The Gritty Nurse

The Gritty Nurse is back, and NO TOPIC is off-limits! Launching in September 2025 with host Amie Archibald Varley, this podcast is dedicated to amplifying the voices of nurses and others who work in healthcare to explore the most pressing issues they face. Join Amie as she continues to take a deep dive into powerful and often uncomfortable topics. Though shared experriences, storytelling and the discussions surrounding the intersection of power, we will navigate the challenges facing healthcare nationally and internationally--as of course--challenge the status quo. The show's core belief remains unwavering: that compassion is the through understanding diverse narratives and perspectives is KEY. Amie will continue to explore hot-button issues like mental health, social justice, women's health, and the daily challenges within the nursing profession. The Gritty Nurse is more than just a podcast—it's a community where nurses and healthcare workers can feel heard, empowered, and recognized as the community leaders they truly are. Change is HERE.

The Obedient Nurse: How the "Good Nurse" Myth Quietly Paves the Way for Authoritarianism— and learning Hope Is a Discipline

May 15, 2026

What does Florence Nightingale have to do with authoritarianism? More than nursing wants to admit.

In this episode of The Gritty Nurse Podcast, host Amie Archibald-Varley and guest Meg Lambrych, RN tackles one of nursing's most uncomfortable questions: why can't nurses criticize Florence Nightingale? She is nursing's...

Nursing Needs A Defibrillation: We Are The Shift, We Are The CHANGE with Dr. Danielle McCamey & Gloria Barrera

May 7, 2026

The healthcare system is flatlining, and it’s time for a professional resuscitation.

This Nursing Week, join Dr. Danielle McCamey and Gloria E. Barrera for a heavy-hitting breakdown of the HESS framework—Humanity, Ethics, Social Justice, and Science—as the ultimate toolkit for systemic reform. From the grassroots...

Taking Care: The Untold Story of The History of Nursing with Sarah DiGregorio

Apr 30, 2026

This Gritty Nurse episode is my special kick-off to the National Nursing Week 2026, celebrated May 6–12 in the United States and celebrated May 11-16 in Canada. Nursing week dedicated to honoring the nurses who show up for us at every stage of life.

What does it really mean to care for someone — and...

Crisis as a Catalyst: How Compassion, Meditation and Psychedelics Was the Path To Healing with ED Physician Dr. William Berk

Apr 23, 2026

In this episode on The Gritty Nurse, host Amie Archibald-Varley sits down with Dr. William Berk as he shares his transformative journey from a traditional emergency medicine career to exploring the depths of mental health and emotional well-being. After graduating from Brown University and completing his residency...

Perimenopause, Pleasure Principles and Purpose: Menopause On MY Terms with Shirley Weir

Apr 16, 2026

"Normal is a setting on your dryer—not a standard for your health."

In this episode of The Gritty Nurse, we’re joined by Shirley Weir, the "Vagina Health Evangelist" and founder of Menopause Chicks. Shirley didn't just start a community of 50,000+ women; she started a revolution against the "Mokita"—the things...