Embodying change: Transforming power, culture and well-being in aid organisations
80 episodes - English - Latest episode: 10 days ago -A podcast for humanitarians who want to work in closer alignment to core values like compassion, accountability, solidarity and equity. Born in 2020 in collaboration with CHS Alliance and Mary Ann Clements, the podcast is now entering its next evolution and is hosted by Melissa Pitotti.
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Episodes
15. Leading Well Part 2 with Naser Haghamed
April 14, 2021 09:09 - 38 minutes - 53.1 MBAt the end of January 2021 Naser Haghamed completed his 5-year stint as the CEO of Islamic Relief Worldwide. Melissa reflects back with him about leadership, staff well-being and organisational culture for the ICVA-CHS Alliance “Leading Well” project. In their conversation they consider What it’s like to be in constant “firefighting mode” as a CEO of an organization operating in multiple conflict zones and navigating complex donor and regulatory requirements The importance o...
14. Leading Well Part I with Julia Sánchez
February 25, 2021 02:11 - 46 minutes - 35.7 MBMelissa talks with Julia Sánchez, the former Secretary General of ActionAid International. The conversation was part of an ICVA-CHS Alliance joint project engaging aid leaders on the issues of staff well-being and supportive organisational culture. ActionAid’s ten principles of feminist leadership include elements that explicitly link to staff well-being, like self awareness, self-care and caring for others. They also include ingredients for a supportive organisational culture lik...
Julia Sánchez, Secretary General of ActionAid International
February 25, 2021 02:11 - 46 minutes - 35.7 MBMelissa talks with Julia Sánchez, Secretary General of ActionAid International. The conversation was part of an ICVA-CHS Alliance joint project engaging aid leaders on the issues of staff well-being and supportive organisational culture. ActionAid’s ten principles of feminist leadership include elements that explicitly link to staff well-being, like self awareness, self-care and caring for others. They also include ingredients for a supportive organisational culture like: dismantl...
Episode 13: Commitment Eight with Gozel Baltaeva and Adrien Muratet
December 16, 2020 15:31 - 37 minutes - 29.1 MBMelissa talks with Gozel Baltaeva and Adrien Muratet about Commitment Eight of the Core Humanitarian Standard. What are the data and the practitioners saying about people management in the humanitarian sector, especially during COVID? Gozel Baltaeva is the People Management Adviser and point of contact for tailored support on all people management topics for CHS Alliance members. With a master’s degree in Business Administration and Strategic Human Resources Management, Gozel offer...
13. Commitment Eight with Gozel Baltaeva and Adrien Muratet
December 16, 2020 15:31 - 37 minutes - 29.1 MBMelissa talks with Gozel Baltaeva and Adrien Muratet about Commitment Eight of the Core Humanitarian Standard. What are the data and the practitioners saying about people management in the humanitarian sector, especially during COVID? Gozel Baltaeva was the People Management Adviser and point of contact for tailored support on all people management topics for CHS Alliance members. With a master’s degree in Business Administration and Strategic Human Resources Management, Gozel offe...
Episode 12: Listening to your people with Roger Parry
December 04, 2020 02:31 - 42 minutes - 32.4 MBHow can we know how staff are doing during these crazy times? Ask them. Melissa talks with Roger Parry, Director of Agenda Consulting. His organisation specialises in employee and volunteer engagement surveys for non-profits. He shares his insights on how staff engagement has increased in the turbulent year of 2020, on how people are experiencing stress differently based on their gender, age and race, and on what it could look like if we tried – as a sector – to track well-being a...
12. Listening to your people with Roger Parry
December 04, 2020 02:31 - 42 minutes - 32.4 MBHow can we know how staff are doing during these crazy times? Ask them. Melissa talks with Roger Parry, Director of Agenda Consulting. His organisation specialises in employee and volunteer engagement surveys for non-profits. He shares his insights on how staff engagement has increased in the turbulent year of 2020, on how people are experiencing stress differently based on their gender, age and race, and on what it could look like if we tried – as a sector – to track well-being a...
