Blunt Dissection: The Best Minds In Veterinary Medicine, Academia & Business Profiled So You Can Learn From Their Experience.

Debra’s story is wild. She’s worked in the courts. She’s bred Irish Setters. She’s been the PTA president (which, as she says, is like running the UN with biscuits). But what makes her special is her ability to meet people in the thick of their mess, whether it's a lawsuit over a pregnant rescue dog or a front-desk blowup, and find the gold.In this episode, I sit down with Debra Vey Voda-Hamilton, a former litigator turned mediator turned conflict resolution master. And trust me, if you’ve ever had a client, colleague, or complaint that made you question your career, this conversation is for you.We talk about ego, emotional intelligence, and why boundary-setting isn't just about saying “no.” We unpack the tiny shifts in language that can turn an explosive moment into something manageable. And we dig into a story from my early days that still sits with me, a story about a cat, a fractured jaw, and a moral gut-punch I’ll never forget.This episode is practical, honest, and (if you’re brave enough to look in the

In this episode, I’m joined by the remarkable Mike Porteous, a triathlon coach, open-water swimmer, and deep thinker whose approach to performance, confidence, and coaching is anything but ordinary.Mike is a Level 3 Triathlon Coach, British Triathlon mentor, and the founder of Zig Zag Alive. His career spans decades, starting in academia and the UK civil service before pivoting into endurance sport coaching. He’s worked with athletes of all levels, from first-timers to elite competitors, and is passionate about fostering “confidence-centered coaching,” a method rooted not in data or drills, but in presence, ease, and self-trust. He’s also coaching me through my triathlon journey and many of his ideas and methods could, I believe, be highly useful to us inside veterinary medicine as we navigate our own challenges.We dive into Mike’s journey from working in Brazilian economics and UK industrial policy to launching an outdoor sports business, and eventually finding his home in helping others find their flow. A S

In this episode, I’m joined by a truly impactful voice in veterinary medicine—Dr. Bob Lester. If you’ve ever wondered how to build something big without losing the soul of the work… Bob’s your guy.A veterinarian, entrepreneur, and systems thinker, Bob’s career spans small-town mixed animal practice, the founding of Banfield Pet Hospitals, academic leadership at Lincoln Memorial University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, and now, his role as co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of WellHaven Pet Health—a company that’s quietly redefining what good corporate veterinary care can look like.From scaling national brands and reimagining vet school education to leading with optimism, Bob brings a rare blend of clarity, compassion, and straight-talking wisdom. In this wide-ranging conversation, we go deep on what it really takes to lead—without burning out, selling out, or tuning out.We talk about the messy middle between toxic positivity and chronic catastrophizing, how to build trust inside veterinary teams, and wh

In this episode, I’m joined by an absolute powerhouse of a human being—Dr. Paula Yankauskas. A veterinarian, practice owner, and open-water swimming legend, Paula’s story is one of resilience, passion, and pushing the limits of what’s possible.A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Paula has spent decades building and leading Lamoille Valley Veterinary Services, a thriving seven-doctor practice in rural Vermont. But as impressive as her veterinary career is, it’s her other life in the water that truly sets her apart.Paula is one of a select few athletes to have completed the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming—a gruelling trifecta of the English Channel, the Catalina Channel, and the 20 Bridges Swim around Manhattan. Not stopping there, she went on to achieve the Frosted Triple Crown, which adds the mind-boggling challenge of an Ice Mile—swimming a full mile in water below 5°C (41°F).From the discipline and endurance required to swim across the world’s toughest waters to t

In this episode, I’m joined by none other than Dr. Evan Antin—the globetrotting vet with a knack for treating everything from household pets to some of the most exotic creatures on the planet. Known to millions as "America's Sexiest Veterinarian," Evan has carved out a unique career that blends adventure, veterinary medicine, and a passion for conservation.From his Kansas roots to wrestling crocodiles and saving rhinos, Evan’s journey is as wild as the animals he cares for. As a practicing vet at Conejo Valley Veterinary Hospital in California, he balances his work with pets while traveling to far-flung corners of the globe, providing medical aid to animals in dire need. But it’s not all glamour—Evan dives deep into the challenges of being an exotic animal vet and the ethical questions conservationists face daily.With his signature charm and relentless energy, Evan talks about his passion for educating millions through social media and TV, how he’s using his platform to advocate for responsible pet ownership,

