What Happens When a Hollywood Star Follows Her Heart?

[00:00:00]Live well and thrive. The future of wellness starts here. The movement transforming health and wellness worldwide.

[00:00:09]Live longer, move smarter, feel unstoppable.

[00:00:13]>> Today on Live Well and Thrive, we're going from Hollywood to horse rescues.

[00:00:18]Actress Don Oliver has captured audiences on screen, but most important role may be helping save America's wild at risk horses. Joining her is Talia Fischer, founder All Seated in a Barn, whose incredible mission has rescued thousands of horses from slaughter and given them a second chance at life. This is a story of compassion, healing, and hope. You won't want to miss it. Please welcome Don and Talia.

[00:00:45]>> We're here.

[00:00:45]>> We're here. Thank you for having us.

[00:00:47]>> Oh, you're welcome. I appreciate you coming all the way out here to film this segment because what you're doing is amazing. You're two angels. Seriously, what you're doing, not many people would do.

[00:00:59]>> Angels wear black. Surprise.

[00:01:03]>> No, but how did you both meet? That's what I want to know first.

[00:01:07]>> Well, I just stalked her.

[00:01:09]>> I was going to I was going to be I didn't want to be the one to say it.

[00:01:11]>> You could say it.

[00:01:11]>> The reality is she stalked me.

[00:01:13]>> Yeah. Yeah. Which many people do, by the way. It's She's very stalkable. You know, when you have >> when you're an animal hoarder like I am.

[00:01:20]>> Well, you know, guilty also. But, you know, she I fell into horse rescue just very naively. And I rescued I went out to rescue two mamas with babies and came home with 29 horses, right? That was my first foray.

[00:01:36]>> She went all in.

[00:01:36]>> I went all in. And it wasn't on I don't know. It just happened. That's what was supposed to happen, right? I trust the divine landscape of things. But when you suddenly bring 29 unhandled wild horses to your house, you need to probably figure out how to manage that and pretty quickly. So I had to go and I had never followed a horse rescue. I didn't even know anything about the world. But I went online and I started looking for anyone that could guide me and what I was doing. And I just saw her face everywhere. I have a horse rescue. I'm saving horses. Help me save these horses. And I was like, shoot, that's how I feel right now. So let me, you know, help me, rescue me. So, I started sending her messages like, "Hey, I'm trying to start a rescue. Can you help me?" She's like, "Yeah, read my bio on my website. I got to go." You know, because she's busy.

[00:02:23]>> It did go like that.

[00:02:24]>> You're busy, right? But she also has to weed out the weirdos.

[00:02:27]>> I also had no clue who she was. And a lot of people reach out to me. So, I was just very like, >> it's hard to talk about it. Like, >> you can't >> find go read a book. Like, I don't know.

[00:02:37]I'll help you.

[00:02:38]>> Like, you got to just show up like figure it out. I can't guide you. I can't hold your hand. I don't have the time to do that. So, and I I know how the game works, right? I know how busy people are cuz I'm freaking busy, too.

[00:02:49]So, I'm like, "Okay, game on." Right?

[00:02:51]So, I had to go find her down in Texas.

[00:02:53]So, I drove four hours to a kill auction and I was like, "Hi, I'm here. Can you just teach me what you know?" And she's just like, "Just you got to keep up." That's what she said.

[00:03:04]>> Basically, yes. I was just very blunt because when I'm in that environment where I'm trying to There's hundreds and hundreds and hundreds. I mean, sometimes up to 800 horses and time is literally of the essence. Like, that's your chance to fund raise. That's your chance to be seen. I don't have time to hold someone's hand and walk them through this process. So, it's more just like, cool, you're here, Don. Dive in. If you have some questions, I'll get that to you. But otherwise, like, just start trying to save who you can.

[00:03:27]>> Just get out of my way cuz like these lives depend on me. And if I don't see them or I don't catch them, then they're off to slaughter and they die, >> right? Well, plus also so many weirdos reach out on social media, so you don't know who's real, right?

[00:03:40]>> But you know what you get and I you can vouch for this probably too. I also get this. There's really bighearted people that go, I want, you're living my dream.

[00:03:48]I want to start a rescue. It's my dream and I want to know how to do it. But and you can tell me what you feel, but probably 80 to 90% of those people are or they're speaking from a real place, but they don't have an action behind their desire. And that's the real discernable difference between someone that really gets gets something done and somebody that just talks about doing something that they wish they would be able to do, >> right?

[00:04:14]>> Yeah. It's not so much it's Yeah. It's more people that have kind hearts and they want to help and they they think their way of helping is by starting a rescue when in reality the best way to help is probably to go volunteer to rescue first. Be that extra hand that they need so much and then if you feel like it's something that you really are truly called for after you've put kind of that sweat labor in and really seen what the heartache is and the happiness is experienced and felt that then move forward and try to and then do the process of starting a rescue. It's just it's not as easy as starting a rescue.

[00:04:46]It's not. It is. It is not.

[00:04:47]>> It's a lot of work.

[00:04:48]>> But now, Don, you've shown me pictures of your own home where you have all these I mean, really majestic animals, too. Yeah.

[00:04:57]>> I mean, of you were riding the bison and then you had the raccoons sleeping with you and then you had the camels and you have a variety of animals that people don't typically have on a farm.

