Best Tracie Hotchner Podcasts (2025)

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“Ferret Stink” — You Either Love the Musky Smell or You Don’t! 19:27

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6d ago19:27

19:27

#315: Dr. Madonna Livingstone in Glasgow talks about “descenting ferrets” which is routine in the U.S. but illegal in the UK and elsewhere. Spoiler alert: it doesn't make them odor free! Their skin emits a natural musky odor, too. Dr. Madonna has EIGHT ferrets of her own at home (recently there were 10 of them) so she knows a thing or two about the…

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A TNR Colony in Your Own Backyard? 15:01

6d ago15:01

15:01

#255: Mikel Maria Delgado says that cat ownership can be caring for a small colony in your own backyard, but she cautions that not all “loose cats” are unowned, so you need to try to find the owner by using social media or just asking around/posting notices in the community.By Tracie Hotchner

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Thirteen Bully Breed Rescued Dogs in Her "Scratch & Dent” Pack 28:12

6d ago28:12

28:12

#938B: Tracy Kinney in Batavia Illinois says if she were a canine she’d be a bully type dog — meanwhile she has trained 9 of her 13 rescued Bullies to be registered therapy dogs (English Bull Dog, Pit bull, Boxer, French Bulldogs, Pug, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Bull Terrier). Getting them to line up for a yearly group photo is a Facebook feat!…

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Purple Leash Project — Keeping Women, Children & Pets Safe 28:14

6d ago28:14

28:14

#938A: Lorie Westhoff from Purina’s Purple Leash Project talks about their partnership with Red Rover, the non-profit that is working to have more pet-friendly domestic violence shelters able to accept pets, since not being able to take the family pet(s) is a barrier to leaving an abusive relationship.…

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The Jumping Spider Craze 21:20

13d ago21:20

21:20

#314: Dr. Rick LeCouteur is not officially an arachnologist (spider expert) but he has always been fascinated by them and knows a wonderfully amazing amount about them (and it seems nearly every living creature on the planet!) Dr. Rick explains the charm of jumping spiders, which is why Zoo Med's new Jumping Spider Kit is such a success.…

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Goat’s Milk from Happy Austrian Goats! 24:09

13d ago24:09

24:09

#254: Sue Delegan from Brutus Broth talks about how they developed their Goat Milk product as the perfect hydrating treat for cats, in a unique shelf-stable tetra pack, by importing the triple-safety-tested milk from goats in Germany and Austria.By Tracie Hotchner

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A Growl is a Wonderful Noise! 29:03

13d ago29:03

29:03

#937B: British dog trainer Mark Bridger-Prescott — the owner of Bone Canis and canine behaviourist with a degree-level qualification in Advanced Canine Behaviour — says the problem with aggressive dogs begins with people ignoring signs of a dog’s discomfort. “When a dog growls you need to say, ‘Sorry, Mate. Thank you for growling and letting me kno…

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The Jane Goodall of Hares 29:13

13d ago29:13

29:13

#937A: Chloe Dalton's illuminating and luminous memoir "Raising Hare,” describes with poetic delicacy the powerful yet fragile bond she had caring for a wild hare, which became "semi-domesticated" of her own volition.By Tracie Hotchner

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Are Humans an Invasive Species? 19:06

20d ago19:06

19:06

#311: Dr. Gregory Lewbart — Professor of Aquatic, Wildlife & Zoological Medicine at North Carolina State University — talks about his recent (30th!) trip to the Galapagos Islands and the work he has been doing there at the Wildlife Conservation & Research Institute — where they are happy for the controlled tourism but also committed to protecting t…

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Pop Manga Cat Coloring Book for Adults 16:03

20d ago16:03

16:03

#253: Pop Surrealist artist Camilla d’Errico's (https://www.camilladerrico.com/) "Pop Manga CATITUDE Coloring Book (as she says, she's "the Stephen King of coloring books"!) gives adults who like to color inside the lines a chance to express their inner catitude using her big-eyed cat drawings as their guide.…

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The Naturalist Author Who First Showed Us That Octopuses Have Souls 29:09

