Vet Mind Works Podcast

Petra Agthe, Alison Collings, Monica Merlo

This podcast is for veterinary professionals who are looking for better ways of working and living. We discuss mind-sets, mind skills, behaviours and habits, which support sustainable performance and wellbeing in a challenging profession, and allow us to develop our own 'best veterinary self'. Podcast hosts Petra Agthe and Alison Collings (two vets with a long-standing interest in psychology and related disciplines) interview interesting guests, ranging from veterinary colleagues to psychologists, who share their knowledge, experiences and insights on specific subjects. Occasionally, we also schedule a 'rest and digest' episode in which we discuss and reflect on previous topics. This is a podcast for the whole veterinary community and we encourage listeners to provide feedback and enter the discussion! You can do this by sending us an email to [email protected]. We are happily funding this podcast ourselves to keep it independent. However, you can show your support by donating towards a fundraising campaign in aid of a mental health project for Ukrainian veterinary colleagues: https://galaxyvets.foundation/campaigns/mental-health-support-for-ukrainian-veterinary-professionals/

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Top 10 Vet Mind Works Podcast Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Vet Mind Works Podcast episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Vet Mind Works Podcast for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Vet Mind Works Podcast episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

6. Values - with Liv Oginska

Vet Mind Works Podcast

01/04/23 • 51 min

Values - what could be a better topic at the start of a new year!? Values can serve as an 'inner compass' helping us to make sure that our life has direction, depth and meaning.
Join the conversation between host Petra Agthe and our guest Liv Oginska, who explore some important questions and facts around this topic, including:
0:57 Introduction to this episode and introducing Liv
3:30 What are values and why are they important?
9:14 How our values get shaped
12:21 General vs situational values
18:28 How working with values can sometimes bring up difficult emotions
22:02 Values as a basis for wellbeing, fulfilment and growth
23:34 How to gain clarity about our values
28:29 Differentiating our own values from those imposed by society/other people and how to deal with conflicting values
34:17 Other pitfalls and challenges with values
40:05 Values and flexibility
41:55 Values, strengths and flow
46:16 Liv's favourite resources on the topic of values
47:23 Where to find Liv and Conclusion

Liv's favourite resources on the topic:
Podcasts:
https://www.thehighperformancepodcast.com
https://stevenbartlett.com/the-diary-of-a-ceo-podcast/
Book:
Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown: https://brenebrown.com/book/atlas-of-the-heart/
Where to find Liv:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olivia-oginska-dvm-mrcvs-pgcertsas-mapp-53b345200/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vetgonereal/ and https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/humansavvy/
Website: https://behumansavvy.com
We are happily funding this podcast ourselves to keep it independent. However, you can show your support by donating towards a fundraising campaign in aid of a mental health project for Ukrainian veterinary colleagues: https://galaxyvets.foundation/campaigns/mental-health-support-for-ukrainian-veterinary-professionals/

The Veterinary Information Network (VIN) is lending us a hand by helping us with editing our podcast episodes. More about VIN here.
We continue to happily fund all costs for this podcast ourselves but you show your support by donating towards a fundraising campaign in aid of a mental health project for Ukrainian veterinary colleagues hosted by the Galaxy Vets Foundation
We value your feedback! Please email us your thoughts, ideas and suggestions to [email protected] or follow us on LinkedIn and FacebookWant to find out more about host Petra? Follow on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/petra-agthe-562bb65b

Credits:
Music- Deep Ambience by Coma-Media, Pixabay; Images for Artwork- OpenClipart-Vectors, Pixabay

5. Self-awareness - with Clive Elwood

Vet Mind Works Podcast

12/07/22 • 41 min

The psychologist Carl Jung once said that “until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate”. In this episode we are taking a deeper dive and explore why knowing ourselves can be so powerful and how we may achieve a greater degree of self-awareness, so that we can be more in charge of our lives.
Our guest Clive Elwood is a specialist in small animal internal medicine as well as an executive coach and author of the book Leadership in Veterinary Medicine, and he has lots of insights, knowledge and experience to offer on the topic. In this conversation with host Petra Agthe we discuss many interesting aspects of self-awareness and related concepts, including:
0:57 Introduction to the episode and introducing Clive
2:59 Importance of self-leadership and self-awareness in leadership
7:50 Self-awareness, self-communication and self-compassion
12:31 The inner critic and self-compassion
15:20 Selves-awareness: looking beyond the one authentic self and allowing different identities and parts ourselves
19:17 Behavioural scripts: how to break out of habitual reactions
27:10 Loosening the grip on identity
30:16 How to increase self-awareness
35:43 Pitfalls and difficulties relating to self-awareness
37:20 A lesson from history
38:57 Where to find Clive and Conclusion
Clive's favourite books on the topic:

