The Conversing Nurse podcast

Send us Fan Mail

Today, I’m joined by Tim Jones, the CEO of Health Nuts Media and a true innovator in the world of health education. With over 30 years of experience, Tim has transformed how patients—especially children—learn about their health.

He’s an Emmy Award-winning producer who blends evidence-based research with engaging storytelling, using animation and interactive tools to make medical information accessible, understandable, and even fun. His work is used in major healthcare institutions across the country, improving health literacy and outcomes for countless patients and families.

Tim’s passion lies in pediatric care, where his creative approach is making a real difference in how kids understand and engage with their health. I’m excited for you to hear his journey, his insights, and the future of health communication.

I want to thank Tim for showing us how storytelling, animation, and innovation can transform patient education—especially for kids. His work reminds us that when health information is clear, engaging, and accessible, patients and families are empowered to take control of their health.

In the five-minute snippet: The Sandlot, Star Wars, The Lion King…need I go on?

Contact The Conversing Nurse podcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconversingnursepodcast/
Website: https://theconversingnursepodcast.com
Your review is so important to this Indie podcaster! You can leave one here!  https://theconversingnursepodcast.com/leave-me-a-review
Would you like to be a guest on my podcast? Pitch me! https://theconversingnursepodcast.com/intake-form
Check out my guests' book recommendations! https://bookshop.org/shop/theconversingnursepodcast 

I've partnered with RNegade.pro! You can earn CE's just by listening to my podcast episodes! Check out my CE library here: https://rnegade.thinkific.com/collections/conversing-nurse-podcast

Thanks for listening!

Send us Fan Mail

Have you ever wanted to know what a labor and delivery nurse does? Well, in this episode, Christine Daniel, a labor and delivery nurse for over two decades tells us all about the highs and lows of this interesting nursing specialty. The lows?  Well, the pace is fast, you can stand for long periods, it's very physical and there’s dealing with loss, as well as the social issues surrounding pregnancy. But then there are the highs: the individuality of each delivery experience, the challenge of the operating room, the thrill of learning a new skill, the shared sense of teamwork, and the awareness of just how much joy you give and receive in a day’s work. And don’t forget about the vagina in the box (I’m not sure if that’s a high or a low, but it was the source of a lot of laughs). In the five-minute snippet, I hope that Christine's wish may someday come true: that those little thought bubbles above her head will become visible to all, so watch out! For Christine's book recs visit my website: https://bookshop.org/lists/christine-daniel-bsn-rnc-ob
Vagina in a box simulator:
https://www.gtsimulators.com/products/kyoto-kagaku-vaginal-delivery-assistance-simulator-kk-mw36

Contact The Conversing Nurse podcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconversingnursepodcast/
Website: https://theconversingnursepodcast.com
Your review is so important to this Indie podcaster! You can leave one here!  https://theconversingnursepodcast.com/leave-me-a-review
Would you like to be a guest on my podcast? Pitch me! https://theconversingnursepodcast.com/intake-form
Check out my guests' book recommendations! https://bookshop.org/shop/theconversingnursepodcast 

I've partnered with RNegade.pro! You can earn CE's just by listening to my podcast episodes! Check out my CE library here: https://rnegade.thinkific.com/collections/conversing-nurse-podcast

Thanks for listening!

Send us Fan Mail

Today’s guest, Randy Morris, is a dynamic leader in the world of nursing, education, and patient advocacy. You may know him on social media as @Dr. Nurse Randy, but behind the title is a highly accomplished clinician and strategist with a bold mission.

He is the CEO of Prism Care Advocates, a board-certified healthcare leader, nurse manager, professional development educator, and nursing practice expert. His mentoring and coaching empower nurses to work at the top of their license and lead their own practice.

His expertise in policy writing, quality assurance, and education has improved outcomes and transformed care delivery in real, measurable ways. And through his private consulting practice—as a board-certified patient advocate, legal nurse consultant, and nursing practice consultant—he helps patients navigate complex systems, supports clinicians in growing professionally, and partners with organizations to meet compliance and quality goals.

Randy is proof that when nurses step into their power, systems change, outcomes improve, and leadership gets redefined. Whether he’s mentoring professionals, writing policies, or speaking truth online, he’s raising the bar for what nursing can and should be. 

