DOG TALK® (and Kitties Too!) on

icon of side silhouette of dog and cat drawn inside the dog Tracie Hotchner the Radio Pet Lady

DOG TALK® features Tracie's interviews with authors, pet experts and animal welfare advocates from around the world, discussing practical and philosophical issues regarding our relationships with dogs, cats, other pets, wildlife and the natural world.

The show broadcasts from WLIW FM 88.3 in Southampton, the only NPR station on Long Island, reaching from the East End across Long Island into Southern Connecticut and Westchester.

The show’s theme song is “Mmm My Best Friend” by Sophie B. Hawkins from her album TIMBRE.

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The Dog & Cat Lady Goes Exotic!

#829A: Tracie and Dr. Doug Mader discuss why they just launched their podcast EXOTIC PETS, because an atypical human-animal bond is just as meaningful to people, whether it’s a fish, a spider or a bunny — and owners need to know how to be good stewards of these unusual pets.

The Musical Director with a Snake “Scarf”

#828C: Musical director Alex Rybeck talk about how he came to have as his non-human companion Petula, the corn snake, as featured in Johanna Seigmann’s book “In Good Company (Notable People with Their Pets).”

Unconditional Care for Homeless Pet Owners

#828B: Dr. Robert Duquette, Associate Director of Veterinary Professional Services for Companion Animals at Merck, talks about being the company’s liaison for their Street Dog Coalition, which supports veterinarians helping the pets of unhomed people as part of their “Unconditional Campaign.”

“Doubly Diverse” — A Veterinarian Who is Male & Black

#828A: Dr. Kwane Stewart, the founder of Project Street Vet, talks about the challenges of being a minority in his field and what it has meant to be asked to join the Diversity Committee of the California Veterinary Medical Board.

From High Flying Executive to Donkey Rescuer

#827C: How did Ron King go from being That Guy who wears a Gucci swimsuit to sit by the pool (by himself!), to managing Oscar’s Place Donkey Adoption Center & Sanctuary in Northern California? As a lifelong donkey lover and owner, Tracie saw Ron’s photos in Johanna Siegmann’s gorgeous book, “In Good Company (Notable People with Their Pets)” and had to find out for herself.

“Spray & Play” — Pest Control Without Chemicals

#827B: Stephanie Boone, the Founder of the company Wondercide, talks about having created natural alternatives to spraying chemicals on pets, property and people so they can be safely pest-free. Steph created the saying “Spray and Play” because Wondercide products are so safe that kids and pets can be right in the yard while it’s being treated against ticks, fleas and other bothersome insects.

Very British Essays on Dogs

#827A: Rowan Hisayo Buchanan talks about commissioning and editing (with fellow essayist Jessica L. Lee) their fascinating book “Dog Hearted: Essays on Our Fierce and Familiar Companions,” which Tracie found markedly different from the way Americans tend to memorialize their dogs in literature.

#826B: Jennifer Wheeler is the owner with her husband of NYC Doggies and they’ve written a book called “Whole Dog Parenting: Everything You Need to Raise and Train an Urban Pup” to help city people — and even those with more grass than concrete under their paws! — to be the best dogs they can.

Supporting That One Lonely Cat Trapper

#826C: Community Cats Podcast founder, producer, and host Stacy LeBaron celebrates their 500th episode and how she started out to support that one lonely TNR trapper and the one cat needing rescue and that is still her mission — while holding multiple online seminars and courses for thousands of cat rescuers.

Awe Inspiring Photos of People and Their Pets

#826A: Johanna Seigmann is the photographer and chronicler of “In Good Company (Notable People and their Pets)” her book that celebrates in photographic essays the human-animal bond and way beyond dogs and cats to include snakes, rats, parrots and donkeys.