Empowering Others: A Conversation with Podcaster and Retired Nurse, Janet Fox

I had the pleasure of reconnecting with my dear friend Janet, during which we discussed her personal life and her background in nursing. I hope you all find this conversation enjoyable to read.

AA: I would love to learn more about you! Please share your background with me and tell me where you're from. I'm interested in hearing about your upbringing, cultural heritage, and significant life experiences that have shaped who you are today.

JF: I can honestly say that I am finally the person I was meant to be. Through all the trials and tribulations of life, I have grown into my own, so to speak. I am a wife, a mother, a best friend, a podcaster, and a loving soul.

JF: I am a small town girl born and raised in Indiana. Like so many children in a small town, I grew up with sports as a way to keep me out of trouble. With not many options for entertainment, my parents put me in tennis, volleyball, basketball, and track to fill my time.

JF: I was raised in a home with two older siblings, a brother and sister. Big brother left for the military right after high school. My sister was two years older than me, and the obvious favorite of the family. Growing up was challenging for my emotional wellbeing. My parents constantly compared me to my sister and often made remarks like “why can’t you just be more like your sister?” This theme echoed all throughout childhood and adolescence. “Why can’t you be as good as your sister?” “Your sister is so smart… so good at tennis…she makes perfect grades… why can’t you be more like her?” To say they showed favoritism would be a drastic understatement. It wasn’t even about just words for me, it also involved attention and affection. Every time that there was an issue or sibling tiff between the two of us, I got dealt the punishment while she got hugs and kisses. These recurring events shaped me, and made me feel unloved and never good enough.

JF: My parents were very lacking in the emotional support department for each other as well. My dad always seemed to use my mom as a personal assistant instead of a wife. Mom replied in turn with dirty words under her breath, or a middle finger in the air behind his back. There was no outward pouring of loving kindness toward each other, or to me. The air was always full of the stench of resentment and disgust. This permeated my emotions and further damaged my psyche.

JF: As a way to keep myself busy, I would often ride my bike to the local park, sometimes swimming there with friends. One fateful day, (I was 11 years old) I rode to the park to meet my friends. We swam and had a nice day laughing and talking. One by one they began to leave to return home. I went to get my bike to make the journey home, and my lock got stuck. I wriggled it around until finally I was able to get it free. Starting my ride through the park, I saw an old blue pickup truck approaching on the road. I moved over closer to the grass to make sure it had plenty of room to get by. In an instant, the truck stopped and a man got out, grabbed me off my bike, and shoved me into the truck. He had a death grip on me, and threatened to kill me. He drove behind a shelter, and sexually assaulted me. I screamed for dear life, but no one came. I was bloodied, bruised and crying. He pushed me out of the truck and onto the ground, telling me to stay there until he had gone. Alone and scared, I made the trek back to my bike. I rode home crying. No one stopped me. No one seemed to notice the blood running down my legs. As I arrived home, I ran to my room. My mother came to see what I was wailing about. I told her what had happened in a scared and hushed tone. She glared at me, and said “Well, that’s that. Go take a bath, and do not speak of this again.” No are you okay? No did he hurt you? Nothing…. Just coldness and lack of concern. Being ordered to never speak of it meant only one thing, we don’t want to embarrass the family. Again, this shaped by wellbeing and emotional state for years to come.

JF: Growing up, I had a string of unhealthy relationships. Throughout high school, I dated a guy named Bobby. We were together for 4 years, when he asked me to marry him. The day I said yes, he was killed in a drunk driving accident. He and a friend had been out celebrating, although I was not aware until after his passing, they were partying with a group of girls. Drugs and alcohol were involved. The relationship that followed (Erik) ended with me being physically assaulted and sustaining multiple broken bones. I dated a guy named Sonny for a while. He proposed, and we set a date. He no-showed to the wedding, and then I found out later that he was a career criminal and was in prison. Every relationship that followed was with an abuser, cheater, addict, or just plain crazy person. The last toxic relationship was to my now ex-husband Chris. He was an alcoholic, drug addict, cheater, and abuser. All these relationships further shaped my character, and what I thought was “normal” in love.

JF: Uncertain on the age old question on “what do you want to be when you grow up”, I went to college for business. I got my degree and muddled my way through years of management, accounting, marketing, and all the business things of life. I knew that I had made a drastic mistake, and I grew to loathe going to work. It just was not a good fit for me. I decided to start working at the local hospital instead, in whatever capacity I could get. Switchboard became my first job. From there, I moved into the billing department, collections, worker’s compensation, chart audit, and insurance appeals. The coolest job was when I was offered the chance to be an autopsy assistant. (I am NOT a serial killer! LOL) I loved seeing the inner workings of the human body, and what it was capable of. At the age of 24, and while trying to figure out what to do next, my life dramatically changed, and my path became clear.

AA: Could you tell me about your medical background? What inspired you to pursue a career in nursing, and what type of nursing did you specialize in? I'm sure you have countless compelling stories from your time as a nurse. Please share some of the most memorable experiences and eye-opening, impactful moments you encountered during your nursing career.

JF: My sister was suffering from debilitating migraines. Countless doctors and treatments later, nothing was helping. She finally ended up at a renowned “headache clinic” for treatments. They gave her a prescription injection to take at home and sent her on her way. My mother’s birthday was in two days, so we agreed to go shopping and figure out a plan for the celebration. After a nice day together, I dropped her back off at home. In the middle of the night, I got a horrific call to come to the Emergency Room because my sister was dead. I was devastated and in shock. The medication she has been given for her migraine has in fact exploded her heart. My parents were such a mess that they could not make funeral arrangements. My brother and I made the difficult choices and set the funeral for the following week. In his grief response, my father changed the arrangements to fall on my mother’s birthday, an excruciatingly painful reminder every year on repeat.

JF: I knew at that moment that I wanted to be a nurse. My desire to help others physically, mentally, and emotionally was so clear to me. From that moment on, I thrived at my job working for a teaching hospital. I loved the lives I touched, and the assistance I was able to give to others. I quickly rose through the ranks and became a nursing supervisor, although I was still dedicated to being hands on with my patients. I also got involved with being a site preceptor (boots on the ground instructor) for medical students of all kinds. My job also included disaster planning, Value Analysis Team, insurance approvals/denials, and running the Vaccines for Children Program. The area I worked in was a diverse mixture of Family Practice, OB_GYN, Pediatrics, Surgical, Orthopedic, Dermatology, just to name a few. There was never a dull moment.

JF: Certain things really stuck out to me during this time. Drug representatives would come by to peddle the “latest and greatest” medications (especially for diabetes), and they would bring tons of candy and sugar filled drinks. Odd huh? One time, we had a depression medication that was new to the market that was really being pushed hard. The doctor had prescribed this medication to a lady in her late 60’s. She called me after just three days in hysterics and said she was in a trance-like state, and when waking from it, she was standing over her husband with a butcher knife ready to stab him. I advised her to stop the medication immediately and come in for an appointment. What did we do? We doubled the dosage! I recall a time I got written up for refusing to give a patient a new migraine injection because it was contraindicated for people with heart problems. The powers that be did not like that at all that I defied a doctor’s order. I refused to sign it and stated that I was there under oath as an advocate for my patients, not for big Pharma. There are literally thousands of stories I could tell.

AA: Do you remember the first thing they made you do on the job in the first few months?

JF: The very first thing I had to do as a nurse in the teaching facility was an initiation I guess of sorts. The doctor asked everyone things they liked and what kind of things turned them off or grossed them out. I of course answered innocently enough that I cannot handle poop stuff. Fast forward a week or so, and we had a patient who came in with a Tupperware container of stool that I was ordered to scoop out and fill stool sample vials with. It was green liquid that looked like pond scum and smelled like dead animals. GROSS! The doctor was watching me, and chuckling under his breath the whole time.

AA: Do you have a mentor who guided you through the first year of your nursing journey?

JF: I never had a nurse mentor, but the doctor I worked directly for was an excellent teacher. He would always call me in to see unusual things like certain rashes, bumps, nodules, etc. He was very good at asking me what I thought the diagnosis on someone was. I learned so much from him, and I think that ran both ways. I became excellent at reading x-rays and CT scans, test results, and the like. This made his job easier, because I took on a large portion of his workload.

