What’s it like to go from treating ski injuries on the slopes of Queenstown to working ED shifts under the red-hot skies of rural Australia? For Nicole Watts - emergency nurse, adventure-seeker and proud member of the cmr community - it’s a career that blends adrenaline, autonomy and purpose.

Nicole shares what it takes to thrive as both a ski field nurse in New Zealand and a travel nurse in Australia. We step into her world on the slopes, where ski patrol briefings start the day and anything from fractures to major trauma can come through the door. From fast-paced clinic days with limited backup to regional EDs across the country, she reflects on the clinical skills, confidence and adaptability these environments demand and how each setting has shaped her as a nurse and a person.

You’ll also hear Nicole’s practical advice for NZ nurses considering the move across the ditch. She unpacks the logistics of nursing in Australia and how to find your feet quickly in agency-heavy emergency departments. Whether you’re a NZ nurse curious about what’s possible or a travel nurse dreaming of seasonal work, this episode is packed with insight and inspiration.

More about Nicole's Organisation of Choice, Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter Trust
The Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter Trust is committed to supporting the world class rescue helicopter service that is delivered across the large and geographically challenging southern area of New Zealand. The Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter service is partially funded by Government, but we rely on donations from our community to support this critical service that brings vital help to seriously unwell or injured patients. 

It Takes Heart is hosted by cmr CEO Sam Miklos, alongside Head of Talent and Employer Branding, Kate Coomber. 

We Care; Music by Waveney Yasso 

Get to know cmr better!
Follow @ittakesheartpodcast on Instagram, @cmr | Cornerstone Medical Recruitment on Linked In, @cornerstonemedicalrec on TikTok and @CornerstoneMedicalRecruitment on Facebook.

Neha arrived in Brisbane from Nepal with good grades, high hopes, and a postcard-perfect image of Australia, but the reality was tougher. Cultural shocks, unfamiliar accents, and the quiet weight of starting over left her searching for solid ground. Nursing became her anchor and in time, aged care quietly captured her heart. 

Now a registered nurse, Neha supports aged care residents through a mix of bedside care and telehealth. She shares what good care really looks like: calm, consistent, and deeply human.  She also shares lifestyle and nursing content online, offering insight, encouragement, and connection, especially for international students navigating similar journeys. 

This episode is for anyone wondering where a career in nursing can take them, especially if you’re starting fresh in a new country, navigating setbacks, or finding your place in a different system. Neha’s story is a reminder that purpose often lives in the places we least expect.

More about Neha's Organisation of Choice, Beyond Blue
Beyond Blue is one of Australia’s most well-known, trusted, and visited mental health organisations. For more than 20 years, people in Australia have placed their trust in Beyond Blue as a reliable source of mental health information, support, and hope - whether they’re well and want to stay that way, unsettled or struggling and need support, or in recovery and want to reconnect.

Follow Neha on Instagram and TikTok.

It Takes Heart is hosted by cmr CEO Sam Miklos, alongside Head of Talent and Employer Branding, Kate Coomber. 

We Care; Music by Waveney Yasso 

Get to know cmr better!
Follow @ittakesheartpodcast on Instagram, @cmr | Cornerstone Medical Recruitment on Linked In, @cornerstonemedicalrec on TikTok and @CornerstoneMedicalRecruitment on Facebook.

You might know Erin Barnett from Love Island or I'm a Celebrity…, but her most powerful story isn’t one that played out on screen. A registered nurse living with endometriosis, adenomyosis and PCOS, Erin opens up about what it’s taken to be heard in a system that too often overlooks women’s pain.

From a tough start in the health system to becoming the kind of nurse she wished she’d had, Erin shares the personal journey behind her book Endo Unfiltered and what led her to make the life-changing decision to have a hysterectomy in her 20s.

If you’ve ever felt dismissed by the system, are raising young women, or work in women’s health, this episode is for you.

Language warning: This episode contains occasional strong language.

More about Erin's Organisation of Choice, Endometriosis Australia
Endometriosis Australia is at the forefront of advocating for those affected by endometriosis, a chronic condition that impacts millions worldwide. Dedicated to improving the lives of those living with endometriosis, they deliver a comprehensive range of programs and support services designed to make a real difference.

Follow Erin on Instagram.

It Takes Heart is hosted by cmr CEO Sam Miklos, alongside Head of Talent and Employer Branding, Kate Coomber. 

We Care; Music by Waveney Yasso 

Get to know cmr better!
Follow @ittakesheartpodcast on Instagram, @cmr | Cornerstone Medical Recruitment on Linked In, @cornerstonemedicalrec on TikTok and @CornerstoneMedicalRecruitment on Facebook.

What happens when you flip the mic from healthcare workers to the people who help place them? In this Behind Recruitment Special of It Takes Heart, we sit down with global recruitment coach Sophie Robertson to explore what 'good' really looks like in recruitment and why it matters more than ever.

With three decades in the industry, Sophie shares how curiosity, consistency and care separate truly impactful recruiters from the rest. From asking better questions to creating 'moments of truth' in every interaction, Sophie invites us to rethink recruitment as a relationship, not a transaction. She explains why price alone can’t be the north star in healthcare hiring, and how agencies that audit their candidate and client experience are raising the bar.

