Irreplaceable Truths

Pacific Lens Studios
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“The veterinary podcast that tells the truth they never taught in school.” Welcome to Irreplaceable Truths — where real conversations meet real medicine. Hosted by Dr. Gershon Alaluf, this podcast strips away the fluff and dives into the raw, unfiltered realities of life in veterinary practice. From burnout to breakthroughs, difficult clients to emotional growth, every episode offers honest stories, practical insight, and a sense of solidarity for those who care deeply—for animals and for each other. Why You’ll Tune In: Real stories, not platitudes — wild emergencies, hard-earned wins, and painful lessons that made better professionalsVeterans teaching vets — insights from seasoned veterinarians, educators, and technicians who’ve lived itA dose of raw humanity — mental health, career resilience, boundaries, and growth in a high-pressure fieldCareer wisdom + self-care tips — made for early career vets, students, assistants, and those considering the field Who It’s For: Veterinary students, grads, and technicians navigating real clinic lifeEducators and mentors shaping the next generationAnimal lovers craving an honest backstage pass into vet medicinePractice managers building emotionally intelligent teamsAnyone feeling overwhelmed, overworked, or underprepared What Makes Us Different: No filtered soundbites—just real talk. Honest, grounded, and sometimes hilariously humanGuests from all corners of the field sharing insight you won’t find in textbooksA balance of heart and strategy—because medicine is personal, and so is this profession New episodes weekly on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms. Follow us: @Pacific.Lens.Studios Contact: info@pacificlensstudios.com

  1. Why People Still Choose Vet Med | Marianne Bailey on Clients & Boundaries | Irreplaceable Truths

    1D AGO

    Why People Still Choose Vet Med | Marianne Bailey on Clients & Boundaries | Irreplaceable Truths

    Why do people still want to be veterinarians—even knowing the mental health realities in vet med? And what happens when a profession built on compassion collides with angry clients, online reviews, and constant pressure to “do more”? Join host Dr. Gershon Alaluf and special guest Marianne Bailey, DVM for an insightful, inspiring episode of Irreplaceable Truths on what vet med really demands: communication, conflict skills, emotional control, and the human side of medicine that nobody warns you about early enough. Packed with honest stories, practical clinic tactics, and real-life perspective from a practice owner and creator, this episode offers grounded lessons for veterinarians, veterinary students, and animal care professionals. 🎧 What you’ll discover: – Why people still choose vet med (and the “human–animal bond” explanation that actually makes sense) – The truth about “I became a vet because I don’t like people” — and why that mindset fails fast – How Marianne handles hateful letters, voicemails, and reviews without carrying the emotional weight – The simple communication habits that reduce miscommunication on cost, expectations, and care plans 🐾 Who will love this episode: – Veterinarians & veterinary students – Animal care professionals – Veterinary educators and mentors – Animal lovers passionate about veterinary medicine – Practice owners, managers, and team leads dealing with client conflict and expectations 🎬 Timestamps: 00:00 – The hard question: why choose vet med with the mental health stats? 07:45 – Calling, identity, and the human–animal bond (“we’re all a little broken”) 15:30 – Generations, social media, and emotional resilience in modern medicine 23:15 – New grads, mentorship expectations, and working within real client limits 31:00 – Hateful letters, voicemails, and reviews: how to not absorb other people’s pain 38:45 – Preventing miscommunication: listening, recapping, and asking better questions 46:30 – Ownership reality: tools, training, speed, and making purchases make sense 54:15 – Euthanasia follow-ups, empathy, and why small gestures create lasting trust 1:01:00 – Money conversations without drama: estimates, checkpoints, and transparency 1:08:30 – Marianne’s irreplaceable truth: vet med is people-work as much as animal-work 🔔 Stay Connected: Like this video if you found value in this discussion. Drop your questions or share your veterinary stories in the comments. Subscribe & hit the bell icon to never miss an episode. 📚 Resources Mentioned: – QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) Suicide Prevention Training: qprinstitute.com – Human–Animal Bond (AVMA): avma.org – Marianne Bailey, DVM on Social Media: @vetHERnarian 🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms. 📸 Follow us: @Pacific.Lens.Studios 📥 Contact: info@pacificlensstudios.com Ep. 57 #VetMed #VeterinaryMedicine #IrreplaceableTruths

