Talking Couch Potatoes

The New Zealand people have been heard, and greyhound racing will permanently end on August 1st 2026! So this week we sit down with one of the people who helped make it happen: Emily Robertson, a spokesperson and volunteer for The Greyhound Protection League of New Zealand for over a decade. 🇳🇿✊Emily's not just an advocate, she's also a lawyer and has FIVE gorgeous hounds (Luigi, Niji, Ca...

We are beyond excited to bring you a conversation that had us completely losing track of time...meet Carey Theil, Executive Director of GREY2K USA Worldwide, calling in all the way from Boston, Massachusetts, USA! Carey is co-founder of the most powerful greyhound advocacy organisation on the planet. His organisation played a key role in shutting down 46 greyhound racing tracks in the US, and 44 s...

We are absolutely thrilled to bring you a conversation with one of Australia's most respected animal welfare advocates, Dr Jed Goodfellow, Co-Founder and Director of Policy and Government Relations at the Australian Alliance for Animals🦮⚖️Jed has spent over 20 years fighting for animals in courtrooms, parliamentary inquiries, and the media. He played a key role in campaigns to end live export...

This week, Matt & Mel welcome back veterinary physiotherapist Susan Yuen 🐕 from Physio For Pets ( https://physioforpets.com.au/ ) to dig deeper into chronic pain, corns, and the hidden injuries many greyhounds carry long after racing ends. 👀🐾💥From shoulder instability to toe injuries, hip pain, spinal issues, and long-term compensation. This episode uncovers why corns are often just the sy...

After the WA greyhound racing inquiry hearings… we needed a moment. A breather. A debrief. A bit of honesty. 💭 In this episode, we talk about: 🐾 What it was actually like being in the hearing room 💔 The emotional toll behind the scenes ❓ The questions that mattered (and the obfuscation!) ⚠️ The reality that can’t be avoided: dogs WILL be injured and killed racing. We also reflect on the people...

This week, Matt & Mel chat with Bec – long term foster carer, cat tester, and all-round legend, who has helped over 50 greyhounds transition from racing life into loving homes. With the help of her cat Lynx, Bec also tests greyhounds for prospective adoptive families with cats. This episode is equal parts eye-opening, heartwarming, and inspiring. ✨ What you’ll learn: 🐈Why many greyhounds can...

This week on Talking Couch Potatoes, Matt & Mel are joined by an absolute legend in greyhound rescue - Lisa White, founder of Friends of the Hound, operating in Northern NSW and Queensland. 🐶💙 https://friendsofthehound.org.au/ What started with one greyhound she couldn’t forget, Zada, turned into more than 20 years of rescue… and thousands of lives saved! 🏆In this episode we talk about:👀 w...

🚨EP61 of Talking Couch Potatoes is one of the most powerful conversations we’ve ever had.⚠️ Trigger warning: This episode contains discussion of the psychological impact of greyhound racing, including trauma to greyhounds. Take care listening ❤️‍🩹In this episode of Talking Couch Potatoes, we speak with Mark Layton, who grew up in a greyhound racing family and spent his childhood around kennels a...

We’ve hit the big 6-0… and we’re still raging (respectfully) 💅🔥 In this milestone episode of Talking Couch Potatoes, we sit down with Dr Liam Clay – PhD-qualified canine behaviour consultant and Director of AABA Consultants & Future Proof Training Academy – to unpack the science of greyhound behaviour: ❓ What actually happens when a greyhound leaves racing and enters a home? 🤔Why the “3-3-...

This episode is a big one! Not loud. Not shouty. But important . 👀 We sat down with Deb King , Animal Welfare Policy Research Officer at RSPCA WA , to unpack one of the most common (and most misunderstood) arguments we see on our posts 👇 👉 “What about how many dogs the RSPCA euthanises?” So let’s be crystal clear. 💔 RSPCA is not causing the crisis...they are dealing with the fallout. They care...

🎉 EP58 | Happy New Year 🎉 We’re back for 2026 with a short check-in episode to ease into the year - just us, a bit of reflection, and some important updates. 🐾 We touch on recent Free The Hounds happenings... 📊 And unpack the newly announced financial review of WA racing... including the timing with the WA Parliamentary Inquiry and what it could mean. This one’s brief, but the year ahead is an...

🎄✨ Episode 57 is here! ✨🎄 In our final episode for the year, Talking Couch Potatoes brings you a story that is not just a conversation...it’s a journey. This episode features Kim Whiting , author of Simba’s Story - a deeply moving account of a traumatised greyhound who went missing for 16 days in the Dandenong Ranges, and the extraordinary community that refused to give up on him. ❤️ Simba’s s...

This week, we sit down with life and mindset coach, former veterinarian and long-time animal advocate, Anita Marriott and this conversation is one every advocate needs to hear! ✨ Anita breaks down the difference between empathy fatigue and compassion fatigue (or burnout), and why knowing the difference can keep you in the fight longer. ✨ She shares tools for sustainable advocacy , including prac...

