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This episode is best experienced IN FULL!!
We recorded this live in Zimbabwe during the THRIVE veterinary wellbeing retreat—and the video version brings it all to life. From wildlife encounters to breathtaking landscapes and powerful human moments, you can watch the full experience unfold on YouTube here.
In this special episode of The Veterinary Culture Lab, Andi records live from Zimbabwe during the World Wide Vets THRIVE retreat—joined by co-host Dani Herbst to explore what it really means to thrive in veterinary medicine.
Grounded in research on emotional intelligence in early-career veterinarians, this conversation unpacks a powerful insight: emotional intelligence does not simply develop with experience—it is shaped by the environments we are part of.
And when the research points to mental health, social support, and time spent outdoors as key drivers of emotional intelligence…this episode brings those findings to life in real time.
Through conversations with veterinary professionals attending THRIVE, you will hear how connection, reflection, and stepping away from the day-to-day demands of practice can shift perspective, build emotional capacity, and create meaningful change.
From honest reflections to moments of humor and insight, this episode highlights how wellbeing is not just an individual effort—it is something we build together.
You’ll hear:
Whether you are feeling energized or exhausted, this episode invites you to consider what it might look like to create the conditions that help you—and your team—truly THRIVE.
Resource Links:
Episode Article:
Title: Improved mental health, social support, and time outdoors are associated with higher emotional intelligence in early-career veterinarians: A longitudinal study
Authors: Tipsarp Kittisiam, DVM, PhD ; Caroline Ritter, DVM, PhD; Emily Morabito, MS; Adam Stacey, PsyD, RDPsych; Deep Khosa, BVMS, PhD; Andria Jones, DVM, PhD
DOI: 10.2460/javma.23.10.0566
WorldWide Vets
WWV THRIVE - February 2027 Dates and Details
Zimbabwe Man - Donkey
What Do You Think? Reach out to us and let us know at [email protected]
Your Hosts:
Andi Davison LVT, CAPP, APPC
Josh Vaisman MAPPCP, CCFP
At Flourish Veterinary Consulting we renovate veterinary cultures. We diagnose what’s working, blueprint what’s next, and train every team member - blending positive psychology with real-world experience - so thriving becomes the norm, not the myth.
Timestamps:
02:06 Meet Dani Herbst
05:22 Mental Health Stigma
08:54 Dani’s Path to Purpose
13:11 Worldwide Vets Mission
14:54 Inside the Thrive Retreat
22:32 Emotional Intelligence Study
25:46 Findings and Thrive Validation
31:55 Vulnerability and Support
34:49 Delegates Share
37:14 Wellbeing Skills For Leaders
48:26 Safari CE And Connection
51:43 Grounding Outdoors Reset
54:39 Rapid Fire Delegate Takeaways
59:57 Laughs And Farewell
In this episode of The Veterinary Culture Lab, Andi and Josh explore the role of interpersonal curiosity—and why it might be one of the most underrated skills in veterinary medicine today.
Grounded in research on resilience in veterinary students, this conversation unpacks how curiosity shows up in the way we interpret stress, respond to challenges, and connect with the people around us. Because it turns out—resilience is not just about “bouncing back”…it is about how we make sense of what is happening in the first place.
From initial skepticism around wellbeing strategies to meaningful mindset shifts, this episode highlights how perspective-taking, support systems, and self-awareness are not just personal tools—they are cultural ones. And when curiosity is present, everything from communication to coping starts to change. You’ll hear:
Whether you are navigating a tough case, a tense conversation, or just trying to make it through a busy day, this episode will challenge you to pause, get curious, and consider what might be possible if we replaced assumption with understanding.
Resource Links:
Episode Article:
Title: Interpersonal curiosity as a tool to foster safe relational spaces: a narrative literature reviewAuthors:Melanie Letendre Jauniaux & Heather L. Lawford
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1379330
Flourish Academy - Certificate in Cultivating Positive Team Communication
Florida Man This Week - Time Travel
What Do You Think? Reach out to us and let us know at [email protected]
Your Hosts:
Andi Davison LVT, CAPP, APPC
Josh Vaisman MAPPCP, CCFP
At Flourish Veterinary Consulting we renovate veterinary cultures. We diagnose what’s working, blueprint what’s next, and train every team member - blending positive psychology with real-world experience - so thriving becomes the norm, not the myth.
Timestamps:
00:00 Curiosity Sets the Stage
00:42 Names and Nicknames
02:01 Colorado Weather Whiplash
06:15 Hospital Story Sideways Curiosity
09:57 Vet Clinic Assumptions Lesson
13:16 Courage to Ask Deeper
15:31 Paper Intro Interpersonal Curiosity
18:17 Overt vs Covert Curiosity
21:09 Relational Safety vs Psychological Safety
22:28 Curiosity Builds Trust
23:09 Curiosity As Culture
25:00 Covert Coaching After Error
28:39 Affiliative Intent First
32:17 Overt Versus Covert
37:28 Repetition Builds Muscles
38:51 Vet Team Ideas In Action
46:21 Wrap Up And Thanks
In this episode of The Veterinary Culture Lab, Andi and Josh take on one of the most talked-about concepts in veterinary medicine: work-life balance.
Truth is that most practices already have work-life balance policies. PTO exists. Sick days exist. Flexibility exists. And yet - burnout persists.
So, what is actually going on?
Grounded in science, this episode explores a powerful and often overlooked idea: work-life balance policies are only effective if people can actually use them - without guilt, stigma, or unintended consequences.
Through honest storytelling, real veterinary examples, and practical culture renovation strategies, we unpack the gap between what organizations say they offer and what teams experience day to day.
You will hear:
This episode reframes balance as something that must be designed, protected, and modeled at the cultural level.
Because thriving veterinary teams are not built on policies alone—they are built on systems people can trust and use.
Resource Links
Episode Article:
Title: How Effective Are Work-Life Balance Policies? The Importance of Inclusion
Authors:Wendy J. Casper; Shelia A. Hyde; Shona G. Smith; Faezeh Amirkamali; Julie Holliday Wayne
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-110622-050544
Flourish Academy - Certificate in Positive Veterinary Leadership - Masterclass
Intro to Cultivating Positive Team Communication - On Demand
TVCL Episode 2 – DRAMMA Needs
Maslach & Leiter Six Areas of Worklife
Florida Man Shark
What Do You Think? Reach out and let us know at [email protected]
Your Hosts:
Andi Davison LVT, CAPP, APPC
Josh Vaisman MAPPCP, CCFP
At Flourish Veterinary Consulting we renovate veterinary cultures. We diagnose what’s working, blueprint what’s next, and train every team member - blending positive psychology with real-world experience - so thriving becomes the norm, not the myth.
Timestamps
00:00 Monday Mindset
06:21 Defining Work Life Balance
10:32 Paper Overview
14:52 Detachment and Recovery
17:09 Always On Leadership Trap
21:30 Policies vs Access
24:32 Good Leaders, Call outs and Coverage
31:15 Recovery Standards That Stick
34:10 Time Off on Good Days
38:27 Make Access Visible
39:42 Fully Staffed to Covered
43:58 Train Leaders to Kill Stigma
45:27 Florida Man and Wrap Up
In this episode of The Veterinary Culture Lab, Andi and Josh take on one of the most common and emotionally charged narratives in veterinary medicine: “Younger generations just do not want to work.”
Rather than reinforcing stereotypes or dismissing frustration, this conversation turns to the research. Grounded in a 2016 cross-temporal meta-analysis by Jean Twenge and colleagues, the episode explores what has actually shifted in generational work values — and what has not.
The data show no dramatic collapse in work ethic. What has shifted, modestly but measurably, is work centrality and the value placed on leisure and balance. In a profession historically shaped by a “you must attend” mentality, even subtle recalibrations can feel seismic.
Through real-world clinic stories, leadership reflection, and practical culture renovation strategies, Andi and Josh explore how redefining commitment — and modeling sustainable boundaries — may be one of the greatest leadership opportunities in modern veterinary medicine.