Today’s guest is a remarkable individual whose career spans decades, continents, and disciplines. Meet Rick LeCouteur—a trailblazer in veterinary neurology and neurosurgery, an educator who has mentored generations of veterinarians, and a passionate advocate for wildlife conservation.Rick’s story begins in rural Australia, where his love for animals was ignited. Over the years, his relentless pursuit of knowledge led him to teach and lecture in more than 70 countries, transforming lives and veterinary practices along the way. From pioneering advancements in veterinary neurology to developing innovative surgical techniques, Rick’s career is a testament to the power of curiosity and resilience.In his “retirement”—a term he redefines as “what’s next?”—Rick has become an acclaimed wildlife photographer, conservationist, and children’s author. His latest book, Nasty Names Are Hurtful: An Australian White Ibis in the City, combines his passions for storytelling, education, and the natural world. Tackling themes of

Today’s guest is nothing short of extraordinary. His story is one of courage, compassion, and an unshakable sense of purpose. Meet Pen Farthing—a former Royal Marine Commando who took an unexpected turn to become an animal welfare champion and founder of the Nowzad Charity.It all started with a stray dog Pen befriended during his time in Afghanistan, a bond that sparked the creation of the country’s first-ever animal rescue center. But this wasn’t just about saving animals—Pen’s mission empowered communities, employing Afghanistan’s first female veterinarians and running crucial rabies vaccination programs that saved both human and animal lives in regions desperate for such intervention.Fast forward to 2021, when the world watched the chaotic withdrawal of coalition forces from Afghanistan and the Taliban’s rapid takeover of Kabul. Amid this turmoil, Pen spearheaded the now-famous Operation Ark. It was a mission fraught with danger and resistance, from navigating the deadly threat of the Taliban to overcoming

On today’s show, I’m thrilled to welcome Dr. Jasmin Paris—a true powerhouse in the worlds of veterinary medicine and ultra-running. Jasmin’s got a serious academic pedigree: Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Veterinary Science, PhD, and membership in the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. Jasmin is a leading expert in small animal medicine, but honestly, it’s her jaw-dropping athletic feats that leave most of us in awe.Jasmin is one of the most accomplished female ultra runners, particularly in Fell Running, on the planet. Just this March, she made history as the first woman ever to complete the brutal Barkley Marathons in Tennessee, a 100-mile monster with a 60-hour cutoff that only 20 people have ever conquered in its 38-year run. And that’s not all—back in 2019, Jasmin won the Montane Spine Race, a 268-mile winter ultramarathon across England’s Pennine Way, breaking the record by over 12 hours, all while expressing breast milk and caring for her 14-month-old daughter. She’s also crushed records in t

On today’s show, I’m joined by veterinarian, multiple practice owner and digital storyteller, Dr. Cody Creelman. Join us as we talk about Dr. Cody’s exciting journey in and out of veterinary practice, culminating in his new practice FenVet, an ultramodern clinic looking to reimagine veterinary care.Dr. Cody began his veterinary career with a focus on large animal practice, where he quickly became a respected figure, known for his dedication and expertise. Amongst being a veterinarian, multiple practice owner, Cody is also a digital storyteller—sharing his story and daily adventures in entertaining and educational ways that have garnered over 20 million views, followed by loyal cohorts of ranchers, veterinary professionals and the public alike.From working a construction job seven days a week to pay for university, to veterinary graduate, to partner, to multiple practice owner — Cody didn’t catch his breath. However, in 2019, a series of unexpected events led him to pivot dramatically, leaving behind his estab

On today’s show, I’m joined by veterinary surgeon turned King of online veterinary education, founder and CEO of The Webinar Vet, musician, environmentalist and Liverpool FC fan, Anthony Chadwick.Anthony Chadwick knew from the age of 8 that he wanted to be a veterinarian. After graduating from his home university in Liverpool, he worked as a small animal veterinarian for over 20 years. After attending a webinar conference in 2010, Anthony saw an opportunity. Looking to make veterinary education easier, more accessible and affordable for vet professionals with very busy lives, Anthony carved out and pioneered the first online space for veterinary education through his founding of The Webinar Vet in 2010. The Webinar Vet has now been online for over 13 years, with over 3,000+ hours of video education and vets and nurses from well over 100 countries having benefited from its broad video encyclopaedia.Anthony’s itch for pioneering and innovation doesn't stop there, as he continues to spread the word for

