Redesigning Wellness Podcast

If you listened to Jen's last interview with Bob Merberg, then you know the Redesigning Wellness Podcast is wrapping up. Jen wanted to come on one more time and officially wrap up the podcast. In this episode, Jen revisits her Wellbeing model and tells you about her new podcast, Growing Through It.

The Redesigning Wellness podcast is coming to an official close and who better to recap the last five years of episodes with Jen than Bob Merberg. Bob Merberg founded the wellbeing program at University of Rochester and served as Paychex's wellness manager for more than 10 years. His consultancy, Jozito LLC, is dedicated to wellbeing strategy and content creation for top-tier organizations that prioritize innovation and excellence. In this episode, Bob interviews Jen about what it's like to interview 250+ experts across a variety of fields. They cover why Jen started the podcast in the first place and if she achieved the goals she set out to achieve. We explore where we are in the world of wellness and if it has changed over the years. Jen reviews her model of wellbeing, and we discuss the role of a company mission. She reviews podcast interviews that have stood out, people she wanted to interview but couldn't, and how the podcast topics have evolved. Finally, Jen tells us what's next for Redesigning Wellness. To learn more about my new program, visit: https://everydayresilience.co/resilience-for-self-leadership/

In the U.S. 43.6 million women (27%) and 37.3 (11%) million men will experience intimate partner violence in their lifetime. These staggering numbers make it vital for organizations to be aware of and understand gender based violence. If you feel like this topic is heavy, well, it is but that doesn't mean we shouldn't talk about it. But what role does an organization play? Podcast guest, Sarah Gonzalez Bocinski, is here to inform us. Sarah Gonzalez Bocinski provides guidance and expertise to FUTURES' economic justice initiatives and training and technical assistance projects related to workplace safety and economic opportunity for survivors of gender-based violence and harassment. Sarah brings over a decade of experience as an advocate, researcher, and technical assistance provider on issues ranging from economic justice and security, to gender equity in the workplace, and improving access to quality education and employment opportunities for survivors and other marginalized populations.  In this episode, Sarah walks us through the stats on how prevalent violence is against both women and men and she busts some myths about who experiences violence and even what violence looks like. She then talks about the intersection of violence and the workplace – how perpetrators can sabotage employment and what an organization can actually do about it. Trigger alert – if a conversation around violence, or specifically sexual violence bothers you, you may want to pass on this episode. To learn more about my new program, visit: https://everydayresilience.co/resilience-for-self-leadership/

Part of our job is guarding our own emotions and the emotions of peers. This emotional labor is rarely identified, almost never supported, or paid for, yet is a reality of the workplace. Asking employees to check their emotions at the door is not only an impossible task, but it also ignores a treasure trove of intelligence our emotions offer us. Podcast guest, Karla McLaren, is here to guide us on how we can guard our emotional wellbeing and how workplaces can harness the intelligence emotions offer. Karla McLaren, M.Ed. is an award-winning author, educator, social science researcher, empathy expert, and workplace consultant. She is the author of many books, including The Power of Emotions at Work and The Language of Emotions, and she's the developer of the online learning site EmpathyAcademy.org. Her applied work, Dynamic Emotional Integration®, is a groundbreaking process that reveals the genius and healing power within the emotional realm. In this interview, Karla defines the emotional labor we experience at work and how the role of HR is not set up for the employee. She discusses the function of emotions and what the “negative” emotions can tell a workplace. Karla then offers ideas for how we can personally guard our emotions at work and how organizations can create a social structure that emotionally supports the workers.  To learn more about my new program, visit: https://everydayresilience.co/resilience-for-self-leadership/

Thinking about leaving your corporate job to go out on your own? After six years of running her own business, Jen brings her recommendations for those in the wellbeing profession contemplating entrepreneurship.  Wellbeing is one of those professions that can be very limited in career growth, so many of us think that going out on our will solve for that problem. That's why Jen wanted to offer her lessons learned from leaving the corporate world to run her own business. Spoiler alert: she didn't do any of these…that's why they are lessons learned! This episode is an honest solo episode about what entrepreneurship entails. To learn more about my new program, visit: https://everydayresilience.co/resilience-for-self-leadership/

Have you ever felt that leading wellbeing efforts were like rolling a boulder uphill? It can definitely feel that way if you're going at it alone. But how can you leverage certain skills to not only expand wellbeing but your role along with it? Today's guest, Cassie Buckroyd, walks us through the skills she's leveraged to elevate wellbeing within HR and throughout the larger organization.  Cassie Buckroyd is a Senior Manager of Total Rewards Experience at Columbia Sportswear. She's a highly strategic and enthusiastic leader with 15+ years of experience leading the design and delivery of innovative workplace programs. Described as collaborative, compassionate, strategic, and resilient, recognized for thought leadership and the ability to influence corporations to prioritize their people. She's passionate about transforming the way individuals experience work and creating conditions where both employees and businesses thrive. In today's conversation we talk about the shift from her role leading wellbeing efforts to in the broader role of Total Rewards Experience. Cassie explains what her role entails and where wellbeing falls within her scope. She refreshes us on the model of wellbeing that exists today and also the future direction. Cassie walks us through what skills helped her both get the model adopted and a new skill she has developed. She leaves us with advice if your organization is not as into collaborating as Columbia is. To learn more about my new program, visit: https://everydayresilience.co/resilience-for-self-leadership/

