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A Healthy Shift Podcast with Roger Sutherland
Welcome to A Healthy Shift, the podcast dedicated to helping shift workers and night shift workers take control of their health, well-being, and performance.
I’m Roger Sutherland, a veteran of over 40 years in shift work. I know firsthand the unique challenges that come with working irregular hours, long nights, and around-the-clock schedules. I combine my lived experience with the latest science to help shift workers and night shift workers not just get through the job, but truly thrive.
In each episode, you’ll learn practical, evidence-based strategies to improve your sleep, nutrition, movement, stress management, and overall health. Shift work and night shift don’t have to mean poor health, fatigue, and burnout. With the right knowledge and tools, you can live well and perform at your best.
If you’re working shifts or nights and want to feel better, sleep better, and take back control—this podcast is for you.
309 Episodes
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Text me what you thought of the show 😊 As a shift worker, your rest is non-negotiable, and not all popular sleep and recovery products are worth the hype. In this essential episode, I share a field-tested gear list designed specifically for the unique challenges of shift work. Learn how to sleep deeper, manage disruptive light and noise, and recover faster without breaking the bank. From essential light-blocking tactics to high-impact supplements and advanced recovery tech, I'll explain what ...
Text me what you thought of the show 😊 We honour Detective Leading Senior Constable Dave “Stevo” Stevenson and talk frankly about why so many people feel unsafe at home. From gang history to social media bravado, we unpack consequence, culture, parenting, and what practical fixes might work. • My tribute to Dave “Stevo” Stevenson and the blue family • Roger’s career highlights including K9 work • callers on VCE stress and late-night fear • then versus now on gangs, weapons, and public risk •...
Text me what you thought of the show 😊 I share three evidence-based strategies to reduce circadian disruption, sleep deeper after nights, and protect long-term health without chasing perfection. Light timing, a simple breath reset, and a true blackout sleep environment form a practical plan you can start tonight. • Why circadian rhythm misalignment drives night shift risks • How morning light ruins daytime sleep and how to block it • What makes orange blue-blocking lenses essential on commut...
Text me what you thought of the show 😊 We challenge the common advice to phase-shift into night shift and lay out a simpler plan that protects your body clock. Treat nights like late evenings, anchor to daylight and meal timing, and use short naps so you can actually enjoy your days off. • minimum circadian disruption as the core goal • jet lag analogy applied carefully to shift work • consistent wake time beats chasing hours • short naps vs full cycles to manage sleep inertia • daylight exp...
Text me what you thought of the show 😊 We break down why falling asleep while scrolling is not a win and how blue light at night quietly shifts your body clock, blocks melatonin, and steals deep, restorative sleep. We explain the difference between sleep pressure and natural sleep onset, and give clear steps to fix your light diet. • sleep homeostat versus natural melatonin onset • adenosine and caffeine masking tiredness • blue light signalling day to the brain • circadian phase shifting fr...
Text me what you thought of the show 😊 We dig into night shift realities, kids’ sleep struggles under daylight saving, and why lighting—not pills—should do the heavy lifting. We also question whether doorbell cameras increase safety or just anxiety, and share practical fixes for sleep and home security. • teen chronotypes and later school start logic • bedtime meltdowns driven by evening light exposure • zero-blue lighting, dimming routines, and nasal breathing • shift work pressures, meal a...
Text me what you thought of the show 😊 I share a simple, science-backed breathing method that flips the body from stress to calm so you can think clearly on and off shift. Breath becomes a tool you can use anywhere to steady your decisions, your mood, and your energy. • Why breath informs safety signals in the body • how stress takes the prefrontal cortex offline • the physiological sigh step by step • Why the second inhale opens alveoli for CO2 release • using long exhales to engage the vag...
Text me what you thought of the show 😊 We trace the real source of stress for many shift workers: a clash between personal values and workplace culture. Roger shares how naming five core values eased PTSD recovery, reduced conflict, and brought clarity to decisions at work and at home. • defining personal values as a compass for decisions • recognising misalignment between you and your employer • examples of value clashes at work and in relationships • a simple reflection method to find your...
Text me what you thought of the show 😊 PMS can feel overwhelming for shift workers, especially when irregular rosters and sleep loss make symptoms worse. In this episode, I break down new research on PMS and nutrition, explain how a single daily food swap can ease symptoms, and share practical snack strategies you can use on night shifts. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: How PMS symptoms are amplified by disrupted sleep and rotating shiftsWhy circadian and infradian rhythms matter for femal...
