In this episode of the Vetted Podcast, Steven Hermann interviews Karyn Buxman, a neurohumorist and expert in applied humor. They discuss the importance of humor in healthcare, particularly in the veterinary field, and how it can be used as a strategic tool to reduce stress, improve communication, and build resilience. Karyn shares insights from her research on the brain's response to humor and offers practical applications for incorporating humor into daily life. The conversation emphasizes the need for self-care and the power of thoughts in shaping our experiences.

Takeaways

Humor is a whole brain process that can influence health.
The gap between expectations and reality can lead to stress.
Humor can help wring out emotional saturation.
Practicing humor can improve resilience and empathy.
Creating a humor-friendly environment enhances well-being.
Humor is not just about laughter; it's about connection.
We often underestimate the power of our thoughts.
Intentionality in humor can lead to positive outcomes.
Stacking the deck with humor increases its presence in life.
Self-care is essential for helping others effectively.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Humor and the Brain
02:56 Understanding Neurohumor
05:54 The Power of Humor in Healthcare
08:40 Compassion Fatigue and Resilience
11:54 Closing the Gap: Expectations vs. Reality
14:45 Tools for Managing Stress with Humor
17:40 The Importance of Reframing
20:44 Building Relationships through Humor
23:47 Using Humor in Difficult Situations
26:28 The Healing Power of Humor
28:46 Stacking the Deck for Joy
32:19 Neuroplasticity and Humor's Impact
34:25 Building Connections Through Laughter
39:19 Practical Steps to Cultivate Humor
44:24 Empowerment Through Positive Thinking

humor, neurohumor, resilience, veterinary, well-being, stress reduction, communication, compassion fatigue, mental health, humor in healthcare

In this episode of the Vet'Ed Podcast, Steven Hermann sits down with Kelly Cronin, a veteran of the veterinary space with 33 years of experience. Kelly shares her career journey, starting as a volunteer and advancing through roles like multi-site manager and VP of Operations, before her current position supporting practices with virtual veterinary assistance at Teem. They discuss the value of veterinary continuing education (CE) cruises, which Kelly helps organize to provide technicians with unique educational and personal growth opportunities, including seeing the ocean or leaving their state for the first time.

The conversation shifts to Teem, a service that provides virtual veterinary assistants to help private practices with administrative tasks. Kelly explains how these assistants, who are college graduates from US colleges in South America, can handle a variety of duties, from medical record scribing and appointment setting to managing medication refills and social media. This frees up on-site staff, like technicians and veterinarians, to focus on patient care and improves their work-life balance. Kelly emphasizes that Team's goal is not to replace in-person staff but to serve as a tool that enhances a practice's efficiency and helps everyone thrive. They conclude by highlighting the importance of private practices and the role of services like Team in helping them succeed.

In this episode, we sit down with Stephen McLaughry, the owner of Vetbadger, to discuss his journey from a software engineer to a leader in veterinary technology. Stephen shares how his wife, a private practice veterinarian, faced frustrations with outdated software. This inspired him to create Vetbadger, a comprehensive practice management system designed to solve a core problem: communication.

Discover how Stephen's background as a world-champion bicycle racer and his belief in community shape his business philosophy. Learn why a "James Herriot experience"—building strong, personal relationships with clients and your team—is the key to success for private practices. Stephen explains how Vetbadger's integrated system, with features like internal team chat, telemedicine, and a centralized hub for all communication, simplifies workflows and strengthens bonds between a clinic and its clients.

Find out how Vetbadger is creating the technology that supports independent business and helps private practices thrive.