Dee Edington was a pillar of the wellness community and passed away on June 21, 2022. You can learn more about Dee here. In this 2016 conversation, Dee and I talk about: How one question inspired the book “Shared Values, Shared Results”. Why a framework is needed to be built into the business, not just benefits. Helping people live to their best quality of life and to their highest level of performance. Why we shouldn't walk away from the word “wellness”. Dee also makes insightful comments about culture and how there's only one culture in an organization. The questions becomes “is health a part of that culture or not?”. Ultimately, everything that happens in an organization affects the wellness of people. We need to help CEO's see the connection between positive organizational health and the business. Dee thinks short term outcomes are much better to focus on than lagging indicators, such as healthcare cost containment. Dee makes a great point about asking the question “what is the best thing we're doing around here to do our best work?”. In other words, ask for the positive things first. What can you do if senior leadership is not bought into the concept of wellness? The #1 rule is don't assume you know what the CEO wants. He imparts more wisdom around this subject that I personally found helpful. Dee also addresses: The value of caring Are biometric screenings worth it? Why financial incentives discriminate against the lowest paid people in the organization. Infighting among wellness professionals Finally, Dee grants me permission to forgive myself for past wellness mistakes and talks about incorporating gratitude as part of wellness. To learn more about my new program, visit: https://everydayresilience.co/resilience-for-self-leadership/

This year Salesforce has been recognized on the FORTUNE “100 Best Companies To Work For®” list for the 14th year in a row. With philosophies such as “we don't define family for you” and “success from anywhere”, they are driving business success while supporting the wellbeing of 80,000 employees across the globe. This episode gives you a peek inside one of Salesforce's many employee benefits - parenting support (and a whole lot of it). Guest, Karen Schwarzbach, serves as the Global Program Manager for Wellbeing and Life Stages at Salesforce. Her work at Salesforce encompasses the full life cycle from family forming through elder care support. Previously, Karen worked as a National Workforce Health Consultant at Kaiser Permanente and as a Health Improvement Strategist at Cigna, in addition to owning and operating her family wellbeing consulting practice for over 15 years.  In this interview, Karen talks about her role at Salesforce and the drivers behind the focus on parents. She explains some of the inventive resources she offers the 80,000 employees across the world and how she determines what to offer. If you're worried this interview doesn't apply to you because you don't work in big tech, fear not, Karen offers wonderful advice for any organization wanting to support working parents. To learn more about my new program, visit: https://everydayresilience.co/resilience-for-self-leadership/

Moral injury is the act, or omission of an act, that goes against one's deeply held personal, spiritual, or moral beliefs. Although moral injury has been documented as far back in history as 336 BC (think Alexander the Great), the term is gaining attention within the military and is now being considered in occupations such as healthcare and social work. Causing profound feelings of shame and guilt, alterations in beliefs, and maladaptive coping responses, the topic of moral injury in the workplace is one that needs to be discussed.  Podcast guest, Noël Lipana, is a Regional Prevention Coordinator for The Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships, US Department of Homeland Security. Noël's outside work includes the use of performing arts to educate communities about moral injury and trauma among veterans and marginalized populations. His connection to those populations stems from his twenty-year service in various Air Force, Army, and Joint military units in Active Duty and National Guard units. In this episode, Noël defines moral injury and how it shows up both personally and in the workplace. He explains the different levels of moral injury and if it can be prevented. We spend a bit of time talking about veterans but also go into healthcare settings and first responders. Finally, Noël talks about what we can do personally to recover from moral injury as well as what organizations can do. To learn more about my new program, visit: https://everydayresilience.co/resilience-for-self-leadership/ 

Where does the conversation about spirituality fit into the workplace? Since 86% of US adults identify as being spiritual, we don't need to shy away from the conversation. In fact, since the definition of spirituality encompasses a wide array of current wellbeing practices, chances are you may already be addressing it. Podcast guest, Jessica Grossmeier, is a leading voice in workplace well-being, having dedicated her career to identifying evidence-based strategies that promote a thriving workforce. Jessica has published more than 80 articles in professional journals and is the author of Reimagining Workplace Well-being: Fostering a Culture of Purpose, Connection, and Transcendence.  In this second episode with Jessica, she explains the difference and overlap between spirituality and religion; and explains what workplace spirituality means. Jessica speaks to the research that supports addressing spirituality both personally and in the workplace. She demystifies how to address spirituality in the workplace without alarming your leadership and offers ideas on how to get started. To learn more about my new program, visit: https://everydayresilience.co/resilience-for-self-leadership/   

What do you do when your dedication to your job lands you in the hospital for severe exhaustion and dehydration? This is the wake-up call today's guest, Jessica Grossmeier, got 10 years ago. Jessica was juggling a demanding job, getting her PhD, and being married, but eventually the sheer capacity was too much to sustain.  Podcast guest, Jessica Grossmeier, is a leading voice in workplace well-being, having dedicated her career to identifying evidence-based strategies that promote a thriving workforce. Jessica has published more than 80 articles in professional journals and is the author of Reimagining Workplace Well-being: Fostering a Culture of Purpose, Connection, and Transcendence.  In this episode, Jessica tells her story of burnout. She takes us back to the day 10 years ago when her husband found her at home unconscious on the floor. Jessica explains what led her to that point and how she slowly recovered from burnout. She also tells us why she took a year-long sabbatical and what came from it. Finally, she leaves us with what you can do if you find yourself suffering from burnout. For links mentioned in today's episode visit https://redesigningwellness.com/

Grief is the conflicting feelings caused by the end of or a change in a familiar pattern of behavior. Using that definition, chances are that you have recently grieved for something or someone. With everything that has happened in the past two years and continues to happen, it's about time we had a conversation about grief. Podcast guests, Ilana Yahdav, MPA, and Kim Hanlon, MA, are Grief Advocates and Advanced Certified Grief Recovery Specialists. They co-founded Yahdav & Hanlon Grief Support out of a shared passion for offering individual grief support and enhancing corporate wellness programs to support employees around loss and life changes.  In this episode, Ilana and Kim define grief, which you'll be surprised to hear how all-encompassing it is. We talk about the very non-linear grieving process, how we judge ourselves and others for how we grieve, and how employers can address grief. Illana and Kim leave us with ways to support our own grief, including the recent Roe v Wade decision and what to do with all of the emotions that may be coming up from it. For links mentioned in today's episode visit https://redesigningwellness.com/

