Episode 42 - Inside Safety Culture: Trust, Voice, and Vulnerability Part 2

Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor magazine.

In today’s episode, we sit down with researcher and industry expert Russell Griffin for an honest and eye-opening conversation about what truly drives safety culture.

Together, we unpack the human side of aviation safety—exploring how communication, trust, and vulnerability influence the decisions crews make under pressure. Russell shares his personal journey and groundbreaking research on crew dynamics, leadership, and the powerful role of “safety voice” in keeping teams aligned and patients safe.

From the realities of high-stress environments to the impact of organizational structures on well-being, this episode sheds light on the internal and external pressures that shape situational awareness and performance in critical moments. It’s a conversation about leadership, accountability, and recognizing the good—because building a positive safety culture isn’t just policy … it’s people.

Buckle up. This is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Thank you to our sponsors Coptersafety, Precision Aviation Group, and Spectrum Aeromed.