Barking Mad

Live from the SUPERZOO 2025 show floor, we sit down with Clayton Payne, the unapologetic disruptor behind one of the world’s most downloaded pet industry podcasts, Pet Business Disruptors. Join us as we unravel what real innovation looks like in today’s pet care landscape, explore why staying close to everyday pet owners matters more than any trend report, and share how pet owners can spot products that genuinely solve problems for you and your pets. Whether you’re overwhelmed by labels, confused by claims, or simply want to make smarter choices for your pets, this episode delivers clarity, personality, and a refreshing dose of real talk.Helpful LinksTune in to the Pet Business Disruptors podcast here! 🎧 https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/pet-business-disruptors/id1759599442Hear more candid conversations from the SUPERZOO 2025 show floor:🎟️ Beyond the Brands: Your Backstage Pass to SUPERZOO 2025🐶 Candid Conversations from the SUPERZOO Show Floor: Real Talk with Daniel Schulof🏬 Candid Conversations from the SUPERZOO Show Floor: Celebrating Neighborhood Pet Store Day!💡 Small Brands, Big Impact: Emerging Brands & Innovations from SUPERZOO 2025📸 Corgis Gone Viral: Meet Dash & Lili, the Internet’s Favorite Dog DuoShow Notes00:00 – Inside the Episode01:12 – Introducing Clayton Payne and Pet Business Disruptors05:30 – How and Why Small Brands Pivot Faster Than Industry Giants09:07 – A Brief History of Pet Food Trends11:54 – The Influence of Social Media on Innovation16:47 – Why Brands Lose Consumers via Claim Overload21:37 – United Kingdom vs United States on Pet Industry Innovation24:02 – Meet Clayton’s Five (Yes, Five!) Dogs25:33 – Today’s Key Takeaways

You might worry when you see ingredients like salt, cellulose, gums, or artificial flavors on a pet food label, but most of these so-called villains are actually essential for food safety, nutrition, taste, and preservation. In this episode, we sit down with food scientist Dr. Abbey Thiel to unpack how these ingredients work, why they’ve been unfairly vilified, and why we should reconsider our stance against them. From the truth behind “sawdust in kibble” to the science of palatants, we break down the myths that fuel fear-based marketing. You’ll learn what matters, what doesn’t, and how to read ingredient lists with confidence.Helpful Links🔗 Check out Abbey Thiel’s YouTube channel, her candy science coloring book for kids, and connect with her on LinkedIn here.🪲 Learn more about the bugs hiding in our everyday food items! https://bsmpartners.net/insights/creepy-crawly-cuisine-when-banning-synthetics-comes-with-tradeoffs/🎧 Hear more from Pete Stirling of Skout’s Honor and other toxicity experts about common household items that could cause trouble for your pets:🕯️ Scented Suspects: Pet Safety in a Fragrant World⚠️ The Dirty Truth: Pet Safety Hazards Hiding in Your Homes and Gardens🍫 Your Dog Ate What?! A Pet Parent’s Guide to Hidden Hazards in the Kitchen and Medicine CabinetShow Notes00:24 – Inside the Episode01:13 – How Human Food Trends Shape Fears About Pet Food05:05 – Cellulose Explained11:20 – Salt’s Real Jobs: Health, Preservation, and Safety19:51 – Palatants, Flavors, and Why Pets Need Them23:38 – Natural vs. Artificial: The Environmental and Safety Trade-Off29:10 – The Truth About Gums and Thickeners37:21 – How Fear-Based Marketing Fuels Ingredient Myths46:46 – Today’s Key Takeaways

One toss of the toy changed everything for Adriane and Mike Wang and their “firstborn son.” In this heartwarming episode, you’ll meet the couple behind the internet’s favorite Corgi duo: Dash & Lili. Recorded live from the floor of SUPERZOO 2025, this episode takes you behind the camera to reveal their real story behind their virality online, why the Wangs are so selective about brand partnerships, and what they’ve learned about truth in pet food marketing. From grading poop (yes, really) to spotlighting shelters in need, this conversation is a celebration of authenticity, compassion, and the bond we share with our beloved animal companions.Helpful Links#️⃣ Follow Dash & Lili on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.🎧 Tune in to our other episodes from the SUPERZOO 2025 show floor:🎟️ Beyond the Brands: Your Backstage Pass to SUPERZOO 2025💡 Small Brands, Big Impact: Emerging Brands & Innovations from SUPERZOO 2025🐶 Candid Conversations from the SUPERZOO Show Floor: Real Talk with Daniel Schulof🛒 Candid Conversations from the SUPERZOO Show Floor: Celebrating Neighborhood Pet Store Day!Show Notes00:20 – Inside the Episode01:11 – Meet Adriane and Mike Wang, Pet-Parents of Dash & Lili04:05 – Getting Dash06:05 – The Viral Moment That Started It All07:32 – Adding to the Family12:17 – Choosing Partnerships with Purpose13:43 – The Truth About Pet Food Marketing14:55 – Spotlighting Shelters in Need18:49 – Real-Life Lesson from Pet Parenthood23:17 – The Truth Is in the… Poop?24:35 – Today’s Key Takeaways