U.S. News named being a lawyer as the 2nd most stressful job in 2022. But it wasn't until recently that far reaching reports identified major wellbeing deficits, such as problematic drinking, workaholism, and mental health concerns. The reports led to a major call to action for the industry to address lawyer wellbeing. It also led to the creation of the Institute for Well-Being in Law (IWIL), a non-profit dedicated to the betterment of the legal profession through holistic well-being.  Podcast guest Robin Wolpert is an appellate practitioner, business litigator, and white-collar criminal defense attorney at Sapientia Law Group in Minneapolis. She is Treasurer of the National Conference of Bar Presidents, Treasurer of the Institute for Well Being in Law, Member of the ABA House of Delegates, Member of the ABA Standing Committee on Professionalism, and past President of the Minnesota State Bar Association.  In this episode, Robin shares her entry into the industry and what's changed in her 20 years of practice. Robin describes some unique challenges lawyers face, both in law school and once they are practicing. She explains a series of reports that emerged, which was a call to action for things to change in the legal industry. Robin walks through a couple of the recommendations to enhance lawyer wellbeing and asks a question for lawyers to reframe their current environment. For links mentioned in today's episode visit https://redesigningwellness.com/

This is the final excerpt from a recent webinar Jen facilitated through Wellable Labs titled “Resilience: Why We Need It More Than Ever”. In this clip, Jen reviews another way organizations can build employee resilience – reconnecting to what's important. Listen in for practical tips for organizations and leaders. Plus, you'll hear a live Q&A from webinar participants. Want to learn more about resilience training for your organization? Learn more here.

Two years ago, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) was the topic of new conversations, organizational pledges, and the creation of new job roles. But what has truly changed in the past two years? Although some strides have been made, there remain many barriers to progress. How can we move beyond reading books to start taking concrete steps to closing racial gaps? Podcast guest, Dr. Ella Washington, is here to help guide us. Ella Washington, PhD is an organizational psychologist and DEI expert with a wealth of experience through her involvement as the Founder and CEO of Ellavate Solutions, a Professor of Practice at Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business, and the Co-host of Gallup's Center of Black Voices Cultural Competence Podcast. Dr. Washington is eagerly anticipating the release of her first solo book, The Necessary Journey: Making Real Progress on Equity and Inclusion, published by Harvard Business Review Press.   In this episode, we discuss what's changed and not changed in the past two years the high-profile murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor. Dr. Washington offers some statistics on the role of Chief Diversity Officers and how they aren't necessarily set up for success. Ella shares what we can do as individuals and organizations to keep DEI front and center. She leaves us with three foundational steps to addressing DEI. For links mentioned in today's episode visit https://redesigningwellness.com/

This is a short excerpt from a recent webinar Jen facilitated through Wellable Labs titled “Resilience: Why We Need It More Than Ever”. In this clip, Jen reviews one way organizations can build employee resilience – supporting rest and recovery. Listen in for practical tips for organizations and leaders. Stay tuned next week for the last in the series on how organizations can support resilience.

Burnout is the result of occupational stress left unmanaged, marked by high levels of exhaustion and depletion, emotional distance from our job, and cynicism. With the macro and micro stressors of the past two years, it's no surprise that burnout is on the rise. Although self-care strategies can be part of burnout treatment, we have to acknowledge where the systems around us are broken. Podcast guest, Jennifer Moss, is author of The Burnout Epidemic, released in 2021. Moss was on the Global Happiness Council—a small group of leading scientists and economists that support the UN's sustainable goals related to global well-being and the Annual Global Happiness Policy Report. She was named a Canadian Innovator of the Year, an International Female Entrepreneur of the Year, and recipient of the Public Service Award from the Office of President Obama.  In this episode, we level set on what burnout is, how it progresses and some of its causes. We talk about how some organizational systems are broken and how they contribute to burnout. Then we get into some culture talk, small steps, and the role of job passion in burnout. Jennifer leaves us with many tangible tips to deal with burnout – both organizationally and personally. For links mentioned in today's episode visit https://redesigningwellness.com/

This is a short excerpt from a recent webinar Jen facilitated through Wellable Labs titled “Resilience: Why We Need It More Than Ever”. In this clip, Jen reviews one way organizations can build employee resilience - acknowledging and making space for emotions. Listen in for practical tips for organizations and leaders. Stay tuned for another way organizations can support resilience next week. 

What have the past two years been like for wellness professionals? Going through the pandemic themselves, while trying to adjust to an ever-evolving situation for their employees has exposed deep issues that may not have been on their radar pre-pandemic. Wellness professionals are now charged with bigger challenges than ever while navigating the next normal. Podcast guests, Sara Martin and Maggie Gough are leading wellness professionals into new territory. Sara Martin is CEO of WELCOA, and her purpose is helping people fulfill their highest potential in work and life through corporate health promotion. Maggie Gough, COO of WELCOA, ensures members receive stellar service and build sustaining connections as a community.  In this episode, we discuss how COVID has changed the landscape for wellness practitioners, the phases they went through, and where they are now. We discuss the issues that were always there that we may have had our blinders on for. They talk about how WELCOA is answering the question – how do we show up for hard things? Listen in for why you should be a part of the WELCOA Community and attend the WELCOA Summit. And no, no one is pregnant, and George Clooney is not speaking at the Summit. For links mentioned in today's episode visit https://redesigningwellness.com/

This is a short excerpt from a recent webinar Jen facilitated through Wellable Labs titled “Resilience: Why We Need It More Than Ever”. In this first clip, Jen reviews some true/false questions around resilience. Will you answer them correctly? Stay tuned for the next clip next week.

