Pharos Systems, a company founded in New Zealand, infused the unique culture into its workplace, resulting in a company rich in the spirit of acceptance, being open, and truly focusing on the engagement and joy of the worker.
Susy Bordin, who launched the corporate wellness initiative in 2015, shares her approach to creating a culture of wellness that upholds the founders’ philosophy.
Susy and Jen discuss how Pharos Systems’ wellness initiative is outside of, but still in collaboration with Human Resources and its use of incentives. She tells how her experience with the Search Inside Yourself, Google Training led her to co-create a 10-week program to share with Pharos employees.
Susy elaborates on ideas for outside the box Lunch and Learns, building wellness in a way that matters to employees, and how trying new things is important, even if they aren’t a mega-success.
For links mentioned in today's episode visit https://redesigningwellness.com/
Carrie Grace is on a mission to inspire others to spread joy and kindness, in hopes of people making the world a better place than they found it. She shares how her loving childhood experiences and volunteer work led to a lifestyle in which she always chooses love. Spreading joy and kindness even led her to throwing a birthday party on an airplane flight, 300 goodie bags included.
Tune in to hear Carrie explain that concept that people are walking around with invisible pain and encourages us to be someone’s kitchen table story.
Jen and Carrie also discuss how the fear of rejection can be a barrier to acts of kindness and ways to spread kindness at the workplace. Carrie currently travels the country inspiring others and has been featured in USA Today, Huffington Post, and His Radio.
For links mentioned in today's episode visit https://redesigningwellness.com/
Today’s guest, David Anderson, co-founded StayWell in 1989 and was its chief health officer until the end of 2016. Although he’s moved out of the day to day at Staywell, he still consults with the company to help them build an authentic culture. He recently made a bold statement about what we as a wellness industry need to do to up our game.
Listen in to hear David share a personal medical crisis he experienced, what he’s doing now that he is out of the day to day at Staywell and we get in depth in culture talk.
David defines an authentic culture, how a magical culture was built rather informally at Staywell (in the early years) and we talk about that strong call to action he gave to the wellness industry. Finally, David leaves us with his tangible tip on how wellness professionals can influence organizational culture.
For links mentioned in today's episode visit https://redesigningwellness.com/
Adam Schorr works to help people and companies tap into who they are, discover what signals they are sending to employees, and how to align employees with the company’s purpose. He shares how over time companies can become undesigned and some steps to take to get back on track with the desired purpose.
Adam and Jen also dive into how culture can move you closer to or further away from your company’s purpose and how health and well-being needs to be wired into the organization.
Tune in to hear Adam outline why wellness initiatives don’t last long-term and offer strategies to create a system/culture that naturally reinforces the desired behaviors.
For links mentioned in today's episode visit https://redesigningwellness.com/
Mary Miller shares her story of transforming JANCOA, a family-owned commercial cleaning business, into a company that helps employees pursue their dreams.
JANCOA created the Dream Manager program to help employees make their dream a reality whether it be learning English, owning a home, or even leaving the company to pursue another path.
Mary is also the author of Changing Directions: 10 Choices that Impact Your Dreams. Listen in as she and Jen discuss how Mary (and her husband Tony) went from a consultant firing JANCOA due to the company’s ‘people problem’ to a thriving company with a turnover rate 300% below the industry standard. Mary’s positive, upbeat nature and inspiring journey is sure to inspire anyone looking to transform a company from the inside out.
For links mentioned in today's episode visit https://redesigningwellness.com/
Dr. Michelle May shares how her personal struggle with failed diet plans and seeing this pattern repeat in her patients led her to create Am I Hungry? mindful eating programs and trainings.
Dr. May and Jen discuss the psychology of food, the role that deprivation has on long-term health and how true mindfulness can lead to a healthier relationship with food.
They also examine ways to shift the status quo and shift the paradigm of weight in the workplace. This episode is sure to benefit corporate wellness professionals looking to make an impact with their employees.
For links mentioned in today's episode visit https://redesigningwellness.com/
Creating wellness programs for front line workers (call centers, manufacturing line workers, customer service, retail, custodial) can present unique challenges compared to its office-population counterpart.
Jeremy Sherron, founder and Managing Director for Everest Wellness Corporation, shares how and why he focuses on the front line populations.
Everest Wellness Corporation is an employee wellness provider based in Baltimore, Maryland’s Inner Harbor. Jeremy also explains why there is an importance of serving wellness initiatives in multiple languages and how to address a sitting vs. standing population. Tune in to hear his unique perspective on wellness.
