Business

Listening Not Controlling

Photo Credit: Nietjuhart on Pexels

Way before Reboundog was even a name in my head, someone shared a video of a US prison dog programme in which the "lightbulb" moment was when the dog & the person were facing each other & for the very first time in the lives each were listening to the other without pre-judgement...aka listening not controlling.

This newsletter title is taken from:

César Rodríguez-Garavito, founding director of the More Than Human Life (MOTH) program at NYU, panel conversation at Bioneers 2025.

Listening, Not Controlling: A Legal Path for Ethical AI in Animal Research - Bioneers

All of this work depends on a deepening scientific understanding of the more-than-human world—specifically, the perceptual worlds of animals. As we come to better understand how animals perceive and navigate their environments, we become better equipped to articulate how human activity disrupts those experiences—and how such disruptions can amount to violations of their dignity and well-being.

The title words in my opinion are also relevant to animal rescue and excluded populations, where for two centuries or more there has been a tendency to control by those providing their "solutions."

As I write we (my wife & I) are going through the happy process of adopting a dog from our local rescue. For some people there is the option to choose between listening to the needs & behaviours of the dog thus enabling it to enjoy life as sentient being or to be the controller of the dog as in a 'Barbara Woodhouse' style of training for it to become subservient.

We are now, in the light of the current political turmoil in the West, facing a decisive choice:

"Do we rock back & forth gently on the rocking chair whilst weeping into our lap that the end is nigh and we as a mere individuals can do nothing to cause beneficial change"?

Or do we see the huge opportunity that this chaos is creating for us to stop being beholden to Corporations and Governments to provide solutions? The opportunity for social entrepreneurs, individuals & networks such as Bioneers, Fito & Reboundog to design solutions to our wicked social problems is vast. Solutions that are inclusive (not controlling) and by default facilitate the engagement of disenfranchised animals and excluded populations.

I recall back in 2015 Melissa Nelson Revitalizing Indigeneity /Bioneers describing the fascinating story of

Nana Buu (Nanabozho) is a trickster Transformer in this character he's depicted part rabbit so he can change his shape one of his names is He Who Walks the shoreline. He Who Walks the shoreline forever so for us he is a reminder that as Anishnabe people and perhaps other people we are always balancing between solid earth and a liquid medium we're always between stability and insecurity we are both rooted and flowing and so we are also on the edge of Consciousness and unconscious waking and dreaming so he reminds us that we have all of these different elements involved and as an Edge Walker as a Tide Walker I think it's very important that we have a healthy respect for those things that are unknown and perhaps unknowable and unfortunately our Western dominant Society is completely focused on knowing everything right we have to know we must know knowledge is great knowledge is power but knowledge can also be very very dangerous especially when it's not used ethically or wisely out on the edge.

As one who grew up walking the shoreline between the water and the dry earth for many years as a teenager with only a rescued English Collie as a friend, I see that Melissa's story resonates with disenfranchised animals and other excluded populations, e.g. homeless, autistics, and military veterans.

A huge opportunity for business to walk between for-profit & non-profit, to explore the unknown and perhaps unknowable as an Edge Walker. To demonstrate Consciousness in their business culture, allowing them to use the power of their great knowledge both ethically & wisely out on the edge.

For Social Entrepreneurs, Social Impact Networks & Businesses who want to be a Force for Good to really achieve the disruption to their chosen wicked problems then they need to start from the beginning with establishing an embedded Culture based on their 3 Core Values in everything they do. A Culture that is not just a purported DEI marketing bull...t on a coffee mug, but a truly fantastic culture that is individual to their business & one that every employee, customer, supplier & investor understands.

For help in creating a fantastic business culture please contact me hello@reboundog.com or see New Coaching Experiences for Purpose-Driven Pet Professionals below...

