Bringing you timely insights and inspiration from experts at the intersection of work and life. Topics include workplace, wellness, career, and advocacy.
Dr. Laura welcomes Mike Horne PhD, author of The People Dividend and an executive and organization development coach, to the show to talk about his book and why he's drawn to making people and organizations better versions of who and what they currently are. Mike began his career in labour management relations, which led him into the world of learning and development. Mike's driving question has always been about how he could live out his humanistic values and help people. As he says “I'm not afraid to be called a helper.”Mike and Dr. Laura discuss organizational culture, remote and hybrid work, and the impact of helping professions. Mike describes his book, The People Dividend, as being about humanistic values as a way of creating engagement. The words he says are the most important are dignity, kindness, and respect. Dr. Laura learns how Mike guides people through growth, the impact his book is having, and how leaders can unlock the potential in people and find the best talent for the job.“I'm working on a very big project right now on Civility in an organization for a very large health care system. And I think it's just another way that we're talking about differences in the workplace. There's all kinds of backlash around diversity, equity and inclusion. It's very difficult for me to understand that, given that we have enough research that tells us that diverse teams understanding diverse customers helps you make money.” Mike Horne, Ph.D.About Mike Horne, Ph.D.:Mike Horne, Ph. D., is a highly experienced global corporate human resources and organization development leader, distinguished executive coach, best-selling author, and sought-after speaker. He is dedicated to empowering aspiring leaders, executives, and teams to navigate transitions, excel in new roles, and increase their effectiveness and influence. He hosts The People Dividend Podcast, which ranks in the top 10% of all podcasts globally.Previously, for nearly three decades, Dr. Horne held pivotal human resources and organization development roles, including the Head of Human Resources for Gilead Sciences' Research Division, Global Leader of Talent and Development for Brocade, and Head of Organization Development for Genentech. Before these positions, he served 15 years in human resources leadership roles for Nortel Networks, Marriott International, Towers Watson, and NLRB. He is the chairperson for the graduate Human Resources and Leadership Studies programs at Golden Gate University in San Francisco.In November 2024, Dr. Horne released The People Dividend: Leadership Strategies for Unlocking Employee Potential, which outlines the “people dividend” philosophy and identifies key areas for investment, such as building trust, encouraging motivation, ensuring open communication, retaining employees, making better decisions, and enhancing the organization's reputation. He is also the author of Integrity by Design: Working and Living Authentically, which calls readers to their higher purpose and to the aspiration to work and live authentically.Resources:Website: Mike-Horne.comLinkedInInstagramYoutubePodcast: The People Dividend Podcast“The People Dividend” by Mike HorneThe Immunity to Change method by Robert Kegan and Lisa Lahey“The Science of Change” by Richard E. Boyatzis“supercommunicators” by Charles DuhiggLearn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveFor more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingSynthesis Psychology
Dr. Laura talks about spirituality and mental health in this episode, exploring the topics through the lens of the turbulent times we find ourselves in today. The uncertainty, volatility, and polarization in our modern times are creating a very real mental health crisis, especially in the areas of anxiety and depression. Dr. Laura defines these challenges and discusses how to address them through spirituality - a personal example of something that has worked for her.Spirituality is differentiated from religion in Dr. Laura's discussion, highlighting spirituality as an inner connection to something greater in the universe. She identifies spirituality as a growth journey, something beyond the material world, and connecting to greater love, hope, and a sense of purpose can offer relief from the anxiety and depression that plague us. Dr. Laura's message is one of finding ways through the trauma and rocky times we're in to a place of spiritual hope, however that may be defined for each of us. “Spirituality is about your connection to the divine, your connection to the universe. Having a sense of purpose. Living with unconditional love rather than fear.” Dr. LauraAbout Dr. Laura:Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett is a work and career psychologist and thought leader on the evolution of work. She has always been fascinated by how work intersects with life and loves to use her expertise to improve organizations and help people thrive. Her passion for taking creative ideas and launching them into successful business strategies led her to start three counselling psychology practices (Calgary Career Counselling, Canada Career Counselling, and Synthesis Psychology), as well as six different business brands offering organizational assessment and consulting services.Dr. Laura is honoured to have been selected as a Woman of Distinction in Canada in 2014 and received a Canadian Woman of Inspiration Award as a Global Influencer in 2018.Resources:“The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment” by Eckhart Tolle“The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself” by Michael A. SingerDr. Laura on LinkedInWhere Work Meets Life™ on YouTubeLearn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveFor more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingSynthesis Psychology
