Maddie's Candid Conversations

Feb 16 2024 14 ep. 36 mins 2
Maddie's Candid Conversations Podcast artwork

Join us for revealing conversations with influential animal welfare leaders, hosted by Maddie's Fund executive leader, Mary Ippoliti-Smith. You'll be inspired by each speaker’s pathway to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in their daily work with animals and the shelter staff who support homeless pets. When we respect and appreciate the journeys our community members have taken, we are reminded of the importance of keeping pets and people together.

  Society & Culture
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Maddie’s Candid Conversation: Dianne Prado

Feb 16 2024 34 mins  
Our Season 3 premiere features Dianne Prado, Founder and Executive Director of the Housing Equity & Advocacy Resource Team (HEART LA), a unique non-profit that was truly born from the heart. Heart LA is a legal non-profit that helps ensure people and their pets remain housed. Dianne's compelling story reveals the values, mind-set and skills she's used create meaningful and impa

Maddie’s Candid Conversation: Special Edition with Bobby Mann and Shakela Brown

Dec 19 2022 31 mins  
How can we as animal care professionals help pets in service deserts where access to care is extremely limited or even non-existent? How can we better reach and build trusting relationships with their caregivers? Both Bobby Mann and Shakela Brown of Humane Rescue Alliance have answers. Their impact on the programs they manage is palpable, especially in communities with limited acce

Maddie’s Candid Conversation with Geraldine D’Silva

Oct 27 2022 30 mins  
Growing up in India, Geraldine D'Silva developed a deep understanding of equality and the human-animal bond. From an early age, she’d care for stray dogs in her neighborhood, feeding them and taking them to a local shelter for further care. Later, that compassion expanded using her degree in Sociology which took her to remote villages to study the caste system and women’s empow

Maddie's Candid Conversation with José Ocaño

Sep 28 2022 27 mins  
From a very early age, José Ocaño learned to care for animals thanks to his mom who instilled a love of living things and helping people. Growing up in Barrio Anita gave José the grit, tenacity and life skills he would later need to work in some of the most challenging ecosystems. But just like the people from his community, José's resilience and heart carry him forward. Nothin

Maddies Candid Conversation with Elijah Brice Middleton

Aug 24 2022 28 mins  
In our Season 2 premiere, Elijah Brice-Middleton, Director at Plainfield Area Humane Society (PAHS) in New Jersey, reveals the values and skills he uses to face challenges of being, in his words, "a brown face in a white world." Maddie's Fund Executive Leadership Team member Mary Ippoliti-Smith hosts the conversation and Q+A. Growing up in a household that cared for a menagerie of

Maddie's Candid Conversation with James Evans and Jennifer Evans

Jun 02 2022 35 mins  
Join us for an open, informal conversation and Q+A with James Evans, founder of Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity (CARE), and Jennifer Evans, CARE's Chief Operating Officer. With a mission to amplify BIPOC voices to promote human and animal well-being, the team at CARE acts to create equitable experiences with a multidisciplinary approach focused on addressing unconsciou

Maddie's Candid Conversation with Akisha Townsend-Eaton

Jun 02 2022 28 mins  
A former legislative attorney for Best Friends Animal Society and for the Humane Society of the United States, Akisha's current work involves supporting groundbreaking advancements for animals through Animal Legal Defense Fund's litigation, legislative and criminal justice initiatives as well as for members of the public seeking legal assistance for animal-related matters. In this

Maddie's Candid Conversation with Dr. Lila Miller

Jun 02 2022 62 mins  
Dr. Lila Miller is known as the mother of shelter medicine and throughout her career, she’s forged bold, new paths for veterinarians and especially for women of color. She’s won many awards and acclamations, not the least of which is our 2021 Avanzino Leadership Award. Watch the recording of our recent conversation with Dr. Miller where she talks not only about her amazing achi

SPECIAL EDITION! Maddie's Candid Conversation with Gabrielle Chapman and Justin Marceau

Jun 02 2022 45 mins  
Join us for a special, 45-minute edition of Maddie's Candid Conversation where we will be talking with Justin Marceau, author of Beyond Cages: Animal Law and Criminal Punishment. The discussion will center around the role of fines and fees, civil penalties, conviction and punishment in achieving positive outcomes for animals - and how current enforcement models can in fact produce

Maddie's Candid Conversation with Dr. Jyothi Robertson

Jun 02 2022 29 mins  
Internationally recognized as a specialist in animal shelter medicine, Dr. Robertson examines societal and race dynamics that influence policy choices that impact access to veterinary care and the overall success of lifesaving efforts. Her most recent passion project has been the development of Journey You Own, a platform for weaving spirituality and awareness through highlighting