Episodios

  • 157: Tech Tools for Vets 2: AI-Powered Learning with StudyAnything. With Hasitha Jayatilake
    Apr 8 2026

    You know that feeling: exam time is looming. You've spent three days making flashcards and highlighting your notes, but you haven't even started actually studying yet...

    Whether you're a vet student drowning in slide decks, a membership candidate juggling articles and notes, or a resident trying to jam an impossible volume of clinical knowledge into your skull - the way most of us study is, frankly, not backed by the science. Which is why you might need a little help from technology:

    In part two of our Tech Tools for Vets series, software engineer Hasitha Jayatilake joins me to walk you through StudyAnything - an AI-powered study tool that generates quizzes from your notes, tracks your weak spots over time, and builds guided learning pathways based on Bloom's hierarchy of learning. (By the way - he built this tool because he couldn’t bare watching his vet student partner making Anki cards at 2am!)

    What you'll learn:

    • How active recall and spaced repetition actually work - and why highlighting your notes is basically doing nothing
    • What Bloom's hierarchy means for your study plan - and how Study Anything uses it to move you from rote recall to clinical application
    • StudyAnything’s guided learning pathway feature (just gone live) - that turns your uploaded notes into a structured lesson plan with concept maps, assumed knowledge, and motivational context
    • How the community feature works - study groups, shared question banks, and what this means for educators (or podcast hosts!) who want to create resources
    • How to generate harder questions on demand - using learning outcomes and difficulty levels to get yourself on the honours roll
    • What makes this different from Notebook LM or other AI tools

    This episode includes screen sharing, so if you want to follow along, watch the video on Spotify. If you prefer audio only, you'll still get 99% of the value.

    The team at StudyAnything are giving Vet Vault listeners the opportunity to try out their top tier subscription (LOTS of quizzes!) with code VETVAULT at studyanything.academy for 50% off your first month on the paid plan. That's about $3.50 to give it a proper test run.

    Note: This episode isn't a promotion, endorsement or an ad - it's part of our ongoing series exploring the tools you might be considering. If you have a software you'd like us to look at, let me know at info@thevetvault.com

    Go to ⁠⁠⁠thevetvault.com⁠⁠ for show notes, access to our clinical continuing education content and to sign up for our weekly 'best of the Vet Vault' ⁠newsletter,⁠ or join us in person at one of our phenomenal ⁠Vets On Tour conferences. ⁠ (Look out for our upcoming New Zealand, Italy and Africa conferences.)


    Topics and Timestamps

    3:26 Active Recall & The Science of Studying

    4:06 How StudyAnything Works - Uploading & Courses

    7:57 Bloom's Hierarchy & Learning Outcomes

    9:53 Ad Break - Vets on Tour

    11:24 Quiz Demo

    19:28 Guided Learning Pathway

    20:15 File Summary, Concept Maps & Key Terms

    29:10 Study Groups & Communities

    31:02 Comparison with Notebook LM & Competitors

    32:32 Spaced Repetition & Future Features

    37:29 Pricing

    39:48 Deep Dive: Navigating the Dashboard

    41:00 Deep Dive: Creating & Customising Quizzes


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    58 m
  • A New Direction for the Vet Vault? Help Shape What Comes Next
    Mar 25 2026

    Is our podcast getting… repetitive?


    Honest question.

    Lately, we’ve felt a growing tension behind the mic: are we just saying the same things… just with a new guest and in slightly different ways?

    Are we actually helping you? (With is after all the point of this podcast)

    In this short solo episode, I ask a few questions that I’d love your input on.

    We want to rebuild this with you. This is your invite.


    Feedback to info@thevetvault.com, or at our contact form on the website, or hit me up in the comments on Spotify.

    Más Menos
    5 m
  • 156: Is Practice Ownership The Only Way To Build Wealth? The Vet’s Guide To Student Debt, Saving, And Financial Sanity. With Eric Miller
    Mar 18 2026

    Ever check your payslip… your student debt… your mortgage… and wonder if you’re just treading water?

    You’re not alone, and you’re not stuck.

    In this episode we revisit one of the most neglected topics in the profession: money.

    Hubert sits down with US-based financial adviser Eric Miller to break down the decisions that can actually move the money-needle for employed vets: from budgeting and debt to investing, insurance, and increasing your income. (We do global principles with US specifics)

    No jargon. No guilt. Just a clear starting point for vets who know they should have a plan… but haven’t begun yet.

    Here’s what you’ll learn:

    • Why practice ownership isn’t the only route to financial security
    • The one habit that underpins every solid financial plan
    • A simple 70/20/10 framework for spending, investing, and enjoying your money
    • How to handle student debt without letting it control your life
    • Whether to prioritise debt repayment, investing- or both
    • The difference between good debt and bad debt (and why it matters)
    • How automation quietly builds wealth in the background
    • What young vets need to know about insurance, income growth, and lifestyle creep

    And perhaps most importantly:

    A more grounded, reassuring view of the profession itself.

