UTHealth Houston Well Connected Podcast

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Well Connected is a podcast for faculty, staff, residents & fellows of UTHealth Houston (and their dependents); by the Employee Assistance & Well-being Programs Office. The goal of Well Connected is to help employees connect-the-dots between: what’s going

Employee Assistance & Well-being Programs


    • May 1, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 40m AVG DURATION
    • 42 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from UTHealth Houston Well Connected Podcast

    Episode 42: Managing the Division of Labor In the Household

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2025 50:46


    Listen as Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, José David, helps us understand and learn to work together when facing household challenges over roles and responsibilities.Learn about:Sources of contentionContributing factorsCommunication pitfallsMental loadEmotional laborTips and tools for successand more!Guest: José David, LPC, LMFT, CEAPDirector of Employee Assistance & Well-being Programs

    Episode 41: Preparing for Your UTHealth Houston Retirement

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2025 36:27


    Listen as benefits expert, Jennifer Figueroa, helps us learn how to prepare and navigate the UT retirement system.Guest: Jennifer FIgueroa, Asst. Director of Benefits

    Episode 40: Heart to Heart with Dr. Owen

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2025 30:50


    Listen as cardiologist, Dr. Brittany Owen, shares insights on: role of lifestyle and DNA on heart risk factors building a healthy heart types of heart plaque signs/symptoms of a heart attack what you can stop immediately to improve heart healthGuest: Brittany Owen, MD, Interventional and Structural CardiologistAssistant Professor of Medicine, Department of CardiologyMcGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston

    Episode 39: Uncovering Your Love Language

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2025 45:31


    Listen as Antoneshia Stewart helps us understand: How we learned to love How our love can evolve The five languages How we can learn our love language How our brain chemistry responds to feelings of love Guest: Antoneshia Stewart, LPC, CART UTEAP Account Representative

    Episode 38: New Year, Enhanced Career

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2025 39:39


    Listen as Colin shares his thoughts, as a Human Resources Professional, on how to enhance your career in your current job and navigating job change. This robust discussion includes: Professional growth Setting & achieving goals Enhancing professional visibility for introverts & extroverts Vision boards & personal mission statements Personal branding Guest: Colin Dunham Manager, Talent Acquisition & Employee Business Operations

    Episode 37: Creating a Well-Managed Work Team

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2024 53:06


    Listen as Misha Granado shares her best practices for creating a team that works well together. Discussion includes: Promoting an atmosphere of well-being A "bespoke" approach Leadership style Leadership misconceptions Guest: Misha Granado, MPH, MS Sr. Program Manager

    Episode 36: Bridging Generation Gaps at Work

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2024 44:28


    Listen as Anna and Julie discuss their experiences working from the perspective of different generations. Discussion includes: Strengths vs. roles Intergenerational clashes Intergenerational stereotypes Familial roles

    Episode 35: Journey to Working Well Together

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2024 43:00


    Listen as Deana and Robin share how to navigate conflict in the workplace and understand the informal and formal processes available. Guests: Deana Moylan, MS Assoc. Vice President of University Relations & Equal Opportunity Robin Dickey, PhD Manager, Faculty Assistance Program & Office of University Ombuds 

    Episode 34: Serving From An Empty Vessel

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2024 41:28


    “Rest and self-care are so important. When you take time to replenish your spirit, it allows you to serve others from the overflow. You cannot serve from an empty vessel.” – Eleanor Brown Listen as Carla Lopez shares insights on how to replenish your physical and mental energy when work & life are draining you. Guest: Carla Lopez, MBA Manager, UT System Wellness Programs

    Episode 33: Weathering the Elements

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2024 50:39


    Listen as Dr. Scott Patlovich shares insights on weather events - before, during, & after the storm. We discuss lessons learned from Hurricane Beryl and how to better prepare for future weather related events. Guest: Scott Patlovich, PhD Assistant Vice President of Environmental Health & Safety

