Clear the air

Clearhead
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Hosted by Dr Angela Lim, Clearhead co-founder and medical doctor, Clear the Air is a mental health and wellbeing podcast covering those experiences in your life or questions you have that you feel too vulnerable to share with those around you. We speak with experts to share the science behind what you’re experiencing and explore the answers to those questions. Together we get real and raw on the existential questions covering mental health and wellbeing that have puzzled humans for millennia. Follow the podcast to get notified as we drop new episodes monthly. Clearhead is an innovative employee wellbeing platform with a social mission to ensure personalised mental health and wellbeing support is accessible to everyone. Making it easier for you to build self-awareness and be guided to either digital self-help tools or book therapy on the Clearhead platform when and where you need it. Have a burning question about mental health that you want us to answer? Email us at contact@myclearhead.com, or visit our website: www.myclearhead.com

  1. 18h ago

    49: Beyond the Mirror: Understanding the Connection Between Body Image and Disordered Eating with Dr Zali Yager

    From social media to diet and gym culture, messages about our bodies and the pressure to look a certain way are everywhere. Over time, these influences can shape how we see ourselves, how we eat and exercise, and even the messages we pass on to the next generation. In today’s webinar, we break down why body dissatisfaction is so common, where it comes from, and its connection with self-esteem, mental health and disordered eating. We will explore when seemingly healthy behaviours can become restrictive or obsessive, and the signs that someone may be struggling with an eating disorder. We’ll also look at how parents, schools and sporting communities can help young people develop a healthier relationship with food and their bodies and determine which prevention programs work, and which don’t.  Dr Zali's Biography:  Our guest today is Dr Zali Yager. An internationally recognised body image researcher with two decades of expertise in body image, eating disorder prevention and health education. She is an author and Co-Executive Director of The Embrace Collective, which she co-founded alongside 2023 Australian of the Year Taryn Brumfitt. Dr Yager has helped develop and deliver evidence-based body image programs and resources reaching more than one million Australian children. She has taken her mission to prime ministers, professors and presidents, from Parliament House in Australia to the White House in the USA and has advised organisations including the AFL.  00:00 – Introduction 02:30 – Why Zali became a body image researcher 03:30 – Examples of disordered eating behaviours 04:10 – What body image means 05:45 – When healthy habits become compulsive or rigid behaviours 08:15 – What healthy eating actually means 09:30 – How someone develops a negative body image 10:55 – How children as young as three learn what the ‘right’ body looks like 11:55 – When children begin comparing their bodies with others 12:15 – Body dissatisfaction in boys and men 13:20 – How men and women experience body image pressures differently 14:10 – The origins of the body positivity movement 15:30 – Why weight-focused health promotion has backfired 16:50 – Body appreciation vs body positivity 17:20 – Why strength-based health promotion is more effective than fear or shame 18:40 – The factors that influence our eating habits beyond personal choice 19:00 – What an eating disorder-safe approach means 19:50 – Why choosing food and movement based on enjoyment can be more sustainable 20:35 – The difference between eating disorders and disordered eating 21:55 – Signs you may need additional support for disordered eating behaviours 23:50 – What to do when your child tells you they are fat 25:10 – What children are really asking when they ask if they are fat 27:20 – Why saying ‘you’re not fat’ may not be the best response – and what to say instead 29:00 – Supporting your child when you have your own body image struggles 30:10 – Why returning to work can be a particularly difficult time for new mothers’ body image 32:40 – The role of workplaces in eating disorder prevention 35:00 – Practical things employers can do to support positive body image 37:40 – Can appearance-based compliments in the workplace do more harm than good? 41:25 – Should we raise concerns about someone’s weight with them? 43:50 – Why teaching BMI in schools doesn’t prevent eating disorders 45:25 – Which school-based prevention programs do work? 46:15 – The genetic component of eating disorders 48:00 – Counteracting the impact of social media on eating disorder risk 51:35 – Why educating young people about eating disorders isn’t enough to prevent them 53:50 – Where to find evidence-based eating disorder prevention resources in Australia 55:40 – Where to get help if you think you may have an eating disorder 57:30 – How body dissatisfaction can lead to negative health outcomes 59:35 – Zali’s personal wellbeing practice Learn more about Dr Yager https://www.bodyimagemovement.com/changemaker/dr-zali-yager/ Learn more about Clearhead https://www.myclearhead.com/

