Agility on the road

Hey! I’m back in the European ring after two and a half years of backpacking and judging around the world. In this solo episode, I’m taking you for a walk through the Finnish forest to talk about why I actually had to take such a long break and the burnout that left me unable to even get out of bed. I’m sharing what was on my mind while judging in Finland—the feedback that made me think about my &...

In this episode of Agility on the Road, I’m joined by Greek judge, trainer, and competitor Elpida Ismael. We talk about her life in Athens and her rapid evolution since she started judging in 2023, covering the real-talk version of her journey—from the challenges of training and overcoming her fear of flying to the lessons learned through the successes and hardships of 2025.  It was almost unbelie...

In this episode, I sit down with my dear friend Raul Molina from Guatemala. We explore the vibrant world of agility in Guatemala, looking back at his humble beginnings in the sport—back when obstacles were just PVC pipes and passion. Raul shares how his background in gymnastics and his deep experience with herding have shaped his approach to training. We laughed a lot during this recording, and I...

In this episode, I sit down with the legendary Jan Egil Eide to discuss the incredible journey of agility from the early nineties to the modern era. Jan shares his memories from competing at the highest level—including the AWC and EO—and how he transitioned into judging with a mission to influence the sport for the better. He was one of those truly influential figures who helped bring more of that...

In this episode, I am sharing a bit of my personal agility journey. This part is about my very beginnings and my very first competition experiences. Back then, I was a 13-year-old training and competing with my first agility dog—and my very first "dream" dog—a small black schnauzer named Arnie. Arnie loved to train, and he especially loved the cooked chicken I used for treats. He loved a...

Welcome to part two of my conversation with Chexo from Colombia! If you haven't listened to part one yet, go back and start there – but this episode stands beautifully on its own, too. In this conversation, we delve into the agility scene in Colombia – how it's expanding with over 20 clubs across the country, primarily located in Bogotá, Medellín, and Cali. Chexo also shares about his trav...

Another sweet conversation, and I'm so happy to share it with you. I sat down with Sergio Gómez, also known as Chexo, an agility enthusiast from Colombia, to talk about his journey into this sport we all love so much. We discuss cultural perceptions and Chexo's personal journey from childhood to becoming a passionate agility trainer. We dive into his agility beginnings – that magical first...

Welcome back to the VendaVan! In this episode, I'm joined by Alejandro Salas, a well-known agility judge, trainer, and competitor from Spain. We met at the Slovakian Championship in Pezinok, and Alejandro graciously agreed to step out of his comfort zone and chat with me in English—even though Spanish is his forte! We dive into Alejandro's agility journey, from competitor to international...

What drives someone to dedicate their life to improving pet health naturally? In this special episode, I sit down with Andras, co-founder of Natural Pet Care System, to hear his incredible journey from idea to creating a company that's changing how we care for our four-legged family members. As their ambassador, I was excited to dive deep into Andras's personal story - what inspired him to start t...

What draws someone to build a life in one of America's most remote places? In this episode, I sit down with Michaela in her kitchen in Fairbanks, Interior Alaska, for my second visit to the Last Frontier. We explore Michaela's personal journey – what brought her to Alaska and what keeps her there against all odds. From navigating months of darkness to extreme weather conditions, we discover what d...

Meet Marion - an extraordinary 85-year-old woman who's been involved in dog sports for over 50 years and was actually there when agility was first introduced to the public at Crufts in the 1970s! Marion is the devoted mama of three Schipperkes, a breed she's been passionate about for five decades. Currently training and competing in both agility and obedience, she embodies what it means to live li...

What started with just three sheep turned into a full-blown funny farm—complete with goats, mules, ponies, ducks, chickens, turkeys, and of course, dogs! In this episode of Agility on the Road , I sit down with Mary Champagne , who began agility back in 1995 and now runs her own agility facility in the U.S. We talk about her journey into long-distance handling, the frustrating trial-and-error phas...

Tired after a sunny hike, with full bellies from a Slovak-style dinner, and so happy together in my VendaVan – which turned into a kind of sauna as we closed the windows to block out the noise outside – I recorded this episode with the sweet Nicky Manes , veterinarian and agility enthusiast from Argentina. We met in Slovakia right after she competed in Prague, picked up her brand-new puppy, and be...

Join me on a Latvian beach for a very special episode recorded in my VendaVan with four incredible dogdancing champions from Slovakia and Czech Republic. After supporting my dear friend Monika at the Dogdancing World Championship in Finland (where she placed 4th in Heelwork!), we were all driving home together when we stopped for this conversation. Meet Alexandra Vavrova, Alexandra Mišková, and Mo...

Join me for a conversation with Hugo Santos, an agility judge and handler from Portugal. We met at the Janakkala Open in Finland, where he was judging, and recorded this episode right in my VendaVan at the venue - so please excuse any background noises from the competition! I'm still working on improving the sound quality, but my dog Sisu had other plans and decided to bite through my mic cabl...

Join me in the kitchen of Sanna and Harri Katainen as we celebrate the release of my first podcast episode with non-alcoholic champagne that Sanna discovered in their fridge and fresh strawberries from their garden. This Finnish couple shares their incredible journey from agility competitors to business owners running their agility halls, training animals for television, and even teaching puppy yo...

The very first episode where I share my journey of overcoming fear to start this podcast. A short but heartfelt conversation about supporting ourselves and doing the things that scare us - because sometimes the first step is the hardest one.