The Whole Pack

Where animal care professionals come together for the animals.
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

The Whole Pack brings together professionals across the animal care world to explore the many ways we support animals and the humans who love them. Hosted by Melissa Sherman and Sunny Gandara, the podcast features honest conversations with practitioners, educators, and experts from different modalities, all working toward the same goal of animals thriving. thewholepack.substack.com

  1. When Productivity Becomes Emotional Avoidance

    5d ago

    When Productivity Becomes Emotional Avoidance

    Have you ever wondered if staying busy is actually keeping you from feeling what's underneath? In this episode, Melissa and Sunny are joined by holistic cat therapist and author Julie-Anne Hart to explore productivity as emotional avoidance, emotional regulation, boundaries, grief, and the powerful lessons our cats can teach us about presence and rest. Together, they discuss how busyness can become a coping mechanism, why emotions need to be felt instead of avoided, how animals reflect our emotional state, and practical ways to reconnect with ourselves without guilt. 00:00 Why productivity can become emotional avoidance 06:45 What our cats teach us about rest and presence 14:30 Boundaries, grief, and emotional regulation 24:15 The Feelings Wheel and reconnecting with emotions 34:00 Final reflections and practical takeaways For additional resources, including Julie-Anne's recommendations, links to her work, and more, visit the full show notes on Substack. Connect with Julie-Anne Hart Naturally Cats Website: naturallycats.co.uk Instagram: @naturallycatsuk Felines & Frequencies: @felinesandfrequencies Julie-Anne is a holistic cat therapist, author, energy practitioner, and educator who helps cats and the people who love them through behavior support, emotional healing, animal communication, and frequency work. Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional veterinary or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your veterinarian or a qualified professional regarding your animal’s health. If you enjoyed this conversation, consider subscribing to The Whole Pack on Substack or wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow The Whole Pack: Instagram: @thewholepack_ Facebook: @thewholepack YouTube: @thewholepack Connect with the hosts: Melissa Sherman – Calming Creek Website: calmingcreek.com Instagram: @calmingcreekhealing Sunny Gandara – Nacho Average Dog Health Coach Website: nachoaveragedoghealthcoach.com Instagram: @nachoaveragedoghealthcoach This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thewholepack.substack.com

    54 min
  2. When Your Business Starts Consuming Your Personality

    Jun 30

    When Your Business Starts Consuming Your Personality

    When does building your business start costing you... yourself? In this episode, Melissa and Sunny explore the hidden emotional cost of personal branding, social media, and the pressure to constantly create content. They discuss creator burnout, losing hobbies to hustle culture, protecting your nervous system, setting healthier boundaries with social media, and why your worth isn't determined by how often you post. If you've ever felt guilty for taking a day off or struggled to separate your identity from your business, this conversation is for you. For additional resources and links mentioned in this episode, visit the full show notes on Substack. Timestamps 00:00 When Your Life Becomes Content 08:00 Losing Hobbies to Hustle Culture 15:00 Privacy, Presence & Nervous System Health 22:00 Creator Burnout & Content Pressure 28:00 You Don't Need to Be Everywhere Resources Mentioned: How to Do Nothing by Jenny Odell Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon Follow The Whole Pack Instagram: @thewholepack_ Facebook: @thewholepack YouTube: @thewholepack Connect with the hosts: Melissa Sherman – Calming Creek Website: calmingcreek.com Instagram: @calmingcreekhealing Sunny Gandara – Nacho Average Dog Health Coach Website: nachoaveragedoghealthcoach.com Instagram: @nachoaveragedoghealthcoach Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional veterinary or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your veterinarian or a qualified professional regarding your animal’s health. If you enjoyed this conversation, consider subscribing to The Whole Pack on Substack or wherever you listen to podcasts. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thewholepack.substack.com

    37 min
  3. Where Pet Healthcare Is Headed: Trends, Tensions, and What We’re Missing

    Jun 23

    Where Pet Healthcare Is Headed: Trends, Tensions, and What We’re Missing

    Are We Feeding Our Dogs All Wrong? What if one of the most overlooked aspects of animal health isn't what we feed our animals, but how we feed them? In this episode, Melissa and Sunny sit down with Carol Smeja, co-founder of Mine Pet Platter and a researcher with a background in nutrition, psychology, and eating behavior. Carol shares how observing her own dog led her to study feeding behavior in wolves and wildlife, ultimately challenging many common assumptions about feeding companion animals. Together, they discuss digestion, stress, nutrient absorption, elevated feeders, convenience culture, veterinary industry trends, and the future of pet healthcare. Carol also shares her vision for what she calls P³: a future built around predictive, preventative, and personalized care. For additional resources, links, and Carol's special listener discount, visit the full show notes on Substack. Timestamps 07:00 Feeding Behavior, Digestion, and Nutrient Absorption 15:00 Trends in Veterinary Medicine and Industry Changes 25:00 Prevention and Pet Parent Education 31:00 Feeding from the Animal's Perspective 40:00 Stress, Cortisol, and Meal Satisfaction 47:00 The Future of Pet Healthcare (P³) 51:00 One Thing Every Pet Parent Should Observe Resources Mine Pet Platter https://minepetplatter.com Use code THEWHOLEPACK for 10% off through July 10, 2026. After July 10, be sure to check Mine Pet Platter’s website for any current promotions or offers. If you enjoyed this conversation, consider subscribing to The Whole Pack on Substack or wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow The Whole Pack: Instagram: @thewholepack_ Facebook: @thewholepack YouTube: @thewholepack Connect with the hosts: Melissa Sherman – Calming Creek Website: calmingcreek.com Instagram: @calmingcreekhealing Sunny Gandara – Nacho Average Dog Health Coach Website: nachoaveragedoghealthcoach.com Instagram: @nachoaveragedoghealthcoach Disclaimer:This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional veterinary or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your veterinarian or a qualified professional regarding your animal’s health. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thewholepack.substack.com

