From Daughter to Advocate: Prof Áine Carroll’s Call for Change
In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Prof Áine Carroll joins Marie Kilduff to reflect on how her mother’s final months shaped her understanding of what integrated healthcare should truly be.
Despite decades of professional leadership in integrated care, Áine found herself navigating a fragmented system that left her feeling powerless as a daughter advocating for her mum. That experience intensified her long-standing commitment to person-centred, coordinated care and exposed the gaps that so many families still face.
Together, Marie Kilduff and Prof Carroll explore:
What happens when care isn’t joined up, even for those who understand the systemThe barriers that continue to block progress, from siloed services to poor communication and digital limitationsWhy leadership in a complex adaptive system must evolveThe role of data, partnership, and meaningful relationships in driving improvementHow the International Foundation for Integrated Care (IFIC) supports global learning through the Nine PillarsWhy hope, action, and collective responsibility are central to making real change.
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Evolving Leadership in Healthcare: A Conversation with Caroline O’Regan
In this episode of Leading with Hearts and Minds, Marie Kilduff speaks with Caroline O’Regan, a respected leader in healthcare education and organisational development who has contributed significantly to the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and the Health Service Executive (HSE).
Caroline reflects on more than three decades of experience in leadership development—charting how the focus in healthcare has shifted from hierarchical management to a more inclusive, collaborative, and compassionate approach that values communication, empathy, and systems thinking.
They discuss:
How leadership in healthcare has evolved over the decadesThe impact of Caroline’s work with RCSI on leadership educationPreparing emerging leaders for complexity and changeWhy compassion and clarity remain at the heart of effective leadership
Presented by Marie Kilduff.
Produced by the National Clinical Leadership Centre for Nursing and Midwifery.
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“If Not Me, Who? Claire Zangerle on Purpose and Leadership in Nursing”
In this episode of Leading with Hearts and Minds, Marie Kilduff speaks with Claire Zangerle, CEO of the American Organisation for Nursing Leadership and CEO of the American Hospital Association.
Claire describes her unconventional path into leadership, from a second career in nursing to leading two of the most influential healthcare organisations in the United States. She reflects on the lessons learned along the way: the value of vulnerability, the importance of finding your “why,” and why leadership is as much about how we lead as what we achieve.
From addressing workplace incivility and burnout to inspiring the next generation of nurse leaders, Claire’s message is both practical and deeply human: nurses shouldn’t just have a seat at the table, they should set the table.
🎧 Listen for insights on:
Redefining what leadership looks like in nursingBuilding confidence and authenticity as a leaderAddressing bullying and incivility in healthcareFinding purpose and balance in demanding roles
Follow Leading with Hearts and Minds for more conversations with those shaping the future of compassionate, courageous healthcare leadership.
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"Civility Saves Lives: Chris Turner on Respect, Teams, and Safer Healthcare"
In this episode of Leading with Hearts and Minds, we speak with Dr. Chris Turner, Emergency Medicine Consultant and co-founder of Civility Saves Lives.
Chris shares how repeated experiences in governance made him realise that patient safety is not only about protocols and checklists, but also about how we treat each other. He explains how incivility hijacks the brain, reduces performance, and can ultimately put lives at risk.
From a small talk in Redditch to a TEDx talk viewed by over half a million people, Civility Saves Lives has evolved into a global movement. Chris discusses the science behind civility, the role of apology and humility in leadership, and practical ways to address uncivil behaviour with compassion rather than blame.
This is an important reminder that civility is not a nice-to-have in healthcare; it is essential for safe and effective teams.
Learn more at www.civilitysaveslives.com
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Clarity, Courage, and Compassion: Michael Comyn in Conversation
Episode 1 – Season 2
Marie Kilduff in Conversation with Michael Comyn
Season 2 of Leading with Hearts & Minds opens with a deeply personal and practical conversation. Marie Kilduff talks with host Michael Comyn about his approach to emotional intelligence, leadership, and philosophy – and how these three strands come together to shape the way leaders think and act in healthcare.
Michael shares stories from over three decades of coaching and facilitation, reflecting on why emotional intelligence matters more than ever, what happens when leaders ignore it, and how philosophy can provide a framework for better decision-making under pressure.
Whether you are a seasoned healthcare leader or just starting your journey, this episode is an invitation to pause, reflect, and reconnect with the human side of leadership.
"Leading with Hearts & Minds"
Discover the untold stories behind the leaders shaping the future of healthcare. In "Leading with Hearts & Minds, "We bring you intimate, one-to-one conversations with healthcare professionals who have navigated extraordinary challenges and triumphs.
Each episode reveals the personal journeys, hard-earned lessons, and human moments that define leadership in one of the world's most demanding fields.
Whether you're a healthcare professional, a leader, or simply curious about the heart and mind behind outstanding leadership, this podcast offers inspiration and insight with every story.
Ireland