The Vet Tech Cafe's Podcast

Caffeinators, guten tag! The Vet Tech Cafe is on the road again! This time we are headed to Switzerland! We recently sat down with Natasha Summerfield to talk all things life as a veterinary technician and VTS in Switzerland. This was a great discussion and she talked to us about education and credentialing, utilization and collaboration, public perception, and so much more, including her travels and work so several other countries. You don't want to miss this one. We hope you're enjoying our international series as much as we are! Our Links: Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/ Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do. 🐾 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/vettechcafe

Caffeinators, to finish our Mental Health Awareness Month series, we finally connected with Tosha Zimmerman! We were working on having Tosha as a guest a few years ago but she lost her job and she moved into a different field. We've wanted to talk to her for a long time, and time was right to talk about looking for work in another field, and transferability of skills and all that was the focus for our series! And what a great conversation through all of that. Many of us have peaked over the fence at other professions but often think none of our skills are transferrable, or we'll have to start at the bottom, or nobody will hire us. News flash: Many of are skills transfer quite well, we can be trained to do anything, some professions bottom of the totem pole is higher than our top, and we're hirable. So, if you find yourself thinking it's time to move on from this career, this episode is a must-listen. Our Links: Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/ Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do. 🐾 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/vettechcafe

Caffeinators, get in-we're going to the land down under! For this episode, we headed all the way to Sydney, Australia to chat with Melissa Shoard! Melissa is a VTS(ECC) with a whole bunch of other credentials that we asked her to explain. We chatted about education and credentialing in Australia, her work with the VNCA, her podcast that she records, and so much more! This was such a fun episode, you definitely want to check it out. These stories from our colleagues around the world are not to be missed. Our Links: Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/ Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do. 🐾 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/vettechcafe

Welcome to the taproom! We've got a lot of upcoming international guests that we're really excited about. We also talk about the big news with Chewy. And of course dinner party questions! What do you want to be remembered for? What's your favorite sandwich? Let us know in the comments!

We recorded our first live episode at NAVC's HiVE Midwest conference in Covington Kentucky! We had some great guests stop by to chat with us about the conference. We're hoping to do this again at future HiVE conferences. Show Links: Hive South: https://experience.navc.com/event/HiVESouth2026/summary?utm_campaign=HiVE_2026&utm_medium=website&utm_source=content Hive East: https://experience.navc.com/event/HiVEEast2026/summary?utm_campaign=HiVE_2026&utm_medium=website&utm_source=content Beckie Mosser GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-beckie-after-house-fire Our Links: Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/ Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do. 🐾 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/vettechcafe

Caffeinators, grab your poutine and a cup of Tim Horton's because we're going back north of the border! Barb Deg recently came by the Vet Tech Cafe, and her journey through vet med alone is worth the price of admission, but then we talked all things behavior and scent dogs, and so much more cool stuff. She has her own behavior consulting business and we talk about what all is involved in that, training scent dogs-SPOILER ALERT she trained a bed bug scent dog!!-and so much more. Don't miss it! Show Links: IAABC iaabc.org Our Links: Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/ Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do. 🐾 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/vettechcafe

Caffeinators, do you feel ... "vintage"? This episode is for you. What is vintage, you ask? There's no specific age or length of time in the field, rather, it's more how your body feels physically after working in this field. Do you have more than one joint that pops when you get off the floor? You're vintage. Do you wear special shoes or wear inserts to help your back? You're vintage. and on and on. Our friend Karen Roach came back by to talk to us about all things "being vintage" as a veterinary technician. If you're not quite vintage yet, you'll get a few good laughs at our expense, but if you can relate, you'll feel it in your bones and joints. Don't miss it! Our Links: Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/ Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do. 🐾 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/vettechcafe

Caffeinators, Vet Tech Cafe is Australian for podcast. If you're vintage like us, you may remember that Foster's beer commercial and when you hear this episode, it'll make more sense. We're headed back down under to check in again with Cat Walker! You may know her as Radio Vet Nurse, but she's launched a veterinary mediation business as she has a law background, and as you know, we always want to talk to those that are blazing their own path! This was a fascinating discussion about mediation and what that looks like and how it applies to our field, and we also covered a lot of other ground as well. You don't want to miss this one-if nothing else, for her accent! Show Links: "Generations" by Jean Twenge: https://www.jeantwenge.com/generations-book-by-dr-jean-twenge/ "The Anxious Generation" by Jonathan Haidt https://www.anxiousgeneration.com/book EMDR therapy for PTSD https://www.amazon.com.au/EMDR-Breakthrough-Therapy-Overcoming-Anxiety/dp/0465096743 Our Links: Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/ Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do. 🐾 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/vettechcafe

Our year end taproom! We said it in this episode, but we'll say it again. Thank you to your patreons. They really make doing this podcast so much easier. Have a listen and hear our favorite episodes for this year. Tell us what your favorite episodes were this year!

Caffeinators, you know we don't often have guests at the Vet Tech Cafe that aren't credentialed technicians, but when we do, it means it's an important conversation. This is one of those episodes. Caitlin Palmer came by recently and she is a career CSR and is on the President's Advisory Board for the North American Association of Veterinary Receptionists, NAAVR. Did you know that existed? Some amazing people have started that organization and we talk a lot about it and the role of the CSR, and also that sometimes contentious dynamic of the front vs back of the hospital. There is some real wisdom and entertainment in this episode, don't miss it! Show Links: https://naavr.org/ https://www.myvetcandy.com/blog/2025/8/4/from-vet-receptionist-to-comedy-queen-how-caitlin-palmer-is-helping-to-revolutionizing-veterinary-education Our Links: Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/ Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do. 🐾 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/vettechcafe

Caffeinators, you've been asking for him for years, and we were finally able to have Walter Brown come by the Vet Tech Cafe! We recently had lunch with him at IVECCS and had a long discussion about axolotls there, so we talked about his love of exotics, and tarantulas in particular. We also talked about content creation and how all of that came to be for him, which is a wild story. He's also very passionate about bringing veterinary medicine to inner city schools as a career option, so we talked about all that too! We covered so much ground in this one, and this could easily turn into a series of episodes. Our Links: Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/ Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do. 🐾 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/vettechcafe

Caffeinators, can you believe it's time to kick off Year 7 of the Vet Tech Cafe?! And you know what that means, our annual check in with Liz Hughston! This is an important one, as she's "retiring" from vet med. She'll still be active in some areas, but has already began scaling back in many others, and will continue to do so. So we talked about retirement from vet med and what that looks like, and also the dissolution of the National Veterinary Professionals Union, and the difficulty there. She thinks this might be her last episode with us, but we'll try to convince her to come back next year to see how retirement is actually going! Our Links: Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/ Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do. 🐾 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/vettechcafe

Caffeinators, you know we love to talk about veterinary technicians doing awesome things, and this episode with Sara Hunt is no different! We talk about her VTS in Diagnostic Imaging and how she's using that to perform ultrasounds! She actually started long before the VTS(DI) existed, but is now putting her title to good use! She takes us through training academies to perform ultrasounds, the inception of her Academy, and how she utilizes her training in her role. It's a fascinating discussion we know you'll enjoy! Show Links: https://avtdi.org/ Our Links: Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/ Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do. 🐾 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/vettechcafe