The MacVet Podcast

01:17:16

A profession to be proud of

The MacVet Podcast ·

2026/10/01

In this episode of The MacVet Podcast, Fiona speaks with veterinary communication expert Roeland Wessels about what makes veterinary care truly meaningful: not just clinical skill, but connection, trust and the ability to communicate well with the people behind the animals. Some key take home messages:Communication is a core clinical skill: why listening, asking better questions and understanding human behaviour are essential parts of successful veterinary practice. Emotional quality builds trust:

en

00:48:37

Sharing evidence, supporting farmers

The MacVet Podcast ·

2026/09/17

In this episode of The MacVet Podcast, Fiona welcomes back Sarah Tomlinson, Lead Veterinary Science Expert with AHDB, for a wide-ranging conversation about bovine TB, farmer support, veterinary communication and the importance of sharing science and evidence in ways that are practical, accessible and compassionate.Sarah reflects on changes at home and at work since appeaaring in Season 1; in her role with AHDB, she currently works across ruminant health, welfare and disease, while continuing to play

en

00:52:18

Representation and regulation: animal medicines in...

The MacVet Podcast ·

2026/09/17

In this episode, Fiona chats with Donal Murphy, Deputy CEO and Head of International and Regulatory Affairs at the National Office of Animal Health (NOAH). NOAH is the trade organisation representing the UK animal health industry, and in this conversation, Donal shares a detailed look at how veterinary medicines are developed, regulated, monitored, and supplied. Donal, who spent his early career working in veterinary practice, provides details on the scale and structure of the UK and European animal

en

01:08:05

Falling into place

The MacVet Podcast ·

2026/09/03

We've all heard of the common saying 'practise makes perfect'. In this episode, clinical vet James Farrell explains how he likes to relate perseverance in developing skills in small animal practice to the experience of replacing a prolapsed uterus in a recently calved cow! Now a managing clinical director at Woodcroft Vets, a companion animal practice in Greater Manchester, James shares his journey since graduation with fellow Royal Veterinary College graduate, Fiona. Having gained a

en

01:07:21

Farming, food and gut health

The MacVet Podcast ·

2026/08/20

In this episode of The MacVet Podcast, Fiona speaks with Lucy Williamson, a vet who moved careers to become a registered human nutritionist. Lucy is passionate about helping others learn about the links between nutrition and our whole body health and wellbeing. She is the author of Soil to Gut, a book full of practical guidance that teaches readers about about the vital connections between food, farming, gut health and the planet. Lucy shares insights about soil health, regenerative farming, dairy

en

01:19:54

Chewing the cud

The MacVet Podcast ·

2026/08/06

In this episode of the MacVet podcast, Fiona speaks with Andrew Jones, an independent dairy and beef nutrition advisor based in the southwest of England. During the conversation, Andrew reflects on his dairy farming experiences in the UK and Australia, where tick control could be very challenging! We learn how his passion for genetics evolved, reaching a pinnacle with the champion cow he bred, the world-famous pedigree Holstein, Page-House Shottle Noni. Andrew is also the co-host and producer of the

en

01:12:03

Brave conversations connect

The MacVet Podcast ·

2026/07/23

In this episode of The MacVet Podcast, Fiona is joined by Teresa Wheatley, Executive Director at FitPro, for a thoughtful conversation about key skills that will help you become a great communicator, whether you're working in the fitness industry, veterinary practice, farming or agriculture.Drawing on more than 35 years in the fitness industry, as well as her experience as an educator, presenter and end-of-life care volunteer, Teresa explores why communication is not simply about what we say, but

en

01:11:28

Let's work together

The MacVet Podcast ·

2026/07/09

Julia Wadeson recently established her consultancy business, which aims to 'build better businesses, one calf at a time'. She strives to deliver a professional service, which includes meticulous attention to her branded clothing and appearance. In this episode, Julia explains that effective consultancy relies on mutual trust, curiosity and understanding the farm's specific challenges before offering solutions. We also discuss how she handles criticism - Julia views this as a valuable

en

01:04:06

Say 'cheese'!

The MacVet Podcast ·

2026/06/25

In this episode of The MacVet Podcast, Fiona speaks with Dr Millie Preece, also known as “Dr Cheese”, about her journey to become an artisan cheesemaker, dairy scientist and entrepreneur. Millie shares how hands-on experience with a local cheesemaker sparked her fascination with the science and creativity of cheese, leading to research into how cheese affects emotion, a PhD on reduced-fat cheese, and the launch of her Shropshire-based cheese business, The Dairy Door. The conversation also explores

en

01:05:32

Emotion or logic: how to change behaviour

The MacVet Podcast ·

2026/06/11

In this episode, I’m joined by exercise physiologist Marcelle Malan as we discuss current trends in health and fitness alongside how to effectively communicate their relevance and context with clients.We begin with why behaviour change is rarely just about logic, and why people often need a meaningful or emotional reason to stick with difficult habits. Marcelle shares her view that different people are motivated by different levers — for some it’s emotion, for others it might be numbers, progress

