Caffeinators, you may remember we recently spoke with Kelly Drescher Johnson and talked about end of life care and grief, and the company she started, Veterinary Chaplaincy Services. During that discussion she mentioned the idea of the "World's Worst Cocktail Party" and grief. We decided to make that a whole episode for Mental Health Awareness Month! This discussion was fascinating and made so much sense how we move through grief and how that applies not only to ourselves, but pet owners in our hospitals as well. This episode had no script-just an incredible discussion about grief and how we move through it, and resources for pet owners. Don't miss it!

Our Links:

Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe

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Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe

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Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/

Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch

If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do. 🐾

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/vettechcafe

Caffeinators, you may remember when we had Lynn Blake on in the Summer of 2024. There were a few points in that discussion that made us think she'd be a perfect fit for our May episodes where we focus on mental health in our field for Mental Health Awareness Month. Lynn cam back recently to tell us what she's doing now and we discussed mental health in our field from several different angles, including those that are a result of the current political landscape in the US. There are some difficult moments in this one, but, if you're in a leadership role, I can't recommend this episode enough as we discuss QPR training at length, and Lynn shares when she had to utilize that training, and so much more.

Show Links:

988 Lifeline https://988lifeline.org

QPR Training https://qprinstitute.com

The Trevor Project https://www.thetrevorproject.org

RAINN https://rainn.org

ACLU Know Your Rights https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/immigrants-rights

Our Links:

Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe

Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg

Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/

Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch

If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do. 🐾

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/vettechcafe

Taproom # 50!  Lots to unpack here.  Here's some links we discussed

Minnesota: https://navta.net/industry-news/minnesota-association-of-veterinary-technicians-mavt-update-historic-veterinary-technician-licensure-bill-passed/?fbclid=IwY2xjawKEdsZleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE5RkdkN1pOVjJNZFdva2pRAR6BEr4PhIBwEWu4Y8dwWRrIA6c0xlmY4yDXlH_Zw3cZIJYVwS0YooL4G_8gQg_aem_fGQxGLGSOUe9MNS7zcYIFQ

Mid Level Practitioner: https://news.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=210&catId=6958&id=12620873

DEI: https://www.myvetcandy.com/blog/2025/4/25/avmas-council-on-education-cites-federal-pressure-in-controversial-decision-to-eliminate-diversity-reporting-requirements

Caffeinators, you know we love to highlight veterinary technicians and nurses that are out here blazing a path that makes us all better for it. This is another one of those episodes. We recently came across Amelia Sherwood, (@tissueviabilityvetnurse) and looking at her content and what she was doing, we knew we had to talk to her. She was gracious enough to to chat with us, and what an inspiring conversation! We talked all things wound management, healing, and the role of the veterinary technician or nurse in these cases, and how we can advocate for these patients and play such a crucial role in their healing and case outcome. It was fascinating to hear how she's progressed in the field of wound management and tissue viability, and the consulting she does now. You DO NOT want to miss this one. Come for the great discussion, stay for her accent!

Show Links

Our Links:

Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe

Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg

Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/

Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch

If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do. 🐾

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/vettechcafe

Caffeinators, it's time for another uplifting, inspiring episode. We've had a few people recommend Beth Stark to be a guest on the Vet Tech Cafe, and we finally got to meet her at HiVE Anaheim as the three of us are HiVE Champions. We recently sat down with her to talk about her unique path, her passion for helping veterinary technicians advance their careers, work to prevent burnout, and also her involvement in several organizations. We talked about the importance of being involved and engaged and so many other facets of our careers. We really covered a lot of ground in this one!

Our Links:

Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe

Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg

Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/

Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch

If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do. 🐾

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/vettechcafe

Caffeinators, as you know, we don't have many DVM guests come by the Vet Tech Cafe, but when they do, it's because they have a unique viewpoint on a current issue. This is that episode! Dr. Sam Hollister reached out to us a while back wanting to talk about the "U" word - unionization in veterinary medicine. As a veterinarian, he presented some very unique viewpoints and compelling arguments in support of unionization in our field, and has done a ton of research surrounding the issue as it pertains to our profession. We've long while we want to be an autonomous and self-governing profession, we are going to need the help of veterinarians that support us to make that happen, and Sam is one of those veterinarians. Make sure to give this episode a listen and let us know where you stand on unionization!

Our Links:

Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe

Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg

Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/

Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch

If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do. 🐾

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/vettechcafe

We're back from Phoenix!  Recap of our annual Phoenix trip and a discussion of the CVT changes in NJ that will be happening soon!  Come in and have a beer with us!

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe

Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg

Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/

Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch

If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do. 🐾

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/vettechcafe

Caffeinators, are you ready to hear from Megan Brashear? We honestly don't know why it took us so long to have her stop by the Vet Tech Cafe, but we sure are glad she finally did! If you don't know, Megan is one of the OG veterinary technician speakers and educators. She was do a series called On The Floor AtDove long before a webinar format was popular, and it is still very highly utilized on YouTube all these years later. It was great to hear about her unique career path and all the incredible things she's done and accomplished in her career. You don't want to miss this one!

Our Links:

Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe

Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg

Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/

Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch

If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do. 🐾

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/vettechcafe

Caffeinators, by now you know we strive to bring you episodes with awesome guests that are out there doing amazing things as veterinary technicians and veterinary nurses. Sometimes, they're people we know; sometimes, they're people you recommend to us; and sometimes, we just get lucky and come across them. This is one of those episodes. Recently, Dave was working on a lecture and read something that was written by Laura Jones. He reached out to her, and this episode was born! We brought the Vet Tech Cafe to the UK to talk all things small animal internal medicine! Laura has created some amazing online content and educational resources for anyone looking for top notch IM education. Laura is blazing quite a path and it was fascinating to hear about-don't miss this one!

Show Links:

https://www.instagram.com/vetinternalmedicinenursing/?hl=en

https://www.veterinaryinternalmedicinenursing.com/

Our Links:

Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe

Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg

Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/

Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch

If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do. 🐾

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/vettechcafe

Caffeinators, you know we love to highlight people in our field that are blazing their own path and starting businesses, and this episode is just that! Becky Lacy and her partner Nikole Hludzik recently came by the Vet Tech Cafe to talk to us about their brand new venture, Animalance RVA! Animalance is an animal ambulance/transport service serving the greated Richmond, Virginia area. They provide inter-hospital transport and transport to and from owner's home. By all accounts this is a very needed service in the area, and they have a ton of support within the local veterinary community. This was a great discussion about starting this kind of business-from the logistics to the legality of getting it off the ground. Don't miss it!

Show Links:

https://www.facebook.com/people/Animalance-RVA/61571331134338/

https://www.instagram.com/animalancerva/

https://animalhealthnewsandviews.com/richmond-vet-nurse-creates-animalance-rva-to-transport-pets-in-need/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYeyZoUo2x4

Our Links:

Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe

Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg

Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/

Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch

If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do. 🐾

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/vettechcafe