    Episode 32: The Importance of Men's Health

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2024 32:27


    Listen as Dr. Perkison shares insights on the healthcare specific to men. We hope this episode serves as a reminder for men to prioritize their health and well-being. Topics: Important healthcare screenings Barriers to seeking care Male specific health issues Guest: William Brett Perkison, MD Assistant Professor, School of Public Health UTHealth Houston Department of Family Medicine

    Episode 31: Achieving Professional Development Goals through Coaching

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2024 57:01


    Listen as Monica Guidry shares insights on the benefits of coaching for achieving professional development goals. Topics: Emotional Intelligence Influencing others respectfully Collaboration Empathy Guest: Monica Guidry, LCSW, ACSW Associate Vice President Employee Assistance and Well-being Programs

    Episode 30: Shedding Light on the Invisible Wounds of Trauma

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2024 49:52


    Listen as Dr. Elaheh Ashtari shares insights on psychological trauma. Topics: What is psychological trauma? Are there levels of trauma? Are triggers a real thing? Are trauma and PTSD the same? What is trauma-informed care? ...and more! Guest: Elaheh Ashtari, PsyD Chief, Psychology Services, UTHealth Houston Dunn Campus

    Episode 29: The Role of Purpose in Our Lives

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2024 33:25


    Listen as Dr. Chaoul shares insights into the pathways to our life's purpose. Topics: Does everyone have a purpose? Do we seek purpose or does it find us? How do we manifest our purpose? Where does our purpose live? Can our purpose change or evolve? Guest: Alejandro Chaoul, PhD Huffington Foundation Endowed Director The Jung Center's Mind Body Spirit Institute  Adjunct Faculty, McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston and MD Anderson Cancer Center

    Episode 28: All About Sleep

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2024 50:39


    Listen as Dr. Majid shares her insights as a sleep expert regarding: Naps Insomnia Sleep debt Restorative sleep Circadian Rhythm Sleep and weight gain Optimal sleep environments How many hours do I really need? ...and more! Guest: Dr. Ruckshanda Majid Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston

    Episode 27: Understanding Mental Health in the African American Community

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2024 45:05


    Deborah and Sharlene inspire and educate listeners as they describe their journey to becoming mental health practitioners and share the barriers African Americans encounter in seeking mental health services. Deborah and Sharlene offer insight into how small adjustments and large changes can improve the experience of accessing care for African Americans and other people of color. Guests: Deborah Parker, BS RN CPH and Sharlene Johnson, PhD, MA, LPC-S, LBSW, LCDC

    Episode 26: Mental Health Coaching: How it Works, Benefits and More

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2024 49:23


    Listen as Dr. Jason Yu, shares his insights about how speaking with a therapist can help provide self-understanding and direction to dealing with everyday life situations. Guest: Jason Yu, PhD, Clinical Assistant Professor of the McGovern Medical School, Louis A. Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

    Episode 25: Preparing for Unexpected Life Events Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2024 40:43


    Listen as Patricia and Jennifer share their insights about how our Benefits are affected by certain life events. They offer tips on how to avoid pitfalls with our Benefits. Topics: Who needs Short-Term & Long-Term Disability Insurance? What is the Family Leave Pool? What happens to my Benefits if I need to take Leave Without Pay? Guests: Patricia Hinojosa, Executive Director, Payroll & Benefits Jennifer Figueroa, Assistance Director, Benefits

    Episode 24: Making Holiday Social Gatherings a Place of Well-being

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2023 33:33


    Listen as Jasmine Holmes, licensed professional counselor and UTHealth Faculty Assistance Specialist, shares her insights about the value of social connections on well-being. Jasmine also talks about the role flexibility and expectations play in positive outcomes during holiday gatherings.

    Episode 23: Holiday Eating: Focus on Relationships Rather than the Food

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2023 43:56


    Listen as Dolores Woods shares her insights on putting our relationships with people first, as a way to manage our nutrition during the holiday season. The podcast also includes a discussion about comfort food, tips for recipe substitutions, and choices related to desserts and beverages. Dolores is a Nutritionist Supervisor for the Nourish Program at the Michael and Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living at UTHealth Houston's School of Public Health.