    1h 13m
  2. What Vet Med Gets Wrong About Success | Dr. Phil Richmond on Purpose & Burnout | Irreplaceable Truths

    JAN 19

    What Vet Med Gets Wrong About Success | Dr. Phil Richmond on Purpose & Burnout | Irreplaceable Truths

    What if burnout in vet med isn’t about weak resilience—but about how success is defined? And what happens when productivity and revenue matter more than people, culture, and psychological safety? Join host Dr. Gershon Alaluf and special guest Dr. Phil Richmond, DVM, CAPP, CPHSA, CCFP for an insightful, inspiring episode of Irreplaceable Truths exploring veterinary leadership, workplace culture, and what sustainable vet med actually looks like. Packed with professional wisdom, emotional insight, and lived experience, this episode offers grounded, practical lessons for veterinarians, veterinary students, and animal care professionals. 🎧 What you’ll discover: – Why measuring productivity alone quietly undermines veterinary teams – How leadership, culture, and systems shape burnout more than individual resilience – Why suicide prevention training matters—but can’t fix broken or unhealthy systems – How flexible boundaries, recognition, and humanity protect long-term careers in vet med 🐾 Who will love this episode: – Veterinarians & veterinary students – Animal care professionals – Veterinary educators and mentors – Animal lovers passionate about veterinary medicine – Practice owners, managers, and team leads 🎬 Timestamps: 00:00 – What vet med measures vs what actually matters 07:45 – Dr. Phil Richmond on leadership, culture, and mental health in vet med 15:30 – Resilience has limits: when systems overwhelm good people 23:15 – Moral injury in veterinary medicine and ethical exhaustion 31:00 – Overwork, boundaries, and behaviors vet med keeps rewarding 38:45 – Productivity-first culture and its impact on teams and retention 46:30 – Why toxicity isn’t called out like bad medicine 54:15 – Burnout, empathy loss, and emotional labor in clinics 1:01:00 – Vulnerability, leadership accountability, and trust 1:08:30 – How early-career vets can identify psychological safety 🔔 Stay Connected: Like this video if you found value in this discussion. Drop your questions or share your veterinary stories in the comments. Subscribe & hit the bell icon to never miss an episode. 📚 Resources Mentioned: – QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) Suicide Prevention Training: qprinstitute.com – Moral injury research in healthcare: fixmoralinjury.org – “Me, We, Us” framework (organizational psychology) 🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms. 📸 Follow us: @Pacific.Lens.Studios 📥 Contact: info@pacificlensstudios.com Ep. 56 #MoralInjury #Burnout #IrreplaceableTruths

    1h 13m
  3. AI Voice Agents in Vet Clinics | Dr. Tancredi on Missing Calls & Burnout | Irreplaceable Truths

    JAN 12

    AI Voice Agents in Vet Clinics | Dr. Tancredi on Missing Calls & Burnout | Irreplaceable Truths

