Welcome to the coziest corner of the creative world, where art, literature, and our beloved animal companions come together in conversation.
Join us in the little shed—a space where ideas flow freely and creativity thrives—as we explore the profound ways animals influence and inspire our creative lives.
Whether you're a writer crafting your next novel, a painter finding inspiration in nature, or simply someone who believes their best work happens with a dog at their feet or a cat on their lap, this podcast is for you.
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Données mises à jour le 14/07/2026
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Lip Smacking Good: A Cookbook, a Malinois & a Lot of Joy
Saison 1 · Épisode 16
mercredi 11 mars 2026 • Durée 45:08
Episode Summary
In this episode, Holly B. sits down with the wonderfully multi-layered Cheryl Kemppainen — culinary school graduate, holistic nutritionist, animal naturopathy student, yoga teacher, English teacher, and author — to talk about her spirited Belgian Malinois Lila, life on a property with eleven horses, and how her animals became the unlikely catalyst for her most joyful creativeproject yet: a gourmet dog cookbook.
About Our Guest
Cheryl Kemppainen describes herself as the executive assistant toher dog Lila. A self-proclaimed curious and creative soul, Cheryl hastrained in culinary arts, holistic nutrition, and animal naturopathy.
These days, her kitchen experiments are guided by tail wags and bum wiggles, and when she's not writing or cooking, she's escorting Lila on her daily wilderness sniffing adventures.
The Book 📖
Title:Food is My Love Language
Subtitle:Stories, Recipes and Nourishing Tips for the Dog with Gourmet Taste Buds
Cheryl's debut cookbook features 52 gourmet dog-friendly recipes (think steak with poached eggs and basil pesto, dog-friendly pancakes, and fresh breads), woven together with personal stories and a holistic nutrition resource section.
Connect & Follow
Cheryl's blog (launching alongside the book) — link coming soon!
Book release: Food is My Love Language — watch for purchase links
Holly and Rogan catch up on life, celebrating Holly's impressive book sales at a vendor show, reminiscing about the Olympic gold medal game, and bonding over their shared love ofskating. The episode also covers favourite drinks, fun snack discoveries, a Dexter-styled basement greenhouse, and wraps up with Holly's take on the fantasy novel Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Diniman.
What a Comet, a Pit Bull & a Magic Cat Have to Do with 300 Short Stories
Saison 1 · Épisode 14
samedi 28 février 2026 • Durée 35:14
Episode Summary
Holly sits down with Kari A. Kilgore, an indie author who is celebrating a remarkable milestone: her 50th book and 10th anniversary of publishing — all in the same year.
Kari A. Kilgore is an independent author and publisher based in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, living on 250 acres deep in the woods with her husband (also a writer), two rescue dogs, and a collection of rescue cats. She began publishing in 2016, has released 50 major titles across nearly every fiction genre, and has written over 300 short stories. A former IT professionaland technical writer, she brings the same love of learning to indie publishing that she brought to her previous career.
What We Talk About
Dictation & How They Met
Kari and Holly both found their dictation practice finally clicking after taking a class with Sarah Elizabeth Sawyer. Kari shares how she's been using dictation for journaling and fiction, finding it dramatically speeds upher output. Kevin J. Anderson (author of several Dune books) was an early inspiration — the image of him dictating while hiking through Death Valley touched Kari's creative heart years before she found her own groove with it.
Meet the Dogs: Pebbles & Dana
Kari has two rescue dogs — Pebbles, a pit bull (aka "the Pibble"), and Dana, a Great Dane, named creatively for "two riders in the house." Today they are inseparable, pair-bonded best friends who snuggle, wrestle, and make regular appearances in Kari's Zoom calls andcreative life. They've both been featured in her fiction.
Animals as Creative Muses
Nearly every rescue animal Kari has had since age 19 has found its way into a story — as a character name, a spaceship, a planet, or a full protagonist. Her cat Zortia inspired a holiday romance with a magic cat that sold and has been reprinted twice. That single story grew into a world withseven or eight tales, all featuring real cats she's lived with. She's also written a story specifically about Pebbles and Dana's rescue.
Toulouse on the Counter: Poetry, Pickles, and Finding Your People
Saison 1 · Épisode 13
mardi 17 février 2026 • Durée 36:30
Season 1, Episode 13
Episode Description
Join host Holly B. and co-host Rogan for an inspiring conversation with Alexia about building creative community, multidisciplinary art, and the power of poetry. Discover how one person's vision to find community transformed into a thriving arts organization that's bringing emerging and established artists together in innovative ways.
