Safe Space Made Simple

By Trace Hobson

BREAK FREE FROM SURVIVAL MODE: Every Tuesday, discover practical techniques to transform healthcare's toughest challenges. This isn't theory—it's your practical guide to sustainable leadership.

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FAQs about Safe Space Made Simple:

How many episodes does Safe Space Made Simple have?

The podcast currently has 56 episodes available.

Safe Space Made Simple episodes:

December 03, 2024Safe Space Classic: Stop Managing Tasks, Start Multiplying Time
Title: Safe Space Classic: Stop Managing Tasks, Start Multiplying Time
What You Will Discover: The greatest threat to healthcare isn't lack of time – it's how we use it. Through the lens of nurse leadership transformation, discover how mandatory connection time paradoxically creates more capacity for care, not less. This episode reveals how leaders who prioritize presence over tasks unlock hidden resources in their teams and systems.
Key Insights:
Task-focus fragments care, while connection amplifies it
Mandatory meetings free time, they don't consume it
Burnout signals system failure, not personal weakness
True leadership bridges bedside wisdom with boardroom decisions
Safe spaces emerge from structure, not spontaneity
Actionable Takeaways:
Make connection mandatory, not optional
Create team rhythms that prioritize presence over tasks
Transform nursing models through evidence, not tradition
Build support systems that multiply time, not divide it
Read resistance as wisdom trying to emerge, not defiance to overcome
Here are 3 ways I can help when you're ready:
Listen to the Podcast: Join our weekly conversations [podcast link]
Subscribe to This Newsletter: Get weekly insights [newsletter link]
The 30-Minute System Reset Session: Get Consultation [System Reset Session]
...more
34min
November 26, 2024Safe Space Classic: Why "Difficult People" Are Your System's Secret Intelligence
Safe Space Classic: Why "Difficult People" Are Your System's Secret Intelligence
What You Will Discover: In healthcare, what we label as "toxic behavior" often masks deeper system intelligence trying to emerge. Dr. Mitch Kusy reveals how leaders who shift from managing difficult individuals to reading system signals unlock transformational change. This classic episode shows how creating true psychological safety isn't about avoiding conflict – it's about understanding what your system is trying to tell you.
This episode is also based on this week's newsletter article: "Difficult" People are System Messengers - Read Here
Key Insights:
Toxic behavior signals system distress, not just individual dysfunction
Exit interviews reveal truth only when timing shifts from immediate to delayed
Power dynamics expose character: watch how people treat those they don't need
Culture transforms when awareness precedes intervention
Safe spaces confront patterns, not just people
Actionable Takeaways:
Watch who people respect – not just who they report to
Create feedback loops that reveal truth, not just compliance
Build assessment systems that catch toxicity before it enters
Transform exit interviews from formalities to intelligence gathering
Read resistance as data, not defiance
Here are 3 ways I can help when you're ready:
Listen to the Podcast: Join our weekly conversations [podcast link]
Subscribe to This Newsletter: Get weekly insights [newsletter link]
The 30-Minute System Reset Session: Get Consultation [System Reset Session] In just one focused session, discover how to:
✓ Build teams that deliver the excellence you envisioned
✓ Transform toxic departments into retention magnets
✓ Become the leader you always knew you could be
✓ Create environments where staff choose to stay
...more
42min
November 12, 2024Stop Your Team's Energy Bleeding: The Surprising Truth of Leadership Listening (#047)
Title: Stop Your Team's Energy Bleeding: The Surprising Truth of Leadership Listening | Episode #47
What You Will Discover: In healthcare's high-pressure environment, true leadership emerges not from speaking but from listening deeply. This episode reveals how the quality of your listening shapes everything from team safety to organizational outcomes. Through Caroline's masterclass insights, discover how transforming your default listening patterns creates the psychological safety your healthcare team craves.
Key Insights:
Default patterns limit, awareness liberates
Heart-centered listening creates, head-centered listening controls
True safety starts with self-compassion, not self-improvement
Presence precedes performance, not the other way around
Cultural rushing blocks relationship building
Actionable Takeaways:
Notice your default listening pattern under pressure
Practice gratitude for your heart's capacity before difficult conversations
Create intentional relationship space before problem-solving
Transform closed questions into genuine curiosity
Choose presence over productivity in team interactions
Resources Mentioned:
Caroline's Masterclass on Listening and Presence
Connect with Caroline on LinkedIn
Practice: Heart-Centered Listening Circle
Tool: The Ripple Effect - Four Intentional Breaths
Contact: Reach out to Caroline and Trace on LinkedIn for more information about listening circles

