The Survivor Coach – a space where coaching and breathwork come together to support transformation. Today, alongside Louie, she works with clients to move beyond trauma, reclaim their power, and step into lives of purpose and authenticity. Caroline strives to ignite a movement of change, one that creates a better world for survivors today and for generations to come. Links https://www.instagram.com/caroline_brunne https://www.instagram.com/deepbreathswithlouie/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-brunne/ https://www.facebook.com/cgb.mgmt ***** We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Animals & Us (Kintsugi Heroes). Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group. If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here - https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contact We hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories! Warmly, The Kintsugi Heroes team YouTube || Facebook || a...

    1 h y 11 min
  3. 1 SEP

    Learning to live a life free of limits with Michael Hingson • Animals & Us E15

    Michael was born blind and grew up in Chicago and California. His early years lacked access to braille, but he learned math in his head and stayed curious about science. Michael got proper braille education in fourth grade. With his mother’s support and a new resource teacher, he caught up in school, joined the Boy Scouts, and developed skills in leadership. Michael first learned about guide dogs as a child when he met a blind teacher’s German shepherd named Nola. This experience inspired his own journey to apply for a guide dog. After eighth grade, Michael received his first guide dog named Squire. He learned responsibility, teamwork, and trust by caring for Squire and continued working with guide dogs throughout his life.  In 2001, Michael led an office in the World Trade Centre. On 9/11, he and his guide dog Roselle calmly evacuated many floors, relying on teamwork and focus to overcome fear. After 9/11, Michael became a speaker and author, writing three books about his experiences. He teaches others about trust, overcoming adversity, teamwork, and learning to face fear with confidence. Michael continues to travel, speak, and educate about blindness, inclusion, and guide dogs. He lives with his guide dog Alamo and a cat, using technology to enhance independence and share his story. https://www.michaelhingson.com ***** We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Animals & Us (Kintsugi Heroes). Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group. If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here - https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contact We hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories! Warmly, The Kintsugi Heroes team YouTube || Facebook || Instagram || LinkedIn || Website Theme Song: "Follow the Sun" by Xavier Rudd

    51 min
  4. 18 AGO

    Building awareness and advocating for wildlife with Sandy Steers • Animals & Us E14

    Sandy Steers is a biologist, energy healer, writer, and entrepreneur. With a degree in biology, she has led 14 trips to the Galapagos Islands; run the environmental educational nonprofit, Friends of Big Bear Valley, for 24 years; and written hundreds of high-engagement educational social media posts describing the lives of the local bald eagles.  During her previous career as a computer systems analyst and software designer, she founded and ran for 13 years a computer consulting company, Lorien Systems, which had over 30 employees and $2 million in annual sales. She was given a Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award by the state of California.  But her passion and life changed direction after healing stage 4 cancer utilising alternative techniques and learning about the tremendous power, we each have inside of us.  Sandy was drawn to Big Bear and was captivated by its mountains, forests and the sense of calm it brought her. She became fascinated by the local bald eagles, helping watch over their nests and working with the Friends of Big Bear Valley organisation. Through the eagle webcam project, she shared the lives of these birds with the public and sparked a global interest in watching and protecting wildlife. As an energy healer, she has over 30 years of experience in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), Shamanic Healing (Inca tradition), and other energy healing modalities, working with hundreds of individual clients and students to guide them toward self-empowerment and mastery.  She has also had over 300 magazine articles and two columns published on a variety of subjects, including animals, nature and healthy living. She optioned two screenplays, was placed highly in multiple screenwriting competitions and ran a national screenwriting competition for 10 years.  She also won 4th place in a Writer’s Digest contest for an as-yet unpublished children’s book called All by the Light of the Shiny, Shiny Moon. Her philosophy is that we are limitless beings, here to express our own uniqueness by simply being the fullness of who we are. Besides being a spokesperson and advocate for bald eagles and nature, she teaches NLP and Shamanic Healing and has developed a new healing modality called Equations of Life. Social Media friendsofbigbearvalley.org facebook.com/FOBBV instagram.com/FOBBV.official tiktok.com/@FOBBV.official youtube.com/@FOBBVCAM sandy.fobbv@gmail.com ***** We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Animals & Us (Kintsugi Heroes). Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group. If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here - https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contact We hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories! Warmly, The Kintsugi Heroes team YouTube || Facebook || a...