Can Vet Heroes Get To Net Zeros? Sustainable Futures, with Dr. Jeremy WatsonAbout the GuestDr. Jeremy Watson completed his Bachelor of Veterinary Science with honours at the University of Melbourne in 1986. He established the Brimbank Vet Clinic in 1998, a small animal practice in suburban Melbourne. During 2011, the clinic was rebuilt incorporating the latest environmental design features, facilitating a pathway to make the practice carbon neutral.In 2013, Dr. Watson achieved membership by examination to the Australian & New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in the discipline of small animal surgery.Dr. Watson joined Vets for Climate Action in 2020 to help amplify the role that veterinary teams can play in motivating our community to take urgent action on climate change. Within this organisation, he has been working specifically on the Climate Care Program for Veterinary Practices.LinksBrimbank Veterinary Practice: https://www.brimbankvet.com.au/ Connect on LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/i

Episode DescriptionIn this episode of Blunt Dissection, we peel back the layers of veterinary medicine's current landscape, under the guidance of two of the industry's most influential figures, Dr. Matt Salois and Martin Traub-Werner. Matt, the president of VMG, a leading veterinary group purchasing organization, and former Chief Economist for the AVMA, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in the economic facets of veterinary practice. His insights into financial trends and strategic planning are invaluable to understanding the broader economic environment in which veterinary practices operate. Martin Traub-Werner, the pioneering former CEO of Vet Success and the current CEO and founder of VetBooks, a cloud-based veterinary accounting software, is a titan of data analysis and entrepreneurial innovation in veterinary medicine. His expertise not only lies in harnessing the power of data to drive business success but also in creating tools that empower veterinary practices to navigate their financial land

Tune in to the latest episode of the Blunt Dissection Podcast, where we are honored to have the remarkable Dr. Chloe Buiting, an Australian wildlife veterinarian, conservationist, published author, and consultant for Fauna & Flora International, join us. With an impressive background as an Official Advocate for Kensington Palace's Earthshot Prize and a member of the Science Advisory Committee at Zoos Victoria, the world's first carbon-neutral zoological facility, Dr. Chloe brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to our conversation.Join us as we delve into Dr. Chloe's deep-rooted love for our natural world, cultivated during her childhood on the breathtaking Lord Howe Island. In this episode, she generously shares her early influences, veterinary heroes, and the transformative path that led her to become a dedicated conservation vet. Prepare to be inspired as she opens up about her book, 'The Jungle Doctor,' revealing the motivations, challenges, and profound insights behind its creation. Together, we ex

In this thought-provoking episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with veterinarians Matt Flann and Caroline Collins, the inspiring owners of Pennard Vet Group in the UK. They have challenged the status quo of selling their practice to corporations for large sums and instead forged an ethical path towards a brighter future for pets, their team, and the local community. By creating an employee-owned model and achieving B-Corporation certification, Matt and Caroline have become beacons of change in the veterinary industry.If you're curious about alternatives to selling out to private equity, passionate about leaving a positive impact on the planet, and interested in exploring new ways of engaging and caring for your people, this episode is for you. Matt and Caroline's leadership journey will open your mind to a different perspective on veterinary practice ownership and inspire you to consider the profound impact ethical choices can have on your team and local community.Join us as we delve into the story of Ma

On today’s show, I’m joined by Dr Robert Hilsenroth. Dr. Hilsenroth was born and raised in the Washington, D.C. area and graduated from the University of Georgia in 1971! After a year in practice, he took the bold step of moving to Colorado and opening a small animal practice as a relatively inexperienced vet and businessman. Things clearly worked out, as he owned the practice for the next 19 years.There were highs and lows, including frustration with how the media handled veterinary issues. As such, Dr Hilsenroth was drawn to develop his media skills to better contribute to and improve the quality of reporting on important local and national veterinary issues. This investment paid off, and for a decade, he was employed by the ABC television affiliate KUSA as their “pet health expert,” producing weekly reports on pet and animal issues.  In addition, he hosted radio talk shows and wrote weekly newspaper columns.In 1991, his career changed course quite dramatically and sold his practice and began a 13-year

