Episode 15

Oak Smith Pt 2 | How to Manage a Stressful Workplace

Published on: 23rd October, 2025

Chad continues his conversation with Oak Smith. This time focusing on prison staff instead of inmates. Oak shares the hard truth about correctional officer suicide rates - seven times higher than the general population - and why that number is so high. He talks about spending years "checking his humanity at the gate" every morning and struggling to turn it back on at night, how trauma from the job destroys marriages and families, and why staff are terrified to ask for help because they might lose their jobs. Oak also shares practical ways to support struggling coworkers, the importance of peer support programs, and why everyone needs mind, body, and soul balance - not just people working in prisons.

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About the Podcast

Caring For Strangers
Finding people we want to do work and life with
Chad Heiser, CEO of CEG brings thought leaders and inspiring guests together to have conversations about finding people to do work and life with.

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Electric Creative