Dr. Laura welcomes Saijal Patel, Founder and CEO of Saij Wealth Consulting, to a conversation about finance and financial literacy, especially in regards to women. Saijal promotes empowering women's financial independence and security. She has over two decades of experience in the financial industry in both North America and Asia to draw upon. Saijal's drive comes from seeing the unique challenges women face in managing personal finances and understanding how money works. Saijal and Dr. Laura address the stigma that surrounds talking about money and the belief that money causes problems. Saijal firmly believes it's the values people hold that manifest through money and that money itself is neither good nor bad. She notes that financial education and wellness address voter literacy through empowerment and understanding of governments' financial decisions, and also tackle one of the greatest sources of stress for people. Saijal and Dr. Laura examine what Saijal's course offers, the lack of good money mentorship growing up, and how to view and visualize abundance in our lives.“I have found with women that I'm educating, that for some reason society has told them and they have bought into this belief that ‘I need to be confident. I need to have confidence before I jump in and learn these things'. And that's the difference [that] is stopping so many women from building the skills because it's not confidence that they need. They need competence. Right? Competence actually leads to confidence.” Saijal PatelAbout Saijal Patel:Saijal Patel is the Founder and CEO of Saij Wealth Consulting, a financial consultancy and education platform dedicated to empowering women's financial independence and security.With over two decades of experience in the financial industry across North America and Asia, she holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and has served in roles as a financial strategist and analyst.Saijal is the renowned creator and host of Strictly Money, Canada's sole national personal finance program. Formerly a business anchor and correspondent for Canada's Business News Network (BNN) and CNBC Asia, she provided insightful commentary and analysis on global economies, stock markets, and corporate news to millions of households worldwide. Her exceptional coverage earned her recognition as one of the most influential South Asian Women Executives in the Media and Entertainment Industry.Resources:Website: SaijElle.comInstagramLinkedIn21 Days of Abundance - Meditation Series by Deepak ChopraMunk Debates“Losing Cadence” and “Finding Sophie” by Laura LovettLearn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveFor more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingSynthesis Psychology
Dr. Laura welcomes Julie Ann Cairns to the podcast to talk about her book, The Abundance Code: How to Bust the Seven Money Myths for a Rich Life Now, and her passion for helping people see the importance of an abundant mindset. Julie Ann was trained in economics, has an MBA, and had 30+ years running seven and eight-figure businesses. But after an economic downturn and great financial loss, she had an epiphany that turned her life around. She shares her incredible story of how she found her true calling in helping others achieve success and find fulfillment in all areas of life. Julie Ann addresses the limiting beliefs people harbor about wealth and abundance. She has identified ways to crack those limiting beliefs and replace those thoughts with supportive ones, an abundance mindset instead of a scarcity one. Dr. Laura and Julie Ann talk about the subconscious versus conscious mind's processing power, common myths around success and money, and the different therapies that can open people up to an abundance mindset. This episode highlights how our own beliefs can be holding us back from embracing the abundance available to us and addresses how to affect change that will drive success. “Money is so powerful. It's neither good nor bad. It's completely neutral. So that's why it's important to figure out [and] get yourself in alignment so that when you add the amplification power of money, it's of benefit to you and everyone around you.” Julie Ann CairnsAbout Julie Ann Cairns:Julie Ann Cairns is the author of the best-selling Hay House book The Abundance Code: How to Bust the 7 Money Myths for a Rich Life Now and the Director of the documentary of the same name - The Abundance Code - which hundreds of thousands of people have watched since its release, now available as a 3-part series on Gaia.com.Originally trained in Economics and having also gained an MBA, across her 30+ year career Julie Ann has run 6, 7 and 8 figure businesses. She has overseen the marketing for over $100 million in product sales. Her greatest passion is in helping people to see how vital an abundant mindset and supportive belief system are to achieving success and fulfillment in all areas of life. Julie Ann's mission is to provide practical tips and powerful mindset enhancement, so that you can live a mind-blowingly abundant life full of freedom, choice and joyful celebration.Resources:Book: The Abundance Code bookBlog: The Abundance CodeDocu-series: The Abundance CodeJulie Ann Cairns on InstagramDr. Wayne DyerLearn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveFor more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingSynthesis Psychology
