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Feedback is one of the most common parts of veterinary medicine, and also one of the most emotionally loaded. Whether we’re giving it, receiving it, or even anticipating it, these conversations can land in ways that feel tense, personal, or activating. In stressful practice environments, that response isn’t just psychological, it’s physiological.

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Bethany Weinheimer, emergency veterinarian, executive leader, and Founder of The Evolved Vets, to explore what’s actually happening beneath the surface of feedback conversations. We talk about the neurobiology of feedback and why the nervous system can interpret even well-intended communication as threat, especially in fast-paced, high-acuity settings. Bethany also shares practical, evidence-informed tools to help regulate the nervous system in the moments before difficult conversations begin.

We also dive into how feedback can unintentionally trigger the “Drama Triangle” in workplace dynamics, and how shifting into the more empowered roles of Creator, Challenger, and Coach can change the tone and outcome of these interactions. Finally, we explore the aftermath of feedback conversations, including the “feedback hangover,” and how high achievers can be supported so that critique doesn’t translate into chronic stress or self-judgment.

Watch the Video Version of this Episode
https://youtu.be/YPtCIj3vwzc

Resources
Connect with Dr. Bethany Weinheimer and Evolved Vets on social media @drbeththevet and @evolvedvets
Visit The Evolved Vets website: https://www.evolvedvets.com/

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For more practical pointers and tangible tips related to veterinary mental health and wellbeing, subscribe to our e-newsletter: https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/page/newsletter

Online Resources
To access Reviving Veterinary Medicine’s free resources including handouts, posters, meditations, and quizzes, please visit: https://revivingvetmed.com/resources
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Email: podcast@revivingvetmed.com

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As veterinary professionals, we are conditioned to believe that the next surgery, the next certification, or the next "thank you" from a client will finally make us feel successful. But for many of us, that feeling of "enoughness" never arrives. Instead, we find ourselves stuck in the High Achiever’s Loop—a cycle of perfectionism and overworking that leads straight to burnout.

In this episode, DVM and leadership coach Dr. Jennifer Edwards joins us to deconstruct why our drive for excellence so often turns into a pattern of self-sacrifice. Jennifer draws on 25 years of practice ownership and her expertise in energy work to explain how our early identity patterns shape our current leadership styles. We explore why achievement only provides temporary relief from anxiety, the difference between "fixing" yourself and shifting your patterns, and how to reclaim your clarity and ease without losing your professional edge.

Watch the Video Version of this Episode
https://youtu.be/3xTZVxTpNgU

Resources
Follow Dr. Jennifer Edwards on social media: www.linkedin.com/in/drjenniferedwards, https://www.instagram.com/drjenniferedwards/, https://www.facebook.com/drjenniferedwards/
Visit Dr. Jennifer Edwards’ website: www.drjenniferedwards.com

Thank you to our sponsor Hill’s Pet Nutrition
For more information about Hill's products and nutritional philosophy, please visit HillsPet.com or HillsPet.ca.

Veterinary Leadership Collective
Leadership doesn't have to be lonely. Join Dr. Marie Holowaychuk's facilitated peer coaching community for veterinary practice owners, managers, medical directors, and team leads. Learn more and join the waitlist: revivingvetmed.com/collective.

Newsletter
For more practical pointers and tangible tips related to veterinary mental health and wellbeing, subscribe to our e-newsletter: https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/page/newsletter

Online Resources
To access Reviving Veterinary Medicine’s free resources including handouts, posters, meditations, and quizzes, please visit: https://revivingvetmed.com/resources

Questions, Suggestions, or Sponsorship Opportunities
Email: podcast@revivingvetmed.com

Support the show

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Behavioral euthanasia is one of the most emotionally complex and least supported aspects of veterinary medicine. It sits at the intersection of medical ethics, human safety, and the human-animal bond, often leaving veterinary teams grappling with moral injury. In this episode, we’re joined by Valerie Bogie, an animal trainer and Veterinary Social Worker, to discuss how we can better support both the pet owners and the professionals providing the care.

Drawing from her 20 years of experience and her work as the Director of Human Support Services at Insight Animal Behavior Services, Valerie explores how behavior science and social work principles can protect our mental health. We discuss the "Pain Connection", the fact that up to 80% of behavior cases have an underlying medical cause, and how a thorough workup can provide the "why" that alleviates a team’s moral distress. We also dive into the "Person-in-Environment" framework to help mitigate judgment and burnout, and the practicalities of "Emotional CPR" for teams after a heavy case.

Valerie also shares insights into the "invisible labor" clients perform before reaching a crisis point and how a supportive, non-judgmental response from the veterinary team can shape a professional’s own sense of identity. This conversation offers an essential perspective for anyone in veterinary medicine who wants to navigate behavioral loss with more compassion, less shame, and a stronger commitment to team longevity.

Watch the Video Version of this Episode
https://youtu.be/QfHV6bKjEUM

Resources
Connect with Valerie Bogie on social media: www.instagram.com/valerie_bogie, www.facebook.com/valeriebogievsw, www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-bogie/

Visit Valerie’s website: https://linktr.ee/valeriebogievsw

Valerie’s additional resources: https://revivingvetmed.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Behavioral-euthanasia-resources-for-Reviving-Vet-Med-show-notes.pdf

Thank you to our sponsor Scribenote
See how Scribenote works: https://www.scribenote.com?utm_campaign=RVM&utm_source=rvm-podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=MARK-402

Book a Demo: https://calendly.com/d/4zm-dsr-wfh/scribenote-demo

Start with a Free 14-Day Trial Today: https://app.scribenote.com/auth/register?utm_campaign=RVM&utm_source=rvm-podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=MARK-402

Newsletter
For more practical pointers and tangible tips related to veterinary mental health and wellbeing, subscribe to our e-newsletter: https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/page/newsletter

Online Resources
To access Reviving Veterinary Medicine’s free resources including handouts, posters, meditations, and quizzes, please visit: https://revivingvetmed.com/resources

Questions, Suggestions, or Sponsorship Opportunities
Email: podcast@revivingvetmed.com

Support the show