Blunt Dissection

On today’s show, I’m joined by Dr Robert M Miller. Dr Miller is an equine behaviourist, veterinarian, and author. He was born in New York on March 4, 1927, and raised in Tucson, Arizona. After serving in the infantry in World War II, he attended and graduated from the veterinary school at Colorado State University in 1956. He established the Conejo Valley Veterinary Clinic in Thousand Oaks, California in 1959 and was the pioneer of the larger multi-doctor practice - a rarity at the time. Thirty-one years later, he retired as a renowned veterinarian and expert in ethology and began a speaking career. Dr Miller has visited every continent giving lectures to colleges, conventions for animal groups, horse organizations, breed associations and other clients. He has published many books on horsemanship, but what you might not know is that his list of credits also includes seven books of comedic cartoons. His acute sense of humour and love of drawing spilling out onto the pages of magazines and books as fast as the insights came to his quick-witted and creative mind. To date, Dr Miller has published a staggering total of over 20 books. On top of this he has authored 50 scientific papers and hundreds of magazine articles for both veterinary journals and equine publications and has served on the editorial staff of Veterinary Medicine, for which he is best known for his long-running “Mind Over Miller” column, as well as Modern Veterinary Practice, Veterinary Forum, and Western Horseman magazines. Dr Miller has received multiple professional awards for his achievements in both veterinary medicine and equine behavior. In 2004, Miller was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Western States Horse Expo, and is a recipient of the Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year Award in 1995. Plus numerous other accolades. Now, before I get into this episode, I wanted to let you guys know that we have brand new, limited-edition Blunt Dissection Podcast T-shirts available. If you would like to show your appreciation and support the work I do in creating these podcasts then jump across to my website www.drdavenicol.com/shop and you’ll find pictures of the merch there. Every T-shirt purchaser gets a free podcast laptop sticker too! And of course, my enormous gratitude. The t-shirts and hand-printed here in Brighton, use organic fair trade cotton and environmentally safe inks. But most importantly, they make the wearer look smoking hot. Get yours while stocks last today. Now back to the show, as I listen back to this episode it struck me how much I was smiling and felt joy in my heart. Partly this is due to a level of nostalgia from the insight into a time and world veterinary medicine is in danger of forgetting, it’s also because Dr Miller is such a funny, warm and engaging person to spend time with. The insights, story telling and humour that Dr Miller shares make this one of my all time favourite episodes, and I rather suspect that by the end, you’ll feel the same way too. So sit back and enjoy this episode with a man for whom legend seems to small a word. I give you my conversation with the wonderful Dr Robert M Miller.

On today’s show, I super-excited to be joined by the Chief Executive of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, Lizzie Lockett. Lizzie, originally from a farming background in the North of England, is an Accredited PR Practitioner with the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and holds a degree in English Language and Literature from St John’s College, Oxford, a postgraduate qualification in journalism, and diplomas in the History of Art, also from Oxford. She joined the Royal College in February 2005 as Head of Communications, and later Director of Strategic Communications, she was responsible for all of the College’s communications and public affairs functions. She was also responsible for jointly managing the innovative Vet Futures – an initiative that has been instrumental in shaping the recent direction of veterinary medicine in the UK. In autumn 2014, Lizzie helped set up the Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) which aims to make a difference to the mental health and wellbeing of members of the veterinary team. Following success in these roles, she was appointed CEO in November 2017 a challenging role for which she has performed admirably, winning plaudits from many quarters for helping to steer and modernise the executive branch of this old British institution at a time when multiple wrecking balls of change sweep through the industry. Now, just before we jump into the episode, I just wanted to drop a quick word from today's show sponsor which is the VetX:Thrive community. If you are a young vet looking to find your feet in veterinary medicine, grow your confidence, avoid burnout and beat your inner imposter, then VetX:Thrive is for you. As a community member, you’ll receive 12 success-skill training modules, access to experienced mentors and incredible toolkits to help you thrive in your career. A year-long membership of the community is available for just $275 and if you use the promocode ‘podcast' then you will receive a further 10% discount. Head to www.vetxthrive.com to redeem this offer and take control of your career. Now, back to the show. For someone in such a prominent position, it was refreshing to hear that she was open, frank and, as is typical for someone hailing from the proud English county of Yorkshire, direct with her opinions and knowledge. She's smart, sharp as a knife, and most importantly clearly cares as much about the people in veterinary medicine as much as she does the animals we swore our oath to protect. This is a conversation I know you are going to enjoy. So, without further ado, I give you, my conversation with Lizzie Lockett.

