In honour of International Women in Mining Day, Ray and Sky reflect on a powerful interview with Cheryl Blair, recorded during the Artemis Project ’s celebration event.

Cheryl—founder of Above the Horizon Wellness and a former underground miner with over 20 years of frontline experience—shares her journey from operating heavy machinery to coaching mine workers on proactive mental health, courageous leadership, and the power of self-care.

Originally interviewed by Erica Lee Garcia from the Artemis Project, Cheryl opens up about what’s missing in safety culture, how we care for machines better than people, and why real change starts when leaders show up with vulnerability and consistency. Ray and Sky unpack what it all means and why this message matters now more than ever.

🎧 Listen in for a real conversation about resilience, mining culture, and the human side of safety.

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In this episode, Ray and Sky explore how Human and Organizational Performance (HOP) principles can improve safety and culture in high-risk industries like mining. They dive into the concept of Learning Teams, grounded in HOP, and how they provide a deeper understanding of normal work, uncover hidden challenges, and bridge the gap between perceived and actual work. Cheryl Blair, founder of Above the Horizon Wellness and a 20-year veteran of hard rock mining, shares her vision of integrating proactive mental health strategies into high-stress, high-risk environments. Ray and Sky ask the audience: "At Above the Horizon Wellness, we are going to bring in some of the Learning Teams and HOP initiatives into training. What do you think? Would this help in promoting Courageous Safety Leaders and helping workers prioritize Courageous Self-Care?" Tune in as they discuss how incorporating these tools could lead to improved safety, productivity, and job satisfaction.

Cheryl Blair, with 20+ years in hard rock mining, shares strategies to address mental health in high-risk industries.

Join Ray and Sky as they discuss Cheryl's suggested tools like mental health awareness, early intervention, stress management, and self-care practices to help workers thrive. Each episode explores Work Readiness Skills, fostering psychological safety, building resilience, and so much more. This podcast is for workers, managers, and leaders aiming to reduce stigma and boost mental well-being in the workplace. Tune in for actionable insights and strategies to improve performance and create a supportive work environment.