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Redesigning Wellness Podcast

The Redesigning Wellness podcast explores the world of corporate health to help employers build strategic wellness programs that engage employees. The Redesigning Wellness podcast is centered around what works and doesn’t work in wellness. In this podcast, Jen will interview experts in various worksite wellness specialties to demystify the common worksite wellness program. She’ll also spend time sharing common barriers to help get your wellness program moving forward. You’ll discover common sense approaches to wellness, tips for engaging employees and how to implement a program that your employees actually like.
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Oct 7, 2020

With the emergence of COVID and the sudden shift to sending employees home, wellness professionals had to pivot their offerings quickly. The focus had to shift from in person, planned activities to remote working and lots of uncertainty. 

Today’s guests, Laura Berry, Manager of Employer Wellness at Quartz Health Solutions and Tammy Oechsle, Wellbeing Program Director at Western National Insurance offer a report from the trenches on altering wellness programs in light of COVID and how the tools they learned in the Redesigning Wellness Academy proved valuable.

In this episode, Laura and Tammy share their reactions when COVID first hit and how it impacted them personally and professionally. They share their programs that were successful and those that were less so. They each discuss the progress they’ve made on mental health programming and discuss their plans and considerations looking forward to 2021. Finally, they each give a tangible tip to success for other wellness professionals.

This podcast episode is brought to you by Kynd Kits.

Kynd Kits are volunteer projects in a box that come delivered to your doorstep with 100% of the materials needed to do a meaningful volunteer experience by yourself, or with your family. With COVID cancelling so many in-person volunteer experiences, this is the perfect way to continue to give back from home, and 100% of the proceeds go to benefit a mental health non-profit called Project Helping.  

These are great for corporate volunteer experiences, or at home volunteering with your family and friends. Head over to KyndKit.com and the first 50 people to put in the code RWpodcast can order a completely free Kynd Kit to try out!

For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod

Sep 30, 2020

Exhaustion is one of the leading causes of performance decline and eventual burnout among people today. Most people don’t realize how many facets of rest they’re missing out on and it’s keeping them depleted. Today’s guest, Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith, says that rest is not about the cessation of activity, but about doing restorative activities - things that help fill you up and make you able to do your best work.

Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith is a physician, speaker, and author of her book Sacred Rest. She is an international resource on wellness expertise and has been featured in media outlets such as MSNBC, Prevention, and the Dr. Oz Show to name a few.

In this episode, Saundra shares her personal experience with burnout and what made her start researching the 7 stages of rest. She explores each type in depth, and shares ideas of how to restore them. 

Saundra discusses how important boundaries are in staying rested and the necessity of getting comfortable saying no. Lastly, she leaves wellness professionals with a tangible tip for helping employees avoid exhaustion.

For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod

Sep 23, 2020

It’s no secret that wellness and workplace culture are inextricably linked. Today’s guest, Rana DeBoer, Chief Culture Officer for the City of Sioux Falls proves that the career avenues available to wellness professionals are expanding.

Serving for almost 13 years as the city’s Work Well Manager, Rana accepted the position as Chief Culture Officer in Sioux Falls in January of 2020. She is also the Founder of Create Energy, where she supports business leaders to generate new thinking so they can embrace a culture of empowering energy.

In this episode, Rana explains what her role as Chief Culture Officer entails and the importance of the role in an organization. She offers an example of a day in her schedule and highlights both what she is most proud of accomplishing in the position and her top challenges.

Rana briefly discusses her previous position and what has prepared her for this role and shares the most exciting thing she’s currently working on. Lastly, she leaves wellness professionals with a few tangible tips.

For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod

Sep 16, 2020

We’ve all heard it said that the healthcare and insurance systems are broken, but today’s guest, David Contorno, believes it’s functioning just as it was designed - with higher costs giving more payouts to doctors, brokers, and agents while employers and end users foot the bill. 

Through his company, E Powered Benefits, David offers creative solutions that increase transparency, help “bend the trend on rising health insurance premiums”, and at the same time increase quality of care and employee satisfaction with the benefits packages they’re paying for.

With more than 21 years in employee benefits, nationally recognized author and thought leader David Contorno has worked on both sides of the table, and is uniquely positioned to disrupt the healthcare status quo and deliver better quality at lower costs for employers and their employees.

In this episode, David briefly discusses the impact he hopes COVID will have on open enrollment and what he means when encouraging people to be good healthcare consumers. He explains why the healthcare system isn’t broken and how changes can be made despite its design.

David highlights a few missteps employers are making in the effort to lower costs that  really result in spending more and offers some advice on how they can save money and what strategies his company uses. He shares why he left insurance brokering and what prompted him to work against the current healthcare structure.

Finally, David offers tangible tips to both wellness professionals and employers on how to begin increasing transparency and stop getting taken advantage of by the healthcare system.

For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod

Sep 9, 2020

Though burnout is a topic garnering more and more attention, physicians are one professional group sometimes overlooked despite higher substance, alcohol abuse, and suicide rates. Today’s guest, Dr. Nisha Mehta, believes the answer to physician burnout lies in organizational and institutional changes within the healthcare industry.

