Funding for this edition of One on One with Steve Adubato has been provided by Angle Wood Health, the Russell Berry Foundation.

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Steve Adubato, this is one on one.

That is my colleague, our senior correspondent for one on one.

Jackie.

Jackie, why are you joining m to kick off the program today?

Well, up next, Steve I had the privilege of speaking with New York Times bestselling author Isabelle Klee.

She had her first ever book published earlier this year.

It's called dogs, boys, and Other Things I've Cried About, and it has really resonated with a lot of people.

It's a memoir about her journey through her 20s, and we get into all that up next with her.

She really hit our social media streams during the last couple of years when she started documenting her fostering dogs, and it took off.

She has millions of followers taking this journey with her.

And so much of her life is about giving back to dogs in and around New York City and making sure that people know that these there's thousands of dogs all over the world that need fostering and need to be adopted.

And that is her true passion.

And we talk a lot about that as well.

Jackie, our senior correspondent one on one.

Hi.

I'm Jacki, senior correspondent for One on One.

And joining me now is content creator behind the Simon Media accounts that you see all of your TikTok all over your Instagram.

She is rescuing dogs and doing an incredible work all throughout New York and the surrounding area.

She's Isabelle Cleaning and now she is a New York Times bestselling author with your book, dogs, boys, and Other Things I've Cried About.

It's so nice to have you with us.

Thank you so much for having me.

I'm so excited to be here.

Well, I loved the book.

First, I want to let you know I, I mean, it's one of those books where you read so fast through it because you just don't want to put it down.

And I really enjoyed the way that you decided to set it up and take us on this ride with you.

It is a memoir about your your 20s, that decade that we all I know from personal experience look back on and you're like, whoa, what?

Yeah.

What was happening during that time?

So I want to get into all of that.

But first, I really want you to describe that unique wa that you put the book together and where you came up with the concept.

Yeah.

So I have always loved to write, and I feel like, especially throughout my college years and in my 20s, I, you know, behind me I have a whole stack of journals that I would write in every single day about my relationships and m friendships and just everything.

There's so much going on in your in your 20s especially.

And I always quote my dad on this, that when I was going through those years, he would look at me and be like, I forgot how much young people feel.

It's like everything feels so important and everything feels so monumental.

And, it was what I enjoyed writin about was just my relationships and all of these things that I was going through.

And it wasn't until I discovered fostering in the second half of my 20s that I realized that I could put this lonelines and this this overflowing love that I felt that I was pouring into relationships and men who weren't right for me.

And I could take that love and put it into dog and actually get that love back.

And it helped me feel more comfortable with myself, and it helped me feel oka being alone for the first time.

And so when it came to actually writing the book, it actually came about pretty naturally.

I always, you know, I love reading romance, and I love watching TV shows or movies that are about romances, so I knew I wanted i to be about that in some regard, you know, tryin to find the right person for me.

But then through that, also finding these dogs who helped heal my heart.

So it is, you know, a romance about me finding my fiance, but it's also about all of the dogs that I met along the way.

And like I said, I loved the breakup of it because each chapter kind of talked about a foster dog that really impacted you.

And during that time period, what romantic relationship you were in at the time.

Two, were you hesitant at all to share some of those really intimate detail on some of those relationships of men past that maybe would hear about this book and hea about the story that you wrote.

You know, I've gotten that question so many times, and the answer is no.

I mean, I obviously o social media, I'm not sharing, like the ins and out of all of my past relationships.

So it was certainly more vulnerable and more information than I have ever shared about myself before.

But I also just and kind of shameless in that way of like, everybody has these stories, everybody has these relationships.

I think sharing my experiences can only help other people feel mor comfortable in their decisions and kind of navigating that chaotic decade or, you know, even if it's your 30 or 40 or whatever it is.

And yeah, I, you know, I actually haven' heard from any of the past exes.

So either they either they don't know about it or they don't car or they're living under a rock.

It's fine.

Yeah.

So it's all it's all good.

And, you know, I don't think it was that mean about anybody.

No, but I love how vulnerable you are.

An honest, because I. I resonated with a lot of the things that you were talking about, too.

And I want to take it back and talk about how the book came about, because where it really all started for you was your social media platform.

Simon Sit and you started sharing content about fostering dogs and the different dogs that you brought into your home to really rehabilitate and get them to a point where they were adoptable.