Being a working mom during COVID was an impossible act of balancing full time jobs and full time teaching. Pew Research Center found that working mothers were generally more likely than working fathers to say that they faced a variety of professional challenges since the beginning of COVID. In this episode, podcast guest Leslie Forde explains the impact of the pandemic on working mothers. She shares some relevant research, strategies on how employers can support mothers, and how working moms can take care of their own wellbeing. For links mentioned in today's episode visit https://redesigningwellness.com/

It's important to stay positive, especially in trying times. But what happens when that positivity becomes unhelpful, shaming, and ultimately, toxic? The idea that the best or only way to cope with a negative situation is to put a positive spin on it is toxic to our emotional health. In this episode guest Dr. Natalie Dattilo, a Clinical Psychologist, and Mental Wellness Expert describes what toxic positivity looks like, and the line between being helpful and crossing over into toxicity.  For links mentioned in today's episode visit https://redesigningwellness.com/

Connecting socially is an innate human need and one that was practically eliminated during the pandemic. For the past two years, we turned to social media, Zoom calls, and Netflix for our main sources of connection. Now that we're going back into the office and gathering in larger groups, how can we ease back into being with each other and rebuild social connections?  Podcast guest, Dr. Natalie Kerr, is a social psychologist and a Professor of Psychology at James Madison University. Dr. Kerr enjoys sharing psychological science to help others improve their lives. Her current research focuses on the social psychology of loneliness, including interventions to help people feel more connected and less lonely.  In this episode, we discuss why social connection is so important and how we can come back together without extreme awkwardness. Dr. Kerr talks about loneliness and how the solution is counter to the advice of “just put yourself out there”. We discuss how nature can help build social connections and why we don't reach out to people when they are going through hard times. Finally, Natalie leaves us with a warning about marketing programs to ease loneliness. For links mentioned in today's episode visit https://redesigningwellness.com/

The stats point to the likelihood that most of us are in some stage of burnout, and guess who this includes? Managers – you know, the ones leading your employees. Managers navigate the delicate balance between investing in and supporting their team, getting their own work done, and (trying to) understand the priorities from above. How do successful managers balance it all? That's what this episode is all about. Podcast guest, Karen Suchsland, is known for fostering collaborative team environments that allow team members to learn, grow professionally and successfully deliver on company objectives while having a healthy dose of fun.  In this episode, we discuss how leaders can help their employees with overwhelm, and why trust is the most crucial ingredient a leader needs to build. Karen guides leaders on how to navigate the conversation around mental health and offers a script for following up after you've suggested specific resources. Finally, she leaves us with ways a leader can better engage their team (and these are ones she's implemented with her own teams). For links mentioned in today's episode visit https://redesigningwellness.com/

It's been over a year since host, Jen Arnold, decided to take a break from the Redesigning Wellness podcast. In this episode, Jen walks you through what's in store for the podcast and her thoughts on where we are today (and where we're not) with organizational wellbeing. She also reveals a new product she's just released and unveils where her and her family settled down after almost two years of RV travel. Plus, she answers the questions she gets most often about the transition from full time RV life to living in a (stationary) house. For links mentioned in today's episode visit https://redesigningwellness.com/  

Host Jen Arnold began the Redesigning Wellness Podcast in 2016, fresh out of the corporate workforce and eager to learn and dissect the multitude of aspects affecting employee wellness. Back then, she had fewer clients, much more free time, and one fewer kid at home.  After a bit of soul searching and careful deliberation, Jen’s decided that she needs some space from the podcast to assess if she misses it, or if it’s time to move on.  In this episode, podcast host Jen Arnold explains her decision to take a break from the podcast, a few of the reasons behind her careful consideration, and offers a heartfelt thanks to longtime listeners who have accompanied her on this journey. For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod

In a society hyper focused on productivity and doing more, it can be easy to bully yourself about being lazy and not accomplishing enough. Today’s guest, Dr. Devon Price, Professor at Loyola University Chicago and author of Laziness Does Not Exist believes that worth is not tied to productivity and that the perception around laziness is toxic. In this episode, Devon explains their personal experience with overachievement and how that mentality changed. They discuss what they call the laziness lie, how mistrust from employers is damaging employees, and how organizations can change the perception around laziness. Lastly, Devon offers an excellent tangible tip for people who have a hard time saying no. For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the shortcomings of many benefits programs at the same time as 2020 prompted a closer look at diversity and inclusion within organizations. The marriage of these two occurrences has resulted in interesting considerations regarding inclusion in benefits.  Today’s guest, Rachel McCann, Senior Director and North American Health & Benefits Inclusion & Diversity practice leader at Willis Towers Watson, is helping businesses understand how to optimize their benefits offerings based on the diverse characteristics of their current and future workforce. Rachel has 20 years of experience supporting employers inclusion and diversity and exploring the role benefits can play.  In this episode, Rachel explores some of the benefits trends she saw in response to COVID, highlighting mental health offerings and caregiving solutions. She shares a few guidelines for considering inclusion in benefits programs and the importance of understanding social determinants of health in relation to benefits inclusivity.  Lastly, Rachel offers tangible tips for both wellness professionals and organizations on considering inclusion and diversity in benefits offerings. For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod

In the last decade, the wellness industry has been on a steady rise. With 80% of large companies and 50% of small companies implementing wellness programs, wellness isn’t just a consideration for big businesses anymore. Today’s guest, Nikki Reynolds, Wellness Specialist at ePlus, believes that small businesses can actually provide the best environment for wellness program success. In this episode, Nikki explains her somewhat unorthodox start with SMP and how she went about building a wellness program for a business of fewer than 50 employees. Nikki shares some of her challenges as well as her proudest moments, as well as the philosophy she’s held while pivoting through COVID. Finally, she offers tangible tips to professionals making a pitch and to small business owners unsure of buying into wellness. For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod To join the Redesigning Wellness Community visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rdwellnesscommunity/

