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Animals Unplugged speaks and sings the truth about the hard things because animals cannot speak for themselves, and they deserve heroes who will rise in their defense. We honor the...
show more
Animals Unplugged speaks and sings the truth about the hard things because animals cannot speak for themselves, and they deserve heroes who will rise in their defense.
We honor the rescuers, advocates, caregivers, and everyday protectors who answer that call — and we carry deep gratitude for all who serve and safeguard others, reminding us what courage looks like at its highest level.
Rooted in the belief that compassion is strength, we use music, storytelling, and heartfelt truth to uplift, heal, and inspire a growing movement devoted to giving animals the voice they have always deserved.
show less
We honor the rescuers, advocates, caregivers, and everyday protectors who answer that call — and we carry deep gratitude for all who serve and safeguard others, reminding us what courage looks like at its highest level.
Rooted in the belief that compassion is strength, we use music, storytelling, and heartfelt truth to uplift, heal, and inspire a growing movement devoted to giving animals the voice they have always deserved.
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9 JUN 2026 · Featuring special guest Matt Doyle of CrossCountry Mortgage.
What if the best person to help you choose a home... had four paws and a wagging tail? In this thought-provoking episode of Animals Unplugged, Greg Markelz and Mary Erlain welcome mortgage professional and animal lover Matt Doyle for a conversation that begins with a playful question and leads somewhere surprisingly meaningful:
If your dog was your real estate agent, what kind of house would they choose for you?
Would they look for a bigger backyard... or a better place to make memories? More rooms... or more time spent together? A perfect floor plan... or a home filled with love, safety, and connection?
As the discussion unfolds, Matt shares insights about the places we call home, while Greg and Mary explore the lessons our animals teach us about what truly matters. Through humor, storytelling, and heartfelt reflection, the conversation reveals how our pets experience the spaces we share and why they often seem to understand the meaning of "home" better than we do. Because to our animals, home isn't measured in square footage. It's measured in belly rubs, familiar voices, safe places to rest, and the people they love most.
This episode invites us to look beyond houses and consider something deeper: Maybe the best homes aren't the ones with the most features. Maybe they're the ones that make room for the life we want to live.
Join us for a memorable conversation about animals, priorities, relationships, and the simple wisdom waiting at our feet every day:
https://www.spreaker.com/episode/if-your-dog-was-your-real-estate-agent--71531457
Because we mentioned this during the podcast discussion:
https://www.facebook.com/SantasSleighTour/
Animals Unplugged is where animal stories inspire, and humans respond—hosted by Greg Markelz and Mary Erlain.
30 MAY 2026 · What if animals could tell us their stories? What if the frightened shelter dog staring through the kennel door could explain what it feels like to be abandoned?
What if the cat hiding in the corner could tell us why she no longer trusts people?
What if the animals waiting in line for euthanasia could share their hopes, fears, memories, and final wishes?
Those questions became the spark behind Animals Unplugged.
In this debut episode, Greg Markelz and Mary Erlain invite listeners behind the curtain to discover how a single rescue dog, a guitar named HOPE, and a growing conviction that animals deserve to be heard evolved into a mission to give animals a voice powerful enough to inspire real-world action.
https://www.spreaker.com/episode/why-we-gave-animals-a-voice--69954581
Listeners will meet CnGee, the superhero dog whose stories and songs speak from the animal perspective, and PyrPaws/KittyClaws, whose rescue experiences help bridge the gap between animal struggles and human solutions.
Together, they create a unique storytelling experience designed to help people not only understand what animals endure, but feel it.
This episode explores:
- The rescue story that inspired the creation of Animals Unplugged
- Why stories and music can reach hearts in ways statistics often cannot
- How animals' perspectives can teach powerful lessons about compassion, courage, connection, and hope
- The vision behind turning animal stories into lifelines for animals in need
- How listeners can become part of a growing movement dedicated to helping animals and the people who love them
Along the way, Greg and Mary share the philosophy at the heart of the show: when people truly hear an animal's story, they often become the hero that animal has been waiting for.
You'll also hear the emotional signature song that launched the mission, "Angels Are Gone," a haunting reminder that countless animals still wait for their second chance.
Through music and storytelling, the episode asks a simple but powerful question: What happens when we stop speaking for animals and start listening to them?
This is more than the first episode of a podcast. It is the beginning of a journey to transform compassion into action, to celebrate the heroes who rescue and advocate for animals, and to create a world where more animals find safety, love, and hope.
If you have ever loved an animal, rescued an animal, lost an animal, or simply wondered how to make a difference, this is where your journey with us begins.
Welcome to Animals Unplugged.
Real animal stories. Real human change.
Where animal voices rise, and heroes respond.
30 MAY 2026 · Some rescues begin with a siren. Some begin with a desperate phone call. And some begin with a cat that everyone else walked past.
