Pet Sitter Confessional

Pet Sitter Confessional, LLC
  • 4.9 (103)
  • Personal Journals
  • Updated Weekly

Pet Sitter Confessional is the go-to podcast for pet sitters who want to grow, learn, and feel seen. Having run a pet sitting and dog walking business since 2012, Meghan and Collin share the real, behind-the-scenes life of professional pet sitting—from funny mishaps and tough lessons to business insights and personal stories. Each week, they also interview fellow sitters and industry pros to explore what it really takes to thrive in pet care. Whether you're just starting out or a seasoned pro, you'll find support, inspiration, and a community that truly gets it. Your story belongs here, too!

  1. 4d ago

    Why Going Cats-Only Was the Right Business Move with Sarita Eckhoff

    What happens when you build a pet care business around the animals, clients, and work you genuinely love? Sarita Eckhoff shares how she transformed an idea into Exclusively Cats In-Home Cat Sitting while initially maintaining a full-time office job. She explains why professional presentation, continuing education, veterinary relationships, and a clear cats-only niche helped her earn the trust of her earliest clients. Sarita also discusses pricing confidently, communicating concerns promptly, and recognizing the true value pet sitters provide beyond basic feeding and litter box care. Her journey is an encouraging reminder that success does not have to mean building a large team—it can mean creating a focused, fulfilling business that fits the owner's strengths and desired lifestyle. Main topics: Choosing a cats-only niche Launching with professional systems Building veterinary referral relationships Pricing services with confidence Designing a fulfilling business Main takeaway: "I'm not curing cancer, I'm not changing the world, but I'm making a difference for somebody and helping somebody in their day-to-day life." It can be easy to minimize the work we do as pet sitters. We may think we are "just" feeding a cat, cleaning a litter box, checking the home, or sending an update. But to the client who is traveling, recovering from surgery, or worrying about a beloved pet, those details can make an enormous difference. Professional pet care gives people the freedom to focus on what is happening in their lives without carrying constant worry or guilt. As Sarita reminds us, meaningful work does not always have to change the entire world—it can simply make one person's world safer, calmer, and a little easier today. About our guest: Sarita Eckhoff is the owner of Exclusively Cats In-Home Cat Sitting, a professional cats-only pet care business serving her community near Seattle, Washington. After years of working in customer service and office-based positions, she launched her business in 2024 and later transitioned into cat sitting full time. Sarita combines her lifelong love of cats with professional systems, thoughtful communication, and a strong commitment to keeping clients' pets and homes safe. Her goal is to become the premier cat-sitting provider in her area while building a sustainable solo business that reflects her strengths and values. Links: Check out our Starter Packs See all of our discounts! 📞 Call us: (636) 364-8260 Follow us on: Instagram, Facebook Email us at: petsitterconfessional@gmail.com Full show notes and transcript Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Pet Sitter Confessional, its hosts, or sponsors. We interview individuals based on their experience and expertise within the pet care industry. Any statements made outside of this platform, or unrelated to the topic discussed, are solely the responsibility of the guest. Sponsored by: ❤️ Our AMAZING Patreon Supporters   Time to Pet Visit: https://timetopet.com/confessional Code: 50% off first 3 months   Pet Sitters International- Visit https://www.petsit.com/psc

