The Uncharted Veterinary Podcast is for veterinary professionals who want to ace the tough parts of practice that happen daily but don't get discussed. We'll cover topics like how to manage workplace conflict, take exceptional care of pets and people, convince pet owners to follow your advice, have difficult money conversations, survive toxic co-workers and much more. If you want to up your communication, efficiency, management, or marketing skills so you can get more success and enjoyment f ...
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In this horse-centred podcast now in it’s eighth season, author, facilitator, horse and human manual therapist, animal communicator, and horse lover Alexa Linton explores uncharted territory and newly discovered edges of the horse-human partnership with equine professionals. Together, we'll be shedding light on all the different ways of relating to and being with horses, learning how to cultivate optimal health for horses and their riders, uncovering the many facets of horse training, and sh ...
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341 - Scaling Your Practice Without Sacrificing Culture
14:43
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14:43In this episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Dr. Andy Roark sits down with Roy Jain, Chief Operating Officer of Blue River Pet Care, to explore how veterinary practice operations can be scaled across 210 hospitals without losing what makes each clinic special. If you're a veterinary practice owner who's ever thought about selling your clini…
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In this episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Dr. Andy Roark and Maria Pirita unpack a tricky, heartfelt mailbag letter from a practice manager stuck between supporting her aspiring technicians and honoring the clinic’s limitations. The episode offers practical leadership strategies to communicate a “no” with empathy, inspire continued growt…
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WH136 | Contact nutrition for the horse-human relationship with Carmen Spagnola
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50:50As we continue this season's mentorship series, this conversation with one of my current mentors was as potent as I had imagined. Carmen Spagnola has been a support, guide, teacher and esteemed colleague for over 12 years, and I have benefitted greatly from her depth of presence, attunement, clarity and nuance. She has spent time with my mares Diva…
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What do you do when your veterinary technician schedule falls apart only weeks into opening your dream clinic? In this episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Dr. Andy Roark and Stephanie Goss dive into a real mailbag question from a new practice owner facing an all-too-relatable scenario: a small team, a clear plan, and suddenly—schedule dram…
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Veterinary leaders often find themselves stuck in a frustrating loop: despite good staffing, experienced employees, and decent workflows, the team simply isn’t moving. Everything feels like it requires a push—someone to give orders, manage every detail, and constantly follow up. The root concern? A lack of training initiative. In this episode of Th…
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337 - Spectrum of Care and Mentorship in Vet Med
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9:41In this crossover episode of the Cone of Shame Veterinary Podcast and Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Dr. Andy Roark sits down with Dr. Kate Boatright to unpack the confidence crisis many new veterinarians face—and how a spectrum of care mindset can shift the game entirely. With Dr. Boatright speaking at the upcoming Uncharted Medical Director Summit…
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WH135 | What flowers have taught me about horses and healing with Sabina Pettitt of Pacific Essences
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1:00:00Welcome to the first of my mentorship series. where I have conversations with some of my most important mentors, allowing you to access some of the goodness and wisdom that I was so supported by on my journey. The first in this series is my teacher and friend Sabina Pettitt, who is the founder of Pacific Essences, a company here on the west coast o…
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Coaching through insecurity is one of the most challenging aspects of veterinary leadership. When a team member struggles with confidence, frustration, or toxic workplace baggage, it can feel impossible to guide them toward growth without creating conflict. In this episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Dr. Andy Roark and Stephanie Goss answe…
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335 - Giving In to the High Maintenance Client
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19:00Some clients require extra attention, but where do you draw the line? In this episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Dr. Andy Roark and Stephanie Goss dive into a real-life dilemma from a veterinarian facing pushback for prioritizing a demanding client. Should veterinarians go the extra mile for clients they’ve built strong relationships with…
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Veterinary professionals strive to provide the highest quality care for their patients, but maintaining that standard can be challenging, especially in the face of financial concerns, evolving client expectations, and team-wide habits. When medical quality starts to slip, it often isn’t due to negligence or bad intentions. Instead, it’s a gradual s…
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333 - People Over Profits? Let’s Talk Metrics
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26:31When it comes to veterinary leadership, it’s easy to get lost in the numbers—production, revenue, and efficiency metrics often take center stage. But are we truly measuring what matters? In this episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Stephanie Goss is joined by Dr. Phil Richmond to discuss a different approach: prioritizing people metrics alo…
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332 - Seeing Strengths Not Just Weaknesses
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20:23
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20:23Ever feel like your veterinary team is stuck in a cycle of nitpicking negativity? You’re not alone. In this episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Dr. Andy Roark and Stephanie Goss dive into a listener's dilemma: how to help a team that only sees each other’s weaknesses rather than strengths. The truth is, this pattern isn’t just a veterinary…
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WH134 | A whole horse perspective on veterinary care with Dr. Tomas Teskey
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1:01:19This conversation with Dr. Tomas Teskey blew my mind in the best possible way, as he shared about what veterinary care looks like for him (and truly, what I would love to see much more of) - as he puts it, examining every square inch of a horse and what's impacting their health, including hooves, teeth, environment, feed, supplements and more. Toma…
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An associate DVM has the chance to buy 40% of their practice, but with a husband-and-wife ownership team, leadership struggles, and a toxic team dynamic, is it the right move? In this episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Dr. Andy Roark and Stephanie Goss break down the risks and rewards of minority ownership in a veterinary practice—from de…
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330 - Can You Sell Your Practice and Keep Your Legacy?