[00:05:08]>> Yeah. And is it because you're passionate to just help all animals or >> Oh my god, I love everything. Yeah, I love everything. But also, I want to point out that what you see is a lot of rescue content. You see a lot of animals. You see a lot of shelters and barns being built. What you don't see is a house that I live in because I don't have one, right? We talked about Tippi Hedrin and how she had a big cat rescue and she lived in a trailer. That's I'm essentially living the tippy lifestyle right now. I'm building a house, but I have made and no one could really know unless you really do this. But you you make so many sacrifices when you choose this life or when it chooses you. You don't think so many people are like, "Well, I haven't started the rescue yet cuz I got to make sure that the barn is right and the paddics are right." And that I rescued those 29 horses. I had one little halfacre fenced in area to start and I was like, I guess just put them all in there because I didn't have a plan. Nothing was ready. my barn. I I wasn't even allowed in the barn cuz I had an ex at the time and he was like, "This is my area." And I was like, "Okay, I got nothing really." And he cut the water line when I pulled the the horses in. So, on top of all of that, I had to figure out how to pump water out of the pond, how to get all these horses something to drink until I could figure out another plan. That was that's that's in a nutshell. Starting >> Well, it shows how you're all in.

[00:06:29]>> I'm all in, >> you know, and everybody around you has to be all in. Yeah, it's true.

[00:06:34]>> You know, it's just like with my bodybuilding, >> I remember Arnold Schwarzenegger said to me that anybody doesn't believe in you and support what you're doing, >> cut them out of your life.

[00:06:43]>> Yeah.

[00:06:44]>> I don't care if it's your mother, your father, your sister, your brother, your best friend, because >> they will cannibalize.

[00:06:50]>> You're right.

[00:06:51]>> Everything. And they're toxic.

[00:06:53]>> So, when I was first starting out, I had people that doubted me, and I just cut them out. Yeah.

[00:06:57]>> And I only kept people that supported my mission and supports your missions. And because you have to because you don't want people always keeping score. Oh, I did this. I did that. No, they do from the heart. They're not get paid. They just want to be there to help save these animals. And now you have what, 160 acres?

[00:07:16]>> There's 160 acres there. Yeah. We're and we're teetering on 200 count headcount for horses, not to mention all the other animals that are there. So, you know, you there's a very, you know, there's an undulation of of bringing new animals in and adopting out. You start as a rescue, but then you quickly realize that you also become a training facility because you're you're rehoming these animals and you really care about their placement because you don't want them to end up in the exact same spot as how you pulled them, what you pulled them from. you know, and early on I all like the this topic that you're talking about, naysayers, negativity. I have this phrase that I've used for years and I I always remind myself, people are always telling you who they are. And what I mean when I say that is like I'd have this one guy, he'd always come delivering hay and he's like, "Wow, you got a lot of goats." But he'd like say it in a real judgmental way because before I had horses, I had goats and a herd of 70, right? I was like, I'm a lot of goats.

[00:08:15]>> Okay, see she's telling you where she's at because for her that's a lot of goats. I would look at the goats and I was like, I love all my goats. It's like such a little herd, you know, just all together. But other people would come in and they'd go, well, that's a lot of goats. And I remember thinking, why is it am I alarmed that I don't think that this is a lot of goats? Is this like a problem? But what I realized is it doesn't have to be an infraction on if it it's not it doesn't mean it's truly a lot of goats because I was always like in in comparison to what oh that's a person there in comparison to what but what I realized was what he was telling me is what he the the message he was getting which is that's too many goats for him.

[00:08:55]>> You get what I'm saying?

[00:08:56]>> Right. Right. So to actively translate that, it almost allows you to have compassion for that person because their divine message is don't get that many goats cuz for you, you can't handle that. Don't get that many goats for you cuz that's not your path.

[00:09:11]>> I could handle it, but it >> you could not your path.

[00:09:14]>> It's not my path.

[00:09:14]>> It's not your path. I was supposed to get all those goats because those goats taught me really important teachings on herbal medicine that I then paralleled to horses when they showed up which has been able that has enabled me to navigate a lot of different sicknesses and a lot of different pathogens and that I learned from the goats.

[00:09:33]>> But isn't it true that having the goats kind of reeds the grass because they're grazing?

[00:09:39]>> Oh, all of them do that.

[00:09:40]>> Yeah. So that's fantastic.

[00:09:42]>> Oh, and they do. They they trim but there's so much land out there they barely make a dent. You wouldn't even know where the goats were eating because you know there's just they just it's so much it's it's the rainforest out there in Arkansas.

[00:09:54]>> Well, but it's organically happening. So if you have this many goats, you may have this many raccoons or this many bison or >> Yeah, it's organically happening. That's that's the right way to say it.

[00:10:04]>> No, I get it. But you know, it's um it's also too people don't realize that it's a great deal of money because not just the food and the care.

[00:10:13]>> Oh yeah.

[00:10:14]>> The veterinarian cost.

[00:10:15]>> Oh, forget about it.

[00:10:17]>> Can you share a little bit about that?

[00:10:18]>> You definitely can do it.

[00:10:20]>> Wow. It's expensive. I mean, >> the cost of taking care. I mean, if you imagine what it costs for someone to take their poor dog or their cat to the vet hospital, right? Like my dog had cancer and it was 10 grand to remove her leg. My other dog had to have surgery in another 10 grand. But now we're talking about horses. These are 1,00 to 2500 pound animals. So like for me, like we're projected to do around 1.5 million this year in vet bills. That's a hard pill to swallow. And to know that if you don't raise that money, the horses aren't going to get what you promised them when you rescue them in the first place.

[00:10:55]>> It's hard.

[00:10:56]>> I mean, $1.5 million, right?

[00:10:59]>> Wow. Oh, just for vet, not the food and all the other things you have to just vetting.

[00:11:04]>> Now, just want to put it out there with all these insurance companies because you have so many animals, would you qualify for pet insurance?

[00:11:13]>> I don't know if they have you looked into that.

