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Episode 59

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Published on:

26th Aug 2025

059 Embracing the Spiritual Side of Nursing and Authentic Leadership with Todd Angelucci

In this deeply insightful conversation, Todd, a transformational coach, mentor, and advocate for authentic leadership, shares his unique journey from an Army medic and ICU nurse to corporate leader and transformational coach. Todd opens up about his personal brushes with mortality—surviving a brain tumor—and how it propelled him into a profound mindset shift that fuels his coaching practice today. He offers a powerful perspective on the spiritual side of nursing, the hidden wounds carried by nurses, and the urgent need for coaching programs tailored to healthcare professionals.

Key Topics Covered:

  • Todd's transformative experience with a brain tumor and how it became a catalyst for growth rather than a setback
  • The unspoken spiritual connection among nurses and the need to openly discuss this aspect of caregiving
  • Challenges faced by nurses including burnout, compassion fatigue, moral injury, and soul tiredness
  • The concept of "soul shots"—emotional hits nurses absorb from their work environment—and how to protect oneself
  • The role of vulnerability, curiosity, and self compassion in leadership and personal healing
  • Insights into toxic workplace cultures in nursing and how to approach such challenges with compassion and curiosity
  • The importance of inside out leadership and reconnecting with one's true identity beyond performance
  • How confronting mortality reshapes priorities and fosters gratitude for life's small joyful moments
  • Practical advice for nurses on emotional regulation, supporting each other, and fostering authentic connection
  • Todd's ongoing work to empower nurses and leaders to reclaim their voice and step into purposeful living.

Who Should Listen:

  • Nurses and healthcare professionals seeking support and inspiration
  • Leaders in healthcare wanting to foster authentic leadership and compassionate workplaces
  • Anyone interested in personal growth, vulnerability, and the intersection of spirituality and professional life
  • Coaches and mentors working with clients facing burnout or trauma

Resources & Links:

  • Todd’s Website: toddangelucci.com (new programs launching soon!)
  • Follow Todd on LinkedIn for more insights on authentic leadership and transformational coaching.

Disclaimer: The views, opinions, and experiences shared by guests on this podcast are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host. This podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are seeking support for your mental health or wellbeing, we strongly encourage you to reach out to a qualified mental health professional. If you are in crisis, please contact your local emergency services or a crisis hotline in your area immediately.

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About the Podcast

The Happy Nurse
Winner — APAC Insider Australian Enterprise Awards 2024 | Most Empowering Self Care Provider for Nurses. Burnout, compassion fatigue, and stress are rising in healthcare. This podcast exists to change that — one practical, honest conversation at a time.
Nurses are the backbone of the health system — always there to care for a stranger as if they were one of their own, forsaking precious moments with their own families to ensure others' loved ones are in good hands.
Compassion fatigue, stress, and burnout are rising across healthcare. Self care has never been more important — or more overlooked.
Elaina Mullery McDonald RN has 25 years of clinical nursing experience, a Postgraduate Certificate in Psychology, and a Master of Business Psychology in progress. She is a certified NLP Practitioner, hypnotherapist, and mindfulness practitioner — and the founder and host of The Happy Nurse podcast. Having experienced burnout firsthand, she is passionate about equipping nurses with practical, evidence-informed strategies to protect their wellbeing and sustain the career they worked so hard for.

About your host

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Elaina Mullery


Elaina Mullery RN has spent 25 years working across some of nursing's most demanding clinical environments — orthopaedic trauma, operating theatre, endoscopy, recovery, and day surgery. She knows firsthand what it feels like to run on empty, and it's that lived experience of burnout that drives everything she does.
Elaina holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Psychology and is completing a Master of Business Psychology at Edith Cowan University. She is a certified NLP Practitioner, hypnotherapist, and mindfulness practitioner, and has developed the 3R Framework — an original evidence-based methodology for building sustainable human performance at individual, team, and organisational level.
Through The Happy Nurse podcast, her online courses, and her white paper No Margin for Error, Elaina is on a mission to change the way healthcare treats its most valuable resource — the people who show up every day to care for others.