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35:56Selling a veterinary practice is a huge decision—one that comes with financial, emotional, and cultural implications. For many veterinarians, their practice is more than just a business; it’s a legacy they’ve built over decades. But can you sell your practice while ensuring your team, clients, and values remain intact? In this episode of the Unchar…
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Workplace bullying is an all-too-common issue in veterinary medicine. Whether it's a toxic team member or an unsupportive leadership structure, dealing with a workplace bully can feel overwhelming. In a recent episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Dr. Andy Roark and Stephanie Goss tackled a mailbag question from a practice manager struggling…
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328 - Team Doesn't Like That It's a Business
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35:12In this episode of The Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, hosts Dr. Andy Roark and Stephanie Goss dive into a common challenge faced by veterinary leaders: handling team concerns when business decisions feel like they prioritize money over patient care. Whether you’re in a corporate-owned or private practice, navigating the balance between financial sus…
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327 - How I Cut 8 Minutes Off Every Visit
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29:54
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29:54Dr. Kerri Anderson, owner of Fillmore Animal Hospital in California, joins Dr. Andy Roark on the Uncharted Podcast to share how AI scribes revolutionized her practice. By implementing ScribbleVet, Dr. Anderson reduced appointment times from 30 to 22 minutes, maintained productivity after losing a veterinarian, and now consistently leaves on time wi…
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Failure is often feared, especially in high-stakes environments like veterinary medicine. But what if embracing failure could be the key to developing stronger leaders? In this episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Stephanie Goss sits down with Dr. Megan Gilhooly, Vice President of Veterinary Affairs at Banfield Pet Hospital, to explore why …
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WH133 | Sacred contracts with horses and how to recognize them with Brittany Ashworth
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1:07:07Season 8 of the Whole Horse podcast is here! To start us off right, I chatted with my friend and colleague Brittany Ashworth of Sacred Echos and we headed right into some wild and wonderful territory. Rewinding back almost 12 years, Brittany shared about how she met her horse Duke, after never being a horse person, and how his presence and his stor…
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325 - Appreciation Programs Not Appreciated
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34:00Struggling with team recognition? In this episode of the Uncharted Podcast, Dr. Andy Roark and Stephanie Goss tackle a complex yet common challenge in veterinary practice management: how to implement appreciation programs that resonate with everyone. Inspired by a mailbag letter from a practice leader, they dive into why appreciation programs can s…
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324 - Practice Owner Scoffs At Wage Increases
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30:57
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30:57In veterinary practices, wage conversations are often challenging but crucial to retaining staff and maintaining a healthy work environment. In this episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Dr. Andy Roark and Stephanie Goss tackle a practice manager’s question about advocating for wage increases in a privately owned multi-doctor practice. Their…
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Veterinary teams thrive on collaboration, creativity, and problem-solving. But what happens when enthusiasm for a team project meets unexpected concerns? In this episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Maria Pirita and Dr. Andy Roark dive into a real-life scenario where a veterinary team’s excitement about a fundraising event is challenged by …
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This week on the Uncharted Podcast, Stephanie Goss is joined by the incredible Nicole Clausen—spreadsheet enthusiast, inventory guru, and all-around amazing human! We’re tackling a mailbag question about one of the most challenging aspects of veterinary practice management: inventory. Nicole shares her expert tips on organizing chaos, budgeting eff…
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Ever wonder what the best way to kick off the New Year at your veterinary clinic? Stephanie Goss and Dr. Andy Roark start off 2025 with an inspiring New Year’s Day episode of the Uncharted Podcast. Together, they share actionable advice for veterinary leaders to start the year with intention and focus. Whether it’s recentering on purpose and relati…
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Dr. Andy Roark, Stephanie Goss and Maria Pirita share nuggets of wisdom as gifts for this veterinary season. In this episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, our hosts kick off the holiday season with some personal stories and lessons in hopes of helping aspiring leaders grow. Tune in to hear how these helpful management pearls can help your ve…
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319 - Checking In Without Getting Sucked In
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1:02:20
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1:02:20Is it possible to balance veterinary medicine and a life outside of work? In this episode of the Uncharted Podcast, Dr. Stephanie Goss and Dr. Lauren Jones discuss the all-too-common problem of the "nice vet" syndrome - the struggle of wanting to help everyone (clients, team members, and patients) while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Dr. …
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318 - How Did You Get From Tech to Manager?
