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Introducing Dr. Rachel Rackow!

Ok, so you might not want her to cut the cake at your birthday party, but you do want her to cut through difficult conversations! Rachel has been practicing palliative medicine for many years now and has continued to worked through her own loss, trauma, Covid, parenting, and more. She has used her personal experiences of loss to enhance her work and used her work to help heal her experiences of loss. She's a dedicated physician, attentive mother, intrepid friend, and just a lovely human being. Oh, and she's incredibly insightful and so so so fun. 

This episode has heavy moments (we do talk about suicide, so listen with care), but balanced with joyful laughter - which is fitting to anyone who has been lucky enough to spend time with Rachel. She can engage in the heaviest of conversations and then, with ease, share in joyous laughter. She balances life's reality, which is not an easy thing to do and she comes to the balance after years of practicing joy and sorrow. Thank you Rachel!!!!

Also...note...No Really I'm Fine podcast will be taking a brief few month hiatus so hosts Aaron and Mike can take a breath and record some more engaging conversations to be released in the fall. Thanks again for all the support! 

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John McCall brings us a lively conversation filled with laughter and tears as he shares his journey into ICU nursing, sharing the joy and substantial challenges. 

John didn't begin a career in nursing until a second career after feeling unsatisfied after a career in business. It seemed the words from an early childhood influence, Mr. Rodgers, kept ringing in his ears "In times of trouble, always look for the helpers." John has had quite a journey through leaning into this call to help and has certainly had success and challenges along the way as he balances his healthy instinct to help with a more unhealthy urge to help which often leaves him unable to bring the help to himself that he gives to others. 

This episode is filled with vulnerability, insight, and boldness as John probes the challenges of parenting while in a high stress environment and challenges some of the stereotypes that exist (especially, it seems for men) that strong people don't cry or as for help. Thank you, John, for your care and for your passion for telling the truth and helping others. John is a gem and we think you will love him! 

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This week’s episode features ICU nurse Amanda Wood. Originally drawn by the fascinating stories of the medical field, she shares openly about the true emotional toll of an acute care setting. 

In our conversation, Amanda admittedly wonders if she can sustain herself on this career path. After the initial curiosity that drew her in, she recounts her stressful journey with nursing starting by training during the pandemic. She also reflects on her ongoing struggle to maintain compassion and her own well-being while working with complex cases in the ICU. As she says, she’s finding ways to cope wherever she can and she’s doing better, yet still says, “No really, I’m really not fine!” 

Thank you Amanda for your honesty, your humor and the heartfelt care you provide even as you search for how best to care for yourself! 

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On this week’s episode we welcome another amazing nurse, Alyssa Gibbs. Feeling called to nursing from a young age she’s spent time in Pediatrics, in CVICU and in an emerging role as a Critical Response Nurse (CRN). 

Alyssa reflects on how she’s learned to handle stressful situations with families and patients and provide calm to the care team in the midst of crisis. She speaks to the emotional toll of nursing, especially when you’re not in the right role. Just as she’s learned to read the signs of physical distress in patients, Alyssa offers insight she’s learned about slow transitions from work to home, knowing when to take a day off and even embracing the need for a career change.

Thank you Alyssa for your willingness to share the personal experiences that have helped make you such a calm presence in the midst of medical crisis! 

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This week we’re honored to welcome Sarah Ream to the podcast. With years spent working as an ED Social Worker, she has become accustomed to supporting people in the midst of crisis. But after experiencing the sudden loss of her husband, she learned new ways of being present to herself and others.

You might want to grab some Kleenex as you listen to this touching and poignant reflection on love, loss and healing in the midst of one’s own pain and sorrow. 

Thank you Sarah for sharing your story with us and giving such an inspiring illustration of how to see the world through our tears! 

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At a young age Laura was told, “you will see a lot of suffering.” While at first she was upset by this prediction, she now embraces this reality on a daily basis. In this poignant conversation, she shares how she was shaped since birthed to provide comfort and guidance to others in the midst of their suffering. 

Since she was a child, Laura has cultivated a therapeutic presence that can help sustain others in the midst of crisis. Along the way, she’s come face to face with her own limitations  and learned that taking care of yourself in these kinds of roles is a daily challenge.   

Thank you Laura for honoring us with your touching, humorous and inspiring stories! 

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We’re thrilled to welcome Ilyse Ring as she shares about her 30+ years of experience as a speech pathologist . From her educational background in linguistics and women’s studies, Ilyse reluctantly followed a prompt from her mom into speech therapy. Today, she’s still discovering the joy and wonder of helping people find their voice again.

Working in an acute care setting, Ilyse opens up about the challenges of shifting job roles, difficult patient interactions and even working through the pandemic while facing family health struggles. She celebrates both the magic of recovery and the pain of saying goodbye to patients.  She also offers honest reflection on the ever developing challenge of how to cope with this emotional grind. 

After decades of dedicated work empowering others to share their stories, we’re so grateful to have Ilyse share her story with us! 

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On this week’s episode the lovely couple Kyle and Sarah join us to share their experience with being a nurse…while being married to a nurse! From a fortuitous meeting in youth group, Sarah and Kyle followed parallel paths to find meaningful work in the nursing field. 

For Sarah, she’s followed her passion to provide empowering care as a labor and delivery nurse, while Kyle’s journey has gone from medical missions to work as a critical care nurse. In this engaging and honest dialogue, they open up about the joys and heartbreak of their shared work. They reflect on a blend of professional triumphs and personal loss, and share how they’ve learned to give and receive support even after the shift ends.  

We hope you enjoy this touching window into life on both sides of the healthcare frontline. Thank you Kyle and Sarah for the laughter, the tears and the care you provide to patients and each other! 

P.S. You can check out Kyle’s awesome woodwork here: https://sawdust-and-scrubs.square.site

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This week we welcome Kyle Cook to the show, an Oncology RN whose is passionate about the patient experience. In this episode, Kyle reflects on some surprising sources of inspiration that have made him the amazing nurse he is. You’ll love hearing how a blend of key relationships, unique job experiences and a certain star singer have all been instrumental in his journey. 

Throughout this heartfelt conversation, Kyle demonstrates the wit, wisdom and infectious joy that make him a beloved nurse and a trusted advocate for patients and colleagues. We hope you’ll be as touched as we were as you listen to him share. 

Thank you Kyle for bringing your full energy and heart to our time together. You are truly a gift to all those you serve! 

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Thanks to Palliative Care Social Worker, Jen Smith, for engaging us in the first episode of Season 2 for, "No Really, I'm Fine." 

Not only is Jen a joy to talk to (and work with), she is also deeply insightful, caring, and takes on her work with passion and kindness. 

Jen shares insight into how she navigates this challenging work while also suffering a tragic personal loss. This is a heavy experience that is sadly shared by many people who work in health care and find themselves asking, "how do I come back?" 

Thank you, Jen, for your vulnerability and your commitment to the important work of healthcare, even in the middle of personal loss and grief. 

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