In addition to being a radiologist, Dr. Nisha Mehta is an international speaker and writer specializing in physician advocacy and addressing physician burnout. She is the founder of two online physician community groups reaching more than 100,000 physicians and has had her work featured by outlets such as Forbes, CNN, and Bloomberg.

In this episode, Dr. Mehta discusses her decision to talk and write about physician burnout, the unseen stressors of physician life including the current focus on patient reviews, and the signs of burnout. She shares some personal experiences with physician burnout, including how she and her husband have avoided it, and missteps organizations make while attempting to address the problem.

Finally, Dr. Mehta gives a list of ideas for organizational and institutional change as well as a tangible tip for wellness professionals serving physicians.

For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod

Sep 2, 2020

As wellness professionals we’re in a unique position to bring employees together. But as humans, we’re biased. We make stuff up about people all of the time. We do it at work on a daily basis. Even worse, our biases are rarely blatant. It’s usually subtle micro-behaviors that we often don’t notice. So, what can we do about it?

Today’s guest, Howard Ross, is considered one of the world’s seminal thought leaders on identifying and addressing unconscious bias. Howard has delivered programs in 47 states and over 40 other countries to audiences including Fortune 500 companies, colleges and universities, and major institutions within healthcare, government, and non-profit sectors. His newest book, Our Search for Belonging: How the Need for Connection Is Tearing Our Culture Apart describes how to bridge the divide in our increasingly polarized society.

In this interview, Howard and I talk about what’s changed in the area of Diversity and Inclusion in the past 30 years and what hasn’t. He then explains that we all have unconscious bias (even him) and Howard explains what we can do about it. He makes the provocative statement that “Maslow was wrong” and that our need to belong trumps any other need. Finally, Howard leaves us with his tangible tip.

For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod

Aug 26, 2020

If showing up as your best self gets increasingly difficult with added stress and anxiety, it's no surprise that the coronavirus pandemic is putting our emotional intelligence to the test. Today’s guest, Dr. JP Pawliw-Fry, best-selling author and co-founder of the Institute for Health and Human Potential, has a plan to help you manage your emotions, stay focused, and navigate this new world.

Dr. Pawliw-Fry, a premier expert in managing emotions during high pressure situations, has worked with NFL, NBA, and Olympic athletes as well as Fortune 500 giants like IBM, Goldman Sachs, and BMW to name a few. He is an advisor to the US ARMY and NAVY as well as a professor at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and host of the podcast Last 8% Morning.

In this episode, Dr. Pawliw-Fry explains why people often avoid or make a mess of the last 8% of discussions and decisions and the importance of building self awareness to know your triggers. He discusses how organizations can promote the building of these critical skills and offers a few tips for leaders in high pressure situations.

Dr. Pawliw-Fry breaks down how important movement is for the brain and how leaders and especially parents can model self awareness and emotional intelligence to others. Finally, he leaves us with a tangible tip to start navigating our own last 8% situations.

For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod

Aug 19, 2020

As organizations return to in person workspaces, leaders are tasked with the responsibility of encouraging productivity without increasing already high employee stress and anxiety. Today’s guest, Becky Jacobs, Founder and Chief Engagement Officer of Simple Change, believes balancing compassion with the push for productivity is the key to facilitating this transition with minimal negative impact on the workforce.

With more than 20 years in senior leadership roles at industry giants such as Bank of America, Red Hat, and Rise Against Hunger, Becky is uniquely poised to help organizations improve engagement and productivity by building healthy, high performing teams.

Becky’s company, Simple Change, offers support, inspiration, and encouragement on the path to transformational change in organizations through leadership coaching, workshops, keynotes, and consulting.

In this episode, Becky discusses the considerations organizations should keep in mind while transitioning employees back to the office and how important flexibility and creative solutions are during this unprecedented time. She mentions a few missteps she’s seen and offers some advice for leaders during the transition to both take care of themselves and their teams.

Becky explains what she means by balancing compassion with productivity and how leaders can communicate effectively and minimize employee anxiety. Lasty, she implores leaders to look ahead to what is necessary in the new normal, rather than looking backward at how we can return to pre-COVID operations.

For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod

Aug 12, 2020

With COVID numbers rising, businesses returning to the office, kids returning to school, it should be no surprise that anxiety abounds in your workforce. Along with anxiety,  comes many hurdles to productivity in the workplace, from assuming the worst, inflexible thinking, and less commitment to the organization. What can your company do to lower employee anxiety?

Today’s guest, Dr. Ashley Solomon, founder of Galia Collaborative and a nationally recognized expert in the treatment of anxiety and stress, has a few tips for managing and responding to the increased anxiety of these uncertain times.

In this episode, Ashley differentiates between anxiety and stress and discusses the increasing disparity of these emotions between genders based on common family roles. She shares some facts employers should know about anxiety, common missteps that can make employees more anxious, and a few tips to minimize these feelings in the workplace.