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1:01:42
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1:01:42We've got a new office manager who's wondering, what education do I need now that I'm here? Veterinary medicine is a field of lifelong learning, and career paths can zig and zag in unexpected ways. In this episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Stephanie Goss is joined by the dynamic Alyssa Mages, CVT, to discuss the many paths to leadership …
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317 - What Do We Do When We Are TOO Slow?
46:51
46:51
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46:51How do you get your team excited for the mundane, downtime tasks? In this episode of the Uncharted Podcast, Dr. Andy Roark and Stephanie Goss tackle a question from a veterinary practice experiencing a slowdown in appointments. Together they discuss the challenges of managing a veterinary team when business is slow, including maintaining team moral…
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WH132 | Understanding equine postural mechanisms with Dr. Karen Gellman
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1:02:03In this episode, marking the end of season seven of the podcast, I spoke with Dr. Karen Gellman. What an incredible journey she has been on, culminating in her dedicating her life and veterinary practice to the study of equine health as it relates specifically to postural mechanisms, as well as sharing this body of knowledge with others. During our…
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316 - Is the Chaos of Practice Ownership Just Part of the Job?
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34:07
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34:07Do you feel overwhelmed by the challenges of running a successful veterinary practice? You're not alone. In this episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Dr. Andy Roark talks with Rhys Giannarelli, a dedicated practice owner who runs two thriving veterinary clinics. Rhys shares his inspiring story of overcoming common obstacles like operational…
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Uh-oh, that new hire that seemed like a dream on paper turned out to be a bit of a nightmare in person! This week on the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Dr. Andy Roark and Stephanie Goss dive deep into a relatable leadership challenge: what to do when a new team member isn't working out. They explore the importance of setting clear expectations, invo…
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314 - Is Selling To Corporate My Only Option
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56:20
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56:20In this episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Stephanie Goss and guest Bret Halishak discuss the challenges solo veterinary practice owners face when considering their exit strategy, and how to position their practice for future success. Bret provides valuable insights on maximizing practice value, operational efficiency, and the importance …
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313 - When Asking 'Do You Want To Go Home ' Hurts More Than It Helps
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43:44
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43:44When the clinic schedule looks light, should the practice owner send techs home to save costs—even if it means stretching the remaining team thin? In this episode of The Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Dr. Andy Roark and Stephanie Goss dive into a manager’s dilemma: balancing payroll concerns with patient care and staff morale. They share actionable …
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312 - My Practice Owner Spends Too Much Money
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50:15Ever felt caught in the middle when it comes to practice finances? A practice manager wrote in, sharing their frustration with an owner who regularly draws large amounts of money from the business—leaving the practice struggling to cover bills and payroll. In this episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Practice Management Super Nerd, Stephani…
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WH131 | Shifting how we think about breathing with Holly Barnett
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1:01:14In this episode with Holly Barnett, I learned all about the new style of breathwork she created called InteroBreath, which is a way of working with the breath that focusses on our sixth sense, interoception. Holly walks us through the definition of this breathing practice, including what interoception is, how she developed it, why it's so powerful …
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311 - Do I Want To Know Why They Are Calling Out
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47:15
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47:15A practice manager struggles with managing a PTO policy that leads to team members overusing their time off early in the year. In this episode of the Uncharted Podcast, Dr. Andy Roark and practice management super nerd, Stephanie Goss help a practice manager having a hard time balancing their team's use of paid time off (PTO). The manager explains …
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310 - Getting Team Buy - In To Change (A Pet HealthZone® Case Study)
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32:26
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32:26Change can be scary to vet teams and getting their buy-in takes great skill. In this episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Dr. Andy Roark is joined by Dr. Jules Benson to discuss strategies for change management in veterinary practices. Dr. Benson brings over a decade of executive experience in the pet health insurance industry and a rich ba…
