Shift Happens: The Health Podcast for Healthcare Workers

It's officially my first episode no longer working as a hospital employee, and honestly? I still don't think it has fully sunk in. Part of me feels like I'm just on summer break and eventually I have to go back. And the other part of me knows my life is about to change in a really big way. In this episode, I'm sharing what comes next. Because no, I'm not leaving healthcare. I'm just stepping into a different role in it. One where I get to focus fully on advocating for the people who keep the system running: you. I talk about why I really left the hospital, what I believe is broken in healthcare, why burnout didn't suddenly start with COVID, and why I feel so strongly that healthcare workers deserve more than a life of being overworked, under-supported, and completely consumed by the badge. This one is short, honest, a little selfish in the best way, and gives you a real look at what I'm building next, including the movement, the mission, and the masterclass I'm kicking off to help healthcare workers finally start leaving work at work. 🔥Join the Burnout Recovery Reset: My 3 day masterclass for you if you're sick of living life for work! We kick off Monday March 16th! 👯‍♀️Come say hi on Instagram 📝 Find what stage of burnout has you stuck using my 2 minute Burnout Quiz!

If you're counting down the minutes before you even clock in… this episode is for you. This week is emotional as hell for me because it's my last week working in the hospital — and even though I'm not leaving because I hate healthcare, I am leaving because I'm sick of watching it chew women up and spit them back out. And here's the gut punch: burnout isn't just "short staffing" or "long shifts." Those are real, but the bigger problem? No one ever gave us tools to cope with a career that throws trauma at our nervous system on repeat and then tells us to hurry up and take the next patient. So in this episode, I'm giving you four tools you can start using immediately to stop taking the shift home with you, plus how to start teaching your body that it's safe to rest again. I'm talking about nervous system overload, how "fight or flight" becomes your default… and what to do about it! PS: If you're listening like, "Mary… this is me. I need a full reset, not just a few tips…" 🎉 Doors are open for The Burnout Recovery Reset (my 3-day masterclass) and we start March 16th. After the workshop you'll feel confident to: ✅ Leave work at work so you can finally be present with your family. ✅ Actually feel like you've slept for the first time in a decade. ✅ Embrace living as more than just a healthcare worker! BONUS: Guided tapping technique, 3 day trial to my app, and a post workshop evaluation so you can submit anything that might still be tripping you up to get direct 1:1 feedback from me on how to overcome it! ➡️ JOIN HERE!

I'm sitting down with Sarah Salain, RN (aka the queen of hormones) to talk about what's actually happening in your body when you're working long shifts, living in fight-or-flight, skipping meals, and wondering why your energy, mood, cycle, or even fertility feels off. Sarah shares her own ER-to-holistic-health pivot after burnout + health issues hit hard, and we get into the real connection between stress, cortisol, progesterone, and why your body stops caring about "thriving" when it's stuck in survival mode. We also keep it real about making hormone-supportive choices without needing a million supplements or a Whole Foods budget — plus we nerd out about cyclical nutrition, the Dirty Dozen/Clean 15, and of course… border collies (because apparently we both have a type 😅). Guest: Sarah Salane, RN Find Sarah: @simplysarahhealing Grab your free hormone alignment guide here! Struggling to leave work at work? Find what stage of burnout you're in! 👯‍♀️ Come say hi on IG and let me know what you loved about the episode!

You've probably seen the TikToks… "Quit your staff job, make six figures, and live on the beach." And listen, travel healthcare can be amazing. I've been a traveler for 5 years, I've worked in over a dozen hospitals, and travel genuinely changed my life. But I'm not here to sell you a fantasy. In this episode, I'm breaking down what a traveling healthcare worker actually is, who travel is (and isn't) for, and exactly how to get started if you're ready to go. Because yes, the pay can be great. Yes, the flexibility can be unmatched. But you also need to understand the trade-offs before you pack your whole damn life into your car and drive into a new hospital like, "Hi besties!" 😅 In this episode, I cover: 1) What is a traveling healthcare worker? 2) Is travel healthcare right for you? 3) How do you get started? 🙋🏼‍♀️Once you've listened and thought of a million other questions about becoming a traveler, come ask me on Instagram or TikTok! I'd love to help you decide if this is right for you. 🌴Local to Florida? Snag your tickets to Modern Nurse Fest and come say hi! Sick of pre-shift anxiety, snapping at your spouse, and struggling to feel rested between shifts? You're burnt out my friend. 📝Take the quiz here to find what stage you're in and how to get out! 👯‍♀️Let's work together! But only if you want to become more than an overworked body in scrubs.