    49: Beyond the Mirror: Understanding the Connection Between Body Image and Disordered Eating with Dr Zali Yager

  2. Sep 8

    48: First Nations Perspective on Social, Emotional and Mental Wellbeing with Professor Pat Dudgeon

    Clearhead acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and acknowledges their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the Elders past and present. Suicide rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are more than three times those of non-Indigenous Australians. In this episode, we will explore First Nations approaches to developing indigenous models of psychology and suicide prevention projects and how they differ from Western models. We learn the importance of empowering communities to develop solutions that reflect their own strengths, knowledge, and lived experience, which includes the impact of colonisation, trauma and racism. Pat’s biography: Our guest today is Professor Pat Dudgeon AM, a Bardi woman from Western Australia. She is a professor at the School of Indigenous Studies at The University of Western Australia. She is also the Director of the Centre of Best Practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention, the lead Chief Investigator for the national Transforming Indigenous Mental Health and Wellbeing research project. Finally, she was also part of a group of Indigenous psychologists who developed the widely used Social and Emotional Wellbeing model.  In this episode, we dive deep into answering the following thorny questions. 00:00 – Introduction 02:15 – Why Pat became an Indigenous psychologist 06:20 – The emergence of Indigenous psychology 07:25 – The Australian Indigenous Psychology Education Project 10:00 – The Australian Psychological Society’s apology to Indigenous people 11:55 – The impact of colonisation on Indigenous mental health 13:35 – Findings from Indigenous suicide prevention research 15:15 – How Indigenous psychology differs from Western models 17:35 – The Social and Emotional Wellbeing model and its determinants 24:00 – How Indigenous-led models are used in clinical practice 28:45 – What clinicians need to deliver culturally responsive mental health care 30:15 – Creating inclusive workplaces for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees 32:55 – The impact of racism on Indigenous suicide rates 35:30 – The impact of the 2023 Voice referendum on Indigenous people 37:20 – Programs that strengthen cultural identity and combat racism 40:55 – Why cultural identity can be a protective factor 43:40 – What happened to Indigenous populations following colonisation 45:20 – The power of truth-telling in reconciliation 47:15 – Co-design and upholding Indigenous self-determination 50:20 – Indigenous suicide prevention projects that have worked 52:50 – Learning from projects that have failed 58:00 – Pat’s personal wellbeing practice Learn more about Professor Pat Dudgeon and her work:  https://boorn.org.au/ https://timhwb.org.au/  https://indigenouspsyched.org.au/ Learn more about Clearhead https://www.myclearhead.com/

    48: First Nations Perspective on Social, Emotional and Mental Wellbeing with Professor Pat Dudgeon

