Flynn’s Talk

Content notice: In this podcast our guests share some of their own mental health lived experience. In this special episode we meet Dr Alena Gadoury and Dr Kat Williams, two vets who the driving force behind VetHerd - a suicide prevention program for the veterinary industry.  Utilising the LivingWorks Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) course, that is backed by over 30 years of re...

In this special edition episode, Jack is joined by Norwegian veterinarian and researcher Dr Helene Seljenes. Helene has published her PhD project the NORVET Study and talks about the findings, how it has been received in the veterinary community and what she hopes to achieve next. Helene is also flying the flag for Flynn's Walk in Norway and is hosting a walk with the Norwegian vet students this y...

A note, in this episode we discuss mental health, burnout and suicide - in particular between 20:00 to 25:00, if you wish to skip that section. Dr Nigel Clayton practiced veterinary medicine for 50 years, beginning his career in the UK before moving his family to Australia in the 1960s, where he played a pivotal role in establishing the first Animal Emergency Centre, which in turn reformed the way...

Flynn's Talk returns for Season 5! We caught up with Darlene Bos, Executive Director of 'Not One More Vet' (NOMV) - an American based charity working hard to provide mental health and well-being support for veterinarians all around the world. NOMV's mission is to transform the veterinary industry through evidence-based peer support, mentorship, financial support, education, and awareness - with a...

For the final episode of this season, we are joined by Yvonne Hong, Founder of Pets of the Homeless Australia! Established in 2015, POTH supports people experiencing, and at risk of, homelessness and their pets. They provide food, veterinary care and foster support with the aim of keeping people and pets together. You can support POTH here: https://petsofthehomeless.org.au/ This year we are proudl...

We're joined by Dr Eloise Bright (Founder) and Nicky Hunt (President) from the ACT Pet Crisis Support team! Their mission is to assist pets in the community by providing subsidised veterinary care for disadvantaged, low income pet owners who have no other options to care for their beloved fur babies. We also explore the cost of delivery high quality veterinary care and hear about their new mobile...

Our special guest is Dr Alicia Kennedy from Cherished Pets - a veterinary social enterprise providing support for vulnerable community members, and care for their pets, through their veterinary social work program. Alicia is passionate about the human-animal bond and believes that to truly care for people, we need to look at the full picture and include the well-being and health of their pets. To...

This year we are proudly supported by Covetrus Global Technology Solutions who are helping us to spread our message - and your stories - to more people in the veterinary and non-veterinary sectors. Jack and Cam are joined by two special guests for a really important discussion about improving veterinary career sustainability - and there is a lot of work being done in this space. Dr Julie Strous is...

This year we are proudly supported by Covetrus Global Technology Solutions who are helping us to spread our message and your stories to more people. We're joined by Dr Vanessa Rohlf - consultant, therapist and educator - who is working hard to support the people caring for our pets. We discuss what it means to build resilience, practicing self-care and creating mentally healthy workplaces plus hea...

We're back for Season 4 of Flynn's Talk and we want to start with a big thank you to our new podcast partner in 2022 - Covetrus! Our special guest is Dr Tiffani Howell, a research fellow from the LaTrobe University School of Psychology and Public Health. Tiffani is an experienced researcher in the areas of dog cognition, dog behaviour and human-animal relationships - in a nutshell, she has spent a...

In episode five, Jack chats with Terry Cornick, Founder and CEO of mental health charity Mr Perfect - a grassroots charity that brings men together at BBQs in local parks across Australia, to create community and connection. Terry shares his own mental health story, the realisation that his life wasn't perfect, despite the image he displayed to others in his life, and taking the step to establish...

In this episode, Jack & Jeremy are joined by Dr Warwick Vale, President of the Australian Veterinary Association. We discuss the role of the AVA as a member organisation, how they are tackling well-being in the industry and the "BHAG" (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) of halving the suicide rate in the veterinary field in 5 years. Warwick explains the current AVA Veterinary Wellness Project and the aims...

In episode three, Jack and Cam are joined by Dr Marianne Linder and Dr Helene Dalum all the way from Norway! Marianne and Helene have joined forces to share their mental health stories with the aim of reducing stigma in the veterinary field and increasing the number of people asking for help. Marianne runs her own practice in the Lofoten Islands and is passionate about the well-being of her patien...