    How many new clients (and urgent cases) are you losing when the phone goes unanswered? What would change if after-hours callers felt heard and guided instead of sent to voicemail? Join host Dr. Gershon Alaluf and special guest Dr. William Tancredi, DVM for an insightful, inspiring episode of Irreplaceable Truths focused on missed calls, clinic bandwidth, and how AI voice agents can improve client experience without replacing your team. This episode blends practical clinic leadership, the emotional realities of veterinary medicine, and real-world implementation lessons to deliver value for veterinarians, veterinary students, and animal care professionals. 🎧 What you’ll discover: – Why “AI doesn’t replace jobs — it replaces tasks” and why that distinction matters – The hidden cost of missed calls, after-hours gaps, and lost client trust – How to evaluate technology skeptically without getting stuck in “perfect or nothing” thinking – A simple framework to implement new tools without burning out your team 🐾 Who will love this episode: – Veterinarians & veterinary students – Practice owners, medical directors, and hospital managers – CSRs, technicians, and team leads navigating staffing strain – Animal care professionals focused on client experience and retention – Anyone interested in practical, ethical AI adoption in veterinary medicine 🎬 Timestamps: 00:00 – Emotional realities of vet med: euthanasia, burnout, and compassion fatigue 09:42 – Sustainability crisis in veterinary medicine and expanding role expectations 19:06 – Career path, mentorship gaps, and opening a hospital during COVID 31:07 – Why veterinarians resist technology: skepticism vs. exhaustion 40:56 – Missed calls, after-hours gaps, and the real cost of lost trust 54:01 – AI doesn’t replace jobs — it replaces tasks (ethical framing) 1:07:24 – Implementing AI safely: STEP framework and leadership responsibility 1:16:35 – VMX Orlando, real-world ROI, and final takeaways for practice owners 🔔 Stay Connected: – Like this episode if you found value in the discussion – Drop your questions or share your veterinary stories – Subscribe to never miss an episode 📚 Resources Mentioned: – AI Voice Agents: https://missedcalls.help/ – VMX Orlando Conference: https://navc.com/vmx-event/ 🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms 📸 Follow us: @Pacific.Lens.Studios 📥 Contact: info@pacificlensstudios.com Episode 55 #VeterinaryPodcast #AiVoiceAgents #IrreplaceableTruths

    1h 21m
  4. Calm in the Chaos | Dr. Kristin Welch on ER Critical Care, Leading & Burnout | Irreplaceable Truths

    JAN 5

    Calm in the Chaos | Dr. Kristin Welch on ER Critical Care, Leading & Burnout | Irreplaceable Truths

    What really happens behind the scenes when seconds count in the ER? How do emergency and critical care veterinarians protect their minds, their teams, and their patients in the middle of nonstop crisis? Join host Dr. Gershon Alaluf and special guest Dr. Kristin Welch, DVM, DACVECC — emergency and critical care specialist and founder of DVM Stat Consulting — for a powerful deep dive into ER medicine, burnout, quality of life, and the future of virtual specialty care. Packed with real cases, emotional honesty, and practical tools, this episode equips veterinarians, ER teams, and practice owners to navigate chaos with clarity, compassion, and better support. 🎧 What you'll discover: – Why ER and critical care are “general practice at Indy 500 pace” – How burnout and compassion fatigue show up in real ICU life – The power of calm leadership, breath work, and team communication in a crisis – How virtual specialists (teleconsulting) expand care when referral isn’t an option 🐾 Who will love this episode: – Veterinarians & veterinary students – Animal care professionals in ER, ICU, and urgent care – Veterinary educators and mentors – Animal lovers passionate about emergency medicine – Practice owners and rural vets exploring telemedicine and specialty support 🎬 Timestamps: 00:00 – Why specialty access is broken & the reality of ER medicine 05:00 – Dr. Welch’s journey: ECC training, residency, and what makes critical care unique 12:00 – The rattlesnake Labrador case: progress, heartbreak & lessons in emotional resilience 20:00 – What clients misunderstand about ER cost, estimates & real-world communication 28:00 – Leading through chaos: breath work, calm leadership & team-focused ICU management 36:00 – Burnout, compassion fatigue & how identity and family life are affected 45:00 – Why DVM Stat was created: fixing access to specialists through virtual consulting 54:00 – Teleconsulting results: improved outcomes, misconceptions & how it supports GPs 1:02:00 – Ethics, quality of life, end-of-life decisions & supporting families 1:10:00 – One irreplaceable truth for early-career veterinarians 🔔 Stay Connected: – Like this video if you found value in this discussion! – Drop your questions or share your veterinary stories in the comments. – Subscribe & hit the bell icon to never miss an episode. 📚 Resources Mentioned: – DVM Stat Consulting – dvmstat.com – DVM Stat Consulting on Instagram & LinkedIn: @dvmstatconsulting 🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms. 📸 Follow us: @Pacific.Lens.Studios 📥 Contact: info@pacificlensstudios.com Episode 54 #veterinaryER #telemedicine #IrreplaceableTruths

