Ten Minutes With... Denise Fishlock

Find Denise Fishlock Linkedin

Rhea interviews Denise Fishlock, a specialised insurance manager with 36 years in workers compensation, who began as a Dedicated Claims Officer at Fairfield Council in 1990, studied an MBA and OHS certificates, and built a national perspective through roles with large employers.

Denise shares personal background and discusses being at a crossroads after leaving a high-pressure role at Woolworths at the end of March 2026. During a three-month break she travelled to Vietnam, spent time with family in Queensland, reconnected locally, read Atomic Habits, and focused on health, including 10 Parkruns and planning leg surgery. She reflects on perfectionism and advises younger workers to pursue better life balance, prioritising exercise, health, and kindness while adjusting to a changed sense of identity after work.

00:00 Welcome and Introductions

00:27 Denise Career Journey

02:27 Leaving Woolworths Reset

04:11 Finding Fun and Balance

05:12 Health Habits and Parkrun

06:17 Advice to Younger Self

07:19 Perfectionism and Identity

08:36 Prioritising Self Care

10:01 Wrap Up and Goodbye

"Ten Minutes With" is brought to you by The Intelligent Rebellion and is a Threesticks Production.

Copyright (c) Threesticks Pty Ltd & Rhea Mercado (R)

The team who produce the The Intelligent Rebellion Podcast, and Ten Minutes With Podcast acknowledge the traditional owners and ongoing custodians of the land on which the podcast is recorded. We are located on the land of the Dharug people. We pay our respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and to the Elders past, present and emerging

The Intelligent Rebellion Podcast, and Ten Minutes With Podcast is a Threesticks Production. Hosted and Produced by Rhea Mercado. Our Emperor of Sound, Original Music Man and Executive Producer is Wills. Copyright 2026 Threesticks Pty Ltd & Rhea Mercado®.

THE BIG PRINT - DISCLAIMER

The contents of this program / podcast is made available for entertainment purposes. The views and information expressed by the Guests of the program represents the view and opinions of the Guest and does not necessarily represent the view or opinions of Rhea Mercado® and/or Threesticks Pty Ltd. The information presented in this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for any other professional rehabilitation advice, injury management advice, rehabilitation advice, medical advice, legal advice, financial advice, diagnosis, or treatment nor a substitute for guidelines, legislations, frameworks, processes or procedures. We encourage you always seek advice which meets your personal and/or professional circumstances and specific needs.

Rhea Mercado® and Threesticks Pty Ltd hereby disclaims any and all liability to any part for any direct, indirect, implied, punitive, special, incidental or other consequential damages arising directly or indirectly from any use of the content, which is provided as is and without warranties.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ten Minutes With... Rhea Mercado

Find Rhea Mercado: Linkedin

Rhea records a solo episode reflecting on May 2026, when she travelled across regional New South Wales on a StateCover Mutual roadshow representing It Pays to Care, running morning workshops for local government injury management, WHS, and HR professionals.

She describes how work travel often means only seeing airports, hotels, and venues, and shares her control-focused routines, in-flight listening habits, and ability to nap and wake for snacks.

Highlights include dinners with the roadshow crew, visiting Coffs Harbour’s Big Banana with rehabber Claire, eating at Alfio’s in Orange, and a five-hour drive to Tamworth with Clayton Waters.

In Tamworth she learns about Combined Driving Events and notes a presentation masterclass by Peter Bell and Natalie Salameh.

00:00 Back from the Road

01:03 Travel Routine and Control

01:33 Flying Habits and Snacks

02:39 Regional Dinners and Big Bananas

03:55 Pizza on Pineapple Debate

04:26 Fog Delays and Tamworth Dash

05:50 Road Trip with Clayton

07:56 Tamworth CDE Discovery

09:39 Making Boring Awards Engaging

11:10 What May Taught Me

12:39 Final Thanks and Sign Off

"Ten Minutes With" is brought to you by The Intelligent Rebellion and is a Threesticks Production.

