Choose People Love Pets: The Veterinary Culture Podcast

More Than a “DOGTOR” with Dr. Christien Bolden: Authenticity, Failure, and Finding Your Path in Veterinary Medicine

What happens when the path to becoming a veterinarian doesn’t go the way you planned? In this episode of Choose People Love Pets, Dr. Brianna Armstrong sits down with Dr. Christien Bolden, relief veterinarian and host of the More Than a Dogtor podcast. Dr. Bolden shares his deeply personal journey through veterinary medicine—from not passing the NAVLE twice, to navigating burnout, to ultimately redefining what success and fulfillment look like in his career and life. Together, they explore the pressures young veterinarians face, the identity crisis that can happen when your career becomes your entire sense of self, and the importance of creating space to be more than just your professional title. Dr. Bolden also shares how mentorship, reflection, and prioritizing his family helped him rebuild his relationship with veterinary medicine and ultimately led him to create a platform supporting veterinary students and early-career veterinarians. This conversation is a powerful reminder that failure doesn’t define your future—and that sometimes the hardest moments in your career can become the foundation for helping others. In This Episode What “More Than a Dogtor” really means  The identity crisis many veterinarians experience early in their careers  Dr. Bolden’s experience not passing the NAVLE twice and how it shaped his path  The role mentorship played in rebuilding his confidence  Why authenticity matters in veterinary medicine  The biggest struggles new veterinarians face in their first few years  Learning to set boundaries and prioritize life outside of work  Burnout, sabbaticals, and reclaiming balance in your career  Relief work as a path to rediscovering purpose  Why communication skills are one of the biggest gaps in veterinary education  The inspiration behind Dr. Bolden’s podcast and mentorship initiatives  How he is helping students prepare for the NAVLE through coaching and mentorship  Key Takeaway Your title as a veterinarian is only one part of who you are. Creating a sustainable career in veterinary medicine requires space for authenticity, mentorship, and personal growth—because the healthiest professionals are the ones who remember they are people first. About the Guest Dr. Christien Bolden is a veterinarian, mentor, and host of the More Than a Dogtor podcast. A graduate of Tuskegee University, Dr. Bolden is passionate about supporting veterinary students and early-career veterinarians as they navigate the challenges of entering the profession. Through his podcast, mentorship work, and NAVLE preparation initiatives, he aims to create spaces where veterinary professionals can share their stories, support one another, and remember they are more than just their titles. Connect with Dr. Christien BoldenInstagram: @thebayouvetPodcast: More Than a Dogtor Email: drbolden@lebayouvet.com

How To Kill Hospital Culture: Group vs Individual Feedback

Have you ever sat in a team meeting and heard feedback that clearly wasn’t about you… but suddenly you’re questioning if you’re doing something wrong? This happens in veterinary hospitals all the time. In this episode of Choose People Love Pets, Dr. Brianna Armstrong and hospital manager Phoebe Valdez break down a common leadership mistake that quietly damages culture: giving individual feedback in a group setting. It often feels easier. It feels less confrontational. But the unintended consequences can be huge. When leaders address individual problems in group meetings: • Top performers start questioning themselves • Underperformers don’t realize the feedback is about them • Anxiety increases across the team • Trust and psychological safety begin to erode If you're a veterinary practice owner, medical director, or hospital manager, learning how to deliver feedback to the right audience is a critical leadership skill. In this conversation, we walk through how to identify when something should be addressed one-on-one vs. with the entire team, and how to deliver feedback in a way that actually improves culture. In This Episode We discuss: • Why leaders often give individual feedback in group meetings • The hidden cost this creates for your top performers • Why underperformers usually don’t realize the feedback is about them • How vague feedback increases stress in veterinary teams • How to tell if a problem is a system issue or an individual issue • Practical scripts for having difficult conversations with your team A Leadership Reminder Avoiding hard conversations may feel kind… But as we discuss in this episode: Kindness without clarity isn’t kindness — it’s confusion. And when excellence and mediocrity are treated the same, the result is predictable: Your best people stop pushing… or they leave. Connect With Us If you're working through a leadership challenge in your hospital and aren't sure whether it's a group issue or an individual conversation, reach out to us. We love hearing from veterinary leaders. Follow us and send us a message on social: 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/  Subscribe to Choose People Love Pets If you care about building a healthier culture in veterinary medicine, this podcast is for you. Subscribe for conversations about: Veterinary leadership Practice culture Hiring and retention Communication with veterinary teams Running a thriving veterinary hospital  👍 If you found this episode helpful, please: - Like the video - Subscribe to the channel  - Share it with another veterinary leader ️ ❤️ It helps us grow the show and bring these conversations to more people in veterinary medicine. #veterinarymedicine #veterinaryleadership #veterinarypractice #vetmed #veterinarymanagement #practiceculture #vetlife 

