Where training and business meet personal & spiritual awakening — led by the wisdom of our equine and canine companions.
Wild Awake
Claim This Podcastby Valerie Naegele
11 episodes
Updated Daily
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Podcast Overview
Where training and business meet personal & spiritual awakening — led by the wisdom of our equine and canine companions.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
7/2/2025
1 verified contact email on file for Wild Awake
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Recent Episodes
September 17, 2025
From Zen Monastery to Vermont Dog Camp: John Godfrey on Discipline, Compassion, and Building a Life with Animals
<p>In this episode of Wild Awake, I sit down with <strong>John Godfrey</strong>, founder of <a href="https://vtdogcamp.com" target="_new" rel="noopener">Vermont Dog Camp</a> and co-founder of <a href="https://wonderwebcreative.com" target="_new" rel="noopener">Wonder Web Creative</a>. John’s path to working with dogs is anything but ordinary—he spent nearly a decade as a Zen Buddhist monk at Daitokuji Temple in Kyoto, Japan, where he took full ordination and immersed himself in a life of meditation, discipline, and simplicity.</p><p>Now based in Vermont with his partner Ramona, stepson Weston, their dog, and two cats, John brings the lessons of Zen into his work with animals and people. We talk about what monastery life really looked like (spoiler: lots of meditation, little sleep, and plenty of mosquito bites), how animals find us when we need them most, and why compassion and discipline aren’t opposites but partners in training and in life.</p><p>John also shares his biggest piece of advice:</p><p><strong>“Always be prepared for anything you strongly believe to be turned upside down.”</strong></p><p>This mindset—being willing to shift perspective when the dog (or life) shows you something new—shapes the way he works with animals and the way he approaches every challenge.</p><p>He also recommends two books that shaped his thinking:</p><ul><li><p>Culture Clash by <strong>Jean Donaldson</strong> – a must-read for understanding how dogs really see the world.</p></li><li><p>Mountains Upon Mountains by <strong>Sogen Yamakawa</strong> – transcriptions of a Zen roshi’s talks, translated by a brother disciple John deeply respects.</p></li></ul><p>📍 Learn more about John’s work:</p><ul><li><p>Vermont Dog Camp → <a href="https://vtdogcamp.com" target="_new" rel="noopener">vtdogcamp.com</a></p></li><li><p>Wonder Web Creative → <a href="https://wonderwebcreative.com" target="_new" rel="noopener">wonderwebcreative.com</a></p></li></ul><p>Whether you’re a dog lover, a trainer, or simply curious about weaving presence and compassion into your daily life, this conversation offers a unique perspective on what it means to grow alongside our animals.</p>
September 10, 2025
What It Means To Truly Love Your Dog Ft Premier Guest Amanda Fair
<p><strong>Description:</strong>In this episode of Wild Awake, Valerie Naegele sits down with longtime friend and dog professional <strong>Amanda Fair</strong> to explore what it truly means to love our dogs. Drawing from Amanda’s 12+ years in the dog daycare industry, her time as a dog sledding guide, and her work as an outdoor therapy guide, they dive into the balance between affection and boundaries, why enrichment matters more than bandanas and beds, and how dogs mirror back our own emotional patterns.</p><p>You can view Amanda's paper "Dogs & Emotional Intelligence" at the link below!</p><p>https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bIz5C5R3D2GYzsh-a-GvWv9iPuLpDB_Z/view?usp=sharing</p><p>Together, they reflect on:</p><ul><li><p>Why dogs need to be loved as dogs, not as humans or toys</p></li><li><p>How enrichment and lifestyle changes can solve more than training alone</p></li><li><p>The role of boundaries in creating safety and trust</p></li><li><p>The powerful ways dogs reflect our emotional intelligence</p></li><li><p>Amanda’s personal journey with her dog Balder and Valerie’s with Lewen</p></li><li><p>Books and resources that helped Amanda along the way</p></li></ul><p>Whether you’re a dog owner, trainer, or simply someone curious about the deeper lessons animals offer, this conversation will inspire you to see your dog—and yourself—with new clarity.</p><p><strong>Resources mentioned:</strong></p><ul><li><p>The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey</p></li><li><p>Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself by Joe Dispenza</p></li></ul>
September 3, 2025
Listening Deeper: Equine Massage, Groundwork & Connection featuring Morgan Tobin of Approach Point Massage LLC
<p><strong>Description:</strong><br />Welcome to Wild Awake—the podcast where training and business meet personal and spiritual awakening, led by the wisdom of our canine and equine companions. I’m your host, <strong>Valerie Naegele</strong>. In this episode, I sit down with equine massage practitioner, trainer, and instructor <strong>Morgan Tobin</strong> of <strong>Approach Point LLC</strong> to explore the deeply connected world of equine massage, groundwork, saddle fit, and compassionate horsemanship.</p><p>Whether you’re a horse owner, rider, or trainer—or simply someone seeking a deeper connection with your animals—this conversation is full of insights to help you better understand your horse’s mind, body, and movement.</p><p><strong>In this episode, you’ll hear about:</strong></p><ul><li><p>The art of approach: why listening to subtle signals builds trust and safety.</p></li><li><p>How massage, groundwork, and saddle fit come together to support performance and relaxation.</p></li><li><p>Common tight areas in horses and how compensation patterns develop.</p></li><li><p>Building a supportive “team” for your horse—vet, farrier, trainer, and massage practitioner—working together.</p></li><li><p>Training with low expectations first to build confidence, clarity, and willingness.</p></li></ul><p><strong>Guest spotlight — Morgan Tobin (Approach Point LLC):</strong><br />An 18-year horse-industry professional, Morgan blends equine massage with training to create a holistic, horse-centered approach. Her work supports everything from body comfort and athletic performance to building deeper partnership through connection.</p><p><strong>Resources mentioned:</strong></p><ul><li><p>Beyond Horse Massage by Jim Masterson</p></li><li><p>Horse Anatomy for Performance by Gillian Higgins</p></li></ul><p><strong>Connect with Morgan:</strong></p><ul><li><p>Website: <a target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">approachpoint22.com</a></p></li><li><p>IG & Facebook: <strong>@ApproachPointLLC</strong></p></li><li><p>Email: <a rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">approachpoint22@gmail.com</a></p></li></ul><p>If you love the way we talk about connection, calmness, and clarity here, you’ll want to check out my <strong>My Dream Dog Course</strong>. It’s a complete, step-by-step education that helps you build a relaxed, responsive, and reliable dog—without relying on quick fixes. Plus, you’ll have a supportive community so you never feel like you’re training alone.</p><p><strong>Doors open September 2025</strong>, and spots will be limited.<a href="https://www.venturedoggie.com/courses/my-dream-dog" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"> Join the waitlist now</a> to be the first to know when enrollment opens.</p><p><br /></p><p>Join the <strong>My Dream Dog</strong> Waitlist https://www.venturedoggie.com/courses/my-dream-dog</p>
11 total episodes available
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- What is Wild Awake?
- How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
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This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
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Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
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