Episodes
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Bullying can leave lasting impacts on mental health and feel very personal to the victim, it shapes how people then cope, connect, and work throughout their lives. In this episode, we’ll explore how bullying show up in workplaces, and what truly prevents bullying at a organisational level in the workplace.
Michelle’s biography:
Professor Michelle Tuckey is the Professor of Work and Organisational Psychology at Adelaide University. She is a leading researcher whose work has reframed bullying as a structural issue and not just an individual’s bad behaviour. Michelle investigates how workplace systems and environments drive bullying and harassment, and how to redesign them to prevent interpersonal harm. This work underpins an award-winning prevention program reaching nearly 10,000 employees, and has shaped national policy through bodies including Safe Work Australia and the Australian and Queensland Human Rights Commissions.
In this episode, we dive deep into answering the following thorny questions:
0:00 – Introduction
2:10 – How Michelle started specialising in bullying
2:55 – Defining bullying
4:15 – A real-world example of bullying at work
6:05 – How a power imbalance can exist in peer bullying
7:15 – Can managers be bullied?
8:05 – What are common misconceptions about workplace bullying?
9:35 – What conditions make bullying more prevalent in certain industries?
13:25 – Why rebuilding relational fabric is the key solution to reducing bullying and improving workplace culture
16:00 – How to create psychological safety in an organisation that lacks it
20:10 – How to end toxic cultures that promote bullying
21:05 – Early intervention and peer feedback as a way to reduce bullying
22:05 – How to align organisational systems with company values to reduce bullying
23:45 – How grassroots interventions can drive small culture change even without senior leadership buy-in
25:45 – Types of harm caused by workplace bullying
28:15 – Gaslighting through a network of silence
29:20 – Why you should see bullying as a systems issue rather than taking it personally
29:50 – How to take back power when you are being bullied
30:45 – Are there gender-specific types of bullying?
33:15 – Toxic culture, role clarity and leadership as organisational red flags
34:55 – Why the number one risk factor in bullying complaints is how leaders give constructive performance feedback
36:25 – The benefit of strong workplace relationships when giving constructive feedback
38:15 – Examples of how leaders can build a relational foundation with their direct reports
41:55 – Values alignment as the number one thing organisations can do to reduce bullying
43:15 – What are the early warning signs before bullying occurs in an organisation?
45:35 – What should individuals do if they are being bullied?
48:45 – Why bullying persists even when interventions have been introduced
53:05 – Why bullies do not see themselves as bullies and may feel they are bullied themselves
54:15 – How a country's culture can contribute to a bullying culture
56:30 – Why proactive intervention is key in bullying prevention policies
58:20 – Is moving the target away from the perpetrator enough to deal with bullying?
59:50 – Why HR and Health and Safety need to work together to reduce bullying
1:01:40 – Michelle's one wellbeing practice
Learn more about Michelle
https://www.linkedin.com/in/prof-michelle-tuckey/
Learn more about Clearhead
https://www.myclearhead.com/ -
Women continue to face unique pressures, balancing professional, family, and social expectations while carrying the often-invisible mental and emotional load. In this webinar, we’ll explore the experiences of women in leadership roles and what organisations can do better to support women into senior roles and maintain their wellbeing.
In this episode, we sit down with leadership coach and consultant, Dr. Amanda Sterling, to delve into questions on gender equity in the workplace and closing the gender representation gap. Dr. Amanda will share insights from both her research findings on women in leadership and her own experiences in the field.
Amanda's Biography:
Dr Amanda Sterling is an award-winning consultant who partners with organisations to remove barriers for women into leadership and create inclusive workplaces where people and businesses thrive.
Amanda combines her decades of experience working in corporate leadership development and culture change, as well as deep expertise on leadership, gender, and inclusion, to help organisations attract and retain more women in leadership and close their gender pay gaps.
Amanda’s groundbreaking PhD research (completed in 2023) revealed critical insights into what is still holding women back from leadership roles and the opportunities to address this. Her research has been featured in multiple media channels such as RNZ, and was highlighted by Global Women and the University of Auckland.
Amanda is originally from the Kaipara region but has called Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland home for the last 20 years. She is also a proud parent to one son.
0:00 – Introduction
2:20 – Why Amanda decided to research women's leadership
4:35 – What barriers prevent women from becoming leaders?
6:05 – What assumptions perpetuate these barriers?
7:55 – How can we challenge societal assumptions about mothers in leadership roles?
9:30 – Why men are key to increasing leadership opportunities for women
11:00 – How can we help men feel comfortable being part of the solution?
14:05 – How can women influence men in the workplace to change the status quo?
16:50 – Why women's leadership development programmes alone are not enough
17:55 – Why representation does not equal inclusion
20:00 – How to develop the measures needed to drive organisational change
21:15 – The case for men's leadership development programmes
22:20 – What are the benefits of having more diverse teams?
23:55 – Why women leaders leave leadership positions
25:45 – The false assumptions behind the belief that women are less confident than men
28:05 – Are organisations acknowledging the additional emotional burden women face?
30:00 – The four-factor framework for increasing women in leadership roles
31:55 – Factor 1: Flexible work
32:19 – Factor 2: Partner support
33:10 – Factor 3: Manager support
33:35 – Factor 4: Women's leadership development programmes
34:40 – How workplaces can shift gender expectations around parental leave
37:00 – When is there a place for women-only safe spaces?
39:15 – What can workplaces do to create more supportive managers?
42:45 – How the four factors change across career stages
44:33 – Making the case for change in the workplace
46:15 – Case study: Z Energy
49:20 – What are the long-term measures for assessing the impact of inclusive teams?
50:04 – What is one thing organisations can do to create change?
51:00 – Amanda's one wellbeing practice
Learn more about Amanda
https://dramandasterling.com/
Learn more about Clearhead
https://www.myclearhead.com/ -
Missing episodes?
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Bringing out the best in ourselves and others is something many of us strive for - but how do we realistically work towards it, especially in the workplace? In this episode, behavioural psychologist Dr. Scott Geller explores how motivation, Actively Caring for People (AC4P), and evidence-based behaviour-change strategies can support personal wellbeing, leadership, and more connected, high-functioning teams. This episode highlights the role of community and coaching in empowering both ourselves and those around us.
