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…

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 cult…

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…

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 o…

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, found…

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 influenti…

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…

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 AD…

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 Ev…

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 …

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…

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.…

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 arou…

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 Occupationa…

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 th…

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…

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 sexual and gender identity perspective. When it comes to workplace wellbeing, inclusivity is important. An inclusive, diverse workplace culture fosters a sense of belonging, safety, and purpose for e…

Addressing psychosocial risk factors is an important part of creating a robust wellbeing strategy. It can be the difference between a wellbeing program that takes a bandaid approach and a wellbeing strategy that gets to the heart of workplace wellbeing issues. So has the pandemic changed psychosocial risk factors, and what can organisations to do i…

In this episode, we're joined by mental health advocate Jimi Hunt to explore the concept of 'mental health literacy' and why language matters. While mental health awareness has improved over the years - there is still a gap between knowing about mental health and taking actions towards better mental health. We discuss how to obtain and maintain pos…

In this interview, we take a look at a workplace wellbeing case study. Our guest is Nicky Primrose, Health, Safety & Wellbeing Business Partner at Mitre 10. Mitre 10 has been a part of New Zealand's home improvement culture since 1974. It is New Zealand-owned and operated, and is New Zealand's largest home improvement and garden retailer. As a co-o…

In this interview, we explore the idea of a 4-day working week. COVID-19 has certainly forced a rethink on modern work practices, and the 4-day working week has hit the headlines as a potential game-changer for productivity and workplace wellbeing. Many in New Zealand will know of the success of the four-day working week at Perpetual Guardian. It m…

In this interview, we take a deep dive into the science of behaviour change. Feel good messaging won't motivate all employees to make healthy lifestyle choices, so what will? To explore the topic, we're joined by ROW behaviour change expert Dr Mark Wallace-Bell. We discuss motivation and commitment, and what organisations can do to support employee…

In this interview, we turn our focus to the link between food and mood. The science on this is clear: what you eat can impact your mental wellbeing. While food choice can be impacted by how you feel, research shows food may also be a mood trigger - particularly for low moods. Recent studies show that the more people improve their food choices, the …

In this episode, we turn our focus to the link between the work environment and wellbeing, using a case study. In late 2020, 2degrees announced its ambition to become the first company in New Zealand to receive WELL Certification as part of the move to its new home at 136 Fanshawe Street in Auckland. Delivered by the International WELL Building Ins…

In this episode, we turn our focus to burnout. Burnout is increasing, and it seems to be everywhere at the moment. New research out of AUT suggests 11 per cent of New Zealand workers might be experiencing burnout. Globally, COVID-19 has increased pressure on working adults as they juggle uncertainty, work and life commitments. For those in a leader…

In this session, we’re joined by guest tech entrepreneur and investor Ben Reid from Memia to discuss wellbeing and technology. We’ll discuss the role of technology in improving health in the workplace, plus look at data security and privacy, particularly with the recent hack of wearable device-maker Garmin. We also discuss how to make the most of t…

In this session, we're joined by Hannah Hardy-Jones, CEO of Kite, to discuss serious mental illness and what workplaces can do to better support people through their journey. Hannah was leading a successful career in human resources before the traumatic birth of her first child led to what was later diagnosed as postpartum bipolar disorder. In this…

In this interview, we look at how to develop and measure a wellbeing framework. Trust Tairāwhiti is a regional development funder on the East Coast of New Zealand. Over the past few years, the team has designed and developed a wellbeing framework and wellbeing impact assessment tool to support their Board and staff to make measurable wellbeing inve…

In this episode, we're joined by guest Jolie Wills, a Christchurch-based cognitive psychologist specialising in disaster recovery. During the recovery phase of Covid19, resilient leaders need to inspire their teams to navigate through uncertainty. From a wellbeing perspective, it is important leaders both support their team and their own wellbeing …

In this session, we turn our focus to wellbeing at the board table. To better understand the views and perspectives of those at the most senior levels, we're joined by Francois Barton, Executive Director at the Business Leaders' Health and Safety Forum. We explore the views and concerns of those at the most senior levels when it comes to wellbeing …

In this session, we discuss PwC Australia's 'Green Light to Talk' initiative with Kate Connors from PwC Australia's Wellness Centre of Excellence. PwC Australia launched 'Green Light to Talk' in 2018, as part of the firm's commitment to dial up the dialogue on mental wellbeing. A key component of the initiative is leaders sharing their stories on h…

In this session, we're joined by guest Gerard Vaughan from the Mental Health Foundation to discuss men's mental health. Businesses can play an important role in helping men to manage their mental health - including reducing stigma, opening the conversation, and sharing positive role models. In this discussion, we will discuss the role organisations…

Our first Ask an Expert guest is Jacqui Maguire. Jacqui is a registered clinical psychologist and media commentator with a particular interest in lifting organisational performance by developing the resilience and wellbeing of employees. Jacqui's passion is to work closely with clients to understand the unique needs of their organisation and develo…

Environment Canterbury (ECan) began their wellbeing journey back in 2017 and its current vision is to have a culture where the wellbeing of its people is at the heart of what they do and is interwoven in all they do. They have integrated hauora or the Māori perspective of wellbeing into their strategy and actions, and take a holistic perspective to…

The Revolutionaries of Wellbeing (ROW) podcast explores how we can build better, stronger workplaces. Note Revolutionaries of Wellbeing (ROW) was formally known as My Health Revolution. This episode: Case study - wellbeing at Ara In this session, Andy Hearn, Ara's Wellbeing Specialist, joins us to share the vocational training institute's wellbeing…

In this podcast, Kathryn Jackson, author of Resilience at Work (finalist at the 2019 Business Book Awards, London), joins us to share her insights and tips for building resilience. Building resilience will be a critical part of recovery from COVID-19. It will be essential for leaders as they navigate the business challenges ahead and for employees …

In this podcast, we're joined by Phillippa Powell, OD Advisor at Chorus. Phillippa shares her tips for building a robust program that supports wellbeing across the business and has the flexibility to meet challenges such as Covid-19. Phillippa plays a key role in creating an enviable employee experience through her leadership of organisational deve…

Wellbeing starts at the top of an organisation and leadership is crucial to embedding a culture that supports people to thrive. Leaders who prioritise wellbeing can make a big difference to an organisation by engaging, inspiring and supporting employees to be their best. Great leaders role model wellbeing and seek opportunities to promote good heal…

In business, it is well known that you cannot manage what you cannot measure. With the increased focus on wellbeing at work, there is a growing demand to accurately measure employee wellbeing, track progress and deliver results. Of course, there are many ways to evaluate workplace wellbeing, but where to start and what’s realistic? In this episode,…

In this podcast, we reflect on changing attitudes to mental health with New Zealand Rugby’s Education and Wellbeing Manager, Dr Nathan Price. Over the last two and a half years, New Zealand Rugby has delivered a remarkable campaign aimed at reducing the stigma around mental health. The campaign began in 2017 with the launch of the www.headfirst.co.…

In this episode, we turn our focus to the important role that workplaces can play in preventing family violence. Workplaces play a critical role in keeping people safe, holding those who inflict violence to account, and being a voice for change. New laws in New Zealand also require workplaces to recognise family violence as a health and safety issu…

In this episode, our guest is Australian clinical psychologist, international speaker and author, Dr Amy Silver. Her expertise lies in enabling individuals to feel safe enough to take on growth, raising the collective intelligence of organisations. She has spent three decades as a psychologist focused on interpersonal safety, and understanding how …