WhyWork Podcast

Season 10 Special-Release Bonus 6: Kidney Bean Reflection Series: The ConclusionO–100 km/h in 3.5 Seconds. But Did You Die?WARNING: This episode includes discussion about the confronting topic of live organ donation.Trajce, CJ, and Sara use this episode to conclude the special 6-part reflection series on kidney donation. Alan continued to sun himself in Tassie.Part 5 of the reflection series ended on a cliffhanger before describing the acute hospital experience. There are a few things that nobody tells you about the realities of live kidney donation and this episode delves into those hidden treasures...."Where is the organ donation speciality centre in Australia?" asks Sara.Trajce describes the contrasts between the donee (kidney recipient) and the donor hospital ward experience, "Oh, so CJ was in the executive lounge, and you were in the back of the bus on the aluminium seats." Sara recounts some of the confusion and complications associated with her acute post-surgical hospital ward experience. She connects these reflections with her training in and understanding of complex, dynamic systems management. CJ contextualises these ideas by highlighting the conflict between what someone expects in healthcare versus the realities of their experiences."But did you know that all your bits go blue? Smurf or Smurfette when bloodflow returns," laughs Sara, "These are more realities that you simply discover as a donor or donee, and did not receive education on or know to expect!" Trajce jokes, "the is the real lived experience. You experienced it and you really lived it, with chills that were multiplying...".Yet, aligned with the theme of this part of the series, Sara asks "But did you die?” because here she is, and CJ, able to live a life and tell the story of the miracle of kidney donation. They give thanks to the many people in the inner circle who helped them during this time. CJ appreciated, "I think I had a Gold Pass, I think I've done all right through all this," while Trajce reflects, "Yeah, he was on speed dial for priority care."

S10: Special-Release Bonus 2: How Far Would You Go For a Workmate?WARNING: This episode discusses the difficult journey of organ donation, which may confront some listeners – we urge listener discretion before tuning in to this special three-part series.In this deeply personal and provocative three-part special, Sara, Trajce, and Alan traverse beyond the usual boundaries of work dynamics leading to work health and safety case law. They enter the territory in which values, courage, relationships, healthcare institutions, and government frameworks intersect in messy fashion. Also, in this episode, the podcast crew invite discussion by special guest, Clinton "CJ" Harding, the organ donor recipient.At the heart of the series is Sara’s experience as a living kidney donor and CJ's opportunity to marvel at transitioning from accepting then moving from death's edge to a second lease on life. Sara reviews her nine-month decision-making journey that tested her resolve and made her confront both her values and capabilities. Unexpectedly, her decision confronted many of her friends, colleagues, and family, while testing the institutions, providers, and government support designed to support people through extraordinary choices.This series doesn’t romanticise donation. It sits honestly with the discomfort:Being confronted by strong opinions and projected fears,Navigating a public hospital system under strain,Discovering the near absence of employer, insurer, or structural financial support,And learning, sometimes the hard way, who can hold space, and who cannot.Sara laments the challenges she faced, unexpectedly, beyond her immediate biological and psychological sphere of live organ donation - the impositions that others placed upon her when projecting their own fears.If this series prompts questions or curiosity about organ donation, we strongly encourage you to visit DonateLife and speak with your state or territory kidney transplant centre.For more healthcare insights, check out 'Healthcare Insights: The Voice of the Consumer, the Practitioner, and the Work Design Strategist.'

S10: Special-Release Bonus 1: How Far Would You Go For a Workmate?WARNING: This episode discusses the difficult journey of organ donation, which may confront some listeners – we urge listener discretion before tuning in to this special three-part series.In this deeply personal and provocative three-part special, Sara, Trajce, and Alan traverse beyond the usual boundaries of work dynamics leading to work health and safety case law. They enter the territory in which values, courage, relationships, healthcare institutions, and government frameworks intersect in messy fashion.This series invites listeners to reflect:What do we owe one another at work and in life?How do organisations respond when employees make values-based decisions that don’t fit neat policy boxes?And how far would you go for a workmate?If this series prompts questions or curiosity about organ donation, we strongly encourage you to visit DonateLife and speak with your state or territory kidney transplant centre.For more healthcare insights, check out 'Healthcare Insights: The Voice of the Consumer, the Practitioner, and the Work Design Strategist.'

