WhyWork Podcast | Podcast on RSS.com

WhyWork Podcast

WhyWork Podcast

by Alan Girle, Trajce Cvetkovski, & Sara Pazell

Management Social Sciences

Season 10

S10 E01: I am follicle-y challenged and I’ve got moobs!

WARNING: This episode refers to sexual harassment and prejudicial treatment at work – we advise listener discretion. Alan presents an extract from a complicated UK case—he is focussed on a particular passing comment rather than a binding ruling. In this comment, the aggrieved person complained that a alleged perpetrator labelled him, ‘bald.’ The defendant viewed this as discriminatory and a form of sexual harassment. While reflecting on workplace harassment by teasing others about their appearance, culture, sex, gender affiliation, or accent, the crew, Alan and Trajce, can’t help but make fun of Sara and her American accent. “They’re not confident and BOLD, they are BALD!” exclaims Trajce. They descend into discussions about man-boobs, sexually suggestive body parts cross cultures—like wrists and earlobes, and hairiness versus baldness “Follically challenged!” chimes Trajce. Sara talks about the trend in legal cases following contemporary issues, where the pendulum swings based on what is making news and the regulator’s focus. She also discusses the messiness of determining prejudicial treatment in the workplace when legal pundits must dissect both intention of harm by the perpetrator and perception of harm by a defendant. For more on sexual harassment and prejudicial concerns, listen to: Season 7, Episode 5 – Tickle versus Giggle for Girls and Safety on the Footy Field Tickle v Giggle for Girls Pty Ltd (No 2) [2024] FCA 960 Season 9, Episode 3 – “Top o’ the morning to ya!”

S10: Special-Release Bonus 6: O–100 km/h in 3.5 Seconds. But Did You Die? (Part 3 of The Final 3-Part Reflection Series): The Conclusion

Season 10 Special-Release Bonus 6: Kidney Bean Reflection Series: The Conclusion O–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 5: O–100 km/h in 3.5 Seconds. But Did You Die? (Part 2 of The Final 3-Part Reflection Series)

Season 10 Special-Release Bonus 5: Kidney Bean Reflection Series O–100 km/h in 3.5 Seconds. But Did You Die? WARNING: This episode includes discussion about the confronting topic of live organ donation. This episode discusses the gamification of kidney donation—when the 'shut down phase' intersects with another person's incessant curiosity. More than a Facebook or TikTok challenge, CJ reflects on this incredible journey and his daily gratitude rituals after receiving Sara’s live kidney donation. Trajce remarks that he is witness to two productive people acting now as business as usual. ‘But did you die?” asks Sara, a carryover from last week’s episode. CJ describes his textbook recovery yet the need to finely tune the health factors that influence the body’s sustained acceptance of a donated organ. Sara philosophises on the idea of positive medical care outcomes coexisting with system gaps. Her sentence begins, “We’ve talked about the gaps in the system …” and ends with a cliff hanger. Wait for next week’s final bonus series episode to complete this discussion on kidney donation.

S10: Special-Release Bonus 4: O–100 km/h in 3.5 Seconds. But Did You Die? (Part 1 of The Final 3-Part Reflection Series)

Season 10 Special-Release Bonus 4: Kidney Bean Reflection Series O–100 km/h in 3.5 Seconds. But Did You Die? Kidney x 3. Friendship x Infinity. Perspective x 1000 WARNING: This episode includes discussion about the confronting topic of live organ donation. Sara donated a kidney. CJ received it. Trajce joked about it. Alan sunned himself in Tassie. Months after a life-changing transplant, the WhyWork® team reunites to reflect on friendship, fear, mortality, recovery, and what happens when someone literally gives a part of themselves to help another person live. Sara shares the reality of becoming "Kidney x1," CJ explains what it's like carrying three kidneys around, and Trajce provides his usual blend of legal commentary and provocation. From confronting death and challenging assumptions about risk, to navigating recovery, return-to-work, and life with three kidneys, this episode is equal parts inspiring, insightful, and unexpectedly funny. A conversation about courage, gratitude, and discovering what really matters when life accelerates from 0–100 km/h in 3.5 secs.

S10 Trailer 04: Travel Back in Time with WhyWork

S10 Trailer 4: Travel Back in Time with WhyWork - 10 Seasons of salacious tales, 100's of episode recordings with case law dissection and work re-design gems. Like homemade cooking leftovers - tasty!

S10 Trailer 03: We've got it all - from baldness to Brazilian accents

S10 Trailer 03: We've got it all - from baldness to Brazilian accents We spread like a new disease... you want a war by the same TV ... We come in via back force entry, the mugs from Backwater Brissie. Why are you talking shit about the underdogs who never quit? WhyWork underdog caselaw dissection is returning to the airwaves soon. Check out our special-release episodes until then.

S10: Trailer 2: Turn Down the Chiles in the Con Carne

S10: Trailer 2: Turn Down the Chiles in the Con Carne We're talking about being a good-time girl, when documentation only goes so far, Swimmin' to safety or when SWMS ain't swimmin' upstream at all. Stay tuned, the full episodes for S10 will release soon.

S1o: Trailer 1: Receding hairlines, lap dance moves, and culture clash: Welcome to work

S1o: Trailer 1: Receding hairlines, lap dance moves, and culture clash: Welcome to work. Are you upset because people are making fun of you at work? Listen to S10 WhyWork - full episode releases coming soon. Hear about how work becomes all-to-human when collegues exploit personal issues like receding hairlines, Coyoto nightclub dancing, and accented variations of spoken English.

S10 Special-Release Bonus: Early Intervention Under Cross Examination – Band-Aids, Bureaucracy, and Better Design

S10 Special-Release Bonus: Early Intervention Under Cross Examination – Band-Aids, Bureaucracy, and Better Design Welcome 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

S10: Early Intervention Done Right: Special Release Trailer 03

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!

1 of 22