Daring DVM
Welcome to Daring DVM - the podcast for high-achieving veterinarians who want to be happy and successful in their lives AND in their careers. If you know that you’ve accomplished a lot professionally, but still feel anxious and think you are an imposter... If you want to feel confident, but worry what others will think of you... If you are searching for life-work alignment, but feel overwhelmed and stuck... If you feel like your life is suffering because of your career...If you believe that there has just got to be something more to life than this... Then this podcast is for you! Each week, Dr. Amy Grimm, veterinarian and life coach, brings you specific tools and resources to meet the challenges busy veterinarians face. Your time is valuable - and so is your well-being! Episodes will teach you how to overcome self-critical thinking, boost self-confidence, create boundaries, nurture relationships, and align your career with your life, so that you can get unstuck and truly create the life you want. Dare to dream. You can find out more about Dr. Amy and her work at www.daringdvm.com. Music by Alex Grohl by Pixabay.
Episodes

Thursday Nov 14, 2024
Thursday Nov 14, 2024
If you are struggling to make sense of the 2024 election results, and if you are worried about the future, this episode is designed to help.
I'm sharing my thoughts on compassion and building unity, no matter on which side of the spectrum your political beliefs fall.
I'm also sharing 5 simple and powerful strategies you can use to help yourself feel better and navigate challenging times.
Links from the episode:
A safe space for coaching and connection.
Episode 31 - Tools for Regulation
The Five Fundamentals Workbook
Let's connect!
Schedule a ✨gifted coaching conversation✨. I love hearing from you, building lasting connection, and helping you heal. No strings attached. Just support when you need it most. 💞
Follow me on social media for free insights, tips and tools to help you overcome your overwhelm, quieten your anxiety and live a less stressed life!
Instagram
LinkedIn
Join the Daring DVM Newsletter For more in-depth tools, strategies and practices delivered weekly to your inbox 💌
Download the free guide on Fixing Your Anxious Veterinary Brain

Thursday Nov 07, 2024
Thursday Nov 07, 2024
At one point or another in your veterinary career, you’ve probably questioned whether your employer should be allowed to contact you about work on your day off. This communication could be from a practice owner, hospital manager, medical director, hospital administration, a regional leader in a corporate structure, a colleague, or another team member, such as a receptionist or your RVT.
This simple act of receiving work communication outside of work can be a significant drain on the quality of life for many veterinarians and veterinary professionals, which can create a high level of stress and anxiety. 😵💫
In this episode of The Daring DVM Podcast, we explore why this happens!
I will also teach you one of my favorite tools, "The Operations Manual." It is a powerful tool for changing your feelings about any professional or interpersonal relationship. 📖✌️
Understanding the manual will help you find the root cause of your stress related to any interpersonal conflict. With this knowledge, you will be equipped to handle anything that comes your way. Even that pesky “Call me” text from your boss. 📞😩
What You'll Learn From this Episode:
Why receiving work communication during your personal time can feel stressful.
What it means to have a manual for how people should behave.
Why we want people to follow our manual.
The reason why "reading" your manual to others will (generally) not solve your issues with that person.
The reason why switching jobs is rarely the answer to your problem.
And 3 powerful questions to help you change how you feel about any interpersonal conflict!
Let's connect!
Schedule a ✨gifted coaching conversation✨. I love hearing from you, building lasting connection, and helping you heal. No strings attached. Just support when you need it most. 💞
Follow me on social media for free insights, tips and tools to help you overcome your overwhelm, quieten your anxiety and live a less stressed life!
Instagram
LinkedIn
Join the Daring DVM Newsletter For more in-depth tools, strategies and practices delivered weekly to your inbox 💌
Download the free guide on Fixing Your Anxious Veterinary Brain

