This episode dives into addiction—whether it’s alcohol, substances, work, or emotional avoidance. The panel shares real stories of trauma, shame, and recovery, especially within veterinary medicine. They emphasize that hard conversations matter and that support can be offered without judgment. Key resources to help professionals in the veterinary field include:
Veterinary Hope Foundation (https://veterinaryhope.org)
Inspire by FVMA (https://fvma.org/inspire/)
Not One More Vet (https://nomv.org)
VIN Foundation (https://vinfoundation.org/resources/)

Opportunity During a Slow Time,” Kelly, Beth, Jenni, and David unpack why many clinics see a late-year slowdown and how to use it to your advantage. They compare market chatter across the U.S., then share tactics that keep schedules healthy: forecasting seasonal patterns, opening limited, referral-based new-client windows, running lookalike ads, and offering gift certificates to pull demand into Q1. David underscores profitability and an emergency fund so clinics can weather dips. The team urges using downtime to improve onboarding, team utilization, and workflow. They highlight community-driven visibility—chambers, service clubs, rescue partnerships, free vaccine clinics, and even CPR/AED trainings or senior-community nail-trim days—to build trust and future business. Listeners are invited to share topics and connect at VMX.

In “The Next Most Important Thing,” Kelly, Beth, and Peter dig into real-world prioritization for veterinarians and small business owners. Beth shares her father’s mantra—“do the next most important thing”—and how it guided her through start-up overwhelm. The trio connects this to triage thinking, resisting “shiny object” distractions, and the “Eat That Frog” idea of tackling the hard task first. They discuss proactive planning for seasonal slowdowns, delegating effectively (the #1 small-business success skill), and separating roles: working on the business vs. in the business (W.O.N.J.I.). Beth and Kelly unpack time blocking, weekly Top-3 alignment with managers, and measuring where leadership vs. clinical time delivers the most return. Practical takeaways: rank tasks by impact, delegate outcomes (not just chores), and commit to one role at a time.

The hosts unpack the line between appreciation and entitlement in vet med, using real stories from Vet Tech Appreciation Week. They discuss why year-round recognition, livable wages, and clear communication about benefits/finances matter more than one-off gifts. The team shares practical tactics—breakdown sheets of total comp, simple cost pie charts, and transparent goals—to build trust and reduce “this is all we get?” moments. They also emphasize modeling gratitude, supporting staff during emergencies without hesitation, and inviting direct dialogue over break-room complaints. The result: a culture where appreciation lands, entitlement fades, and teams feel valued.

From runaway dachshunds to heart-dogs and chaos crews, the team swaps real-life tales that range from hilarious to heartbreaking. Jenni shares sprinting through the woods after a mischievous mini dachshund (and her rescue backstory). Kelly opens up about navigating allergies, behavior, and healing with her doodle, Noah. You’ll also hear about a Yorkie PDA surgery who chose “dad,” Harley the fence-climbing clinic legend, a blind-but-bold Dalmatian named Fiona, and a senior lab (“Honey Bunny Boo Boo Bear”) who taught everyone about love and letting go. It’s messy, honest, and very dog.

As the year winds down, the team reflects on what it really means to take care of yourself, personally and professionally. From scheduling time off and setting healthy boundaries to finding small daily resets, they explore how prioritizing your well-being benefits not only you but also your team and those who rely on you. This conversation reminds listeners that self-care isn’t selfish, it’s leadership.

This episode dives into “recruiting war room” stories that highlight some of the most surprising—and sometimes shocking—interview moments. From alarm clocks going off mid-interview to gold suits, pizza deliveries, and even presumptive “first-day” staff meetings, these tales reveal how professionalism and preparation can make or break opportunities. The conversation also explores client-side missteps, like dark clinics, missed interviews, and questionable lodging arrangements. The big takeaway: etiquette, honesty, and cultural fit are essential for success in the hiring process.

Kelly, Peter, and Beth unpack how “success” in a veterinary practice can look very different depending on whether you’re going by feelings or facts. They dig into staffing perceptions (feeling understaffed on an overstaffed day), why data should be a roadmap—not a hammer—and how open-book metrics (payroll, COGS, doctor/staff salary) build ownership thinking. The team connects steady marketing to a healthy “heartbeat,” warns against turning it off when things look good, and stresses aligning online promises with in-clinic experiences. They also touch psychological safety (job-security fears), using slow days for training/ops, and a simple daily “green/yellow/red” pulse check to balance team well-being with KPIs. Bottom line: measure what matters, manage the narrative, and keep momentum consistent.

The panel unpacks a real-world ER case that blew up online: a client found goofy selfies on her phone after a euthanasia and assumed staff were mocking her grief. Using Phil’s “MRI—Most Reasonable Intent” lens, they explore how small judgment errors can look catastrophic in the wrong context, why social media pile-ons escalate harm, and how to respond with compassion without assuming total blame. They share practical approaches—owning your part, direct heartfelt apologies, pausing the firestorm, leaning on core values and protocols, avoiding undertrained “warm body” assignments, and, when needed, bringing in PR help. At the core: people want to feel heard and to know they matter. Clear, honest communication defuses most situations; for the rest, empathy and measured accountability guide the way.

In this episode of Unfiltered Vet Discussions, the panel dives into the theme of adapting to change. They share personal stories of helping kids move to college and start high school, reflecting on the role of self-awareness in navigating transitions. The conversation extends into the veterinary world, asking how many clinics truly approach onboarding with self-awareness in mind. From guiding new employees to mentoring recent graduates, the panel highlights where practices succeed—and where they fall short—when it comes to change, growth, and support.