FitK9 Walking

A 70-year-old bloke. Two Kelpies. No idea what happens next. FitK9 Walking is a story-driven podcast about dogs, people, ageing, connection, humour, reflection, and finding meaning in ordinary walks. It is not a fitness podcast. It is not a self-help podcast. It is not a dog-training podcast. It is a podcast about life, told through the adventures of a 70-year-old bloke and two Kelpies.

S03E26 - I Made Them Laugh At Monika's Funeral 08/07/2026

S03E26 - I Made Them Laugh At Monika's Funeral At Monika's funeral, nearly three hundred people filled the chapel. When it was Gary's turn to speak, he didn't arrive with cue cards or a prepared speech. Instead, he told the story of their first date - and a moment with a newly appointed CEO that brought the chapel to laughter and a standing ovation. Years later, Gary finally understood why that story had moved people so deeply. They weren't simply hearing one of his memories of Monika. They were remembering their own. A story about humour, love, memory, and the remarkable way one person can change the feeling of a moment. /episode/index/show/15a6738d-de23-4fce-bf73-c877b5347e5f/id/42353070

S03E25 - Thankyou Shanka 08/02/2026

S03E25 - Thankyou Shanka A phone call changed my life forever. When my wife Monika was diagnosed with leukaemia, I found myself sitting opposite an oncologist named Shanka. In just a few quiet minutes, he gave me advice that would shape not only the months that followed, but the next ten years of my life. As family and friends struggled with fear and grief, Shanka taught me a different way to walk beside someone you love—to stay in the moment, to protect their emotional energy, and to choose love over fear. This is a story about compassion, gratitude, and one remarkable man whose wisdom helped our family celebrate life, even in the darkest of times. Thank you, Shanka. /episode/index/show/15a6738d-de23-4fce-bf73-c877b5347e5f/id/42289285

S03E24 - The Neurologist And The Unexpected Apprentice 07/30/2026

S03E24 - The Neurologist And The Unexpected Apprentice At twenty years old, Gary thought he was bulletproof—until he blacked out behind the wheel and woke up in hospital with his driver's licence suspended and the frightening possibility of epilepsy hanging over him. What began as fear slowly became fascination as one elderly neurologist and a handful of medical students unknowingly encouraged a lifelong habit of asking questions. This is a story about curiosity, learning and discovering that sometimes the greatest teachers never realise the impact they have. /episode/index/show/15a6738d-de23-4fce-bf73-c877b5347e5f/id/42261250

S03E23 – Dire Straits in a Kuala Lumpur Bar 07/27/2026

S03E23 – Dire Straits in a Kuala Lumpur Bar Charlie accidentally joins a Saturday Parkrun, makes a few new mates, and settles into the café as if he'd planned it all along. That simple moment sends Gary back to a tiny bar in Kuala Lumpur, where a band only knew five Dire Straits songs—and somehow that unforgettable night answered two questions he'd been carrying since losing Monika. A funny story about a Kelpie becomes a gentle reminder that somewhere along the way many of us stop laughing, stop playing, and forget the joy of simply being present. /episode/index/show/15a6738d-de23-4fce-bf73-c877b5347e5f/id/42235605

S03E22 - Where Did I Go? 07/25/2026

S03E22 - Where Did I Go? For two seasons, you've walked beside Gary, Milo and Charlie. But have you ever wondered why this podcast exists in the first place? In this deeply personal episode, Gary answers the question a listener asked during the break between Seasons Two and Three: "What inspired you to start the FitK9 Walking Podcast?" What begins as an answer about dogs and walking becomes something far more unexpected—a journey back to finding himself after a lifetime of becoming everything everyone else needed him to be. It's a story about turning seventy, choosing how to spend the years ahead, and discovering that sometimes the quietest walks reveal the loudest truths. Because perhaps the greatest journey isn't finding a destination. It's finding yourself. /episode/index/show/15a6738d-de23-4fce-bf73-c877b5347e5f/id/42210860

S03E21 - Je 'taime 07/21/2026

S03E21 - Je 'taime Sometimes the smallest moments become the ones that shape our lives. After meeting a girl with a French surname, Gary confidently puts his Year 10 French to work—with predictably disastrous results. But one quiet phrase, whispered at exactly the right moment, becomes far more than two French words. Years later, while writing this episode, Gary discovers it was never really about language. It was about feeling emotionally safe… long before he understood what emotional safety actually was. A humorous story about terrible French, unforgettable love, and how the meaning of life's most precious moments can change over time. /episode/index/show/15a6738d-de23-4fce-bf73-c877b5347e5f/id/42162500