  3. Aug 11

    47: Nutrition and the Gut-Brain Connection with Alice Fitzgerald

    In this episode, we explore the growing evidence connecting gut health, nutrition, mental health and men’s physical wellbeing, including how everyday lifestyle factors can influence long-term gut health outcomes. We’ll look at how diet can support mood, energy, sleep and the gut–brain connection, as well as simple, practical changes men can make to support both their physical and mental wellbeing. Alice’s biography: Alice Fitzgerald is the CEO of The Gut Foundation, a national health charity focused on research and education, helping people understand their gut health and take action to protect it. She’s a keynote speaker, strategist and storyteller who believes humour, honesty and the occasional swear word are powerful tools for prevention… and she’s not afraid to talk about poo if it helps people live longer. 0:00 – Introduction 2:05 – How did Alice get involved with the Gut Foundation? 4:22 – What is the purpose of the Gut Foundation? 6:15 – Why excess sugar consumption has contributed to bowel cancer in young people 9:45 – Why telling people to stop eating certain foods is unhelpful 11:00 – What can you add to your diet to improve your gut health? 13:35 – How to have effective conversations with men about changing their diet 16:05 – What is the microbiome? 18:00 – What is gut health? 20:00 – How to eat 30 different plants a day 22:30 – The impact of nutrition on the gut-brain connection 25:40 – Should you take probiotic supplements, or is fermented food best? 29:00 – How to use the stool chart to check for signs of bowel cancer 32:45 – What age should people start screening for bowel cancer? 35:45 – What are the common misconceptions about gut health? 37:50 – Should you only buy organic vegetables? 39:30 – Why is there stigma around talking about digestive issues? 42:30 – The role of workplaces in improving gut health 45:20 – The impact of gut health on physical health and sleep 46:35 – How eating kiwifruit provides a triple benefit 48:10 – Why exercise is important for gut health 48:50 – The negative impact of restrictive diet culture on gut health 51:30 – Steps to avoid feeling overwhelmed when changing your diet 54:40 – How your next meal can immediately improve your mental health 57:30 – How exercise improves the diversity of the gut microbiome 1:00:00 – Alice’s one wellbeing practice Learn more about Alice & The Gut Foundation https://www.linkedin.com/in/alice-fitzgerald-a0211226/  https://www.thegut.org.nz/  Learn more about Clearhead https://www.myclearhead.com/

    47: Nutrition and the Gut-Brain Connection with Alice Fitzgerald

  4. Jun 29

    46: Why Bullying Persists and How Workplaces Can Tackle It with Professor Michelle Tuckey

    Bullying can leave lasting impacts on mental health and feel very personal to the victim, it shapes how people then cope, connect, and work throughout their lives. In this episode, we’ll explore how bullying show up in workplaces, and what truly prevents bullying at a organisational level in the workplace.  Michelle’s biography: Professor Michelle Tuckey is the Professor of Work and Organisational Psychology at Adelaide University. She is a leading researcher whose work has reframed bullying as a structural issue and not just an individual’s bad behaviour. Michelle investigates how workplace systems and environments drive bullying and harassment, and how to redesign them to prevent interpersonal harm. This work underpins an award-winning prevention program reaching nearly 10,000 employees, and has shaped national policy through bodies including Safe Work Australia and the Australian and Queensland Human Rights Commissions. In this episode, we dive deep into answering the following thorny questions:  0:00 – Introduction 2:10 – How Michelle started specialising in bullying 2:55 – Defining bullying 4:15 – A real-world example of bullying at work 6:05 – How a power imbalance can exist in peer bullying 7:15 – Can managers be bullied? 8:05 – What are common misconceptions about workplace bullying? 9:35 – What conditions make bullying more prevalent in certain industries? 13:25 – Why rebuilding relational fabric is the key solution to reducing bullying and improving workplace culture 16:00 – How to create psychological safety in an organisation that lacks it 20:10 – How to end toxic cultures that promote bullying 21:05 – Early intervention and peer feedback as a way to reduce bullying 22:05 – How to align organisational systems with company values to reduce bullying 23:45 – How grassroots interventions can drive small culture change even without senior leadership buy-in 25:45 – Types of harm caused by workplace bullying 28:15 – Gaslighting through a network of silence 29:20 – Why you should see bullying as a systems issue rather than taking it personally 29:50 – How to take back power when you are being bullied 30:45 – Are there gender-specific types of bullying? 33:15 – Toxic culture, role clarity and leadership as organisational red flags 34:55 – Why the number one risk factor in bullying complaints is how leaders give constructive performance feedback 36:25 – The benefit of strong workplace relationships when giving constructive feedback 38:15 – Examples of how leaders can build a relational foundation with their direct reports 41:55 – Values alignment as the number one thing organisations can do to reduce bullying 43:15 – What are the early warning signs before bullying occurs in an organisation? 45:35 – What should individuals do if they are being bullied? 48:45 – Why bullying persists even when interventions have been introduced 53:05 – Why bullies do not see themselves as bullies and may feel they are bullied themselves 54:15 – How a country's culture can contribute to a bullying culture 56:30 – Why proactive intervention is key in bullying prevention policies 58:20 – Is moving the target away from the perpetrator enough to deal with bullying? 59:50 – Why HR and Health and Safety need to work together to reduce bullying 1:01:40 – Michelle's one wellbeing practice Learn more about Michelle https://www.linkedin.com/in/prof-michelle-tuckey/  Learn more about Clearhead https://www.myclearhead.com/

