Choose People Love Pets: The Veterinary Culture Podcast

Not all conflict is bad—but how someone talks about conflict in an interview can tell you everything. 

In this episode, we break down one powerful interview question that reveals whether a candidate brings ownership or blame into your culture. Because in any hospital, conflict is inevitable—but toxicity is optional. 

If you want a team that communicates, grows, and takes responsibility, this is the filter you can’t afford to skip. 

What You’ll Learn 

• The exact interview question that exposes mindset  

• Why conflict handling matters more than clinical skill  

• The difference between ownership vs. blame in candidate responses  

• Real examples of red flag vs. green flag answers  

• Why “on the fence” should almost always mean no hire  

• How small behaviors in interviews predict real client interactions  

The Question to Ask 

“Tell me about a time you had a conflict with a team member—what happened?” 

Then stop talking—and listen. 

Red Flags 🚩 

• Blames the other person, management, or the system  

• Avoids conflict altogether  

• Lacks self-reflection  

• Positions themselves as the “hero” in every story  

• Can’t identify their role in the breakdown  

👉 That mindset doesn’t change after you hire them. 

Green Flags ✅ 

• Takes ownership of their role in the conflict  

• Reflects on what they could have done differently  

• Shares how they approached resolution directly  

• Demonstrates growth and behavior change moving forward  

👉 “I could have communicated sooner…” 
👉 “I contributed to the tension by…” 

That’s self-awareness. That’s coachable. That’s culture-building. 

Key Takeaway 

Hire for ownership. 

You can train skills—but self-awareness and accountability are much harder to teach. 

Bonus Hiring Insight 

If you’re on the fence, it’s probably a no. 

The best hires feel like a clear yes—often within the first few minutes. Trust that signal and wait for the right people. 

Call to Action 

If this episode helped you think differently about hiring, share it with another veterinary leader or hospital manager. 

And if you want more episodes like this, send us a message or drop a comment—we’re building this for you. 

Follow for more:  

FB: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556480229406&mibextid=LQQJ4d⁠  

IG: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/choosepeoplelovepets?igsh=MTVzZjc4ZHE4MWd2NQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr⁠  

LI: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/choose-people-love-pets/  

Why do so many high-achievers feel stuck in their own lives? 

In this episode, Dr. Brianna Armstrong sits down with Dr. Lucette Beall—veterinarian, entrepreneur, and author—to unpack the internal patterns that keep us from reaching our full potential. 

After navigating divorce, a cancer diagnosis, financial hardship, and stepping away from her veterinary practice to care for her brother following a traumatic brain injury, Dr. Lucette developed a powerful perspective on resilience, self-trust, and the role our thoughts play in shaping our reality. 

This conversation goes beyond surface-level mindset advice. Together, we explore why negative self-talk is so common, how it impacts our ability to move forward, and what it actually looks like to interrupt those patterns and rebuild from the inside out. 

If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or caught in a loop of self-doubt—this episode will challenge the way you think about your thoughts. 

🔑 What You’ll Learn 

• Why up to 80% of our thoughts are negative—and how that shapes our reality  

• The hidden ways high-achievers self-sabotage through internal narratives  

• How your brain’s “autopilot” keeps you stuck in the same patterns  

• The connection between mindset, resilience, and real-life outcomes  

• A simple daily practice to start shifting your thoughts immediately  

• How to separate your identity from external expectations  

• Why self-trust—not external validation—is the foundation for change  

🛠️ Key Framework: Reverse, Reframe, Rebuild 

Dr. Lucette breaks down her 3-step approach to transforming your mindset: 

• Reverse → Become aware of the thoughts and patterns you’ve been running on autopilot  

• Reframe → Shift the meaning you assign to situations and experiences  

• Rebuild → Take aligned action that reinforces a new identity and direction  

🔥 Key Moments 

• The life-changing decision to step away from her practice to care for her brother  

• What hitting financial rock bottom taught her about mindset and opportunity  

• The role of intuition—and why ignoring it can lead to long-term regret  

• How a simple morning routine helped her completely shift her trajectory  

• Why “being right” can keep you stuck—and what to do instead  

💬 Memorable Quotes 

• “People want to be right more than they want to be healed.”  

• “You’re 100% responsible for yourself—and 0% responsible for others.”  

