Revolutionaries of Wellbeing: Breaking Burnout Culture

Ever worked in a team that just clicked - where everyone had each other’s backs and you felt like you belonged? What if you could create that on purpose? Turns out, you can, and it’s not just about being nice. It’s about leadership, clarity, and knowing what gets in the way. In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Emma Clarke - a Kiwi researcher and specialist, currently based in Europe. Emma’s just wr...

What if the key to ending burnout culture is in the stories of those who’ve lived it and come out the other side? In this powerful episode of the Revolutionaries of Wellbeing podcast, three prominent New Zealand leaders open up about their personal journeys through crisis and recovery. In this episode, we're joined by: Joanna Sinclair, Chief Wellbeing Officer (then National Clinical Lead for Emplo...

When it comes to wellbeing at work, body image isn’t often (ever?) at the top of the priority list. Yet, it can have a profound impact on how people perceive themselves and their abilities in the workplace. Our relationship with our bodies doesn't stay at home when we go to work. It comes with us and can affect our confidence, willingness to contribute and speak up, and ultimately, our career grow...

If your workplace thinks wellbeing is puppies and popsicles, then this episode is for you. Getting your colleagues engaged in wellbeing at work can be hard. Even in organisations where safety is a huge focus, it doesn’t always mean they actually get what wellbeing is all about. So, what can you do? Today, I’m joined by Leora Hornstein, an award-winning wellbeing specialist at Cenovus Energy in Can...

Today’s podcast guest shared a startling statistic: we spend a whopping 82,000 hours of our lives at work. While many of us are great at prioritising our physical health outside the office - going for runs, eating well, walking in nature - we often forget about our physical wellbeing in the place where we spend most of our waking hours – especially if we’re desk-bound. It's a bit of a disconnect a...

Imagine a workplace where giving feedback feels completely safe and normal - a place where you can share your ideas or concerns without worrying that things might go badly. Unfortunately, many of us hold back from speaking up because we’ve either felt dismissed before or experienced situations where it all went wrong. But what if we could change that? In this episode, we’re diving into psychologic...

Sleep is something we all do, and yet it’s a bit of a mystery. How much do we really need? What happens when we sleep? And why is it sometimes so hard to achieve, no matter how hard we try? These questions affect millions of people worldwide, impacting their health, life satisfaction, and productivity.  In this episode, we explore sleep with Bernice Tuffery, a sleep health advocate and author of "...

In this episode, we’re exploring the profound impact trauma can have on people, teams, and organisations, and how workplaces can better respond and be more trauma-aware. We’ll unpack the difference between stress and trauma, and look at how events like the COVID-19 pandemic have reshaped our sense of wellbeing. To better understand the effects of trauma, we’re joined by Ross Anderson, an Australia...

**We've had a name change! This podcast is now called Breaking Burnout Culture. It was Workplace Wellbeing, but we've made the change to better reflect our mission. It's still all the content you know and love.** In this episode, ROW Alumni Chris Hewitt chats with Dean Yates, author of Line in the Sand. Dean Yates was the ideal warzone correspondent: courageous, compassionate, and dedicated. After...

Humans have been sharing stories since the dawn of time to help us make sense of the world around us and to influence our thinking. Storytelling is one of the most powerful tools in a wellbeing leader’s toolkit. With it, you can normalise conversations about mental health and wellbeing, you can destigmatise, you can challenge and change beliefs and you can foster psychological safety. In this epis...

Wellbeing starts at the top of an organisation, which means we need senior leaders to be committed and engaged. So how can you influence leaders in your workplace? In this episode, we talk to a leader who is more than walking the talk. Hugh Goddard, Managing Director at Pipeline & Civil, is a role model for embracing and leading a people-first culture. We’ll talk about the role of senior leade...

While financial wellbeing has always been important, the current economic climate and cost of living crisis are causing stress and pressure for people across the board. We explore some of the key financial wellbeing issues people face, shedding light on the various challenges people encounter when it comes to managing their finances effectively. We also examine how societal conditioning influences...

Auckland Transport (AT) is a large, complex, public organisation with a wide range of physical and psychosocial risks to manage. This interview was recorded in mid-2023 when we were joined by AT’s then-People Experience Lead Jessica Hayes to take a look at their wellbeing strategy and some of the award-winning initiatives that they had rolled out over the last two years. We’ll also look at the pro...

Bullying behaviours and attitudes can very extremely damaging. But if you do have a bully at work? And what can you do to proactively change their behaviours and the culture they create? What assistance and support can you give to the target of those behaviours? In this episode, we’re joined by workplace bullying specialist Michael Plowright, founder of Working Well Together. We discuss all things...

In this episode, we’re joined by Natalee Scripps-Hawkins, author, coach and Head of Health, Safety and Wellbeing at Auckland Airport to explore a key issue, and that’s this: as wellbeing leaders and champions, we’re passionate about driving the organisation’s wellbeing agenda. But what does that look like in reality? We know we need to be influential and drive of change. But how? Together, we disc...

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 tho...

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....

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 perime...

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 neu...

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 pas...

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, a...

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...

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 Heal...

We’re delighted to be joined by Adele Saunders, Manager of Psychological Health and Wellbeing at St John. In this episode, we talk through the massive influence that managers and peers have in providing first-level mental health and psychosocial support, and insights from a workplace where things like psychological trauma and PTSD are real risks that need to be actively managed. Be a leader. Join...

Over the next little while, we’ll be exploring diversity and inclusion as part of our podcast series. This episode explores inclusive wellbeing from a Māori worldview. When it comes to workplace wellbeing, inclusivity is important. An inclusive, diverse workplace culture fosters a sense of belonging, safety, and purpose for employees, which in turn helps to increase wellbeing and productivity. It...