S10: Bonus Trailer 02: How Far Would You Go for a Workmate?Testing institutions and confronting friends through extraordinary life choices. Prepare for a special bonus-release series on live organ donation for a workmate.

Season 09 Episode 12: “Puppy-Gate” and Stripping as a Side-HussleWARNING: This episode includes discussion on stripping as a trade – we advise listener discretionAlan reflects on the South Australian work-from-home ‘puppy-gate’ test of law when a local government worker claimed worker’s compensation for an injury she sustained while working from home. In this instance, she tripped over a puppy fence she’d installed in the home to segregate her puppy from a pet bunny.Here is the breakdown of the case:Initial Decision: The Local Government Association Workers Compensation Scheme (LGAWCS) rejected Ms. Vercoe's claim.The Appeal: Ms. Vercoe (the employee) appealed that decision to the South Australian Employment Tribunal (SAET).The Ruling: In October 2024, the SAET ruled in favour of Ms. Vercoe, finding that her injuries were compensable, arising from her employment.Appeal Decision (Full Bench of SAET): On 8 December 2025, the Full Bench of the SAET overturned their earlier ruling. The case was sent back to the original Tribunal member to reconsider and proper applications of the legal test.“But can you appeal an appeal?” Sara begs to know. Trajce replies, “Short answer is, yes, potentially anything; the apex of the court structure is The High Court.” Trajce and Sara engage in debate with Alan about the merits of work from home, or anywhere for that matter (W-F-A), and the legal tests of environmental and technical safety.For more information, refer to Vercoe v Local Government Association Workers Compensation Scheme (2024)Alan presents a second case from Victoria about a construction worker stripper with a thumb injury, a decision in the County Court of Victoria. Alan explains, “The decision was whether or not to grant leave of the courts to consider the case.” He leaves the team guessing about the sex of the worker and circumstances pertaining to the case.For more on these topics, tune in to:· S01 E03: Pets ‘n’ Air Fryers· S01 E07: Design When we Work-From-Anywhere· S04 E02: The WooFA Work-From-Anywhere (WFA) Reality· S07 E10: That Old Chestnut – Pets & Work From Home

Season 09 Episode 10: How Much do you C.A.R.E. About Work and Life?WARNING: This episode refers to sexual escapades that may offend some people – we advise listener discretion.This episode continues the thread from S09 E09: An Assault on Office Decorum, while the crew, Alan, Trajce, and Sara, debate methods to provide supportive workplace environments and develop defences to protect workers from harm.Sara explains a systems-view on psychosocial risk management, providing workplace defences to subsequent psychological harm to workers (inspired by EMESRT’s 9 Layers of Defence in Vehicle Interactions ) – C.A.R.E. – listen in to learn more about this!Trajce complains about ‘TMIF’ in some workplaces – ‘Too Much Information Sharing,’ as Alan reflects on the past episode’s stories of a worker who openly discussed his antics in ‘LARP’ – ‘Live Action Role Play’ sexual antics.For more on psychosocial risk management, refer to PRAiSETM (Psychosocial Risk Assessment and Integrated Solutions for Employers) – Certified Assessor and Manager programs – and PRA, the new task-based Psychosocial Risk Analyser feature within the ErgoAnalyst software platform. These tools help teams visualise, quantify, qualify, and respond to both contextualised physical and psychosocial risks, merging technical rigour with empathy-driven co-design.

Season 09 Episode 08: Sankalpa - The Power of Intention and GratitudeWARNING: This episode refers to victim impact statements after tragic circumstances – we advise listener discretion.The podcast team are elated that the Magpie referenced in the S09 E07: Trading Up - Work in the Sex Trade recording was successfully freed to the wild. Sara admonished, “I don’t know what Trajce was doing – I think he was trying to negotiate with the Maggie to usher in its surrender.” However, the escapade allowed the team a break from the serious stuff and see the comical side of life. “I set my intention daily,” Sara explained, “and today was about joyous laugher with you both.” Sara shared her yogic philosophy on Sankalpa, setting an intention at the beginning of the day and, later, reflecting on the day with gratitude. The boys, Alan and Trajce, struggle with the concept until the pause to reflect on their quality time with their respective partners. This episode explores personal reflections as Sara gears up to share her news in a future episode, and the team relate the ideas of simple pleasures to intentional leadership, design, and victim impact statements - something which Trajce has written about extensively.