• “If you don’t change what you’re telling yourself, nothing else changes.”  

🎯 Action Step 

Start with a simple morning reset: 

• 5 minutes of quiet (meditation or stillness)  

• Write down 3 things you appreciate about your life  

• Write down 3 things you appreciate about yourself  

Consistency—not perfection—is what creates change. 

🧠 Free Resource: Your Brain Reset Blueprint

Want to take what you heard in this episode and actually apply it?

Lucette Beall created a free 5-part email series designed to help you break out of the thought patterns that keep you stuck.

Each email is quick (under 4 minutes), and includes:

• A real-life story highlighting a common mental pattern
• A simple, actionable step to shift it
• A practical way to start rewiring how you think

Link to free resource: 👉 yourbrainresetblueprint.com

🎧 Connect + Follow 

Dr. Lucette's contact info:  

Website: www.drlucette.net 

Instagram: www.instagram.com/drlucette 

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@drlucette 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/drlucetteb 

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@lucettebeall 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-lucette-beall-aa395744/ 

Email: [email protected] 

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it. 

Follow CPLP for more:  

FB: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556480229406&mibextid=LQQJ4d⁠  

IG: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/choosepeoplelovepets?igsh=MTVzZjc4ZHE4MWd2NQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr⁠  

LI: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/choose-people-love-pets/  

If your team is constantly texting you on your day off, interrupting your vacation, or relying on you to solve every small problem — this isn’t a team issue. It’s a leadership pattern. 

In this episode of Choose People Love Pets, Dr. Brianna Armstrong and Phoebe Valdez break down why leaders become the bottleneck in their hospital, how that dependency gets unintentionally created, and what to do instead. 

You’ll learn how to build a team that can think independently, make decisions confidently, and operate effectively — even when you’re not there. 

Because the goal isn’t that your team doesn’t need you… 
It’s that they don’t need you for everything. 

🔑 What You’ll Learn 

• Why your team keeps coming to you for answers (and how you trained them to do it)  

• The difference between supporting your team vs creating dependency  

• How “helpful” leadership can accidentally lead to learned helplessness  

• The role of psychological safety in decision-making  

• How to coach instead of fix — without abandoning your team  

 🛠️ The Framework: Stop Being the Bottleneck 

1. Reframe the Problem 

It’s not that your team can’t solve problems — 
It’s that they’ve been trained to bring them to you. 

 2. Understand Why They Ask 

Your team is coming to you because: 

• It’s faster  

• It feels safer  

• They’re afraid of being wrong  

• They lack clear decision-making frameworks  

• You’ve reinforced the behavior (even unintentionally)  

 3. Create a Decision Filter (Red / Yellow / Green) 

• 🔴 Red: Call immediately (safety, ethics, emergencies)  

• 🟡 Yellow: Make a decision, update later  

• 🟢 Green: Fully owned by the team  

If everything is red, nothing is. 

 4. Change How You Respond 

Instead of giving answers, start asking: 

• “What do you think?”  

• “What options are you considering?”  

• “If I wasn’t here, what would you do?”  

Then pause. Let them think. Let them decide. 

 5. Use Values as Decision Tools 

Guide decisions through: 

• Patient safety  

• Team support  

• Client experience  

Your values should drive decisions, not just live on the wall. 

 6. Reinforce Ownership 

• Celebrate effort and thinking — not just outcomes  

• Encourage imperfect but safe decisions  

• Build confidence through trust  

🧪 Try This: The 30-Day Challenge 

• Prep your team for the shift  

• Pause before answering questions  

• Replace “I’ll just do it” with coaching  

• Empower one person or one decision category  

Or start small: 

👉 This week: Pause before you respond 

✈️ The Vacation Test 

Ask yourself: 

• If I left tomorrow, what would break?  

• Who would panic?  

• What decisions would stall?  

Your answers reveal where you’re still the bottleneck. 

💬 Key Quotes 

• “If your team can’t function without you, that’s not loyalty — it’s dependency.”  

• “If every decision flows through you, you didn’t build a team — you built a funnel.”  

• “Every time you answer instead of coach, you reinforce the behavior.”  

• “The goal isn’t that they don’t need you. The goal is that they don’t need you for everything.”  

 
 📣 Call to Action 

If this episode resonated with you, send it to a leader who needs a real vacation. 

