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 damaging messages often promoted within these spaces. Jayne emphasizes the need for intersectionality in discussions about feminism and neurodivergence, highlighting the unique challenges faced by marginalized groups. The episode concludes with a call to action for listeners to engage in advocacy and support one another in their journeys.

Where to find Jane: Twitter/Threads/Instagram: @calamityjayne4

Where to Listen / Watch to THE GRITTY NURSE

• Listen on Apple Podcasts – : The Gritty Nurse Podcast on Apple Apple Podcasts

https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast...

• Watch on YouTube – / @thegrittynursepodcast

Stay Connected:

• Website: www.grittynurse.com
• Instagram: @grittynursepod
• TikTok: @thegrittynursepodcast
• X (Twitter): @GrittyNurse

Collaborations & Inquiries: For sponsorship opportunities or to book Amie for speaking engagements, visit: grittynurse.com/contact

Thank you to Hospital News for being a collaborative partner with the Gritty Nurse! www.hospitalnews.com

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 often misunderstood) differences between hospice and palliative care, debunk common myths about morphine and the dying process, and dive into the "gritty" reality of end-of-life advocacy. Penny also opens up about the mysterious side of dying—including "visioning" and the unexplainable phenomena nurses witness at the bedside.

Whether you are a healthcare professional, a caregiver, or just someone looking to understand mortality better, this conversation is an honest, educational, and surprisingly uplifting look at the end of life.

• Hospice vs. Palliative Care: What is the actual difference, and when should you ask for a consult?

• The "Death Influencer" Phenomenon: How Penny uses TikTok and Instagram to educate millions and fight death phobia.

• Controversial Topics in Death Care: We tackle the hard questions about withholding food/fluids, pain management, and the stigma surrounding hospice.

• Mysterious Experiences: Penny shares stories of "visioning" (seeing deceased loved ones) and terminal lucidity.

• Influencing Death: A look inside Penny's new memoir and how her personal struggles with addiction shaped her compassionate approach to nursing.

• Advocacy in Action: How nurses can lead the charge in normalizing conversations about death.

• Book: Influencing Death: Reframing Dying for Better Living by Penny Hawkins Smith

• Follow Penny: @HospiceNursePenny on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.

• Website: https://www.hospicenursepenny.com/

Listen now to learn why talking about death is the key to a better life.

Where to Listen / Watch to THE GRITTY NURSE

* 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

Stay Connected:

• Website: grittynurse.com

• Instagram: @grittynursepod

• TikTok: @thegrittynursepodcast

• X (Twitter): @GrittyNurse

Collaborations & Inquiries: For sponsorship opportunities or to book Amie for speaking engagements, visit: grittynurse.com/contact

Thank you to Hospital News for being a collaborative partner with the Gritty Nurse!

www.hospitalnews.com

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 mortality stats, and discuss actionable steps for nurses to become better allies.

From Karrie's screams being dismissed during intake to Mercedes being discharged only to give birth in her car eight minutes later, we are breaking down exactly what went wrong. We discuss the failure of the nurse and nursing teams, the weaponization of hospital policies, and the "weathering" effect that is keeping Black maternal mortality rates 3.5x higher than white counterparts.

In this episode, we cover:

• The Receipts: A minute-by-minute breakdown of the viral videos from Dallas Regional and Franciscan Health.

• The Stats: Why 2025 data shows the gap is widening for Black maternal morbidity.

• Medical Racism & Medical Gaslighting 101: How nurses can spot implicit bias in real-time and the "fight languages" needed to advocate for patients.

• The Momnibus Act: An update on the legislative fight for health equity.

Key Takeaways for Nurses:

1. Pain is Subjective, Vital Signs Are Not: If a patient says the baby is coming, believe them.

2. Documentation is Defense: How patients are using video to protect themselves when the chart doesn't tell the whole story.

3. Silence is Complicity: Your duty to intervene when a colleague dismisses a patient.

Resources & Links:

• Learn: CDC "Hear Her" Campaign

• Act: The Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act Status

• Tool: Irth App (Yelp for Black birth experiences)

Join the Conversation: Have you witnessed medical gaslighting on your unit? Share with me your stories!

#GrittyNurse #BlackMaternalHealth #KarrieJones #MercedesWells #NurseTwitter #HealthEquity #MedicalGaslighting #NursingEducation #PatientAdvocacy