Life changed for Topher Brophy when he adopted his four-legged, look-alike ‘love battery’ – aka Rosenberg. One thing led to another, and today Brophy and Rosenberg have almost a quarter of a million followers on Instagram.
The title of Topher’s new book tells you exactly what we talk about today, DOG DAD: How Animals Bring Out the Best in Us and Can Help Save the World.
Studies show that living with animals can help improve our overall health. Pets provide emotional support proven to lower blood pressure, lift depression, reduce anxiety, increase feelings of joy and happiness – and they help us get out of our head and into nature.
*If you’re thinking of getting a new companion, Adopt Don’t Shop. Contact Conversations Live with Vicki St. Clair for shelters near you, if you need help.*
About Topher Brophy
Topher Brophy is a New York-based Dog Dad artist who’s gained international attention through the socially conscious, imaginative photos of him and his son, Rosenberg The Dog. Topher is donating all author proceeds from DOG DAD to American Humane.
“Who we are with dogs is who we are as people,” says Alexandra Horowitz, head of the Dog Cognition Lab at Barnard College and author of Our Dogs Ourselves: The Story of a Singular Bond. Alexandra returns to Conversations Live to discuss how the relationship between us and our dogs affects both species. Find out why breeding can cause a myriad of problems, and why you might want to think twice about spaying/neutering.
Alexandra is the author of three previous books, Being a Dog, On Looking; and Inside of a Dog.. She is a professor at Barnard College, Columbia University, where she teaches seminars in canine cognition, creative nonfiction writing, and audio storytelling. Enjoy her previous appearance on Conversations Live here.
Does your dog love you or see you as a supplier of food? Is he/she even capable of love? A long-standing debate between science and dog lovers has centered around these questions, and now we have an answer from a scientist … in favor of dog lovers. Drawing on cutting edge studies from labs around the world, canine behaviorist Clive Wynne uses genetic codes, meticulously studied brain states, and a lifetime of behavioral observation to conclude that a dogs capacity for love … not their submissiveness or intelligence … lies at the heart of our relationships with our furry friends.
Today you’ll learn how to help your dog lead a more satisfying and fulfilling life through bridging affection, whether it’s with a new puppy or an older dog coming into your life for it’s twilight years. Clive’s book is Dog is Love: Why and How Your Dog Loves You.
Clive Wynne, Ph.D. is the founding director of the Canine Science Collaboratory at Arizona State University. He is widely published and has appeared on National Geographic Explorer, PBS, and the BBC.
Designer Dogs: An Exposé Inside the Criminal Underworld of Crossbreeding — the title of Madeline Bernstein’s new book tells you exactly what we’ll discuss today, and why it’s so important to share this information and raise awareness of crossbreeding atrocities. The breeder who first introduced ‘designer dogs’ in the form of the Labradoodle, says if he knew how far people would take this unhealthy and dangerous obsession, he would never have started it.
Madeline Bernstein is the President of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles (SPSCA). A frequent speaker and commentator on issues relating to animal welfare, ethics, and law enforcement, she advocates for humane treatment and respect for animals.
You’ve seen countless life hack articles, but what about a hack to get through one of the most difficult events in life? Ann Grant, JD, offers The Divorce Hacker’s Guide to Untying the Knot for navigating the churning waters of divorce. Learn how to know when it’s time to give up on therapy, steps you should take BEFORE filing, and the way the new tax law will impact you. Most importantly, Ann will debunk the notion that a woman can’t create a new and better life on her own.
Ann Grant began her career as a corporate litigator specializing in unfair business practices and consumer fraud. Following her divorce she created her own firm, focusing on family law and a holistic approach to this life transition.
William has spent two decades in development aid and conservation around the world. His essays and commentaries on global issues have appeared in the New York Times and the International Herald Tribune.
Sean Parnell has witnessed firsthand the difficulty of reintegrating into society after returning from war, as his platoon has suffered three times as many men to post-war suicide than in combat. His American Warrior Initiative aids returning veterans by providing them fully paid for service dogs.
Sean is a former U.S. Army airborne ranger who served in the legendary 10th Mountain Division for six years, retiring as a captain. He received two Bronze Stars (one for valor) and the Purple Heart. Also an author, his latest novel is Man of War.