And if you’re ready to start building a team that can think, decide, and lead — start by pausing before your next answer. 

🔗 Connect With Us 

Follow Choose People Love Pets for more conversations on leadership, culture, and building veterinary teams that actually work. 

Have a scenario you want us to break down? 
Send us a DM — we’d love to hear it

Follow for more:  

FB: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556480229406&mibextid=LQQJ4d⁠  

IG: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/choosepeoplelovepets?igsh=MTVzZjc4ZHE4MWd2NQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr⁠  

LI: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/choose-people-love-pets/  

What happens when the path to becoming a veterinarian doesn’t go the way you planned? 

In this episode of Choose People Love Pets, Dr. Brianna Armstrong sits down with Dr. Christien Bolden, relief veterinarian and host of the More Than a Dogtor podcast. Dr. Bolden shares his deeply personal journey through veterinary medicine—from not passing the NAVLE twice, to navigating burnout, to ultimately redefining what success and fulfillment look like in his career and life. 

Together, they explore the pressures young veterinarians face, the identity crisis that can happen when your career becomes your entire sense of self, and the importance of creating space to be more than just your professional title. 

Dr. Bolden also shares how mentorship, reflection, and prioritizing his family helped him rebuild his relationship with veterinary medicine and ultimately led him to create a platform supporting veterinary students and early-career veterinarians. 

This conversation is a powerful reminder that failure doesn’t define your future—and that sometimes the hardest moments in your career can become the foundation for helping others. 

In This Episode 

• What “More Than a Dogtor” really means  

• The identity crisis many veterinarians experience early in their careers  

• Dr. Bolden’s experience not passing the NAVLE twice and how it shaped his path  

• The role mentorship played in rebuilding his confidence  

• Why authenticity matters in veterinary medicine  

• The biggest struggles new veterinarians face in their first few years  

• Learning to set boundaries and prioritize life outside of work  

• Burnout, sabbaticals, and reclaiming balance in your career  

• Relief work as a path to rediscovering purpose  

• Why communication skills are one of the biggest gaps in veterinary education  

• The inspiration behind Dr. Bolden’s podcast and mentorship initiatives  

• How he is helping students prepare for the NAVLE through coaching and mentorship  

Key Takeaway 

Your title as a veterinarian is only one part of who you are. 

Creating a sustainable career in veterinary medicine requires space for authenticity, mentorship, and personal growth—because the healthiest professionals are the ones who remember they are people first. 

About the Guest 

Dr. Christien Bolden is a veterinarian, mentor, and host of the More Than a Dogtor podcast. A graduate of Tuskegee University, Dr. Bolden is passionate about supporting veterinary students and early-career veterinarians as they navigate the challenges of entering the profession. 

Through his podcast, mentorship work, and NAVLE preparation initiatives, he aims to create spaces where veterinary professionals can share their stories, support one another, and remember they are more than just their titles. 

Connect with Dr. Christien Bolden

• Instagram: @thebayouvet
• Podcast: More Than a Dogtor 
• Email: [email protected]

Have you ever sat in a team meeting and heard feedback that clearly wasn’t about you… but suddenly you’re questioning if you’re doing something wrong? 

This happens in veterinary hospitals all the time. 

In this episode of Choose People Love Pets, Dr. Brianna Armstrong and hospital manager Phoebe Valdez break down a common leadership mistake that quietly damages culture: giving individual feedback in a group setting. 

It often feels easier. It feels less confrontational. But the unintended consequences can be huge. 

When leaders address individual problems in group meetings: 

• Top performers start questioning themselves 
• Underperformers don’t realize the feedback is about them 
• Anxiety increases across the team 
• Trust and psychological safety begin to erode 

If you're a veterinary practice owner, medical director, or hospital manager, learning how to deliver feedback to the right audience is a critical leadership skill. 

In this conversation, we walk through how to identify when something should be addressed one-on-one vs. with the entire team, and how to deliver feedback in a way that actually improves culture. 

In This Episode 

We discuss: 

• Why leaders often give individual feedback in group meetings 
• The hidden cost this creates for your top performers 
• Why underperformers usually don’t realize the feedback is about them 
• How vague feedback increases stress in veterinary teams 
• How to tell if a problem is a system issue or an individual issue 
• Practical scripts for having difficult conversations with your team 

A Leadership Reminder 

Avoiding hard conversations may feel kind… 

But as we discuss in this episode: 

Kindness without clarity isn’t kindness — it’s confusion. 