In episode two Jack & Cam are joined by Dr Mark Schipp, the Australian Chief Veterinary Officer, who advises the Australian Government on matters of animal health. Mark shares his career pathway, we discuss the role that vets play in the wider community, including the COVID outbreak and we dive into how you can diversify your skillset as a vet. You can stay up to date with the work of Dr Mark'...

We're back for Season 3! In episode one Jack and Jeremy are joined by Dr Lianne Mellin, recent graduate, to share her journey across her first months as a real-life veterinarian! Lianne shares her experience of graduating and finding a job, establishing professional mentorship, learning the art of working with clients and tackling euthanasia as part of her everyday work - including how she found s...

Guess who's back? Back again! We've been working hard to put together Season 3 of Flynn's Talk, the first episode will drop on Wednesday August 11. Another fantastic selection of guests bringing their stories to the mics and shining a light on the veterinary industry and celebrating champions of the mental health sector. Don't forget to subscribe so you get new episodes weekly!

Ahead of our first walk for 2021, Jack catches up with singer, performer and R U OK? Ambassador, Rob Mills for a chat! Rob has been involved with R U OK? for the last 5 years and is passionate about encouraging men to speak up and be brave to share how they are feeling. R U OK? are an Australian suicide prevention charity sharing the message that a conversation could change a life. If you or anyon...

For our 2020 season finale we pulled together a live show! Jack, Jeremy and Dr Cam are joined by Dr Lewis & Dr Robbie from the "Two Vets Talk Pets" podcast. We have some fun challenging the guys to some brainteasers and a round of celebrity head. The vets also share their insights for what it has been like to be working through this COVID time - and having to wear masks! Stay tuned through to the...

In the final recorded episode for this year, Jack & Jeremy are joined by Dr Emma Whiston - veterinary director of 'My Best Friend'. Established in 2004, 'My Best Friend' is a specialised service and provides compassionate and personalised ‘end of life’ veterinary care for dearly loved pets in the private and familiar surroundings of their own home. Emma shares her story of growing up as the daught...

October is Mental Health Month and October 10 is World Mental Health Day which means that Movember is just around the corner! In this episode, we're joined by Brendan Maher, Movember's Global Director for Mental Health & Suicide Prevention, and Dr Zac Seidler, Movember's Director of Mental Health Training. An awesome discussion about collaboration in the mental health sector and putting the spotli...

Jack & Jeremy are joined by Eva Giuretis, President and Founder of Project Underdog Rescue (PUR) - a small but mighty animal rescue organisation established in 2015. Eva shares her journey, including her own mental health challenges, her pathway to becoming a vet nurse - then a practice manager - and now providing a voice for the animals that need it most. You can learn more about PUR's mission at...

Jack & Jeremy are joined by Sinead Greer, a vet nurse and mental health advocate based in Melbourne. Sinead takes us inside the clinic and explains what it means to be a nurse - there is more to the job than meets the eye. To hear more about "Let's Talk About Feeling Ruff" hit up the page on Facebook or Instagram. Remember, if you or anyone you know is experiencing a crisis, there is always help a...

Jack & Jeremy are joined by practicing psychologist Sandy Rea to talk about this "COVID normal" we are all experiencing and living through. How can we better understand the emotions we are feeling? Is it okay to take a break? Is there light at the end of the tunnel? 2020 has really pushed conversations about mental health to the fore, which will hopefully go a long way to reducing stigma and encou...

In 2009, Gavin Larkin chose to champion just one question to honour his father, who had died by suicide, to try and protect other families from the pain his endured. That question is: are you okay? Thursday September 10 is R U OK? Day and also World Suicide Prevention Day. Jack & Jeremy are joined by R U OK? Community Ambassador James Malachi to discuss the mission of the suicide prevention charit...

Cathy Warburton practiced as a veterinarian, specialising in emergency and critical care. Over time she became more and more interested in the people - her clients and colleagues - and now works as a well-being consultant. Cathy joins Jack & Cam to chat about resilience training, positive psychology and practicing self care. As always, if you or anyone you know is experiencing a crisis, there is h...