Paul Lawson Chats: A Podcast For Helpers

For 21 years, the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation has worked to provide resources across Ohio with one mission in mind: saving lives through suicide prevention. In recent years, they’ve expanded that outreach to include blue-collar industries, construction included.Tony Coder is a friend, mentor, and a statewide leader helping guide that mission forward as CEO of OSPF. He has a big heart for people who are struggling — supporting families who have experienced loss while also working directly with legislators to help shape suicide prevention policy across Ohio.Tony and I instantly connected a few years ago over coffee, and if you listen to our episode, you’ll quickly understand why we did.

On this episode, I sit down with Bryan Shields and Israel Avila, two of the driving forces behind the mental health program for the North Coast Carpenters Union—a program that supports more than 50,000 workers and their families.We dig into their personal journeys into mental health advocacy, what pushed them to step into this work, and how they’ve built something that operates at a truly massive scale. From boots-on-the-ground conversations to system-wide impact, Bryan and Israel share what it takes to reach thousands of workers in an industry that hasn’t always made space for these conversations—and how they’re changing that, one job site at a time.

I believe advocacy is the bridge between at-risk workforces and the clinical services that can provide deeper care. I also believe authenticity and vulnerability are essential elements to helping men, in particular, connect with clinicians.In this episode, I sit down with Jake Ross, who is on a mission to revolutionize men’s mental health by helping the clinical world connect with at-risk populations in new ways by incorporating those elements.We talk about his story, the gaps he sees between clinicians and the people who need them most, and his vision for developing a new language the clinical world can use to reach more men.

Gen Z often gets a bad rap, but my past experience in youth ministry told a different story. I saw creative, outside-the-box thinkers who were willing to work hard, awkwardness and all.Matt Demosky is helping build a real bridge for the next generation to enter the trades. Through Ohio Construction Academy, he and his team are meeting a critical need—helping students complete their high school education while connecting them directly to career paths in the trades.

After visiting several bilingual construction job sites this year, I’ve become a firm believer that language access can no longer be an afterthought in our industry. It doesn’t just make job sites safer—it strengthens connection, builds trust across cultures, and reduces the isolation so many workers quietly face.In this episode, I’m joined by Loretta Mulberry, an independent consultant who specializes in helping construction companies bridge cultural and linguistic gaps. She works directly with companies to improve communication, enhance safety, and create workplaces where every worker feels seen and supported.We talk about what true language access looks like, why it matters now more than ever, and how companies can take meaningful steps toward a more inclusive, connected, and safe workforce.

Most leaders say they care about their people’s wellbeing. But let’s be honest—very few actually live it out.Scott McGohan is different. He doesn’t just talk the talk—he walks it, every single day.As the founder of One Morning and former CEO of wellbeing-focused benefits broker McGohan Brabender, Scott has spent decades proving that when you genuinely care for your team, amazing things happen. In this episode, he opens up about what it really means to lead with love, and why leading with vulnerability might just be the most powerful business strategy there is.

Kabri Lehrman-Schmid of Hensel Phelps and Build With Pride Seattle is an absolute POWERHOUSE advocate in the construction industry. On the latest episode of Paul Lawson Chats, our conversation explores psychological safety and allyship on our job sites and how creating a kinder, more open industry can massively impact our workforce challenges. Also brownie points to those who notice The Princess Bride quote.

There’s a growing mental health movement taking shape in workplaces across the country and across industries. Within construction, I’ve had the opportunity to connect with many advocates—and I’m seeing similar efforts emerge worldwide in different contexts.On this episode of Paul Lawson Chats, returning guest Melissa Doman introduced our mutual friend, Benj Gershman of the band O.A.R., to join the conversation. Together, we explored advocacy from multiple perspectives, and saw shockingly similar risk factors between such seemingly unsimilar industries as entertainment and construction.

The mental health and wellbeing movement in construction goes hand-in-hand with safety. Both have their fair share of stigma, but both at their core just want people to stay alive and thrive. Johel Woodliff, Director of Safety for Miles-McClellan Construction, believes this with his whole heart, and has worked to integrate mental health and wellbeing into how he programs around safety. As a combat veteran, he also has a huge place in his heart for the large veteran population in the industry.

Not many construction contractors have a "Chief Wellness Officer". Houck does! And on this episode, I had the honor of speaking to her (Kara McCaffrey) about what it's like working for a company that focuses so much on employee wellbeing and the sincere place it comes from. We also tapped into the world of mental health advocacy and how it impacts home life and how we parent. 

Dino Tripodis is a creative legend in Columbus. As a filmmaker, comedian, and former Sunny 95 radio host, he’s become a respected voice in the city. Known for his ability to bring humor to serious topics, Dino also serves as Ohio’s representative for the mental health nonprofit Man Therapy. On the podcast, he shares his story, how he got involved with Man Therapy, and why the organization’s approach can make a difference in industries like construction.

Brian Finck is a general foreman for Mid-City Electric Co. in Westerville, Ohio. With 25 years of experience in the electrical contracting space, he is a veteran in the industry. After overcoming many personal battles, some including his own mental health, Brian has discovered a passion for advocacy. That passion has impacted how he takes care of himself, his family, and his crews. He's now using that passion to model culture of care for future leaders in the industry. UPDATE: Four days after this episode was recorded, Brian was diagnosed with bile-duct cancer. As he continues to share his passion for advocacy in the construction industry, he will also be going through chemo and immunotherapy to battle this disease. So we can support him in his battle, a GoFundMe was created. Please feel free to donate and share!

Melissa Doman, M.A. is an author, organizational psychologist, and workplace revolutionary whose mission is simple: Make mental health easy to talk about at work. On this coming episode, we talk about what that can look like in blue-collar trades like construction. We also get distracted grooving to 93' Til Infinity.

If you’ve been part of the wellbeing movement in construction, chances are you’ve come across Cal Beyer’s work—or at least felt its impact. Cal is the Director of SAFE Workplaces at SAFE Project, a national nonprofit that focuses on naloxone education and raising awareness about the opioid crisis. Over the years, he’s teamed up with all kinds of organizations and people in the wellbeing space, working to shine a light on the importance of building a culture of care in the construction industry.

Rob McKinney is a jack-of-all-trades tech, safety, and mental health advocate working for Canadian safety outfit, SALUS. He also has been a co-host on the ConTech Crew Podcast and trainer for My Steady Mind. In this episode, you'll hear about Rob's story and how he landed in mental health advocacy, and how the life "scars" we carry can serve to connect us. As a bonus, you'll also cringe at my awful tattoo idea and thank me for never getting it.

Sonya Bohmann is the Executive Director of Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention (CIASP), a national non-profit organization dedicated to providing easy-to-use resources to help the construction industry program around suicide prevention. In this episode, Sonya shares the story around how her desire to help the industry came from small signs peppered through her life. As a Philadelphia native, she also shares a controversial, hot take on the Philly Cheese Steak.

Asma Bayunus is the EHS Operations Manager for Jordan Foster Construction in Austin, Texas. Fresh off of winning the mid-size contractor award at the annual Working Minds Summit for her efforts building a comprehensive wellbeing program for the company, Asma jumps on the podcast to share how her upbringing and life experiences provided the background for her desire to help others in the construction industry.

Mid-City Electric Co. is a full-service electrical contractor in Westerville, Ohio that has stepped up to genuinely make wellbeing a priority for its office and field staff. Ryan Dew, Senior Vice President, tells the story of how the company has taken these steps and how it has impacted his life personally and professionally.