20d ago29:09

29:09

#936A: Sy Montgomery’s ground-breaking, award-winning book “Soul of an Octopus” is even more relevant now than when it was first published, as we discover that everything depicted in the bestselling novel called “that octopus book” (“Remarkably Bright Creatures”) is factually-based on the wily brilliance of these multi-armed creatures.…

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A Ray of Hope About the Plastics Polluting Nature 28:31

20d ago28:31

28:31

#936B: Aditya Siroya explains how rePurpose Global has funded projects across Asia, South America and Africa to recover 30 million pounds of plastic waste from nature, while supporting more than 2,000 Waste Workers at the front lines. And what happens to all the plastic bags with our pet foods in them?…

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It’s Not Your Lab’s Fault (or Yours!) That He’s Fat! 31:14

28d ago31:14

31:14

#935A: Dr. Eleanor Raffan [Assistant Professor in Systems Physiology in the Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge] has made a breakthrough discovery of the gene in Labrador Retrievers that makes them insatiable and drives them to overeat, confirmed with her “Sausage in a Box Test.”…

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Bearing Witness to How Animals Enter Our Food Supply 29:15

28d ago29:15

29:15

#935B: Investigative journalist Gail Eisnitz talks about her new memoir “Out of Sight: An Undercover Investigator's Fight for Animal Rights and Her Own Survival,” which is an expose of how inhumanely animals are slaughtered and the health consequences to people doing the slaughter as well as to consumers, suggesting that supporting the Humane Farmi…

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Always Demolish Your Sandcastles (for the Sea Turtles) 22:42

28d ago22:42

22:42

#310: Brooks Barrett is the senior aquarist at the Key West Aquarium where, amongst other things, she directs placing a prosthetic flipper on a turtle named Lola, who can live to 100 years old (and gets jellyfish as a treat). Brooks discusses the ways sea creatures can be harmed by human behavior — including building sand castles above the water li…

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What Can Old Cats Tell Us About Old People? 28:53

28d ago28:53

28:53

#252: They have been studying geriatric cats at Penn Vet at the University of Pennsylvania and Dr. Carlo Siracusa — Chief of the Animal Behavior Service — talks about how their study might give us clues to healthier aging for humans.By Tracie Hotchner

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Parrots Need Proper Playthings! 19:40

1M ago19:40

19:40

#309: Sue Thibeault and her husband John — parrot lovers who foster parrots who need new homes — created their company Beaktivity that makes the award-winning “parrot-designed” hanging enrichment toy that safely and creatively meets the environmental needs of parrots — and that parrots cannot destroy.…

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Yes! Let Your Vet Take Out Your Old Kitty’s Teeth! 20:44

1M ago20:44

20:44

#251: Tracie tells about an old friend who wrote to her because the woman’s veterinarian had recommended removing some teeth from her 17 year old kitty, Thelma. She wanted Tracie’s advice: was it worth the investment for an old cat? Tracie’s own vet, Dr. Suzy Pence, explains why oral disease in cats is such a big deal to their health and welfare si…

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Octopuses and Other Animals with Magnificent Minds 30:37

1M ago30:37

30:37

#934B: Christina Couch wrote “Innovative Octopuses, Half-Brained Birds, and More Animals With Magnificent Minds” for MIT Kids Press, specifically for geeky kids like she says she once was herself — although curious adults will equally love learning about the brains of many non-human creatures.By Tracie Hotchner

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Unbelievable! A Pet Food Company That Gives Away Every Penny of Their Profits?! 28:45

1M ago28:45

28:45

#934A: Janet Scott explains how she and her husband, Jim, founded the renowned pet food company Wellness, which they had to walk away from, but were able to re-emerge with a new super premium high meat pet food — RAWZ — which astoundingly gives 100% of their profits to non-profit dog organizations with a total donated so far of $33.75 million.…

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Rabbits Are Lying to Us 20:51

1M ago20:51

20:51

#308: Dr. Madonna Livingstone in Scotland, author of the textbook “Exotics Made Easy” explains how rabbits — who are prey animals — could literally be dying but projecting the message “I’m fine.” The subtle little changes in their habits are the tip off to how they really are feeling.By Tracie Hotchner

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Cat Sushi — Pure Yumminess! 21:41