Copyright (c) Threesticks Pty Ltd & Rhea Mercado (R)

The team who produce the The Intelligent Rebellion Podcast, and Ten Minutes With Podcast acknowledge the traditional owners and ongoing custodians of the land on which the podcast is recorded. We are located on the land of the Dharug people. We pay our respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and to the Elders past, present and emerging

The Intelligent Rebellion Podcast, and Ten Minutes With Podcast is a Threesticks Production. Hosted and Produced by Rhea Mercado. Our Emperor of Sound, Original Music Man and Executive Producer is Wills. Copyright 2026 Threesticks Pty Ltd & Rhea Mercado®.

THE BIG PRINT - DISCLAIMER

The contents of this program / podcast is made available for entertainment purposes. The views and information expressed by the Guests of the program represents the view and opinions of the Guest and does not necessarily represent the view or opinions of Rhea Mercado® and/or Threesticks Pty Ltd. The information presented in this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for any other professional rehabilitation advice, injury management advice, rehabilitation advice, medical advice, legal advice, financial advice, diagnosis, or treatment nor a substitute for guidelines, legislations, frameworks, processes or procedures. We encourage you always seek advice which meets your personal and/or professional circumstances and specific needs.

Rhea Mercado® and Threesticks Pty Ltd hereby disclaims any and all liability to any part for any direct, indirect, implied, punitive, special, incidental or other consequential damages arising directly or indirectly from any use of the content, which is provided as is and without warranties.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ten Minutes With... Warwick Brown

Find Warwick: Linkedin | At Work OH& S Linkedin | At Work OH&S

What is EMDR? A 10-Minute Breakdown with Psychologist Warwick In a short podcast chat,

Rhea speaks with Psychologist Warwick, who has 25 years’ experience and runs At Work OH&S, a business providing both rehab and treatment with a focus on trauma and pain management.

Warwick explains how he moved into trauma work through assisting pharmacies after hold-ups and later chronic pain work via rehab providers.

The main discussion introduces Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), described as a gold-standard trauma treatment also used for pain, using bilateral stimulation to induce a REM-like state so the brain can process “target memories” without requiring retelling.

Warwick outlines identifying a target memory and negative belief, running stimulation in sets, checking client responses, and aiming to keep the memory while removing distress; he notes it can be highly effective for some clients but isn’t suitable for everyone, so clinicians trial tolerability and may use trauma-focused CBT instead.

00:00 Intro

00:42 Meet Warwick

01:27 Why Trauma Pain

02:31 What Is EMDR

04:06 How EMDR Works

06:08 Target Memories Setup

07:16 Rhea's Skepticism

08:22 Who It Helps

09:56 Wrap Up

"Ten Minutes With" is brought to you by The Intelligent Rebellion and is a Threesticks Production.

Copyright (c) Threesticks Pty Ltd & Rhea Mercado (R)

The team who produce the The Intelligent Rebellion Podcast, and Ten Minutes With Podcast acknowledge the traditional owners and ongoing custodians of the land on which the podcast is recorded. We are located on the land of the Dharug people. We pay our respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and to the Elders past, present and emerging

The Intelligent Rebellion Podcast, and Ten Minutes With Podcast is a Threesticks Production. Hosted and Produced by Rhea Mercado. Our Emperor of Sound, Original Music Man and Executive Producer is Wills. Copyright 2026 Threesticks Pty Ltd & Rhea Mercado®.

THE BIG PRINT - DISCLAIMER

The contents of this program / podcast is made available for entertainment purposes. The views and information expressed by the Guests of the program represents the view and opinions of the Guest and does not necessarily represent the view or opinions of Rhea Mercado® and/or Threesticks Pty Ltd. The information presented in this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for any other professional rehabilitation advice, injury management advice, rehabilitation advice, medical advice, legal advice, financial advice, diagnosis, or treatment nor a substitute for guidelines, legislations, frameworks, processes or procedures. We encourage you always seek advice which meets your personal and/or professional circumstances and specific needs.

