Furball Confidential

To a lot of people, Anna Maria Tremonti is known as a hardnose journalist unafraid to ask the tough questions. A former foreign correspondent for CBC News and longtime host of The Current on CBC Radio, Henry Kissinger famously once hung up on her because he didn’t like the question she asked. But to see another side of Anna Maria, look no further than “her puppy” Zuzu - her now 4-year-old golden retriever who happens to have Anna Maria wrapped around her little paw. “I have a whole little language for Zuzu,” Anna Maria says. “I say all sorts of crazy little things to her, which make no sense.” We get a beautiful window into Zuzu’s world with Anna Maria in this episode - broken rules, stolen items, manipulation, special little languages and all. Listen to the end to hear why this episode is a particularly fitting one to cap off Furball Confidential’s first season.You can listen to Welcome to Paradise, Anna Maria’s poignant memoir of intimate partner violence mentioned in the conversation, here.  And you can follow what she is up to on Instagram or check out her website at annamariatremonti.com***Furball Confidential is created and hosted by Jen MorozTalia Schlanger is our producerTalia also co-created our theme music with David Travers-Smith, with Brian Kobayakawa on bassReza Dahya does the video and sound design and editing Dani Stover does our social mediaOur show artwork is by Adrian ForrowMarina Hanna does our audience developmentFollow us on Instagram or drop us an email and let us know what you think of the show at jen@furballconfidential.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As a writer, how do you know when the work day is done? For Dean Koontz, it’s when a golden retriever throws your hand off the keyboard at exactly 5pm. A self-described “workaholic” who has written more than 100 books, Dean says adopting his first dog Trixie transformed his schedule and his life. Dean opens up about Trixie’s mystical side, what it’s like to care for a “perfect soul” and the jealous rage he felt when her debut book (co-written with Dean) outsold his own first novel. And he talks about coping with the immense grief of losing Trixie and how he and his wife Gerda knew they were ready to love another dog.Dean and Gerda adopted all three of their golden retrievers through Canine Companions for Independence, which trains service dogs for adults, children and veterans with disabilities at no cost to the client. When a dog has a “career change” (ie. doesn’t make it through training or can’t work as a service dog for whatever reason), it goes up for adoption to the general public. Or, say, to a world famous author who’s about to get a whole lot more exercise walking.You can keep up with Dean and Elsa on Instagram here and on Facebook hereAnd you can find all his books on his website here***Furball Confidential is created and hosted by Jen MorozTalia Schlanger is our producerTalia also co-created our theme  music with David Travers-Smith, with Brian Kobayakawa on bassReza Dahya does the video and sound design and editing Dani Stover does our social mediaOur show artwork is by Adrian Forrow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

They’re belligerent. They talk back. They scheme. And if you’re a husky person like Jonathan Brinksman, that’s all part of the furry appeal. Jonathan grew up with two huskies, and is now proud husky dad and “crazy dog mom” to Archer and Leia, known to their millions of social media fans as Siberian Derpskies. In this super fun conversation, we get into the good, the bad and the hilarious when it comes to living with huskies, and why Jonathan is so drawn to  the breed when others might yell “run!”Jonathan traces his own long history with pets, which started when he was a kid and his “animals were a safe space” from bullies. (“Don’t worry,” Jonathan says, “it all worked out”). His connection runs deep: “My animals have never been just animals to me. They are the part of me I wish it was all the time.” Plus, Jonathan weighs in on cloned dogs – and let the record show that we taped this episode way before Tom Brady went public with his own.We asked Jonathan what pet-related cause he wanted to shine a light on, and he said All Joy 4 Paws, a rescue in southern California that specializes in huskies and other northern breeds.  Huskies, as Jonathan says, are a lot of work - and a lot of owners can’t handle their energy levels. All Joy 4 Paws  “is a really cool, very small rescue, very small operation, but they do the really hard work”Follow Jonathan, Leia and Archer on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube - all @siberianderpskies Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Haviah had her heart set on adopting the underdog. Or, undercat, as it were. Black cats are often overlooked in the rescue world and as a young Black woman growing up in Canada, the experience of being an underdog resonates deeply with Haviah. But in the end, after a long back and forth at her local rescue, the award-winning rapper realized that the cat who most needed saving was not black. It was Buster. Haviah tells the whole story, which is quite frankly one of the most remarkable pet origin stories we’ve ever heard. She explains how Buster became Thirteen - a number that shows