Tag: #kindness

Episode 83: Kindness Is Katy Brink & the dodo

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The incredible, Katy Brink from the dodo joins Anitha to talk about her love for animals, fostering dogs, and being a part of an amazing organization all about animals.

With Lola & Jake
Sasha with Lorna & Libby

Katy shares what it’s like working as an executive editor at the dodo, (which may be Anitha’s dream job) The dodo is a wonderful organization that highlights heart-warming stories about animals . . . and the stories always have happy endings.

In addition to working as an editor, Katy generously devotes a lot of her time to fostering dogs. She talks about the devastating overcrowding situation at animal shelters and how fostering literally saves lives.

Katy has some wonderful stories about the dogs who are and have been in her life, including her current foster, a sweet girl named Cartier.

Cartier

To learn more about Katy, Cartier and the dodo, click on the following links.

Katy’s Instagram

Dodo Instagram 

Cartier’s story 

Cartier’s adoption profile

As a thank you to Katy for sharing her story, Anitha donated to Mr. Bones & Co.— a volunteer-run animal welfare non-profit. They specialize in helping dogs who face extraordinary challenges, such as extensive emergency veterinary care/surgery, unfair breed discrimination or those languishing in municipal shelters with behavioral issues that make them harder to place.

To learn more about this rescue, click here:

mrbonesandco

To hear the full episode, click here:

Episode 82: Kindness Is Our Honor

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Dr. Crystal Heath, a veterinarian and animal rights activist joins Anitha to talk about the surprising dichotomy that exists holding both of these spaces.  

Like a lot of listeners, Anitha assumed that folks who go into veterinary medicine are also strong advocates for animal rights, but that may not always be the case.

Dr. Heath shares her experience of what it was like speaking out for animals during veterinary school and why this inspired her to create Our Honor, a non-profit that supports veterinary students, veterinarians, and other animal professionals in speaking their conscience to create more ethical systems that consider the best interests of all species.

She was named one of Vox’s 2023 Future Perfect 50, which honors the scientists, thinkers, scholars, writers, and activists working on solutions to today’s (and tomorrow’s) biggest problems.

She is also on the board of LEAP – Leaders for Ethics Animals and the Planet, known as the humane alternative to 4-H and FFA, which aims to transform today’s youth into the humane leaders of tomorrow who advocate for and work towards an equitable future for all living beings and the planet.

Well respected in her field, Dr. Crystal Heath is quoted and featured in numerous articles about animals including:

To learn more about Dr. Heath and Our Honor, click on the following links:

Website: http://ourhonor.org

Twitter @drcrystalheath @OurHonorVets

Instagram @dr.crystalheath @OurHonorVets 

Facebook Crystal Heath  Our Honor

As a thank you to Dr. Heath for sharing her story, Anitha donated to Our Honor.

To hear the full episode, click on this link:

Episode 81: Kindness Is ASK A DOCTOR About Aging

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Anitha and the Kindness Is Everything Podcast welcome listeners to the first ASK A DOCTOR session.

Once a month, Anitha and her husband, Dr. Matthew Robinson, will discuss a topical medical issue. In this inaugural episode, they talk about cognitive decline and aging.

If you’ve ever wondered about—

1.     Normal memory issues as one ages versus early signs of dementia

2.     Supports in the community to help someone who has dementia

3.     Care options for those with limited financial resources

4.     Extent to which hospitals can help care for those with dementia

5.     How kindness fits into all of this

—then this episode is for you!

If you have a medical issue you’d like answered, please send Anitha an email through her website, anitharobinson.com

If your question is selected to be addressed on the show, Anitha will donate to a registered charity of your choice* as a thank you.

*Registered Charity must support animals, the environment, or people. And also, no religious organizations, zoos or marine aquariums please.

To hear the full episode, click here:

Episode 80: Kindness Is Life With Pigs

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Ryan and Mallory Phillips were brought together by a mutual love for a tiny calf.

They join Anitha to talk not only about their incredible ‘how did you meet’ story, which Anitha thought should be made into a movie, but also what it’s like to share a home with a menagerie of animals, such as pigs, chickens, cows and many other amazing beings, they call family.

Ryan also talks about his path to sanctuary life and how it all began when he received a call about a pig named Pumpkin, who needed a home, and needed one fast. Soon after, came Pumpkin’s daughter Charlotte, and thus began Ryan’s life with pigs.

An inspiring story of love and hope.

To learn more about Ryan and Mallory and their Life With Pigs Farm Animal Sanctuary, check out the following links:

Facebook  www.facebook.com/lifewithpigs

Instagram  www.instagram.com/lifewithpigsfarmsanctuary

Youtube  www.youtube.com/lifewithpigs

Website  lifewithpigs.com

As a thank you to Ryan and Mallory for sharing their story, Anitha donated to Life With Pigs Farm Animal Sanctuary.

To hear the full episode, click here:

Episode 79: Kindness Is Helping Parents Age With Compassion

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Anitha’s sister, Shaila Rao, joins her to talk about the realities of life with aging parents. They share the heartache of witnessing their mom’s health decline due to a rare neurodegenerative disease that affects her mobility and cognitive function. They also discuss their concern and admiration for their 90-year-old dad’s determination to be their mom’s primary caregiver.

A personal and honest conversation about the difficult and heartbreaking issues many of us face as our parents age.

To learn more about Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), click this link: https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/progressive-supranuclear-palsy-psp

As a thank you to Shaila for coming on to the show, Anitha donated to Oakville & Milton Humane Society. This organization is dedicated to protecting and making a better life for animals. To learn more about the Oakville & Milton Humane Society, click this link:

Home

To hear the full episode, click here:

Episode 78: Kindness Is Making The Inside Scouts!