And when excellence and mediocrity are treated the same, the result is predictable: 

Your best people stop pushing… or they leave. 

Connect With Us 

If you're working through a leadership challenge in your hospital and aren't sure whether it's a group issue or an individual conversation, reach out to us. 

We love hearing from veterinary leaders. 

Follow us and send us a message on social: 

FB: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556480229406&mibextid=LQQJ4d⁠  

IG: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/choosepeoplelovepets?igsh=MTVzZjc4ZHE4MWd2NQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr⁠  

LI: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/choose-people-love-pets/  

Subscribe to Choose People Love Pets 

If you care about building a healthier culture in veterinary medicine, this podcast is for you. 

Subscribe for conversations about: 

• Veterinary leadership 

• Practice culture 

• Hiring and retention 

• Communication with veterinary teams 

• Running a thriving veterinary hospital 

 👍 If you found this episode helpful, please: 
- Like the video 
- Subscribe to the channel  
- Share it with another veterinary leader ️ 

❤️ It helps us grow the show and bring these conversations to more people in veterinary medicine. 

#veterinarymedicine #veterinaryleadership #veterinarypractice #vetmed #veterinarymanagement #practiceculture #vetlife 

Veterinary careers rarely unfold according to plan. 

They evolve through opportunity, relationships, timing — and often through saying yes before we feel fully ready. 

In this episode of Choose People Love Pets, Dr. Gary Marshall — practice owner, feline-focused entrepreneur, and longtime contributor to organized veterinary medicine — reflects on the winding path of a decades-long career. From building “Cat Class” for students across six continents to navigating leadership roles and professional transitions, Gary shares what saying yes created… and what it cost. 

This conversation explores: 

• The hidden trade-offs of opportunity 

• The cost of always saying yes — and the cost of always saying no 

• Loneliness in leadership, even in rooms full of thousands 

• Why customer service will matter more in a shifting economic landscape 

• What younger generations are teaching the profession about agency 

• How culture moves from philosophy to business infrastructure 

As veterinary medicine moves out of survival mode and into a more uncertain market environment, the question isn’t just how to grow — but how to evolve. 

This episode is about discernment, relevance, and building a career that reflects who you are — not just the titles you collect. 

Key Takeaways 

• Saying yes can shape your career in ways you can’t predict — but every yes carries a cost. 
• Guarding boundaries is important, but rigidity can limit growth. 
• Leadership can be deeply lonely — belonging requires intention. 
• Culture isn’t soft — it’s structural to retention, client trust, and financial resilience. 
• Economic shifts will reward practices that never stopped prioritizing experience. 
• Younger veterinarians are modeling agency — and the profession is evolving because of it. 

About Dr. Gary Marshall 

Dr. Gary Marshall is a veterinary practice owner and longtime leader in organized veterinary medicine. Over the course of his career, he has contributed to professional organizations, mentored students across the globe through “Cat Class,” and built a feline-focused practice aligned with his values and vision for modern veterinary care. 

Email: [email protected]

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garymarshalldvm/ 

Instagram: @it.might.get.weird  

Podcast: It Might Get Weird: Journeys In Veterinary Medicine 

• Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/3nzCLsF3xiIGeytyp8qDJW?si=08e194c78287445f 

• Itmightgetweird.buzzsprout.com  

Follow CPLP Podcast for more:  

FB: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556480229406&mibextid=LQQJ4d⁠  

IG: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/choosepeoplelovepets?igsh=MTVzZjc4ZHE4MWd2NQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr⁠  

LI: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/choose-people-love-pets/⁠  

Imposter syndrome is something we talk about constantly in veterinary medicine — but what if we’ve been thinking about it all wrong? 

In this episode of Choose People Love Pets, Dr. Brianna Armstrong and Phoebe Valdez explore a powerful reframe: what if imposter syndrome isn’t a sign that you don’t belong… but evidence that you’re growing? 

Through personal stories — including Brianna’s experience pitching her veterinary startup Skye Paws while still in vet school — they unpack how discomfort, self-doubt, and even anxiety often appear at the exact moments when identity expansion and leadership growth are happening. 