    Why Going Cats-Only Was the Right Business Move with Sarita Eckhoff

  2. 6d ago

    Stop Making Every Problem Your Emergency

    What does peace of mind actually look like when employees call out, clients cancel, cars break down, and plans change without warning? In this episode, we explore why peace of mind does not come from eliminating problems, but from building a business capable of absorbing them without every disruption becoming our personal emergency. We break that work into three major areas: hiring dependable people, creating systems designed for failure, and developing a healthier mindset toward the normal uncertainty of business ownership. We also discuss dependable capacity, single points of failure, team-based care, delegation, and why some unused capacity can actually make a business stronger. Ultimately, we argue that the goal is not to control everything, but to build something resilient enough that we no longer have to. Main topics: Hiring For Dependable Capacity Systems Designed For Failure Building Operational Backup Capacity Separating Incidents From Patterns Letting Go Of Control Main takeaway: "The goal isn't to control everything, the goal is to build something resilient enough that we don't have to." Peace of mind as a business owner does not come from finally reaching a point where employees never call out, clients never cancel, and nothing unexpected happens. That business does not exist. Instead, peace comes from knowing your hiring process brings dependable people onto the team, your systems can absorb disruptions, and your mindset does not interpret every problem as proof that the company is falling apart. Sometimes you will still cover a visit. Sometimes a system will fail. Sometimes a great employee will leave. The difference is that those events no longer have to destabilize the entire business—or you along with it. Build for resilience, not perfect control. Links: Check out our Starter Packs See all of our discounts! 📞 Call us: (636) 364-8260 Follow us on: Instagram, Facebook Email us at: petsitterconfessional@gmail.com Full show notes and transcript Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Pet Sitter Confessional, its hosts, or sponsors. We interview individuals based on their experience and expertise within the pet care industry. Any statements made outside of this platform, or unrelated to the topic discussed, are solely the responsibility of the guest. Sponsored by: ❤️ Our AMAZING Patreon Supporters   Your peace of mind is part of great pet care. Pet Sitters Associates provides the insurance you need to get the work done. Visit: https://www.petsitllc.com and use the code 'confessional' for $10 off today!   Tiny Paws Bookkeeping - visit TinyPawsBookkeeping.com to start putting profit first!   Pet First Aid 4U: https://www.petfirstaid4u.com/. September Pet First Aid 4U discount code: PREPARE for 5% off eligible online Pet First Aid and CPR courses during September.

    Stop Making Every Problem Your Emergency

  3. Aug 26

    Still Standing with Cathy Duvall

    What happens when one unexpected moment changes your business—and your life—overnight? Cathy Duvall returns to Pet Sitter Confessional to share her deeply personal journey after a sudden accident led to years of surgeries, chronic infection, and a complete rethinking of how she operates her solo pet sitting business. Together, we explore the emotional challenge of adapting to physical limitations, learning to say no, and creating resilience before a crisis arrives. Cathy shares practical lessons about financial preparedness, backup plans, and protecting your health without losing your passion for pet care. This conversation is a powerful reminder that resilience isn't about pretending nothing has changed—it's about continuing forward in a new way. Main topics: Adapting After Life Changes Health Before Business Always Creating Business Safety Nets Learning To Say No Resilience Beyond Determination Main takeaway: "Failure is not an option, but I've learned that saying 'no' sometimes is what allows me to keep saying 'yes' for the long run." There is a difference between refusing to quit and refusing to adapt. Cathy's story reminds us that resilience isn't pretending everything is fine or pushing through at all costs. Sometimes resilience means changing the kinds of clients you accept, slowing down, asking for help, or protecting your health so you can continue doing the work you love. As business owners, our greatest asset isn't our schedule or our client list—it's our ability to keep showing up. The goal isn't to prove how much we can endure. The goal is to build a business that can weather life's unexpected seasons while allowing us to still be standing on the other side. Links: https://www.petsitterconfessional.com/episodes/499 **** https://www.petsitterconfessional.com/episodes/553 gointothedogsga@gmail.com phone: 770-883-4644 https://www.facebook.com/cathy.duvall.31 https://www.facebook.com/gointothedogsga/ https://www.gointothedogsga.com/   Check out our Starter Packs See all of our discounts! 📞 Call us: (636) 364-8260 Follow us on: Instagram, Facebook Email us at: petsitterconfessional@gmail.com Full show notes and transcript Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Pet Sitter Confessional, its hosts, or sponsors. We interview individuals based on their experience and expertise within the pet care industry. Any statements made outside of this platform, or unrelated to the topic discussed, are solely the responsibility of the guest. Sponsored by: ❤️ Our AMAZING Patreon Supporters   Time to Pet Visit: https://timetopet.com/confessional Code: 50% off first 3 months   DogCo Summit

