As Mother’s Day approaches, I’ve been thinking about how my understanding of my mother has changed over the years. The way we know our parents as children and the way we understand them as adults are fundamentally different states. The transition from seeing our mothers through the eyes of a child to those of a… Read More
Perspective
How Are Veterinary Practices Doing in 2025?
Sheri Gilmartin, CVT and VP of Sales at Vetsource, joins Dr. Andy Roark to share data-driven insights on the current state of veterinary practices in 2025. With access to anonymized data from over 8,000 clinics, Sheri discusses key trends—including declining client visits, slowing revenue growth, and how independent practices are performing compared to corporate groups…. Read More
What if No One Spoke to You?
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
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