Irvine Makani’s story is one of transformation, resilience, and heart.

Trained in aerospace engineering and once dreaming of becoming a pilot, Irvine’s life took an unexpected turn following personal loss—and led him into nursing.

In this powerful conversation, he reflects on his journey from South Africa to Zimbabwe to the UK, shares what it’s really like working on the frontline of emergency care, and opens up about race, identity, and finding belonging in the NHS. With wisdom, honesty, and humility, Irvine speaks about the emotional toll of abuse in healthcare, the power of professional kindness, and what it means to lead by example—even when the job is tough.

Jodie Ward never planned to become a nurse. She joined the hospital as a hostess, delivering meals to patients — until one day, she overheard a nurse calming a distressed family and thought, “I want to do that.”

In this heartwarming episode, Jodie takes us on her extraordinary journey from dinner trolley to children’s ward rising through the ranks as a single parent, becoming one of our first paediatric nursing associates and finally qualifying as a registered children’s nurse.

She talks with humour and honesty about bringing joy into dark situations, why she decorates the ward with eight Christmas trees, the power of play, glitter, and sick bowls worn as hats and the people who believed in her when she almost gave up.

It’s a story of compassion, creativity, and courage — and proof that sometimes, the best nurses are the ones who never saw it coming.

In this inspiring episode of Only Human After All, we meet Dr Neelakshi "Neela" Armugam – Radiology Registrar, newly appointed Chief Registrar and all-round warm and wise presence at Sherwood Forest Hospitals. Neela shares her fascinating journey from a Mauritian family of nurses to becoming a doctor in a specialty she clearly loves. She opens up about her hopes for junior (or rather, “resident”) doctors, the importance of being seen and valued, and the power of food, gardening, and cake to build belonging.