We Need a Prescription for Leadership: Hamza Khan on Leading vs Managing
Release Date: 02/27/2025
Finlay’s Voice: A Mother’s Fight to Fix Canada’s ER Crisis with Hazel van der Werken
The Gritty Nurse
How long is too long to wait in an emergency room? For 16-year-old Finlay van der Werken, an eight-hour wait for a doctor proved fatal. In this powerful episode of The Gritty Nurse Podcast, host Amie Archibald-Varley sits down with Hazel van der Werken to share the heartbreaking story of her son, Finlay. After being rushed to an Ontario hospital with what began as a migraine, Finlay was triaged as an CTAS 2 (urgent case) but left in a "constant state of terror" for hours as his oxygen levels plummeted. By the time he was finally seen, he was in septic shock. Hazel discusses the systemic...
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96% Vote to Strike: Seattle Children’s Nurses Fight for Safety w/ Kara Yates & Therese Hill
The Gritty Nurse
In this critical episode of The Gritty Nurse Podcast, Amie Archibald-Varley hosts Kara Yates, RN (WSNA Union Co-Chair) and Therese Hill, BSN, RN(Membership Officer) to discuss a historic turning point for nursing in Washington. This conversation goes beyond the headlines, exploring the dire conditions that led nurses to the negotiation table. We expose how stalled contract negotiations have endangered patient safety, fueled critical staffing shortages, and allowed workplace violence to escalate—all while the hospital remains highly profitable. But since the episode, things have...
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Dying to be Seen: The Gritty Truth Is We ALL Need To Fight for Canadian Medicare
The Gritty Nurse
As we kick off 2026, the stakes for Canadian healthcare have never been higher. In this powerful season premiere (SEASON 7 baby!) of The Gritty Nurse Podcast, host Amie Archibald-Varley sits down with nurse, advocate, and author Cathy MacNeil to discuss her provocative and timely book, Dying to be Seen: The race to save medicare in Canada. Far from just a collection of anecdotes, Cathy’s work is heavily evidence-informed, blending raw frontline experiences with rigorous research into the systemic structures of Canadian healthcare. As Medicare stands at a breaking point, Cathy provides...
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Nursing Ratios & Union Power with Michael Hurley President of Ontario Council of Hospital Unions/CUPE
The Gritty Nurse
What does it mean to lead a movement? Michael Hurley, a veteran advocate and President of the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU/CUPE), joins Amie Archibald-Varley, The Gritty Nurse to discuss the grit required to protect the healthcare workforce. In this high-stakes episode, we pull back the curtain on what it truly takes to fight for frontline workers. Michael emphasizes that the current crisis in recruitment and retention isn’t an accident—it’s a policy failure. He highlights his work on the front lines of union leadership, focusing on the necessity of staffing ratios and...
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Sepsis, Equity, and the Fight for a National Standards In Canada with PhD. Candidate & Prominent Researcher Fatima Sheikh
The Gritty Nurse
In this powerful episode of The Gritty Nurse Podcast, host Amie Archibald-Varley sits down with researcher Fatima Sheikh, a PhD candidate at McMaster University, to unpack the urgent crisis of sepsis. This conversation goes beyond the bedside, focusing on the social and structural determinants of health that fuel sepsis prevalence and worsen patient outcomes. Fatima argues for recognizing sepsis as a critical public health issue that begins in the community, not the hospital. Key topics discussed: The need for a national action plan to address policy gaps in sepsis care and prevention. The...
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Why Boys Need Anti-Manosphere Education: Feminism, Neurodivergence, and Challenging Patriarchy
The Gritty Nurse
In this episode of the Gritty Nurse podcast, host Amie Archibald-Verley engages in a deep conversation with guest Jayne Gallays about the intersections of neurodivergence and feminism. They discuss personal experiences, the challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals, particularly women, and the societal expectations that shape their lives. The conversation also touches on the role of men in feminism, the impact of patriarchy, and the importance of building community and advocating for change. Crucially, Amy and Jayne discuss the manosphere and the necessity of educating young boys on the...
