"We're all different. We're all unique in our own ways. And it's the same thing with dogs." —Troy McDaniel

A heavy season can pull energy down fast, especially when loss changes the rhythm of a home. Many of us try holding everything together while the world keeps moving, and it can feel impossible to rebuild any sense of calm. This conversation opens a path toward structure, healing, and small wins that help life feel steady again.

Troy McDaniel shares how losing his grandmother pushed him to step into the work she always believed he could do. His story moves from a prison dog-training program to a career built around dog psychology, leadership, and guiding grieving families into a new chapter.

Press play for a grounded, human look at how purpose grows from pain and how our pets often become the bridge that gets us moving again.

Key topics:

• How structure supports healing after loss

• Why pets often help us rebuild routine, energy, and direction

• The difference between dog training and dog behavior coaching

• Managing expectations when adding a new dog to the family

• How grief influences the way we relate to our pets

• Practical stories from real clients navigating loss

• Troy's journey from incarceration to dog psychology expert

• How dogs help us lead, reconnect, and take the next step

• Virtual coaching and what it can solve

• Troy's books and daily philosophy on living with purpose

Connect with Dr. Kimberly:

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Episode Highlights:

02:29 Meet Troy: Dog Behavior Coach

05:18 Rebuilding After Loss of Grandma

09:28 Challenges and Realistic Expectations in Dog Ownership

14:10 Dog Psychology

19:03 How to Improve Your Relationship with Your Dog

24:14 Grow Through the Unexpected

Resources:

Books

📖Grid: Once in a Lifetime You Get to Start Over by Dr. Kimberly Hubenette

📖Live, Love, Survive, Thrive! by Dr. Kimberly Hubenette (COMING SOON)

Thank you for listening.

To keep my podcast alive,

Wanna buy my dog Dakota a bone?

• https://buymeacoffee.com/livelovesurvivethrive

Discount

Troy is giving 20 % off digital products on his website: www.packrunit.net

Use code: behavior- 6yr3uwg8

Get Troy's Books

The Bad Dogs: Experience is the Best Mentor

Top 25 Big Dog Problems: A Practical Guide To Solving Dog Problems

"You don't have to be strong all of the time. You just have to be real every time you show up for yourself. Even when it's hard, you're choosing to live more and live fully." —Dr. Kimberly Hubenette

Some mornings, the heaviest thing isn't what's on your calendar—it's the thought of facing the day at all. When loss or pressure piles up, even simple tasks can feel like climbing a mountain. The truth is, healing doesn't happen by forcing yourself to be "fine." It starts by allowing yourself to be real, messy, and still moving forward.

After losing her husband in 2019, Dr. Kimberly found herself in the depths of loss while still running a busy dental practice and holding life together. Through that season, she leaned on a mindset of constant growth and created practical tools to sort priorities, ease overwhelm, and slowly rebuild life with purpose.

Press play to learn how to stop drowning in to-dos, start breathing again, and rebuild a life that feels lighter, fuller, and actually yours.

Connect with Dr. Kimberly:

Website

LinkedIn

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

Pinterest

Episode Highlights:

03:15 Facing the Loss

05:54 The Rock, Water, and Sand Method

09:22 The Power of Intentional Breathing

12:42 How to Live Life Again

15:30 30-Day Live, Love, Survive, Thrive Challenge

Resources:

📖Grid: Once in a Lifetime You Get to Start Over by Dr. Kimberly Hubenette

📖Live, Love, Survive, Thrive! by Dr. Kimberly Hubenette (COMING SOON)

Thank You for listening.

To keep my podcast alive,

Wanna buy my dog Dakota a bone?

• https://buymeacoffee.com/livelovesurvivethrive

"Nothing feels good about [death], and nothing can make you feel better about it. It's just something you live with every day of your life. You improve your life around it, but it's still there." —Rosie Matus Carillo

Loss hits in waves that don't follow rules, and some days the weight shows up without warning. There's a strange mix of heartbreak and grit that comes with carrying memories while trying to keep your own life standing. The truth lands hard, but real — you learn to live around the pain, not past it.

In this episode, Rosie Matus Carrillo, Kim's lifelong best friend, is a devoted wife, mother, community worker, and a woman shaped by profound family losses, including her sister, father, grandmother, and aunt. Her story is one of quiet resilience, deep compassion, and the kind of strength you only develop when you've had to keep going for the people you love.

Press play for a candid conversation on sibling loss, family roles, isolation after death, caregiving through Alzheimer's, honoring loved ones, holiday triggers, giving back quietly, staying present for your people, and the small rituals that keep memories alive.

Connect with Dr. Kimberly:

Website

LinkedIn

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

Pinterest

Episode Highlights:

02:50 Meet Rosie: A Friendship That Became Family

07:08 Supporting Grieving Families

10:46 Does Grief Change or Stay the Same?

15:48 Honoring Memories

18:00 How Rosie Chooses to Thrive

22:29 Tips for Grief

28:44 Balancing Tears and Laughter

30:43 Don't Let Death Take Away Your Life

Resources:

Books

📖Grid: Once in a Lifetime You Get to Start Over by Dr. Kimberly Hubenette

📖Live, Love, Survive, Thrive! by Dr. Kimberly Hubenette (COMING SOON)

Thank you for listening.

To keep my podcast alive,

Wanna buy my dog Dakota a bone?

• https://buymeacoffee.com/livelovesurvivethrive