Shows
Nursing the NationS1.E27 MOCHA REDUX: MAHA and Make Our Children Healthy Again, Part 5.1: Rx Overload?In this episode, Jamie and Melissa Anne revisit MAHA's claim that American children are dangerously overmedicalized. While acknowledging real problems like antibiotic overuse and chronic illness, we argue that the MAHA report manipulates data and misses the bigger picture. We debunk misleading claims about ear tube surgeries, ADHD treatment, and psychiatric medication use in children and adolescents, and call out how evidence is selectively used to fit an ideological narrative.Ultimately, Jamie and Melissa Anne emphasize that improving children’s health requires more than cutting prescriptions or regulating drug ads. It all comes back to social determinants of...
2025-11-1758 min
Humanism Now | Secular Ethics, Curiosity and Compassionate Change54. Nursing the Nation Hosts on Why Nurses Belong At The Centre Of Public Debate About Health, Policy and Human Dignity“Nursing is the most humanistic of professions — it operationalises the philosophical groundings of humanism.” — Jamie Bourgeois “Nurses have 24/7 eyes on the human experience — we see how policy shows up in real people’s lives.” — Melissa Anne DuBoisJamie Bourgeois and Melissa Anne DuBois are the co-hosts of Nursing the Nation — a podcast giving nurses a national voice in debates that shape health, policy, and our daily lives. Together they explore how an ethic of evidence and empathy can challenge wellness hype, inform better policy, and centre human dignity in every decision that touches a patient’s life.In this e...
2025-11-1543 min
Nursing the NationS1.E26 Soapbox Saturday: Blessed Are the VaccinatedToday's Soapbox, Jamie talks about one of the most misunderstood issues in public health: vaccine exemptions. With vaccination rates slipping below herd-immunity thresholds in several states, and outbreaks making a comeback, we break down what religious, medical, and philosophical exemptions actually mean, and why the “religious objection” argument doesn’t hold up under scrutiny.Despite rising claims of faith-based exemptions, major religious authorities across the world, including the Vatican, leading Jewish organizations, Islamic juristic bodies, and the Dalai Lama, all support vaccination as a moral responsibility that protects life and community. So where is the resistance coming from?
2025-11-1527 minNursing the NationS1.E25 MOCHA REDUX: MAHA & Make Our Children Healthy Again, Part 4: American kids are overvaxxed?In this episode, we revisit the MOCHA report and unpack major updates in the U.S. vaccine landscape. Since July, ACIP has begun implementing MAHA’s “risk-benefit recalibration” of the childhood vaccine schedule, while a growing national lawsuit argues the administration is violating federal public-health mandates. Several states warn these changes could destabilize school-entry vaccine laws and access to care. Jamie and Melissa Anne also break down early insurance shifts, rising vaccine misinformation, and the growing patchwork of state-by-state immunization policies. Nurses and major medical organizations are speaking out and we’re here to explain what it all means for fami...
2025-11-101h 22Nursing the NationS1.E24 MOCHA REDUX: MAHA & Make Our Children Healthy Again, Part 3: Lack of Activity & Chronic StressOn September 9, 2025, the MAHA commission released their strategic plan as the expected follow up for their initial report Make Our Children Healthy Again back in May of this year. Today, Jamie reminds us that much like the MOCHA report, the MAHA strategy is full of plans that contradict each other when examined under a nursing lens.Whether you want to review the topic with our experienced nurse perspective or if you are new to us and want to catch up to speed- we hope you will find our REDUX MOCHA series informative. Further information and...
2025-11-0355 minNursing the NationS1.E23 MOCHA REDUX- MAHA & Make Our Children Healthy Again, Part 2: Food dyes, pesticides, and forever chemicalsOn September 9, 2025 the MAHA commission released their strategic plan as the expected follow up for their initial report Make Our Children Healthy Again back in May of this year. Jamie provides a short intro of this episode's topic in light of the strategic plan and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Jamie and Melissa Anne are working on the nursing analysis of this strategic plan and will have an episode covering this in the near future. In the meantime, we thought it would be a great opportunity for us to revisit the series that launched our podcast in the s...
2025-10-2757 minNursing the NationS1.E22 MOCHA REDUX- Make Our Children Healthy Again, Part 1: Ultra Processed FoodsOn September 9, 2025 the MAHA commission released their strategic plan as the expected follow up for their initial report Make Our Children Healthy Again back in May of this year. Jamie and Melissa Anne are working on the nursing analysis of this strategic plan and will have an episode covering this in the near future. In the meantime, we thought it would be a great opportunity for us to revisit the series that launched our podcast in the summer of 2025. Whether you want to review the topic with our experienced nurse perspective or if you are new to us and wan...
