What career paths exist for RVTs outside the clinic? Is pet insurance a smart pivot for vet techs ready for something different?

Join host Mallory Dickinson and co-hosts Jenn, Julia & special guest Phil Snow, RVT for a hilarious, engaging episode of Vet Tech Nerd Party as they unpack real-life burnout, the pivot into pet insurance, teaching as a way to give back, and the wild behind-the-scenes story of how a locked-door school shutdown helped spark OC Veterinary Assistant School.

Packed with laughs, relatable insights, and professional wisdom, this episode is perfect for vet techs, animal lovers, and veterinary professionals alike.

🎧 What you'll discover:

– VTNE vs California exam reality + why testing strategy matters long-term

– Burnout even in “great clinics”: emotional drain, hypervigilance, and the silent drive home

– Pet insurance as a pivot: what claim work/training is actually like (and why techs love it)

– How teaching started immediately after licensure — and how it shaped Phil’s career path

– The Heritage shutdown story, the 90/10 rule, and how they got students through anyway

– Building OC Veterinary Assistant School + accidental SEO win + expanding into Lake Forest

– Phil’s best advice for techs: perseverance, durability, and not quitting over one bad moment

🐾 Who will love this episode:

– Veterinary technicians & assistants

– Animal lovers & pet owners

– Veterinary students & recent graduates

– Vet med professionals seeking humor & community

– Techs considering leaving clinics but wanting to stay in vet med (insurance, teaching, training)

– Anyone curious how vet tech programs and licensing pathways actually work behind the scenes

🎬 Timestamps:

00:00 – Part 2 kickoff + VTNE vs California exam talk (and why some techs had to re-test)

06:30 – “Unicorn clinic” reality check: management pressure + burnout still happens

13:30 – Hypervigilance at home + emotional exhaustion (silent drive home vibes)

20:30 – Bernie stories: foreign bodies, “bad dogs,” and clinic culture memory lane

27:00 – Pivot to pet insurance: VPI/Nationwide, trainer life, and why some techs thrive there 33:30 – Teaching right after licensure + interview/CPR presentation story

39:30 – Heritage campus shutdown: locked doors, 90/10 rule, and finishing students anyway

46:00 – Launching OC Veterinary Assistant School + naming/SEO luck + expansion to Lake Forest

51:30 – Closing advice: perseverance, staying flexible, and the crew’s sendoff

🔔 Stay Connected:

– Like this video if you learned something new!

– Drop your questions or share your clinic stories in the comments.

– Subscribe & hit the bell icon to never miss an episode.

Welcome to the Nerd Party. We're not okay – and that's totally okay.

🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

📸 Follow us: @Pacific.Lens.Studios

📥 Contact: info@pacificlensstudios.com

Season 2 Ep. 9

#VetTechNerdParty #PetInsurance #VTNP #VetTech #RVT

Ever wonder how someone goes from the Navy… to kennel… to RVT… to running a school?

Join host Mallory Dickinson and co-hosts Jenn, Julia & special guest Phil Snow, RVT for a hilarious, story-packed episode of Vet Tech Nerd Party that dives into Phil’s origin story in vet med, the “put in your time” reality of hospital life, and the ongoing debate around alternate route licensing vs traditional programs.

From traumatic first cases and after-hours foreign bodies to classic clinic pranks and hard opinions on mid-level practitioners, this one balances laughs with real professional perspective — perfect for techs who want community and the honest behind-the-scenes of how this career actually works.