Dr. Laura addresses perfectionism in this episode, looking into what perfectionism truly is and how it's detrimental to our well-being. The pursuit of perfection slows us down and interferes with us being our best, most innovative selves. Few situations call for absolute perfection, Dr. Laura notes, and she examines how the single-minded drive to be perfect blocks our creativity and leads to burnout. One method for combating perfectionism is the 80/20 rule, which Dr. Laura explains is learning to be satisfied with getting a project to 80%, which is very good, and not spending the extra 20% to fight for perfection. Dr. Laura's advice focuses on how to retrain ourselves from striving for perfection, how we can practice self-compassion, what practical steps we can take, and how to avoid letting perfectionism impact our relationships. She approaches the subject from a personal perspective, sharing her own journey through perfectionism and how she found success without being perfect.“I love this quote by Sheryl Sandberg in that done is better than perfect. And I agree, it's about execution. It's about getting things done and doing things well. But getting things done perfectly will lead you to not get things done, period.” Dr. LauraAbout Dr. Laura:Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett is a work and career psychologist and thought leader on the evolution of work. She has always been fascinated by how work intersects with life and loves to use her expertise to improve organizations and help people thrive. Her passion for taking creative ideas and launching them into successful business strategies led her to start three counselling psychology practices (Calgary Career Counselling, Canada Career Counselling, and Synthesis Psychology), as well as six different business brands offering organizational assessment and consulting services.Dr. Laura is honoured to have been selected as a Woman of Distinction in Canada in 2014 and received a Canadian Woman of Inspiration Award as a Global Influencer in 2018.Resources:Dr. Laura on LinkedInWhere Work Meets Life™ on YouTubeLearn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveFor more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingSynthesis Psychology
Content Warning: Talk of death by suicide and depressionDr. Laura welcomes Dr. John Ogrodniczuk, a Professor of Psychiatry and Director of the UBC Psychotherapy Program, about men's mental health and HeadsUpGuys, the men's mental health resource that he co-founded. Men account for 75 to 80% of deaths by suicide and it's the need for resources to tend to this mental health crisis that Dr. John Ogrodniczuk and Dr. Laura discuss. Dr. Ogrodniczuk explains some of the reasons for the high rates of death by suicide among men and the lack of resources specifically targeting men. He and Dr. Laura explore what is needed to assist in dealing with the pressures of life and how that need is addressed by HeadsUpGuys. Featuring real-life stories of depression and how men across the globe have found help as well as self-checks. HeadsUpGuys.org is meeting the mental health needs of men globally as a free online resource, including a search engine for therapists. This episode sheds light on a mental health crisis that is not given enough attention and offers resources to deal with depression.“We have the world's largest collection of real guys sharing their stories of what it was like to be depressed and very importantly, what helped them recover. And so that is a really important thing because when you're experiencing something like depression or anxiety, it's a really isolating experience. You feel so alone. You feel people don't get you. They don't understand you. And thus there's no one to help you. So when there's a lot of other guys out there that have been through the same thing, that's in a way very comforting.” Dr. John OgrodniczukAbout Dr. John Ogrodniczuk:Dr. John Ogrodniczuk is a Professor of Psychiatry and Director of the UBC Psychotherapy Program, one of North America's largest medically based psychotherapy training programs. His research program focuses on a variety of psychotherapies and patient populations, with a particular focus on personality disorders and men's mental health. Dr. Ogrodniczuk has held several grants to support his research, which has led to over 300 scientific publications. In addition to his research, Dr. Ogrodniczuk is involved with teaching medical students and psychiatry residents, serves as a mental health consultant for various organizations, and maintains a psychotherapy practice. He is past President of the North American chapter of the International Society for Psychotherapy Research (SPR), and a recipient of the Distinguished Research Career Award from SPR. Dr. Ogrodniczuk is the Founder of HeadsUpGuys, the world's leading men's mental health resource.Resources:Website: HeadsUpGuys.orgDr. John Ogrodniczuk on LinkedInHeadsUpGuys on LinkedInHeadsUpGuys on InstagramHeadsUpGuys on YouTubeHeadsUpGuys on FacebookThe EconomistLearn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveFor more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingSynthesis Psychology