2025-10-2058 minNursing the NationS1.E21 What is Happening in Gaza is a Public Health CrisisIn this episode, Jamie and Melissa Anne speak with nurse scholar Dr. Donna Perry about the war in Gaza, the resulting famine, and why we must view war as a public health crisis. Dr. Perry shares her peace work with Israelis and Palestinians, reframes the conflict through human dignity, and offers ways everyone can advocate for nonviolence and solidarity.For more information and resources, check out Nursingthenation.substack.com
2025-10-1341 minNursing the NationS1.E20 Tylenol and Autism, Part 2: The Bigger Picture of Misinformation & Medical MisogynyIn this episode, Jamie and Melissa Anne look beyond the Tylenol–autism headlines to explore how autism is framed in society, from “cure” narratives to the neurodiversity movement. They unpack RFK Jr.’s rhetoric, the history of medical misogyny, and why autistic voices and women’s autonomy must be at the center of the conversation.For more information, please visit Nursingthenation.substack.com
2025-10-0638 min
Nursing the NationS1.E19 Soapbox Saturday- Gold Standard ScienceRFK Jr. loves to tout “gold standard science,” but his definition twists real research into dangerous rhetoric. From Jonas Salk’s polio trial to today’s vaccines, true gold-standard studies have already saved millions of lives. Now, political power is being used to dismantle that legacy. It’s up to us to push back.Head over to nursingthenation.substack.com for more info, resources, and more.
2025-10-0421 minNursing the NationS1.E18 Why Correlation ≠ Causation: The Truth About Tylenol and Autism, Part 1In this episode of Nursing the Nation, Jamie and Melissa Anne break down the recent claims about Tylenol use in pregnancy and autism. They explore the history of acetaminophen, the evolution of autism research, and why the difference between correlation and causation matters. The hosts unpack how misleading headlines spread misinformation, highlight the strongest science we have to date, and share why Tylenol remains the safest option for fever and pain in pregnancy. This is part 1 of a two-part series.For more information, visit Nursingthenation.substack.com
2025-09-2952 min
Nursing the NationS1.E17 Shout Out Saturday: Carla LeblancThis week, we’re spotlighting a nurse who lived out the ANA Nursing Code of Ethics in the most courageous way possible. Carla LeBlanc, a former nurse at Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester, was fired after speaking publicly about unsafe staffing and its devastating impact on patients—including preventable deaths.Read more at Nursingthenation.substack.com.
2025-09-2716 minNursing the NationS1.E16 Why SSRI use in pregnancy does NOT require a black box warningThe FDA is considering a black box warning on antidepressant use in pregnancy, sparking fierce debate across women’s health and psychiatry. Jamie and Melissa unpack what a black box warning means, the science behind SSRIs in pregnancy, and the dangers of untreated perinatal mental illness, including suicide, the leading cause of postpartum death. With personal reflections, nursing perspectives, and evidence from the latest research, this episode tackles stigma, misinformation, and why healthy moms mean healthy babies.Head over to our Substack (nursingthenation.substack.com) for detailed show notes and resources.
2025-09-2258 minNursing the NationS1.E15 Gun Violence is a Public Health Crisis in the USGun violence is now the leading cause of death for children and teens in the U.S. In this episode, Jamie and Melissa Anne examine the devastating impact of shootings on families and communities, share the data behind this uniquely American crisis, and outline common-sense reforms that can save lives.Visit our Nursingthenation.substack.com for more info and resources.
2025-09-1523 min
Nursing the NationComps Week BreakThis week Melissa is taking the comprehensive exams to move on to the dissertation phase of her nursing PhD education, so we are on a brief break! But we still want to hear from you- our email is nursing.nation.voice@gmail.com and visit us at Nursingthenation.substack.com.See you all next week!
2025-09-0804 min
Nursing the NationS1.E14- Soapbox Saturday: Bogus BootstrapsSoapbox Saturday is a segment of Nursing the Nation where either Jamie or Melissa Anne step up on their figurative soapbox and talk about something they feel strongly about. Today's Soapbox is all about social determinants of health: the economic, environmental, and social conditions that shape our well-being long before we step into a doctor’s office or hospital. Jamie challenges the narratives we've been fed as part of American grit and resilience and instead asks listeners to look upstream for the systemic causes of why some people never reach their full health potentials.For more on th...