AA: Tell me about your experience supervising or mentoring other nurses. How did this go for you?

JF: I loved supervising and mentoring staff and other medical professionals. We had medical students, medical assistants, nurses, and phlebotomists rotate through our office. Handling staff was easy for me, because my management style was always keeping your staff happy and part of the process. It was important to me to keep open communication and ask their opinions on daily operations and take suggestions for improvement from their perspective. It was a close nit family type environment.

AA: What are some gross things you had to see as a nurse, and how did willpower control your reactions when you saw it happen?

JF: Some of the gross things I saw as a nurse were maggots in wounds, rotten “stuck” tampons, and wounds with gangrene. Although I do not enjoy disturbing smells, I enjoy the bloody/gutty side of nursing. I know that may sound terrible to some, but I love trauma nursing more than anything.

AA: How much politics and ass-kissing was there amongst all the nurses you worked with?

JF: As far as the politics of nursing, most don’t have politics per se. Mostly it was more like appeasement of the CDC or for “the good of public health” shenanigans. You always had to wear a mask during flu season and get injected constantly with everything that came down the pike. They do like to play games in that aspect. It was very difficult to refuse or decline anything, if not impossible.

AA: Do you have a favorite nurse that you enjoyed working a long side with?

JF: I did not really have favorites that I worked with, because I loved all of my staff. They were fun, intelligent, and made every day go by relatively peacefully. I will say that when I moved to another state, that was not the case. The hospital I went to work for down here in Tennessee was very underwhelming to say the least. Almost like going back in a Time Machine, they seemed clueless on most everything I had learned at the teaching hospital. They were under equipped, and highly undereducated.

AA: How did the working hours you got affect your mental and physical well-being?

JF: I really loved being a nurse, but I did not enjoy the long hours, excessive overtime, and lack of pay for such. It was nothing to work 12 to 14 hours a day with maybe five minutes to snack or use the restroom. Scheduling family time was nearly impossible. As an example, I would be scheduled to leave at 4 pm, and it was nothing to leave at 11 pm instead. Most of the time, instead of being paid for the overtime hours they forced you to work, they would ask you to shave off time elsewhere. When that failed, we would get into trouble for actually getting overtime hours that we couldn’t shave off. It was highly physically and mentally exhausting at times. A lot of grounding was needed to re-center myself after a day full of heartbreaking bad news, trauma, or even death. I am one of those nurses that always took those things personally, and it always affected me deeply.

AA: Given your current understanding of the medical field, have you ever considered returning to nursing? What specific changes or improvements would you prioritize for the well-being and care of the patients under your supervision?

JF: I absolutely would not return to nursing as it stands now. The focus is on a sick-sicker cycle, and not total patient wellness and care. As a patient advocate, I cannot in good conscious treat patients any longer in the medical industrial complex. The only way I would ever agree to work in that capacity again would be at a holistic care place. One where pharmaceuticals were not the central theme.

AA: I know have a podcast called "Deplorable Nation podcast." Could you please tell us about that show in detail? When did it get started? What has been your favorite episode that you have recorded or guest that you have had on? How has your podcast journey been since you started?

JF: Since retiring, I have been focusing more on my podcast Deplorable Nation. I absolutely love what I do. I get to meet new people and hear their personal stories. I deal with addiction, loss, grief, trauma, medical issues, mental health, and so much more. I spend a lot of time on exposing the lies we have been told in the traditional allopathic system and sharing more of a holistic approach to healing. I love being able to form that human connection with people, and giving them a place to speak, seek, and heal. When I first started out in 2019, it was more silly or political in nature. I decided that I did not really enjoy that, and it wasn’t helping anyone. When I changed direction with the show, I was able to reach more deeply into the missing part of society… a place for human connection and a place to feel heard. I love all of my guests, and I am honored and humbled that they choose to be vulnerable with me and share their life.

A Celebration of Love with Greg

AA: Janet was the key influence in my decision to launch my own podcast. Her encouragement and motivation pushed me to begin, and without her, I wouldn't have reached my current position, interviewing so many incredible people.