Scott’s biography:
Professor Scott Geller is Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Virginia Tech and the former Director of the Center for Applied Behavior Systems. He has authored 55 books and more than 300 research articles looking at behavior-based interventions to improve human welfare on a large scale. His talent is well-recognised and he has received multiple awards for his work.
In this episode, we dive deep into answering the following thorny questions.
00:00 – Introduction
02:10 – Why Scott became a behavioural psychologis?
03:35 – What is the definition of motivation?
05:00 – The three factors that drive self‑motivation.
08:15 – Applying the 3C framework to motivate yourself to go to the gym.
10:30 – The importance of learning and social support when trying something new.
13:00 – How to stay motivated to help others when you’re struggling.
14:30 – Self‑transcendence and the top of Maslow’s hierarchy.
18:00 – What is the Actively Caring for People (AC4P) framework?
20:50 – How to give corrective feedback with empathy.
21:40 – The COACH framework for inspiring people to care at work.
24:50 – The role of leaders in creating a safety culture.
26:55 – How to build interdependent communities where everyone benefits.
7:45 – Three steps to empowering employees to try something new.
31:05 – How to get teams to actively care.
32:25 – The role of leaders in encouraging active caring.
34:35 – How to sustain choice, competence, and community in an organisation.
36:35 – Example: eliminating bullying in a school using caring principles.
38:00 – Summary and final reflections.
Learn more about Scott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-geller-3045211/
Learn more about Clearhead https://www.myclearhead.com/ -
The representation and inclusion of indigenous models of hauora (health) in mainstream medicine is vital to ensuring culturally-safe health services. In this episode, we delve into Māori mental health specifically from the lens of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei. We discuss the importance of whakapapa; knowing who you are, where you come from and your sense of belonging to hauora and ways that services can shift to a preventive care model for whānau, hapū and iwi.
Our guest speaker, Tūrakawa Bartlett, addresses common narratives about Māori wellbeing and offers insights on how te ao Māori (Māori worldview) is beneficial for everyone, not just Māori. Together, we discuss what signs to look out for when someone you know may be struggling or how to know when you are struggling yourself.
In this episode, we dive deep into answering the following thorny questions:
00:00 – Introduction
03:05 – Framing today’s session from a Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei iwi lens
06:00 – Mental health from a Māori worldview
12:40 – Barriers preventing Māori from connecting with their true identity
19:00 – What help is available for Māori experiencing mental health challenges
22:50 – How support services can make it easier for Māori to reach out
25:00 – Signs to look for when checking in on someone who may be struggling
27:50 – Internal signs that you might be struggling yourself
30:50 – What non‑Māori can do to create culturally safe support spaces
39:00 – Definitions of kawa and tikanga
42:35 – Differences in how Māori and non‑Māori experience health services
46:50 – Why a bicultural Māori and non‑Māori health model is essential
49:30 – Signs someone may need professional help
52:30 – Rose, Letica, and Turaukawa’s personal wellbeing practices
Leticia, from Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei and Kaipara, has completed her training as an Intern Clinical Psychologist and is currently working on research. Her approach to psychological well-being and oranga is shaped by clinical expertise and lived experience, with a strong focus on Māori mental well-being and previous experience in community alcohol and drug (AOD) services.
Tūraukawa, from Ngāti Whātua ki Tāmaki, is the CEO and Director of MANAVATION, a kaupapa Māori hauora service supporting Tangata Whenua and Tangata Tiriti in achieving their wellbeing goals through cultural and language revitalisation. Tūraukawa has received numerous recognitions, including the Bob Henare Award for Individual Excellence in Māori Mental Health and DAPAANZ Best Newcomer to the Addictions Sector. He also facilitates reo Māori wellbeing retreats to enhance cultural foundations and promote holistic wellbeing.
Rose, a graduate Enrolled Nurse from Ngāti-Whātua Ōrākei and Ngāti Kahu ki Whangāora, draws from her lived experience of losing two siblings to suicide, which drives her commitment to providing compassionate care. -
Psychosocial hazards are now recognised as one of the most significant and complex risks facing modern workplaces, but what do they actually look like in practice, and how can organisations address them in meaningful, effective ways? In this webinar, we unpack real-world case studies and discuss how factors such as workload, role clarity, leadership, culture, and organisational change can affect mental health, wellbeing, and performance at work. We will discuss what good practice really looks like, where organisations commonly get stuck, and how to move beyond a compliance mindset.
Dana’s biography:
Dana Carver is a Principal at the research and evaluation firm, Scarlatti. She has over 25 years’ experience in social research, organisational design and wellbeing. For the past 5 years, her focus has been on helping organisations identify, assess and mitigate psychosocial risks. Dana is also the co-creator and Chair of the Good Programmes Trust, home of the award-winning GoodYarn, https://www.goodyarn.org/, program, which has seen over 20,000 people educated in mental health literacy.
In this episode, we dive deep into answering the following thorny questions:
00:00 - Intro
02:05 - How did Dana become interested in psychosocial risk management?
03:00 - What are psychosocial hazards?
03:45 - How many psychosocial hazards are there?
04:40 - What are the most common psychosocial hazards?
05:25 - What is the framework used to prioritse hazards based on frequency and intensity?
07:00 - What is the definition of psychosocial risk?
08:45 - Should you eliminate or mitigate risk?
10:05 - What is an example of a control that eliminated the risk?
11:15 - Is psychosocial risk management a part of the Health and Safety legislation?
12:50 - What are the obligations of the employer?
13:55 - What are the 4 stages of psychosocial risk management?
14:30 - What are the warning signs you need to assess your psychosocial risks?
16:00 - What is the framework for identifying and assessing risks?
18:00 - Poor pay as a hazard vs personal life choices.
20:10 - What are some misconceptions about psychosocial risk management?
21:50 - How do you get management to buy in?
23:30 - How do you assess buy in up front?
25:00 - What is the definition and some examples of controls?
27:05 - Should employees be able to see the risk assessment results?
28:30 - How do you know the controls are effective?
30:05 - How long does it take to see impact?
32:05 - Are there differences depending on the size of the organisation?
33:00 - Dana’s top tips for psychosocial risk management.
34:00 - What are lead and lag indicators of success?
34:35 - How do you know if you have the right outcome measures?
35:25 - How often should you do a risk assessment?
37:25 - How do you get organisational buy in?