[00:11:15]>> The horses, yes. Oh, yeah.

[00:11:17]>> Some of the horses that we've had that we've put a lot of money into training >> um that we believe have like a really great potential to do something really high performance and with that comes a value. Um, yes, we have done the pet insurance and they will insure horses, but that's just because if, god forbid, we just spent 10 grand on training and we're hoping that this horse should adopt out and find a family in the performance world for 20 to 30,000. If that horse collics and dies, you're out all that money >> and I would rather be protected by the donations coming like by the funds replacing those donations that people trusted me with.

[00:11:49]>> Is there any world where an insurance company like that could cover all of the horses?

[00:11:54]>> You would have to pay per horse. per horse. What is that normally? Do you even know off the top of your head?

[00:11:58]>> It can be anywhere. It depends on the value of the horse.

[00:12:00]>> That's right. Okay. Okay.

[00:12:02]>> So, you would have to spend a lot, but it's not out of the realm of possibility if you wanted to do that. It's just not financially. I mean, that's like a whole other thing you'd have to add into an already >> Exactly.

[00:12:11]>> insane budget.

[00:12:13]>> So, now with all these other rescues for different animals, how do they do it? Do they have like some kind of special >> really?

[00:12:23]>> Yeah. they don't survive.

[00:12:25]>> That's why you don't see like the rescue world is a very sensitive place and it's because it's it's created with heart and a lot of people you can't it's hard to raise money.

[00:12:34]>> Mhm.

[00:12:35]>> It is hard and they started out with the best of intentions and then realize they're draining their savings account.

[00:12:41]Now they can't feed their family or now they can't pay their own medical bills that they have to fold. They don't have a choice. And the re the sad reality of this world is that even with grants and foundations and things like that, you don't get noticed until you're big enough to be noticed. So there's a lot of people who have the potential and the capabilities of running amazing rescues, which we need so badly in the United States, but they don't have they're not able to gain the reach that they need to get the eyes to give them the money to help fund their operations. It should be a government subsid sub subsidized program with as much >> need as there is for what we're doing with these animals and even communities, right? If you're an older gentleman and you get Parkinson's or something and you can't care for your stock anymore, where do those horses go?

[00:13:26]>> To an auction, >> right? To a kill auction. Y >> that's a shame. No, I I I see the the situation here is kind of tough because you can't really get money from other charities because they have a like struggling too, right?

[00:13:39]>> They're struggling. Plus, well, you have to be a charity for at least five years.

[00:13:43]You have to have done so much financially. There's all these restrictions because I've approached some of them for some of the other charities and you have all these things just to qualify.

[00:13:55]>> And it's a shame because if you're in the business to help support charities, >> why are you putting them through such all these stringent guidelines? Well, what's also weird to me is that how many charities came came forward or at least were exposed this year or this past year as being fraudulent, right? So, you have all these shell charities that they're using to funnel money, but here we are running real ones that are really truthful and really making a positive impact on not only humans, but but also the animals that we're saving. And it's it's just like the more I do it, the more I see that really there needs to be aid granted to the real ones, to the grassroots ones that you can see visually. You can see where, you know, and some of our our donors, even for us, they're like, "We love supporting you because we see exactly where the money goes. There's no this, you know, weird group of board members that are getting paid these weird amounts, you know, it's not that. It goes straight into the into the animals, into the food, into the training. And she's the same way.

[00:14:57]>> And they can come out and physically see it and touch the animals and help with the physical labor and clean the pens and doctor the horses, bathe them, walk them, see the therapy programs going on.

[00:15:06]There's no question that this is >> that the small like as Don said, the grassroots rescues are doing what they're doing with the money. They just need help.

[00:15:14]>> Yeah.

[00:15:14]>> So, what about some of the the universities or the schools possibly getting interns to learn >> Yeah. about caring, you know.

[00:15:22]>> Yeah. We have a vet program that we're working on getting um this school to come down from north northwest Arkansas to come down and start using Moon Mountain as a training facility. And also what we're aimed at together is starting the first rescuer vet clinic down in Texas to sort of mitigate some of these horses that are coming out of these kill pens, >> but also save funding. Right. So, with this clinic that we're trying to put together, it'll end up saving the rescues probably, I bet >> 50 60%.

[00:15:55]>> Uh, >> and be kind of in a like a conglomerate.

[00:15:59]Is that >> like a co-op? A co-op. Can you imagine 50% of your of your donations that you're receiving are going to go to vet bills. Imagine what you could do to help these animals.

[00:16:08]>> Now, you could turn around that 50% you're saving and turn around and put it back into your program expenses and make a stronger program. I mean, this might we're trying to create this vet clinic that teams up with like Texas A&M and all of these universities who are so excited about it because they don't have anywhere for the students to go to get the hands-on learning with what the amount of different trauma cases that we see. No vets have >> unless you're in the rescue community, you do not the vets are not exposed to the level of different cases that they need to make them the best vet that they can possibly be. So to have a clinic where the students are learning, the vets are learning too because they're seeing things they see maybe once in a lifetime but now on a regular basis and now you're improving the whole the industry as a whole >> the whole system. Every stall is a different crazy thing that happens. You >> you become a a a Somalier of of >> horse ailments. You really do. Really do. So that's like our big grand plan is that hopefully by 2027 we'll have it moving in place and we'll get this program going and and up off the ground because we want to invite other rescues to come in and say listen as in a co-op manner. you could come and be a part of a membership where you can then go rescue some horses from the killpen and then run them through our vet clinic and you get everything discounted from the meds to the stalls to the just it makes it makes it possible so you can keep running your program >> right >> now that's fantastic I I think there's got to be some way of maybe what about like local corporations I mean in Arkansas what about Walmart have you ever >> approached Walmart about it >> I haven't got there yet? No. But I definitely I feel like it's going to happen. Yeah.

