In this Dear Dyslexic podcast episode, Shae speaks with consultant and leader Ben Walkenhorst about psychosocial hazards and how to create psychologically safe workplaces, especially for neurodivergent people. Ben shares his background (20+ years’ experience across sectors and leading teams up to 200) and his lived experience of dyslexia, including an auditory component and visual stress helped by Irlen lenses, which he says transformed his learning outcomes. He explains psychological safety as an environment where people can speak up without judgment or retaliation, and outlines three key factors: great leadership, job design/job demands, and environmental factors. Ben gives examples from remote work and local government process redesign, discusses clear role expectations, supportive feedback practices, reasonable adjustments, and why training and new legislation make this work essential.

00:00 Welcome to Dear Dyslexic

00:34 Meet Ben Walkenhorst

04:15 Ben’s Dyslexia Story

07:40 Irlen Lenses and What Works

09:25 Personal Strategies and Self Awareness

12:04 Psychological Safety Explained

16:25 Job Design and Workload

23:12 Environmental Adjustments That Help

26:21 Neurodivergence Trip Hazards at Work

36:52 Feedback Without Triggers

43:46 Why Leader Training Matters

46:30 Business Case and Legal Duties

48:41 Wrap Up and Next Steps