Together, they introduce the idea of “growth syndrome” — a framework for understanding why high-achievers and veterinary professionals often feel like imposters when stepping into new roles, leadership opportunities, or unfamiliar challenges. 

If you’ve ever wondered: 

• “Do I actually belong here?” 

• “What if they find out I don’t know what I’m doing?” 

• “Why does growth feel so uncomfortable?” 

This conversation offers a new perspective — and practical tools to help you reframe the experience. 

What You’ll Hear in This Episode 

• Why imposter syndrome may actually be a sign of growth 

• The story behind Skye Paws and navigating first-time visibility 

• How veterinary training shapes our relationship with competence and confidence 

• The three elements of “growth syndrome”: 

• Novelty 

• Visibility 

• Identity expansion 

• Why waiting to feel ready keeps us stuck 

• How to build confidence by trusting yourself through growth 

• Practical strategies for navigating high-stakes new experiences 

Key Takeaways 

• Confidence does not come before action — it comes from action. 

• You don’t feel like an imposter when you stay small. 

• Growth often feels uncomfortable because your identity is expanding faster than your evidence. 

• Leadership requires becoming a beginner again. 

Follow for more:  

FB: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556480229406&mibextid=LQQJ4d⁠  

IG: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/choosepeoplelovepets?igsh=MTVzZjc4ZHE4MWd2NQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr⁠  

LI: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/choose-people-love-pets/⁠  

In this episode, our host Dr. Brianna Armstrong sits down with Dr. Kelly Cooper, veterinarian, former practice owner, corporate leader, and certified leadership coach, to explore the quiet realization many leaders have but rarely name: I’m not the leader I want to be—and I don’t know how to fix it. 

Kelly shares her journey from clinical practice to ownership, rising through the ranks at Banfield to the highest level before the C-suite, and ultimately making the difficult decision to walk away from a prestigious role to pursue coaching full-time. Not because she was failing—but because she wanted something more aligned. 

Together, they unpack what coaching actually is (and what it’s not), how leaders often don’t realize they need support until something breaks, and why awareness—not perfection—is the first step toward becoming a better leader. 

This is an honest, reflective conversation for veterinarians and leaders who care deeply, want to do better, and are willing to look inward. 

In This Episode, We Discuss: 

• The moment Kelly realized she wasn’t the leader she wanted to be 

• Why many veterinarians struggle with leadership—and don’t know help exists 

• The difference between coaching, therapy, and mentorship 

• How coaching helped Kelly gain clarity, alignment, and confidence 

• What a real coaching session actually looks like 

• Why leadership growth often requires outside perspective 

• How coaching can transform not just your career, but your relationships and wellbeing 

• The idea that pain is inevitable—but suffering is optional 
   

This Episode Is For You If: 

• You’re a leader who cares deeply but feels stuck or stretched 

• You’ve ever thought, “Why does this feel harder than it should?” 

• You’re curious about coaching but unsure if it’s “for you” 

• You want to lead with more intention, clarity, and self-awareness 
   

About Dr. Kelly Cooper 

Dr. Kelly Cooper is a veterinarian and certified leadership coach with over 20 years of experience in clinical practice and veterinary leadership. After owning a practice and rising to a senior leadership role at Banfield, Kelly chose to step away from corporate leadership to focus on one-on-one coaching—helping veterinarians and leaders grow into the people they want to be, not just the roles they hold. 

[email protected] 

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkellycooper/  

Reality Vet: https://www.realityvet.com/  

CPLP Podcast - Follow for more:  

FB: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556480229406&mibextid=LQQJ4d⁠  

IG: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/choosepeoplelovepets?igsh=MTVzZjc4ZHE4MWd2NQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr⁠  

LI: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/choose-people-love-pets/⁠  

In this episode of Choose People Love Pets, Brianna and Phoebe walk through exactly how they used AI-powered culture surveys to assess their hospital culture, identify blind spots, and—most importantly—turn anonymous feedback into real, trust-building change. 

Rather than treating culture as a “gut feeling,” they share a practical, repeatable framework for measuring psychological safety, communication, leadership trust, and belonging—without overwhelming leaders or putting teams on the defensive. 