[00:17:53]>> I I've spent a lot of time at Walmart corporate in Bentonville.

[00:17:57]>> Alice, one of the daughters, Alice, is really into horses and the father used to run a Mustang ranch, too. So, I think it's a matter of time before you part of the way I don't know how you do it, but I there's not a lot of going out and panhandling truly. I I feel like we've existed as a beacon and the right people have been attracted and have come and the right things then come from that.

[00:18:21]And I think those people also like that we're not out grabbing for things. We're like we're building things. We're also actively always trying to create alternative revenue streams that we don't have to go and panhandle that we can create merch merchandising lines and and other part other ways of making content that we can bring more revenue into these rescues because we're trying to figure out another blueprint another design rescue's never had that like at least in the horse rescue world if you look at all the horse rescues there's no there's just we're rescuing horses but that's not going to save the horses and it's not going to change anything it's saving the horsees today, but what about the horses tomorrow? And that's where Don and I have been really working together hard on just coming up with with the revenue streams like merchandise, branding, what can we do apps, what can we do to bring in revenue in different ways that can also help build and make the organization stronger.

[00:19:19]Exactly. Because we can see how sensitive it is because you're just looking around and they're dropping all around you, right? Exactly. because you're taking in their animals, >> right?

[00:19:30]>> Yeah.

[00:19:30]>> And it's hard, >> right?

[00:19:32]>> Yeah. I think if um I was just thinking if you uh created some kind of educational program, >> I I think a lot of companies would say, "Hey, this be really great because we have these kids learning how to take care of animals or veterinarian or whatever it may be or training, whatever it may be. maybe you might be able to get some more support because I know when you add an educational component, >> it seems to get people more interested in saying, "Hey, >> these there's going to they're going to be teaching people. It's not just caring for these animals, but these kids are going to come and they're going to spend time. They're going to learn." So maybe there's an academy.

[00:20:07]>> Well, we have a full challenge that we're setting up, right? So, it's kind of in the world of what you're talking about where kids can come and they learn foundational techniques with these horses and then they get to run through this competition and then adopt the baby afterwards. So, we're trying to So, we support this program that was started in Texas and we supply all the babies to the program. So, however many people she's got in her program to do the challenge, we send the babies to her and now she's going to start taking it out of Texas and do one with us and then do another one. We can send her to California. Right. So it's it's it's in that world too, teaching people how to connect with animals, how to communicate with them.

[00:20:44]>> Yeah. And I also think that if even like for instance, say Walmart or one of these other big stores, >> you need grains. Maybe you know, maybe right now they their budget is passed because certain times of the year they can't give you more money.

[00:20:58]>> How about product?

[00:21:00]>> Because they still can write that off, >> you know, even reaching out to them. And I want to help you with this because my relationship with Walmart, I'm very close. Maybe there's a way to say, "Listen, you know, we could use your help financially, but if you can't, do you have any products that you can help feed these animals?" That would be a great And then, you never know, they might say, "Well, listen, we can send you this many >> pallets of whatever." And because they do have pet food, >> you know, maybe there's ways of even getting from the food to other things besides money and then collectively it takes the pressure off you financially >> and then you have these other I know you're doing fundraising doing the socks and other things and >> what you're trying to do. But I think if we can get you more exposure, >> absolutely >> social media I think would be the key.

[00:21:43]Exposure is I think >> for meuge a big deal because you can't imagine how many people uh say I had no idea this was happening >> all the time.

[00:21:53]>> It blows my mind. Right. It does.

[00:21:55]>> It's mindblowing.

[00:21:57]>> Yeah. Because also what that would do to have more of a front page billboard, right? Billboards in LA and New York. we have these dreams and sometimes we play with the what the billboard can look like just to get the word out that this is what's happening because I think once that happens people then start to take notice and there then then the the dialogue gets bigger the the sound gets bigger.

[00:22:20]>> Well, you know, it's like you watch all these celebrity like reality shows, okay, where >> they've sent them somewhere and they're in the forest and they're going to run around and do whatever. What if you got like like six or eight celebrities that kind of want to make their name back again and put them on your ranch >> and put them to work on how to run a nonprofit and they have to feed the goats, the pigs and the ducks.

[00:22:46]>> But >> yeah, >> but then you might have companies go, "Wow, I love what they're doing."

[00:22:50]>> That's not about sponsors, right?

[00:22:52]>> There's a lot of hard work.

[00:22:53]>> It is. And we we sort of with this clinic, we've pitched the idea of doing a reality show about building about us building this veterinary clinic, right?

[00:23:03]So, it could be an interesting side piece of like, okay, we're doing this, but we also have to make a little bit we have to make a little bit more noise.

[00:23:10]So, we're going to on that same property teach a group of cameo celebrities to come in and how to help with this clinic. today. They've never they've maybe never milked a cow or they >> or milk the wild mustang. Like I had to do that. A baby couldn't stand. So I had to get in there and that mama let me milk her. She's a completely wild mustang.

[00:23:31]>> Add that to your bucket list.

[00:23:33]>> Well, I'll talk to some of the companies that do these shows and see if we can come up with something really fun cuz I know between you and I.

[00:23:41]>> Yeah, I know.

[00:23:42]>> But all the actors we know.

[00:23:44]>> I know. We could have so much fun with that.

[00:23:46]>> Totally. I mean, I think there'd be some really probably really bigger name actors might say, "Hey, I I'll do that."

[00:23:52]>> Yeah, >> why not?