38:45 - Do you need to measure employee mental health to measure reduction in harm?
39:55 - What is the definition of psychological safety?
40:35 - The shift away from fruit bowls to systemic change.
Learn more about Dana (https://www.linkedin.com/in/dana-carver-a35553b1/)
Learn more about Clearhead https://www.myclearhead.com/
psychosocial hazards explained • workplace mental health risks • how to assess psychosocial risk • psychosocial risk management framework • employer obligations psychosocial risk -
Family relationships can be some of the most supportive parts of our lives, but can be incredibly challenging when they are toxic. In this episode, we dive into what toxic family members really look like, and what to do about it. If you ever wanted to find a way forward when your relationships have become draining or unsafe, or learn how to set boundaries with family, including your parents, this is the episode for you. We cover the steps to protect our personal well-being and heal from trauma.
Our guest today is Dr Sherrie Campbell, a licensed clinical psychologist and author known for her work on toxic family dynamics, where she specialises in helping healthy people cut ties with the toxic people in their lives. She is a nationally recognised expert on family estrangement, a best selling author, TEDx Speaker, top 1% Podcast host of the “Sherapy Sessions: Cutting Toxic Family Ties”, a well-known social media influencer and a regularly featured media expert. In this episode, we dive deep into answering the following thorny questions.
00:00 - Intro
2:05 - How Sherrie became an expert in toxic families.
3:10 - Defining a healthy vs toxic family.
4:30 - Why it is easier to recognise you are in a toxic family in your 40s.
7:45 - What can you do to recognise this earlier?
10:00 - Where can you go to learn more about a toxic family?
12:25 - What are the 5 types of estrangement?
16:40 - When to use no contact as a coping strategy?
18:40 - How do you set and maintain your boundaries?
20:45 - Clinical example of boundary testing.
23:50 - Dealing with the guilt of setting boundaries.
26:00 - What support is available outside of therapy?
27:20 - Why do some people get stuck in a victim mindset?
28:40 - Why the "gray rock" method is a safer form of boundary setting for children.
30:20 - How does the level of contact evolve in the healing journey?
33:15 - How taking responsibility for your wellbeing is the first step to healing.
36:00 - What can you do to not perpetuate the cycle of trauma?
37:40 - Why providing validation is key in the role of a support person?
39:35 - How to maintain boundaries during the holiday season?
40:30 - Why self-love is an important part of healing?
41:40 - How to respond when the legal system gets involve?
43:30 - What is Sherrie’s one wellbeing practice?
Learn more about Sherrie https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-ewing-7865712a/
Learn more about Clearhead https://www.myclearhead.com/ -
Trauma can take many forms, from single shocking events affecting a whole community to deeply personal experiences that unfold over time during childhood. We’ll explore how different types of trauma, such as traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and more can negatively impact our behaviour, relationships, and resilience later in life. Understanding how it affects us can be one of the first steps toward recovery. In this episode, we will uncover what really happens to the brain and body after trauma and what evidence-based interventions that help people rebuild their lives looks like in practice.
Our guest today is Dr Jan Ewing is a highly respected Clinical Neuropsychologist and Clinical Psychologist with over 40 years of experience specialising in trauma, brain injury, and complex psychological disorders. As a Fellow for the Australian Psychological Society, the Australian Society for the Study of Brain Impairment and the International Society for the Study of Trauma & Dissociation (ISSTD), Jan is recognised internationally for her expertise in understanding how trauma impacts the brain and behaviour. She has trained thousands of mental health professionals across Australia and served for more than 15 years as an educator at the University of Queensland. Jan also sits on the advisory panel for the Blue Knot Foundation, supporting adult survivors of childhood abuse.
In this episode, we dive deep into answering the following thorny questions.
00:00 - Intro
2:30 - How Jan became an expert in trauma recovery?
3:35 - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Trauma definitions.
6:30 - What happens to the brain during a traumatic event?
12:00 - How training helps with choosing whether to fight, flight, freeze or faint to survive during a traumatic event?
15:15 - When is it safe for the brain to re-regulate? 17:30 - What are PTSD symptoms? 21:40 - How long does it take to re-regulate the brain?
25:15 - What can we do to support someone after a traumatic event?
29:30 - What is the “window of tolerance” and how does it determine how easily you are triggered by trauma?
32:20 - What is a body memory, and how is it present even when you have amnesia of the trauma? 36:00 - The 3 phases of trauma processing that are part of recovery.
40:45 - How to identify someone has a history of trauma and how to best support them?
46:50 - How to help someone increase their window of tolerance? 48:45 - The different types of trauma.
51:00 - The difference between stress and trauma.
52:10 - Is full recovery possible after a traumatic event?
55:50 - Why is EMDR considered best practice for treating trauma?
59:00 - The role of shame in trauma.
1:01.15 - How can we tackle shame in order to speed up recovery?
1:03.40 - Why avoidance is the biggest barrier to trauma recovery?
1:04.30 - What is Jan’s one wellbeing practice?
Learn more about Jan https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-ewing-7865712a/
Learn more about Clearhead https://www.myclearhead.com/ -
Despite living in a world filled with freedom, convenience, and choice, many of us still feel unhappy, lonely, and unfulfilled. Why is that, and what can evolutionary psychology teach us about who we are, where we come from, and what makes us happy? This episode explores how our most basic psychological needs, for connection and for autonomy, shape the way we think, feel, and relate to others. In today’s world, these two needs can sometimes conflict with each other, and this social paradox can have a real impact on our wellbeing.We’ll also discuss how the “social leap” our distant ancestors made from the rainforest to the savannah created a new kind of social intelligence, and how they coped with stressful situations. By understanding how our history plays out in the modern environment, we can shape our lives in ways that help us feel more content, more connected, and better able to manage negative emotions.
Bill's biography:
Our guest today is Bill Von Hippel. After a three-decade career as a psychology professor in the United States and Australia, Bill now writes books and conducts research, publishing over 150 academic articles across a range of psychological topics. His work has been cited over fifteen thousand times in academic literature and widely reported in the media, including The New York Times ‘100 Ideas of the Year’, The Economist, The Australian and more. Bill has been a guest on numerous podcasts, including The Joe Rogan Experience, Diary of a CEO, and Modern Wisdom with Chris Williamson. Bill’s first book, The Social Leap, has been translated into a dozen different languages and received the annual Book Prize from the world’s foremost social psychology society.