In Episode 3 of Animals Unplugged, Greg Markelz and Mary Erlain welcome back Carrie Reznicek of Fairway Mortgage to share a side of her life that many people may not know about. While Carrie supports the mission of K9s for Veterans, her personal rescue journey extends to another group of animals often overlooked, misunderstood, or forgotten altogether: cats.
https://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-cats-no-one-was-coming-for--70666340
Through her work with Forever Fortunate Felines, Carrie has dedicated herself to helping cats who might otherwise never get a second chance. These are not always the kittens that attract attention from eager adopters. Many are older cats. Some have medical needs. Some have been abandoned, neglected, or left to survive on their own. Others simply waited too long for someone to notice them.
In this heartfelt conversation, Carrie shares how her passion for rescue grew, what she has learned from the cats she has helped save, and why every animal deserves to be valued regardless of age, appearance, or circumstance.
Listeners will gain insight into:
- The challenges facing cat rescues and shelters today
- The realities of caring for abandoned and homeless cats
- Why community support is essential to successful rescue efforts
- The emotional rewards and heartbreaks that rescuers experience
- How one person’s compassion can create countless second chances
Along the way, Carrie reminds us that rescue is not just about saving animals. It is about recognizing worth where others may not. It is about refusing to look away when a life needs help. And it is about understanding that every animal, no matter how overlooked, has a story worth telling.
Adding a special musical voice to the episode, CnGee the Superhero Dog shares the original song "I'm a Feral Cat, Set Me Free," inspired by the lives of cats struggling to survive without safety, shelter, or a family to call their own. Through song and storytelling, listeners are invited to experience the world through the eyes of animals whose voices are too often unheard.
This episode is a tribute to the quiet heroes of animal rescue. The volunteers, fosters, donors, transporters, veterinarians, and advocates who refuse to give up on the animals no one else is coming for. Because sometimes the greatest act of compassion is simply seeing the life that everyone else missed. Tune in to Animals Unplugged and discover how one person's "pet project" has become a lifeline for some of the most vulnerable animals in need of hope.
Learn more about Carrie Reznicek and Forever Fortunate Felines at:
https://foreverfortunatefelines.org/
https://www.instagram.com/foreverfortunatefelines/
Animals Unplugged
Real animal stories. Real human change.
Where animal voices rise, and heroes respond.
28 MAY 2026 · Some heroes come home carrying wounds no one can see.
And sometimes… healing arrives on four paws. 🐾
In this powerful episode of Animals Unplugged, Greg and Mary welcome K9s for Veterans founder Michael Tellerino for a conversation about rescue, recovery, and the life-changing bond between veterans and service dogs.
https://www.spreaker.com/episode/when-dogs-answer-the-call--70665935
Since 2016, Michael’s organization has placed more than 250 rescued shelter dogs with veterans and first responders, creating partnerships that save lives on both ends of the leash.
What began as a mission to help veterans battling PTSD has also become a second-chance story for dogs who once sat alone in shelters waiting for someone to choose them.This episode explores:
- How rescue dogs are trained to become service companions
- Why the phrase “Who rescued who?” carries so much truth
- The hidden emotional battles many veterans face after returning home
- The healing power of purpose, companionship, and unconditional loyalty
- How K9s for Veterans continues changing lives one match at a time
Michael shares deeply personal insights about the organization’s mission and the extraordinary transformations he has witnessed between veterans and their canine partners.
The conversation also shines a light on the heartbreaking statistic of veteran suicide and how service dogs can help interrupt isolation, anxiety, and despair with constant companionship and renewed connection.
Listeners will hear stories that remind us that courage is not always loud. Sometimes it limps. Sometimes it trembles. Sometimes it quietly reaches down to pet a rescue dog and discovers a reason to keep moving forward.
And in true Animals Unplugged fashion, this episode is not only about struggle. It is about hope returning through a wagging tail… and a rescued soul answering the call beside another rescued soul.
Also featuring Carrie Reznicek of Fairway Mortgage, whose compassion reaches far beyond the world of home loans. 🐾Carrie and Fairway proudly support Michael Tellerino’s mission by helping sponsor and gift these life-changing service dogs to veterans and first responders in need.
Because sometimes healing arrives with four paws, a wagging tail, and someone willing to believe a hero deserves another chance, too. Together, they are not only rescuing dogs from shelters…
They are helping rescue the hearts waiting on the other end of the leash.
Because sometimes the next chapter of healing begins with: “Good boy… let’s go home.”
Learn more about Michael Tellerino and K9s for Veterans at:
https://www.k9sforveteransnfp.org/index.html
Listen to Episode 3 to hear more from Carrie. Just when you think her rescue story is all about helping heroes and service dogs, another set of whiskered voices enters the picture. Carrie shares how her passion for saving lives also reaches some of the smallest and most forgotten cats in need of a second chance. 🐾🐱
22 APR 2026 · What if your dog wasn’t just living in your home… but choosing it?
In Episode 4 of Animals Unplugged, Greg and Mary sit down with Matt Doyle to explore a surprisingly revealing question: If your dog was your real estate agent… what kind of house would they pick for you? Would it have more windows… or more moments?
A bigger yard… or a bigger life?
Fewer rooms… and more connection?
Because this isn’t really about square footage.
