Franklin

#005 – Tanya Willis: Dog Rescuer & Matchmaker

March 19, 2018 Gregory Byerline Dogs, Non-Profit, Relief 0 Comments

Tanya and I talk about a mutually favorite subject…DOGS! Beyond their puppy dog eyes and waggly tails, she shares how Agape Animal Rescue came to be, what it’s like to raid a dog fighting operation, and how inspiring it is when she’s able to find forever homes for rescues who simply want to be someone’s everything. What happened to dogs affected by Hurricane Harvey? What about Michael Vick? Did Gypsy find a home? All that and more.

 

WHAT WE TALK ABOUT

  • 0:01:32 Roadside epiphany
  • 0:07:01 Self-education and growth of Agape
  • 0:09:38 A family affair
  • 0:11:06 How a rescue agency works
  • 0:16:02 Growth rate
  • 0:19:00 Current adoptables
  • 21:33 How it works
  • 30:09 Rescue fatigue
  • 34:23 Hurricane Harvey dogs
  • 47:18 What is it about dogs?
  • 1:03:11 Non-Profit Spotlight
  • 1:04:00 Michael Vick
  • 1:08:30 Meet Your Next Running Buddy event

FOLLOW ALONG

For more conversations in this series, follow Collected Clan at these online destinations:

GUEST SOCIALS

Learn more about Agape Animal Rescue at these links and social media profiles
List of current adoptables | Official Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

RELATED INFO

For a look at Agape Animal Rescue’s currently adoptable dogs, visit this adoptables page.

Meet Your Next Running Buddy with Nolensville Running Club

We mentioned several photographs in this episode. See below.

Tanya Willis, founder of Agape Animal Rescue, with Mack…the golden lab who inspired it all

Tanya Willis, founder of Agape Animal Rescue, with her three dogs…(L) Mack, the Golden Lab who started it all, (C) William Wallace, and (R) Robert The Bruce

Tanya Willis cutting chains off pit bull during an Animal Rescue Corp (ARC) raid of an illegal dog fighting operation.

Our first family photo with Sundae in front of Nashville Humane Association sign in 2001.

Portrait of Sundae Delaney, O.S.P., our first rescue dog.

The day I met our second rescue dog…Dar Lynn Clementine

Clementine relaxing in repose like the darlin’ that she is.

Agape rescue Gypsy with her new family Elizabeth & Bart at puppy school graduation.

How Clementine passed the time during my conversation with Tanya

 

NON-PROFIT SPOTLIGHT

This episode’s Non-Profit Spotlight is, naturally, Agape Animal Rescue. You’ve heard Tanya tell about stories about the organization in this episode, and here’s some further info about their mission.

RELATED PRODUCTS

Here’s a list of products mentioned in our conversation plus a few additional favorites Tanya and I highly recommend for fellow dog lovers. These are affiliate links from which Collected Clan receives a small commission at no additional cost to you that offsets costs of producing these episodes.

A Dog’s Purpose [Movie]
Finally Free: An Autobiography by Michael Vick [Book]

Hachi: A Dog’s Tale [Movie]
The Art of Racing in the Rain: A Novel [Book]
One Good Dog: A Novel [Book]
The Other End of the Leash: Why We Do What We Do Around Dogs [Book]
The Dog Who Saved Me: A Novel [Book]
Where the Red Fern Grows [Book]
White Fang: 100th Anniversary Collection [Book]
The Last Will and Testament of an Extremely Distinguished Dog [Book]

 

#004 – Bethany Torino: Chocolatier, Entrepreneur, Risk Taker

March 9, 2018 Gregory Byerline Chocolate, Entrepreneurship, Family 0 Comments

Bethany is not in Kansas anymore, and she makes decadent chocolates that’ll stir your taste buds and soul like a tornado. In this conversation, we talk about growing in Dorothy’s hometown, how we were in the same building at the same time 25+ years ago without even knowing it, songwriting in Nashville, what grace is, the ups and downs of entreprenuership, and…chocolate!

For more conversations in this series, go to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts, search for Collected Clan and subscribe. Ratings and reviews also help with spreading the word about these conversations. Thank you.

 

FOLLOW ALONG

For more conversations in this series, follow Collected Clan at these online destinations:

GUEST SOCIALS

Learn more about The Cocoa Tree at these links and savor the decadent deliciousness
Official Website | Twitter | Instagram

RELATED INFO

Photos of topics we discussed are shown here for your viewing pleasure. Be careful not to drool on your keyboard.

Artisan truffles from The Cocoa Tree in Franklin, TN

 

Scene from Chocolat movie from Miramax Pictures where Alfred Molina’s character experiences a massive epiphany from a small splattering of decadent chocolate. Yep, I get it. And I kinda want to do this when I see a big chocolate display.

Couture dress made with real chocolate she created for the New York City Chocolate Show

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NON-PROFIT SPOTLIGHT

Bethany selected Blood:Water as this episode’s Non-Profit Spotlight.

Blood:Water partners with Africa’s hidden heroes to provide technical, financial, and organizational support to strengthen their reach and effectiveness to the communities they serve.

Through various technologies, the three areas of WASH – water, sanitation, and hygiene – work together to strengthen one another and maximize health impact at the community level by developing systems that deliver clean water for drinking, washing, and sanitation to communities without.

Another focus is on comprehensively and holistically support of HIV/AIDS-related needs. The entry point to this type of care takes place at the household or community level.

Blood:Water recognizes that local organizations in Africa are the true drivers of social change. They are the experts laboring to end the impact of the water and HIV/AIDS crises on their communities. However, they are often under-resourced, creating challenges in both organizational and programmatic operations.

This is why they focus efforts on building the capacity of our partners – because, ultimately, the communities need to be strong enough financially, technically, and internally to exist long after their partnership concludes.

Learn more here and get involved where you can use your creativity and passion to take an active role in fundraising, donating, and spreading awareness for Africa.

RELATED PRODUCTS

Here’s a list of products mentioned in our conversation. These are affiliate links from which Collected Clan receives a small commission at no additional cost to you that offsets costs of producing these episodes.

Chocolat [Movie]