Episode 11: "Small but potent acts of compassion" with Rachel Coghlan and Jules Frost
November 20, 2020 12:38 - 44 minutes - 60.8 MBMelissa and Jules Frost talk with Rachel Coghlan about what humanitarians can learn from palliative care. Palliative care improves the quality of life of patients and their families who face problems associated with life-threatening illness. Like the topic of mental illness, the subject of death and dying can be difficult to discuss. Compassion is a common theme that comes up in both domains. This conversation highlights small but potent acts of compassion that can be carried out...
11. Small but potent acts of compassion with Rachel Coghlan and Jules Frost
November 20, 2020 12:38 - 44 minutes - 60.8 MBMelissa and Jules Frost talk with Rachel Coghlan about what humanitarians can learn from palliative care. Palliative care improves the quality of life of patients and their families who face problems associated with life-threatening illness. Like the topic of mental illness, the subject of death and dying can be difficult to discuss. Compassion is a common theme that comes up in both domains. This conversation highlights small but potent acts of compassion that can be carried out...
10. Brendan McDonald from Uncomfortable Revolution
November 06, 2020 16:45 - 42 minutes - 59.1 MBIn this episode, Melissa talks with Brendan McDonald, co-founder and COO of Uncomfortable Revolution. They explore lessons learned from a big push to get the issue of aid worker well-being on the agenda in the run-up to the World Humanitarian Summit. To learn more about Brendan’s work, you can find him: · on Twitter at @7piliers · Uncomfortable Revolution at https://www.urevolution.com/ · his 2015 article in the Guardian at: https://www.theguardian.com/global-de...
Episode 10: Brendan McDonald from Uncomfortable Revolution
November 06, 2020 16:45 - 42 minutes - 59.1 MBIn this episode, Melissa talks with Brendan McDonald, co-founder and COO of Uncomfortable Revolution. They explore lessons learned from a big push to get the issue of aid worker well-being on the agenda in the run-up to the World Humanitarian Summit. To learn more about Brendan’s work, you can find him: · on Twitter at @7piliers · Uncomfortable Revolution at https://www.urevolution.com/ · his 2015 article in the Guardian at: https://www.theguardian.com/global-de...
Episode 9: People at the Centre with JRS' Melly Preira
October 22, 2020 03:52 - 46 minutes - 64.4 MBMelissa talks with Melly Preira, the Human Resources Director at the Jesuit Refugee Service about why she is passionate about employee well-being and how she went about introducing major changes her humanitarian organisation's staff support. Melly’s HR Department supports 56 countries in 10 regions and implements HR management practices, tailored to both the field and HQ. She guides senior management on the development and promotion of strategic policies and projects to support th...
9. People at the Centre with JRS' Melly Preira
October 22, 2020 03:52 - 46 minutes - 64.4 MBMelissa talks with Melly Preira, the Human Resources Director at the Jesuit Refugee Service, about how she introduced major changes to her humanitarian organisation's approach to staff support. Melly’s HR Department supports 56 countries in 10 regions and implements HR management practices, tailored to both the field and HQ. She guides senior management on the development and promotion of strategic policies and projects to support the well-being and performance of their employees....
8. The Vulnerable Humanitarian with Gemma Houldey
October 02, 2020 14:41 - 28 minutes - 39.5 MBMary Ann catches up with Gemma Houldey. We hear Gemma's nuanced perspective on the idea of the "perfect humanitarian," the need for new ways of working that value vulnerability, and the insights gained by applying the lens of diversity and difference (particularly as they relate to race and gender). Dr. Gemma Houldey shares with Mary Ann her views on well-being in the aid sector, particularly the nuances that arise as a result of gender, race and professional status. She previews s...
Episode 8: The Vulnerable Humanitarian with Gemma Houldey
October 02, 2020 14:41 - 28 minutes - 39.5 MBDr. Gemma Houldey shares with Mary Ann her views on well-being in the aid sector, particularly the nuances that arise as a result of gender, race and professional status. She previews some of the concepts explored in her forthcoming book, including perfectionism, vulnerability and daring to have difficult conversations. During this period of COVID-19 and stark reminders of racial injustice, we have an opportunity to pause, slow down, and be with the parts of ourselves we don’t like....