[00:23:53]>> Love animals and they want to come out and it's a good cause. It spreads awareness. It's education >> and it's fun.

[00:23:59]>> It gives back.

[00:24:00]>> Yeah. No, we can get a >> So fun.

[00:24:02]>> A few like Jeff Fay is dear friend.

[00:24:04]Frank Stallone is dear friend. Kasa's mind. I can I can start reaching out loud or rich. I'll start asking all these people music, film, sports, right?

[00:24:13]>> And come out and let's shoot something.

[00:24:15]Let's do something that's fun. I I think people would totally dig it cuz you're watching the celebrity like on a farm, >> right? Well, to that point, I don't I mean, it was when I was in high school, but when Paris Hilton and them did that on the farm show and it was huge and everybody was obsessed with with just >> watching those two girls be on a farm, out of their element. And I think throwing people into a rescue life, >> they would anyone would be out of their element. Like it just it's not something that people do really anymore unless you're living in the Midwest or living out in the middle of nowhere.

[00:24:46]>> Well, you know this remember years ago there was a really hit show called Green Acres.

[00:24:51]>> Yeah. Yeah. Of course. Right.

[00:24:53]>> It was hysterical. So I have a production company that approached me because they know I am friends with Jay Moore.

[00:25:00]>> Okay.

[00:25:00]>> So they want to see if Jay Moore and his wife would be the reboot and it be like reality show whatever. Mhm.

[00:25:07]>> But imagine if we put them on your farm.

[00:25:10]>> Mhm.

[00:25:11]>> To shoot the show, the Green Acres, where every day they got to deal with taking care of the animals and everyday life.

[00:25:17]>> Yeah.

[00:25:17]>> Maybe there's a way to do something in a fun way cuz then you'd make money with with the show.

[00:25:22]>> Yeah. Well, even sending them, what I thought in my mind as you're saying it is sending them through the whole process of rescuing a horse or a group of horses. Send them to the auction. Let them not even know how to handle that.

[00:25:33]>> Let them pick. How do you even pick the horse that you're saving? Right. It's a pretty it's a pretty emotional experience that you're playing God out there and you decide who gets to live and who dies. So you you know it could be a heavy experience. It can also be funny, but we could it's a marriage between those two those two worlds. But I think even taking a horse from a rescued state all the way through and finishing and then finding how to adopt.

[00:25:58]Yeah, it'd be an interesting um it would be an interesting almost like an obstacle course that you would be put through >> mentally and physically.

[00:26:07]>> And emot Yeah. and emotionally.

[00:26:08]>> Well, I think what we can do is when I come up to film this obstacle course we do with the animals.

[00:26:14]>> Okay. We have a bison. We have to tell people what we're talking about.

[00:26:19]>> Well, okay. So, I was on social media >> and I saw her riding a bison.

[00:26:26]>> Yeah. a big fluffy adorable bison. Not the one that threw that guy >> flip the guy up in the air >> 12 feet in the air. You know, >> he may still be able to do that, right?

[00:26:35]>> But I just thought I mean you're sleeping with the raccoons and and then you got the goats over here and you have the horses over here. You got every kind of animal camels walking around. I'm just saying that we could do something really cool. Maybe when we shoot the thing with the community and we have we do the obstacourse challenge for the animals.

[00:26:52]>> We can make a sizzle reel.

[00:26:53]>> I love that idea. and use that time to shoot it and do something really cool.

[00:26:58]See if we can sell it to a network.

[00:27:00]>> I love it. Well, I also I said to you the bison, he needs like he needs a workout obstacle course cuz he's a young guy. He needs to like get his muscles going and we need like tires hanging from I said we could just go to some junkyard, pick out a bunch of fun things and string them up in the trees and let him just walk around like a pinball machine.

[00:27:17]>> He would love it. He would challenge it.

[00:27:19]You know, it's like Caesar Milan is a friend of mine and you know and and he knows like pit bulls I have two pit bulls are working dogs >> and you need to put them to work >> so we have to put something together to work >> so your bison's not crashing your trailer.

[00:27:37]>> He does that new people come in and he'll rock the trailer at the middle of the night. He's like come out. I know you're in there. You're new here. I need to see. He's really, we call him the bodyguard of the moon because there we had some construction guys and one guy would get there early and go fishing in the pond and you'd see Chanu, that's his name, Chanu just kind of like walk over and go find the and you'd see the guy like roll up his fishing line and just start walking a little.

[00:28:00]>> He's like, "Time to go back to your site now. No fishing out here." I put together a a concept for a show >> where we have this open call >> and basically we told people if you have any overweight dogs come to the show and we'll help your dog lose the weight.

[00:28:20]>> But when they all showed up >> we said wait a minute it's not just the dog it's you and the dog have to lose lose the weight together.

[00:28:30]>> Yeah. And some of them said, "Yeah." And some, "No way. No way. I'm not I don't want a diet. My dog's fat." So, it was really hyster the trailer. Maybe we could do a little tweak of that, right?

[00:28:42]You know, a weight loss program working at a your ranch.

[00:28:46]>> Oh, well, that's really interesting to say that because that's something we joke about. It's like we call it fat camp out there because it's the it's the gym that pays you to lose weight >> cuz you all of the employees they'll show up and everybody you know everybody's fluffy but then you start working there over some time you lose all of the weight they get so healthy >> that you that's actually you're on to something >> right you know weight loss camp but that's takes >> but you're rescuing you're working >> that's a lot of work >> it's a lot of work one of our guys at our barn has lost like 150 pounds >> yes >> just from literally really doing basic barn work.

[00:29:21]>> Yes. Rescue gym. That's the name of the show.

[00:29:24]>> Carrying bales of hay, right?

