Choose People Love Pets: The Veterinary Culture Podcast

What if the biggest predictor of your success as a veterinarian isn't your medical knowledge—but your ability to communicate, lead, and connect with people?  In this episode, Dr. Brianna Armstrong sits down with Dr. Dani McVety, veterinarian, entrepreneur, speaker, and co-founder of Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice, for an honest conversation about the experiences that shaped her career. From re...

Have you ever wondered whether you're actually burned out on veterinary medicine—or just burned out by the place you're practicing it?  In this episode, Dr. Brianna Armstrong and Phoebe Valdez tackle a difficult but important question: How do you know if you're in a toxic work environment? More importantly, what should you do when you've realized it's time to move on?  Veterina...

In this episode, Dr. Brianna Armstrong sits down with veterinary leader and educator Dr. Eleanor Green for a deep conversation on leadership, veterinary education, innovation, and the future of the profession.  Dr. Green reflects on her journey from aspiring equine veterinarian to becoming the first female dean at Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and later helping found the...

Not all conflict is bad—but how someone  talks  about conflict in an interview can tell you everything.  In this episode, we break down one powerful interview question that reveals whether a candidate brings ownership or blame into your culture. Because in any hospital, conflict is inevitable—but toxicity is optional.  If you want a team that communicates, grows, and takes responsibility, this is...

Why do so many high-achievers feel stuck in their own lives?  In this episode, Dr. Brianna Armstrong sits down with Dr. Lucette Beall—veterinarian, entrepreneur, and author—to unpack the internal patterns that keep us from reaching our full potential.  After navigating divorce, a cancer diagnosis, financial hardship, and stepping away from her veterinary practice to care for her brother following...

If your team is constantly texting you on your day off, interrupting your vacation, or relying on you to solve every small problem — this isn’t a team issue. It’s a leadership pattern.  In this episode of  Choose People Love Pets , Dr. Brianna Armstrong and Phoebe Valdez break down why leaders become the bottleneck in their hospital, how that dependency gets unintentionally created, and what to do...

What happens when the path to becoming a veterinarian doesn’t go the way you planned?  In this episode of  Choose People Love Pets , Dr. Brianna Armstrong sits down with Dr. Christien Bolden, relief veterinarian and host of the  More Than a Dogtor  podcast. Dr. Bolden shares his deeply personal journey through veterinary medicine—from not passing the NAVLE twice, to navigating burnout, to ultimate...

Have you ever sat in a team meeting and heard feedback that clearly wasn’t about you… but suddenly you’re questioning if you’re doing something wrong?  This happens in veterinary hospitals all the time.  In this episode of Choose People Love Pets, Dr. Brianna Armstrong and hospital manager Phoebe Valdez break down a common leadership mistake that quietly damages culture: giving individual feedback...

Veterinary careers rarely unfold according to plan.  They evolve through opportunity, relationships, timing — and often through saying yes before we feel fully ready.  In this episode of  Choose People Love Pets , Dr. Gary Marshall — practice owner, feline-focused entrepreneur, and longtime contributor to organized veterinary medicine — reflects on the winding path of a decades-long career. From b...

Imposter syndrome is something we talk about constantly in veterinary medicine — but what if we’ve been thinking about it all wrong?  In this episode of  Choose People Love Pets , Dr. Brianna Armstrong and Phoebe Valdez explore a powerful reframe: what if imposter syndrome isn’t a sign that you don’t belong… but evidence that you’re growing?  Through personal stories — including Brianna’s experien...

In this episode, our host Dr. Brianna Armstrong sits down with  Dr. Kelly Cooper , veterinarian, former practice owner, corporate leader, and certified leadership coach, to explore the quiet realization many leaders have but rarely name:  I’m not the leader I want to be—and I don’t know how to fix it.   Kelly shares her journey from clinical practice to ownership, rising through the ranks at Banfi...

In this episode of  Choose People Love Pets , Brianna and Phoebe walk through exactly how they used AI-powered culture surveys to assess their hospital culture, identify blind spots, and—most importantly—turn anonymous feedback into real, trust-building change.  Rather than treating culture as a “gut feeling,” they share a practical, repeatable framework for measuring psychological safety, communi...