    34 min
  5. 4 AGO

    Finding hope through adopting a pet with Michael de Haan • Animals & Us E13

    In this episode of Animals and Us, we’re joined by Michael de Haan – a Certified Money Behaviour Coach, author, and former financial planner – who shares a deeply personal story about finding purpose and healing through the bond with his rescue dog, Missy. Michael has spent over 25 years in the financial services sector, where he now focuses on coaching, education and advocacy – particularly around financial abuse, coercive control and their links to domestic violence. But behind his professional expertise is a journey marked by personal challenge, vulnerability, and ultimately, the quiet power of companionship. We talk about how adopting Missy didn’t just give Michael a dog – it gave him a lifeline. Their connection became a catalyst for personal growth, emotional regulation, and renewed clarity of purpose. Michael also speaks to the broader role animals can play in supporting our mental health and recovery – especially during times of emotional distress or life transition. This conversation explores both the emotional and systemic sides of healing, drawing a link between the human-animal bond and the need for greater awareness around financial dignity and independence. www.quantumleap-global.com linkedin.com/in/michael-de-haan ***** We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Animals & Us (Kintsugi Heroes). Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group. If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here - https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contact We hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories! Warmly, The Kintsugi Heroes team YouTube || Facebook || Instagram || LinkedIn || Website Theme Song: "Follow the Sun" by Xavier Rudd

    30 min
  6. 21 JUL

    Farming with respect for animals and land with Dr Nan Bray • Animals & Us E12

    In this episode of Animals and Us, we’re joined by Dr Nan Bray – marine scientist turned ethical wool producer – who’s redefining what it means to care for both animals and the land. Based in the Tasmanian highlands, Nan runs White Gum Wool, a farm where sheep are not just livestock but respected members of a social and ecological community. Nan shares how her science background informs a radically compassionate approach to sheep farming – one that avoids slaughter, mulesing and tail docking, while preserving family groups and supporting healthy, functioning ecosystems. Her sheep graze freely on diverse native pastures, teaching their lambs to forage and live in kinship groups that reflect their natural behaviours. We talk about the ethical and environmental impact of conventional wool production, what it means to truly listen to animals, and how farming can shift from domination to relationship. For anyone curious about regenerative practices, animal-centred agriculture, or the future of wool, this is a powerful conversation grounded in both data and deep care. website: whitegumwool.com.au blog posts: https://www.whitegumwool.com.au/yarns-from-the-farm instagram: @whitegumwool ***** We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Animals & Us (Kintsugi Heroes). Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group. If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here - https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contact We hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories! Warmly, The Kintsugi Heroes team YouTube || Facebook || Instagram || LinkedIn || Website Theme Song: "Follow the Sun" by Xavier Rudd

    57 min
  7. 7 JUL

    Recognising the importance of animals in war with Nigel Allsopp • Animals & Us E11

    In this episode of Animals and Us, we’re joined by Nigel Allsopp – military veteran, former police dog handler, historian, author, and President of the Australian War Animal Memorial Organisation. Nigel’s career spans more than three decades across New Zealand and Australian military and police forces, with deep expertise in canine operations and animal behaviour. After serving with the Royal New Zealand Air Force as a dog handler and trainer, he continued his work with the Queensland Police and later turned his focus to educating the public on the vital – and often overlooked – role animals have played in times of war. We speak with Nigel about his mission to commemorate war animals – from donkeys and pigeons to dogs and camels – and the years of advocacy that led to the establishment of Australia’s first National Day for War Animals in 2019. He shares powerful stories of courage, sacrifice, and service, and explains why recognition for these animals is not just about history – it’s about justice, memory, and national identity. With 14 books to his name and a national ANZAC of the Year award among his many honours, Nigel brings both passion and precision to this conversation about some of the most under-recognised heroes in Australian and global military history. https://awamo.org.au  ***** We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Animals & Us (Kintsugi Heroes). Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group. If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here - https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contact We hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories! Warmly, The Kintsugi Heroes team YouTube || Facebook || Instagram || LinkedIn || Website Theme Song: "Follow the Sun" by Xavier Rudd

    44 min
  8. 23 JUN

    How you can learn from the wisdom of wolves with Dr Amanda Beer • Animals & Us E10

    In this episode of Animals and Us, Natalie speaks with Dr Amanda Beer, licensed psychologist, educator, and Executive Director of Wolf Connection – a sanctuary and wilderness retreat in California where rescued wolves play a vital role in trauma recovery and personal transformation. Amanda’s work sits at the intersection of clinical psychology and the natural world. With a PhD in Counselling Psychology and a background in trauma-informed care and group facilitation, she brings a depth of knowledge to the human experience – while also drawing on the presence, instincts and relational intelligence of wolves as co-facilitators in healing. We talk about her journey from academic research and social justice advocacy to the living, breathing work she now leads with wolves and young people on sacred land. She shares the philosophy behind what she calls the school of the wolves – a space where connection, resilience and belonging are taught not through lectures or textbooks, but through presence, trust and shared experience. Visit https://www.wolfconnection.org/ to learn more about the Wolf Connection organisation ***** We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Animals & Us (Kintsugi Heroes). Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group. If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here - https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contact We hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories! Warmly, The Kintsugi Heroes team YouTube || Facebook || Instagram || LinkedIn || Website Theme Song: "Follow the Sun" by Xavier Rudd

    1 h y 1 min

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The Animals and Us podcast series explores and celebrates the transformative power of human-animal connections. Each episode features guests sharing their lived experience of the influence animals have had on their lives, revealing stories of connection, healing, and transformation. Additionally, the podcast includes experts in relevant fields such as eco-psychology, animal therapy, compassion, and animal communication. The series is produced by Kintsugi Heroes and created and hosted by Natalie Stockdale.

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