'Backrooms' is 2026 film, currently in cinemas. It is a sci-fi / horror / psychological thriller that is gripping and deeply unsettling. After watching it at the cinema this long weekend, I needed someone to discuss it with, and who better than my friend Dr Alexander De Foe. Tune in for a taster if you haven't seen the film but are curious about it. Don't worry - we let you know when to switch off to avoid spoilers.

Dr Alexander De Foe is a scholar and author based in Melbourne, Australia. Alex studies altered states of consciousness and how they can be understood within the context of cognitive psychology and philosophy of mind. He is also a university lecturer and counsellor, empowering clients during pivotal lifespan milestones, towards meaning-making and virtue-based living. Alex has over 10 years post-PhD experience in a range of research and educational roles, presently situated at Monash University as a researcher and educator.

Sensitive content warning
This episode deep dives on the perceptual and mind state experience of liminal spaces and refers briefly to physical violence. Please take care while listening and if you are feeling discomfort and would benefit from some support, please reach out to your GP or contact a service like Lifeline.

Cite this episode

MacDonald, J. B. & De Foe, A. (2026, June 8). Backrooms and liminal spaces (No. 32) [Audio podcast episode]. In Psych Attack. www.psychattack.com

Transcript
The transcript for this episode was developed using transcription software. There may be errors in the content as I do not have capacity to review for accuracy.

Acknowledgements

Psych Attack is created and hosted by Dr Jasmine B. MacDonald. The audio for this episode was edited by Dr Jasmine B. MacDonald.

In this episode, I catch up with Dominique Barker (CIO) for a deep dive on project management and leadership. We discuss:

1. Dom's professional experience and project management origin story
2. Implementing real change and making it stick
3. Quantum thinking
4. Failing fast and forward
5. Harnessing executive sponsorship
6. Providing just-in-time information
7. Giving back to stakeholders
8. Doing project management in your personal life.

About Dominique Barker

Dominique Barker is a CIO (Chief Information Officer) with deep experience in IT strategy, enterprise leadership, AI, and organisation‑wide digital transformation across complex public‑sector and university environments. In this episode Dom shares experience gleaned from leading organisation‑wide adoption of new ways of working, delivering large and small‑scale generative and agentic AI implementations, and driving major technology uplift programs. Dom is known for bringing people along on the journey. She partners closely with business executives and delivery teams to ensure technology investments achieve measurable outcomes, hit strategic targets, and deliver lasting organisational change.

More from Dom

• Dominique Barker on quantum thinking in the age of AI (Online article, Public Spectrum, March 2026)
• Coding, kids, and the invisible double shift of tech mums (Online article, ChannelLife, February 2026)
• Australia's AI outlook (Featured contributor, Moxie Insights, December 2025)
• Rewriting Your Career Mid-Flight – Dominique Barker on the Joyful Upsides of Tech Leadership (Podcast episode, Tech to Exec, September 2025)

Books recommended by Dom

• #noprojects: A culture of continuous value. By Evan Leybourn and Shane Hastie
  • The #noprojects online community
• Bad change: 50 ways why change doesn't work and 266 tips to make it better. By Peter Phan and Gilbert Kruidenier
  • Book website
• The intangibles of leadership: The 10 qualities of superior executive performance. By Richard A. Davis

Cite this episode

MacDonald, J. B. & Barker, D. (2026, April 29). Project management and leadership (No. 31) [Podcast episode]. In Psych Attack. www.psychattack.com

Transcript
The transcript for this episode was developed using transcription software. It may contain errors.

Acknowledgements

Psych Attack is created and hosted by Dr Jaz MacDonald. The video and audio for this episode was edited by Morgan McRae and Dr Jaz MacDonald. Special thanks to Dominique Barker for sharing your time and expertise.

Related Psych Attack Episodes

• Self-advocacy and professional relationships
• Writing and publishing a non-fiction book
• Academic mental health

Related blog posts

• Self-advocacy and professional relationships. By Max Loomes.
• Book recommendation: ‘The checklist manifesto’ by Atul Gawande. By Dr Jaz MacDonald.

Snack Attacks are short segments taken from a full episode, so you can have a quick topic taster.

This Snack Attack comes from episode 30 'Apple Cider Vinegar: Panel discussion about the Australian TV drama'

Dr Suzie Gibson explains what we can learn about ourselves and the society we live in by analysing fictional texts.

For links to related research articles and books mentioned in this Snack Attack, go to the full episode show notes.