Here are 3 ways I can help when you're ready:
Listen to the Podcast: Join our weekly conversations [podcast link]
Subscribe to This Newsletter: Get weekly insights [newsletter link]
The 30-Minute System Reset Session: Get Consultation [System Reset Session]
In just one focused session, discover how to:

✓ Build teams that deliver the excellence you envisioned
✓ Transform toxic departments into retention magnets
✓ Become the leader you always knew you could be
✓ Create environments where staff choose to stay
...more
40min
November 05, 2024The Mindful Leader: Practical Steps to Psychological Safety in Healthcare (#046)
Title: The Paradox of Presence: Finding Calm in Healthcare Chaos | Episode #046
What You'll Discover:
In the relentless pace of healthcare, true leadership power comes not from constant action, but from conscious presence. This episode reveals how mindfulness—far from being a luxury—becomes the foundation for effective healthcare leadership. Through Ron Plowright's insights, discover how settling your own nervous system creates the safety your team desperately needs in times of crisis.
Key Insights:
A settled leader creates a settled team
True presence confronts reality, it doesn't escape it
Safety emerges from stillness, not control
Your body speaks truth before your mind knows
Leadership presence requires practice, not perfection
Actionable Takeaways:
Practice two mindful minutes before team huddles
Notice body signals before emotional storms
Name your state before changing your state
Create safety through consistency, not capability
Meet urgency with presence, not pressure
Resources Mentioned:
Contact: Reach out to Ron by Clicking Here
Book: "My Grandmother's Hands" by Resmaa Menakem
Book: "Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness" by David Treleaven
Concept: Window of Tolerance framework
Practice: MindWell-U's "Take 5" mindfulness practice
Training: Reach out to Ron on LinkedIn for specifics
When You're Ready, Here are Two Ways I can Serve You:
Join the Free One-on-One Safe Space Challenge
FREE RESOURCE: Download your copy of "From Burnout to Breakthrough: How to Create Relational Equity on Healthcare Teams" by clicking here!
...more
44min
October 22, 2024The Courage to Let Go: When Safety Means Goodbye
Title: Safe Space Classic: The Courage to Let Go: When Safety Means Goodbye
What You'll Discover:
In the paradox of leadership, true psychological safety demands the courage to end unsafe relationships. This episode reveals how clinging to toxic team dynamics betrays the very safety we seek to create. Discover how letting go—of control, of hope for change, and sometimes of people—creates the foundation for genuine safety in healthcare teams.
Key Insights:
Safety demands courage, not comfort
Your tolerance shapes your team's toxicity
True boundaries serve, they don't shield
Clarity comes from letting go, not holding on
Leadership starts with self-responsibility, not other-management
Actionable Takeaways:
Notice your internal language before addressing external behavior
Set boundaries from self-awareness, not self-protection
Speak the unspoken, even when it means goodbye
Own your part without owning their choice
Let consequences teach what conversations cannot
When You're Ready, Here are Two Ways I can Serve You:
Join the Free One-on-One Safe Space Challenge
FREE RESOURCE: Download your copy of "From Burnout to Breakthrough: How to Create Relational Equity on Healthcare Teams" by clicking here!
...more
31min
October 15, 2024The Safety Reset: Transform Your Team with the Power of Presence (#045)
Title: The Safety Reset: Transform Your Team with the Power of Presence
Discover how to transform your healthcare team's culture through the revolutionary "Safety Reset" method.
In this eye-opening episode, you'll discover:
Slow down to speed up: the paradox of effective leadership in healthcare
Harness 'therapeutic presence' to revolutionize team dynamics
Self-regulation: the key to creating psychological safety for your team
Spark a cultural revolution in healthcare, starting with yourself
Key Insights:
SOP3 Method: Slow down to the Speed of your Presence for enhanced leadership
Neuroception: Recognize unconscious safety signals to foster collaboration
Embodied Listening: Deepen empathy through full-body awareness
Vulnerable Leadership: Embrace imperfection for authentic connection
Systemic Ripple Effect: Personal growth catalyzes organizational change
Actionable Takeaways:
Start meetings with a presence practice to boost connection
Develop self-regulation techniques to model resilience
Attend retreats focused on presence and psychological safety
Build a peer network for ongoing professional growth
Sharpen your non-verbal cue recognition skills
When You're Ready, Here are Two Ways I can Serve You:
Join the Free One-on-One Safe Space Challenge
FREE RESOURCE: Download your copy of "From Burnout to Breakthrough: How to Create Relational Equity on Healthcare Teams" by clicking here!
...more
31min
October 08, 2024The Healing Power of Presence: A Physician’s Approach to Transforming Healthcare Culture (#044)
Title: The Healing Power of Presence: A Physician's Radical Approach to Patient Care
Are you a healthcare leader feeling trapped in a system that prioritizes efficiency over genuine human connection? This week's Safe Space Made Simple episode offers a transformative perspective on patient care and healthcare culture. Join host Trace Hobson as he interviews Dr. Lawrence Yang, a family physician who's revolutionizing the doctor-patient relationship through the power of presence.
In this eye-opening episode, you'll discover:
How slowing down can actually make you more effective in a fast-paced healthcare environment
The unexpected impact of 'therapeutic presence' on patient outcomes and physician satisfaction
Why addressing your own trauma is crucial for creating a healing space for others
How to initiate cultural transformation in healthcare, starting with yourself
Key Insights:
The Presence Paradigm: Understand how being fully present, even in short appointments, can dramatically improve patient care and satisfaction.
Trauma-Informed Healthcare: Learn why recognizing the ubiquity of trauma in both patients and providers is essential for holistic healing.
Self-Compassion as a Clinical Tool: Discover how cultivating self-compassion can enhance your capacity for empathy and improve patient outcomes.
The Myth of Physician Invulnerability: Explore why acknowledging our own humanity and wounds is crucial for effective leadership in healthcare.
Systemic Transformation: Understand how individual healing can catalyze broader cultural shifts in healthcare organizations.
Actionable Takeaways:
Implement a 'presence practice' at the start of each patient encounter to enhance connection.
Explore self-compassion resources like Dr. Kristin Neff's work to build personal resilience.
Attend mindfulness and compassion retreats designed specifically for healthcare professionals.
Create a 'healing network' with like-minded colleagues to support ongoing personal and professional growth.
Practice observing and responding to patients' non-verbal cues to enhance therapeutic presence.
Links for resources mentioned in the interview

