In Conversation with Penelope Smith

In Conversation with Penelope Smith

Author: MindBodySpirit.fm July 6, 2026 Duration: 55:50
What if the animals have been participating in humanity's great awakening all along and have simply been waiting for us to catch up? In this extraordinary episode, Julie, Karen, and Meredith sit down with Penelope Smith, the founding pioneer of interspecies telepathic communication, for a conversation that is as expansive as it is grounding. Drawing on more than fifty years of work in the field, Penelope illuminates the concept of the Great Turning, the essential shift from a way of living that extracts and depletes, toward one that sustains and reconnects, and reveals how animal communication sits at the very heart of that transformation. Together, they explore why animals don't carry the human burden of forgetting who they are, how the Great Turning is already present in those who simply live with kindness and presence, and why the antidote to overwhelm isn't more information, but deeper reconnection. The conversation moves into grief; the grief we hold for our animal companions, and the collective grief that may be quietly driving so much of the world's unrest and Penelope offers a perspective that gently dissolves the illusion of separation: that love doesn't wait on the other side of a rainbow bridge; it's right here, right now. This is one of those episodes that stays with you long after it ends. RESOURCES: You can learn more about Penelope Smith and her wonderful books and blog at her website: https://animaltalk.net/ Other mentions in this episode: Joanna Macy: Buddhist scholar and eco-activist; originator of the concept of The Great Turning The Great Turning:  Joanna Macy's framework describing humanity's essential shift from an extractive, life-depleting civilization toward a life-sustaining one Ram Dass / Be Here Now: Referenced by Julie as well as Penelope’s message at the end of the conversation. 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...

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: 50

The Animal Communication Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Lisa Tully - Sacred Animal Medicine [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:27
In this episode animal healer and communicator Lisa Tully joins the co-hosts for a deeply moving conversation about mirroring, healing, and the profound ways our animals reflect what we carry emotionally and spiritually.…
How Animals Help with Grief with Keri Kenney [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:01
In this deeply moving episode, the co-hosts sit down with trauma-informed yoga instructor and grief guide Keri Kenney for an honest, tender conversation about grief, healing, and the animals who walk beside us through ou…
Overwhelm and our Animal's Perspective [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:32
Your co-hosts explore the lived experience of overwhelm and how our animals respond when life feels like too much, too fast, and too soon. Through personal stories, client examples, and animal wisdom, they reveal how ove…
Rita Hogan, The Canine Herbalist [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:30
In this powerful and wide-ranging conversation, we’re joined by clinical canine herbalist and author Rita Hogan to explore what it truly means to connect - with our dogs, with plants, and with the living ecosystems we sh…
Beginnings for 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:36
It’s our season 3 premiere! Julie Hirt, Karen Dendy Smith, and Meredith Tollison reunite after a holiday pause to reflect on grief, embodiment, boundaries, and the deep wisdom of lived experience. Julie shares openly abo…
Listener Questions Season Finale [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:47
It’s our season 2 finale, and we’re celebrating with a full listener Q&A episode! Over the past few months, so many of you have written with thoughtful, heartfelt, and incredibly important questions. Some came through em…
Reflections on Our Year of the Snake [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:30
Back in February, we did an episode where we discussed the Chinese New Year moving us from Year of the Dragon into the Year of the Snake (episode can be found here. Now that we’re mostly through 2025, we’re realizing it…
Dr. Barrie Sands - Co-Creating Health [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:21
Dr. Barrie Sands is a veterinarian, healer, scientist, author, artist, and an international educator and speaker. Within a diversity of passions, she values seeking truth as it pertains to our humanity and the relationsh…
When Readings Don't Go As Planned [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:05
Julie, Karen and Meredith reflect on readings that haven’t gone exactly as they had hoped or planned. Not that they can ever be planned but well, you know, it’s a good reminder none of us are in control - the animals are…
Animal Reincarnation with Nancy Windheart [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:20
Nancy Windheart is an internationally recognized animal communicator and interspecies communication teacher. She teaches courses and training programs in interspecies communication for both lay people and those who wish…