Kate Coffin spent much of her childhood outdoors and in nature. She had a deep love for animals and the world around her. Over time, she began to realize that the Earth was neglected and that people were cut off from it, and she felt that she needed help.
In 2020, Coffin, who graduated in Anthropology in 1998, began working on Kindred, a podcast dedicated to connecting with animals and the environment, with the first episode airing in May 2021. Each episode features interviews with experts on the topic and purpose. To emphasize the connection between humans and the ecosystems in which we live.
Coffin’s love of nature first became apparent in 2008 with the dog collar business she founded, Otis and Roo. The company was founded to use her designs to create connections between people and their pets. She decided to create a podcast because she needed to reach a wider audience during the pandemic.
Coffin signed his sister Jenn Asplund, who worked at Coffin’s dog collar business, Otis and Lou’s Social Media, as co-host and friend Kat Gatti as producer.
On October 11, “Kindred” released the first episode of its third season entitled “Man’s Other Best Friend,” which discusses the relationship between cats and humans. Episodes are released bi-monthly on all major podcast platforms including Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
“We provide a platform to acquire the very smart people who will teach us how we can understand the ecosystems we live in every day and how we can better support the natural world. The natural world exists only to support us and without each other we cannot not only survive but also thrive,” Coffin said.
Asplund said she was reluctant when Coffin asked her to co-host “Kindred” because she was working three part-time jobs at the time, but Coffin said her work would be minimal. reassured her, she said.
Today, Asplund enjoys her role on the podcast. This is because people are interviewed and discuss their connection with nature.
“Overall, every conversation and interview we have is something I always look forward to. I feel like a kid in a candy store,” Asplund said.
Adapting to the demand for podcasts was difficult for the sisters who did not have a scientific or podcasting background. was. We both feel that the challenge makes the podcast more rewarding.
This season’s Kindred features a host of environmental luminaries, including Christine Vitale, Assistant Professor of Animal Health and Behavior at Unity College, and National Medal of Science winner May Berenbaum.
“Kindred” has been a hot topic in the environmental science community since its first season, and the team has been successful in getting more high-profile guests to appear on the show, Gatti said.
“We’re getting some traction and I think people can see what we’ve been doing over the last year. We’re getting people who want to talk to us now. Guest people as,” Gatti said.
Coffin looks forward to continuing to work with experienced members of the natural and environmental sciences.
“There are some really great people that I was able to interview and who inspired me a lot. I’m looking forward to…” Coffin said.