On today’s show, I am joined by the multi-talented Jolle Kirpensteijn. Jolle graduated from the Utrecht Veterinary School in Holland and promptly moved to the US where he completed his residency training in small animal surgery and Masters degree at Kansas State University. He followed this with a fellowship in surgical oncology at the Colorado State. In ‘93, Jolle returned to Europe as a surgical-oncology and soft tissue surgeon at Utrecht University. In February of 2005, he was appointed Professor in Surgery at the University of Copenhagen and in August 2008 Professor in Soft Tissue Surgery at Utrecht University. He is a Diplomate of the American and European College of Veterinary Surgeons and received the titles of Founding Fellow in Surgical Oncology and Minimally Invasive Surgery, both from the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS). A former president of WSAVA, Jolle has been recognised with many awards including the prestigious BSAVA Simon Award, WSAVA President’s Award. Jolle currently works for Hill’s Pet Nutrition as the Chief Professional Veterinary Officer, where he leads all professional activities in the United States. Now, just before we jump into the episode, let me drop a quick word from today's show sponsor the VetX:Thrive community. If you are a young vet looking to find your feet in veterinary medicine, grow your confidence, avoid burnout and beat your inner imposter, then not only should you listen to Jolle, but you should also join the VetX community. As a community member, you’ll receive success-skill training modules, live mentoring session and actionable toolkits to help you thrive in your career. A year-long membership of the community is available for just $275 and if you use the promocode ‘podcast' then you will receive a further 10% discount. Head to www.vetxthrive.com to redeem this offer and take control of your career. Jolle is one of a handful of people who truly meet the criteria of being a global citizen with a career that stands out for its life experience as much as it’s academic brilliance. He is probably best (if somewhat confusingly) described as two parts surgeon, one part oncologist, two parts business-man, one part unashamed tech-geek, one part ninja-level networker and three parts fearless adventurer. If your head is spinning then relax, because being Dutch, he is also pretty chill on life. So, sit back and enjoy my conversation with the outstanding, Jolle Kirpensteijn

On today’s show I super excited to be joined by one of my writing and business idols, Chris Brogan. Chris is one of the original group of people who, in the late nineties, decided this new-fangled-interwebs thing might just be useful and went all in. A risk that has paid off handsomely as he became known as one of the leading marketing gurus of the internet age. He is also one of the most published authors on the internet and has been described as a “content production cyborg” due to the volume and frequency of his publishing. But this description would be unfair because there is nothing robotic about the way Chris thinks or writes. His thoughtful, ground-breaking, and inspiring style have made him one of the most popular bloggers on the planet and his blog, CHRISBROGAN.COM is one of the most read in history. But his writing credits do not stop there. Chris became a New York Times and Wall Street Journal best-selling author when he published “Trust Agents” and has gone on to write or co-author another seven books. With work published in Entrepreneur magazine for good measure. All of which means for the next hour or so, you are going to be listening to genuine marketing royalty dipping his toes into the world of veterinary medicine. Now, just before we jump into the episode, I just wanted to drop a quick word from today's show sponsor which is the VetX:Thrive community. If you are a young vet looking to find your feet in veterinary medicine, grow your confidence, avoid burnout and beat your inner imposter, then VetX:Thrive is for you. As a community member you’ll receive success-skill training modules, coaching from experienced mentors and practical toolkits to help you thrive in your career. A year-long membership of the community is available for only $275 and if you use the promo code ‘podcast' then you will receive a further 10% discount. Head to vetxthrive.com to redeem this offer and take control of your career. Now, back to the show. Chris may be a huge name in business but he is no ego. In fact, I’ve rarely met a warmer, more humble person. In our interview, we covered a lot of ground from marketing to mindfulness. And we dive deep into his most recent project, Dented - an exploration of the vulnerable human condition and how we might better embrace all aspect of the digital lives we all now lead. A particular highlight is a very unexpected use for ketamine. It’s a scary thing to meet your heroes, but Chris was every bit as awesome as I hoped, this is a conversation I know you are going to take a huge amount from. So, whether you are in the business of helping pet owners by marketing better, or the business of keeping yourself sane, this is a conversation you do not want to miss. I hope you enjoy my conversation with the legend that is Chris Brogan.