In this first episode of 2026, Dr. Brianna Armstrong sits down with Dr. Natalie Marks for a deeply honest conversation about identity, alignment, and intentional living. While Dr. Marks is widely known for her extraordinary career — spanning clinical practice, hospital ownership, national media, Fear Free leadership, and her current role as CEO of the Veterinary Angel Network — this episode goes b...

In this conversation, Brianna and Phoebe discuss the challenges of asking for help in the veterinary field, emphasizing the importance of creating a culture of support and psychological safety. They explore the reasons behind the hesitation to seek assistance, such as fear of burdening others and past negative experiences. The discussion includes practical strategies for encouraging help-seeking b...

In this conversation, Suzanne Thomas shares her unconventional journey from retail management to becoming a leader and advocate in veterinary medicine. She discusses the importance of building trust within teams, empowering technicians, and the challenges faced in veterinary leadership. Suzanne emphasizes the need for effective communication, continuous learning, and the significance of advocacy f...

What does it really take to build a high-growth, high-culture veterinary hospital in a post-COVID world? While most practices have been navigating a slowdown in visit volume, difficulty hiring veterinarians, rising labor costs, and increasing barriers to access-to-care, Dr. Alex Robb has done the opposite. Goodheart Cherry Creek went from a brand-new practice to more than $6.8 million in revenue b...

In this episode, Dr. Brianna Armstrong and Phoebe cut to the heart of one of the most pivotal decisions in veterinary leadership: who you hire . From “nice enough” candidates to glaring red flags during working interviews, this conversation dives into the standards, instincts, and cultural expectations that shape high-performing hospitals. Dr. Armstrong shares real stories from the hiring trenches...

In this episode, Dr. Brianna Armstrong sits down with Dr. Stacee Santi Longfellow — veterinarian, entrepreneur, and author of  Stop Acting Like a Girl . Stacee’s book challenges women (and anyone who’s ever struggled to advocate for themselves) to unlearn the habits of people-pleasing, perfectionism, and playing small — and to start asking for what they really deserve.  Together, they explore the...

From cleaning kennels to owning thriving practices, from corporate buyouts to a doctoral dissertation on burnout — Dr. Gershon “Dr. G” Alaluf has lived nearly every chapter veterinary medicine has to offer. In this honest, unfiltered conversation, Dr. G opens up about what he’s learned from three decades in practice and why he believes the future of the profession depends on who we let in — and ho...

From starting as a veterinary assistant with no experience to becoming Director of Operations at Hound and helping launch Home Love,  Christian Coleman  proves there’s no ceiling for veterinary technicians. His journey is a story of taking leaps of faith, finding mentors, leading with curiosity, and learning to give yourself grace along the way. In this episode, Dr.  Brianna Armstrong  and Christi...

In this conversation, Dr. Ivan Zak shares his remarkable journey from veterinary school to becoming an entrepreneur in the veterinary field. He discusses the challenges he faced while building a diagnostic lab in Russia, the importance of partnerships, and the significant issue of burnout in the veterinary profession. Ivan emphasizes the need for setting goals to maintain career satisfaction and s...

In this conversation, Dr. Mark Massaro shares his unique journey through veterinary medicine, highlighting the intersection of technology and mental health. He discusses the pressures of family legacy, the challenges faced during veterinary school and internships, and the impact of COVID-19 on the profession. Mark emphasizes the importance of mentorship for new graduates and the need for balance b...

In this insightful episode, we delve into the transformative power of mentorship in veterinary medicine with Dr. Dani Rabwin, founder of Ready, Vet, Go. Discover how a simple Zoom call evolved into a national mentorship program, reshaping the future of veterinary practice. Dr. Rabwin shares her journey from associate vet to entrepreneur, highlighting the challenges and triumphs of building a busin...

In this conversation, Dr. Ira Gordon shares his journey from being a veterinary student to becoming an entrepreneur with the creation of Vet Prep. He discusses the challenges and successes of building a business in the veterinary education space, the importance of partnerships, and the lessons learned from both successes and failures. Ira also highlights the significance of word-of-mouth marketing...

In this conversation, Dr. Jennifer Welser shares her journey from a practicing ophthalmologist to a transformative leader in veterinary medicine. She discusses her role at Arista Advanced Pet Care, where she empowers veterinarians to become business owners and emphasizes the importance of communication, coaching, and technology in veterinary care. Dr. Welser also reflects on her experiences in cor...