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...
Jun 24, 2025•1 hr 36 min•Ep. 85
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...
May 21, 2025•2 hr 16 min•Ep. 84
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 Pe...
Apr 30, 2025•1 hr 37 min•Ep. 83
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,...
Mar 25, 2025•1 hr 39 min•Ep. 82
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 ...
Feb 26, 2025•1 hr 42 min•Ep. 81
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 vet...
Jan 22, 2025•1 hr 46 min•Ep. 80
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 empower...
Dec 11, 2024•1 hr 39 min•Ep. 79
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 ...
Nov 11, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 78
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 ...
Aug 05, 2024•1 hr 46 min•Ep. 77
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...
Jun 10, 2024•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 76
Can Vet Heroes Get To Net Zeros? Sustainable Futures, with Dr. Jeremy Watson About the Guest Dr. 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 e...
Apr 03, 2024•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 75
On today's show, 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 th...
Mar 06, 2024•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 74
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...
Jul 26, 2023•1 hr 32 min•Ep. 73
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...
Jun 13, 2023•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 72
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...
Mar 22, 2023•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 71
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 charitabl...
Feb 02, 2023•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 70
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 in...
Jan 05, 2023•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 69
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 t...
Dec 09, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 68
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 numb...
Oct 26, 2022•1 hr 32 min•Ep. 67
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 mentorin...
Sep 01, 2022•1 hr 32 min•Ep. 66
In today's show, we visit rural Michigan and find ourselves on a horse farm… Home to none other than veterinary pain management guru Dr. Mike Petty. Mike is a graduate of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University. He has been the owner of Arbor Pointe Veterinary Hospital since 1985. And it was here that he dedicated himself to becoming a pet pain management specialist, developing his practice to include the Animal Pain Center, a hugely popular service drawing pet owners fro...
Jul 28, 2022•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 65
On today’s show I am joined by uber-technician and Anesthesia Nerds founder Tasha McNerney. Tasha is a certified veterinary technician and pain practitioner specialising in anaesthesia as well as having the distinguished diploma in utterly nerdy vet tattoos! Her veterinary journey bagan back in 1997 when she first started working in practice and has seen her rise to become one of the most inspiring advocates for animals in our profession. Tasha graduated from Michigan State University in 2003 wi...
Jul 01, 2022•1 hr 31 min•Ep. 64
In today’s episode of Blunt Dissection, we’re joined by the real-life Forrest Gump, Rob Pope. Rob is best known for being the first person to complete the famous Forrest Gump run: 15,621 miles, five times across the United States. Rob is a graduate of the London Royal Veterinary College, an ER vet, winner of the Liverpool marathon, a qualifier for the Australian Olympic marathon team, ultra-athlete, and the first man to complete the Forrest Gump Run across America. Averaging nearly 40 miles each...
May 26, 2022•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 63
Now after a short intermission, on today’s show, we’re back. And I’m joined by Canadian veterinarian, comedian, author, and cancer survivor Dr. Sarah Boston. Sarah graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada in 1996. She completed a rotating internship at the University of Guelph the following year. She then returned to Western Canada for three years of general practice before going to the University of Guelph for a residency in small animal surge...
Apr 27, 2022•1 hr 38 min•Ep. 62
On today’s show, I’m joined by vet, author, social media personality and potentially the biggest Doxie & Disney cheerleader in the world, Dr. Adam Christman. Adam gained his Bachelors in Animal science from Rutger University in 2000 before going on to study veterinary medicine at Iowa State where he graduated in 2004. He is also a rare breed vet holding an M.B.A from Aspen University. Adam’s career kicked off at lightning pace, initially working in his hometown practice where he ended up the...
Feb 25, 2022•1 hr 22 min
My first Blunt Dissection episode of the year kicks off with veterinarian, podcaster, international speaker, author, media personality, founder of the Uncharted Veterinary Conference, and of course good friend, Dr. Andy Roark. Dr. Andy graduated as a veterinarian from the University of Florida in 2008 and since then has been changing the pathway of veterinary medicine through his many outlets and talents. Over the past 10 years, Andy has poured himself into life as a veterinarian, as well as bei...
Jan 27, 2022•1 hr 15 min
If 2020 was the year that got away, 2021 was the year where we bounced back. It too came with huge uncertainty and challenges and life in practice was played out against a depressing narrative of burnout and talent loss. With uncertainty still rife, and vet med at what feels like a dangerous tipping point, what can, indeed, what must we do to move forward? One of the answers I suspect is already in play - hiding in plain sight. Resilience, that of talked about but seemingly elusive quality is bo...
Dec 23, 2021•1 hr
On today’s show, I’m joined by Dr. Jade Statt, cofounder of Street Vet a charity caring for the pets of homeless people. Jade graduated from Glasgow University Vet School with honors in 2002 and initially worked as an assistant in a small animal practice where her innate desire to help others spurred her on to compile and write The Pocket Book of Small Animal Tips For Vets. A book she donated to raise funds for vet mental health and wellbeing charity, Vetlife. Her own struggles with depression l...
Nov 25, 2021•1 hr 22 min
On today’s show it is my pleasure to be joined by one of the most influential and innovative people in steering global veterinary education, Professor Liz Mossop. Liz graduated from the Edinburgh Vet School in 2000, and following several years in mixed practice jumped, and I do mean jumped, headlong into academia, taking up a new post as lecturer in Clinical Veterinary Education at the University of Nottingham in 2006, the same day as her students arrived! She was part of the team that created a...
Oct 27, 2021•1 hr 31 min
On today’s show, I’m joined by Dr Mandisa Greene, the first black president of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, here in the UK. Raised in Trinidad, Mandisa grew up surrounded by animals and aspired to become a vet from an early age. However, her path into veterinary medicine wasn’t easy. Mandisa faced rejections from all her university applications on her first attempt. But luckily for us, she didn’t let rejection get in her way and, after first completing a degree in Biological and Med...
Oct 07, 2021•1 hr 25 min
