Navigating the military healthcare system can feel overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to be.

In this episode of the Rts Share Tea Podcast, guest co-host Dr. JoNise Caleb drops real gems starting with one powerful reminder: “You have to learn the lay of the land.” From understanding how the system works to building confidence in your voice, this conversation is all about helping you move from confused to empowered.

We break down what it really means to be empaneled with a Primary Care Manager (PCM), why that relationship matters, and how it can impact your access to care. Dr. Caleb also shares practical strategies for advocating for yourself and your family, including the importance of asking questions—yes, all the questions.

Whether you’re a service member, military family member, healthcare professional, or community advocate, this episode will give you tools to navigate with clarity and confidence.

✨ In this episode, we cover:

✅️How to “learn the lay of the land” in military healthcare

✅️What it means to be assigned to a PCM (Primary Care Manager)

✅️Common challenges in accessing care—and how to overcome them

✅️How to advocate for yourself without hesitation

✅️Why asking questions can change your healthcare experience

This is your reminder: you deserve to be heard, supported, and cared for—no matter the system.

🎧 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more real conversations that empower you to take control of your health and career.

#MilitaryHealthcare #Tricare #PatientAdvocacy

#HealthcareNavigation #RespiratoryTherapist #AsthmaEducation #RtsShareTea #TheeAsthmaLady

Ready to move with intention in your career and your finances?

In this episode of Rts Share Tea, we’re joined by guest co-host Gbolahan Harris to talk about strategic planning for healthcare professionals, leadership in Respiratory Care, and building financial resilience.

From his journey as a Respiratory Therapist to becoming a Director and entrepreneur, Gbolahan shares practical insights on how to grow your career, think long-term, and make smarter financial moves.

If you’re ready to stop winging it and start planning with purpose—this episode is for you. Tune in and share with a fellow RT who needs this conversation.

#RespiratoryTherapyCareers, #healthcareleadership, #financialplanning, #RTcareergrowth, #healthcareentrepreneurship, #financialresilience

Asthma education doesn’t have to overwhelm patients to be effective.

In this episode of RTs Share Tea, Linda Fry — Thee Asthma Lady — shares 4 patient-friendly asthma self-management videos that asthma educators and respiratory therapists can use to improve patient understanding and build confidence.

If you work with patients with asthma, you already know: Clear, simple education is key to better asthma control and fewer unnecessary ER visits.

These short, easy-to-follow videos reinforce essential self-management skills patients can revisit anytime.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to use videos that cover:

• The basics of asthma

• Identifying and managing asthma triggers

• Understanding how to use an Asthma Action Plan

• Proper inhaler technique

Linda also shares practical strategies for integrating these tools into clinic visits, community programs, and follow-up care to strengthen patient engagement and long-term asthma self-management.

And no — this episode is not sponsored. No partnerships. No promo codes. Just me sharing the tea on resources I personally use and trust in my asthma education work.

If you're a Respiratory Therapist, Asthma Educator (AE-C), Community Health Worker, or healthcare professional, this episode will give you practical tools to simplify asthma education and support stronger patient outcomes. Subscribe for more conversations on respiratory care, asthma education, and professional growth for RTs.

Videos mentioned below:

AAFA Asthma Basic

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CSpr9mvMtLo

TedEx Asthma 101

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PzfLDi-sL3w

For how to use Asthma Action Plan

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dvcBapdEFaU&pp=0gcJCY4Bo7VqN5tD

For inhaler technique

https://allergyasthmanetwork.org/what-is-asthma/how-to-use-asthma-inhalers/#MDI

Bonus webinar for asthma educators

https://allergyasthmanetwork.org/webinars-updates/effective-patient-education-for-asthma/

#AsthmaEducation #RespiratoryTherapist #AsthmaSelfManagement #AsthmaControl #AsthmaEducator #PatientEducation #RTsShareTea

What happens when one of the most trusted careers in America is suddenly labeled as not a “real profession”?

In this powerful episode of Rts Share Tea, Linda “Thee Asthma Lady” sits down with nursing expert and research scientist Dr. Jenny Uguru, DNP, RN to unpack the current state of nursing, higher education access, student loan debt, and the growing concerns around nurse and patient safety.From advanced degrees and leadership roles to being told nursing isn’t a “real” profession — we’re talking about it ALL.

In this episode, we discuss:️

️-The stigma of calling nursing a “non-professional” career️

-Barriers to higher education for nurses️

-The impact of student debt in healthcare️

-Why nurse safety = patient safety️

-The future of the nursing profession

Dr. Uguru brings her leadership experience, clinical expertise, and real-world perspective to this timely conversation about respect, policy, and the future of healthcare. If you’re a nurse, healthcare professional, student, or someone passionate about healthcare equity and professional recognition — this episode is for you. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to join the W.H.E.E.Z.E.R. community.

https://bhw.hrsa.gov/funding/apply-loan-repayment/nurse-corps

#NursingProfession #NurseLife #HealthcareLeadership #NursingEducation #PatientSafety #StudentLoanDebt #NursingCrisis #HealthcarePolicy #RtsShareTea

In this episode of Rts Share Tea podcast, we break down how stress triggers asthma symptoms and why flare-ups often show up during high-pressure moments like work stress, caregiving, financial strain, or emotional overwhelm.

