Ep# 269 Conscious Compartmentalization
Rekindling: Compassion Fatigue Solutions for Animal Workers
Release Date: 04/25/2024
Ep#320 The Guilt We Carry
Rekindling: Compassion Fatigue Solutions for Animal Workers
Guilt is a constant companion for many animal caregivers but so often, the guilt we carry isn’t actually ours to hold. In this episode, we’re unpacking the difference between emotional storytelling and actual responsibility. You’ll learn about confabulation (the sneaky way your brain fills in the blanks with self-blame) and proximal causation (how to uncover the real cause behind what happened). If you’ve ever spiraled over a decision you made, felt like you didn’t do enough, or carried the weight of an outcome that broke your heart, this one’s for you. Wild Hearts Rising is...
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Ep# 319 The Weight Behind The Smile with Kelly Burich
Rekindling: Compassion Fatigue Solutions for Animal Workers
In this episode, my Gemini sister Kelly Burich is back and we explore the emotional labor of showing up when your insides don’t match your outsides. From surface acting to deep acting, we unpack what it costs to keep smiling through stress, sadness, or burnout and why acknowledging the weight behind the smile is the first step to real emotional well-being. If you’ve ever felt like you were performing your role instead of living it, this one’s for you.
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Ep# The Thing You Secretly Want
Rekindling: Compassion Fatigue Solutions for Animal Workers
In this episode we’re talking about the thing you secretly want — the dream, the goal, the whisper you’ve been carrying quietly for too long. We’ll explore why it feels scary to want more, how fear shows up when you’re on the edge of something meaningful, and why now might be the moment to finally go after it. If you're craving permission, encouragement, or a loving nudge — this one’s for you.
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Ep# 317 Rescuing Big Cats: An Interview with Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge
Rekindling: Compassion Fatigue Solutions for Animal Workers
It's not everyday that you get to talk to folks who are rescuing some of the largest, most dangerous and most exploited animals on the planet, Big Cats. In this episode I have the pleasure of speaking to 3 incredible women from Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Eureka Springs, AR. Join me for my conversation with the founder Tanya Smith, staff veterinarian Dr. Kellyn Sweeley and animal curator Emily McCormack as they share their passion for their work, the heartbreak that comes with rescuing big cats and exotic animals and the transformations that they get to witness as these animals...
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Ep# 316 Redefining Enough
Rekindling: Compassion Fatigue Solutions for Animal Workers
You are not a project that needs to be improved—you are already enough. This episode blows up the myth that worthiness is something you earn by overworking, overgiving, or overachieving. It’s time to stop hustling to be "enough" and start remembering who you are.
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Ep# 315 10 Empowering Beliefs for Women
Rekindling: Compassion Fatigue Solutions for Animal Workers
I'm fresh off the heels of a meet-up of my Living A Life You Love group of women vets. We met in Chicago and the connections they've made on Zoom completely transferred to in-person. These women have each others back and have supported each other through some really tough things. So on the way home I created this list of empowering beliefs. Living A Life You Love is only for women veterinarians and it only opens every 6 months. You can enroll now. Here's the link . But hurry, the doors close on Friday March 28 at 11:59 pm!
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Handling Difficult People Without Losing Yourself
Rekindling: Compassion Fatigue Solutions for Animal Workers
Ever feel like certain people were put in your life just to test your patience? Whether it’s a toxic boss, a drama-loving coworker, or someone who always pushes your buttons, difficult people are everywhere. But here’s the good news—you don’t have to let them steal your peace! In this episode, we’re diving into how to handle tricky personalities, set boundaries like a boss, and keep your cool no matter what chaos comes your way. My 6-month group for women veterinarians, Living A Life You Love is opening for enrollment on March 24-28, 2025. Here's all the info
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Ep# 313 Five Years Later: What the Pandemic Taught Us
Rekindling: Compassion Fatigue Solutions for Animal Workers
Five years ago, the world changed in ways we never imagined. The pandemic reshaped our lives, our fears, our resilience, and our sense of what truly matters. In this episode, we reflect on what we learned, who we became, and how we moved forward. What did we fear then, and what do we fear now? How did we adapt, and what unexpected strengths did we uncover in ourselves? Join me in this personal and collective reflection as we look back on a time that tested us, transformed us, and—hopefully—made us better. This is an episode about survival, growth, and what it means to come out the other...
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Ep# 312 The 5 Essentials of Workplace Well-Being
Rekindling: Compassion Fatigue Solutions for Animal Workers
In this episode, we’re diving into the 5 Essentials for Workplace Mental Health and Well-Being as outlined by the U.S. Surgeon General. These five pillars—Protection from Harm, Connection & Community, Work-Life Harmony, Mattering at Work, and Growth Opportunities—are key to creating a work environment where people don’t just survive, but truly thrive. Whether you’re an employee, a leader, or just someone looking for ways to feel more supported at work, this episode will give you actionable insights to build resilience, prevent burnout and compassion fatigue, and create a...
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Ep# 311 Meet Roger, My Inner Critic
Rekindling: Compassion Fatigue Solutions for Animal Workers
An inner critic, we all have one. It's that constantly negative, judgmental voice that's always doubting you. You might be surprised to learn it's actually not you. Your inner critic is a collection of thoughts you've picked up along the way. By learning how to relate to your inner critic (I call mine Roger), you might just make a friend. Check it out!
info_outline"Compartmentalization is a defense mechanism in which people mentally separate conflicting thoughts, emotions, or experiences to avoid the discomfort of contradiction" according to Psychology Today. I believe compartmentalization can be an effective coping strategy for people who work in the emotionally charged fields of vet med, animal welfare and lab animal research. But it has to be conscious. Listen and learn what I mean by that.