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Wellthy Living conversationsWelcome. Wellthy Living Conversations is a living conversation lab exploring the full terrain of being human. It is is a space for real, thoughtful dialogue about what it takes to live a well, connected and meaningful life, both personally and... Author: Lisa Rochelle Entwisle Language: en Genres: Relationships, Science, Social Sciences, Society & Culture Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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#74 What work teaches us about being human
Sunday, 16 August, 2026
Welcome to wellthy Living conversationsWhat work teaches us about being humanWork shapes so much of our lives. It influences our wellbeing, our relationships, our sense of purpose and even how we see ourselves.Over the past few months, Mike and I have spent a lot of time listening to employees and leaders talk about their experiences at work. We've heard what helps people thrive, what gets in the way, and the things that organisations sometimes don't see until someone finally speaks up.In this conversation, Mike and I explore some of what we've learned.We talk about why organisations can grow without evolving, how poor systems and communication can create stress without anyone intending them to, why people don't always feel safe to speak up, and why leadership training isn't necessarily the answer to every workplace problem.We also unpack the difference between psychological safety, psychological health and psychosocial hazards, and what the new Victorian regulations actually mean for employers.Perhaps most importantly, we talk about the human stuff underneath all of it: fairness, trust, autonomy, belonging, being heard and feeling like we're part of something rather than simply being managed by it.Mike brings his experience in law, conflict resolution, workplace culture and mental health, while I bring my perspective from years of working with people around wellbeing, connection and the human side of organisations.It's a conversation about work, but really, it's a conversation about people.Timestamps:00:00 – Intro — welcome to Mike Jensen03:37 – Mike's path: corporate law → psychiatric law → culture consulting06:44 – Why Mike went back to uni08:39 – Is there evidence behind wellbeing fads?10:13 – The "holy trinity" of old workplace culture: revenue, cost, risk12:03 – Why the onus is wrongly placed on individuals to "speak up"14:45 – Mental illness stigma → misread as performance issues20:07 – Psychosocial hazards are interconnected, not separate22:14 – Growing vs. evolving — the shared-house furniture analogy23:53 – Real-world friction: 6 apps, 20 minutes, a mouse that won't scroll sideways26:52 – Why departments stay siloed29:26 – Communication as "the common cold" of organisations30:06 – Remote managers vs. on-site staff — the fairness problem38:27 – What the new psychosocial hazard regulations actually require42:29 – Psychosocial hazards vs. psychological health vs. psychological safety44:30 – Workplace justice explained49:14 – Is leadership development training overemphasised?50:18 – The Vic Police return-to-work study53:06 – Work design, autonomy and agency55:01 – Role clarity as an overlooked hazard1:00:01 – Do the regulations apply to small businesses too?1:01:03 – Where's the line between personal issues and work's responsibility?1:02:29 – One free, practical first step any business can take1:04:04 – How this work has personally changed MikeAbout Mike JensenMike began his career as a corporate lawyer before moving into psychiatric law, conflict resolution, workplace investigations and change management. He's now completing postgraduate studies in Leading Mental Health in Workplaces at Flinders University and consults to organisations — including hospitals and local government — on workplace culture and psychosocial hazards.🔗 c4mconsultants.comEnjoyed this episode?Share your biggest takeaway in the comments, and share this episode with a colleague, manager or friend who'd get something out of it.