You will hear:
This episode invites leaders to move beyond blame and toward design — because thriving veterinary cultures are built intentionally, not nostalgically.
Resource Links:
Episode Article:
Title: Generational Differences in Work Values: Leisure and Extrinsic Values Increasing, Social and Intrinsic Values Decreasing
Authors:Jean M. Twenge et. al.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206316632058
Flourish Academy - Certificate in Applied Veterinary Resilience
World Wide Vets - THRIVE CE Wellbeing retreat in Zimbabwe
All Creatures Great and Small (James Herriot) 1980s TV series (the best one!)
Florida Man This Week - Bean Burrito Bandit
What Do You Think? Reach out to us and let us know at [email protected]
Your Hosts:
Andi Davison LVT, CAPP, APPC
Josh Vaisman MAPPCP, CCFP
At Flourish Veterinary Consulting we renovate veterinary cultures. We diagnose what’s working, blueprint what’s next, and train every team member - blending positive psychology with real-world experience - so thriving becomes the norm, not the myth.
Timestamps:
00:00 Generational Work Myth
00:44 Meet Josh and Dalia
02:17 Airplane Jokes and Travel
02:57 Zimbabwe Thrive Retreat
04:58 Lazy Young Workers Claim
06:56 Tech Leaves at Six
10:52 Martyrdom Culture Origins
16:05 Work Values Research
In this episode of The Veterinary Culture Lab, Andi and Josh explore a powerful idea: every veterinary clinic is performing a play—whether it realizes it or not. The stage is your hospital. The cast is your team. The script? That is your culture.
Grounded in the evidence-based framework from Organizational Culture in Action by Gerald Driskill and Julian Mirivel, this episode unpacks how workplace culture is co-created through everyday communication, rituals, stories, symbols, and leadership behaviors. Rather than treating culture as something abstract or mysterious, this conversation makes it visible, measurable, and—most importantly—adjustable.
Through real-world veterinary examples, graduate-level insight translated into practical application, and just enough theatrical metaphor to keep it interesting, this episode helps teams examine the gap between what they say they value and what they actually reward in daily practice.
You’ll hear:
Whether you are a practice owner, manager, technician, or veterinarian, this episode offers a clear, science-backed way to understand your current culture and begin renovating it—one intentional shift at a time.
Because thriving in veterinary medicine is not accidental. It is directed.
Resources:
Episode Textbook:
Title: Organizational Culture in Action: A Cultural Analysis Workbook (4th edition)
Authors: Gerald W.C. Driskill and Julien C. Mirivel
Amazon Link to purchase: HERE
Flourish Academy - Certificate in Applied Veterinary Resilience
Florida Man This Week - Banana
What Do You Think? Reach out to us and let us know at [email protected]
Your Hosts:
Andi Davison LVT, CAPP, APPC
Josh Vaisman MAPPCP, CCFP
At Flourish Veterinary Consulting we renovate veterinary cultures. We diagnose what’s working, blueprint what’s next, and train every team member - blending positive psychology with real-world experience - so thriving becomes the norm, not the myth.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introductions and Names
00:45 Passover Charo-set Story
02:02 Black Friday Smoothies
03:20 Culture as Drama
05:26 Wicked and What It's About
06:45 Webs of Significance
08:04 Organizational Culture Workbook
09:57 Applying OCA in Practice
13:59 Espoused vs Enacted Values
16:40 Wellbeing Value Gap
18:20 Culture in Stories and Rituals
20:36 Holiday Party Culture Tale
21:35 Hospital Party Ritual
23:31 Reading Culture Daily
25:01 Leaders Shape Meaning
26:41 Culture Renovation Compass
28:30 15 Minute Story Circle
31:34 Psychological Safety Tips
34:37 Culture Detective Walkthrough
35:58 Make Values Observable
38:14 Small Experiment Ripple
41:14 Key Takeaways And Offer
42:26 Florida Man Banana
43:54 Thanks And Farewell
In this episode of The Veterinary Culture Lab, Andi and Josh take on one of the most talked-about—and most misunderstood—topics in veterinary medicine: burnout. Rather than adding to the noise, this conversation brings clarity by grounding the discussion in science and centering the experience of veterinary technicians and nurses.