    1h 13m
  5. Rewriting Clinic Culture | Dr. Carlee Tucker on Leadership & Burnout | Irreplaceable Truths

    12/15/2025

    Rewriting Clinic Culture | Dr. Carlee Tucker on Leadership & Burnout | Irreplaceable Truths

    What happens when a burned-out veterinarian refuses to accept “the way it’s always been”? How do you rebuild your career, your confidence, and your clinic culture from the ground up? Join host Dr. Gershon Alaluf and special guest Dr. Carlee Tucker, DVM, founder of Veterinary Practice Rising and owner of Winfield Veterinary Hospital, for one of the most honest, practical, and empowering conversations of the season. This episode unpacks burnout as a system failure, the realities of modern mentorship, and why private practice ownership may be the key to saving the profession. Filled with grit, transparency, and actionable wisdom, this one will hit home for every veterinarian navigating today’s challenges. 🎧 What you'll discover: – Why burnout is a systems problem — not a personal failure – How unethical leadership accelerates compassion fatigue – The real path to practice ownership (even with student debt) – The mindset shifts every early-career veterinarian must make 🐾 Who will love this episode: – Veterinarians & veterinary students – Animal care professionals – Veterinary educators and mentors – Animal lovers passionate about veterinary medicine – Early-career veterinarians considering ownership or leadership 🎬 Timestamps: 00:00 – Burnout, unethical leadership & why systems fail veterinarians 02:00 – Dr. Tucker’s journey: Kansas roots, cattle medicine & private practice 05:00 – The breaking point: turnover, inefficiencies & unsustainable workloads 08:00 – Buying her hometown clinic: fear, loans & learning business 12:00 – Year one of ownership: chaos, pregnancy & rebuilding from scratch 16:00 – Burnout as a system failure: staffing, protocols & corporate pressure 20:00 – Why veterinarians leave the field — and how to keep them 25:00 – Competition vs collaboration: fixing fragmentation in vet med 30:00 – Culture, boundaries & the evolution of authentic leadership 36:00 – Mentorship that works: how to truly support early-career DVMs 43:00 – Student debt myths, financing ownership & the truth about loans 50:00 – Retention, resilience & the profession’s path forward 55:00 – Lightning round: leadership, compassion & Dr. Tucker’s irreplaceable truth 🔔 Stay Connected: – Like this video if you found value in this discussion! – Drop your questions or share your veterinary stories in the comments. – Subscribe & hit the bell icon to never miss an episode. 📚 Resources Mentioned: – Veterinary Practice Rising socials: @veterinarypratice.rising – Winfield Veterinary Hospital 🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms. 📸 Follow us: @Pacific.Lens.Studios 📥 Contact: info@pacificlensstudios.com Episode 53 #burnout #veterinaryleadership #vetownership #IrreplaceableTruths

    59 min
  6. Mentors, Mistakes & Mirror Tests | Legacy Lessons from Dr. Bob Weedon, DVM | Irreplaceable Truths

    12/08/2025

    Mentors, Mistakes & Mirror Tests | Legacy Lessons from Dr. Bob Weedon, DVM | Irreplaceable Truths