Dr. Laura welcomes Hillary Rideout and Steve Brierley to Where Work Meets Life™ to talk about inspiring better humans and their new book on the subject. Hillary and Steve previously collaborated on “Being a Better Human Teenager” and that book and its reception led to their new follow-up book, “Inspiring Better Humans”. Dr. Laura explores why Steve and Hillary are drawn to inspiring young people, their thoughts on making a difference, and how having a purpose can change lives.Steve and Hillary work together in the Better Human Group, a project that fuelled their first book, and one of the discoveries they share is that a common factor among the profiled teenagers was very involved parents. They discuss how having a purpose and believing in the ability to offer something to the world positively impacts everyone, not just teenagers. The message in their books resonates with teens and parents alike and has inspired purposeful action in classrooms, which is part of the solution to combating mental illness in young people. Dr. Laura's conversation with Steve and Hillary opens a window into the lives of extraordinary teens and caring parents and how any one of us can tap into our ability to change the world for the better.“These kids truly felt like they could have an impact on the world. And they did. And that was very motivating to the kids in the class who were reading the stories and then actually creating their own plan to do something similar” Hillary Rideout“To me, the message is very clear. And I think it is that when you do something to help somebody, you also help yourself. And for me, if we can get this message out to others, I think it would be just an incredible impact.” Steve BrierleyAbout Steve Brierley:Over the past 20 years, Steve has held progressive positions in corporate training, talent management and executive leadership development in corporate and post-secondary sectors.While working in California, Steve was the General Manager of a multi-national corporate training organization that focused on delivering IT skills and leadership development for Fortune 100 organizations and government agencies.After four years in the USA, Steve returned to Canada and joined SAIT's corporate training department in the role of Corporate Learning Advisor, followed by the role of Director of Executive Education at the University of Alberta School of Business. He then joined the energy sector as Group Lead, Corporate Training & Talent Management at Encana Inc., followed by Director of Executive Development & Talent Management at Enbridge, Steve then joined Canadian Tire as Associate Vice President of Talent Management. In his last corporate role, Steve was Vice President of Leadership Assessment and Development at Gallagher. Currently, Steve teaches Leadership at SAIT in the BBA, BA and diploma programs. Also, he provides talent management and leadership consulting to corporations and non-profit organizations across Canada.As a lifelong learner, Steve obtained a Master of Arts in Leadership from Royal Roads University and is a Certified Executive Coach from the Royal Roads University graduate program and PCC accredited from the International Coach Federation. In his spare time, Steve enjoys writing and publishing books. He released his first book, Being a Better Human Being at Work in 2020, his second book Being a Better Human Teenager in 2021 and his third book, Inspiring Better Humans will be coming out in fall 2024. Steve seeks adventure on his motorcycle, on the slopes or in the mountains. Steve's motto is Live on Purpose!Steve Brierley on LinkedInAbout Hillary Rideout:Hillary is a creative writer, designer, publisher, and website builder.As Partner in The Better Human Group - an organization making the world a better place through storytelling and community building - she is a published author and book publisher.As Founder of Inside Out Branding Inc., she thrives on uncovering the essence of individuals and businesses, identifying core values and unique narratives that reflect truth and value. Some call it branding, Hillary calls it pulling their insides out. As Creative Associate with ViTreo Group - a non-profit leadership and development agency - Hillary brings life and attention to the stories and missions that deserve to be told. Hillary also volunteers with BARC's Rescue - a Calgary-based dog rescue organization - lending her graphic design and communications expertise to get homeless dogs into loving, forever homes. She is a University of Calgary alumni and holds several talent management and leadership development certifications - education she employed for 20+ years as she