The Social Work Stories Podcast

In this rich and moving episode, an experienced intensive care social worker invites us into the often unseen world of organ donation. She walks us through the delicate, extended process—from the first traumatic moments families arrive in ICU, to end-of-life conversations, consent for donation, and final goodbyes. Along the way, she reveals how careful observation, silence, and presence help her read the room, honour families’ grief, and support truly informed, unhurried decisions.

Lis and Mim reflect on what this practice teaches us about relationship-based social work in high-pressure hospital environments. They explore how advocacy can look like slowing things down, protecting space for ritual and memory-making, and ensuring the person with the strongest connection (not just the highest status) leads critical conversations. Together, they highlight the quiet yet radical power of social work in creating dignity, meaning, and even moments of joy at the end of life.

 

Check out our website to access every episode of all the Social Work Media family of podcasts, including Social Work Discoveries, Social Work Teach, PodSocs, and Social Work Stories.

 

We'd love for you to join the conversation, so make sure you reach out to us on the socials (see links below), or otherwise by email at socialworkstoriespodcast@gmail.com - we'd love to hear from you!

 

Follow our Facebook Page at: https://www.facebook.com/SocialWorkStoriesPodcast

 

Credits:

Hosts - Lis Murphy and Dr. Mim Fox

Producers - Dr. Ben Joseph and Justin Stech

Music - 'Mama' by Ben Grace (copyright 2018). Find on Spotify, or at www.bengracemusic.com

Social Work Stories©️ (17 July, 2026)

Contact us online at www.socialwork.media and follow our facebook page and LinkedIn, or use the handle @SOWKStoriesPod on instagram.

For all the social workers who work on-call, this episode it for you!

This is a very special episode with a very special "anonymous guest"... We think you might guess the voice, but you will have to listen along to fully work it out.

 

p.s. Don't forget to check out the latest episode of our sister podcast Social Work Discoveries!

 

p.s.s. We'd love for you to join the conversation on this, so make sure you reach out to us on the socials (see links below), or otherwise by email at socialworkstoriespodcast@gmail.com - we'd love to hear from you!

 

p.s.s.s. Follow our Facebook Page at: https://www.facebook.com/SocialWorkStoriesPodcast

 

Credits:

Hosts - Lis Murphy and Dr. Mim Fox

Producers - Dr. Ben Joseph and Justin Stech

Social Media Coordinator - Maddison Stratten

Music - 'Mama' by Ben Grace (copyright 2018). Find on Spotify, or at www.bengracemusic.com

Social Work Stories©️ (20 Aug, 2025)

Contact us online at www.socialworkstories.com, follow our facebook page and LinkedIn, or use the handle @SOWKStoriesPod on twitter or instagram.

In this powerful episode, a pediatric social worker shares her profound insights into hope as an active social work intervention. Working with children facing complex health challenges, she explores how hope isn't just a concept, but a practice of connection, advocacy, and presence. Through intimate stories of resilience, she reveals how social workers can cultivate hope even in the most difficult circumstances.

Mim and Lis dive deep into the social worker's reflections, unpacking the nuanced ways hope can be understood as both a personal experience and a professional strategy. Their discussion explore the critical role of hope in transforming healthcare experiences and supporting families navigating uncertainty. Mim and Lis also discuss research by Carmel Flaskas, "Holding Hope and Hopelessness: Therapeutic Engagements with the Balance of Hope."

 

p.s. Don't forget to check out the latest episode of our sister podcast Social Work Discoveries!

 

p.s.s. We'd love for you to join the conversation on this, so make sure you reach out to us on the socials (see links below), or otherwise by email at socialworkstoriespodcast@gmail.com - we'd love to hear from you!

 

p.s.s.s. Follow our Facebook Page at: https://www.facebook.com/SocialWorkStoriesPodcast

 

Credits:

Hosts - Lis Murphy and Dr. Mim Fox

Producers - Dr. Ben Joseph and Justin Stech

Social Media Coordinator - Maddison Stratten

Music - 'Mama' by Ben Grace (copyright 2018). Find on Spotify, or at www.bengracemusic.com

Social Work Stories©️ (20 May, 2025)

Contact us online at www.socialworkstories.com, follow our facebook page and LinkedIn, or use the handle @SOWKStoriesPod on twitter or instagram.

Mim and Lis hear from a new graduate social worker who landed a position in a rural Allied Health Graduate Program. The social worker shares her journey, from initial hesitation to embracing the unique opportunities and challenges of rural practice.

The social worker describes her experience rotating through diverse clinical settings over two years, highlighting the strong support and flexibility of the graduate program. She recounts a case study demonstrating the creativity required in rural social work - when discharging an isolated older adult, the social worker leveraged local resources and relationships to help the patient maintain independence at home.

Mim and Lis unpack the social worker's story, discussing the sense of community and resourcefulness in rural areas. They provide advice for new graduates, emphasising the importance of open-mindedness, asking questions about support, and researching the local context. Throughout, Mim and Lis draw parallels to their own experiences, offering an inspiring look at the realities of rural social work practice.

Mim and Lis end with a note about an exciting new book being released soon, Podcasting for Social Work Education.

 

p.s. Don't forget to check out the latest episode of our sister podcast Social Work Discoveries!

p.s.s. We'd love for you to join the conversation on this, so make sure you reach out to us on the socials (see links below), or otherwise by email at socialworkstoriespodcast@gmail.com - we'd love to hear from you!

p.s.s.s. Follow our Facebook Page at: https://www.facebook.com/SocialWorkStoriesPodcast

 

Credits:

Hosts - Lis Murphy and Dr. Mim Fox

Producers - Dr. Ben Joseph and Justin Stech

Social Media Coordinator - Maddison Stratten

Music - 'Mama' by Ben Grace (copyright 2018). Find on Spotify, or at www.bengracemusic.com

Social Work Stories©️ (31 October, 2024)

Contact us online at www.socialworkstories.com, follow our facebook page and LinkedIn, or use the handle @SOWKStoriesPod on twitter or instagram.

Join Mim and Lis as we hear a story from an Australian social worker who took his child protection experience and practiced in Türkiye, working with urban refugee populations. He reflects on the challenges of applying Western social work practices in a non-Western context, including navigating cultural differences around mental health, trauma-informed practice, and power dynamics.

The social worker grapples with his own biases and the need for cultural humility when working with people from backgrounds different to his own. He highlights the importance of letting refugee communities lead in defining their own needs and solutions, rather than imposing an outsider's perspective. Mim and Lis delve into the nuances of international social work practice, as Mim reflects on her own research in this space.

 

p.s.s. We'd love for you to join the conversation on this, so make sure you reach out to us on the socials (see links below), or otherwise by email at socialworkstoriespodcast@gmail.com - we'd love to hear from you!

p.s.s.s. Follow our Facebook Page at: https://www.facebook.com/SocialWorkStoriesPodcast

 

Credits:

Hosts - Lis Murphy and Dr. Mim Fox

Producers - Dr. Ben Joseph and Justin Stech

Social Media Coordinator - Maddison Stratten

Music - 'Mama' by Ben Grace (copyright 2018). Find on Spotify, or at www.bengracemusic.com

Social Work Stories©️ (06 September, 2024)

Contact us online at www.socialworkstories.com, follow our facebook page and LinkedIn, or use the handle @SOWKStoriesPod on twitter or instagram.