Choose People Love Pets: The Veterinary Culture Podcast

What if the team member you’ve labeled “difficult” is struggling with something you haven’t understood yet?Ron Sosa, CVPM, CCFP, PgD-CLD, joins Dr. Brianna Armstrong for a candid conversation about neurodivergence, leadership, and the hidden cost of looking like you have it all together.A former hospital owner and the founder of Syn-APT Neuroinclusive Leadership & Coaching, Ron shares how his experiences with ADHD and autism changed his understanding of himself and the teams he leads. His career has taken him from the front desk to practice management, ownership, executive leadership, and coaching.Together, they explore masking, self-criticism, and the assumptions leaders make about everything from lateness to interview attire. Ron challenges us to get curious before labeling someone a “poor culture fit,” while maintaining clear expectations and accountability.In the second half, the conversation turns to practical changes: making expectations explicit, allowing time to process information, reducing sensory overload, and building systems that support different ways of thinking. Ron also shares a tool for creating distance from your inner critic.In this episode:• Ron’s career journey and personal experiences with ADHD and autism• Why high performance can hide exhaustion• Masking and the impact on life outside work• Rethinking “culture fit” and investigating unmet needs• Clearer hiring, communication, and workplace expectations• Memory supports, processing time, and sensory environments• Supporting people without requiring them to disclose a diagnosis• Working with self-criticism and building internal safetyA note on the numbers: Ron discusses preliminary estimates from conversations with Australian researchers about neurodivergence in veterinary professionals. He explicitly notes that those studies were not yet published; these figures should not be treated as established prevalence data.Resources from RonStart here: The C.O.S.T. AssessmentRon’s recommended first step. This free assessment takes about 10 minutes and explores chronic self-monitoring, overadaptation, self-criticism, and tension.https://syn-apt.me/costFree live webinarContinue the conversation and bring your questions.https://syn-apt.me/webinarRewriting the RulesRon’s book on neuroinclusive, human-centered leadership.https://www.amazon.com/Rewriting-Rules-Leadership-Neuroinclusive-Human-Centered/dp/1953315607What’s Left Unattended PlaybookReflective exercises and tools to support your leadership work.https://syn-apt.me/playbookCoaching and more resourceshttps://syn-apt.meConnect with RonInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/synaptcoaching/LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronald-sosa-cvpm-ccfp-pgd-cldFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61590323416305Ron also hosts the Left Unattended podcast.If this conversation helped you see your team—or yourself—differently, please share it with one other hospital leader. Follow Choose People Love Pets: the Veterinary Culture Podcast for more conversations about building healthier veterinary workplaces.

What if your body knows you're burned out long before you're willing to admit it?After more than 20 years in emergency veterinary medicine, Dr. Sonja Olson began experiencing serious physical symptoms of chronic stress. It wasn't until her husband asked, "Is this job worth dying for?" that she began confronting what her body was trying to tell her.In this episode of Choose People Love Pets, Dr. Brianna Armstrong sits down with Dr. Olson, veterinarian, author, wellness educator, and founder of Heartstorming Wellness, to explore burnout, the neuroscience of stress, and what it takes to build a sustainable veterinary career.They discuss moral injury, neuroplasticity, self-awareness, and the role of leadership and healthy hospital cultures in protecting veterinary professionals' well-being.In this episode:Recognizing the physical and emotional warning signs of burnoutHow chronic stress changes our brains and bodiesUnderstanding moral injury in veterinary medicineNeuroplasticity, mindfulness, sleep, and nervous system regulationWhy veterinarians struggle to separate their identity from their workPsychological safety and the importance of healthy workplace culturesBuilding resilience, connection, and sustainable careersDr. Sonja Olson is a veterinarian, author, wellness educator, and coach with more than 25 years of experience in emergency medicine. She founded Heartstorming Wellness LLC to support veterinary professionals through education, coaching, and advocacy for healthier veterinary workplaces.Website: https://www.sonjaolsondvm.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/sonjaolsondvm/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonja-a-olson-dvmFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/sonja.olson.754Your Veterinary Wellness Journey: An Interactive Guide to Thriving with Growth, Resilience, and PurposePublishing October 20, 2026. An interactive workbook designed to help veterinary professionals build resilience, explore their well-being, and reconnect with purpose.Order: https://www.routledge.com/9781032753928Creating Well-being and Building Resilience in the Veterinary Profession: A Call to LifeAvailable in print, Kindle, and audiobook formats, narrated by Dr. Olson.Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Creating-Wellbeing-Resilience-Veterinary-Profession/dp/0367418797/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0For additional veterinary wellness resources, including information about the global resource collection in her new workbook, visit https://www.sonjaolsondvm.com.Empowering Veterinary Teams | Reviving Veterinary Medicine | Full Circle Lab | Ready.Vet.Go | MentorVet | Washington State Veterinary Medical Association (WSVMA)Hosted by Dr. Brianna Armstrong, DVM, Choose People Love Pets explores the people, leadership, and cultures shaping the future of veterinary medicine. Our mission is to help create healthier veterinary workplaces where people and pets can thrive.