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Mitali Banerjee Ruths joins Anitha to talk about her journey from Medical Doctor . . . to author . . . to creating books about diverse characters, and how kindness intersects all these aspects of her life.

A very fun and engaging conversation.

To learn more about Mitali and the books she writes, click on the following links:

https://www.mitaliruths.com/

https://www.instagram.com/mitaliruths/

As a thank you to Mitali for coming on to the show, Anitha donated to Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres. This international humanitarian organization was founded by doctors and journalists in 1971. They travel all over the world, where people’s needs are greatest to provide neutral, impartial, and independent emergency healthcare to those affected by disaster, disease, conflict and exclusion. 

You can learn more about MSF here: https://www.doctorswithoutborders.ca/

To hear the full episode, click here:

Episode 77: Kindness Is Celebrating 35 Years Together!

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A very special and personal episode for Anitha as her husband, Matt Robinson, joins her to talk about celebrating their 35th Wedding Anniversary.

They share stories of their early years together, being a mixed-race couple, having kids, and the ups and downs of a relationship that’s spanned many decades.

Anitha is super grateful to Matt, who is usually a private person for taking the leap and joining her.

As a thank you to Matt for his willingness to be a part of the podcast, Anitha & Matt, donated to Operation Angels. This is a new project created by Steve Jenkins (best known as one of Esther the Wonder Pig’s dads). Operation Angels plans to open to the public in the Spring of 2025 as an agritourism destination. All proceeds from this venture will be donated to animal sanctuaries and rescue organizations.

You can learn more about Steve’s new adventure here: https://stevejenkins.ca/operation-angels

To hear the full episode, click here:

Episode 76: Kindness Is Creating Rainbow Spaces

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In 2021 Nadia Kean-Ayub created Rainbow Spaces. She joins Anitha to talk about what motivated her to start this organization, how this group helps youth in the LGBTQ+ community, and how much they have grown in just three years.

Nadia also shares her favourite ways to support folks in the queer community by being an A+ Ally

  1. Affirm who they are
  2. Accept that their path is their own
  3. Acknowledge
  4. Don’t offer Advice on who they should share their queerness with
  5. Adapt by letting the youth guide you

An emotional and honest discussion of the best and most difficult aspects of creating a safe and inclusive space for all youth.

Photos of Prom

To learn more about the amazing events Rainbow Spaces creates, check out their Instagram account:

https://www.instagram.com/rainbowspacessb/

As a thank you to Nadia for sharing her story, Anitha offered to donate to Lamba Rising Soccer, a non-profit organization located in San Diego that provides inclusive soccer programs for youth and adults. To learn more about this organization, check out their website: https://www.lambdarisingsoccer.com/

To hear the full episode click here:

Episode 75: Kindness Is Being Jenny Vegan McQueen

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Jenny McQueen is a true hero for animals. She joins Anitha to talk about leading and participating in peaceful anti-fur protests, bearing witness of animals as they are trucked off to slaughter, co-founding Animal Rights Toronto, and so much more.

Jenny has been arrested eight times for peacefully raising awareness about violence against animals, in particular those used in the animal agricultural industry.

Jenny & Alice

She also talks about the devastating death of Regan Russell in 2020. Regan was bearing witness to the last moments of pigs’ lives when she was killed by a slaughterhouse truck driver.

To learn more about all the amazing work Jenny is involved in, check out her Instagram account:

https://www.instagram.com/jennyveganmcqueen/

To learn about Animal Rights Toronto, the organization Jenny co-founded, check out their website:

https://animalrightstoronto.com/

As promised, here is a photo of the documentaries to watch and the many animal rights organizations you can support:

As a thank you to Jenny for sharing her story, Anitha donated to Promised Land Animal Sanctuary, a safe haven for animals who have been neglected, abused, abandoned or forgotten.

Promised Land Animal Sanctuary cares for horses, chickens, ducks, pigs, donkeys, alpacas, goats, sheep, dogs and cats. They provide all these animals lifelong care and shelter.

To learn about this sanctuary, check out their website: https://www.promisedlandsanctuary.org/

You can hear the full episode here:

Episode 74: Kindness Is Creating an Isle of Misfits

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The incredible Paige Graham joins Anitha to talk about the many dogs, cats, pigs and chickens she has adopted and shares her home with.

Paige began her animal rescue journey in 2010 as a foster for a dog rescue. She soon realized senior animals and those with complex medical needs are sadly often deemed “unadoptable”. With her background in nursing and her huge heart, Paige decided she would give these animals a permanent home, and The Isle of Misfits was born.

Paige shares some heart-warming stories including how she comes up with their awesome names such as Abraham Lincoln, a dog who is missing an eye, Little Richard, an American Bulldog, and Celine Dion, a kitten with a belting meow.

Paige even delves into some difficult personal issues she faced and credits her animals for helping her get through that tough part of her life.

An honest and important conversation about loving animals who many have deemed unfit to live, and also learning to trust and love yourself.

To learn more about Paige and The Isle of Misfits check out her instagram account.

https://www.instagram.com/isle.of.misfits/?hl=en

As a thank you to Paige for sharing her story, Anitha donated to Limbo Chihuahua Rescue in St. Petersburg Florida. Paige personally adopted two paralyzed chihuahuas from this rescue. To learn more about what this organization does and how you can support them, please click on the link below:

https://www.limbochihuahuas.org/?disable_mobile=true

You can listen to the full episode here: