Risk Never Sleeps Podcast: Episode #182

Title: Stronger After Stroke: Education, Innovation, and Impact
Guest: Rosa Hart, Owner, Rosa Hart Media Consulting LLC
Host: Ed Gaudet
Date: January 5, 2026

Main Theme

This lively episode spotlights the intersection between patient safety, stroke recovery, and the transformative role of nurses and innovation in healthcare, especially with digital and AI technologies. Guest Rosa Hart shares her unique journey as a stroke nurse and prolific podcaster, discussing her mission to educate, empower, and impact both patients and caregivers. Together, host Ed Gaudet, Rosa, and co-host Saul Marquez explore topics from brain health to gender disparities in stroke, the evolving role of nurses in AI, and the power of acknowledgment and generosity in healthcare.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Rosa Hart’s Podcasting Journey & Impact

• Origins of Podcasting: Rosa began podcasting after a friend wanted to review restaurants. She discovered the power of podcasting to share stories and connect with communities.

  "My friend wanted to review restaurants, and I was like, that's really cute. ...we're gonna make a podcast." — Rosa Hart (03:00)

• Purpose-driven Work: Her "Stronger After Stroke" podcast provides education, encouragement, and hope to stroke survivors and caregivers in 92 countries, promoting better post-stroke quality of life.

  "It's heard in 92 countries. ...If my plane goes down, I feel like I left a legacy already." — Rosa Hart (02:33)

• Other Podcasts:

  • Lou Review: Featuring Louisville, Kentucky business owners and nonprofits.
  • Aging Like a Pro: Translating brain health research for the University of Miami.
  • Nurse Rosa’s Insights: Interviews with health stakeholders on innovative, systemic healthcare solutions.

2. Brain Health & Post-Stroke Advice

• Keeping Your Brain Healthy:
  • Cognitive activities (e.g., crosswords) and creativity help brain health; effort, not proficiency, matters.

    "They don't say you have to be good at it." — Rosa (04:40)

  • Physical movement, especially walking, is highly recommended.

    "Physical walking is one of the best things you can do for your brain." — Rosa (04:59)

• Neuroplasticity: Modern research shows the brain's remarkable ability to recover after stroke, fostering hope for patients.

3. Nurses, AI, & Healthcare Innovation

• Bridging the Gap: Rosa recounts attending AI Med’s "office hours" as the only nurse among many physicians. Nurses need more representation and less fear in conversations about AI in healthcare.

  "Are there no nurses for real?...The nurses they have talked to...have been really fearful and not knowing where to start." — Rosa (09:33-10:53)

• Nursing Track at AI Med: She helped moderate panels, facilitating greater nurse involvement in developing healthcare AI solutions.

• Billion-Dollar Question: Her podcast asks guests:

  "If you were given a grant for $1 billion...how would you use it to create the most sustainable impact in healthcare?"— Rosa (05:53)

4. Gender & Stroke – Unpacking the Data

• Women and Stroke:

  • More women experience strokes than men, partly due to pregnancy and estrogen’s complex effects (13:17).
  • Higher risks during and after pregnancy (13:40), with estrogen providing some cardiovascular protection but also increasing risk when combined with behaviors like smoking/vaping.
  • Women's health research—and data on female-dominant fields like nursing—remains insufficient.
  • Stroke outcomes tend to be worse for female patients; caregiving burdens also fall disproportionately on women.

  "Most caregivers for people who have stroke are women, whether it's the wife or...the oldest daughter...that has a burden on their health." — Rosa (16:27)

5. The Emotional Labor & Risks of Nursing

• Physical and Emotional Hazards:

  "You're more likely to be injured in the workplace as a nurse than as a military officer or a construction worker..." — Rosa (15:12)

• Memorable Nursing Stories: Rosa’s candid account of cleaning up after a confused patient with C.Diff highlights the gritty realities of healthcare (15:43).

6. Recognition, Generosity, and Evolving as Humans

• Acknowledgment Culture:

  • The group discusses how little gestures of appreciation—like fruit baskets—make a big difference.

    "I think we should just be excessively generous with giving people credit, you know?" — Rosa (21:54)

• Personal Evolution:

  • The hosts and Rosa reflect on improving self-restraint, the importance of empathy, and the journey toward becoming better listeners and more compassionate caregivers and leaders.
  • Ed shares that quitting drinking led to newfound self-control in conversations.

    "That gave me the voice inside to stop and not speak." — Ed (20:52)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Nurse Engagement in AI

  "They need to be involved in building solutions." — Rosa (11:09)

• On Stroke Care and Speed

  "Time is brain." — Rosa (12:06)

• On Women's Role in Caregiving

  "If a man has a stroke, their wife is going to make sure they take their meds...change how they're cooking...husbands who do that...is rare." — Rosa (17:20)

• Unfiltered Nursing Reality

  "Somebody with C. Diff pooped all over the wall and down the toilet and nobody was available to help me clean it up." — Rosa (15:43)

• Generosity & Credit

  "Imagine the love we would bring into the world if we just gave people a little credit." — Ed (21:47)

• Playful Podcasting

  • The episode closes with spontaneous singing ("Love Me Tender" and "So Long, Farewell") and lighthearted karaoke planning, showcasing the warmth and humanity behind the professional roles.

  "You have a beautiful voice. Wow. I wanted to stop singing." — Ed (25:34)

Key Timestamps by Segment

• Rosa’s Intro, Name Mix-up & Podcast Origins (01:00–03:00)
• Podcast Impact & Stroke Podcast Global Reach (02:06–02:58)
• Brain Health Advice (04:34–05:14)
• Overview of Podcasts & Billion-Dollar Question (05:30–06:03)
• Gender & Stroke Risks (13:16–14:28)
• Nursing Injuries & Workplace Violence (15:03–15:40)
• Raw Nursing Stories (15:43–16:04)
• Women's Caregiving Burden & Outcomes (16:27–17:43)
• Discussion on Empathy, Credit & Growth (19:34–22:02)
• Musical Close, Favorite Movies/Records (24:33–27:27)

Where to Find Rosa Hart

"I do have a website. It's nurserosaspeaks.com and I'm on all the social media platforms at NurseRosaSpeaks, and I would love to connect with you there and especially LinkedIn." — Rosa (28:18)

Takeaways

• Nurses are essential voices in digital health innovation and patient safety.
• Post-stroke recovery is multifaceted, demanding medical, educational, and emotional support—with an urgent need to address gender disparities.
• Recognition and empathy matter—in the workplace, in caregiving, and in leadership.
• Transformation is ongoing, both personally and for healthcare as a whole; taking risks and embracing vulnerability bring progress.
• A little generosity and music go a long way in strengthening connections and resilience.

For more resources, visit Censinet's website and Rosa's platform at NurseRosaSpeaks.com.