Lead with Laughter: Wellness Practices for Real Life and Leadership with Dr. Angie Adkin

In this episode of Tearin’ Up My Heart, we’re joined by Dr. Angie Adkin for a vibrant conversation on the power of laughter and gratitude as daily wellness practices—and as essential tools for grounded leadership. We discuss the importance of making time for wellness in a world that often pulls us in every direction, and what it means to lead with optimism while making space for your full emotional experience. Dr. Adkin shares insights on how she reorients her mindset, evaluates her priorities, and contains emotional overwhelm without suppressing what’s real. This one’s equal parts playful and profound.

Dr. Angie Adkin graduated from the University of Florida (UF) with her Ph.D. in Animal Physiology.  She also earned her Master’s degree investigating nutrition, reproductive physiology and offspring behavior/cognition in horses. Her Ph.D. research focused on plant-based estrogens (phytoestrogens) in animal feeds and how they impact reproduction in a host of species to include domestic animals and the Southern whiteRhinoceros.

Angie spent her childhood in South Haven, Michigan, surrounded by acres of rolling farms nestled quietly near the shores of Lake Michigan. Growing up in a family of third generation fruit farmers, Angie readily developed a love for the outdoors, nature, and all creatures, great and small. Angie attended Michigan State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in environmental biology and zoology. Always up for adventure and international exposure, she spent time traveling South America and Africa before starting her career as a zookeeper at Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, Illinois.

As a zookeeper, Angie spent seven years learning about, caring for, training, and managing many species of both exotic and domestic animals – from reptiles, to dairy cows, to zebras and camels. While at the zoo, Angie assisted with several research projects that focused on assessing the behavior and activity of sable antelope, Grevy’s zebra and Sichuan takin.

Encouraged by the ever-evolving zoo industry and its need for science-backed solutions, Angie was driven to enhance her knowledge of scientific research and ungulate physiology in order to make a positive impact on zoo animal welfare. This pursuit ultimately led Angie to earning her PhD from the University of Florida in Animal Science. Her graduate research has contributed directly to animal nutrition, reproduction and conservation efforts around the globe. Angie continues to work in higher education teaching animal ecology, behavior, physiology and management as a faculty member at the College of Central Florida in Ocala, Florida and moonlights as an adjunct faculty member at Santa Fe College in Gainesville, Florida. She is a recognized leader in the industry.

In addition to her work in academia, Angie is a mom of 3 wildly wonderful young boys and is a lover of all things music. She hosts “All Creatures Podcast” with millions of downloads globally. It is a passion project that keeps her humble, curious and striving to do more for animal conservation and welfare.

Connect with Anige via her personal Instagram @angie_miot or via her All Creatures Podcast on Instagram @allcreaturespodcast and Facebook @allcreaturespod

You can learn more about her “All Creatures Podcast” and to support it by checking out their website www.allcreaturespod.com

And if you were as intrigued by listening to Elliot Smith for a good cry as I was, here’s a link to his “Bottle Up and Explode!” track on Spotify that Dr. Angie mentions in this episode. 

Thank you for listening. I hope this supports your wellness and leadership journeys. Please support this podcast by giving this episode a like, follow, leave a review, and/or share with a friend!

Connect with your guest host, Narina Brothers on Instagram at @narinabrothers or on her website www.narinabrothers.com 

Connect with your regular host, Jenna on Instagram or Twitter at @jheathmoreno or via LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennaheath0925/