Vet Life Reimagined

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What do television production, relief veterinary medicine, entrepreneurship, and fashion design have in common?

For Dr. Cindy Trice, they're all part of a career she never could have planned.

Cindy describes herself as a “professional sampler.” She began her career in television production before becoming a second-career veterinarian. Since then, she's explored relief veterinary work, founded Relief Rover, and helped bring Kick It Recovery Wear to life.

In this episode of Vet Life Reimagined, Cindy shares how unexpected challenges, curiosity, and meaningful relationships shaped her career—and how she eventually discovered a common purpose connecting seemingly unrelated experiences.

In this conversation, we explore:

• Becoming a veterinarian as a second career
• How relief veterinary medicine can offer flexibility, variety, and new career opportunities
• Finding the confidence to pursue entrepreneurship without a business background
• Turning personal challenges into opportunities to help others
• Why networking and relationships matter when exploring alternative veterinary careers
• Finding purpose and connecting the dots across a nonlinear career path

Whether you're considering a veterinary career change, exploring life beyond traditional clinical practice, or wondering what your next chapter could look like, Cindy's story offers a different perspective on professional growth.

Resources mentioned:

• Video episode on YouTube
• Podcast Guide on the Sprinkle of Wisdom Substack
• Relief Rover — Resources and opportunities for relief veterinarians
• Kick It Recovery Wear — Thoughtfully designed clothing for people navigating medical treatment and recovery
• The Veterinary Innovation Summit (VIS)

Click the "Follow" button more conversations about veterinary career paths, personal growth, and the many ways veterinary professionals can make an impact.

Dr. Quincy Hawley is leading the second annual Veterinary Burnout Preparedness Summit, a two-day virtual event focused on practical tools to help you thrive in veterinary medicine.

Join us November 21st and 22nd for 11 hours of RACE-approved CE. Use code SPRINKLE67VIP to get a VIP ticket with lifetime access to all of the recordings for just $67. Register here. 

Support the show

More Vet Life Reimagined? 💡 Find us on YouTube and check out our website.
Connect with Dr. Megan Sprinkle on LinkedIn

Looking to start a podcast?
Use Buzzsprout as your hosting platform, like I do! Use this link to get a $20 credit.
And use Descript as your recording platform, editing tool, AI resources, and more. Use my referral link for a discount. 

Make sure you are following the podcast to catch each weekly episode. Here are ways to support the podcast:
- Give it a 5-star rating & review
- Subscribe on YouTube
- Share the episode
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- Find out how to become a partner! 

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Board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Liz Stelow joins Vet Life Reimagined to explore veterinary behavior, the human-animal bond, and why understanding a patient requires considering physical and emotional health, the environment, and communication.

Liz also shares her unconventional veterinary career path, from English major and humane society public relations to veterinarian, behavior specialist, educator, and founder of Pet Allies. We discuss using AI in veterinary medicine to extend (not replace) veterinary expertise, improving access to behavior support, and why veterinary professionals should never stop exploring new ways to grow.

In this episode:

• Veterinary behavior and the human-animal bond
• Pain, fear, anxiety, and behavior problems in pets
• Communication between pets and pet owners
• When veterinarians should consider behavior referrals
• AI and technology in veterinary medicine
• Nontraditional veterinary career paths
• Lifelong learning, career growth, and avoiding becoming “Dr. Crusty”

Resources:

• Video episode on YouTube
• Podcast club guide for key takeaways and application (Sprinkle of Wisdom Substack
• Pet Allies
• Keep exploring with previous episode: Behaviorist, Dr. Lisa Radosta (Listen or watch)

Support the show

More Vet Life Reimagined? 💡 Find us on YouTube and check out our website.
Connect with Dr. Megan Sprinkle on LinkedIn

Looking to start a podcast?
Use Buzzsprout as your hosting platform, like I do! Use this link to get a $20 credit.
And use Descript as your recording platform, editing tool, AI resources, and more. Use my referral link for a discount. 

Make sure you are following the podcast to catch each weekly episode. Here are ways to support the podcast:
- Give it a 5-star rating & review
- Subscribe on YouTube
- Share the episode
- Nominate a guest
- Find out how to become a partner! 

Send us Fan Mail

Being a professional in veterinary technology often feels like following a rigid, traditional route. This conversation challenges that mindset, showing you how to create a career path that truly aligns with your personal values and interests.

Megan interviews Crystal Schaeffer, MVCC, BAS, RVT, who describes her own story as "rags to riches". She had a rough childhood, but by taking action, being honest, and appreciating the people who helped her along the way, she is now helping the veterinary technology profession rethink what's possible. 

This is the third of 10 episodes in the One Community Series with AVTE. 

