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Vet Mind Works Podcast

Vet Mind Works Podcast

By: Petra Agthe Alison Collings
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About this listen

This podcast is for veterinary professionals who are looking for better ways of working and living. We discuss mind-sets, mind skills, behaviours and habits, which support sustainable performance and wellbeing in a challenging profession, and allow us to develop our own 'best veterinary self'. Podcast hosts Petra Agthe and Alison Collings (two vets with a long-standing interest in psychology and related disciplines) interview interesting guests, ranging from veterinary colleagues to psychologists, who share their knowledge, experiences and insights on specific subjects. Occasionally, we also schedule a 'rest and digest' episode in which we discuss and reflect on previous topics. This is a podcast for the whole veterinary community and we encourage listeners to provide feedback and enter the discussion! You can do this by sending us an email to vetmindworks@gmail.com. We are happily funding this podcast ourselves to keep it independent.

© 2025 Vet Mind Works Podcast
Hygiene & Healthy Living Science
Episodes
  • 37. Civility - with Helen Silver-MacMahon
    Aug 6 2025

    What exactly is civility? Why does it matter? And how does it impact workplace culture?

    In this insightful episode, host Petra is joined by Helen Silver MacMahon for a deep dive into this topic. Together, they explore aspects such as

    • What civility really means
    • The historical and philosophical roots of civil behavior
    • How incivility undermines safety and performance in veterinary and legal professions
    • How incivility may increase error risk
    • The important role of leaders in modelling civility

    and much more!

    Helen's most favourite resource on the topic:

    Podcast episode with Christ Turner (co-founder of Civility Saves Life) on Helen's How To Thrive podcast: https://shows.acast.com/how-to-thrive/episodes/civility-saves-lives-chris-turner

    TEDx talk about Civility with Chris Turner: https://www.tedxexeter.com/speakers/chris-turner-2/

    Veterinary Incivility Toolkit by the University of Aberdeen, including downloadable 'Keeping it Civil' Guide: https://research.abdn.ac.uk/applied-psych-hf/vit/

    Where to find Helen:
    How To Be Human: www.being-human.co.uk

    The How To Thrive Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/how-to-thrive/id1725114820

    Find Helen on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/helen-silver-macmahon-b0b467183 and on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivinginvetmed?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=MXMyM3h6Z2pxcmJzcQ==

    Tickets and more information for How to Thrive event and the next cohort of Civility in Action: https://buytickets.at/beinghumanconsultingltd1

    Previous Vet Mind Works Podcast episodes related to this topic:

    Inclusion and Diversity with Georgina Sharman

    Self-regulation with Crina Dragu

    Self-awareness with Clive Elwood


    This podcast is in partnership with the Veterinary Information Network (VIN). More about VIN here.

    We value your feedback! Please email us your thoughts, ideas and suggestions to vetmindworks@gmail.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook

    Want to find out more about our hosts ? Follow on LinkedIn

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/petra-agthe-562bb65b

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/clive-elwood-b7aba216/

    Credits:
    Music- Deep Ambience by Coma-Media, Pixabay; Images for Artwork- OpenClipart-Vectors, Pixabay

    Show More Show Less
    53 mins
  • 36. The Power of Connection - with Julie Rosser
    Jul 2 2025

    "Who do I want to be in this moment?"

    What would happen if we would ask ourselves this question more often?

    You can find one possible answer to this and other questions in this episode. Host Petra Agthe is joined by Julie Rosser, veterinary leader and CEO of the European Board of Specialisation, in a conversation about personal and professional growth, and about hope, agency and transformation.

    Julie offers many insights and ideas on the Why and How of deepening our connections with other people. This conversation covers the importance of meaningful relationships for collaboration, effective teamwork, job satisfaction and overall impact. Julie also explains how intentionality, self-awareness and curiosity can help us in relationship development, rather than relying solely on confidence.

    Julies most favourite resources on the topic:

    Professional Relationships with Keith Ferrazi: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/never-lead-alone-relationship-revolution-powers-elite-keith-ferrazzi-14iuf/

    A taster of Alison Armstrong's phenomenal work around understanding & partnership:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeAQ6Yz2-M0

    Where to find Julie:
    Julies Profile on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/julie-rosser-34393847

    EBVS website: https://www.ebvs.eu/

    You can also find out more about Julie in her Veterinary Woman Profile: https://veterinarywoman.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/filpbook-cfc-2025/?page=44.

    Previous episodes relating to this topic:

    The Myth of Difficult People with Phil Webb

    Active Listening with Mark Turner

    Vulnerability with Megan Alderson

    Compassion with Katherine Wakelin and Megan Davis

    Self-Regulation with Crina Dragu

    Confidence with Rachel Paul



    This podcast is in partnership with the Veterinary Information Network (VIN). More about VIN here.

    We value your feedback! Please email us your thoughts, ideas and suggestions to vetmindworks@gmail.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook

    Want to find out more about our hosts ? Follow on LinkedIn

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/petra-agthe-562bb65b

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/clive-elwood-b7aba216/

    Credits:
    Music- Deep Ambience by Coma-Media, Pixabay; Images for Artwork- OpenClipart-Vectors, Pixabay

    Show More Show Less
    47 mins
  • 35. The Myth of Difficult People - with Phil Webb
    Jun 4 2025

    Consider this for a moment: What if there were no difficult people?

    What if it was more about difficult situations, circumstances and behaviours?

    What if we could all learn to deal to engage more constructively with others in these difficult situations?

    Our guest Phil Webb encourages us to do just this and he knows what he is talking about from working in a client facing role for most of his career. In the conversation with host Petra Agthe, Phil offers helpful tips and tools that have helped him and his colleagues to deal with these challenging situations more constructively – ranging from the importance of getting to know ourselves better to reframing anger.

    Books mentioned in this episode:

    The Chimp Paradox, by Prof Steve Peters

    The 7 Habits of Highly Effectice People, by Stephen R Covey (the circle of control)

    Publications about the link between reading fiction and empathy:

    https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.1239918?sid=f192d0cc-1443-4bf1-a043-61410da39519

    https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3559433/#:~:text=It%20has%20been%20suggested%20that%20people%20who%20read%20a%20lot,their%20interpersonal%20skills%20%5B3%5D.

    Where to find Phil:
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philip-webb-0b42a7173/

    Previous episodes relating to this topic:

    Clinical communication with Helen Øvregaard

    Active Listening with Mark Turner

    Compassion with Katherine Wakelin and Megan Davis

    Self-Regulation with Crina Dragu



    This podcast is in partnership with the Veterinary Information Network (VIN). More about VIN here.

    We value your feedback! Please email us your thoughts, ideas and suggestions to vetmindworks@gmail.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook

    Want to find out more about our hosts ? Follow on LinkedIn

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/petra-agthe-562bb65b

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/clive-elwood-b7aba216/

    Credits:
    Music- Deep Ambience by Coma-Media, Pixabay; Images for Artwork- OpenClipart-Vectors, Pixabay

    Show More Show Less
    52 mins
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