created and managed learning and development programs for leaders in various organizations.Hillary lives near Calgary with her family, including her rescue dog, Roxy. She loves spending time at her family's cabin in the woods and finds joy in the simplest of things - music, quiet mornings, and dog walks.Hillary Rideout on LinkedInWebsite: InsideOutBranding.caResources:Website: BetterHumanGroup.comInstagram: Better Human Group Inc“Inspiring Better Humans” by Hillary Rideout & Steve Brierley“Being a Better Human Teenager” by Steve Brierley, Melissa From, Paul Lamoureux & Hillary Rideout“But She Looks Fine: From Illness to Activism” by Olivia GoodreauLivLyme FoundationHuberman Lab PodcastArmchair Expert PodcastLearn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveFor more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingSynthesis Psychology
Dr. Laura digs deeper into the subject of toxic bosses in this episode, discussing how to identify a potentially toxic boss before you start working for one. Toxic bosses are unfortunately prevalent, with a 2023 survey finding that 87% of professionals have had at least one toxic boss in their careers. But there are warning signs, and Dr. Laura lists some, highlighting what to look for and how to get the answers we need before joining a toxic workplace.One of the key ways to investigate a boss before working for them is through mutual connections, especially on LinkedIn. Dr. Laura explains the value of maintaining connections and how to broach the subject of a boss with former or current employees. She breaks down how to decipher the answers we receive, identifying the warning signs of a toxic boss. What is being said? What isn't being said? There are things to look for in the interview, as well. The boss isn't just interviewing us, we're interviewing them! Dr. Laura names some warning behaviors that can be seen even in those initial conversations. Not every boss will be toxic and not every challenging workplace has a toxic boss leading it, but this episode gives sound insight into spotting the red flags of a toxic boss before we sign up to work with them. “Are people burnt out? Asking those questions can go a long way. And if you hear the answer is yes, it is a demanding place and people are exhausted and burnt out, that's somewhere that you don't want to be. That doesn't mean you don't want to be in a challenging, invigorating, busy workplace. And of course, there'll be periods where you're going to be working hard. But is it a constant strain? Is it under-resourced? And [are] people expected to be on call 24/7? [That] is a recipe for burnout.” Dr. LauraAbout Dr. Laura:Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett is a work and career psychologist and thought leader on the evolution of work. She has always been fascinated by how work intersects with life and loves to use her expertise to improve organizations and help people thrive. Her passion for taking creative ideas and launching them into successful business strategies led her to start three counselling psychology practices (Calgary Career Counselling, Canada Career Counselling, and Synthesis Psychology), as well as six different business brands offering organizational assessment and consulting services.Dr. Laura is honoured to have been selected as a Woman of Distinction in Canada in 2014 and received a Canadian Woman of Inspiration Award as a Global Influencer in 2018.Resources:Dr. Laura on LinkedInWhere Work Meets Life™ on YouTubeLearn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveFor more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingSynthesis Psychology
Dr. Laura welcomes Cecile Peterkin to the podcast to talk about imposter syndrome. Cecile is a chief transformation strategist and founder of the Leadership Coaching Centre, with 22 years of expertise as a confidence coach and mentor to her credit. Together, Cecile and Dr. Laura explore where imposter syndrome comes from and why it's often more prevalent in girls and women. They explore building confidence and learning to assert yourself in situations where your instinct says to keep quiet. Cecile credits much of her inspiration and success to her late father, and she talks about how the way she was raised enforced her sense of having a voice that should be heard. Imposter syndrome, she says, is more common among women because they are conditioned and nurtured in ways that suggest domesticity and quietude. While this is changing with new generations, there is a lot that women, and anyone, can learn about holding space for themselves and demanding to be heard. Cecile and Dr. Laura explore confidence, how to build it, and why it's so key to not just career success but to emotional well-being.