00:00 - Intro
02:40 - How Bill became an expert in evolutionary psychology.
03:50 - Evolutionary psychology definition.
05:35 - How deterministic are our genes in shaping our life outcomes?
08:00 - Has our mind evolved to be fit for the modern world or is there an evolutionary mismatch?
10:10 - Types of evolutionary mismatch - Miswanting and Misfeeling.
13:20 - Our main source of unhappiness is the conflict between our needs for connection and autonomy in our relationships.
16:00 - Should we retrain our brains to need less connection, or focus on meeting our connection needs to be happier?
19:10 - Why do successful people still feel lonely and dissatisfied in life?
20:30 - The definition of autonomy in the context of evolutionary psychology.
23:40 - The definition of success.
25:55 - Why do we often feel regret in a world full of choice?
29:25 - How do we limit regret and what is the best way to meet our need for autonomy?
32:10 - Why satificers are happier than maximisers?
34:30 - Why self-control is more about avoiding temptation than resisting temptation?
38:15 - Why, when we get what we want (autonomy), do we lose what we need (connection)?
42:05 - Why we should always optimise for connection over autonomy?
43:45 - Why remote work makes people less happy and less effective at work?
46:45 - Why it is also important to have a phone free policy at work and at schools?
47:45 - Should we legislate phone free policy or return to work policy?
48:45 - Are there people who will need autonomy more than connection?
51:30 - What can you do to make it easy to meet your connection needs in your daily life?
54:00 - How to reframe a threat as a challenge to reduce stress in your life?
57:10 - What is the goal of life?
57:50 - What is Bill’s one wellbeing practice?
Learn more about Bill
https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-von-hippel/
Learn more about Clearhead
https://www.myclearhead.com/ -
For most of us, pain subsides fairly quickly as we recover from injury. For some, however, pain persists, making it challenging to return to our normal, full-functioning capacity. In some cases, chronic pain may develop due to stress, or even for unexplained reasons. However, due to the stigma and unconscious bias, individuals can feel too ashamed to ask for support or when they do, made to feel invalidated in their experience of chronic pain. The research shows that recovery and resilience are deeply social processes, and meaningful support can change someone’s ability to cope with pain.
Claire's biography:
Our guest today is Dr. Claire Ashton-James a social psychologist and Associate Professor of Pain Management at The University of Sydney Medical School. Her work uncovers how social relationships influence the experience of pain and vice versa. Her research advocates for the integration of social “treatments” into the management of chronic pain, so that people have the best chance of returning to full capacity and avoid relying solely on pain medications or therapy.
00:00 - Intro
02:10 - How Claire became a social psychologist focused on pain management
04:20 - Definitions of chronic pain and acute pain
09:00 - Common misconceptions about people with chronic pain
12:30 - What Claire did differently after learning about these misconceptions
14:25 - How to support people in your life with chronic pain
16:45 - What workplaces can do to support employees with chronic pain
21:10 - Why social support is a key part of chronic pain management
22:25 - What someone with chronic pain can do if they don’t have a supportive social circle
29:15 - Are peer support groups helpful or harmful for pain management?
33:20 - When social connection can have a negative impact
34:25 - The unconscious biases health professionals may have against chronic pain patients
39:25 - What chronic pain patients can do when they experience invalidation from health professionals
41:55 - How to approach supporting someone struggling with chronic pain
44:05 - Acknowledging that chronic pain can cause social withdrawal
45:05 - What to do if pain prevents you from maintaining social connections
46:10 - Claire’s one wellbeing practice
Learn more about Claire
https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-ashton-james-b271368a/
Learn more about Clearhead
https://www.myclearhead.com/ -
What if leadership wasn’t just about authority, decisions, or overseeing tasks done, but about developing powerful interpersonal relationships to inspire and influence?
In this episode, we will explore how Relational Leadership focuses on cultivating trust and connection. We’ll share practical tips on how to build meaningful relationships and navigate complexity, thus transforming our effectiveness as leaders. Learn how to cultivate leadership that is both empathetic while maintaining a standard of high performance and accountability in your team.
Moira's biography:
Moira Mallon is an expert in seeing beneath the surface and getting to the heart of the problem, which often in organisations is all about people and the dynamics they have with each other. Moira is a certified coach with the International Coaching Federation and for over 20 years has coached hundreds of leaders, including those leading the Christchurch’s post-earthquake rebuild. Her coaching is informed by systemic thinking, emotional development, and transformative tools like The Leadership Circle and a practice in Gestalt Psychotherapy. Whether she’s coaching CEOs, senior executives or rising leaders, Moira brings a fierce belief in the power of human potential.
In this episode, we dive deep into answering the following thorny questions:
00:00 - Intro
02:25 - How Moira became a leadership coach focused on leadership development
04:00 - What the emotional experience of leadership means
05:35 - Defining relational leadership
07:55 - How leaders can prioritise connection over control to create psychological safety
10:15 - The physiology behind helpful and unhelpful coping strategies during times of change
13:50 - How leaders can develop presence within an organisation
16:35 - The two key questions to ask when building connections with your team
18:25 - The importance of emotional control and consistency
20:35 - Managing the tension between employee performance and connection
23:10 - What separates leaders who build trust from those who don’t
26:10 - Modelling authentic leadership and resilience in high-pressure environments
29:10 - Influencing up - creating positive change when a leader lacks self-awareness
32:50 - How to intentionally build connection and trust in hybrid or remote teams
36:15 - How leaders can explore the emotional needs behind employee performance issues
39:00 - What defines a great workplace culture
42:00 - Is it bad culture if you’re clear about high workloads and long hours?
45:30 - How often leaders should communicate during periods of change
48:45 - The influence of indigenous practices on relational leadership
51:00 - How to respect boundaries when building deeper connections
52:45 - Why empathetic conversation is the first step toward relational leadership
55:10 - Moira’s one wellbeing practice -
Historically, the unspoken organisational culture meant that your personal issues and any mental health challenges you are experiencing were expected to stay at home. Today, it is increasingly accepted for employees to be more open about their mental health and wellbeing needs in the workplace. However, with the increasing prevalence and severity of mental illness in the community, this presents new challenges for HR and managers to know how to navigate these conversations empathetically while maintaining a focus on the organisation’s performance.
