Tell Me WHY

About Tell Me WHY

"Tell Us WHY" is a podcast about—and for—the healthcare workforce. Each episode will feature a different healthcare leader's story that highlights the best ways to find harmony in the relationship between the work of healthcare and the people who do it. Our hosts are Renee Shore and Anni Crook of SC WHY, an initiative from the South Carolina Hospital Association that aims to provide solutions for systemic, root causes contributing to healthcare worker burnout, disengagement, and turnover.

Publisher

South Carolina Hospital Association

Category

business · health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

20 Aug 2024

Latest episode

5 Aug 2026

Latest episodes

16 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   5 Aug 2026

   Episode 16: Reclaiming the Humanity of Healthcare with Dr. Stefanie Simmons

   This episode's featured guest is Dr. Stefanie Simmons, the Chief Medical Officer of the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes' Foundation. The organization works with hospitals and states to dismantle the barriers that keep clinicians from seeking mental health care. The conversation ventures into a wide variety of topics, including why Dr. Simmons left a traditional clinical path for advocacy work, what organizational change actually looks like at the hospital level, and the policy reforms gaining traction nationally and what they could mean for South Carolina. This will be the final episode with original host Jen Wright, who is handing the reins over to Renee and new WHY staffer Anni Crooks, who you will meet in the next episode!

2. 

   25 Jun 2026

   Episode 15: Walking in Your World with Hugh Tappan

   In this episode of Tell Us Why, hosts Jen Wright and Beth Morgan sit down with Hugh Tappan, South Atlantic Division President at HCA Healthcare and 2026 South Carolina Hospital Association Board Chair, to explore an initiative designed to change how leaders connect with frontline teams: A Walk in Your World. Moving beyond traditional town halls and routine executive rounding, Tappan explains what it really means to listen by experience. By stepping out of the boardroom and spending time alongside clinicians, often in scrubs and bright orange tennis shoes to match the HCA brand, leaders set aside reports and assumptions to better understand the challenges, demands, and meaningful moments that shape a caregiver’s day. Drawing from his own non-clinical path to leadership, Tappan shares why curiosity is one of the most important traits a leader can have and how closing the gap between administrators and staff can lead to stronger culture and real operational improvement. Featured Guest: Hugh Tappan is the South Atlantic Division President for HCA Healthcare, a role he has held since January 2015. The division includes 12 hospitals and more than 200 care sites across Northeast Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. Prior to this role, Tappan served as CEO of HCA’s Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas. Moving past the push-communication style of traditional town halls and the drive-by experience standard executive rounding, Tappan unpacks the mechanics of true experiential listening. By stepping out of the boardroom and spending hours shadowing clinicians—often arriving in scrubs and matching tennis shoes—executives set aside dashboard metrics and preconceived notions to grapple with the friction, fatigue, and triumphs that define a caregiver's daily shift. Drawing from his own unconventional, non-clinical path to the C-suite, Tappan shares why genuine curiosity is a leader's most valuable tool and how closing the physical gap between administrators and staff can drive meaningful cultural and operational change. Featured Guest: Hugh Tappan is a Division President with HCA Healthcare, overseeing the South Atlantic Division. Tappan was appointed President of HCA’s South Atlantic Division in January 2015. The South Atlantic Division includes 12 hospitals and more than 200 care sites across Northeast Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. Prior to this role, Tappan served as Chief Executive Officer of HCA’s Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas.

3. 

   4 Mar 2026

   Episode 14: Bridging Generations with Dr. Melissa Furman

   The modern healthcare workplace is no longer a monolith. For the first time in history, five distinct generations—from the Silent Generation to Gen Z—are operating under one roof, with Gen Alpha already appearing on the horizon. This isn't just a demographic curiosity; it is a profound management challenge that requires leaders to rethink everything from digital communication to the very definition of professional "fairness." In this episode of Tell Us Why, hosts Jen Wright and Beth Morgan sit down with Dr. Melissa Furman to unpack these complex dynamics. Moving beyond tired clichés about "participation trophies" or "stiff upper lips," the conversation treats generational cohorts as distinct cultures that require intentional translation. Key Takeaways: The Multi-Generational Map: Understanding the unique values and historical contexts of five different eras of workers. Communication as Translation: Why a "simple" email can be interpreted in radically different ways across age groups. Redefining Fairness: How leadership must evolve to meet diverse expectations of work-life balance and professional growth. Beyond the Stereotypes: Moving from generational friction to collaborative synergy in high-stakes environments. Whether you are a veteran administrator or a new clinician, this episode provides a roadmap for leading with empathy and precision in the most diverse workforce we've ever seen.

4. 

   2 Feb 2026

   Episode 13: MUSC Health’s Systemic Transformation on Workforce Wellbeing

   In the latest episode of Tell Me WHY, hosts Emily O'Sullivan and Jen Wright talk with Dr. Whitney Marvin and Dr. Alyssa Rheingold of MUSC Health about their health system’s transformative journey on improving healthcare workforce wellbeing. The quartet, having worked together through a recent grant from The Duke Endowment on these issues, primarily focuses on the importance of moving beyond wellness perks to foster real, systemic changes that address the root causes of workforce distress. The conversation also touches on personal motivations and experiences, comprehensive listening strategies, and the significance of leadership in fostering a supportive organizational culture. This will be the final episode of Tell Me WHY to feature Emily, who will be taking on a new role at Spartanburg Regional Healthcare. We wish her the very best!

5. 

   19 Dec 2025

   Episode 12: Transformative Leadership with Joshua Trout

   In this episode of Tell Me WHY, we sit down with Joshua Trout, Chief Executive Officer of Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Greenville. A mission-driven healthcare executive, Joshua has built his career on fostering culture-driven leadership and creating environments where caregivers and patients alike can thrive. As CEO, he led the development of the Greenville hospital from the ground up—both structurally and culturally—earning recognition for building high-performing teams and em...

