The Fresh Patch Podcast - Where Good Pets Get It.

Send us Fan Mail The rescue world is full of heart, but it runs on resources, and Brittany Vascara from Paw Works does not sugarcoat what happens when the need keeps rising and the funding does not. Brittany joins us with Vega on her lap, a tiny foster with epilepsy and Demodex mange, and that alone opens the door to the real behind-the-scenes work of special needs dogs, veterinary costs, and why...

Send us Fan Mail Ultra-processed pet food is easy to buy and hard to decode, and the consequences can sneak up on you over years. We’re joined by William from NutriFusion, an ingredient company that works behind the scenes with pet food manufacturers to add concentrated nutrition from real fruits and vegetables back into dog food. If you’ve ever wondered what “whole food vitamins” really means, or...

Send us Fan Mail You can buy the right products and still feel stuck if your dog training plan is built on myths. We’re joined by Juliana DeWillems, owner of JW Dog Training and a certified dog trainer and behavior consultant, to get real about what actually drives behavior change and why positive reinforcement works without fear, intimidation, or force. We also talk about how virtual dog training...

Send us Fan Mail Your dog can be “well behaved” without fear, force, or hours of drilling, and today’s guest proves it. We’re joined by Nicole Ellis, a celebrity dog trainer and pet lifestyle expert in Los Angeles, along with Rossi, to unpack what positive reinforcement actually looks like when you need results in real life, not just in your living room. We talk about how Nicole got her start with...

Send us Fan Mail A puppy can be the best decision you make or a daily stress machine if you skip the unglamorous planning. We sit down with Prairie Conlon, a mental health clinician who works with animal-assisted therapy, to talk about what new pet owners actually underestimate: your environment, your schedule, and the real cost of “tiny dinosaur” chaos. We get specific about why potty training ro...

Send us Fan Mail A Golden Retriever who looks like he’s running on tiny “baby cat paws,” grunts like he’s trying to speak English, and somehow turns everyday chaos into comfort-watch comedy? We’re talking with Adria, the creator behind Adria and Oatmeal, to unpack how Oatmeal went from nightmare puppy to internet main character and why millions of pet owners see their own lives in his weird little...

Send us Fan Mail A “mini” bernedoodle that grew into a 50-pound bundle of joy, a Brooklyn terrace that doubles as a lifesaver at 2 a.m., and a creator who treats planning like a superpower. We sit down with Taryn Berman from New York City and her dog Remy From BK to talk about what it’s actually like raising a high-energy dog in a dense city while keeping a full career moving.  We get into the pra...

Send us Fan Mail Rabbits have a reputation for being simple pets. Then you actually live with one and realize you’ve been underestimating them the whole time. We sit down with Melissa, a long-time volunteer and co-lead with the Ventura County Animal Services Bunny Brigade, and meet two very special guests: Jarvis, a 10-year-old foster rabbit living his best “old man” life, and Puzzy, an outgoing l...

Send us Fan Mail A tiny dog with big personality walks into our studio and immediately steals the show. We’re hanging out with Tien and Toby (aka @tobythetoymaltipoo), talking through the real story behind his “meant to be” adoption after the loss of her previous dog, and how that mix of grief and gratitude can reshape a home in the best way. If you’ve ever wondered how you’ll know you’re ready fo...

Send us Fan Mail Step into Purrrlandia Cat Lounge, a bright, thoughtfully designed space where shy whiskers turn bold and 200+ cats have already found their people. We sit down with founder Kat Killorin—who traded a thriving HR and operations career in financial services for a life of rescue, espresso, and endlessly entertaining felines—to unpack how a cat cafe can flip the script on adoption. Kat...

Send us Fan Mail A few minutes into the conversation, the truth lands hard: veterinary care has changed, and pet parents are paying the price. Integrative veterinarian Dr. Judy Morgan joins us to unpack how corporate consolidation has tightened control over clinics, ERs, and diagnostics—pushing costs up, limiting autonomy, and nudging medicine toward quotas and one-size-fits-all playbooks. From sc...

Send us Fan Mail Packed kennels, big hearts, and real solutions. We headed to Ventura County Animal Services to sit down with Jules, the shelter’s marketing specialist, for a candid look at why intakes are surging and what actually gets dogs and cats into homes faster. From waived adoption fees to a community pet pantry and practical fixes like securing windy-day gates, Jules shares how small acti...