The Road to Yulin … and Beyond covers the last two years of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and Vanderpump Rules star Lisa Vanderpump’s non-profit, The Vanderpump Dog Foundation’s, mission trips to China to expose the torture that occurs during the annual Yulin Dog Meat Festival. Led by their business partner, Dr. John Sessa, the film gives an in depth look at the dichotomy between companionship-based human/canine relationships exhibited in many countries, and the horrific and brutal interactions that dogs face in parts of the world that have an unrestrained dog meat trade.
Dr. John Sessa joins Vicki today to help not only raise awareness of the heinous and barbaric treatment these dogs receive, but to show you how you can get involved as well in stopping these atrocities.
Dr. Sessa is the Executive Director of The Vanderpump Dog Foundation and co-founder of Vanderpump Pets. The Road to Yulin … and Beyond is Dr. Sessa’s directorial, writing and producing debut.
Later, being a multi-faceted creator (he directs, writes both novels and screenplays, and is a musician), S. Craig Zahler has the ability to not only select which angle to attack the projects he chooses to work on, but also to enter the mindset of his characters in unique ways. His latest novel is Hug Chickenpenny, a gothic, Dickensian take on The Elephant Man.
S. Craig is an award-winning screenwriter, director, novelist, cinematographer and musician.
Sometimes it takes the convergence of extraordinary circumstances to make us face our own demons. For many years, Dr. Patricia B. McConnell grappled privately with intense fear, shame, anxiety, and guilt.
Dr. McConnell is a Zoologist and Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist. For more than 25 years she’s specialized in canine aggression, consulting with pet owners on serious animal behavioral problems.
Chuck Wendig is a novelist, graphic comic writer, screenwriter, and game designer.
He talks “… a lot about writing. And food. And pop culture. And his kid. [And] uses lots of naughty language.” Best know for his New York Times Bestselling Star Wars: Aftermath series, Wendig’s latest book is Thunderbird, the fourth installment in the continuing saga of Miriam Black.
From NY Times Bestselling author David Elliot Cohen comes the heartwarming and often hilarious tale of Simba II, a mischevious white labrador retriever puppy bought home by accident. Included in The Wrong Dog: An Unlikely Tale of Unconditional Love is the author’s 3300 mile cross-country odyssey that chronicles the unbreakable bond between a dog and it’s people.
Bestselling mastermind James Rollins joins Vicki today to discuss the latest entry in his popular Sigma Series. The Seventh Plague blends scientific intrigue with historical mystery, and reveals an ancient threat hidden within the pages of the Bible that has a puzzling connection to Mark Twain’s travels, the genius of Nikola Tesla, and the adventures of explorer Henry Morgan Stanley.
Listen to Conversations Live with Vicki St. Clair every Monday at noon Pacific on KKNW 1150AM or 94.9FM HD. For exclusive updates throughout the rest of the week, like us on Facebook, and follow Vicki St. Clair on Twitter!
David Elliot Cohen demonstrates with great precision the vast and benevolent role dogs play in American family life in his latest effort, The Wrong Dog: An Unlikely Tale of Unconditional Love. As the accidentally adopted new family member grows from an energetic puppy into an enormous ninety-pound dog with a huge personality, Simba cements the bond between two families and enriches their lives in countless ways. A Yale graduate, David has produced numerous titles for Barnes & Noble’s in-house publishing division including four presidential photo-biographies and a book about the power of socially-conscious photojournalism. As an editor and author, he has created books that have sold over 6 million copies worldwide, including 4 NY Times bestsellers.
Featuring an ‘Elon Musk’ like character and a unique perspective on the friendship between Mark Twain and Nikola Tesla, The Seventh Plague by James Rollins weaves several relevant themesthroughout including Trump, Tesla and a secret energy source; whether or not a virus could cause one of the biblical plagues, and the frightening reality of electric-eating bacteria. James Rollins is a New York Times bestselling author of international thrillers, translated into more than forty languages. In each novel, James unveils unseen worlds, scientific breakthroughs, and historical secrets…and he does it all at breakneck speed and with stunning insight.
When you rescue an animal, who rescues who?