Recently, I shared that I'm stepping away from hospital work to fully support healthcare workers in a different way. The response was incredibly supportive, until one message stopped me in my tracks. A message that suggested burnout is a choice. That if you really wanted to, you could "just leave work at work."   And I couldn't let that go.   💔Because it is not that simple.   It's not simple to do post-mortem care and then go home and make dinner. It's not simple to do CPR on a fatal accident and then hug your partner like nothing happened. It's not simple to witness abuse, death, and trauma and pretend you can compartmentalize it away.   In this episode, I talk honestly about why so many healthcare workers carry their work home — and why that doesn't make you weak, broken, or bad at boundaries. It makes you human. We were never meant to absorb this much trauma without support.   I share my own story of burnout, how this job once cost me my health and my identity, and how learning to truly disconnect changed my life. Not overnight. Not easily. But possible.   If you've ever felt gaslit into believing this is your fault… this episode is for you.   If this resonated, come talk to me on Instagram @MaryKathrynFitness. I'd love to hear what hit home and help give you strategy to feel like you again.   Want the support to learn how to leave work at work, without losing the part of you that cares? ➡️ Apply for coaching here.   You deserve a life that feels like yours again.💕

If you're a healthcare worker who's heard of macros but still feels confused, overwhelmed, or convinced they "don't work," this episode is for you.   I'm breaking down exactly what we covered inside my Macros Made Simple: Healthcare Edition challenge — because even after years of talking about nutrition, I'm still blown away by how many women in healthcare were never taught how food actually works in their bodies. And no, that's not your fault.   In this episode, I walk through what macros actually are, why protein, carbs, and fats all matter (yes, even carbs), and why tracking macros is very different from just counting calories. I talk about why low-carb culture did so much damage, why eating 1,200 calories is a fast track to feeling like garbage, and how missing lunches, long shifts, and stress completely change how nutrition needs to be approached in healthcare.   I also get into why macros don't have to be restrictive, complicated, or time-consuming — and how most people overcomplicate them to the point of quitting. This isn't about perfection, protein bars, or living in a tracking app. It's about learning how to eat in a way that actually supports your energy, your hormones, and your life outside of work.   ➡️ Since the challenge is now closed, I'm also sharing a bonus just for podcast listeners — a free way to audit your current nutrition and finally understand what needs to shift to support your health and weight loss goals without burning yourself out. DM me on IG here to get started!    If you want food to feel simpler, less stressful, and actually work with your schedule, this episode will help you see macros very differently.   Need to tackle burnout before macros? Find your burnout type here!   

If you're still stuck thinking your health goals are just about the scale or your pant size… this episode is your friendly little kick in the ass. Today I'm breaking down a mindset shift I'll die on a hill for: your health is your wealth. Not "wealth" like you need to be rich. Wealth like: energy, confidence, freedom, options, and a life that doesn't feel like you're surviving between 12-hour shifts. Because here's the truth: the version of you who's barely sleeping, skipping meals, living on caffeine and chaos… isn't the version of you who's going to start the business, travel, go after the promotion, speak on stage, or even just feel good in your own skin. In this episode, I talk about: Why "health" is bigger than weight loss (and why chasing the scale keeps you stuck) How prioritizing the basics builds real confidence (the kind you can use in your life) The connection between energy + habits + career growth (yes, even if your goal isn't to leave healthcare) Real client examples of what happens when someone finally chooses themselves What you can do today to start building a "wealthy" life… without overhauling everything And if you're sitting there like, "Cool Mary… but where do I even start?".. that's literally why I'm here. 📩 DM me on Instagram with your goals (health, career, life… all of it). I'll point you in the right direction! 

