EP 61: Kaarin Staalsen | From Scrubs to Scraps, a DIY Dream Come True
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I can say to my new Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, hey, find a keto-friendly restaurant nearby and text it to Beth and Steve. And it does without me lifting a finger. So I can get in more squats anywhere I can. One, two, three. Will that be cash or credit? Credit.

Get the Angel Reef Special at McDonald's now. Let's break it down. My favorite barbecue sauce, American cheese, crispy bacon, pickles, onions, and a sesame seed bun, of course. And don't forget the fries and a drink. So, let's get started.

Sound good? Ba-da-ba-ba-ba. I'm participating in restaurants for a limited time. Have you downloaded Red Note? No, I haven't. You should definitely download. Do you recommend? Out of 10? Everyone's learning Chinese in two business days. Did you learn that from Red Note? Thank you. Yes, of course I did. I beg your pardon.

Hey, besties. It's your favorite caffeinated, medicated, and never hydrated nurse, Nurse John. And welcome back to your favorite podcast. I beg your pardon. Welcome back. And I'm super excited because we have a special guest for this episode. But before we head to that episode, if you're listening right now, do me a favor. Make sure that you follow us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Make sure that you give us a five-star review on Apple and Spotify. And also make sure that you share this episode to all your friends, besties, colleagues, everyone and everywhere. All right. Also, if you're wondering what kind of scrubs I wear, it's Gardmalade. G-A-R-D-E-M-A-L-A-D-E.

You can use my discount code. It's Nurse John GM N-U-R-S-E J-O-H-N-G-M. And also Bessie, if you haven't found out or haven't heard yet, I am currently on tour. That's why I'm here right now in Dallas, Texas. I am currently on my leg to you of the short staff tour. That's right. So if you haven't gotten your ticket, you should definitely go get your tickets. Bring your Bessie, your partner, your family. You know what? The whole unit. Okay, nurses, follow.

PT everyone and you don't have to be a healthcare worker to go to my show. So just go get your tickets at www.NurseJohnNShows.com. All right, that's a lot of yapping before we even start. But I hope you guys are doing well. I hope life is going great. And remember, if it's not, there's always another day to do it again. All right, Bessie. So since we're already here and you're probably going to want to know who's our guest.

Let me just introduce it right here, right then. Okay. My guest for this episode is none other than you have to say your name before I fucked it up myself. Introduce yourself. Okay. So my name is Karin. It's pronounced like car-in. Kar-in. Yes. Karin. Karin. Yes. Karin. Yes. Yes, ma'am. Karin Stalson. Well, technically now it's O'Hara, but Stalson was my maiden name. Your ma- Yes. Yes.

Oh, wait, did you do that now? We already jumped into that one. Right? Quick. Okay, so it's Karen Stouton O'Hara. Yes. Amazing. And I think people are probably wondering why we're in the same room right now. That's because I love her so much. I think I started following her around like 2022, 2023. Oh my gosh, really? Yes. Oh my goodness, I love you.

goodness I didn't know that. I just love how creative you are and like how you do things. And you probably already know her. She is the best DIY person you could ever count on to. I've had such fun with it. Like just doing whatever like crazy idea that I have. It's so fun. And it's just like being inside of your head. Yes. Yeah. And that's nice because like in social media, it's so hard to know what who's authentic and who's not. Mm hmm.

But then if we can get inside your head and think what you're thinking. Yeah. It's more interesting. People get connected to you even more. I always like say that, that it's like because people always comment like, oh, I could never be so overwhelmed like in your house. Like it's so crazy. I'm like, I feel totally calm because this is how like it feels in my head. Like this is like relaxing for me because that's right. It's me.

Just exactly the same thing for the beige mom or like the beige people. It's like whatever you like is what your house should be. Like whatever feels like you. Exactly. So like it really depends on what you like and you should do what makes you happy at the end of the day kind of thing. Well, we're talking about your DIY content creator stuff. But yes, introduce yourself to everyone. And I beg your pardon. So my name is Karin. I am.

do like my primary social media on TikTok obviously like do DIY and interior design but I'm also a nurse and I feel like that's kind of like how we connected when we first started talking because you messaged me you were like I didn't know you were a nurse yes exactly and I think you just dropped the ball somewhere in one of your videos yeah because I never would

post about it really because I just I don't know it was like worried about my coworkers finding out or like you know it's just kind of like embarrassing at first like yes yes I totally get it I totally get it I mean like I think a lot of like our niche in healthcare it's such a sensitive niche that not everyone is open to even like showing themselves out there right yeah for sure so it's say it

it's hard. But like when you open it up, I think it opens so much more discovery for people to know you. Because it's so much of who you are. Right. Exactly. Because, you know, when you said it, you're a nurse. I was like, oh, my God. Like she's. Yeah. She's done everything. You have a connection. Right. I get it. I get it. And I was kind of like guessing in my head. I was like, is she pediatrics? Is she? You know what I do? What?