For links mentioned in today's episode visit https://redesigningwellness.com/
Through a program called AWARE-At Work As Responsible Employees and GameChangers-a flagship innovation program within Shell Oil Company, Mandar Apte empowered employees to use their whole selves to become valuable innovators in the company. He also changed the thinking of leadership to see the value of incorporating yoga and meditation into the workplace.
Tune into to hear more details as Mandar and Jen discuss his journey moving from Mumbai to Tulsa, OK, his tenure at Shell Oil Company, and his latest project From India With Love.
This endeavor stemmed Mandar feeling deeply pained by the ongoing violence in America and his desire to reinvigorate our commitment to nonviolence.
For links mentioned in today's episode visit https://redesigningwellness.com/
Episodic depression, anxiety, and stress are mental health issues that affect many people in the workplace. Often these issues either come with a stigma or even worse, are not spoken about, addressed, or treated.
This week Jen is joined by Dr. Natalie Dattilo, licensed clinical psychologist and behavioral health consultant, to explore ways to break the stigma of mental health issues.
Dr. Dattilo also shares her focus of women and mental health issues, why women are at an increased risk, and how having a conversation about mental health can positively impact employees and the workplace. Tune in as Dr. Dattilo and Jen also discuss effects of stress on performance, mindset training, and tangible tips to break the stigma.
For links mentioned in today's episode visit https://redesigningwellness.com/
Finding people’s strengths, changing the way you talk about a problem, and positive possibilities are key to creating change in organizations. Instead of problem diagnosis, Dr. Ronald Fry shares how his work in Appreciative Inquiry (AI) focuses on opportunity and future direction to drive change.
Dr. Ronald Fry is a Professor of Organizational Behavior at Case Western Reserve University and former Chairman of the Department of Organizational Behavior.
With Appreciative Inquiry, Dr. Fry reconnects systems to existing strengths, best practices, or life-giving forces that have helped it be most effective. Listen in to hear how Appreciative Inquiry impacted the United States Navy’s turnover, resulting in a $2 billion cost savings. Don’t miss Jen and Dr. Fry dissect Appreciative Inquiry and how to infuse it into your workplace.
For links mentioned in today's episode visit https://redesigningwellness.com/
A recent court ruling on wellness programs could reshape the use of incentives. Attorney Barbara Zabawa of the Center for Health & Wellness Law and author of Rule the Rules on Workplace Wellness Programs explains the history of the 2016 case which the AARP sued the EEOC, the motions along the way, and the recent court ruling which may change the way we do wellness programs.
Tune in to hear Barbara and Jen explore why this ruling may not be such a good thing and what to look for in the year ahead.
They also discuss reasons for caution in using incentives in wellness programs and how to comply with various acts such as HIPPA, Title 7, Worker’s Compensation Act, and Scope of Practice.
For links mentioned in today's episode visit https://redesigningwellness.com/
Creating positive organizations is key for workers, teams, and organizations to perform at their highest levels. Dr. Gretchen Spreitzer, Faculty Director for the Center for Positive Organizations, gives concrete ways, drawn from her research, to promote a thriving organization.
Dr. Spreitzer’s work has created tools to help people develop more of their full potential or their organization’s full potential.
Tune in to hear Dr. Spreitzer and Jen delve into the reasons for burnout, what it means to be a thriving organization, and how to ensure more vitality and learning in your work. They discuss ways to enable more thriving for ourselves and our organizations-both on the individual and leadership side, barriers to a thriving environment, and how to deal with jerks at work.
For links mentioned in today's episode visit https://redesigningwellness.com/
In this week’s episode of Redesigning Wellness, Jen sits down with John Perkins, New York Times Bestselling Author, Activist, and Chief Economist. John is also the founder and chairman of Dream Change, an organization covered on our previous podcast with Samantha Thomas.
Today, we learn about John’s newest book, The New Confessions of an Economic Hitman. He provides us with insights on his experience as an economic hitman and opens up to us about the moment he realized he had to get out. John’s confessional was officially published in 2004, but it didn’t come without bribes and threats.
Tune in to hear his fascinating story and become inspired by how we as individuals have the power to create positive change within today’s current economy.
For show notes visit https://redesigningwellness.com/
In this week’s episode of Redesigning Wellness, Jen sits down with Bob Merberg, Founder and Principal Managing Consultant for Jozito, LLC. This episode is quite a bit different than previous ones you may
have heard.
