WhyWork Podcast

S10 Special-Release Bonus: Early Intervention Under Cross Examination – Band-Aids, Bureaucracy, and Better DesignWelcome to this special episode release recording during the launch of the Phoenix Occupational Medicine Early Intervention Done Right Symposium 2026. This episode promises nudity, sex, drugs, and almost rock & roll. The WhyWork Podcast - Alan Girle, Trajce Cvetkovski, and Sara Pazell - examine both serious and salacious work-related tales. The flagrant disregard for the law, mishaps, and egregious failures, capture our imagination. This episode discusses invisible, hidden hazards, like dust exposures, nudity as a workplace norm, and recreational drug use intersecting with work readiness tests. The target audience for this show centres on occupational rehabilitation providers, medical teams, and operational leaders. Tune in if your work makes you confront nudity, recreational drug use, or health and safety standards.For more on the team's discussion of a dusty scneario, refer to this NSW Dust Diseases Tribunal Worker's Compensation case law:Bennett v Workers Compensation Nominal Insurer and Ors [2025] NSWDDT 5

The second trailer for the Launch of the Phoenix Occupational Medicine Early Intervention Done Right Symposium 2026 - Special Episode Release - promising nudity, sex, drugs, and almost rock & roll. Of course, Sara must shamelessly promote the podcast - voluntarily recorded, produced, and promoted - listen in, subscribe, download, and submit your 5-star rating to keep the @WhyWorkPodcast in the charts!

The second trailer for the Launch of the Phoenix Occupational Medicine Early Intervention Done Right Symposium 2026 - Special Episode Release - promising nudity, sex, drugs, and almost rock & roll.

The first trailer for the Launch of the Phoenix Occupational Medicine Early Intervention Done Right Symposium 2026 - Special Episode Release.

S10: Special-Release Bonus: How Far Would You Go For a Workmate? Part 3WARNING: 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.In the latter episodes, the series is joined by Clinton “CJ” Harding, the kidney recipient, whose presence reframes the experience from sacrifice to shared humanity. Together, they explore what it really means to care at work, in friendship, and in life when the stakes are life and death – very real.After all the confrontations of poor service design in the public healthcare setting, Sara would still do it again if tested on repeat. “That’s not really an option, now,” jokes Trajce.This series invites listeners to reflect:What do we owe one another at work 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: Special-Release Bonus: How Far Would You Go For a Workmate? Part 2WARNING: 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: How Far Would You Go For a Workmate? Part 1WARNING: 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 03: How Far Would You Go For a Workmate?Payback conversations - a foreign, special guest: CJ Harding - kidney donor receipt - with discussions on reframing an experience of sacrifice to shared humanity. The crew explore what it really means to care at work in friendship and in life when the stakes are life & death.

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.

S10: Bonus Trailer 01: How Far Would You Go For a Workmate?A special three-part, provocative bonus series releasing soon.

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

S09 E11: The Beat Boy Fashion Archetype and Exploitation Tactics of Reality TVWARNING: At the end of this episode, we refer to a mass murderer who made his way to a Reality TV show, and this may confront some people – we advise listener discretion.Trajce’s nurtures his love of reality TV through research about the programming designed to evoke conflict among the show participants. “Some of these reality TV episodes showcase true talent among participants as competitors – like singing, sport, or survival skills,” explains Trajce, “but then there are the anti-talent shows – ‘I’m a celebrity, get me outta here!’”Alan talks about the lack of privacy on reality TV shows. He quotes a contestant who says, “This experience is shark-infested, it’s like having my leg bitten off.” Sara protests, “But you sign consents – are you not seeking your 15 minutes of fame?”Trajce asks, “What about the participants who are older?” In response to the crew’s discussion on the tortology of the sociological research term, ‘lived experience,’ Trajce adds, “There are some people who are experienced, but haven’t really lived.”Trajce reflects on this love for the level of authenticity in the WhyWork show with Sara’s admission of her lack-of-fashion fashion archetype, “Seriously,” she complains, “it’s like my archetype is the non-archetype, playful, not quite centred in any one place, just like my Otter animal-archetype!”For more on these topics, tune in to:· S02 E08: Reality TV and Me – Trajce reflects on his fascination (and obsession) with reality TV and the phenomena of ‘naming and shaming.’ The crew discuss the potential psychological impacts of being on these shows.· S02 E10: Name and Shame: Where is the Filter? Broader in scope, this episode includes discussion of reality TV and the blurred lines around naming and shaming in media and society.And two related books by Trajce Cvetkovski:· Reality TV and the Art of Trivialising Work Health, Safety, and Wellbeing· The Pop Music Idol and the Spirit of Charisma

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 09: An Assault on Office DecorumWARNING: This episode refers to sexual escapades that may offend some people – we advise listener discretion.The crew, Alan, Trajce, and Sara, discuss a confronting case, Evan Ashley Solstace v Metley Toleda Ltd [2023] FCA 456, which made headlines: ‘Creepy office work is slammed by judge for filthy acts at work.’ The judge called the situation, “Shambolic!”“Great word,” reflects Trajce.Sara explains some of the findings resulting from Alan’s case research, “This worker was found to engage in purposeful lewd workplace behaviours. He would fart in the hallway, burp aloud, go to the loo with the hallway door open, and solicit sex talk among colleagues while openly sharing stories about his polyamorous and furry lifestyle.”While admitting the inappropriateness of the workplace behaviours, Alan struggles with the connection of these behaviours to sexual harassment industrial law, which tethers Trajce and Sara to good debate on this topic. Sara sets her boundaries, “Hey,” she tells the guys, “We are great friends – but hear me now: I do not ever wish to know the explicit details of your bedroom gymnastics!”Tune in for more on this case and other discussions on workplace taboos.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.

WARNING: This episode is explicit in nature - we advise listener discretion.Encore replay from our inaugural WhyWork Podcast episode 01 launch - From S01 E01: Bubbles of Trouble - the perfect discussion for the holiday time.Season 01 Episode 01 invites listeners to consider what happens when a celebration like a Christmas party or social gathering goes seriously wrong. There can be blurred lines, drinking, nudity, giggles, and the assumptions that everyone in the team wants to party in the same way when that just might not be the case! Listen to what happens when your work party devolves and what might be done to protect against such circumstances. “She poured it on…”, says Alan. “It all got a little sudsy…”, says Sara, and “Let’s get this party started!”. “Was she planking?” asked Trajce. There is little to be left to the imagination in this episode.

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.

Season 09 Episode 07: Trading Up – Work in the Sex TradeWARNING: This episode refers to adult entertainment work domains – we advise listener discretion.Alan explores workplace claims involving an adult entertainment specialist, debating work arrangements and business entitlements. In doing so, he reveals some of the traits of a business contracting ‘done right.’ Work is work and the sex trade represents a legitimate industry and workplace with regular entitlements, says Trajce. Sara commends Alan, “I’m so glad you thought to discuss successes,” as she reflects on studying success and the value of simplicity as much as, if not more than, studying potential workplace failures and complexity. The session is interrupted by the caw of a lost Magpie down the hall from the recording studio.For more on the sex trade, listen to S02 E06: Mi Casa es su Casa. For more on High Reliability Organisations, listen to S05 E14: You are my HRO.For more on human factors, safety events, and the multiple fatalities at the theme park, Dreamworld Gold Coast, listen to S03 E06: Cha-cha-cha Thrill Rides.