In the five-minute snippet: Let’s just give thanks for kindergarten teachers everywhere. For Randy's bio, visit my website (link below).

Contact The Conversing Nurse podcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconversingnursepodcast/
Website: https://theconversingnursepodcast.com
Your review is so important to this Indie podcaster! You can leave one here!  https://theconversingnursepodcast.com/leave-me-a-review
Would you like to be a guest on my podcast? Pitch me! https://theconversingnursepodcast.com/intake-form
Check out my guests' book recommendations! https://bookshop.org/shop/theconversingnursepodcast 

I've partnered with RNegade.pro! You can earn CE's just by listening to my podcast episodes! Check out my CE library here: https://rnegade.thinkific.com/collections/conversing-nurse-podcast

Thanks for listening!

Send us Fan Mail

Adam and Jenn Wood,  with their son Brady, born at just 25 weeks, lived in the NICU for 135 days. And what did Adam do in those 135 days? He paid attention. And then he became the fiercest advocate for preemies, their families, nurses, and doctors everywhere. Listen as Adam recounts NICU stories of heartache, hope, and humor, with even a budding bromance thrown in. In the five-minute snippet, Adam has the cleanest house, and ears on the block! For Adam's bio, visit my website (link below).
Adam's bookstore on Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/lists/adam-wood-preemie-dad-author-retired-army-leader

Contact info: Adam Wood, Children's Author and Founder of Preemie Adventures

Website:  https://www.preemieadventures.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.preemieadventures.com/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PreemieAdventures 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NICUADVENTURES 

Contact The Conversing Nurse podcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconversingnursepodcast/
Website: https://theconversingnursepodcast.com
Your review is so important to this Indie podcaster! You can leave one here!  https://theconversingnursepodcast.com/leave-me-a-review
Would you like to be a guest on my podcast? Pitch me! https://theconversingnursepodcast.com/intake-form
Check out my guests' book recommendations! https://bookshop.org/shop/theconversingnursepodcast 

I've partnered with RNegade.pro! You can earn CE's just by listening to my podcast episodes! Check out my CE library here: https://rnegade.thinkific.com/collections/conversing-nurse-podcast

Thanks for listening!

Send us Fan Mail

Meet Lakeisha Falwell, an oncology nurse practitioner who is truly inspiring. Her passion and commitment to her craft shine through in her words as she shares insights about her work. She talks about the patients she serves, the collaborations she engages in, and the setting she works in. Lakeisha also emphasizes the importance of active listening skills to improve communication with her patients. What sets her apart is her unwavering compassion towards those she cares for. She is not just doing a job but is truly making a positive difference in their lives. As a bonus, Lakeisha owns her own legal nurse consulting business, where she uses her nursing skills and knowledge to assist attorneys with a variety of cases, including medical malpractice and negligence. Due to her knowledge and experience, her services are highly sought after by attorneys nationwide. In the five-minute snippet: is there a Planners Anonymous? For Lakeisha's bio and contact information, see the links below.
Professional Organizations:
American Association of Nurse Practitioners
American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants
Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society
Oncology Nursing Society
Certifications:
Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner
Business and Social Media:
Next Level Nurse Consulting, LLC
Next Level Nurse Consulting, LLC Instagram

Contact The Conversing Nurse podcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconversingnursepodcast/
Website: https://theconversingnursepodcast.com
Your review is so important to this Indie podcaster! You can leave one here!  https://theconversingnursepodcast.com/leave-me-a-review
Would you like to be a guest on my podcast? Pitch me! https://theconversingnursepodcast.com/intake-form
Check out my guests' book recommendations! https://bookshop.org/shop/theconversingnursepodcast 

I've partnered with RNegade.pro! You can earn CE's just by listening to my podcast episodes! Check out my CE library here: https://rnegade.thinkific.com/collections/conversing-nurse-podcast

Thanks for listening!

Send us Fan Mail

From launching Kaiser Permanente’s first website to building a global food & wine CEU tourism company, today’s guest has reinvented herself across medicine, tech, education, and entrepreneurship. We are diving into the story of June Forkner Dunn, a trailblazing nurse who has redefined what’s possible in leadership, innovation, and global vision.

June began her career in healthcare, founding Medical Consulting Resources—a company that provided expert witnesses in malpractice litigation, managing a team of nearly 20 doctors, nurses, and respiratory therapists. 