Grounded in a 2025 Delphi study led by Angela Chapman and colleagues, this episode examines what experts agree truly contributes to occupational burnout for veterinary technicians—and what organizational strategies can help prevent it. The study moves beyond assumptions to identify systemic drivers and practical, evidence-based solutions clinics can actually use.
Through real-world veterinary examples, leadership reflection, and a few well-timed laughs, this episode reframes burnout as a structural signal rather than a personal failure and highlights how leadership, communication, and resilience support shape team wellbeing.
You’ll hear:
Whether you are a technician, a leader, or part of a veterinary team navigating constant pressure, this episode offers clarity, validation, and a science-backed path forward.
Resource Links
Episode Article:
Title: Workplace Strategies to Reduce Burnout in Veterinary Nurses and Technicians: A Delphi Study
Authors: Angela Chapman, Pauleen C. Bennett, Vanessa I. Rohlf
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15091257
Flourish Academy - Certificate in Applied Veterinary Resilience
World Health Organization
Underwater Wonders - Fort Collins, CO
Self Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan)
30 Second Dance Party Button - Shop
Florida Man This Week - Cartwheels
What Do You Think? Reach out to us and let us know at [email protected]
Your Hosts:
Andi Davison LVT, CAPP, APPC
Josh Vaisman MAPPCP, CCFP
At Flourish Veterinary Consulting we renovate veterinary cultures. We diagnose what’s working, blueprint what’s next, and train every team member - blending positive psychology with real-world experience - so thriving becomes the norm, not the myth.
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction to Burnout in Veterinary Medicine
00:44 Weekend Plans and Personal Stories
04:15 Defining Burnout and Its Misuse
09:38 World Health Organization's Definition of Burnout
12:17 Landmark Study on Burnout in Veterinary Technicians
15:41 Barriers and Enablers in Addressing Burnout
17:48 Solutions to Combat Burnout
19:26 Implementation Challenges and Cultural Importance
20:32 Reflecting on Burnout and Leadership Support
23:36 The Power of Self-Determination Theory
27:52 Practical Steps to Alleviate Burnout
33:50 Resilience and Team Support Strategies
38:19 Florida Man and Final Thoughts
In this episode of The Veterinary Culture Lab, Andi and Josh explore why some veterinary teams feel energized, supportive, and fully engaged - while others feel stuck just going through the motions. The difference is not talent, workload, or motivation. It is how people support one another at work.
Grounded in a large meta-analysis on interpersonal support and self-determination theory, this convo unpacks how meeting core psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness shapes motivation, wellbeing, and performance across teams and leadership relationships.
Through real-world veterinary scenarios, leadership reflections, and a few well-earned laughs, this episode examines why compliance-driven cultures fall short—and how commitment grows when people feel trusted, capable, and genuinely supported.
You’ll hear:
Whether you are leading a veterinary team, working within one, or trying to understand why energy feels high in some clinics and low in others, this episode offers science-backed insight into how everyday interactions shape commitment, connection, and thriving at work.
Resource Links:
Episode Article:
Title: Interpersonal Supports for Basic Psychological Needs and Their Relations with Motivation, Wellbeing, and Performance: A Meta-Analysis
Authors:Gavin R. Slemp, James G. Field, Richard M. Ryan, Vivien W. Forner, Anja Van den Broeck, and Kelsey J. Lewis
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/pspi0000459
Flourish Academy - Certificate in Cultivating Positive Team Communication
Florida Man This Week - Shopping Cart
Georgia Aquarium
Self Determination Theory - (2017) https://doi/10.1521/978.14625/28806
What Do You Think? Reach out to us and let us know at [email protected]
Your Hosts:
Andi Davison LVT, CAPP, APPC
Josh Vaisman MAPPCP, CCFP
At Flourish Veterinary Consulting we renovate veterinary cultures. We diagnose what’s working, blueprint what’s next, and train every team member - blending positive psychology with real-world experience - so thriving becomes the norm, not the myth.
