What's Your Fight Language? Decoding Conflict and Communication in Healthcare with Lena Morgan
Release Date: 10/16/2025
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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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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...
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In this hauntingly hillarious episode, The Gritty Nurse, Amie Archibald-Varley and guest Co-Host, Matthew Shepherd, discuss why every nurse has a ghost story and the rituals nurses follow religiously. From haunted hospital basements to eerie night shifts, this Halloween special explores the myths, rituals, and real-life experiences that make the nursing profession both fascinating and frightening. Tune in for a mix of humor, horror, and heartfelt stories that will leave you questioning what goes bump in the night. Did you have an unlucky room? Do you prepare a room when a code is called in the...
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Healthcare Can Be Horror: Examining Nursing Portrayals, Asylum History and Medical Phobias in Healthcare
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Why are nurses a favorite target for horror movie villains? Why are nurses seen in movies as either sexy, satanic or dieties? In this spine-chilling episode of The Gritty Nurse, Amie Archibald-Varley and Guest Host Jordan Varley discuss the dark side of cinema's obsession with healthcare horror and nursing horror tropes. We cover everything from the psychological weight of nurse stereotypes and the real-world terror of nurse killers, to the unsettling history of asylums and our ingrained fears of medical procedures. Get ready for a thought-provoking analysis of horror film tropes and cultural...
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What's Your Fight Language? Decoding Conflict and Communication in Healthcare with Lena Morgan
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Are workplace tensions dragging down your patients' care? You know the feeling: the passive-aggressive emails, the hallway whispers, the moments of silence when communication breaks down. In healthcare, these conflicts aren't just frustrating—they're dangerous. On this powerful episode of The Gritty Nurse podcast, host Amy-Archibald Verli dives deep into the often-avoided topic of conflict in healthcare with special guest, Lena Morgan. Lena, a former midwife, transitioned her career to become a leading expert in communication and conflict resolution. She sits down with Amy to introduce her...
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The Maligning Manager: We Must Address Substance Use in Healthcare Workers Without Shame!
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In this crucial and eye-opening episode of the Gritty Nurse podcast with host Amie Archibald-Varley and guest host, Jordan Varley, they confront the hidden crisis of addiction within the healthcare industry. This is essential listening for nurses, physicians, social workers, and all healthcare professionals struggling with the stigma of substance abuse. I’ll never forget my first exposure to addiction in the workplace—it was the epitome of a toxic culture. My then-boss shared a disgusting story about a former director allegedly found drunk under a desk, treating a colleague’s pain as a...
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In this eye-opening episode of The Gritty Nurse Podcast, host Amie Archibald-Varley and special guest Jerry Soucy unpack the landmark case of DonQuenick Yvonne Joppy, the ICU nurse who courageously challenged racial discrimination, wrongful termination, and retaliation in healthcare. Recently, a federal jury awarded $20 million to Joppy after finding that Aurora Medical Center (Colorado) had retaliated against her and discriminated against her because she spoke up. During her employment, she was wrongfully accused of causing a patient’s death (charges later dropped) and faced a hostile...
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In this hard-hitting episode of The Gritty Nurse Podcast with Amie Archibald-Varley, we dive deep into the controversial healthcare proposal dubbed the “Big Beautiful Bill”—a sweeping plan backed by RFK Jr. that claims to overhaul the US healthcare system. But what’s really behind this policy? And who stands to lose the most? Joined by Dr. Kaveh Hoda, gastroenterologist, podcaster, and advocate, we explore: The background and political motivations behind RFK Jr.’s healthcare agenda The devastating consequences of Medicaid cuts on low-income Americans, seniors, and people with...
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Is Nursing a Profession Worth Dying For? No, it's Not...
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Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions on suidcide. In this episode, The Gritty Nurse, Amie Archibald-Varley discusses the tragic story of Roseanne, a nurse who died by suicide, highlighting critical issues in mental health staffing, accountability in healthcare, and the need for systemic change. The conversation emphasizes the importance of recognizing warning signs of suicide and supporting colleagues in the nursing profession. Through personal anecdotes and advocacy for better mental health care, the episode calls for a shift in how the healthcare system addresses these...
info_outlineAre workplace tensions dragging down your patients' care?
You know the feeling: the passive-aggressive emails, the hallway whispers, the moments of silence when communication breaks down. In healthcare, these conflicts aren't just frustrating—they're dangerous.
On this powerful episode of The Gritty Nurse podcast, host Amy-Archibald Verli dives deep into the often-avoided topic of conflict in healthcare with special guest, Lena Morgan.
Lena, a former midwife, transitioned her career to become a leading expert in communication and conflict resolution. She sits down with Amy to introduce her groundbreaking framework: "Fight Languages."
In healthcare settings, unresolved tension doesn't just make for a bad day—it can directly impact patient care and lead to burnout among professionals. Lena shares her personal journey from the high-stakes environment of midwifery to developing her framework, driven by the need to give healthcare workers practical tools for better communication.
What You'll Learn:
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Understanding "Fight Languages": Get an overview of Lena's system for categorizing different conflict styles and how identifying your own and others' styles is the first step toward resolution.
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The Critical Impact of Conflict: We discuss real-world examples of how unresolved professional disagreements, miscommunications, and personal clashes can create dangerous cracks in the delivery of care.
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A Path to Healthier Workplaces: Lena offers concrete strategies focused on empathy, validation, and active listening that healthcare professionals can use immediately to transform difficult conversations into constructive ones.
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Fostering Better Outcomes: The conversation emphasizes that learning to navigate conflict isn't just about feeling better; it's about improving patient safety and cultivating healthier, more sustainable work environments for everyone on the care team.
If you've ever felt stuck in a communication loop or wished you had a better way to address tension with a colleague, this episode will give you the language and the framework to move forward. Don't just survive conflict—learn how to "fight" it.
Please do not forget to LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE!
Tune in for essential strategies to improve your communication skills and transform your professional relationships!
Where to Listen / Watch
* Listen on Apple Podcasts – : The Gritty Nurse Podcast on Apple Apple Podcasts
https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-gritty-nurse/id1493290782
* Watch on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@thegrittynursepodcast
Thank you to Hospital News for being a collaborative partner with the Gritty Nurse!
More About Lena
Lena Morgan is a retired midwife, communications expert, and author of The Fight Languages, a powerful communication system that helps people translate conflict and spark connection. Driven by a passion for advocacy and empowerment, she created The Overflow Effect, HealHer, and WOLFmother. All transformative programs designed to help people reclaim their power and voice in every stage of life. Lena partners with families, leaders, and organizations to foster stronger, more connected communities through better communication. Learn more at lenamorgan.com.
Connect with Lena