The Social Work Stories Podcast

Latest Episodes:

⁠Social Work and Organ Donation - The Art of Observation, Stillness and Advocacy - Ep. 95 Jul 17, 2026

Show notes

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

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.

It's about the small acts of grace: An on-call social work story - Ep. 94 Aug 20, 2025

Show notes

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

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.

Social Work and Hope in Action - Ep. 93 May 20, 2025

Show notes

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.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

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.

New Grad Social Workers - How to Land the Perfect Job - Ep. 92 Oct 31, 2024

Show notes

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.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

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.

International Social Work and the Practice of Cultural Humility - Ep. 91 Sep 06, 2024

Show notes

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.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

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.

Centring the Child’s Voice - Social Work in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia - Ep. 90 Jun 19, 2024

Show notes

Join Mim and Lis as we hear an interview with two social workers from the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. These passionate social workers discuss the crucial role of social work in family law cases. Their social work story explores how conducting child-centered assessments and gaining the child's perspective can shift parents' understanding of their child's experiences, and lead to resolutions focused on the child's needs. They highlight how social workers navigate complex issues of risk, development and emotion to advocate for children navigating parental separation and high-conflict disputes. Mim and Lis then unpack the story and the important work that these social workers do, drawing links between this work and wider social work practice.

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

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

Social Work Stories©️ (19 June, 2024)

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

A Case for More Social Workers in the Disabilities Space - Ep. 89 Apr 30, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, Lis and Mim delve into a rich practice story from a social worker in the disabilities space, supporting a mother and her children experiencing domestic violence, while working to meet the high support needs of one of the children. Then we break down the story and what was happening behind the scenes for that social worker - holding this family with great care, dignity and respect in the midst of a challenged service system. In the end, we see the richness that social work values can bring into this important practice area.

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

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

Social Work Stories©️ (30th April, 2024)

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

Discharge planning: Social justice in action - Ep.88 Apr 03, 2024

Show notes

Hey! Social Worker!! If you listen to this episode you'll never think of 'discharge planning' as simply admin again... it'll become an act of social justice each and every time! Enjoy.

SIDE NOTE: In this episode, Mim refers to Pamela Trevithick's work. Here's the reference:

Trevithick, P. (2012). Social work skills and knowledge: a practice handbook (3rd edn.). McGraw-Hill/Open University Press.

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

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

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

How an aged-care social worker uses dignifying practice as covert resistance - Ep.87 Mar 01, 2024

Show notes

Lis called this episode, "A classic!" and Mim said, "This is going straight onto my University Readings List." So, you know it's going to be worth the listen! We hope that you enjoy.

SIDE NOTE: In this episode, Lis refers to a journal article on 'covert activism'. Here's the reference:

Greenslade, L., McAuliffe, D. & Chenoweth, L., 2015, 'Social workers' experiences of covert workplace activism', Australian Social Work, vol. 68, no. 4, pp. 422-437, DOI: 10.1080/0312407X.2014.940360

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

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

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

"Don't just believe what you read on my file": Re-authoring patient stories - Ep. 86 Jan 31, 2024

Show notes

Welcome back to the Social Work Stories podcast. This is the first episode released for 2024, and boy-oh-boy do we have a doozy for you!! In this episode, you'll join Lis and Mim in hearing from an anonymous social worker using a practice innovation in an Emergency Department setting. This is a riveting story and discussion, not to be missed!

SIDE NOTE: In this episode, Mim refers to 'Narrative Therapy and Intensive Outreach: Working with Mothers whose Children have been removed - Ep. 72'. You can find it in our previously released episodes.

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

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

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