Connect with Lawrence on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrence-yang-93b75614/
Ronald Epstein: https://www.ronaldepstein.com/events
Retreat for Health Professionals: https://livingthismoment.ca/event/mindfulness-in-medicine-a-meditation-retreat-for-health-professionals-3/
Professional Development Progam: https://www.ihi.org/education/training/workforce-well-being-leadership-professional-development-program
Physician Retreat: https://www.revivephysicians.com/retreat2024
Self-Compassion Resource: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/1462526780?ref=cm_sw_r_cso_cp_apin_dp_2H77565KQS7D52Z4Y3M0&ref_=cm_sw_r_cso_cp_apin_dp_2H77565KQS7D52Z4Y3M0&social_share=cm_sw_r_cso_cp_apin_dp_2H77565KQS7D52Z4Y3M0&starsLeft=1&skipTwisterOG=1

When You're Ready, Here are Two Ways I can Serve You:
Join the Free One-on-One Safe Space Challenge
FREE RESOURCE: Download your copy of "From Burnout to Breakthrough: How to Create Relational Equity on Healthcare Teams" by clicking here!
...more
31min
October 01, 2024Safe Space Classic: The Burnout Paradox: Why Working Less Made My Team Unstoppable
Title: The Burnout Paradox: Why Working Less Made My Team Unstoppable
Are you a healthcare leader feeling overwhelmed, overworked, or worried that stepping back might cause even more problems?
This week's Safe Space Made Simple episode offers a paradigm-shifting perspective on leadership and team development in healthcare. Join host Trace Hobson as he interviews Heather Greenlees, who shares her transformative journey from a workaholic manager to an empowering leader.
In this eye-opening episode, you'll discover:
The surprising way 10 years of non-stop work actually hindered team growth
A counterintuitive approach to leadership that boosts team performance and morale
The hidden costs of wearing "busy" as a badge of honor in healthcare settings
How letting go of control can lead to unexpected innovations and team development
Key Insights:
The Overwork Trap: Understand how constant presence and micromanagement can stunt team growth and lead to burnout.
The Delegation Revolution: Learn how trusting your team with responsibilities can lead to surprising positive outcomes.
Redefining "Busy": Discover why being "busy" isn't a virtue and how it impacts productivity and team dynamics.
The Power of Stepping Back: Explore how creating space for your team can foster innovation and personal growth.
Work-Life Balance in Healthcare: Strategies for maintaining personal well-being while leading in high-stress environments.
Actionable Takeaways:
Implement a "delegation audit" to identify tasks you can entrust to your team
Practice "scheduled unavailability" to create growth opportunities for your team members
Use the "priority matrix" technique to focus on what truly matters and reduce unnecessary "busyness"
Incorporate daily reflection time to assess your leadership impact and team dynamics
Develop a personal "off-switch" ritual to transition from work mode and improve work-life balance
When You're Ready, Here are Two Ways I can Serve You:
Join the Free One-on-One Safe Space Challenge
FREE RESOURCE: Download your copy of "From Burnout to Breakthrough: How to Create Relational Equity on Healthcare Teams" by clicking here!
...more
28min
September 24, 2024The 5-Minute Breathing Practice Transforming Healthcare Leadership (#043)
Title: Breathe Easy: The 5-Minute Practice Revolutionizing Healthcare Leadership (#043)
Are you a healthcare leader struggling with sleep, stress, and maintaining balance in high-pressure situations?
This week's Safe Space Made Simple episode offers a game-changing breathing technique transforming how healthcare professionals manage stress and improve their overall well-being. Join host Trace Hobson as he interviews Caroline Veerman, who shares her experience with the Buteyko breathing method and how it's dramatically improved her life and work.
In this enlightening episode, you'll discover:
The 50-year sleep struggle that was solved in just 5 weeks (and how you can do it too)
A powerful 5-minute breathing practice that boosts energy, focus, and emotional balance
The surprising link between mouth breathing and health issues in healthcare settings