    What defines a great mentor—and what happens when integrity is tested under pressure? Join host Dr. Gershon Alaluf and his mentor Dr. Bob Weedon, DVM, MPH for a powerful, reflective episode of Irreplaceable Truths. From the rabies case that changed his career to teaching hundreds of students how to operate with courage and compassion, Dr. Weedon shares the lessons that shaped his leadership, mindset, and legacy. This conversation explores integrity, mentorship, humility, and the lifelong pursuit of purpose—the elements that turn veterinary medicine into a calling. 🎧 What you’ll discover: – The rabies case that redefined accountability and courage in crisis – How mentorship creates generational impact in veterinary medicine – The “mirror test”: self-evaluation through integrity and discipline – Stoic philosophy and ikigai—finding peace and purpose through service – Leadership lessons on humility, burnout, and rediscovering your “why” 🐾 Who will love this episode: – Veterinarians & students seeking guidance and grounding – Mentors, educators, and team leaders in animal care – Anyone balancing duty, burnout, and faith-driven purpose 🎬 Timestamps: 00:00 – The mirror test: living with integrity when no one’s watching 06:18 – Mentorship and medicine: shaping the next generation of DVMs 17:50 – The rabies case: crisis, leadership, and moral clarity 31:20 – Fighter-pilot mentality and teaching under pressure 47:05 – Stoicism, ikigai, and finding purpose after burnout 1:05:40 – Legacy and gratitude: what endures when the work is done 🔔 Stay Connected: – Like this episode if it inspired reflection on your own mentors – Share your takeaway in the comments or tag @Pacific.Lens.Studios – Subscribe & hit the bell to never miss an episode of Irreplaceable Truths 📚 Resources Mentioned: – Alliance for Contraception in Cats and Dogs (ACCD) – “An Inconvenient Truth” – on TNVR and feral cat management – Ikigai framework (Reason for being) – Stoic philosophy and the choice of attitude under pressure 🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms. 📸 Follow us: @Pacific.Lens.Studios 📥 Contact: info@pacificlensstudios.com Ep. 52 #VeterinaryPodcast #Mentorship #IrreplaceableTruths

    1h 26m
  7. First 4 Months in the Fire: Internship Reality Check | Medicine & Mental Grit | Irreplaceable Truths

    12/01/2025

    First 4 Months in the Fire: Internship Reality Check | Medicine & Mental Grit | Irreplaceable Truths

    How do you balance impostor syndrome, 12-hour days, and the soft skills that keep you human? Join host Dr. Gershon Alaluf and guest Dr. Jake Rostas, DVM for an insightful, inspiring episode of Irreplaceable Truths. A candid Q1 internship check-in, this conversation explores clinical decision-making under pressure, the role of mentorship, internal medicine vs. surgery thinking, and why love and empathy remain the core of care. Packed with professional wisdom, emotional insights, and authentic experiences, this episode offers valuable lessons for veterinarians, veterinary students, and animal care professionals. 🎧 What you'll discover: – The mindset shift from student to clinician — and why “you know more than you think” – How to survive being “punched in the mouth” by tough cases without losing empathy – Work-life tradeoffs: using running and fitness to stabilize mental health during internship – Mentorship, soft skills, and a practical take on using AI as a research assistant 🐾 Who will love this episode: – Veterinarians & veterinary students – Animal care professionals – Veterinary educators and mentors – Animal lovers passionate about veterinary medicine – Pre-vet students exploring internships and residencies 🎬 Timestamps: 00:00 – “You’re not supposed to know anything”: embracing humility and growth as a new DVM 02:09 – The internship reality: exhaustion, mentorship, and finding confidence under pressure 08:04 – Balancing burnout and purpose: running, resilience, and rediscovering mental clarity 16:37 – Learning from mentors: developing soft skills, emotional control, and professional identity 27:05 – Medicine meets technology: AI in research, privacy, and the human element of healing 45:26 – Keeping the dream alive: faith, gratitude, and redefining success in veterinary life 🔔 Stay Connected: – Like this video if you found value in this discussion! – Drop your questions or share your veterinary stories in the comments. – Subscribe & hit the bell icon to never miss an episode. 📚 Resources Mentioned: – Complications by Atul Gawande (human surgery reflections relevant to vet med) 🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms. 📸 Follow us: @Pacific.Lens.Studios 📥 Contact: info@pacificlensstudios.com Ep. 51 #VeterinaryInternship #VeterinaryPodcast #IrreplaceableTruths

    51 min
  8. Faith, Integrity & Impostor Syndrome | Dr. Christien Bolden on Vet Med Truth | Irreplaceable Truths

