Welcome to Pets Mean Business


Jamie Migdal & Dustin McAdams on Pet Life Radio


Join Jamie Damato Migdal for a weekly look at the business of working with pets. She'll be talking to industry professionals, animal advocates, thought leaders, business owners, and entrepreneurs about how they live and work with, and for, companion animals. 

The pet industry is booming, and there are tens of thousands of jobs available across all sectors of the market. Jamie will be talking to everyone from CEO's of multi-million dollar national chains to mid-life career changers; animal welfare volunteers and professionals to independent business owners to get their professional and personal perspectives on the passion that drives them to work in the pet industry.


"Pets Mean Business" Theme Song Written & Produced by Mark Winter
© Copyright 2015 Such Fun Music (ASCAP)

 

Episode 54 -

Coming soon


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Episode 53 - Holly Ganz + Kari Goodman: Data, Science, and the Beauty of Poop

Dustin talks to the founders of AnimalBiome about the science and engineering behind their DNA testing platform that helps people improve their pets' gut and overall health through cutting edge diagnostic tools and therapeutic applications.


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Episode 52 - Julianna Carella: Hemp Wellness for Pets

Dustin talks to Julianna Carella, CEO of Treatibles, about the use of hemp-based nutraceuticals for pet wellness. They discuss the difference between therapeutic and psychoactive compounds, the legal issues and research surrounding these remedies, and how phytocannabinoids can be used to manage pain, anxiety, and other chronic conditions in pets.


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Episode 51 - Randy Jensen: Social Shopping For - and With - Your Pets

Dustin talks to Randy Jensen about Pop Box (the first and only gift shop dedicated to subscription boxes as gift ideas) and how they are offering retailers and pet owners a more immersive and interactive way to shop for online- and subscription-only products that pets - and their people - will really love!


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Episode 50 - Mardi Larson: PR, Products, and Helping Pets In Need

Jamie talks to Mardi Larson, Senior Director of Consumer, Charitable and Corporate PR at PetSmart, about how public awareness and great news stories help drive better overall pet care and extend the outreach/funding of the PetSmart Charities (which grants more money to directly help pets in need than any other welfare group in North America). Bonus: fun holiday products!


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Episode 49 - Tina Johnson: The Importance of Being Nimble

Dustin talks to Tina Johnson about how American Dog got started from a military/tactical gear manufacturing company and grew thanks to a Kickstarter campaign and their commitment to keeping jobs in the USA. They also talk about the importance of smart design and nimble responses in maintaining great vendor relationships, which helps the company stay strong regardless of the economic climate.


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Episode 48 - Jamie + Dustin: Business updates and industry trends | Holiday 2017

In this special edition of Pets Mean Business, co-hosts Jamie Migdal and Dustin McAdams discuss industry trends and some tactics pet businesses can consider to capture a bigger market share going into the holidays and year-end. They also talk about ways entrepreneurs can protect their well-being and avoid overwhelm during this busy season. Bonus: FetchFind + PupJoy updates!


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Episode 47 - Cara Armour: Managing Emotions and Expectations in the Business of Caring

Jamie talks to Cara Armour, award-winning founder of Active Paws (a petsitting company in Boston) and pet industry entrepreneur, about how her dogs changed her life and shaped her future career. They also discuss how important it is to set up realistic boundaries and processes in order to responsibly grow your business, avoid burnout and compassion fatigue, and maintain your sanity.


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Episode 46 - David Knoepfle: Changing the Way Pet Parents Nourish their Pets

Jamie talks to David Knoepfle, founder of COAST + RANGE, about the growing demand for natural, sustainable, human-quality, and environmentally-friendly pet food. They also discuss the company’s commitment to ongoing nutrition research, keeping pet parents educated with reliable, up-to-date information, and the surprising element that drives pet food production.


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Episode 45 - Phil Chang: The Next Generation of Commerce + Community

In this episode, Dustin talks to Phil Chang of Hubba, a web-based community that connects retailers, brands, and influencers in a modern, user-friendly platform. If you're a business looking for the right outlet, or a retailer looking for great brands, Hubba can help you make that magic match. They also talk about some of the major pet industry retail trends and market forecasts.


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Episode 44 - Joe Meyers: Bringing FaceTime to Fido

In this episode, Dustin gets nerdy about pet tech with Joe Meyers of PetChatz. They talk about pet humanization, the value of customer input, and how the internet of things have all contributed to the new wave of technology that allows us to virtually interact with our pets and provide "digital doggy daycare" while we're away. They also discuss the impact of interactive technology on the health and well-being of shelter dogs.