    46: Why Bullying Persists and How Workplaces Can Tackle It with Professor Michelle Tuckey

  5. Jun 2

    45: Closing the Leadership Gender Gap with Dr. Amanda Sterling

    Women continue to face unique pressures, balancing professional, family, and social expectations while carrying the often-invisible mental and emotional load. In this webinar, we’ll explore the experiences of women in leadership roles and what organisations can do better to support women into senior roles and maintain their wellbeing.   In this episode, we sit down with leadership coach and consultant, Dr. Amanda Sterling, to delve into questions on gender equity in the workplace and closing the gender representation gap. Dr. Amanda will share insights from both her research findings on women in leadership and her own experiences in the field.   Amanda's Biography:  Dr Amanda Sterling is an award-winning consultant who partners with organisations to remove barriers for women into leadership and create inclusive workplaces where people and businesses thrive.  Amanda combines her decades of experience working in corporate leadership development and culture change, as well as deep expertise on leadership, gender, and inclusion, to help organisations attract and retain more women in leadership and close their gender pay gaps.  Amanda’s groundbreaking PhD research (completed in 2023) revealed critical insights into what is still holding women back from leadership roles and the opportunities to address this. Her research has been featured in multiple media channels such as RNZ,  and was highlighted by Global Women and the University of Auckland.  Amanda is originally from the Kaipara region but has called Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland home for the last 20 years. She is also a proud parent to one son.  0:00 – Introduction 2:20 – Why Amanda decided to research women's leadership 4:35 – What barriers prevent women from becoming leaders? 6:05 – What assumptions perpetuate these barriers? 7:55 – How can we challenge societal assumptions about mothers in leadership roles? 9:30 – Why men are key to increasing leadership opportunities for women 11:00 – How can we help men feel comfortable being part of the solution? 14:05 – How can women influence men in the workplace to change the status quo? 16:50 – Why women's leadership development programmes alone are not enough 17:55 – Why representation does not equal inclusion 20:00 – How to develop the measures needed to drive organisational change 21:15 – The case for men's leadership development programmes 22:20 – What are the benefits of having more diverse teams? 23:55 – Why women leaders leave leadership positions 25:45 – The false assumptions behind the belief that women are less confident than men 28:05 – Are organisations acknowledging the additional emotional burden women face? 30:00 – The four-factor framework for increasing women in leadership roles 31:55 – Factor 1: Flexible work 32:19 – Factor 2: Partner support 33:10 – Factor 3: Manager support 33:35 – Factor 4: Women's leadership development programmes 34:40 – How workplaces can shift gender expectations around parental leave 37:00 – When is there a place for women-only safe spaces? 39:15 – What can workplaces do to create more supportive managers? 42:45 – How the four factors change across career stages 44:33 – Making the case for change in the workplace 46:15 – Case study: Z Energy 49:20 – What are the long-term measures for assessing the impact of inclusive teams? 50:04 – What is one thing organisations can do to create change? 51:00 – Amanda's one wellbeing practice Learn more about Amanda https://dramandasterling.com/  Learn more about Clearhead https://www.myclearhead.com/

    45: Closing the Leadership Gender Gap with Dr. Amanda Sterling

  6. Apr 30

    44 - What Drives Motivation? Psychology, Leadership and Actively Caring for People with E. Scott Geller