“From my experience in a lot of these board meetings, men tend to talk over women because, again, women don't project themselves to be heard. … And I think, too, that some girls are raised not to be loud. … If a man is talking and you want to speak and you have something to say, there's no reason why you [can't say], could you be quiet for a few minutes so I can be heard? Because to me, you get more respect that way than not saying anything…” Cecile PeterkinWatch this episode on Dr. Laura's YouTube channelAbout Cecile Peterkin:Cecile Peterkin is the Founder & Chief Transformation Strategist at the Leadership Coaching Centre. She has over 22 years of expertise as a distinguished confidence coach & mentor, helping 1,000+ professionals & aspiring entrepreneurs to unleash their unique strengths, pivot with purpose & craft legacy careers.Her approach is deeply inspired by the life lessons from her father. His guiding principles of kindness & respect shaped Cecile's holistic approach to leadership, where personal well-being & professional achievement converge, empowering others not just to succeed, but to redefine success on their own terms. She balances authority with compassion, cultivating a leadership style as human-centric as it is dynamic. This not only guides her interactions but shapes the empowering & inclusive environments she's committed to creating.Cecile's journey has equipped her with unique insights into resilience & self-belief. She offers practical wisdom & expert guidance to help navigate the complexities of personal & professional challenges to reach limitless potential. Known as a force of nature, she brings a determined, charismatic & energetic leadership style to everything she does, grounded in real-life wisdom & the virtues of grit & perseverance. Media-savvy, she is experienced in speaking on stage & virtually, sharing compelling business insights & life stories with global audiences.Resources:Website: LeadershipCoachingCentre.comCecile Peterkin on LinkedInEpisode 89 | The Great Disconnect: Inability to Listen and Its Impacts on Workplaces“Emotional GRIT: 8 Steps to Master Your Emotions, Transform Your Thoughts, & Change Your World” by Dr. Neeta F BhushanGen Z @ Work podcastLearn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveFor more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingSynthesis Psychology
Dr. Laura is joined by Pamela Barnum, a former undercover police officer and federal prosecutor who is also a keynote speaker, to talk about building trust in organizations. Pamela's background in undercover work taught her how to build trust with difficult drug dealers, and her work as a prosecutor gave her further insight into building trust. As a body language expert and also a corporate negotiator, Pamela shares a lifetime of knowledge on the importance of trust and how to cultivate and maintain it. Pamela explains all her years of building trust in different careers as being able to read people and to show up in a way that's trustworthy and charismatic. She discusses how trust is key to convincing people to buy into or accept whatever messaging is being presented and that it exists at the crossroads of confidence and empathy. She and Dr. Laura explore how leaders can instill a culture of trust in their organizations and talk about nonverbal cues and eye contact in cultural contexts. There is a sense of influence that goes along with cultivating trust, and Pamela's experience helps convey the importance of modelling the behaviors we want to be returned to us. The lessons are profound and valuable in any setting. “You know, we want to be transparent, but sometimes there are things that the C-suite is telling the leadership team that can't be shared with everyone yet, or isn't really worked out all the way. So being transparent can be challenging, but I encourage people to be as transparent as possible with the information that they're permitted to share, and share it in a way that lands with people so that they understand, they know what's going to be happening, they know what the end goal is, and they have some steps to get there.” Pamela BarnumWatch this episode on Dr. Laura's YouTube channelAbout Pamela Barnum:Imagine what it would be like to live as a different person with a different name, identity, and background. For months at a time, you're living with a false identity, and your success depends on building trust and detecting deception with some of the most dangerous people imaginable. That's precisely what Pamela Barnum did for years working undercover in the Drug Enforcement Section. She learned real-world techniques for building trust and interpreting body language.When Pamela graduated from law school, she left policing and accepted a position as a federal prosecuting attorney. She spent countless hours in the courtroom, perfecting her proficiency as a trust strategist and body language expert. Following a successful 20-year career in the criminal justice system, Pamela studied corporate negotiations in graduate school. Now, she shares her expertise with others, teaching them how to improve their communication skills to increase trust inside corporations, associations, and law enforcement agencies.As a nonverbal communication expert and trust strategist, Pamela delivers techniques once thought of as a “secret second language” that participants can begin using immediately. Take decades of experience, including working deep undercover in narcotics, followed by a rewarding legal career, and you get real-world strategies that help participants crack the code on trust and improve professional relationships using proven field-tested techniques.Pamela shares her experience, research, and expertise with humor, candor, and energy, blending actionable strategies with memorable stories. She is also a featured expert and contributor in print media, radio and television news programs in Canada and the United States. She has appeared in person in front of audiences ranging from 50 - 12,000 and on countless virtual stages.Resources:Website: PamelaBarnum.comPamela Barnum on LinkedInPamela Barnum on InstagramBuilding Bad information“Insight” by Tasha Eurich“Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion” by Robert B. Cialdini, PhDMasterClassLearn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveFor more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingSynthesis Psychology