Lastly, she offers tangible tips to both wellness professionals trying to reduce anxiety and stress in the communities they serve and to individuals currently struggling.

For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod

Aug 5, 2020

Take a moment to picture a wellness professional in your mind’s eye. What or who came to mind? Chances are, the image of a young, fit, white woman sprang to mind. Considering the vastly varied workforces that the wellness community aims to serve, the lack of diversity in the field means we’re missing out on a staggering amount of perspective that would greatly benefit our end user - employees. 

Today’s guests, Dawn Carter, Jessica Etheredge, and Juanita Hawkins, are health promotion professionals who are brave enough to discuss the challenges they’ve faced in their careers. 

They offer their perspectives on why the health promotion field is largely white and what the wellness community is missing out on due to a lack of diversity. The panel leaves us with what wellness professionals can do to encourage more diversity and lessen the micro and macro aggressions black wellness professionals experience.

For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod

Jul 29, 2020

The C-Suite focus on ROI doesn’t have to be a stumbling block to getting support for comprehensive wellbeing programs. Today’s guest, Jim Purcell, Founder of the Returns on Wellbeing Institute offers three strategic and impactful ROIs that senior leadership may not be considering beyond reduction in health care spending. 

As the former CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island, Jim is uniquely positioned to offer practical, evidence based framework for designing and implementing effective workplace wellbeing cultures and programs that senior leadership will support. He is a frequent contributor to Forbes.com, and will be publishing a book in 2021.

In today’s episode, Jim shares his background and how he got interested in wellness, as well as his opinion on the difference between wellness and wellbeing. He explains how to get C-Suite’s attention by proving wellbeing works with 3 ROIs more important than reducing health care costs and how to answer the inevitable pushback. 

Jim discusses the successes experienced by both SAP and Quicken Loans, and lastly gives listeners a few tangible tips on communicating with senior leadership and getting organizations started addressing low mental and emotional wellbeing among employees.

Please note: this interview was recorded pre-COVID.

For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod

Jul 22, 2020

According to a report from the Personnel Management Association, when training is combined with coaching, individuals increase their productivity by an average of 86% as opposed to just 22% with training alone. Additionally, a survey by Manchester Inc. found that coaching provided an average return on investment of almost six times the cost of coaching. 

Today’s guest, Beth Weissenberger, Co-Founder and President of HG Corporate (The Handel Group), offers a colorful look at the company’s fresh, rowdy, no holds barred approach that is taking both the personal and professional world of coaching by storm.

Since founding the Handel Group with her sister in 2004, Beth has become a personal coach to HG’s most senior executive clients, including business giants such as Live Nation, Ticketmaster, AIG, Citibank, and Chevron. Named one of BusinessWeek’s featured executive coaches, Beth also leads corporate seminars and writes articles on various topics related to leadership development and organizational integrity.

In this episode, Beth discusses the founding of HG corporate and the revolutionary Handel Method that is now used at over 50 educational institutions including Stanford Graduate School of Business, NYU, MIT, and Columbia to name a few. She takes a deeper dive on one of the company’s taglines “learning to human better” and how to build a radically honest culture by teaching people to speak up but “frame it beautifully.” 

Beth explains what she means by personal integrity and how often the key to coaching is to get people to cut through the niceties and understand what aspects of their behavior suck. Finally, she leaves us with a tangible tip on influencing executives and how we can start to human better.

For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod

Jul 15, 2020

In a meeting on June 11th, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) voted to move forward with a new initiative of proposed laws pertaining to wellness programs. The unofficial transcript of the meeting has many wellness professionals concerned that employee wellbeing is not at the forefront of the proposal. Today’s guest, Barbara Zabawa, owner of the Center for Health and Wellness Law, LLC, returns to dissect and explain the new proposal and what it might mean to employers.

Barbara is a Clinical Assistant Professor for the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee College of Health Sciences, Department of Health Services Administration in addition to owning a law firm dedicated to improving legal access and compliance for the health and wellness industries. She is an acclaimed author and speaker on health and wellness law topics, lending her expertise to notable wellness powerhouses such as WELCOA, the National Wellness Institute, and HERO.

In this episode, Barabara breaks down the construct of the hearing and the new proposed laws. She explains the meaning of the term “de minimis” used in the document and what kinds of incentives are allowed under the new proposal, as well as the privacy and confidentiality guidelines (or lack thereof) that it suggests. Lastly, Barbara discusses the process of submitting comments on the new proposal once it is made public, and the power of numbers in amplifying different voices.

This episode is sponsored by University of Wisconsin Health and Wellness Management, offering online bachelor’s and master’s degrees in wellness management. You can visit hwm.wisconsin.edu for more information. 

Graduates of the program have launched successful wellness careers with healthcare systems, wellness program vendors, community agencies, insurance providers, even the military. Here are some really cool things about UW Health and Wellness Management:

  • Courses are designed and taught by distinguished faculty from the University of Wisconsin, many of whom actively work in the field.
  • UW Health and Wellness Management is also supported by an advisory board, industry experts from corporations such as Children’s Wisconsin, Willis Towers Watson, and the Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds, who offer advice on changing trends in health and wellness so that students are learning the most up-to-date methods.
  • Students often say the flexible, online format is a big factor in their ability to earn a degree. (Our recent situation is an indication of the advantages of online learning.) Although the program is online, you’ll make strong connections with peers and faculty, just as you would on campus.