The ability to understand and alter the power dynamic of a team is an essential leadership skill for maximum effectiveness according to today’s guest, Lindy Greer, Associate Professor of Management and Organizations at University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. In addition to her Associate Professorship, Lindy is the Faculty Director of the Sanger Leadership Center. Her expertise in leadership development has been published in leading outlets such as Forbes, the New York Times, and the Journal of Applied Psychology to name a few.  In this episode, Lindy briefly discusses her inspiration to look at leadership differently and takes a deep dive on the four keys to a positive leadership hierarchy. She explains the importance of creating areas of ownership for team members as well as building team structures that are flexible.  Lindy gives the example of learning to power flex through voice and other strategies for reducing or increasing the power distance between leaders and teams. Lastly, she offers a tangible tip to be intentional about your team’s hierarchy. For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod To join the Redesigning Wellness Community visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rdwellnesscommunity/

Psychologists believe that we spend over 80% of our lives on autopilot. We all know how hard it can be to step out of our comfort zones. What would life be like if we dared to do something different? This is the central question that today’s guest, Ray Richards, CEO and Founder of Do Something Different, hopes to encourage others to answer. Ray Richards is also the host of the podcast Life Done Different.ly and creator of the FLEX app, having dedicated the last 30 years to exploring work, play, and behavioral flexibility.  In this episode, Ray explains the Do Something Different approach, including obstacles to getting out of your comfort zone and the downfall of the smart goals approach. He discusses how organizations can start to behave differently and how wellness integrates into the movement. Finally, Ray leaves wellness professionals with a tangible tip on how to start shirking the status quo. For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod To join the Redesigning Wellness Community visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rdwellnesscommunity/

Everyone deserves access to healthcare and respect from healthcare providers - regardless of shape, body size, or skin color. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. According to BMC Medicine, weight stigma is particularly prevalent and detrimental in healthcare settings, with documented high levels of ‘anti-fat’ bias in healthcare providers, patients with obesity receiving poorer care and having worse outcomes  Today’s guest, Dr. Lesley Williams, is trying to change the narrative. Dr. Williams is a board certified family medicine physician and a certified eating disorder specialist. Her years working in the mental health field led her to become an advocate for body positivity and size diversity. Dr. Williams is also a passionate advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in healthcare.  In this episode, Dr. Williams explains the importance of weight independent healthcare, including the BMI and it’s racial implications. She discusses racism's effect on health, her own personal experiences with racism, and how important it is to embrace curiosity in healthcare. Dr. Williams touches briefly on the importance of health equity and her adoption of the HAES model in healthcare. She discusses her children’s book Free to Be Me: Self Love for All Sizes and why she wrote it. Lastly, she leaves listeners with a tangible tip to combat weight stigma culture. This podcast episode is brought to you by Resilience Reboot for Leaders. In this 4-week session, your leaders (or informal leaders) will watch short Resilience lessons before each class. In the weekly, live Zoom meetings we’ll break into small groups, using the resilience skills learned to apply to each participant's unique situation. This group will be made up of leaders across multiple organizations, so you can send only the employees you want to pay for.  First group starts Feb. 16th – each employee is $125 with discounts for 2 or more employees. For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod To join the Redesigning Wellness Community visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rdwellnesscommunity/  

Though the general trend of diversity and inclusion is increasing, wellness fields like dietetics and health promotion have not experienced as much growth or attention as other industries. Today’s guest, Deanna Belleny, co-founder of the non-profit Diversity Dietetics, is seeking to change this by providing support, mentoring, and barrier deconstruction with the goal of increasing the ethnic and racial diversity in the field of nutrition.  In addition to her non-profit work, Deanna Belleny is the Assistant Director of Health Systems Transformation at the Harvard Medical School Center for Primary Care In this episode, Deanna discusses the decision to start Diversify Dietetics, including the lack of representation and resulting microaggressions she experienced early on in her education and career. She shares some of the barriers to entering dietetics that minorities experience, the impact the lack of diversity has on the field, and how white dieticians can expand their perspectives.  Lastly, Deanna explains the goal of Diversify Dietetics, the current programs and initiatives they’ve built, and leaves listeners with a tangible tip on where to start to be a part of the solution. This podcast episode is brought to you by Resilience Reboot for Leaders. In this 4-week session, your leaders (or potential leaders) will watch short Resilience lessons before each class. In the weekly, live Zoom meetings we’ll break into small groups, using the resilience skills learned to apply to each participant's unique situation.  This group will be made up of leaders across multiple organizations, so you can send only the employees you want to pay for.   The first group starts Feb. 16th – each employee is $125 with discounts for 2 or more employees.   For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod To join the Redesigning Wellness Community visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rdwellnesscommunity/

In April of 2020, as the coronavirus forced the first major shutdowns in the US, unemployment rates in every state soared to a level not previously seen since data collection began in 1948. Among those affected were today’s guests Chrissy Ball, Michelle Bartelt, and Scott Dinwiddie - highly skilled wellness professionals with over 40 years of collective experience (check out their full bios below). In this episode, our panel of guests discuss the tumultuous experience of job loss including processing the emotions, resisting the temptation to doubt yourself, and the lessons they’ve learned through this experience. They share plenty of advice for others experiencing job loss, as well as tangible tips for professionals tasked with letting employees go. This podcast episode is brought to you by Resilience Reboot for Leaders. In this 4-week session, your leaders (or potential leaders) will watch short Resilience lessons before each class. In the weekly, live Zoom meetings we’ll break into small groups, using the resilience skills learned to apply to each participant's unique situation. This group will be made up of leaders across multiple organizations, so you can send only the employees you want to pay for.  First group starts Feb. 16th – each employee is $125 with discounts for 2 or more employees. For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod To join the Redesigning Wellness Community visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rdwellnesscommunity/  

In this solo episode of the Redesigning Wellness podcast, host Jen Arnold talks about the importance of knowing your values, why they are important, and how she uses them to guide her decisions.  This values exercise is mentioned: Click here