• How pets influence creative perspective and writing
• The dynamic between Toulouse and Rocky the dog
The Birth of Anaphor (10:23)
• From open mic series to non-profit organization in months
• Building community through identifying local needs
• Events maxing out capacity within 20-30 minutes of posting
The Anthology Project (07:51)
• 24 poets paired with 28 local businesses
• Poets create work inspired by or for their sponsor businesses
• Publishing summer 2026
• Supporting arts while highlighting community businesses
Collage Poetry Workshops (18:42)
• Blackout poetry, acrostic projects, and found word poetry
• Working with available resources to maximize impact
Current & Upcoming Projects
• Monthly open mics
• Punch card workshop for artist goals and self-care
Published! Plus Skating Tips & Black Cat Energy
Saison 1 · Épisode 12
lundi 16 février 2026 • Durée 07:02
Season 1 Episode 12
EPISODE DESCRIPTION
Join Holly and Rogan for another fun-filled episode where they share their "Thing of the Week," discuss Holly's newly published book, reflect on their recent guest, and explore everything from skating with properly fitted skates to the Rideau Canal's freezing challenges. As always, they close with their signature sign-off and a call for listener engagement!
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS EPISODE
Holly's Book is Here!
Holly shares the exciting moment of holding the physical copy of her book North of Broken & Furever Home, for the first time. A true "Thing of the Year" moment that she modestly calls her Thing of the Week.
Skating Pro Tips
Rogan's endorsement of the week: buy skates that actually fit you! He shares how much better skating becomes when you're not struggling with uncomfortable rental skates and discusses the joy of skating as a preferred mode of transportation.
Episode Reflection
Holly and Rogan reflect on their recent conversation with guest Julia, discussing her medium, potential live collaborations, and suggestions for Holly's upcoming book launch.
Ottawa Winter Culture
Discussion of the Rideau Canal skating tradition, its challenges with freezing, and the status of Winterlude.
Listener Appreciation
The hosts continue their tradition of acknowledging those who stick around to the end of the episode, showing genuine gratitude for their dedicated audience.
Eggs, Ontario, and the What-If Factor: A Creative Conversation
jeudi 12 février 2026 • Durée 39:50
Season 1, Episode 11
Episode Summary
Holly, Rogan, and Mitzi explore the profound influence of pets on creativity, the power of storytelling, and the journey of self-publishing.
They discuss the emotional connections we have with our pets and how these relationships can inspire our creative endeavours.
The trio emphasizes the importance of positive thinking and the impact of writing as a legacy. They also navigate the complexities of the publishing world and share their future aspirations as creative individuals.
Mitzi is an avid advocate for holistic well-being and the host of the "Mitzi, Let's Think About It" Podcast. Mitzi is also a self-published author of four children’s books. She firmly believes that by encouraging children to think differently and more consciously, we can steer the future towards a positive trajectory.
The influence of pets can significantly enhance creativity.
Storytelling is a powerful tool for connection and understanding.
Self-publishing allows authors to share their work without traditional barriers.
Emotional connections with pets can inspire writing and creativity.
Creative processes often involve brainstorming and idea generation.
Positive thinking can transform the way we approach challenges.
Writing can serve as a legacy, impacting future generations.
Navigating the publishing world requires careful consideration of options.
Future aspirations can drive current creative efforts.
Collaboration and accountability can enhance the creative process.
Shelby the Cat, Sci-Fi, and Silencing Your Inner Critic
Saison 1 · Épisode 10
mercredi 4 février 2026 • Durée 01:00:06
Episode Summary
Adam Mardero is a queer, neurodivergent author who lives and writes in Ontario. His first book, "Uncommon Sense: An Autistic Journey" chronicled what it was like to grow up Autistic and ADHD in the 90s and early 2000s, while his latest project is a young adult science fiction series about overcoming trauma and hate through found family. He lives with his pet cat Shelby.
Holly B. and Rogan chat with Adam about his journey as a writer, the importance of pets in providing emotional support, and the challenges of self-publishing. They explore themes of mental health, authenticity, and the role of hope in navigating life's difficulties. Adam shares insights from his experiences, emphasizing the significance of community and creativity in personal growth. The discussion flows from light-hearted banter about pets to deeper reflections on overcoming imposter syndrome and the power of storytelling.
The importance of pets in providing emotional support.
Navigating mental health challenges through creative outlets.