Episode 7: Duty of Care at IRC with Lana Baqaeen
June 25, 2020 07:00 - 42 minutes - 38.6 MBLana shares how International Rescue Committee (IRC) implement their Duty of Care programme, providing professional mental health support that covers all staff and their families. They provide comprehensive support in a number of different languages, offer virtual wellbeing support and are thinking about the cross-cultural issues that are important in meeting their Duty of Care to their staff around the world. Our conversation with Lana is an important example of how good practice i...
7. Duty of Care at IRC with Lana Baqaeen
June 25, 2020 07:00 - 42 minutes - 38.6 MBIn this episode Lana Baqaeen a Regional Staff Care Specialist for MENA Region with International Rescue Committee talks with Mary Ann about the work they are doing on their Duty of Care programme. Lana shares how International Rescue Committee (IRC) implement their Duty of Care programme, providing professional mental health support that covers all staff and their families. They provide comprehensive support in a number of different languages, offer virtual wellbeing support and a...
6. Mental Health in Aid with Imogen Wall
June 11, 2020 07:00 - 28 minutes - 25.8 MBIn this show, you'll hear Mary Ann interview Imogen Wall, an independent consultant working in the humanitarian aid sector, mental health advocate and a specialist around well being in the sector. And also Founder of the 50 shades of aid Facebook group that. They talk about the lack of attention to Mental Health in Humanitarian Settings and the huge amount we can learn from other sectors about the impacts of dealing with crises on our mental health. Imogen Wall is a former BBC jou...
Episode 6: Mental Health in Aid with Imogen Wall
June 11, 2020 07:00 - 28 minutes - 25.8 MBImogen Wall is a former BBC journalist and UN spokesperson, now an independent communications trainer and advisor. She specialises in crisis response with a particular emphasis on mental health, peer support, critical incident management and safeguarding in humanitarian contexts. Her previous frontline humanitarian work includes field postings in Indonesia (Aceh), Sudan, Haiti, Philippines and HQ work in New York and Geneva. Recent clients include DFID, the London School of Hygiene...
Episode 5: COVID, Organisations & Mental Health with Dr Peter Mills, Cigna
May 28, 2020 07:00 - 21 minutes - 20 MBDr. Mills trained in medicine at the Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine in London. He is an accredited specialist in respiratory diseases and still practices medicine on a part-time basis at the Whittington Hospital in London. In addition, he has a masters degree in Infectious diseases and a PhD in the field of cell biology. Peter has been at the forefront of the digital health “revolution” over the past two decades, having helped a number of organisations in the UK and US d...
5. COVID, Organisations & Mental Health with Dr. Peter Mills
May 28, 2020 07:00 - 21 minutes - 20 MBIn this show, you'll hear Mary Ann interview Dr. Peter Mills, Medical Director of Cigna. They talk about the mental health impacts of Covid-19 and the need for organisations to be prepared to help meet them and support their staff and about the responsibility of boards and leadership to take seriously the wellbeing of staff. Dr. Mills trained in medicine at the Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine in London. He is an accredited specialist in respiratory diseases and still practi...
Episode 4: Coping with Covid Mindfully with Hitendra Solanki
May 21, 2020 07:00 - 59 minutes - 91.3 MBHitendra Solanki is a senior lecturer in development studies at London South Bank University. He’s been active in the development and humanitarian sector for over 16 years. Most recently, he worked as a Mindfulness and Wellbeing Adviser in Action Against Hunger UK. He also led the 3-year Mindfulness & Wellbeing project as part of the Start Network’s Transforming Surge Capacity programme. You can see us reference his work in the recently published paper, “Working Well? Aid Worker Wel...