Thursday Oct 31, 2024
Thursday Oct 31, 2024
Have you ever felt so overwhelmed by work that you couldn't imagine adding anything else to your plate?
I know the feeling.
It's easy to think that volunteering, especially when you're already feeling burnt out, is just one more thing to add to your to-do list.
But here's the thing: volunteering can actually help you combat burnout.
When we give our time and energy to something we care about, we often find a renewed sense of purpose and fulfillment.
This week on the Daring DVM Podcast, I’m chatting with Dr. Tyler Primavera, who shares his experience of volunteer work, as well as the different ways he creates value in his veterinary life, and in service of others.
Connect with Dr. Primavera
DrPrimaVet
LinkedIn
Instagram
TikTok
Let's connect!
Schedule a ✨gifted coaching conversation✨. I love hearing from you, building lasting connection, and helping you heal. No strings attached. Just support when you need it most. 💞
Follow me on social media for free insights, tips and tools to help you overcome your overwhelm, quieten your anxiety and live a less stressed life!
Instagram
LinkedIn
Join the Daring DVM Newsletter For more in-depth tools, strategies and practices delivered weekly to your inbox 💌
Download the free guide on Fixing Your Anxious Veterinary Brain

Friday Oct 25, 2024
Friday Oct 25, 2024
In the United States, it’s pretty common for veterinarians to be aware of the legal ramifications of their actions. And while we all know there is a line between what is considered malpractice and what is not, many of us still struggle with the fear of potential legal recourse, and this can affect how we show up for our patients, clients, and for ourselves.
In this episode, I’m sharing my thoughts on how to recognize and overcome the fears we have so that we can be the best version of ourselves at work. In order for us to advocate truthfully for our patients and to practice medicine to the best of our ability, we need to take care of ourselves and confront our anxieties around “if things go wrong”.
We’ll explore the difference between primary, secondary, and tertiary fears, and you’ll learn how to overcome each one, so that you can stay mentally, emotionally and physically healthy, no matter what you’re faced with.
In Today’s Episode, You’ll Learn:
The different types of fears
How to manage them
My advice for veterinarians either experiencing, or fearful of, a board complaint or other legal recourse
Let's connect!
Schedule a ✨gifted coaching conversation✨. I love hearing from you, building lasting connection, and helping you heal. No strings attached. Just support when you need it most. 💞
Follow me on social media for free insights, tips and tools to help you overcome your overwhelm, quieten your anxiety and live a less stressed life!
Instagram
LinkedIn
Join the Daring DVM Newsletter For more in-depth tools, strategies and practices delivered weekly to your inbox 💌
Download the free guide on Fixing Your Anxious Veterinary Brain

Thursday Oct 17, 2024
Thursday Oct 17, 2024
The holiday season of joy and gratitude is coming up fast! And along with it, increased stress and mental breakdowns. 😅😳 Between all the family drama, crazy schedules, work stress, and personal problems, it can feel overwhelming and sometimes, awful.
If you're secretly worried about this time of year, don't worry, my friend, I've got you.
This week on the Daring DVM Podcast, we’re talking about how to survive family time during the stressful holiday season. Join me on this episode as I share a powerful strategy to help you prepare for family gatherings, skip the drama, and actually enjoy your time. 🤯
What You’ll Learn From This Episode:
Why you need to have reasonable expectations and what that means
The BEST thing you can do to prepare for family gatherings
The importance of understanding (and accepting) that the ONLY person you can control is yourself
Why we worry about something someone will say or do
And how to sail through the holidays and into the new year, drama-free
LAST CHANCE!! Register for the Stress Relief Toolkit for Vets Webinar
Oct 19th 10am PT | 1pm ET
Let's connect!
Schedule a ✨gifted coaching conversation✨. I love hearing from you, building lasting connection, and helping you heal. No strings attached. Just support when you need it most. 💞
Follow me on social media for free insights, tips and tools to help you overcome your overwhelm, quieten your anxiety and live a less stressed life!
Instagram
LinkedIn
Join the Daring DVM Newsletter For more in-depth tools, strategies and practices delivered weekly to your inbox 💌
Download the free guide on Fixing Your Anxious Veterinary Brain

