The Juniper Podcast

Many of us train our dogs to keep them safe in various environments, but what if we could train them to have more personal enjoyment? Today we’re chatting with professional lifestyle dog trainer, Zoë Holloway. Based south of Atlanta, Zoë ( @thedreadedtrainer ) is a bilingual canine alchemist who helps pet parents transform their relationships with their dogs through strategic training. Unlike most...

Enrichment isn’t just toys and treats—it’s anything that improves life for you and your dog. So why does it feel so unapproachable at times? This week on the Juniper podcast, we’re talking to Barb Buchmayer, the author of Enrichment Games for High Energy Dogs and two Positive Herding books . She also hosts a virtual Dog Enrichment Summit and runs an Enrichment Facebook Group with nearly 40,000 mem...

This week on the Juniper podcast we’re talking to Collin Armstrong, the creator of  Dogonomist , a newsletter featuring trends and insights driving the business of dogs. In this episode, we discuss some unconventional businesses and untapped opportunities in the pet space. We also get into: Why Collin started Dogonomist [2:00] New paths to dog ownership [5:00] Dog friendly cities vs. less dog frie...

Welcome to another mini-episode of the Juniper podcast! Today, Haley reflects on how her strategies for enrichment have evolved as her Australian cattle dog, Scout, has matured over the years. She shares practical tips for meeting your dog’s physical, mental, and emotional needs—no matter where they are in life’s journey—plus helpful reminders about the true meaning of enrichment. Tune in as she a...

This week on the Juniper podcast Haley is joined by Dr. Orazie Cook, the founder of  Praline's Backyard Foundation , a nonprofit organization that helps survivors of domestic violence leave unhealthy situations and not have to worry about the well-being of their pets while they're in a period of housing transition. We discuss: Why it’s hard to leave pets with an abuser [3:00] How deeply in...

Inspired by our free guide: 101 Easy Dog Enrichment Ideas , in this episode Haley and Ebony share their “enrichment days in the life” with their dogs! Tune in to learn the go-to ways we fulfill our dogs and to hear about: How much our dogs really like to walk 🦮 Dog TV & whether it works 📺 Backyard feeding for dogs who love to sniff 🦴 When & how to teach “leave it” 💧 The stigma around m...

Today, Allison is talking with Meghan Wolfgram, CEO and founder of  SwiftPaws , a company that creates playful enrichment products. If you’ve ever wondered how to provide your pet with the fun they crave, this one’s for you! We chat about: How Meghan’s tenacious miniature pincher kickstarted SwiftPaws [1:00] Performance sports vs. dog showing [3:00] How the accessibility of dog sports has changed...

This month for our mini-episode co-host Haley is joined by former podcast guest and new Juniper team member, Ebony Richardson ! Join us as we answer questions like: How can you afford dog training while also paying dog trainers well? 🦮 What do different careers in animal welfare look like? 🐾 What’s the deal with clickers & do they really work? 🧐 What quick things can you do to improve pet b...

This week on the Juniper podcast, we have journalist and author Carol Mithers speaking about her newest book, Rethinking Rescue , which explores animal welfare and social justice through the work of Lori Weise at Downtown Dog Rescue in Pasadena, California. We discuss: High standards for pet ownership and the urge to judge others [3:00] Veterinary price inflation affecting owners’ ability to keep...

Welcome back to another mini episode of the Juniper podcast! This new format is an opportunity for the Juniper team to chat about pet trends, share advice, and answer YOUR questions! Join us as — Allison , dog mom of Addie, and Haley , dog mom of Scout — answer questions like: What does emergency prep look like for pet owners? 🚨 How do we deal with vacation guilt when leaving pets behind? 🏝 What...

Welcome back to the Juniper podcast! Today, Haley’s talking to canine enrichment aficionado Taylor Finton, the voice behind the popular social media account, Bindi's Bucket List . We’re so excited to talk to Taylor about her new book, The Happiest Dog on the Block . In this episode, we discuss: How enrichment depends on each dog [6:15] Providing excitement for your dog beyond food [8:00] How enric...

Welcome to season two of the Juniper podcast! Tune in to catch up with the Juniper crew — Allison , dog mom of Addie, and Haley , dog mom of Scout — as we answer questions like: How long can Haley live in a van with her dog and her partner? 🚐 What does Juniper actually do? 🧐 How did Addie handle her first agility class? 🐕‍🦺 What about cat content?? 🐈 What do we really think about Bluey? 🩵 Wh...