    Bringing out the best in ourselves and others is something many of us strive for - but how do we realistically work towards it, especially in the workplace? In this episode, behavioural psychologist Dr. Scott Geller explores how motivation, Actively Caring for People (AC4P), and evidence-based behaviour-change strategies can support personal wellbeing, leadership, and more connected, high-functioning teams. This episode highlights the role of community and coaching in empowering both ourselves and those around us. Scott’s biography: Professor Scott Geller is Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Virginia Tech and the former Director of the Center for Applied Behavior Systems. He has authored 55 books and more than 300 research articles looking at behavior-based interventions to improve human welfare on a large scale. His talent is well-recognised and he has received multiple awards for his work. In this episode, we dive deep into answering the following thorny questions. 00:00 – Introduction 02:10 – Why Scott became a behavioural psychologis? 03:35 – What is the definition of motivation? 05:00 – The three factors that drive self‑motivation. 08:15 – Applying the 3C framework to motivate yourself to go to the gym. 10:30 – The importance of learning and social support when trying something new. 13:00 – How to stay motivated to help others when you’re struggling. 14:30 – Self‑transcendence and the top of Maslow’s hierarchy. 18:00 – What is the Actively Caring for People (AC4P) framework? 20:50 – How to give corrective feedback with empathy. 21:40 – The COACH framework for inspiring people to care at work. 24:50 – The role of leaders in creating a safety culture. 26:55 – How to build interdependent communities where everyone benefits. 7:45 – Three steps to empowering employees to try something new. 31:05 – How to get teams to actively care. 32:25 – The role of leaders in encouraging active caring. 34:35 – How to sustain choice, competence, and community in an organisation. 36:35 – Example: eliminating bullying in a school using caring principles. 38:00 – Summary and final reflections. Learn more about Scott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-geller-3045211/ Learn more about Clearhead https://www.myclearhead.com/

    44 - What Drives Motivation? Psychology, Leadership and Actively Caring for People with E. Scott Geller

  7. Apr 7

    43- How Māori Experience Mental Health: Identity, Tikanga, and Access to Support

    The representation and inclusion of indigenous models of hauora (health) in mainstream medicine is vital to ensuring culturally-safe health services. In this episode, we delve into Māori mental health specifically from the lens of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei. We discuss the importance of whakapapa; knowing who you are, where you come from and your sense of belonging to hauora and ways that services can shift to a preventive care model for whānau, hapū and iwi. Our guest speaker, Tūrakawa Bartlett, addresses common narratives about Māori wellbeing and offers insights on how te ao Māori (Māori worldview) is beneficial for everyone, not just Māori. Together, we discuss what signs to look out for when someone you know may be struggling or how to know when you are struggling yourself. In this episode, we dive deep into answering the following thorny questions: 00:00 – Introduction 03:05 – Framing today’s session from a Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei iwi lens 06:00 – Mental health from a Māori worldview 12:40 – Barriers preventing Māori from connecting with their true identity 19:00 – What help is available for Māori experiencing mental health challenges 22:50 – How support services can make it easier for Māori to reach out 25:00 – Signs to look for when checking in on someone who may be struggling 27:50 – Internal signs that you might be struggling yourself 30:50 – What non‑Māori can do to create culturally safe support spaces 39:00 – Definitions of kawa and tikanga 42:35 – Differences in how Māori and non‑Māori experience health services 46:50 – Why a bicultural Māori and non‑Māori health model is essential 49:30 – Signs someone may need professional help 52:30 – Rose, Letica, and Turaukawa’s personal wellbeing practices Leticia, from Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei and Kaipara, has completed her training as an Intern Clinical Psychologist and is currently working on research. Her approach to psychological well-being and oranga is shaped by clinical expertise and lived experience, with a strong focus on Māori mental well-being and previous experience in community alcohol and drug (AOD) services.   Tūraukawa, from Ngāti Whātua ki Tāmaki, is the CEO and Director of MANAVATION, a kaupapa Māori hauora service supporting Tangata Whenua and Tangata Tiriti in achieving their wellbeing goals through cultural and language revitalisation. Tūraukawa has received numerous recognitions, including the Bob Henare Award for Individual Excellence in Māori Mental Health and DAPAANZ Best Newcomer to the Addictions Sector. He also facilitates reo Māori wellbeing retreats to enhance cultural foundations and promote holistic wellbeing.   Rose, a graduate Enrolled Nurse from Ngāti-Whātua Ōrākei and Ngāti Kahu ki Whangāora, draws from her lived experience of losing two siblings to suicide, which drives her commitment to providing compassionate care.

