Podcast Summary: "We Want More Dogs, All The Dogs: A Conversation with Heidi Carman, A Top Five 2025 CNN Hero"

The PM Podcast (Hosted by Jay Frost), November 29, 2025
Featuring: Heidi Carman, Founder & Executive Director, First Responder Therapy Dogs

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the inspiring journey of Heidi Carman, the founder of First Responder Therapy Dogs and a 2025 CNN Hero. Host Jay Frost explores Heidi’s path from raising guide dog puppies with her kids to building a national nonprofit supporting the mental health of first responders through therapy dog visits. The conversation addresses themes of service, resilience, healing, and the immense demand—and impact—of therapy dogs for those on the front lines of crisis.

Key Discussion Points

1. The Origin Story: Raising Guide Dogs and the Seeds of Service

• Heidi’s Early Involvement: Heidi began raising guide dog puppies with her children over twenty years ago in Marin County, CA, teaching them to serve "someone they didn't know" and to "do a kind thing."
• Formative Moment: The deep emotional family journey of loving and then returning the puppy for training, culminating in the joy of presenting the dog to a visually impaired recipient.
  • Quote (Heidi, 03:39):
    “We actually did this thing and the kids learned how to be of service and give back and it worked. So I thought that was pretty cool.”
• The ‘Career Change’: Karith, Heidi’s current dog and the organization’s original therapy dog, was not fit for guide work due to her outgoing personality—making her a perfect therapy dog.

2. From Guide Dogs to Therapy Dogs: Witnessing Healing in Real Time

• First Experiences: After Karith was “career changed,” Heidi realized her calling was therapy work. Visits to hospitals, particularly post-crisis events, showed the dogs’ profound effect.
  • Quote (Heidi, 07:19):
    “I watched it just transform them from this horrible state they were in... And I noted that. And I'm like, huh, this is something really remarkable.”
• A Hospital Tragedy: Paramedics, shaken after a fatal pediatric call, found comfort and began smiling again after time with Karith.

3. Founding First Responder Therapy Dogs During Crisis

• Pandemic Pivot: The idea solidified during the joint challenges of COVID-19 and California wildfires when Heidi was asked to bring Karith to fire base camps, witnessing significant positive responses.
• Nonprofit Formation: Lacking any group focused solely on first responders, Heidi formed the nonprofit as her “pandemic project,” leveraging help from friends and her network.

4. Growing the Movement: From a Local Project to National Reach

• Unexpected Expansion: Initially solitary, the program quickly gained attention. Dogs and volunteers joined from around the country, especially after coverage in national media.
  • Quote (Heidi, 15:43):
    “We're in 46 states. And it is unbelievable because honestly, we didn't try to spread… They were coming, and still today they're coming to us to join.”
• Social Media’s Role: Instagram served as a key connector, especially for first responders and handlers eager to join or replicate the model.
  • Quote (Heidi, 16:59):
    “The answer was very clear because I knew I couldn't help enough people with just her and me. So that's when we created the certification for other dogs to join us.”

5. The Human Impact: First Responders’ Stories

• Moving Testimonials: First responders often express deep gratitude—some for the first time in years, feeling "human again" after canine visits.
  • Quote (Heidi, 19:41):
    “A police officer in Detroit… said, ‘Thank you for helping me feel human again.’ And that, like, really…that gives me goosebumps.”
• On-Scene Observations: Staff in high-stress positions (e.g., 911 dispatchers) found immediate comfort and improved performance after petting therapy dogs during calls.

6. Healing the Healers: Addressing Burnout and Trauma

• The Power of Presence: Dogs help first responders externalize stress and trauma that they might otherwise suppress.
• Self-Care for the Caregiver: Heidi highlights secondary trauma from hearing repeated tragic stories and stresses the importance of boundaries and self-care for herself and volunteers.
  • Quote (Heidi, 24:42):
    “I've learned to set boundaries… If I don't take care of myself and limit that trauma… then I'm not going to be able to do this work.”

7. Personal Reflections & Joy

• Family Impact: Heidi’s children, now adults, grew up immersed in service, with many choosing helping professions themselves.
• Personal Fulfillment: The joy of “creating a living for myself, an organization, a movement where I can hang out with my best friend, my dog, my heart dog that I love so much.”
  • Quote (Heidi, 26:08):
    “It’s just incredible. I get to go out, bring joy with my dog who I love so much, and she loves doing it so much. It’s a real feel-good thing.”

8. The Vision: Scaling Nationwide

• Unmet Demand: Despite reaching 46 states with 512 therapy dog teams, requests from first responders continue outpacing capacity.
• Heidi’s Call to Action: The goal is for every first responder who wants a visit to get one—especially in the four remaining states (Wyoming, Nebraska, Mississippi, Louisiana).
  • Quote (Heidi, 27:07):
    “My ultimate goal is to be able to have every first responder in the country that wants a visit from one of our therapy dogs to be able to. So that means we need a lot more therapy dogs…”

Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On Letting Go as a Puppy Raiser:
  “My 9-year-old son said, ‘I don’t want to go with you to take her back because I don’t want to give her back.’ And I thought, what have I done? I’m just the worst mother. What have I done to my children?” —Heidi (03:09)
• On Therapy Dogs’ Impact:
  “Thank you for helping me feel human again.” —Detroit police officer, relayed by Heidi (19:41)
• On Spreading the Movement:
  “It grew like wildfire—no pun intended.” —Heidi (17:53)
• On Self-Care:
  “I’ve learned… to take care of myself…not hold it in, then I’m not going to be able to do this work.” —Heidi (25:17)
• On Her Dreams for the Program:
  “We want more dogs. All the dogs, all the first responders should have love from our, our therapy dogs.” —Heidi (27:53)

Notable Timestamps for Key Segments

• Guide Dog Puppy Raising & Family Lessons: 01:41–06:00
• Karith’s ‘Career Change’ and Therapy Dog Work: 06:00–10:47
• First Responder Therapy Dogs—Origin & Mission: 10:47–15:43
• National Expansion & Certification Program: 15:43–19:23
• Impactful First Responder Stories: 19:23–21:13
• Social Media & Media Attention: 21:13–22:56
• Caring for the Dogs and Herself: 23:22–26:08
• Vision for the Future: 27:04–28:18

Tone

• Warm, Personal, Uplifting: Heidi and Jay’s conversation is candid, compassionate, and laced with genuine humor.
• Resilient & Practical: Both recognize the challenges and emotional toll but center the hopeful impact and meaning of this work.

Further Resources

• Learn More or Get Involved: firstrespondertherapydogs.org

This summary captures the episode's heartwarming narrative and practical insights for listeners inspired by service, animal-assisted healing, or the urgent mental health needs of first responders.