EP14: Holding On Tight and Healing through Entrepreneurship (Part 2) with Richie Barlow

In the conclusion of this two-part conversation, Richie Daiches Barlow returns to share what happened after he aged out of the UK state care system—abandoned, robbed, and utterly alone. What followed was unlikely, healing, and deeply powerful.

Starting with a pair of rescue dogs named Jack and Ernie, Richie found a new purpose—and inadvertently founded one of the UK’s top-rated pet care franchises, The Dog Walker. But this episode is about far more than dog walking. It’s about transformation, trust, and the invisible work of healing from trauma.

🐾 In this episode, Richie talks about:

How dog walking changed his life—and why it’s “not just a walk in the park”
How his past shaped his deep empathy and his commitment to service
The trauma-informed principles that guide his leadership today
Building systems that protect—not exploit—others
Becoming a volunteer police constable to serve and repair the very system that once failed him
The love and safety he finally found with his husband, Ben

🔗

Related Resources & Links

📘 Richie’s Book – Richie Who Cares: A Lost Childhood and a Boy’s Journey for Justice
🐶 The Dog Walker Franchise – Visit the official site
👮‍♂️ UK Volunteer Police Roles – How to become a Special Constable

🧠 Trauma-Informed Systems

🧰 The RISE Framework – Recognize, Inquire, Support, and Empower
A trauma-informed response tool designed for caregivers and systems seeking to provide compassionate, individualized support.
🧭 TCOM (Transformational Collaborative Outcomes Management) – Learn more at tcomtraining.com
A person-centered framework focused on healing, transformation, and shared language across helping systems.
🧒 Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) – CDC resource on ACEs

💬 Favorite Quote:

“I started living when I met Ben—not just surviving, living.”

🎧 Catch Up or Revisit

📍 Missed Part 1? Listen to S2 EP13: “I Just Wanted It to End” to hear Richie’s childhood story of survival inside the UK care system.

If this conversation moved you, please consider:

Leaving a review or rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
Sharing this episode with someone working in care, education, or justice
Exploring more about trauma-informed care, youth advocacy, and healing-centered leadership

Additional Resources

Credits

Hosted by Kristen Cerelli
Cover art by @jacksonfall
Theme Music by Kristen Cerelli. Additional music by Ray Wyssman and The Simoleons
Podcast production by Timothy Fall