UNLEASHED (at work & home) with Colleen Pelar Colleen Pelar

As anybody who has ever loved one knows, animals can help us be better people. Emotional regulation, compassion, and trust are all things that animals help us grow in, no matter our age or circumstances. In fact, it can even be its own form of therapy- literally. Today, licensed professional counselor and self-described “horse girl,” Kim Cardeccia joined me to talk about how she combines her love of horses with her practice of therapy to help people learn to bring their brightness to the world.

At first glance, there wouldn’t seem to be much in common between interior decorating and dog training. But, like so many things in life, scratch the surface and you find more similarities than you might think. My guest today, Kym Iffert, left the world of interior design to pursue a career in dog training, and found that the skills she used as a decorator gave her a valuable perspective on dogs. Join us as we discuss her journey from beautifying spaces to training dogs, the difficult decision that led her there, and finding joy and purpose even in hard and draining work.
https://colleenpelar.com/119

We talk a lot about the importance of “being yourself,” but what exactly does that mean? How are we supposed to do it? And how can we help other people do it as well? Although it may not be what we first think of, one of the most important things we need in order to be our authentic selves- and help others do the same- is safety. Only when we feel safe are we able to really explore ourselves, to be honest about our weaknesses, and lean in to our strengths.Dog trainer (and aspiring therapist) Kristina Bryte came on the show today to talk about creating a space where not only people but animals can feel safe to be their true selves.
https://colleenpelar.com/118

The term “free spirit” is frequently used to describe all different kinds of people--hippies, artists, slightly crazy geniuses. Really, almost anyone who lives life a little off the beaten path. But what does that phrase actually mean? Just what, exactly, makes one a “free spirit?” And if you’re not one, can you become one? If so, how?
Today on the show, I talked to dog trainer Carol Sumbry about this very topic. Join us as we discuss her (rather circuitous) path into the world of animals, feeding your soul, and finding moments of gold in your everyday life.
https://colleenpelar.com/117

Without meaning to- or sometimes even realizing it- it can be the easiest thing in the world to limit ourselves. All too often we allow outside expectations, other people’s opinions, and our own fear to confine us to a life that is less than fulfilling.
 
It doesn’t have to be this way, though. Dog trainer Lauren Van Duzer joined me today to talk about how a tragic event pushed her out of her comfort zone and gave her the courage to live a life reaching beyond the confines of “safety.” https://colleenpelar.com/116

Old age, death, and loss are topics most of us prefer to avoid. They’re uncomfortable, sometimes even painful to discuss, and most people don’t like to think about their own mortality.Death, however, is an inevitable part of life, and avoiding conversations about it can make it even harder for us to become comfortable with it. Helen St. Pierre- founder of No Monkey Business Dog Training and the non-profit Old Dogs Go To Helen- has spent the past several years helping senior and hospice dogs to live the best life they can before passing on. She joined me today to talk about becoming comfortable with the reality of death while finding meaning and beauty in caring for animals at the end of their life. https://colleenpelar.com/115