It Takes Heart

Hosts Samantha Miklos & Kate Coomber

It Takes Heart is a podcast about connection at the centre of Australian healthcare.Each episode brings together nurses, doctors, allied health professionals, leaders and changemakers to share real stories from their work, their communities and the healthcare system they navigate every day. From moments of purpose and pride to challenge and growth, these conversations explore the realities of caring for others and the people behind the profession.Co-hosted by cmr’s Samantha Miklos and Kate Coomber, It Takes Heart offers honest, human conversations that reflect the heart of the healthcare community and the difference it makes, often in ways that aren’t always seen or heard.

  1. 38. What Every Woman Should Know About Perimenopause With Dietician Angelique Clark

    2D AGO

    38. What Every Woman Should Know About Perimenopause With Dietician Angelique Clark

    Why does your body feel so different in your 40s and why is no one really talking about it?  In this episode of It Takes Heart, we sit down with Angelique Clark, an accredited practising dietician and exercise physiologist, to unpack the often-misunderstood stage of perimenopause. Ange explains why so many women feel like something has shifted long before menopause officially arrives and why those symptoms are often dismissed. She also shares why perimenopause isn’t just a phase to survive, but a powerful prevention window for long-term health, with implications for cardiovascular risk, insulin resistance, bone density and muscle loss. Together, we explore the practical foundations that actually make a difference: strength training, realistic protein targets, and why fibre and gut health become even more important during perimenopause. This episode is for anyone curious about what’s changing in midlife, wanting practical guidance from a trusted dietician, or looking for clear, evidence-based insight into navigating perimenopause with confidence. Ange's organisation of choice is the Monash Women's Research Centre, who undertake research and provide education about common health issues that affect women throughout adult life, the impact of menopause and the role of sex hormones (oestrogen and testosterone) on health and wellbeing. Their aim is to enable women to experience the best possible quality of life through research, critical evaluation of available information and professional and community education If you’d like to dive deeper, you can connect with Ange on Instagram, explore her perimenopause playbook, and try her choc nut protein bar recipe. Or catch us cooking with Ange in the kitchen here! It Takes Heart is hosted by cmr’s Samantha Miklos and Kate Coomber and recorded at cmr’s head office in Brisbane. We Care; Music by Waveney Yasso Get to know It Takes Heart & cmr better! Instagram: @ittakesheartpodcast and @cornerstonemedicalrecruitment TikTok: @cornerstonemedicalrec LinkedIn: @cmr | Cornerstone Medical Recruitment Facebook: @CornerstoneMedicalRecruitment

    1h 4m
  2. 37. Who Decides If Care Is Safe? With First Nations Dr Sarah Jane Springer

    MAR 3

    37. Who Decides If Care Is Safe? With First Nations Dr Sarah Jane Springer

    What if the only real measure of cultural safety was the voice of the person receiving care? In this episode of It Takes Heart, Sam and Kate sit down with Dr Sarah Jane Springer - proud First Nations woman, award-winning rural generalist, and passionate advocate for community-led healthcare. Drawing on her lived experience and career across rural and remote Australia, Sarah Jane shares why true cultural safety can’t be written into policy alone - it must be shaped, guided, and defined by the communities receiving care. Together, they explore identity, leadership, and the responsibility of building systems that genuinely centre First Nations voices. This episode is for anyone working in healthcare, leadership, or reform who believes better outcomes begin with listening and who feels called to help create a safer, stronger, more community-led future for healthcare. Sarah Jane's organisation of choice is The Australian Indigenous Doctors' Association. AIDA’s purpose is to grow ethical and professional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander doctors who will lead and drive equitable and just health outcomes for all our peoples. Follow Dr Sarah Jane on Instagram It Takes Heart is hosted by cmr’s Samantha Miklos and Kate Coomber and recorded at cmr’s head office in Brisbane. We Care; Music by Waveney Yasso Get to know It Takes Heart & cmr better! Instagram: @ittakesheartpodcast and @cornerstonemedicalrecruitment TikTok: @cornerstonemedicalrec LinkedIn: @cmr | Cornerstone Medical Recruitment Facebook: @CornerstoneMedicalRecruitment

    1h 2m
  3. 36. Hospital at Sea: How Travel Nursing Led Nurse Tessa to Mercy Ships

    FEB 17

    36. Hospital at Sea: How Travel Nursing Led Nurse Tessa to Mercy Ships

    What if the thing that saves your nursing career isn’t leaving healthcare… but saying yes to a completely different way of working? In this episode of It Takes Heart, ED nurse Tessa shares how travel nursing transformed her life after hitting a wall with burnout in a busy metro hospital. Feeling exhausted, disconnected, and questioning her future in healthcare, she took a leap into rural contracts and everything shifted. From working solo in outback emergency departments to embracing the freedom of contract work, Tessa explains how flexibility, autonomy, and exploration reignited her confidence and clinical capability. She also takes us inside one of the most extraordinary chapters of her career: volunteering aboard Mercy Ships, a floating hospital delivering life-changing surgeries off the coast of Madagascar — and why sometimes the most powerful career move is simply saying, “If you can, you must.” This episode is for any nurse feeling the weight of burnout, curious about agency nursing, or wondering whether travel nursing could be the fresh start they didn’t know was possible. Tessa's organisation of choice is The Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia, a national charitable healthcare organisation providing primary healthcare and 24/7 emergency services to those in rural and remote Australia. RFDS uses advanced aviation and medical technology to deliver vital care where traditional services are unavailable.  It Takes Heart is hosted by cmr’s Samantha Miklos and Kate Coomber and recorded at cmr’s head office in Brisbane. We Care; Music by Waveney Yasso Get to know It Takes Heart & cmr better! Instagram: @ittakesheartpodcast and @cornerstonemedicalrecruitment TikTok: @cornerstonemedicalrec LinkedIn: @cmr | Cornerstone Medical Recruitment Facebook: @CornerstoneMedicalRecruitment

    48 min
  4. 35. Could One Scan Save Your Life? Dr Zane Sherif on Preventive Medicine & Imaging

    FEB 3

    35. Could One Scan Save Your Life? Dr Zane Sherif on Preventive Medicine & Imaging

    We’re back for Season 3 of It Takes Heart and kicking things off with an offsite recording at MBR Health on the Gold Coast, is guest Dr Zane Sherif, renowned Radiologist and founder of MBR Health. Dr Zane brings deep insight into proactive screening, using preventive health and whole body MRI to shift modern medicine from crisis to care. He shares how MBR Health is using state-of-the-art medical imaging and software innovation to detect disease earlier and offer patients a clearer path to longevity. We explore the rising need for personal screening and the growing impact of precision diagnostics in empowering people to take charge of their health, before symptoms appear. This episode is for anyone curious about the future of healthcare, early detection, or ready to take a more proactive approach to their health. Dr Zane’s organisation of choice is Médecins Sans Frontières, an independent international medical humanitarian organisation that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, healthcare exclusion and natural or man-made disasters. It Takes Heart is hosted by cmr’s Samantha Miklos and Kate Coomber and recorded at cmr’s head office in Brisbane. We Care; Music by Waveney Yasso Get to know It Takes Heart & cmr better! Instagram: @ittakesheartpodcast and @cornerstonemedicalrecruitment TikTok: @cornerstonemedicalrec LinkedIn: @cmr | Cornerstone Medical Recruitment Facebook: @CornerstoneMedicalRecruitment

    53 min
  5. 34. Can You Really Nurse Across NZ Ski Slopes and Aussie EDs? Nurse Nicole Proves It

    11/25/2025

    34. Can You Really Nurse Across NZ Ski Slopes and Aussie EDs? Nurse Nicole Proves It

    What’s it like to go from treating ski injuries on the slopes of Queenstown to working ED shifts under the red-hot skies of rural Australia? For Nicole Watts - emergency nurse, adventure-seeker and proud member of the cmr community - it’s a career that blends adrenaline, autonomy and purpose. Nicole shares what it takes to thrive as both a ski field nurse in New Zealand and a travel nurse in Australia. We step into her world on the slopes, where ski patrol briefings start the day and anything from fractures to major trauma can come through the door. From fast-paced clinic days with limited backup to regional EDs across the country, she reflects on the clinical skills, confidence and adaptability these environments demand and how each setting has shaped her as a nurse and a person. You’ll also hear Nicole’s practical advice for NZ nurses considering the move across the ditch. She unpacks the logistics of nursing in Australia and how to find your feet quickly in agency-heavy emergency departments. Whether you’re a NZ nurse curious about what’s possible or a travel nurse dreaming of seasonal work, this episode is packed with insight and inspiration. More about Nicole's Organisation of Choice, Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter Trust The Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter Trust is committed to supporting the world class rescue helicopter service that is delivered across the large and geographically challenging southern area of New Zealand. The Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter service is partially funded by Government, but we rely on donations from our community to support this critical service that brings vital help to seriously unwell or injured patients.  It Takes Heart is hosted by cmr’s Samantha Miklos and Kate Coomber and recorded at cmr’s head office in Brisbane. We Care; Music by Waveney Yasso Get to know It Takes Heart & cmr better! Instagram: @ittakesheartpodcast and @cornerstonemedicalrecruitment TikTok: @cornerstonemedicalrec LinkedIn: @cmr | Cornerstone Medical Recruitment Facebook: @CornerstoneMedicalRecruitment

    41 min
  6. 33. From Overseas to Aged Care: How Neha Built a Nursing Career in Australia

    11/11/2025

    33. From Overseas to Aged Care: How Neha Built a Nursing Career in Australia

    Neha arrived in Brisbane from Nepal with good grades, high hopes, and a postcard-perfect image of Australia, but the reality was tougher. Cultural shocks, unfamiliar accents, and the quiet weight of starting over left her searching for solid ground. Nursing became her anchor and in time, aged care quietly captured her heart.  Now a registered nurse, Neha supports aged care residents through a mix of bedside care and telehealth. She shares what good care really looks like: calm, consistent, and deeply human.  She also shares lifestyle and nursing content online, offering insight, encouragement, and connection, especially for international students navigating similar journeys.  This episode is for anyone wondering where a career in nursing can take them, especially if you’re starting fresh in a new country, navigating setbacks, or finding your place in a different system. Neha’s story is a reminder that purpose often lives in the places we least expect. More about Neha's Organisation of Choice, Beyond Blue Beyond Blue is one of Australia’s most well-known, trusted, and visited mental health organisations. For more than 20 years, people in Australia have placed their trust in Beyond Blue as a reliable source of mental health information, support, and hope - whether they’re well and want to stay that way, unsettled or struggling and need support, or in recovery and want to reconnect. Follow Neha on Instagram and TikTok. It Takes Heart is hosted by cmr’s Samantha Miklos and Kate Coomber and recorded at cmr’s head office in Brisbane. We Care; Music by Waveney Yasso Get to know It Takes Heart & cmr better! Instagram: @ittakesheartpodcast and @cornerstonemedicalrecruitment TikTok: @cornerstonemedicalrec LinkedIn: @cmr | Cornerstone Medical Recruitment Facebook: @CornerstoneMedicalRecruitment

    36 min
  7. 32. “I Just Wanted the Pain to Stop”: Erin Barnett on Endo & Empowerment

    10/28/2025

    32. “I Just Wanted the Pain to Stop”: Erin Barnett on Endo & Empowerment

    You might know Erin Barnett from Love Island or I'm a Celebrity…, but her most powerful story isn’t one that played out on screen. A registered nurse living with endometriosis, adenomyosis and PCOS, Erin opens up about what it’s taken to be heard in a system that too often overlooks women’s pain. From a tough start in the health system to becoming the kind of nurse she wished she’d had, Erin shares the personal journey behind her book Endo Unfiltered and what led her to make the life-changing decision to have a hysterectomy in her 20s. If you’ve ever felt dismissed by the system, are raising young women, or work in women’s health, this episode is for you. Language warning: This episode contains occasional strong language. More about Erin's Organisation of Choice, Endometriosis Australia Endometriosis Australia is at the forefront of advocating for those affected by endometriosis, a chronic condition that impacts millions worldwide. Dedicated to improving the lives of those living with endometriosis, they deliver a comprehensive range of programs and support services designed to make a real difference. Follow Erin on Instagram. It Takes Heart is hosted by cmr’s Samantha Miklos and Kate Coomber and recorded at cmr’s head office in Brisbane. We Care; Music by Waveney Yasso Get to know It Takes Heart & cmr better! Instagram: @ittakesheartpodcast and @cornerstonemedicalrecruitment TikTok: @cornerstonemedicalrec LinkedIn: @cmr | Cornerstone Medical Recruitment Facebook: @CornerstoneMedicalRecruitment

    36 min
  8. 31. Behind Recruitment Special: Curiosity in Every Interaction with Sophie Robertson

    10/14/2025

    31. Behind Recruitment Special: Curiosity in Every Interaction with Sophie Robertson

    What happens when you flip the mic from healthcare workers to the people who help place them? In this Behind Recruitment Special of It Takes Heart, we sit down with global recruitment coach Sophie Robertson to explore what 'good' really looks like in recruitment and why it matters more than ever. With three decades in the industry, Sophie shares how curiosity, consistency and care separate truly impactful recruiters from the rest. From asking better questions to creating 'moments of truth' in every interaction, Sophie invites us to rethink recruitment as a relationship, not a transaction. She explains why price alone can’t be the north star in healthcare hiring, and how agencies that audit their candidate and client experience are raising the bar. This episode is for anyone working in recruitment, hiring through agencies, or simply curious about how service-first hiring can create safer, happier healthcare. More about Sophie's Organisation of Choice, National Centre for Childhood Grief The National Centre for Childhood Grief (NCCG) is an Australian not-for-profit organisation dedicated to caring for bereaved children and their families following the death of a parent, sibling or other close loved one. Their individual and group counselling programs help bereaved children and their families learn to live with their grief, build their coping skills and resilience and be empowered to live their best life. Follow Sophie on Linkedin. It Takes Heart is hosted by cmr’s Samantha Miklos and Kate Coomber and recorded at cmr’s head office in Brisbane. We Care; Music by Waveney Yasso Get to know It Takes Heart & cmr better! Instagram: @ittakesheartpodcast and @cornerstonemedicalrecruitment TikTok: @cornerstonemedicalrec LinkedIn: @cmr | Cornerstone Medical Recruitment Facebook: @CornerstoneMedicalRecruitment

    42 min

About

It Takes Heart is a podcast about connection at the centre of Australian healthcare.Each episode brings together nurses, doctors, allied health professionals, leaders and changemakers to share real stories from their work, their communities and the healthcare system they navigate every day. From moments of purpose and pride to challenge and growth, these conversations explore the realities of caring for others and the people behind the profession.Co-hosted by cmr’s Samantha Miklos and Kate Coomber, It Takes Heart offers honest, human conversations that reflect the heart of the healthcare community and the difference it makes, often in ways that aren’t always seen or heard.

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