Episode 57. How Billy Hoekman Became THE Dog Nutrition Guru

You might be surprised to learn that Billy Hoekman grew up without pets while eating take-out and fast food. Because today Billy is known for being THE Dog Nutrition Guru.

Billy’s life changed forever when an adorable pug named Lua caused Billy to ask the question: What’s the best thing for my dog to eat? And he’s been obsessed with answering that question for the past 15+ years.

As the Vice President of Nutrition and Communication for Green Juju, Billy is involved in formulation, product development, working with farmers, sales & marketing – and more. So you might be surprised to learn that he worked for free for 2 years to get his foot in the door of the pet food industry.

Billy and I also talk about misconceptions about the Amish, the #1 thing he wants Pet Parents to know about feeding their pets, and the special relationship he had with his friend and mentor, Jacqueline Hill (who recently passed away).

We’re also celebrating the 3rd anniversary of the Believe in Dog Podcast!

Billy & I discuss:

The surprising role of pets and nutrition in Billy’s early life;
How Lua the Pug entered Billy’s life;
The #1 question that Billy thinks about the most in life;
How Billy’s life changed when Lua came along;
How Billy’s retail pet food store job led to him meeting one of his greatest mentors, Jacqueline Hill;
The role of Jacqueline in Billy’s life;
Becoming self-taught about nutrition;
Fermentation 101;
The interconnectedness of our pet’s health & nutrition and our own health & nutrition;
What does Billy eat?;
What’s the deal with raw milk?;
The importance of knowing where our food comes from;
Misconceptions about the Amish community;
What’s so special about Lancaster, PA?;
What Billy loves about working for the Green Juju company; and
The most important thing Billy wants Pet Parents to know about feeding their pets