It’s about how you live inside the life you’ve built.
Through humor, insight, and those quiet truths animals seem to carry so effortlessly, this conversation turns a simple idea into something deeper:
Maybe your dog wouldn’t upgrade your house…
Maybe they’d redesign your priorities.
What our animals might be “saying” through their choices, their energy, and the way they experience the spaces we share. Because to them, a home isn’t about status… It’s about presence, safety, and love that shows up every day. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/animals-unplugged--6799660/support.
Animals Unplugged is more than a podcast. It is a growing movement dedicated to giving animals a voice through story, music, and shared humanity.
If this episode moved you, the most powerful thing you can do is share it. Every new listener helps another voice be heard.
Because when we truly listen to animals, we do not just change their world…
We change ours.
1 APR 2026 · The Cats No One Was Coming For.
Some animals wait longer than others to be seen. In Episode 3 of Animals Unplugged, Greg and Mary welcome back Carrie Reznicek, whose passion for animal rescue extends beyond dogs to a group often overlooked in shelters: the cats no one else is coming for.
Through her work with Forever Fortunate Felines, Carrie shares the stories behind rescuing cats that others pass by and why these forgotten lives deserve a second chance just as much as any other animal.
This episode shines a light on the quiet heroes who refuse to look away and the remarkable transformations that happen when compassion meets determination.
As always, CnGee the Superhero Dog brings a musical reminder that every animal’s story matters, especially the ones still waiting for someone to notice them. 🐾🎸 Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/animals-unplugged--6799660/support.
Animals Unplugged is more than a podcast. It is a growing movement dedicated to giving animals a voice through story, music, and shared humanity.
If this episode moved you, the most powerful thing you can do is share it. Every new listener helps another voice be heard.
Because when we truly listen to animals, we do not just change their world…
We change ours.
18 MAR 2026 · What if saving one dog could help save a veteran too?
In "When Dogs Answer the Call", this powerful episode of Animals Unplugged, Greg and Mary explore an inspiring mission that transforms rescued dogs into life-changing service animals for veterans.
Guests Carrie Reznicek of Fairway Mortgage and Michael Tellerino of K9s for Veterans share how rescue dogs are given a second chance through specialized training, becoming loyal partners who help veterans navigate the challenges of life after service. It’s a story of redemption on both ends of the leash. A dog once searching for a home becomes a hero for someone who served our country.
Sometimes the greatest rescues happen when two souls find each other at exactly the right moment. 🐾🎸 Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/animals-unplugged--6799660/support.
Animals Unplugged is more than a podcast. It is a growing movement dedicated to giving animals a voice through story, music, and shared humanity.
If this episode moved you, the most powerful thing you can do is share it. Every new listener helps another voice be heard.
Because when we truly listen to animals, we do not just change their world…
We change ours.
14 FEB 2026 · In this debut episode, Greg and Mary share the story behind the mission that sparked Animals Unplugged.
What began as one song inspired by a rescue dog became a calling: give animals a voice powerful enough to be heard, felt, and acted upon.
Meet CnGee, the superhero dog whose music carries stories from the animal world… and PyrPaws/KittyClaws, guiding us closer to the hearts we are determined to protect.
This is more than an introduction.
It is the foundation of a movement built on compassion, storytelling, and the belief that when we truly hear animals, we cannot help but change their future.
If you have ever loved an animal, this is where your journey with us begins. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/animals-unplugged--6799660/support.
Animals Unplugged is more than a podcast. It is a growing movement dedicated to giving animals a voice through story, music, and shared humanity.
If this episode moved you, the most powerful thing you can do is share it. Every new listener helps another voice be heard.
Because when we truly listen to animals, we do not just change their world…
We change ours.
Join “Animals Unplugged” Supporters Club
Start supporting this podcast and become part of their community.
Animals Unplugged speaks and sings the truth about the hard things because animals cannot speak for themselves, and they deserve heroes who will rise in their defense. We honor the...
show more
Animals Unplugged speaks and sings the truth about the hard things because animals cannot speak for themselves, and they deserve heroes who will rise in their defense.
We honor the rescuers, advocates, caregivers, and everyday protectors who answer that call — and we carry deep gratitude for all who serve and safeguard others, reminding us what courage looks like at its highest level.
Rooted in the belief that compassion is strength, we use music, storytelling, and heartfelt truth to uplift, heal, and inspire a growing movement devoted to giving animals the voice they have always deserved.
show less
We honor the rescuers, advocates, caregivers, and everyday protectors who answer that call — and we carry deep gratitude for all who serve and safeguard others, reminding us what courage looks like at its highest level.
Rooted in the belief that compassion is strength, we use music, storytelling, and heartfelt truth to uplift, heal, and inspire a growing movement devoted to giving animals the voice they have always deserved.
Information
| Author | Greg Markelz |
| Organization | Markelz Music Lab, LLC |
| Categories | Society & Culture , Education |
| Website | - |
| gregm@markelz.com |
Copyright 2026 - Spreaker Inc. an iHeartMedia Company