    57 min
  4. Email Marketing Without the Ick

    Jun 16

    Email Marketing Without the Ick

    Email marketing. Just hearing those words can make some business owners want to run the other direction. In this episode, Melissa and Sunny explore the fears, beliefs, and misconceptions many practitioners have around email marketing and why an email list may be one of the most valuable assets you can build. They discuss permission-based marketing, lead magnets, welcome sequences, nurture emails, unsubscribes, and the difference between visibility and genuine connection. The conversation also explores how email can help practitioners create deeper relationships, reach more people, and build businesses that don't rely entirely on one-on-one client work. If you've ever worried about being too salesy, annoying your audience, or wondering whether anyone actually wants your emails, this episode is for you. For Sunny's recommended reading list and additional email marketing resources, visit the full show notes on our Substack. If you'd like to connect with Sunny about email marketing strategy, list building, or nurture sequences, you can reach her at sunny@nachoaveragedoghealth.com. Timestamps 04:00 Permission Marketing and Owning Your Audience09:00 Reframing Email as an Invitation12:00 Lead Magnets and Growing Your List16:00 Welcome Sequences and Building Trust22:00 What Should You Actually Email People?30:00 Unsubscribes, Open Rates, and Getting Back on Track36:00 Creating a Sustainable Business Beyond 1:1 Sessions Disclaimer:This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional veterinary or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your veterinarian or a qualified professional regarding your animal’s health. If you enjoyed this conversation, consider subscribing to The Whole Pack on Substack or wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow The Whole Pack: Instagram: @thewholepack_ Facebook: @thewholepackY ouTube: @thewholepack Connect with the hosts: Melissa Sherman – Calming Creek Website: calmingcreek.com Instagram: @calmingcreekhealing Sunny Gandara – Nacho Average Dog Health Coach Website: nachoaveragedoghealthcoach.com Instagram: @nachoaveragedoghealthcoach This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thewholepack.substack.com

    43 min
  5. The Death of the Girlboss

    Jun 9

    The Death of the Girlboss

    The girlboss era promised women that we could have it all: successful careers, thriving businesses, perfect homes, meaningful relationships, and limitless ambition. But somewhere along the way, many of us learned to equate exhaustion with success. In this episode, Melissa and Sunny explore the rise of hustle culture, the pressure to constantly achieve, and the growing movement of women redefining success on their own terms. They discuss burnout, productivity, ambition, motherhood, entrepreneurship, pricing, boundaries, and the powerful question that changed Melissa's perspective entirely. What does your ideal day actually look like? This conversation is an invitation to step back from inherited definitions of success and create one that feels sustainable, meaningful, and aligned with your life. For additional resources, including Melissa's "ideal day" exercise and Sunny's discussion of the Norwegian concept of friluftsliv, visit our Substack. Timestamps: 09:00 Burnout as a System, Not a Personal Failure 13:00 Productivity vs. Success 16:00 The MLM Boom and the Promise of Having It All 21:00 What Do You Actually Want? 25:00 Melissa's Ideal Day Exercise 34:00 Pricing, Boundaries, and Sustainable Business 37:00 Friluftsliv: The Norwegian Philosophy of Open-Air Living 40:00 Giving Yourself Permission Disclaimer:This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional veterinary or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your veterinarian or a qualified professional regarding your animal’s health. If you enjoyed this conversation, consider subscribing to The Whole Pack on Substack or wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow The Whole Pack: Instagram: @thewholepack_ Facebook: @thewholepack YouTube: @thewholepack Connect with the hosts: Melissa Sherman – Calming Creek Website: calmingcreek.com Instagram: @calmingcreekhealing Sunny Gandara – Nacho Average Dog Health Coach Website: nachoaveragedoghealthcoach.com Instagram: @nachoaveragedoghealthcoach This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thewholepack.substack.com

    44 min
  6. When to Refer Out: Knowing When a Client or Case Is No Longer the Right Fit