[00:29:27]>> Wheelbarrowing, you know, feed.

[00:29:29]>> Yeah. Just getting a donkey across the barn.

[00:29:34]>> Yes. A donkey would help. Yes. That is strength training.

[00:29:39]>> Now, as far as their nutrition, do you have someone that oversees what you feed these animals?

[00:29:46]>> How does how do you guys work over here?

[00:29:48]>> I oversee it. Yeah, pretty much.

[00:29:49]>> I've just learned through like obviously I read a lot of books and then you hear you have what people tell you, >> but then just through trial and error and seeing what works, what supplements work. Um, >> and then you just follow that protocol.

[00:30:01]>> I mean, the vets of course will give their perspective and what they from a vet perspective have to say, but from a real reality >> like being there, seeing what's actually helping them, >> that's where it modifies and then you kind of do your own regiment.

[00:30:15]>> Mhm.

[00:30:16]>> Incredible. And then Don with your acting career. I mean >> all the shows you've been in. I mean from Yellowstone to 1883 to Homestead. I mean >> Den of Thieves. I mean >> I'm a busy girl.

[00:30:30]>> Yeah. How do you find the time?

[00:30:32]>> Oh man. That's what everybody says. You know what? I'm really good at building self-sustaining structures. That's what I say. And I've and I've always whether I was working a lot or I I always had animals, right? And this kind of taught me this that I always had animals and I always wanted to go away on trips. Like if you asked me to go, I want to be able to move in on a dime. So I always set up my home life to where I could do that.

[00:30:55]And the ranch is no different, right?

[00:30:57]Because I I always might have to go shoot a show or shoot a thing, something. So I always set up my scenario, my my everything I do is always set up where I can leave. And that's the moon is no different. I have I have it set up. Everybody knows that I can go in a day's notice and every it's everybody's got to just pick up the slack and move.

[00:31:16]>> No, I see you're very toned. Do you train specifically like for some of the shows?

[00:31:21]>> So fat right now, but thanks for noticing that. No, I >> No, but like lion is I mean some of these shows you look real badass. I mean have you physically have >> That's my mind. That's what you're seeing. It's not my body. It's really just my mind. No, I No. You know what I found? And this is, you know, now we're in the thread of of your world there. I I went from a transitional sort of my body changed being out on the ranch. And I and I I maybe liken it to a couple things.

[00:31:51]I'm subjecting myself, my body to constant stress, right? And it's like a moderate stress continually. And I've read online, you know, working out, it's there's you could it's maybe not the best way to work out. your best way. Now you tell me if this is right or not. You do these like you oscillate like you you go into these high maybe you go into these high moments of stress and then you and then you recover and you relax and you do that in a day. But when you're on a ranch and you're dealing with so many fires you're putting out staff I'm always moving like I barely ever sit down and relax. So that continual stress is it creates a different physique. It's not it's a strong course. physique, but not like a a pretty muscle physique. Do you know what I mean?

[00:32:39]>> Yeah. But you you're making a point here is that, you know, that everyday kind of work is conditioning your body. It's just not maybe getting as refined or defined if you were doing a weight resistant movement.

[00:32:51]>> Like I would love you to come and help me figure out how I could do that.

[00:32:55]>> Truly, >> you know, really I we so funny was when I was first bodybuilding as a teenager.

[00:33:00]>> Yeah.

[00:33:02]My father had a landscaping and construction company. So I had to mix cement. I had to wheel rocks. I had to lift bales of Pete Moss. Yeah.

[00:33:12]>> And cement 100 lb 200lb bags of cement.

[00:33:15]>> And so I was getting muscular just from that kind of work. But then I after work I go and do the defining movements to bring out the details.

[00:33:26]>> I don't have details >> but we can do that. See, you have you have a really strong, shapely, very feminine physique, but now we want to etch out some more detail, a little more arm develop, maybe a little more the shoulder.

[00:33:38]>> This is the rescue gym we're talking about. I like >> Well, we're going to do that fat loss camp at the >> Yeah. Well, you know, I think a lot of people would want to know these answers because shoot, I don't know them and I'm at the forefront of everything and I don't have these answers. It >> was so funny like when um I was wheeling the cement. Yeah.

[00:33:55]>> You know, I was doing walking lunges.

[00:33:58]Yeah, that's what what are you doing?

[00:34:00]>> What do you do with this with the legs?

[00:34:02]I go, I got to make sure I really get the glutes. What's glutes? What's the glutes? If I could barely speak English, right? But I was making sure that even when I was pushing the mower, I did these power movement. So, I was really working the whole thigh, not just the calf muscle. Right.

[00:34:19]>> So, I figured how can I incorporate my training? So my cardio was when I was mowing lawns and blowing leaves and doing stuff and then my definement work was the weights at night when I go to the gym. Yeah.

[00:34:30]>> And that's how I made it work. And then when I that was when I was a teenager, I won teenage Mr. America. I went I won every single body part.

[00:34:39]>> That was a lot of cement.

[00:34:40]>> Yeah, that was a lot of cement. Welcome.

[00:34:43]>> And then when I won, my father says, "Yeah, you won because of me."

[00:34:46]>> Oh, the luck. I gave you He's taking credit for me.

[00:34:50]>> Glue thing that I told you to do.

[00:34:52]>> But but the thing was I found a way to incorporate where I could still earn a living.

[00:34:57]>> Yeah.

[00:34:58]>> And pursue my dream. Yeah.

[00:35:00]>> Which was to win these titles, right?

