The Human-Savvy Podcast

Send us Fan Mail What if the most powerful thing a leader can say is “I don’t have it all figured out”?  In this episode, Dr Liv Oginska sits down with an extraordinary leader, Nina Bosco . They unpack how vulnerability, clear rituals, and a progress-over-perfection mindset fuel real results across a diverse team. Nina leads veterinarians and corporate affairs professionals in a fast, high-stakes...

Send us Fan Mail In this Episode, Dr Liv and Dr Emma unpack five behavioural red flags that chip away at psychological safety and share practical ways leaders can spot patterns early, respond with compassion, and protect a culture of curiosity and learning.  The clearest warning sign emerges: when leaders do nothing, culture decides for them. If you can see that something like that is happening in...

Send us Fan Mail In this special episode, you can listen to the audio from the newest leadership webinar published by Human-Savvy. “Building a Healthy Workplace Culture - Where to Start?” is the webinar where Dr Liv Oginska shares a practical roadmap for building a healthy, psychologically safe culture in teams using a simple five-part Culture Map . We cover red flags to watch for, the exact quest...

Send us Fan Mail A listener writes in with a relatable issue: a colleague who double-checks everything, asks constant questions, and turns high-stakes work into a crawl. In this episode, Dr Liv and Dr Emma dig into the tension between psychological safety and performance. They also discuss how to give kind, clear feedback without harming psychological safety. Our hosts explore triggers, values, an...

Send us Fan Mail Want to see how a fast-moving company keeps its soul intact? We sit down with Eve, founder and CEO of MI:RNA Diagnostics , and Claudia, former COO and now advisor, for a candid tour of human leadership: how culture is built on daily choices, why conflict can be healthy, and what values look like when they’re more than wall art. From the first question, they make one principle clea...

Send us Fan Mail A letter from a head nurse in a rural hospital lands on the Human-Savvy Team's desk: the team has weathered a wave of departures, new hires are on the way, and major scheduling changes loom.  Rather than offering platitudes, Dr Liv and Dr Emma roll up their sleeves and map a path from grief and rumour to clarity and momentum, focusing on psychological safety, structured debri...

Send us Fan Mail 🎙️ New Episode of the Human-Savvy Podcast is here!  This time, I had the honour and joy of interviewing an old friend and a real Dragon Slayer 🐉 (Honestly, I’m BUZZING)   Dr. Guy Sandelowsky MBA is a veterinarian, entrepreneur, and founder of Omni Pet | B Corp™ . He is one of the most authentic people that I have ever met. Despite facing a plethora of challenges on his trail-blaz...

Send us Fan Mail "There aren't enough hours in the day" takes on new meaning when you're expected to fulfill multiple full-time roles simultaneously. This episode unpacks a letter from a veterinary nurse who's also managing an entire practice while covering nursing shortages—a situation leaving her perpetually behind and completely overwhelmed. Our deep dive reveals a comm...

Send us Fan Mail We dive into a fascinating workplace dilemma from a professional struggling to connect with her email-only manager who avoids all face-to-face interaction. The disconnect creates uncertainty and confusion about their working relationship. In this episode, Dr Liv and Dr Emma discuss: • Different perspectives on why the manager might behave this way • How to approach difficult conve...

Send us Fan Mail BONUS EPISODE - Module 5, Lesson 1 from the Human-Savvy Medicine Course (HSMC) >>> (click here to access the full course) IMPORTANT! This episode is accompanied by the visual materials that will help you enjoy 100% of the HSMC experience. Click here to access them >>> "Module 5 - Visual Materials" Feeling drained from caring too much? The problem might...

Send us Fan Mail "What got me here isn’t what’s going to get me there. When leaders step into new roles, they need to stop and ask: what behaviours served me before, and which ones do I need to let go of or build now?" — Molly McAllister In this episode, Dr Liv had the honour of interviewing Dr Molly McAllister - Global Chief Medical Officer at Mars Veterinary Health. They discuss: 🧠How...

