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Blunt DissectionThe best minds in veterinary medicine, academia & business profiled so you can learn from their experience. Author: Blunt Dissection
The Blunt Dissection Podcast exists because everyone has a story worth listening to. It's the original and best interview podcast in veterinary medicine where the best minds in the various subcultures of veterinary medicine (and sometimes outside) are profiled/deconstructed so you can listen to their remarkable stories, and also learn the habits, routines, thought processes and anything else that makes these individuals so good at what they do. Whats in it for you to listen? For some, it's entertainment, for others the show offers inspiration. My hope is that once youve seen the pathway to success all you have to do is follow the breadcrumbs. Simple right? So what are you waiting for? Let's jump in and get to know some amazing people better. :) Sometimes funny, sometimes dark but always entertaining - welcome to the hidden world of veterinary success. Your host is Dr Dave Nicol, a veterinarian, occasional CEO, multiple time author, international speaker and mentor/coach to countless vets, nurses and managers in veterinary leadership roles across the world through VetX International. Language: en Genres: Business, Careers, Education, Self-Improvement Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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85: Clients, Colleagues, and Chaos: A Survival Guide with Debra Vey Voda-Hamilton
Episode 85
Tuesday, 24 June, 2025
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 GraceEpisode LinksHamilton Law & MediationWhy Do Pets Matter PodcastBook: Nipped in the Bud, Not in the Butt by Debra Vey Voda-HamiltonBook: Leading with Dignity by Dr. Donna HicksThe Link Coalition – https://nationallinkcoalition.org – exploring the link between animal abuse and human violenceRuby’s Law (UK domestic abuse + pet welfare legislation)
