I was recently reading a fantastic autobiography by legendary basketball coach George Raveling, and in it he said that the majority of young people he works with did not have a single person give them an affirming word most days. I found this idea heartbreaking. Imagine no one saying anything positive to you for days… Read More
Perspective
The State of Teaching and Learning in Vet Schools
Clair Sauer, CVT, joins Dr. Andy Roark to explore how we’re teaching (and could be teaching better) in vet med. In this episode of the Cone of Shame Podcast, they dig into Clair’s unique path from science teacher to veterinary technician educator at the University of Pennsylvania. With a passion for learning theory and hands-on… Read More
Permission Slip
Good news! I have something for you. It’s a permission slip that lets you only worry about today’s problems. This gets you out of any ruminating on pain from the past and also worrying about problems that either haven’t actually happened or that you can’t yet do anything about. Here’s how it works: Think about… Read More
When Life Pees on Your Anthill
There’s an anthill beside the road in front of my house, and my dog Skipper is determined to pee on it. About twice a week, Skipper catches me not paying attention on our walk and intentionally guides me to the grassless lump next to the pavement. As soon as he gets in range, he lifts… Read More
Innovation, Regulation, and the Mid-Level Practitioner
Dr. David Haworth joins Dr. Andy Roark to unpack one of the most talked-about shifts in veterinary medicine: the rise of mid-level practitioners. In this episode of the Cone of Shame Podcast, they dive into the connection between regulation and innovation—yes, you read that right—and how smart, clear guidelines can actually fuel progress. The conversation… Read More
What to Do When You Don’t Get Picked
A note for anyone who is worried someone else will get picked for that special thing Last week I wrote about influencers delivering continuing education. I found the response to that piece very interesting. No one, of course, thinks people who aren’t qualified to teach material should be put on stage. A subset of people,… Read More