🎧 What you'll discover:

– Phil’s entry into vet med: how one volunteer attempt turned into a career

– The case that hooked him early (and why first “wow” moments matter)

– Kennel-to-treatment growth: earning trust, putting in reps, and leveling up

– Alternate route vs traditional schooling: who it serves, when it works, and why it’s still expanding

– The mid-level practitioner debate: what could help, what could backfire, and what’s missing

🐾 Who will love this episode:

– Veterinary technicians & assistants (new and seasoned)

– Vet tech students choosing a pathway to licensure

– Clinic teams who lived the “after-hours surgery” era

– Vet med pros who love the culture, the chaos, and the dark humor coping mechanisms

– Anyone curious about how licensing standards vary state-to-state

🎬 Timestamps:

00:00 – “Deposition” intro chaos + why Phil’s in the hot seat

04:45 – Navy exit, Laguna move, and the kennel job that changed everything

12:30 – Grinding in kennel + earning trust in treatment

16:50 – C-sections, foreign bodies, and GP culture at Canyon

21:40 – Why Phil chose the RVT path despite pay realities

26:30 – Hospital-paid schooling + loyalty + golden era of licensing

31:15 – Alternate route vs degree route: who each path really serves

36:50 – Mid-level practitioner debate: threat or opportunity?

42:30 – VTS, liability, and whether vet med should mirror human medicine

47:00 – Licensing loopholes, state differences, and California standards

51:20 – Part two preview: insurance, school ownership, AI, and business

🔔 Stay Connected:

– Like this video if you learned something new!

– Drop your questions or share your clinic stories in the comments.

– Subscribe & hit the bell icon to never miss an episode.

Welcome to the Nerd Party. We're not okay – and that's totally okay.

🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

📸 Follow us: @Pacific.Lens.Studios

📥 Contact: info@pacificlensstudios.com

Season 2 Ep. 8

#VetTech #RVT #VetMed #VetTechNerdParty

Is noticing breed patterns “being breedist”… or is it just good medicine?

Join host Mallory Dickinson and co-hosts Jenn, Julia, and Erin for a hilarious, engaging episode of Vet Tech Nerd Party as they unpack breed stereotypes, genetic realities, and the fine line between smart pattern recognition and lazy diagnosis.

From Frenchies and doodles to Dobermans and Greyhounds, the crew shares clinic stories, hot takes, and practical reminders that help techs anticipate needs without boxing patients in.

Packed with laughs, relatable insights, and professional wisdom, this episode is perfect for vet techs, animal lovers, and veterinary professionals alike.

🎧 What you'll discover:

– When breed pattern recognition helps (and when it turns into bias)

– The “genes load the gun, environment pulls the trigger” framework in real-life cases

– Common breed-linked conditions techs should anticipate (IVDD, BOAS, DCM, wobblers, bloat, and more)

– Why “zebra hunting” can wreck your diagnostics—and how to stay sharp without getting lazy

🐾 Who will love this episode:

– Veterinary technicians & assistants

– Animal lovers & pet owners

– Veterinary students & recent graduates

– Vet med professionals seeking humor & community

– Shelter/low-cost clinic teams dealing with high-stress patients and real-world constraints

🎬 Timestamps:

00:00 – Neuter timing chaos + episode setup

07:00 – Breed patterns: bias vs good medicine + “breedist” confessions

14:00 – Frenchies/bulldogs: ethics, rescues, and frustration with “cute” breeding

21:00 – Doodles/designer trends + responsible breeding vs irresponsible demand

28:00 – Genetics vs environment: IVDD/BOAS/HCM/DCM + “genes load the gun”

35:00 – Owner choices, mismatched lifestyles, and why environment changes outcomes

42:00 – Breed awareness in practice: handling, anesthesia prep, and anticipating needs

49:00 – Offended owners/breeders: “my breeder said…” vs your clinical reality

56:00 – Lazy diagnosis vs smart rule-outs: zebras, horses, and real examples

1:03:30 – Favorites to work on/own + greyhound prey drive story + closing takeaway

🔔 Stay Connected:

– Like this video if you learned something new!

– Drop your questions or share your clinic stories in the comments.

– Subscribe & hit the bell icon to never miss an episode.

Welcome to the Nerd Party. We're not okay – and that's totally okay.

🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

📸 Follow us: @Pacific.Lens.Studios

📥 Contact: info@pacificlensstudios.com

Season 2 Ep. 7

#VetTech #VetMed #VetTechLife #VetMedHumor #VeterinaryMedicine #VetTechNerdParty