Above & Below

Awareness is important, but what happens when a worker asks for help? In Episode 36 of Above and Below, Sonya Bohmann speaks with Dr. Bradley Evanoff and Sami Tayeb of Washington University in St. Louis about COMPASS, a practical ten-step framework that helps construction organizations build and sustain suicide prevention programs. Bradley and Sami explain how COMPASS was inspired by Australia’s M...

What happens when the person trusted to move the heaviest loads is quietly carrying an unbearable one? In this episode of Above and Below, Sonya Bowman and Zulq Malik speak with crane operator, union business agent, and mental health advocate Chris about his experiences with depression, anxiety, and alcohol—and the long road toward accepting help. Chris explains how his father’s persistent, judgme...

In this episode of Above and Below, host Sonya Bohmann welcomes Tim Irving, retired Deputy Director of OSHA's Directorate of Construction, for a conversation about the evolution of workplace safety and why mental health must be part of it. Tim shares the personal experience that led him from electrical contracting into a lifelong career in safety, including a devastating workplace incident that fo...

In this episode of Above and Below, host Sonya Bohmann sits down with Kara McCaffrey, third-generation owner and Chief Wellness Officer at Houck Specialty Contractors, to discuss how wellness, leadership, and access to care can transform the construction industry. Kara shares the deeply personal experiences that shaped her passion for suicide prevention, including the loss of her brother, and how...

In this episode of Above and Below, hosts Sonya Bohmann and Zulq Malik welcome Anthony Bowers and Eric Torres for a conversation about one of construction's biggest opportunities: moving beyond language barriers to build workplaces rooted in cultural understanding, trust, and psychological safety. Drawing from their experience leading multilingual construction teams, Anthony and Eric explore how c...

In this episode of Above and Below, host Sonya Bohmann welcomes Eli Embleton, Dream Manager and Leadership Development leader at Zachry Corporation, for a conversation about leadership, belonging, and the connection between communication and mental health. Eli shares his unique journey into the construction industry, from learning Spanish while living in South America to becoming a safety professi...

In this episode of Above and Below, host Sonya Bohmann and co-host Zulq Malik sit down with John Sobetsky of Mainline Security Solutions for one of the most honest and personal conversations we’ve had on the podcast.   John shares his journey through grief, depression, substance abuse, suicidal thoughts, and the long road toward healing. From losing his grandmother at a young age to hitting rock b...

In this episode of Above and Below, host Sonya Bohmann and co-host Zulq Malik sit down with Ben Jump, a safety technician, former tradesman, and comedian from New York, for an honest conversation about mental health, jobsite culture, and the real-world challenges facing construction workers today.   Drawing from his experience as a carpenter, welder, and precaster, Ben shares what life on the road...

In this special episode of Above and Below, we bring you the powerful recorded conversation from Stronger Than the Silence: The Road to Recovery Begins with a Voice.   Produced by CIASP and the Turner Foundation, in cooperation with SAFE Project, this conversation explores the realities of substance use, recovery, and mental health within the construction industry through honest, personal storytel...

In this episode of Above and Below, host Sonya Bohmann and co-host Zulq Malik are joined by Fred Mills, founder of The B1M, the world’s largest video platform for construction, reaching millions of people each month.   Fred shares how he built a global media brand to change the perception of construction—and what led him to use that platform to speak openly about his own mental health journey. Beh...

In this episode of Above and Below, host Sonya Bohmann and co-host Zulq Malik are joined by Stuart Binstock, former CEO of CFMA and one of the early leaders behind the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention.   Stuart shares how a single article in 2015 sparked a powerful industry-wide response, leading to the creation of CIASP and a movement that continues to grow today. Together, t...

In this special anniversary episode of Above and Below, host Sonya Bohmann and co-host Zulq Malik reflect on the first year of the podcast and the conversations that have shaped it. From powerful guest stories to unexpected moments of connection, they revisit the episodes that made them laugh, challenged their thinking, and, at times, left them deeply emotional. They also share what has surprised...

In this episode of Above and Below, CIASP Executive Director Sonya Bohmann sits down with Julia Flanagan, a surveyor working in heavy construction.   Julia shares how she found her way into the construction industry, what it’s really like working in the field on major infrastructure projects, and why she believes it’s important to speak openly about the challenges people face in this industry.   F...

