In this episode of Choose People Love Pets, Brianna and Phoebe walk through exactly how they used AI-powered culture surveys to assess their hospital culture, identify blind spots, and—most importantly—turn anonymous feedback into real, trust-building change.

Rather than treating culture as a “gut feeling,” they share a practical, repeatable framework for measuring psychological safety, communication, leadership trust, and belonging—without overwhelming leaders or putting teams on the defensive.

This episode is a behind-the-scenes case study of what worked, what surprised them, and how intentional follow-through transformed feedback into action.

What we cover:

• Why anonymous culture surveys matter (and when they’re most effective)

• How AI helped identify trends without leaders spiraling emotionally

• The key culture pillars they measured:
  psychological safety, communication, leadership trust, belonging, and growth

• How to structure survey questions that lead to honest, useful feedback

• Turning survey data into clear priorities using AI

• Why breakout discussions matter more than “solving the problem”

• How small wins (like onboarding fixes and workflow clarity) build trust

• What “corporate feel” actually meant to the team—and how leadership responded

• Why follow-up surveys are the most important step in culture work

• How consistency (not perfection) builds long-term trust with your team

Key takeaway:

Listening is only half the work. Culture improves when teams see their feedback taken seriously, reflected back, and acted on—over time.

Resources mentioned:

• Culture survey template https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1ndXpVfv35AC1nteM4I-uO-Kr1v-bjYJJcreV_5fZD9M/template/preview

• Follow-up culture check survey https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1J_GoByxJ8Q5-jmixov72hnNnSinysMnf8wuZkULmkSg/template/preview

Reflection question for leaders:

If your team gave you honest feedback tomorrow, what would you do with it?

If you enjoyed this episode or have questions about implementing culture surveys in your hospital, send us your feedback—we’re listening.

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In this first episode of 2026, Dr. Brianna Armstrong sits down with Dr. Natalie Marks for a deeply honest conversation about identity, alignment, and intentional living. While Dr. Marks is widely known for her extraordinary career — spanning clinical practice, hospital ownership, national media, Fear Free leadership, and her current role as CEO of the Veterinary Angel Network — this episode goes beyond accomplishments and into the inner work behind them.

Together, Brianna and Natalie explore what it means to build a life that actually feels good, how to recognize when you’ve outgrown old versions of yourself, and why vulnerability, boundaries, and asking for help are essential leadership skills. This episode is an invitation to reflect, let go of what no longer serves you, and choose the “intentional yes” — in your career, relationships, and life.

If you’re feeling successful on paper but misaligned inside, this conversation is for you.

🧠 What We Talk About

• Finding your “why” and building a life around it

• Letting go of roles, identities, and expectations that no longer fit

• Why success without alignment leads to burnout

• Vulnerability as a leadership strength, not a weakness

• Learning how — and when — to ask for help

• Building real friendships and meaningful connection

• Creating boundaries that protect your energy and values

• Choosing the intentional yes instead of living by default

🎧 Why This Episode Matters

This conversation sets the tone for 2026:
Less hustle.
More intention.
More honesty.
More joy.

It’s about choosing people, choosing yourself, and choosing a life that aligns with who you are becoming — not who you used to be.

📣 Share This Episode

If this episode resonated with you and someone came to mind while listening, consider sharing it with them. Sometimes the most meaningful conversations are the ones we pass along.

👩‍⚕️ About Dr. Natalie Marks

Dr. Natalie Marks is one of the most accomplished veterinarians in the profession. She is a former hospital owner, nationally recognized award recipient, international media contributor, Fear Free leader, and CEO of the Veterinary Angel Network (VANE). Through her work, she continues to shape the future of veterinary medicine by supporting innovation, leadership, and intentional career paths.

Dr. Marks Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-marks-schneiderman-dvm-cvj-ccfp-elite-ffcp-v-54b0429a/ VANE https://vane.vet

MI:RNA https://mirna-diagnostics.com/en

🔔 Stay Connected

If you enjoyed this episode, follow or subscribe to Choose People Love Pets so you don’t miss future conversations focused on people-first leadership, culture, and building careers — and lives — that truly matter.

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In this conversation, Brianna and Phoebe discuss the challenges of asking for help in the veterinary field, emphasizing the importance of creating a culture of support and psychological safety. They explore the reasons behind the hesitation to seek assistance, such as fear of burdening others and past negative experiences. The discussion includes practical strategies for encouraging help-seeking behavior, recognizing signs of overwhelm, and the role of leadership in fostering a supportive environment. The conversation concludes with a focus on the benefits of collaboration and the need to normalize asking for help to combat burnout and improve patient care.

Takeaways

• Asking for help is essential for mental health.
• Hesitation to ask for help often leads to burnout.
• Creating a culture of support is crucial in veterinary practices.
• Leaders should model help-seeking behavior.
• Recognizing signs of overwhelm can prevent burnout.
• Normalizing asking for help improves team dynamics.
• Collaboration enhances patient care and team morale.
• Past experiences can hinder help-seeking behavior.
• Practical strategies can encourage team members to ask for help.
• Leadership plays a vital role in fostering a supportive environment.

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