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Episode 43 - Mike Linville: It's All About Marketing

Jamie talks to Mike Linville of Black Dog Marketing about the challenges of working with small businesses, helping pet companies be more agile with their marketing, and the things that drive him as a biz owner and entrepreneur. Bonus: top tips for updating your marketing plan, and fireworks!


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Episode 42 - Adam Baker: The Best Toys for Your Best Friend

Dustin talks to SodaPup CEO Adam Baker, a self-described ‘corporate refugee turned entrepreneur’ who has committed to keeping manufacturing jobs for his products in the United States. They also discuss the increasing demand for "made in America" toys, and how the SodaPup emphasis on quality and sustainability is better for the pets, the retailers, and the environment.


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Episode 41 - Nicole Morris: Passion is Alive in Corporate America -- How One Woman Followed Her Heart to a Big Job in a Big Company

Jamie talks to Nicole Morris of PetSmart about her passion filled career trajectory. They’ll discuss the learning track at the PetSmart Grooming Academy as well as the pros of working in a big company. This is a don’t miss episode as Jamie gets real about her opinion of starting a career at PetSmart.


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Episode 40 - Dion Leonard: Finding Gobi, and Finding Himself

Dustin talks to ultra-marathoner, author, and dog lover Dion Leonard about the fateful day in the desert when he first met Gobi, how they bonded during the race, and the moment he finally fell for her. They also talk about the terrible days when Gobi was missing in Urumqi, and how their joyful reunion and unshakeable connection became a symbol of hope and inspiration for people all over the world. Their book, “Finding Gobi”, comes out in the U.S. in June 2017.


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Episode 39 - Len Horowitz: Lighting up the World of Pet Tech

Dustin talks tech with Len Horowitz, founder of 4 Paws Tech. They talk about the community-support foundation of the company as well as their market focus on brick-and-mortar boutique shops. They also talk about the importance of charitable partnerships, both as way to help animals and to make the community stronger and more connected.


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Episode 38 - Mike Sessoms: A New Model for Pet Industry Networking

Dustin talks to Mike Sessoms of the innovative Pet Shop Events about networking in the pet industry, and the high-touch, effective, invitation-only “match-making” model of connecting buyers and sellers pioneered by PSE.  It’s like Speed Dating for the pet industry!


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Episode 37 - Chris Walker: On Reaching your Audience and Loving the One You’re With

In this episode, Dustin talks to Chris Walker of Retaliate 1st and Woofipedia about his time at the American Kennel Club, why he created Woofipedia, and how he used his need to do more for dogs as a driver for innovation in marketing, branding, and messaging for both startups and more traditional pet care companies. (Stay tuned to the end: Dustin and Chris have some solid tips for jumpstarting your own marketing plan!)


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Episode 36 - Cathy Bissell: The Business of Animal Welfare

In this episode, Dustin talks about the business of animal welfare with Cathy Bissell, founder of the BISSELL Pet Foundation. The BPF helps support a network of nearly 3000 rescues and shelters across the country, and has helped save nearly 100,000 homeless pets since 2011.  They also talk about BPF’s participation in the Save Our Shelters tv show and Empty the Shelters initiative, the creation of the AdoptBox program (featured on HSN), and the biggest challenges facing pet rescue foundations today.


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Episode 35 - Candace D’Agnolo: How to Start Living a Top Dog Life

Dustin talks to Candace D’Agnolo (CEO of Dogaholics) about the creation of her new business consulting and coaching venture, Pet Boss Nation.  Pet Boss Nation supports pet business owners by teaching focused, easy-to-implement processes that can lead to greater success, a better bottom line, and a more fulfilling life. 


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Episode 34 - Diane Rose-Solomon: Lessons in Compassion From Children and Dogs

Jamie talks to Diane Rose-Solomon about her work as humane educator, her unexpected career as an author of children’s books, and how her first rescue dog JJ changed her life, work, and worldview.


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Episode 33 - John McGuigan: On Thoughtful Dog Training and Running an Unapologetically Successful Business

Jamie talks to John McGuigan, Glasgow Dog Trainer & Behaviour Consultant, about his evolution as a dog trainer and the challenges involved in running a rapidly growing business.


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Episode 32 - Larry Kay: Empathy, Innovation, and rocking your Strengths

Jamie talks to Larry Kay of Positively Woof about cause marketing for shelter dogs, how great innovations are informed by empathy for both pets and people, and boldly using your strengths to create a life and career that you really love.


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Episode 31 - Aimee Beltran: Creating a Satisfying Life and Career as a Pet Influencer

Jamie talks to Aimee Beltran of BlogPaws about the growth, increasing professionalization, and extraordinary strength of the online pet blogging community and how it led to the creation of the Social Learning Center.


