Mostly Functional

In this episode we explore how to tell when something is truly right for you and when it is not. Through stories about saying yes to Esther the pig, savior syndrome, burnout, and the cost of ignoring your gut. They talk about how our bodies often signal truth before the brain does, the difference between head decisions and heart knowing, and why real care for animals and humans alike depends on ha...

In this episode, we somehow go from Thanksgiving side dishes and boozy hay to big soul questions like, " What is your soul here to learn ?" Derek and I talk about love as the throughline of it all, how to reconnect with the dream inside the work you already do, and why it is perfectly acceptable to be mostly functional, not perfect. Expect luminary fields, tightrope walkers, snakes in dreams, and...

Chance are extremely high that if you work with animals, you've also experienced all the guilt that can come with helping other beings. Did I do enough? Did we miss something? What if it could've been different? Derek says that guilt is love wearing the wrong costume.  Join us for this important and impactful episode where we talk all about guilt, impossible systems and what it means to know which...

In this episode of Mostly Functional , Derek turns the mic on Julie and asks her what life is like after losing both of her parents, one suddenly and one after a long cancer journey. We talk about how grief has changed the way we see our own mortality, our work, and how little energy we spend on things that don't matter (like other's opinion) and we wander into all the messy parts too: not being t...

Think you can't live vicariously through someone's trip abroad? Think again. In this episode Derek shares his experience visiting Thailand and standing beneath elephants at a sanctuary where awe meets trust.  Discover how Thai caregivers model non-attachment and offer unexpected wisdom for grief and compassion fatigue, echoed by a living field and burial trees that hold each elephant's story. This...

In a world that constantly demands our approval, praise, and productivity, what happens when we finally decide to let go? In this episode, we talk about the radical freedom that comes from releasing roles, habits, expectations and even relationships that no longer serve us. Even when it makes others uncomfortable. Whether it's unfollowing, quitting, saying no, or simply refusing to respond to onli...

In this episode we swap simple morning rituals that build capacity, then move into a tender conversation about how animals help teach us about letting go.  Derek shares the realities of Esther The Wonder Pig's hospice, choosing euthanasia as love, and setting boundaries online. Together they land on this quiet truth: grief is love that stays, and being mostly functional means making room for hard...

In this tender and thought-provoking conversation, Julie and Derek explore the quiet wisdom of animals and the deep comfort they bring to our lives. From Esther's steady breathing to the mysterious presence of Bigfoot, they wander through stories that remind us of our shared connection to all living beings. Together, they reflect on how animals see our worth even when we forget it, the power of si...

In this very first episode of Mostly Functional , Derek and I talk about what it really means to be human. We laugh through a few tech mishaps, share how we first met, and explore the messy, tender, and funny parts of life that make us who we are and what it means to show up in the world as mostly functional. We delve into the question of "where are all the men in animal work" and come up with som...