Meet The Animal People with Chris Whatling – Details, episodes & analysis

Hi everyone, and welcome to ‘Meet The Animal People’ Podcast!

I’m your host, Chris Whatling, and in this podcast series, I’m going to be chatting with some of the most inspiring, animal-loving people in the business. I’ll be finding out all about their unique journeys into the pet and animal health sectors and getting them to share some of their best experiences, advice and insights. If you’re as mad about pets as I am, I think you might like it!  So grab a cuppa, sit back with your pet and enjoy!

Welcome to the very first guest episode of Meet The Animal People!

In this episode, I chat with the brilliant Paul Manktelow – a leading vet, TV personality, and host of The Consult Room. You might recognize Paul from his TV work on Crufts, where he’s shared his expert insights with millions of animal lovers.

Paul takes us through his lifelong passion for animals, the unexpected journey into television, and even a stint working in Ibiza along the way!

So, grab a cuppa, get comfy, and enjoy the conversation!”

Welcome back to Meet The Animal People! Today, we’re speaking with Carolanne Cicero, Bella and Duke’s In House Veterinary Advisor. Carolanne explains when her love of animals first started, gives us an introduction to the world of raw-feeding, and very passionately explains how much she loves Dolly Parton (well who doesn’t?) 

Hope you enjoy!

Hello everyone, and welcome back to another episode of Meet The Animal People!

I’m genuinely excited to introduce this guest – Sean McCormack. Sean is a veterinary surgeon, but he’s also made a huge impact across the wider pet industry. He’s an author, a TV presenter, a passionate animal welfare advocate, and a wildlife conservationist with a serious love for nature and photography.

One of his proudest achievements? He played a key role in helping to reintroduce beavers to West London – yes, beavers in London! You can learn more about that incredible work at theealingbeaverproject.com.

In this episode, we cover everything from his career journey and conservation projects to the shared experience of growing up gay and navigating that identity within both the veterinary world and the wider pet and animal health industry. It’s honest, inspiring, and full of important conversations that don’t get talked about enough.

So grab a cuppa, take a walk, or settle in – I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did recording it.

Hello everyone, and welcome back to Meet The Animal People. Today we’re chatting to honorary Brummie Rachel Frost, Events & Community Fundraising Manager at Birmingham Dogs Home. Rachel tells us about her early days as working in an estate agents, and how she transitioned into the world of dog rescue. Grab a cuppa, and I hope you enjoy!

In this episode of Meet The Animal People, Chris sits down with Layla Flaherty, founder of Urban Paws, the UK’s leading animal talent agency. From growing up with beloved pets to making her mark in modelling and reality TV, Layla shares how her love for animals inspired a bold career shift into entrepreneurship.

Layla opens up about the origins of Urban Paws, the highs and lows of running a business in the pet industry, and the importance of balancing commercial success with animal welfare. We explore the challenges of managing expectations in animal training, the power of mentorship, and the resilience required to break new ground in a niche industry.

This inspiring conversation touches on emerging trends in the pet world, tackles common misconceptions, and offers a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to turn passion into purpose. Layla also gives us a glimpse into the future of Urban Paws, including plans to launch a new range of pet products and expand the agency’s global reach.

Dan Makin – Pride, Purpose & the Power of Representation

In this Pride Month special episode of Meet the Animal People, Chris Whatling speaks with Dan Makin, a small animal vet with over 22 years of experience and a passionate advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion in the veterinary profession.

Dan opens up about his journey from being a bullied child to becoming a respected veterinary professional, reflecting on how those early experiences shaped both his identity and his career. He shares the emotional challenges of school and vet school, and the powerful impact of finally finding a sense of community and acceptance within the profession.

In this heartfelt conversation, Dan and Chris explore the importance of creating safe, inclusive interview environments, the pressures LGBTQ+ candidates often face during job applications, and the ongoing need for meaningful support in the workplace. They discuss the evolution of diversity and inclusion in veterinary medicine, the role of BVLGBT+ in driving progress, and why representation truly matters.

They also reflect on the deeply personal connections people have with animals — and how those moments of trust and care have shaped Dan's purpose and passion over the years.

This is a powerful and uplifting listen for Pride Month — and a reminder of how far we’ve come, and how far we still have to go.

In this episode of Meet the Animal People, Chris is joined by the brilliantly charismatic Stuart Simons—a professional dog groomer, salon owner, actor, TV Consultant and co-founder of The Groomer Spotlight.

Stuart opens up about his journey from acting to grooming, the overlap between creativity and animal care, and why he's so passionate about raising professional standards in the pet grooming industry. From working with celebrity pets to becoming a consultant on BBC’s Pooch Perfect, Stuart’s story is full of inspiration, humour, and heart.

Expect candid conversation around coming out, building businesses, industry frustrations, and why a experienced, calm, confident groomer is worth their weight in gold.

It’s honest, insightful, and one of our most colourful episodes yet.

In this powerful episode of Meet the Animal People, Chris Whatling is joined by Lashonda Jafard – founder of Elevate, formerly the Black Pet Business Network – to discuss her inspiring personal journey and the trailblazing work she’s doing to make the pet industry more inclusive and representative.

Lashonda shares how her childhood love for animals turned into a lifelong mission. From building Orlando’s only Black-owned grooming salon to founding an international community for underrepresented pet professionals, her story is a testament to resilience, purpose, and leadership.

Together, Chris and Lashonda explore the challenges faced by Black professionals and others who are often excluded from mainstream pet industry spaces, the need for real allyship, and the incredible impact of creating community. As the founder of The Animal People Recruitment Company, Chris is equally passionate about improving diversity and inclusion across the pet and animal health sectors – making this conversation both meaningful and deeply aligned with his mission.

Whether you're part of the industry, aspiring to break into it, or simply interested in hearing how change is being driven from the inside out – this episode is full of insight, heart, and hope.

🎧 Tune in now to hear from one of the industry’s most important voices.
 🔗 Learn more about Lashonda via Linkedin 👉🏼 linkedin.com/in/lashondageffrard

In this episode of Meet the Animal People, host Chris engages with Ebony Escalona, an accomplished equine vet and entrepreneur. They discuss Ebony's unique journey from a challenging childhood in Venezuela to becoming a voice for animals and a leader in the veterinary community. The conversation explores her early aspirations, the challenges she faced in veterinary school, and her eventual pivot towards diversifying her career. Ebony shares her insights on the importance of emotional intelligence, the founding of VSGD (Vets Stay, Go or Diversify), and the need for veterinary professionals to embrace their multifaceted identities beyond their job titles. In this conversation, Ebony Escalona discusses the importance of navigating career pivots, building meaningful relationships in recruitment, managing stress and burnout, and her charitable endeavours. She emphasises the need for patience during career transitions and the significance of understanding one's values and goals. The discussion also touches on conservation efforts, particularly regarding pangolins, and insights into the evolving pet industry.