The Uncharted Veterinary Podcast
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381 - My Team is Quiet Quitting
Your team is showing up, doing the job, and following the rules, but the energy is gone, the spark is missing, and it feels like everyone is just clocking in and clocking out. In this episode, Dr. Andy Roark and Stephanie Goss unpack a mailbag question from a practice manager facing quiet quitting in their veterinary team, not through laziness or rule-breaking, but through disengagement that is harder to name and even harder to fix. They explore why quiet quitting is often a signal, not a failure, how compassion and accountability can exist at the same time, and why leaders cannot pep-talk or punish their way back to engagement. This conversation dives into purpose, connection, and what has quietly shifted in veterinary medicine, especially as practices grow or change ownership, and offers practical ways leaders can rebuild trust, meaning, and momentum without pushing people further away.Veterinary leadership is heavier than it used to be, expectations are higher, teams are more complex, and the old playbooks are not working anymore. That is exactly why Uncharted 2026 at VMX exists. This is not another conference about doing more with less or pushing harder through burnout. It is a space designed for real conversations, practical leadership tools, and honest connection with people who actually understand what it means to lead in veterinary medicine right now. If you are craving clarity, energy, and strategies you can take straight back to your clinic, the 2026 Uncharted Veterinary Conference is where it starts.If you want to dive deep into communications DiSC Decoded Cohort is now open for registration and the first session starts February 11th, 2026. This is a guided, hands-on experience that helps veterinary leaders understand behavior, communication, and motivation, not just in theory, but in the real moments that matter most. From managing conflict and disengagement to coaching without awkwardness, DiSC Decoded gives you the language and tools to lead people with confidence instead of frustration.If you are ready to stop guessing, stop carrying everything alone, and start leading with intention, this is your invitation.Upcoming events: https://learn.unchartedvet.com/pages/eventsAll Links: https://linktr.ee/UnchartedVetDo you have something that you would love Andy and Stephanie to discuss on the podcast? If so, send us a message through the mailbag! Submit it here: unchartedvet.com/mailbag
380 - To Buy, to Start, or to Stay - Is Practice Ownership Possible?
Feeling like practice ownership might have passed you by, even after years of hard work, paid-down debt, and careful planning? In this episode, Dr. Andy Roark sits down with Roy Jain, COO and Co-Founder of Blue River PetCare, to tackle one of the most common and painful questions associate veterinarians face today: is practice ownership still possible, or is the system stacked against you? Together, they unpack a real mailbag letter from a veterinarian ten years into their career who feels stuck between buying, starting, or staying put. Roy shares a refreshingly realistic framework for ownership, breaking down mindset traps, real estate constraints, financial guardrails, and step-by-step growth strategies that make ownership feel achievable again. Whether you dream of owning your own clinic, expanding gradually, or simply want clarity on your long-term career path, this episode delivers honest guidance, practical benchmarks, and hope grounded in experience. This episode is brought to you ad-free by Blue River PetCare!To reach out to Roy for more information, just click on his bio here: https://blueriverpetcare.com/our-team/Upcoming events: https://learn.unchartedvet.com/pages/eventsAll Links: https://linktr.ee/UnchartedVetDo you have something that you would love Andy and Stephanie to discuss on the podcast? If so, send us a message through the mailbag! Submit it here: unchartedvet.com/mailbag
379 - HOF: Training Initiative Into the Team
When your team won’t move unless someone tells them exactly what to do, leadership starts to feel exhausting fast. We’re wrapping up the year by revisiting the top UVP episode of 2025, a standout conversation that resonated with practice managers, medical directors, and leaders who are tired of babysitting capable adults and ready to build a culture where initiative is the norm. In this Hall of Fame episode, Stephanie Goss and Dr. Andy Roark break down why initiative stalls in veterinary teams, how leaders often unintentionally reinforce it, and what actually works to build confidence, ownership, and forward momentum without micromanaging. If you’ve ever wondered whether initiative can truly be trained, this episode delivers the clarity, mindset shifts, and practical steps that earned it a place in the UVP Hall of Fame.Uncharted Veterinary Conference 2026If your clinic is growing faster than your systems can keep up, you’re not alone. The truth is, most veterinary leaders are fighting the same battle of trying to coach teams, improve communication, and reduce chaos while still keeping up with patient care. That’s exactly what Uncharted Veterinary Conference 2026 is built to solve.Join us Friday, January 16 in Orlando, the day before VMX kicks off, for a one-day immersive experience that will transform the way you lead. Walk away with proven tools, new friends, and the kind of clarity that will change how you lead forever. Tickets are limited and this event always sells out. Grab your spot now at unchartedvet.com.Upcoming events: https://learn.unchartedvet.com/pages/eventsAll Links: https://linktr.ee/UnchartedVetDo you have something that you would love Andy and Stephanie to discuss on the podcast? If so, send us a message through the mailbag! Submit it here: unchartedvet.com/mailbag
378 - Gifts Under the Tree!
