In this episode, Dr. Mark Ropeleski sits down with Kelsey Springer, a critical care nurse and Montana State University instructor known nationally as the "No Violence Nurse." Kelsey shares the harrowing story of a brutal ICU assault that left her requiring total jaw reconstruction and how that event transformed her from a caregiver into a patient—and eventually, a fierce advocate. They discuss the dangerous normalization of workplace violence, the "invisible hits" that lead to nurse burnout, and why the phrase "it’s just part of the job" is a lie that destroys the healthcare workforce.
Watch the full video episode:
▶️ YouTube: https://youtu.be/bO0b2HB3ocM
Support our guest:
▶️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.no.violence.nurse/
▶️ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kelsey-springer-msn-rn-ccrn-58b98b74
Kelsey's Work:
▶️ https://www.ccnursing.theclinics.com/article/S0899-5885(25)00065-6/abstract
▶️ https://www.aacn.org/blog/my-experience-with-workplace-violence-in-nursing
▶️ https://nurse.org/news/workplace-violence-in-healthcare-nurses-safety/
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Helpful links:
▶️ Free CDC Workplace Violence Training for Nurses: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2013-155/default.html
▶️ American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN): https://www.aacn.org/policy-and-advocacy/position-statements/preventing-violence
▶️ Emergency Nurses Association (ENA): https://www.ena.org/practice-resources/workplace-violence
▶️ American Nurses Association (ANA): https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/work-environment/wpv/
On this week's episode Dr. Mark welcomes Dr. Laura Katz, a clinical and health psychologist, for a discussion on the multifaceted nature of chronic pain, and the truth behind the diagnosis. Dr. Katz addresses the failure of disjointed healthcare systems to treat the "whole person" and the resulting medical trauma experienced by patients.
Watch the full video episode:
▶️ Youtube: https://youtu.be/YCCFQ_5uEos
Support Dr. Katz:
▶️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlaurakatz/
▶️ Endometriosis360: https://endometriosis360.ca/
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▶️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-caregivers-podcast/
▶️ Website: https://thecaregiverspodcast.start.page/
If you’ve tried self-care, therapy, and time off but still feel hollow inside, the problem might not be burnout—it might be moral injury. In this episode, Dr. Mark Ropeleski distinguishes between the exhaustion of burnout and the deep "soul wound" of moral injury, which occurs when a caregiver’s values are repeatedly violated by a broken system.
Join Dr. Mark as he explores why "resilience" isn't the answer to systemic failures and validates the invisible wounds many professional and family caregivers carry.
Watch the full video episode:
▶️YouTube:
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▶️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecaregiverspodcast/
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▶️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-caregivers-podcast/
▶️ Website: https://thecaregiverspodcast.start.page/
In this episode, Dr. Mark speaks with the host's of the Shift Happens podcast, Darlene Jackson & Brandi Johnson of the Manitoba Nurses Union. They delve into the challenges faced by new nurses transitioning from education to practice & highlight the support needed for new graduates to thrive in a demanding healthcare environment.
Watch the full video episode:
▶️ YouTube: https://youtu.be/7D1hxSscxg0
Support our guest:
Listen to the Shift Happens Podcast:
🔊 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6kjVUvxNuqbXtWzSy3Apim?si=bdde74d3bcce478d
🔊 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shift-happens/id1798831621
▶️ Website: https://shifthappenspod.ca/
Follow us:
▶️ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecaregiverspodcast
▶️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecaregiverspodcast/
▶️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580795888378
▶️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-caregivers-podcast/
▶️ Website: https://thecaregiverspodcast.start.page/
In this episode, Dr. Mark & guest Dr. Jennifer Flemming delve into the uncomfortable yet crucial conversations surrounding alcohol-related liver disease and its impact on women and caregivers. Dr. Flemming shares insights on the biological, emotional, and societal factors contributing to this rising crisis, emphasizing the need for awareness and support for those affected.
Watch the full video podcast:
▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheCaregiversPodcast
Support our guest:
▶️ Twitter/ X: https://x.com/Jenn_Flemming
Follow us:
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▶️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-caregivers-podcast/
▶️ Website: https://thecaregiverspodcast.start.page/
On this week's episode, host Dr. Mark Ropeleski & guest Amie Archibald Varley delve into the pressing issue of accountability within the healthcare sector, highlighting the reluctance of leaders to take responsibility for failures and the systemic issues that arise from this lack of accountability.
Support our guest:
▶️ Website: www.amievarley.com
📖 Harper Collins: https://www.harpercollins.ca/9781443468718/the-wisdom-of-nurses/
▶️ Book Amie To Speak: https://www.nsb.com/speakers/amie-archibald-varley/
▶️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmieVarley
▶️ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amie-archibald-varley-rn-mn-women-s-health-535850108/
▶️ The IDEA Practice: https://theideapractice.com/component/content/article/93-amie-archibald-varley-she-her?catid=92&Itemid=543
▶️ ByBlacks: https://byblacks.com/content/itemlist/user/2121-amiearchibaldvarley
Follow us:
▶️ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecaregiverspodcast
▶️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecaregiverspodcast/
▶️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580795888378
▶️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-caregivers-podcast/
▶️ Website: https://thecaregiverspodcast.start.page/
Watch the full video episode on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/oLBULNra3N0
In this episode, Dr. Mark Ropeleski and Dr. Anthony Sanfilippo discuss the pressing issue of the family doctor crisis in Canada, where millions lack access to primary care. They explore the disconnect between medical education and societal needs, emphasizing the importance of family doctors in providing preventative and chronic care.