Her journey then took her to the corporate offices of Kaiser Permanente, where she held two groundbreaking roles: writing and presenting the Corporate Board Report for 13 Northern California hospitals, and later, helping to launch KP’s very first website in the early 2000s—implementing tools we now take for granted like emailing your doctor, renewing prescriptions online, and even using early AI to track patient discussion trends. She was using AI before we even knew what it was! And did I mention she has authored over 600 publications?

If that wasn’t enough, she spent 20 years as a faculty member at San Francisco State University—and then reinvented herself again by founding the first company in the U.S. to offer continuing education units to nurses through international food and wine tourism. Her company, Wine Knows Travel, now operates in 13 countries around the world.

Get ready for an inspiring conversation about vision, reinvention, and what it takes to be decades ahead of the curve. June’s journey is a masterclass in innovation, leadership, and knowing when to break the mold.

In the five-minute snippet: it’s an old, I mean vintage word, and I love it. For June's bio, visit my website, link below.

Internet-based Patient Self-care: The Next Generation of Healthcare Delivery

Expert Advice on Becoming an Expert Witness

To Err is Human-But Not in Healthcare

Expert Advice on Becoming and Expert Witness

Contact The Conversing Nurse podcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconversingnursepodcast/
Website: https://theconversingnursepodcast.com
Your review is so important to this Indie podcaster! You can leave one here!  https://theconversingnursepodcast.com/leave-me-a-review
Would you like to be a guest on my podcast? Pitch me! https://theconversingnursepodcast.com/intake-form
Check out my guests' book recommendations! https://bookshop.org/shop/theconversingnursepodcast 

I've partnered with RNegade.pro! You can earn CE's just by listening to my podcast episodes! Check out my CE library here: https://rnegade.thinkific.com/collections/conversing-nurse-podcast

Thanks for listening!

Send us Fan Mail

Today’s interview is one that I truly enjoy because it focuses on the patient's experience. 

 Meet Dan Drydock Shockley, a Navy veteran who served in Operation Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. At the age of 51, after a routine colonoscopy, Dan was diagnosed with Attenuated Familial Adenomatous Polyposis—quite a mouthful, indeed. 

 I will let Dan share the rest of his incredible story, as he is a gifted speaker. He serves as a live case presentation speaker for the Stanford School of Medicine’s Molecular Foundations of Medicine course and the Stanford MS Program in Human Genetics and Genetic Counseling. Dan's story has undoubtedly impacted many individuals. 

 Patient experiences are crucial for healthcare professionals; they are at the heart of why we do what we do. You will hear about the many connections that Dan forged throughout his journey. As I have told him, there are no coincidences in life, only divine interventions, which you will witness today.

 Dan is also a master of acronyms and created one based on his experience: Always Forge Ahead with a Purpose. Brilliant. 

In the five-minute snippet: Army, Navy, Air Force or Marines? For Dan's bio, visit my website (link below).

California FAP Awareness Week

Contact The Conversing Nurse podcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconversingnursepodcast/
Website: https://theconversingnursepodcast.com
Your review is so important to this Indie podcaster! You can leave one here!  https://theconversingnursepodcast.com/leave-me-a-review
Would you like to be a guest on my podcast? Pitch me! https://theconversingnursepodcast.com/intake-form
Check out my guests' book recommendations! https://bookshop.org/shop/theconversingnursepodcast 

I've partnered with RNegade.pro! You can earn CE's just by listening to my podcast episodes! Check out my CE library here: https://rnegade.thinkific.com/collections/conversing-nurse-podcast

Thanks for listening!

Send us Fan Mail

Today, I’m honored to introduce you to Brandon Young and Blayne Smith—co-authors of the impactful book “Perseverance is Greater than Endurance: Lead with Resilience. Grow through Adversity. Win Together.” 

What do Brandon, a former US Army Ranger, and Blayne, a former Green Beret, know about leadership? Quite a bit. Their experiences in high-pressure environments have shaped a practical, values-based leadership philosophy that’s both insightful and relevant.

When I received this book, I immediately read it from cover to cover and have even begun re-reading it. And I did something I don't typically do: I highlighted the heck out of it, I scribbled in the margins, I dog-eared pages, all the things.  It was too good not to! The parallels to nursing really resonated with me, as their insights about leadership apply equally whether you’re in a war zone, a corporate meeting, or on a busy hospital floor. 