This episode is for anyone working in recruitment, hiring through agencies, or simply curious about how service-first hiring can create safer, happier healthcare.

More about Sophie's Organisation of Choice, National Centre for Childhood Grief
The National Centre for Childhood Grief (NCCG) is an Australian not-for-profit organisation dedicated to caring for bereaved children and their families following the death of a parent, sibling or other close loved one. Their individual and group counselling programs help bereaved children and their families learn to live with their grief, build their coping skills and resilience and be empowered to live their best life.

Follow Sophie on Linkedin.

It Takes Heart is hosted by cmr CEO Sam Miklos, alongside Head of Talent and Employer Branding, Kate Coomber. 

We Care; Music by Waveney Yasso 

Get to know cmr better!
Follow @ittakesheartpodcast on Instagram, @cmr | Cornerstone Medical Recruitment on Linked In, @cornerstonemedicalrec on TikTok and @CornerstoneMedicalRecruitment on Facebook.

What happens when the path you’ve worked so hard for starts to wear you down? In this honest episode, UK-trained doctor and content creator. Dr Chris G, opens up about burnout, sabbaticals, and building a version of medicine that actually feels sustainable.

Dr Chris takes us from the intense pace of under-resourced NHS wards to new rhythms of practice in Australia, and the surprising clarity he found during two ten‑day silent meditation retreats. We talk rural placements, lifestyle shifts, and why success isn’t a title but something you can feel in your day-to-day. Along the way, Chris reflects on creating content as a form of expression, confronting the fear of being seen, and why visibility matters, especially for clinicians questioning the traditional path. 

If you’re feeling stuck, curious about locum life, or searching for more balance in your healthcare career, this episode offers a hopeful, practical look at what’s possible. 

More about Chris' Organisation of Choice, Against Malaria Foundation
Against Malaria Foundation help protect people from malaria. They fund anti-malaria nets, specifically long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs), and work with distribution partners to ensure they are used and their impact tracked and recorded.

Follow Chris on Instagram and Youtube.

It Takes Heart is hosted by cmr CEO Sam Miklos, alongside Head of Talent and Employer Branding, Kate Coomber. 

We Care; Music by Waveney Yasso 

Get to know cmr better!
Follow @ittakesheartpodcast on Instagram, @cmr | Cornerstone Medical Recruitment on Linked In, @cornerstonemedicalrec on TikTok and @CornerstoneMedicalRecruitment on Facebook.

Content warning: This episode includes discussions of alcoholism, depression, and occasional course language, which may be sensitive for some listeners.

What happens when a nurse known for looking after everyone else hits her own breaking point? For Bek Woodbine (Nurse Practitioner, host of podcast Tenderness for Nurses, and founder of a successful aesthetic clinic), it started with shaking hands and overwhelming anxiety. In a healthcare culture that rewards overwork and masks burnout with 'just one more drink,' Bek chose a different path.

Bek shares how she stepped away from clinical work, navigated anxiety and depression, and what six years of sobriety has taught her about resilience and self-leadership. She speaks openly about fatigue mismanagement in healthcare, the stigma nurses face when speaking up, and why great leadership starts with boundaries and care.

We also explore the aesthetic industry’s shift toward trends over ethics, and why Bek champions a skin first approach. This episode is for anyone who’s ever felt stretched too thin or is searching for a more sustainable way to care, for others and for themselves. 

More about Bek's Organisation of Choice, FARE.
The Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE) is a not-for-profit organisation with a vision for an Australia free from alcohol harms – where communities are healthy and well, and where laws, policies and programs are fair, equitable and just.  

Follow Bek's podcast Tenderness For Nurses on Instagram.

It Takes Heart is hosted by cmr CEO Sam Miklos, alongside Head of Talent and Employer Branding, Kate Coomber. 

We Care; Music by Waveney Yasso 

Get to know cmr better!
Follow @ittakesheartpodcast on Instagram, @cmr | Cornerstone Medical Recruitment on Linked In, @cornerstonemedicalrec on TikTok and @CornerstoneMedicalRecruitment on Facebook.

What if the way you walk, rest, or hydrate could shift your entire nervous system? In Part 2 of our chat with Dr Anthea Todd, we explore how to apply the Fundamentals Framework, offering practical, everyday ways to reconnect with your body’s wisdom.

We dive into what hair testing can reveal (including Sam and Kate’s own results), how minerals mirror stress, and why beliefs like 'resting is lazy' may be doing more harm than you think. You’ll also hear why morning sunlight matters, how hydration plays a bigger role than we realise, and why pleasure isn’t a reward, it’s essential.

If you’ve ever felt stuck between burnout and confusion, this episode is your permission to slow down, listen in, and support your body in a whole new way.

Special offers from Dr Anthea Todd:
•  Get 10% off your own hair test with code CMR at femalefundamentals.com.au/test-your-female-fundamentals
•  Receive 50% off Anthea's Practitioner Training Program (discount already applied at checkout): Training Program

More about Anthea's Organisation of Choice, RizeUp.
RizeUp provides life-changing practical support for families affect by domestic and family violence. 