    Still Standing with Cathy Duvall

  4. Aug 24

    The Legacy of a Lazy Leader

    What happens when a leader stays incredibly busy but keeps avoiding the work that only they can do? In this episode, we unpack what "lazy leadership" actually looks like and why it has far less to do with how hard we work than with which responsibilities we choose to avoid. We discuss the difference between delegation, rest, hustle, and avoidance, along with the consequences our teams and future selves inherit when difficult decisions are continually delayed. We also explore how our unspoken behaviors teach employees what standards really matter, whether we intend them to or not. Finally, we challenge ourselves to identify the one difficult responsibility that belongs on our plate and deliberately do the hard thing before somebody else inherits the problem. Main topics:  Recognizing selective leadership avoidance Delegation versus avoiding responsibility Modeling standards through actions Protecting teams from burnout Practicing deliberate self leadership Main takeaway:  "The opposite of a lazy leader is not a hustling leader. It's a deliberate one." You can work from sunrise to sunset and still avoid the most important work in your business. Leadership isn't measured by how many visits you complete, emails you answer, or boxes you check. Sometimes the real work is raising the price, writing the SOP, confronting poor performance, reviewing the numbers, or making the decision you've been putting off. And when we avoid those responsibilities, they don't disappear. Someone inherits them—our employees, our family, our clients, or our future selves. Good leadership isn't about doing everything Links: Check out our Starter Packs See all of our discounts! 📞 Call us: (636) 364-8260 Follow us on: Instagram, Facebook Email us at: petsitterconfessional@gmail.com Full show notes and transcript Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Pet Sitter Confessional, its hosts, or sponsors. We interview individuals based on their experience and expertise within the pet care industry. Any statements made outside of this platform, or unrelated to the topic discussed, are solely the responsibility of the guest. Sponsored by: ❤️ Our AMAZING Patreon Supporters   Your peace of mind is part of great pet care. Pet Sitters Associates provides the insurance you need to get the work done. Visit: https://www.petsitllc.com and use the code 'confessional' for $10 off today!   Pet Perennials Visit: https://petperennials.com/pages/register-for-a-business-account Code: 'PSC' when registering for a $2 off coupon on any purchases in the 1st 90 days

    The Legacy of a Lazy Leader

  5. Aug 19

    From Founder to Future with Kaz Kelly

    What would happen to your pet care business if you needed (or wanted) to step away? Collin speaks with Kaz Kelly, founder of Founder to Future Consulting, about preparing a business for sale long before an exit becomes urgent. Kaz explains why annual exit-readiness audits, documented systems, independent teams, and clear financial boundaries make a business more attractive to potential buyers. They also explore the emotional realities of selling, including releasing control, redefining your identity, protecting yourself during due diligence, and accepting that a buyer is not responsible for preserving your legacy. Whether retirement is approaching or selling has never crossed your mind, this conversation will help you build a healthier, more transferable business today. Main topics: Preparing Before Selling Begins Auditing Through Buyer Eyes Separating Founder From Business Navigating Sale Emotions Successfully Planning Life After Ownership Main takeaway: "We don't know what we don't know, and having someone that has been through the process of what you want to walk through, is invaluable." That is especially true when we try to evaluate a business we have spent years building from the inside. The passwords stored in our heads, the clients who call our personal phones, and the decisions only we know how to make may feel normal—but they can become serious obstacles when it is time to step away. Kaz Kelly encourages owners to look at their businesses through a buyer's eyes before an exit becomes urgent. An annual exit-readiness audit can reveal the systems, boundaries, financial clarity, and team development needed to make the business healthier and more transferable. You may not be ready to sell today, but preparing now gives you more choices when the time eventually comes. About our guest: Kaz Kelly is the founder of Founder to Future Consulting, where she helps female founders prepare themselves and their businesses for succession, sale, or a step back from daily operations. Before entering consulting, Kaz built and sold a successful enrichment-based dog daycare, grooming, and training facility in Queensland, Australia. Her background also includes working as a detector dog handler for the Australian Border Force and investigating animal cruelty cases for the RSPCA. Drawing from her own experience as an exited founder, Kaz helps business owners navigate both the operational demands and emotional realities of leaving a company they built. Links: Founder to Future Consulting: foundertofutureconsulting.com⁠ Founder to Future Consulting on Instagram: @founder2future⁠ Kaz Kelly on Instagram: @itskazkelly⁠ Kaz Kelly on LinkedIn: Kaz Kelly Check out our Starter Packs See all of our discounts! 📞 Call us: (636) 364-8260 Follow us on: Instagram, Facebook Email us at: petsitterconfessional@gmail.com Full show notes and transcript Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Pet Sitter Confessional, its hosts, or sponsors. We interview individuals based on their experience and expertise within the pet care industry. Any statements made outside of this platform, or unrelated to the topic discussed, are solely the responsibility of the guest. Sponsored by: ❤️ Our AMAZING Patreon Supporters  Time to Pet Visit: https://timetopet.com/confessional Code: 50% off first 3 months  DogCo Summit

