Your team is showing up, doing the job, and following the rules, but the energy is gone, the spark is missing, and it feels like everyone is just clocking in and clocking out. In this episode, Dr. Andy Roark and Stephanie Goss unpack a mailbag question from a practice manager facing quiet quitting in their veterinary team, not through laziness or rule-breaking, but through disengagement that is harder to name and even harder to fix. They explore why quiet quitting is often a signal, not a failure, how compassion and accountability can exist at the same time, and why leaders cannot pep-talk or punish their way back to engagement. This conversation dives into purpose, connection, and what has quietly shifted in veterinary medicine, especially as practices grow or change ownership, and offers practical ways leaders can rebuild trust, meaning, and momentum without pushing people further away.

Veterinary leadership is heavier than it used to be, expectations are higher, teams are more complex, and the old playbooks are not working anymore. That is exactly why Uncharted 2026 at VMX exists. This is not another conference about doing more with less or pushing harder through burnout. It is a space designed for real conversations, practical leadership tools, and honest connection with people who actually understand what it means to lead in veterinary medicine right now. If you are craving clarity, energy, and strategies you can take straight back to your clinic, the 2026 Uncharted Veterinary Conference is where it starts.

If you want to dive deep into communications DiSC Decoded Cohort is now open for registration and the first session starts February 11th, 2026. This is a guided, hands-on experience that helps veterinary leaders understand behavior, communication, and motivation, not just in theory, but in the real moments that matter most. From managing conflict and disengagement to coaching without awkwardness, DiSC Decoded gives you the language and tools to lead people with confidence instead of frustration.

If you are ready to stop guessing, stop carrying everything alone, and start leading with intention, this is your invitation.

Upcoming events: https://learn.unchartedvet.com/pages/events

All Links: https://linktr.ee/UnchartedVet

Do you have something that you would love Andy and Stephanie to discuss on the podcast? If so, send us a message through the mailbag! Submit it here: unchartedvet.com/mailbag

Feeling like practice ownership might have passed you by, even after years of hard work, paid-down debt, and careful planning? In this episode, Dr. Andy Roark sits down with Roy Jain, COO and Co-Founder of Blue River PetCare, to tackle one of the most common and painful questions associate veterinarians face today: is practice ownership still possible, or is the system stacked against you? Together, they unpack a real mailbag letter from a veterinarian ten years into their career who feels stuck between buying, starting, or staying put. Roy shares a refreshingly realistic framework for ownership, breaking down mindset traps, real estate constraints, financial guardrails, and step-by-step growth strategies that make ownership feel achievable again. Whether you dream of owning your own clinic, expanding gradually, or simply want clarity on your long-term career path, this episode delivers honest guidance, practical benchmarks, and hope grounded in experience.

This episode is brought to you ad-free by Blue River PetCare!

To reach out to Roy for more information, just click on his bio here: https://blueriverpetcare.com/our-team/

Upcoming events: https://learn.unchartedvet.com/pages/events

All Links: https://linktr.ee/UnchartedVet

Do you have something that you would love Andy and Stephanie to discuss on the podcast? If so, send us a message through the mailbag! Submit it here: unchartedvet.com/mailbag

When your team won’t move unless someone tells them exactly what to do, leadership starts to feel exhausting fast. We’re wrapping up the year by revisiting the top UVP episode of 2025, a standout conversation that resonated with practice managers, medical directors, and leaders who are tired of babysitting capable adults and ready to build a culture where initiative is the norm. In this Hall of Fame episode, Stephanie Goss and Dr. Andy Roark break down why initiative stalls in veterinary teams, how leaders often unintentionally reinforce it, and what actually works to build confidence, ownership, and forward momentum without micromanaging. If you’ve ever wondered whether initiative can truly be trained, this episode delivers the clarity, mindset shifts, and practical steps that earned it a place in the UVP Hall of Fame.

Uncharted Veterinary Conference 2026

If your clinic is growing faster than your systems can keep up, you’re not alone. The truth is, most veterinary leaders are fighting the same battle of trying to coach teams, improve communication, and reduce chaos while still keeping up with patient care. That’s exactly what Uncharted Veterinary Conference 2026 is built to solve.

Join us Friday, January 16 in Orlando, the day before VMX kicks off, for a one-day immersive experience that will transform the way you lead. Walk away with proven tools, new friends, and the kind of clarity that will change how you lead forever. Tickets are limited and this event always sells out. Grab your spot now at unchartedvet.com.

Upcoming events: https://learn.unchartedvet.com/pages/events

All Links: https://linktr.ee/UnchartedVet

Do you have something that you would love Andy and Stephanie to discuss on the podcast? If so, send us a message through the mailbag! Submit it here: unchartedvet.com/mailbag