The Vet’Ed Podcast

In this episode of the Vetted Podcast, Steven Hermann interviews Karyn Buxman, a neurohumorist and expert in applied humor. They discuss the importance of humor in healthcare, particularly in the veterinary field, and how it can be used as a strategic tool to reduce stress, improve communication, and build resilience. Karyn shares insights from her research on the brain's response to humor and offers practical applications for incorporating humor into daily life. The conversation emphasizes the need for self-care and the power of thoughts in shaping our experiences.

Takeaways

Humor is a whole brain process that can influence health.
The gap between expectations and reality can lead to stress.
Humor can help wring out emotional saturation.
Practicing humor can improve resilience and empathy.
Creating a humor-friendly environment enhances well-being.
Humor is not just about laughter; it's about connection.
We often underestimate the power of our thoughts.
Intentionality in humor can lead to positive outcomes.
Stacking the deck with humor increases its presence in life.
Self-care is essential for helping others effectively.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Humor and the Brain
02:56 Understanding Neurohumor
05:54 The Power of Humor in Healthcare
08:40 Compassion Fatigue and Resilience
11:54 Closing the Gap: Expectations vs. Reality
14:45 Tools for Managing Stress with Humor
17:40 The Importance of Reframing
20:44 Building Relationships through Humor
23:47 Using Humor in Difficult Situations
26:28 The Healing Power of Humor
28:46 Stacking the Deck for Joy
32:19 Neuroplasticity and Humor's Impact
34:25 Building Connections Through Laughter
39:19 Practical Steps to Cultivate Humor
44:24 Empowerment Through Positive Thinking

humor, neurohumor, resilience, veterinary, well-being, stress reduction, communication, compassion fatigue, mental health, humor in healthcare

In this episode of the Vet'Ed Podcast, Steven Hermann sits down with Kelly Cronin, a veteran of the veterinary space with 33 years of experience. Kelly shares her career journey, starting as a volunteer and advancing through roles like multi-site manager and VP of Operations, before her current position supporting practices with virtual veterinary assistance at Teem. They discuss the value of veterinary continuing education (CE) cruises, which Kelly helps organize to provide technicians with unique educational and personal growth opportunities, including seeing the ocean or leaving their state for the first time.

The conversation shifts to Teem, a service that provides virtual veterinary assistants to help private practices with administrative tasks. Kelly explains how these assistants, who are college graduates from US colleges in South America, can handle a variety of duties, from medical record scribing and appointment setting to managing medication refills and social media. This frees up on-site staff, like technicians and veterinarians, to focus on patient care and improves their work-life balance. Kelly emphasizes that Team's goal is not to replace in-person staff but to serve as a tool that enhances a practice's efficiency and helps everyone thrive. They conclude by highlighting the importance of private practices and the role of services like Team in helping them succeed.

In this episode, we sit down with Stephen McLaughry, the owner of Vetbadger, to discuss his journey from a software engineer to a leader in veterinary technology. Stephen shares how his wife, a private practice veterinarian, faced frustrations with outdated software. This inspired him to create Vetbadger, a comprehensive practice management system designed to solve a core problem: communication.

Discover how Stephen's background as a world-champion bicycle racer and his belief in community shape his business philosophy. Learn why a "James Herriot experience"—building strong, personal relationships with clients and your team—is the key to success for private practices. Stephen explains how Vetbadger's integrated system, with features like internal team chat, telemedicine, and a centralized hub for all communication, simplifies workflows and strengthens bonds between a clinic and its clients.

Find out how Vetbadger is creating the technology that supports independent business and helps private practices thrive.

Join host Steven Hermann as he sits down with the legendary Dr. Jim Schuessler for an insightful conversation about the transformative power of communication in veterinary medicine. Dr. Schuessler shares incredible stories, from the life-changing advice that shaped his career ("I try to carry myself each and every day so that my kids want to be veterinarians" ) to the practical strategies that built a highly successful practice at Kirkwood Animal Hospital. Discover how consistent staff meetings, role-playing, and a "work-life harmony" philosophy revolutionized patient care and client relationships. This episode is packed with invaluable lessons for veterinarians, practice owners, and anyone passionate about building stronger connections in their professional and personal life.

In this candid and laugh-filled episode, we welcome Rhys Giannarelli, founder of Innovative Vet Management Solutions and co-owner of two practices in Vancouver. Rhys brings an Aussie-Canadian lens to the challenges of leadership, culture, and sustainable clinic ownership in veterinary medicine.

Rhys says it plain: people aren’t quitting the job—they’re quitting you. And that leadership gap is the real crisis.

You’ll hear stories about family life (soccer vs. hockey!), what makes Canadian clinics different, and how to create a truly turnkey practice—one that runs without you.

🎧 If you want to stop micromanaging, empower your team, and love your clinic again—press play.

🔗 Connect with Rhys:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhys-giannarelli-4bb025125/

Podcast: thevetedpodcast.com

🎙️ Hosted by Steven Hermann and Kale Flaspohler
Brought to you by ProPartners Team | www.propartnersteam.com

Ever catch yourself saying, “If only this had gone differently…”?
 In this Mindset Edition of The Vet’Ed Podcast, Steven Hermann shares a personal story (shoutout to Quentin and Tulsa Tough!) that transformed excuses into powerful learning. Whether you're navigating a chaotic vet practice or trying to move from blame to breakthrough, this episode is your 7-minute mental reset.