UW Health and Wellness Management bachelor’s and master’s degrees provide the skills you need to manage comprehensive employee well-being programs that foster healthier lifestyles and promote the value of staying well. 

Turn your passion for wellness into a healthy career with University of Wisconsin Health and Wellness Management. Visit hwm.wisconsin.edu or contact an enrollment adviser by phone, 1-877-895-3276.

For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod

Jul 8, 2020

As social consciousness shifts towards demanding inclusivity and diversity, the need for multicultural competency in workplaces is more and more apparent. Today’s guest, Linda Howard, CEO of Alturnative and President of the Board of Directors of the National Wellness Institute, has been working to highlight the tools needed to create a culture of inclusivity and train wellness professionals on how to develop and hone them.

With over 30 years of combined experience in law, compliance, and managed care operations, Linda provides thought leadership to esteemed organizations and educates thousands of professionals annually in multicultural competency and social responsibility. 

In this episode, Linda discusses forming the Multicultural Competency Committee at the National Wellness Institute and their goals for the future. She explores the tools needed to create a culture of inclusivity in workplaces and how to use the multicultural competency wheel that the Committee developed. 

Linda shares what she’s most proud of accomplishing through the Committee, including the new Multicultural Competency Certificate Course training. Finally, she touches on what she thinks the wellness industry as a whole needs to do to be more inclusive and provides a jumping off point for professionals looking to move their organizations towards multicultural competency.

This episode is sponsored by Workplace Money Coach.

The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on employees’ financial lives has been dramatic. It runs the gamut from severe hardship as a result of job loss to excessive cash flow surpluses due to limited spending opportunities. 

Whatever our employees’ financial situation might be during these uncertain times, Workplace Money Coach is here to help them stay on track to meet their financial life goals. 

In order to serve your employees in a safe and healthy way, Workplace Money Coach has launched the Living Paycheck to Purpose program as a virtual option with a focus on maintaining the group discussions and thought-provoking activities that make their program dynamic. 

Now, your employees can engage in your wellness offerings and stay on top of their financial goals from the safety and convenience of their home office. 

As a bonus to their Living Paycheck to Purpose virtual program, Workplace Money Coach is offering Redesigning Wellness listeners a complimentary coaching session for all participants of the program so employees can get individualized attention for their financial situation. Just mention that you heard about the program through the Redesigning Wellness Podcast. 

You can learn more about Workplace Money Coach’s financial empowerment program at www.workplacemoneycoach.com. Schedule a call to see if the Living Paycheck to Purpose program is right for your employees.

For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod

 

Jul 1, 2020

Do traditional biometric screening and incentive-based wellness programs have any meaningful effect on the physical health of employees? Today’s guest, Julian Reif, Associate Professor of Finance and Economics at the University of Illinois, is a principal investigator on the Illinois Workplace Wellness Study and is here to discuss the study’s answer to that question.

In addition to his associate professorship, Julian is also a Senior Scholar at the Institute of Government and Public Affairs and a Faculty Research Fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research. His research has been supported by the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.

This episode breaks down their research findings based on a two-year randomized controlled trial. Julian explains the set up of the study, including why randomized control trials are preferable to observational research design, which many other wellness studies are based on. He walks us through the study’s primary findings in the second year of data collection and the most important concepts for us to take away.

This episode is sponsored by Workplace Money Coach.

The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on employees’ financial lives has been dramatic. It runs the gamut from severe hardship as a result of job loss to excessive cash flow surpluses due to limited spending opportunities. 

Whatever our employees’ financial situation might be during these uncertain times, Workplace Money Coach is here to help them stay on track to meet their financial life goals. 

In order to serve your employees in a safe and healthy way, Workplace Money Coach has launched the Living Paycheck to Purpose program as a virtual option with a focus on maintaining the group discussions and thought-provoking activities that make their program dynamic. 

Now, your employees can engage in your wellness offerings and stay on top of their financial goals from the safety and convenience of their home office. 

As a bonus to their Living Paycheck to Purpose virtual program, Workplace Money Coach is offering Redesigning Wellness listeners a complimentary coaching session for all participants of the program so employees can get individualized attention for their financial situation. Just mention that you heard about the program through the Redesigning Wellness Podcast. 

You can learn more about Workplace Money Coach’s financial empowerment program at www.workplacemoneycoach.com. Schedule a call to see if the Living Paycheck to Purpose program is right for your employees.

For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod

 

Jun 24, 2020

Despite the fact that nearly 95% of diets fail in the long term and dieters often experience more weight gain than they originally lost, weight loss still remains the focus of many wellness programs and health initiatives. Today’s guest, Ragen Chastain, believes there is another way to health without buying into diet culture that just doesn’t work. She believes that health is achievable at any size.