In honor of the 100th episode of Where Work Meets Life™, Dr. Laura is interviewed on her own podcast by veteran host, Dave Kelly. Dave has an extensive background in television and has around 28,000 interviews to his credit, including with Ellen Degeneres and former US president Barack Obama. Dave turns the spotlight to Dr. Laura to learn more about what podcasting means to her and why she continues to push for important, enlightening conversations. Dave Kelly finds out how Dr. Laura kept the momentum for Where Work Meets Life™ going in the early days and why she chooses to highlight certain topics through her episodes. Dr. Laura reflects on some of her favorite and most thought-provoking episodes, memorable guests, and why she enjoys learning and sharing through this medium. Dave and Dr. Laura enjoy a warm, open conversation that allows Dr. Laura to give us a glimpse into her goals, her upcoming book, and the lessons she's taken to heart through the course of the first 100 episodes. Join this milestone episode to look back on the path Where Work Meets Life™ has taken so far and celebrate what is still to come.“I think that passion, it looks and feels different for different people. There's also a reality in the mix of I may be passionate about, you know, some obscure form of art, but I'm not able to support my family off of that. So I may find a career that's interesting and challenging, but my passion remains in that obscure form of art. And that's fine. I think the word passion can be a bit extreme for some people, and it can make them feel that if they don't have a passion, will they be unhappy in their career? And that's not it. But what I sure want for people is not to have the opposite of passion, which is feeling depleted and unfulfilled and it's soul-sucking and you dread Mondays.” Dr. LauraWatch this episode on Dr. Laura's YouTube channelAbout Dave Kelly:Dave Kelly is an award-winning host, writer, and interviewer who creates intelligent and deeply human moments for events and keynote conversations around the world. He is the host of Dave Kelly Live - Canada's own talk-variety show. From his beginnings as a TV Host, Dave has spent decades leading conversations with business and political leaders across North America and beyond, from Stanford School of Business in California to Amman, Jordan and everywhere in between. He has led conferences and run panels in categories as varied as health care, financial technology and artificial intelligence. He sat down for an hour-long in-depth conversation with Prime Minister Brian Mulroney in Montreal, Ellen Degeneres selected Dave as the moderator and interviewer for her multi-city tour across Canada, and he hosted a conversation with President Barack Obama in Calgary. Dave is the co-founder of Kelly Brothers Productions, an award-winning video and entertainment company.Resources:Dave Kelly website: DaveKellyHosting.comDave Kelly on LinkedInEpisode 17 | Episode 18 No Ego for Better Work and Lives, with Cy WakemanEpisode 39 Life's Messy, Life Happy: Keys to ContentmentEpisode 40 Evolving Yourself to Live Happy in this Messy WorldEpisode 48 Unlikely Connections, Affirmations, and the Power to Make a DifferenceEpisode 58 From Sea to Space: The Quest to Help Humanity Survive and Thrive"Losing Cadence" and "Finding Sophie" by Laura Lovett“The Conscious Parent: Transforming Ourselves, Empowering Our Children” by Dr. Shefali TsabaryLearn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveFor more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingSynthesis Psychology
Dr. Laura welcomes Giselle Kovary, a generational expert and Head of Learning and Development at Optimus SBR, to talk about the different generations in today's workplaces. Giselle has 25 years of experience in learning and development, has worked with over 26 Fortune 500 companies, and is the co-author of two books: Loyalty Unplugged and Upgrade Now. Dr. Laura and Giselle explore the differences in the five generations at work and how to harness their unique strengths and skills into a cohesive workplace. Giselle defines the five generations by age group as Traditionalists, from 79 to 100; Baby Boomers, from 60 to 78; Gen X, from 44 to 59; Millennials, from 29 to 43; and Gen Z, from 12 to 28. She also stresses, however, that age alone does not define a generation; how a person identifies plays a key part as well. For example, a Millennial may identify as Traditionalist in mindset and this needs to be accounted for when assessing generational differences. Giselle and Dr. Laura discuss how generational identities assist understanding at a macro level but that within organizations it's vital to understand employees at a micro level, as individuals, as well. Giselle offers insights into where different generational identities collaborate well and where clashes often occur, based on her studies and experience. These insights serve to highlight where organizations must strengthen communication and understanding in order to best utilize the strengths each generation brings to work.