Send us Fan Mail A Western-themed rescue ranch with big-city impact—this conversation takes you inside Eastwood Ranch to see how a foster network grew into a purpose-built haven that saves lives every day. We walk through early mornings, spotless kennels, quarantine protocols, and the volunteer engine that keeps dogs and cats moving toward forever homes. Along the way, we dig into a tough truth fo...

Send us Fan Mail A dog blinks back to life on the sidewalk. A kitten spends 33 hours in a storm drain until a plumber’s camera, a glue trap, and a lot of stubborn hearts pull him to safety. These are the rescue stories that built Sierra Pacific Fur Babies—and the reason we’re teaming up to turn compassion into lasting change. We sit down with founder David Loop and VP Stephanie Vanderzanden to tra...

Send us Fan Mail The new year kicks off with a fresh name and a mission to make life easier for pets and their people. We welcome TV contributor and product expert Dawn McCarthy—along with her rescue pup Josie—to unpack why real, hydroponically grown grass is transforming potty training, enrichment, and daily routines for busy households. From high-rise apartments and rainy-day holdouts to first-t...

Send us Fan Mail What if your dog’s “bad” behavior is just good behavior in the wrong place? We sit with certified trainer Sara Monro to unpack a kinder, smarter way to shape habits—one that trades stress for clarity and turns small wins into lasting change. We start with the core idea: dogs do what works. Sara explains how to set the environment so the right choice is the easy choice, then pay it...

Send us Fan Mail Big changes feel easy when your community shows you the way. We’re closing the year by unveiling our rebrand to the Fresh Patch Podcast and opening the door to a broader vision: dogs, cats, and bunnies all belong here. The name now matches the mission, and the mission is simple—help good pets and their people thrive with better training, smarter tools, and real-world stories. We l...

Send us Fan Mail A condo with no backyard, a dog who missed the grass, and a soon-to-be new parent looking for a fix—sometimes a company starts with a very real, very personal need. We sit down with Andrew and Karina, the founders of Fresh Patch, to unpack how a simple idea—delivering real, hydroponically grown grass to pet parents—became a nationally recognized brand and a staple for training, co...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wonder what happens when a company actually answers the phone and solves your problem with care? We pull back the curtain on Fresh Patch’s customer service with Tassara, who went from call center burnout to leading a team that pet parents rave about. From scrappy Starbucks interviews to handling 4 a.m. “Where’s my grass?” emails, this conversation shows how real humans, clear...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when two entertainment pros turn a passion project into a fast-growing, foster-first rescue that’s saved over 1,300 dogs? We sit down with Victoria and Riley of Pup Culture Rescue to unpack the personal, organized approach behind their success—gold-standard medical care from day one, a facility that supports but doesn’t replace foster homes, and a simple idea that cha...

Send us Fan Mail Sally Williams never expected a hammock moment with her cat would spark a nationwide movement. As founder and president of Mission Meow, she's pioneering an innovative approach to saving America's struggling cat rescues through what she calls "business crowdfunding" - and the results are nothing short of remarkable. The cat overpopulation crisis in America is r...

Send us Fan Mail When was the last time someone told you to "touch grass"? That popular gaming meme has become reality through an unexpected but brilliant collaboration between Fresh Patch and G Fuel. This episode dives into the details of our limited-edition "Touch Grass" package that combines 100% real, hydroponically grown California grass with G Fuel's refreshing new f...

Send us Fan Mail When Kristina and Brian Vermeer found themselves hiding an unsightly cat tree every time guests came over, they knew there had to be a better solution. Their stroke of genius came when they merged their love of art with their cats' need for vertical space, creating wall-mounted frames that cats naturally love to inhabit. "Frame Your Feline was born from a problem that pl...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered what it's like to raise a deaf French Bulldog in an apartment while balancing a demanding career? Shannon takes us behind the scenes of life with Peanut, her adorable three-year-old Frenchie who's captured hearts across social media. What began as a simple desire to document her puppy's growth unexpectedly launched Shannon into the world of pet influen...

Send us Fan Mail When Vanessa foster-failed her fourth rescue dog – a gentle giant Great Pyrenees named Cotton – she never expected it would spark a movement. Today, as founder of Dogs Only Social Club, she's created an innovative community bringing together LA's dog lovers through thoughtfully curated events that go far beyond the typical dog park experience. "I wanted to build a c...