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A raw and authentic podcast for those who work or volunteer in animal care, welfare, or activism, who are struggling with compassion fatigue, burnout, grief and loss, secondary traumatic stress, and other mental health concerns. Through both solo and guest episodes, I blend science, psychology, spirituality, and even a touch of "woo woo" to help you manage compassion fatigue, build resilience, and make your passion for helping animals sustainable. If you're involved in animal caregiving, rescue, trap-neuter return (TNR), sheltering, animal control, cruelty investigations, veterinary medicine, fostering, wildlife or marine rehabilitation and conservation, animal law or lobbying, ethical veganism, or any other role in animal care, welfare, or activism, and struggling with the consequences of caring so much that it hurts, this podcast is for you!
The host, Jen Blough, LPC, is a licensed professional counselor, compassion fatigue coach and speaker, and author with more than 35 years of experience in animal welfare and activism. She is the author of To Save a Starfish: A Compassion Fatigue Workbook for the Animal Welfare Warrior and the upcoming book, Beyond Compassion Fatigue.
Episodes
Friday Aug 22, 2025
Friday Aug 22, 2025
In this episode, we’re joined by Hermence Matsotsa, the Founder of uBuntuSpeaks®, a global leadership coach, Positive Intelligence expert, and speaker who helps us understand the importance of psychological safety—what it really means, why it matters, and how it can transform workplaces that are emotionally intense and trauma-exposed. Whether you work or volunteer in animal rescue, animal care and control, veterinary care, or any other type of animal advocacy, creating a culture of safety and trust isn’t just a “nice to have”—it’s a must.
We explore:
- What is psychological safety, and why it’s essential in both the workplace as well as within the animal care, welfare, and activism fields.
- Why psychological safety is especially vital in trauma-exposed and emotionally intense fields like animal welfare.
- The red flags that signal a psychologically unsafe work environment
- Who is responsible for creating psychological safety—leaders, teams, or everyone?
- Day-to-day practices that promote trust, openness, and emotional well-being
- The important link between psychological safety and DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion)
Resources mentioned:
Hermence’s socials:
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/uBuntuSpeaksLLC/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/uBuntuSpeaks_Hermence/
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/hmubuntuworkforce/
Hermence’s contact info:
Phone: 202.421.9184
Email: hermence@ubuntuworkforce.com
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