Under the Rug at Work

Change doesn't fail because people resist it. More often, it fails because people are left out of the process. Welcome to Under the Rug at Work, where we shine light on the things that are normally swept under the rug. In this episode, our Founder and Chief Courage Officer, Nicole Turnbull, chats with Lata Hamilton about why so many workplace change initiatives fall short, and what leaders can...

When safety failures end up in court, the consequences extend far beyond legal penalties. Investigations, leadership scrutiny, personal liability and years of disruption can have a lasting impact on organisations and the people within them. Welcome to Under the Rug at Work, where we shine light on the things that are normally swept under the rug. On this episode, our Founder and Chief Courage Offi...

Sometimes the harm isn’t the original issue - it’s what happens after someone speaks up. Welcome to Under the Rug at Work, where we shine light on the things that are normally swept under the rug. On this episode, our Founder and Chief Courage Officer, Nicole Turnbull, chats with Jo Tarnawsky about workplace harm, organisational justice and the power of a genuine apology. Jo Tarnawsky is a former...

Grief at work is often avoided, rushed or handed off, but the way we respond can shape whether someone feels supported or alone. Welcome to Under the Rug at Work, where we shine light on the things that are normally swept under the rug. On this episode, our Founder and Chief Courage Officer, Nicole Turnbull, chats with Sally Healey and Jessie Williams, founders of Grief First Aid, about why workpl...

Autoimmune disease is often invisible at work, but its impact on workers, teams and leadership decisions is anything but. Welcome to Under the Rug at Work, where we shine light on the things that are normally swept under the rug. On this episode, our Founder and Chief Courage Officer, Nicole Turnbull, chats with Fay Calderone about autoimmune disease at work, and why this is a conversation more wo...

Leadership is never just about strategy, titles or decision-making on paper. It is also about navigating the hidden dynamics, quiet tensions and power plays that shape what really happens at work. Welcome to Under the Rug at Work, where we shine light on the things that are normally swept under the rug. On this episode, our Founder and Chief Courage Officer, Nicole Turnbull, chats with Ros Cardina...

Play is not a distraction from work - it helps people think clearly, connect with others and adapt when things feel high pressure. Welcome to Under the Rug at Work, where we shine light on the things that are normally swept under the rug. On this episode, our Founder and Chief Courage Officer, Nicole Turnbull ‪at Neon Shed‬ , chats about why play is necessary at work, especially in a world where p...

When workers don’t feel safe to speak up, problems don’t disappear - they escalate. Welcome to Under the Rug at Work, where we shine light on the things that are normally swept under the rug. On this episode, our Founder and Chief Courage Officer, Nicole Turnbull, chats with David Morgan about when speaking up feels unsafe, and what happens next. David is the Managing Director, Whistleblower Techn...

Hard conversations shape culture, safety and performance, yet most of us avoid them until the damage is done. Welcome to Under the Rug at Work, where we shine light on the things that are normally swept under the rug. On this episode, our Founder and Chief Courage Officer, Nicole Turnbull chats with Amy Jacobson about why we avoid hard conversations, what emotional intelligence really looks like a...

Stigma keeps people silent and unsafe at work. This episode looks at why it’s a cop out and what needs to change. Welcome to Under the Rug at Work, where we shine light on the things that are normally swept under the rug. On this episode, our Founder and Chief Courage Officer, Nicole Turnbull, chats with former New South Wales Police detective and director of Mentality Plus, Craig Semple. Craig sh...

Talking is not the same as connecting. If leaders don’t learn the difference, psychological safety falls through the cracks. Welcome to Under the Rug at Work, where we shine light on the things that are normally swept under the rug. I’m your host, Nicole Turnbull, and today I’m chatting with Mitch Wallis about real conversations and why connection is the core leadership capability we all need. Mit...

When your inner critic takes the wheel, it can derail your confidence, cloud your decisions and fuel burnout. It shapes how we think, lead and show up at work, often without us even realising it. Welcome to Under the Rug at Work, where we shine light on the things that are normally swept under the rug. On this episode, our Founder and Chief Courage Officer, Nicole Turnbull, chats with Mark Jones a...