Text me what you thought of the show 😊 Recovery, stress, and lingering fatigue are constant battles for shift workers especially after night shifts. The good news is there’s a simple cardio approach that not only helps you feel calmer but also clears excess triglycerides from the bloodstream, supports better sleep, and actually gives energy back instead of draining it. In this episode, I break down how to make this work in real life, no matter your roster. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: W...
Text me what you thought of the show 😊 We talk about service, leadership, and what thanks means after forty years in uniform, then dive into the hidden lever of performance—sleep—and how shift workers can use light, timing, and routine to reclaim energy. Tom Coleman shares practical tools for night wakings, circadian alignment, travel, and sleep apnoea that help keep families steady and streets safer. • culture of leadership gratitude and its effect on morale • staffing gaps, watch-house cov...
Text me what you thought of the show 😊 Great leadership in shift work goes beyond managing rosters—it’s about recognising the human signals behind fatigue, stress, and performance. In this episode, I outline a clear model built around the Three Ps—performance, presence, and persona to help leaders identify risk early, protect recovery, and create safer, healthier teams. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why the Three Ps matter for operational safety and decision-makingPerformance red flags t...
Text me what you thought of the show 😊 Shift work often leads to late-night snacking, energy crashes, and disrupted sleep. But by adjusting when and what you eat, you can regain control of your energy, weight, and recovery—without strict diets. In this episode, I break down simple strategies that help shift workers thrive: Why your circadian rhythm shapes digestion and insulin sensitivityHow late-night eating drives weight gain and poor sleepThe 9 p.m.–6 a.m. no-eat guideline and how it suppo...
Text me what you thought of the show 😊 Alcohol consumption compounds the health challenges of shift work by disrupting sleep quality, increasing weight gain, and exacerbating cardiovascular risks. After 634 days of sobriety, I've experienced transformative benefits including better sleep, weight management, improved mood, and significantly more energy. • Alcohol is a sedative, not a relaxant, causing broken and shallow sleep that misses restorative stages • Shift work already weakens the bod...
Text me what you thought of the show 😊 We explore why shift workers tend to gain stubborn belly fat and provide evidence-based strategies to combat this frustrating issue. Discover how circadian rhythm disruption affects hunger hormones and metabolism, making waistline weight gain almost inevitable without proper intervention. • Circadian rhythm disruption changes hunger hormones (ghrelin and leptin), increasing cravings for high-calorie foods • Eating during high melatonin periods (typicall...
Text me what you thought of the show 😊 We unpack why public anxiety in Victoria is rising while frontline police feel boxed in by policy, politics, and the bail churn. I share how organised youth crime, digital coordination, and pursuit limits collide with community expectations for safety and accountability. • bail decisions and officer morale • Burke Street arrests and rapid release • organised youth crime and social media links • “follow vs chase” and pursuit policy • roadblocks, spi...
Text me what you thought of the show 😊 Shift workers often normalise exhaustion and dismiss serious sleep disorders as just part of the job, but this mindset endangers health, safety, and performance. Sleep problems beyond normal shift-related fatigue require medical attention, not just acceptance or medication. • Five common sleep disorders affecting shift workers: Shift Work Sleep Disorder, Insomnia, Sleep Apnea, Restless Leg Syndrome, and Circadian Rhythm Disorders • Relying on sleep medi...
Text me what you thought of the show 😊 Flexibility and communication are the keys to maintaining strong family connections while navigating the unique challenges of first responder relationships. Police Social Worker Alana Russell brings her expertise both as a therapist and police wife to share practical strategies for balancing work demands with family needs. • First responder relationships require different approaches than textbook relationship advice • Emotional unavailability and distan...
Text me what you thought of the show 😊 Confirmation bias is shaping our world in ways many don't realise, especially through social media algorithms designed to keep us scrolling and engaged with content that reinforces our existing beliefs. • Social media platforms track what you click, like, comment on, and even how long you hover over posts • Algorithms feed you more of what you've shown interest in, creating echo chambers where everyone thinks the same way • During COVID, people were div...
Text me what you thought of the show 😊 Roger Sutherland addresses the critical need for shift worker education and support in 24-7 workplaces, introducing an innovative Shift Work Champions model that trains staff to become wellbeing leaders for their peers. • Shift work organisations face three major problems when workers aren't supported: increased unplanned leave, rising staff turnover, and more workplace accidents • The cost of doing nothing is already visible in safety reports, budgets,...
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Rog is amazing! His career in the emergency services space means his podcasts not only offer practical advice but it actually stems from experiencing it! Even small changes are making a BIG difference in my life (Hydrate before you caffeinate anyone?) 👏