This conversation will challenge everything you thought you knew about rats. Host Jordan Tyler sits down with Erin Sackett of APOPO and BSM Partners’ own zoological expert, Dr. Jen Parsons, to explore the incredible world of HeroRATs—African giant pouched rats trained to detect landmines, diagnose tuberculosis, combat wildlife trafficking, and even assist in search and rescue missions. Join us as we break down age-old myths about rodents and rats to showcasing how these incredible animals are transforming global health and safety.

Helpful Links

💣 Learn more about APOPO and its HeroRATs program, including how you can adopt or support a HeroRAT today!

🐀 Read more about the African giant pouched rat.

🎁 Find out how you can support the HeroRATs program and other APOPO initiatives around the world: https://apopo.org/support-us/

Show Notes

00:00 – Inside The Episode

00:13 – Pop Culture vs. Reality: Reframing How We Think About Rats

08:39 – Why African Giant Pouched Rats Are Uniquely Suited For Being HeroRATs

11:54 – The Four Key Roles of HeroRATs

14:08 – How Rats Detect Landmines Faster and Safer

16:24 – Using Scent Detection to Diagnose Tuberculosis

19:39 – Combating Wildlife Trafficking with Scent-Trained Rats

22:03 – Search And Rescue: The Future of Disaster Response

24:20 – Training to Become a HeroRAT

29:17 – The Full Pension Package

31:59 – The Human Element

33:49 – How to Support APOPO and the HeroRATs Program

37:35 – Final Thoughts: Rethinking Rats and Their Role in Our World

Fear-based marketing and misinformation have cast rendered ingredients in a negative light in the eyes of many pet parents. But what if we told you this ingredient class is one of the most sustainable and reliable ones we have for pet food? Join Dr. Stephanie Clark and Jordan Tyler and a handful of industry experts as they break down common myths and reframe rendering as a practical, eco-friendly solution. From debunking misconceptions about byproducts to uncovering the environmental impact of reducing food waste, this conversation challenges listeners to rethink what quality really means when it comes to pet food.

Helpful Links

🔍 Find more pet food ingredient insights inside IFEEDER’s March 2025 Pet Food Report: https://www.ifeeder.org/research/pet-food-report/

🆙 Check out our previous podcast episode to learn more about the big, beautiful world of upcycled pet food ingredients: https://bsmpartners.net/insights/podcast-the-rise-of-upcycled-ingredients-in-pet-food/

Read more about sustainable rendered and upcycled ingredients in pet food:

1. 🚮 From Landfill to Lifeline: How Upcycled Ingredients are Reshaping Sustainability In Pet Nutrition
2. 🗑️ How Pet Food Keeps Millions of Tons of Food Waste Out of Landfills
3. ⚖️ The Wasted Food Scale: Enlightening or Depressing?
4. 🫀 Navigating Sustainability in Pet Food: Trends, Transparency, and the Offal Truth

Learn more about other common pet nutrition misassumptions:

1. 📖 The Eggcorn Effect: How Marketing Misinterpretations Lead Pet Owners Astray
2. 🎧 (Podcast) Out of the Doghouse: The Truth About Pet Food’s Most-Hated Ingredients
3. 🎧 (Podcast) Is Recyclable Pet Food Packaging a Lie? Unraveling the Pet Industry’s Plastic Waste Problem

Show Notes

00:00 – Inside the Episode

01:41 – What Is Rendering, Really?

04:09 – Why Rendering Is Closer to Your Daily Life Than You Think

10:25 – Cultural Preferences and Why We Don’t Eat Certain Animal Parts

13:25 – Environmental Benefits: Reducing Waste and Emissions

17:27 – How Misinformation Shaped Consumer Perception

18:32 – Marketing Myths and the “Byproduct” Stigma

22:55 – The Truth About “Human-Grade” vs Rendered Ingredients

25:48 – Today’s Key Takeaways

The pet supplement aisle can feel overwhelming. Joint chews, calming treats, immune boosters—every product promises better health for our pets. But how do you know which ones are legitimate? Join Dr. Stephanie Clark and Jordan Tyler as they take a closer look at the booming pet supplement industry and the role of the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) Seal in helping bring structure and accountability to this complex market. Learn why supplements aren’t regulated like drugs, how misleading claims sometimes slip through the cracks, and why scientific research plays such an important role in responsible product formulation.

Helpful Links

🐾 Find out more about the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC): https://www.nasc.cc/, and browse NASC-certified pet supplement companies here: https://www.nasc.cc/members/.

ℹ️ Learn more about the brands featured on today's episode:

1. Pet Ag: https://petag.com/
2. Zesty Paws: https://zestypaws.com/
3. Pet Honesty: https://www.pethonesty.com/
4. InClover: https://inclover.com/

👀 Continue reading about the nuances of pet supplement formulation and regulation from BSM Partners’ expert team of formulators:

1. Crowded Labels, Compromised Doses: A Look at Pet Supplement Design
2. Pet Supplements: When Science, Cost, and Chews Collide

Show Notes

00:13 – Inside the Episode

02:28 – Why is Everyone Obsessed with Supplements?

04:40 – Trust as Currency

08:10 – How Pet Supplements Are Actually Regulated

11:44 – What’s in a Claim? Nutritional Supplements vs Drugs

14:16 – Buyer Beware: “Pixie Dust” Ingredients

15:28 – Reasons a Pet Would Need a Supplement

19:26 – Meet the NASC

26:16 – Why Isn’t There More Research on Pet Supplements?

32:06 – Expert Advice for Pet Parents

35:12 – Red Flags to Watch For on Supplement Labels

40:26 – The Future of Pet Supplementation

43:40 – Today’s Key Takeaways