How the hell do healthcare workers see what they see… and not go home and eat/drink themselves into a coma? So let's talk about it. Because if you've ever gotten off a brutal shift, felt completely fried, and found yourself face-first in the pantry like a raccoon with scrubs on… you're not broken. You're human. And there's a reason this hits healthcare workers so hard. In this episode, I break down: Why stress makes you crave sugar/carbs/fat (yes, there's a real science reason) How the binge → guilt → restrict → repeat cycle keeps running on autopilot The simplest way to reduce binge urges: eat throughout your shift (I know… wild) How to build a post-shift routine for the really traumatic days so food isn't your only coping skill Why you have to create an identity outside of the hospital if you don't want this job consuming your whole life And if you're in that place where you're like, "Yep… this is me," I just want you to hear me: you're not alone and you're not stuck. Next? ⬇️ ✅ Join my FREE 4-day challenge: Macros Made Simple: Healthcare Edition (starts Monday!) I'll help you make nutrition simple as hell, build meals that work with 12-hour shifts, and stop feeling like your food choices are a full-time job. ✅ Take my FREE Burnout Quiz Find out what type of burnout you're dealing with and what to do about it (because no, you're not "just tired").  ✅ Come say hey on Instagram + TikTok Come tell me if you've watched The Pit and DM me "I'm in" once you join the challenge so I can hype you up and make sure you're set. IG + TT: @MaryKathrynFitness Now go drink some water, eat something that isn't just caffeine, and remember: you're allowed to be a whole human outside of the scrubs.

I recorded this episode from my hotel bed during that weird in-between week when Christmas is over, the new year hasn't quite started, and everyone feels the pressure to "get it together." Instead of a fluffy New Year's pep talk, I wanted to have an honest conversation about goal setting — especially for healthcare workers — and why most goals fall apart so fast. In this episode, I talk about why New Year's resolutions fail, why vague goals like lose weight or have more energy don't work, and the one piece people skip that almost guarantees burnout by February. I also share how my own health journey started as a New Year's resolution, why I still believe this time of year can be powerful when done right, and what I've learned from helping women in healthcare set goals that actually fit their real lives. This isn't about doing more, being perfect, or trying harder. It's about getting clear, being intentional, and setting goals that work with long shifts, missed meals, and real life in healthcare. If you're going into 2026 feeling tired, skeptical, or like you've failed at goals before, this episode is for you. 📆 Join Macros Made Simple: A four day challenge for healthcare workers who don't want to live in the kitchen but DO want sustainable fat loss and more energy in 2026! 👯‍♀️Come say hi on Insta! 🤳🏼Get wild on TikTok!

This episode is basically you riding home with me while I unpack the last nine years of my life. Healthcare, burnout, travel contracts, starting a business, and all the "what the hell am I doing?" moments in between. I originally thought I'd do a cute end-of-year recap… and then realized this year wasn't about one year at all. It was about closing a nine-year cycle that started back in 2017 when I graduated x-ray school and thought I had life figured out (spoiler: I did not). We talk about: Why healthcare burnout isn't a personal failure The uncomfortable truth about outgrowing jobs, roles, and identities Travel life vs. "normal" life (and why neither magically fixes everything) How my health journey, coaching business, and career decisions are all way more connected than I realized And why I'm done pretending discipline is the problem when the system is the real issue This episode is messy, honest, recorded in my car, and probably a little too real. But if you've been feeling restless, exhausted, or like something in your life just isn't fitting anymore, this one will hit.   🥗Join Macros Made Simple: Healthcare Edition -  my FREE 4 day challenge!  👯‍♀️ Let's be friends on IG! 🤳🏼 Come laugh on TikTok!  📝 Find your burnout type!