Brandon and Blayne are the driving forces behind Applied Leadership Partners, and they’ve formed strategic partnerships with major companies like Nike, Walmart, Starbucks, Microsoft, and Amazon. They emphasize the importance of adopting impactful leadership practices to create strong, cohesive teams. And if anyone belongs here, they do. As I told Brandon and Blayne, their credibility got them in the room, and their humility keeps them in the space. 

On top of their achievements, they also host the Applied Leadership Podcast, which I genuinely enjoy. The format is refreshing: two friends, one question, half an hour, zero script. Their conversations are not only thoughtful but also sprinkled with fun, addressing topics about life, business, and leadership. Nurse or not, you need to hear Brandon and Blayne’s powerful messages delivered with experience, humor, and humility.

In the five-minute snippet: You’ll get to see just how well they know each other—it’s a fun take on the Newlywed Game! 

For Brandon and Blayne's bios, visit my website (link below).

Contact The Conversing Nurse podcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconversingnursepodcast/
Website: https://theconversingnursepodcast.com
Your review is so important to this Indie podcaster! You can leave one here!  https://theconversingnursepodcast.com/leave-me-a-review
Would you like to be a guest on my podcast? Pitch me! https://theconversingnursepodcast.com/intake-form
Check out my guests' book recommendations! https://bookshop.org/shop/theconversingnursepodcast 

I've partnered with RNegade.pro! You can earn CE's just by listening to my podcast episodes! Check out my CE library here: https://rnegade.thinkific.com/collections/conversing-nurse-podcast

Thanks for listening!

Send us Fan Mail

Today’s guest is The Teaching NP, Sunny Khangura. Sunny wears many hats—nurse practitioner, educator, mentor, entrepreneur, and passionate advocate for the non-traditional path. She began her nursing career back in 2005 and has since carved a dynamic and inspiring journey across clinical care, leadership, education, and business.

From trauma units to neurosurgery, from mentoring NP students to creating exam prep courses and launching her own teaching platform, Sunny has made it her mission to elevate nurse practitioner education and empower others to see the value in their unique skill sets.

In this episode, we explore how her career evolved, what it means to create impact beyond the bedside, and why every nurse’s path—traditional or not—deserves to be celebrated.

What really stands out is her unwavering commitment to mentorship and her deep belief in the value of every nurse’s journey, no matter how unconventional it may seem.

If you’re an NP student, a new grad, or a seasoned nurse looking to explore new directions, I hope Sunny’s story inspires you to trust your instincts, invest in your growth, and maybe even take that leap you’ve been considering. This was such a rich conversation—full of insight, experience, and heart.

In the five-minute snippet: yep, she’s a nurse.

Contact The Conversing Nurse podcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconversingnursepodcast/
Website: https://theconversingnursepodcast.com
Your review is so important to this Indie podcaster! You can leave one here!  https://theconversingnursepodcast.com/leave-me-a-review
Would you like to be a guest on my podcast? Pitch me! https://theconversingnursepodcast.com/intake-form
Check out my guests' book recommendations! https://bookshop.org/shop/theconversingnursepodcast 

I've partnered with RNegade.pro! You can earn CE's just by listening to my podcast episodes! Check out my CE library here: https://rnegade.thinkific.com/collections/conversing-nurse-podcast

Thanks for listening!

Send us Fan Mail

Three years!!! 145 episodes!!! Here's what I've learned. Thank you for being here!

Episodes I discussed:

Preemie Dad, Author and Advocate, Adam Wood

Adult Micropreemie Survivor, Christina Gagnon

Tulare County Fire Chief, Charlie Norman

Project Management For Nurses with Kevin Pannell

Contact The Conversing Nurse podcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconversingnursepodcast/
Website: https://theconversingnursepodcast.com
Your review is so important to this Indie podcaster! You can leave one here!  https://theconversingnursepodcast.com/leave-me-a-review
Would you like to be a guest on my podcast? Pitch me! https://theconversingnursepodcast.com/intake-form
Check out my guests' book recommendations! https://bookshop.org/shop/theconversingnursepodcast 

I've partnered with RNegade.pro! You can earn CE's just by listening to my podcast episodes! Check out my CE library here: https://rnegade.thinkific.com/collections/conversing-nurse-podcast

Thanks for listening!