As a Respiratory Therapist and Asthma Education Specialist, I explain the stress–asthma connection in simple terms, including why stress can tighten airways, change breathing patterns, and make asthma harder to control—especially for those with non-allergic. You’ll also walk away with practical, asthma-safe stress management tools you can actually use—while keeping one thing very clear: stress management supports asthma control, but it does not replace medications or your asthma action plan.

Topics covered:

-How stress impacts the lungs and airways

-Why stress is a real asthma trigger (not “all in your head”)

-Everyday stressors that can worsen asthma symptoms

-Safe, supportive stress-management strategies for people with asthma

-How to talk to your healthcare team about stress and asthma control

If you or someone you love notices asthma flares during stressful times, this episode is for you.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with someone who needs this reminder that better breathing includes caring for your whole self.

#AsthmaEducation #AsthmaAwareness #LivingWithAsthma

#AsthmaControl #AsthmaSupport

Imagine choosing public health as your career path… only to be told it’s not a “real” profession. 😳

In this powerful episode of the RTs Share Tea Podcast, host Linda "Thee Asthma Lady" sits down with Dr. Anthony Santella, a nationally recognized public health expert and academic, to unpack a major policy shift that could reshape the future of public health education and the workforce.

This episode was a must for me to cover — because I would not be where I am today as Thee Asthma Lady without my Master of Public Health layered on top of my Respiratory Therapist skills, and without Dr. Santella pulling me deeper into the public health space early in my career. This conversation is both professional and personal.

Dr. Santella breaks down — in plain language — the Federal Department of Education’s reclassification of public health as a non-professional degree, why this decision matters, and how it could impact:

✔️ Public health students

✔️ Higher education programs

✔️ Workforce pipelines

✔️ Community and population health outcomes

We also dive into what inspired Dr. Santella to enter public health, his journey into academia, and what he believes lies ahead for the field if this policy stands. This episode blends expertise, lived experience, and real talk about why public health deserves recognition, protection, and investment — now more than ever.

☕ The tea is hot, the conversation is necessary, and the implications are real.

👇 Join the conversation in the comments and let us know:

How do YOU think this policy could impact the future of public health?

#PublicHealthEducation, #MPHDegree, #DepartmentofEducationPolicy, #PublicHealthWorkforce, #AnthonySantella, #TheeAsthmaLady, #RespiratoryTherapist, #PublicHealthCareers, #Rts #HigherEducationPolicy, #HealthEquity, #CommunityHealth, #teaspills, #asthma,

In this vlog-style episode of RTs Share Tea, I’m taking you with me behind the scenes at AARC Congress 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona — and let me tell you, this conference shifted something in me.

From early-morning sessions to hallway conversations that fed my soul, this year’s AARC experience reminded me why we, as Respiratory Therapists, have to keep investing in ourselves, keep learning, and keep betting on our future selves.

I’m sharing:
✨ How networking at AARC 2025 expanded my vision for my career
✨ What lifelong learning really looks like outside the classroom
✨ Why your professional growth matters just as much as the care you give

This episode is for any Respiratory Therapist who’s ever felt stuck, overlooked, tired, under-inspired, or unsure of what’s next. If you need a sign to keep going, keep growing, and keep showing up — this is it.

Pull up, sip some tea, and let’s talk about how AARC Congress 2025 truly changed the way I see my future as an RT.

#AARCCongress2025 #respiratorytherapists #Respiratorytherapycareergrowth #lifelonglearning #Networking #Respiratorycare #healthcarejobsbesidesnursing #Respiratorytherapyschool

In this episode of the RTs Share Tea Podcast, we’re diving deep into the powerful impact of Community Health Workers (CHWs) with special guest co-host Traci Hardin, MPH, AE-C — a nationally respected asthma educator, CHW ally, and public health champion.

Join us as we share the TEA on how CHWs bridge gaps in care, build trust in underserved communities, and bring asthma education to life in ways that truly change outcomes.

We discuss:

💨 Why CHWs are essential partners in asthma self-management

💨 How education, empathy, and lived experience make CHWs effective

💨 The training and support CHWs need to thrive

💨 Real stories from the field — wins, challenges, and lessons learned

And for all the future asthma educators out there: Traci shares heartfelt advice for CHWs who want to take the Certified Asthma Educator (AE-C) exam but feel intimidated. (Spoiler: She’s your biggest cheerleader!)

If you care about community health, health equity, asthma education, or empowering frontline workers, this episode is your must-listen.

Grab your tea — we’re talking community, compassion, and the kind of care that starts where people live, learn, and breathe. 🍵💙

#RTsShareTeaPodcast #AsthmaEducation #CommunityHealthWorkers #HealthEquity #CHWStrong #TheeAsthmaLady #WHEEZER #AsthmaAwareness #ImpactfulHealthCommunicator