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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
May 14, 2026
May 14, 2026
17 min
In part one of this two-part mini-series, I talk about some of the external risk factors that can make people in animal care, welfare, rescue, vet med, and activism more vulnerable to developing compassion fatigue.
We'll explore:
- How our environment, workplace, community, culture, and other outside risk factors make us more susceptible to developing compassion fatigue.
- The problem with "too much and not enough."
- My own struggles with compassion fatigue and what I've learned
- What we need to change
- A sneak peek at my new forthcoming book and compassion fatigue certification!
Resources mentioned:
CFPAW certification info and waitlist
May 7, 2026
May 7, 2026
40 min
In this episode, I sit down with Rob Leinberger, a long-time animal control officer and current manager of Prince George County Animal Services and Adoption Center in Virginia. Rob brings years of frontline experience and leadership insight into the often-overlooked emotional realities of animal control work.
We talk about how Rob was first introduced to the concept of compassion fatigue—and what it looked like before he even had a name for it. He shares the unique emotional toll of animal control, where the job requires constant balance between enforcement, empathy, and exposure to difficult situations.
Rob opens up about how compassion fatigue can show up in this field, including the role anger can play—and how he learned to better understand and manage his own responses over time.
We also dive into how to better prepare new officers for the realities of the job, not just tactically, but emotionally. Rob shares both short-term and long-term coping strategies that have helped him sustain a career in this work, as well as the importance of recognizing and naming emotions rather than pushing them aside.
You’ll also hear how Rob and his team intentionally create space to let off steam, allowing them to reset so they can continue showing up fully for the work ahead. As a leader, Rob emphasizes modeling healthy behaviors, leading by example, and creating a culture where staff feel supported.
Finally, we explore the concept of compassion satisfaction—why celebrating wins matters, and how those moments can anchor you in the midst of challenging work.
Resources Mentioned:
Box breathing guided video
Learn more or join the waitlist for CFPAW here
Prince George County Animal Services and Adoption Center:
Apr 30, 2026
Apr 30, 2026
12 min
In part two of this mini-series, we move beyond nervous system regulation and into practical, in-the-moment communication strategies for handling conflict with the public.
If you work in animal care, welfare, rescue, vet med, or activism and you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, frustrated, or even unsafe during a tense interaction, this episode gives you tools you can actually use right in the moment.
These are the skills that help you stay grounded, protect your energy, and navigate difficult conversations without escalating the situation, and protecting you from burnout.
We explore:
- Reflective listening
- How to hold boundaries without escalating
- Body language, positioning, and personal space
- Using empathy and validation effectively
- Offering choices to reduce conflict
- And more
Missed the first part of this mini-series? Check it out here.
Got a suggestion for a future topic? Reach out to me: jen@jenblough.com.
Follow on social media:
Grab your free resources to help manage compassion fatigue here.
Visit my free virtual calming room here.
Get your copy of To Save a Starfish: A Compassion Fatigue Workbook for the Animal Welfare Warrior here.
Apr 23, 2026
Apr 23, 2026
21 min
In the first episode of this two-part series of Beyond Compassion Fatigue, I dive into one of the most challenging parts of working in animal welfare: dealing with criticism from the public, the kind that feels like “damned if we do, damned if we don’t.” Inspired by a listener’s comment about the heartbreak of seeing coworkers burn out under public scrutiny, I share my own experiences as a former shelter worker.
I also talk about why this criticism hurts so much and the psychology behind public outrage and explains why so much of it isn’t truly about you, but about the critic’s own helplessness.
I’ll teach you some strategies for staying grounded and protecting your nervous system when faced with criticism or hostility, including:
- Techniques to self-regulate during in-person confrontations (fight, flight, freeze, or shutdown responses)
- Strategies for handling online criticism from “keyboard warriors”
- Nervous system regulation tools to help you stay calm, present, and resilient
Resources Mentioned:
Got a suggestion for a future topic? Reach out to me: jen@jenblough.com.
Follow on social media:
Grab your free resources to help manage compassion fatigue here.
Visit my free virtual calming room here.
Get your copy of To Save a Starfish: A Compassion Fatigue Workbook for the Animal Welfare Warrior here.