6. 

   10 Nov 2025

   Episode 11: The Role of Contingent Labor w/ Qualivis

   In this episode of “Tell Me Why,” hosts Emily O'Sullivan and Jen Wright discuss the role of contingent labor in the healthcare workforce with Mindy Milligan, regional vice president of program management for Qualivis. They explore common myths about travel nurses, the impact of AI on workforce management, and the importance of diversifying staffing solutions. Mindy shares insights on converting travelers to permanent staff, the benefits of internal agency float, and offers advice for healthca...

7. 

   30 Sept 2025

   Episode 10: Getting Rid of Stupid Stuff

   On this episode of "Tell Me Why," hosts Emily O'Sullivan and Jen Wright chat with Dr. Christina Bowen, Chief Wellbeing Officer at ECU Health, and Dr. Nadia Charguia, a child psychiatrist and the Executive Medical Director for UNC Healthcare’s Integrated Well-Being Program! Dr. Bowen and Dr. Charguia both lead innovative solutions to employee engagement with a focus on addressing administrative burdens and enhancing workforce well-being. We hear about their personal and professional journeys t...

8. 

   22 Aug 2025

   Episode 9: Recruiting & Retaining Top Talent w/ Spartanburg Regional

   In the latest episode of Tell Me WHY, we talk to Chief Talent Officer Chantel Greenfield and Senior Healthcare Recruitment Andrea Butler of Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System about their innovative approach to healthcare recruitment. The episode features a robust discussion of how Greenfield and Butler are “ditching the old ways” and embracing cutting-edge strategies that are meeting the modern healthcare workforce needs and demands. Discover how their team uses data insights and c...

9. 

   22 Jul 2025

   Episode 8: Supporting the Whole Healthcare Worker

   In this insightful conversation, Aiken Regional Medical Center's Crystal Mock and Tideland Health's Renee Shore discuss their personal journeys in the healthcare field with Tell Me WHY, emphasizing the importance of mental health awareness and support within the workforce. They also explore the challenges of burnout and stigma and share strategies for creating a supportive culture that prioritizes employee wellbeing. The discussion highlights the implementation of mental health first aid trai...

10. 

    17 Jun 2025

    Episode 7: WHY a Chief Wellbeing Officer with MUSC Health's Dr. Heather Farley

    Dr. Heather Farley, Chief Wellbeing Officer at MUSC Health, tells hosts Emily O'Sullivan and Jen Wright about prioritizing workforce well-being and fostering a culture of support in healthcare in this interview.

11. 

    14 May 2025

    Episode 6: Caring Communication with Andy Lyons of Roper St. Francis Healthcare

    In this special “Hospital Week” episode of the Tell Me Why podcast, Jen Wright and Emily O'Sullivan are joined by SCHA communications staffer Kyle Petersen to chat with Andy Lyons, the Director of Corporate Communications and Content Strategy for Roper St. Francis Healthcare. They explore Andy’s journey from journalism to healthcare communications and why he finds such value and purpose in telling the story of the hospital and its staff. Andy also shares his thoughts about the importance of ...

12. 

    4 Apr 2025

    Episode 5: Affordability Challenges w/ Beaufort Memorial CEO Russell Baxley

    In this episode, Russell Baxley, President and CEO of Beaufort Memorial Hospital, shares his journey in healthcare administration and the innovative strategies his hospital is implementing to address workforce challenges, particularly regarding childcare and housing. He and co-hosts Jen Wright and Emily O'Sullivan also talk about the importance of listening to employee needs and forming partnerships in the community to address affordability and other workforce challenges.

13. 

    4 Mar 2025

    Episode 4: Beating Burnout w/ Dr. Rachel Brown

    In this episode of SCHA's "Tell Me Why" podcast, hosts Emily O'Sullivan and Jen Wright chat with Dr. Rachel Brown, a family physician and certified corporate wellness specialist who founded Thriving Workforce Solutions. Dr. Brown shares her own experience with burnout and how she came to launch her company as the trio discuss work-life harmony, psychological safety, and the need for tailored approaches to workforce well-being.

14. 

    29 Jan 2025

    Episode 3: Talking the Resilience Model with MUSC Health's Tese Stephens

    In the latest episode of Tell Me WHY, Jen and Emily chat with Dr. Teresa “Tese” Stephens, RN, PhD, about her research findings on resilience in the healthcare workforce, touching on her early experience in the field and her work with Holocaust survivors that powered her work.

15. 

    7 Nov 2024

    Episode 2: The Power of Virtual Nursing with Kristen Dickens

    Today's guest is Kristen Dickens MBA, BSN, RN, CENP! Kristen is the Director of Nursing Practice and Innovation at Prisma Health. In this episode we learn how she arrived at nursing via a communications background, her passion for innovation, and how the health system's new virtual nursing program facilitates a better workplace experience for nurses and better care for patients.

16. 

    20 Aug 2024

    Episode 1: The Importance of Leadership with Carolyn Swinton

    Dr. Carolyn Swinton, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FACHE, NCC, ACC, knows a lot and feels a lot about the importance of leadership. When our SC WHY Team decided to launch a podcast to spread big ideas and best practices on leading highly resilient teams, she was one of the first people we wanted to talk to. Over the course of her career, Dr. Swinton has served in numerous clinical leadership roles, including Chief Nurse Executive, Prisma Health; Affiliate Faculty, University of South Carolina College...

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 11 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

10

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

32

Contact Tell Me WHY

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.