    Episode 22: Reducing Working Parent Stress & Guilt

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2023 41:20


    Listen as Claire Goss shares insights on the unprecedented challenges facing professional parents today as they manage the interface between work and life. Claire offers tangible tools for dealing with the stress and guilt associated with being a working parent. She discusses concepts such as "bringing the weather" to your household and "firing yourself" by delegating, redirecting, and deploying resources. Claire is the Senior Manager for Parenting Education and Resources at Bright Horizons, a service that provides family caregiver solutions for families of UTHealth Houston. This benefit includes 10 days of emergency/backup child or adult-dependent care provided by Bright Horizons and the employee pays a nominal copay, while UTHealth Houston subsidizes part of the cost of those 10 days. Our contract with Bright Horizons also offers a network of family solutions on a self-pay basis and the subscription to this network is already paid on behalf of employees through the UTHealth Houston contract with Bright Horizons.

    Episode 21: Fitness for the Heart

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2023 38:05


    Listen as Dr. Higgins shares his insights on ways to work aerobic activity into everyday life. He also shares tips and cautions for training for the Houston Half Marathon/10K race, sponsored by UTHealth Houston on Oct 29. Dr. Higgins is Professor of Medicine at The McGovern Medical School and the Senior Cardiologist at Lyndon B. Johnson General Hospital, among many other accomplishments.

    Episode 20: Loving Someone with a Substance Use Disorder

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2023 40:48


    We welcome Delphi Medina as she helps us dissect concepts surrounding chemical addiction, family dynamics, healing and hope.

    Episode 19: How the Current Economy is Affecting Households

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2023 40:46


    What is recession and what do we need to know? How do interest rates affect my daily living? In what way does the economy impact job security? Listen as Peter Dunn a.k.a. Pete the Planner® helps us connect-the-dots between what's going on in the economy and how it affects our lives.

    Episode 18: Reconnecting Our Mind & Body

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2023 48:14


    We welcome Dr. Alejandro Chaoul as he demystifies the practice of meditation and offers practical and relatable ways to use meditation in health, healing, calm and peace.

    reconnecting mind body alejandro chaoul
    Episode 17: WorkLife Well-being: Not a Balancing Act

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2023 45:22


    In this episode, we welcome Dr. Robin Dickey as she explains, “Work-life priorities vary from person to person. Priorities and needs may shift from day-to-day, even moment-to-moment”, furthering the case that balance, per se, may not be the most helpful goal and it certainly is not a one-size-fits-all remedy.

    Episode 16: The Personal Nature of Spirituality

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2023 22:27


    Rev. Dr. Gale Francine Kennebrew joins us in this episode as we explore personal definitions of spirituality and update them to include aspects of our lives when we experience spectacular displays of nature, the awe of wonder, our divine purpose, a relationship with God, or even the driving forces that help us get up each day to live life.

    Episode 15: The Evolving Use of Tobacco & Related Products

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2023 39:52


    In this episode, Jennifer Cofer, MPH, CHES, and Alex Hurst, MHA from MD Anderson's End Tobacco Program, discusses the ever evolving landscape of tobacco products and how tobacco cessation efforts are adapting to these changes. We take a closer look into the social and cultural influence of tobacco use and the effectiveness of tailored intervention programs.

    Episode 14: Beyond the Operating Room: The Role of Music in Well-being

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2023 39:44


    In this episode, Dr. Nguyen shares about his life as a surgeon and also living out his creative nature as a singer, song-writer and guitarist. We cover a lot of ground in this episode as the conversation moves from medicine and music, into purpose and measuring ourselves through internal metrics rather than external ones. Listen at the end to an original acoustic song written and played by our guest Dr. Phuong Nguyen.

    Episode 13: Journey to Mental Well-being

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 4, 2023 46:47


    Newton Cheng shares his successful journey to mental well-being after suffering from burnout and taking mental health leave from his leadership position at Google. Newton is a husband and father, competitive powerlifter, and is Director of Health + Performance at Google. He takes a special interest in the intersections of human performance and spirituality, and is an advocate for speaking vulnerably about mental health.

