The Vet Med Wellness & Leadership Podcast

Bias is a natural part of being human, but when left unchecked, it can quietly shape the way veterinary teams communicate, collaborate, and care for clients. Susan Swendsen Harris joins me to explore the connection between bias and psychological safety, sharing practical strategies that help leaders build stronger relationships, foster trust, and create workplaces where people feel safe to learn, contribute, and grow.

Busy season can intensify stress, negativity, and emotional exhaustion in veterinary medicine. In this episode, Senani Ratnayake joins me to explore how negativity bias and confirmation bias impact veterinary teams and why compassion satisfaction may be one of the most important tools we have for building resilience. We discuss practical mindset shifts, emotional wellbeing, and how reconnecting with meaning and purpose can help veterinary professionals navigate high-stress seasons more sustainably..

When recruiting feels harder than ever, the answer isn’t just to try harder, it’s to think differently. Savanna Tracy joins me to explore how candidate experience, onboarding, and culture all play a role in retention, and how veterinary leaders can build stronger teams by starting with the right foundation.

In this episode, I sit down with Martin Traub-Werner, founder of VetBooks, to talk about something that can feel uncomfortable but is absolutely essential in veterinary medicine: financial control. We explore how understanding your numbers reduces anxiety, supports your mission, and creates the freedom to grow your practice with confidence. If money conversations have ever felt heavy or conflicted, this episode will help you see profit in a new light.

I sat down and had a great talk with Dr. Kathryn Miller about burnout, early career challenges, and why she truly believes veterinary medicine is not lost. We dive into coaching, mindset, identity loss after vet school, and how young veterinarians can build resilient, values-driven careers without sacrificing who they are outside the clinic.

I’m featured as a guest on the Pawsitive Leadership Podcast to share my full-circle journey from veterinary medicine to psychotherapy and back again and to talk about what it really takes to care for the caregivers. In this conversation, I break down why wellness is not optional in veterinary hospitals, how leadership development directly impacts retention, and what happens when people are promoted without training or support. You’ll walk away with a simple, actionable tool to get out of burnout autopilot and lead your team with more clarity, compassion, and intention.

When veterinary leadership feels overwhelming and culture change seems out of reach, having a clear framework can transform an entire practice. Dr. George Cuellar joins me to break down his three-phase approach to defining a vision, sharing it effectively, and engaging teams in meaningful, sustainable growth. We dive into how values-driven leadership, real accountability, and collaborative culture-building can help veterinary entrepreneurs create thriving hospitals where people feel empowered and excited to contribute.

When stress and burnout are all too common in veterinary medicine, knowing how to help can save lives. Dr. Sonja Olson, DVM, C-MMT, and Susan Swendsen, MSSW, LCSW, VSW join Crystal to break down Mental Health First Aid, including the ALGEE framework, early intervention strategies, and ways to reduce stigma. Together they share how clinics can get certified and create stronger, more supportive teams through peer training.

Dr. Amy Grimm, founder of Daring DVM Coaching, opens up about her journey from veterinary medicine to coaching and what burnout really looks like in the profession. She explains why high achievers are especially vulnerable and how awareness, mindset, and boundaries can help you reset. This episode is a reminder that healing starts with compassion and small moments of presence.

Feeling burned out in vet med? The Positive Intelligence (PQ) program uses neuroscience-based tools to quiet your inner Saboteurs, strengthen your positive mindset, and build lasting resilience — all in just seven weeks. Returning guest Natalie Fayman breaks down how PQ works and why it’s transforming veterinary wellness.

Get ready to rethink conflict with Katrina Bussell, a master of conflict resolution and workplace mediation. In this episode, she breaks down how climbing the mountain of tough conversations can lead to powerful, lasting resolutions.