Why Animal Communication Is Needed Now

Why Animal Communication Is Needed Now

Author: MindBodySpirit.fm August 10, 2026 Duration: 55:31
This week we're asking the question that we’re passionate about: why does animal communication matter right now, in this moment, in this world? Not as a curiosity, and never as a party trick, but as something sacred and necessary. Each of us comes to this work from a different place, so we start there, with our own why: Meredith's lifelong pull toward listening and counseling, now finding its fullest expression through the animals; Karen's story of being woken up again and again since a childhood encounter with a gorilla at the zoo, and how reconnecting with the animals got her out of bed on the hardest days; and Julie's experience of collective grief and unmooring since her dad's passing, and the sense that the animals aren't ignoring any of it, they're strengthening the invitation to come back. Karen shares what disconnection from animals and nature actually costs us physically and energetically, right down to the organs and meridians. Meredith traces the thread through mythology and folklore, and tells the story of a hummingbird in her backyard that reminded her that nature doesn't need to follow the rules we've built around it. We talk honestly about skepticism, what it means to ask someone for just a tiny thread of potential, and why "proof" might be a standard the collective is finally outgrowing. There's a detour into a lecture on the difference between knowledge, knowing, and wisdom, and how that maps onto Divine Feminine and Divine Masculine balance. And, of course, we come back to our own animals and what they're teaching us this season: Lukas asking Julie to rest, play, and trust more; Barnabas showing Meredith a whole new level of calm in the face of backyard chaos; and Karen's cats reflecting the steadiness she's finally found amid a big life transition. Our animals aren't waiting for us to be ready. They're already communicating. The question is simply, are we listening? 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...

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…