What does better dentistry look like—and what becomes possible when veterinary technicians have room to grow?In this episode of Choose People Love Pets, Dr. Brianna Armstrong sits down with Mary Berg, RVT, VTS (Dentistry), founder of Beyond the Crown Veterinary Education. Mary has spent more than 30 years in veterinary medicine, building a career that spans dental research, practice management, teaching, and business ownership.Mary shares how an unexpected opportunity led her into dentistry and why helping team members do more of what they love can keep them engaged in veterinary medicine. She also explores career opportunities beyond clinical practice and what technicians should consider before pursuing a specialty.Then we get practical: what a thorough dental procedure involves, how trained technicians and veterinarians can share the work, and why the language we use affects how pet owners understand the care their pets need. Brianna brings questions from her own hospital—and Mary offers plenty of ideas to take back to yours.They also discuss anesthesia-free tooth scraping, realistic home-care options, and why investing in team education matters for patients, clients, and the people providing their care.IN THIS EPISODE• Building a veterinary career around your interests and strengths• Supporting technician growth, engagement, and utilization• Dental diagnostics, equipment, and practical workflow improvements• Why waiting until dental disease looks “bad enough” can be a problem• A dedicated anesthesia monitor and clear responsibilities during procedures• COHAT: comprehensive oral health assessment and treatment• Helping clients understand the value of dental care• Home care that pet owners can realistically maintain• Starting a training business and pursuing a veterinary technician specialtyCONNECT WITH MARY & EXPLORE THE RESOURCESBeyond the Crown Veterinary EducationLearn more about Mary’s company and veterinary dentistry education.In-clinic team trainingExplore hands-on training for veterinary teams.Online learningFind Mary’s remote dentistry education options.Companion Animal Dentistry for Veterinary TechniciansMary’s textbook, mentioned in the episode.Veterinary Oral Health Council accepted productsExplore the VOHC’s accepted dental home-care products.Academy of Veterinary Dental TechniciansLearn more about the academy and its educational resources.VTS (Dentistry) certificationExplore the process of becoming a veterinary technician specialist in dentistry.NAVTA’s veterinary technician specialties directoryExplore specialty academies and opportunities for professional growth.AVMA Veterinary Technology Student Essential and Recommended Skills ListThe skills resource Mary mentions during the discussion about technician utilization.Enjoyed this conversation? Follow Choose People Love Pets, share this episode with your veterinary team, and leave a review to help more people find the show.