S02E20 - Never Trust Dad With Your Wedding Speech 07/09/2026

S02E20 - Never Trust Dad With Your Wedding Speech For months before his daughter's wedding, Gary was asked the same question over and over again. "Dad... have you written your speech yet?" The only problem was... he hadn't. Well... not exactly. While most fathers of the bride spend months writing, rehearsing and worrying about the perfect speech, Gary prepared just one sentence and trusted the wedding itself to provide the rest. What followed became one of the most memorable speeches of his life, proving that sometimes the best stories aren't the ones we carefully script—they're the ones we discover by simply being present. With plenty of laughter, a surprise callback to Little Red Riding Hood, and a reminder that life has a habit of revealing its meaning long after the moment has passed, this Season 2 finale is a celebration of family, storytelling and the ordinary moments that quietly become unforgettable. /episode/index/show/15a6738d-de23-4fce-bf73-c877b5347e5f/id/41988395

S02E18 - Kelpie Amongst The Labradors 07/08/2026

S02E18 - Kelpie Amongst The Labradors Milo isn't interested in making friends. He's interested in the beach. But one quiet morning at Horseshoe Bay, a group of Labradors and Golden Retrievers accidentally wander into his world. What follows is one of the funniest and most unexpected encounters Gary has ever witnessed, as a working Kelpie quietly reveals instincts that hundreds of years of breeding never quite forgot. Sometimes the greatest laughs come from trying to understand someone who sees the world completely differently. /episode/index/show/15a6738d-de23-4fce-bf73-c877b5347e5f/id/41988335

S02E19 - The Golden Retriever Passport 07/07/2026

S02E19 - The Golden Retriever Passport Dogs have a remarkable way of becoming part of our lives. Not just our homes—but our routines, our friendships, our identity, and the quiet rhythm of each day. After losing her beloved Labrador, Kobi, a close friend believed she'd never own another dog. But over time, something unexpected began calling her back—not simply another dog, but the walks, the beach, the conversations and the community that had quietly become part of her life. In this episode, Gary reflects on grief, friendship, new beginnings, and why walking with dogs is sometimes about far more than exercise. Along the way, Milo once again demonstrates that social etiquette remains… optional. Sometimes a walk doesn't just change your day. Sometimes it quietly helps you find your way back into life. /episode/index/show/15a6738d-de23-4fce-bf73-c877b5347e5f/id/41988345

S02E17 - Bowser Thinks He's A Guard Dog 07/07/2026

S02E17 - Bowser Thinks He's A Guard Dog Bowser may only be a tiny Chihuahua living in the Canadian wilderness, but don't even think about telling him that. As far as Bowser's concerned... "I'm dog." While Bowser patrols for bears, coyotes and anything remotely suspicious, his loving family seem far more interested in dinosaur costumes, knitted jumpers and finding ever more creative ways to stop him barking. After five electronic anti-barking devices fail spectacularly, an ordinary spray bottle somehow succeeds where modern technology couldn't. Along the way, Gary reflects on a university obsession with Russian literature, the unexpected legacy of naming his daughter Natascha with a C, and how life has a habit of teaching its greatest lessons in places no philosopher ever imagined. A playful story about identity, absurdity and one little Mexican dog who never stopped knowing exactly who he was. /episode/index/show/15a6738d-de23-4fce-bf73-c877b5347e5f/id/41987295

S02E16- The One "R" 07/06/2026

S02E16- The One "R" At five years old, Gary quietly retired one of the Rs from his name. It seemed like a perfectly sensible solution at the time. After all, when you're five, Father Christmas delivers presents with flying reindeer, the Easter Bunny hides chocolate eggs, and removing an extra letter from your name hardly feels like a life-changing decision. What follows is the true story of a left-handed little boy, an ink pen, a missing R, and the wonderfully innocent logic that quietly followed him for the next twenty five years. Sometimes the smallest decisions leave the biggest footprints. /episode/index/show/15a6738d-de23-4fce-bf73-c877b5347e5f/id/41972505

S02E15 - Working Dogs Don't Go To Puppy School 07/02/2026

S02E15 - Working Dogs Don't Go To Puppy School Charlie was the star pupil at puppy school. Sit. Stay. Drop. Recall. There was just one small problem... Charlie only seemed to remember his training when roast chicken was involved. Growing up around working dogs in the Northern Territory, Gary couldn't help imagining two old stockmen sitting around a campfire explaining how the day's cattle muster fell apart because they'd run out of roast chicken. What follows is a humorous collision between suburban puppy school and outback Australia, before arriving at a much quieter realisation. Perhaps the greatest relationship we can build with our dogs isn't based on obedience at all... It's built on connection. /episode/index/show/15a6738d-de23-4fce-bf73-c877b5347e5f/id/41929240

