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In this deep and fascinating episode, Chelsea — Executive Director of the Public Policy Lab in New York — joins Gerry Scullion to share her journey from urban planning to pioneering human-centered design in federal and municipal agencies.

They discuss:

✅ How design entered the public sector during the Obama era.

✅ Why half the real work happens after the design phase.

✅ Building trust, ethics, and change in complex systems.

✅ The People Say project — a groundbreaking, public repository for civic research.

✅ What AI means (and doesn’t mean) for the future of public services.

🎧 A must-listen for anyone working in service design, policy, or civic innovation.

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You’ll learn

• How non-traditional backgrounds become real superpowers in design
• What “designing safely” actually looks like (policies, consent, escalation paths)
• How to prepare teams for disclosures (e.g., hopelessness/suicidality) without freezing the work
• Why safer practice reassures clients and improves outcomes

Guest: Ali Fawkes, Head of Social Innovation, Humanly (London)

Connect with Ali on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alifawkes

Shout-out to SDinGov for the spark.

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Learn more: https://sites.google.com/workplayexperience.com/johanna-lundqvist/home

🔑 3 Key Takeaways

1. Death teaches us how to live. End-of-life regrets center on time with loved ones—not titles or money.
2. Compassion is practical. Presence, touch, and careful listening often matter more than complex interventions.
3. Design the ending. Embracing endings—of services and of life—creates dignity, choice, and meaning.

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We dive into why imagination matters in government, how systems shape agency, and the role of design in justice and social cohesion. Thea shares practical stories from Australia, New Zealand, and beyond—covering topics like:

• The hidden connections that make systems work
• Why government is not just about doing but also about being
• How physical spaces and design decisions influence justice and community wellbeing

Links
linkedin.com/in/thea-snow?originalSubdomain=au

If you care about systems change, design, and creating governments that truly serve people—this conversation is for you.

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This series is a starting point. Liminal Coaching works with individuals and organizations using guided relaxations, short-format coaching, and high-impact interventions to help people return to clarity and direction fast.

Explore more at: https://liminalcoaching.com
Try the free reset moment: https://bit.ly/limhawk
Get in touch: [email protected]

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Sponsor links

• 10x your service design offering with Smaply. Take 20% off your order with ''ThisisHCD20off'
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Key takeaways:

✅ Hustle culture without intention leads to burnout and emptiness

✅ Productivity is about outcomes, not hours under fluorescent lights

✅ Well-being practices like yoga and flow states are survival tools, not luxuries

Links
https://www.thesukha.co/
Get 20% off with the code 'GETFOCUSED'
Note: I use The Sukha daily, so if you DO join, come and look for me inside :-)

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Sponsor links

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• Check out This is HCD x Sutsu range. Gerry wears and endorses Sutsu ethical clothing. 
• Get 10% off ScenarioCards.org when you used our link https://scenariocards.org/HCD10

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In this episode, Gerry Scullion speaks with Sara Fortier, CEO and founder of Outwitly, about her journey from being a hands-on designer to leading a 20+ person team and connecting contractors with organisations across North America.

Sara shares lessons on contracting, client relationships, hiring, leadership growth, and how AI is reshaping the design industry. If you’re a designer considering contracting, or a leader thinking about scaling your practice, this conversation is full of insights.

Preorder Design Research Mastery:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Design-Research-Mastery-Buy-Products/dp/9063699549

Learn more about Outwitly - Your Trusted UX Partners ™ for building high-impact teams.
http://outwitly.com/

Connect with Sara Fortier on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarafortier/

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Sponsor links

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Liminal Breaks is a three-part podcast mini-series offering practical, immersive audio experiences designed to reset your nervous system, sharpen your focus, and restore your inner clarity in just a few minutes a day.

Developed by Liminal Coaching, these episodes are more than ideas, they’re doorways. Each episode includes a short talk and a guided experience known as a Moment, helping you shift from overload to presence without needing willpower or meditation skills.

Whether you're overwhelmed, distracted, burned out, or just craving space to think clearly, this series is a gentle but powerful starting point.

Who is this for?

- Professionals carrying too much, too fast
- Creatives and knowledge workers struggling to focus
- Leaders who can’t afford burnout but don’t know how to stop
- Anyone seeking grounded, non-performative help

No spiritual fluff. No jargon. Just felt relief and a path back to yourself.

What You’ll Experience in Each Episode

Each episode includes:
- A short, focused introduction to a common psychological or emotional challenge (overload, overwhelm, stuckness)
- A 6-minute guided Moment you can repeat daily
- Integration guidance to help you understand what just shifted and how to use it

What you’ll need:
- Headphones
- A quiet place where you can lie or sit comfortably
- Ideally, close your eyes and allow the Moment to do the work no effort needed

How to Use This Series

- These Moments are most effective when used daily, even for just a week
- You don’t need to understand or try hard, simply listen and let go
- The guidance starts fresh each time, but if returning, feel free to skip ahead using the timestamps in the episode notes

What Issues Does This Help With?

The series and the wider Liminal Coaching approach addresses:
- Overload, overwhelm, and burnout
- Loss of focus or creativity
- Emotional shutdown or dysregulation
- Decision fatigue and life-direction fog

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Sponsor links

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In an extraordinary twist, Judge Gillian Hussey once sentenced three of the women at the table to the Dóchas Centre, Ireland’s women’s prison. Now, years later, they sit side by side, reflecting on that journey, the systemic barriers still in place, and the possibilities for real change.

This is a conversation about resilience, compassion, and the power of lived experience to shape a more humane justice system.

https://www.tiglin.ie/
ie.linkedin.com/in/senatoraubreymccarthy

Click here to watch a video of this episode.

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Episode overview
In this deeply human episode, Gerry Scullion speaks with Wellington-based design researcher Rachel Knight about the emotional realities of working in social impact. From navigating trauma-informed projects to setting boundaries as a freelancer, Rachel shares powerful insights on staying grounded while doing meaningful work.

This conversation is essential listening for anyone working in design research, especially those engaging with vulnerable communities or emotionally charged topics.

🔑 Three Key Takeaways

• Researcher well-being is non-negotiable: plan for self-care like you plan for scope.
• Freelancers carry unique risks—build your own emotional safety nets.
• Lived experience is valuable but can carry hidden costs if not properly supported.

Click here to watch a video of this episode.

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Sponsor links

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