Shows
Agility on the road#14 Legendary JAN EGIL EIDEIn this episode, I sit down with the legendary Jan Egil Eide to discuss the incredible journey of agility from the early nineties to the modern era. Jan shares his memories from competing at the highest level—including the AWC and EO—and how he transitioned into judging with a mission to influence the sport for the better. He was one of those truly influential figures who helped bring more of that "flow" into the courses we see nowadays—and I want to say a huge THANK YOU to him for that!We talk a...
2026-02-111h 14Agility on the road#13 My very first agility faux pasIn this episode, I am sharing a bit of my personal agility journey. This part is about my very beginnings and my very first competition experiences. Back then, I was a 13-year-old training and competing with my first agility dog—and my very first "dream" dog—a small black schnauzer named Arnie.Arnie loved to train, and he especially loved the cooked chicken I used for treats. He loved a familiar environment and chill vibes in general, but he did not like the stress of competition, the arousal around the ring, or even traveling by car to get...
2026-01-2713 minAgility on the road#12 What Agility Is Really About: Sergio Gómez on Colombia's Scene, Mindset, and HeartWelcome to part two of my conversation with Chexo from Colombia!If you haven't listened to part one yet, go back and start there – but this episode stands beautifully on its own, too.In this conversation, we delve into the agility scene in Colombia – how it's expanding with over 20 clubs across the country, primarily located in Bogotá, Medellín, and Cali. Chexo also shares about his travels to Panama, where he teaches agility several times a year.Here's something fascinating – the connection between dance and agility. Cali is the world salsa capital, and that rhythm Colombians have in their DNA actu...
2025-11-1943 minAgility on the road#11 Following the Dream: Sergio Gómez from Colombia on Agility, Dogs, and Life ChoicesAnother sweet conversation, and I'm so happy to share it with you.I sat down with Sergio Gómez, also known as Chexo, an agility enthusiast from Colombia, to talk about his journey into this sport we all love so much.We discuss cultural perceptions and Chexo's personal journey from childhood to becoming a passionate agility trainer. We dive into his agility beginnings – that magical first moment when agility captures you and you just know that this is it. Chexo shares his experiences with his dogs, particularly Nuki, and reflects on his unique lifestyle living in...
2025-11-1043 minAgility on the road#10 Meeting Alejandro Salas from Spain in SlovakiaWelcome back to the VendaVan! In this episode, I'm joined by Alejandro Salas, a well-known agility judge, trainer, and competitor from Spain. We met at the Slovakian Championship in Pezinok, and Alejandro graciously agreed to step out of his comfort zone and chat with me in English—even though Spanish is his forte!We dive into Alejandro's agility journey, from competitor to international judge, and explore the exciting evolution of Spanish agility. Alejandro shares why the sport is improving by leaps and bounds in Spain and reveals a surprising fact—there are actually more men than women comp...
2025-10-0924 minAgility on the road#9 The Natural Pet Care Story: Prevention, Healing, and Hope with AndrasWhat drives someone to dedicate their life to improving pet health naturally? In this special episode, I sit down with Andras, co-founder of Natural Pet Care System, to hear his incredible journey from idea to creating a company that's changing how we care for our four-legged family members.As their ambassador, I was excited to dive deep into Andras's personal story - what inspired him to start this company and his mission to help dogs and cats live healthier, happier lives through natural supplements.We explore all four of their products - Burgimmune, Flexi, Fortflex...
2025-09-2535 minAgility on the road#8 Finding Home in Alaska: Michaela's Life and Agility StoryWhat draws someone to build a life in one of America's most remote places? In this episode, I sit down with Michaela in her kitchen in Fairbanks, Interior Alaska, for my second visit to the Last Frontier.We explore Michaela's personal journey – what brought her to Alaska and what keeps her there against all odds. From navigating months of darkness to extreme weather conditions, we discover what dog agility looks like when your training season is defined by Alaska's harsh realities.This conversation shows not just the challenges of doing our sport in such a re...
2025-09-2246 minAgility on the road#7 85 and Still Shining - Marion's RecipeMeet Marion - an extraordinary 85-year-old woman who's been involved in dog sports for over 50 years and was actually there when agility was first introduced to the public at Crufts in the 1970s!Marion is the devoted mama of three Schipperkes, a breed she's been passionate about for five decades. Currently training and competing in both agility and obedience, she embodies what it means to live life with purpose and energy at any age.I met Marion at one of my seminars and was immediately struck by her incredible energy. When she casually mentioned she...
2025-09-1549 minAgility on the road#6 Mary Champagne Funny Farm & the Magic of Long Distance HandlingWhat started with just three sheep turned into a full-blown funny farm—complete with goats, mules, ponies, ducks, chickens, turkeys, and of course, dogs! In this episode of Agility on the Road, I sit down with Mary Champagne , who began agility back in 1995 and now runs her own agility facility in the U.S. We talk about her journey into long-distance handling, the frustrating trial-and-error phase, and her determination to keep believing—even when it felt impossible.We recorded this conversation in her dogs’ living room on my last day at her farm, and I couldn...
2025-09-0933 minAgility on the road#5 From Argentina with Love - Nicky ManesTired after a sunny hike, with full bellies from a Slovak-style dinner, and so happy together in my VendaVan – which turned into a kind of sauna as we closed the windows to block out the noise outside – I recorded this episode with the sweet Nicky Manes, veterinarian and agility enthusiast from Argentina. We met in Slovakia right after she competed in Prague, picked up her brand-new puppy, and before she continued her European adventure to Budapest and Vienna.Nicky comes to Europe at least every couple of years to compete, traveling with her dogs on what...
2025-08-1953 minAgility on the road#4 Dogdancing Conversation on the RoadJoin me on a Latvian beach for a very special episode recorded in my VendaVan with four incredible dogdancing champions from Slovakia and Czech Republic. After supporting my dear friend Monika at the Dogdancing World Championship in Finland (where she placed 4th in Heelwork!), we were all driving home together when we stopped for this conversation.Meet Alexandra Vavrova, Alexandra Mišková, and Monika from Slovakia, plus Alena Smolíková from Czech Republic - true legends of dogdancing who stepped out of their comfort zones to share their stories in English (which I deeply appreciate!).We d...
2025-08-1829 minAgility on the road#3 The Portuguese Way - Hugo SantosJoin me for a conversation with Hugo Santos, an agility judge and handler from Portugal. We met at the Janakkala Open in Finland, where he was judging, and recorded this episode right in my VendaVan at the venue - so please excuse any background noises from the competition!I'm still working on improving the sound quality, but my dog Sisu had other plans and decided to bite through my mic cable! Since I'm traveling and need a specific Rode cable that's not easy to find on the road, I'm working with what I have for now.
2025-08-0647 minAgility on the roadThe Finnish WayJoin me in the kitchen of Sanna and Harri Katainen as we celebrate the release of my first podcast episode with non-alcoholic champagne that Sanna discovered in their fridge and fresh strawberries from their garden. This Finnish couple shares their incredible journey from agility competitors to business owners running their agility halls, training animals for television, and even teaching puppy yoga. We talk about their paths in agility, their agility podcast, what it's like living through Finnish winters, and how they've built a life around their passion for animals. A conversation that feels like catching up with old friends...
2025-07-2947 minAgility on the roadFinally I did it!The very first episode where I share my journey of overcoming fear to start this podcast. A short but heartfelt conversation about supporting ourselves and doing the things that scare us - because sometimes the first step is the hardest one.
2025-07-2211 min