Animals & Us - Voices of a New Paradigm
What if the quietest member of your family had the most to teach you? Animals & Us-Voices of a New Paradigm moves beyond simple pet care to consider the profound, often overlooked connections we share with all creatures. Guided by the unique partnership of hosts Avantika Mathur and Dr. Barbara Shor, conversations here blend scientific curiosity with deep empathy. Avantika, a public health researcher, and Dr. Shor, a veterinarian who also practices intuitive animal communication, don't just talk about animals-they explore how we listen to them. Each episode feels like a thoughtful discussion between friends, one that respectfully bridges worlds often kept separate: science and spirit, family life and cultural belief, the practical and the philosophical. You'll hear real stories that challenge how we see intelligence and emotion in our pets, in wildlife, and in the animals we share our communities with. This podcast is for anyone who has ever wondered what a dog's loyalty, a cat's independence, or a bird's freedom might reveal about our own human experience. It’s especially meaningful for families wanting to foster a more compassionate, aware relationship with the natural world. Tune in for a quiet revolution in perspective, where the voices of animals, heard in new ways, help us understand ourselves and our place in a shared society.
Episodes
Episode 35: Bridging Worlds: Intuitive interspecies communication and conservation, with Sydney Kuppenbender
In this episode, we chat with Sydney Kuppenbender, a Métis-Ukrainian-French Canadian researcher and environmental advocate from rural Northern Saskatchewan. Sydney’s powerful vision for the future of the environmental se…
Episode 34: Profound and life-changing encounters with animals, with wildlife photographer Dan Elster
In this episode of Animals & Us - Voices of a New Paradigm, we are joined by the incredible wildlife photographer Dan Elster, whose work captures the raw, authentic moments of animals in the wild. Dan’s unique approach t…
Episode 33: A sustainability expert's thoughts on intuitive telepathic communication with nature, with Kristina Hunter
In this episode of Animals & Us - Voices of a New Paradigm, we are joined by the incredible Kristina Hunter, founder of the Eco-Impact Academy, and a passionate advocate for sustainability and personal wellbeing. Kristin…
Episode 32: Starting my PhD focused on animal communication!
In this special episode of Animals & Us - Voices of a New Paradigm, Avantika shares a significant life change—her move to Belgium to pursue her PhD. This marks the beginning of a new academic chapter, one that aligns clo…
Episode 31: On the Academic Journey to Study Animal Communication with Avantika Mathur on the Dani Fankhauser Podcast
In this episode, we share a conversation with me (Avantika Mathur) on Dani Fankhauser's Spirit Doggies Podcast. Here's a little bit more about the episode, from that podcast: "If your first thought was that animal commun…
Episode 30: The role of love in intuitive interspecies communication, with Dr. Estella Kuchta
In this episode of Animals & Us - Voices of a New Paradigm, we welcome the wonderful Dr. Estella Carolye Kuchta, a passionate researcher and educator. With her recent PhD completion, Dr. Kuchta explores the transformativ…
Episode 29: From Science to Spirituality, with Animal Behavior and Emotions Expert, with Dr. Marc Bekoff
In this episode of Animals & Us - Voices of a New Paradigm, we are joined by the renowned Dr. Marc Bekoff, an animal behavior specialist. With a rich background that includes collaboration with the iconic Jane Goodall, D…
Episode 28: On the Spiritual Lives of Animals, Reincarnation, Soul Contracts and Missions, and What Happens when Animals Cross the Rainbow Bridge, with Miki Jacobs
In this episode, we sit down with Miki Jacobs, an acclaimed psychic medium, spiritual counselor, and author, to dive deep into the profound connections between humans, animals, and the spiritual world. Miki shares her ex…
Episode 27: On her groundbreaking new research project on animal communicators, with Dr. Vanessa Wijngaarden
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Vanessa Wijngaarden, a passionate researcher with a curious mind and a love for animals. She's a social anthropologist and filmmaker who has spent years studying the lives of indigen…