Today we’re excited to be connecting with Annie Petersen again. If you haven’t already, we suggest you check out our prior conversation with them here.
Annie, thanks for joining us again. Just to level set a bit for folks who may have missed our last interview together, can you briefly introduce yourself?
I am the Founder of the Association for Human-Animal Bond Studies, a nonprofit organization in Poway, California. We work with groups throughout the United States organizing animal-assisted therapy programs, mainly with people who have experienced a traumatic event(s).
Extensive experience in program development, curriculum writing, grant writing and research and partnership with nonprofit organizations. Presenter to people of many nationalities including the University of Vienna, Austria, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, and the University of California, Davis.
I hold a Doctorate of Educational Leadership and Management degree, as well as Master in Arts degrees in Education and Educational Counseling Psychology. Also, Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts as well as an Associate in Science in Early Childhood Education and a Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Recovery and Trauma-informed Care.
Alright, so our main goal today is to give our audience an update on what you have been up to since our last conversation. We’d love to hear how things are going and what you are most looking forward to or excited about these days.
Since my last interview with SD Voyager, we needed to make a “pandemic pivot” and work remotely in supporting of animal welfare organizations. We are now an award-winning nonprofit organization that has developed the YouTube web-series, Animal Bond Academy, and also a podcast called The Resilient Animal.
Also, I am a Women Podcaster Award nominee for 2025! Voting begins in May. You can read the nomination form here: https://www.womenpodcasters.com/awards-annie-petersen
We have now arrived at one of our favorite parts of the interview – the lightning round. We’ll ask you a few quick questions to give us all some fun insights about you.
- Favorite Movie: Tess
- Favorite Book: Love in the Time of Cholera
- Sweet or Savory: Sweet
- Favorite Sport (to watch): Baseball
- Favorite Sport (to play): I love spinning!
- Did you play sports growing up (if so which ones): Track and Field
- French Fries or Onion Rings: Onion Rings
Was there a moment in your career that you can tell us about that illustrates or demonstrates the kind of person you are, your approach, ethos, etc.
I was well into my 30s before finding the experiences that spoke to my soul. I was a Caravan Guide for San Diego Zoo’s Safari Park and it was my experience watching how people interacted with animals that really catapulted my interest in the human-animal bond.
Image Credits
Bree Steffen
Anabel DFlux
Roger Petersen
Judith A. Bassett Canid Education and Conservation Center