S02E14 - Charlie Walked The Plank 06/27/2026

S02E14 - Charlie Walked The Plank Replacing a second-storey window should have been a straightforward engineering job. Until Charlie quietly followed Gary across a narrow plank suspended five metres above the ground. What follows is more than a story about scaffolding. It's a story about trust. About staying calm when panic would make everything worse. And about discovering that sometimes the greatest act of leadership isn't asking someone to follow... It's believing they will. /episode/index/show/15a6738d-de23-4fce-bf73-c877b5347e5f/id/41836405

S02E13 - Charlie And Milo Meet The Bulldog 06/26/2026

S02E13 - Charlie And Milo Meet The Bulldog When barking, growling and shouting suddenly erupt behind the trees, Gary fears the worst. But the real surprise isn't the noisy bulldog next door—it's the completely different way Milo and Charlie respond to the same situation. What begins as a neighbourhood misunderstanding becomes a lesson in nervous systems, connection and why two dogs can experience the same moment in completely different ways. Through an ordinary backyard encounter, Gary discovers that great dog handling isn't about control—it's about staying connected when emotion takes over. /episode/index/show/15a6738d-de23-4fce-bf73-c877b5347e5f/id/41813905

S02E12 - Milo Thinks The Beach Starts In The Driveway 06/26/2026

S02E12 - Milo Thinks The Beach Starts In The Driveway At first, it looked like nothing more than an embarrassing fall down the stairs. Two Kelpies. One seventy-year-old bloke. And a bruised ego. But the more Gary thought about it, the more he realised the staircase wasn't really the story. This episode explores anticipation, connection, and why Milo seems to arrive at every destination long before his body does. Along the way, Gary discovers that the walk doesn't begin at the beach—it begins much earlier than that. Sometimes the biggest lessons aren't waiting at the destination. They're already happening in the driveway. /episode/index/show/15a6738d-de23-4fce-bf73-c877b5347e5f/id/41813245

S02E11 - The Problem With Bungee Jumping 06/22/2026

S02E11 - The Problem With Bungee Jumping Everybody talks about the jump. Nobody talks about the walk to the edge. In the Season 2 opener, Gary reflects on fear, excuses, growth, courage, spectators, jumpers and the moments in life when we decide whether to step forward or stay where we are. Featuring Milo, Charlie, an old Edith Piaf song, and a simple question: Are you putting your toes on the line? /episode/index/show/15a6738d-de23-4fce-bf73-c877b5347e5f/id/41700765

S01E10 — Puppy Took My Spot 06/19/2026

S01E10 — Puppy Took My Spot At first, I thought I was jealous of a puppy. Which sounds ridiculous when I say it out loud. A cavoodle entered the picture and somehow began acquiring more influence than seemed entirely reasonable. The couch. The attention. The affection. The emotional authority. The funny thing is, the more I thought about it, the more I realised the puppy wasn't really the story. The puppy was just the clue. In this Season 1 finale I explore relationships, dogs, attachment and the strange moments in life when something doesn't quite feel right, even if you can't immediately explain why. SEASON 1 FINALE S01E10 — Puppy Took My Spot What begins as a humorous story about a puppy gradually becomes something else. A question. And perhaps the beginning of an answer. As always, it's not really about dogs. It's about life. A 70-year-old bloke. Two Kelpies. One cavoodle. And a question that may take an entire season to answer. /episode/index/show/15a6738d-de23-4fce-bf73-c877b5347e5f/id/41698955

S01E09 - Why Did I get A Damn Kelpie? 06/19/2026

S01E09 - Why Did I get A Damn Kelpie? At some point in life every Kelpie owner asks the same question. Usually while chasing them. Usually while exhausted. Usually after they've ignored a perfectly reasonable instruction. The question is simple: Why did I get a damn Kelpie? What starts as admiration for an intelligent working dog quickly becomes a lesson in energy, chaos, persistence and humility. In this episode I reflect on what attracted me to Kelpies in the first place, why they're unlike almost any other breed, and how owning one often says as much about the owner as it does about the dog. As always, it's not really about Kelpies. It's about the choices we make and the adventures that follow. A 70-year-old bloke. Two Kelpies. Still questioning his life choices. /episode/index/show/15a6738d-de23-4fce-bf73-c877b5347e5f/id/41687050

S01E08 — I Never Had A Business Card 06/18/2026

S01E08 — I Never Had A Business Card S01E08 — I Never Had A Business Card For most of my working life I built businesses. I employed people. Negotiated deals. Started ventures. Met customers. Attended conferences. And somehow, through all of that...I never had a business card. Not one. Ever. People found that strange. The funny thing is, so do I. Looking back, I think it says something about how I've always seen myself. Not as a title. Not as a position. Not as a carefully crafted brand. Just Gary. In this episode I reflect on business, identity, entrepreneurship and why a small piece of cardboard may have revealed more about me than I realised at the time. As always, it's not really about business cards. It's about life. /episode/index/show/15a6738d-de23-4fce-bf73-c877b5347e5f/id/41686840

