Revolutionaries of Wellbeing: Breaking Burnout Culture

Episode 36: Coming back from a traumatic brain injury

In this episode, we chat with Nick Jenkins. Nick is a health & safety professional who suffered a traumatic brain injury after a mountain biking accident in 2020.

He shares the story of his injury, and his considerable rehab and recovery journey. We also talk about returning to work after a significant injury and adjusting to a new normal. Plus, we explore what workplaces can do to support those on a similar recovery journey.

Join us and be inspired by Nick's story and gain an insight into life with a brain injury and overcoming the odds.

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Episode 35: Understanding neurodiversity and ADHD

In this episode, we chat to an expert on ADHD, and explore how workplaces can better support neurodiversity.

It’s estimated that over 280,000 Kiwis have ADHD. People from all walks of life, in all professions, live and work with ADHD.

But we don’t really talk about how businesses can lead for and accommodate different neurotypes.

We're joined by ADHD advocate, coach and facilitator Callum McKirdy. Together, we discuss how we can create work environments that understand the value that people with ADHD and other forms of neurodiversity can bring, and how to support them to thrive.  

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Episode 34: The honest guide to menopause and perimenopause

With half of people experiencing menopause in their life, this is an important topic with significant impacts on work. But where do we start the menopause conversation?

Learning about this life stage is the first step. In this episode, we’re delighted to be joined by Niki Bezzant, writer and author of the bestselling menopause book, This Changes Everything: the honest guide to menopause and perimenopause.

In the episode, we’ll help you understand how you can best support employees, friends, or family members going through menopause, and how you can navigate menopause at work if you're experiencing it.

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Episode 33: Psychosocial hazards and the neurobiology of stress

In this episode, we chat with Dr Georgi Toma, Founder and CEO of Heart & Brain Works. We talk about how many of the drivers of the current ‘Great Resignation’ have their origins traced back to poor management of psychosocial hazards.

This could stem from a lack of psychological safety, poor culture, or leaders that lack the capabilities and skills to lead for wellbeing.

We also look at the neurobiological responses to workplace stress and how they can be understood and managed.

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Episode 32: Case Study - Leading wellbeing through turbulence at Air New Zealand

In this episode, we’re joined by Liam Scopes, Air New Zealand’s Strategic Wellbeing Manager.

Few industries were as impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic as air travel. International borders closed and the ability to move people and freight was significantly affected by the crisis.

Air New Zealand has been through a period of significant changes to its operations, headcount, and structure over the past few years. First, there was a rapid downsizing as the business shrank in response to the pandemic. And then, an equally rapid growth phase as normal operations resumed.

 
Liam shares his experience on the practicalities of managing the many wellbeing needs of a diverse, global organisation of around 10,000 employees through one of the most challenging periods imaginable.

So fasten your seatbelts and stow your bags as we talk about leading wellbeing through turbulent times.

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Episode 31: Long Covid, disabilities and chronic illnesses

In this episode, we take a deep-dive on long Covid, hidden disabilities and chronic illnesses, and how workplaces can rethink work and be more supportive.

Invisible or hidden disabilities are disabilities that are not immediately apparent. They are typically chronic illnesses that impact day-to-day living. As many as one in 10 of us could have one.

They range from learning differences, deafness, autism, traumatic brain injury, bipolar disorder, diabetes, ADHD, fibromyalgia, arthritis, sleep disorders, and many more.

With Long Covid increasing, wellbeing managers are going to need to understand and plan for this emerging issue.

We're joined by UK-based disability advocate and author Ted Smith. Ted is the author of Hidden Disabilities and Conditions; Creating an Inclusive Workplace. Together, we discuss chronic illness management and how that impacts wellbeing in the workplace.

 

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Episode 30: Yes, you can talk about mental health at work

In this episode, we’re delighted to be joined by Melissa Doman, US-based Organisational Psychologist, Former Clinical Mental Health Therapist, & Author of Yes, You Can Talk About Mental Health at Work (Here’s Why And How To Do It Really Well). Melissa has presented and consulted for organizations and Fortune 500 companies across industries and around the world, including clients such as Google, Dow Jones, Microsoft, and more. We look at why you should have mental health conversations, and critically, how to do so, as well as dive into some of the key objections you might face in encouraging line managers from having mental health conversations – everything from "I’m not a therapist" to "I don’t want to say the wrong thing".

 

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Episode 29: Defining wellbeing: what is it, how do we measure it, and where are we going as a profession?

In this episode, we are delighted to be joined by Chris Jones, Chief Safety and Wellbeing Officer at Ara Poutama, New Zealand’s Department of Corrections.

Prior to his role in Corrections, Chris held roles at WorkSafe New Zealand (where he led the Strategy, Guidance and Standards, and Occupational Health teams), Network Rail (as Head of Occupational Health and Wellbeing Strategy) and Nuffield Health (as Head of Physiology).

Through our discussion, we try to define what wellbeing actually is (and what it isn’t), how we can create the right systems and conditions that allow wellbeing to emerge, and how we can best attempt to quantify those factors in an effort to measure success.

We also discuss the emergence of wellbeing as a profession, and opportunities to grow and shape it in the coming years.

 

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