Dragons’ Den star Deborah Meaden will show her softer side when she appears in a new podcast exploring the relationships between well-known personalities and their dogs.
The Dog Doctor is hosted by vet Dr Guy Sandelowsky, co-founder of Omni, which secured investment from Meaden and Steven Bartlett when they pitched on Dragons’ Den.
Sandelowsky and his co-founder, Shiv Sivakumar, were included in BusinessCloud’s Founder 250 list earlier this year, and in June the company raised £11m in new investment to support its continued growth.
Confirmed guests for The Dog Doctor include Meaden, broadcaster and disability activist Lucy Edwards, actress and filmmaker Sadie Frost, and veterinary surgeon and online creator Dr Michael Lazaris.
Meaden brings her passion for animals and animal welfare to the series, revealing a side of her life that goes beyond what audiences normally see in the Den.
Edwards explores the extraordinary role guide dogs can play in a person’s life, while Frost reflects on her life in the public eye and the deeply personal experiences she has shared with the dogs who have been part of it.
The conversations offer audiences a different insight into their lives through the relationships they have with their dogs.
Rather than starting with a dog-related topic and inviting an expert to explain it, the podcast starts with the person.
Each conversation uses the guest’s relationship with dogs to explore the experiences and moments that have shaped them – from independence, disability and grief to family, ageing, ambition and the everyday chaos of life with a dog.
Dr Sandelowsky said: “We know so much about the public figures, entrepreneurs, campaigners and celebrities we follow, but often know surprisingly little about their dogs and the role they play in their lives.
“As a vet, I have always found that dogs have an incredible ability to get people talking.
“Ask someone about their dog and very quickly you can get beyond the public persona and into stories about family, companionship, difficult periods in their lives, relationships and some very funny moments too.
“That was the inspiration for The Dog Doctor. It is ultimately a podcast about people, told through one of the most important relationships in their lives.”
The Dog Doctor will be available on Spotify, YouTube and Apple Podcasts.