Ragen is an internationally recognized speaker, writer, and thought leader in the fields of body image and the Health At Every Size (HAES) philosophy. She has presented to corporations such as Google and Apple, and has been featured in notable publications such as the New York Times, NPR, and BBC News to name a few.

In this episode, Ragen talks a little bit about her background including some of the weight stigma she has experienced. She discusses why she believes the HAES data is buried in diet culture research and addresses why being fat isn’t inherently unhealthy.

Ragen explains the HAES philosophy more thoroughly, discusses some strategies bigger bodied people can use to stand up for themselves and advocate for their health care, and touches on the work that she does to educate health practitioners. Finally, Ragen offers a tangible tip on helping to move your health and wellness initiatives away from focusing on weight loss.

This episode is sponsored by University of Wisconsin Health and Wellness Management, offering online bachelor’s and master’s degrees in wellness management. You can visit hwm.wisconsin.edu for more information.

Graduates of the program have launched successful wellness careers with healthcare systems, wellness program vendors, community agencies, insurance providers, even the military. Here are some really cool things about UW Health and Wellness Management:

  • Courses are designed and taught by distinguished faculty from the University of Wisconsin, many of whom actively work in the field.
  • UW Health and Wellness Management is also supported by an advisory board, industry experts from corporations such as Children’s Wisconsin, Willis Towers Watson, and the Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds, who offer advice on changing trends in health and wellness so that students are learning the most up-to-date methods.
  • Students often say the flexible, online format is a big factor in their ability to earn a degree. (Our recent situation is an indication of the advantages of online learning.) Although the program is online, you’ll make strong connections with peers and faculty, just as you would on campus.

UW Health and Wellness Management bachelor’s and master’s degrees provide the skills you need to manage comprehensive employee well-being programs that foster healthier lifestyles and promote the value of staying well.

Turn your passion for wellness into a healthy career with University of Wisconsin Health and Wellness Management. Visit hwm.wisconsin.edu or contact an enrollment adviser by phone, 1-877-895-3276.

For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod

Jun 17, 2020

In the current climate of COVID-19 survival, increasing political divide, and racial unrest, the message of Mike Robbins’s newest book We’re All in This Together is needed now more than ever. Leaders face the increasingly hard task of holding teams together as cohesive and efficient units despite the stressful and rapidly changing environment.

Mike Robbins is an author, thought leader and sought-after speaker who teaches people, leaders, and teams to infuse their lives and businesses with authenticity and appreciation. He has authored 5 books and been featured on NPR, ABC News, the Harvard Business Review, and The Wall Street Journal among other publications.

In today’s episode, Mike shares his background and how it informed his current career as a thought leader, speaker, and author. He discusses the call to write his newest book, the interesting timing of its release on the cusp of COVID-19, and how leaders can use the concepts to reassure their teams of unity during crises. 

Mike explores each of the four pillars in his book and how they are applicable to strengthening workplace bonds and effectiveness. Finally, he leaves listeners with two tangible tips that leaders can start with to build stronger teams.

This episode is sponsored by University of Wisconsin Health and Wellness Management, offering online bachelor’s and master’s degrees in wellness management. You can visit hwm.wisconsin.edu for more information. 

Graduates of the program have launched successful wellness careers with healthcare systems, wellness program vendors, community agencies, insurance providers, even the military. Here are some really cool things about UW Health and Wellness Management:

  • Courses are designed and taught by distinguished faculty from the University of Wisconsin, many of whom actively work in the field.
  • UW Health and Wellness Management is also supported by an advisory board, industry experts from corporations such as Children’s Wisconsin, Willis Towers Watson, and the Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds, who offer advice on changing trends in health and wellness so that students are learning the most up-to-date methods.
  • Students often say the flexible, online format is a big factor in their ability to earn a degree. (Our recent situation is an indication of the advantages of online learning.) Although the program is online, you’ll make strong connections with peers and faculty, just as you would on campus.

UW Health and Wellness Management bachelor’s and master’s degrees provide the skills you need to manage comprehensive employee well-being programs that foster healthier lifestyles and promote the value of staying well. 

Turn your passion for wellness into a healthy career with University of Wisconsin Health and Wellness Management. Visit hwm.wisconsin.edu or contact an enrollment adviser by phone, 1-877-895-3276.

For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod

Jun 10, 2020

The President of the American Psychological Association recently stated, “we are living in a racism pandemic, which is taking a heavy psychological toll on our African American citizens.” Our colleagues, friends, and the people who have been on the receiving end of our wellbeing efforts, have been facing racism for years. Until now, White Americans (me included) have been unaware of the racism that continues to run deep in our country.

Let’s change that. Today’s conversation is the first of a series of conversations about race and how it shows up in the workplace. As today’s guest, Dr. Ella Washington, points out “there is no neutrality when it comes to racism.”

Dr. Ella Washington is an organizational psychologist who finds inspiration through the intersection of business, diversity and leadership. Her research examines conditions of workplace cultures that best support inclusion, diversity and equity while also contributing to employee’s individual development.

