In this episode, Barbara and Avantika talk about how Avantika's PhD program in Belgium is going. She started working with the ANICOM project in February 2025 and is about to start her research fieldwork in Canada and India. ANICOM stands for Animal Communicators: Intuitive interspecies communication as a key to dialogic multispecies methods. For more information, visit the project website here. There was also an earlier podcast episode with Avantika's PhD supervisor and the person behind this project, Dr. Vanessa Wijngaarden. Listen to that episode here.NOTE: This research is 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.
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Episode 38: Becoming who we're meant to be through animal communication, with Dr. Cara Gubbins
In this episode, we speak with Dr. Cara Gubbins, animal communicator, author, and founder of the Animal Communicator Academy.Cara shares the personal and spiritual journey that led her to animal communication—including the unforgettable encounters with grey whales that cracked her open to new levels of healing and growth. We talk about the wisdom animals offer us when we’re willing to listen—lessons about curiosity, openness, presence, and the simple truth that animals and humans aren’t all that different.At the heart of our conversation is Cara’s powerful vision: that animal communication isn’t just a skill—it’s a pathway to personal transformation and planetary healing. As she explains, learning to truly listen to animals requires us to face our own emotional blocks, shift how we relate to ourselves, and ultimately become more compassionate, connected humans. And from that space, real change becomes possible.Cara shares stories from her practice and teaching, and speaks about her mission to save animals by helping people become confident, heart-led animal communicators. Because when we learn to communicate with animals, she says, we begin to remember who we really are—and that remembering is the healing our planet needs.We also talk about her books, The Confident Animal Communicator and Animal Chakras, and how she helps people around the world awaken their intuitive gifts and step into service.For more information about Dr. Gubbins, visit her website:https://www.caragubbins.com/
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Special Meditation from Thinking Like a Mountain
This meditation, titled Evolutionary Remembering, has been adapted from the book, Thinking Like a Mountain, and read aloud by Lisa Christel. We thank Lisa and the beautiful birds that gave life to the audio for this special episode. We also thank John Seed (interviewed in our last episode), Joanna Macy, Pat Flemming, and Arne Ness, for bringing this book into the world.
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Episode 37: On deep ecology, ecological identities and the Council of All Beings, with John Seed
In this special episode of Animals & Us – Voices of a New Paradigm, we share an impromptu conversation with legendary environmental activist and deep ecologist John Seed.John has spent over four decades defending rainforests and advocating for the Earth - not only through direct action, but by inviting us to transform how we see ourselves in relation to the natural world. As the founder of the Rainforest Information Centre and co-author of Thinking Like a Mountain, John’s work has inspired a generation of changemakers, spiritual ecologists, and everyday people yearning for reconnection.We speak with John about the roots of the Deep Ecology movement, the role of grief and love in environmental action, and the power of the Council of All Beings workshops to awaken ecological identity. Our conversation explores what it means to shift from seeing the Earth as “other” to remembering that we are the Earth, and that our activism, care, and listening arise from that sacred belonging.This is a gentle yet powerful episode with someone whose life reminds us that protecting the planet is not just an act of urgency - but of reverence.Follow John's work at:https://www.facebook.com/johnseed.deepecology https://www.instagram.com/johnseed_deepecology/ Substack at https://substack.com/@johnseed Occasional blog posts at htpps://johnseed.netSchedule, podcasts, essays, films etc. at https://rainforestinfo.org.au/johnseed.htm
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Episode 36: Messages and teachings from the whales and dolphins, with Nancy Windheart
Animals may not speak in our language, but that doesn’t mean they have nothing to say. In fact, they have tremendous wisdom and they have important messages for us. In Animals & Us, we explore intuitive interspecies communication and the incredible insights animals have for us all. Join your hosts Dr. Barbara Shor, veterinarian and animal communicator, and Avantika Mathur, public health professional and researcher, as they explore concepts of oneness, spirituality, telepathy, sentience and animal consciousness. Their hope is to inspire people to deepen their appreciation and reverence for animals, nature and all living beings.
New Zealand