Resources:

• Video episode on YouTube
• Key takeaways and application guide (Sprinkle of Wisdom Substack)
• Crystal's textbook, Veterinary Nursing Strategy
• AVTE
• One Community Episode One with Dr. Mobini
• One Community Episode Two with Mariel Hendricks
• Lincoln Memorial's Master's in Veterinary Critical Care

Support the show

More Vet Life Reimagined? 💡 Find us on YouTube and check out our website.
Connect with Dr. Megan Sprinkle on LinkedIn

Looking to start a podcast?
Use Buzzsprout as your hosting platform, like I do! Use this link to get a $20 credit.
And use Descript as your recording platform, editing tool, AI resources, and more. Use my referral link for a discount. 

Make sure you are following the podcast to catch each weekly episode. Here are ways to support the podcast:
- Give it a 5-star rating & review
- Subscribe on YouTube
- Share the episode
- Nominate a guest
- Find out how to become a partner! 

Send us Fan Mail

What do equine dentistry, stand-up comedy, imposter syndrome, and veterinary resilience have in common?

Dr. Matt Evans is an equine veterinarian focused on dentistry and oral surgery, a partner at Austin Equine, a writer, and a stand-up comedian. His path started at age 14 with All Creatures Great and Small and eventually led a kid from suburban Austin—with no horse background—to a career in equine medicine. Along the way, Matt discovered that humor wasn't simply part of his personality. It had quietly become one of the tools helping him navigate the challenges of veterinary medicine.

In this episode, we explore:

• Choosing a veterinary path even when you don't fit the stereotype
• How curiosity and learning can keep a long career interesting
• Why creative pursuits can complement a scientific career
• Humor as a tool for connection, communication, and navigating stressful situations
• Using humor to reframe difficult experiences and help combat imposter syndrome
• The importance of knowing when humor is—and isn't—appropriate
• Why gratitude and a little stubborn tenacity can help keep us going
• Resources & Links
  • Dr. Matt Evans’ book
  • Paul Osincup — author and speaker on the power of humor
  • All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot
  • Watch the Video of the episode on YouTube
  • Find the Podcast Guide with key takeaways and reflection questions on the Sprinkle of Wisdom Substack
• About Vet Life Reimagined
  Vet Life Reimagined explores the people, possibilities, and experiences shaping veterinary careers. Subscribe or follow wherever you listen, and share this episode with someone in veterinary medicine who could use a reason to laugh today.

Support the show

More Vet Life Reimagined? 💡 Find us on YouTube and check out our website.
Connect with Dr. Megan Sprinkle on LinkedIn

Looking to start a podcast?
Use Buzzsprout as your hosting platform, like I do! Use this link to get a $20 credit.
And use Descript as your recording platform, editing tool, AI resources, and more. Use my referral link for a discount. 

Make sure you are following the podcast to catch each weekly episode. Here are ways to support the podcast:
- Give it a 5-star rating & review
- Subscribe on YouTube
- Share the episode
- Nominate a guest
- Find out how to become a partner! 

Send us Fan Mail

Veterinary mentorship, professional wellbeing, and building a career rooted in purpose: Dr. Amanda Ensor is doing all three, and this conversation shows exactly what that looks like.

A veterinarian, mentor, and co-founder of Boop, a veterinary apparel brand supporting mental health organizations for vet professionals, Dr. Amanda has spent her career making sure the next generation of veterinary professionals feels seen, supported, and celebrated. She has mentored early-career veterinarians, built a women's mentorship community in Knoxville, and has just been named the first Director of DVM Development and Mentorship at Alliance Animal Health.

In this episode, we cover: 

• How one mentor changed the entire trajectory of Amanda's life and career 
• What it actually looks like to build a mentorship culture inside a veterinary organization 
• The moment someone said "you just saved that dog's life," and why those words matter more than we realize 
• How Boop was born and what it's doing for veterinary professional wellbeing 
• What Amanda believes every veterinary professional deserves to hear

🎙️ Vet Life Reimagined is hosted by Dr. Megan Sprinkle. 

Resources:

• Video episode on YouTube
• 📬 Podcast club guide for key takeaways: Sprinkle of Wisdom Substack
• 🔗 Boop Apparel
• 💙 Veterinary Hope Foundation (free mental health support)
• Reviving Veterinary Medicine by Dr. Holowaychuk
• 🎙️ Also listen: Dr. Marie Holowaychuk episode on Vet Life Reimagined

Support the show

More Vet Life Reimagined? 💡 Find us on YouTube and check out our website.
Connect with Dr. Megan Sprinkle on LinkedIn

Looking to start a podcast?
Use Buzzsprout as your hosting platform, like I do! Use this link to get a $20 credit.
And use Descript as your recording platform, editing tool, AI resources, and more. Use my referral link for a discount. 

