Can Humour Create Psychological Safety? with Jason Rawding

In this episode, hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Liz Payne, Chair of the ACT/NSW College of Organisational Psychologists, and returning chair of the Psych Health and Safety Conference (PHSCON 2025). During this conversation, Liz, Joelle and Jason recap highlights from the PHSCON 2025. This included going over the live podcast recordings with Rob Briner and Adam Grant, the conversations had with thought leaders and trailblazers including Mary Ann Baynton, Chris Jones, Wade Needham, Dr I. David Daniels, Kanae Dyas, Dr Anna Cody, and Elizabeth Broderick, and case studies on international approaches to psych health and safety, and bringing HR and WHS together. Missed the conference but wish you didn't? Don’t worry, you can catch up on every session and experience PHSCON 2025 on demand - See our website for details: psychhealthandsafetyconference.com/post-conference-access/

In this episode, hosts Jason and Joelle chat with returning guest Dr John Chan, managing director of Infinite Potential. John joins us to discuss the latest iteration of his annual publication, The State of Workplace Burnout. He shares what's similar and what's different to previous year's findings, and the main trends emerging in 2025. https://infinite-potential.com.au/the-state-of-burnout-2025

In this episode, hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Jason Rawding, founder of MyBeast. Jason shares the different ways that humour can be used in workplaces to create or enhance psychological safety. He talks about different types of humour and the elements that contribute to humour, and emphasises that humour is a skill that can be developed and refined. https://www.mybeast.life/

In this episode, hosts Jason and Joelle chat with returning guest Sandra Lam, Organisational Psychologist and Managing Director at FIFO Focus. We chat about a recently published WHS Undertaking between Cobar Management and the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. Sandra shares her views on the remedial measures outlined in the published Enforcement, and suggests alternative measures that may have more impact.

In this episode, hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Dr Louise Deacon, psychological health and safety consultant at Thought:Process. Louise shares insights from her PhD research exploring how Officers conduct their due diligence duties in relation to psychosocial risk.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains references to suicide In this episode, UK hosts Peter and Kate chat with Kelly Nicoll, President and Chair of Council for the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH). She shares her observations on generational differences in perspectives on mental health and stigma, and discusses the importance of mental health within the safety profession.

In this episode, Australian hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Joana Faustino, Chartered Psychologist and Principle Health and Wellbeing Specialist at The Rail Safety and Standards Board. Joana takes us through the RSSB's 'Mental Wellbeing in Rail: Achieving Change' project and shares learnings and next steps.

This episode is the second episode in a two-part series. Host Kim MacDonald and guest Dr. Leah Ringwald discuss the Conference Board's study into social connection in Canadian workplaces, titled, Real Connections in a Virtual World: Designing Remote Workplaces for Social Connections. Dr. Leah Ringwald is the Conference Board of Canada's associate director of health and human capital and research lead on workplace mental health and well-being.

In this episode Australian hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Luka Campbell, Director National Regulatory Programs, and Kathy Naumczyk, Assistant Director Psychosocial Regulation at Comcare. Luka and Kathy take us through Comcare's recently published psychosocial Code of Practice and talk about their psychosocial inspection program. https://www.comcare.gov.au/scheme-legislation/whs-act/comcare-inspections/psychosocial-inspections

CONTENT WARNING: The conversation in this episode mentions suicide In this episode, UK host Peter Kelly chats with Sarah Ambrose, Business Psychologist. They talk about recent trends in how UK businesses have been perceiving and prioritising worker wellbeing, and Sarah shares her reflections as a member of the drafting panel establishing a standard for suicide prevention.