To celebrate I have lots of mega exciting news to share with you

Reboundog became a registered business as Reboundog Ltd on 22nd May. Reboundog Ltd, Collingwood Buildings, 38 Collingwood Street, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 1JF
Reboundog will be opening it's doors to new membership soon. This will be by application only. To enquire please use our Contact Form

I am appearing as a Debbie Dahmer podcast guest this Thursday. Please check our social media posts for details. NB: this will be live at 3pm ET to kindly allow for my being in the UK. I remember that for the first few appearances I went live at midnight UK.
https://voicescarryforanimals.podbean.com/

This is the news that I've been hinting at in recent newsletters

I'm honoured to announce that I've been invited & formally accepted to lead the formation of the UK Chapter of Loneliness Global Action by their President Nadia Devita Oktarini Artonne

Loneliness Global Action (LGA) is a Geneva-based, citizen-led movement addressing loneliness as a public health and economic crisis. It does not compete with other organizations but exists to raise awareness at all levels. Led by Nadia Devita Oktarini, LGA advocates for global regulatory frameworks, social impact projects, and partnerships that foster meaningful human connections. The organization collaborates with NGOs, governments, and tech leaders through multi-sector collaboration to develop safe, ethical, and inclusive solutions. As loneliness reaches epidemic levels worldwide, LGA shapes policies, initiatives, and innovations that restore human connection in digital and real-world environments.

We share common values & holistic visions around pets & the human animal bond's potential to disrupt loneliness. I personally see this as an amazing mutually symbiotic relationship.

In a conversation earlier today with Nadia & Jean-Claude Artonne we are proposing to launch Loneliness Global Action UK in London in early November. Thus I am now seeking serious enquiries from others who wish to join me in forming the UK Chapter. Please contact me hello@reboundog.com

Loneliness Global Action Executive Summary

🚀 New Coaching Experiences for Purpose-Driven Pet Professionals 🌍🐾

At Reboundog, we believe business can — and should — be a force for good.

That’s why we’ve just restructured our coaching programmes to better serve the pet sector pioneers who are leading with empathy, creativity, and purpose.

Whether you're: 🔹 Innovating a pet brand with bold ideas 🔹 Scaling your team while staying mission-aligned 🔹 Leading with social impact at your core

…we’ve designed coaching journeys that meet you where you are — and help you grow from there.

✨ Explore our new structure: 🔗 Culture-Led Coaching for Pet Sector Pioneers

Featuring 3 focused coaching paths:

1️⃣ Innovative Coaching for Visionary Pet Brands “Empowering Forward Thinking Pet Professionals to Innovate with Purpose”

2️⃣ Purpose-Driven Pet Business Growth “Fuel Creativity while Aligning your Team with your Mission”

3️⃣ Coaching Pet Sector Leaders for Social Good “Lead Ethically & Authentically in a Rapidly Changing World”

📣 If you’re ready to stand out as the only one who does what you do — let’s talk. #PetIndustry #SocialImpact #PetSectorLeadership #PurposeDrivenBusiness #CoachingForGood #Reboundog

Reboundog Sofa Meet-up

This is a wonderful description from Beth Miller

What happens when you get three changemakers on a virtual sofa to talk about shaking up the way organizations work? We’re about to find out.

On June 12, I’ll be joining Maria Moraes Robinson and Simon Robinson —two incredible minds behind the Holonomics approach—for a conversation that’s part deep thinking, part real talk, and all about how we actually create impact that lasts. Maria is a force in strategy and systems thinking, with a side of deep tech and global perspective. Simon quite literally helped pioneer the field of customerexperience strategy—and continues to bring soul into how businesses serve people and plan.

And me? I’m bringing the wag.The unconventional lens.The belief that transformation doesn’t have to be slow, stuck, or sterile.

We’ll be talking about what it really takes to lead change in a messy, fast-moving world. No fluff. No jargon. Just stories, ideas, and what we’ve all learned from being in the trenches of transformation.

Join us for the Reboundog Sofa Meet-up on LinkedIn Live. Thursday, June 12 at 1PM ET | 6PM UK Come as you are. Bring your questions. Let’s stir the pot—in the best way.

https://www.linkedin.com/events/generatingimpactwithbethmiller-7326681580842737670/theater/