In this episode of Above and Below, CIASP Executive Director Sonya Bohmann sits down with Chelsea Fenton, a union laborer with LIUNA Local 596 out of Holyoke, Massachusetts, known online as That Union Laborer.   Chelsea shares her path into the trades, including being turned down twice before earning her spot on the third attempt, and what 14 years in the field has taught her about perseverance, w...

In this episode of Above & Below, host Sonya Bohmann sits down with Jared Bartholomew, a 20-year-old senior at Williamson College of the Trades, who shares how a high school twist of fate led him to discover his true passion: masonry.   Jared opens up about life at Williamson, where discipline, structure, and service shape every student’s journey. From working co-op jobs to competing in Skills...

What does it really mean to lead by serving others? In this episode, hosts Sonya Bohmann and Zulq Malik sit down with Greg Sizemore, Vice President of Health, Safety, Environment, and Workforce Development at Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), to explore the core principles of servant leadership in the construction industry.   Greg shares insights from his decades of experience, discussing...

In this episode of Above & Below, host Sonya Bohmann sits down with Kristy Domboski, the newly appointed Chair of the CIASP Board of Trustees, for a candid conversation about what’s next for the organization.   Kristy reflects on CIASP’s evolution—from its early ties to CFMA to becoming a 501(c)(3)—and shares why this work is so personal to her. With a two-year term ahead, she outlines her vis...

In Episode 19 of Above and Below, hosts Sonya Bohmann and Zulq Malik sit down with Vikram Kapur for a thoughtful conversation on mindfulness and safety in the construction industry.   Vikram shares why mindfulness isn’t about meditation — it’s about awareness, presence, and the ability to respond rather than react. From daily walk-throughs to crisis moments, he explains how mindful leadership can...

In this intimate and thoughtful episode of Above and Below, host Sonya Bohmann is joined by Sally Spencer-Thomas to explore the subtle, yet powerful, ways workplace culture is shaped.   Together, they dive into what it means to feel seen and heard on a job site, how small moments of intention can shift the mental health landscape in construction, and why the best cultural change often begins when...

In this powerful episode of Above and Below, Sonya Bohmann and Zulq Malik sit down with leadership strategist and keynote speaker Ted Ma to explore how mentorship—both formal and informal—can reshape the culture of the construction industry.   From apprenticeships to executive roles, this conversation dives into the emotional side of leadership, the importance of building real human connection at...

What does it take to build real community in construction? In this episode of Above and Below, Sonya Bohmann sits down with Dr. Elyse Dubb, a psychologist and founder of Inside Onsite Mental Wellness, to explore how trust, vulnerability, and shared values can help foster safer, more connected job sites. From music as a stress reliever to the power of asking “How are you—really?”, this conversation...

In this episode of Above and Below, hosts Sonya Bohmann and Zulq Malik sit down with Sarah and Matthew Cottam for a raw and deeply personal conversation about addiction, recovery, and the family bonds that helped them through it.   Matthew shares his experience navigating substance use while working in the trades, often hiding in plain sight while struggling with internal battles. Sarah opens up a...

In this episode of Above and Below, CIASP Executive Director Sonya Bohmann and board member Zulq Malik are joined by Kathy Martin, Workplace Mental Health and Wellness Specialist at the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association (IHSA) in Ontario. Together, they explore the parallels and distinctions between Canadian and U.S. approaches to suicide prevention and mental health support in the cons...

In this powerful episode of Above and Below, CIASP Executive Director Sonya Bohmann and board member Zulq Malik are joined by Dr. John Gaal, a respected construction industry veteran and leading voice in suicide postvention. Dr. Gaal shares the deeply personal story that shaped his second career and explores how postvention, supporting families, coworkers, and communities after a suicide, is a cri...

In Episode 12 of Above and Below, CIASP Executive Director Sonya Bohmann is joined by Cal Beyer (SAFE Project) and Nick Williams (Subcontractors Association of Colorado) for a powerful conversation on the intersection between suicide prevention and substance use in the construction industry. Together, they discuss: Why separating these conversations does a disservice to workers How substance use s...