up a lot in her work and life and has deeply poetic, meaningful origins. Haviah also talks about what it was like to adopt Thirteen, only to find that at first he didn’t want anything to do with her - and what she learned from that as a new pet parent. And she shares how Thirteen has taught her to slow down and “find a better baseline.”You can follow what Haviah is up to on her website: https://haviahmighty.ca/Or on Instagram here***Furball Confidential is created and hosted by Jen MorozTalia Schlanger is our producerShe also co-created our theme music with David Travers-Smith, with Brian Kobayakawa on bassReza Dahya does the video and sound design and editing Dani Stover does our social mediaOur show artwork is by Adrian ForrowMarina Hanna does our audience development Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sit. Stay. Safely jump through a fake glass window with dozens of people watching you. Ok, maybe that last command is best reserved for the pros. And it doesn’t get more pro than Sherri Davis.Sherri wears many hats but her main gig is Executive Producer and Lead Dog Trainer for Hudson & Rex, the police drama that stars a crime-solving German Shepherd named Rex. Rex was originally played by Sherri’s beloved dog Diesel, who was diagnosed with late-stage cancer and died while they were shooting season 7. Sherri reflects on what it was like to lose her colleague, friend and “son” all at once. And she shares, with immense pride, how she trained Dillon - Diesel’s nephew - to fill those massive pawprints and take over as Rex in Season 8. Sherri says she was “born with” an uncanny ability to communicate with animals and knew she always wanted to help them. She shares the crazy story of how she got into training animals for the screen - and just how many types of critters she has wrangled (a lot). And she takes us behind the scenes of Death Row Dogs, her effort to save pups others don’t think can be rehabilitated and saved.We asked Sherri Davis for a favourite pet-related cause and she encourages you to check out Rainbow Riders. It’s an organization in St John’s, Newfoundland that provides therapy through horses and horseback riding to people with disabilities.You can watch Season 8 of Hudson & Rex on Citytv or stream it on Citytv Plus.Follow Sherri Davis:On InstaFollow Hudson & Rex:On Insta On Facebook***Furball Confidential is created and hosted by Jen MorozTalia Schlanger is our producerShe also co-created our theme music with David Travers-Smith, with Brian Kobayakawa on bassReza Dahya does the video and sound design and editing Dani Stover does our social mediaOur show artwork is by Adrian ForrowMarina Hanna does our audience development Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meant to be. That’s really the only way to describe the trio of doggos that Adrienne C. Moore - star of Orange is the New Black and Pretty Hard Cases - calls her family. We dive into the remarkable origin stories of all three pups; from the photo of one little black and one little brown dog that Adrienne had up on her fridge long before she ever met Lola (small and black) and Mowgli (small and brown), to rescuing Dodson from the side of a road she never drives down. Never, except that one night.Adrienne will be the first to tell you, there’s magic and manifestation wrapped up in all of it. She’ll give you a glimpse into life with dogs who have three very different personalities, and their deep ability to comfort and ground her, especially with her hectic work life. And we talk about Adrienne’s lifelong respect for and love of animals, from healing injured birds and adopting strays as a kid, to regularly volunteering her time to advocating for rescue dogs as an adult. Giving back is a big theme for Adrienne, who already has had Mowgli trained as a service dog and accompanies him to hospitals and adult learning centres because “he’s the main attraction.” She hopes her dogs will all be service animals one day to spread the love and comfort and healing she says they have brought her. I mean: COME. ON.If you’re looking to support a pet related cause, Adrienne encourages you to check out the ASPCA and Hope for Paws, which is where she got Lola and Mowgli. And if you’re looking to adopt a pet of your own, Adrienne would love for you to check out your local shelter. In her words, “I always believe that, you know, there are enough dogs out there to rescue, to keep our hands and our hearts busy for a while.”Follow Adrienne’s acting updates and animal antics here.  