Drat & Drake Veterinary Podcast

Today we interview author and former journalist Patti Eddington, about her book "Don’t Look in the Freezer: The Very Strange Life of a Veterinarian’s Wife" (released in April 2026) and how it grew from early blog-era writing and workshops into a more honest memoir-like collection of stories. 

We discuss the realities of being constantly on call while building a practice, raising their daughter Molly around the clinic, a painful turning point during Patty’s foot surgery, and how respect, communication, and feeling “seen” sustain relationships in veterinary life. 

Patti reflects on changes in hiring and expectations across generations of veterinarians, and shares her current work with book events and free “Write Your Story” workshops, plus upcoming signings across Michigan, including Mackinac Island.

00:00 Meet Patty Eddington
01:15 Why This Book Hits
03:15 Origin Story of Freezer
07:09 Memoir Truth and Voice
09:08 When Emergencies Flip
10:00 Vets Are People Too
11:28 Marriage on Call
14:50 Clinic Kids and Critters
16:13 Foot Surgery Breaking Point
23:21 Money Struggles and Making It
24:17 No Choice But Success
25:36 When It Finally Felt Secure
27:14 Frugal Years And Gratitude
28:03 Waiting To Have Molly
29:35 Raising Molly Their Way
35:57 Grandparenting And James
38:59 Generations Of Veterinarians
45:11 Whats Next For The Family
48:09 Workshops Book Tours Farewell

Dr. Kate Elden (Dutch CMO) on Veterinary Telemedicine, VCPR Laws, AI, and Expanding Access to Care

On the Torat and Drake Veterinary Podcast, Dr. Tam interviews Dr. Kate Elden, recently hired as Chief Medical Officer at Dutch, a telemedicine platform, about her career path from equine practice to small animal general practice, medical director roles, and ultimately telehealth. Dr. Elden describes how COVID accelerated her telemedicine experience and why cost and access barriers keep many pets from receiving care, citing reports that large portions of pets miss veterinary services. She discusses how private equity, rising standards of care, and clinic hours contribute to affordability and access challenges, and argues telemedicine is a key solution despite restrictive state VCPR regulations. They also address AI as a growing tool that still requires a “human in the loop.” Dr. Elden explains Dutch’s guardrails, follow-ups, pharmacy logistics, and her leadership approach, including how parenting shapes her work.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro
01:35 From Horse Vet to Small Animal
04:32 COVID Sparks Telemedicine
06:47 Why Pets Skip Care
09:22 Telemedicine as Access Fix
12:27 Inspiring Vets Through Communication
17:18 AI and the Future Toolbox
20:38 Telehealth Adoption Challenges
21:36 Telemedicine Demand Surge
23:35 VCPR Laws Explained
26:10 State Rules and Licensing
27:37 Why Clients Love Telehealth
30:11 Follow Ups and Messaging
31:21 CMO Role and Guardrails
34:46 Parenting and Leadership
39:07 Conferences and Closing Advice

In this episode, Dr. Tam and Dr. Cruz Martinez go deeper on how inner dialogue can fuel anxiety and fear or, with intentional language, build confidence and resilience. 

Dr. Cruz shares his own vet school experience of spiraling thoughts and explains how repeated self-talk becomes beliefs, identity, and behavior. Using examples from parenting and everyday commitments, he highlights three energy-depleting words—“try,” “should,” and “but”—and explains how they can create ambiguity, guilt, and mental confusion. He offers alternatives such as clear commitments, “do my best,” “want,” “yet,” “will,” and replacing “but” with “and” to create forward momentum. They emphasize that change requires consistent practice, self-awareness, and patience while retraining long-standing mental patterns.