Wait a second. Okay. I was like, is she pediatrics? Is she labor and delivery? Is she like, I'm finding like the most creative, fun unit because everything else is chaos, right? Yeah. Yeah. That's how I felt in nursing school. I was like, I don't think I want to do this.

Like all my clinicals, I was like, no. And then I had all my women's ones. And I was like, OK, well, I can maybe do this. Right. Yeah. So what's your specialty? So I did antepartum. OK. So yeah. And a lot of like units and hospitals will like combine their antepartum with their labor and delivery. Makes sense. Makes sense. But every hospital I ever worked at had them separate.

And so I only ever did antepartum. I never did like labor and delivery. Okay. So you work in the women's side. Yeah. So like high risk pregnancy. So anyone that's like about to bust, like we're trying to keep them pregnant as long as possible. Right. But they're really high risk. They'd be on my unit until they go to labor and delivery. That's kind of like depressing though. When I did my clinical, I was actually in the antepartum. Oh, word.

And so like... Wait, what? I don't even know what type of nursing you do. Med search, bitch. Okay, med search. Med search. Med fucking search. The craziest shit. Like all your videos. Exactly. But like the antepartum was kind of like scary for me because each door, they put butterflies. Oh yeah, they all have their different little symbols and stuff. Exactly. And I feel like now it's making sense in my head why you're this creative but at the same time the unit you're working at because like those antepartum rooms...

Makes me depressed because they're like, if you see a lamb, that means that this mom is like, oh, yeah, we don't need to know that right now. I was like, it's a bit crazy. Oh, my God. And you've only worked in antepartum? Yeah, I've only ever done antepartum. Of course, like my float units were like postpartum and labor and delivery, but like confidently antepartum only.

That's like all I ever did. And I did that for four years. Four years. Okay. And you've been a nurse for four years? Yeah. Okay. So we started at this. This would have been my fifth year, but I haven't been working this last year. Right. As a nurse. So did you graduate in 2020? 2019. 2019. Yeah. Okay. So a year after me. So you were a nurse first before me. Oh, really? Yeah. So you graduated 2020? 2020. Okay. 2020. Because back in Canada, where I'm from...

college and university is not the same thing. I have to go to college for three years and go to university and get my bachelor's for two years. I went to nursing school for five years. That's like so much school. Nursing school for five years. I know. Because we're under a French system. You worked for that. I know. You did. I did. It was a lot. It was a lot. It was a lot of crying. Oh my God. Nursing school was so hard. It was too much. It was too much. I feel like

I would have given up if I didn't have like my small group of friends. Yes. Like they were my friends at the beginning and they're now actually family. Yeah. Like I'm on their wedding, baby shower and all that stuff. We were just always together. Like they're my people. I had like one really good friend. My class was really small. I actually went to school like literally where we were at in Dallas at Texas Women's. Like we passed it on the way here.

that's so funny i had one really close friend and when i had started nursing school like i just had got engaged and she was in my wedding like that is so sweet i was like we're trauma bonded like you're gonna be in my wedding it doesn't take much for you to make friends in nursing like it really doesn't you just you're like all suffering you're like okay you just have to have the same complaints and you're like you know what you're my bitch yeah yeah and i'm your bitch i'm gonna need you you're gonna

me. Yeah, exactly. Oh my God. So let's dive a bit more about nursing. Like what made you want to become a nurse? Oh man. I'm like one of those people that was never like, Oh, I always know. Like I want to be a nurse. Like I just grew up like always feeling like I

I never had one thing that I was like, I'm good at this. You know? That's so me. Which sounds so self-deprecating, but it's not. It's just like, I never had anything where I was like, oh yeah, like I know this is what I want. So true. I feel the same way too. I'm like, I'm always 50% good at something, but never 100. You know, some people are just like, I know I'm good at this, so this is what I want to do. I never had that.