S01E07 - My Daughter Bought A Chihuahua 06/17/2026

S01E07 - My Daughter Bought A Chihuahua When my daughter announced she'd bought a Chihuahua, I wasn't entirely convinced it was a sensible decision. After all, I'd spent most of my life around larger dogs. Working dogs. Farm dogs. Dobermans. Kelpies. Dogs that looked capable of surviving a minor apocalypse. A Chihuahua seemed more like a nervous mouse with a bark. But as often happens in life, reality had other ideas. In this episode I reflect on Bowser, the tiny dog who slowly proved that courage has very little to do with size, and how sometimes the smallest characters leave the biggest impression. As always, it's really not about dogs at all. It's about life, family, perspective and the stories we discover along the way. A 70-year-old bloke. Two Kelpies. One Chihuahua. No idea what happens next. /episode/index/show/15a6738d-de23-4fce-bf73-c877b5347e5f/id/41675425

S01E06 - The Sailboards I Couldn't Throw Away 06/16/2026

S01E06 - The Sailboards I Couldn't Throw Away S01E06 — The Sailboards I Couldn't Throw Away. I was standing in my shed looking at a couple of old sailboards the other day. The problem is they're nearly fifty years old. What started as a simple clean-up turned into a question about memories, getting older, and why some things are much harder to throw away than they should be. /episode/index/show/15a6738d-de23-4fce-bf73-c877b5347e5f/id/41658535

S01E05 — Charlie's AirBNB and the Doggy Door 06/15/2026

S01E05 — Charlie's AirBNB and the Doggy Door Charlie was only supposed to spend one night at an Airbnb. That was the plan. What nobody considered was the existence of a doggy door. While normal guests use the front door, Charlie apparently believed accommodation came with unlimited access to the entire neighbourhood. What followed was one of those moments every dog owner dreads, followed by a discovery that was equal parts embarrassing, hilarious, and strangely impressive. In this episode, Gary shares the story of Charlie's unexpected Airbnb adventure, the panic of a missing Kelpie, and the lesson every dog owner eventually learns: Never underestimate a working dog with a plan. Funny, chaotic, and completely true. /episode/index/show/15a6738d-de23-4fce-bf73-c877b5347e5f/id/41644555

S01E04 - Milo Was Banned From Civilisation 06/15/2026

S01E04 - Milo Was Banned From Civilisation S01E04 — Milo Was Banned From Civilisation When I got Milo, I did everything the dog books recommended. Puppy school. Cafes. Markets. Busy streets. The problem was Milo had already decided who mattered in his world. And it wasn't civilisation. /episode/index/show/15a6738d-de23-4fce-bf73-c877b5347e5f/id/41643555

S01E03 - Muster Dogs: Charlie And The Black Cat 06/14/2026

S01E03 - Muster Dogs: Charlie And The Black Cat S01E03 — Muster Dog: Charlie and the Black Cat When an indoor black cat escapes into the night, Charlie unexpectedly reveals a hidden talent. What follows is part working dog instinct, part comedy and one of the most surprising moments Gary has experienced with a Kelpie. /episode/index/show/15a6738d-de23-4fce-bf73-c877b5347e5f/id/41636025

S01E02 - Milo Peed On A Stranger 06/14/2026

S01E02 - Milo Peed On A Stranger S01E02 — Milo Peed On A Stranger. Most dog owners experience embarrassing moments. Few experience this one. Gary tells the story of the day Milo introduced himself to a complete stranger in a way that created an unforgettable social situation and a valuable lesson about public appearances. /episode/index/show/15a6738d-de23-4fce-bf73-c877b5347e5f/id/41635865

S01E01 — A 70-Year-Old Bloke With Two Kelpies 06/13/2026

S01E01 — A 70-Year-Old Bloke With Two Kelpies S01E01 — A 70-Year-Old Bloke With Two Kelpies Meet Gary, Milo and Charlie. Milo is anxious, strategic and emotionally invested in everything. Charlie is athletic, optimistic and convinced everybody is his friend. Together they turn ordinary beach walks into unexpected adventures. This is where the story begins. /episode/index/show/15a6738d-de23-4fce-bf73-c877b5347e5f/id/41631905

FitK9 Walking Trailer 06/12/2026

FitK9 Walking Trailer FitK9 Walking is a story-driven podcast about dogs, people, ageing, connection, humour, reflection, and finding meaning in ordinary walks. It is not a fitness podcast. It is not a self-help podcast. It is not a dog-training podcast. It is a podcast about life, told through the adventures of a 70-year-old bloke and two Kelpies. /episode/index/show/15a6738d-de23-4fce-bf73-c877b5347e5f/id/41621360

FitK9 Walking

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