Author-illustrator, Charlene Chua joins Anitha as the podcast continues to feature authors during November and National Novel Writing Month.
In addition to talking about her journey as an artist, Charlene chats about her love for cats and how she used her artistic talents to help a cat named Max.
She also discusses the pressures creators often feel when they decide to make the BIG move to working as a full-time artist.
A great episode for book lovers and cat lovers alike!
To learn more about Charlene, you can follow her here:
As a thank you to Charlene for sharing her story, Anitha donated to Home At Last Rescue. Founded in 2020, Home at Last Rescue (HALR) is a Registered Canadian Charity, that is 100% volunteer driven. They rescue cats from substandard living conditions and give them the loving homes they deserve.
Critically acclaimed author-illustrator Anoosha Syed joins Anitha to kick off November and National Novel Writing Month.
Anoosha talks about her journey as an artist, the many books she’s created, including SARI SISTERS, the picture book she illustrated and Anitha authored, and so much more, including why she’s willing to share how much money she earns, on social media.
The two also delve a little into parenting, as Anoosha recently became a mom!
An interesting and fun episode for anyone who loves books and art!
To learn more about Anoohsa, you can follow her here:
As a thank you to Anoosha for sharing her story, Anitha donated to DALLAS STARS ADAPTIVE SPORTS
Dallas Stars Adaptive Sports provides adaptive ice hockey programs for athletes of all abilities, including those with intellectual, emotional, and physical disabilities.
On this month’s session of ASK A DOCTOR, Anitha and her husband, Dr. Matt Robinson, talk about illnesses often described as invisible, such as chronic pain syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.
These ailments can be debilitating and frustrating for the patient as they try to navigate the medical system.
This episode addresses symptoms, causes and potential supports available for people living with invisible illnesses.
**DISCLAIMER** THIS EPISODE IS MEANT FOR GUIDANCE ONLY AND NOT MEANT TO PROVIDE A SPECIFIC MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS. ALWAYS SEEK ADVICE FROM YOUR OWN MEDICAL PROVIDER
If you have a medical issue you’d like discussed on the podcast, please send Anitha an email through her website, anitharobinson.com
If your question is selected, 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.
The incredible Sir Darius Brown joins Anitha to talk about his initiative— combining his love of sewing and his love of animals to help shelter animals find loving, forever homes.
Sir Darius has made thousands of bow ties for shelter animals, taken their photo, and shared these photos on social media. These adorable bow ties have helped save many, many dogs.
An inspiring episode of love and kindness making a huge impact.
Letter from President Obama
To learn more about Sir Darius check out the following links:
As a thank you to Darius for sharing his story, Anitha donated to Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter in New Jersey. This shelter cares for homeless animals and works to find them permanent, loving homes. They also partner with shelters around the country to save at risk animals from being euthanized. Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter never euthanizes any animal for time or space reasons. Adoptable animals reside at the shelter until they find their forever home.
Emily Bott joins Anitha to talk about purchasing a property in 2018 that turned out to house a colony of 16 feral/barn cats. Emily and her partner, Dylan decided not only to allow the cats to remain on the property, but worked hard to gain the trust of the cats so they could be spayed/neutered and vaccinated. Life for the cats was so good, they eventually chose to live inside with Emily and Dylan!
These cats now enjoy being warm, safe, lounging on soft beds and so much more!
In the six years since moving to the property, Emily and Dylan have expanded their rescue journey to include farm animals such as donkeys and goats.
The farm’s mission is to provide compassionate care, rescue and sanctuary for animals in need. Emily shares some really heartwarming stories of the animals on the farm.
To learn more about Freedom Farmhouse, check out the following links:
As a thank you to Emily for sharing her story, Anitha donated to Rochester Emergency Veterinary Services.
This emergency veterinary hospital is fundraising to set up a new location to help more communities and more pets. To learn about what they do and what they are fundraising for, check out their website: REVS Website
Eleanor Booth joins Anitha to share a story of immense loss that created immense kindness.
A regular Sunday morning walk to the dog park turned into a nightmare for Eleanor and her dog, Indi.
In an instant, their lives changed forever, when two dogs, off-leash and trained to hunt and kill other animals, pursued and trapped Indi on the muddy bank of the river. Despite Eleanor’s heroic efforts to fend off these dogs and save Indi, Indi did not survive and Eleanor herself was severely injured in the attack.
Eleanor with her 3-year-old nephew going for a walk when she was well enough for 1-hour hospital leaves.
In spite of this great loss, Eleanor and her husband Tom have focused on the kindness they received from their family, their community and people from all over the world.
