Rekindling: Compassion Fatigue Solutions for Animal Workers

Animals have a way of taking us places in life we never expected. That's exactly what happened to my guest Derek Walter when a "micro pig" entered his life and soon became a 650 lb. pig with the intelligence of a small child. Esther The Wonder Pig became an internet sensation as her dads shared her 11 year life's journey with the world. The world is better having had Esther in it and the same goes for her dad Derek. Listen in as he tells funny stories about Esther, what the "Esther Effect" was, how she changed veterinary medicine in Ontario and what palliative care looked like for Esther. And stick around right to the end as I reveal what lies ahead for this podcast. To join my email list, go to www.juliesquires.net.

Animal workers are deeply passionate and can carry strong opinions about what’s “best” for animals. The problem is that judgment creeps in, hijacks your nervous system and narrows your options to choose empathy and compassion instead of judgement. In this episode, we swap judgment for steadiness with a quick pause-and-reset and “what else could be true?” prompts that pair compassion with accountability, so you leave with tiny practices that calm your body and open better paths for animals and people.

You're a helper, caregiver, advocate for animals. But how do you do all of that and not lose yourself in the process? The answer is with intention. We burnout when the demands being made on us don't match our ability to refuel/restore/rest. I know it's hard to stop when so many need you. This episode focuses on 3 moves you can make to help yourself.

This convo is so cool! Join me and Julie Smith, associate professor at Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo while we talk about talking to animals. Let's be clear, Julie (Smith) is the expert here, I'm just listening intently. Julie tells us how she went from a skeptic to full-on believer in communicating with her cats using Fluent Pet's buttons and how she's even using them with zoo animals. You don't want to miss this episode. Julie also graciously is sharing resources for all. Fluent Pet - home of the buttons and all kinds of resources Promo codes for Fluent Pet: LOKITHEWONDERCAT 12% off all products Bootcamp877 Free Button Bootcamp (valued at $40) – a great way to get others started with confidence. Julie's social media presence: @loki_the_wondercat @sfteachingzoo Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo

What a summer of pep talks! Today I close the summer circle with a calming reset, a story about tiny wins, three truths, and a short visualization. And a tease of what is to come.

In this episode, we break down the myth of the “unbreakable caregiver” and explore what real resilience actually looks like. True strength isn’t about powering through or pretending you’re fine, it’s about allowing yourself to bend, rest, and reach for support when you need it. You don’t need to be superhuman to be resilient; you need space to be human.

There is a unique emotional weight when you work to help animals everyday and then your own pet is facing a tough diagnosis. It’s a reminder that expertise doesn’t make you immune to grief, guilt, or overwhelm, and that you’re allowed to lean on others when the personal and professional collide. Above all, this is an invitation to give yourself the same compassion you give to others.

We all have painful stories that we believe about ourselves. Today we explore how to gently question those stories that keep us stuck and begin to rewrite them with truth, compassion, and humanity. You deserve a story that helps you heal.

After a week of giving so much to others, your nervous system might be crying out for a reset. In this episode, we explore how nature can be the medicine we often forget to reach for. From calming our stress hormones to restoring our sense of belonging, the natural world has a profound way of bringing us back to ourselves. Whether it’s a walk in the woods, tending a garden, or simply feeling the sun on your face, nature offers a quiet refuge where you don’t have to be anything but human. This is your gentle reminder: you’re not just here to care for others. You too need caring for.

Boundaries aren’t rejection, and they’re not selfish. They are acts of love. Love for yourself, love for others, and love for the work you care so deeply about. If you’ve been feeling stretched thin, resentful, or guilty for needing space, this episode is your permission slip to reclaim your peace. Because staying connected doesn’t mean losing yourself and honoring your needs is never a failure.

You give so much to others. Being dysregulated is part of the experience of living. Things will trigger your stress response over and over and you will need to know how to get yourself back to regulation. Join me today in doing exactly that!

You already know what’s on your to-do list (too much!) but what about your anti-to-do list? In this epidsode we’ll pause, breathe, and make space for what you don’t need to carry today. Because rest, boundaries, and worthiness don’t need to be earned. You’re already enough.

I asked ChapGPT to interview me about my grief journey, how I help others move through grief and my new course, Grief&Grace. It was a great conversation even if it was a conversation just with myself! I hope you find something in here that speaks to you. Grief is universal. We all experience it. This new course I created is an opportunity to work through places you may be stuck with your own grief and to have the ability to see that you are not alone, even though I know it feels like you are. The world may've moved on but we grievers are working on how to integrate our loss and keep living...with grace. All the info about Grief & Grace is here.

Joy is medicine and you need to take your dose regularly. Check out this episode to find ways to experience micro moments of joy to help recalibrate you as an animal worker.

Everything doesn't need excellence or perfection. Sometimes (many times) "good enough" is good enough. And it might just be the most radical thing you can do, to allow good enough to be good enough.

In this episode, we're going to explore the emotional weight of trying to carry it all. When you care deeply, it’s easy to feel responsible for fixing everything and everyone — but that pressure is unsustainable. This short pep talk reminds you that your worth isn’t tied to how much you sacrifice. Letting go of what isn’t yours to hold isn’t giving up , it’s wisdom. You don’t have to save the world to make a difference. Just keep showing up as incredible you.

I'm kicking off something new and special for the summer. Quick, 5-minute (give or take) pep talks to lift you up when you're feeling down, exhausted or like there's just not enough of you to go around. Caring for animals is big work that comes with big emotions. Let these summer episodes remind you of both the magic of summer and the beauty of who you are. I'm kicking off the series with this important message, you're doing much better than you think.

Think of your nervous system like a cup that holds everything you’re managing such as stress, emotions, grief, responsibilities. When your cup has space, you're within your window of tolerance, meaning you can handle challenges with presence and flexibility. But when too much gets added and the cup overflows, you may feel anxious, overwhelmed, or shut down. The goal isn’t to keep the cup empty, but to recognize when it’s full and refill yourself with care, support, and regulation.

In this episode, I talk with VTS veterinary nurse and graduate researcher, Angela Chapman about her study that dives into the root causes of burnout in veterinary nurses and technicians and why fixing it takes more than just good intentions. Backed by insights from 40 experts, we explore practical, high-impact solutions that clinics can actually implement to create lasting change. Mentioned in this episode: -The Delphi study paper we talked about https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15091257 (If you're a just get me to the good stuff kind of person, here's the Solution's table https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/9/1257.) -The preliminary survey of vet techs/nurses Part 1 https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.25.03.0163 and Part 2 https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.25.03.0164 And Angela's contact info: a.chapman@latrobe.edu.au www.linkedin.com/in/angela-chapman-75642a76

In this episode, I’m calling out the unspoken truths of animal work — the quiet heartbreaks, the strange joys, and the moments that make you wonder, “Is it just me?”. It's not. Whether you work in vet med, animal welfare, lab animal, or wildlife/zoo this little ditty is your reminder that you’re not alone, and you never were.