From academia to holistic canine nutrition, meet Alexia Mellor

In today’s episode, we’re talking with Alexia, a holistic canine nutritionist who made an unexpected career flip,  thanks to her dog. Alexia started her journey deep in the world of academia and art in the sustainability sector, researching, writing, and painting. But then her dog (yes, her sweet pup, Lucky) flipped her whole life upside down in the best way possible.

Now? She helps dogs thrive, feel better, eat better, and live longer—with a perfect blend of heart, soul, and science. It’s the ultimate plot twist! 

We dive into how Alexia transitioned from thinking she was locked into a creative and academic career to discovering her true calling in canine wellness. She talks about embracing discomfort, leaning into the chaos, and the identity shift that comes with going from “I thought I’d be doing X forever” to “Wait, maybe I’m meant to help dogs heal instead?”

We also get into how Alexia created Mystic Dog Mama, her podcast and community focused on holistic pet care and personal growth, all while leaning into the weirdness of following unexpected paths. Whether you’re someone questioning everything or you’re just looking for a little inspiration to follow those furry breadcrumbs in your own life, this episode is for you!

Tune in for a real, raw, and inspiring conversation about career pivots, trusting the process, and following your passion (even when it leads to a totally different destination than you expected).

Takeaways:

• It’s okay to embrace discomfort and let it guide you to something new and unexpected.
• Career changes often require a full identity shift — from who you thought you were to who you’re meant to be.
• Lean into the chaos, trust your gut, and follow the signs (even if they come with paws!).
• Community and personal growth go hand-in-hand when navigating big life changes.
• Following the breadcrumbs, even if they’re furry, can lead to something beautiful and fulfilling!

Connect with Alexia

• Canine Nutrition and Wellness: https://mysticdogmama.com/
• Listen to the Mystic Dog Mama Podcast: https://mysticdogmama.com/podcast
• Mystic Dog Mama Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mysticdogmama/

Thanks for tuning in to The Career Flipper!

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🪑 And if you want to see my career flip furniture flips in real life, follow me at @sandiegofurnitureflipper

 

Submit your story:

Have a career flip story? Whether you’re in the messy middle or celebrating the other side, I’d love to hear it and maybe even feature you on the show. Submit your story here: thecareerflipper.com.

 

Want to support the show or work together?

 

Book me to speak about career change at your next event, collaborate through sponsorships or affiliates or got another idea? Drop me a note at [e-mail]

 

Bonus: If you’re in customer experience or building your own business, check out my online courses. Before I started flipping my life and furniture, I led CX teams and created training that’s helped over 12,000 students worldwide. Learn more at thecareerflipper.com/courses.

 

🎵 Music Credits

 

Season 1: Intro & outro music by Audionautix.com

Season 2: Original music by yours truly, Jenny Dempsey, recorded in my home studio

 

And hey, remember my favorite question: What’s the best that could happen? 💫