Eleanor shares that Sunday walk with listeners but she also shares the many moments of compassion and kindness that have provided so much comfort to her and helped with her healing.
Charm of Indi made by one of the many folks who reached out to Eleanor
A tear-jerker for sure, but definitely worth the listen.
As a thank you to Eleanor for sharing her story, Anitha donated to WIRES. This charity is Australia’s largest wildlife rescue organization. They rescue and care for sick, injured and orphaned native animals.
As a thank you to Sammie for sharing her story, Anitha donated to Project3R, a non-profit organization founded by sixteen-year-old Ryan Hickman. Project3R is dedicated to recycling and raising environmental awareness and education around the world. To learn more about this organization, click here: Project3R
October is National Menopause Awareness Month, so in this ASK A DOCTOR session, Anitha and her husband, Dr. Matt Robinson, will focus on issues surrounding menopause such as—
· What is Menopause?
· Symptoms
· Remedies- are there any?
· Hormone Replacement Therapy vs Non-hormonal medications vs Herbal alternatives
· Risks and Benefits of each
**DISCLAIMER** THIS EPISODE IS MEANT FOR GUIDANCE ONLY AND NOT MEANT TO PROVIDE A SPECIFIC MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS. ALWAYS SEEK ADVICE FROM YOUR OWN MEDICAL PROVIDER
If you have a medical issue you’d like discussed on the podcast, please send Anitha an email through her website, anitharobinson.com If your question is selected, 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.
Margot Raggett is a wildlife photographer, wildlife warrior and a cancer survivor. She joins Anitha and generously talks about these parts of her life.
After witnessing the death of a young elephant, a tragic victim of poaching, Margot felt compelled to help protect wild animals . . .and thus was born Remembering Wildlife.
The first book in the series, Remembering Elephants, brought together photographers from all of the world, including Margot, donating stunning photographs for the book, which came out in 2015. Since then, eight more books have been produced and to date $1.5 million dollars has been raised through the sale of these books to support 74 projects in 33 countries across Africa, North & South America, Asia and Europe.
The latest book in the series, Remembering Tigers, will be available October 2024.
You can purchase one or more or all of these gorgeous books and help protect wildlife by visiting the Remembering Wildlife website: Remembering Wildlife
To learn about some of the projects Remembering Wildlife supports, click here: Projects
On October 9th, Remembering Wildlife will host a special event to celebrate the release of Remembering Tigers. It will be an evening to showcase tiger conservation and wildlife photography. To attend the event in London, England in person or virtually, click here:
As of the date of airing of this episode, Margot was still deciding on a charity she would like Anitha to donate to. Once Margot decides, Anitha will donate and provide details and a link to the charity.
September 22 is World Rhino Day and to mark this special day when the world recognizes these incredible beings who are critically endangered, Anitha chatted with Elisa Best.
16.11.20 – Mirror Animal Hero Awards 2020 – Picture shows Elise Best at her workplace Rowe Vet Hospital in Bristol.
Elisa is originally from South Africa and works as a small animal veterinarian in the UK. Elisa talks about the plight of rhinos and her desire to help them, and how this evolved into the creation of Blankets For Baby Rhinos (BFBR).
This lovely group began by knitting blankets for orphaned rhinos, who are often both emotionally and physically traumatized when their mothers are killed by poachers. Rhino rescue groups discovered that baby rhinos find comfort when wrapped in these blankets.
BFBR has now grown to provide blankets for other animals such as injured and rescued pangolins, lions, leopards, as well as the dogs and humans who are part of anti-poaching units. These dogs and humans work bravely to protect rhinos from poachers.
To find out more about Blankets For Baby Rhinos and how you can support this incredible group, check out their website and their Facebook Page:
Elisa talked about an amazing place called Care For Wild Rhino Sanctuary. This is one of the rhino rescue groups, Blankets for Baby Rhinos supports. Care For Wild rescues, rehabilitates, releases, re-wilds and protects orphaned rhinos. In 2016, Anitha’s daughter had the privilege to volunteer at this sanctuary. Her daughter’s experience with the baby rhinos at Care For Wild inspired Anitha’s debut picture book, A Family For Faru. Care For Wild will always hold a special place in Anitha’s heart.
Elisa also mentioned the importance of the anti-poaching unit to protect rhinos and the personal risk these brave men, women and dogs face every day. She mentioned a feature length documentary called RHINO MAN. This film focuses on the life of Anton Mzimba, who was the Head of Ranger Services at Timbavati Private Nature Reserve. Anton dedicated his life to protecting and conserving South African wildlife, and made great sacrifices to himself and his family to do so. Sadly, he was murdered in July of 2022. To learn more about this film, check out the following link:
Anitha Rao-Robinson 