    From Founder to Future with Kaz Kelly

  6. Aug 17

    726: What to Do When Your Business Feels Stuck

    What do we do when working harder stops producing better results in our business? We explore how to recognize when we've genuinely hit a limit rather than simply experiencing a temporary slow season. We talk about separating what we can control from what we can't, managing the frustration that comes with feeling stuck, and treating a plateau as useful information instead of personal failure. We also break down practical ways to move forward by retiring tactics that aren't working, asking for outside help, and turning big problems into small, measurable experiments. Most importantly, we're reminded that being stuck is temporary, but how we respond while we're there determines what kind of business owner we'll be when things start moving again. Main topics: Recognizing When You're Stuck Separating Control From Frustration Retiring Tactics That Fail Running Small Business Experiments Creating Momentum While Waiting Main takeaway: "Being stuck means that we've reached the edge of what we currently know how to do." That doesn't mean we've failed. It means the strategies, habits, knowledge, and effort that got us here may not be enough to get us to the next place. The temptation is to respond by working harder—posting more, pushing more, trying the same hiring strategy again, or simply telling ourselves to keep grinding. But when more effort keeps producing the same result, the answer may not be more effort. It may be time for new information, a different perspective, or a small experiment. Being stuck gives us information. The question is what we're going to do with it. Links: Check out our Starter Packs See all of our discounts! 📞 Call us: (636) 364-8260 Follow us on: Instagram, Facebook Email us at: petsitterconfessional@gmail.com Full show notes and transcript Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Pet Sitter Confessional, its hosts, or sponsors. We interview individuals based on their experience and expertise within the pet care industry. Any statements made outside of this platform, or unrelated to the topic discussed, are solely the responsibility of the guest. Sponsored by: ❤️ Our AMAZING Patreon Supporters   Pet Sitters International Visit: https://www.petsit.com/psc Code: PSC15   Your peace of mind is part of great pet care. Pet Sitters Associates provides the insurance you need to get the work done. Visit: https://www.petsitllc.com and use the code 'confessional' for $10 off today!

    726: What to Do When Your Business Feels Stuck

  7. Aug 12

    Building Your Succession Plan with Sativa Boatman

    Earn 1 CEU! What would happen to your pet care business if you suddenly could not run it? Attorney and business owner Sativa Boatman joins Collin to explain why wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and succession planning matter long before retirement. They discuss the risks of allowing a business to pass through probate and the operational gap that can leave employees, clients, and family members without anyone authorized to act. Sativa encourages owners to recognize their businesses as valuable assets and clearly communicate whether those businesses should continue, be sold, or be responsibly closed. This conversation offers a practical starting point for protecting what you have built while giving the people around you greater clarity and peace. Main topics: Avoiding Probate for Businesses Trusts and Ownership Transfers Planning for Owner Incapacity Choosing a Business Successor Treating Business as Assets Main takeaway: "You do not want your business to be run through probate court if you die." That statement may feel uncomfortable, but avoiding the conversation does not protect the business you have worked so hard to build. Without the proper legal structure, there may be no one immediately authorized to sign payroll, access critical accounts, manage contracts, or make decisions for your company. Your employees, clients, family, and community could all be affected while the courts determine who has the authority to act. Planning does not mean that you expect the worst to happen tomorrow. It means recognizing that your business is an asset worthy of protection. A thoughtful succession plan can provide clear instructions for whether the business should continue, be sold, or be responsibly closed. In this episode, Sativa Boatman helps us begin asking the difficult—but necessary—questions that create clarity and peace for everyone involved. About our guest: Sativa Boatman is an attorney and business owner with Assertion Law Firm LLC, a Missouri transactional law firm serving families and businesses throughout the state. Her practice includes estate planning, elder law, probate and trust administration, business matters, and real estate. She focuses on helping clients understand complicated legal decisions and create plans tailored to their assets, families, businesses, and long-term goals. Through her work, Sativa seeks to educate and empower clients so they can move forward with greater confidence and peace of mind. (Assertion Law Firm LLC) Links: Assertion Law Firm LLC Sativa Boatman and Firm Contact Information Assertion Law Firm Business Law Services Assertion Law Firm Educational Articles Sativa Boatman on LinkedIn Assertion Law Firm provides legal services involving estate planning, probate and trust administration, real estate, and business law throughout Missouri. The firm's business-law services include entity setup, contracts, business purchases, succession planning, and business transitions. (Assertion Law Firm LLC) Phone: 888-887-4170 Check out our Starter Packs See all of our discounts! 📞 Call us: (636) 364-8260 Follow us on: Instagram, Facebook Email us at: petsitterconfessional@gmail.com Full show notes and transcript Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Pet Sitter Confessional, its hosts, or sponsors. We interview individuals based on their experience and expertise within the pet care industry. Any statements made outside of this platform, or unrelated to the topic discussed, are solely the responsibility of the guest. Sponsored by: ❤️ Our AMAZING Patreon Supporters   Time to Pet Visit: https://timetopet.com/confessional Code: 50% off first 3 months  Tiny Paws Bookkeeping - visit TinyPawsBookkeeping.com to start putting profit first!