You can also follow Lola and Mowgli hereAnd check out Dodson - aka Loddy Doddy - here***Furball Confidential is created and hosted by Jen MorozTalia Schlanger is our producerShe also co-created our theme music with David Travers-Smith, with Brian Kobayakawa on bassReza Dahya does the video and sound design and editing Dani Stover does our social mediaOur show artwork is by Adrian ForrowMarina Hanna does our audience development Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When they met at Second City about 15 years ago, Naomi Snieckus and Matt Baram  each came to the table with a dependent. Matt had Murphy, a 100 pound black golden labradoodle (yes, they exist). Naomi had Rufus, a little cockapoo. And as she says, they “Brady bunched.” It’s been a dog’s life pretty much ever since for the actor-writer-improviser duo who adopted Alfie this past year. Our conversation is a long dog walk down memory lane, remembering Rufus and Murphy, and revealing some surprisingly deep insights into Alfie’s strengths and areas for growth. We stretch back to Matt’s family’s Lhasa Apso, who “didn’t know how to pee properly.” (Get ready to picture the expression “golden shower” in a whole new light!). We also, of course, answer the burning questions: Who is the fun parent? Who is really the most smitten…and what would you ask your dog if he could speak for a day?We asked Matt and Naomi which pet-related cause they think deserves your attention, and they told us the Pasadena Humane Society. You might have heard news stories earlier this year about how much work they did - and how many animals they took in - during the LA wildfires.Catch Matt and Naomi in their amazing play, Big Stuff, which is on tour across Canada now, with dates in Edmonton, Ottawa, Winnipeg and Victoria.  For info on the show and tickets, visit baramandsnieckus.com.And you can follow their adventures along on Instagram here (Baram Snieckus), here (Snieckus) and here (Baram)Special thanks to Get Leashed and Dominika Gorecki for permission to use the video footage of Matt & Naomi with Rufus and Murphy.Catch Matt and Naomi in their amazing play, Big Stuff, which is on tour across Canada now, with dates in Edmonton, Ottawa, Winnipeg and Victoria. For info on the show and tickets, visit baramandsnieckus.com.And you can follow their adventures along on Instagram here (Baram Snieckus), here (Snieckus) and here (Baram)Special thanks to Get Leashed and Dominika Gorecki for permission to use the video footage of Matt & Naomi with Rufus and Murphy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rose Cousins was never not going to get a dog. But, being a busy touring singer-songwriter, the timing had to be right. When the pandemic rolled around, Rose took the opportunity to welcome Harrington the Schnoodle (half schnauzer, half poodle) via an ad posted halfway across the country. Just like her songs about love, Rose talks so beautifully about the portal for love that Harrington has opened in her heart. She also details their adorable bedtime ritual and the quirks she’s come to love. Rose and Jen also reflect on what it’s like to contend with the fact that our pets will almost always break our hearts by leaving us first. Follow what Rose is up to:On her websiteOn Instagram (where you can also follow Harrington aka Schmarrington)And purchase or stream her music here. ***Furball Confidential is created and hosted by Jen MorozTalia Schlanger is our producerShe also co-created our theme  music with David Travers-Smith, with Brian Kobayakawa on bassReza Dahya does the video and sound design and editing Dani Stover does our social mediaOur show artwork is by Adrian ForrowMarina Hanna does our audience development Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Chef Susur Lee commits to something, he truly commits. I mean you don’t become a world famous Chef by taking things lightly. So when Chef took over caring for his son’s dog Nyla, he made a full commitment to honour her true nature as a husky and to feed, walk and respect her accordingly. Yes, there’s a lot of discipline involved. But there’s also a ton of silliness and freedom - a sharp contrast to the pressure of Chef life in a high-performance kitchen. In this episode, you’ll hear how Nyla’s presence in Chef Lee’s life has been nothing short of transformative, from making him love the winter to unlocking new levels of creativity on their walks to inspiring a form of soul-searching he calls “Nylatherapy.”Follow Chef Lee:On Insta On YouTube (with son Jet)On Tiktok (with son Jet)You can also visit Chef’s flagship restaurant Lee at its new Richmond Street location in Toronto, or TungLok Heen in Singapore.***Furball Confidential is created and hosted by Jen MorozTalia Schlanger is our producerShe also co-created our theme music with David Travers-Smith, with Brian Kobayakawa on bassReza Dahya does the video and sound design and editing Dani Stover does our social mediaOur show artwork is by Adrian ForrowMarina Hanna does our audience development Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Before comedian Sabrina Jalees had sons Wolfie and Rowan, she and her wife Shauna had another son - their French bulldog, Cowboy. According to Sabrina, he was their first born, and taught them a thing or two about parenting humans. Cowboy has also become fast friends and mischievous co-conspirators with her toddler. And who knew - until this conversation - that Cowboy kind of wasn’t meant to be. That’s all in this action-packed episode, in which Sabrina “gives some shine” to Cowboy and reflects on what he has brought into her life - and her family. (She will also argue, in great detail, that he has the most potent farts in the world. Brace yourselves.)We asked Sabrina what pet-related cause she might like to highlight and she joked it was “the teeny tiniest charity” she could find. She’s talking about the SPCA (or ASPCA in the States) and she encouraged everyone to check out our local chapter:In Canada: https://humanecanada.ca/In the US: https://www.aspca.org/Follow Sabrina:On InstagramOn TiktokCheck Sabrina out in the new Lilly Singh movie, Doin' It, out now. And look out for her new parenting podcast with comedian Natasha Leggero later this year, and Mating Season, her new animated Netflix show with Nick Kroll.