Jen and Bob engage in a contemplative conversation around what took place for wellness in 2017 and what they think 2018 will hold. They cover both the highs and lows our profession has faced in the past year, how we can look forward and adapt, and who in the industry has really come forth and inspired change.
So, what’s next for wellness? Tune in to hear some of Jen and Bob’s predictions for 2018.
Happy New Year!
For show notes visit https://redesigningwellness.com/
In this week’s episode of Redesigning Wellness, Jen sits down with Laura McKibbin, Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker with experience in the healing and prevention of eating disorders. She is the creator, speaker, and advocate of the “Food for Thought” pyramid as well as the Health at Every Size (HAES) movement. Both exhibit holistic and balanced ways to think about your overall health and wellbeing, rather than just measuring success by the number on the scale.
Tune in to hear more about HAES, an alternative approach to helping individuals who may experience challenges centered around weight, exercise, eating, and body image.
Together, Jen and Laura also break down the differences between mindful eating and restrictive eating, and why one is a healthier and much more successful approach over the other.
Be sure to listen until the very end! You’ll walk away with quite a few unique ways to weave HAES wellbeing strategies into your worksites.
For show notes visit https://redesigningwellness.com/
In this week’s episode of Redesigning Wellness, Jen sits down with Samantha Thomas, Executive Director at Dream Change, Public Relations Consultant, and Founder of The Love Summit. The Love Summit business conference, hosted by Dream Change, aims to help companies, the government, and the public understand how love can be used to drive social, environmental, and economic sustainability.
Tune in to hear about how and why The Love Summit started as well as how Samantha successfully shattered the taboo of using the word “love” in the title of a business conference.
Jen and Samantha dive into a discussion about why it’s so unnecessarily scary to talk about love in the workplace and ultimately leave the listeners with a few practical ways to infuse a little bit of love into our organizations.
For show notes visit https://redesigningwellness.com/
In this week’s episode of Redesigning Wellness, Jen sits down with Dr. Michelle Robin, international speaker, best-selling author, radio host, and a practicing chiropractor. She is also the founder of Your Wellness Connection, one of the most successful integrative healing centers in the U.S.
Throughout this interview, we discuss Michelle’s approach to wellness, how she is successfully bridging the gap between eastern and western medicine, why people should start with small shifts, and what barriers may stand in the way of implementing those small shifts, especially in the workplace.
Together, we walk through her four quadrants of well-being to further understand how small changes really can lead to big, impactful shifts in one’s wellness journey.
For show notes visit https://
In the week’s Redesigning Wellness Podcast, Jen sits down with Brett Powell, Vice President and Wellness Consultant at the American Institute for Preventive medicine. He initiated some great research around the different generations in the workforce.
Together, Jen and Brett discuss what he observes clients doing around wellness in the workplace, what advice he gives to them, and how to best build a wellness program that is appealing to multiple generations.
They also dive deep into the multi-generational research that he conducted and published in 2016. Finally, Brett gives the listeners tangible tips on how to apply this research and he generously offers the survey questions that he used so any of wellness professionals can access them and apply them to their current initiatives.
For full show notes visit https://
In today's interview, Jen sits down with Ryan Picarella, President of WELCOA, to get answers to the crowdsourced questions of the Redesigning Wellness Community.
Ryan and Jen discuss the code of conduct and how WELCOA is revising the seven benchmarks, as well as the impact this has on the WELCOA award.
Together, they explore a question we are all beginning to hear more and more often: how should we measure this new world of wellness that is less about ROI and more about kind of the non-tangibles?
Ryan wraps up the interview by telling us a little bit about what was successful and not so successful at this year's summit, as well as what attendees can expect for future events.
For full show notes visit https://
In this episode of Redesigning Wellness, I talk to Bryan Falchuk, Best-Selling Author, Insurance Executive & Leadership Expert.
Bryan has an inspiring story. He went from being obese and depressed to running marathons. He became vegan in just one day. He got his Master's from a top school and rose to a senior executive position in a successful business. And now he's a bestselling author and contributor to Inc. magazine.
Bryan has transformed his life and developed an approach to help others do the same, which he teaches in his bestselling book, do a Day. And he's here today to share that philosophy with us.
On this week’s podcast, Bryan also tells us his very deeply personal story about nearly losing his wife to illness while their young son watched, how he came up with the idea for his book, Do a Day, and he also tells us a couple bad boss stories and how that influenced his current style of leadership.