On today’s show, I’m joined by Veterinary Technician, campaigner and veterinary Instagram celeb Nicole LaForest. Nicole is a co-owner, manager and Licensed Veterinary Technician for Mayo Veterinary Services - a large mobile surgery practice in Seattle. She graduated with an Associate’s Degree in Veterinary Technology from Penn Foster College, is licensed in both California and Washington State and spent several years working in emergency medicine as a lead technician. Her clinical work at the mayo is focussed primarily in the fields of orthopaedics and regenerative medicine. Away from her practice, Nicole is very active in the wider veterinary community serving as the president of the Washington State Association of Veterinary Technicians, and also campaigning personally to raise awareness, standards and opportunities for vet technicians around the planet. Her passion in doing so has attracted a large social media following where she chronicles her life in practice and courageously discusses her issues with mental health in the hope that others may battle their own demons. Now, just before we jump into the episode here’s a quick word from today's show sponsor the VetX:Thrive community. If you are a young vet looking to find your feet in veterinary medicine, grow your confidence, avoid burnout and beat your inner imposter, then VetX:Thrive is for you. As a community member, you’ll receive success-skill training modules, monthly access to experienced mentors and incredible toolkits to help you thrive in your career. A year-long membership of the community is available for just $275 and if you use the promocode ‘podcast' then you will receive a further 10% discount. Head to www.vetxthrive.com to redeem this offer and take control of your career. A conversation with a veterinary technician on Blunt Dissection is long overdue so it was great to bring a different perspective to the show. In a virtual world where filters and selfies are the norm, Nicole’s brand of visceral story-telling stands out and has won her a 20,000+ fan base. Her frequently edgy posts chronical a journey off the beaten path, they are educational, engaging and gritty – displaying an authenticity and a rawness that scream’s “take me as I am, warts ‘n’ all”. Nicole, it’s safe to say, is not afraid to call a spade a spade. But she is also a warm-hearted and incredibly bubbly person to spend time with. And so it was in our conversation where she left nothing on the field. We covered a lot of ground, with subjects as diverse as managing burnout, drug addiction, crazy clients, how she keeps a life working with her husband fun. So without further ado, it gives me huge pleasure to bring to you, my conversation with Nicole LaForest.

On today’s show, I am joined by Dr Jessica Wilson. Jessica is a veterinarian and professional athlete. In fact, as of now, she holds a new record - being the first pro-athlete to appear on Blunt Dissection. Jessica’s journey into veterinary medicine began early when she decided (age four) to become a vet. But from that moment the odds seemed stacked against her and she had to overcome many obstacles. Growing up, the daughter of a single mum who migrated to in New York from the Dominican Republic, money, nor culture was not on her side. And she had to find a way to cope with the double rejection from vet school that nearly stopped her career before it even got started. Jessica’s resilience was further put to the test in her early career as stress began to cause some major health problems. But while she may be small in stature, Jessica possesses a drive and determination to overcome obstacles that are formidable and have helped her to achieve success not only as a veterinary dentist but also as a professional athlete in the world of bodybuilding. Initially, Jessica took up bodybuilding as a way to manage her stress level as a vet, but quickly fell in love with the sport and started to move up through the ranks to her current level competing as an athlete on the IBB professional circuit. Now, just before we jump into the episode, I just wanted to drop a quick word from today's show sponsor which is the VetX:Thrive community. If you are a young vet looking to find your feet in veterinary medicine, grow your confidence, avoid burnout and beat your inner imposter, then VetX:Thrive is for you. As a community member, you’ll receive 12 success-skill training modules, access to experienced mentors and incredible toolkits to help you thrive in your career. Access to the community is available for just $275 and if you use the promocode ‘podcast' then you will receive a further 10% discount. Head to vetxthrive.com to take advantage of this offer and take control of your career. Back to Jessica. This native New Yorker has crammed a lot of living into her years on this earth and she shares openly both her struggles and triumphs in equal measure. Her’s is a tale of building not just her body, but also her mind as life kept on dishing out challenges. There’s a lot in this episode for anyone who wants to gain insight into finding balance in life through sport, getting clear on what matters and being laser focussed on your why. I hope you find some wisdom and inspiration in her message. So, without further ado, I present to you, my conversation with Dr Jessica Wilson.

On today’s show, I am joined by Dr James Greenwood. James is a practising vet living and working in Bristol, England. Originally from the flat cap, whippet and ferret loving county of Yorkshire, James’ family has been farming the Pennines Hills in England for generations. Although his parents chose to leave farming, James inherited the family trait and devoted himself to a life spent in the company of animals. After graduating from Bristol Vet School in 2007, he began his career as an equine vet, but like many young vets quickly began to struggle with the complexities of life after graduation and slowly fell out of love with his career. What makes James a little different was his ability to find balance and rediscover a passion for veterinary medicine again by connecting with his more creative side. Throughout his life, James harboured a dual love, on one hand, science, but on the other art. Although originally trained to paint, James’ artistic creativity developed into a deep love for ceramics. And after pursuing this passion and developing his personal brand on Instagram he was invited to compete on the first series of BBC2’s 'The Great Pottery Throwdown' where he showcased his ceramic skills to the nation and earned his fame. James has now made incredible ceramics for many celebrity pet lovers and has further developed his TV vet status by appearing in the popular CBBC children's television series 'The Pets Factor’. Now, just before we jump into the episode, I just wanted to drop a quick word from today's show sponsor which is the VetX:Thrive community. If you are a young vet looking to find your feet in veterinary medicine, grow your confidence, avoid burnout and beat your inner imposter, then VetX:Thrive is for you. As a community member, you’ll receive 12 success-skill training modules, access to experienced mentors and incredible toolkits to help you thrive in your career. A year-long membership of the community is available for just $275 and if you use the promocode ‘podcast' then you will receive a further 10% discount. Head to www.vetxthrive.com to redeem this offer and take control of your career. Now, back to the show, James’s interview was a real pleasure for me as he bravely and openly shares his experience of mental struggles and inner turmoil and how he was able to find a way through difficult times to a happier place where veterinary medicine now fits nicely with his other interests. If you’re struggling in practice, I hope this episode speaks to you and offer some insight into how you can also find balance and, I hope, happiness in the wonderful world of veterinary medicine. So, without further ado, I present to you, my conversation with the fabulous, Dr James Greenwood.