Barry biography:
In today’s episode, we want to focus on our HR audience, and so we have invited special guest host HR professional Lisa Young, who will be interviewing Clearhead’s clinical lead and clinical psychologist Barry Kirker, together they will unpack all the complexity surrounding employee mental health. Barry has 30 years’ experience working with individual clients and organisations across New Zealand and Australia. He undertakes complex mental health assessments, including fitness for work, forensic, and compensation/mental injury assessments, with a thorough understanding of both the clinical and legal aspects involved.
In this episode, we dive deep into answering the following thorny questions.
00:00 – Introduction
01:50 – Lisa introduction
03:50 – Barry introduction
05:30 – What is being covered
08:40 – Definition of mental health
10:00 – What to do when an employee self discloses their mental health challenges to you
13:55 – What to do if you don’t feel equipped to have the conversation?
14:30 – Are there things you shouldn’t say
17:45 – How to assess the safety risk of someone who discloses they have suicidal thoughts
22:00 – What if you can feel your own emotions taking over
23:00 – When to seek professional help
24:00 – How to tell if someone needs more support
25:20 – What to do when you notice someone struggling with their mental health
28:05 – Should you bring up performance issues in a mental health conversation
29:50 – What if the person lacks insight and is dismissive of your concerns
33:50 – Why it’s important to be proactive in having the mental health conversation
34:25 – When an employee blames their mental health at a performance or disciplinary meeting
39:20 – How do you know if a mental health disclosure is genuine
42:00 – What to do when an employee says a performance improvement process negatively impacted their mental health
45:00 – When should you breach the confidentiality of what an employee shared with you
47:00 – How do you deal with the subsequent loss of employee trust
49:40 – How do HR practice self-care and set boundaries on the mental load of supporting others
54:10 – Barry and Lisa’s final takeaway
Learn more about our guest host Lisa Young:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-young-exceedhr/
Helpful resources:
Resource 1: Meeting Crisis with Care. How HR Can Navigate Mental Health Challenges https://www.myclearhead.com/blog/meeting-crisis-with-care-how-hr-can-navigate-mental-health-challenges/
Resource 2: Mental Heatlh Conversations: Guidance for Leaders: https://www.myclearhead.com/blog/mental-health-conversations-guidance-for-leaders/
Resource 3: Frameworks to Support Difficult Conversations at work: https://www.myclearhead.com/blog/frameworks-to-support-difficult-conversations-at-work/
Learn more about Clearhead
https://www.myclearhead.com/ -
“Fine” is the most frequently logged mood on the Clearhead platform, yet it often masks a deeper sense of stress, disconnection, or simply going through the motions. We often answer "I'm fine" without truly reflecting on how we're doing, especially when we're stuck in survival mode.
In this episode, we explore what it really means to move beyond "fine." Unpacking the shift from surviving to thriving, drawing on the science of positive psychology to offer practical tools for building resilience and mental wellbeing, both in life and at work.
Suzy biography:
Dr Suzy Green is a Clinical Psychologist and Founder & CEO of The Positivity Institute, an organisation dedicated to the research and application of the science of optimal human functioning in organisations and schools. She is a leader in Coaching Psychology and Positive Psychology and published over twenty peer-reviewed journal articles. She lectures at University of Sydney and is a fellow at Australia’s Black Dog Institute and has worked with many large organisations such as ANZ, Fitbit, Nivea, Officeworks and more.
In this episode, we dive deep into answering the following thorny questions:
00:00 - Introduction
02:20 - How Suzy is using the lessons she’s learnt to deal with recent losses in her life.
04:30 - Defining thriving vs surviving when there are multiple life challenges.
10:50 - What is a “normal” proportion of thriving vs surviving?
15:45 - The power of therapy in helping with processing grief.
17:30 - The importance of removing stigma from therapy.
18:45 - What is the difference between coaching and therapy?
22:45 - What should you do if someone says they are fine but you can see they are struggling?
27:00 - What are the steps to take if you are struggling?
31:30 - How does Acceptance and Commitment Therapy help one build the right mindset?
36:20 - Why is it hard to change our mindset?
39:15 - Are employers doing enough to help employees thrive at work?
44:20 - A real-world example of an organisation embedding positive psychology in the workplace.
47:45 - How we can use flow theory and self-reflection to find balance between wellbeing and performance?
53:20 - What is Suzy’s one wellbeing practice?
Learn more about Suzy:
https://thepositivityinstitute.com.au/
Helpful Resources:
Steven Covey’s Circles of Control:
https://positivepsychology.com/circles-of-influence/
The Serenity Prayer:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serenity_Prayer
Dr. Kristin Neff:
https://self-compassion.org/
Clearhead’s Blog on ISO 45003:
https://www.myclearhead.com/blog/what-is-iso-45003/
Social and Emotional Contagion Theory:
https://positivepsychology.com/emotional-contagion/
Finding Purpose Tool:
https://www.myclearhead.com/en-au/finding-purpose
Jon Kabat-Zinn:
https://jonkabat-zinn.com/
Learn more about Clearhead
https://www.myclearhead.com/ -
In an age overwhelmed by information, opinion, and polarization, the ability to think critically isn't just useful, it's essential. In this episode, we will learn how we can develop strategies to think critically and make smarter decisions, what it means to challenge assumptions, expose common thinking traps, and offer immediately usable strategies for clearer, more effective reasoning in everyday life.
Steve’s biography:
Steve Pearlman, Ph.D., is arguably the world’s foremost critical thinking expert. After founding the United States’ first academic department solely focused on researching critical thinking and how to teach people to do it, Steve subsequently shared his methods at educational institutions, conferences, and businesses. He is frequently featured in national and international media, and he’s the author of America’s Critical Thinking Crisis: The Failure and Promise of Education.
