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...

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 c...

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 sepsi...

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 fe...

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...

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 We...

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...

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...

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....

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 t...

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 heal...

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 addic...

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 ret...

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 advocat...

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 su...

In this episode of The Gritty Nurse podcast, host Amie Archibald-Varley (The Gritty Nurse) and Matt Shepherd, RN discuss the importance of embracing change and personal growth in the nursing profession. They emphasize the need for self-compassion among healthcare professionals, particularly in light of the challenges they face, including burnout and violence in the workplace. The conversation high...

***This will be the last ATYPICAL Episode uploaded to THE GRITTY NURSE podcast show!  THE GRITTY NURSE RETURNS THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 4TH 2026! The date went well--but you havent heard back--like...EVER. Did your bestie of 10 years suddenly stop talking to you?  Are you still WAITING to hear back from that job interview that you did over 6 months ago? Ever been left on read... forever? Sorry hunny, yo...

In this episode of the Atypical Podcast, host Amie Archibald-Varley RN, MN and Jordan Varley BSW, RSW delves into the complex world of advocacy work, exploring the responsibilities within their professions (nursing and social work) as well as the challenges of advocacy work. The discussion sheds light on the troubling trend of performative allyship, where actions are often more about boosting one'...

Feeling pulled in too many directions by the world around you? It's Monday and it's time to hit the reset button. Join Atypical host and "lifecare" advocate Amie Archibald-Varley for a powerful 5-minute mindfulness session designed to help you gently turn your attention inward. In this session, Amie guides you through the process of observing your own sensations, thoughts, and emotions, fostering...

*Note: This is NOT a shaming podcast episode.... In the hyper-connected world, every click, like, and share carries a surprising weight, especially for those in professions built on trust. This week on ATYPICAL podcast with Amie Archibald-Varley RN, MN, we dive into the fascinating and often brutal "digital court of public opinion," sparked by the recent viral "kiss cam" incident involving CEO And...

Raise your hand if Mondays feel like a personal attack?? Seriously, the start of the work week or the start of a nursing/healthcare rotation (when you're crushing it on those 2s and 3s or 4-on-4-off rotations) can drop a ton of bricks on your vibe. That wave of "ugh, here we go again" anxiety? Been there, felt that. Trouble sleeping Sunday night? Anxiously in the morning or a bit on edge?  But wha...

Ever tell yourself that life will finally settle down after this next hurdle? For a brief moment, it seems to—and then life smacks you with the unexpected. Job loss, a new love, divorce papers, your teenager's puberty, a health scare, a new life. Good or bad, it's always change . We crave the constant, but the only thing constant is change. In this introductory episode of ATYPICAL Podcast with Ami...

In this poignant and powerful final episode of The Gritty Nurse Podcast, we close this chapter with a truly essential conversation. We are honoured to welcome former Minister Mark Holland, who offers an exclusive look into the federal government's pivotal efforts to improve Canadian healthcare. From the pressing issue of Pharmacare to strategies for a healthier nation, Minister Holland addresses w...

This week on The Gritty Nurse Podcast, we're diving deep into a topic that's should not be considered revolutionary--but is fundamentally human and morally ethical: the idea that a safe, stable and affordable housing should be considered a prescription for health. Medicine is not just about pills and procedures – it is about examining and dealing with humans and their entire situations. We discuss...

Five years have passed since the initial waves of the pandemic, yet the echoes of devastation resonate deeply within Canada's nursing workforce. Burnout remains rampant, exacerbated by chronic understaffing, unsafe patient-to-nurse ratios, and a shocking lack of basic protections against workplace violence. This Nursing Week, the usual calls for celebration ring hollow for many on the frontlines....