Today’s episode marks a very big mile stone on the Blunt Dissection pathway as we reach our two year and 24 episode-th birthday! (Apologies to the English language for that abuse). We needed a big episode and I am thrilled to say that my guest, Dr. Bree Montana, absolutely nailed it. Dr Montana, or Bree as I can now call her since we’re blunt dissection besties, gained her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Ohio State University. After graduation she worked in emergency hospitals before moving into general practice and eventually practice ownership where much of her real “learning” began. Safe to say the road was bumpy. Outside of her practice, Bree has served as a member of UC Davis’ College of Veterinary Medicine’s External Advisory and Admissions Boards, is a past Board member of the VIN Foundation. And, somehow, finds time to act as the Director of the VINFoundation’s Vets4Vets programs – a place where vets struggling with a range of physical, emotional and psychological problems receive much needed support. She is also in high demand as a speaker on the subject of caregiver compassion fatigue. Now, just before we jump into the episode, I just wanted to drop a quick word from today's show sponsor which is my brand new VetX:Leaders training group. If you are a manager or owner of a vet practice and people are your biggest problem then VetX:leaders is designed for you. As a member you will learn how to build a high performing team based on three vital areas. Recruitment of th right people, daily management of those people and leadership skills. This is a unique deep dive into the world of high performance and I will be your personal mentor throughout. There will be teaching, mentoring and access to all of the templates and frameworks I have used to run successful veterinary hospitals around the world over the past decade. So if that sort of training would improve your practice performance then go to vetxleaders.com to learn more. And if you use the promo code ‘podcast’, then you’ll get 10% off. Back to Dr Bree. Her’s is a story of work, struggle and ultimately, balance and joy. There is something here for anyone who ever dared to pull on a white coat and throw a stethoscope round their neck. And I hope for some of you, this episode is going to change everything – in a good way. So, without further preamble, I present to you, my interview with the amazing, Dr Bree Montana.

On today’s show I’m joined by former US Marine turned marketing guru Bill Schroeder. Bill has a fascinating career path and attended Western Illinois University where he gained his degree in Electrical, Electronic and Communications Engineering in 1991. Following graduation, he enlisted in the US Marine Corp. After surviving the legendary Marine Corp boot camp training at the USMC Depot in San Diego, he went on to serve as a helicopter mechanic, plane captain, and then as a reservist, training NCO and section leader. Following his years of service, Bill started his first business and spent time working in field surveillance and private investigations. But in 1998 he and his wife Katie decided to move in a new direction and began what would turn out to be the start of a two-decade (and counting) love affair with veterinary medicine by founding Intouch Practice Communications Inc., which has grown phenomenally since inception and has helped thousands of veterinarians and dentists step successfully into the digital age. Bill has completed the Veterinary Management Institute’s Practice Management Program at Purdue University's Krannert School of Management graduating in 2010. He has returned to help teach the Marketing Segment to VMI students ever since. Now, just before we jump into the episode, I just wanted to drop a quick word from today's show sponsor which is the VetX:Leaders community. If you are a manager, owner or a team leader in a vet practice and people are your biggest problem then VetX:Leaders is designed for you. As a member, you will learn how to build a high performing team based on three vital areas. Recruitment of the right people, daily management of those people and leadership skills. This is a unique deep dive into the world of high performance, and I will be your personal mentor throughout. There will be teaching, mentoring and access to all of the templates and frameworks I have used to run successful veterinary hospitals around the world over the past decade. So, if this sort of training would improve your practice performance then go to www.vetxleaders.com to learn more. Now back to the show... Bill’s passion for helping his veterinary colleagues succeed is incredible and his ability to see a glass half full make him a great person to listen to and spend time with. These traits coupled to his mischievous sense of humour, storytelling gifts and infectious laugh make him a joy on the ear. So, without further ado, sit back and enjoy this conversation with one of my favourite humans, Mr Bill Schroeder.