The Science Behind Health and Wellness with Giovanna Navarro
Giovanna Navarro does not do surface-level wellness. She is an award-winning nurse, bestselling author of Burn Bright, Not Out, and international keynote speaker who is done pretending overfunctioning is success. She helps nurses and healthcare leaders understand the real cost of stress on the brain, body, and performance and how to change it from the inside out. Personally mentored by Ken Honda and Dr. Joe Dispenza, and backed by more than 25 years in critical care, neuroscience, and behavioral health, her work is where science meets truth.
Episode Summary:
In this powerful episode, host Beth Quaas sits down with nurse, author, and wellness expert Giovanna Navarro to unpack the real science behind burnout, stress, and healing in nursing. With nearly three decades of clinical experience and deep training in neuroscience and behavioral health—including mentorship under Dr. Joe Dispenza—Giovanna explains why traditional “self-care” isn’t enough.
This conversation dives into the physiological impact of chronic stress, the concept of “bracing” in healthcare environments, and how unresolved trauma stays stored in the body—affecting performance, relationships, and long-term health. Giovanna shares practical, science-backed tools nurses can use in real-time on shift to regulate their nervous system, recover faster, and prevent long-term burnout.
What You'll Learn in This Episode:
- Thy burnout in nursing is different (and deeper) than in other professions.
- The concept of “physiological bracing” and chronic nervous system activation.
- The difference between sympathetic vs parasympathetic nervous system states.
- The power of gratitude and emotional regulation in high-stress environments.
- Why changing roles doesn’t fix burnout.
Resources & Links:
Find the bookBurn Bright Not Out, Burnout Solutions for Nurses in a Broken System on AmazonandBarnes and Noble.
Visit Giovanna's website.
Subscribe, Rate, and Review Don't Eat Your Young!
Your support helps us continue bringing valuable conversations to the nursing community. If you know someone in healthcare who's making a significant impact, we want to hear about them! Whether it's a nurse, NP, CRNA, student, aide, manager, supervisor, or even a patient advocate driving positive change and inspiring others, we’d love to shine a spotlight on their work.
Nominate someone today by filling out this form.