***Furball Confidential is created and hosted by Jen MorozTalia Schlanger is our producerShe also co-created our theme music with David Travers-Smith, with Brian Kobayakawa on bassReza Dahya does the video and sound design and editing Dani Stover does our social mediaOur show artwork is by Adrian ForrowMarina Hanna does our audience development Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kwane Stewart has loved and been surrounded by animals his whole life and knew he wanted to care for them from a young age. But working as a vet at a shelter during the recession - and having to decide which animals lived and which were euthanized - almost made him walk away from the profession altogether. Dr. Kwane shares the life-changing encounter with an unhoused man and his dog that inspired him to create the non-profit Project Street Vet - and ultimately saved his career as a vet. He explains why “some of the most remarkable pet parents [he’s] ever met are in the streets.” And he opens up about his own love of animals - from his childhood cat who helped him cope with being bullied, to the 10-foot python he had in college, to Kora, the German Shepherd he adopted from the shelter he used to work. As a bonus, Dr. Kwane also provides the very serious, very medically scientific reasons why giving your poochie woochie smooches and snuggle wuggles makes you feel better. If you’re in the mood to support a pet-related cause, you can find Project Street Vet here.And if you are hankering for more about Dr. Kwane, his website is here, where you can find his book, What It Takes to Save a Life Dr. Kwane is also the Chief Veterinary Officer at Kismet. Every time you buy their pet food, they make a donation to Project Street Vet too.Follow Dr. Kwane:On Instagram here and here ***Furball Confidential is created and hosted by Jen MorozTalia Schlanger is our producerShe also co-created our theme music with David Travers-Smith, with Brian Kobayakawa on bassReza Dahya does the video and sound design and editing Dani Stover does our social mediaOur show artwork is by Adrian ForrowMarina Hanna does our audience development Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Let the record show that Natasha the cat was supposed to be “just a foster.” But by the time Baroness von Sketch Show star/co-creator Carolyn Taylor finally coaxed her out from under the couch, there was really no other choice but to keep her. A self-proclaimed “cat apologist”, Carolyn goes deep on feline lessons in humility and what keeps cat lovers coming back for more despite the possibility of scratches (emotional and physical). She shares theories on the cat-witch connection as well as tales of her hardscrabble, street-wise, jump-scare loving, late great black cat Eve.Carolyn also introduces us to the oddly comforting world of Catland, a fantastical cartoon with a zany soundtrack where all cats reunite in the great kitty beyond to ride horses and bicycles and do other fun things. It’s her go-to offering when a friend loses a beloved cat, and you can see it for yourself hereWe asked Carolyn for her favourite pet-related cause and she said the Loyalist Humane Society in Prince Edward County. It’s a volunteer-run “giant house that has all these apartments for cats”, and also where she adopted Natasha, the cat formerly known as Phyllis Jane.Follow Carolyn on InstagramCatch her in the latest season of Plan B on CBC Gem, as well as Baroneness von Sketch Show on CBC Gem and Peacock, and I Have Nothing on Crave and Peacock.***Furball Confidential is created and hosted by Jen MorozTalia Schlanger is our producerShe also co-created our theme music with David Travers-Smith, with Brian Kobayakawa on bassReza Dahya does the video and sound design and editing Dani Stover does our social mediaOur show artwork is by Adrian ForrowMarina Hanna does our audience development Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's unclear how or why it happens, but when you get a pet, you somehow become a nickname-generating machine. All of a sudden, their given name is just not enough to sum up all that is your furball. Clutch, for example, has been Clutcharama, Cloo Cloo, Boo Boo, Stinker Doodles, Luvvie Loo. The list is embarrassingly much longer. As we get ready to unleash full episodes Oct. 4, we thought it would be fun to create a montage of all of our Furball Confidential guests' nicknames for their pets. So we did. Enjoy - and follow us for more furball content. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Think you know someone? Wait until you hear them talk about their pets. Furball Confidential is a new podcast that takes a gleeful swandive into one of our most intimate - but least talked about - relationships - the one we have with our pets. Join veteran podcaster and rescue dog mom Jen Moroz as she sits down with some of your favourite actors, authors, musicians and influencers to explore a side of them you've never heard before, through the stories of the animals they love.Series premiere: Saturday, October 4, 2025. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.