Animals & Us - Voices of a New Paradigm

We're celebrating 4 years and 50 episodes of our podcast!
As we enter our fifth year, we're taking a moment to look back on this journey together. In this special anniversary episode, we reflect on why we started the podcast, the conversations and experiences that have shaped us along the way, how we've grown, and what we're hoping for in the years to come.
We're so grateful to all our wonderful guests and listeners who have been part of this journey. Here's to more meaningful conversations, new discoveries, and continuing to learn from the animals and all the beautiful beings we share this planet with.

In this episode, we're joined by Marjorie Icebound, who shares her personal experiences, ancestral wisdom, and teachings rooted in Cree culture and traditions.
Together, we explore the sacredness of the Bear, the spirit that exists within all living beings, and the deep relationships between humans, animals, and the natural world. Marjorie shares stories from her own life and reflects on the wisdom passed down through generations, offering a different way of understanding our place within the web of life.
We also talk about her recent experience at the Multispecies Methods Workshop, organized by the ANICOM Project at the University of Liège in Belgium, where scholars, Indigenous knowledge holders, and animal communication practitioners came together to explore new ways of listening to, learning from, and working with other species.
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NOTE: Avantika's PhD research, and the workshop mentioned in this episode, are funded by the European Union (ERC Consolidator, ANICOM, 101124189). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Council. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
ANICOM - Animal Communicators: Intuitive interspecies communication as a key to dialogic multispecies methods
https://anicom.uliege.be/

The heartbreak of having an animal companion is knowing that one day you'll have to say goodbye. Join the Human-Animal Spiritual Network for a discussion of the many lessons animals have taught us about death & dying.
 
Speakers in this conversation are:
Dr. LaShelle Easton - Veterinarian and Intuitive Interspecies Communicator 
Dr. Jeff Feinman - Veterinarian, Homeopath, and host of Holistic Action 
Elena Mannes - filmmaker
Dr. Angela Gutzer - Veterinarian and Intuitive Interspecies Communicator
Donna Lozito - Intuitive Interspecies Communicator and Homeopath
Dr. Barbara Shor - Veterinarian and Intuitive Interspecies Communicator

Presented by the Human-Animal Spiritual Network
Website: https://hasnetwork.org/
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The Human-Animal Spiritual Network grew out of the Multispecies Intuitive Interspecies Symposium, hosted by the University of Saskatchewan in 2023. Following the symposium, a group of veterinarians and animal communicators met regularly over the next two years to explore the deeper spiritual dimensions of our relationships with animals.
Our vision was to create a safe, supportive community where animal professionals could deepen their understanding of animal consciousness and spirituality while finding encouragement for the emotional, physical, and spiritual challenges that often accompany a life devoted to animal care.
During our time together, we recorded many thoughtful conversations on topics including animal consciousness, sentience, interspecies connection, and the joys and challenges of being both an animal caregiver and a spiritual seeker.
Although the Human-Animal Spiritual Network has since come to an end, the wisdom and insights that emerged from these discussions remain relevant. Our website - which you can still visit - contains a wealth of valuable resources, including all of these recorded conversations.
Through this podcast series, we will feature one conversation each month, making these meaningful discussions easy to access. Each episode is approximately 15–20 minutes long, offering thoughtful reflections that we hope will deepen your understanding, nurture your spirit, and inspire a deeper understanding and appreciation for your relationship with animals of all kinds.

In this episode, we're joined once again by Dr. Linda Bender - veterinarian, author of Animal Wisdom: Learning from the Spiritual Lives of Animals, and longtime advocate for animals around the world.
Together, we explore some of life's biggest questions through the lens of our relationships with animals. Linda shares her perspective on the spiritual nature of death and dying, what animals have taught her about letting go, and how they may continue to guide and support us even after they've passed.
In this conversation, we explore:
What "spirituality" means in the context of our relationships with animals
How animals experience the dying process
Guilt, grief, and making end-of-life decisions
Processing suffering, loss, and uncertainty
Whether communication with animals can continue after death
Reincarnation, souls, and the enduring bonds we share with animals
We welcome you to this gentle conversation about death, love, grief, and the lifelong connection between humans and animals.

Bonus Guided Meditation: As a companion to this episode, Linda has generously created a guided meditation for our listeners. Whether you're navigating the loss of an animal companion, seeking comfort, or simply wishing to deepen your connection with the animals in your life, we hope this meditation offers a gentle space for reflection, healing, and peace.