World Series

I hope you have enjoyed listening to the compelling stories of Julian, Merran and Maurice. Now you know what the new series is about: I am interviewing veterinary professionals from all over the world.

How did this come about?

When I started podcasting last year, I slowly realised a few issues with the show. Initially, I thought these were negative things, and I should be walking away from them. Eventually, I understood that these issues were occurring organically, so I embraced them.

The first of these issues was the audience. My initial thought was that non-veterinary people would listen to a podcast about vets so they would understand our way of life better. I have not abandoned this, but I have realised that veterinary professionals are themselves the most interested in the show, and they are the ones who are getting the most from it. And if the audience changes, so does the interview format. This series (and I think we should continue on this path) will focus a little more on the feelings of the professional rather than just on their hobbies. I will not forget about non-vets. I will do my best to make sure more in-depth veterinary talk (such as the case with Merran talking about koala medicine) is accessible to those without veterinary knowledge. But I must admit that this tweak changes how I interview my guests. From personal ambition and diversifying to mental health issues and worries, ‘how do you feel?’ can be a more intense topic than what do you do when not in scrubs.

The second finding was a limitation that I put without thinking. Why would I interview people in the UK only if half the world communicates in English anyway? Have I not learnt anything from virtual meetings during the highs of the pandemic? I realised that if I am searching for answers in an industry that covers the entire planet, I need to expand my reach to every corner of the world where I can find a guest. And to make my point clear, you will see that my three first guests come from three very different and far apart locations (It would take you 22 hours to fly from Trinidad and Tobago to Australia!).

What’s next 

Next, I will continue to deliver. The new format hasn’t been an easy task. I have been juggling with timezones and accents and wondering whether work and family commitments would leave enough time and space to adventure inside someone’s life. Someone from the other side of the planet, I should add.

In the end, I’m super happy that I have done it because I have learnt so much. Listening to the weird and wonderful stories of Julian’s career, the research into koala medicine, and the consequences of illegal animal import into Trinidad was well worth it. There’s a lot more, of course, but it will be out as soon it’s good enough for you to listen. Now, I need to spend a few hours editing. Maybe I will do a live show one day so you can listen to a raw version. 

But my mind has continued to wander into the future and about what would happen next. What would you want next season to be about if there was one? I’ve got a few ideas, but don’t let me bias you with them. Instead, why don’t you share them publicly in the comments section below or privately using the Let’s talk page?

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