Most dog parents think their fur babies are smart, but how much do we actually know about the nuances of canine intelligence?! Today we’re nerding out about dogs with Jennifer Holland , longtime journalist, best-selling author and National Geographic contributor. Her book Unlikely Friendship spent almost a year on the New York Times bestseller list, and she just published a new one called Dog Smar...

Do you dream of opening an animal rescue? Or maybe there’s a soft spot in your heart for “hard-to-adopt” dogs? Today we’re joined by Lisa Mattuchio (known on social as @eddieonwheels ) who runs Eddie’s Ranch — a rescue inspired by her late beloved rescue dog. Lisa is here to pull back the proverbial doggy door on what it takes to start an animal rescue from scratch and the special bonds we create...

Erin Simpson is a self-taught designer who started her journey in marketing and PR. But if you asked her to describe herself today, she would use two words: “ cat person .” As the founder of Wild Cat , Erin creates feline furniture and accessories that cats would design for themselves. How did she go from PR at start-ups to creating our favorite cat products of all time? Tune in to find out! In th...

Ebony Richardson has worked in animal welfare for nearly a decade, and she started Atlanta Dog Mom Club as a hobby. But to her surprise, the representation she brought to the dog mom space was much needed and immediately embraced by her community. So over the past eight months, Ebony has turned Atlanta Dog Mom Club into a full-fledged social club and founded a non-profit pet pantry and thrift stor...

Do you love taking photos of your pup? So does Winnie Au . Winnie is a professional photographer who lives in Brooklyn where she spends her time photographing people, animals, food, and the spaces where all of these things live. This week, she’s publishing a book called Cone of Shame , featuring over 125 color photographs of dogs wearing one-of-a-kind cones, which started as a photography series t...

Welcome back to the Juniper podcast! Michael J. Baines's journey from restaurant owner to dog shelter founder in Thailand began with a single moment: locking eyes with a dog in need. Today, Michael has 1200 dogs in his care, a full staff, and a heart that’s been softened by the love and gratitude of his canine family. Grab your tissues and get ready to hear about Michael’s journey to becoming...

Do you want to cook for your dog at home, but worry that the recipes will be too complicated or lack essential nutrients? Meet Nicole Marchand. She solved that problem when she founded Dog Child , the leading recipe community for dog parents. Today Nicole is here to share what inspired her to start Dog Child (spoiler, it was her dog!) and why she’s passionate about helping us all feel more confide...

Jess Adam is a licensed therapist who runs Handlers & Humans , a coaching program that helps dog owners manage their emotions — especially with complex, sensitive, or reactive dogs. If you or someone you know is overwhelmed by their pet’s challenging behavior, tune in to learn more about: Dog dreams vs. dog realities Examining expectations for yourself and your dog How dogs can amplify our emo...

Sophie Vershbow runs social and influencer marketing at Eventbrite and is a freelance journalist based in New York City. In this episode, she tells us about her journey with fostering, how she adopted her Instagram-famous dog Simon from Hearts & Bones Rescue , and why she just started calling herself a writer after 50 bylines. We also discuss: Why Simon loves the Upper West Side How Sophie sta...

Kassidi Jones is a first-time dog mom, social justice advocate, Ph. D. candidate, and the content creator behind @gingers_naps . And Ginger is her three-year-old mixed breed pup! This week Kassidi is here to share her journey with Ginger and to teach us about antiracist animal advocacy, including: Hard truths about racism in the pet industry Bias in animal rescue The Pet POC Directory How Kassidi...

Ivana Tay is the founder of the pet brand Playfield and the proud steward of her soul dog Bailey. This week she joins us to talk about how she left her job at Google to create The Bailey Kit , a multifunctional dog-walking system that makes it easy to head out on a walk anytime and anywhere. Tune in for a plenty of inspiration to make your dog walks even better and more fun. Then join the Juniper...

This week on the Juniper podcast we’re getting to know our cohost and founder, Allison Medina, who shares how her experience founding Tech Ladies eventually led her to pivot into the world of pets and start Juniper. Tune in for a dog-walk-length dose of encouragement to make big changes in your work and life. Then join the Juniper Community to meet more dog parents like you! 📍 Episode Highlights:...

Welcome back to the Juniper podcast! This week we’re getting to know our cohost Haley Young of Paws and Reflect and talking about how she lives on the road with her partner, Sean, and dog, Scout. Tune in for a dog-walk-length dose of imagining all the lives you can live with your dog. Then join the Juniper Community to meet more dog parents like you! 📍 Episode Highlights: Allison 3:50 — The relat...