Open Minded Podcast
Hosted by Sir John Kirwan
Helping you feel and perform better in both your personal life and in the workplace.
About Open Minded
Each episode features extraordinary individuals from various fields. Together, we inspire and share strategies on how to elevate performance and care for yourself and your team. We’ll hear real-life stories from experts, business leaders, and community advocates on how they maintain high performance and take care of themselves under pressure, recover from setbacks, and get the balance right or lifting people and performance.
Latest episodes
Return to Level 4 lockdown – leading through these times
#Episode 15. JK gathered an exceptional panel of leaders and experts to find out what they were doing to support their teams and their mental wellbeing through these times.
Return to Level 4 lockdown – reaction & coping strategies
#Episode 14. JK and Dr. Fiona Crichton caught up to discuss their feelings about Level 4 lockdown and what they are doing to cope with uncertainty and anxiety.
Busting sleep myths with Dr. Tony Fernando
#Episode 13. Do we really need 8 hours sleep? Why am I waking up tired? Renowned sleep specialist Dr. Tony Fernando busts some of the biggest sleep myths and misconceptions.
Belonging with Poppy Jaman
#Episode 12. Poppy Jaman OBE shares her personal experiences with mental health and discrimination, and how it’s shaped her mission to leave a legacy of real change.
Rewire your brain for permanent change with Dr. Kerry Spackman
Episode #11. Can we really rewire our brains? What makes a world champion special? Dr. Kerry Spackman shares his expert knowledge, personal experience, and advice for workplaces with Sir John Kirwan.
Another kind of madness with Dr. Stephen Hinshaw (Part 1)
Episode #10. Dr Stephen Hinshaw opens up to Sir John Kirwan about his journey of growing up around mental illness to dedicating his life’s work to psychology and science to help people and break the stigma.
Stop surviving, start fighting with Jazz Thornton
Episode #9. Sir John Kirwan talks to mental health activist Jazz Thornton about how she changed her life by moving from surviving to fighting.
Psychological safety with Steven Worrall
Episode #8. Steven Worrall, Managing Director of Microsoft Australia brings a refreshing approach to leadership, eager to drive change. Steven shares some thoughts on the importance of being present, adjusting your point of view, sharing experiences to help learn lessons faster, empathy and the business case for prioritising wellbeing.
Recognising and preventing burnout with Suzi McAlpine
Episode #7. Leadership development specialist Suzi McAlpine is a seasoned speaker and author of the internationally acclaimed award-winning leadership blog, The Leader’s Digest. She shares insights with JK from her upcoming book, Beyond Burnout, serving up amazing insights for leaders to work on in 2021.
Above everything, people come first with Simon Mundie
Episode #6. Through his podcast Don’t Tell Me The Score, Simon has used sport to explore life’s bigger lessons. He shares what he has learnt about kindness, being present, identity, self-talk and embracing your feminine side.
“How do you stay well, Prime Minister?” with Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern
Episode #5. The Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, chats with JK about sleep, self-care and so much sense on her approach to mental wellbeing and what keeps her well in a high pressure role. With a passion for cooking and recipe books, the PM covers off how she fares with the 6 key ingredients JK and Mentemia use for wellbeing - Chill, Connect, Do, Move, Celebrate and Enjoy.
The legacy the PM wants to leave, plus leadership insights and advice on being kind to ourselves makes this a must-listen. Enjoy!
Redefining leadership with Damien Mu
Episode #4. Fronting a new wave of leadership, Damien is passionate about prioritising wellbeing in his workplace. He discusses his experience of leading a 3000-strong team through a pandemic from Melbourne. He also touches on his experiences with racism, his leadership beliefs, and what fatherhood has taught him.
A vision to transform lives with Dr. James Muecke
Episode #3. Tune in to hear Dr James’ practical strategies for dealing with the ever so common keyboard warrior as well as tips on how to bounce back from adversity, his full-circle career transformation and what he does with himself now.
Courage and warrior spirit with Shantelle Thompson
Episode #2. Shantelle reveals what she has learnt that helped her to get through tough times and what she does on a daily basis to stay well. She shares insights on how we can make meaningful changes in the workplace and in our own lives around inclusion, diversity and wellbeing.
Leadership during a pandemic with Dr. Ashley Bloomfield
Episode #1. Dr Ashley Bloomfield opens up in a chat with Sir John Kirwan about how he handles stress while leading a nation-wide response to a pandemic.