In this episode of the Coffee Break Podcast, Dr. Renee Thompson sits down with Dr. Ecoee Rooney, Chief Nursing Officer at Indicator Sciences and nationally recognized expert in workplace civility. Ecoee shares how her team is transforming how we address burnout, turnover, and workload imbalance in nursing – through data. Together, they explore the potential of analytics to support nurse leaders, identify struggling team members, and reduce burnout-driven behaviors before they escalate.

Ecoee breaks down how her team uses real-time clinical data to help nurse leaders pinpoint workload imbalances, understand patterns of burnout, and initiate supportive – not punitive – interventions. Her CareFX platform and Quick Sync method are empowering leaders to focus their time where it matters most.

If you’ve ever wondered how to truly support your nurses and make data meaningful in real-time leadership, this episode is for you.

In this episode of the Coffee Break Podcast, Dr. Renee Thompson sits down with Priscilla Meyers — their newest consultant, speaker, and leadership coach at the Healthy Workforce Institute. 

They talk about what it really takes to transform a toxic culture from the inside out. Priscilla shares how she started by truly listening to her team, involving them in decisions, and creating psychological safety. They also talk about the importance of vulnerability, modeling the behavior you want to see, and how to handle conflict — especially between providers and nursing staff.

If you’re a leader looking for practical, real-world strategies to build a healthy work culture (and keep your sanity in the process), this episode is for you.

In this episode, Dr. Renee Thompson tackles common leadership challenges, including setting boundaries, managing emotions, and bridging generational gaps in the workplace. Discover practical strategies to enhance team morale and foster a respectful work environment. Renee shares insights on how to communicate effectively with your team, handle inappropriate emotions, and appreciate the unique strengths of different generations. 

Whether you're a seasoned leader or new to management, these tips will help you create a more harmonious and productive workplace.

In this episode of the Coffee Break podcast, Dr. Renee Thompson chats with Dr. Ruby Latif about a topic that impacts every single one of us: creating psychologically safe and inclusive work cultures.

Dr. Latif shares her expertise on the importance of building true inclusion – not as a one-time event but as an ongoing commitment. They talk about the hidden dangers of incivility and microaggressions, and how they quietly chip away at team morale and psychological safety.

They also explore what "soft resistance" looks like in leadership and why courage and curiosity are non-negotiables if you want to build a culture where everyone feels safe and supported. Dr. Latif emphasizes the value of hiring for character and potential, not just credentials – a philosophy I wholeheartedly support!

If you're a leader who wants to do better or a team member looking to foster a more inclusive environment, this conversation is for you.

In this heart-centered episode of the Coffee Break Podcast, Dr. Renee Thompson has the true pleasure of sitting down with Dr. Kate FitzPatrick – Chief Nurse Executive for Jefferson Health and a respected leader in our field – to talk about something close to both of our hearts: how leaders can foster healthy work cultures, especially in times of adversity.

Through her own stories of being bullied and the lessons she’s carried forward into leadership, Kate shares powerful insights about what it means to lead with grace, empathy, and hope. We talk about why presence matters, how leaders can serve as cultural anthropologists, and the importance of deeply listening to our teams.

If you're struggling with workplace culture, feeling disconnected, or want to better support your teams through difficult times – this episode is for you.

In this vulnerable and powerful episode on the Coffee Break Podcast, Dr. Renee Thompson sits down with Dr. Bob Dent – a nurse executive, executive coach, author, and someone I’ve respected for over a decade – to explore how leaders can create emotionally safe, respectful, and human-centered workplaces in healthcare.

We go beyond the buzzwords and dive into the realities of fear-based leadership, toxic cultures, and mental health challenges in leadership. Bob shares not only his incredible professional insights, but also his deeply personal story of navigating chronic suicidality and seeking help – a conversation that will stay with you long after the episode ends.

In this Q&A edition of the Coffee Break Podcast, Dr. Renee Thompson dives into real-world leadership dilemmas brought up during a recent keynote with 600+ healthcare leaders. From handling hostile emails (a.k.a. “nastygrams”) to protecting new nurses from being humiliated by physicians, to standing up for your float pool team – Renee shares real strategies that work.

You’ll learn how to respond to disruptive communication without escalating conflict, how to confront behavior while keeping your HR team in the loop, and how to build a true learning culture that supports – not shames – new team members.

If you've ever been blindsided by a rude email, struggled to defend your staff, or worried that confrontation will get twisted into you being the bully – this episode is for you.

In this episode of the Coffee Break Podcast, Dr. Renee Thompson sits down with Dr. Kit Bredimus, Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Nursing at Midland Memorial Hospital. Kit is a nationally recognized nurse executive and a driving force behind creating a respectful and emotionally intelligent work culture.

This episode is for every leader who wants to do more than just manage — it’s for those ready to lead with intention, vulnerability, and courage. Kit shares how understanding himself first helped him guide others more effectively, why emotional intelligence is non-negotiable in healthcare, and how vulnerability became his leadership superpower.

In this episode of the Coffee Break, Dr. Renee Thompson sits down with Luanne Smedley, Executive Director and Associate Chief Nursing Officer at Stanford Children’s Health. Luanne is a true soul sister in the fight against workplace bullying and incivility.

After a work stoppage and years of strained relationships in the NICU, Luanne led a powerful, interprofessional culture reset — starting with leadership and expanding to the entire team. What began as tough conversations among leaders turned into a structured, monthly opportunity for nurses, NPs, and physicians to talk, listen, and heal together.

What’s the result? Dramatic improvements in communication, trust, sick time, incident reports, vacancy, and turnover. This episode is packed with lessons for any leader ready to turn the tide on workplace dysfunction.

In this deeply personal and transformative episode, I sit down with Todd Angelucci – a passionate advocate for men in nursing, a former Army medic, and now a mentor and coach – to talk about wellness, resilience, and transformational leadership.

Todd shares his extraordinary journey from healthcare professional to brain tumor survivor, and how that life-altering diagnosis led to a deeper understanding of himself, his purpose, and the wounds we all carry. Together, we unpack his experience, his transition into mentoring, and the unique challenges men face in nursing and healthcare leadership.

Todd also dives into his work helping men become more of who they truly are – through self-awareness, vulnerability, and connection. His story and his message are powerful reminders that yes, we do hard things – and we don’t have to do them alone.

This conversation is raw, real, and absolutely inspiring.