en

00:59:48

Simply sound

The MacVet Podcast ·

2025/12/13

In this episode, Eoin Ryan shares his journey from a rural upbringing in Tipperary to his role as assistant professor at University College Dublin. He discusses the cyclical nature of farming, the challenges of retaining young vets in practice, and his involvement in teaching, clinical work, and research —highlighting the Sound Cow Innovation Programme (SCIP), which aims to improve cow mobility in Irish dairy herds through collaboration with farmers and vets. Eoin emphasises the importance of

en

01:13:48

Wild and wonderful

The MacVet Podcast ·

2025/11/29

In this episode, you're invited to step into the world of the Wild Cattle of Chillingham with animal scientist and author Stephen Hall! Stephen discusses the genetic and behavioural characteristics of the Chillingham cattle, a herd that has been in existence since the 1700s and lives with minimal human interference in the stunning county of Northumberland, England. Enjoy personal stories from Stephen's research journey, the inspiration behind his book, and the value of making scientific

en

01:07:04

Don't stress!

The MacVet Podcast ·

2025/10/16

In this episode, Fiona chats with vet, scientist and entrepreneur Rodrigo Bicalho. Rodrigo shares his journey from growing up on a ranch in Brazil to running a cutting-edge animal health company in Texas. He talks about why good communication matters so much in his work, the challenges of getting new ideas out to farmers, and how stress affects dairy cows (and what we can do about it). Rodrigo also introduces his company’s innovative product, FerAppease, which helps keep cows calm during stressful

en

00:51:24

The way of the cow

The MacVet Podcast ·

2025/09/25

After extolling the virtues of the cow's physiology, vet and herd manager Nial O'Boyle returns to talk about the cow's role in human progress and civilisation. Sharing stories that focus on the links between humans and cows, throughout the ages, Nial highlights common themes such as kinship, loyalty, betrayal and wealth. Then to emphasise just how integrated bovine products are in our lives, we share how a day in the life of a typical person might look. Highlights from this educational

en

01:02:36

Running a milk refinery

The MacVet Podcast ·

2025/08/23

I think of milk in terms of its similarity to crude oil, so you could say my business is like running a milk refinery.Dairy farmer and entrepreneur Jimmy Dickinsons returns to share more stories about how he built his business, this time expanding more on dairy product technology. Jimmy talks about his long career marked by innovation and perseverance. He recounts experimenting with freezing techniques to create a viable frozen milk product. Not all his experiments were successful, and Jimmy points

en

00:55:00

Clear, concise and challenging

The MacVet Podcast ·

2025/08/07

Communication should be brief but comprehensive. Indeed, beef farmer Andrew Loftus suggests we should all start life with a quota of words, and once that quota is reached, it's time to shuffle off this mortal coil!Andrew currently chairs the Beef and Lamb Net Zero Roadmap Group, an industry led group providing thought leadership on sustainable UK beef and lamb production. In this and in his various former roles, the need to have strong communication skills is crucial. Andrew may come across as

en

00:45:39

What's the story?

The MacVet Podcast ·

2025/07/24

Based in the beautiful county of Ayrshire, Graeme Warnock is a marketing professional with a diverse background working in agriculture, music and hospitality industries. In this episode, he discusses his journey into marketing, highlighting the importance of creating a need, want, or desire for a brand, product, or service. Graeme also shares his personal challenges with dyslexia and how it has shaped his approach to marketing, focusing on simplicity and clear communication to resonate with

en

01:22:12

Engineering success

The MacVet Podcast ·

2025/07/10

Jimmy Dickinson is the owner of Longley Farm, an iconic Yorkshire-based dairy business. Their award-winning fresh dairy produce has been a staple in my diet for many decades, with their cottage cheese my number one choice.Having completed an engineering degree and MBA, Jimmy returned to the farm in 1983. He soon spotted an opportunity to set up an export business selling frozen cream to Japan, putting to use his expertise in thermodynamics. Jimmy later expanded operations internationally, setting up

en

01:03:23

Let's talk about it

The MacVet Podcast ·

2025/06/26

Lorna Burdge runs Waterhayne Farms in Devon with her husband, helped out by their three children. She is on a mission to share her farming story, to help bridge the gap between consumers and food producers. She regularly speaks in person at local schools and keeps children engaged through Farmer Time, an online platform that offers video calls between farmers and classrooms.Lorna also loves to share daily activities on the farm in Devon on her social media channel, from bringing the cows in from the

en

01:10:41

Metabolism, mitochondria and milk

The MacVet Podcast ·

2025/06/12

Completing a marathon is a significant challenge for most people, so imagine what it must be like to complete a couple of marathons every day for around 10 months. This is the challenge that the modern dairy cow has mastered, with a truly impressive metabolic response.Dairy vet and herd manager Nial O'Boyle has for some time been fascinated by the metabolic capacity of the dairy cow, which led him to study mitochondria and the role they play for his PhD.Originally from Northern Ireland, Nial has

en

All Episodes

Similar Podcasts

The Deep Dive Lab: Unraveling Materials Science

Son Hoang

New Books in Political Science

New Books Network

Station 151

Pale Matter | Realm

Beyond the Divide

Koala Moon

StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson

Neil deGrasse Tyson