As a member of the management faculty at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, Dr. Washington prides herself on helping to develop and equip tomorrow’s business leaders with skills to be high-performing inclusive managers.

In this interview, Dr. Washington gives her perspective on racism, how racism shows up in the workplace and challenges Black American face. She walks us through some missteps we should avoid when addressing race and educates me on strategic colorblindness. Dr. Washington leaves us with steps organizations can take to combat racism and books for us to read.

This episode is sponsored by University of Wisconsin Health and Wellness Management, offering online bachelor’s and master’s degrees in wellness management. You can visit hwm.wisconsin.edu for more information. 

Graduates of the program have launched successful wellness careers with healthcare systems, wellness program vendors, community agencies, insurance providers, even the military. Here are some really cool things about UW Health and Wellness Management :

  • Courses are designed and taught by distinguished faculty from the University of Wisconsin, many of whom actively work in the field.
  • UW Health and Wellness Management is also supported by an advisory board, industry experts from corporations such as Children’s Wisconsin, Willis Towers Watson, and the Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds, who offer advice on changing trends in health and wellness so that students are learning the most up-to-date methods.
  • Students often say the flexible, online format is a big factor in their ability to earn a degree. (Our recent situation is an indication of the advantages of online learning.) Although the program is online, you’ll make strong connections with peers and faculty, just as you would on campus.

UW Health and Wellness Management bachelor’s and master’s degrees provide the skills you need to manage comprehensive employee well-being programs that foster healthier lifestyles and promote the value of staying well. 

Turn your passion for wellness into a healthy career with University of Wisconsin Health and Wellness Management. Visit hwm.wisconsin.edu or contact an enrollment adviser by phone, 1-877-895-3276.

For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod

Jun 3, 2020

**Disclaimer - this episode was recorded pre-COVOD.**

More than 80% of workers admit to feeling stress, 40% report being lonely, and 10% admit experiencing depression - and these are only those willing to report. LSD (Loneliness, Stress, and Depression) costs companies a collective 1 billion dollars annually. Today’s guest, MJ Shaar, one of the most sought after experts in applying positive psychology to health promotion, believes that increasing employee bonding and creating healthy work cultures through positive psychology is the answer to lowering the effects of LSD in workplaces.

MJ Shaar is a renowned speaker, wellness culture coach, and bestselling co-author of Smarts and Stamina: The Busy Person's Guide to Optimal Health and Performance. She has been creating healthy lifestyles for over 20 years and has been published in both the Huffington Post and Psychology Today.

In this episode, MJ explains LSD and shares a few statistics that illustrate the importance of managing it. She discusses how “bringing your human” to the workplace instead of wearing a professional mask can impact employee bonding and work culture.

MJ talks about a few barriers that get in the way of positive work cultures and provides a list of specific strategies for employees, managers, and wellness professionals to start using positive psychology to combat LSD. Finally, she leaves us with a tangible tip on how to get started improving the culture in our own organizations.

For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod

May 27, 2020

If employees aren’t engaging in substance use while on the clock, why is it so imperative that employers champion substance use disorder recovery? “The research shows that 180 billion dollars are lost annually in productivity, turn over, and health care costs in untreated substance use disorders,” says Peter Loeb, one part of today’s father/daughter guest duo - Peter Loeb and Ashley Loeb Blassingame, co-founders of Lionrock Recovery.

Together, along with their third co-founder Iain Crabb, they have pioneered the path into telehealth for substance use disorder (SUD) recovery, using technology to make treatment more private and attainable to people who could not otherwise get help. With employees in nearly every state, Lionrock Recovery has been convincing the world that virtual treatment is effective far before COVID19 forced us online.

In this episode, Peter shares some of the background in founding Lionrock, and Ashley touches on the benefits of using a platform like Zoom in therapy. They define SUD and discuss why employers should care about recovery, how workplace cultures feed into SUD, and what employers can do to help. 

Lastly, Ashley shares a few personal stories to humanize SUD, and they each leave us with a tangible tip we can use to help further the discussion of recovery in our own companies and lives.


This episode is sponsored by University of Wisconsin Health and Wellness Management, offering online bachelor’s and master’s degrees in wellness management. You can visit hwm.wisconsin.edu for more information.

Graduates of the program have launched successful wellness careers with healthcare systems, wellness program vendors, community agencies, insurance providers, even the military. Here are some really cool things about UW Health and Wellness Management:

  • Courses are designed and taught by distinguished faculty from the University of Wisconsin, many of whom actively work in the field.
  • UW Health and Wellness Management is also supported by an advisory board, industry experts from corporations such as Children’s Wisconsin, Willis Towers Watson, and the Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds, who offer advice on changing trends in health and wellness so that students are learning the most up-to-date methods.
  • Students often say the flexible, online format is a big factor in their ability to earn a degree. (Our recent situation is an indication of the advantages of online learning.) Although the program is online, you’ll make strong connections with peers and faculty, just as you would on campus.