JF: I have been able to make great friends in the podcast community and even did a mini medical series collaboration with another show (Paranoiradio) where we exposed the truth on cholesterol, diabetes, Crohn’s disease, and mast cell activation (aka allergies). The shows were jam packed with information, but short enough to digest quickly. Man do I know more now than I ever did in all my years of school and work! It’s incredible the number of things that are hidden from us.

Deplorable Nation swapped cast with Paranoiradio to explore Crohn's Disease.

Deplorable Nation discusses PCOS and infertility with Julia

AA: Why have natural healing remedies faced such strong criticism since the start of the pandemic?

JF: Holistic medicine is the route I choose now. There are so many hidden gems to heal us mind, body, and spirit. Of course, the powers that be will try to shut down any efforts or helpful aids that are not petroleum-based pharmaceuticals. The reason is simple…. Money! Our entire government system is set up as a revolving door between Pharma, CDC, FDA, lobbyists, and congress members. There is big money, stock dividends, and revolving jobs. The pharmacy industry funds our government and “healthcare” as a whole. If more people chose to step outside of allopathic medicine, multiple systems would collapse. Take this for example.

JF: During the height of the “pandemic”, natural things such as Vitamin D (sunlight), Vitamin C, and varying herbs and supplements like NAC were blocked as misinformation, or a ban was placed on certain items for ordering. Medications that were known to treat the exact same “virus” in the past that were cheap (Ivermectin and Hydroxychloroquine) were now deemed ineffective or dangerous. Why did this happen? It happened because the only way to get the Emergency Use Authorization passed for a new vaccine , Remdesivir, and monoclonal antibody treatments was to state there were no other treatment options available. The higher the cost, the better for the medical industrial complex and the wallets of Dr Fauci and other government employees who got a huge influx of wealth during that time. Vitamins, supplements, or old medications that may cost $1.00 for a 90 day supply doesn’t have the same financial gain as something that costs hundreds or thousands per dose. This is the sad truth on how our system has always run.

AA: Is it your belief that all the illnesses in the world are deliberately created?

JF: All of this coincides with manufactured illnesses and the labels that go along with them to keep you in the continual medical cycle. We get sick from toxins and poisons in our food, water, products and environment. Honestly you can think of your body like a beautiful garden. If you want to get healthy plants, you have to remove the weeds and pests that are causing damage. When we do not take time to nurture ourselves, our bodies react and tries to remove the toxins and poisons itself. We end up “unhealthy” because our body is overrun with useless waste. Fatigue, brain fog, upset stomach, achy joints or pain, rashes, swelling, fevers... our body is crying out for attention. There are so many healthy changes we can make to boost our energy and power up!

AA: In your opinion, what do you believe are the reasons behind the prevalent mental health crisis that has persisted over the past few years?

JF: The mental health issue in our world is the real “pandemic”. They are hitting us on all fronts, again through toxins and poisons in our food, water, air, and products. We are inundated with EMF radiation from our phones and smart devices. Sugar and soy/soy products are in everything. We are fooled into “health food” product isles at the store that are littered with toxins and pesticides. The pharmaceuticals that we ingest are designed to cause decreased organ function, reverse or halt hormone production, and cross the blood brain barrier; damaging our response system with brain function through synaptic connections. They deaden our emotional response not just through the effects in the brain, but also through the adrenal glands and slowed kidney function. Our mental health system is faulty as well. Counseling has changed and has become a venue for creating an atmosphere of “unhealthy” by focusing on agendas instead of individuals. We are no longer getting to the root cause of emotional trauma responses, but we are encouraging lash outs and bratty behavior in the form of “your feelings are valid, so tell em girl” mentality. We aren’t fixing anything. We are creating more of an issue. Would you be surprised to know that every instance of substance abuse (among other conditions) is causally related? Meaning that some type of trauma in the past, whether conscious or subconscious is the root cause of it.

AA: Tell me about the three people that have impacted your life positively or negatively.

JF: Three people that have impacted my life would have to be first and foremost, God. I am so grateful for being the person that he made me to be! I am humbled and honored that he loves me, and I love Him and his teachings so! He saved me and raised me up to become a better person. Secondly, my husband, Greg. Not only is he my soulmate, my best friend and my support system, but he really truly gets me and supports me in everything I do. He has showed me the true meaning of love, and he is an amazing leader of the family. And lastly, my daughter, Kirsten! She is such a beautiful soul. Although she has been through so many trials and traumas in her life, she amazes me every day at the woman she has become. She is strong. She is resilient. And she uses the pain that she has been through to serve others and to help them grow and break the chains that bind them.