Wellness isn’t so much a healthcare problem as a matter of psychological needs fulfillment, according to today’s podcast guest Scott Dinwiddie. He believes organizations need to start looking at wellness as a problem related to value creation rather than downside costs. Scott Dinwiddie, corporate wellbeing strategist and self professed employee experience evangelist, is an independent consultant with nearly a decade of experience building better, more effective wellness programs. In this episode, Scott offers his unique definition of wellness as well as the 4 rules that make up what he calls Wellness 2.0. He takes a deeper dive on these rules, discussing how to connect to the employee voice during the restrictions of the pandemic and how to gain traction and collaboration on addressing problems with the employee experience. Lastly, he leaves listeners with a tangible tip. This podcast episode is brought to you by Workplace Money Coach. Workplace Money Coach’s Living Paycheck to Purpose financial empowerment program leads participants through thought-provoking activities and interactive discussions that help to cultivate a mindset around money so they can continue to thrive in their financial lives.  In order to serve your employees in a safe and healthy way, Workplace Money Coach can provide programming and one-on-one financial coaching in a live, social distance setting as well as a virtual option.   Here is what participants of the Living Paycheck to Purpose program are saying: “Shane at Workplace Money Coach was an impressive vendor from all aspects of professionalism, quality, useful/valid information, and facilitation. All around, this was a great experience both as a coordinator and participant.”  Isiah wrote: “This was probably one of the most important classes of my lifetime, and it couldn't have come at a better time with the pandemic and social distancing giving many of us just the time we needed to sit back and evaluate our expenses and where our money has been going. I for one will be putting everything I learned into practice in some form or another, thanks for everything.”  As a bonus to their Living Paycheck to Purpose program, Workplace Money Coach is offering my 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.  Workplace Money Coach has trained facilitators across the country ready to help improve the financial lives of your employees.  You can learn more about Workplace Money Coach’s financial empowerment program and schedule a call to see if the Living Paycheck to Purpose program is right for your employees by visiting www.workplacemoneycoach.com. For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod To join the Redesigning Wellness Community visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rdwellnesscommunity/

In this solo episode of the Redesigning Wellness podcast, host Jen Arnold talks about the role of the wellness coordinator, how the job duties are keeping us (and wellness) small, and how we can elevate the role in an organization.

Expanding the wellness program in an organization from inception as a part time employee to a global initiative is no easy task, especially when wellness doesn’t typically get a seat at the table. Today’s guest, Cassie Buckroyd, Wellbeing Programs Manager at Columbia Sportswear Company, has done just that and believes the secret to her success lies in partnership and collaboration. With more than 20 years in various health and wellness roles, Cassie Buckroyd has created a wellbeing program that is a cornerstone to the total rewards and talent programs at the company.  In this episode, Cassie explains her role as Wellbeing Manager and the process of spearheading Columbia’s COVID response team. She shares how parts of her job have taken her out of the traditional scope of wellness, how some of these opportunities have expanded and shaped her career, and the skills she’s utilized along the way. Cassie discusses some of the challenges she’s experienced, including not always being given a seat at the table, and offers wellness professionals a tangible tip to expand their scope.  This podcast episode is brought to you by Workplace Money Coach. Workplace Money Coach’s Living Paycheck to Purpose financial empowerment program leads participants through thought-provoking activities and interactive discussions that help to cultivate a mindset around money so they can continue to thrive in their financial lives.  In order to serve your employees in a safe and healthy way, Workplace Money Coach can provide programming and one-on-one financial coaching in a live, social distance setting as well as a virtual option.   Here is what participants of the Living Paycheck to Purpose program are saying: “Shane at Workplace Money Coach was an impressive vendor from all aspects of professionalism, quality, useful/valid information, and facilitation. All around, this was a great experience both as a coordinator and participant.”  Isiah wrote: “This was probably one of the most important classes of my lifetime, and it couldn't have come at a better time with the pandemic and social distancing giving many of us just the time we needed to sit back and evaluate our expenses and where our money has been going. I for one will be putting everything I learned into practice in some form or another, thanks for everything.”  As a bonus to their Living Paycheck to Purpose program, Workplace Money Coach is offering my 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.  Workplace Money Coach has trained facilitators across the country ready to help improve the financial lives of your employees.  You can learn more about Workplace Money Coach’s financial empowerment program and schedule a call to see if the Living Paycheck to Purpose program is right for your employees by visiting www.workplacemoneycoach.com. For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod To join the Redesigning Wellness Community visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rdwellnesscommunity/

This is a special episode of the Redesigning Wellness podcast, where host Jen Arnold talks solo about a recent pivot she’s making in her business.

As we step eagerly into 2021 after the difficulty of 2020, many people are carefully considering mindsets and attitudes with which to approach a new year filled with equal parts fresh possibility and lingering uncertainty. Today’s guest, Michael Arloski, CEO & Founder of Real Balance Global Wellness Services, has found that when we imagine the kind of outcome we want to see, we’re a lot more likely to get it.  Michael Arloski is a founding member of the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching and a leading expert in the field, having trained thousands of wellness coaches worldwide. He is the author of Wellness Coaching For Lasting Lifestyle Change, the foundational book of his field and Masterful Health & Wellness Coaching: Deepening Your Craft.  In this episode, Michael shares a few strategies for reimagining 2021 and how attitudes and beliefs drive behavior. He briefly explores the roles of a health coach and what personalities are best suited for the job, as well as tactics he uses to coach reluctant clients. Michael explains a bit about his Wellness Mapping 360 strategy and the process of health coach certification. Finally, he leaves wellness professionals with a tangible tip. This podcast episode is brought to you by Workplace Money Coach. Workplace Money Coach’s Living Paycheck to Purpose financial empowerment program leads participants through thought-provoking activities and interactive discussions that help to cultivate a mindset around money so they can continue to thrive in their financial lives.  In order to serve your employees in a safe and healthy way, Workplace Money Coach can provide programming and one-on-one financial coaching in a live, social distance setting as well as a virtual option.   Here is what participants of the Living Paycheck to Purpose program are saying: “Shane at Workplace Money Coach was an impressive vendor from all aspects of professionalism, quality, useful/valid information, and facilitation. All around, this was a great experience both as a coordinator and participant.”  Isiah wrote: “This was probably one of the most important classes of my lifetime, and it couldn't have come at a better time with the pandemic and social distancing giving many of us just the time we needed to sit back and evaluate our expenses and where our money has been going. I for one will be putting everything I learned into practice in some form or another, thanks for everything.”  As a bonus to their Living Paycheck to Purpose program, Workplace Money Coach is offering my 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.  Workplace Money Coach has trained facilitators across the country ready to help improve the financial lives of your employees.  You can learn more about Workplace Money Coach’s financial empowerment program and schedule a call to see if the Living Paycheck to Purpose program is right for your employees by visiting www.workplacemoneycoach.com. For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod To join the Redesigning Wellness Community visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rdwellnesscommunity/