UW Health and Wellness Management bachelor’s and master’s degrees provide the skills you need to manage comprehensive employee well-being programs that foster healthier lifestyles and promote the value of staying well. 

Turn your passion for wellness into a healthy career with University of Wisconsin Health and Wellness Management. Visit hwm.wisconsin.edu or contact an enrollment adviser by phone, 1-877-895-3276.

For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod

May 20, 2020

As technology accelerates the shifting of corporate America and culture at large, leaders find themselves with less and less time to regroup and recenter themselves - making leadership breakdowns increasingly likely. Eric Kaufmann, founder of Sagatica, returns to discuss the top ten mistakes that cause a leader to break down and how to avoid them.

Eric Kaufmann has been coaching and training leaders and executives on how to think more creatively, decide more effectively, and relate more wholeheartedly for more than 20 years. His clients include industry giants like Verizon, Sony, Petco, Facebook, and Navitas Organics to name a few. The publishing of his latest book, Leadership Breakdown, makes him a three time author as well as an official thought leader at Harvard’s Institute of Coaching and TedX speaker.

In this episode, Eric discusses what inspired him to write his third book and why he believes leadership breakdowns are accelerating. He explains what he believes makes a life worth living and the common pitfall leaders experience of losing themselves in performance and results.

Eric takes a deeper look at a few of the top ten mistakes that lead to breakdowns and leaves us with a tangible tip we can use to awaken our personal power. Listen in to become the executive and author of your own life!

This episode is sponsored by University of Wisconsin Health and Wellness Management, offering online bachelor’s and master’s degrees in wellness management. You can visit hwm.wisconsin.edu for more information. 

Graduates of the program have launched successful wellness careers with healthcare systems, wellness program vendors, community agencies, insurance providers, even the military. Here are some really cool things about UW Health and Wellness Management:

  • Courses are designed and taught by distinguished faculty from the University of Wisconsin, many of whom actively work in the field.
  • UW Health and Wellness Management is also supported by an advisory board, industry experts from corporations such as Children’s Wisconsin, Willis Towers Watson, and the Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds, who offer advice on changing trends in health and wellness so that students are learning the most up-to-date methods.
  • Students often say the flexible, online format is a big factor in their ability to earn a degree. (Our recent situation is an indication of the advantages of online learning.) Although the program is online, you’ll make strong connections with peers and faculty, just as you would on campus.

UW Health and Wellness Management bachelor’s and master’s degrees provide the skills you need to manage comprehensive employee well-being programs that foster healthier lifestyles and promote the value of staying well.  

Turn your passion for wellness into a healthy career with University of Wisconsin Health and Wellness Management. Visit hwm.wisconsin.edu or contact an enrollment adviser by phone, 1-877-895-3276.

For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod

May 13, 2020

“Your leadership story is your life story,” according to Doug Conant, globally renowned business leader, bestselling author, and today’s guest. If you find yourself struggling to settle into your own personal leadership style, the key is to look inward - a method Doug developed and has shared the blueprints to. Doug’s experience proves that once you understand your purpose upfront, leading through a crisis like the current pandemic becomes much easier.

Doug Conant has over 40 years of leadership experience, including the most senior level positions at industry giants like Nabisco, Campbell’s Soup, Avon, General Mills, and Kraft. He has made people first leadership practices a priority in his career, and continues his legacy as a champion of “doing well by doing good.”

In this episode, Doug shares how practicing gratitude became a foundation for his personal leadership model early in his career and the unexpected way he saw that energy reflected back to him. He explains the reasons he decided to write his newest book, The Blueprint, and digs into the importance of uncovering your own personal leadership style by first cementing your purpose. 

Doug briefly discusses his dedication to “people first” leadership and how you can hold people accountable while still being compassionate - his “tough minded on standards and tender hearted with people” strategy. Finally, Doug leaves us with a few tangible tips on how to start unlocking our own unique leadership style.

This episode is sponsored by University of Wisconsin Health and Wellness Management, offering online bachelor’s and master’s degrees in wellness management. You can visit hwm.wisconsin.edu for more information. 

Graduates of the program have launched successful wellness careers with healthcare systems, wellness program vendors, community agencies, insurance providers, even the military. Here are some really cool things about UW Health and Wellness Management :

  • Courses are designed and taught by distinguished faculty from the University of Wisconsin, many of whom actively work in the field.
  • UW Health and Wellness Management is also supported by an advisory board, industry experts from corporations such as Children’s Wisconsin, Willis Towers Watson, and the Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds, who offer advice on changing trends in health and wellness so that students are learning the most up-to-date methods.
  • Students often say the flexible, online format is a big factor in their ability to earn a degree. (Our recent situation is an indication of the advantages of online learning.) Although the program is online, you’ll make strong connections with peers and faculty, just as you would on campus. 

Consider this from a recent graduate of the master’s program: 

“For a class project in Research Methods for Wellness Programs, our team had six people working in three time zones across four states. Each student’s career path was different. As a result, everyone brought a unique perspective to the project: clinical, legal, advocacy, policy, governmental. It made the project so interesting.”