Follow Anthea on Instagram and TikTok.

It Takes Heart is hosted by cmr CEO Sam Miklos, alongside Head of Talent and Employer Branding, Kate Coomber. 

We Care; Music by Waveney Yasso 

Get to know cmr better!
Follow @ittakesheartpodcast on Instagram, @cmr | Cornerstone Medical Recruitment on Linked In, @cornerstonemedicalrec on TikTok and @CornerstoneMedicalRecruitment on Facebook.

What if dry skin, headaches or exhaustion weren’t just annoying symptoms, but messages your body’s trying to send? In this two-part episode, we sit down with Dr Anthea Todd, women’s health expert and author of What’s My Body Telling Me, to explore the space between: that frustrating place where test results are “normal,” but you still don’t feel well. 

Drawing from her background in chiropractic care, women’s health and functional medicine, Anthea shares why common doesn’t mean normal and how conventional healthcare often overlooks chronic, low-grade symptoms. Her Fundamentals Framework flips the script: focus on what every cell in your body needs, through four pillars - nervous system, metabolism, nutrients, and blood sugars. 

Stay tuned for Part 2, where we explore how to bring this framework to life.

Language warning: This episode contains occasional strong language.

Special offers from Dr Anthea Todd:
•  Get 10% off your own hair test with code CMR at femalefundamentals.com.au/test-your-female-fundamentals
•  Receive 50% off Anthea's Practitioner Training Program (discount already applied at checkout): Practitioner Training

Follow Anthea on Instagram and TikTok.

It Takes Heart is hosted by cmr CEO Sam Miklos, alongside Head of Talent and Employer Branding, Kate Coomber. 

We Care; Music by Waveney Yasso. 

Get to know cmr better!
Follow @ittakesheartpodcast on Instagram, @cmr | Cornerstone Medical Recruitment on Linked In, @cornerstonemedicalrec on TikTok and @CornerstoneMedicalRecruitment on Facebook.

When the government announced sudden changes to the NDIS with only weeks’ notice, allied health business owners across Australia were thrown into crisis mode. For Judy Scott, occupational therapist and founder of My Therapy Crew, it meant pivoting her business while staying true to the values-led culture she’s nurtured over years of practice.

From starting out in a converted garage after redundancy, Judy has grown My Therapy Crew into a thriving multidisciplinary service with more than 80 staff. In this episode, she shares what the recent policy shifts mean for providers and clients alike – from systemic frustrations that place paperwork over people, to the ripple effects already being felt across the sector with closures, redundancies, and surging referrals to those still able to deliver care.

This episode is for anyone wanting to understand the human impact of NDIS reform, for clinicians navigating a rapidly changing system, and for leaders committed to building healthcare services that balance purpose with sustainability.

It Takes Heart is hosted by cmr CEO Sam Miklos, alongside Head of Talent and Employer Branding, Kate Coomber. 

We Care; Music by Waveney Yasso 

More about Judy's Organisations of Choice, The Christmas Party Darwin
The Christmas Parties are Australia’s largest events for children with disabilities and complex needs, with the Darwin Party giving up to 1,200 children from Darwin and surrounds the chance to experience the magic of Christmas in a safe, inclusive setting. Free and invitation-only, the event lets kids aged birth to twelve set aside therapies and treatments for a few hours to simply have fun, surrounded by a community wider than their family and carers. 

Get to know cmr better!
Follow @ittakesheartpodcast on Instagram, @cmr | Cornerstone Medical Recruitment on Linked In, @cornerstonemedicalrec on TikTok and @CornerstoneMedicalRecruitment on Facebook.

What happens when you say yes to adventure, purpose, and the unknown? In this episode, we meet oral health therapist Karli Grace, whose journey from private practice to working in Australia’s most remote Indigenous communities is as inspiring as it is impactful.

Karli shares what it’s really like delivering oral healthcare across Central Australia, East Arnhem Land and the Torres Strait, setting up mobile clinics in remote communities and building long-term relationships in places that often go months without dental services. And in true locum life fashion, her story includes unexpected twists, including a car accident that led to a love story with a pilot who now flies her to work.

Her warmth, resilience and genuine passion for improving Indigenous health outcomes shine through as she discusses her research into vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy and its link to enamel development in children. This episode is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when you follow your heart, stay curious, and use your skills to serve others.

It Takes Heart is hosted by cmr CEO Sam Miklos, alongside Head of Talent and Employer Branding, Kate Coomber. 

We Care; Music by Waveney Yasso 

More about Karli's Organisations of Choice, Darwin Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Womens Shelter
Darwin Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Womens Shelter (DAIWS) was established in 1986 as a safe place for women and children escaping violence. For over 36 years DAIWS remains a proud Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation providing specialist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander domestic violence support service in Darwin and remote communities. 

Get to know cmr better!
Follow @ittakesheartpodcast on Instagram, @cmr | Cornerstone Medical Recruitment on Linked In, @cornerstonemedicalrec on TikTok and @CornerstoneMedicalRecruitment on Facebook.