Life to the Max Podcast
Welcome to 'Life to the Max Podcast,' where resilience meets inspiration!
Join us on a transformative journey through the life stories of remarkable individuals, including Quadriplegic Army Veteran Maximilian Gross. In this empowering podcast, we dive into tales of triumph, courage, and the human spirit's unwavering ability to overcome obstacles.
Our show is a celebration of diverse narratives, from awe-inspiring achievements to the darkest of traumas. 'Life to the Max' is a testament to the power of living authentically, no matter the circumstances. We believe that everyone has a unique story worth sharing, and we invite individuals from all walks of life to join us.
Discover the profound meaning of living 'Life to the Max'—a concept that resonates differently with each storyteller. It's a journey of perspective, resilience, and finding joy amidst life's challenges. Tune in to be inspired, motivated, and reminded that there's strength in every story.
Ready to redefine what it means to live life to the fullest? Share your story with us and become a part of this uplifting community. Because, at 'Life to the Max,' every story matters.
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Life to the Max Podcast
From Nurse to Manager: Gabby's Journey and Funny Patient Stories
This special "speedcast" episode captures a slice of life on the road as we step away from our usual format for something more spontaneous and raw.
My conversation with Gabby Savino, a nursing manager at Elite (the agency that provides my personal care nurses), reveals the fascinating intersection of healthcare management and human connection. Gabby shares her journey from Scrubs-inspired nursing student to healthcare professional, including hilarious stories about my own nurse Natalia getting stuck in a snowy driveway and cursing like a sailor. Behind these lighthearted moments lies a deeper story about what draws people to caregiving professions – that perfect blend of scientific curiosity and genuine compassion.
Surrounded by the diverse stories and experiences at the Abilities Expo, we both found ourselves reconsidering what we're thankful for – from the basics of shelter and sustenance to the complex systems of care and support that make life possible for those with different abilities. For me, witnessing the struggles many face with healthcare and insurance has been "eye-opening" and "humbling in the best possible way."
Listen in to this unfiltered conversation that reminds us why human connection matters so much, especially in the healthcare world. And if you've enjoyed this departure from our usual format, let us know – these speedcasts might become a regular feature whenever Life to the Max hits the road!
What's up guys? As you can see, we're not in the studio at home. We're actually at the ability expo in Chicago, and this podcast is gonna be a little different. It's gonna be like a speedcast. The sound is not gonna be as great because of how wide open this space is, but I hope you guys enjoy it. Please enjoy this Life to the Max speedcast. And we are at the Abilities Expo in Schomburg, Illinois. It is June 22nd, 2025, and today I'm here with Gabby. What's your last name?
SPEAKER_02:Savino.
SPEAKER_01:Gabby Savino. Hi Gabby, how are you? Hi Max.
SPEAKER_02:I'm good. How are you doing?
SPEAKER_01:So me and Gabby actually know each other. She works for the Elite, which is a nursing agency that sends me nurses. Mm-hmm. So and she's the one who sent uh pretty pretty Natalia. Dude, I I gotta tell you one of the funniest stories about Natalia. Yeah. And it was snowing like crazy. And she was driving into like my driveway. My driveway's like really steep. Yeah. You know. And she was stuck like uh in the driveway, and like I was thinking she was crying and all I was like this uh she was like kicking her cough. Like I heard her from my petroe.
SPEAKER_02:Oh my gosh, that sounds like her.
SPEAKER_01:I like I'm like Marcy's like, oh poor Natalia. I'm like, she sounds like a a sailor. That's one of the funniest uh stories I had wanted to tell you. But yeah, you brought Natalia into the case, which was uh good. So how did you uh choose to be a nurse? How did I like what made you like uh want to be a nurse?
SPEAKER_02:Oh yeah, I um well I love the show Scrubs, that was uh part of it. It's kind of like from the 90s, I think, early 2000s. It's a good show, it's funny, but I also just had an interest in science and um anatomy, and I always wanted to help people, so those two things together made me want to be a nurse.
SPEAKER_01:Was uh nursing school hard?
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, wasn't easy, but yeah, yeah, it was hard. And I met Natalia there, yeah, which was awesome. That was a plus besides becoming a nurse. Are you from here? Um, I am from yeah, Chicago. Chicago, yep, yep.
SPEAKER_01:So, um how did you uh go from working? Did you ever work in the field or did you go straight to be a nursing manager?