Timestamps:
00:00 Building Trust and Commitment in Veterinary Teams
00:42 Casual Conversations and Personal Stories
01:18 Exciting News and Upcoming Events
03:56 Farm Life and Teamwork
05:23 Comparing Veterinary Practices
12:42 The Impact of Team Support on Motivation and Performance
23:24 Commitment Over Compliance
23:45 The Horse Metaphor for Training
24:39 Loosening the Reins in Training
25:33 Clarity Plus Coaching Equals Success
25:48 Supporting Competency Needs
27:30 Personal Story: Overcoming Challenges with Support
30:52 The Power of Peer Support
32:56 Renovating Veterinary Cultures
33:14 Autonomy Support Moves for Leaders
39:11 Competence Support Moves
42:40 Relatedness Support Moves
45:04 Florida Man: A Lighthearted Conclusion
46:48 Closing Remarks
In this episode of The Veterinary Culture Lab, Andi and Josh dig into what really sits behind so-called “unicorn clinics”—and it turns out it is not luck, perks, or fairy dust. It is communication.
Grounded in a 2012 study by communication scholars Paul Madlock and Melanie Booth-Butterfield, this conversation explores relational maintenance: the everyday communication behaviors coworkers use to stay connected, supported, and resilient at work.
Through real veterinary examples, leadership reflections, and a few well-placed dad jokes, this episode breaks down the science behind thriving teams and highlights the top three communication behaviors most strongly linked to job satisfaction, commitment, and wellbeing.
You’ll hear:
Whether you are searching for a unicorn clinic—or hoping to build one from the inside out—this episode offers science-backed insight and practical perspective on how small, everyday communication choices can transform the way veterinary teams work, connect, and thrive.
Resource Links:
Episode Article:
Title: The influence of relational maintenance strategies among coworkers
Authors: Paul Madlock and Melanie Booth-Butterfield
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0021943611425237
Flourish Academy - Certificate in Cultivating Positive Team Communication
Florida Man This Week - Opossum
Oura ring - www.oura.com
Portlandia (TV series 2011-2018)
What Do You Think? Reach out to us and let us know at [email protected]
Your Hosts:
Andi Davison LVT, CAPP, APPC
Josh Vaisman MAPPCP, CCFP
At Flourish Veterinary Consulting we renovate veterinary cultures. We diagnose what’s working, blueprint what’s next, and train every team member - blending positive psychology with real-world experience - so thriving becomes the norm, not the myth.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction: Building a Unicorn Clinic
00:54 Personal Anecdotes and Oura Ring Insights
02:33 3D Printing Adventures
06:21 The Magic of Unicorn Clinics
13:45 Relational Maintenance Strategies
23:20 Real-Life Application of Team Strategies
24:34 Transformative Experience with a Surgery Team
27:29 The Role of Leaders in Team Dynamics
39:27 Practical Steps for Conflict Management
45:47 Unusual Florida Man Story
47:10 Closing Remarks and Listener Engagement
In this episode of The Veterinary Culture Lab, Andi and Josh dig into one of the simplest—yet most underestimated—forces shaping veterinary culture: the experience of feeling genuinely heard at work.
Grounded in a massive meta-analytic review on perceived listening, they unpack how the quality of our listening predicts our workplace wellbeing. The punchline? Listening may be one of the most powerful (and affordable) culture renovation tools in vet med.
You don't need another meeting, a new communication policy, or a wellness budget to make this shift. Just a few intentional moments of curiosity, presence, and genuine interest can change how people show up — and how they show themselves in your hospital.
You’ll hear:
Whether you lead a hospital, manage a shift, or support your team from the treatment floor, this episode offers practical steps to strengthen trust, reduce friction, and create a workplace where people genuinely feel heard.