Give yourself a pat on the back for making it through 2020! It’s time for Jen’s annual wellness wrap-up with colleague Bob Merberg, Principal Consultant at Jozito. A year like this one definitely needs a debrief to look at how the industry coped and pivoted through a year fraught with uncertainty and tumult.  In this episode, Jen and Bob recap how they personally fared in 2020 along with their opinions on the high notes and challenges that the industry at large experienced. They touch on essential wellness topics highlighted this year, such as the conversation on diversity in wellness, the importance of employee mental health offerings, and the effect of virtual learning on parent’s work and wellness.  Finally, they discuss what’s next for each of them in 2021, and their hopes for the wellness industry moving forward. For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod To join the Redesigning Wellness Community visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rdwellnesscommunity/

The scope of career paths open to wellness professionals varies far and wide, as evidenced by the resume of today’s guest, Dr. Jay Maddock, Co-director of the Center for Health and Nature and Professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at Texas A&M. Dr. Jay Maddock has done a little bit of everything - serving as the Director and Chair of the University of Hawaii Public Health Program, the Dean of the School of Public Health and Chief Wellness Officer at Texas A&M University, and most recently the Editor In Chief of the Journal of Healthy Eating and Active Living. In this episode, Jay discusses his background and aspects of his time with the Healthy Hawaii Committee. He shares a bit about his role as Chief Wellness Officer at Texas A&M and the creation of their successful wellness program, Flourish.  Jay then delves into his real passion, the Center for Health and Nature and his fascination with how the outdoors affects everything from illness recovery to worksite wellness. Lastly, he leaves wellness professionals with a few tangible tips. This podcast episode is brought to you by Kynd Kits. Giving back for the holidays will look a little different this year. We all know that employee volunteerism is beneficial to both the community AND your employees mental health, so don’t let safety restrictions stop your company from volunteering this holiday season! Kynd Kits are volunteer experiences that can be sent to your employees home, and each kit benefits a different cause. The Kynd Kit team will even facilitate a team building experience over zoom once all of the employees get their volunteer projects delivered. Kynd Kits are provided by Denver based non-profit Project Helping, and 100% of the proceeds from Kynd Kits go to benefit mental health initiatives and volunteerism. Head over to KyndKit.com and put in the code RWpodcast to order a completely free Kynd Kit to try out! Also, if you want to set up an employee experience, email hey@kyndhub.com or justin@projecthelping.org For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod To join the Redesigning Wellness Community visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rdwellnesscommunity/

The stress and anxiety increase among employees as a result of COVID has required emotionally connected leadership, leaving many leaders wondering how to accomplish this while maintaining accountability. Today’s guest, Errol Doebler, founder of Leader 193, has developed a leadership training process that hinges on emotional awareness to identify and change culture in an organization. Having served in both the Navy SEALs and the FBI, Errol Doebler is no stranger to both excellent and poor leadership. His experience has culminated in the founding of the leadership consulting firm Leader 193 as well as writing his book The Process, Art, and Science of Leadership: How Leaders Inspire Confidence and Clarity in Combat, in the Boardroom, and at the Kitchen Table. In this episode, Errol discusses his experience in both the Navy SEALs and the FBI that lead him to leadership consulting. He explores some of the factors behind bad leadership and briefly explains his leadership process. Errol talks about the importance of getting to the underlying aspects of stress and how the Wim Hof Method can help. He touches on the awareness needed to identify current company culture and how to create guidelines for behavior in order to change it.  Finally, Errol discusses the drawbacks to multitasking and leaves wellness professionals with a tangible tip on how to enhance the leadership conversation within their organization. This podcast episode is brought to you by Kynd Kits. Giving back for the holidays will look a little different this year. We all know that employee volunteerism is beneficial to both the community AND your employees mental health, so don’t let safety restrictions stop your company from volunteering this holiday season! Kynd Kits are volunteer experiences that can be sent to your employees home, and each kit benefits a different cause. The Kynd Kit team will even facilitate a team building experience over zoom once all of the employees get their volunteer projects delivered. Kynd Kits are provided by Denver based non-profit Project Helping, and 100% of the proceeds from Kynd Kits go to benefit mental health initiatives and volunteerism. Head over to KyndKit.com and put in the code RWpodcast to order a completely free Kynd Kit to try out! Also, if you want to set up an employee experience, email hey@kyndhub.com or justin@projecthelping.org For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod To join the Redesigning Wellness Community visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rdwellnesscommunity/