Every Halloween, black cats, bats, and spiders take center stage as symbols of all things spooky—but how did these animals earn their eerie reputations, and which creatures deserve a little more Halloween spotlight? In this Barking Mad Halloween special, hosts Jordan Tyler and Dr. Stephanie Clark are joined by David Perez and Kait Wright to unravel the myths, folklore, and surprising facts behind nature’s creepiest (and most misunderstood) species. From toads with hallucinogenic toxins to beetles that bury the dead, discover how science, superstition, and pop culture turned these seemingly ordinary animals into Halloween legends.Helpful Links🎃 Learn more about:Why are Bats, Owls, Toads, and Crows Associated with Halloween? (National Wildlife Federation)Why Black Cats Are Associated With Halloween and Bad Luck (History)The Sydney funnel-web spider (The Australian Museum)Daddy long-legs—an Opiliones, not a spider! (The University of California-Riverside)Truth & Myth: Crows & Ravens in The Game of Thrones (AvesNoir)Huginn and Muninn: The Backstory of Odin's Ravens (Birds of Valhalla)Horned Lizards, AKA Horned Toads (University of Texas at Austin)Animals that are sanguivores (Animalia)Death’s-head hawkmoth (Butterfly Conservation)The American burying beetle (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service)Ticks (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)Tardigrades (LiveScience by Future US)🦇 Find the full blog post, “Nine animals begging for more Halloween representation.”Show Notes00:20 – Inside the Episode02:27 – Spooky Cinema: Animals in Horror04:43 – Halloween’s Most Iconic Animals05:47 – The Black Cat’s Curse and Comeback07:26 – Toads, Witches, and Ancient Symbolism09:32 – Debunking Spider Myths15:02 – Bats, Vampires, and the Birth of Dracula16:32 – Draculin and Other Bloody Facts17:15 – Ravens, Crows, and Ominous Intelligence20:00 – Owls: From Omens of Death to Symbols of Wisdom22:41 – Halloween’s Most Underrated Creeps23:15 – Centipedes: The Nightmare Pest You Shouldn’t Kill24:46 – The Death’s-Head Hawkmoth Has a Screaming Sweet Tooth26:45 – The Burying Beetle: A True Gothic Homemaker28:24 – Ticks: Nature’s True Vampires32:03 – Creepy Reptiles and Lizard Legends36:44 – Tardigrades: Cute or Creepy?41:18 – Today’s Key Takeaways—and Happy Halloween!

From chocolate and xylitol to ibuprofen and antidepressants, some of the most dangerous toxins for pets are hiding in plain sight—our kitchens and medicine cabinets. In this episode, hosts Dr. Stephanie Clark and Jordan Tyler wrap up their three-part toxicities series with insights from Dr. Katy Miller, DVM, Dr. Tina Wismer of the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, and Dr. Renee Schmid of Pet Poison Helpline. Join us as we uncover the everyday foods, supplements, and medications that can turn deadly for pets and share practical prevention tips every pet parent should know. Helpful Links🎧 Check out our other two episodes about:Fragrance-related pet toxicities: https://bsmpartners.net/barking-mad-podcast/scented-suspects-pet-safety-in-a-fragrant-worldRisky cleaning products, houseplants, and lawn and garden care items for pets: https://bsmpartners.net/barking-mad-podcast/the-dirty-truth-pet-safety-hazards-hiding-in-your-homes-and-gardens🌐 Learn more about:ASPCA Pet Poison Control: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-controlPet Poison Helpline: https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/☎️ ASPCA Pet Poison Control Phone Number: (888) 426-4435☎️ Pet Poison Helpline Phone Number: (855) 764-7661☣️ The Top 10 Pet Toxins of 2024: https://www.aspca.org/news/official-top-10-toxins-2024 Show Notes00:20 – Inside the Episode02:52 – Introducing Today’s Experts03:32 – Common Food Toxicities in Pets05:33 – Marijuana, Rodenticides, and Vitamin D310:20 – Xylitol: The Sugar-Free Killer12:29 – Where Xylitol Hides13:52 – The Surprising Dangers of Onions and Garlic16:42 – More Hidden Food Threats22:27 – From Pantry to Pharmacy26:54 – When Antidepressants Attract Cats29:25 – Flavored Veterinary Medications: Too Tasty for Their Own Good?30:29 – Lethal Prescriptions and Topicals31:23 – Medication Safety 10133:56 – Today’s Key Takeaways