First, talk about fostering and how that came into your life, and just how it continue to be such a significant part of who you are and what you do on a daily basis.

I started fostering when I was about 24 or 25, and I started because I grew up with dogs and I was obsessed with dogs.

But when you're in when you're that age, most people have no money, whic I also did not have any money.

And having a dog can be expensive.

So I thought that fostering was kind of this great middle ground of I would get that companionship and I would get to have a dog in my home.

But with most organizations, they'll pay for the dog's medical bills and their food and all of their expenses until they get adopted.

So it was this great way for me to to have dogs in my life without having the financial responsibility.

Of course, that's a great plan.

Until you fall in love with a dog that you just can't let go.

Which is what happened with my dog Simon.

He was my fifth foster and I just couldn't imagine a life without him.

It was probably the stupidest financial decision I've ever made in my life, but I would do it a thousand times over.

And just caring for dogs has has healed me and changed me in ways that I can't even comprehend.

I mean, my dog Simon, who I just mentioned actually passed away about a month and a half ago, and I have a new foste dog named honeycomb right now.

And just the joy that she has brought me in a time of so much grief has been unexplainable.

Like she has made me laugh.

She is cuddled with me when I cried and they're just so healing.

And it is trul the joy of my life to dedicate all of my time and energy to these animals.

But I started sharing my journey on social media and honestly from like the very first foster that I shared, it kind of blew up and I realized that was that the first one that you shared was that the first one that really blew up?

That was the first one that really went viral.

So I was sharing, you know, I've been fostering for years and years, but, I started sharing probably like three years ago on social media.

And my first, the first one that I shared was a dog named Ken.

And, you know, in comparison to like Tiki, it wasn't it didn't really blow up.

But at the time I was like, oh my God, like all these people have seen my video an it was such a pinch me moment.

And I just continued sharing their stories.

And I think because maybe I went to school for writing and I kind of, I think just the way that I speak in the way that I tell stories is, is kind of in a way that is like a storytelling and it's very episodic, maybe in a way that's different than like a normal video that goes viral on social media.

My now literary agent reached out to me and asked me if I was interested in writing a book, and so she called, emailed me one day.

Little did she know, it was like my greatest dream ever to write a book.

And the rest is history.

So the stars?

Yeah.

You never know who is watching your content and who is, you know, paying attention.

Because I was just sharing these videos and this person walked into my lif and just completely changed it.

So it's been pretty amazing.

And like you said, the videos are resonating with people in different ways.

I think, like you said, one part of the equation is you.

You, you have such a personable personality and you draw people in.

And then the other equation are these incredible dogs who have seen some of the worst things have gone, some of the worst gone through some of the worst things in their life, and you're rehabilitating them.

You're taking them under your wing, and you're giving them the care, attention that they need to be able to get to that level to be adopted.

What have you learned the most through all of these dogs that have touched your life, fostering them about why us humans, like people say, just we're not good enough for our dogs?

I you know, I think Tiki was a big turning point in so many ways.

I mean, he was obviously my most famous foster dog.

But sorry, Tiki ghost.

Or give us a little bit of background on Tiki.

So Tiki, he came from a bad situation from the ASPCA.

So the ASPCA deals with a lot of criminal cases, a lot of neglect cases, and most of the time the dogs that I get, I'm not actually able to like, share all of the information because they're ongoing criminal cases or community cases of people who are struggling in one way or another.

But, he came from a home that was obviously not a great situation.

Lots of dogs in all of them, in really bad shape, not socialized, very inbred.

So you can just kind of imagine what the situation was.

I don't thin that he had ever gone outside.

I don't think he had ever, you know really had human interaction.

So the ACC at first didn't know if he was going to be able to be rehabilitated.

They, you know, there's discussion of euthanasia which is the reality in rescue.

Unfortunately, I begged them to just let me try.

And, you know, if it doesn't work, it doesn't work.

Obviously Tiki has proved everybody so wrong, and it was the most incredible thing to watch and witness.

But I think he taught me so much about animals.

And, you know, when I first got him, I tried to bring him outside and I tried to like, pet him and I tried I just tried to force change onto him.

And it wasn't until I just, you know, took my hands away and let him go at his own speed, that he really blossomed.

And I let him come to me, and I let him kind of, you know, discover the world one day at a time.

