Dave Zaboski at VIS: Shaping our future through the stories we tell

As we get excited about the upcoming Veterinary Innovation Summit, let's take a moment to catch up with Brenda Andresen as she interviews 2024 VIS keynote speaker Dave Zaboski.

Zaboski is a former Disney animator, classically trained artist and creative thought leader. He's known for bold ideas and boundary-pushing innovations, and you can feel the excitement pour out in this special VIS episode of Bourbon with Brenda. Together these two explore how storytelling, empathy and technology can reshape not just veterinary medicine, but the world.

A few highlights:

1. Creativity powers innovation—especially in vet med. Zaboski draws connections between art and science, showing how veterinary professionals solve complex problems daily.

2. Intelligence isn’t “artificial.” Challenge the accepted definition of "intelligence." Zaboski suggests adopting the terms "machine intelligence" and “animal sentience,” which better respect the many forms of knowledge.

3. Storytelling shapes reality. Zaboski also emphasizes that positive, purpose-driven storytelling isn’t just inspiring—it’s a tool to build better futures in any field. To craft this new path, everything actual must first be possible.

For years VIS has been a magnet for forward-thinkers, and this special batch of Bourbon with Brenda proves why. Watch the full video to see how Dave’s creative lens invites us to rethink what’s possible when science and storytelling collide.