2025-09-0615 minNursing the NationS1.E13 Political Threats to Women’s Health in the United States: A Discussion with Heidi Collins Fantasia, PhD, RN, WHNP-BC, FNAP, FAANIn this episode of Nursing the Nation, Jamie and Melissa Anne sit down with Dr. Heidi Collins Fantasia to unpack how recent federal policies are threatening women’s health. From scrubbing women’s health content off government websites to cutting research funding and dismantling DEI programs, Dr. Fantasia explains the far-reaching consequences for women, families, and the future of nursing science.Dr. Heidi Collins Fantasia is a nurse with her PhD and a professor and department chair in the Solomont School of Nursing, Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. She is a board...
2025-09-011h 04Nursing the NationS1.E12- Why We Started Nursing the NationIn this episode of Nursing the Nation, co-hosts Jamie Bourgeois and Melissa Anne DuBois share their personal journeys into nursing and why they launched a podcast at the intersection of nursing, policy, and current events. From psych nursing to perinatal care, they reveal how nursing is far more than bedside work; it’s advocacy, holistic care, and a political force shaping everyday life.Make sure to check out Nursingthenation.substack.com and join the conversation!
2025-08-2521 min
Nursing the NationS1.E11- Shout Out Saturday: Amanda TrebachToday we’re launching Shout Out Saturday, a segment dedicated to celebrating nurses who live out the ethical core of nursing. This is a space to spotlight a fellow nurse who is truly living out the Nursing Code of Ethics. These are the nurses who remind us that our work doesn’t end at the bedside because nursing is also about advocacy, equity, and making an impact on the communities we serve. Our listeners know that Melissa Anne and Jamie are passionate about ensuring that every person has the opportunity to live a healthy, fulfilling life and to r...
2025-08-2309 minNursing the NationS1.E10- Why Medicare Cuts Matter to Everyone: Breaking Down the One Big Beautiful Bill ActJamie and Melissa Anne take on the Medicare changes in The One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBBA), signed into law by President Trump on July 4, 2025. OBBBA makes significant (although less extensive than Medicaid) changes to Medicare that could still have major impacts on seniors and people with disabilities. While core benefits remain intact for those who still qualify, the law tightens eligibility for legal immigrants, excluding many who have paid into the system but lack green cards. It halts planned reforms that would have streamlined enrollment for low-income assistance programs, potentially leaving 1.4 million seniors without help paying premiums or co-pays...
2025-08-191h 09Nursing the NationS1.E9- Why Medicaid Cuts Matter to EveryoneThis week, we unpack the sweeping new law formerly known as the One Big Beautiful Bill—now signed into law by President Trump. While it promises tax breaks and rural relief, it delivers historic Medicaid cuts, stricter eligibility requirements, and new barriers to care that could leave 12 million Americans uninsured. Jamie and Melissa Anne break down what this means for nurses, patients, and entire communities—arguing that these changes will harm everyone, not just those on public assistance. Spoiler: taking away healthcare isn’t a savings plan—it’s a public health crisis in the making.Full show notes...
2025-08-111h 12
Nursing the NationS1.E8- Soapbox Saturday: Why Nurses Are PoliticalSoapbox Saturday is segment of Nursing the Nation where Jamie or Melissa Anne step up on their figurative soapbox and talk about something they feel strongly about. In today's Soapbox, Jamie explains why nurses are political, and why you should, too. This means a commitment to civic engagement for just and equitable health policy at local, national, and global levels.Nursing the Nation a podcast where we dissect today's headlines through the uniquely insightful lens of the nurse. Join your hosts, Jamie & Melissa Anne, as they use their nursing expertise to navigate the complexities of national events...
2025-08-0910 minNursing the NationMAHA & Make Our Children Healthy Again, Part 5.2: The misrepresentation of gender-affirming careIn the second half of our series finale, Jamie and Melissa Anne take on one of the most inflammatory claims in the MAHA commission’s MOCHA report: that gender-affirming care is “child chemical and surgical mutilation.” We unpack how this rhetoric misrepresents transgender healthcare and ignores both medical guidelines and clinical realities.We explore the 2024 HHS review of transgender youth care—heavily criticized by the AAP for excluding experts and endorsing discredited “exploratory therapy”—and reveal surprising ties between the report's cited sources and hate groups like Genspect. Jamie shares her clinical experiences supporting trans youth, including a powerful sto...
