Mostly Functional
Episodes
Ep# 26 Don't Confuse Caring With Carrying
23 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we unpack the difference between caring deeply and carrying everything. We explore how easy it is to slip into over-responsibility, e...
Ep# 25 Derek in the Hot Seat
16 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Today we celebrate 25 episodes of Mostly Functional with Julie putting Derek in the hot seat by asking him 25 questions. Some softballs, some that stu...
Ep# 24 Emotional Numbness In Animal Work
09 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Anyone who whose work exposes them repeatedly to secondary trauma and loss will find themselves sometimes feeling numb about the situations they're ma...
Ep# 23 Past and Future Self Wisdom
02 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we talk about the kind of wisdom that only comes with living. The stuff you wish you could go back and tell your younger self, and wh...
Ep# 22 When Self-Care Pisses People Off
26 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes taking care of yourself isn't well-recieved by others. In this episode, we unpack boundaries, burnout, and the weird way people react when y...
Ep# 21 Kind Advocacy
19 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we explore what it really means to advocate with kindness. From the way we talk to others to the way we talk to ourselves, we unpack ...
Ep#20 Anthropic Moments
12 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, a new word enters the Mostly Functional vocabulary: apanthropy. As we try to figure out what it means (and how to say it), the conver...
Ep# 19 Discomfort Is Not Danger
05 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we talk about what it means to feel "too much" or "not enough" and how those stories shape the way we show up in the world. We explor...
Ep#18 The Decisions We Never Wanted
26 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we start with Olympic hockey and somehow end up talking about the decisions no one wants to make. The kind that sit heavy in your che...
Ep# 17 When Caring Turns Into Resentment
19 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Julie and Derek talk about what happens when caring becomes overgiving, and overgiving quietly turns into resentment. They unpack the...
Ep#16 Love Wins: Olympics + Puppy Bowl Edition
12 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Derek and Julie chat about self-care basics, their shared excitement for the Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, and the pure joy of the...
Ep# 15 What Winter Teaches Caregivers
05 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we wander through winter life and what it asks of people who care for others, including pacing, limits, preparedness, and knowing whe...
Ep# 14 Serving Animals in a Messy World
29 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Julie and Derek talk about what it feels like to keep showing up for the animals you serve when the world feels chaotic, loud, and un...
Ep# 13 A Peace Practice
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Mostly Functional, Julie and Derek talk about what it means to practice peace in a world that feels loud, divisive, and hard to dis...
Ep#12 Too Exhausted To Feel Joy
01 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we talk about what happens when you lose your joy at work, especially in animal-care roles where the suffering is real and the pace n...
Ep# 11 Let's Giddy Up Into 2026: Year-End Check-In
25 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this year-end Mostly Functional check-in, we're giddy up-ing into 2026 with a clear plan: protect your peace. Derek and Julie unpack what it looks ...
Ep# 10 Grief Is Your Friend
18 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we talk about what it really looks like to plan for grief during the holidays, especially when it is your first season without someon...
Ep#9 Trusting Your Yes and No
11 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we explore how to tell when something is truly right for you and when it is not. Through stories about saying yes to Esther the pig, ...
Ep# 8 Boozy Hay & Big Soul Questions
04 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we somehow go from Thanksgiving side dishes and boozy hay to big soul questions like, "What is your soul here to learn?" Derek and I ...
Ep#7 Guilt and The Wolf You Feed
27 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Chance are extremely high that if you work with animals, you've also experienced all the guilt that can come with helping other beings. Did I do enoug...
Ep#6 Life After The Loss of Your Parents
20 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Mostly Functional, Derek turns the mic on Julie and asks her what life is like after losing both of her parents, one suddenly and o...
Ep# 5 Walking With Elephants in Asia
13 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Think you can't live vicariously through someone's trip abroad? Think again. In this episode Derek shares his experience visiting Thailand and standin...
Ep#4 The Courage To Be Free (and Disliked)
30 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In a world that constantly demands our approval, praise, and productivity, what happens when we finally decide to let go? In this episode, we talk abo...
Ep# 3 What Animals Teach Us About Letting Go
23 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we swap simple morning rituals that build capacity, then move into a tender conversation about how animals help teach us about letting...
Ep#2 The Secret Conversations of the Animal World
16 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this tender and thought-provoking conversation, Julie and Derek explore the quiet wisdom of animals and the deep comfort they bring to our lives. F...
Ep# 1: Where Are All The Men in Animal Work?
08 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this very first episode of Mostly Functional, Derek and I talk about what it really means to be human. We laugh through a few tech mishaps, share h...