Podcast Summary: Kat on the Loose
Episode: Nurse Blake and his Viral Comedy
Host: Kat Zammuto
Guest: Nurse Blake
Date: March 5, 2025
Episode Overview
In this lively episode, Kat Zammuto sits down with viral sensation, real nurse, and stand-up comedian, Nurse Blake, for a humorous, honest, and insightful discussion about navigating the pressures of healthcare with humor, building a positive and inclusive community for nurses, and transforming hardship into joy. The conversation spans everything from authentic tales from the ER to the evolution of Nurse Blake’s international following, his comedy tours, and his one-of-a-kind cruise conference for nurses.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
The Healing Power of Humor in Nursing
[06:37]
-
Blake shares how essential humor is for anyone in the nursing profession.
- “You gotta be funny to get through it. Like if you're not cracking jokes, you're not gonna survive nursing. So I think we're just funny people. Now our humor probably isn't appropriate most times. Um, but you know what? We laugh to get through it.” — Nurse Blake [06:37]
-
Kat explores societal views on nurses making light of serious subjects.
- Blake notes he hasn’t faced backlash because, “everything I do just comes from love. It comes from the heart. It's honest, like. And I make sure not to make fun of, you know, patients. Yeah, I mostly pick on just the broader experience, or I pick on other nurses or nurse leaders and stuff, but I get no hate. No hate.” — Nurse Blake [07:23]
The Dark Side of Healthcare Stress & The Need for Laughter
[08:02–10:20]
- Kat relates dating a stressed-out ER doctor, highlighting just how consuming medical careers can be.
- Blake jokes about only wanting to date someone with a “boring ass job,” underscoring the heavy demands healthcare puts on personal relationships:
- “I want a guy with that works at a gas station. I mean, I want. So boring. That's what I need in my life. I bring the excitement and the energy.” — Nurse Blake [10:25]
Behind the Scenes: Romance and Realities in Hospitals
[11:24–14:40]
- Kat probes the “Grey’s Anatomy” fantasy of steamy hospital romances. Blake debunks most of it:
- “It's never happened to me. I don't know what that says about me... I was also In a relationship for a really long time. For about 12 years... So I never had the chance to be freaky at the hospital.” — Nurse Blake [11:48]
- Nurses are “so short staffed, no one has time to hook up anymore. We need actually more healthcare workers to work with us because honestly, staffing is a huge problem.” — Nurse Blake [14:06]
- On finding patients catching some illicit intimacy:
- “A lot. I don't know what it is about people sick in the hospital. Everyone just gets super horny.” — Nurse Blake [12:29]
Wild Tales from the ER
[15:01–16:38]
- Blake recalls handling chaotic car crash dynamics, the lack of security in hospitals, and genuinely Jerry Springer–esque moments.
- On strange ER cases:
- “We always get, like, the big, like, straight, conservative men always, like, play with their butts and put things up their butts...like a Febreze can or like a light bulb. And it's so weird. These guys come in with something up their ass and they're like, it was an accident. Like, don't tell my wife.” — Nurse Blake [16:08]
Work-Life Balance and Self-Care in Healthcare
[17:38–19:38]
- Blake shares his advocacy for nurse self-care and mental health, acknowledging healthcare providers often neglect their own well-being.
- Kat agrees, noting, “every time I meet a doctor...she's eating candy and drinking soda... and she said ... 'we are the worst with our own health.'”
The Paradox of Hospital Food & Staff Welfare
[19:14–23:08]
- Blake discusses the peculiarities of hospital dining, sometimes having to give patients a beer or tequila to avoid withdrawal symptoms.
- Humorous take on hospital food:
- “We're paying what. I mean, seven. A hospital bill per night is running, like, what, seven to $12,000? Like, I should be getting some good food sticks. Star meal, Michelin bullshit entree.” — Nurse Blake [21:53]
- Nurses rarely get proper breaks or nutrition during long shifts.