And so it was so hard for me. Like, I mean, you're so young when you're deciding what you want to do for school for the rest of your life. And I had no idea. And my grandma was a nurse and that was about all that I had in my life who did nursing. It was so different back then nursing. So I really didn't know what to expect. They're wearing skirt, white, everything. Yeah, way different.

And so I kind of just like decided like I knew, OK, well, I want to do something like pays decent. I for sure lived around here. And so I was like, well, Texas Women's has a really good nursing program. I guess I'll just full send this since I have nothing else that I want to do. I'm just going to choose this. Makes sense.

so that's what I did and okay I really liked it like I fell in love with like the science aspect of things in a way I never did like in high school because I feel like learning about your body and like it's so like empowering for you and it's so interesting so I really did like that nursing is very rewarding it's very hard but it

You're doing something good with your knowledge. For sure. I think that's like one of the biggest thing that I love about nursing is that no matter how hard it is at the end of the day, if you think about it, you just help a stranger get back on their feet or make them feel better in a way that nobody else can do it. Yeah.

And you're with people in such, like, intimate moments. Exactly. Like, their best days and their worst days. That's it. And sometimes you're like, they're probably not even going to remember me. But, like, you did make a difference in that moment, you know? Right. It's not about how you something, but it's how you make them feel. Oh, yeah, yeah. Something like that. I know what you're talking about. And it describes nursing so well because I tell them, like, they would not remember who I am. Mm-hmm.

But they would remember how you make them feel. That's so true. And that's forever to them. And at least like for me, that's forever too on how I feel about my patients. Like I don't remember them, but I remember the times that I was with them and how they made me feel or what they taught me in life. Because you learn too from these people. And you have those moments where you're like, at least for me, like I'm not working as a nurse right now, but I like always...

I'm like, this is what I'm supposed to be doing. Like, this is where I'm supposed to be right now. And you just like know that when you find the right place. That's it. You just know I'm supposed to be here in this moment with this person. And that's when it's rewarding. And it's also nice to just hear that.

at least for my culture and a lot of other people is that nursing was something that was pushed to them for them to do it. They're like, you got to be a nurse or a doctor or an engineer. There's nothing else.

But it's also nice to know that you can be a nurse just because it's about pay. It's about like, I want to try something new. I want to do something that's like interesting. And I don't know, this just sounds interesting to me. And I just want to do it. And you get to love it. Like you don't have to want to be a nurse. Yeah. When you're like six and like, you know, you know what? This is what I want to be. You can be like grow into it as you grow into yourself, you know, like,

You grow so much when you're a nurse. Like I was such a different person when I started than when I ended. Like I would never be like, oh my gosh, on a podcast. Like that's so scary. I'm naturally so like reserved and shy and quiet, at least when I started. And nursing helped me like in so many ways, like just being confident because, you know, you're walking in a room and you're having to like introduce yourself and immediately have the confidence that this person trusts you.

you know it's something that I also try to do fake it till you make it fake it till you make it kind of situation because like this people are depending on you yes and if you're just like which is like how I naturally would feel like that's I hated to like make phone calls like I remember the first time to call a physician I was like by myself like

You know, so it did help me in a lot of ways to grow that I needed like confrontation and confidence and things like that, that I will never regret doing. And I feel like that connects to the fact that that's why there's so many nursing creators out there is because I feel like we develop the extrovertism in nursing and now we can just yap. So.

So much on camera and tell her story because you went from being shy to just like, you know what? I can tell you exactly what the fuck happened yesterday. Yeah. And I'm not even shy about it. Yeah. Like, are you ready to hear about Pete? Yeah. And it's just you're like a different person. Like when you're working at your job, I always tell my husband, I'm like, you don't really you don't even know. Like, yeah. It's so different. That's the thing, too. It's like they know the superficial. Like, oh, my God, you can't scrubs.

you know, all this. I was like, bitch, you haven't seen this shit. Like literally. And like, but that's so interesting. Like, I'm curious to hear about how it is having a spouse. It's also a nurse because I don't have that. And so that must be like, do you, is that nice? Like, it is nice. Or is it harder? Well,

Well, to introduce you, we met in nursing school. Okay. And I told her, you know, when you go to nursing school, really, you should not have any distraction. Oh, yeah. Because you hear about nursing school and they're like, listen, this is competitive. They scare you.

