The mental health and wellbeing movement in construction goes hand-in-hand with safety. Both have their fair share of stigma, but both at their core just want people to stay alive and thrive. Johel Woodliff, Director of Safety for Miles-McClellan Construction, believes this with his whole heart, and has worked to integrate mental health and wellbeing into how he programs around safety. As a combat veteran, he also has a huge place in his heart for the large veteran population in the industry.

Not many construction contractors have a "Chief Wellness Officer". Houck does! And on this episode, I had the honor of speaking to her (Kara McCaffrey) about what it's like working for a company that focuses so much on employee wellbeing and the sincere place it comes from.

We also tapped into the world of mental health advocacy and how it impacts home life and how we parent. 

Dino Tripodis is a creative legend in Columbus. As a filmmaker, comedian, and former Sunny 95 radio host, he’s become a respected voice in the city. Known for his ability to bring humor to serious topics, Dino also serves as Ohio’s representative for the mental health nonprofit Man Therapy. On the podcast, he shares his story, how he got involved with Man Therapy, and why the organization’s approach can make a difference in industries like construction.

Brian Finck is a general foreman for Mid-City Electric Co. in Westerville, Ohio. With 25 years of experience in the electrical contracting space, he is a veteran in the industry.

After overcoming many personal battles, some including his own mental health, Brian has discovered a passion for advocacy. That passion has impacted how he takes care of himself, his family, and his crews. He's now using that passion to model culture of care for future leaders in the industry.

UPDATE: Four days after this episode was recorded, Brian was diagnosed with bile-duct cancer. As he continues to share his passion for advocacy in the construction industry, he will also be going through chemo and immunotherapy to battle this disease. So we can support him in his battle, a GoFundMe was created. Please feel free to donate and share!

Melissa Doman, M.A. is an author, organizational psychologist, and workplace revolutionary whose mission is simple: Make mental health easy to talk about at work. On this coming episode, we talk about what that can look like in blue-collar trades like construction. We also get distracted grooving to 93' Til Infinity.

If you’ve been part of the wellbeing movement in construction, chances are you’ve come across Cal Beyer’s work—or at least felt its impact. Cal is the Director of SAFE Workplaces at SAFE Project, a national nonprofit that focuses on naloxone education and raising awareness about the opioid crisis. Over the years, he’s teamed up with all kinds of organizations and people in the wellbeing space, working to shine a light on the importance of building a culture of care in the construction industry.

Rob McKinney is a jack-of-all-trades tech, safety, and mental health advocate working for Canadian safety outfit, SALUS. He also has been a co-host on the ConTech Crew Podcast and trainer for My Steady Mind.

In this episode, you'll hear about Rob's story and how he landed in mental health advocacy, and how the life "scars" we carry can serve to connect us.

As a bonus, you'll also cringe at my awful tattoo idea and thank me for never getting it.

Sonya Bohmann is the Executive Director of Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention (CIASP), a national non-profit organization dedicated to providing easy-to-use resources to help the construction industry program around suicide prevention. In this episode, Sonya shares the story around how her desire to help the industry came from small signs peppered through her life. As a Philadelphia native, she also shares a controversial, hot take on the Philly Cheese Steak.

Asma Bayunus is the EHS Operations Manager for Jordan Foster Construction in Austin, Texas. Fresh off of winning the mid-size contractor award at the annual Working Minds Summit for her efforts building a comprehensive wellbeing program for the company, Asma jumps on the podcast to share how her upbringing and life experiences provided the background for her desire to help others in the construction industry.

Mid-City Electric Co. is a full-service electrical contractor in Westerville, Ohio that has stepped up to genuinely make wellbeing a priority for its office and field staff. Ryan Dew, Senior Vice President, tells the story of how the company has taken these steps and how it has impacted his life personally and professionally.