Staying Relevant & Saying Yes with Dr. Gary Marshall

Veterinary careers rarely unfold according to plan. They evolve through opportunity, relationships, timing — and often through saying yes before we feel fully ready. In this episode of Choose People Love Pets, Dr. Gary Marshall — practice owner, feline-focused entrepreneur, and longtime contributor to organized veterinary medicine — reflects on the winding path of a decades-long career. From building “Cat Class” for students across six continents to navigating leadership roles and professional transitions, Gary shares what saying yes created… and what it cost. This conversation explores: The hidden trade-offs of opportunity The cost of always saying yes — and the cost of always saying no Loneliness in leadership, even in rooms full of thousands Why customer service will matter more in a shifting economic landscape What younger generations are teaching the profession about agency How culture moves from philosophy to business infrastructure As veterinary medicine moves out of survival mode and into a more uncertain market environment, the question isn’t just how to grow — but how to evolve. This episode is about discernment, relevance, and building a career that reflects who you are — not just the titles you collect.  Key Takeaways • Saying yes can shape your career in ways you can’t predict — but every yes carries a cost. • Guarding boundaries is important, but rigidity can limit growth. • Leadership can be deeply lonely — belonging requires intention. • Culture isn’t soft — it’s structural to retention, client trust, and financial resilience. • Economic shifts will reward practices that never stopped prioritizing experience. • Younger veterinarians are modeling agency — and the profession is evolving because of it.  About Dr. Gary Marshall Dr. Gary Marshall is a veterinary practice owner and longtime leader in organized veterinary medicine. Over the course of his career, he has contributed to professional organizations, mentored students across the globe through “Cat Class,” and built a feline-focused practice aligned with his values and vision for modern veterinary care. Email: gmarshall@avma.orgLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garymarshalldvm/ Instagram: @it.might.get.weird  Podcast: It Might Get Weird: Journeys In Veterinary Medicine Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/3nzCLsF3xiIGeytyp8qDJW?si=08e194c78287445f Itmightgetweird.buzzsprout.com  Follow CPLP Podcast 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/⁠  

Reframing Imposter Syndrome to Growth Syndrome 

Imposter syndrome is something we talk about constantly in veterinary medicine — but what if we’ve been thinking about it all wrong? In this episode of Choose People Love Pets, Dr. Brianna Armstrong and Phoebe Valdez explore a powerful reframe: what if imposter syndrome isn’t a sign that you don’t belong… but evidence that you’re growing? Through personal stories — including Brianna’s experience pitching her veterinary startup Skye Paws while still in vet school — they unpack how discomfort, self-doubt, and even anxiety often appear at the exact moments when identity expansion and leadership growth are happening. Together, they introduce the idea of “growth syndrome” — a framework for understanding why high-achievers and veterinary professionals often feel like imposters when stepping into new roles, leadership opportunities, or unfamiliar challenges. If you’ve ever wondered: “Do I actually belong here?” “What if they find out I don’t know what I’m doing?” “Why does growth feel so uncomfortable?” This conversation offers a new perspective — and practical tools to help you reframe the experience. What You’ll Hear in This Episode Why imposter syndrome may actually be a sign of growth The story behind Skye Paws and navigating first-time visibility How veterinary training shapes our relationship with competence and confidence The three elements of “growth syndrome”: Novelty Visibility Identity expansion Why waiting to feel ready keeps us stuck How to build confidence by trusting yourself through growth Practical strategies for navigating high-stakes new experiences Key Takeaways Confidence does not come before action — it comes from action. You don’t feel like an imposter when you stay small. Growth often feels uncomfortable because your identity is expanding faster than your evidence. Leadership requires becoming a beginner again. 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/⁠   

When You Realize You’re Not the Leader You Want to Be: Leadership Coaching with Dr. Kelly Cooper 

In this episode, our host Dr. Brianna Armstrong sits down with Dr. Kelly Cooper, veterinarian, former practice owner, corporate leader, and certified leadership coach, to explore the quiet realization many leaders have but rarely name: I’m not the leader I want to be—and I don’t know how to fix it. Kelly shares her journey from clinical practice to ownership, rising through the ranks at Banfield to the highest level before the C-suite, and ultimately making the difficult decision to walk away from a prestigious role to pursue coaching full-time. Not because she was failing—but because she wanted something more aligned. Together, they unpack what coaching actually is (and what it’s not), how leaders often don’t realize they need support until something breaks, and why awareness—not perfection—is the first step toward becoming a better leader. This is an honest, reflective conversation for veterinarians and leaders who care deeply, want to do better, and are willing to look inward.  In This Episode, We Discuss: The moment Kelly realized she wasn’t the leader she wanted to be Why many veterinarians struggle with leadership—and don’t know help exists The difference between coaching, therapy, and mentorship How coaching helped Kelly gain clarity, alignment, and confidence What a real coaching session actually looks like Why leadership growth often requires outside perspective How coaching can transform not just your career, but your relationships and wellbeing The idea that pain is inevitable—but suffering is optional  This Episode Is For You If: You’re a leader who cares deeply but feels stuck or stretched You’ve ever thought, “Why does this feel harder than it should?” You’re curious about coaching but unsure if it’s “for you” You want to lead with more intention, clarity, and self-awareness  About Dr. Kelly Cooper Dr. Kelly Cooper is a veterinarian and certified leadership coach with over 20 years of experience in clinical practice and veterinary leadership. After owning a practice and rising to a senior leadership role at Banfield, Kelly chose to step away from corporate leadership to focus on one-on-one coaching—helping veterinarians and leaders grow into the people they want to be, not just the roles they hold. drkellycooper@realityvet.com Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkellycooper/  Reality Vet: https://www.realityvet.com/   CPLP Podcast - 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/⁠