The Unlikely Architects of Safer Workplaces

Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace — with Mehmet Baha

Posted on

June 23, 2025

Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace — with Mehmet Baha

In this episode, we sat down with Jeff “Odie” Espenship and had an incredible conversation around safety culture. The former A-10 Warthog pilot is the founder of Target Leadership

Listen as he shares hard-earned lessons from 10,000 feet up—and rock bottom. We talk truths in safety, leadership, and the split-second choices that shape a legacy.

What You’ll Learn:

From Cockpit to Culture: How Odie went from airshows to safety keynotes—and why culture eats checklists for breakfast.

The Shortcut That Changed Everything: The devastating true story of one small deviation and the origin of Jeff’s mission.

Normalization of Deviance: Why “just this once” is never just once.
Leadership Is Emotional: If you want people to care about safety, start with empathy—not enforcement.
What Real Leadership Looks Like: It’s not about titles. It’s about doing the right thing when no one’s watching.

This episode isn’t just for safety pros. It’s for anyone who makes decisions that could cost someone else everything. Odie’s message is clear: The real danger isn’trisk. It’s routine. And the best leaders lean into protecting their teams from falling into the trap of complacency.