Curiosity Over Judgment

In this episode, host Petra Agthe is joined by Dr. Jennifer Edwards — veterinarian, former practice owner, and leadership coach — for a conversation about what it really means to suspend judgment and bring curiosity into our conversations, our leadership, and our relationship with ourselves.

The conversation explores how curiosity and judgment are, almost mutually exclusive and how curiosity connects to active listening, to humility, and to the courage it takes to admit we don't already know what someone else is thinking or feeling.

This conversation covers:

• Why curiosity requires letting go of assumptions, and how it opens the door to deeper, more meaningful conversations
• The link between curiosity and humility — and why being willing to "not know" builds real connection
• Perfectionism in veterinary medicine, and how curiosity, rather than self-criticism, can become a gateway to growth
• Leading diverse teams with curiosity: recognising that people think, process, and work differently — and why that's a strength, not a problem
• Practical tools for cultivating curiosity, including how to ask open-ended questions that invite people to share more
• Knowing when curiosity isn't the answer — boundaries, and when it's okay to simply end a conversation
• Turning curiosity inward: how self-compassion, rather than self-judgment, can change our relationship with ourselves — especially during burnout or moments of imposter syndrome

Ready to find out more about how curiosity can transform your life? Then listen in or read the transcript and join our conversation!

Where to find out more about Dr Jennifer Edwards and her work:

• Jennifers website: https://drjenniferedwards.com/
• Jennifers Resilient Vet Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/07gFs5TqFFM5yBUNEAaHCa
• Find Jennifer on social media:
  • Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjenniferedwards/
  • Facebook https://www.facebook.com/drjenniferedwards
  • Instagram https://www.instagram.com/drjenniferedwards/

Resources you may also be interested in:

Books:

• Energy Leadership by Bruce Schneider
• Humble Inquiry by Edgar and Peter Schein

TV Series: Ted Lasso

Previous Vet Mind Works Episodes related to the topic:

• Non-violent Communication
• The Power of Connection
• Active listening
• Self-compassion for Imposter Syndrome
• Self-compassion

Join the conversation:

What resonated with you in this episode? Have you ever tried to approach conversations and interpersonal interactions with greater curiosity? We would love to hear your reflections. Share, rate, and send us your thoughts and suggestions for future guests and topics.

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 of the Vet Mind Works podcast, host Petra Agthe is joined by Alex Harrison, founder of Vetquity and one of the first profoundly deaf veterinary graduates in Australia, to explore a dimension of psychological safety that rarely gets airtime: disclosure.

Alex introduces the concept of disclosure culture — shifting the question from "why won't people speak up?" to "what is it about our systems, leadership, and everyday habits that makes it unsafe for people to share what's going on?" It's a reframe that moves the responsibility for inclusion from the individual to the organisation.

This conversation covers:

• The scale of the issue
• Why disclosure culture matters for retention
• How disclosure culture can be seen as the "ultimate manifestation" of psychological safety
• The disclosure paradox
• The difference between partial and graded disclosure
• The importance of confidentiality and control
• Why a healthy disclosure culture also applies to leaders
• The significant difference between visible vs. invisible disabilities in regard to disclosure culture
• The importance of trauma-informed disclosure
• Why strengths-based language matters
• The business case for disclosure culture

Ready to find out more about how to create safer work environments where people can truly thrive and fully contribute with their strengths? Then listen in or read the transcript and join our conversation!

Where to find out more about Alex Harrison and his work:

• Vetquity: https://www.vetquity.com.au toolkits on disclosure safety, accessibility, inclusive hiring, policy redesign, and inclusive surveys
• Blogpost on Disclosure Culture on Vetquity: Why So Many Vets Hide: The Blind Spot in Veterinary Culture — Vetquity
• Follow Alex Harrison on LinkedIn

Join the conversation:

What resonated with you in this episode? Have you experienced disclosure — as the person sharing, or as the one receiving it? We'd love to hear your reflections. Share, rate, and send us your thoughts and suggestions for future guests and topics.

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 host? Follow to Petra on LinkedIn:

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

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

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 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