And I think ever since then, I really make it a point to listen to the animals that I get and to let them go at their own pace, to tell me when they're ready for something and not to rush it.

And I thin ever since then, you know, it's been a great learning experience for so many people of watching experience and watching how broken and shut down he was to the dog that he is now.

I think a lot of people identify with it.

I mean, we all have trauma or we've all experienced something that we feel like we can never recover from.

And then we see this tiny, brave little dog doing it every single day.

And, you know, his his acts of bravery are stepping outside for the first time or eating his food in front of people.

And they're not these revolutionary things, but they resonate so deepl with the world for reasons.

So, I thought that his journey was pretty spectacular and taught me so much about animals and taught you so much about yourself, but also just revealing how much of a special gift you have to be able to do this for so many dogs, and in the meantime also promoting adoption and rescue, which is so important.

You mentioned your beloved do Simon before and I am so sorry for your loss.

We know if we follow people that follow you and know your story, we know the book was dedicated to him as well, and he has just been suc an important part of your life.

I'd love to read a couple of comment that came out on social media, when you had let everybody know that Simon had passed, because I think it speaks volumes.

The Rolling Stones, you had done a coverage you, you and Simon for the Rolling Stones, and they reposted that cover shoot and did a tribute to Simon.

But then countless animal shelters that you work with in the in the New York City area posted.

One of those was Muddy Paws.

They said, once in a lifetime, if you're lucky, a dog like Simon finds a human like Isabelle in its magic.

And the thing about magic is, even when something seems to disappear, it's never truly gone.

Another animal shelter said to many, he was the beloved dog who never left Isabelle side.

But to those of us that anima care centers of New York City, Simon represented something even greater.

He was the heart behind a life saving journey that changed the future of countless New York City animals, and CBS news said over the weekend, millions of people around the world mourned a dog they'd never met.

His name was Simon, and together as his owner, Isabelle, he inspired countless people to foster and adopt to rescue animals a little dog who couldn't heal himself, but who came so naturally to healing others.

A little dog with anything but a little life.

I mean, you made your make me cry.

I mean, it is incredible, the outpouring of lov and support for you and Simon.

What did it mean to you over these past, this past mont or so in your grieving process, to know how many lives Simo has impacted a new of impacted?

It's been truly magical.

I mean, it' the grief that I have felt is so deep, but to know the impact that he has had on the world, there is nothing I could want more.

I always say that the only thing that wasn't perfect was tha he only lived for seven years.

I mean, his whole life was was perfect.

And, you know, so many dogs are so loved by their families and and have such a huge impact on people.

But to have a dog that is known throughout the world and mourned throughout the world is such a special thing.

It was yeah, I was going to say, tell us more about Simon and just how much of a part of the equation he was the last seven years with the rescue dogs that you brought in your home?

I, I always say that I couldn't have done it without him.

I mean, he was truly the most welcoming do that I have ever met in my life.

He shared his parents, his food, his bed, his toy without even a second thought.

There has never been a dog i his entire life that he did not welcome and love and just feel, make them feel so at home.

And, you know, it's been interesting.

This is my first foster the one honeycomb who I currently have without Simon, and it's bee a totally different experience.

I mean, he truly led the way.

He would show dogs how to go to the bathroom outside.

He would teach them how to play.

It was lik he was a mirror for these dogs.

And as soon as they saw him, they would know that they were safe.

I've never met a dog with such high emotional intelligence.

It was like as soon as a dog walked into our home, he knew what they needed, whether it was Tiki who needed him to just be hands off and let you know.

Let him come to Simon or a do that wants to play right away.

Or it was like he could immediately pick up o what they needed in that moment, and it was just magical.

I truly feel like we had the same heart and we had the same mission.

And, I'll never forget that.

And I'll never forget what he taught me.

And I know that hole in your hear probably will never be filled, because you two had such a beautiful bond.

But his legacy continues to live on in so many ways.

And one of those ways is with multiple rescues, money rescues, which you've been a part of for a long time in New York City.

Talk about the Simon Sets Veterinary Clinic tha they recently named after Simon.

So that was I mean, I can't even put into words what that meant to me.

Back in May, Muddy Paws had their ten year gala, and they surprised me with, naming their new veterinary clinic after Simon.

So it's the Simon's, it's veterinary clinic.

And they have, you know, a big sign with his name and his photo on it.