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Hospice Nurse Penny on "Influencing Death," End-of-Life Myths, and The Difference Between Hospice and Palliative Care
The Gritty Nurse
Does discussing death actually help us live better? In this episode of the The Gritty Nurse Podcast, Host Amie Archibald-Varley sits down with Penny Hawkins Smith—better known to her millions of followers as Hospice Nurse Penny—to find out. Penny is a certified hospice and palliative care nurse and a "death influencer" who uses social media to combat death anxiety and misinformation. She joins us to share her incredible journey from the ICU to hospice care and to discuss her new memoir, Influencing Death: Reframing Dying for Better Living. Together, we break down the critical (and...
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Screaming to be Heard: The Urgent Fight to Save Black Moms and Their Babies (Karrie Jones and Mercedes Wells Horrifying Experinces with Birth in the US)
The Gritty Nurse
Two Black women. Two different states. One shared, terrifying experience: being ignored by the very people sworn to care for them. Why are Black women in 2025 still screaming to be heard? In this episode of The Gritty Nurse, Amie Archibald-Varley, a former L & D nurse and Maternal Health Expert (Masters in Women's Health) breaks down the viral birth stories of Karrie Jones (Dallas) and Mercedes Wells (Indiana)—two harrowing cases of medical racism & gaslighting that have shaken the nursing & medical world. We analyze the 54-million-view footage, dissect the latest maternal...
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Are You A Caregiver in Crisis? Discussing Support & Solutions with Ontario Caregiver Organization CEO Amy Coupal
The Gritty Nurse
In this essential episode of the Gritty Nurse podcast, host Amie Archibald-Varley engages in a critical discussion with Amy Coupal, CEO of the Ontario Caregiver Organization (OCO), about the vital role of caregivers in Ontario. This conversation illuminates the significant challenges faced by these essential, yet often overlooked, members of the healthcare team. Listeners will gain insight into the dynamics of caregiving and the crucial support available through the OCO. Key Takeaways for Listeners: Caregiver Recognition: Understand why caregivers must be recognized as essential members of...
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When The Nurse Becomes the Patient: Emily Edwards on Her MS Diagnosis and Fighting to Be Heard
The Gritty Nurse
In this compelling and candid episode of The Gritty Nurse Podcast, host Amie Archibald-Varley sits down with a truly inspiring guest: Emily Edwards, RN, founder of Nomad Care Consulting. Emily, a healthcare expert, shares the deeply personal and often frustrating journey of her own Multiple Sclerosis (MS) diagnosis. She details the challenges of being a patient in the very system she knows so well, often feeling unheard, dismissed, and invalidated while searching for answers. This is more than a story about chronic illness; it's a powerful masterclass in self-advocacy. Emily opens up...
info_outline"We always have done it this way"---is the death of inspiration and innovation in healthcare.
In this episode, Amie & Sara discuss moving beyond traditional administrative roles and cultivate the kind of leadership that inspires innovation and drives meaningful change with best-selling author, award-winning entrepreneur, and globally-renowned keynote speaker, Hamza Khan. We discuss his background working in the armed forces and how it led him to becoming a world speaker on rehumanizing workplaces to achieve inclusive and sustainable growth (something desperately needed in healthcare)!
In a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, the need for modernization and fresh perspectives is paramount. We'll discuss how embracing new approaches to leadership can unlock inspiring and innovative results, leading to better patient outcomes and a more fulfilling work environment for healthcare professionals.
Whether you're a seasoned healthcare executive, a frontline worker, or simply passionate about improving healthcare, this podcast offers valuable insights and practical advice for anyone ready to lead with heart and vision.
About Hamza Khan
Hamza Khan is a best-selling author, award-winning entrepreneur, and world-renowned keynote speaker whose TEDx talk "Stop Managing, Start Leading" has been viewed over two million times. He challenges audiences and organizations to rehumanize their workplaces to achieve inclusive and sustainable growth. He is a visiting scholar, top-ranked university educator, and respected thought leader with actionable insights featured by the likes of Inc., VICE, and Business Insider.
The world's leading organizations trust Khan to enhance modern leadership, inspire purposeful productivity, nurture lasting resilience, and navigate constant change. Khan has spoken on various global stages, from the World Youth Forum to TEDx, and works with clients such as Microsoft, PepsiCo, LinkedIn, Deloitte, Salesforce, TikTok, and hundreds of colleges and universities. Through his writing, speaking, teaching, and executive coaching, Khan empowers people to thrive in the future of work.
Find him here: https://www.hamzakhan.ca
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https://www.harpercollins.ca/9781443468718/the-wisdom-of-nurses/
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