In this episode, we dive deep into answering the following thorny questions:
00:00 – Introduction
02:00 – Steve’s journey to becoming an expert in critical thinking
04:00 – Critical thinking definition and how it is taught
07:00 – What are default modes of how our brain functions
10:00 – How to maintain critical thinking when there is an overload of information
12:30 – How to assess whether a source of information is credible
15:00 – How to ask the right question when you don’t know what you don’t know
17:15 – Why reassessing the information and refining your initial question is key in critical thinking
18:00 – Why critical thinking does not always need to take a lot of time
19:30 – How to teach kids critical thinking by prioritising reasoning over authority (parenting example)
25:30 – Why intellectual humility is the solution when two people are in disagreement
29:30 – How to deal with someone who is rejecting reason and facts due to polarization in politics
33:10 – Is it possible to maintain critical thinking in the context of time pressures
35:15 – What training programs are available to develop critical thinking skills
37:20 – Example of how leaders remove critical thinking at meetings
39:45 – Example of how leaders can create an environment that fosters critical thinking
42:35 – Can people maintain critical thinking when experiencing burnout
45:30 – What resources are available to move from threat to a challenge that you can meet
48:20 – How to deal with a person who is not receptive to your thinking
51:10 – Why asking questions can cause someone to become defensive
53:20 – Ways to foster critical thinking in virtual meetings
55:15 – How to assess if someone has critical thinking skills
57:45 – How to constructively handle naysayers in discussions
59:50 – One tip to develop critical thinking skills
01:00:55 – What is Steve’s one wellbeing practice
Learn more about the Critical Thinking Institute:
https://www.thectinstitute.com/
Learn more about Clearhead
https://www.myclearhead.com/ -
As workplaces strive to become more inclusive, Autistic people are often misunderstood. However, when empowered they brings a unique perspectives and strengths that can greatly enrich a team. In today’s episode we will hear from an autistic person, Chanelle, share their lived experiences and from Larah what are the practical tools a workplace can implement to better support autistic individuals effectively —from recruitment all the way through to everyday communication and collaboration.
Autism NZ’s biography:
Larah van der Meer: Larah is the Research and Advocacy Manager at Autism NZ. She is also an Adjunct Research Fellow at Victoria University of Wellington. Larah is passionate about inclusion and making a positive difference to the autistic and autism communities, both at an individual level and in creating systemic change.
Chanelle Moriah: Chanelle is neurodivergent (autistic, dyslexic and ADHD, along with pathological demand avoidance). She works as a Research and Advocacy Advisor and has written and illustrated two books on neurodivergence, one of which was listed for the New Zealand Book Awards. Chanelle was diagnosed in adulthood and is very passionate about creating more inclusive and understanding communities
In this episode, we dive deep into answering the following thorny questions.
00:00 - Intro
02:45 - What is autism
03:45 - Understanding the autism spectrum
05:50 - How to determine the level of support someone needs
07:50 - Autistic people vs person with autism which is the right term to use
09:50 - Strengths based vs deficit based terminology
10:50 - What are the differences between an autistic person and a neurotypical person
12:00 - What are the barriers to getting a formal diagnosis
15:00 - Should people disclose their diagnosis with their employers
16:40 - What are signs a workplace is safe to disclose
17:45 - What should be on an employee checklist of accommodation
21:30 - How to deal with an inflexible workplace
24:00 - What are the barriers preventing employment of autistic people
28:15 - What are the changes to a recruitment process to make it more inclusive
32:00 - What are the benefits workplaces see when they are inclusive of neurodiverse employees
34:25 - How do you deal with conflict that can arise from diverse teams
38:15 - What do managers need to learn about their autistic employee
4115 - What actions can be hurtful to an autistic person
42:30 - What resources are available to support workplaces to create inclusive practices
44:50 - How do you support individuals who are masking their autism
47:10 - How can performance reviews be more inclusive
49:25 - Should workplace set up support groups for neurodivergent employees?
50:45 - How can employers prevent an autistic employee from experiencing burnout
53:00 - what is Larah and Chanelle’s one wellbeing practice
Learn more about Autism NZ
https://autismnz.org.nz/
Learn more about Clearhead
https://www.myclearhead.com/ -
Hormonal fluctuations are a normal part of a woman’s life—but for many, they can wreak havoc on our mood, cognition, and overall mental wellbeing. Despite the profound impact hormones can have on our psychological state, the conversation is often overlooked or misunderstood in the workplace.
In this episode, we're joined by Caroline Gurvich to explore the powerful connection between hormones and mental health across the lifespan. From PMS to menopause, Caroline will unpack how our biology affects our brain function, emotional regulation, and mental resilience.
Caroline’s biography:
Caroline Gurvich is a Clinical Neuropsychologist and Associate Professor of the Department of Psychiatry at Monash University. She is also the Deputy Director of HER Centre Australia, Head of the “Cognition and Hormones Group" and Chair of the Victorian College of Clinical Neuropsychologists. Caroline has over 120 publications that have contributed to a better understanding of cognition in mental health and mental illness.
In this episode, we dive deep into answering the following thorny questions.
0:00 - Intro
02:45 - Caroline’s journey to become a clinical neuropsychologist
03:45 - What are hormones and how do they affect the brain
05:30 - What happened when hormones cause havoc on our bodies
10:20 - Are the symptoms of hormone fluctuations the same in normal physiology and when things go wrong
12:00 - The impact of contraceptive pills on our mental health
14:30 - Do men experience similar effects from hormone fluctuations
16:00 - How does menopause impact women in the workplace
19:00 - What can women do to navigate the menopause transition more easily
25:00 - what can workplace do to support the employee
26:00 - how can a male manager support female employees
28:32 - how does hormones impact pregnant employees or new mum.
33:15 - what is the role of hormone replacement therapy
36:45 - what is the role of diet and supplements to improve brain health
38:45 - The evidence behind mindfulness and therapy to improve cognition
46:00 - Can Menopause have a positive impact on women
48:30 - Does hormone fluctuations impact neurodiverse individual differently
53:30 - Are individuals with mental illness more vulnerable to menopause
55:40 - What is the first step if you are concerned about hormones impacting your mental health
58:10 - What is Caroline’s one wellbeing practice -
Change is inevitable and universal. Whether you’re moving countries, going through a breakup, experiencing a restructure at work, or living with grief, one thing is for certain: making big leaps can be daunting and anxiety-inducing if we aren’t ready to face them. However, it’s also important to recognise that change can also be huge opportunity to bring positivity into our lives, alongside hope, new experiences, and personal growth. In this episode, we are joined by change leadership expert Anne Bonney, who will share with us how we can embrace the discomfort of change and push through towards bigger and brighter opportunities.