Pop Culture vs. Reality: TV Medicine
[25:43–26:27]
- On “Grey’s Anatomy”:
- “That's why we watch Grey's Anatomy and it makes us cry because Grey's Anatomy has really good music and Shonda Rhimes the creator knows what she's doing. That's why it's been around like 40 forever... But when it comes to them caring for the patient, like doing procedures and stuff, like, all of that's. So you go from wanting to watch. It's not wanting to watch it, to rolling your eyes to crying.” — Nurse Blake [25:43]
Nurse Blake’s Comedy and Community-Building
Turning Nursing Experience Into Viral Comedy
[27:04–28:45]
- Blake found comedy as relief from burnout and depression, started with social media videos, and realized the community wanted in-person connections.
- “I did like five shows in 2020 and they all sold out... Then they ended up doing 25 and then 50. And last year I did over 100 shows. And not only helps me and it helps other nurses to be able to come out and have a good night and relate...” — Nurse Blake [27:04]
Nurse Con at Sea: The Ultimate Nursing Conference
[28:45–30:24]
- Annual themed cruise for nurses, with education, parties, and community—"the Coachella of nursing conferences on a cruise ship.”
- “So every year I do a conference called Nurse Con at Sea where I rent out the whole ship and we bring over 3,000 nurses on board and we do education and theme nights and. And bingo and drag shows and three parties.” — Nurse Blake [27:04]
- This year’s cruise: April 7–11, Miami to Bahamas.
Massive Global Comedy Tour
[31:22–32:28]
- Blake’s “Shock Advice” tour has covered 100+ shows globally, from the US to Sydney Opera House.
- New tour announcement coming this fall.
Comedy Beyond the Nursing Community
[32:50–33:41]
- “You don't have to be in the healthcare profession to really enjoy your comedy. This is adorable.” — Kat Zammuto [32:58]
- Blake: Even non-nursing regular people, and especially the husbands, find his shows hilarious.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “We laugh to get through it... if you're not cracking jokes, you're not gonna survive nursing.” — Nurse Blake [06:37]
- “I make sure not to make fun of, you know, patients...I mostly pick on just the broader experience... I get no hate.” — Nurse Blake [07:23]
- “Everyone just gets super horny” in hospitals — Nurse Blake [12:29]
- “I want someone with a boring ass job... I bring the excitement and the energy.” — Nurse Blake [10:25]
- On hospital food: “I should be getting some good food sticks. Star meal, Michelin bullshit entree.” — Nurse Blake [21:53]
- “It's like Jerry Springer, but people are sick and dying.” — Nurse Blake [15:44]
- “It's the Coachella of nursing conferences on a cruise ship. Like, it's. The nurses are so wild. They're ready to let loose and have fun.” — Nurse Blake [28:58]
- On teaching CPR:
- “I think everyone should know CPR. You could get certified and learn anywhere...I saved someone's life, but I had to go to school for four fucking years, and all you have to do is take a course and you could save someone's life and be a hero.” — Nurse Blake [34:06]
- “Sex will not send you to the ER. I will save your life right here in the bedroom.” — Nurse Blake [36:04]
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 06:37: How humor helps nurses survive
- 07:23: Balancing comedy with respect and positive energy
- 11:24: Myths and truths about hospital romances
- 15:01: “Jerry Springer” dynamics in the ER and security issues
- 16:08: Wild ER stories: foreign objects, secrets, and embarrassment
- 17:38: Self-care struggles among healthcare workers
- 19:14: The paradox of hospital food and staff nutritional neglect
- 25:43: What nurses think about TV dramas like “Grey’s Anatomy”
- 27:04: Blake’s journey: from nurse burnout to comedy star
- 28:45: Nurse Con at Sea—annual cruise/conference for nurses
- 31:22: International comedy tours, surprises, and success
- 34:06: Importance of learning CPR for everyone
Closing & Contact
- Find Nurse Blake on all social media: @NurseBlake, and details about his shows or unique nurse cruise at nurseconatsea.com
- Kat commends Blake on spreading much-needed joy and perspective:
- “You are bringing so much healing and happiness to people. I think that's really amazing.” — Kat Zammuto [32:00]
Tone and Takeaway
Bright, engaging, real-life funny, and often jaw-dropping, Blake’s energy and perspective offer catharsis—not just to nurses, but to anyone feeling life’s pressures. The power of finding the lighter side, building a community, and advocating for well-being lie at the heart of this magnetic conversation.