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Social Work Spotlight

Yasmine Loupis
Social Work Spotlight
Latest episode

169 episodes

  • Social Work Spotlight

    International Episode 25: Sophia (Germany)

    01/08/2026 | 51 mins.
    In this episode I speak with Sophia, a social worker, sexologist, and relationship counsellor from Germany. She has worked in child protection and youth services in both Germany and Australia, including child and family welfare services, therapeutic residential crisis care for children and young people, and specialised crisis support for girls who have experienced sexual violence and abuse. Sophia has worked as a lecturer in sexology, and is the founder of Sexology Hub, where she offers sexuality and relationship counselling, individual coaching, as well as educational programs, workshops, and professional training for diverse audiences.

    Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:
    Trauma-informed work and recovery
    Sanctuary Institute - https://www.thesanctuaryinstitute.org/

    Creating Sanctuary by Sandra Bloom - https://sandrabloom.com/book/creating-sanctuary-toward-the-evolution-of-sane-societies/

    Trauma and Recovery by Judith Herman - https://openlibrary.org/books/OL1563764M/Trauma_and_Recovery

    The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk - https://www.besselvanderkolk.com/resources/the-body-keeps-the-score

    Practical resources and research on sexual violence
    RAINN - https://rainn.org/

    Caste-based discriminination
    International Dalit Solidarity Network - https://idsn.org/

    International Cooperation Work
    Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire - https://fsi-ebcao.princeton.edu/sites/g/files/toruqf1411/files/media/freire.pdf

    Decolonizing Methodologies by Linda Tuhiwai Smith - https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/decolonizing-methodologies-9781786998125/

    Social Work Crisis in Berlin
    AG Weiße Fahnen, DBSH Berlin, GEW BERLIN "Die Berliner Jugendhilfe befindet sich im Kollaps" | GEW - Berlin - https://www.gew-berlin.de/presse/detailseite/ag-weisse-fahnen-dbsh-berlin-gew-berlin-die-berliner-jugendhilfe-befindet-sich-im-kollaps

    Sexuality and relationship counselling/therapy
    A Clinician's Guide to Systemic Sex Therapy by Gerald Weeks et al. - https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.4324/9781315817392/clinician-guide-systemic-sex-therapy-gerald-weeks-katherine-hertlein-nancy-gambescia

    Principles and Practice of Sex Therapy by Hall & Binik - https://www.guilford.com/books/Principles-and-Practice-of-Sex-Therapy/Hall-Binik/9781462543397

    Personal / Professional Resources
    Sophia’s open-access publication on Problematic Porn Consumption among Men: Males’ Lived Experience with Self-Perceived Pornography Addiction: A Qualitative Study of Problematic Porn Use - https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/2/1497

    Sophia’s website - https://sexologyhub.com/

    This episode's transcript can be viewed here: 
    https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vmORcM52JnAuYjakfttLbPmLQHqEH2JH5fOPG8AmOC8/edit?usp=sharing

    Thanks to Kevin Macleod of incompetech.com for our theme music.
  • Social Work Spotlight

    International Episode 24: Theo (Greece)

    18/07/2026 | 1h 14 mins.
    In this episode I speak with Theo in Greece, with experience in refugee settings and now supporting people with disabilities. Theo is passionate and motivated to work with people in need, believing strongly in the power of community, working next to people and for the people.

    Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:
    Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) - https://pecs.com/picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs/

    This episode's transcript can be viewed here: 
    https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bFHrk9IdTg26k0HiGobKdEJqyffptQQQ9ZRaQ37OgPE/edit?usp=sharing

    Thanks to Kevin Macleod of incompetech.com for our theme music.
  • Social Work Spotlight

    International Episode 23: Susana (England)

    04/07/2026 | 1h 8 mins.
    In this episode I speak with Susana, with over fifteen years working in frontline social care, as a social worker in children's and adults' services, and now as a Registered Manager for an independent fostering agency in England. Susana is also the creator of MyTappyPlace, a wellbeing platform designed specifically for frontline professionals.

    Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:
    Frontline’s national fast-track social work training programme - https://thefrontline.org.uk/

    My Tappy Place - https://mytappyplace.co.uk/

    EFT Universe (High Energy Health Podcast) - https://eftuniverse.com/podcast/

    Lika Family Fostering - https://likafamilyfostering.co.uk/

    This episode's transcript can be viewed here: 
    https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YQU3DZV1lzdsKh6t_LIDzF3REDwTJe5A4a-P5FnOwI0/edit?usp=sharing

    Thanks to Kevin Macleod of incompetech.com for our theme music.
  • Social Work Spotlight

    International Episode 22: Emmanuel (Nigeria)

    20/06/2026 | 55 mins.
    In this episode I speak with Emmanuel, an early-career social work researcher from Nigeria, at the intersection of migration and mental health, with a bachelor’s degree in social work and a master's degree in migration, and a strong interest in research.

    Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:
    Emmanuel’s published works on ORCID - https://orcid.org/0009-0002-2029-5857

    Emmanuel’s ResearchGate profile - https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Emmanuel-Onyemaechi-Ugwu?ev=hdr_xprf 

    Dibia Akwukwo Social Solutions Research Group - https://www.linkedin.com/company/social-solutions-research-group-ssrg/posts/?feedView=all

    This episode's transcript can be viewed here: 
    https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HRYWc2xZMFknYIGZyjpCJZ3iFGRbiSEMLjn6J_kDHRE/edit?usp=sharing

    Thanks to Kevin Macleod of incompetech.com for our theme music.
  • Social Work Spotlight

    International Episode 21: Paul (Ireland)

    06/06/2026 | 38 mins.
    In this episode I speak with Paul, who has over 45 years experience managing child welfare and protection services in the statutory sector at local, regional and national level in Ireland. He currently operates as an independent consultant, specialising in serious case reviews, expert witness and policy development for state bodies and voluntary organisations.

    Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:
    Paul’s podcast ‘Life After Stalin - A Dubliner’s Diary’ - https://open.spotify.com/show/6kbfVumc19v9FgseoL17oC?si=771ba39bec374a22

    Abstract for Paul’s article, ‘No Smoke Without Fire: The Presumption of Guilt in Child Abuse Assessments’ - https://www.nagalro.com/_userfiles/pages/files/paul_harrison_no_smoke_without_fire_article_g.pdf

    Daughters of Charity Child and Family Service - https://www.docchildandfamily.ie/

    Dublin Simon Community - https://www.dubsimon.ie/

    Paul’s memoir, ‘Hanged If You Do…: Reflections from a Career in Child Protection’ - https://www.orpenpress.com/books/hanged-if-you-do-reflections-from-a-career-in-child-protection/

    This episode's transcript can be viewed here: 
    https://docs.google.com/document/d/12DE2NhpOm7bMi0KS1OJHhABB_cCEuIGWRa4sJbRi4Uw/edit?usp=sharing

    Thanks to Kevin Macleod of incompetech.com for our theme music.
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About Social Work Spotlight
This podcast features interviews with social workers in Sydney, Australia, showcasing diverse areas of practice, social work stories, successes, and challenges, and providing information on media and other resources that can be accessed to help inform and educate people who are curious about the profession or wanting a career change.
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