    Yes, financial pressure is real.
    But Eric will convince you that veterinary medicine is still a strong, high-potential career - IF you do it right.



    ⁠thevetvault.com⁠ for show notes, access to our clinical continuing education content and to sign up for our weekly 'best of the Vet Vault' newsletter, or join us in person at one of our phenomenal Vets On Tour conferences.


    Topics and Time Stamps

    04:24 Biggest Financial Mistakes

    05:42 Budgeting & The 70/20/10 Rule

    14:41 Retirement Planning & 401k

    24:09 Student Debt & How to Tackle It

    26:22 Loan Forgiveness

    28:58 Pay Off Debt vs. Invest

    31:53 The Debt Snowball Method (it's a good thing!)

    33:55 Increasing Your Income

    37:44 Constructive vs. Destructive Debt

    41:35 Insurance & Health Coverage

    44:06 Looking Ahead: The Veterinary Industry

    49:45 One Financial Habit for Ne w Grads


    We love to hear from you. If you have a question for us or you’d like to give us some feedback please get in touch via our contact or catch up with us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.

    And if you like what you hear, please share the love by clicking on the share button wherever you’re listening and sending a link to someone who you think should hear this.

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    53 m
  • 155: Antibiotic Prescribing Habits Vets Need To Ditch Now. With Dr Riati Scarborough and Dr Laura Hardefeldt
    Feb 13 2026

    Four years after our original antibiotic myth-busting episode (Ep 60), we’re back with Dr Riati Scarborough to talk antibiotic prescribing habits. This time we’re joined by fellow stewardship expert Dr Laura Hardefeldt, and this time we’re asking the harder question:

    Have we actually changed?

    The good news? Some prescribing habits are shifting. We’re seeing shorter courses and less ‘just in case antibiotic usage.

    But let’s not pat ourselves on the back too quickly. Because some of our most entrenched habits are still alive and well, like how we treat skin disease, and our ongoing love affair with amoxiclav.

    This episode is a practical, clinically grounded update on what the evidence says in 2026 - and how to make realistic changes without compromising patient care.

    We cover:

    • Why skin disease remains the single biggest driver of antimicrobial resistance in small animal practice, and what to do about it
    • Amoxicillin vs amoxiclav: when de-escalation is not just safe, but smarter
    • Why convenience (you know the brand we’re talking about right…) is not a clinical indication
    • Trimethoprim-sulphonamide and the real story on KCS risk
    • Dentals, heart murmurs, and what prophylaxis actually looks like in 2026
    • Simple in-clinic stewardship strategies that genuinely shift prescribing behaviour

    This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress.

    If you’d like effective antibiotics to still exist in five to ten years…

    This episode is essential listening.


    Find out how we can support you in your vet career at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thevetvault.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    ⁠Subscribe to our weekly newsletter⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for Hubert's favourite clinical and non-clinical learnings from the week.

    Grab one last handful of spots in the Maldives for our surf/dive vet conference with ⁠Vets On Tour⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.


    Tips and Timestamps

    • 3:03 Progress in prescribing habits including UTI durations and surgical prophylaxis
    • 4:55 Skin disease as the biggest problem area in small animal practice
    • 7:01 Topical therapy versus systemic antibiotics for skin conditions
    • 9:28 Deep pyoderma and the new consensus statement
    • 11:00 Gut bacteria as a source of resistant infections
    • 12:41 Rise of MRSP, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius
    • 14:00 Amoxicillin-clavulanate overuse
    • 16:47 Vets on Tour conferences advertisement
    • 18:08 Pharmacology refresher on amoxicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, and cefovecin
    • 19:45 Why cefovecin is classified as high importance, vs the convenience argument for cefovecin in cats
    • 22:56 Long-acting amoxicillin injections as an alternative
    • 24:00 Getting amoxicillin back on the shelf
    • 24:53 Communicating antibiotic choices to clients
    • 29:32 Dental antibiotics and debunking the heart murmur myth
    • 34:07 Subclinical bacteriuria and stopping cultures in asymptomatic patients
    • 38:30 Reassessing the dry eye risk of trimethoprim-sulfonamide
    • 41:43 Antimicrobial stewardship trial using colour-coded pharmacy shelves




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    45 m
  • 154: Stop the Energy Drain: Productivity Coaching for Vets in Clinic Chaos. With Demir Bentley and Dr Ray Gates
    Jan 30 2026

    Veterinary life can feel like a treadmill with no off-switch: 15-minute consults that always run over. Emotional labour no one trains you for. A schedule that swings from slow to chaos - in minutes.

