In this episode, Kathy and Linda LaTourelle sit down with Linda Rhodes, a former large-animal veterinarian, pharmaceutical executive, entrepreneur, and author, to explore an extraordinary career path rooted in agriculture, science, and perseverance.
Linda shares her journey from being one of the few women working as a large-animal veterinarian to building a groundbreaking career in veterinary pharmaceuticals, biotech startups, and executive leadership. Along the way, she reflects honestly on the realities of being a pioneer in a male-dominated field, the personal tradeoffs that come with ambitious careers, and the importance of making intentional choices — even when there’s no clear roadmap.
This conversation dives into what really counts as STEM, why agriculture and veterinary medicine belong in the STEM conversation, and how women can redefine success on their own terms at every stage of life.
🌾 What We Talk About in This Episode
Why veterinary medicine and agriculture are often overlooked as STEM careers
Being one of the first women in large-animal veterinary medicine
Learning to balance — and sometimes choose between — career, relationships, and personal fulfillment
Writing Breaking the Barnyard Barrier and transitioning from scientific to narrative writing
Navigating male-dominated spaces in biotech, pharmaceuticals, and venture capital
Starting, scaling, and selling a successful animal health company
Why career paths don’t have to be linear — and often shouldn’t be
Advice for early-career professionals trying to figure out what they actually want to do
Redefining success, freedom, and fulfillment later in life
Breaking the Barnyard Barrier by Linda Rhodes
👉 Purchase the book on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Barnyard-Barrier-Woman-Veterinarian/dp/1647792355
👉 Purchase the book on Barnes and Noble here: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/breaking-the-barnyard-barrier-linda-rhodes/1147476620?ean=9781647792350
💡 Ask the (Not) Experts – Listener Question
“How do I find a career that I’ll like?”
Linda, Kathy, and Linda LaTourelle reflect on why it’s okay — and often necessary — to try different paths, reassess over time, and pay attention to what doesn’t fit just as much as what does.
✨ Favorite Moments
The moment Linda first realized she could be a veterinarian
A candid discussion about the pressure women feel to “do it all”
Why some of the most fulfilling decades of life can come later than expected
Have a question for Ask the (Not) Experts or want to say hello?
📧 Email us at ordinarilyextraordinarypod@gmail.com
🎙️ Or leave us a voicemail at ordinarilyextraordinary.com
Music by Kay Paulus