🐾 EP55 is here – and it’s a BIG one! 🎙️💥 We’re joined once again by powerhouse advocate, MP Georgie Purcell, leader in the fight to protect greyhounds and push for an end to the racing industry. 💬 Georgie dives into: 📉 How transparency wins in Victoria are forcing truthful reporting on deaths & injuries 🐕 How public opinion has shifted from dogs as commodities to beloved companions 📊 The...

In this powerful episode, Matt & Mel discuss the fast-approaching deadline for submissions to the WA Parliamentary Inquiry into Greyhound Racing — closing 17th November . 🗓️ Special guest Honi Rawlings , a former on-track vet nurse, opens up about her confronting experiences inside the industry - from the emotional toll of euthanising injured dogs 💔 to the joy of adopting her own greyhounds...

Artist Elliott Fox joins Matt and Mel to discuss his powerful exhibition, Saint Grey - a breathtaking tribute to greyhounds and a call for compassion through art. 🎨🐕 Elliott shares how his muse, rescue greyhound Adam Barker , inspired him to create Saint Grey , a life-size sculpture with angelic wings symbolising hope, protection, and the spirit of every dog who’s ever needed saving. 🕊️ Together...

This episode, we’re diving headfirst into the WA Greyhound Racing Inquiry 🐕 Join Matt & Mel as they unpack what this monumental inquiry means for greyhounds in WA and how YOU can get involved before November 17th 🗓️ https://freethehounds.us21.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=d87f42ca4948157c6be5559a1&id=07c947f9e1 ✨ Special guest Fran Chambers, founder of Let Greyhounds Run Free , joins us fr...

In this episode, Matt & Mel welcome Cecilia, founder of Rainy Day Pets 🐾 Cecilia shares how her beloved greyhound Archie 🐕‍🦺, her childhood dog Rein 🐶, and the many greyhounds she has fostered inspired her to create a proudly anti-racing business. From supporting charities 💙 to designing products that bring comfort, Cecilia’s work is rooted in compassion. Her hero product , the cuddlepill...

🎉🐾 Talking Couch Potatoes has hit Episode 50! 🐾🎉 In this milestone episode, we’re joined by Sian from Snooter Brown 💜 Sian’s passion for greyhound rescue, advocacy, and her unique training approach takes centre stage as she shares her inspiring journey. ✨ What’s inside: 🐕 The challenges & rewards of rehoming greyhounds 💔 The tough realities of the racing industry 💖 The resilience of t...

In this episode of Talking Couch Potatoes , we chat with young author Hannah ✨ and her mum Jess 💜 about Hannah’s beautiful book Georgia the Grey Comes Home to Stay 🐾📚. This heartwarming story follows Georgia, a rescued greyhound 🐶, while also shining a light on the cruel realities of greyhound racing 💔. 💡 Hear how Hannah went from idea ➡️ publishing, and how she’s using her 9 yr old voice (...

🚨 NEW Episode Out Now! 🚨 🎧 Pro vs Anti: The Space In Between 🐾 In this thought provoking episode of Talking Couch Potatoes, we sit down with Michelle, someone with experience inside the greyhound racing industry. We discuss key welfare concerns like pedigree stacking and breeding practices; tackle common misconceptions from both sides; and discover the powerful points where our views align — e...

Our junior panel is back and bolder than ever! 💥 Join Layla, Luka, Sofia, Adam & Hannah – five passionate young greyhound advocates – as they tackle the big questions: ❌ Are the laws around greyhound racing outdated? 🐶 How can we treat racing greyhounds more ethically? 💸 What’s the real cost of greyhound racing? 🏟️ And what if we turned racetracks into something better for communities? The...

🎧 This special episode flips the script – the kids are asking the questions! Join Layla, Luka, Sofia, Adam, and Hannah – five passionate young greyhound advocates who are already speaking out in their schools and communities. They quiz us on everything from racing injuries and rehoming challenges to live baiting and why people gamble on dogs in the first place. Their questions are thoughtful, hon...

🎧 Dive into Talking Couch Potatoes EP45 with the incredible Kim Axcell! 🐾 From fostering over 20 greyhounds to touching stories of love and transformation, Kim shares her journey and passion for these wonderful creatures. PLUS! 🌟 We tackle another 'dopey dick' argument — this time it's the "Too many to rehome if racing ends" myth and why it just doesn't hold up. 🎧 Tun...

🚨 NEW EPISODE OUT NOW! 🚨 🎧 Talking Couch Potatoes chats with Bruce Poon – National President of the Animal Justice Party! 🐾💚 From IT guy 💻 to vegan warrior 🌱 to political changemaker 🏛️ — Bruce shares his journey and what’s next for the movement! They discuss: 🐕 The AJP’s historic win in WA with Amanda Dorn becoming the first ever MP 🗳️ 📢 The ongoing fight to expose the greyhound racing i...