Dr. Fred Metzger is not your typical veterinary speaker. He grew up in a converted church, stocked his swimming pool with fish, and once came home to find his family had bought a cougar kitten. So yes… unorthodox is probably the right word.

But behind the stories is something far more important.

Dr. Fred Metzger has spent 40 years in the profession, built a 13-doctor hospital from scratch, and stayed when many others would have walked away. He’s seen the best of veterinary medicine - and some of the worst. And he’s not shy about saying what needs to be said.

In this episode, we go deep. We talk about mentorship, consolidation, culture, and why so many good vets are quietly burning out or leaving altogether. We get into the tension between corporate systems and real-world practice - and what gets lost when leadership forgets to listen.

But most of all, we talk about something deceptively simple that could change how you practise tomorrow:

The lab.

Dr. Fred Metzger makes the case - passionately and convincingly - that diagnostic thinking is the most underused superpower in veterinary medicine. Not as a money-making tool. But as the engine of better decisions, better medicine, and better conversations with clients.

That belief has now turned into something tangible. Dr. Fred Metzger has partnered with Purdue University to launch a new clinical pathology programme - built to help vets actually understand and use the lab, not just run tests and hope for the best.

You can read more about that here.

There’s humour in this one. There’s a bit of fire too. And if you’re willing to reflect on your own practice, there’s a lot to take away.

[00:02:00] Meet Dr. Fred Metzger

[00:07:00] The mentorship article that hit a nerve

[00:13:00] “You’ll never be a vet” moment

[00:19:00] Growing up differently

[00:31:00] What success actually means

[00:39:00] The mentorship gap in vet med

[00:41:00] Where consolidation goes wrong

[00:51:00] The lab as your superpower

[01:00:00] Show the “broken car part”

[01:05:00] What really drives a practice

[01:15:00] Would you do it on your dog?

[01:22:00] Why mastering the lab matters

[01:53:00] Why we overcomplicate care

• Laboratory Retrievers (Dr. Fred Metzger’s clinical pathology course)
• Purdue x Laboratory Retrievers Programme Launch
• Connect with Dr. Fred Metzger on LinkedIn

Follow me: @drdavenicol

Dr. Dave Nicol’s Practice Reflection Tool

The 10-minute Practice Reflection helps you see what’s creating pressure in your practice - and get clear next steps to make it easier to lead. Built from two decades of working with veterinary practice owners.

Take the reflection.

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Debra’s story is wild. She’s worked in the courts. She’s bred Irish Setters. She’s been the PTA president (which, as she says, is like running the UN with biscuits). But what makes her special is her ability to meet people in the thick of their mess, whether it's a lawsuit over a pregnant rescue dog or a front-desk blowup, and find the gold.

In this episode, I sit down with Debra Vey Voda-Hamilton, a former litigator turned mediator turned conflict resolution master. And trust me, if you’ve ever had a client, colleague, or complaint that made you question your career, this conversation is for you.

We talk about ego, emotional intelligence, and why boundary-setting isn't just about saying “no.” We unpack the tiny shifts in language that can turn an explosive moment into something manageable. And we dig into a story from my early days that still sits with me, a story about a cat, a fractured jaw, and a moral gut-punch I’ll never forget.

This episode is practical, honest, and (if you’re brave enough to look in the mirror) potentially career-changing. Debra brings the kind of wisdom we need more of in vet med: compassionate, clear, and totally unafraid of the hard stuff.

Episode Highlights

[00:01:00] You Can’t Control Others

[00:05:30] How Debra Went from Courtroom to Vet Med

[00:10:15] The Rescue Dog Case That Changed Everything

[00:14:30] Mediation vs. Litigation

[00:17:05] Ego, Suicide, and the Cost of Silence

[00:21:15] What Vets and Lawyers Share (It’s Not Just Stress)

[00:24:00] 12 Needle Sticks and a Lesson in Dignity

[00:28:45] Are Clients the Problem? Or Are We?

[00:33:20] Your Practice Culture Shapes Everything

[00:38:10] Active Listening Without Losing Yourself

[00:46:00] Dave’s Story: The One That Still Hurts

[00:52:45] Divorce, Control, and the Cat in the Middle

[01:01:00] Conflict Prevention Starts with Culture

[01:06:00] Debra’s Stop-Drop-Roll Method

[01:08:00] What Clients Really Want (Hint: Not Money)

[01:14:30] 10 Ways We Undermine Dignity Without Realising

[01:27:30] Communication Is Part of the Medicine

[01:34:15] The Case for Leading with Grace

• Hamilton Law & Mediation
• Why Do Pets Matter Podcast
• Book: Nipped in the Bud, Not in the Butt by Debra Vey Voda-Hamilton
• Book: Leading with Dignity by Dr. Donna Hicks
• The Link Coalition – https://nationallinkcoalition.org – exploring the link between animal abuse and human violence
• Ruby’s Law (UK domestic abuse + pet welfare legislation)

In this episode, I’m joined by the remarkable Mike Porteous, a triathlon coach, open-water swimmer, and deep thinker whose approach to performance, confidence, and coaching is anything but ordinary.

Mike is a Level 3 Triathlon Coach, British Triathlon mentor, and the founder of Zig Zag Alive. His career spans decades, starting in academia and the UK civil service before pivoting into endurance sport coaching. He’s worked with athletes of all levels, from first-timers to elite competitors, and is passionate about fostering “confidence-centered coaching,” a method rooted not in data or drills, but in presence, ease, and self-trust. He’s also coaching me through my triathlon journey and many of his ideas and methods could, I believe, be highly useful to us inside veterinary medicine as we navigate our own challenges.

We dive into Mike’s journey from working in Brazilian economics and UK industrial policy to launching an outdoor sports business, and eventually finding his home in helping others find their flow. A Swim England instructor and writer for the Outdoor Swimming Society, Mike combines intellectual insight with lived experience, including the healing power of endurance sport after personal loss.

From redefining resilience and flow to explaining why confidence doesn’t “exist” in the way we think it does, Mike’s perspective is a refreshing and deeply humane take on success and coaching, both inside and outside sport.

So whether you're a veterinary leader looking to inspire your team, an athlete seeking sustainable growth, or simply someone navigating your next life chapter, this conversation will leave you with more than a few moments to ponder.

Pour a coffee or step outside for a walk, this one’s rich, reflective, and full of gentle, powerful wisdom.

[00:01:00] What Is Confidence-Centered Coaching?

[00:04:25] The Cold Water Effect

[00:12:00] Be Kind and Brave

[00:16:00] Mike’s Zigzag Career Path

[00:27:00] Resilient Businesses in Crisis

[00:38:45] Sport, Loss & Recovery

[00:44:00] From Grief to Growth

[00:53:00] Running for Joy

[01:01:00] Redefining Confidence

[01:16:00] What Breaks Confidence

[01:25:00] Coaching vs Mentoring

[01:36:00] Coaching in Leadership

[01:45:00] Letting Others Own It

[01:52:00] Presence & Belonging

• Zig Zag Alive Coaching: https://zigzagalive.com
• Mike’s book: Confidence Centered Coaching
• Outdoor Swimming Society: https://www.outdoorswimmingsociety.com
• Beyond Belief: The Art of Confident Centred Coaching with Mike Porteous and Claire Pedrick
• Coaching Yourself Confident by Julie Smith
• The Inner Game of Tennis by Timothy Gallwey
• Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
• Ordinary Magic by Ann Masten

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