Veterinary leadership can feel heavy during the holidays. Between emotional cases, personal transitions, and the pressure to finish the year strong, many leaders find themselves exhausted, reflective, and unsure how to carry both the joy and the weight of the season. This episode brings together honest holiday leadership reflections from Dr. Andy Roark, Tyler Grogan, CVT and Maria Pirita, CVPM offering guidance for anyone who feels stretched thin, unsure of their progress, or overwhelmed by the emotional complexity of veterinary life. If you are seeking emotional resilience, stronger team leadership, or a renewed sense of meaning in your work, this episode is the gift under the tree you did not know you needed!If your clinic feels like it is constantly reacting instead of leading with intention, you are not alone. Many veterinary leaders struggle to balance patient care, team coaching, and communication challenges while feeling unsure how to shift their culture. Uncharted Veterinary Conference 2026 was created to help you break that cycle and step into leadership with clarity and confidence.Join us Friday, January 16 in Orlando for a focused one day experience that begins with Ron Sosa and Tyler Grogan's Leadership Audit. You will also participate in Andy Roark’s Coaching and Accountability workshop and Maria Pirita’s Team Communication session. This is a rare chance to get hands on tools that strengthen your leadership immediately. Learn more and save your spot at unchartedvet.com.Upcoming events: https://learn.unchartedvet.com/pages/eventsAll Links: https://linktr.ee/UnchartedVetDo you have something that you would love Andy and Stephanie to discuss on the podcast? If so, send us a message through the mailbag! Submit it here: unchartedvet.com/mailbag
377 - Is My Front Desk Making Clients Angrier?
When a front desk team member escalates client tension instead of calming it, the entire clinic feels the ripple effect. In this episode, we tackle a tough and common challenge in veterinary medicine: a highly reliable receptionist who becomes defensive and reactive when clients become upset. We break down why this happens, how fear and past experiences amplify emotional responses, and what leaders can do to coach confidence, deescalation skills, and calm communication in the moment. If your team struggles with handling angry clients or turning venting into problem solving, this episode offers practical tools, real language you can use, and a roadmap to transform the front desk into a stronger, more resilient support system.Uncharted Veterinary Conference 2026If your clinic is growing faster than your systems can keep up, you’re not alone. The truth is, most veterinary leaders are fighting the same battle of trying to coach teams, improve communication, and reduce chaos while still keeping up with patient care. That’s exactly what Uncharted Veterinary Conference 2026 is built to solve.Join us Friday, January 16 in Orlando, the day before VMX kicks off, for a one-day immersive experience that will transform the way you lead. You’ll start with a career audit to uncover your strengths and blind spots as a leader, then dive into Andy Roark’s hands-on Coaching and Accountability workshop to learn how to grow your people and actually get follow-through. You’ll also join Maria Pirita’s dynamic Team Communication session to tackle the real conversations holding your clinic back.Walk away with proven tools, new friends, and the kind of clarity that will change how you lead forever. Tickets are limited and this event always sells out. Grab your spot now at unchartedvet.com.Upcoming events: https://learn.unchartedvet.com/pages/eventsAll Links: https://linktr.ee/UnchartedVetDo you have something that you would love Andy and Stephanie to discuss on the podcast? If so, send us a message through the mailbag! Submit it here: unchartedvet.com/mailbagMaria Pirita is a Certified Veterinary Practice Manager, Elite Fear Free Certified Veterinary Professional and former hospital administrator. In her work with Uncharted Veterinary Conference and beyond, Maria has presented to veterinarians and teams across the US and Canada on topics including veterinary marketing, feedback, team building, and positive work culture. With over 10 years of experience in veterinary medicine and over 20 years in leadership, she's passionate helping leaders develop their skills. Maria loves any activity that involves creativity or learning something new. This leads to an abundance of hobbies including crafting, traveling, cooking and aviation.Dr. Andy Roark is a practicing veterinarian, international speaker, author, and media personality. He is the founder of the Uncharted Veterinary Conference and DrAndyRoark.com. He has been an award-winning columnist for DVM360 and the magazine Today’s Veterinary Business. His social media, website, podcast and YouTube show reach millions of people every month.Dr. Roark has received the NAVC Practice Management Speaker of the Year Award three times, the WVC Practice Management Educator of the Year Award, the Outstanding Young Alumni Award from the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine, and the Veterinarian of the Year Award from the South Carolina Association of Veterinarians. His greatest achievement however involves marrying a bad-ass scientist and raising 2 kind and wonderful daughters.
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