    Building Your Succession Plan with Sativa Boatman

  8. Aug 10

    The Long Term Cost of Short Sighted Solutions

    What if some of the decisions that feel most responsible today are quietly creating bigger problems for your business tomorrow? We explore how avoiding immediate discomfort can show up in our pricing, hiring, marketing, client policies, documentation, and willingness to delegate. We discuss why doing everything ourselves, tolerating mediocre performance, underpricing services, and saying yes to every client can eventually limit the business we actually want to build. We also look at how stronger systems, better documentation, consistent marketing, clear contracts, and intentional team development give us more options instead of fewer. Ultimately, we challenge ourselves to accept a little discomfort today so that our future selves inherit a business instead of simply another job. Main topics: Escaping the knowledge trap Building intentional team culture Pricing for sustainable growth Creating better client boundaries Choosing long-term business thinking Main takeaway: "Long-term thinking is really about willingness to feel a little discomfort today, so that future you inherits a business instead of a job" It can be tempting to make the decision that feels easiest right now. Keep the price where it is. Do the difficult visit yourself. Skip documenting the process. Say yes to the client even though you know they are outside your boundaries. The uncomfortable conversation, price increase, new SOP, hiring standard, marketing investment, or boundary you establish today may be exactly what gives you more freedom tomorrow. You don't have to fix everything at once, but you can identify one area where "just for now" has quietly become the permanent way you operate. Links: Check out our Starter Packs See all of our discounts! 📞 Call us: (636) 364-8260 Follow us on: Instagram, Facebook Email us at: petsitterconfessional@gmail.com Full show notes and transcript Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Pet Sitter Confessional, its hosts, or sponsors. We interview individuals based on their experience and expertise within the pet care industry. Any statements made outside of this platform, or unrelated to the topic discussed, are solely the responsibility of the guest. Sponsored by: ❤️ Our AMAZING Patreon Supporters Critter to turn insights into action. Use 'PSC20' for 20% off your first three months  Your peace of mind is part of great pet care. Pet Sitters Associates provides the insurance you need to get the work done. Visit: https://www.petsitllc.com and use the code 'confessional' for $10 off today!

    The Long Term Cost of Short Sighted Solutions
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4.9
out of 5
103 Ratings

About

Pet Sitter Confessional is the go-to podcast for pet sitters who want to grow, learn, and feel seen. Having run a pet sitting and dog walking business since 2012, Meghan and Collin share the real, behind-the-scenes life of professional pet sitting—from funny mishaps and tough lessons to business insights and personal stories. Each week, they also interview fellow sitters and industry pros to explore what it really takes to thrive in pet care. Whether you're just starting out or a seasoned pro, you'll find support, inspiration, and a community that truly gets it. Your story belongs here, too!

Information

  • Creator
    Pet Sitter Confessional, LLC
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    730
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2019-2026 Pet Sitter Confessional LLC
  • Show Website
    Pet Sitter Confessional

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