🚴‍♂️ From crashes to comebacks
 🔍 From blame to reflection
 📈 From stuck to strategic growth

🎯 Mindset Challenge included!

👉 Ready to upgrade from "what went wrong" to "what can I learn"? Hit play now.
 📍 www.thevetedpodcast.com
📢 Follow us on LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram for more short & punchy mindset shifts.

What if you could screen your dog for cancer—before any symptoms appear?

In this episode of the VetEd Podcast, Steven Hermann and Kale Flaspohler welcome Dr. Tom Butera and Daniel Shears from Volition Veterinary to discuss a groundbreaking innovation: Nu.Q®, an affordable, blood-based screening test designed to detect cancer early in dogs.

Volition’s revolutionary approach to cancer diagnostics uses epigenetics—looking beyond DNA to the expression of genes—to catch diseases like lymphoma and hemangiosarcoma before clinical signs appear. The test is already being used in over 22 countries, with more than 120,000 tests run and growing.

👉 Learn how this test works, how it integrates into everyday wellness exams, and why it’s a game-changer for pet longevity, veterinary practice profitability, and client peace of mind.

If you’re a veterinarian, pet owner, or just love animals, this episode is a must-listen.

🔗 Tune in, subscribe, and let's build healthier lives—for pets and people.

#VetMed #CancerDetection #Epigenetics #VeterinaryInnovation #VolitionVeterinary #NuQ #VetEdPodcast #EarlyDetection #PetHealth #VeterinaryBusiness #VetLife

In this episode, Steven Hermann and Kale Flaspohler sit down with Melissa Tompkins—practice management consultant, speaker, and founder of South Coast Veterinary Management Solutions. From her unexpected start in the veterinary field (thanks to a cat named Crash) to managing multiple hospitals and launching leadership groups across Southern California, Melissa shares her journey and passion for helping veterinary teams thrive.

🚨 Key Takeaways:

• Why practice managers are the linchpins of veterinary success
• How consultants can be the fire extinguisher before your clinic is in flames
• The truth about communication breakdowns in clinics (hint: it’s 98% of your problem)
• How Melissa’s talks on “creating your own drama” and “setting boundaries” empower overwhelmed teams
• Her unique approach to tackling compassion fatigue and why it matters now more than ever

🐾 Plus, hear about Melissa’s surprise performance at the 1984 Olympics, her cat ears branding, and what she learned from a fish named Bob.

📣 Don’t miss this candid, insightful, and laugh-filled conversation aimed at inspiring better leadership and healthier clinics.

🔗 Learn more about Melissa:
 Website: South Coast Veterinary Management Solutions
YouTube: South Coast Veterinary Manage 263
Instagram & Facebook: @SouthCoastVetSolutions
LinkedIn: Melissa Tompkins

👍 Like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations that educate, advocate, and inspire veterinary professionals.

Welcome to a special Mindset Edition of the Vet’Ed Podcast! In this bite-sized episode, Steven Hermann dives into the often-overlooked leadership skill of reacting well. Drawing from both Harvard Business Review and real-world leadership moments, Steven redefines what it means to lead—not by controlling, but by responsibly reacting with empathy, purpose, and perseverance.

🧠 Key Takeaways:

• Leadership means responsibility, not control. It’s not about having all the answers—it's about how you respond when you're needed most.
• Reacting well is a skill, not a flaw. With experience, empathy, and a growth mindset, reaction becomes a powerful leadership tool.
• Empathy and perseverance are key. Leadership moments often come unplanned—how you show up emotionally matters more than what you know.
• Compassion before correction. Don’t default to policies—lead with understanding first.
• Be proactively reactive. If 35% of your day will be spent reacting, build space in your calendar to handle it intentionally.

💡 Reflection Prompt:
Steven challenges you to think:
"Are you ready for the 35%? How can you lead this week by responding with curiosity, courage, and compassion?"

Thanks for tuning in! If this episode inspired you, please consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving a comment.

➡️ For more insights and resources, visit: propartnersteam.com

Welcome to Episode 31 of The Vet’Ed Podcast, hosted by Steven Hermann and Kale Flaspohler.

In this episode, Steven and Kale sit down with Dr. Cliff Miller, founder of Green Hills Veterinary Clinic in Moberly, Missouri. From starting his practice with just one patient (his own dog!) to now leading a four-doctor team, Dr. Miller shares his journey of intentional growth, small-town community impact, and balancing life as a vet, cattleman, coach, and legislative advocate.

As the Legislative Chairman for the Missouri Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA), Dr. Miller offers a behind-the-scenes look at the legislative process affecting veterinarians in Missouri and beyond. He breaks down the importance of advocacy, the role of organized veterinary medicine, and how staying involved ensures that veterinarians—not just lawmakers—shape the future of the profession.

From drug compounding laws and sales tax on services to the national conversation around xylazine regulation, this episode is packed with insight for any vet wanting to better understand the forces shaping their world.

🎧 Whether you're in the exam room or on the road, this episode will leave you informed and inspired.

➡️ Visit Pro Partners Team for more resources and tools to support your veterinary journey.

📩 Drop us a note anytime at: [email protected] — we’d love to hear from you!