Victor E. Frankl (2004) Man's Search for Meaning. Random House Group.
Williams M , Penman D . (2011) Mindfulness: a practical guide to finding peace in a frantic world . London : Piatkus.
Brené Brown (2015) Daring greatly : how the courage to be vulnerable transforms the way we live, love, parent, and lead. Penguin Life, London
Siegel, D. (2011) Mindsight : transform your brain with the science of kindness. New York: Oneworld Publications.
Van der Kolk, B. A. (2015) The body keeps the score : brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. New York, New York: Penguin Books.

Other resources you may be interested in:

Genpo Roshi A guided meditation through your interiors https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n22a1Hf4rjk

Where to find Clive:
Website: https://trelliscoaching.co.uk
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clive-elwood-frcvs-b7aba216/
Twitter: @cliveelwood
Clive's book Leadership in Veterinary Medicine:

Credits:
Music- Deep Ambience by Coma-Media, Pixabay; Images for Artwork- OpenClipart-Vectors, Pixabay

9. Hobbies - with Alasdair Hotston Moore

Vet Mind Works Podcast

04/05/23 • 44 min

Although today's episode is perhaps a little more lighthearted, it is still important and relates back our most recent episode with Ebony Escalona on Identity (https://vetmindworks.buzzsprout.com/2020620/12307186) and also illustrates how our activities outside work can not only benefit our mental wellbeing and physical health, but how they actually support our carriers and work satisfaction.
This easy-going episode with guest Alasdair Hotston Moore and host Petra Agthe includes:
01:02 We have news to share!
02:04 Introduction to the episode and introducing Alasdair
05:48 How hobbies are related to our identify and how they can help us to navigate life and work
06:55 The way that Alasdair has been exploring the world through his hobbies and how photography has allowed him to discover different perspectives
13:33 The benefits of physical aspects of hobbies
15:28 Summary: hobbies and identity, perspective taking, spending time in the moment, redirecting energy and emotional processing
20:12 Hobbies as an opportunity for building social connections and consistent routine
25:58 Importance of considering working patterns to accommodate hobbies
27:46 How enabling participation in hobbies can contribute to higher job satisfaction and retention
30:49 Alasdair's tips on finding a hobby
35:21 Potential downsides to hobbies
39:28 Final thoughts
40:27 Where to find Alasdair
43:10 Good-bye
You may also be interested in:
Previous Vet Mind Works podcast episodes relating to identity and as well as management of time and energyAn article looking into the science how hobbies can be beneficial for our mental health:
https://research.reading.ac.uk/research-blog/the-science-behind-why-hobbies-can-improve-our-mental-health/An article about how hobbies can support us in our work lives: https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/be-in-the-know/202105/how-hobbies-can-help-you-work

Where to find Alasdair Hotston Moore on the web:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.co

Credits:
Music- Deep Ambience by Coma-Media, Pixabay; Images for Artwork- OpenClipart-Vectors, Pixabay

8. Identity - with Ebony Escalona

Vet Mind Works Podcast

03/01/23 • 43 min

Do you also introduce yourself to others with your job title, such as 'Hello, my name is XX and I am a vet/vet nurse/...'? Well, you may think again after this episode!
Having a sense of identity can be really important to us. It gives us an idea of who we are and where we belong. However, sometimes identity can also trip us up and we can identify so much with our jobs that there is little else left. Our guest Ebony Escalona founder of the veterinary community Vets: Stay, Go or Diversify is very familiar with the question of identity and has many wise insights and helpful perspectives to share on the topic. Areas covered in this deep and interesting conversation with host Petra include:

00:57 Introduction to the episode and introducing Ebony

04:49 About Ebony's definition of identity and how it be helpful and unhelpful

10:51 Identity, worthiness, human skills and the question of success

13:29 Shifting from who we are to what we do, and trying identity on for fit

15:16 Ebony's own challenges with identity and learning to hold identity more lightly: non-binary thinking, trying out for fit, learn something new, learn to quit

