In this episode of Cults and the Culting of America, hosts Daniella Mestyanek Young and Scot Loyd welcome Dr. Jo, a veterinarian from New Orleans, to explore the surprising overlaps between veterinary medicine and cultic dynamics. The conversation highlights how overwork, guilt, and moral injury can act as control mechanisms in "helping professions" like veterinary care—mirroring high-demand group tactics.

Dr. Jo discusses the emotional toll of her work, including the constant oscillation between joy (new puppies) and grief (euthanasia), the high suicide rate among veterinarians, and the systemic lack of self-care built into the profession. Daniella connects these patterns to her broader analysis of institutional cultures that exploit compassion, while Scot reflects on similar burnout dynamics from his time as a pastor.

The trio also dives into capitalism's role in normalizing self-sacrifice, the ethics of euthanasia, empathy toward animals and humans, and the need for structural—not just individual—change to protect caregivers from exploitation. The episode ends with a reminder: veterinarians are humans too, carrying invisible emotional burdens.

Daniella's Links:

You can read all about my story in my book, Uncultured-- buy signed copies here. https://bit.ly/SignedUncultured

For more info on me:

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Get my book, Uncultured, from Bookshop.org: https://bit.ly/4g1Ufw8

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Instagram: https://bit.ly/4ePAOFK / daniellamyoung_

Unamerican video book (on Patreon): https://bit.ly/YTVideoBook

Secret Practice video book (on Patreon): https://bit.ly/3ZswGY8

Other Podcasts

Daniella's other podcast: Hey White Women

Scot's Socials

TikTok: @thescotloyd

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thescotloyd

Haley's Tiktok

@nuancedmasculinities

💡 Key Takeaways

• Veterinary medicine shares cult-like traits such as overwork as virtue, guilt-based control, and moral self-sacrifice.

• Emotional compartmentalization is required—vets may euthanize a long-time patient then pivot to a joyful new-pet visit minutes later.

• The suicide rate among veterinarians is alarmingly high, often tied to compassion fatigue and systemic overextension.

• Capitalism reinforces burnout, framing constant labor and self-denial as moral goodness.

• Many vets struggle to find balance between client care and self-care, often skipping breaks or feeling guilty for resting.

• COVID-19 worsened burnout by increasing pet ownership while reducing staff capacity.

• Financial misconceptions persist: veterinary procedures are costly but still drastically cheaper than equivalent human care.

• Euthanasia ethics are complex—vets must navigate between mercy, owner intent, and lack of viable alternatives.

• Empathy erosion in cults and capitalism parallels how systems dehumanize caregivers and animals alike.

• Real solutions require institutional change, not just resilience training for individuals.

• Simple kindness from clients can profoundly impact veterinary workers' wellbeing.

• Professional roles and uniforms can dehumanize caregivers—remembering their humanity matters.

• Helping professions often attract perfectionists and empaths, making them more vulnerable to exploitation.

• Both hosts link these patterns to broader social "meta-cults"—capitalism, productivity culture, and religious ideology.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Rapture Day 01:09 Meet the Veterinarian: Jo's Journey 03:09 Cults and Veterinary Medicine: Unlikely Parallels 05:21 Expectations vs. Reality in Veterinary Medicine 08:34 The Emotional Toll of Veterinary Practice 11:13 Navigating Client Relationships and Misinformation 15:14 Cults and Empathy: A Unique Perspective 18:41 The Ethics of Pet Ownership and Care 21:10 Coping Mechanisms in Veterinary Medicine 25:00 Community Support and the Burden of Service 28:09 The Burnout Epidemic in Veterinary Medicine 30:18 Understanding the Costs of Veterinary Care 35:28 Quality of Life Conversations with Pet Owners 43:28 Self-Care and Avoiding Burnout in Veterinary Practice 49:08 The Human Side of Veterinary Medicine

Produced by Haley Phillips