And, you know, we primarily foster behavioral and medical dogs.

So the dogs that come through our home are spen a lot of time at the vet clinic.

So the fact that I get to go there all the tim and see him and feel his legacy, but also just knowing that, you know, that clinic will not just treat dogs at Money Paws Rescue, but will treat all, all rescue dogs across New York City for years and years and years to come.

Just knowing that he will be continuously helping animals even after his death is the coolest thing ever.

I mean, I can't think of a better way to honor him and the work that he did when he was still with us.

And I feel I feel it every time I go there.

I mean, I just went the other day and to be able to like sit in a vet exam and have him right over m is just the coolest thing ever.

That's really incredible.

And I know your work continues through everything that you're doing.

What is your message, though to people who are on the fence about adoption?

So many are hesitant.

They don't know how the dogs will behave in their homes and their environment.

What have you learned the most and what is your message to so many who are hesitant hesitant abou adopting, but really do want to give these animals dogs cats, whatever a second chance?

I think for that exact reason fostering is the best you know.

Step int getting into the rescue space.

I always say that fostering is like trying on a dress before you buy it.

It's just getting to know a dog and seeing how they fit into your life without fully committing.

I think the most important thing about adopting is getting a do that fits into your lifestyle.

I have so many foster dogs tha I've had that I love so deeply, but I wouldn't have adopted the because they are higher energy than I want, or they're too big for my apartment or whatever the case may be.

But allowing the dogs to come into my home and like living out my day to day life and seeing which ones fit an which ones don't is so important when it comes to choosing an animal.

So if anybody's on the fence about it, I think fostering is a great option.

And the best part about fostering is that if you do find a dog that you love, you have the option to adopt it and keep it forever.

And if you get it, find a dog that you aren't super in love with.

They'll get adopte by somebody else who loves them.

So it's it's a win win situation.

I completely understand peopl who are hesitant about adopting a dog is a huge responsibility, but for me personally, I don't think I'll ever b without a dog again in my life.

I mean, even after losing Simon, I know that I will do this a hundred times over throughout my life.

I think the loss is so much.

The loss is worth al the joy that you get in return.

Definitely.

And tell us really quick about your you mentioned him, but your current foster honeycomb because she's been through quite a bit already, right?

Yes, she has been through a lot.

She was found abandoned, in New York City, just covered in bite marks and attack marks.

We don't know exactly what happened, bu it seems like a combination of, like, human abuse and animal abuse.

She had a completely severed tendon in her leg.

She, like I said, had bite marks all over her body.

She has a fractured skull and it looked like maybe a knife through her head.

Despite all that she is just the sweetest, most loving dog that I have ever met in my entire life.

She is completely spectacular.

I'm so in love with her and she actually just got her leg amputated, so she only has three legs.

She's a little tripod now but she has not missed a beat.

I mean, literally the day that she came back from her surgery, she was running around the block, just so happy to be pain free.

So she has been through so much, but is a perfect example of resilience and just the magic of dogs that they can go through so much and still be the most loving creatures.

Yeah, and I mean if you don't follow Isabel, go check out the account.

Simon says, because this dog is adorable and I love the matching the journey.

Isabel, finally, what's next for you?

What can we expect from you this coming year?

Well, I am workin on the TV series of my memoir, which got bought by universal, which is really, really exciting.

And I' also working on my first novel, so I am very excite to continue the writing process and also to bring my current memoir to, the small screen.

I guess you would say we're looking forward to it.

I can't wait to see that and go out and get this book.

It's a really beautiful read.

You won't regret it.

Isabel thank you so much for joining us and just giving us som more background into number one, how important fostering and adopting is, but your own personal story and being so open.

Thank you so much as well.

Thank you so much for having me, Steve Adubato and myself.

Thanks for watching.

We'll see you next time.

One on One with Steve Adubato is a production of the Caucus Educational Corporation.

Funding has been provided by Angle Wood Health, the Russell Berry Foundation.

Valley Bank.

Community food bank of new Jersey.

The North Ward center, new Jersey sharing network, Peace Foundation, Rowan University.

And by new Jersey Public Charter Schools Association.

Promotional support provided by best of NJ.com and by the Chamber of Commerce, Southern new Jersey.

To watch mor One on One with Steve Adubato, find us onlin and follow us on social media.

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