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A raw and authentic podcast for those who work or volunteer in animal care, welfare, or activism, who are struggling with compassion fatigue, burnout, grief and loss, secondary traumatic stress, and other mental health concerns. Through both solo and guest episodes, I blend science, psychology, spirituality, and even a touch of "woo woo" to help you manage compassion fatigue, build resilience, and make your passion for helping animals sustainable. If you're involved in animal caregiving, rescue, trap-neuter return (TNR), sheltering, animal control, cruelty investigations, veterinary medicine, fostering, wildlife or marine rehabilitation and conservation, animal law or lobbying, ethical veganism, or any other role in animal care, welfare, or activism, and struggling with the consequences of caring so much that it hurts, this podcast is for you!
The host, Jen Blough, LPC, is a licensed professional counselor, compassion fatigue coach and speaker, and author with more than 35 years of experience in animal welfare and activism. She is the author of To Save a Starfish: A Compassion Fatigue Workbook for the Animal Welfare Warrior and the upcoming book, Beyond Compassion Fatigue.
Episodes
Friday Nov 28, 2025
Friday Nov 28, 2025
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Difficult conversations are unavoidable in animal welfare and advocacy—whether it’s with the public, clients, coworkers, or even within our own teams. But when emotions are high, how can we communicate in ways that are both clear and compassionate?
In this episode, I'm joined by Jacquie Grillon, who will help us explore healthy communication in the animal welfare field. From handling hostility without losing our cool, to setting boundaries with kindness, to navigating internal conflicts, we unpack practical tools that help us speak (and listen) in ways that strengthen relationships rather than fracture them.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
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What clear, compassionate communication looks like in real life, especially when emotions run high
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The most common communication traps in animal welfare—and how to avoid them
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How to respond when someone attacks you verbally, while still maintaining clarity and compassion
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The role of boundaries in tough conversations (and why being compassionate doesn’t mean being a doormat)
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Ways to address infighting between shelter staff, rescue groups, volunteers, and leadership without deepening the divide
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How to recognize when a hard conversation needs to happen and how to prepare for it
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Why self-reflection and regulation matter—especially if you’re carrying trauma or compassion fatigue
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Practical advice for finding balance between being too passive and too confrontational
Resources Mentioned:
Jacquie's website
Jacquie's socials:
Grab more resources for managing compassion fatigue here!
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