An Animal Saved My Life

Drama, jealousy, and evolutionary biology come together in this story about a love triangle. Vanessa Woods was on a work trip to study bonobos when she landed a supporting role in a great ape soap opera. And although emotions ran high, bonobos taught Vanessa important lessons about life, love, and what it means to be a primate. Learn more about bonobos at bonobos.org Vanessa Woods is the co-author of Survival of the Friendliest and the author of Bonobo Handshake. Learn more at www.vanessawoods.net. The bonobo in the episode thumbnail is not a pet. It is one of the many orphans at a sanctuary in Congo whose mothers were shot for the bushmeat trade. The orphans were rescued from the illegal market, some of them from wildlife traffickers, others from people’s homes, and others on route for the illegal pet trade in Europe. Bonobos are primates and need to live in large social groups, not in isolation. Please help stop trafficking in bonobos. Visit www.bonobos.org. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pippa Ehrlich, the co-director of the hit film My Octopus Teacher, takes us on a frigid underwater dive into the living, breathing kelp forests of South Africa. Psychedelic colors, mystifying lifeforms, and a curious shape-shifter invite Pippa into an alternate universe. Follow Pippa Ehrlich on instagram: the_rewilding Pippa is the co-director and editor of My Octopus Teacher. Find out more about South Africa’s kelp forests at seachangeproject.com  This episode features a song from the original score for My Octopus Teacher. It was composed by Kevin Smuts and Matthew Dennis.  Photo credit: Faine Loubser Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Denise Corliss was training her golden retriever Bretagne for search and rescue service when they were called to a disaster scene unlike any other Photo credit: Texas A&M Task Force 1. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When Nicole Navarro lost her childhood farm, she never thought she’d find it again. A pair of forlorn forest creatures showed her the way back. Learn more about Nicole’s rescue organization Pawsitive Beginnings at pawsitivebeginnings.org. Follow Nicole and her forest friends on Instagram at: @pawsitive_beginnings_inc Photo credit: Nicole Navarro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are you a dog person or a cat person? It seems like a fun, simple question. But from a young age, Joshunda Sanders knew that being able to answer it is actually a privilege. Years later, she found the answer that works for her. You can find Joshunda’s writing at joshundasanders.com. Photo credits: Joshunda Sanders Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There’s a proverb that says if a black cat crosses your path, you’ll have bad luck. But, if that were true, Glen Schallman might not be alive today. You can find more information about Glen and Blake’s illustrated children’s book here: https://cawpublishing.weebly.com/blakes-big-day Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kristin Von Kriesler’s life was in upheaval when an animal fugitive appeared from nowhere and sent her on a new path. Find out more about Kristin’s work at kristinvonkreisler.com. Photo credit: Natalia Ilyin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jesse Knott was working as an intelligence officer on a small combat outpost in Afghanistan. When he found a stray kitten, he got a mission he didn’t anticipate. Photo credit: Jesse Knott Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sam & Cam Bloom were living a beautiful life in Australia until they went through an unpredictable family crisis. That's when a flying Penguin showed up… Penguin Bloom premieres on Netflix in the US on January 27th. Follow Sam and Penguin here: www.instagram.com/samjbloom www.instagram.com/penguinthemagpie/ Photo credit: Cameron Bloom www.bloomphotography.com Original credits music by: Noah Bloom https://www.instagram.com/noah_bloom/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brantley Harrison is the kind of person who rescues earthworms from the sidewalk when it rains. As a wildlife rehabber she’s used to helping animals that can’t help themselves. So, she thought she knew what to expect when she got a basket full of baby squirrels... Photo credit: https://www.instagram.com/cidandbella/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Amelia Milling grew up walking the woodlands of Tennessee and yearning for adventure. When she turned 21, she flew to Alaska for a solo hike that was a little more than she’d bargained for. Accessible audiogram with text: http://bit.ly/crowpass Episode transcript: http://bit.ly/CrowPassTranscript Photo credit: Amelia Milling (https://www.workofamelia.com) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nan Hauser is a marine scientist who has loved whales for a long time. As a child, she’d lay in bed at night, wondering “What are they doing underwater?” Forty years later, she got an answer that would shock her. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For the final episode of season 1, Rocky and his wife Kelly tell their own amazing story of how their rescue dog, Flip, saved Rocky's life when he had a stroke earlier this year. You can follow Rocky and Flip at @rockykanaka Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Melanie was running an emergency vet clinic when a farmer brought her a tiny deer — Dillie — and asked for her help. Melanie gave the scared and blind deer a home, which helped Dillie come out of her shell. Dillie even became best friends with Melanie’s dog. Later, when Melanie was diagnosed with cancer, it was Dillie's turn to help take care of Melanie. You can follow Dillie on Twitter at @dillieDeer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

LeAnne Red Owl had a rough start. She was in and out of foster care, dealt with addiction and ended up in prison. After getting out of prison, she got involved with an equine therapy program where she met a horse named Crazy Boy. LeAnne's bond with this amazing horse was immediate and life-changing. She finally found the strength and confidence she needed to forge a new path — and reconnect with her Native roots. You can see more of LeAnne and Crazy Boy at @leeredowl04 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mari Sasano struggled with depression for many years, but never forgot how much it helped when she spent time with horses as a kid. So she reconnected with her love for horses, in particular a special horse named Dash, who changed her entire adult life. You can follow Mari and Dash at @marisasano Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Andrew Kintgen was a cavalry scout in the US Army for nine years. After leaving the military in 2015, resettling into civilian life was not an easy transition. He began work at New Freedom Farm, which provides equine therapy for veterans dealing with PTSD and soon after, Andrew began to form a special bond with a mustang named Bleistein that would change his life. You can learn more about New Freedom Farm on Facebook or at their website. You can follow Andrew and Bleistein on Instagram @drewski19d Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When Samantha first started caring for horses as a child, she immediately connected with a mini horse named Rocky. Ever since, she and Rocky have been inseparable, and he’s helped her through some of the toughest moments of her life. You can follow Rocky @rockythemini and Samantha at @sammbobamm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Zach Skow was terminally ill and struggling with addiction, until his dogs, Marley and Tug, forced him to live. After Zach miraculously recovered from a host of medical issues, he returned the favor by founding Marley's Mutts, to rescue more dogs like the ones who saved him. You can read more about Zach and Marley here. Follow Zach @zachskow and Marley's Mutts @marleysmutts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After Drew survived three sudden cardiac arrests, he had to find a way to manage his stress. The prescription? Lucky the plott hound, who is able to sniff out increases in Drew's cortisol levels. Today, Lucky is still helping to keep Drew alive and their bond couldn't be stronger. Follow Drew and Lucky on social media @luckytheplotthound & @thedrewlogan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices