Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Megan Foltz. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Megan , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.
As a critical care nurse I arrived for the first time in Haiti a few months after their devastating 2010 earthquake. Eight weeks later I returned leading my second team and found myself in the frontlines of a deadly cholera outbreak that would ultimately claim over 10,000 lives.
Megan , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I’m Meg and I’m lucky to do a lot of fun things. From being an RN at a surgical center, to owning and running my coffee truck- Character Coffee, to cohosting The Renewed Nurse podcast -my days are filled with amazing opportunities and connections. .
My story largely starts in 2010 after my initial travels to Haiti. That experience wrecked my life in some beautiful ways. While I knew that there’s a lot of people on this spinning globe that don’t have access to clean drinking water- I had never met them. And certainly had never fought for their lives! Within 24 hours of being on the frontlines of a massive cholera outbreak I was having a heated heavenly conversation. It felt unacceptable that people could and would die because they had tainted water systems but I felt ill equipped to provide a sustainable solution. I barely knew the word infrastructure let alone how to accomplish it.
Two years later as I connected with my now husband Tj-a youth pastor turned business guy- who had started a bottled water company committing 100% of the net profits to clean water projects. Our first email talked about clean water & sanitation- and I was hooked!
Fast forward roughly ten years and I found myself speaking to a senior level nursing class on community & culture within a healthcare setting as I shared my oversea experiences, knowledge, and the work of Humankind.
One of the nursing students (now graduated) in that class reached out over a year later asking to get coffee and some insight as the nursing profession and its extreme challenges were hitting hard.
Five new nurses later- I heard the consistent theme among them – they were lacking support, feeling alone, and questioning how to be successful in an incredibly challenging position and profession.
My heart broke and I knew something needed to be done. Set to meet once a month -2020 reared her head and by January of the following year my heart was a mess. An already struggling profession filled with good people had taken a vicious emotional, physical, and psychological beating. In that dark place I knew we needed a Light.
I prayed fervently that God would show me how to intercede. Maybe a podcast? But I knew nothing about how to host a show- nor was I convinced that we needed another podcast. With an open handed posture I said “God you know this is burning in my heart” I’ll wait for the door to open if and when it’s Your will.
The next day my now cohost Em texted me knowing nothing of that prayer. She said “ hey, I don’t know if this means anything but I think I’m supposed to tell you that you’re to start a podcast.”
The Renewed Nurse was born.
130+ episodes later there’s a Light shining and we share our imperfect thoughts and ponderings with our audience as we strive to show and share Jesus and be the catalyst for a truly whole, healthy, and healing profession.
We host retreats, meet people every Monday at the “poddie” (podcast), lead workshops and speaking engagements, and ultimately cheer for those looking to be a part of healthcare in healthy ways.
We’d love for you to join us!
If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?
Absolutely! It’s been a challenge and I’ve had to do my own hard work of taking a healthy assessment of myself and put boundaries in place as I embrace the limitations needed for me to be the best wife, nurse, podcast host, barista, and believer that I can be! It’s not been an easy journey but it’s been incredibly fulfilling and I’m so thankful to be able to use the challenges and personal experience to encourage and inspire others.
Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?
Therapy! lol. But seriously. Knowing that my value and identity is not found in DOING but by BEING allows me so much healthy freedom as I walk with God on life’s path.
Contact Info:
- Website: Therenewednurse.com
- Instagram: Therenewednurse
- Other: Behumankind.com Humankindwater Charactercoffeecart.com Charactercoffeecart