Rhea Mercado® and Threesticks Pty Ltd hereby disclaims any and all liability to any part for any direct, indirect, implied, punitive, special, incidental or other consequential damages arising directly or indirectly from any use of the content, which is provided as is and without warranties.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ten Minutes With... First Last

Find Jo Muirhead: Linkedin | Website | Book | The Entrepreneurial Clinician Podcast

Jo joins Rhea to share lessons from her lived experience after being diagnosed with bilateral breast cancer in 2020, drawing on 30 years as a Rehabilitation Counsellor and noting how even compliant patients can be labelled non-compliant or disengaged.

She explains rehab counselling as career development, case management, and support for adjustment to disability after medical and allied health care. Jo shares five lessons she learnt along her recovery journey.

Exercise is not a panacea and may be limited by intolerance work is not always wellness and must be “good work,” as pushing through prolonged her sensitivity and distress

Pacing is principles-based and varies day to day

Adjustment is not the absence of grief or anger but the ability to function alongside them

Being unwell carries a heavy administrative workload.

She describes an identity shift away from work, a more trauma-informed, choice-based approach, and prioritising self-care, relationships, and connection.

Jo will be speaking at the upcoming ASORC conference in Sydney, Australia on 19 June 2026.

00:00 Right On Time Intro

00:18 Podcast And Cancer Story

01:58 What Rehab Counsellors Do

03:49 Five Rehab Wake Up Calls

07:51 Identity Shift After Illness

09:24 Choosing Priorities With Limited Energy

12:28 Closing Thanks And ASORC Plug

"Ten Minutes With" is brought to you by The Intelligent Rebellion and is a Threesticks Production.

Copyright (c) Threesticks Pty Ltd & Rhea Mercado (R)

The team who produce the The Intelligent Rebellion Podcast, and Ten Minutes With Podcast acknowledge the traditional owners and ongoing custodians of the land on which the podcast is recorded. We are located on the land of the Dharug people. We pay our respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and to the Elders past, present and emerging

The Intelligent Rebellion Podcast, and Ten Minutes With Podcast is a Threesticks Production. Hosted and Produced by Rhea Mercado. Our Emperor of Sound, Original Music Man and Executive Producer is Wills. Copyright 2026 Threesticks Pty Ltd & Rhea Mercado®.

THE BIG PRINT - DISCLAIMER

The contents of this program / podcast is made available for entertainment purposes. The views and information expressed by the Guests of the program represents the view and opinions of the Guest and does not necessarily represent the view or opinions of Rhea Mercado® and/or Threesticks Pty Ltd. The information presented in this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for any other professional rehabilitation advice, injury management advice, rehabilitation advice, medical advice, legal advice, financial advice, diagnosis, or treatment nor a substitute for guidelines, legislations, frameworks, processes or procedures. We encourage you always seek advice which meets your personal and/or professional circumstances and specific needs.

Rhea Mercado® and Threesticks Pty Ltd hereby disclaims any and all liability to any part for any direct, indirect, implied, punitive, special, incidental or other consequential damages arising directly or indirectly from any use of the content, which is provided as is and without warranties.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ten Minutes With... Tom Alder

Find Tom Alder: Linkedin | Alder Consultancy

In a 10-minute interview, Adelaide physio and rehab consultant Tom Alder explains his background in occupational health and injury management and how he recently branched out to run his own business.

He shares his origin story in workers compensation, describing initial reluctance due to the clunky system, limited communication, and delays between injury, claim acceptance, and receiving supports, which made cases feel “too hard.”

After joining CHG through a persistent friend and seeing their early intervention programs, he grew to enjoy the challenge and the opportunity to support injured people amid many stakeholders.

Tom also describes competitive sailing as an immersive “third space” for focus, adrenaline, and community, and connects sailing and physiotherapy through the concept of optimizing “setup” to achieve better outcomes.

