Our talented team over at Cue Podcasts have recently produced Paws To Talk, a new podcast celebrating the positive impact of dogs in our lives. It coincides with the month long fund-raising campaign 'Dogtober', which challenges Brits to walk 100km and shine a spotlight on the positive influence of our pups.

The podcast is the result of a partnership between insurance company MORE THAN and Dogs for Good, a UK-based charity dedicated to training dogs which help both adults and children with physical and/or learning disabilities, children with autism, and adults with dementia.

Hosted by UK TV presenter and journalist Lorraine Kelly, the show shares inspiring stories from people supported by Dogs for Good, examining the impact that their canine companions have had on them and their lives.

The idea for Paws To Talk came from a research study, carried out by MORE THAN and Dogs for Good, which revealed that two thirds of dog-owners (66%) said their pup has decreased their feelings of loneliness.

Episode 1 of the podcast is available to listen now, and all subsequent episodes will be released weekly throughout Dogtober. The series is available to download on all major platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

The show has been produced in partnership with Cue Podcasts, a UK-based production company specialising in branded podcasts. The team at Cue have previously produced shows for Roc Nation, Samsung, VICE, Halifax, and more.

Lorraine Kelly said: “I’ve absolutely loved hosting ‘Paws to Talk’ with MORE THAN and Dogs for Good and hearing incredibly powerful stories about how assistance dogs are helping to change the lives of the people they support. When winter closes in, my dog Angus gets me out of the house and chatting to people, even when I would sometimes rather stay home with a cup of tea! He needs his daily walks and plays a crucial role in inspiring my daily conversations – I hope by sharing these stories, we can encourage other dog owners and dog lovers to take time to chat and make new friends.”

Luke Mangion, Veterinary Surgeon at MORE THAN insurance, added: “There is no doubt that mutual affection for a furry friend can often be the spark that starts a conversation, and the ‘Paws to Talk’ podcast highlights just that. Dog owners have more opportunities to make meaningful connections, and our research shows that our dogs can be a key factor in combatting loneliness, particularly during the winter months. Our furry friends deserve to be celebrated this Dogtober, and we are proud to partner with Dogs for Good and Lorraine to help bring awareness to the positive impact they have on increasing social interaction.”

Peter Gorbing, CEO of Dogs for Good, said: “Our research shows that dog owners take more walks and have more meaningful connections with new people while out and about. This Dogtober, we are encouraging everyone to Get Walking, Start Talking and support us in fundraising at this pivotal time. So, when you’re in need of some social interaction this Dogtober, take your dog out for a stroll in a park or their favourite beach and enjoy the wellness benefits that this quality time is sure to bring.”

Niall Killeney-Taylor, Head of Production at Cue Podcasts said: “When this project first came to our attention, we were incredibly excited for the opportunity to create a podcast that offers a platform for personal and meaningful stories to be shared, helping to connect a community of dog lovers through audio during their everyday lives. And of course, who doesn’t jump at the chance to work with Lorraine.”