SPEAKER_02:I did, yeah. I worked in the field. Actually, my first job as a nurse was with Elite, and I worked with a couple different patients, and then I left and I worked in a hospital for a bit. It's not all it's cracked up to be. I came back to Elite, and then that's when I started working as a manager.
SPEAKER_01:And how is it working as a manager? What's the craziest story?
SPEAKER_02:It's pros and cons. Well, let's see, without breaking hippo besides me.
SPEAKER_01:Besides, besides me being a place to source because I've heard besides meeting you. I've heard you uh you've probably heard many stories about me.
SPEAKER_02:I've heard a decent amount, yeah.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah. With Jason and Jerry.
SPEAKER_02:Oh gosh, yeah. Between Jason and Jerry, I've heard quite a bit. Um, I don't know. There's there's been quite a bit of crazy things that have happened.
SPEAKER_01:It's kind of become like a day-to-day thing now, which is Do you ever get like uh sworn out on the phone by like a family member?
SPEAKER_02:Um, yeah, it's happened. Not super often.
SPEAKER_01:Are you just like a family member? Like, I'm I'm trying to help you. Like, why are you swearing at me?
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, pretty much.
SPEAKER_01:It's like, let's take it down a notch because do you tell the thought or do you just take it in the shit?
SPEAKER_02:It depends who it is. I've learned to not take as much shit as I used to, so that helps.
SPEAKER_01:That's good.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_01:So uh Jason was uh at my house the other day. Jason says I said earlier managers yet and he told me that you are pregnant. I am pregnant, yeah. And how how far along are you?
SPEAKER_02:I am 25 weeks, so I got 15 more to go. Um, babies due October 2nd.
SPEAKER_01:Like, are you excited to become a mom?
SPEAKER_02:I am excited. Excited and scared, but you know.
SPEAKER_01:That's how my friend was, but as soon as she became a mom, she was and all like changes. And like you like hold your baby.
SPEAKER_02:So yeah, I I can't wait. But yeah, it's uh it's scary. Scary and exciting.
SPEAKER_01:What is your uh boyfriend?
SPEAKER_02:He's a um he's in the pipe fitter apprenticeship.
SPEAKER_01:Pipe fitting, yeah.
SPEAKER_02:So it's like one of the unions. Oh okay, yeah, yeah. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01:For like Chicago?
SPEAKER_02:Uh yeah, Chicago land area, kind of like what I do, but with pipe.
SPEAKER_01:So so he's uh a manager for piping.
SPEAKER_02:I guess I shouldn't say like what I do, but he just he does the pipe, but kind of just goes all over, puts it in.
SPEAKER_01:So yeah. Well congratulations, man. Yeah, thank you, Max. You know, mother treats you well. I'm pretty sure you'll be a great mother. Thanks, Max. Yeah. So what is one of the things you're most grateful for?
SPEAKER_02:One of the things, oh my gosh, there's many things. Um I'm most grateful for having a home, um food on my table, um, having a job, um, being able to walk, being able to talk with people, interact. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01:I I've met a lot of people to like the the past three days, and I'm grateful, which sounds crazy, for the things I have. Like, and even even though I have like when it comes to mobility, absolutely nothing. And when it comes to breathing, absolutely nothing. I've seen people the the horror stories of like the medical industry, well not the medical the health uh health insurance, the health insurance industry. Yeah, and uh it's it's it's just been really uh it's it's been really eye-opening and it's uh definitely humbled me in like the best way possible. And I I go home and I'm like, well, I'm grateful I have this, I'm grateful I have that, I'm grateful I have great nurses that care for me. So uh well uh I appreciate you uh coming out of the speak ass. That's what we call them speak ass like because uh usually I do our podcasts, like uh when I'm at my house. Oh, okay. Like here, I've just been like I've been like giving like a kid like a chance to be on the podcast just to see what it's like and all stuff like that. But thank you so much for coming on. Yeah, thanks for having me. And for everybody who likes today, please like, comment, and subscribe. And it's always taken birth from me. Thank you so much.
SPEAKER_00:You notice better pote. Never really trippin', try my best to stay focused. I try to keep it cool, are you lames? Keep it focused. I head on a swivel, looking out for the locus. I'm on stand so trying to dive my ponies. Am I the next best thing? But I think I'm the closest.