SoWhoCaresAnyway E21 Would you like to put that wheelbarrow down?

Are You Ready to Take Centre Stage? 

In this episode, I am delighted and honoured to be joined by Barbara Stilwell  who shares how the power of listening transforms people, communities and countries, why healthcare systems around the world are deeply interconnected, and why we all have a role in shaping better solutions for communities—whether in nursing, public health, or beyond. 

Barbara Stillwell is a globally recognised nursing leader and health workforce specialist. From pioneering nurse practitioner development in the UK to shaping international healthcare policies at the World Health Organization (WHO), she has been at the forefront of advancing nursing leadership and workforce resilience. Her work spans health system reform, decolonisation of healthcare, and strengthening community-led solutions, making her a vital voice in discussions about global health equity and nursing’s role in shaping sustainable healthcare models.

Key Themes Covered 

✅ Listening as a Superpower → By listening we have the power to understand what people want? What can they do? What have they got and how can they work to pull this together in a way that's going to be sustainable for them? and cocreate solutions with individuals, communities, and systems and countries. Taking a #DoWith and Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) approach. 

✅ Decolonisation of health care and the power of networks, where people know and understand their communities; Taking a Place-Based Learning & Community Network approach and consider how local health systems can drive local and global health responses and strengthen resilience. 

✅ Globalisation and global health affects us all → We are all linked, our health is interdependent and we need to take a global view to endure health and health care systems are sustainable. 

✅ Why Women and Nurses Must Take Centre Stage → Moving beyond token representation, claiming leadership roles, and shaping policy from the front, not the sidelines. 

Deeper Insights & Connections 

Barbara’s insights link to previous discussions, including: 

🔹 Episode 15 breaking the status quo through place based learning → The power of networks   

🔹 Episode 2 #DoWith and Episode 13 star with whats strong not wrong  → Working with people and seeing people and communities as assets to cocreate solutions

Call to Action 

🔹 How do you see nurses shaping global healthcare? Share your thoughts and tag me in the conversation! 

🔹 Consider, does it matter if we take a global view? If so, why and what needs to happen to make this a reality?

Episode resources 

📖 Barbara Stillwell’s book: Global Health and Nursing