22:30 Identity and embodied experience

26:22 The importance of unlearning and leaning into discomfort

30:13 Identity, impermanence and overcoming envy

35:32 Human skills revisited

37:12 Giving yourself permission for evolution and development

39:15 Ebony's most favourite resources

40:43 Where to find Ebony and Vets: Stay, Go

00:42:29 Good-bye

You may also be interested in:
Vet Mind Works Podcast Episode 5: Self-awareness with Clive ElwoodEbony's favourite resources on this topic:
Book: ‘Permission to feel’ by Dr Mark Brackett: https://www.marcbrackett.com/about/book-permission-to-feel/

Podcast: Amazing If – The Squiggly Careers Podcast: https://www.amazingif.com/listen/

Where to find Ebony Escalona and Vets: Stay, Go or Diversify (VSGD):
Social media handles:
@ebonyescalona
@vetssgd
@vetyoucommunity

VSGD website: https://vsgd.co

VSGD: Download free Reflect Align Explore Workbook https://share.hsforms.com/1X1Nl6OM2TJ2GcIYvVA-Tbgbvuzn and Win of the Week workbook https://share.hsforms.com/1H-7RsZlwSGm8x-paMBMopAbvuzn

We are h

Credits:
Music- Deep Ambience by Coma-Media, Pixabay; Images for Artwork- OpenClipart-Vectors, Pixabay

19. Self-compassion for Imposter Syndrome

Vet Mind Works Podcast

01/17/24 • 59 min

In this episode, host Petra Agthe and guest Katie Ford are looking at a previously covered topic from a specific perspective: The skill of self-compassion and how this can help us to navigate imposterism or imposter feelings (more commonly known as imposter syndrome, which is why we stuck to it in the title). In the conversation, Katie shares her own experiences and helpful insights. We are also touching on some previous themes such as shame, identity, courage and confidence, so it may be worth to listen back to these as well!
Time stamps:
00:57 Introduction to episode
03:01Introduction to Katie
03:58 About our partners VIN Europe
04:44 Welcoming Katie
05:50 Clarifying terminology
08:19 Definitions of imposterism and self-compassion
14:15 Common causes of imposterism
18:28 Imposterism and shame
28:05 The three components of shame and self-compassion
30:29 How can we cultivate self-compassion
32:07 How Katie has applied self-compassion in her life
41:07 When anxiety may be there for a good reason
44:26 Some other tools to help with imposter experience
48:49 Pitfalls and stumbling blocks
52:35 Katie's most favourite resources
55:10 More about Katie's work
56:48 Goodby
Where to find more information about Katie and her work:
On Instagram
On LinkedIn
Katie's website: https://www.katiefordvet.com
Katie's own podcast Inspired and Authentic
Vet Empowered website: https://www.vetempowered.com/
Also mentioned in this episode: The Veterinary Human Factors Conference
Previous Vet Mind Works Podcast episodes relating to this topic:
Courage
Shame
Confidence
Identity

Credits:
Music- Deep Ambience by Coma-Media, Pixabay; Images for Artwork- OpenClipart-Vectors, Pixabay

18. Self-Regulation - with Crina Dragu

Vet Mind Works Podcast

01/03/24 • 61 min

Welcome to another juicy episode! This time, host Petra is exploring the topic of self-regulation with Crina Dragu, who works as a veterinary dentist and has had a very diverse life experience. This is a deep conversation about how to master the challenges of life in general and of veterinary work in particular using the skill of finding 'calmness in uncomfortable situations'.
Full contents of this episode include:
00:57 Introduction to episode
02:20 Introducing Crina
04:27 About our partners VIN Europe
05:13 Welcoming Crina
05:54 About self-regulation and its importance
13:12 Self-regulation as a transferrable skill to greater freedom of choice and calmness
20:58 Self-regulation as calmness in an uncomfortable situation
24:42 Facing into challenges with self-regulation
35:25 Self-regulation and identity
38:09 About the challenge of 'just being'
40:29 How to cultivate self-regulation
47:48 The pitfalls of self-regulation
50:15 Self-regulation as an ongoing practice
52:08 Crina's most favourite resources on self-regulation
53:19 More about Crina and her work
58:11 Good-bye