Support our guest:
📖The Doctors We Need: https://sutherlandhousebooks.com/product/the-doctors-we-need/
▶️ Amazon: https://www.amazon.ca/Doctors-Need-Imagining-Physician-Recruitment/dp/1738396460
Watch the full video episode:
▶️ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@thecaregiverspodcast
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▶️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecaregiverspodcast/
▶️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580795888378
▶️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-caregivers-podcast/
▶️ Website: https://thecaregiverspodcast.start.page/
Join Dr. Mark and special guest Jeanette Yates for a powerful, honest look at the caregiver's life. Jeanette shares her deep personal journey, openly discussing the burden of generational trauma and the path through burnout. This is more than a discussion on duties; it's about the emotional toll. Jeanette tackles the crippling effects of perfectionism and guilt, highlighting the urgent need for robust support systems and a shift in how healthcare professionals view the caregiver's role. She also examines the complexities of technology and the importance of community in finding balance. Ultimately, this essential episode is a plea for self-compassion, reminding every caregiver that you are doing enough and deserve a supportive environment.
Support our guest:
▶️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theselfcaregiver/?hl=en
▶️ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theselfcaregiver
📖 From Guilt To Good Enough: https://www.amazon.ca/Guilt-Good-Enough-Caregivers-Overcoming/dp/B0DS2PFLX9
Follow us:
▶️ YouTube: youtube.com/@thecaregiverspodcast
▶️ TikTok: tiktok.com/@thecaregiverspodcast
▶️ Instagram: instagram.com/thecaregiverspodcast/
▶️ Facebook: facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580795888378
▶️ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/the-caregivers-podcast/
▶️ Website: https://thecaregiverspodcast.start.page/
In this episode of the Caregivers podcast, host Dr. Mark Ropeleski speaks with Jess Ronne, a dedicated caregiver and advocate for families with children of special needs. Jess shares her personal journey of caregiving for her son Lucas, who has profound disabilities, and the challenges she faced, including the loss of her husband. The conversation delves into the importance of faith, community support, and the need for systemic changes to support caregivers. Jess emphasizes the significance of self-care, the fears of forever parenting, and the necessity of building a supportive community for caregivers.
For the video version of this show, check us out on YouTube:
🎥YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheCaregiversPodcast
Support Jess Ronne:
📖 Buy Jess's Book, Caregiving with Grit and Grace: http://bit.ly/3LqQbLL
✨ The Lucas Project: https://thelucasproject.org/about/jess-ronne/
Jess's Socials:
▶️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessronneofficial/
▶️ Website: https://www.jessplusthemess.com/my-story/
▶️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessplusthemess/
Follow us:
▶️ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecaregiverspodcast
▶️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecaregiverspodcast/
▶️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580795888378
▶️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-caregivers-podcast/
▶️ Website: https://thecaregiverspodcast.start.page/
In this episode of the Caregivers podcast, Dr. Mark speaks with Dr. Todd Otten about the challenges faced by caregivers in the healthcare system. They discuss the importance of caregiver wellness, the impact of burnout and moral injury, and the need for solidarity among caregivers. Dr. Otten shares his journey in medicine, the creation of the documentary 'Suck It Up Buttercup', and the role of organizations like Medicine Forward in advocating for change. The conversation emphasizes the power of kindness, the importance of self-care, and the potential of AI tools to assist caregivers at home.
Support Dr. Otten:
Medicine Forward: https://medicineforward.org/
Suck It Up, Buttercup: https://suckitupbuttercupfilm.com/
In this powerful solo episode, Dr. Mark explores the hidden cost of caregiving: the unhealed wounds and generational traumas that quietly shape how we give, love, and sacrifice. He reveals how these inherited scripts: “you’re good when you give, selfish when you ask - can hollow us out, leaving us exhausted and disconnected. Through reflection and science-based insight, this episode offers language, validation, and a path toward self-healing. Because healing isn’t selfish - it’s survival.
In this episode, Dr. Mark welcomes Professor Dean Tripp of Queen’s University, a clinical psychologist and leading researcher on chronic pain, stress, and resilience. Together, they unpack the concept of catastrophizing—what it is, how it develops, and why it matters for both patients and caregivers.
You’ll learn:
• The key differences between acute and chronic pain.
• How empathy can both help and harm caregivers.
• Why communication and connection are essential tools for preventing burnout.
• How intimacy, fairness, and “small wins” can restore balance in caregiving relationships.
• Practical strategies to maintain your own well-being while supporting others.
Disclaimer
This conversation is for education and reflection, not medical or psychological advice. If
you’re in crisis, contact local emergency services or a crisis hotline in your region.
© The Caregivers Podcast
When caregiving depletes you, what brings you back? In our premiere episode, psychotherapist Bev Blaney (“a caregiver of caregivers”) charts a humane approach to burnout: embed self‑care in the culture, notice early warning signs (disconnection, cognitive fog, a closing heart). We talk moral injury, micro‑traumas, why “workshops” aren’t enough, and how to re-frame “I can’t do this anymore” as the start of a better path.
Disclaimer
This conversation is for education and reflection, not medical or psychological advice. If
you’re in crisis, contact local emergency services or a crisis hotline in your region.
© The Caregivers Podcast