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Episode 30 - Alex Robertson: Bringing the World Dog Expo to Life

Jamie talks to Alex Robertson about how the first-ever World Dog Expo (June 9-11, 2017) aims to educate and entertain both pet professionals and dog lovers in a big way, and what is involved in bringing a major international event like this  - described as a cross between the World’s Fair and the Olympics - to the public.


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Episode 29 - Alicia Obando: Helping Families and Pets Stay Together Through Pitter Patter Parenting

Jamie talks to Alicia Obando, founder of Pitter Patter Parenting, about how she combined her degree in counseling psychology and background in community organization with her love of animals in a way that has materially impacted the ability of pets and their families to live together in a safe, responsible, and mutually respectful way.


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Episode 28 - Nicole Stewart: Dog on Everything!

Nicole Stewart talks about the winding path that led her from being an actress in LA to becoming the national Director of Training and Behavior at Paradise 4 Paws. She also talks about how she manages her work-life-family balance and leverages her creative side by developing innovative programs that foster the human-animal bond  and blogging about human and canine behavior in her very funny blog, Dog on Everything.


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Episode 27 - Jennifer Whaley: How Self-Awareness Can Help Grow your Business (Even Without a Formal Business Plan)

In this episode, Jamie talks to Jennifer Whaley, owner of Fetch Portraits, about her experiences as a business owner and how she developed the Pose-a-Pet app to help increase the placement of adoptable companion animals.  She also talks about the life choices (as part of what she calls her “annual inventory”) that led her from a corporate job to a satisfying full-time career as a pet photographer and animal rescue advocate.


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Episode 26 - Tricia Montgomery: Transforming the Lives of Dogs and their Humans through K9 Fitness

This week Jamie talks to Tricia Montgomery about how her quest for better health for both her and her dog led not only to dramatic weight loss but to the founding of K9 Fit Club.  K9 Fit Club is now a national franchise dedicated to transforming the lives of dogs and their people through healthy activity and the strengthening of the human-canine bond.


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Episode 25 - Betsy Lane: Following Your Dreams – and Your Heart

Jamie talks to Betsy Lane, founder of PetKiDo, about her journey from office job to small business owner, dog trainer, and Certified Tellington TTouch® Practitioner for Companion Animals. They discuss how her career change combined her earlier training in education and her love of animals in a way that reflects and honors the increasing importance of pets in our lives.


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Episode 24 - Brian Koester: From Bricks and Mortar to High Tech Pet Industry Solutions

Jamie talks to Brian Koester, founder of Better Walker, about how he turned his entrepreneurial talents from his own pet care company to a software application designed to help other pet care professionals run their business more profitably and efficiently.


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Episode 23 - Jun Yun: On the Art and Philosophy of Grooming

Jamie talks to Jun the Groomer about how he became a groomer and developed a safer, kinder, and more effective process and philosophy for working with dogs and their humans. They also talk about how he shares his passion for grooming with the world through his blog, social media, and education. 


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Episode 22 - Deirdre Franklin: Creativity, Advocacy, and Pit Bulls

Jamie talks to Deirdre 'Little Darling' Franklin about the creative process, her work with pit bull awareness, advocacy, and rescue, and the origins of her non-profit organization Pinups for Pitbulls and the wildly popular calendar and retail store in Asheville, NC.


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Episode 21 - Fiona Robertson: The Journey of a [Formerly] Reluctant Entrepreneur

Jamie talks to Fiona Robertson of Newflands Hoki Oil about how a quest to help a beloved pet with medical problems live a better life turned into an award-winning product and international company.


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Episode 20 - Dr. Jessica Vogelsang: Supporting Animals and Their People During the End of Life Process

Jamie talks to Dr. V about her work with pet loss, hospice, and the need for honest and compassionate end of life discussions. They also discuss veterinary social work and the importance of authenticity, self-care, and a good work-life balance for all pet professionals.


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Episode 19 - Candace Canty: How a Positive Relationship with Your Dog Can be a Gateway to a Better Life

Jamie talks to Candace Canty, owner of Dogaholics, about the development and process of writing her new book, Don’t Give Up on Family Even if They’re Furry, and how committing to a better relationship with her dogs had a positive ripple effect on all aspects of her life.


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Episode 18 - Susan Briggs: Education, Professionalization, and Certification in the Pet Industry

Jamie talks to Susan Briggs, founder of Crystal Canine and one of the Dog Gurus, about being a pet industry educator, business owner,  and consultant, and the strides being made by the PACCC to bring independent testing and certification to pet care services.