1M ago21:41

21:41

#249: Spyq Sklar, a co-founder of Earthly, describes how Cat Sushi came to be — from his visits to tuna processors in Japan and securing bonito flakes as cat treats.By Tracie Hotchner

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Guess What? You're Actually Clueless About What Your Dog is Feeling! 28:39

1M ago28:39

28:39

#933B: Holly Molinaro talks about having just received her PhD from Arizona State University, at the Canine Science Collaboratory, where she studied dog owners’ perception (and misperception) of dog feelings and body language.By Tracie Hotchner

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Losing His Dog Broke His Heart 29:25

1M ago29:25

29:25

#933A: Renowned New Yorker cartoonist Harry Bliss talks about his book “You Can Never Die - a Graphic Memoir,” which celebrates his 17-year love of his dog Penny — often-depicted in his drawings — discussing his deep grief over her death in the context of his complex, fascinating life, seen in magnificently drawn and hand-written journal entries in…

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Choose a Friendly Father to Get a Friendly Kitten 17:55

2M ago17:55

17:55

#250: Mikel Maria Delgado talks about purebred cats and how limiting the gene pool for physical characteristics can lead to inborn physical problems. Selecting for appearance not for temperament can backfire.By Tracie Hotchner

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Senior Pet Care — Age Itself is Not a Disease! 20:40

2M ago20:40

20:40

#306: Dr. Doug talks about geroscience, the study of the effects of aging. When does a pet become geriatric: at 70% of their expected lifespan. A ferret or rat will be geriatric at 7.By Tracie Hotchner

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Do Free-roaming Dogs Have a Better Life? 28:58

2M ago28:58

28:58

#932B: Harry Eckman, internationally known animal welfare advocate, discusses population control of dogs and acts worldwide to protect them and the people they live amongst.By Tracie Hotchner

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A Gratitude Journal for You & Your Dog 29:00

2M ago29:00

29:00

#932A: Kyra Sundance’s updated book “The Dog Tricks & Training Workbook: a Step-by-Step Interactive Curriculum to Engage, Challenge and Bond with Your Dog” shows us all the things we could do for fun with our dogs, as well as point out all we have to be grateful for.By Tracie Hotchner

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“Walking Dandruff” on Your Bunny? 12:59

2M ago12:59

12:59

#305: Dr. Doug Mader talks about mites, which are common on rabbits and sometimes look like dandruff that seems to walk in their fur — or may appear as brown “goo” in their big ears or a crusty nose. All of these mean you need to get to the vet for swift treatment!By Tracie Hotchner

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Would You Re-Design Your House for Your Cat? 18:50

2M ago18:50

18:50

#247: Meet Yosh, who traveled the world with his Bombay cat Simon, then decided to build his house for Simon’s pleasure.By Tracie Hotchner

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Words Matter: Don’t Just Tell Someone Their Pet is “Fat”! 29:24

2M ago29:24

29:24

#931B: Dr. Ernie Ward’s own non-profit — the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) discusses the importance of using non-shaming vocabulary when speaking about overweight pets; and that veterinarians unconsciously have a bias (as do doctors in human medicine) towards patients that “have obesity” — which is a clinical condition requiring med…

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The Horrors of the “American XL Bully Breed” 28:44

2M ago28:44

28:44

#931A: Annie Phenix (author of Positive Training for Reactive & Aggressive Dogs) discusses the horrible phenomenon in England of dogs with the moniker American XL Bully (a “breed’ not recognized as such in the U.S.), a type of dog which is now banned in the UK because of maulings of people by these massive powerful dog.…

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"Hedgies" Are the Trendiest Little Pet 22:55

2M ago22:55

22:55

#296: Dr Micah Kohles of the Woodland Animal Hospital outside Lincoln, Nebraska, explains how to best care for hedgehogs, who are "charming munchkins who have become an up-and-coming pet."By Tracie Hotchner

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Rachel the Cat Savior 23:01

2M ago23:01

23:01

#246: Cat behaviorist Rachel Geller, with her own nonprofit All Cats All the Time, has helped more than 1,000 cats and their people to have a better relationship and stay together — and she’s done it without changing her own style of patient insight and support.By Tracie Hotchner