Anne Bonney is a two-time author and host of the hit podcast Dancing in the Discomfort Zone, to help overwhelmed professionals build resilience in the discomfort of change. After 20 years of crushing it in corporate and nonprofit leadership positions, she now uses her hard-earned experience in the workplace and fiery passion to help leaders tackle tough conversations, and lead with emotional intelligence.
In this episode, we dive deep into answering the following thorny questions.
0:00 - Intro
01:55 - Anne’s journey to becoming a champion for change
03:15 - Why do we find change uncomfortable?
04:00 - How do we override our risk-adverseness to change
05:25 - How do you develop confidence to try something new
07:45 - How do you shift from a pessimistic to an optimistic mindset
10:55 - How to use gratitude as a tool for working through our discomfort to change
12:40 - What are the 4 pillars to becoming mentally tough
14:55 - What are the common characteristics of resilient people
17:30 - How do you work through the sunk cost fallacy
19:35 - What is the 3 step process to manage change when it happens to you rather than when you initiated it
25:03 - Why is it important to be careful who you ask help from
26:25 - How do you make life decisions that is not overly influenced by social pressures
28:55 - What’s your advice for HR or managers to help employees cope with a restructure
30:50 - What did Anne learn as an early employee at Under Armour during a period of massive change
33:50 - How do you build trust with your employees before a change in the workplace happens
36:05 - What are tips for leaders to provide constructive feedback that employees can be receptive to rather than feeling defensive about
39:20 - How do leaders build employee trust when there is a low trust environment
42:00 - How can our communication styles unwittingly lose an employee’s trust
45:25 - What is authentic and open communication
46:35 - How do you manage employee expectations without creating false hope
49:50 - How being vulnerable builds employee trust in an environment of uncertainty
52:25 - How do you support those who’s mental health are more likely to be negatively impacted to change
54:24 - What is the definition of an emotionally intelligent leader
57:10 - How to develop self-awareness on whether you are risk adverse to change
58:25 - What is Anne’s one wellbeing practice
Learn more about Clearhead:
https://www.myclearhead.com/ -
As the saying goes, “Love is a verb,” and healthy relationships require intention, attention, time, and care. However, from our Clearhead data, we can see out of all of the people on our platform who said they were struggling with mental health challenges due to personal reasons, “General Relationship Struggles,” “Family Difficulties,” and “Partner Difficulties” were the top 3 issues people were dealing with. To help us grasp a greater understanding of what a fulfilling relationship should look like, how we can find them, and more importantly how to maintain them, our expert guest today is Serafin Upton.
Serafin’s biography:
Serafin Upton has worked in New Zealand and Australia as a family, couples' and sex therapist for over 20 years. On top of her extensive experience and qualifications, she has also trained under world-renowned sex and relationship therapists Esther Perel and Terry Real.
In this episode, we dive deep into answering the following thorny questions:
00:00 - Intro
01:55 - Serafin’s journey to becoming a couples, child, family, and sex therapist
03:25 - What is the common fear that everyone has regardless of their stage of life
04:40 - What are the skills you need to develop to have healthy relationships
06:20 - What is one thing you can do to become more attuned to someone you care about
08:30 - How can you stay present for your romantic partner when you are really busy
10:40 - How reflecting back and following up with your partner is key
12:30 - Can your attachment style change depending on the relationship?
14:05 - How to develop a secure attachment style if you have an avoidant attachment style
16:15 - How to develop a secure attachment style if you have an anxious attachment style
17:45 - How does emotional intimacy vs physical intimacy change over time in long term relationships
22:20 - Tips on how to create space for romance and connection in long term relationships
24:05 - Should making time for fun in a relationship be scheduled or spontaneous
26:10 - Advice for developing connection for people who are single
27:35 - How to deal with rejection in online dating such as ‘ghosting’
29:15 - Are we meant to be single or in relationships
33:15 - Is there a difference between being lonely vs being alone
35:45 - How your fear of being judged or misunderstood prevents you from developing meaningful relationships
37:05 - How to build your tolerance to being vulnerable when sharing in a relationship
38:45 - Tips on conflict management in relationships
43:30 - Do the type of fights you see in movies happen in real life
45:20 - How do you get someone who is conflict avoidant to express their needs
47:30 - When is the best time to raise issues you have with your partner
49:00 - How do you not get defensive when someone raises an issue with you
50:50 - Why is it important to let someone know if you think they are in an abusive or toxic relationship
53:40 - How does Serafin assess if someone is in an abusive relationship
55:35 - What are examples of psychological violence in a relationship
57:00 - What are the red flags that signal you should leave an abusive relationship
58:25 - What is the impact of relationship on our mental health
59:50 - What is Serafin’s one wellbeing practice
Learn more about Serafin:
https://serafinupton.co.nz
Learn more about Clearhead:
https://www.myclearhead.com/ -
Sleep is at the very centre of our wellbeing. Getting a good night's rest is crucial for both the body and mind, allowing us to repair, reset, and be ready for whatever the day throws at us. In this session, we'll be joined by sleep specialist Dr. Michael Breus to learn about the relationship between sleep and mental health and unpack how to set ourselves up to have a good night's sleep, every night.
Michael’s biography:
Dr. Michael Breus, Ph.D., is a double board-certified Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Sleep Specialist who has been in private practice for 23 years. He is the founder of sleepdoctor.com, and for over 14 years he served as the Sleep Expert for WebMD. Recently, he was named the Top Sleep Specialist by Reader’s Digest. His expertise lies in the science of sleep and peak performance as well as treating sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, narcolepsy, insomnia, restless legs syndrome, and more.