    Sound familiar? You’re not alone.

    In this raw and refreshingly real episode, productivity coach Demir Bentley (Life Hack Method) live-coaches GP vet Dr Ray Gates, tackling the uncomfortable truth of veterinary medicine:You’re expected to be clinically excellent… while running on empty.

    This isn’t a listicle of “10 productivity hacks.”This is about reclaiming 1% wins that actually work in the chaos of clinical life.

    You’ll learn:

    • Why productivity isn’t about doing more - it’s about protecting your energy
    • How “chaos as the default” leads to burnout (and how you can change the system, not just yourself)
    • How to lower your cognitive load and reduce admin fatigue
    • The art of setting goals that don’t become another source of stress
    • Small upstream shifts that stop downstream disasters
    • How to finish a shift and still feel like you

    Whether you’re buried in charting, stuck in overbooked consults, or silently wondering if you’re just not “resilient enough” - this conversation will show you another way.

    You don’t need another motivational quote.You need practical tools to get your time, headspace, and energy back.

    And it starts here.


    Raise your hand here to find out more about our AI for clinics Mastermind

    Find out how we can help you build you in your vet career at ⁠⁠⁠⁠thevetvault.com⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    ⁠Subscribe to our weekly newsletter⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for Hubert's favourite clinical and non-clinical learnings from the week.


    Topics and Time Stamps

    10:56 The problem

    23:04 The revenge binge

    26:10 Taking back the 1%

    35:52 Upstream changes to prevent downstream chaos

    41:31 Expectations vs reality

    52:05 You are not powerless

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    1 h y 7 m
  • 153: What’s Holding You Back? 3 Keys to Rewiring Your Brain for Calm, Confidence, and Clarity. With Dr Rod Irwin
    Jan 16 2026

    Ever feel like your anxiety or fear of failure is just... who you are?

    The perfectionism. The overthinking. The constant pressure to “get it right.”

    It can feel like it’s wired into your DNA.

    But what if it isn’t?

    Dr Rod Irwin, vet, former clinic owner and author tells us how who went from panic attacks in an empty vet clinic to a completely rewired life - thanks to neuroscience.

    After hitting breaking point, a chance encounter with neuroscience set him on a 15-year journey into neuroplasticity and positive psychology - and ultimately changed how he led.

    Together, we unpack how our brains are shaped by past experiences, why vets are particularly vulnerable to negative belief loops, and how we can deliberately rewire our thinking to reduce anxiety, improve performance and build healthier workplace cultures.

    We explore:

    • Why early experiences like bullying and perfectionism hardwire us for burnout
    • What neuroplasticity actually means, and why this isn't just “positive thinking”
    • How emotions strengthen or weaken your neural pathways
    • Dr Irwin’s first 3 practical steps to start rewiring your brain
    • Why your identity is the key to lasting change
    • How clinic leaders unconsciously set the emotional tone for the entire team
    • And how reconnecting to purpose and values can transform your culture

    This is a science-backed, practical conversation on mindset, leadership and wellbeing – tailored to the veterinary world.

    Because your brain isn’t broken.It’s just wired by experience - and you can change the wiring.

    ⁠⁠

    Learn about all 12 keys here, or here if you're a practice owner, or book a chat with Rod here.

    Find out how we can support you in your vet career at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thevetvault.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    ⁠Subscribe to our weekly newsletter⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for Hubert's favourite clinical and non-clinical learnings from the week.

    Grab one last handful of spots in the Maldives for our surf/dive vet conference with Vets On Tour⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    Get case support from our team of specialists in our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Specialist Support Space⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    Check out our Advanced Surgery Podcast at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠cutabove.supercast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or go all in on surgery with our collaboration with Sydney University's ⁠⁠⁠CVE Surgery Course.


    Más Menos
    1 h y 2 m
  • 152: Tech Tools 1: VetRec. With Kevin Cohen
    Dec 19 2025

    Welcome to episode one of our new Tech Tools series, where we cut through the noise to bring you real insights into the latest veterinary tech that could genuinely make your day‑to‑day vet life easier.

    In part one VetRec founder Kevin Cohen helps me put this AI scribe through its paces to show us why veterinary AI software is rapidly moving WAY beyond just note taking.


    Highlights :

    • What an AI scribe really is and how it saves vets hours of documentation time
    • Beyond scribing - new tools to speed up your workflow with increased reliability and context
    • VetRec’s clinical support tool: D.A.V.I.D. (Diagnostics Assistance for Veterinary Insights and Differentials)
    • Team workflows — how receptionists, nurses and vets can collaborate in the same platform


    This one involves a bit of screen sharing, so if you want to follow along - watch the video for this on Spotify.

