Proxy with Yowei Shaw

The case of the dog trainer who stopped feeling close to her own dogs. 
Jane's whole life has been dogs. Doggie daycare, animal rescue, behavior modification, fostering, training — dogs were the place she felt most at home. Which is why Jane is so disturbed by what's happening now. She still takes care of her two dogs. She still loves them. But the feeling is gone. 
In this episode, Yowei finds a proxy who helps Jane investigate the emotional aftermath of animal caregiving — the burnout, anticipatory grief, and compassion fatigue that can make even love start to feel like another demand.

Please note: This story contains a brief mention of suicidal ideation. If you or someone you know may be considering suicide, call or text 988, or text HOME to 741741.

Featuring Jen Blough, LPC — therapist, compassion fatigue educator, and author of To Save a Starfish. Learn more at animalwelfarewellness.com.

Funding for this story was provided by the University of California, Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, as part of its “Spreading Love Through the Media” initiative, supported by the John Templeton Foundation.

Resources on compassion fatigue, pet caregiving, and pet loss:
—Compassion fatigue resources from ASPCApro
—Pet caregiver burden resources from Insight Animal Behavior Services
—Cornell Pet Loss Support Hotline

New to Proxy? Try Bisexual Wife Guy or Brian Can't Stop Fact-Checking His Mother-In-Law.

For episode liner notes, show gossip, and dispatches from the emotions beat, get File Under Feelings, our free newsletter, at proxyhq.org.

Proxy is an independent show, supported mostly by listeners. Paid members get bonus episodes, ad-free listening, live Proxy hangs, and the satisfaction of keeping emotional investigative journalism alive 🍏

Follow us on Instagram — @proxypodcast @yoweishaw
Visit — proxypodcast.com
Get in touch — [email protected]

The case of Caitlin Myer, a writer who relied on her internal narrator... until one day it disappeared. 

Proxy is back with new cases every other Tuesday. Follow the show so you don’t miss the next one.

From the episode: 
— Caitlin Myer — author of Wiving— support her on Patreon and learn more: www.caitlinmyer.com
— Greta Morgan — author of The Lost Voice — sign up for her Patreon and newsletter: www.gretamorganmusic.com

New to Proxy?
— Try Bisexual Wife Guy — one of the clearest examples of what this show does
— Or Mic Chooses the Wrong Life — when the road not taken won’t leave you alone

For episode liner notes, show gossip, and dispatches from the emotions beat, get File Under Feelings, our free newsletter, at proxyhq.org.

Proxy is an independent show, supported mostly by listeners. Paid members get bonus episodes, ad-free listening, live Proxy hangs, and the satisfaction of keeping emotional investigative journalism alive 🍏

Follow us on Instagram — @proxypodcast @yoweishaw
Visit — proxypodcast.com
Get in touch — [email protected]

Once upon a time, Yowei felt embarrassed to have a boyfriend—not because of him, but because of what it said about her. 

This story comes from the Love Letters podcast. Listen to more of their episodes here. 

Proxy is back with new cases every other Tuesday. Follow the show so you don’t miss the next one.

New to Proxy? Start with Bisexual Wife Guy — it’s one of the clearest examples of what this show does.

When Andrea Dunlop's sister was investigated for Munchausen by proxy abuse, it tore her family apart. In this episode of Nobody Should Believe Me, Andrea tries to understand what happened by talking to a proxy family who went through something similar.

New episodes of Proxy return April 21.

Listen to Nobody Should Believe Me and the latest season here. 

New to Proxy? Start with Bisexual Wife Guy — it’s one of the clearest examples of what this show does.

Ben's neighbors are right there. So... why is it so hard to actually know them?
We're tackling that question live—by finding him a proxy who's figured out how to turn a block of strangers into something more... neighbors.
Come watch us try something a little experimental. 
Tuesday, March 31st at 1pm EST (on Zoom)
Patreon members will get the link that morning. If you're not one yet, you can join us here.