Pushing through might look productive, but it’s draining our energy and fuelling burnout. It’s a habit so many of us fall into, thinking it proves our dedication, yet it’s one of the biggest barriers to sustainable performance and wellbeing. Welcome to Under the Rug at Work, where we shine light on the things that are normally swept under the rug. I’m your host, Nicole Turnbull, and today I’m chat...

Inclusion is meant to bring people in, yet too often it leaves the very people it’s designed to support feeling invisible. This conversation looks at why that happens and what leaders can do differently. Welcome to Under the Rug at Work , where we shine light on the things that are normally swept under the rug. I’m your host, Nicole Turnbull, and today I’m chatting with Cameron Carr about when inc...

Narcissistic leadership leaves a trail of hidden costs - to people, culture and performance. This episode explores what it looks like, how it harms, and how leaders can choose courage over control. Welcome to Under the Rug at Work, where we shine light on the things that are normally swept under the rug. I’m your host, Nicole Turnbull, and today I’m chatting with Jane Phipps about the cost of narc...

Alcohol is often woven into workplace culture, from casual drinks after hours to formal events and celebrations. While it can feel like a way to connect or unwind, the reality is that regular drinking has hidden impacts on safety, wellbeing and performance at work. By looking more closely at how alcohol shows up in our workplaces, we can start to create safer, healthier and more supportive environ...

Menopause is a normal stage of life, yet it continues to be misunderstood and overlooked in workplaces. The lack of awareness, support, and empathy has a real cost that affects women, their teammates, managers, and the business itself. Welcome to Under the Rug at Work , where we shine light on the things that are normally swept under the rug. I'm your host, Nicole Turnbull and today I’m chatting w...

Most workplaces treat emergency planning as a compliance task. They run a yearly fire drill, appoint a few fire wardens, and tick the box. But when a real emergency happens, that ticked box is not enough to keep people safe. Welcome to Under the Rug at Work, where we shine light on the things that are normally swept under the rug. I’m your host, Nicole Turnbull, and today I’m chatting with David L...

AI is here but are we using it the right way? From lifeless emails to generic marketing, workplaces are jumping on AI to save time. But without a human-first approach, we risk losing trust, connection and credibility. In this episode of Under the Rug at Work, host Nicole Turnbull sits down with Leanne Shelton, Global AI Coach and CEO of HumanEdge AI Training, to talk about the tension between pani...

Welcome to Under the Rug at Work, where we shine light on the things that are normally swept under the rug. In this episode, host Nicole Turnbull speaks with Lisa George, the Remote Team Queen and CEO of Momentum Rehab , about why return-to-work mandates often fail and what leaders should be doing instead. Lisa has been running her business remotely since 2004, long before flexible work became mai...

Welcome to Under the Rug at Work, where we shine light on the things that are normally swept under the rug. I’m your host, Nicole Turnbull, and today I’m chatting with Ruth Kent about proactive interventions . Ruth Kent is a workplace wellbeing consultant, trainer, and executive wellbeing and performance coach. She’s the Founder of Sunrise Well, where she helps organisations support the wellbeing...

Welcome to Under the Rug at Work, where we shine light on the things that are normally swept under the rug. I’m your host, Nicole Turnbull, and today I’m chatting with Cherie Mylordis about conscious unbossing - a bold approach to leadership that challenges outdated hierarchies and reimagines how we work. Cherie is a recognised expert in future-fit leadership, innovation and the future of work. Sh...

Welcome to Under the Rug at Work, where we shine light on the things that are normally swept under the rug. I’m your host, Nicole Turnbull, and today I’m chatting with Dr Caroline Howe about the biggest problem employers face when managing psychosocial risk. Caroline is the founder of Create Today, How Safe and My Social Support Network. With over 30 years of experience across government, academia...

Welcome to Under the Rug at Work , where we shine a light on issues that are often ignored in the workplace. In part two of this important conversation, host Nicole Turnbull continues her discussion with Dr Skye Charry, sex discrimination law expert, Associate Professor and Chief Consultant at SAC Consulting. This episode shifts from the legal lens to the human response, focusing on how leaders ca...

Welcome to Under the Rug at Work, where we shine a light on issues that are often ignored in the workplace. In this episode, host Nicole Turnbull speaks with Dr Skye Charry – sex discrimination law expert, Associate Professor, and Chief Consultant at SAC Consulting – about how sexual harassment is legally addressed and practically prevented at work. This is part one of a two-part series. In this e...