2025-08-071h 09Nursing the NationMAHA & Make Our Children Healthy Again, Part 5.1: Rx Overload?In the (almost) final episode of Decoding “Make Our Children Healthy Again”: What Nurses Want You to Know, co-hosts Jamie and Melissa Anne examine one of the MAHA commission’s most controversial claims: that American pediatric care is dangerously overmedicalized. The MOCHA report criticizes the use of medications, surgeries, and even routine lab tests in children as examples of systemic overtreatment.Jamie and Melissa Anne acknowledge valid concerns (like the overuse of antibiotics) but argue that the report distorts data and omits essential context. For instance, the claim that ear tube surgery is harmful is based on a misi...
2025-07-2854 minNursing the NationMAHA & Make Our Children Healthy Again, Part 4: American kids are overvaxxed?In this episode, Jamie and Melissa Anne tackle the fourth major claim in the MAHA Commission’s MOCHA report: that American pediatric care is overmedicalized, with too many vaccines. While the original plan was to explore the broader claim about overuse of medications and mental health care, the complexity of vaccine misinformation—especially from RFK Jr.—warranted a dedicated episode.The hosts break down the MOCHA report’s critique of the U.S. childhood vaccine schedule, which calls for more clinical trials using true placebos, larger sample sizes, and longer follow-up periods. It also suggests the U.S. gives...
2025-07-211h 08Nursing the NationMAHA & Make Our Children Healthy Again, Part 3: Lack of activity & chronic stressToday we are tackling Part 3 of our Series MAHA and Make Our Children Healthy Again: What Nurses Want You to Know. In the last two episodes we discussed the history of the MOCHA report and its take on topics such as diet and ultra-processed foods and chemicals in our food and environments. Today we we get into the nuances of part 3 of the report on children's decreased physical activity, chronic stress, rise in mental health diagnosis, and increase in screen time.We encourage you to listen to those episodes first if you haven’t already. Full show no...
2025-07-1455 minNursing the NationMAHA & Make Our Children Healthy Again, Part 2: Food dyes, pesticides, and forever chemicalsIn part two in the series on the MAHA report, Jamie and Melissa Anne continue their critical look at the “Make Our Children Healthy Again” (MOCHA) report from a nursing perspective. This time they dive into its second major claim: the dangers of cumulative chemical exposure from food additives, pesticides, microplastics, and more.Jamie and Melissa Anne break down what the science really says about food chemicals and children’s health, explore why low-income families are often hit hardest, and push back on the report’s cherry-picked and often misleading research. From the politics of pesticide regulation to why y...
2025-07-0749 minNursing the NationMAHA & Make Our Children Healthy Again, Part 1: Ultra-processed foods & kids' healthMake America Healthy Again, or MAHA, is a movement largely associated with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., as the Secretary of Health and Human Services. It's positioned as a response to what he describes as a chronic disease epidemic in the United States. On February 13, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order establishing the MAHA commission, chaired by RFK Jr. On May 22nd, they released the “Make Our Children Healthy Again” assessment report which they plan to follow with a strategy plan by August 2025. Jamie and Melissa Anne discuss part one of the report on ultra-processed foods and kids...
2025-06-301h 02Nursing the NationWelcome to Nursing the Nation!Welcome to "Nursing the Nation," a podcast where we dissect today's headlines through the uniquely insightful lens of the nurse. Join your hosts, Jamie & Melissa Anne, as they use their nursing expertise to navigate the complexities of national events, offering perspectives rooted in holism, advocacy, and nursing science. Beyond the medical jargon and political noise, they’ll explore the human element of current affairs, providing a grounded and compassionate understanding of the issues that impact us all. Because when it comes to understanding the pulse of our society, who better to ask than the most trusted profession?Ep...
2025-06-2509 min
The Arun Mehta ShowNONE OF THE ABOVE 2021!Arun and Patricia discuss the nominations for the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards 2021! FAVORITE KIDS TV SHOW Alexa & Katie Are You Afraid of the Dark? Danger Force Henry Danger High School Musical: The Musical: The Series Raven's Home FAVORITE FAMILY TV SHOW Black-ish Cobra Kai Fuller House The Mandalorian Stranger Things Young Sheldon FAVORITE REALITY SHOW America's Got Talent American Idol American Ninja Warrior Junior LEGO Masters The Masked Singer The Voice FAVORITE ANIMATED...
2021-02-0750 min