Make sure you are following the podcast to catch each weekly episode. Here are ways to support the podcast:
- Give it a 5-star rating & review
- Subscribe on YouTube
- Share the episode
- Nominate a guest
- Find out how to become a partner! 

Send us Fan Mail

How do you build a veterinary career that fits not only your professional goals, but the life you want to live?

Dr. Rae Hutchins is a board-certified veterinary internal medicine specialist whose career has evolved from specialty practice to medical leadership, operations, and now serving as the inaugural Chief Veterinary Officer at Wedgewood.

In this episode, Rae shares how she learned to recognize the work that brings her joy, establish her “no-go zones,” stay connected to her identity as a veterinarian outside the exam room, and use the same critical-thinking skills we apply to patients to make better decisions about our own careers.

We discuss:

• The mentor who helped Rae recognize the career path that fit her better
• Why knowing what you won’t sacrifice can make career decisions easier
• Moving from solving complex patient problems to complex organizational problems
• Expanding your impact through the people and teams you support
• Staying connected to veterinary medicine as your career evolves
• Testing your assumptions before saying no to an opportunity
• Rae’s “circle of control” approach to making difficult career decisions

Resources:

• Wedgewood Pharmacy
• Video episode on YouTube
• Podcast Guide + key takeaways on the Sprinkle of Wisdom Substack
• Sprinkle of Wisdom Substack

🎙️ Vet Life Reimagined explores the people, possibilities, and unconventional paths shaping veterinary medicine—and what they can teach us about creating careers and lives that work better for us.

Support the show

More Vet Life Reimagined? 💡 Find us on YouTube and check out our website.
Connect with Dr. Megan Sprinkle on LinkedIn

Looking to start a podcast?
Use Buzzsprout as your hosting platform, like I do! Use this link to get a $20 credit.
And use Descript as your recording platform, editing tool, AI resources, and more. Use my referral link for a discount. 

Make sure you are following the podcast to catch each weekly episode. Here are ways to support the podcast:
- Give it a 5-star rating & review
- Subscribe on YouTube
- Share the episode
- Nominate a guest
- Find out how to become a partner! 

Send us Fan Mail

Veterinary technician Mariel Hendricks, MVEd, RVTg, FVTE, shares how a major career disappointment ultimately led her to discover a new path in veterinary education, mentorship, and leadership.

We explore veterinary technician utilization, building trust within veterinary teams, mentorship, self-advocacy, career transitions, and why being an educator can extend far beyond the classroom.

This is Episode 2 of 10 of the One Community series highlighting veterinary technician education and the people shaping the profession.

Resources:

• Video episode on YouTube
• Key takeaways and application guide on the Sprinkle of Wisdom Substack
• AVTE
• Mentor Vet
• Episode 1 of the One Community series. Episodes will launch every first Monday of the month. 

Support the show

More Vet Life Reimagined? 💡 Find us on YouTube and check out our website.
Connect with Dr. Megan Sprinkle on LinkedIn

Looking to start a podcast?
Use Buzzsprout as your hosting platform, like I do! Use this link to get a $20 credit.
And use Descript as your recording platform, editing tool, AI resources, and more. Use my referral link for a discount. 

Make sure you are following the podcast to catch each weekly episode. Here are ways to support the podcast:
- Give it a 5-star rating & review
- Subscribe on YouTube
- Share the episode
- Nominate a guest
- Find out how to become a partner! 

Send us Fan Mail

The Veterinary Career Most People Never See 

What does a laboratory animal veterinarian actually do, and how do they impact animal health, human medicine, and scientific discovery?

Dr. Jeffrey Kim is a board-certified laboratory animal veterinarian whose path into veterinary medicine didn't go exactly as planned. 

In this episode of Vet Life Reimagined, Jeffrey takes us behind the scenes of laboratory animal medicine, from caring for a variety of species to collaborating with scientists and specialists advancing research. We also explore the changing future of animal models in research and why animal welfare and high-quality science go hand in hand.  

But this conversation goes far beyond one veterinary specialty. Jeffrey has spent years involved in veterinary school admissions and mentoring aspiring veterinarians. He shares what makes an application stand out, why loving animals isn't enough to explain why veterinary medicine, and the importance of helping admissions committees understand the person behind the application.

We also talk about mentorship, humility, work-life balance, staying curious, learning from the people around you, and Jeffrey's advice to “say yes to opportunity.”

Guest: Dr. Jeffrey Kim, a board-certified laboratory animal veterinarian and vet school admissions expert at Inspira Advantage

Resources & References Mentioned

• Video episode on YouTube
• Key Takeaways and applications podcast guide
• Episode with Nicole Dickerson, a veterinary technician who went from clinical practice to lab animal
• Inspira Advantage 
• AAVMC / VMCAS — The Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS) is the centralized application service used to apply to participating veterinary medical schools.
• American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS)  
• American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine (ACLAM) 
• American Society of Laboratory Animal Practitioners (ASLAP) 

Support the show

More Vet Life Reimagined? 💡 Find us on YouTube and check out our website.
Connect with Dr. Megan Sprinkle on LinkedIn

Looking to start a podcast?
Use Buzzsprout as your hosting platform, like I do! Use this link to get a $20 credit.
And use Descript as your recording platform, editing tool, AI resources, and more. Use my referral link for a discount. 