00:00 Show Intro

00:45 Meet Tom Alder

01:43 Workers Comp Origin

04:11 Myths and Reality

06:15 Sailing as Reset

07:45 Setup Philosophy

09:44 Wrap Up and Credits

"Ten Minutes With" is brought to you by The Intelligent Rebellion and is a Threesticks Production.

Copyright (c) Threesticks Pty Ltd & Rhea Mercado (R)

The team who produce the The Intelligent Rebellion Podcast, and Ten Minutes With Podcast acknowledge the traditional owners and ongoing custodians of the land on which the podcast is recorded. We are located on the land of the Dharug people. We pay our respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and to the Elders past, present and emerging

The Intelligent Rebellion Podcast, and Ten Minutes With Podcast is a Threesticks Production. Hosted and Produced by Rhea Mercado. Our Emperor of Sound, Original Music Man and Executive Producer is Wills. Copyright 2026 Threesticks Pty Ltd & Rhea Mercado®.

THE BIG PRINT - DISCLAIMER

The contents of this program / podcast is made available for entertainment purposes. The views and information expressed by the Guests of the program represents the view and opinions of the Guest and does not necessarily represent the view or opinions of Rhea Mercado® and/or Threesticks Pty Ltd. The information presented in this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for any other professional rehabilitation advice, injury management advice, rehabilitation advice, medical advice, legal advice, financial advice, diagnosis, or treatment nor a substitute for guidelines, legislations, frameworks, processes or procedures. We encourage you always seek advice which meets your personal and/or professional circumstances and specific needs.

Rhea Mercado® and Threesticks Pty Ltd hereby disclaims any and all liability to any part for any direct, indirect, implied, punitive, special, incidental or other consequential damages arising directly or indirectly from any use of the content, which is provided as is and without warranties.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ten Minutes With... Allicia Tsolis

Find Allicia: Linkedin

"Ten Minutes With" is brought to you by The Intelligent Rebellion and is a Threesticks Production.

Copyright (c) Threesticks Pty Ltd & Rhea Mercado (R)

The team who produce the The Intelligent Rebellion Podcast, and Ten Minutes With Podcast acknowledge the traditional owners and ongoing custodians of the land on which the podcast is recorded. We are located on the land of the Dharug people. We pay our respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and to the Elders past, present and emerging

The Intelligent Rebellion Podcast, and Ten Minutes With Podcast is a Threesticks Production. Hosted and Produced by Rhea Mercado. Our Emperor of Sound, Original Music Man and Executive Producer is Wills. Copyright 2026 Threesticks Pty Ltd & Rhea Mercado®.

THE BIG PRINT - DISCLAIMER

The contents of this program / podcast is made available for entertainment purposes. The views and information expressed by the Guests of the program represents the view and opinions of the Guest and does not necessarily represent the view or opinions of Rhea Mercado® and/or Threesticks Pty Ltd. The information presented in this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for any other professional rehabilitation advice, injury management advice, rehabilitation advice, medical advice, legal advice, financial advice, diagnosis, or treatment nor a substitute for guidelines, legislations, frameworks, processes or procedures. We encourage you always seek advice which meets your personal and/or professional circumstances and specific needs.

Rhea Mercado® and Threesticks Pty Ltd hereby disclaims any and all liability to any part for any direct, indirect, implied, punitive, special, incidental or other consequential damages arising directly or indirectly from any use of the content, which is provided as is and without warranties.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ten Minutes With...Mereesha Gadiagellan

Find Mereesha Gadiagellan: Linkedin | Injury Sense | InjurySense on Linkedin

Host Rhea Mercado interviews Mereesha Gadiagellan on The Intelligent Rebellion’s “Ten Minutes With” about workers compensation and injury management.

Mereesha, a neuroscience-focused occupational therapist and ARPA award winner for exceptional professional injury management advisor, discusses launching her clinical business InjurySense to address cognitive issues in claims, especially concussion and traumatic brain injury.