[00:35:03]And I just think that let's get real fun and creative and create something fun so we can create awareness of both locations that you have and how we can help raise awareness to make more people want to get involved and then that'll translate into funds and maybe there'll be some veterinarians who will say wait a minute >> we want we want to train our kids we want our students >> this be great this can learn because now you're dealing with not just typical cats and dogs horses and monkeys and all this other [ __ ] Who knows what comes out of our house? Oh yeah, that's something we would love.

[00:35:37]>> You don't have elephants.

[00:35:38]>> Not yet, but we've had dream conversations about about teaming up >> detailed dreamed conversation.

[00:35:44]>> Teaming up to do an elephant sanctuary >> cuz like if anybody could, we could do it for >> I'm sure you ladies can.

[00:35:51]>> That might be phase two. Yeah. Yeah.

[00:35:54]>> Yeah. Let us get through the vet clinic thing that needs to happen and then Yeah. That'll be the next endeavor.

[00:35:59]>> You know what's so great? Um, you both have this beautiful energy. You like can read each other's minds, too, you know?

[00:36:06]>> Yeah. We're probably kind of the same person doing the same thing in the same way. Yeah.

[00:36:10]>> Right. You can learn a lot about a person if you rescue with them. And I've said that even though I haven't been doing that this long, you enter into a rescue scenario with somebody. You learn very quickly their relationship with money.

[00:36:21]>> You learn very quickly how they care for things, >> how they handle stress, >> how they handle stress, >> how they treat people under stress.

[00:36:28]>> Yeah. That's like a high conflict arena.

[00:36:31]It' be like going into battle with somebody and you learn very quickly.

[00:36:35]>> There's a lot of rescues that can't get along and it's just because it is such an emotional high stress >> for many reasons environment and you're either able to communicate through and work with others to get through it >> or you almost seclude yourself and cancel everyone out. And luckily we get along just fine and we can bounce ideas off and want to grow and want to do better and want to do more and see the industry change and be a part of that change.

[00:37:02]>> Lead that change the change in a lot of ways. Never been done before.

[00:37:05]>> Who else is doing that?

[00:37:06]>> No one >> really no one.

[00:37:08]>> As far as with any churches >> have you reached out to any churches about doing something with the churches because they have access to a lot of funds. That's true.

[00:37:20]>> A lot of patrons. Because right now I'm working with this company Aphetto that's powers this show >> and we're building out tele medicine.

[00:37:30]>> I'm the one that had to build out tele medicine for animals.

[00:37:36]>> Great.

[00:37:36]>> Because they're part of the family. So part of the membership is because you know how you have him and hers and all these other things.

[00:37:42]>> Well, it's all for humans.

[00:37:44]>> There's nothing for cats and dogs and any kind of animals. So they've now created a whole animal medicine tele medicine programing that >> and we also are talking to some of the churches because the churches like that we're doing holistic approach towards health and wellness and person's health span >> right >> the churches are want to be involved with us >> so why wouldn't they want to be involved with God's children our animals are God's children it is true not just the humans right so maybe you Um, I'll make some calls to see if we can get some of the churches maybe in your community >> that know you're doing something really great and may be able to get some donations.

[00:38:26]>> That's a really great idea. Yeah, it is.

[00:38:28]>> You know, we got to think out of the box.

[00:38:29]>> Yeah. you know, and I've worked with a lot of um nonprofits like Last Chance for Animals, a lot of Christo Rose is a very dear friend of mine and every year I'm there supporting his rallies for raising money and we've been doing quite well over the years. But that's because we have a whole community of people that show up every single >> That's amazing. That's special. I think what I love about what Talia tries to hunt down are, you know, what I've learned in the very short time I've had this rescue is that you can bring in donations and they can last for a short period of time, but then they disappear.

[00:39:06]So, it's like the feed can come in for a minute and then it's gone again.

[00:39:11]What I am interested in, and I'm sure that's what she's interested in, is is are these sovereign structures where you may be able to bring that that donation in as an investment to create a structure that then runs on its own.

[00:39:25]That's really what we need because we want to become >> sovereign rescues that we don't have to worry if donations drop because we have this revenue stream cuz she's got her socks and the merchandise that are doing well and you know it's if people hit a dry spot and they're not able to give because the economy tanks for some reason or there's something you know we have lives that we're responsible for.

[00:39:50]We can't rely just on the goodness of people to show up to give us donations. Like we're beyond that now. We're really beyond that. And I'm not saying that in a way that's like not grateful for the donations that do come in because they are what keep us alive right now. But I think both of us can see the importance of setting up a sovereign structure, a a business plan really that brings revenue streams into the rescue that allows us to take a breath if if that doesn't show up this month.

[00:40:24]>> Right.

[00:40:24]>> Well, I I know how stressful it is chasing money >> and it's exhausting physically, mentally, and emotionally.

[00:40:33]It' be nice if all you could do is take all your energy and efforts to take care of these animals, not have to be diverted to go, "Oh, how are we going to pay for the bills and how are we going to pay for the feed and the veterinarian and everything?" So, >> yeah, let's let's see how we can start.

[00:40:48]>> It's building that awareness. Yeah, >> it's building that. Put your mind in that direction because that's when we really can help sustain these programs.

[00:40:56]>> Now, if someone watching the show wants to reach out to you, what's the website that they should go to? Well, for myself, it's all seated in a barn. So, you can go on Instagram or Facebook or YouTube or just the website and click to donate or click to volunteer.

[00:41:10]>> It's all seated in the barn.

[00:41:11]>> All seated in a barn.

[00:41:13]>> Tell the story where that came from. The name is a good name.

[00:41:15]>> The name came from. Thank you, Don.

[00:41:16]Yeah.

