🥂 Cheers to our dogs 🐾

Pulling us out of rock bottom & adding a ton of unexpected magic

Author

Jaclyn Kirby
August 21, 2025

Before I got my dog, Captain, just 3 months into Levi and I’s relationship, I never would’ve listened to a conversation like the newest episode of Cheers to Growth.

I rolled my eyes at people who claimed their dogs were emotional support / therapeutic tools.

I just did. not. get. it. 

But now I have three dogs and I see them as my greatest personal development coaches, spiritual teachers, and wise, uplifting best friends. 

Growth unlocked 🔓

Getting my first dog brought Levi and I together so much so that I’m honestly not sure we would’ve worked out as a couple if it weren’t for the love that Captain brought to us early on in our relationship. 

Not only that, but I might not have become the woman I needed to be to even be ready for this fast tracked timeline that we jumped on shortly after meeting. 

I became more loving (we’re talking selfish grinch energy before and then loving mother energy with a heart that’s grown three sizes after ❤️❤️❤️)

💆🏻‍♀️ My nervous system eased for maybe the first time which allowed me to go out on walks and explore the world alone — but not really because I was with my bestie. Before Captain, I was too self conscious to be seen out in public without friends around me. 

🥗 My problematic binge eating habits fell away, even after years of therapy, nutritionist appointments, and personal development exercises. 

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Captain was all consuming. And my dedication to him whipped me into getting my priorities straight. To becoming HER. The woman who is worthy of this family that Levi and I have built so quickly. 

🐕 Levi’s dog gave him confidence and unwavering support.

🏡 Seeing that he could handle this big responsibility allowed him to excel in his career and push to buy a home at 21 for them. 

Kodiak got him out of dark times without judgement. 

Even when no one was there to tell him they’re proud of him or that he was doing a good job, Kodiak showed his excitement and gratitude to his dad for securing this amazing home for them. 

On the podcast today, we’re talking about how getting a dog can be the catalyst you need to get out of low seasons and prepare you for your highest levels of success.

This conversation gives you a deeper look into our family and how we built it.

It also might help you decide whether you should get a dog if you don’t already have one, and reflect on how your dog has contributed to your growth if you do.

For every season of life, dogs make it all more magical and rewarding.

Enjoy a meal and a chat with us

My favorite time to listen to podcasts is while cooking (And doing the dishes after. It makes that task wayyyyy more enjoyable and easy.)

And with this podcast, my hope is that through conversations that I think are most important, you receive sparks of inspiration or ideas that lead to improved overall wellbeing.

While most things in life are situational and I’m not often going to say that everyone should be doing one specific thing… Where I will go against that is when it comes to cooking.

I think every household, everywhere, should be cooking and eating meals at home more often than eating out.

Cooking from scratch creates a completely different relationship with food and health and can dissolve addictions and reliance on fake food.

In sharing what I’m cooking each week, I hope you take the recipes and make them your own. If you’re lacking motivation to cook, put on the podcast and I’ll be there hanging out with you 🫶

Chicken Fajitas 🧡

Start with a whole chicken always, but for this recipe you’ll cut off the breasts and save the rest of the chicken for another meal.

I think it’s sketch and unnatural to buy only parts of a chicken. It’s also more difficult to assess and maintain quality the more manufacturing it’s gone through before you buy.

What you’ll need:

- Chicken (from a local farm or order from Polyface Farms)

- 2 Bell Peppers (I used 1 red and 1 purple)

- ½ Yellow Onion

- 3 Cloves of Garlic

- EVOO

- Fajita Seasoning: Paprika, cayenne, cumin, thyme, oregano, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder

- Homemade tortillas need — 3 cups flour, 1 tsp salt, 1 ¼ tsp, baking powder, ½ stick of melted butter, 1 cup warm water

- Homemade Pico de Gallo: Onion, garlic, tomato, cilantro, EVOO, S + P

Directions:

1. Thaw chicken completely. Cut the breasts off and set aside. Store the rest of the chicken in the fridge for tomorrow’s dinner, or immediately throw it in a pot of water with onion and garlic for cooked shredded chicken and chicken stock prepped.

2. Mix up fajita seasoning is a small bowl. Cut chicken breasts into slices and place in an oven safe glass container or cookie sheet. Drizzle with EVOO and coat in fajita seasoning.

3. Bake in the top rack of the oven at 375.

4. Mix up and knead tortilla dough. Let the dough ball sit for at least 15 minutes.

5. Chop bell peppers and onion into strips. Mince garlic cloves.

6. After about 15-20 minutes of cooking, add bell pepper, onion, and garlic to the chicken and mix it all together to incorporate the seasoning.

7. Roll out your tortillas and cook in a large pan on the stove. Since we’ll want to fold these tortillas, slightly undercook them at first to avoid cracking. You can warm them and cook fully right before you build your fajitas so they stay foldable and don’t become stiff.

8. Chop and mix up the ingredients for the Pico de Gallo.

9. Warm tortillas, then add all your ingredients!

I also add sriracha yogurt sauce to mine… I always have this stocked in my fridge because I put it on like everything. Highly recommend making this in advance and topping your fajitas with it.

Episode Resources:

🤍🤍 Jaclyn

P.S. I always link to Spotify, but Cheers to Growth is also on Apple Podcasts and YouTube. Listen where you like to!