She explains that concussion recovery is not straightforward and can function like a system-wide capacity problem involving cognition, autonomic nervous system regulation, sleep, energy, pain, and overlapping whiplash symptoms.

Mereesha describes common signs such as fatigue, poor sleep, dizziness, light sensitivity, nausea, and concentration problems, which can progress into anxiety, stress, and depression if untreated. She notes women can have more severe and prolonged symptoms due to hormonal cycles, and urges early referral to concussion-specialist physiotherapy or occupational therapy to reduce dysregulation and claim duration.

00:00 Show Intro

00:56 Meet Mereesha

02:20 InjurySense Explained

03:13 Why Cognition Gets Missed

05:08 Real Claim Example

07:41 Concussion Symptoms 101

08:58 Women and Hormones

10:02 Frontline Tips and Wrap 11:14 Credits and Outro

"Ten Minutes With" is brought to you by The Intelligent Rebellion and is a Threesticks Production.

Copyright (c) Threesticks Pty Ltd & Rhea Mercado (R)

The team who produce the The Intelligent Rebellion Podcast, and Ten Minutes With Podcast acknowledge the traditional owners and ongoing custodians of the land on which the podcast is recorded. We are located on the land of the Dharug people. We pay our respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and to the Elders past, present and emerging

The Intelligent Rebellion Podcast, and Ten Minutes With Podcast is a Threesticks Production. Hosted and Produced by Rhea Mercado. Our Emperor of Sound, Original Music Man and Executive Producer is Wills. Copyright 2026 Threesticks Pty Ltd & Rhea Mercado®.

THE BIG PRINT - DISCLAIMER

The contents of this program / podcast is made available for entertainment purposes. The views and information expressed by the Guests of the program represents the view and opinions of the Guest and does not necessarily represent the view or opinions of Rhea Mercado® and/or Threesticks Pty Ltd. The information presented in this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for any other professional rehabilitation advice, injury management advice, rehabilitation advice, medical advice, legal advice, financial advice, diagnosis, or treatment nor a substitute for guidelines, legislations, frameworks, processes or procedures. We encourage you always seek advice which meets your personal and/or professional circumstances and specific needs.

Rhea Mercado® and Threesticks Pty Ltd hereby disclaims any and all liability to any part for any direct, indirect, implied, punitive, special, incidental or other consequential damages arising directly or indirectly from any use of the content, which is provided as is and without warranties.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ten Minutes With... Heath Thomas

Find Heath: Linkedin

"Ten Minutes With" is brought to you by The Intelligent Rebellion and is a Threesticks Production.

Copyright (c) Threesticks Pty Ltd & Rhea Mercado (R)

The team who produce the The Intelligent Rebellion Podcast, and Ten Minutes With Podcast acknowledge the traditional owners and ongoing custodians of the land on which the podcast is recorded. We are located on the land of the Dharug people. We pay our respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and to the Elders past, present and emerging

The Intelligent Rebellion Podcast, and Ten Minutes With Podcast is a Threesticks Production. Hosted and Produced by Rhea Mercado. Our Emperor of Sound, Original Music Man and Executive Producer is Wills. Copyright 2026 Threesticks Pty Ltd & Rhea Mercado®.

THE BIG PRINT - DISCLAIMER

The contents of this program / podcast is made available for entertainment purposes. The views and information expressed by the Guests of the program represents the view and opinions of the Guest and does not necessarily represent the view or opinions of Rhea Mercado® and/or Threesticks Pty Ltd. The information presented in this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for any other professional rehabilitation advice, injury management advice, rehabilitation advice, medical advice, legal advice, financial advice, diagnosis, or treatment nor a substitute for guidelines, legislations, frameworks, processes or procedures. We encourage you always seek advice which meets your personal and/or professional circumstances and specific needs.

Rhea Mercado® and Threesticks Pty Ltd hereby disclaims any and all liability to any part for any direct, indirect, implied, punitive, special, incidental or other consequential damages arising directly or indirectly from any use of the content, which is provided as is and without warranties.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.