Working 12s, living on caffeine, and crashing the second your butt hits the couch? Yeah… same. In today's episode, I'm breaking down exactly why your energy sucks — and it has nothing to do with "willpower."   From travel-assignment chaos (and free Diet Coke miracles) to the real basics that actually move the needle for healthcare workers, I'm showing you how I keep my energy up while waking up at 3 AM, driving three hours, and still not feeling like a zombie.   If you want simple habits that fit your schedule and bring you back to life, start here.   📝 Burnout is a bitch - find which type is dragging you down and ditch it!   👯‍♀️ Come say hey on IG!    🩺 Join Healthy in Healthcare - the 8 week reset that has helped over 100 women in healthcare overcome burnout so they can feel confident in their skin and their life!

In this episode of Shift Happens, I'm sharing a big life update — yes, I quit my full-time hospital job — but I'm talking about it for one reason: to show you what's possible when you stop telling yourself you "don't have time." Because for months, I said the same thing you probably say every day: I'm exhausted. I don't have the hours. My schedule is the problem. But when I finally got honest, I realized I was the problem — and that small shifts create way more freedom than we think. In this episode, I break down: ✨ How to find more time for your health even if you work 12s ✨ Why you feel stuck (and how to get out of your own way) ✨ How to use the pockets of time you already have without adding stress ✨ The mindset shift that made everything easier — and can do the same for you ✨ A real client example that proves you don't need a perfect schedule to see results My goal isn't to convince you to quit your job — it's to show you that you're not as trapped as you feel. You have more control, more flexibility, and more opportunity than you think… and this episode will help you finally see it. If you're ready to stop surviving your life and start shaping it, this episode is for you. 📝 Find your burnout type here and get an exclusive invite only for email peeps! 👯‍♀️Come say hey on IG! 🏥 Join Healthy in Healthcare

Happy Black Friday, friends — and welcome to the most chaotic, unedited, brutally honest episode yet. I'm giving you a big life update, spilling some tea, and finally answering all the questions you constantly DM me about travel healthcare.   If you've ever wondered: ✨ How to become a healthcare traveler ✨ Whether it's worth the money ✨ How contracts, recruiters, and pay actually work ✨ What red flags to look out for ✨ Or why the hell I decided to go back to traveling… …this episode is your new best friend. Before we get into the travel talk, I'm giving you the real story of why I stepped away from my full-time hospital job, what finally pushed me over the edge, and why taking a risk on myself (again) felt like the only right move. We're talking burnout, messy middles, scary decisions, pay cuts, gut feelings, and the weird full-circle moment that brought a travel offer straight into my inbox the same week I submitted my PRN notice. If you've been sitting on the decision to travel, feeling stuck, or just curious how the whole thing works… buckle up. And YES — because it's Black Friday, I'm also giving early access (and a free month + bonuses) to Healthy in Healthcare for my podcast listeners only. The link is below because I love you. 😘   🩺 Join Healthy in Healthcare (Black Friday deal ends Dec 1): Get a month free, a 1:1 coaching call, + extended payment plan! 🎉 👯‍♀️ Follow my travel journey on Instagram ⏰ Connect on TikTok!

We're getting real about healthcare burnout, mental health, and what it actually takes to pull yourself out of the hole you didn't even realize you were sinking into. I'm joined by PA-C Leigha Barbieri—healthcare worker, world traveler, burnout coach, and someone who literally had to leave medicine to save her sanity. This episode is your permission slip to stop pretending you're "fine." Leigha and I talk about: 🔥 What burnout really feels like for healthcare workers (hint: it's not just being tired) 🔥 The slow, sneaky signs of emotional exhaustion most providers ignore 🔥 Why misdiagnosis is so common—especially in women—and how to advocate for yourself 🔥 How boundaries (yes, those) can literally save your career 🔥 What a sabbatical for healthcare workers looks like and how to do it without blowing up your life 🔥 The truth about taking FMLA for mental health (and why more clinicians need to) 🔥 How she left her PA job, traveled to 11 countries, and finally started healing from years of chronic burnout 🔥 The exact habits healthcare workers need to feel human again—inside and outside the hospital If you've ever come home from a shift and sat in your car thinking, "I can't keep doing this," this episode will hit hard… in the best way. Whether you're a nurse, PA, RT, tech, NP, or any woman working in scrubs, this conversation will make you feel seen and remind you that you deserve more than survival mode. Not sure what type of burnout you're in? ✨ Take My Burnout Quiz 💪🏼 Apply for 1:1 coaching with Mary 👯‍♀️Come say hey on IG!  🤝 Meet Leigha on IG! ✈️ Off Duty on Purpose 🎙️ So You Want to Work in Healthcare?