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Should veterinary medicine introduce a mid-level practitioner role? With the landscape of veterinary care changing, there's a proposal in Colorado to create a Veterinary Professional Associate (VPA) role, sitting between licensed technicians and veterinarians. In this episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Dr. Andy Roark and Stephanie Goss di…
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A medical director is having trouble navigating the balance between supporting paraprofessional staff in tech school and ensuring they have the necessary technical skills for their role. In this episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Stephanie and Dr. Andy Roark discuss a specific scenario where a veterinary assistant, allowed to study on the…
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WH130 | Horses as muses, teachers, and guides with artist Kim McElroy
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1:02:28
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1:02:28As we wrap up season 7, I was honoured to sit down for a conversation with the artist Kim McElroy. As you'll hear in this episode, I met Kim in 2007 through a series of synchronistic events, and was struck by her presence even then. I then had the opportunity to be inspired by her art as I regularly pulled cards from the Way of the Horse, her colla…
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307 - Training On 'Emotional Intelligence' Is The WRONG Way To Fix Your Client Service Problem
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56:40A Practice Manager is struggling with younger team members' reactions to client disagreements. The leader is frustrated with the team’s hypersensitivity to client interactions, particularly around money and customer service, which is resulting in feedback that the practice feels cold and transactional. In this episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Po…
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306 - I Hate That The Team Bashes Clients!
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46:24
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46:24In this episode, Dr. Andy Roark and Stephanie Goss tackle a mailbag question from a technician struggling with negativity in their clinic, where team members have started complaining about clients after a recent workflow change. The hosts discuss how small behaviors like eye-rolling and client bashing can create a toxic work environment if left unc…
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WH129 | Unmasking sensitivity to be better (horse) people with Lori Halliday
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59:06This conversation with the wise and wonderful Lori Halliday certainly touched into some tender places! Lori offered her perspective on the fall from grace of a notable rider this past summer, which led us into a powerful discussion on the personal responsibility we all hold to be accountable for our history and allow it to inform our present-day ac…
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305 - Frustrated With Taking Breaks.. And Not Taking Breaks
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48:14
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48:14A practice manager is frustrated by team members delaying lunches and taking disruptive trips to the breakroom, which leaves the afternoon understaffed and creates tension among the senior team. In this episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Dr. Andy Roark and Andi Davison tackle a challenging mailbag question: how to manage staff taking brea…
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A manager with fantastic team leads—dedicated, hardworking, and aligned with the clinic’s mission—struggles to help these leads transition from being top team members to effective leaders who can manage and hold their peers accountable. In this episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Andy and Stephanie break down the challenges of shifting fro…
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How do you manage staff anxiety about the upcoming schedule without turning away clients and compromising care? In this episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Dr. Andy Roark and practice management super star, Stephanie Goss dive into a mailbag question that resonates deeply with many veterinary teams. A concerned manager writes in about thei…
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WH128 | Becoming nervous system navigators with Wired 4 Connection author Lucie Klaassen
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1:01:55Today on the podcast, I had Lucie Klaassen back on for the first time since Season 1 (!) and we had a chance to catch up on all the ways her work has evolved since that first conversation. Lucie’s new book, Wired 4 Connection: Transform your Horse Training with the Polyvagal Principles, just came out over the weekend, and I was excited to ask her a…
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302 - Outdated Or Just Respectful Navigating Job - Hopping And Text Resignations
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52:27
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52:27Are traditional expectations around resignations and job stability becoming outdated? A practice owner shares their concerns about the increasing trend of employees resigning via email or text and the prevalence of job-hopping on resumes. How can we navigate these changing norms without feeling out of touch? In this episode, Maria and Andy explore …
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This practice owner is seeking guidance on how to help their team become more empathetic and flexible with clients who may not immediately agree with recommendations. In this episode, Stephanie Goss and Dr. Andy Roark tackle a common challenge faced by veterinary practice teams: how to improve emotional intelligence and client compassion when deali…
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