Crina's most favourite resources on the topic:
Shame: https://brenebrown.com/Meditation: https://www.tarabrach.com/https://jackkornfield.com/
Yoga: Byron Katie https://thework.com/; also mentioned in this episode: Bryon Best https://poweryoga.com
Relationships: https://www.estherperel.com/
Where to find more information about Crina and her work:
On InstagramOn LinkedInYou may also be interested in:
Previous Vet Mind Works Podcast episodes relating to self-regulation
Courage
Being Good Enough
Shame
Mindful Awareness
Identity
Physiological Needs
Self-awareness

Credits:
Music- Deep Ambience by Coma-Media, Pixabay; Images for Artwork- OpenClipart-Vectors, Pixabay

13. Food and Nutrition - with Ela Law

Vet Mind Works Podcast

08/02/23 • 48 min

Welcome to our anniversary episode! We are so excited that the Vet Mind Works Podcast has been going for a full year. This episode is also very special, because it touches on many topics that we have already covered, and it relates to some other subjects yet to explore! Host Petra Agthe and our guest nutritionist and intuitive eating counsellor Ela Law we are discussing all around the topic of food and nutrition, and how we can best support our brains and bodies best in our busy lives.
Timestamps:
00:56 Introduction to episode and Ela Law
02:10 About our partner VIN Europe
03:03 Editorial notes and welcoming Ela
04:50 What food and nutrition have to do with values, identity and shame
07:19 What makes nutrition so important for busy veterinary professionals
11:37 The gut brain axis
14:00 About food, our bodies and trust
15:58 About intuitive eating
28:32 Why intuitive eating can be particularly helpful for busy professionals
33:36 Common difficulties and pitfalls regarding nutrition in general
37:58 Why our weight may not determine our health
42:12 Ela's most favourite resources on the topic of nutrition and food
44:20 Where to find Ela on the web
46:04 Goodbye

Where to find more information about Ela and her work:
Ela's website: https://www.elalawnutrition.co.uk
Find Ela on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
Ela's most favourite resources on the topic:
Podcast:
Maintainance Phase with Aubrey Gordon and Michael Hobbes https://www.maintenancephase.com
Books:
Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole & Elyse Resh
Unapologetic Eating by Alissa Rumsey
More than a body by Lindsay & Lexie Kite
Previous Vet Mind Works Podcast episodes on related topics:
Physiological needs with Dan Tipney
Values with Liv Oginska
Identity with Ebony Escalona

Credits:
Music- Deep Ambience by Coma-Media, Pixabay; Images for Artwork- OpenClipart-Vectors, Pixabay

20. Coping Strategies - with Rachel Bowron

Vet Mind Works Podcast

02/07/24 • 56 min

We all know that veterinary work (and life in general for that matter!) can be stressful. So how can we make sure that we navigate the ups and downs the best way we can? Join host Petra, who has invited Rachel Bowron to explore a whole array of tools in the coping toolbox together, and explain how they applied some of these tools in their own lives.
Timestamps:
00:56 Introduction to episode
02:07 Introduction to Rachel
02:59 About our partners VIN Europe
03:46 Welcoming Rachel
04:35 What are coping strategies?
07:50 About healthy and unhealthy coping strategies
23:17 How Rachel has overcome challenges in her own life with help of coping strategies
34:51 How accurate are we in assessing our own level of wellbeing?
39:34 How can we learn to use coping strategies more often?
44:00 About the importance of having a range of strategies
46:41 When even the best coping strategies are not enough
48:37 Rachel's most favourite resources on the topic of coping strategies
52:20 Where to find Rachel
53:33 Good-bye
Rachel’s most favourite resources on topic:
Books:
Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before by Dr Julie Smith
The Science Of Meditation by Daniel Goleman and Richard J Davidson
Positive Psychology by Dr Rona Hart
Ten Percent Happier by Dan Harris

Podcast:

Ten Percent Happier Podcast with Dan Harris

Find Rachel on LinkedIn

Credits:
Music- Deep Ambience by Coma-Media, Pixabay; Images for Artwork- OpenClipart-Vectors, Pixabay