4. Coping with Covid Mindfully with Hitendra Solanki
May 21, 2020 07:00 - 59 minutes - 91.3 MBHitendra Solanki is a senior lecturer in development studies at London South Bank University. He’s been active in the development and humanitarian sector for over 16 years. Most recently, he worked as a Mindfulness and Wellbeing Adviser in Action Against Hunger UK. He also led the 3-year Mindfulness & Wellbeing project as part of the Start Network’s Transforming Surge Capacity programme. You can see us reference his work in the recently published paper, “Working Well? Aid Worker Wel...
Episode 3: Coping with COVID & its impact on our lives Part Two with Don Bosch
May 14, 2020 03:00 - 46 minutes - 42.5 MBIn this show, you'll hear Melissa interview Don Bosch, Director of Risk Psychology and HEAT Training at the Headington Institute. Don is a licensed clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst with 35 years of experience and understands human behaviour and brain function. Outside of Pandemic, Don is often in the field doing debriefs, working with global response teams, and providing psychological support for security trainings. He is a lifelong mountaineer with a love for adventure, tr...
3. Coping with COVID & its impact on our lives Part Two with Don Bosch
May 14, 2020 03:00 - 46 minutes - 42.5 MBIn this show, you'll hear Melissa interview Don Bosch, Director of Risk Psychology and HEAT Training at the Headington Institute. Don is a licensed clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst with 35 years of experience and understands human behaviour and brain function. Outside of Pandemic, Don is often in the field doing debriefs, working with global response teams, and providing psychological support for security trainings. He is a lifelong mountaineer with a love for adventure, tr...
Episode 2: Coping with COVID & its impact on our lives Part One with Kristin Duncombe
May 07, 2020 18:00 - 45 minutes - 41.8 MBIn this show, you'll hear Melissa interview Kristin Duncombe a therapist and couples counsellor, life coach, and author. She’s based her career on working with international and expatriate individuals and families following her own experience of growing up across Africa and Asia as the child of a diplomat and having lived internationally most of her adult life. You can check out her work at her website here: https://www.kristinduncombe.com/ The cognitive distortions identified by D...
Episode 2: Coping with COVID & its impact on our lives Part One with Kristin Dunscombe
May 07, 2020 18:00 - 45 minutes - 41.8 MBIn this show, you'll hear Melissa interview Kristin Duncombe a therapist and couples counsellor, life coach, and author. She’s based her career on working with international and expatriate individuals and families following her own experience of growing up across Africa and Asia as the child of a diplomat and having lived internationally most of her adult life. You can check out her work at her website here: https://www.kristinduncombe.com/
2. Coping with COVID & its impact on our lives Part One with Kristin Duncombe
May 07, 2020 18:00 - 45 minutes - 41.8 MBIn this show, you'll hear Melissa interview Kristin Duncombe a therapist and couples counsellor, life coach, and author. She’s based her career on working with international and expatriate individuals and families following her own experience of growing up across Africa and Asia as the child of a diplomat and having lived internationally most of her adult life. You can check out her work at her website here: https://www.kristinduncombe.com/ The cognitive distortions identified by D...
1. Care & Compassion in a time of Covid-19 with Tanya Wood
April 22, 2020 05:00 - 19 minutes - 17.7 MBWelcome to Embodying Change. In this introductory episode, you'll hear Melissa Pitotti talking with Tanya Wood, Executive Director of CHS Alliance. They introduce you to the initiative initially incubated by the CHS Alliance about building care and compassion in the sector and talk about wellbeing in the context of COVID-19. You can find out more about CHS Alliance at https://www.chsalliance.org/ and about Tanya here.
Care & Compassion in a time of Covid-19 with Tanya Wood
April 22, 2020 05:00 - 19 minutes - 17.7 MBIn this show, you'll hear Melissa interview Tanya Wood, Executive Director of CHS Alliance. You can find out more about CHS Alliance at https://www.chsalliance.org/ and about Tanya here. This podcast series is part of the CHS Alliance Initiative to Cultivate Caring, Compassionate aid organisations being led by Melissa Pitotti and Mary Ann Clements who host this podcast and which you can read about here: https://www.chsalliance.org/get-support/article/cultivating-caring-compassiona...