    11/24/2025

    Faith, Integrity & Impostor Syndrome | Dr. Christien Bolden on Vet Med Truth | Irreplaceable Truths

    Does veterinary medicine need tougher skin—or deeper honesty? Join host Dr. Gershon Alaluf with guest Dr. Christien Bolden, DVM (Tuskegee grad, Louisiana veterinarian, mentor, and creator of “More Than a Doctor”) for a candid conversation on impostor syndrome, integrity, mentorship, faith, and the real soft skills that keep doctors—and clients—whole. 🎧 What you'll discover: – Why impostor syndrome hits students, new grads, and even seasoned vets – The Tuskegee factor: finding your why and building discipline – Roadblocks, the SER on-ramp, and learning how to learn – Soft skills that change medicine: communication, empathy, humility – Practicing with integrity: options, honesty, and “I don’t know—let me check” – Tech in the clinic: records, AI helpers, and practical tools (when to use them) – The hot debate: technicians performing surgeries and what’s at stake – Faith and science: tension, harmony, and serving people through pets – The case that still hurts—and what to do with the weight of mistakes – One irreplaceable truth every vet must accept about people and pets 🐾 Who will love this episode: – Veterinarians & veterinary students – New grads battling doubt or burnout – Practice owners and medical directors mentoring teams – Technicians & support staff building client rapport – Anyone who believes medicine is about people as much as pets 🎬 Timestamps: 00:00 – Impostor syndrome & early-career doubts 02:03 – Intro: Dr. Christien Bolden — More Than a Doctor 03:26 – Tuskegee roots, purpose & “finding your why” 10:42 – Roadblocks, SER program, learning to study 16:04 – Soft skills, mentorship & client communication 24:02 – Compassion vs. perseverance vs. humility 29:04 – Practicing with integrity, options, saying “I don’t know” 33:26 – Techs doing surgery? Standards, risk & reality 41:00 – Records, tech tools, and AI in vet practice 56:30 – Irreplaceable truth, faith, and final takeaways 🔔 Stay Connected: – Like this video if you found value in this discussion – Share your questions or vet stories in the comments – Subscribe and enable notifications to catch new episodes 📚 Resources Mentioned: — More Than a Dogtor (podcast, IG, TikTok, YouTube): @MoreThanADogtor 🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms. 📸 Follow us: @Pacific.Lens.Studios 📥 Contact: info@pacificlensstudios.com Ep. 50 #VeterinaryMentorship #ImpostorSyndrome #VeterinaryEthics #SoftSkills #IntegrativePractice #VeterinaryLeadership #IrreplaceableTruths

    59 min
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About

“The veterinary podcast that tells the truth they never taught in school.” Welcome to Irreplaceable Truths — where real conversations meet real medicine. Hosted by Dr. Gershon Alaluf, this podcast strips away the fluff and dives into the raw, unfiltered realities of life in veterinary practice. From burnout to breakthroughs, difficult clients to emotional growth, every episode offers honest stories, practical insight, and a sense of solidarity for those who care deeply—for animals and for each other. Why You’ll Tune In: Real stories, not platitudes — wild emergencies, hard-earned wins, and painful lessons that made better professionalsVeterans teaching vets — insights from seasoned veterinarians, educators, and technicians who’ve lived itA dose of raw humanity — mental health, career resilience, boundaries, and growth in a high-pressure fieldCareer wisdom + self-care tips — made for early career vets, students, assistants, and those considering the field Who It’s For: Veterinary students, grads, and technicians navigating real clinic lifeEducators and mentors shaping the next generationAnimal lovers craving an honest backstage pass into vet medicinePractice managers building emotionally intelligent teamsAnyone feeling overwhelmed, overworked, or underprepared What Makes Us Different: No filtered soundbites—just real talk. Honest, grounded, and sometimes hilariously humanGuests from all corners of the field sharing insight you won’t find in textbooksA balance of heart and strategy—because medicine is personal, and so is this profession New episodes weekly on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms. Follow us: @Pacific.Lens.Studios Contact: info@pacificlensstudios.com

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