In this powerful episode of the Ignite & Write Podcast, author, medical doctor, speaker and advocate Dr Jodi-Maree Cronin shares the extraordinary story behind her debut memoir, Benni: The Best Medicine Has Paws.
After years of caring for others as a doctor, Jodi found herself facing profound mental health challenges, PTSD, depression, financial hardship and the loss of the life she had worked so hard to build. At her lowest point, a simple suggestion from her mother changed everything: get an assistance dog.
Enter Benni.
What followed was a remarkable journey of healing, resilience, hope and rediscovering purpose. In this deeply honest conversation, Jodi shares how Benni became far more than an assistance dog, helping her navigate trauma recovery, rebuild her sense of self and uncover a new understanding of what true healing looks like.
Whether you’re an aspiring author, dog lover, mental health advocate, trauma survivor, or someone searching for inspiration during difficult times, this conversation offers powerful insights into courage, authenticity, storytelling and the transformative bond between humans and animals.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Overcoming childhood trauma and domestic violence
- PTSD, depression and mental health recovery
- The life-changing role of assistance dogs
- Writing a memoir about deeply personal experiences
- Finding hope after losing everything
- The healing power of storytelling
- Navigating relationships while writing a memoir
- Moving from academic writing to authentic storytelling
- Building emotional wealth instead of emotional debt
- Why sometimes we simply need someone to stand beside us in the darkness
Dr Jodi-Maree Cronin is the author of Benni: The Best Medicine Has Paws and the creator of the Being Benni children’s book series. Through her work, she helps individuals, families and organisations understand the healing potential of assistance dogs and trauma-informed support.
ABOUT DR JODI-MAREE CRONIN:
Jodi is a retired doctor, medical manager and adult educator who has dedicated her adult life to the service of others. Throughout her working life she has strived to be up to date, knowledgeable, approachable and is understanding of differing perspectives. After working for many years in high pressure environments she is aware of the demands and challenges of being a working parent, professional, partner as well as the impact this can have on your health and wellbeing and now enjoys a simpler life in Golden Beach.
After leaving her profession, Jodi has spent the last six years training Assistance Animals for individuals with life challenges and has seen firsthand the power of the human-animal bond. This combined with her desire to help others and interest in animal welfare guides her Animal Assisted Therapy practice.
Jodi is passionate about work-life balance, helping others through issues that cause them distress, supporting people with a history of trauma, helping neurodivergent and traumatised children as well as animal wisdom and animal welfare.
She strongly believes that early, age appropriate, evidence-based interventions including Child Centred Play Therapy and Counselling can help individuals to work through their life challenges in a way that has meaning to them.
CONNECT WITH JODI:
Website: https://p3sunshinecoast.com.au/
Book: Benni: The best medicine has paws, available in print and eBook formats from all trusted online book retailers.
ABOUT IGNITE & WRITE:
The Ignite & Write podcast, hosted by Roxanne McCarty-O’Kane, showcases powerful conversations with authors from all walks of life — exploring the stories behind the stories, the writing journey, and the transformative power of authentic storytelling.
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