The Courageous Pivot with Meghan Telpner: Kristen Nagle on Standing Alone for Truth
What happens when questioning what to feed your baby leads you to question everything you’ve built your life on?
For former NICU nurse Kristen Nagle, motherhood was the catalyst that cracked open her worldview—and set her on a path she never expected.
In a powerful new episode of The Courageous Pivot Podcast with bestselling author Meghan Telpner, Kristen shares her raw and deeply personal story of walking away from the medical system she once trusted, losing her
14-year nursing career, facing $100,000 in fines, and finding a freedom she never knew was possible.
Kristen’s journey reveals what it really means to live with integrity, even when it means standing alone against the institutions, colleagues and communities that once defined you.
This conversation isn’t just about medical freedom—it’s about courage, conviction and the surprising strength that comes when you stop seeking approval and start living by your own compass.
In this episode, Kristen opens up about:
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The loneliness of standing in your truth—and why it’s still worth it.
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How becoming a mother gave her the courage to question official narratives.
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What happens when convictions clash with public opinion and professional mandates.
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The personal cost—and unexpected gifts—of refusing to compromise her values.
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How she rebuilt her purpose and identity after leaving nursing.
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Navigating friendships and family relationships when beliefs collide.
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Why she believes true freedom comes from no longer needing everyone’s approval.
Why this matters
For anyone questioning the path they’re on, this episode is a powerful reminder that change often begins in the smallest moments of doubt—and that the bravest step you can take may be to let go of the life you thought you were supposed to live.
Kristen’s story is proof that sometimes the collapse of everything familiar is the very thing that creates space for true freedom.
Watch/Listen here:
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