What happens when you’ve built the career you thought you wanted… and realize you might be ready for something completely different?Dr. Jen Cole spent more than 25 years in veterinary medicine, built two veterinary practices with her husband, raised three children, and eventually made the decision to step away from hospital life.But she wasn’t done with veterinary medicine.Today, Jen is the author of the Rooster and Squid children’s book series, using storytelling to teach kids about animals, veterinary medicine, and how they can become better advocates for their own pets.In this episode, we talk about knowing when it’s time to move on, separating who you are from what you do, building a career alongside a family, and giving yourself permission to figure out what comes next.We also get into some of the harder lessons Jen learned during 25+ years in practice: firing clients, letting go of team members who are hurting your culture, realizing that nobody is irreplaceable (including the owners), and learning that your hospital can continue to thrive without you.Jen shares what retirement actually felt like after decades of being a veterinarian and practice owner, why she gave herself six months before saying yes to anything new, and how that space eventually led her to an entirely new creative career.Then we dive into Rooster and Squid: why Jen believes kids can be some of the best advocates for their pets, how she learned to write and publish children's books, what she thinks about AI and human creativity, and what she's building next.Most importantly, this conversation is a reminder that there isn't just one way to have a career in veterinary medicine. You can practice, own, lead, work part-time, raise a family, move into industry, create something completely new, or reinvent your career altogether.Your career can change. Your impact doesn’t have to.In this episode • Knowing when it’s time to step away from clinical practice • Separating your identity from being a veterinarian • Why Jen gave herself six months after retirement before deciding what came next • Building veterinary practices while raising a family • Being physically present versus actually being present with the people you love • Why it’s okay to fire clients • Letting go of people who are negatively affecting your hospital culture • Why “nobody is irreplaceable” can actually be a healthy leadership lesson • The many different ways to build a career in veterinary medicine • Turning 25+ years of veterinary experience into children's stories • Why kids can be powerful advocates for their pets • Writing, illustrating, and publishing the Rooster and Squid series • AI, authorship, and the value of human creativity • Jen’s upcoming search-and-rescue series inspired by veterinary emergency response workConnect with Dr. Jen ColeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/roosterandsquid/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553831672190 LinkedIn (Jen Cole, DVM): https://www.linkedin.com/in/jen-cole-dvm-208b642a1/Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/roosterandsquid/ Threads: https://www.threads.com/@roosterandsquid​YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RoosterandSquidLucid Books (Dr. Cole's Publisher)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lucid_books/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lucidbookspublishing/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lucid-booksPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lucidbookspub/X: https://x.com/Lucid_BooksChoose People Love Pets is the veterinary culture podcast exploring leadership, workplace culture, career possibilities, and the people working to build a brighter future for veterinary medicine.People. Culture. A Brighter Vet Med.

Hospital ownership can sound like the natural next step in a veterinary career, but ownership isn’t a promotion. It’s a completely different job.In this first solo episode, Dr. Brianna Armstrong breaks down three questions to ask yourself before deciding whether veterinary hospital ownership is actually right for you.Do you really want ownership, or are you looking for more autonomy, better leadership, a different schedule, or a healthier workplace? Do you enjoy the actual work of ownership, including leadership, finances, systems, hiring, accountability, and solving problems? And are you willing to take on the responsibility that comes with having more control?Dr. Armstrong shares what she loves about hospital ownership, what she didn’t know when she started, why being a great veterinarian doesn’t automatically mean you’ll enjoy running a business, and practical ways to get closer to the business side of veterinary medicine before taking the leap.In this episode:• Why ownership shouldn’t be the default finish line of a veterinary career• The “perfect associate job” test for deciding what you actually want• Why enjoying business problems matters more than already knowing business• The relationship between control and responsibility• How to test-drive leadership and ownership before investing in a hospital• Different paths to ownership, from partnerships and buy-ins to de novos and solo ownership• Why talking to current owners may be one of the best ways to figure out your next moveIf ownership makes you nervous but also gets you a little excited, you don’t have to decide today. Get curious, get closer to the business, and figure out whether you actually like the job before worrying about how to buy one.Follow for more: FB: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556480229406&mibextid=LQQJ4d⁠ IG: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/choosepeoplelovepets?igsh=MTVzZjc4ZHE4MWd2NQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr⁠ LI: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/choose-people-love-pets/