What does trust really mean in veterinary medicine — and why does it matter so deeply for learning, leadership, wellbeing, and patient care?

In this deep conversation, host Petra Agthe speaks with Stijn Niessen about trust as the foundation of healthy professional relationships and psychologically safe workplaces.

Drawing from decades of experience in clinical practice, leadership and education, Stijn explores how trust is built through shared values, consistency, accountability, and predictability in behaviour. Together, Petra and Stijn discuss how trust allows people to learn, grow, communicate honestly, and show up more fully as themselves within teams and organisations.

The conversation explores:

• Why trust is central to veterinary medicine and client relationships
• The link between trust, psychological safety, and effective learning
• Why threat-based teaching limits creativity, growth, and rational thinking
• The importance of consistent, value-based feedback and accountability
• Generational misconceptions around feedback and resilience
• What trust has to do with veterinary ethics and the veterinary oath
• The importance of safe, empathetic working environments
• The role of trust and values beyond the workplace

The conversation contains mentions of bullying, violence, global events and human suffering, while also emphasising the need for bringing light, meaning, and hope into a turbulent world.

Where to find Stijn:
Website of the Veterinary Information Network: https://www.vin.com/vin/

Virtual Veterinary Interships at VIN: https://www.vin.com/VVI

Stijn's value-based telemedicine platform: https://niessenforcada.com/home

Quality of Life Tool Bank for pets: https://niessenforcada.com/quality-of-life-english

Stijn's book recommendation: Ikigai by Hector Garcia and Francesca Miralles

Other Vet Mind Works podcast episodes related to this topic:

6. Values- with Liv Oginska

21. Petra Ponders

This podcast is in partnership with the Veterinary Information Network (VIN). More about VIN here.

We value your feedback! Please email us your thoughts, ideas and suggestions to vetmindworks@gmail.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook

Want to find out more about our hosts ? Follow on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/petra-agthe-562bb65b

https://www.linkedin.com/in/clive-elwood-b7aba216/

Credits:
Music- Deep Ambience by Coma-Media, Pixabay; Images for Artwork- OpenClipart-Vectors, Pixabay

In this episode, host Petra Agthe is joined by Dan Tipney and Jess Woolrich to explore Nonviolent Communication (NVC) and why communication matters so much for work in veterinary practice (and life in general!). Together, they unpack how the way we speak, listen, and respond directly affects psychological safety, team culture, and quality of care. The conversation also touches on emotional intelligence, self-regulation, and practical tools for communicating across difference. This is a grounded, honest conversation about moving beyond “being nice” toward communication that is both compassionate and effective.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

05:55 What Is Nonviolent Communication?

12:30 How communication styles impact psychological safety and decision-making

20:00 Why self-awareness and emotional regulation are learned skills

27:30 Incivility, threat responses & burnout

35:00 Communication Across Difference

42:30 Practical tools from Nonviolent Communication

50:00 Leadership, modelling & team trust

57:30 How does Nonviolent Communication look in the real world?

1:04:30 Resources and further information about our guests

Where to find Dan and Jess:
VetLed website: https://www.vetled.co.uk/

Vetled on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn

Compassionate Communication Course with Jess and Dan: https://www.vetled.co.uk/courses-services/compassionate-communication-open-course

Further resources on the topic:

NVC UK website: https://nvc-uk.com/

NVC trainer Cath Burke: https://www.empathymatters.net/

Book recommendation: Marshal Rosenberg - Nonviolent Communication: A language of life https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Nonviolent-Communication-by-Marshall-B-Rosenberg/9781892005281?srsltid=AfmBOoobGslbFhQYLulAsLvWoUU4hc2ykmwMq1Sm24izHXEfgDralQwR

This podcast is in partnership with the Veterinary Information Network (VIN). More about VIN here.

We value your feedback! Please email us your thoughts, ideas and suggestions to vetmindworks@gmail.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook

Want to find out more about our hosts ? Follow on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/petra-agthe-562bb65b

https://www.linkedin.com/in/clive-elwood-b7aba216/

Credits:
Music- Deep Ambience by Coma-Media, Pixabay; Images for Artwork- OpenClipart-Vectors, Pixabay

What exactly is civility? Why does it matter? And how does it impact workplace culture?

In this insightful episode, host Petra is joined by Helen Silver MacMahon for a deep dive into this topic. Together, they explore aspects such as

• What civility really means
• The historical and philosophical roots of civil behavior
• How incivility undermines safety and performance in veterinary and legal professions
• How incivility may increase error risk
• The important role of leaders in modelling civility

and much more!

Helen's most favourite resource on the topic:

Podcast episode with Christ Turner (co-founder of Civility Saves Life) on Helen's How To Thrive podcast: https://shows.acast.com/how-to-thrive/episodes/civility-saves-lives-chris-turner

TEDx talk about Civility with Chris Turner: https://www.tedxexeter.com/speakers/chris-turner-2/

Veterinary Incivility Toolkit by the University of Aberdeen, including downloadable 'Keeping it Civil' Guide: https://research.abdn.ac.uk/applied-psych-hf/vit/

Where to find Helen:
How To Be Human: www.being-human.co.uk

The How To Thrive Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/how-to-thrive/id1725114820

Find Helen on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/helen-silver-macmahon-b0b467183 and on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivinginvetmed?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=MXMyM3h6Z2pxcmJzcQ==

Tickets and more information for How to Thrive event and the next cohort of Civility in Action: https://buytickets.at/beinghumanconsultingltd1

Previous Vet Mind Works Podcast episodes related to this topic:

Inclusion and Diversity with Georgina Sharman

Self-regulation with Crina Dragu

Self-awareness with Clive Elwood

This podcast is in partnership with the Veterinary Information Network (VIN). More about VIN here.

We value your feedback! Please email us your thoughts, ideas and suggestions to vetmindworks@gmail.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook

Want to find out more about our hosts ? Follow on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/petra-agthe-562bb65b

https://www.linkedin.com/in/clive-elwood-b7aba216/

Credits:
Music- Deep Ambience by Coma-Media, Pixabay; Images for Artwork- OpenClipart-Vectors, Pixabay