Like too much a little. Right. And so I was like, you know what? I'm not going to do any relationship. I'm not going to do any of these. But then I met her. I actually didn't like her because she had a group of friends. Okay, gotcha. And they would like go out. They would do things. They would like have fun. Okay. And I'm more of like... You're like, I'm focused. I'm more of like, I'll go to the library. She had a fling with one of my nursing friends. Oh.

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You were wingmanning for someone else. Yes. Then after that, I remember it was Valentine's Day. My friend gave her like this big ass teddy. And I think she got embarrassed off of that. But anyways, five days after we started talking in Snapchat and then we started talking. We just started getting to know each other. And we kind of just have the same story. True.

And the trauma bonded so well that we were like, you know what? We're just going to be friends. But then the friendship turned into like... Oh, but that's the best. Exactly. If I didn't have her, I would have gave up on nursing.

It would have been like hard. Like we did it together till the end. That is nice. You like have someone that like understands that. We have that boundaries that when I go home, she doesn't talk to me. Right. Which is like that's good. She leaves me because she knows exactly that

That I'm not in the mood. Like exactly my skits. Yeah. My skits are. I was literally just thinking that. I'm like, oh, like that one skit you do. It is literally my skit. Which is good. My husband learned that too. He was like, okay, I'll just let her be. So having a spouse. Yeah. That is also in the same field as you is good. Yeah. But it could also be bad. Yeah. Because sometimes I cannot really complain about my shit because she's like. Right. You're like, well, let me ask you here. She's like, well, listen to this one. And we're like, you know what? Oh my God.

We're just not going to talk today. It's nice to have someone who understands you. Have you ever blown up to your husband? No, not I'm

really i feel like it so i did day shift for two years and then i did night shift for two years oh my god girl and so when i did day shift of course i'm coming home like in the evening he's still awake and i feel like he just kind of learned like just let me be and then i literally like go right to bed that's true and what does he do he does insurance and so like very different yeah insurance you must insurance you need that in nursing

You need insurance. He just auto insurance. Okay. Okay. Okay. That's better. I was like, you need insurance, liability, everything else. And since you asked me, like, how is it being with someone who is in the same field as you? How about being with someone who's not in the same field as you? I think it's like good in equal ways that you've described. He doesn't really know what to ask about, if that makes sense, because I feel like you don't really understand everything. Yeah.

And even if I was going to vent, he's going to be like, huh? Which is nice in the same vein because I can vent and be like, okay, got it out. And he has no idea what I'm talking about. Right. But it's out. So basically you're telling me your husband is unaware. Yeah.

Because you will be laughing tonight with a crowd of like how many husbands are so unaware. My husband used to always do that. He'd be like, oh, you do postpartum. I'm like, no, I do antepartum. Like, you don't know what I do all these years. And he's like, oh, like they just...

just goes right over. They're so unaware. Okay, so it's nice to know that you're a nurse and I think like everyone in our audience, all their besties knows now that she's one of us, you guys. Since you're a nurse, what made you switch? Like how did I get where I am now? How did you get into the DIY stuff? How did this Karen Stolzen O'Hara

came into the social media world? Well, it was like in the same vein of like I was getting really burnt out. Like I had been working night shift for like two years and I was like, oh my gosh, like I have to do something different. And I started posting like sewing and crocheting videos because I was like in the transition of working night shift. And so I'm awake all night and I have nothing to do. Yes, thank you. Yeah. And so I was like, what am I going to do to fill my time to stay awake?

Don't tell that to they. They're like, okay, that's why you bitches work a night. And so I started like doing all my crafts and stuff at night. And then I do it at home when I'm like, you know, trying to stay awake so I can sleep during the day to go to the shift at night. And I would start posting things. And then it wasn't until I did like crochet stuff, like a lot of my crochet videos that it started like going viral. They're super cute. You know, and it's so exciting. You're like, oh.

Like, ooh, this is like maybe something that could be something, you know? My follow-up question to that is you just said that you're more of an introvert person and you're more of like reserved. Right. How did you come to terms of like, now I'm bringing myself into a world where people are actually like, sure, they're seeing my designs, my creativeness, but at the same time, I'm showing them

Me. Honestly, like I don't think I could have done it if it hadn't been for like I was so burnt out nursing. Like I was looking for a way out or like something to like some some other option. Like I couldn't keep going knowing that I was like stuck.