It’s no secret that teachers are one group that have borne a great deal of the weight of the pandemic, and as such their wellbeing has been impacted immeasurably. Concerns over the health and safety of their own families as well as the wellbeing of their students have resulted in an astounding amount of pressure, stress, and burnout.  Today’s guest, Tyecia Powell, wellness coach and consultant for Nonprofit Wellness and Sojourner Truth PCS, gives us an inside perspective on what educators are dealing with and how they are coping. In this episode, Tyecia discusses a bit of her 15 year background in the education sector, including the parts that she loved and the things that lead to her eventual burnout. She explains some of the challenges teachers are facing both pre and post COVID as well as how administrators, parents, and other teachers can offer support. Lastly, Tyecia touches on necessary teacher self-care and leaves wellness professionals in the educational sphere with a tangible tip on how they can help alleviate stress. For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod To join the Redesigning Wellness Community visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rdwellnesscommunity/  

2020 has presented an abundance of obstacles, but have you noticed the opportunities? In this webinar turned podcast, host Jen Arnold highlights some of the essential skills wellness and HR professionals need while planning for 2021 and how you, too, can develop and strengthen them. In this episode, Jen takes listeners through practicing acceptance, building agility, and staying relevant despite the changing demands of the post COVID workforce. She highlights opportunities that can be found in situations you might currently see as obstacles and explains the importance of understanding organizational objectives to continue showing your value.  Lastly, Jen shares a more in depth view of the Redesigning Wellness Academy and how it has energized and revolutionized the perspectives of academy graduates. For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod To join the Redesigning Wellness Community visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rdwellnesscommunity/  

The widespread financial hardships of COVID-19 have illuminated just how much some employees, especially frontline and lower waged workers, are struggling with basic necessities like food security, shelter, and transportation. Today’s guest, Linda Montgomery, Senior Vice President of Engagement Services at WorkLife Partnership, knows that oftentimes simply presenting resources isn’t enough to stabilize an employee in the midst of the struggle. In her career with WorkLife Partnership, Linda brings a passion for addressing employee needs where they begin - with the quality of individual lives. WorkLife Partnership holds an employee’s hand every step of the way through hardship, not only resulting in quicker and more permanent stabilization but also providing cost savings to the employer through lower employee turnover. In this episode, Linda discusses how WorkLife Partnership works with employers and gives a few examples of how they might help a struggling employee. She explains the navigator and research team set up they use and how managers might discover which employees need assistance.  Finally, Linda offers success stories of organizations and leaders that are helping their workforce and leaves wellness professionals with a tangible tip on how to start. For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod To join the Redesigning Wellness Community visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rdwellnesscommunity/

Finding the ideal vendor can be a stressful and time consuming process for HR and wellness professionals, especially as vendor needs continue to change with the volatile climate of 2020. Today’s guest, Joe Miller, President and Co-founder of Shortlister, returns to the podcast with some new and improved tools and tips to make the process easier, as well as insight into recent wellness trends based on vendor searches. In this episode, Joe briefly discusses the expansion and name change of Shortlister, the biggest wellness trends he’s seen this year in light of the pandemic, and his predictions for 2021. He shares the direction Shortlister is headed in, when people can expect Shortlister’s Annual Trends Report, and lastly a few tangible tips on choosing vendors for wellness and HR professionals. For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod To join the Redesigning Wellness Community visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rdwellnesscommunity/

Addressing workforce mental and emotional health is a wellness strategy many organizations have been hesitant to embrace. However, with the emergence of the pandemic, mental health offerings have become increasingly necessary to address employee needs. Today’s guest, Darrell Moon, founder of Orriant, has discovered that managing population mental health can translate into spending far less on medical claims. With more than 10 years of experience running psychiatric and medical hospitals across the country, Darrell Moon now applies his expertise as a speaker, CEO consultant, Healthcare Innovation Specialist, Forbes Business Council Member, and Forbes Leadership Contributor. In this episode, Darrell discusses strategies that work in managing population mental health as well as practices that are less helpful. He offers tips on creating a culture of mental health awareness in the workplace and what barriers he believes make companies unwilling to address mental health.  Darrell shares a few strategies for proactively engaging employees with resources and how wellness professionals can make the case for mental health management to executives. Lastly, he leaves listeners with a tangible tip on helping people change behaviors. 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 To join the Redesigning Wellness Community visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rdwellnesscommunity/

Among the people hit hardest by the emergence of the pandemic, small business owners are at the top. With trainings and conferences cancelled, in person meetings inadvisable, and both personal and corporate budgets locked down, many entrepreneurs were immediately thrown into survival mode.  Today’s guests, Maggie Gough, founder of Realize Wellbeing, and Kevin McAlister, founder of Lift Your Wellbeing, offer an inside look at how small business owners in the corporate wellness industry have been surviving this potentially devastating disruption. In this episode, Maggie and Kevin share their initial reactions to COVID and the business pivots they had no choice but to make. They discuss how they were able to deal with the grief and nervousness surrounding these changes and what “aha” moments the pandemic has provided.  Both guests give their insight into looking ahead at 2021 and offer tangible tips for business owners on getting through. 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 To join the Redesigning Wellness Community visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rdwellnesscommunity/

If 2020 has taught wellness professionals anything, it’s that flexibility and creativity are key. Now, looking toward 2021 and the uncertainty surrounding COVID and returning to the office, today’s guests are putting those skills to use. Maddison Bezdicek, Health Strategies Practice Leader at Hylant, and Vicki Roy, Senior Health Strategist at Hylant, offer an inside look at how wellness consultants handled the sudden pivot required at the start of the pandemic, what strategies they’ve used since to support their clients, and how the Redesigning Wellness Academy helped them along the way. In this episode, Maddison and Vicki share both personal and professional reactions to COVID, which resources they presented that were successful and unsuccessful, and what they implemented from their time with the Redesigning Wellness Academy. They discuss how they’re approaching planning for 2021 and offer a few outstanding tips for wellness professionals to stay afloat during uncertain and stressful times. 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 To join the Redesigning Wellness Community visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rdwellnesscommunity/  

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 To join the Redesigning Wellness Community visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rdwellnesscommunity/