Would you date someone your dog doesn't like? And is sharing custody of a pet with an ex a relationship red flag?

PETA's Ashley Byrne is back on The Iconic Midlife with host Roxy Manning for a hilarious round of Dealbreaker or I'll Allow It?—a dating game where love, relationships, and our four-legged companions collide.

After tackling some of the most pressing animal-welfare issues in her full interview, Ashley is showing us her lighter side as Roxy puts her on the spot with a series of dating scenarios involving pets, partners, and some potentially questionable relationship habits.

From dogs sleeping in the bed to dating someone who isn't an animal lover, Ashley has to decide: Is it a dealbreaker, or will she allow it?

• Dating someone who loves animals but doesn't want pets
• Dogs in the bedroom—and possibly between you and your partner
• When your dog doesn't approve of your date
• Sharing custody of a pet with an ex
• Dating someone who doesn't share your views on animal welfare
• The relationship habits that might make an animal lover think twice

It's a playful look at dating, compatibility, and just how much our relationships with animals influence our relationships with people.

And don't miss Ashley's full episode of The Iconic Midlife, where we discuss animal cruelty on L.A.'s Skid Row, New York City's carriage horses, overcrowded animal shelters, and what we can all do to help protect animals.

Ashley Byrne / PETA: https://www.peta.org

The Iconic Midlife: @theiconicmidlife

Roxy Manning: @redcarpetroxy

Love this game? Subscribe to The Iconic Midlife on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.

Download the episode, leave a rating and review, and share it with your favorite animal lover.

Subscribe to The Iconic Midlife on YouTube for the full video episodes, games, and more candid conversations about life, relationships, and everything in between.

And tell us: Would you date someone your dog didn't like?

What's really happening to animals on Skid Row in Los Angeles—and who's protecting them?

From reports of animal abuse and illegal breeding on the streets of Los Angeles to the controversy surrounding New York City's carriage horses and overcrowded animal shelters nationwide, the fight for animal welfare has never felt more urgent.

This week on The Iconic Midlife, Roxy Manning sits down with Ashley Byrne, Director of Outreach for PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), for an eye-opening conversation about animal cruelty, rescue, advocacy, and the changes needed to protect vulnerable animals.

As a lifelong animal lover and rescue dog mom, Roxy has always felt a deep connection to animals and a responsibility to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.

Ashley shares how her passion for animals became her life's work and takes us behind the headlines of some of the most pressing animal welfare issues in America.

• The Skid Row animal crisis: Reports of abuse, neglect, and illegal breeding in Los Angeles, and whether city officials are doing enough to intervene.
• NYC carriage horses: The realities of the horse-drawn carriage industry, concerns about working and living conditions, and efforts to ban carriage rides.
• America's overcrowded shelters: Why shelters are struggling, what contributes to euthanasia, and what needs to change.
• Adopt, don't shop: The impact of puppy mills, breeding, and consumer demand on animal homelessness.
• Vegan fashion and cruelty-free beauty: How to make more compassionate choices without sacrificing personal style.
• Advocacy at every age: How our priorities and willingness to speak up can evolve in midlife.
• How you can help: Practical ways to support animal rescue, report suspected cruelty, foster, volunteer, and advocate for stronger animal protections.

This conversation isn't just about the heartbreaking realities facing animals. It's about accountability, compassion, and understanding how individual choices can contribute to meaningful change.

Because loving animals is one thing. Taking action to protect them is another.

Learn more about PETA's animal advocacy work: https://www.peta.org

Explore animal adoption and fostering opportunities through your local shelters and rescue organizations.

Social Media (show): @theiconicmidlife

Social Media (host): @redcarpetroxy

YouTube: The Iconic Midlife

Love this conversation?

Subscribe to The Iconic Midlife on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, or your favorite podcast app. Download the episode, leave a rating and review, and share it with someone who cares about animals.

And don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel for the full video interviews and exclusive content.

Your voice matters. And so do theirs.

Links referenced in this episode:

• peta.org

Companies mentioned in this episode:

• PETA
• Starts With One Today
• Los Angeles Animal Services
• Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD)
• Best Friends Animal Society
• Central Park Conservancy
• Cirque du Soleil
• Gucci
• Stella McCartney
• Marie 1998
• Sans Beast
• PETA Business Friends
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
• YouTube
• Instagram
• Iconic Midlife

What counts as financially smart—and what’s just plain cheap?

In this bonus game episode, financial expert Pattie Ehsaei is putting her money philosophy to the test with Rich Move or Broke Move?

I give Pattie a series of deliberately tricky money, dating and lifestyle scenarios where the “right” answer isn’t always obvious. From living with your parents at 45 to refusing first class, insisting on a prenup, buying a dream house in cash, splitting the check and deciding how much luxury is too much, Pattie has to make the call.

And because this is Pattie, she doesn’t just choose a side—she explains exactly why.

• When saving money is smart versus simply cheap
• Whether living with your parents in midlife can actually be financially savvy
• First-class travel, luxury spending and knowing what’s worth it
• Prenups, financial independence and protecting your own money
• Dating someone with very different financial habits
• Buying a home in cash versus keeping your money invested
• Why appearances can be completely misleading when it comes to wealth
• The money decisions that get much more complicated in midlife

Pattie is the author of Never Date a Broke Dude: The Financial Freedom Playbook and is known online as the Duchess of Decorum.

Follow Pattie:

@duchessofdecorum

PattieEhsaei.com

If you enjoyed this game, follow The Iconic Midlife wherever you listen to podcasts, subscribe on YouTube, and follow @theiconicmidlife and @redcarpetroxy on social media.

And if you haven’t heard Pattie’s full episode yet, go back and listen to:

Financial Expert Pattie Ehsaei: Money, Marriage & the Cost of Giving Up Control

The Iconic Midlife

Hosted by Roxy Manning

New episodes weekly.