You know, like I think I'm in a really healthy place now with nursing where I'm like, OK, like I have some other things I'm confident now that I'm good in. Right. That now if I want to go back to nursing ever, I would feel healthy in it. But before I felt trapped, you know, because I'm like, this is all that I have that I can do. And so I think that is what gave me the confidence to like be like, I don't care what anyone thinks, because I'm.

I want to do something different and I need to do something different because I'm not going to make it any longer. You know? Love it. So that's kind of what pushed you to go outside of your comfort zone. Yeah. Do you still remember the first ever video that went viral for you? I do. Yeah, it was. Yes. The first one that I ever posted actually went viral and it was I sewed it like a wedding dress for $20 and it looked awesome.

$20? But yeah, I did that just because I was like bored one day and I went and got the fabric and I sewed the dress and it looked hideous looking back. But like, it was really fun. It was just like a fun little project. That's it. No, it was hideous. I know you're thinking it wasn't. It was. You have to send it to me. I will. You're going to be like...

It's cute. No, no, no. I will tell you exactly. Like a mad search person. So it went viral. It went viral. And then I just like kept posting and it wasn't doing anything really. And then it wasn't until I started like crocheting and stuff that I was like consistently like, oh, okay. Like this is kind of what is...

doing well and what I'm like enjoying doing and so I just kept posting like and you know there's like lulls where you're growing and then when you're not right and then wasn't your goal to want to be a social media kind of like

content creator? You know what? Not really. I honestly don't really know what my goal was. I think when I started, I was like, when I was like, oh, I'm actually making some money. I think that's when I was like, you know what? Maybe I could like dial back nursing to an amount where I'm like healthy. Mm-hmm.

And then I can have this to like supplement. So I wasn't feeling like I have to do this to like pay my bills. Like I can like do nursing a little less. Right. For sure. And then that's what I originally wanted to do is when I got to a point where I was like, OK, like I could maybe quit my nursing job. I wanted to just go part time. But my unit didn't have like a position where I could go part time. And so I was at a point where I was like, OK, well,

do I quit and then like not have enough time to do what's growing and what I'm really enjoying or do I stay here like full time or do I quit and so I ended up deciding like okay well I guess I will leave and I was like if I ever want to go back I can like I'm so young like I have time I was so burnt out I was like I need to heal like my nursing journey so that if I ever want to go back I'm like able to do it and not hate it forever you know I love that so the

The transition was because you're trying to find a way to lighten my nursing load. And then it ended up being that I just left. It was hard for me quitting though because I felt a lot of guilt in that.

And anxiety. Yeah, and I didn't feel like a nurse, you know? And then I'd have people commenting like, well, you were a nurse, but you're not anymore. And then I just don't feel like people understand your reasons for leaving. And it's so normal. Wanting to change a career is so normal. But I feel like in health care, when you leave, it's perceived a bit differently because people kind of view it as negative or selfish that you're leaving something that's so needed. Yeah.

Right. And let me fill you up with that because I've been through that. I've gone through that of like people are like, are you really a nurse? Or like, so you're just an influencer now. I'm like, you guys don't know exactly what's going on in my life. I give you guys 10%. Pieces, but not.

pieces of it but you don't see exactly what I'm doing and you know don't ever feel like you're not a nurse anymore just because you're not working I feel like and I always tell this to people it's like no matter what you're doing in life right now once you're a nurse you will always be a nurse like it's not gonna just go away

I'm just happy that you did the transition because you have awareness of your own self. I'm so happy for you because I feel like now in social media, you're doing something that you actually enjoy. Yeah, I'm really enjoying it. And I'm always in the headspace of like, well, for however long it lasts or wherever it takes me, I'll do it until then. And then I'll decide what's next.

you know. And how are you liking social media? It's really good. I really do like it. And I especially like, like my little corner of the internet is very like fun and crafts and DIY and for the most part positive. Right. But you do have your negatives. Yes, ma'am. And that is an adjustment. For sure. But it's like you sound horrible complaining about it. But you know what? We're going to talk about it because who the fuck cares? It's our lives. My editor can cut this. But can we talk about the hate you got? That was big as fuck. It was big.