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Episode 17 - Lisa Hennessy: Your Pet Chef Delivers Healthy and Convenient Canine Cuisine

Jamie talks to Lisa Hennessy, founder of Your Pet Chef, about how she turned a quest for healthy food for a pet with significant medical concerns into a thriving business delivering personalized canine cuisine directly to clients’ home.


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Episode 16 - Dr Julie Buzby: On the Challenges of Innovation, Work, and Family

Integrative veterinarian Julie Buzby discusses how Toe Grips for Dogs came into being, and how she balances her practice and business with the demands of a growing family.


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Episode 15 - Denise Theobald: Taking a Passion for Pet Massage to the Next Level

Jamie talks to Denise Theobald about how she turned the power of touch into two thriving businesses, and how she has taken canine massage into the broader pet community through outreach and the career training programs at the Chicago School of Canine Massage.


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Episode 14 - Veronica Boutelle: Dedication is Not Enough: The Importance of Both Financial and Emotional Support for Pet Business Owners

Jamie talks to Veronica Boutelle about the changing nature of the pet industry, and how dog*tec supports pet industry business owners and entrepreneurs by helping them to set up their businesses in a financially and emotionally sustainable way.


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Episode 13 - Kristin Buller: Bringing Clinical Training to the Problem of Special Needs Pets

Jamie talks to Kristin Buller, MA-LCSW, about the field of veterinary social work, how behavior problems in pets can impact the lives of owners, and what kinds of multi-disciplinary treatments are proving to be the most effective support for both pets and owners.


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Episode 12 - Mary Margaret Callahan: Animal Assisted Therapy and the Power of the Human-Animal Bond

Jamie talks to Mary Margaret Callahan of Pet Partners about the difference between service and therapy animals, the future of animal assisted intervention, and the training and standards needed for the safe and effective use of therapy animal teams in the community.


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Episode 11 - Rusty Sproat: Disrupting the Pet Insurance Paradigm

Jamie talks to Rusty Sproat about how a deep understanding of other industries and a passion for animals can combine to create innovative, user-friendly technologies meant to enhance the relationship between pets and owners everywhere.


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Episode 10 - Fetching a Franchise

Jamie talks to Carolyn Alonzo, owner of Fetch! Pet Care Chicago, about the process and benefits of becoming a franchise owner, and how to determine if the franchise model is right for you.


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Episode 9 - Shawna Schuh: On the Power of Women and Networking in the Pet Industry

Shawna Schuh talks to Jamie about the importance of timing and finding the right audience when starting a business, as well as the ways in which having a strong network of passionate professionals and mentors can help take your company and career to the next level.


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Episode 8 - Garret Tadlock: Using Technology to Make the Lives of Pet Owners and Businesses Better

Garret Tadlock, founder of PawLoyalty, talks to Jamie about the challenges, risks, and rewards of starting a tech company in the pet space. If you’ve ever thought about starting your own pet-centric company, this podcast has great advice and insights about startup process.


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Episode 7 - Kristen Levine: Living Happier and Healthier Through Pets

Jamie talks to Kristen Levine about connecting with pet lovers through product and business development, and how to be innovative and true to oneself while creating a career that fits your life.


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Episode 6 - Jessica Abernathy: Caring for Pets into Business Success

Jamie talks to Jessica Abernathy about founding, managing, and growing multiple businesses, as well as the importance of networking and creating a community within the pet space.


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Episode 5 - Chicago Pet Friendly Real Estate Helps People with Pets Find Forever Homes

Jamie talks with Jason Feldman of Chicago Pet Friendly Real Estate about developing a niche market helping people find the right pet-friendly property while giving back to the community at the same time.


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Episode 4 - Concierge Catering for You and Your Dog

Jamie and social entrepreneur Dustin McAdams of PupJoy talk about how someone with an extensive “traditional” business and marketing background can build a company that creates joy in an innovative and socially conscious way.


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Episode 3 - Kathy Santo - Turning Dog Sense into Dollars

Dog trainer extraordinaire Kathy Santo joins Jamie for a funny and heartfelt discussion about living your life with dogs.


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Episode 2 - A Bird Lover Creates Resiliency in Kids

This week on Pets Mean Business, Jamie chats with Kristin Ludwig, founder and managing director of The House of Nubs, a not-for-profit organization that helps to build resiliency in children through the stories of rescued animals.


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Episode 1 - Can an Animal Welfare Hero Call Herself an Entrepreneur?

Join Jamie Migdal for the first episode of Pets Mean Business! Her guest is Sue Sternberg, who is a legend in the dog training, canine behavior, and shelter animal worlds. Jamie and Sue have an informative, thought-provoking, and sometimes controversial conversation ranging from the definition of the term “entrepreneur” to the state of shelters and rescue animals today.


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