UW Health and Wellness Management bachelor’s and master’s degrees provide the skills you need to manage comprehensive employee well-being programs that foster healthier lifestyles and promote the value of staying well. 

Turn your passion for wellness into a healthy career with University of Wisconsin Health and Wellness Management. Visit hwm.wisconsin.edu or contact an enrollment adviser by phone, 1-877-895-3276.

For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod

May 6, 2020

According to the World Health Organization, the estimated cost of depression and anxiety is $1 trillion per year (globally) due to lost productivity. The 2019 Mind the Workplace report revealed that 55% of respondents were afraid to take the day off to tend to their mental health. Pair these two stats (just a couple of the many out there) and we have a costly issue wrapped in stigma.

That’s why one of the most exciting advances in wellness is the inclusion of mental health as a component of employee wellbeing. Today’s guest, Rebecca Fairman, Executive Director of Connections for Mental Wellness, shares the changes being made in northeast Wisconsin through a collective impact model and the company she leads, Connections for Mental Wellness.

In this episode, Rebecca discusses how Connections for Mental Wellness got started and the initial planning after receiving a one million dollar grant. She gives examples of a few barriers to accessing mental health support that her company hopes to assist with, and the pros and cons of collaborating with so many other organizations seeking to address similar mental health care issues.

Rebecca shares how employers are represented in the work being done and a few tools available to employers to get started, like the ICU tool and mental health first aid training. She discusses her belief in the importance of psychological safety and active listening. Finally, Rebecca gives a tangible tip for how to start addressing employee mental health in your organization.

This episode is sponsored by University of Wisconsin Health and Wellness Management, offering online bachelor’s and master’s degrees in wellness management. You can visit hwm.wisconsin.edu for more information.  

Graduates of the program have launched successful wellness careers with healthcare systems, wellness program vendors, community agencies, insurance providers, even the military. Here are some really cool things about UW Health and Wellness Management :

  • Courses are designed and taught by distinguished faculty from the University of Wisconsin, many of whom actively work in the field.
  • UW Health and Wellness Management is also supported by an advisory board, industry experts from corporations such as Children’s Wisconsin, Willis Towers Watson, and the Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds, who offer advice on changing trends in health and wellness so that students are learning the most up-to-date methods.
  • Students often say the flexible, online format is a big factor in their ability to earn a degree. (Our recent situation is an indication of the advantages of online learning.) Although the program is online, you’ll make strong connections with peers and faculty, just as you would on campus.

Consider this from a recent graduate of the master’s program: 

“For a class project in Research Methods for Wellness Programs, our team had six people working in three time zones across four states. Each student’s career path was different. As a result, everyone brought a unique perspective to the project: clinical, legal, advocacy, policy, governmental. It made the project so interesting.”

UW Health and Wellness Management bachelor’s and master’s degrees provide the skills you need to manage comprehensive employee well-being programs that foster healthier lifestyles and promote the value of staying well.  

Turn your passion for wellness into a healthy career with University of Wisconsin Health and Wellness Management. Visit hwm.wisconsin.edu or contact an enrollment adviser by phone, 1-877-895-3276.

For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod

Apr 29, 2020

With the increased need for social distancing, working from home, and quarantining, loneliness has become even more of a hot topic than it was before COVID-19. Today’s guest, Hakan Ozcelik, walks us through his most recent research study on loneliness and the impact on employees, teams, and the organization as a whole.

Hakan is a professor of management at California State University, Sacramento. With a Ph.D. in organizational behavior, he has published his research on many topics including workplace loneliness and organizational neuroscience in countless prestigious outlets such as the Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and the New York Times to name a few.

In this episode, Hakan defines loneliness and how it differentiates from things like depression and physically being alone. He discusses his research, No Employee An Island, touching on both the design and the project’s findings. 

Hakan reveals the impact of his research findings on team performance, as well as intervention strategies that managers can employ. Finally, Hakan leaves us with a few tangible tips on how to apply this research in our own organizations.

For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod

Apr 22, 2020

Alcohol is integrated into our current culture to celebrate, socialize, relax, and cope. Especially during this pandemic, memes and jokes about increasing alcohol consumption, virtual happy hours, and quarantinis abound. Today’s guest, Heather Lowe, founder of Ditched the Drink, believes in the benefits of evaluating and understanding your relationship with alcohol.

Heather, like many of us, grew up in a community where liberal alcohol consumption was the norm. Her background in social work, HR, and sales, as well as her passion for helping others, live their fullest and most meaningful lives resulted in founding Ditched the Drink, offering both individual and business resources to evaluate their relationships with alcohol.

In this episode, Heather shares her history with alcohol, the reasons she decided to quit drinking, and the benefits she’s seen as a result. She discusses the factors that might cause some people to be more likely to develop unhealthy relationships with alcohol, and how corporate acceptance and focus on alcohol negatively impact workplaces.

Heather leaves listeners with a tangible tip they can use to start shifting the relationship with alcohol in their own organizations and gives us a closer look at the work she’s doing through Ditched the Drink.

For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod

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