How "light breathing" can transform your leadership presence and decision-making
Key Insights:
The Buteyko Breakthrough: Learn about a scientifically-backed breathing method that improves health and performance for healthcare professionals.
Mindful Meeting Mastery: Learn to use breathing techniques to stay calm, focused, and nonjudgmental during challenging work situations.
The Alpha State Advantage: Understand how specific breathing patterns can quickly induce a state of heightened awareness and creativity.
The Power of Affirmations: Explore how combining breathing exercises with positive affirmations can reshape your leadership mindset.
Instant Stress Relief: Experience a guided 10-minute breathing practice that you can immediately incorporate into your daily routine.
Actionable Takeaways:
Implement the Buteyko breathing method to improve sleep quality and daytime energy levels
Use "light breathing" techniques during meetings to maintain emotional balance and presence
Practice mouth-closed breathing throughout the day to optimize oxygen delivery to your organs
Incorporate a 10-minute daily breathing practice to induce an alpha brainwave state for enhanced creativity and problem-solving
Develop personalized affirmations to use during your breathing practice for an improved leadership mindset
When You're Ready, Here are Two Ways I can Serve You:
Join the Free One-on-One Safe Space Challenge
FREE RESOURCE: Download your copy of "From Burnout to Breakthrough: How to Create Relational Equity on Healthcare Teams" by clicking here!
...more
32min
September 17, 2024Restoring Humanity in Healthcare: Sacred Workplaces, Trauma-Informed Leadership, and Indigenous Wisdom (#042)
Title: Decolonize Healthcare: Be Human and Lean Into Emotions with Sacred Workplace (#042)
Are you a healthcare leader grappling with high turnover, low morale, and a disconnected workforce?
This week's episode of Safe Space Made Simple offers a groundbreaking approach that's reshaping organizational culture in healthcare. Join host Trace Hobson as he interviews Carrie Lamb, an Indigenous HR professional, facilitator, public speaker and coach who shares her revolutionary concept of "sacred workplaces" and how it can transform your healthcare organization.
In this transformative episode, you'll discover:
The hidden cost of ignoring emotions in the workplace (and how it's killing your retention)
A powerful Indigenous approach to leadership that boosts team trust and patient care
The surprising link between cultural safety and staff performance
How creating "sacred workplaces" can reduce burnout and skyrocket engagement
Key Insights:
The Sacred Workplace Revolution: Learn how acknowledging the sacredness of work can reshape your organizational culture and improve outcomes.
Emotional Intelligence Breakthrough: Understand why embracing emotions at work is crucial for staff well-being and patient care.
Decolonizing HR Practices: Discover how Indigenous wisdom can transform your approach to human resources and leadership.
The Power of Cultural Safety: See how creating culturally safe spaces can dramatically improve staff retention and satisfaction.
Trauma-Informed Leadership: Explore why acknowledging and addressing trauma in the workplace is essential for building resilient teams.
Actionable Takeaways:
Implement "sacred workplace" principles to create a more supportive and engaging work environment
Use Indigenous-inspired leadership practices to foster stronger team connections and trust
Create safe spaces for staff to express and process emotions related to their work
Develop trauma-informed policies and practices to support staff well-being
Invest in cultural safety training to improve Indigenous representation in leadership roles
To connect with Carrie Lamb, please reach out on LinkedIn: Click Here
When You're Ready, Here are Two Ways I can Serve You:
Join the Free One-on-One Safe Space Challenge
FREE RESOURCE: Download your copy of "From Burnout to Breakthrough: How to Create Relational Equity on Healthcare Teams" by clicking here!
...more
41min

FAQs about Safe Space Made Simple:

How many episodes does Safe Space Made Simple have?

The podcast currently has 56 episodes available.