    Episode 12: Finding Peace Through Family Conflict During the Holidays

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2022 34:39


    Dr. Stephanie Emhoff, a licensed psychologist, joins the podcast to help us navigate through family conflicts during the holiday. Let us find peace despite our differences and move beyond just tolerance for one another.

    Episode 11: Cost of Convenience: Are We Paying the Price?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2022 42:56


    Meal delivery, grocery delivery, subscriptions and more! Listen as we explore the the rise and evolution of convenience spending with Peter Dunn a.k.a. Pete the Planner®. He shares his financial wisdom and expertise on our podcast to help us answer the question: Is trading time to save money always the right trade off?

    Episode 10: Living a Joy-Filled Life

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2022 41:56


    Dr. Ann Friedman, Director of Curriculum for the Mind Body Spirit Institute of The Jung Center of Houston joins us for a discussion on how to live a joy-filled life. Hear the distinction between joy and happiness and learn the value of bringing your joy to work with you!

    Episode 9: Understanding Gen Z

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2022 37:53


    We welcome Jackson Calderon, Video Production Assistant from the School of Biomedical Informatics, to help us understand the Generation Z well-being perspective and learn what strategies to use when aiming to engage the newest member of our workforce.

    Episode 8: Preparing for Unexpected Life Events

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2022 36:46


    In this episode, we welcome Patricia Hinojosa, Director of Payroll & Benefits at UTHealth Houston to share her wisdom and experience to help us find ways to prioritize our work/life resources so we can manage unexpected life events.

    Episode 7: Taking Care of Ourselves While Taking Care of Others

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2022 35:58


    Caregivers spend most of their time thinking of and acting for others. In this episode, we make a shift to bring the focus back on caregivers. Listen as mental health practitioner Sharlene Johnson discusses how to avoid the loss of personal identity when providing long term care for others.

    Episode 6: Social Isolation & Loneliness

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2022 51:19


    The Well Connected Podcast welcomes Wayne Tormala, MSW to discuss how we are "wired" for social connection. Listeners will gain insights about isolation, hear real stories and receive tools for regaining hopefulness during times of loneliness and despair.

    Episode 5: Compassion Fatigue

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2022 28:10


    We welcome Robin Dickey, PhD, MA, LPC, ACC, NBC-HWC to discussthe difference between compassion fatigue and burnout, including signs, symptoms and self-care related to compassion fatigue. Learn how we can help each other and how to access resources at nominal or no cost at UTHealth.

    Episode 4: Understanding our Relationship with Money

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2022 35:06


    Our relationship with money is complex. Understanding the factors that contribute to our spending habits is an important step in creating a healthy financial well-being. In this episode, Peter Dunn, an award-winning financial mind, and CEO and founder of Your Money Line, joins us as we examine our personal values and how it affects our relationship with money.

    Episode 3: Asking for Help

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2022 30:00


    Asking for help can be a challenge for most of us. In this episode, we explore the reasons why it can be difficult to ask for help, as well as ways to seek out help. EAP Executive Director, Monica Guidry speaks with Dr. Elaheh Ashtari, a clinical and forensic psychologist, to expand more on this topic.

    Episode 2: New Year, New Mindset

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 3, 2022 41:19


    As we begin the new year, we invite you to explore setting a New Year's Resolution for your mental wellbeing. Sharlene Johnson MA, LPC-S, LBSW, LCDC, CGCS shares her wisdom on how to shift the focus and create a plan to successfully achieve your mental wellbeing goals.

    Episode 1: Dimensions of Wellbeing

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2021 19:27


    In this first episode, we welcome Monica Guidry LCSW, ACSW, Executive Director of Employee Assistance and Well-being Programs to join the conversation on the 8 dimensions of wellness. We challenge you to look within and answer the question, Which dimension of well-being thrives in your life?

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