Let's be real — you don't need more time, you just need to know where the hell your time is going. ⏰ In this episode of Shift Happens, I'm giving you a raw, practical breakdown of how to actually find time for your health (even when you're buried under patient orders, 12-hour shifts, and laundry piles). Because the truth is — you do have 24 hours a day. The problem isn't time… it's how you're spending it. I'm walking you through the same 3-step framework I use with my clients (and my own chaotic schedule) to finally make time for workouts, meal prep, and rest without sacrificing your sanity. If you're ready to stop saying "I don't have time" and start saying "I've got this," this one's for you.   ✨ In This Episode, I'll Chat: The real reason you keep saying you don't have time (and how to fix it) My 3-step Audit → Change → Maintain method for mastering your schedule How to get back hours of your day without quitting your job Simple hacks that save you energy (and brain space) before and after your shifts Why "something is better than nothing" will change how you look at progress forever   📆 Join the Shift Schedule Solution - the 5 day challenge where I'm showing you exactly how to make healthy habits fit for your schedule (yes, even if you don't get a lunch break 😉) 📝 Find your burnout type using my 2 minute quiz!  👯‍♀️ Come say hey on IG! 

You don't really want weight loss.. you want your life back. 💥 In this heart-to-heart episode, I'm getting brutally honest about what you're really chasing when you say you want to lose weight. It's not about the number on the scale.. it's about waking up with energy, hiking without gasping for air, rebuilding your confidence (and maybe your marriage), and finally living your damn life again. After coming back from hiking through Utah's national parks, I had a massive realization: we don't crave weight loss, we crave the freedom that comes with feeling strong, healthy, and alive in our bodies. If you've ever caught yourself saying "I'll start after the holidays," or if you're tired of missing out on the life you actually want to live, this episode is your wake-up call. ✨ Get ready for:  The real reason most women in healthcare struggle to stay consistent Why weight loss goals fail (and what your brain is actually trying to tell you) My husband's health journey and the mindset shift that changed everything How to start feeling better now, not in January 💬 Resources 🔥 Take the free Burnout Quiz to find out what type of burnout is keeping you stuck. 💌 DM me your biggest "why" on Instagram 🌄 Follow our hiking adventures and more real-life health tips @MaryKathrynFitness 📆 Join the waitlist for the Healthy in Healthcare 👯‍♀️Sick of waiting? Apply for 1:1 coaching today!

Let's be real.. burnout isn't just mental. It's physical, and your body's been trying to tell you something for a while now.   In this episode, I'm breaking down the three biggest physical symptoms I experienced when I was deep in burnout. From rapid weight gain and back pain to that stubborn, stress-triggered acne that made me want to scream. We'll talk about how your body's basically waving a big red flag saying, "Hey, I can't keep doing this," and what happens when you finally start listening.   You'll hear: Why your body holds on to weight even when you're "doing everything right" How burnout physically manifests as pain, inflammation, and fatigue Why your skin freaks out when your stress does And how setting simple boundaries (yes, even between patients) can start reversing it all   If your body feels like it's revolting against you.. it's not. It's begging for rest, boundaries, and balance. ✨ Take my free Burnout Quiz here to find your burnout type — because once you know what's draining you, you can finally fix the right problem. 👯‍♀️ Come say hey on IG!  So grab your coffee, clock out mentally for a few minutes, and let's talk about what burnout is really doing to your body.