    43- How Māori Experience Mental Health: Identity, Tikanga, and Access to Support

  8. Mar 30

    42 - Psychosocial Risk Management: How to Identify and Control Workplace Hazards with Dana Carver

    Psychosocial hazards are now recognised as one of the most significant and complex risks facing modern workplaces, but what do they actually look like in practice, and how can organisations address them in meaningful, effective ways? In this webinar, we unpack real-world case studies and discuss how factors such as workload, role clarity, leadership, culture, and organisational change can affect mental health, wellbeing, and performance at work. We will discuss what good practice really looks like, where organisations commonly get stuck, and how to move beyond a compliance mindset. Dana’s biography: Dana Carver is a Principal at the research and evaluation firm, Scarlatti. She has over 25 years’ experience in social research, organisational design and wellbeing. For the past 5 years, her focus has been on helping organisations identify, assess and mitigate psychosocial risks. Dana is also the co-creator and Chair of the Good Programmes Trust, home of the award-winning GoodYarn, https://www.goodyarn.org/, program, which has seen over 20,000 people educated in mental health literacy. In this episode, we dive deep into answering the following thorny questions: 00:00 - Intro 02:05 - How did Dana become interested in psychosocial risk management? 03:00 - What are psychosocial hazards? 03:45 - How many psychosocial hazards are there? 04:40 - What are the most common psychosocial hazards? 05:25 - What is the framework used to prioritse hazards based on frequency and intensity? 07:00 - What is the definition of psychosocial risk? 08:45 - Should you eliminate or mitigate risk? 10:05 - What is an example of a control that eliminated the risk? 11:15 - Is psychosocial risk management a part of the Health and Safety legislation? 12:50 - What are the obligations of the employer? 13:55 - What are the 4 stages of psychosocial risk management? 14:30 - What are the warning signs you need to assess your psychosocial risks? 16:00 - What is the framework for identifying and assessing risks? 18:00 - Poor pay as a hazard vs personal life choices. 20:10 - What are some misconceptions about psychosocial risk management? 21:50 - How do you get management to buy in? 23:30 - How do you assess buy in up front? 25:00 - What is the definition and some examples of controls? 27:05 - Should employees be able to see the risk assessment results? 28:30 - How do you know the controls are effective? 30:05 - How long does it take to see impact? 32:05 - Are there differences depending on the size of the organisation? 33:00 - Dana’s top tips for psychosocial risk management. 34:00 - What are lead and lag indicators of success? 34:35 - How do you know if you have the right outcome measures? 35:25 - How often should you do a risk assessment? 37:25 - How do you get organisational buy in? 38:45 - Do you need to measure employee mental health to measure reduction in harm? 39:55 - What is the definition of psychological safety? 40:35 - The shift away from fruit bowls to systemic change. Learn more about Dana (https://www.linkedin.com/in/dana-carver-a35553b1/) Learn more about Clearhead https://www.myclearhead.com/ psychosocial hazards explained • workplace mental health risks • how to assess psychosocial risk • psychosocial risk management framework • employer obligations psychosocial risk

    42 - Psychosocial Risk Management: How to Identify and Control Workplace Hazards with Dana Carver
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About

Hosted by Dr Angela Lim, Clearhead co-founder and medical doctor, Clear the Air is a mental health and wellbeing podcast covering those experiences in your life or questions you have that you feel too vulnerable to share with those around you. We speak with experts to share the science behind what you’re experiencing and explore the answers to those questions. Together we get real and raw on the existential questions covering mental health and wellbeing that have puzzled humans for millennia. Follow the podcast to get notified as we drop new episodes monthly. Clearhead is an innovative employee wellbeing platform with a social mission to ensure personalised mental health and wellbeing support is accessible to everyone. Making it easier for you to build self-awareness and be guided to either digital self-help tools or book therapy on the Clearhead platform when and where you need it. Have a burning question about mental health that you want us to answer? Email us at contact@myclearhead.com, or visit our website: www.myclearhead.com

Information

  • Creator
    Clearhead
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    51
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Clearhead
  • Show Website
    Clear the air