This episode is a behind-the-scenes case study of what worked, what surprised them, and how intentional follow-through transformed feedback into action. 

What we cover: 

• Why anonymous culture surveys matter (and when they’re most effective) 

• How AI helped identify trends without leaders spiraling emotionally 

• The key culture pillars they measured: 
  psychological safety, communication, leadership trust, belonging, and growth 

• How to structure survey questions that lead to honest, useful feedback 

• Turning survey data into clear priorities using AI 

• Why breakout discussions matter more than “solving the problem” 

• How small wins (like onboarding fixes and workflow clarity) build trust 

• What “corporate feel” actually meant to the team—and how leadership responded 

• Why follow-up surveys are the most important step in culture work 

• How consistency (not perfection) builds long-term trust with your team 

Key takeaway: 

Listening is only half the work. Culture improves when teams see their feedback taken seriously, reflected back, and acted on—over time. 

Resources mentioned: 

• Culture survey template https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1ndXpVfv35AC1nteM4I-uO-Kr1v-bjYJJcreV_5fZD9M/template/preview 

• Follow-up culture check survey https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1J_GoByxJ8Q5-jmixov72hnNnSinysMnf8wuZkULmkSg/template/preview 

Reflection question for leaders: 

If your team gave you honest feedback tomorrow, what would you do with it? 

If you enjoyed this episode or have questions about implementing culture surveys in your hospital, send us your feedback—we’re listening. 

Follow for more:  

FB: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556480229406&mibextid=LQQJ4d⁠  

IG: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/choosepeoplelovepets?igsh=MTVzZjc4ZHE4MWd2NQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr⁠  

LI: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/choose-people-love-pets/⁠  

In this first episode of 2026, Dr. Brianna Armstrong sits down with Dr. Natalie Marks for a deeply honest conversation about identity, alignment, and intentional living. While Dr. Marks is widely known for her extraordinary career — spanning clinical practice, hospital ownership, national media, Fear Free leadership, and her current role as CEO of the Veterinary Angel Network — this episode goes beyond accomplishments and into the inner work behind them. 

Together, Brianna and Natalie explore what it means to build a life that actually feels good, how to recognize when you’ve outgrown old versions of yourself, and why vulnerability, boundaries, and asking for help are essential leadership skills. This episode is an invitation to reflect, let go of what no longer serves you, and choose the “intentional yes” — in your career, relationships, and life. 

If you’re feeling successful on paper but misaligned inside, this conversation is for you. 

🧠 What We Talk About 

• Finding your “why” and building a life around it 

• Letting go of roles, identities, and expectations that no longer fit 

• Why success without alignment leads to burnout 

• Vulnerability as a leadership strength, not a weakness 

• Learning how — and when — to ask for help 

• Building real friendships and meaningful connection 

• Creating boundaries that protect your energy and values 

• Choosing the intentional yes instead of living by default 

🎧 Why This Episode Matters 

This conversation sets the tone for 2026: 
Less hustle. 
More intention. 
More honesty. 
More joy. 

It’s about choosing people, choosing yourself, and choosing a life that aligns with who you are becoming — not who you used to be. 
 

📣 Share This Episode 

If this episode resonated with you and someone came to mind while listening, consider sharing it with them. Sometimes the most meaningful conversations are the ones we pass along. 

👩‍⚕️ About Dr. Natalie Marks 

Dr. Natalie Marks is one of the most accomplished veterinarians in the profession. She is a former hospital owner, nationally recognized award recipient, international media contributor, Fear Free leader, and CEO of the Veterinary Angel Network (VANE). Through her work, she continues to shape the future of veterinary medicine by supporting innovation, leadership, and intentional career paths. 

Dr. Marks Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-marks-schneiderman-dvm-cvj-ccfp-elite-ffcp-v-54b0429a/ VANE https://vane.vet

MI:RNA https://mirna-diagnostics.com/en

🔔 Stay Connected 

If you enjoyed this episode, follow or subscribe to Choose People Love Pets so you don’t miss future conversations focused on people-first leadership, culture, and building careers — and lives — that truly matter. 

Follow for more:  

FB: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556480229406&mibextid=LQQJ4d⁠  

IG: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/choosepeoplelovepets?igsh=MTVzZjc4ZHE4MWd2NQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr⁠  

LI: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/choose-people-love-pets/⁠