In this energizing and real episode of ReadyVetGo, Dr. Dani Rabwin sits down with Dr. Jake Rastas—a new grad veterinarian, rotating intern at the University of Georgia, and ultra marathon runner—for a conversation about mentorship, confidence, and mental resilience in early-career veterinary medicine.

From Division I football to vet school to internship life, Jake shares how mentors shaped his path, how to stay competitive without becoming toxic, and why you don’t need confidence before doing something hard—confidence often comes after you do it. If you’re a vet student, new grad, or intern trying to build your skills while managing pressure, this one will hit home.

📌 What You’ll Learn:

• Mentorship that actually changes your career (and the “pay it forward” culture of vet med)
• How to build confidence after the hard thing—not before
• Ultra marathon mindset: “This is what hard feels like”
• Healthy competition without rooting for others to fail
• Time management during internship + intense training schedules
• Learning procedures for the first time: readiness, reality, and resources

🎬 Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro: Dani + Jake (new grad, UGA rotating intern, ultra runner)

01:30 – Jake’s path: D1 football → vet school → internship

04:10 – Mentors who changed everything (and why “pay it forward” matters)

07:05 – Competitive drive without becoming toxic

10:20 – “This is what hard feels like”: ultra running as mental training

13:40 – Confidence isn’t the prerequisite—action is

16:05 – Internship time management + training while exhausted

19:10 – First-time procedures: resources, prep, and staying safe

22:30 – Handling pressure, feedback, and the learning curve

25:40 – What Jake wants new grads to hear right now

👇 QUESTION FOR YOU: What’s one hard thing you’re leaning into right now in vet school, internship, or practice?

Season 1 Ep18

✅ If this helped, like, subscribe, and share with a vet student or new grad who needs it today.

🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

📲 Follow: @readyvetgo_

📧 Contact: info@pacificlensstudios.com

#ReadyVetGo #VeterinaryMedicine #VetMentorship #NewGradVet #VetInternship #VetStudent #UltraMarathonRunner #Confidence #MentalResilience