Apr 16, 2026
Apr 16, 2026
34 min
My guest today is Dr. Antoine Goetchel, who is a Swiss attorney and leading expert in animal protection law. Since 1985, he has worked to advance legal protections for animals, helping to introduce the concept of the “dignity of the creature” into Swiss Federal Constitution and Animal Protection Act. He founded the Global Animal Law Association and the Foundation for Animals in Law, and has authored 13 books and more than 50 articles on animal law.
In this episode, we explore:
- How childhood pet guinea pigs led Antoine into the field of animal protection law
- Why strong mental health and tolerance for differing opinions make animal advocates more effective
- How to avoid overidentifying with animal suffering by working with a “warm heart and a cool brain”
- What Antoine does to stay grounded and mentally resilient
- Antoine’s perspective on what the next forty years may bring for animal protection
Antoine's Resources:
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Global Animal Law (GAL) Association website
- Antoine's website
- Online database on animals within the law, ethics, and society.
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Article: Animal welfare as the basis of One Health: A UN convention on animal welfare, health, and protection poses a realistic solution to improved animal welfare and human health
Apr 9, 2026
Apr 9, 2026
16 min
Feeling sad or anxious before an animal loss? That’s anticipatory grief, and if you work in animal care, rescue, welfare, vet med, or activism, it’s normal. In this episode, I explore why anticipatory grief happens, how it shows up, and why it can feel so intense for those of us who care deeply for animals. I also share practical strategies to process grief, stay grounded, and create meaning, so you can continue doing the work you love without losing yourself in the pain.
Topics covered:
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Understanding anticipatory grief in animal welfare
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Recognizing signs of grief
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Learning strategies to stay present, focused, and resilient
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Honoring the animals in your care while protecting your own well-being
Resources:
Sign up for my free monthly newsletter for tips on managing compassion fatigue, burnout, trauma, and grief here!
Got a suggestion for a future topic? Reach out to me: jen@jenblough.com.
Follow on social media:
Grab your free resources to help manage compassion fatigue here.
Visit my free virtual calming room here.
Get your copy of To Save a Starfish: A Compassion Fatigue Workbook for the Animal Welfare Warrior here.
Apr 2, 2026
Apr 2, 2026
27 min
Animal advocates often carry trauma that doesn’t belong only to them—images, losses, and moments that not only linger, but also cause significant distress. In this episode, I talk with Dr. Vanessa Rohlf about EMDR therapy and how it can support those navigating secondary trauma, cumulative loss, and grief in animal welfare and activism.
We explore:
- What is EMDR therapy?
- How EMDR helps with secondary trauma and grief in animal care and advocacy
- Symptoms EMDR can be especially helpful for
- What a typical EMDR session looks like
- How long EMDR takes and session frequency
Resources mentioned:
Email: virohlf@gmail.com
Got a suggestion for a future topic? Reach out to me: jen@jenblough.com.
Follow on social media:
Grab your free resources to help manage compassion fatigue here.
Visit my free virtual calming room here.
Get your copy of To Save a Starfish: A Compassion Fatigue Workbook for the Animal Welfare Warrior here.
Mar 26, 2026
Mar 26, 2026
19 min
If the phrase “just practice more self-care” makes your eyes roll, this episode is for you.
In animal care, welfare, veterinary medicine, rescue, and activism, we hear the self-care message constantly. And yes, self-care matters. In fact, for some healthcare professionals, it’s considered an ethical responsibility. But here’s the truth:
Self-care and coping skills are not the same thing.
And when we confuse them, we can accidentally fuel guilt, shame, and the belief that we’re somehow “bad” at taking care of ourselves.
In this episode, we'll explore:
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The critical difference between proactive self-care and reactive coping skills
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What your nervous system actually needs during distress
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Why bubble baths won’t fix fight-or-flight
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How to choose the right tool at the right time
Got a suggestion for a future topic? Reach out to me: jen@jenblough.com.
Follow on social media:
Grab your free resources to help manage compassion fatigue here.
Visit my free virtual calming room here.
Get your copy of To Save a Starfish: A Compassion Fatigue Workbook for the Animal Welfare Warrior here.