AA: When it comes to movies, what are some of your all-time favorites? What is it about these particular movies that resonate with you? Is it the storytelling, the characters, the cinematography, or something else?

JF: As far as movies go, I honestly can say that I can watch one, but I don’t have a favorite. The type of movie or show that I watch depends on my mood. Sometimes they make me cry because I can feel the characters emotion, or I can resonate with something that they are feeling. It is good to have an emotional release.

AA: As for TV shows, which ones do you find yourself eagerly tuning in to? What about these shows captivates you—could it be the plot twists, character development, or the overall production quality?

JF: When I watch TV shows or series, I like to watch documentaries or true crime for the most part. I’m the kind of person that likes to know what makes people tick. I think that’s why I enjoy podcasting so much. I like to be able to feel the emotion and relate to what circumstances may or may not have caused them to do something that they regret.

AA: Regarding books, which ones are at the top of your list? What makes these books stand out to you? Is it the writing style, the themes, or the emotions they evoke?

JF: As far as reading, I don’t really read a whole lot of books. I guess the reason for that is because I do so much research that I feel unmotivated to sit down with a book. If I am diving deep into a topic, I like to focus solely on that. When I am finished, I may watch something lighthearted and comedic or spend time grounding myself.

JF: I am one of those people that has a hard time sitting still for too long if I’m not working on something!

AA: Which podcasts do you highly recommend and why? What sets these podcasts apart from others, in your opinion? Do they offer valuable insights, entertaining content, or something else that keeps you hooked?

JF: As far as podcasts go, what I listen to also depends on my mood and time constraints. At times I enjoy comedy, sometimes personal stories, other times mind blowing research. I don’t really have a favorite, because there are so many fantastic ones out there to suit your needs!

AA: What bands or artists do you love listening to? I would also love to know about your favorite concert experience!

JF: I love music! Music was such a big part of my life for many years. Instead of going on vacations, my husband and I would go to music festivals or concerts. I have seen so many great bands over the years. Anything from Metallica, to Mötley Crüe, Korn, Sebastian Bach, Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie, and so many more. I think my all-time favorite experience was seeing Down and experiencing a mosh pit for my first time ever. At first, I was terrified, and then it just became really fun and I got into it! So, I guess you could say I am a metalhead/80s hairband/Christian rock kind of girl. A few of my favorite Christian artists are Shawn McDonald and Jimmy Needham.

AA: What hobbies do you enjoy doing?

JF: Hobby wise, I enjoy crafting specialty spices, teas, and craft granola. I also love to make unique and creative candy for other people. I love spending time with my husband who is my best friend. We are still madly in love and quality dating him after all of these years! We love to hang out with the kids when we get the opportunity!

AA: What would you tell yourself if you could turn back the time and talk to your 18-year-old self?

JF: If I could go back in time and give one piece of advice to my younger self, I would say that you will be OK. Life will be hard at times but pay attention to the lessons in everything you encounter. Learn from your mistakes do better the next time. Use your discernment and live wisely.

AA: What would you say if you had the world's attention for five minutes?

JF: f I could say anything to the world, it would be to love one another. Treat each other with kindness. Do random acts of kindness for people, like holding the door open for a stranger or telling them to have a great day! Spend more time face-to-face with family or friends, and less time on your phone. Get out and enjoy the beauty the world has to offer. Appreciate every moment of life, and every breath that you take. Give thanks to the Lord. Serve him wisely. Humble yourself and be observe to others.

AA: Janet, your nursing experiences and personal history are inspiring, showcasing dedication and compassion in the field. Your story is a true testament to the resilience and empathy of a healthcare professional. Thank you for being a beacon of knowledge and compassion.

Janet Fox- Podcaster and Retired Nurse

Below are the links where you can find everything related to Janet:

https://deplorablejanet.podbean.com/

https://www.instagram.com/deplorablejanet/

https://x.com/KnowJanet

*** All photos by Janet Fox and video by Deplorable Nation and Paranoiradio less otherwise noted **