Don't Call Me Catty

What happens when two veterinary industry leaders put themselves in the hot seat with actual hot sauce? 🌶️ In this special episode of Don’t Call Me Catty, hosts Leilani Saad and Jillian Carr take on a hot wings challenge while answering the questions they usually ask their guests. As entrepreneurs and passionate advocates for the veterinary community, Leilani and Jillian open up about the conversa...

What if veterinary care didn’t stop at the clinic door? In this episode of Don’t Call Me Catty , we’re joined by Ellyse Bacelic-Grgic (RVT & Founder) and Jen Gibson of Felix and Fido , a platform enabling Registered Veterinary Technologists to provide in-home support following veterinary visits . Built from a personal experience with a critically ill pet, Felix and Fido addresses a common gap...

What actually makes a veterinary hospital work ? It's not all about medicine.  In this episode of Don’t Call Me Catty , we sit down with Daniella Cox, Hospital Manager at Boreal Veterinary Centre, to talk about what really drives a successful, high-performing clinic, and why leadership, communication, and culture matter more than most people think. Daniella shares her journey from ER tech ass...

Jillian sits down with Dr. Greg Andrews: equine veterinarian, industry leader, and founding force behind Mosaic Veterinary Partners, for a candid conversation on what it really takes to build a lasting career in veterinary medicine. With over 37 years in practice, Dr. Andrews shares stories from the early days of equine medicine—working out of a tin shack, relying on hands and intuition before adv...

Leilani and Jillian sit down at the 2025 CanWest Veterinary Conference to chat with the incredibly inspiring Dr. Heather Murphy, a Calgary-based veterinarian from Glamorgan Animal Clinic. Dr. Murphy, a 2016 UCVM grad, shares her unconventional and deeply moving 10-year journey through veterinary medicine. At just 23 years old, during her first year of vet school, Heather was diagnosed with stage f...

This week, we’re talking to Dr. Jodi Viste, and asking her how the heck she has 150 friends. She is a rural mixed-animal vet, mother, ABVMA council member, and a passionate community member. We’re diving into the "extraordinary ordinary" life of a small-town vet, including: The realities of the veterinary shortage,  The dark humour we use to survive the hardest parts of the job, and  Why...

We sat down with Liz Blake, Sr. Veterinary Sales Representative at Pets Plus Us , for a conversation that starts light but quickly gets real. From Halloween costumes to $10,000 emergencies and life-changing decisions, this episode dives into the reality of pet insurance in vet med. Liz shares her stories from over 25 years in clinic and industry including the moment that changed everything: a six-...

This episode is sponsored by Solvet Canada: https://solvet.ca/ We sit down with the one and only Shannon Gervais, RVT, at CanWest in Banff for a conversation about leadership, entrepreneurship, networking, and the future of veterinary medicine. Shannon shares her journey from RVT to a career that spans clinical practice, pharmaceutical sales, leadership, consulting, and founding multiple ventures...

This episode is sponsored by Solvet Canada. https://solvet.ca/ Recorded live at CanWest 2025 in Banff, we sat down with Kamryn Shaughnessy-Gervais: Inside Sales Rep at AniCell Biotech, animal-health industry “legacy kid,” and competitive barrel racer with serious grit. Kamryn grew up in veterinary medicine (trade shows, clinics, and all), then moved from Canada to Texas to compete and study at Tex...

We sit down with Dr. Candace Stuart, a veterinarian practicing in Whitehorse, Yukon, at one of only two veterinary clinics serving the entire territory. Dr. Stuart shares what it truly means to practice medicine in Canada’s North, where referral centers can be 10–14 hours away, emergency care is covered in-house, and veterinarians must rely heavily on teamwork, adaptability, and trust. From perfor...

Registered Veterinary Technologists are the backbone of veterinary medicine. But so many people (including pet owners) don’t fully understand what RVTs do, what they’re trained for, or how much they carry. In this episode of Don’t Call Me Catty, we sit down with Shea Lee, RVT, President (Vice-President at the time of recording) of the Alberta Veterinary Technologist Association (ABVTA), to talk ab...

Leilani and Jillian sit down with Ashley Nicholls of Reach Ag for a wide-ranging conversation that blends leadership, culture, and real-world agriculture experience with plenty of laughs along the way. Ashley shares his journey from Australia to Canada, including stories from Australian cowboy culture and what it was like entering the agriculture industry later in life. Together, they explore the...

Complaints are one of the most anxiety-provoking experiences in veterinary medicine. However, they don’t have to be a mystery, and they don’t have to define you. In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Phil Buote, DVM, Deputy Registrar and Complaints Director at the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association (ABVMA), for an open, human conversation about what really happens when a complaint is filed. Ph...

We sit down with Jerry Locati, an RVT whose full-time job is talking to pet owners when they’re worried, overwhelmed, and unsure what to do next. Jerry shares his path into veterinary medicine, what led him to become an RVT, and who he is outside of the profession (including his life as a bass guitarist while off the clock). We talk about his role at Animal HealthLink, where he’s often the voice o...

In this episode of Don’t Call Me Catty , we sit down with Dr. Jeannet Kessels, DVM, founder of Vets For Climate Action, to trace how one moment of concern turned into a worldwide effort to unite veterinary voices for the planet. From the frontlines of climate-driven animal welfare crises to conversations with veterinary organizations across continents, Dr. Kessels shares what it takes to build mom...

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Savannah Howse-Smith: Métis veterinarian, former star of Dr. Savannah: Wild Rose Vet , and Lead Veterinarian with the Canadian Animal Task Force. We discuss her journey from mixed animal practice to small animal care, how she found herself on television, and why community-centred care matters in Indigenous communities across Canada. Join us for stories from the cl...

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Heather James, DVM for a candid conversation about finding your calling, surviving the messy middle, giving back through mentorship, and noticing the impact of your work. Heather shares her non-linear path to vet med, from an early background in art, to quitting programs that weren’t the right fit, to selling Girl Guide cookies at 2 a.m. outside a bar because...

We're thrilled to introduce you to Syd Vaughan, Registered Massage Therapist, breathwork coach, and founder of 3 Well by Syd. Syd shares her personal journey into breathwork and how regulating the nervous system can be a practical, effective tool for managing stress, especially in high-pressure professions like veterinary medicine. The conversation reflects on the speakers’ experience at CVMA...

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Gerard O'Leary, the CEO and founder of NxVet. Gerard discusses his unconventional journey from engineering to veterinary medicine, including his work with the European Space Agency and on smartphone technology before moving to medical devices. He elaborates on his commitment to humanizing the veterinary field and breaking down barriers. Gerard provides an...

In the inaugural episode of 'Don't Call Me Catty,' co-hosts Jillian and Leilani introduce their mission of offering a no-nonsense look into the veterinary industry. The special guest, Jonathan Leicht, CEO of Mosaic Vet Partners, shares career insights, including hiring practices, mentorship, and handling workplace challenges. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining team culture...