Thursday Oct 10, 2024
Thursday Oct 10, 2024
As veterinary professionals, we’re no strangers to feeling overwhelmed by our workload and doing our best to balance it with our social, family, and personal responsibilities.
Throughout my veterinary career, I regularly experienced overwhelm. It wasn’t until I figured out what was causing it, that I finally learned to manage this state of anxiety and regain control of my life.
In this episode, I share my process for managing overwhelm, calming yourself down quickly, and setting yourself up for success.
What You’ll Learn From this Episode:
What really causes overwhelm.
The key to overcoming your own overwhelm.
How to stop your brain from constantly spinning.
Tips for replacing your thoughts of overwhelm with useful thoughts that help you get sh*t done!
The importance of creating a plan for everything you need to get done.
Register for the Stress Relief Toolkit for Vets Webinar
Oct 19th 10am PT | 1pm ET
Let's connect!
Schedule a ✨gifted coaching conversation✨. I love hearing from you, building lasting connection, and helping you heal. No strings attached. Just support when you need it most. 💞
Follow me on social media for free insights, tips and tools to help you overcome your overwhelm, quieten your anxiety and live a less stressed life!
Instagram
LinkedIn
Join the Daring DVM Newsletter For more in-depth tools, strategies and practices delivered weekly to your inbox 💌
Download the free guide on Fixing Your Anxious Veterinary Brain

Thursday Oct 03, 2024
Thursday Oct 03, 2024
Do you take on other people’s tasks at work because you know you can do it faster? Do you try to make other people feel comfortable at your own expense? Are you the one who is always in control of your family’s calendar?
If you answered yes to these three questions, you might be an overfunctioner. 🤨
In this episode of the Daring DVM Podcast, we are looking at how your own behavior patterns could be harming your mental health and your relationships - at home and at work.
In Today’s Episode, You’ll Learn:
Signs of overfunctioning
Why it can go undetected in your life
Common problems caused by overfunctioning
Examples of overfunctioning that might surprise you
Tips to establish sustainable, healthy, and appropriate behaviors
How to achieve an optimal level of functioning in your everyday life
If you think you might be overfunctioning and you want help figuring out your next steps, let's chat!
Psychology Today - Overfunctioning
Register for the Stress Relief Toolkit for Vets Webinar
Oct 19th 10am PT | 1pm ET
Let's connect!
Schedule a ✨gifted coaching conversation✨. I love hearing from you, building lasting connection, and helping you heal. No strings attached. Just support when you need it most. 💞
Follow me on social media for free insights, tips and tools to help you overcome your overwhelm, quieten your anxiety and live a less stressed life!
Instagram
LinkedIn
Join the Daring DVM Newsletter For more in-depth tools, strategies and practices delivered weekly to your inbox 💌
Download the free guide on Fixing Your Anxious Veterinary Brain

Thursday Sep 26, 2024
Thursday Sep 26, 2024
In this episode of the Daring DVM Podcast, we're diving into the importance of setting your own agenda and defining success on your own terms.
Too often, we find ourselves chasing goals offered to us by others, and following a suggested career path that may not always serve us best. We continue to work hard, believing that what we are doing will get us to where we want to go, but because we aren't the ones setting our own definitions for success, we end up feeling dissatisfied, exhausted and even burnt out.
And what's worse is that we think the only way for us to feel better is to quit the profession completely! Even though there are so many good reasons we chose vet med in the first place. 💔
In this episode we're talking about
Expectations for new graduates
Setting boundaries around the time your shift ends
Why it is never necessary to go home and worry about the day's cases
Tools to help you advocate for yourself when your agenda differs from that of your boss or employer
Register for the Stress Relief Toolkit for Vets Webinar
Oct 19th 10am PT | 1pm ET
Let's connect!
Schedule a ✨gifted coaching conversation✨. I love hearing from you, building lasting connection, and helping you heal. No strings attached. Just support when you need it most. 💞
Follow me on social media for free insights, tips and tools to help you overcome your overwhelm, quieten your anxiety and live a less stressed life!
Instagram
LinkedIn
Join the Daring DVM Newsletter For more in-depth tools, strategies and practices delivered weekly to your inbox 💌
Download the free guide on Fixing Your Anxious Veterinary Brain

