The Pulse Check Podcast

What actually happens inside your body every time you eat carbs? Is glucose really the villain social media makes it out to be? In this episode of The Pulse Check Podcast, we're breaking down the science of glucose from the cellular level all the way to diabetes, insulin resistance, weight gain, energy crashes, and longevity. We dive into how glucose fuels your brain and muscles, what insulin...

In this episode of The Pulse Check Podcast, Sammy sits down with Janet Izzo, a nurse with an incredible 39-year career, primarily spent in Labor & Delivery, helping bring countless lives into the world. Janet shares unforgettable stories from her decades in nursing, from heartwarming deliveries and unforgettable patient moments to the chaos, surprises, and emotional highs and lows that came wi...

Thinking about nursing school? Before you spend hundreds of dollars on viral study supplies and aesthetic note-taking systems, listen to this episode. I am sharing everything I wish I knew before my first semester, from the supplies that are actually worth investing in to the things I completely regret buying. I talk about our favorite clinical essentials, the study methods that helped me succeed,...

What was nursing like before electronic charting, modern technology, and today’s fast-paced healthcare world? In this episode of The Pulse Check Podcast, Sammy sits down with Kathy Kurtis, a nurse with an incredible 50-year career, primarily spent in the Emergency Room, before retiring in 2014. Kathy shares unforgettable stories from decades on the frontlines of healthcare, from chaotic ER moments...

When was the last time you got a truly good night's sleep? If you're a nurse, healthcare worker, student, parent, or basically any adult, the answer is probably "I honestly don't remember." This week on  The Pulse Check Podcast , Sammy and Sarah are diving into one of the most important and most neglected parts of our health: sleep. We're talking about what actually happe...

What’s it really like to protect people on some of their hardest days? In this episode of The Pulse Check Podcast , Sammy sits down with Kevin Gross to talk about a career built around service, safety, and showing up when people need it most. From spending 7 years as a hospital security guard to 13 years in law enforcement and now nearly 7 years as a school resource officer, Kevin opens up about t...

Love, marriage, real life, and everything in between 💍 In this week’s episode of The Pulse Check Podcast , we are celebrating a huge milestone as Sarah and Jaime hit their 2-year wedding anniversary, while Sammy and Keaton are approaching 10 months together. We are getting real about our relationships, sharing the highs and lows of marriage, what no one talks about, and the lessons we are learnin...

This week on The Pulse Check Podcast, we sit down with Emmie Johnson to talk about her journey from CNA to PCT, the realities of nursing school, and figuring out what comes next in life and healthcare. From long shifts to big decisions, Emmie shares the highs, challenges, and lessons she’s learned along the way. Tune in for an honest conversation about growth, career paths, and finding your purpos...

This week on The Pulse Check Podcast , we’re sharing everything we’re currently loving with no gatekeeping. From night shift essentials and wellness must-haves to random obsessions we cannot stop thinking about, this episode is a mix of practical, fun, and slightly unhinged favorites. Whether you are a nurse, a gym goer, or just trying to get your life together, there is something in here for you....

This week on The Pulse Check Podcast we’re bringing you into the real side of nursing and real life. We’re sharing patient stories from the week that stuck with us, the moments that challenged us, and the ones that reminded us why we do this job. Then we shift into our current fitness goals, what we’re training for, how we’re staying consistent on night shift schedules, and what’s actually working...

This week on The Pulse Check Podcast, we sit down with Shawna Thomas—an experienced nurse of 20 years, a mom of four, and someone about to take on her next big challenge: starting NP school this fall. We talk through her journey in nursing, how the profession has evolved over the years, and what it’s really like balancing a demanding career with raising a family. Shawna shares honest insight into...

We’re breaking down the supplements we actually take every day and why they’ve earned a spot in our routine. From gut health to energy, recovery, hormones, and overall wellness, we’re talking through what works for us, what doesn’t, and how to be intentional with what you’re putting into your body. No fluff, no gatekeeping, just real conversations about building a routine that supports your life,...

In this episode of The Pulse Check Podcast, Sarah and Sammy get real about the why behind the scrubs. 💉 They share the stories that brought them into nursing, the moments that shaped them, the doubts they didn’t see coming, and the experiences that made them stay when things got hard. From chaotic clinical days to the emotional highs and lows no one prepares you for, this episode is the unfiltere...

Welcome to the very first episode of The Pulse Check Podcast — where we go beyond the bedside. In this kickoff episode, we’re introducing ourselves—Sarah and Sammy—not just as nurses, but as real people with stories, passions, and lives outside of scrubs. We dive into who we are, how we got into nursing, and what inspired us to start this podcast in the first place. This episode sets the tone for...