On today’s show, we have the pleasure of being in the company of Dr Ben Howitt.Ben is the Founder & Managing Director of Pan Animalia Galápagos and is an International Veterinary Manager with Worldwide Veterinary Service. He was brought up in Singapore and studied at the University of Bristol Vet School in the UK. Following graduation, Ben spent three years of mixed clinical practice on the Channel Island of Guernsey before moving to the Galápagos Islands to manage a volunteer and charitable veterinary clinic run by a US charity. He completed this work in 2019, returning to the UK to start his own foundation called Pan Animalia and subsequently teamed up with Worldwide Vet Services as one of their project managers.Pan Animalia’s mission is to conserve endemic wildlife populations in the Galapagos islands by preventing competition, predation, and infectious disease transmission from the domestic animal population. This, in part, means working to educate local communities but also setting up local populatio

On today's episode of Blunt Dissection, we are doing something a little bit different. For the last six years, I have been interviewing people who are doing remarkable things in veterinary medicine. But this year I feel like getting curious about what different models and thinking is out there. Why?  - The reason is pretty simple. We are in what seems like an unsustainable moment where we are haemorrhaging talent of all kinds out of the veterinary profession. This comes at a time when there is increased demand in terms of quantity and availability of service but also in terms of quality of service. We are haemorrhaging talent in the face of increased stress, which starts at university, driven by the soaring costs of education. A stress that previous generations did not have.And yet acting as a counter-balance  we see huge improvements to the quality of life. Working hours per week have never been lower. And we now speak openly, freely and widely about the mental health issues that have con

On today’s show I’m joined by Martin Traub-Werner. Martin is the founder and former CEO of Vet Success, a business helping practice owners improve their decisions by taking objective data, sucked from their practice management software, and turning it into meaningful insight.He holds a BA in Economics and Spanish from York, and a Masters in Industrial and Labour Relations from Cornell. His early career was spent cutting his teeth in the HR department of a global manufacturing organization. He then took a “tour of duty” through the various business departments of both fortune 500 companies and small businesses - gradually learning his craft. Having served a very handy apprenticeship, Martin began his entrepreneurial journey for real setting up a marketing automation business. A complete fluke conversation caused a pivot into data intelligence and Vet Success was born.The business grew to a market leading position in data analytics for practices and in January 2021, was acquired by Vetsource. After a year

On today’s show, I’m joined by David McCormick. David is a veterinary valuation appraiser and transaction specialist, working with veterinarians throughout their ownership journey to help evaluate financial health so owners can make better decisions.  To give that a better outline David, in the same way, that veterinarians look at lab tests and x-rays to diagnose disease in animals, uses financial reporting tools to diagnose and treat unhealthy practices, or helps new owners understand their numbers from the beginning. In short, he’s a veterinary business health wizard who can read the tea leaves of your accounts and accurately predict much about your practice without ever walking in the door. A skill that every practice owner or manager would do very well to master too. His career pathway to veterinary medicine was not direct and frankly is worth an interview on its own merits,  with animal encounters in exciting, remote places and a near miss as a musician featuring highly.  But it was his fa

When I sat down for this episode of Blunt Dissection I thought it would be like any normal interview. Very quickly however I found myself in the Blunt Dissection hot seat! Being interviewed by the returning Dr Peter Weinstein. Peter takes to the mic to ask me some of veterinary medicines' most burning questions and I must say I’m a bit worried he’s trying to take over as the host of Blunt Dissection as a whole!  Peter and I have a fantastic discussion on a range of subjects from avoiding mentoring meltdowns, to the importance of culture, to reimagining the whole veterinary model around new technology. There's a lot to cover in this one so we’ll jump right on in but first a short message from our show sponsor... We all know that imposter syndrome, angry clients, and burnout are real and cause many vets to leave their jobs and careers.  But what you might not know is that there is a place where you can learn and master the essential street skills for how to be a great GP vet upon which you can build a