For full show notes visit https://
Today's episode is all about gratitude. Today's guest is Andrew Horn, a serial social, entrepreneur, speaker, and writer and he's in Brooklyn, New York. He's a global shaper at the World Economic Forum. He was selected for startup Boosts 33 under-33 list for 2017. He received the mayor's community service award in Washington D.C. at the age of 23.
In 2014, Andrew launched Tribute.co which the New Yorker recently called Hallmark 2.0. Tribute is what we're really going to talk about today. Andrew is on a deep mission to spread gratitude and meaningful connection in the world and is responsible for over 50 thousand tributes since he launched.
I'm extremely grateful because Andrew offered all of you, all of my podcast listeners, 50 percent off their first tribute and the code is rwpodcast-all lowercase, no spaces and it's valid through December. Go ahead listen to the podcast. He gives the code on it, but I wanted to also note that there is a great code. 50 percent off and the cost is only $99 anyway, so it's relatively inexpensive.
So in today's interview, Andrew and I discuss how Tribute was formed, how it can be used in the workplace, the science behind gratitude, and some simple systems companies can put in place to foster gratitude. After our conversation, I just felt so good. I felt uplifted and I hope you are, too.
For full show notes visit https://
Why is health the set of habits that humans battle with more than any other?
In this episode of Redesigning Wellness, Jen speaks with Andrew Sykes, Professional Speaker, Habit Actuary, and CEO of Habits at Work to tackle this very question. Andrew introduces us to what his organization considers to be the four main contexts of wellness, as well as how he is currently impacting these contexts in the workplace today. Together, Jen and Andrew dive into the three most impactful sets of habits for human beings: habits of health, happiness, and financial security.
Together, Jen and Andrew dive into the three most impactful sets of habits for human beings: habits of health, happiness, and financial security.
From rigorous research in the BRATLAB to real-life theory application in the workplace, Andrew and his team feel they have cracked the code. Tune in to catch of glimpse of his a wealth of knowledge on habit creation, well-being in the workplace, and insight into how we can provide an environment that allows employees the opportunity to leave healthier than when they arrived.
For full show notes visit https://
Today’s guest is Dr. Mark Thurston, Ph.D., Director of Educational Programs at George Mason University’s Center for the Advancement of Well-Being. With an academic background in psychology, Mark has worked for 35 years in adult education related to consciousness, holistic health, and personal transformation.
He is author of numerous books related to personal spirituality, dream psychology, meditation, and the transformation of consciousness. He teaches courses "Leadership and Mindfulness" "Consciousness, Meaning and Life-Purpose"
In this episode of Redesigning Wellness, we discuss the one-of-a-kind classes and programs offered by the center, how he and the university defines well-being, and what he personally recommends in order to attain and retain resilience across the lifespan.
For full show notes visit https://
Today's interview was a new experiment, a panel! Today on the podcast, I have 3 past guests who are wellness consultants and speakers - Laura Putnam, Rosie Ward and Brian Passon.
When I was thinking of going out on my own, I wanted to hear from those who have already done it but I only had a couple people who had gone on their own in the wellness space.
Today I bring that advice to you. Today’s guests have been on their own for at least 6 years and talk about what it took to be where they are today.
They tell us what made them decide to go out on their own, their “oh crap” moments and what keeps them going. They leave us with advice for anyone out there who’s looking to make it on their own in the wellness industry. I honestly was surprised by one their answers.
If you go to You Tube and watch the video interview, you’ll meet Brian’s friend Wendy Wellness and see one of his daughters bring him iced coffee. Brian never fails to keep it interesting. It was awesome!
For full show notes visit https://
In this episode of Redesigning Wellness, I talk to Deb Smolensky, VP and Global Practice Leader, Wellbeing and Engagement for NFP. Deb, an industry leader with over 20 years of wellness experience, is also the Co-Founder and Executive Financial Director of the non-profit organization Global Women 4 Wellbeing (GW4W).
Together, we take an in-depth look at what it means to approach wellbeing initiatives as a private investigator, to really put yourself in the shoes of the client.
We discuss the challenges that come with the current and futures trends of our industry, as well as explain why the think, look, and listen approach is key in our roles as wellbeing professionals. Deb also dives into an unique new approach—customized wellbeing programs based on lifecycle events.
The full transcript can be found at https://