Episode #2
Is Vet Med Confusing Resilience with Endurance? | The Founders of Boop
What if the problem in veterinary medicine isn’t that we need to be more resilient, but that we’ve gotten really good at enduring things we shouldn’t have to? In this special episode of Don’t Call Me Catty , Leilani and Jillian sit down with boop co-founders Amanda Ensor, DVM, Ashleigh White, and Rachelle Richard to talk about how an idea for veterinary apparel became something much bigger. The conversation gets into the leadership problem in vet med, why wellbeing initiatives can only go so far when the workplace itself isn’t working, the lack of space to process the emotional weight of the profession, and what it actually takes to build teams where people feel supported. They also talk about preparing new grads for the realities of practice without scaring them away, why veterinary professionals need to talk to each other instead of at each other, and boop’s mission to use apparel, community, and a little bit of humour to push the profession forward. Plus: founder friendship, financially feral behaviour, questionable spending advice, rapid-fire questions, and some very spicy hot takes. boop may have started with what you wear on your chest, but the real conversation is about what veterinary medicine should stand for. Support boop Shop | Instagram About The Founders Amanda Ensor, DVM As a practicing DVM and recognized thought leader, Dr. Amanda's connection to the boop mission is personal: she's lived it. The long shifts, the emotional weight, the gap between how hard vet teams work and how rarely that gets acknowledged. At boop, she's our steward of wellbeing: the reason everything we put out reflects the real texture of veterinary life, not a polished version of it. She also leads partnerships with organizations like the Veterinary Hope Foundation and Reviving Vet Med. Never without a book and a water bottle roughly the size of a small aquarium. hydration and high standards — non-negotiable. Ashleigh White, PHR With a background in HR and talent acquisition, Ashleigh has spent years helping hospitals grow their teams, developing a deep appreciation for the people behind the profession—their dedication, resilience, and sense of humour. At boop, she leads product — making sure everything we create reflects the culture of vet med, from the inside jokes to the everyday realities. When she’s not working on boop, you can find her traveling, gardening, or spending time with the animals who inspired it all. Rachelle Richard, MBA With a background in leadership and operations, Rachelle has spent decades building and supporting healthy, high-trust teams across human health and vet med. At boop, she leads operations - the connective tissue between the vision and the reality of running it. Rachelle also founded goodvet.ca - a Canadian veterinary recruitment consultancy built on the principle that who you work with shapes how you experience this profession. Powered by infectious laughter and an unwavering commitment to booping every dog she encounters. Also, she has found a new tech tool and yes, she will tell you all about it. Support the show Follow us on Instagram @dontcallmecatty Visit Animal HealthLink Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Visit Steady Gait Planning Instagram For podcast inquiries, please contact dontcallmecatty@gmail.com