Resource Links
Episode Article
Title: A Meta-analytic Systematic Review and Theory of the Effects of Perceived Listening on Work Outcomes
Authors:Kluger, Avraham N. et al.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-023-09897-5
Introduction to Cultivating Positive Team Communication On Demand
Certificate in Cultivating Positive Team Communication Flourish Masterclass
Florida Woman This Week - Contest
What Do You Think? Reach out to us and let us know at [email protected]
Your Hosts
Andi Davison LVT, CAPP, APPC
Josh Vaisman MAPPCP, CCFP
At Flourish Veterinary Consulting we renovate veterinary cultures. We diagnose what’s working, blueprint what’s next, and train every team member - blending positive psychology with real-world experience - so thriving becomes the norm, not the myth.
Timestamps
00:00 Intro: The Power of Being Heard
01:01 Office Upgrades and WFH Problems
04:31 The Importance of Listening in Veterinary Medicine
06:07 Imagining a Practice with Genuine Listening
10:07 The Science Behind High-Quality Listening
12:16 The Impact of Listening on Team Performance
14:09 Listening as a Tool
16:41 Personal Reflections on Listening and Validation
19:27 Misunderstandings in Clinical Practice
20:33 A Day in the Life of a Busy Vet Clinic
22:38 Reflecting on the Near Miss
23:28 The Importance of Listening
24:14 Curiosity as a Listening Skill
26:03 Implementing Listening Practices
27:27 Measuring and Training Listening Skills
28:33 Observable Behaviors of Listening
33:05 Systematizing and Rewarding Listening
36:11 Florida Woman's Challenge
38:24 Conclusion and Farewell
Care Flows Forward: How Supporting Your Team Elevates Patient Care in Vet Med
In this episode of The Veterinary Culture Lab, Andi and Josh explore a simple but powerful truth: teams do not feel your intentions — they feel your behaviors. Using a human healthcare study on manager caring and patient experience, they dig into how presence, visibility, and small supportive actions ripple outward to strengthen culture and elevate care.
You’ll hear:
Whether you manage a whole hospital or support a busy shift, this episode offers grounded, usable strategies to show up for your team in the moments that matter most.
Resource Links:
Episode Article:
Title: The Relationship Between Staff Nurses’ Perceptions of Nursing Manager Caring Behaviors and Patient Experience: A Correlational Study
Authors:Kotich, Kelly
Find it: This article is a PhD dissertation submitted to UMKC in 2020. Unfortunately there is no current DOI. Please contact us with any questions.
Research surrounding 'Leader Rounds'
Florida Man This Week - Excavator
Flourish Academy Masterclass - Certificate in Cultivating Positive Team Communication
What Do You Think? Reach out to us and let us know at [email protected]
Your Hosts:
Andi Davison LVT, CAPP, APPC
Josh Vaisman MAPPCP, CCFP
At Flourish Veterinary Consulting we renovate veterinary cultures. We diagnose what’s working, blueprint what’s next, and train every team member - blending positive psychology with real-world experience - so thriving becomes the norm, not the myth.
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction: The Secret to Outstanding Patient Care
01:01 Casual Conversation: Taxes and Business Ventures
02:11 The Importance of Demonstrating Care in Leadership
04:03 Research Insights: Manager Behaviors and Patient Experience
04:53 Personal Experiences: Good and Bad Managers
09:26 Study Breakdown: Manager Caring and Visibility
14:09 Challenges in Veterinary Leadership
18:56 The Importance of Visibility in Leadership
19:47 Effective Communication and Supportive Behaviors
20:27 Implementing Culture Renovation Strategies
20:43 Micro Moves: Small Actions with Big Impact
26:11 Leader Rounds and Percentage Checks
28:09 Walk with Me Coaching Moments
31:38 Fast Shield Protocol and Closing the Loop
34:04 Conclusion and Florida Man Story
From the publisher's feed
The Veterinary Culture Lab is your science-backed, real-world blueprint for culture renovation in veterinary medicine. Hosted by Andi and Josh, Positive Change Agents from Flourish Veterinary…

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