    Note: This episode isn’t a promotion or an ad — it’s the first of many deep dives into the tools you might be considering. If you have a software that you’d like us to explore, let me know at info@thevetvault.com


    Check out our Advanced Surgery Podcast at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠cutabove.supercast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or go all in on surgery with our collaboration with Sydney University's ⁠CVE Surgery Course. ⁠

    Find out how we can help you build you in your vet career at ⁠⁠⁠thevetvault.com⁠⁠⁠.

    Get case support from our team of specialists in our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Specialist Support Space⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    ⁠Subscribe to our weekly newsletter⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for Hubert's favourite clinical and non-clinical learnings from the week.

    Join us in person for our epic adventure CE events at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Vets On Tour⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. (Next up: Japan snow conference!)


    Topics and Time stamps


    • 04:05 – New Features 2025
    • 05:19 – Add to Visit
    • 07:46 – DictationFeatures
    • 08:35 – A Cut Above Promo
    • 10:08 – Snippets
    • 12:15 – Insights & Recommendations
    • 13:59 – Integrations
    • 16:06 – EzyVet Chrome Extension
    • 17:05 – Custom Templates
    • 17:58 – Phone Call Recording
    • 21:38 – Multi-Pet Support
    • 22:33 – Client Handouts
    • 24:07 – Analysis Features
    • 28:38 – David AI Assistant
    • 38:03 – Records Recap
    • 41:09 – Team Access
    • 42:29 – Best Recording Practices


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    46 m
  • 151: Why Do I Still Feel Like Such an Imposter? (This Is What Getting Better Feels Like). With Dr Marie Holowaychuck, Dr Kerry Nelson and Dr Rob Webster
    Dec 7 2025
    Am I a useless vet?Sounds like a silly question that a new grad might ask, right? But imposter syndrome doesn't care about your credentials. It whispers that you're a fraud, that you got lucky, that one day everyone will realise you don’t belong. Or maybe you don’t feel like an imposter - but you beat yourself up after a case goes wrong. You replay every missed diagnosis. You hold yourself to an impossible standard, and when you fall short (even slightly), the inner critic shows no mercy.Sound familiar?In veterinary medicine, where perfection often feels like the baseline and the emotional toll runs deep, these patterns can be exhausting.But here’s the truth: you’re not the only one who feels this way.In this raw and honest conversation, we unpack:Why imposter syndrome isn’t just a new grad thing - it can resurface anytime you step into something new, no matter how experienced or accomplished you are (Just keep listening if you don’t believe me)What confidence really looks like - not knowing everything, but being willing to try, learn, and growWhy perfectionism is often at the root of imposter - and what to do about itMaking peace with the inner-criticWhy vulnerability matters A simple mindset shift that can make all the differenceAnd practical strategies to manage imposter feelings You’ll hear real stories, mindset tools, and the reminder that feeling “useless” says nothing about you. If you’ve ever questioned your abilities or felt like you're just pretending to hold it all together - this episode is your mirror.You belong here. And it’s time you believed that too.Our guests are: Dr Marie Holowaychuck - a board-certified emergency and critical care veterinarian and the founder of Reviving Vet Med, a global initiative dedicated to equipping veterinary professionals with practical tools for mental health, resilience, and work–life balance, and the author of A Compassionate Calling: What It Really Means to be a Veterinarian.Check out her new book here. Dr Kerry Nelson: Experienced ER vet, mentor and former medical director. First time mom-to-be! (She has an epic blog about over-achieving - here.) Dr Rob Webster: Co-Chief Executive Officer of Animal Emergency Australia, the leading veterinary emergency-care group down under, where he oversees clinical standards and consults on complex emergency and critical-care cases. A board-certified specialist in emergency and critical care since 2014. Jiu-jitsu tragic. Check out our Advanced Surgery Podcast at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠cutabove.supercast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or go all in on surgery with our collaboration with Sydney University's CVE Surgery Course. Find out how we can help you build you in your vet career at ⁠⁠thevetvault.com⁠⁠.Get case support from our team of specialists in our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Specialist Support Space⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠Subscribe to our weekly newsletter⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for Hubert's favourite clinical and non-clinical learnings from the week.Join us in person for our epic adventure CE events at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Vets On Tour⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. (Next up: Japan snow conference!) Topics and Time stamps04:28 You're not alone09:56 What is a syndrome?15:49   Defining Imposter Syndrome19:44 Maybe It's Just Kinda Normal?22:10 So What Can We Do About It?27:22 The Eternal Internal Critic30:22 Talk It Out35:59 Vulnerability As A Weapon Against Imposter39:03 This Is What Getting Better Feels Like40:18 Perfectionism - The Root of Imposter49:28 At Least You'er Not a Psychopath!51:04 The Best People Are Filled With Self-Doubt51:56 Mistakes Happen
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    57 m