We first had the privilege of meeting Leigh Anderson on the 2022 Resilience Retreat and have been stoked to stay in touch from there – particularly so given the recent publication of his book, ‘The Paramedic Mindset’. In this episode, Leigh talk with us about that book, as well as his 14+ years as a paramedic. Leigh discusses the ups and downs of the role including not only the amazing lifesaving assistance he has provided on countless occasions, but also those rare moments when his best wasn’t good enough. Along the way, he’s developed some impressive practical tools for grappling with pressure, trauma and failure, which he shares with us as well.
06:00 Leigh’s backstory – paramedicine via a close brush with professional rugby league!
11:15 Ben reveals his ignorance and asks ‘what exactly is a paramedic?!’
15:30 The human side of paramedicine
17:20 What DON’T you learn at paramedic school?!
19:20 What technique does Leigh recommend to stay calm and think clearly during high stress situations?
23:20 How partners can assist in high pressure situations
29:00 The (often unspoken) excitement of a really nasty job…and how paramedics can deal with continued exposure to trauma
34:00 An alternate (and brilliant) definition of success
37:00 Dealing with failure – and growth from trauma
40:00 The perils of role/identity fusion within paramedicine
46:00 Leigh’s experience on the 2022 Resilience Retreat (on a related note, sign up now for the 2024 Resilience Retreat – 24-27 Oct 2024 in the Gold Coast hinterland!)
48:15 How does Leigh put trauma behind him?
52:00 What is Leigh’s powersong?! (Maybe not what you’d expect – check it out!)
External Links
Monica Lewinsky’s TED talk on shame
Contact Us
Email us at debrief@unforgiving60.com
Instagram, Twitter: @Unforgiving60
Music …. With thanks to:
The Externals – available on Spotify
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