[00:41:17]>> Um, when my sister and I formed the nonprofit, we were trying to I wanted a name that wasn't just like Cindy's Rescue, Talia's Rescue. I just felt like where my heart lied was in something much bigger than that. I didn't want to just be another rescue. I wanted to to do to create change for the horses. I don't want to just save a horse and then nobody ever knows about me ever again.

[00:41:39]And an organization that I have followed because friends of mine have attended is outstanding in a field. And they do these dinners all around the world and it's all about supporting local farmers, local wineries, local everything and bringing people together under on a to sit at a table, break bread, share ideas, have conversations. And I loved that concept. And so I told my sister, I was like, I just want it to feel like that. I want it to be about everyone coming together for the horses, for the animals. And that's where we came up with all seated in a barn because we all are sitting together in a barn with the animals to create change and to give them a better space.

[00:42:16]>> That's beautiful.

[00:42:18]>> Yeah. Yeah. Isn't that a nice story?

[00:42:20]>> Yeah. It's so beautiful. But I'll make sure we post it the exact website so people can just click and learn how they can help out.

[00:42:26]>> Thank you. Well, I want to thank you both for coming on the show.

[00:42:29]>> And then Don's, we have to donate to Don, too.

[00:42:32]>> I know. Don, no. Don, come on. Share, share your website. Come on.

[00:42:37]>> Uh, it's Moon Mountain Sanctuary and Rescue. So, there's a shortened version of moonmount.org.

[00:42:42]>> Okay.

[00:42:43]>> Um, Moon Mountain came from It's named actually after the first skunk I ever had. I know, what a weird way to name something. But I I had I had rescued a skunk out here in California when I lived in Topanga. And that skunk it was so I was so captivated by this creature that is normally an animal that you look you see and then you run away as fast as you can.

[00:43:07]>> Yeah. Cuz you don't get sprayed. I get it.

[00:43:09]>> Yeah. Exactly. But there's it has such a deterrent built into its being, you know. So when I had this baby and this baby and I cared for this baby and it grew up and I mean it would like reach out to be held, you know, I was like this thing like nature made this thing and it's so beautiful and I never looked at the face of a skunk because I'm always running away from them and and they're so loving and cuddly and caring and and sweet smelling, right? It was just the opposite of everything that you know a skunk to be. And one day he took a he took a walk. And that day, for some reason, I had cut my Wi-Fi cord on my cabin. So I lost all connection to the outside world for two days. And the skunk sometimes would go and he would go on little adventures and come back. So I let him just free roam. And he was off on his little adventure. And then I got my Wi-Fi working again. And right away I got a message from my friend. She's like, "I think someone picked up your skunk." And they're asking who whose skunk this is. And so I immediately called the p the people and they were like, "Oh, well, we called animal control and they came and got them and I was devastated. I tried to go to animal control and like but it's illegal in California. You can't have skunks as pets." I brought his little cheese bag and all the food he loved. It was heart-wrenching and I followed him as far as I could. I'm going to cry now.

[00:44:25]>> I'm sorry. No, but it was a it was a beautiful experience because I I was so mad that how could these zoos or these other places that he was going be better suited than me to raise a creature that I knew so well? And so I sat there and I was like, I'm going to have an animal sanctuary one day where I'm going to be allowed to have these animals because I can do it. And I called it I made a deck on my computer and I still have it like 10 years later and it was called Moon Mountain Retreat.

[00:44:56]>> Well, so good.

[00:44:59]>> No, but you know what I love? You both have this specific story how you created the website and the theme for your both foundations is beautiful. But that your heart and soul's into it.

[00:45:11]>> Um, we're all in.

[00:45:13]>> We are all in. All seated in the barn all the way to the moon over here.

[00:45:19]I'm all in now, baby. So, >> we're going to love it.

[00:45:22]>> We're going to do Listen, I'm I'm Italian, you know, cuz you're Italian, too. When I say I do something, >> Yeah. That's right.

[00:45:28]>> It's not lip service, it will happen.

[00:45:31]We're going to make this happen. We're going to make that bison happy. So, >> Oh, boy. You got You're right. It's our workout for you. We're going to figure this out.

[00:45:38]>> But we got to get that guy >> like a full guy like like in the same rendition of the guy from Yellowstone.

[00:45:44]He's just like a doll >> from the ceiling.

[00:45:46]>> Inflatable doll that he bison just keep ramming them.

[00:45:51]>> So funny though. Like maybe bison really like that.

[00:45:54]>> Amazing. That guy can come and be the host of >> Can he come and host? We got to bison bison yard. He's perfect for it.

[00:46:02]Somalier of bison. He doesn't have a choice.

[00:46:05]>> Oh my god. Now I'm crying cuz I'm little dolls of him. He's like little Colonel Sanders.

[00:46:09]>> That would be funny.

[00:46:11]selling his little dolls.

[00:46:14]>> Some of his dog toys. Bison toys.

[00:46:17]>> Air bison. Did you see the new one?

[00:46:19]>> I can't. It's too much.

[00:46:20]>> That's the newest toy that you throw for your dogs.

[00:46:25]>> This poor guy. I can't wait for his first interview. Please.

[00:46:29]I promise. You have my word.

[00:46:32]>> God, please.

[00:46:32]>> And thanks again for being on the show and sharing your stories.

[00:46:36]>> For sure. Thank you. Means so much to me.

[00:46:37]>> Thank you for having us.

[00:46:38]>> Yeah. So, if you have anybody you care about, I want you to share this episode.

[00:46:44]And you need to go to YouTube and watch the whole episode, not just the clips on social media. And I want you to subscribe to Live Well and Thrive podcast on YouTube. And please reach out to your friends and family members to donate to both of these foundations.

[00:47:02]They need your support. And thanks for watching.