In this powerful Part 1 conversation on Well, Hello Anxiety, Dr Jodi Richardson is joined by Melbourne-based guest Dara Simkin—founder of Culture Hero, co-author of Full Stack Human: The Mindset Upgrade You Need to Stay Human in a World Ruled by Technology, and Australia’s leading play-at-work specialist.
Together, they unpack why so many of us feel overwhelmed, anxious, and “frazzled” in 2026—even when life on paper looks fine. Dara explores how our nervous system, shaped for survival in a very different world, is now constantly reacting to modern-day stressors like financial pressure, global uncertainty, and nonstop information overload.
At the heart of this conversation is a surprising antidote: play. Dara explains why play isn’t something we “earn” after work, but a vital biological and emotional reset that helps regulate the nervous system, reduce cortisol-driven stress states, and bring us back into connection, presence, and adaptability. She also introduces the idea of “intelligent optimism,” “strategic hope,” and why curiosity and small, playful moments can shift how we experience daily life.
Jodi and Dara also explore the tension between growth and fear, the subconscious drivers behind anxiety and achievement, and why we often mistake survival patterns for personality traits.
This episode also introduces Dara’s work in organisations through Culture Hero and her research-backed approach to play, belonging, and adaptability.
Dara Simkin is a Melbourne-based consultant, speaker, and author, originally from the US, and brings a deeply human, practical lens to navigating modern anxiety and change.
📘 Learn more about Full Stack Human: https://fullstackhumanbook.com
Part 2 continues next week, where Dara shares practical, real-life ways to integrate play into everyday routines to help calm the nervous system and reduce anxiety.
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