In this episode, we dive deep into answering the following thorny questions
0:00 - Intro
1:50 - Michael’s journey to becoming a sleep specialist
6:30 - Why 75% of insomnia is caused by poor mental health
7:45 - How CBT (therapy) is used to cure insomnia
15:15 - How do you know whether you have a good quality sleep or not
16:30 - How should we interpret sleep metrics
17:30 - What are common disruptors of sleep
17:50 - Understanding REM and NREM sleep
19:15 - What test can you do when you have a poor quality of sleep
21:45 - Should you take supplements to improve your sleep
22:40 - What is the recommended quantity (hours) of sleep
24:15 - What can you do when you wake up at night and can’t go back to sleep
29:00 - What is a breathing technique to calm down and fall asleep
33:30 - Should you get up or try to fall back asleep
35:30 - Should you take a nap before your normal bedtime when you are tired
37:00 - What can you do if you are a light sleeper or have trouble falling asleep
38:15 - When should you seek professional help if you have insomnia
39:45 - Do sleeping pills provide you a good quality of sleep
41:45 - What can you do to get better sleep if you are a shift worker or are jet-lagged
44:50 - When is the best time to be intimate if you have a different chronotype to your partner
48:30 - How can understanding your family member’s chronotype lead to positive interactions
50:00 - What is the role of sleep hygiene and the negative impact of alcohol
52:00 - What is a normal amount of time we need to fall asleep
54:00 - What is the connection between sleep and peak performance
54:50 - What is Michael’s one wellbeing practice
Learn more about Michael Breus
https://www.linkedin.com/in/thesleepdoctor
Learn more about Clearhead:
https://www.myclearhead.com/ -
The human brain is an incredibly complex organ. We are all wired to process emotions, thoughts, and behaviours differently due to a range of factors, including our genetics and the environment. Sometimes, individuals develop serious mental health disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, or are considered neurodivergent, with neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism or ADHD. Learning how to understand the way that these experiences shape us is crucial to our overall wellbeing, which is why we are joined by our expert guest, Marie Bismark, to unpack all the nuances behind diagnosing mental health disorders and the best ways to manage them.
Marie’s biography:
Professor Marie Bismark is a psychiatrist, public health physician, and health lawyer. She divides her time between New Zealand and Australia. In addition to her clinical work, Marie leads a research team at the University of Melbourne, focusing on the interface between patient safety and clinician wellbeing. She serves as a Director of several health sector organisations including the Royal Women’s Hospital and Summerset aged care. Marie completed a Harkness Fellowship at Harvard and her research has influenced regulatory policy in Australia and internationally.
In this episode, we dive deep into answering the following thorny questions:
0:00 - Intro
2:35 - What is the definition of a mental health disorder?
3:40 - What is bipolar disorder?
7:35 - What is schizophrenia?
9:55 - What is the role of medication and therapy in mental health treatment?
12:40 - What is the role of the social determinants of health in developing mental health illness?
14:00 - What are the causes of mental health disorders?
15:55 - Why is developing self-awareness is the first step towards treatment?
19:40 - Are there tests that can be done to confirm a mental health diagnosis?
22:10 - How to determine the severity of a mental illness?
26:10 - The role of family in supporting mentally unwell individuals
28:05 - How should we be supporting caregivers?
29:45 - What are the challenges and strengths of being neurodiverse? (Autism and ADHD)
33:25 - What can workplaces do to support neurodiverse individuals?
35:00 - How to best manage your ADHD to optimise functioning
37:25 - How to best manage your Autism to optimise functioning
38:50 - What happens if you are misdiagnosed
42:05 - Why neurodiverse individuals often also have mental illness
45:35 - The over-medicalisation of normal emotional responses
48:30 - Why Marie decided to become a psychiatrist
50:45 - What are the consequences of untreated mental health illness
54:35 - What workplaces can do to support employees’ mental wellbeing and resilience
56:40 - What is Marie’s one wellbeing practice?
57:20 - What is the role of nutrition and lifestyle changes to maintain mental wellbeing?
Learn more about Marie:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/marie-bismark-2397831b/
Learn more about Clearhead:
https://www.myclearhead.com/ -
Over the last 5 years, hospital visits related to eating disorders has doubled, and those being diagnosed are getting younger and often presenting with a more serious condition. The reasons for why someone develops an eating disorder is a complicated process with biological, psychological, genetic and social-cultural factors at play. It is also important to acknowledge that it is also a long and difficult process when supporting a loved one on their recovery journey.
In this episode, we will hear from Genevieve Mora as she shares her personal journey to recovery and her advice for any individuals dealing with an eating disorder.
Genevieve’s biography:
Genevieve spent most of her teenage years trying to managing both her OCD and anorexia nervosa. As part of her recovery, she has made it her mission to offer hope to those who are struggling themselves. Genevieve co-founded Voices of Hope, and through this platform, she uses her lived experience to show people that recovery is possible and that there is no shame in having a mental illness. Genevieve is the author of ‘Bite Back - a compassionate guide to navigating Eating Disorders,’ and the co-creator of Love your Kite, an eating disorder resource app. Alongside Jazz Thornton, her cofounder, she was named in 2023 Forbes Asia 30 under 30.
In this episode, we dive deep into answering the following thorny questions:
0:00 - Intro
2:25 - How did Gen’s mental illness journey begin?
5:00 - Why did Gen develop Anorexia Nervosa?
8:55 - What were the challenges Gen faced while having an eating disorder?
11:25 - What was the turning point towards her recovery?
13:45 - Why the denial phase prevents recovery from an eating disorder
15:25 - Did Gen feel judged about her mental illness?
17:00 - What is a typical recovery journey?
19:35 - How to help individuals move past the pre-contemplative (denial) phase
21:35 - How to avoid unhelpful language when supporting someone who is struggling with an eating disorder
24:15 - Are there more young men struggling with eating disorders?
25:45 - Has Gen experience relapses after recovery?
28:00 - Is recovery based only from the perspective of the individual going through the mental illness, or from the perspective of the people supporting them?
31:40 - What Gen does to stay mentally well
33:45 - What parents can do to try and prevent their child from develop an eating disorder
37:00 - What has Gen learnt from running a charity about the community's mental health and lived experiences?
39:45 - What is the role that workplaces can play in supporting individuals?
41:00 - Why did Gen develop an eating disorder resource app?
43:30 - What did Gen learn after people starting using her app?
45:20 - What is Gen hopeful about the eating disorder space?
46:17 - What is Gen’s message to those who are supporting loved ones struggling with an eating disorder?
47:20 - Is there any difference for those who are overeating compared to those who are restricting their intake?
49:00 - What is Gen’s one wellbeing practice?
Learn more about Gen:
https://thevoicesofhope.org/pages/team
https://www.linkedin.com/in/genevieve-mora-a02948174/?originalSubdomain=nz
Helpful resource: (Genevieve's book)
https://www.penguin.co.nz/books/bite-back-9781776950447
Learn more about Clearhead:
https://www.myclearhead.com/ - Show more
