Embracing Differences

Myth busting i.e. viewing a myth as a false story, is a political ideology. It is not science. Myth busting creates differences and it spreads hatred in the society. In a culturally diverse society, understanding myth busting is our pathway to cultural intelligence and improving our relationships with others. In this podcast, I will explain what is a myth and why myth busting should concern the risk and safety industry and our society at large. What are the dangers of myth busting and how we can avoid falling into this trap.    We will discuss: What is a myth? A short story of a myth. What is the power of a myth? What is myth busting? Why myth busting is an ideology (not science)? Why myth busting should concern us?  

In this engaging discussion, Kathleen Mahoney, a human rights expert, and Larry Philip Fontaine, a former National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, delve into the historical impact of the Canadian residential school system. They explore the need for cultural understanding and the significance of resilience among Indigenous communities. The conversation also highlights the importance of empathy, storytelling, and culturally aware approaches to justice and safety. Their insights emphasize the transformative power of acknowledging past traumas to foster healing and reconciliation.

John Soria, a young seafarer, shares his gripping experience of falling into a tank, opening the door to a rich discussion on human decision-making. The conversation dives into how cognitive errors occur in high-pressure situations and emphasizes the need for deeper understanding beyond a mere brain-focused approach. Soria stresses the importance of communication and relationships in preventing accidents, while also exploring the impact of unconscious decision-making. His insights shed light on learning from our mistakes through storytelling and empathy.

In this engaging discussion, Francisco Scatino, the former captain of the Costa Concordia, shares his unique perspective on the infamous 2012 sinking. He delves into what constituted 'normal practices' in the cruise industry and how these beliefs can lead to catastrophic decisions. The conversation shifts to the cultural dynamics of safety management, emphasizing the need for understanding human behavior in high-risk environments. Scatino's anecdotes illuminate the complexities of navigation, safety protocols, and the normalization of risky maneuvers in maritime operations.

The guest, an experienced ship captain involved in the 2012 Costa Concordia disaster, shares insights into the critical dynamics of communication and authority on the bridge. The discussion delves into why competent officers failed to speak up, emphasizing the role of framing in shaping perceptions of the tragedy. The captain critiques existing narratives around psychological safety and explores how hierarchical structures may silence voices. Listeners gain a nuanced appreciation of the complexities of decision-making in high-stakes scenarios and the importance of rethinking our assumptions about risk and safety.

Rosa Antonia Carrillo, an expert in risk management and organizational behavior, joins the discussion to unveil the transformative role of mindfulness. They explore how cultivating self-awareness can enhance risk reduction in healthcare and beyond. Rosa emphasizes the significance of 'weak signals' in organizations and how mindfulness sharpens our ability to detect them. Additionally, the duo highlights the power of workplace friendships, revealing how genuine connections foster personal growth and improve team dynamics, ultimately leading to a safer, more empathetic workplace.

This podcast discussion represents two people from different parts of the globe with different backgrounds looking for common ground.   As you listen you can initially hear different perspectives and perceptions. It felt that we began to synchronize at some point and eventually arrived at the same place. It should not be surprising. There are 8 billion of us on the planet. While we all may look completely different; we are designed exactly the same.   When we move to defend our belief’s, we often sacrifice the ability to move forward and seek the learning that is necessary to raise the discussion to higher understanding. Curiosity initiates logic, reason and intuition. Defense moves us to justify and rationalize a belief or an action in the past. Forward is the future we are trying to shape. Backward is the past we cannot change.   We own our belief’s. There is no reason to defend them.  Someone with different belief’s is not a threat to ours. Someone else cannot steal our belief. However, if we are curious and listen to others, we can then decide for ourselves if new information somehow may shape our change our current belief. We don’t have to like another’s perspective or their idea. We just have to listen.   As you listen to this podcast, see if you can hear how the different perspectives begin to align. We can release and discover potential in each other, or we can suppress it. We have that power.   The question is, are you willing to walk through the door?  

This podcast started off with reflecting on the power of embracing fallibility. Dr John Flach, my guest, then brought his own experiences and how a renowned scientist helped him and supported him when he experienced a setback in life. We then spoke about kindness and briefly touched on the importance of social resilience. The discussion then moved from kindness to humility and the importance of humility in understanding and learning from surprises. From humility we moved into courage and why courage is so important to break free from dogma and become critical thinkers. We ended this session with the importance of metaphysics, meaning making and methodology. Our discussion ended with why we need to be more kind and humble to pursue science.

This podcast questions the centrality of Behaviourism in our lives, and how in our quest for simplifying human behaviour into a particular trait, we can (unknowingly) do so much harm to the others. The podcast is based on a collection of stories from my personal lives. A lot of these stories are reflections from everyday life when we learn to live in awareness. I call them moments in Synchronicity.

We hear every now and then that methodology does not matter, it is a topic for academic discussions. What really matters is results, success and outcome. Is that true? I just returned from Canberra and wrote a paper on this topic. I hope this podcast will make you think and reflect on your own methodology in risk and safety and why we should talk about methodology.