The journey of self-publishing and its challenges.
Finding hope in difficult times through writing.
The significance of authenticity in personal and professional life.
Dealing with criticism and developing a thicker skin.
The role of community and support in creative endeavours.
Using personal experiences to shape writing and storytelling.
The impact of past experiences on current perspectives.
The joy of sharing creative work with others.
From Pets to Publishing: A Journey of Hope
Navigating Life's Challenges Through Creativity
Sound Bites Chapters
01:45 Exploring Adam's Podcast Journey
04:50 The Bond with Pets: Adam's Cat Shelby
08:41 The Emotional Support of Pets
10:04 Writing and Creativity: Incorporating Pets into Stories
12:33 The Long Journey of Writing a Sci-Fi Series
Paws, Grief, and Fabulism: Writing Death with a Whisker of Humour
Saison 1 · Épisode 9
mercredi 28 janvier 2026 • Durée 45:13
Episode Description
Season 1 Episode 9
In this heartfelt conversation, registered psychotherapist and author Ingrid Phaneuf joins us to discuss how animals influence creativity, the importance of normalizing death, and her upcoming novel that weaves together grief, humour, and magical realism.
Ingrid shares her unique journey from journalism to psychotherapy, and how her experiences with grief—both personal and professional—inspired her to write fiction that helps readers process loss in new ways. We explore theconcept of "fabulism," the special relationship between humans and animals, and how nature can provide comfort during difficult times.
Timestamps 01:26 - Ingrid introduces herself and her dog Cole 03:18 - How animals influence creativity and mood 04:24 - The inspiration behind George the Cat - Schrodinger the neighbour's cat 05:06 - The novel's premise: consciousness hijacking an animal 05:57 - Animals' healthier relationship with death 07:31 - How nature normalizes death and grief 08:40 - Holly's plan to become a tree / environmentally friendly burials 09:46 - Normalizing conversations about death 10:30 - Does Cole come to therapy sessions? 11:08 - Diving deeper into the novel idea 12:40 - The Tibetan Book of the Dead and reincarnation 17:08 - Balancing humour and truth in writing about death 22:04 - Ingrid's journey from journalism to psychotherapy 24:42 - Reclaiming creative writing during COVID 26:56 - Learning to tolerate boredom and see projects through 28:25 - The importance of grief counsellors 29:45 - "Your heart gets bigger" - understanding ongoing grief - Traditional vs. self-publishing plans - Holly's book: - Discovering "fabulism" as a genre - Discussing their dogs' personalities - Connecting at MFA residency - Wrap-up and farewell to Ingrid - Post-interview chat with Rogan about the episode - Reflections on the conversation and upcoming plans - Sign-off and New Year wishes
When Foster Fails Lead to Creative Wins
Saison 1 · Épisode 8
mardi 13 janvier 2026 • Durée 42:25
Indie author Cindy Ojczyk shares her self-publishing journey, writing process, and how foster fail pets inspired her books about teen mental health and animal rescue. Learn book marketing strategies, overcome pet loss grief, and discover the realities of independent publishing.Episode Summary
Cindy Ojczyk joins Holly and Rogan for an intimate conversation about her unexpected path to writing and the profound ways her pets have shaped both her creativity and her stories. Cindy opens up about the emotional complexities of being a pet foster parent, explaining the bittersweet concept of "foster fails" and processing the loss of beloved animals.
The discussion explores her unique writing approach, the realities of self-publishing versus traditional publishing, and the considerable effort required to market independently published books.
Cindy also shares how she weaves themes of mental health and animal rescue into her storytelling, with a particular focus on creating conversations around teen mental health issues. Throughout the conversation, she emphasizes the critical role of community support for self-published authors and advocates for greater awareness of the challenges young people face.
01:24 Cindy's Journey as a Writer
03:46 The Influence of Pets on Creativity
05:42 Understanding Foster Fails
08:04 The Impact of Poet the dog: A Foster Fail Story
11:40 The Challenge of Fostering Multiple Pets
13:50 Cindy's Writing Process and Book Promotion
18:57 Lessons Learned from Self-Publishing
25:48 Diversity in Publishing and Self-Publishing Freedom
30:07 Navigating Themes in Writing: Mental Health and Animal Welfare
32:33 Awareness and Leadership in Community Conversations
35:45 Embracing the Present: The Journey of an Author
Anke Hermann is the creator and host of Soul Touched byDogs - an award-winning podcast , virtual event, and community platform to celebrate the human-canine connection. She is also an advocate for holistic approaches to canine health and education, with a focus on the specific needs of rescue dogs. When she's not talking about dogs, she is a multi-passionate coach and online tech expert helping dog professionals, coaches, experts, and authors turn their expertise into online income, without tech stress.