Thursday Sep 19, 2024
Thursday Sep 19, 2024
Effective communication is essential for building strong relationships, both personally and professionally.
By understanding the different types of conversations and how to approach them appropriately, you can improve your interactions with colleagues, clients, friends, and family, leading to greater satisfaction and fulfillment in your life.
In this episode of Daring DVM, we explore the nuances of effective communication. Discover the four essential types of conversations: hearing, helping, handling and holding space. Learn how to identify the right approach for each situation and navigate potential pitfalls to ensure genuine connection and understanding.
What you'll learn in this episode:
The importance of clarity in expressing your communication needs.
How to create a safe and supportive space for others to share their experiences.
The distinctions between the 4 types of conversations.
Tips for effective active listening and empathy.
Strategies for overcoming communication barriers and fostering deeper connections.
Let's connect!
Schedule a ✨gifted coaching conversation✨. I love hearing from you, building lasting connection, and helping you heal. No strings attached. Just support when you need it most. 💞
Follow me on social media for free insights, tips and tools to help you overcome your overwhelm, quieten your anxiety and live a less stressed life!
Instagram
LinkedIn
Join the Daring DVM Newsletter For more in-depth tools, strategies and practices delivered weekly to your inbox 💌
Download the free guide on Fixing Your Anxious Veterinary Brain

Thursday Sep 12, 2024
Thursday Sep 12, 2024
Join me in my conversation with Dr. Addie Reinhard, Founder & CEO of MentorVet, on this special guest episode of Daring DVM as we delve into the transformative power of mentorship in combating veterinary burnout.
Discover how mentorship and coaching can provide invaluable support, helping you navigate the challenges of your veterinary career and prioritize your mental health and wellbeing.
In this episode we also discuss
Our personal experiences with burnout.
What has helped us in our own recoveries.
The relationship between mentee and mentor, and how to nurture it.
And how to get involved in peer support, as either a mentor or mentee.
This episode is for anyone struggling with burnout. You are not alone.
Connect with Dr. Addie Reinhard:
Instagram
LinkedIn
Facebook
Links and resources in this episode:
MentorVet
AVMA Mentorship Matching Program
AVMA ProQOL Wellbeing Assessment
Veterinary Hope Foundation Peer Support
NOMV Peer Support
Let's connect!
Schedule a ✨gifted coaching conversation✨. I love hearing from you, building lasting connection, and helping you heal. No strings attached. Just support when you need it most. 💞
Follow me on social media for free insights, tips and tools to help you overcome your overwhelm, quieten your anxiety and live a less stressed life!
Instagram
LinkedIn
Join the Daring DVM Newsletter For more in-depth tools, strategies and practices delivered weekly to your inbox 💌

Dare to Dream
Dr. Amy Grimm is a veterinarian, certified life coach, anti-burnout advocate and founder of Daring DVM Coaching and host of the Daring DVM Podcast. She is on a mission to reshape mental health in the veterinary field by inspiring others and teaching them how to create a healthy mindset and become resilient AF.
She has served in industry, public health, research, private practice, and was a Medical Director of a companion animal hospital for several years, before making the leap into entrepreneurship and coaching.
It was through her own struggles with burnout and life-work balance that Dr. Amy discovered coaching and realized the profound positive effects in her own life. Her own transformation inspired her to become a coach herself, so that she could help others who are struggling, just like she once was.
Today she coaches busy, burned-out professionals and helps them transform their lives and fall in love with their careers again. She also still does the doctory things she loves by providing HVHQSN and surgical relief services. Dr. Amy and her fiancé live in Grass Valley, CA. They enjoy everything outdoorsy, including backpacking, bike-packing, peak-bagging, running ultras, and racing on their tandem mountain bike. They share their home with their derpy Catahoula-Aussie-mix, Jake, and elderly entitled Pug, Berkels.
"I love who you are, and even more than that, I love who you are becoming.
Dare to dream."