Can we talk? I don't want to like have a big whole thing, but like... How have you handled hate? You have moments where it's like so hard to like read things about you that just like really do affect you. Like it really does get to you, even though you know these people like don't actually know who you are.

So I definitely have had moments where like I was not well, but like luckily having people around you who like remind you like these people don't know everything about you and like having to have that moment to remind yourself like I know who I am and I'm confident in that and I'm happy with how I am. Right. And I know like I haven't done anything bad to anyone and I know I'm a good person.

And I think like if you can be okay with that at the end of the day, like that's what matters more than anything else. I've dealt with that situation too where people have created like this drama and hate train towards you when you know yourself. You're like, you've not done nothing wrong to anyone. You do like question everything. Question yourself. Like I'm digging my head. I'm like, what?

shit did i do to you for me to deserve this kind of treatment from you yeah but then i realized that in social media no matter how good you are as a person no matter what you do people will still still and will find ways to hate on you it's like yeah if they want to hate you they're gonna find something to hate about they're like you've only donated fifty thousand dollars yeah

What did you give? Yeah. Nothing. You've hated on me and that's what you did. And that's not even positive, you know? Yeah. If they're at a point where they've decided they want to not like you, like those aren't the people that you need to like you anyways, you know? Exactly. And like this whole social media also teaches you how important it is to only rely on people who actually knows who you are as a person. Because it all becomes really parasocial, like really quick.

Yes. Even I think about myself, I have creators that I really like to watch and you start to feel like you do know them and then you're taking a step back. You're like, I don't actually know them at all. And you start to feel that way vice versa as a creator where you're like, oh, these people do know me, but they know you to an extent. Yes.

It's like 10% of my life. And they don't get to decide what kind of person you are. You need to feel confident in who you are. And that will help you, I guess, survive those kind of situations in social media because...

That's a lot of what creators are going through. It's like, how can you deal with people who means bad to you? Right. And moving on to this negative shit, because it's 125, we're locked into positivity. That's right. What has social media done to you that you really do appreciate, like on your end?

I think like I just I really enjoy getting to like share a side of myself that I feel like was in the dark for so long. Like I feel like that creative part of me has just been like lying dormant for so long because I haven't really got to exercise it. And I think we all have different parts of ourself and different seasons that like we get to exercise. Yeah.

And I've really just been enjoying like getting to know this part of myself, you know, because I really enjoyed getting to know like the side of my nursing self, which is so different than this side of myself. Right. So I'm enjoying getting to know that and share that with other people and like find joy in something really different.

And that's it. And like for people who probably might question of like, well, you were saying how like, you know, I'm a nurse, but I don't feel like a nurse because I'm not practicing anymore. I don't think that's true. I totally believe that once you're a nurse, you will always be a nurse. And no matter like in what situation you're in your life right now.

That would not take away the fact that you are a nurse. Yeah. It's not I was a nurse, you're a nurse and that would stay with you forever and people have questioned me to the, oh my God, John, but you know, are you a real nurse or like, it's so belittling because it just made me feel like all the studies, all the hard work I did for nursing is like, I will always have

that and i worked hard for that but i always like will correct people if they're like well you're not a nurse anymore and i'm like no i'm not working as a nurse right now but like i still am a nurse you know exactly because that's a part of you it would never leave you if anything happens i could go back with my diploma in the unit which we might have to do here in a bit and we will do that in a bit and since we're talking about that now i know you're talking about that you grew in tech talk and tech talk is like your main platform and that's where you know it's like my favorite

Yeah. It is my favorite. It's just so fun. There's a different energy. It's like very liberal. Yeah.

Like you're just like, yeah, you're just your youest you, you know? Exactly. And so like, I think that's what a lot of people appreciate TikTok. But as we all know, and as we've all heard, and as we've all been watching, TikTok is about to be banned. How the fuck do you feel about that? Bad. Bad? Period. But I don't know. Like I'm just in denial holding out hope. But like I also like realistically know like, okay, well, it's probably going away.

And like, what's your backup plan? What's plan B for you? I mean, because it's hard, right? I don't know. Like, I'm just going to see. I don't know. I don't have a backup. I'm just going to be like, okay, well, how is it going without it? And then assess what's next as it comes, which is so different than how I've lived all of my life. Be like, whatever happens. Have you downloaded Red Note? No, I haven't. You should definitely download it. Do you recommend? Out of 10? She.