On Her Philosophy About Dogs
Anke views dogs as our wisest teachers who deserve far more respect and understanding than society typically gives them. She stands firmly against treating dogs as status symbols, toys, or emotional outlets, emphasizing that her core value of fairness drives everything she does in the animal welfare space. Her mission is to help people become better advocates for their dogs' needs.
Her Work with Dog Professionals
Anke specializes in helping dog coaches, trainers, and experts navigate the business side of their practice. She works with people who have deep expertise in their craft but struggle with marketing, technology, and business development. Her key insight: being excellent at what you do isn't enough—youneed to understand business fundamentals to build a sustainable career helping dogs and their people.
Published Work
Taming the Tech Monster (2020) - This book helps people overcome their fear of technology by reframingit from a threatening obstacle into a friendly challenge. Instead of letting tech intimidate you, Anke shows how to approach it with curiosity and confidence.
Upcoming Book (working title includes "The Dog at My Feet") - Her current project addresses the gap between professional certification and business success. Why do so many qualified, passionate dog professionals struggle to build thriving practices? This book aims to bridge that divide.
50 Books in 10 Years
Kari published her first books in 2016 and has since released novels, novellas, short story collections, anthologies, and over 300 short stories (which she doesn't even count in that total). She works across virtually every genre — historical fiction, science fiction, romance, high fantasy, mystery, urban fantasy — and often doesn't know the genre until the story is finished.
The Joy of Independent Publishing
Kari is a passionate advocate for indie publishing. She loves cover design, page layout, sales copy, merch ideas, Kickstarters, and running her own Shopify store. She describes indie publishing as "a multifaceted satisfier" — there's always something new to learn and create. She ran her first Kickstarter last year and is planning an October Kickstarter to celebrate her 10th anniversary.
Current Project
Kari is deep into a historical fiction novella (started as a shortstory, now approaching 30,000 words) set in 1880s Virginia, featuring a woman who flees Richmond after the Civil War and stumbles into a mysterious mountain community. A real astronomical event — the Great Comet of 1880, which wasvisible in daylight — plays a central role. Research rabbit holes include horseshoe-making and frontier soap production.
Four-Legged Heroes — Special Edition
Kari's collection Four-Legged Heroes: When PetsRescue People — five stories written in five weeks for a workshop — is now available as a special edition ebook on her website, with exclusive artwork not available through retail platforms like Amazon or Kobo. She also showed off a beautiful custom sticker designed to accompany the book.
Ramblings from the Little Shed is hosted by Holly B. New episodes drop regularly. Subscribe, leave a review, and come back soon — Rogan will return eventually.
• Surrealism workshop combining painting and collage
• Future: Cat-themed multidisciplinary art exhibit (2027)
Holly's Thing: Holding the physical copy of her published book for the first time North of Broken & Furever Home (even though she initially forgot what her Thing of the Week was!)
Rogan's Thing: Buying skates that actually fit - a game-changer for anyone who loves skating.
DRINKS OF CHOICE
Holly: Diet Coke with Lime from a Wendy's machine, with a splash of cherry vanilla.
Rogan: Americano at 8 PM (because he needed a pick-me-up after a long workday)
ENGAGEMENT CHALLENGE
Are you Team Black Cat Energy or Team Golden Retriever Energy?
Comment and let us know which one describes you best!
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review! Your support helps us reach more listeners and keeps us motivated to create great content.
Holly's debut novel, North of Broken and Furever Home releases February 14th! Available for pre-order on Amazon. The book features dual POVs—a woman and her dog companion—in what Holly describes as contemporary "fabulism" fiction.
Connect
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the podcast. Share it with anyone who might benefit from a different perspective on grief, creativity, and the human-animal bond.
Dog walks are a sacred, creative time for Anke. She takes solo walks with her dogs (one at a time) as dedicated thinking sessions away from screens and distractions. Many of her best ideas for podcasts, books, and business concepts emerge during these mindful moments with her canine companions.
Business Philosophy
Anke is critical of "proven formula" programs that oversimplifythe complex process of building a business. She emphasizes that creating a successful practice typically takes years, not weeks or months. The key to success is understanding your target audience deeply and presenting your offerings in ways that genuinely resonate with their needs and values.