Send us Fan Mail Communication breakdowns can feel insurmountable, especially when you're an enthusiastic extrovert leading a team of reserved, analytical thinkers. Our latest episode dives into this exact challenge, exploring how different communication styles can create friction despite everyone's best intentions. This conversation unpacks several powerful strategies for bridging the e...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Dr Liv and Dr Emma help a new leader tame a challenging business partnership with a person who resists change and has the attitude of "we've always done it this way." (click here to contact / learn more about Dr Liv Oginska >>> ) (click here to contact / learn more about Dr Emma McConnell >>>  Immerse yourself in the following topi...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we answer a letter from an introvert who stepped into a role created specifically to manage strong-willed, independent professionals, and our listener suddenly finds herself struggling with assertiveness and accountability. Through practical advice and actionable strategies, Dr Liv and Dr Emma explore how to bridge the expertise gap while still commanding respect....

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever poured your heart and soul into leading your team, only to feel completely undervalued despite your best efforts? You're not alone. This episode tackles one of leadership's most painful paradoxes - when caring deeply for your team seems to make you more vulnerable to burnout and resentment. In this episode, Dr Liv and Dr Emma share a powerful coaching exerc...

Send us Fan Mail What do you do when a colleague treats you as if you're invisible ?  In this deeply relatable episode, Dr Liv and Dr Emma unpack a listener's letter about workplace incivility that strikes a chord with anyone who's ever felt dismissed or ignored during meetings.  This episode, the hosts: explore the passive-aggressive behaviour   reveal the psychological underpinnin...

Send us Fan Mail *TRIGGER WARNING* - in this episode, hosts discuss fertility issues  Leadership often requires navigating the delicate balance between compassion and accountability, especially when personal challenges collide with professional responsibilities. At the heart of today's conversation lies a powerful question: how can leaders support employees through significant life events whi...

Send us Fan Mail Ever had a manager who responds to every problem with "Just think positive!" or "Don't worry about it"? What might seem like cheerful leadership can actually be toxic positivity in disguise—and it's causing real damage in workplaces everywhere. In this eye-opening episode, Dr Liv and Dr Emma dive deep into a listener's struggle with a company lea...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when the leader of a healthcare team begins to crumble under the weight of self-doubt? A nursing manager with ten staff members has written to us with a heart-wrenching confession: despite giving their all, they feel they're constantly letting down their team. Every facial expression, every sigh from staff feels like judgment—even though no one has actually said...

Send us Fan Mail Our special guest today is Dr. Belinda Hopper.  She shares her leadership journey as the founding director of Animalius Veterinary Hospital in Western Australia, revealing how leadership requires balancing thriving and surviving while creating a workplace where staff can breathe, be seen, and feel valued.  The Human-Savvy Team is deeply grateful for Belinda's openness, vulner...

Send us Fan Mail Stepping from "one of the team" into a leadership position presents a unique challenge that can leave even the most competent professionals feeling frustrated and confused.  In this episode, Dr Liv and Dr Emma explore this delicate transition through the experience of a newly promoted leader who finds himself trapped in an awkward middle ground – his colleagues who once...

Send us Fan Mail Few leadership challenges are as demanding as balancing compassion for a struggling team member with the protection of overall team morale.  This nuanced challenge takes centre stage as Dr Liv and Dr Emma explore the case of a practice owner grappling with how to support an experienced doctor who's returned from a two-year hiatus with shattered confidence . (click here to con...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever wondered why one team struggles to keep their members while others thrive under very similar workplace conditions? This episode tackles a common leadership challenge: high turnover and disengagement .  In this episode, Dr Liv and Dr Emma dive deep into the "Triple S Approach" – a powerful framework for understanding workplace satisfaction through three esse...

Send us Fan Mail Ever notice how one person's complaint can spread through your team like wildfire? You're not alone. Workplace venting is a natural human behaviour that serves important psychological functions, but when left unchecked, it can create an avalanche of negativity that drains everyone's energy. This episode provides a practical framework for transforming these potential...

Send us Fan Mail We've all been there – returning from an inspiring conference bubbling with ideas, only to face blank stares and polite nods from our teams. One listener shares their frustration after introducing concepts like autonomy and micro job crafting to teammates who seemed completely uninterested. What causes this disconnect between our enthusiasm and our team's reception? In t...