How Animals Honor Boundaries

How Animals Honor Boundaries

Author: Mind Body Spirit.fm April 20, 2026 Duration: 40:45
In this episode, Karen, Meredith, and Julie explore one of the most quietly powerful lessons our animals offer us: how to honor boundaries - our own, theirs, and each other's. Animals set boundaries without guilt, without over-explaining, and without second-guessing themselves, and in doing so, they hold up a mirror to the places where we humans struggle most. From India's pack-disrupting behavior that first awakened Julie to her peacekeeper patterns, to Meredith's unforgettable nose-to-nose encounter with Pedro Pascal Possum, to the nipping little dog who was simply trying to wake his human up to her own unmet needs - the animals in our lives are constantly communicating. The question is whether we're paying attention. Together, the hosts reflect on throat chakras and self-expression, reactive dogs and energy management, lost animals refusing to come home until their humans learn surrender, and the beautiful truth that the stronger our own boundaries, the more fully we can show up for community, co-creation, and the ones we love most. RESOURCES: Medicine Cards - Julie references looking up opossum in it after Meredith's Pedro Pascal Possum story - https://bookshop.org/p/books/medicine-cards-the-discovery-of-power-through-the-ways-of-animals-david-carson/a159e15cfb37631c?ean=9780312204914&next=t Do YOU want to be an animal communicator or learn more about Soul Level Intuitive Coaching®? Check out the new classes and Be Open Community offered by our teacher, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Danielle MacKinnon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. It’s a great place to learn Energy Management, trusting yourself and even finding a great, supportive community.   YOUR HOSTS Julie is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Heart Animal Soul Professional Communicator, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Spirit Animal Sacred Alchemy Practitioner and Certified Trauma-Informed Grief Coach. She writes the column ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠“Trust the Animals”⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Substack and is a teaching assistant for the Danielle MacKinnon School. Find out more about her and her monthly Pet Loss Grief Circles at her website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.juliehirt-intuitive.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Karen is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Pangu Shengong (qigong) Instructor and Energy Healer. She is an End-of-life Companion Animal Doula through the UVM certificate program and a teaching assistant for the Danielle MacKinnon School. She is also on the board of NicaLove Animal Rescue and the Founder and a Director of The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.karendendysmith.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Meredith is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Let Animals Lead® Animal Reiki Practitioner, and certified dog trainer with a focus on behavior modification and positive reinforcement. She is also a Director of The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.meredithtollison.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can find all of our episodes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MindBodySpirit.fm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Reach out to us with questions or comments via the Contact Us form on our website (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theanimalcommunicationpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about the fundraising work Karen, Meredith and Julie do with The Animal Communication Collective at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.animalcommunicationcollective.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever wondered what your pet is really thinking, or why a bird outside your window seems to pause just for you? The Animal Communication Podcast offers a rare window into those questions, guided by three experienced practitioners: Julie Hirt, Karen Dendy Smith, and Meredith Tollison. This isn't about training tips, but about connection. Each episode is built on their work as Soul Level Animal Communicators®, where they share candid stories and conversations that bridge our human world with the inner lives of animals. You'll hear them explore everyday mysteries-from puzzling behaviors and health concerns to the pure joy of play-as recounted by the animals themselves, both those sharing our homes and those in spirit. It’s a gentle, often surprising journey that redefines our relationship with all creatures, making it a unique listen for families, pet lovers, and anyone curious about the spiritual bonds we share. Presented by Mind Body Spirit.fm, this podcast invites you to slow down and listen in a whole new way.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 95

The Animal Communication Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Talk to Animals - Change the World with Dr. Cara Gubbins [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:50
Join Karen, Julie and Meredith as they talk with Dr. Cara Gubbins, a professional Animal Communicator whose mission and vision is to help co-create a world in which all beings are recognized as equals and all animal love…
Look Into My Eyes with Phoebe Hoffman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:39
Join Meredith and Karen as they speak with their dear friend and animal communication colleague Phoebe Hoffman about her experience filming “Look Into My Eyes,” a new documentary directed by Lana Wilson. Learn more about…
Q&A with a Live Audience [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:33
Join Julie, Karen and Meredith as they take questions from their live audience. It’s an hour of fun, supportive and insightful animal communication readings. Meet the hosts- Julie Hirt is a Certified Soul Level Animal Co…
Ethics in Animal Communication [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:41
There is a strong code of ethics in any type of vocation and animal communication is no different. With the training Meredith, Julie, and Karen have received, ethics has always been a huge portion of the certification pr…
Honoring Your In-Spirit Animal [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:46
How does your animal want to be honored and remembered after they cross the Rainbow Bridge? Meredith Julie, and Karen have each had to honor their own pets who have passed away, and they also hear this question from many…
Our Animals Support Us with Danielle MacKinnon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:13
This week, Julie, Karen and Meredith share a conversation with their teacher and mentor, Danielle MacKinnon. Danielle is the founder of the Danielle MacKinnon School of Intuition and Animal Communication and the creator…
What to Ask Your Animal In Spirit [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:21
Karen, Meredith and Julie all find that when their clients have an animal communication session to connect to a pet across The Rainbow Bridge it can be hard, in the moment, to come up with questions to ask their beloved…
Animals & Mediumship with Kerrilynn Shellhorn [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:33
Humans show up in animal communication sessions all the time, but do animals appear in human mediumship sessions? Who better to ask than the amazing and engaging Kerrilynn Shellhorn! Kerrilynn is an internationally respe…
The Grief of Animals [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:46
When our pets pass away, do the animals left behind grieve? Yes, they do, according to Karen, Meredith and Julie. In this episode they share their personal experiences as well as what the animals have told them in their…
Soulmate Dog with Michelle Slater, PhD [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:00
Michelle Slater, a scholar of comparative literature and president of the educational non-profit Mayapple Center for the Arts and Humanities in Connecticut. She holds a PhD in French from Johns Hopkins University. And th…