Most veterinary professionals lead very busy lives, making it hard to find time for self-reflection. Self-help and career guidance podcasts are a great way to foster personal growth while you commute, run errands, exercise or (hopefully) enjoy some down time. Here is a brief list of podcasts that offer a chance to reflect as you navigate the demands of your day.
Veterinary Podcasts
My Veterinary Life is an interview-based podcast produced by the American Veterinary Medical Association. Hosts and veterinarians Dr. Anna Reddish and Dr. Marci Kirk speak with veterinary professionals from a wide range of backgrounds in their specific areas of interest or expertise. Each episode begins with the guest sharing their personal journey in veterinary medicine, allowing the listener to feel personally connected to the speaker. Guests share their unique perspectives, experiences and knowledge, all of which broaden the listener’s understanding of what is possible in the field of veterinary medicine. You may even find yourself discovering a career path you never thought of!
*I found the “Focus on Diversity and Belonging” series particularly enlightening and personally valuable. www.avma.org/news/podcasts
The Veterinary Life Coach Podcast is hosted by Dr. Julie Cappel, a veterinarian and certified life coach. Dr. Cappel works with the Michigan Veterinary Medical Association’s Power of Ten Leadership Academy and offers life-coaching courses on her website. Her podcast provides thoughtful advice in a relatable and approachable way. She addresses a range of subjects from sensitive, highly-personal experiences such as infertility and seasonal depression to workplace skills including conflict resolution and client communication. There is likely to be at least one episode that really resonates with you.
*The “Humble and Fierce” episode helped me think about leadership in a new way. theveterinarylifecoach.libsyn.com
The Joyful DVM is a life-coaching podcast hosted by veterinarian and certified life coach Dr. Cari Wise. Dr. Wise is also an instructor for Vet Life Academy: Vet Life Reboot, which offers a 10-hour RACE approved CE course designed to help veterinary professionals manage stress, develop personal and professional goals and boundaries, and maintain a healthy work-life balance. Her podcast similarly seeks to lead individuals working in veterinary medicine toward greater fulfillment in their careers and lives. She tackles the big issues of the veterinary world head-on: toxicity, burnout, self-sabotage and anger, to name a few. Her honest approach leads to practical and accessible solutions to the problems we face inside and outside of work.
“The Veterinary Care Cycle” episode gave me groundbreaking insight into how letting go of what I can’t control can have a positive impact on my attitude. podcast.joyfuldvm.com
The Whole Veterinarian Podcast, hosted by Dr. Stacey Cordivano, features outside-of-the-box thinkers that share new ideas on ways to increase the joy in the lives of veterinarians. From mindfulness to parenting to fitness and personal finance, The Whole Veterinarian starts a dialogue about how veterinarians can grow as people, not just as professionals. Dr. Cordivano also shares articles, books, podcast episodes and other learning resources that she believes have the potential to increase a veterinarian’s overall wellbeing. There are so many aspects of personal and financial development that can lead veterinarians to live a happier, more fulfilled life, and there are also so many people out there working to help veterinarians through creative and unique businesses and products, and Dr. Cordivano aims to highlight those working toward a better VetMed future for all of us.
In the episode “Improving Veterinary Team Culture by Focusing on Psychological Safety,” guest Dr. Olivia Oginska enlightened me on not only the definition of psychological safety, but the key role it plays in team communication and positive patient outcomes. thewholeveterinarian.com/podcast/
How to Be a Better Human is a TED podcast hosted by comedian Christ Duffy. Guests are frequently TED speakers and cover a variety of self-improvement subjects. The tone of the podcast is conversational and uplifting. The broad scope of material gives the listener an opportunity to take a well-rounded approach to personal growth. The podcast also expands outside of the self into the impact we have on the environment and our communities. Whether you want tips on how to get a better night’s sleep or guidance on using social media, this podcast has you covered.
The episode “How to Nurture Your ‘Emotional Agility’ with Susan David Ph.D.” helped me take steps toward removing self-judgement from my emotions. www.ted.com/podcasts/how-to-be-a-better-human
Routines and Ruts is hosted by freelance writer Madeline Dore as a part of her Extraordinary Routines project. In this podcast, she interviews people about routines that can hinder us from realizing our full potential. Routines and Ruts offers fresh perspectives on behaviors that are all too easy to fall into. It can help reframe the listener’s thinking as the speakers break through culturally-normative narratives and encourage diverse perspectives. There are also mini-episodes called “Rest and Recreation,” which feature the host’s reflections on personal time and relaxation and, in her own words, “celebrate how we replenish.” This podcast’s strength is its ability to offer a new way to look at ourselves and the world around us.
My personal favorite episodes include “Tyson Yunkaporta on How Creativity Is Inseparable from Life” and “Indecision and the Fear of Better Options.” extraordinaryroutines.com/podcast
Nothing Much Happens: Bedtime Stories to Help You Sleep Sometimes what you need is just a way to stop overthinking. One of the best podcasts for this is Nothing Much Happens. In this podcast, Kathryn Nicolai (who has a very soothing voice) reads short stories with no plot where, well, nothing much happens. She tells the story twice, lulling the listener into relaxation with beautiful imagery and repetition. This podcast reminds us that it isn’t just children who like to be told a story before bed. Allow yourself to feel comforted and cared for as you drift to sleep on the wings of these lovely little vignettes. www.nothingmuchhappens.com