Make sure you are following the podcast to catch each weekly episode. Here are ways to support the podcast:
- Give it a 5-star rating & review
- Subscribe on YouTube
- Share the episode
- Nominate a guest
- Find out how to become a partner! 

Send us Fan Mail

Veterinary surgeon, professor, researcher, and former Hill’s Pet Nutrition leader Dr. Jolle Kirpensteijn shares the surprising career decisions that took him from veterinary surgical oncology and academia to the pet nutrition industry.

We explore veterinary careers, mentorship, lifelong learning, his 5-year career rule, veterinary nutrition, surgery, podcasting, and why sometimes the best opportunities are the ones you never planned for.

Dr. Jolle just retired from Hill's Pet Nutrition earlier this month. A fresh time for reflection on an amazing career so far. 

🎙️ Vet Life Reimagined — exploring veterinary career paths, leadership, innovation, and what's possible in veterinary medicine.

Resources

• Watch the video interview on YouTube
• Key points and application guide for the episode on Substack
• 🎙️The Purr Podcast
  🎙️The Cat Cafe
  🎙️Veterinary Surgery Podcast
  📚Textbook: Colour Atlas of Reconstructive Techniques in the Dog and Cat
• Episode with Dr. Sarah Boston surgical oncologist and stand-up comedian

Dr. Quincy Hawley is leading the second annual Veterinary Burnout Preparedness Summit, a two-day virtual event focused on practical tools to help you thrive in veterinary medicine.

Join us November 21st and 22nd for 11 hours of RACE-approved CE. Use code SPRINKLE67VIP to get a VIP ticket with lifetime access to all of the recordings for just $67. Register here. 

Support the show

More Vet Life Reimagined? 💡 Find us on YouTube and check out our website.
Connect with Dr. Megan Sprinkle on LinkedIn

Looking to start a podcast?
Use Buzzsprout as your hosting platform, like I do! Use this link to get a $20 credit.
And use Descript as your recording platform, editing tool, AI resources, and more. Use my referral link for a discount. 

Make sure you are following the podcast to catch each weekly episode. Here are ways to support the podcast:
- Give it a 5-star rating & review
- Subscribe on YouTube
- Share the episode
- Nominate a guest
- Find out how to become a partner! 

Send us Fan Mail

Marine Mammal Veterinarian career story - transferable skills = diverse career. Dr. Juli Goldstein’s veterinary career is nothing like she planned.

She entered veterinary school expecting to pursue zoo medicine. Instead, her career has taken her from examining more than 400 wild dolphins to helping care for Winter and Hope of the Dolphin Tale movies, evaluating a Russian “spy whale” in Norway, advising Hollywood films, practicing small animal medicine, exploring animal hospice and palliative care, and working in veterinary biotech.

In this episode of Vet Life Reimagined, Dr. Goldstein shares what an unconventional career has taught her about staying curious, recognizing unexpected opportunities, and building skills before you know exactly where they’ll lead.

🎙️ Vet Life Reimagined explores the people, possibilities, and unconventional paths shaping veterinary medicine — and what they can teach us about creating careers and lives that work better for us.

Resources:

• Episode on YouTube 
• Podcast episode guide on Substack
• Dr. Juli Goldstein on LinkedIn
• PetVivo website & osteoarthritis product, Spryng
• International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care
• Watch Dolphin Tale & Dolphin Tale 2
• Clearwater Marine Aquarium
• More information on Winter & Hope

Dr. Quincy Hawley is leading the second annual Veterinary Burnout Preparedness Summit, a two-day virtual event focused on practical tools to help you thrive in veterinary medicine.

Join us November 21st and 22nd for 11 hours of RACE-approved CE. Use code SPRINKLE67VIP to get a VIP ticket with lifetime access to all of the recordings for just $67. Register here. 

Support the show

More Vet Life Reimagined? 💡 Find us on YouTube and check out our website.
Connect with Dr. Megan Sprinkle on LinkedIn

Looking to start a podcast?
Use Buzzsprout as your hosting platform, like I do! Use this link to get a $20 credit.
And use Descript as your recording platform, editing tool, AI resources, and more. Use my referral link for a discount. 

Make sure you are following the podcast to catch each weekly episode. Here are ways to support the podcast:
- Give it a 5-star rating & review
- Subscribe on YouTube
- Share the episode
- Nominate a guest
- Find out how to become a partner!