    Jun 2

    When to Refer Out: Knowing When a Client or Case Is No Longer the Right Fit

    In this episode of The Whole Pack, Melissa and Sunny explore one of the hardest parts of working in the holistic pet space: knowing when to refer out a case or let go of a client relationship that is no longer serving the animal. They discuss intuition, compliance, burnout, boundaries, scarcity, difficult client dynamics, and how referrals can actually become a form of deeper support rather than failure. This conversation also explores the importance of collaboration, building trusted referral networks, and staying grounded in integrity while navigating emotionally complex cases. Timestamps: 01:55 Melissa’s First Referral Experience 04:50 Sunny’s Chronic Cat Case 09:28 Ignoring Intuition 11:20 Discovery Calls + Readiness 18:00 Referral Networks 22:00 Scarcity + Difficult Cases 26:00 Collaboration Between Practitioners 31:30 Referrals + Integrity Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional veterinary or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your veterinarian or a qualified professional regarding your animal’s health. If you enjoyed this conversation, consider subscribing to The Whole Pack on Substack or wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow The Whole Pack: Instagram: @thewholepack_ Facebook: @thewholepack YouTube: @thewholepack Connect with the hosts: Melissa Sherman – Calming Creek Website: calmingcreek.com Instagram: @calmingcreekhealing Sunny Gandara – Nacho Average Dog Health Coach Website: nachoaveragedoghealthcoach.com Instagram: @nachoaveragedoghealthcoach This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thewholepack.substack.com

    36 min
  7. The Comparison Trap: Social Media, Self-Doubt, and Losing Your Voice in Holistic Pet Care

    May 26

    The Comparison Trap: Social Media, Self-Doubt, and Losing Your Voice in Holistic Pet Care

    In this episode of The Whole Pack, Melissa and Sunny explore how social media comparison impacts holistic pet professionals and animal care practitioners. They discuss the pressure to keep up online, comparison and self-doubt, pricing anxiety, perfectionism, visibility, and how easy it is to lose your authentic voice while trying to follow trends or perform for the algorithm. This conversation also explores how comparison affects confidence, creativity, and nervous system regulation, and how to create healthier boundaries with social media while still growing your business. An honest discussion about staying grounded in your own work, trusting your voice, and building a business that feels aligned instead of performative. Timestamps 00:34 The Comparison Trap03:40 Why It Gets Personal08:20 Comparison + Triggers09:45 Losing Your Voice11:25 Pricing Anxiety18:00 Auditing Your Feed24:00 Content Batching28:15 Returning to Your Why33:15 Final Thoughts Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional veterinary or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your veterinarian or a qualified professional regarding your animal’s health. If you enjoyed this conversation, consider subscribing to The Whole Pack on Substack or wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow The Whole Pack: Instagram: @thewholepack_ Facebook: @thewholepack YouTube: @thewholepack Connect with the hosts: Melissa Sherman – Calming Creek ebsite: calmingcreek.com Instagram: @calmingcreekhealing Sunny Gandara – Nacho Average Dog Health Coach Website: nachoaveragedoghealthcoach.com Instagram: @nachoaveragedoghealthcoach This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thewholepack.substack.com

    36 min

  8. May 19

    What Happens When a Vet and Holistic Pet Coach Actually Work Together

    In this special episode of The Whole Pack, Melissa and Sunny welcome their first guest, Dr. Michelle Rocque of Full Circle Veterinary Hospital. Together, they explore what real collaboration between veterinarians and holistic pet professionals can look like, and why integrative care may be the future of pet wellness. They discuss corporate veterinary medicine and burnout, nutrition and raw feeding, vaccine titers, communication in veterinary care, and how collaborative care can create better outcomes for animals and their people. This is an honest, hopeful conversation about what happens when practitioners stop competing and start working together. Timestamps: 00:33 Introducing Dr. Michelle Rocque03:03 Dr. Michelle’s Integrative Journey08:58 Corporate Vet Medicine17:00 Challenges in Veterinary Practice20:20 How the Collaboration Started27:16 Raw Feeding + Veterinary Resistance31:00 Nutrition in Vet School35:05 Why This Collaboration Matters About Dr. Michelle Rocque Dr. Michelle Rocque is the owner of Full Circle Veterinary Hospital in the Hudson Valley region of New York. Her practice integrates conventional veterinary medicine with holistic modalities including nutrition, herbal medicine, homeopathy, and nutraceutical support. Website: fullcirclevethospital.com Phone: 845-234-4417 Facebook: Full Circle Veterinary Hospital Instagram: @full_circle_vet Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional veterinary or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your veterinarian or a qualified professional regarding your animal’s health. If you enjoyed this conversation, consider subscribing to The Whole Pack on Substack or wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow The Whole Pack: Instagram: @thewholepack_ Facebook: @thewholepack YouTube: @thewholepack Connect with the hosts: Melissa Sherman – Calming Creek Website: calmingcreek.com Instagram: @calmingcreekhealing Sunny Gandara – Nacho Average Dog Health Coach Website: nachoaveragedoghealthcoach.com Instagram: @nachoaveragedoghealthcoach This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thewholepack.substack.com

    40 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

The Whole Pack brings together professionals across the animal care world to explore the many ways we support animals and the humans who love them. Hosted by Melissa Sherman and Sunny Gandara, the podcast features honest conversations with practitioners, educators, and experts from different modalities, all working toward the same goal of animals thriving. thewholepack.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Where animal care professionals come together for the animals.
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    18
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Whole Pack
  • Show Website
    The Whole Pack

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