Christopher (Chris) M. Smith, PhD, MSN, RN, GCQM, is an Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, College of Health & Human Services, School of Nursing. Dr. Smith earned a PhD in Nursing Science from East Carolina University. He also earned a post-master's certificate in Quantitative Methods for Social and Behavioral Sciences in ECU's Department of Psychology, where he cultivated interests in psychometrics and latent variable modeling. Dr. Smith's primary research is in cardiometabolic health in rural populations, with a focused interest in metabolic and inflammatory mechanisms that drive cardiovascular and blood pressure outcomes. Most recently, he received the 2024 Emerging Leader in Science award from Appalachian State University’s Beaver College of Health Sciences.

Dr. Andrew J. Richards is a professor in the School of Nursing at Southern Adventist University in Collegedale, TN. He hosts the Nursing Scholarly Fireside Podcast, a monthly podcast featuring casual conversations with nurses who share their experiences with scholarship. He is interviewed in this episode by his son, Flynn.

Dr. Carolyn J. Godfrey is a professor of nursing at St. Louis Community College at Forest Park (MO), where she has spent the past 21 years teaching maternal–newborn nursing. With a career that began in labor and delivery, she went on to earn her PhD in Nursing Education and has since been recognized with awards such as Teacher of the Year, the Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award, and the March of Dimes Nurse of the Year Heroes Award. Dr. Godfrey is passionate about the art of scholarship in nursing education, mentoring both students and new faculty. She is also the founder of OB Clarity with Dr. Godfrey, where she shares her expertise and encouragement through teaching, mentoring, and a podcast created to support nursing student success.