Everyone's learning Chinese in two business days. Did you learn that from Red Note? Thank you. Yes, of course I did. Everyone, you have to learn Chinese because the app is so Chinese.

I'm like, okay. I didn't know there's some American that knows Chinese. They probably hate us too. They're like, get off our app. We're ruining that app. We are. I'm just warning y'all. You got to stop asking them to translate our TikToks language. Like you guys cannot just say things like what's raw next in Mandarin.

I'm like, excuse me, what? These people are just happy to be in their little village. And that's why they called us TikTok refugees. That's what they're calling us? They're calling us TikTok refugees. And they're like, hello, TikTok refugees. Welcome to our mini app. They know we're there and we're watching. And there's a rule. What? So like if you ever post in there, you have to put subtitle and your caption has to be in Mandarin. Otherwise, they'll kick you out. How do you know what to put?

google translate google translate what if you're saying like all kinds of crazy stuff you don't know they're correcting me in my comment section but at least my comment section is full okay thank you oh so you're successful already exactly exactly but i i don't think that red note will ever try i don't think because it's more chinese than tick right and so it's just gonna get banned too yeah

And so like I think other avenues that people can lean into that's more like beneficial for them is like Instagram. Facebook feels old. Facebook is so hard. It feels like Farmville. People are crazy on Facebook. Oh my God. Sometimes I glance at the comments on Facebook and I'm like, I can't. I have to leave.

Facebook? It's like the meanest. They are mean. I'm so glad someone else has mean people on Facebook because my Facebook people are mean. And it's older, older people. Like 60 year old. They hate to see you coming. They're like, how are you wearing that scrubs? You look ugly as fuck. Why would you paint that color? I was like, because it's not 1965. Yeah, Facebook.

But Instagram. Instagram, I think, is another avenue. Instagram's good. YouTube's good. Do you have YouTube? I do have YouTube. Okay. Well, I post most of the shorts and stuff. Okay, yeah, yeah, yeah. Me too. But it's just like, it's hard. It's like a whole different, like... Vibe. Yeah, I know. It's like, it feels Jeffree Star. It feels Jeffree Star in YouTube. It is. It's hard. It is.

It is hard. But, you know, I think what I want people to know is that I don't think that TikTok will go away anyways. I think it's... I hope so. TikTok has given millions of people here in the United States opportunities that the past years and decades have not given to anyone. Right. We've literally changed the whole entertainment industry because now in this celebrity-studded events, you'll see TikTokers in it. Yes. Yes.

and like talk has changed so much like for so many people it's not just brad pitt anymore yeah it's like you know businesses they might be hating on this tiktok they're like why are you in the oh she did that yeah you know like no one did that like you have to have a bunch of experience for you to even be there yeah it will be interesting if it goes to like see for sure a lot is it will be

It's a lot. But yeah, well, it's so nice to get to know you more as a person, as a nurse, as this creative DIY content creator. And I think like a lot of people have appreciated you, but like getting to know you in a deeper sense, help everyone, our besties that...

bitches she's one of us officially a bestie exactly she wasn't 100% burnout like us but she was close to that but she got self-awareness which we all should have you know what I mean what am I talking about but yes I think like it's so nice to just it's refreshing to meet someone again like I would describe you like you just feel like a raincoat

thank you that's how you that's so nice felt like for me like you are the same exact person you are too in social media like within one second of meeting you i was like okay thank god he's like exactly like i thought he would be i mean like i tell people i was like there's no way for me to change who i am when you meet me in real life than i am in social media because like this is who i am this is who you meet like i feel like being something else or feeling being a

above someone just because you have this following and like right influence yeah feels like icky to me it does like first of all you would not be in this position if it wasn't for everyone who supported you right along the way exactly you know this people have brought you in this position yeah but don't get your head too high yeah yeah because well that's why you just never know like when you're gonna meet someone like if they're the same as you think right and I even tell people when they meet me in public I was like listen

Girl, I should be the one embarrassed because I'm the one making these videos. Right. Embarrassing fucking videos. Yeah. That you're laughing. It is kind of embarrassing sometimes. Thank you. You're like really putting yourself out there. I know. If you guys see me filming myself, like. I love it though. I love it. You gotta be like.