25. Compassion - with Katherine Wakelin and Megan Davis

Vet Mind Works Podcast

09/04/24 • 76 min

Join us diving into the topic of interpersonal relationships! We are starting the series off with an episode on compassion. Join host Petra Agthe and guests Katherine Wakelin and Megan Davis who take a deeper dive into this often misunderstood and undervalued skill.
The discussion includes:
00:00:54 Introduction to episode
00:02:02 Introducing Katherine and Megan
00:04:37 More from our partners VinEurope
00:05:23 Welcoming Katherine and Megan
00:06:25 What is compassion?
00:13:39 Why is compassion important for our wellbeing?
00:26:30 Compassion and emotional processing
00:32:02 How can we cultivate compassion and activate the soothing system?
00:42:15 Overcoming challenges with compassion
00:53:04 The role of visualisation and imagination in compassion practice
00:54:38 Common obstacles and barriers to compassion
01:01:33 Advantages of compassionate leadership
01:07:35 Katherine's and Megan's most favourite resources on the topic
01:13:32 Good-bye

Resources mentioned in this episode:
Free Online Compassion Skills Course for Vets:
https://openresearch.surrey.ac.uk/esploro/outputs/coursemodule/99885965702346Websites:
https://www.compassionatemind.co.uk/
https://self-compassion.org/

Podcast on the Why and How of apology: https://brenebrown.com/podcast/harriet-lerner-and-brene-im-sorry-how-to-apologize-why-it-matters-part-1-of-2/
You Tube Video: How to be brilliant every single day
Vet Record paper: Feasibility and Efficacy of an online compassion-focused imagery intervention for veterinarian self-reassurance, self-criticism and perfectionism

Previous Vet Mind Works podcast episodes you may be interested in:
All about ShameAbout being good enoughSelf-compassion

Credits:
Music- Deep Ambience by Coma-Media, Pixabay; Images for Artwork- OpenClipart-Vectors, Pixabay

11. Confidence - with Rachael Paul

Vet Mind Works Podcast

06/07/23 • 36 min

This is our first Vet Mind Works podcast episode with host Alison Collings! Alison is joined by Rachael Paul, owner of Simply Veterinary, a headhunting and coaching firm dedicated solely to the veterinary industry. Rachael specializes in helping veterinary leaders become inspirational by raising their self-awareness to a whole new level. Rachel talks about how we can cultivate confidence.

In this episode, we discuss:

Developing trust in oneself
Techniques to cultivate confidence
What to do when you are feeling overwhelmed by self-doubt
Rachel shares ways in which she has pushed herself out of her comfort zone
The first key step to becoming more confident

Time-points:

1:38 Rachel Paul: introduction
5:43 Trusting yourself to take first step into confidence
8:31 Building confidence through action
12:28 Imagining success boosts confidence and performance
16:16 Develop trust and courage, practice confidence
19:07 Journaling is a powerful tool for self-reflection
22:11 Benefits of having a coach
25:30 Drop the comparisons
30:01 Overcoming the fear
32:34 How to contact Rachel

Resources:
Book:

The Confidence Gap by Russ Harris https://amzn.eu/d/b7tdZEz

Where to find Rachel:

Website: https://www.simplyveterinarycoaching.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rachaelpaulsimplyveterinary
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplyveterinarycoaching/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simplyveterinarycoaching

Credits:
Music- Deep Ambience by Coma-Media, Pixabay; Images for Artwork- OpenClipart-Vectors, Pixabay

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FAQ

How many episodes does Vet Mind Works Podcast have?

Vet Mind Works Podcast currently has 27 episodes available.

What topics does Vet Mind Works Podcast cover?

The podcast is about Mind, Learning, Health & Fitness, Skills, Psychology, Performance, Podcasts, Education and Wellbeing.

What is the most popular episode on Vet Mind Works Podcast?

The episode title '4. Performance and Wellbeing- with Dan Tipney' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on Vet Mind Works Podcast?

The average episode length on Vet Mind Works Podcast is 51 minutes.

How often are episodes of Vet Mind Works Podcast released?

Episodes of Vet Mind Works Podcast are typically released every 28 days.

When was the first episode of Vet Mind Works Podcast?

The first episode of Vet Mind Works Podcast was released on Jul 24, 2022.

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Vet Mind Works Podcast

Petra Agthe, Alison Collings, Monica Merlo

Top 10 Vet Mind Works Podcast Episodes

FAQ

How many episodes does Vet Mind Works Podcast have?

What topics does Vet Mind Works Podcast cover?

What is the most popular episode on Vet Mind Works Podcast?

What is the average episode length on Vet Mind Works Podcast?

How often are episodes of Vet Mind Works Podcast released?

When was the first episode of Vet Mind Works Podcast?

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