September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and in this episode, we’re honored to welcome Gigi Tsontos, Executive Director of NOMV (Not One More Vet). NOMV is a nonprofit dedicated to improving mental health and overall well-being within the veterinary profession—creating resources and community support to help veterinary professionals not just survive, but truly thrive.

The organization was born out of tragedy following the 2014 loss of Dr. Sophia Yin to suicide. What began as a forum for open discussion has grown into a thriving network of more than 40,000 members as of 2025.

NOMV’s impact includes:

• Education: Raising awareness and providing access to mental health resources, including the CLEAR Blueprint.
• Resources: Offering grants for individuals and clinics in crisis.
• Peer Support: Hosting forums and programs such as Lifeboat and Veterinary Mental Health Support.

NOMV’s website is an easy-to-navigate hub for these tools and more. You can support their mission through donations, volunteering, or even by simply spreading their message on social media.

If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or a crisis, dial 988 in the U.S. or Canada for immediate support.

What’s Inside:

• The mission behind Not One More Vet.
• Creating a space for well-being in the vet med industry.
• How you can help NOMV.
• Suicide Hotline: 988

Mentioned In This Episode:

NOMV
Full Circle Lab
Crystal Stokes on LinkedIn

Returning guest Natalie Fayman joins us to share her journey from burnout to resilience through the Positive Intelligence (PQ) program. Initially skeptical, Natalie discovered the program’s strong scientific backing—studies show that after just seven weeks of training, 83–97% of participants report reduced stress, increased happiness, and improved self-confidence.

PQ works at the root level of brain function, shifting the balance of power from our inner Saboteurs—the voices of self-doubt and negativity—to our inner Sage, our positive, resilient self. For Natalie, that means going from needing days to recover after an emotionally draining ER shift to bouncing back in just 30 minutes.

This isn’t therapy, though it pairs well with it. It’s about building mental fitness, being more mindful of your emotions, and improving how you show up for yourself and others. Whether you work through PQ on your own or join a cohort for added accountability and insight, the tools are transformative.

Listen in to learn how you can build resilience, reclaim your passion, and thrive in veterinary medicine.

What’s Inside:

• What is Positive Intelligence (PQ)?
• The science behind the program.
• A tool for reducing emotional recovery time
• A variety of options: Completing the Positive Intelligence Program for individuals or in a group setting.

Mentioned In This Episode:
Find out more about the PQ for RACE-CE credit course
Schedule a free consultation with Natalie Fayman
Take the Saboteur assessment from Positive Intelligence
Full Circle Lab
Crystal Stokes on LinkedIn

Katrina Busselle is a get-it-done kind of woman who knows that conflict isn’t always a bad thing. It’s often necessary to make real progress, especially at work. In this episode, Katrina shares key concepts of mediation and how her Master of Arts in Conflict Resolution helps her navigate tough conversations.

We talk about the natural flow of mediation. You don’t jump to a solution. You move through the process, climbing the mountain of conflict and coming down the other side with resolution. Katrina explains how mediators guide this journey without influencing the outcome.

She shares the tools that matter most: deep listening, restating, and reframing. The goal is to uncover shared understanding and shape a written agreement that can move forward outside the session.

We also explore how to know if mediation is right for a situation, how to set the container for safe dialogue, and what the metaphorical mountain climb looks like in action. We work through real-world examples and even do a little role play in the vet med industry.

Enjoy this conversation on the real, practical benefits of mediation at work and beyond.

What’s Inside:

• How mediation can transform conflict resolution.
• Creating a container and safe space to work through the conflict mountain.
• Role play conversations diving deep into mediation in the vet med space.

Mentioned In This Episode:

• Amazon.com: A Million Reasons Why You Can't: And Choosing to Do It Anyway eBook
• Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In
• Gawande, Atul. Complications: A Surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science. Metropolitan Books (Picador), 2002.
• Levinson, Roter, Mullooly, Dull, and Frankel (1997). Title: "Physician-patient communication: The relationship with malpractice claims among primary care physicians and surgeons."
  Journal: JAMA, 277(7), 553–559.
  DOI: 10.1001/jama.1997.03540310051034
• Full Circle Lab
• Crystal Stokes on LinkedIn