Yeah, exactly. That's how you're successful. Exactly. But like I feel myself filming myself. Oh, yeah. And you're like perceiving everyone watching you and you're like, I'm inseparable right now. But like, I need to not care. That's why I stay in my bathroom. Do you film in your house? Yeah. In my bathroom. Where do you get all the supplies? Amazon. You have an IV pole. Amazon? Amazon. And like this medical companies have them all. And people are like, did you steal that from the hospital? How much was it? The IV pole? The IV pole? $200,000.

investment invest invest it's a much needed prop thank you investment because you gotta make sure that people feel it right oh yeah it really added to the whole hospital ambiance i found me some and the gowns i got me some cooler canoe yeah i got gowns i got um everything so funny i got a whole like i'm just like picturing you on amazon like okay

oh my god amazon's full like whoever's packing my package is probably like what's he doing in there like he's he bunkering down making his own little hospital what kind of american psycho shit is going on in this amazon thing because like it's a back alley surgery i know it's crazy but you gotta be creative and people love it you know like what you said you know you have to express yourself in a way that you're happy with it yeah

And you got to leave the thinking of like, what if they say this? What if they think about that? Nobody gives a fuck about that. Do what makes you happy. You can't be successful if you're going to care about that so much. That's it. You know, that's it. Well, thank you so much for being in the podcast. You were so great to talk to. Oh, you are so sweet. I mean, like, we're going to go to the show tonight. I'm so excited. I can't wait. We're going to be a bestie in the crowd.

Period. And that's why you should definitely go get your tickets to the short staff tour. It's at www.NurseJohnNNShows.com. Come see me live. Bring your bestie. Bring your family. Everyone. Everyone's going to relate to this. You don't have to be a healthcare worker to watch my comedy show. It's for everybody. But before we go, I want you to give an advice to those people who's listening right now who was in the same position as you as a nurse. I think like...

like you're always gonna have like periods of your life where I used to tell myself like every day when I'd go into my job I'm like okay I have to do this for now like this is what I have to be doing right now and I think like that really helped me to know that like I don't have to be doing the same thing forever

And it's like normal to grow and change and to want to do different things. And so I think like my biggest advice is that you're never too old or too young to change what you want to do when you're able to. And that might not be a season you're in now where you're like, I'm able to like you might be in a stuck season.

But that's not to say that a season is coming where you will be able to do something different. And when that season comes, you should do it if you're not happy with where you're at. Beautiful. I love that. Season changes in your life. Yeah. You just got to fit into what season it is. Enjoy that season. Yeah. Because it's so easy to be like, just leave and do something different. But not everyone can do that. And you are in seasons where you just have to do what you're doing right now. Not always like that.

that's it and that too for people listening to that you can do other stuff than nursing like you don't have to feel like stuck in this profession it's not for everyone but it's not also to say that because you're leaving the profession that doesn't make you a nurse right you're leaving the profession because you're doing other avenues that you feel happy and rewarded yeah and normal people do that people change what they do all the time so that's it you can too

Beautiful. I love that so much. Well, thank you guys so much for listening to this episode of the podcast. And I hope that you guys got to know Karin more and just know that she's one of us and just look at her success. She is a nurse. And now she is a DIY content creator where she's exploring a lot more than just being a nurse because you are more than just a nurse. You're a human being. You're a friend. You're a sister. You're a wife. You're everything to someone else's. So enjoy those parts of your life. And I hope that you guys

And make sure that whatever you're doing, you're satisfied, you're rewarded, and you're fulfilled. Yeah. I think that's the most important part. Beautiful. And where can people follow you on social media? Because for sure, if TikTok goes away. Right. I know. Tell them where exactly they can follow you. So I have the same username everywhere. It's Karin Joy. And it's K-A-R-I-N Joy.

Amazing. Where can people find this and support you and get them? So I have like all my links on all my bios on all my stuff. But the wallpaper company is called Dizzy with Excitement. And the collection is the Behind the Door collection. Behind the door. That's so you. I need to hook you up with some wallpaper.

oh my god i would put that in you need to put it somewhere that's right that's right thank you again karen for being here thank you for listening to this podcast and if you guys are listening right now make sure that you follow us on apple and spotify podcast give us a five-star review and make sure that you share this episode and follow karen on all platforms that she's on right now i just know and i wish you one last thing is that this 2025 brings you a lot more achievements and goals in your life you too

Love you. Love you too. Let's go to the show. Let's go. Let's go. See you guys. Bye.