💬 Show Notes Description What if we've been labeling it wrong this whole time? In this episode of Shift Happens, I sit down with Dr. Lori Laws, nurse scholar, author of Nursing Our Healer's Heart, and founder of The Halen Academy, to talk about why healthcare burnout isn't actually burnout — it's nurse-specific (and occupational) trauma. This conversation hit me hard (and honestly gave me chills more than once). Dr. Lori breaks down why bubble baths and yoga aren't fixing the problem, the science behind how trauma impacts our nervous system, and how we can start truly healing instead of just surviving shift to shift. We dive into: Why "burnout" is the wrong diagnosis — and how trauma-informed care changes everything How trauma shows up in healthcare workers (even if you think you're "fine") What happens to your vagus nerve and mitochondria under chronic stress Why your nervous system literally can't heal when it doesn't feel safe The Microdoses Matter practice you can do in 30 seconds between patients to start regulating your nervous system How Dr. Lori's Innate Care Plan Framework helps healthcare workers map out their symptoms and heal from the inside out Why community and co-regulation are essential (and why "self-care" culture has failed healthcare workers) This episode is deep, powerful, and packed with real solutions — not just surface-level fluff.   💬 Connect ⬇️ 🩺 Dr. Lori Laws' Website 📘 Book: Nursing Our Healer's Heart 🧠 Free Trauma Symptom Assessment 🌿 The Haelen Academy: — Dr. Lorre's nonprofit supporting healers through trauma recovery Follow Dr. Lorre Laws on: 🔗 LinkedIn 👯‍♀️ Instagram   Follow Mary Hodson on: 💪 Instagram: @MaryKathrynFitness 🧩 Free Burnout Quiz: Find your burnout type (Over-Giver, Silent Struggler, Invisible Achiever, or Checked-Out Queen) and start fixing the real problem

You're tired, starving, and the last thing you want to do after your shift is spend three hours cooking. Been there, done that. In this quick, no-BS episode of Shift Happens, I'm walking you through my exact step-by-step process to get a full week of meals prepped in under an hour — without living out of soggy Tupperware or eating dry chicken and plain rice. We'll talk about: How to plan your week's meals in 10 minutes or less My go-to "one cooks, one bakes, one chills" method to multitask without chaos The meal prep mindset shift that actually saves your sanity Why it's not about eating perfectly — it's about staying prepared when life (or your shift) hits the fan If you're sick of overcomplicating meal prep and want to stop relying on vending-machine dinners, this one's for you. 👉 Take my free Burnout Quiz to find out which burnout type is running your life — and how to finally fix it. 👯‍♀️ Come say hey on IG! Listen in, grab your coffee, and let's make meal prep simple again.

In this episode of Shift Happens, I'm getting real about something I've wrestled with for months.   😮‍💨Admitting that I'm not happy where I am. After years of traveling as a rad tech, I thought settling into a permanent job would finally give me peace. But instead, I've found myself struggling with guilt, frustration, and that gut-punch feeling of burnout all over again.   I'm sharing what happened during my recent evaluation. The moment I finally spoke up, the fear of retaliation that followed, and what it's taught me about the difference between being grateful and being fulfilled. This is as honest as it gets.   If you've ever felt stuck, unappreciated, or scared to make a change because you don't want to rock the boat, this one's for you. Staying stuck is still a choice and while change might suck, so does staying miserable.   👉 Take my Burnout Quiz to find your burnout type and how to start climbing out. 👉 Then come say hey (or vent.. I get it) over on Instagram @marykatherynfitness.   🥰 PS: Putting together my biggest giveaway yet as a huge thank you to YOU for helping the podcast get to over 1K downloads in under 3 months! 🎟️ To enter, simply rate/review the podcast then share the show to your story and don't forget to tag me! Winner will be selected in November!