The top 5 veterinary podcasts to check out in 2026

Between back-to-back appointments, phone calls, SOAP notes, and the emotional weight of the work, sitting down to read a study or attend a webinar often isn't realistic for busy veterinary professionals like yourself. That's exactly why podcasts have become such a staple in vet med. You can learn something new or pick up a quick tip during your commute, lunch break, or while you catch up on charts.

Whether you want clinical updates, leadership advice, or honest conversations about the realities of veterinary medicine, there's a show for you. Here are five of the top North American veterinary podcasts worth adding to your playlist this year.

1. Simple, Interrupted (by PetDesk)

If most veterinary podcasts focus on what happens inside the exam room, Simple, Interrupted zooms out to look at everything around it: how clients experience care, where communication breaks down, and how veterinary technology either helps or gets in the way.

Hosted by PetDesk's Mary Schwartz, CVT, alongside other veterinary professionals and industry experts, the show explores the true realities behind vet practices. Rather than keeping things theoretical, Mary and her guests talk to everyday people working in and around clinics to uncover practical solutions for the common problems every team faces.

The reality lies in the name itself: practice life is anything but simple. These honest conversations are meant to be interrupted, questioned, and talked through. New episodes come out every two weeks, which makes it easy to keep up without falling behind.

2. The Uncharted Veterinary Podcast

Hosted by Dr. Andy Roark and practice management expert Stephanie Goss, The Uncharted Veterinary Podcast tackles the tough parts of vet life that happen every day but rarely are discussed openly. Topics range from workplace conflict and difficult money conversations to toxic coworkers and all the other day-to-day realities of leadership and culture.

Andy and Stephanie also read real letters from listeners and work through practical strategies together. Recent episodes have covered everything from supporting teams through seasonal burnout to handling a talented employee whose confidence has tipped into condescension. Episodes run under an hour and land weekly, making it a manageable add to a busy schedule. If you want to sharpen your communication, management, or leadership skills, be sure to check this one out.

3. VETgirl Veterinary Continuing Education Podcast

When you need the clinical facts fast, VETgirl has you covered. Founded with veterinary "time poverty" in mind, the show is built around a simple premise: who has hours to spend reading journals or sitting through lectures? Instead, VETgirl packages clinical veterinary medicine into focused, efficient episodes you can digest in just a few minutes.

Hosted by Dr. Justine Lee, DACVECC, DABT, and Dr. Garret Pachinger, DACVECC, the podcast covers a wide span of clinical themes—managing pancreatitis in dogs, toxicology updates, dermatology cases, parasitology, emergency and critical care, and more. Guests are often board-certified specialists weighing in on these topics. Many episodes even tie into continuing education credit through VETgirl's broader membership platform. For veterinary professionals who want to stay current without rearranging their whole week, this one is hard to beat.

4. The Cone of Shame Veterinary Podcast

Another Dr. Andy Roark production, The Cone of Shame leans more into the medical and big-picture side of vet life. Each episode pairs Andy with an expert guest to dig into a specific topic, from clinical challenges like chronic diarrhea and itchy-dog dermatology to industry-shaping conversations about veterinary education, AI in diagnostics, mid-level practitioner roles, and the economics of modern practice.

What sets the show apart is its tone. Conversations are candid, often funny, and unafraid to wrestle with the uncomfortable questions—like why so many veterinarians feel conflicted about how care gets monetized, or how to balance gold-standard medicine with what a client can realistically afford. It's a smart pick if you want to stay plugged into where the profession is heading and still come away entertained.

5. Clinician's Brief: The Podcast

From the team behind one of the most widely read publications for small-animal veterinarians, Clinician's Brief: The Podcast brings the magazine's trusted, peer-driven content to audio. Episodes feature conversations with article authors and industry experts, alongside more candid "real talk" about life in veterinary medicine.

The range is broad: practical clinical guidance on topics like feline diabetes, dermatology, and canine mobility sits alongside profession-wide discussions on legislation, the human-animal bond, and how AI is entering clinics. With updates coming out twice every week, listeners get a steady stream of bite-sized expertise from voices they already trust in print. For professionals who want clinically grounded content with a friendly feel, it's an easy show to make part of your routine.

How to choose the right veterinary podcast for you

The best veterinary podcast is the one you'll actually listen to. If you want quick clinical updates, start with VETgirl or Clinician's Brief. If leadership, culture, and the tough conversations are what's weighing on you, Uncharted and The Cone of Shame are solid options. And if you're thinking about the client experience and how your practice connects with pet parents, Simple, Interrupted is built for exactly that.

The good news is that you don't have to choose just one! Mix and match based on your week, your role, and your mood—and turn that commute or charting time into something that makes practice life a little more manageable.