“Not everyone in a generation is going to align with this. But after over 20 years, I have literally thousands of anecdotes of when people will come up and say, oh my goodness, you just described me, or you described my children, you described my partner. And it's because there is enough of a baseline to say this is what this generation believes and thinks, and we want to look at it from that perspective. The other piece… is it's less important the year you're born and more about your generational identity. How do you identify?” Giselle KovaryWatch this episode on Dr. Laura's YouTube channelAbout Giselle Kovary, M.A.:As Head of Learning & Development at Optimus SBR, Giselle is dedicated to building strategies and programs that help clients target, motivate and engage employees in order to increase performance and productivity. She is a sought-after resource to industry leaders, having worked with 26 of the top Fortune 500 companies. Over 65,000 people globally have attended her workshops or presentations. Giselle has 25 years of experience in learning & development and has devoted the past 20 years to researching the impact that generational differences have on organizational performance. She has co-authored two books and completed Canada's first national Gen Z research study.Giselle completed her Master of Arts Degree in Communications Studies at the University of Windsor, is Chair of the Board at The Institute for Performance and Learning (I4PL), co-chair of the Cross Academy Association, and Advisory Council member at the Ted Rogers School of Management at Toronto Metropolitan University.Resources:Website: OptimusSBR.comGiselle Kovary on LinkedIn“Loyalty Unplugged: How to Get, Keep, & Grow All Four Generations” by Adwoa K Buahene and Giselle Kovary“Upgrade Now: 9 Advanced Leadership Skills” by Giselle KovaryLearn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveFor more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingSynthesis Psychology
Dr. Laura welcomes Bryan Robinson, PhD, a psychotherapist and Professor Emeritus from the University of North Carolina. He is also the best-selling author of over 39 books, including his latest non-fiction, Chained to the Desk in a Hybrid World. Dr. Robinson has researched and written extensively on the subjects of work-life balance, workaholism, and the impact of workaholism on families. Dr. Laura dives deep into Bryan's understanding of work addiction and how to regain perspective and balance in one's life.Dr. Robinson describes his own experience with workaholism and how deeply anxious he'd become if he didn't have work to do. Despite a failing marriage and physical health issues due to workaholism, it wasn't until he had a profound experience with the compassion and clarity exhibited by Tibetan monks that he started his journey toward balance. Bryan explains how counterintuitive it is to stop fighting and learn to float more in life, as in a riptide, but stresses it's finding balance to our fight or flight sympathetic nervous system that holds the key to self-care. Dr. Laura and Dr. Robinson talk about the lessons in his book Chained to the Desk in a Hybrid World, how Gen Z is changing the face of workaholism for the better, what “work jerkery” refers to, and how writing murder mysteries is part of Bryan's own balance in life. “I'm fortunate enough to live on the side of a mountain with an incredible view of the sunsets and just watching the sunset is fulfilling. And it also helps these creative ideas hatch. It's like an incubator. So even though I'm doing nothing, something's happening. And that's what we have to understand. Then what about my shortcomings? I can tell you what those are, but … what are my tallcomings again? People often go blank. But what you're doing is you're bringing balance to your thinking. You know, have a health day to balance out your sick days. Having green time to balance out the screen time.” - Bryan Robinson, PhDWatch this episode on Dr. Laura's YouTube channelAbout Bryan E. Robinson, PhD:BRYAN E. ROBINSON, PhD, is a licensed psychotherapist in private practice in Asheville, North Carolina and Professor Emeritus at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He is the author of over forty books, his latest being CHAINED TO THE DESK IN A HYBRID WORLD: A GUIDE FOR WORK-LIFE BALANCE. He is a regular contributor to Forbes.com and Thrive Global. On the side, he writes murder mysteries. His tagline is, "I heal by day and kill by night." Robinson has published his research in over a hundred scholarly journals. He received the American Counseling Association's Research Award and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte's First Citizen Scholars Medal for his pioneering research on the negative consequences of workaholism. Has been featured on numerous television programs, including ABC's 20/20, Good Morning America, World News Tonight, the NBC Nightly News, the CBS Early Show, The Doctors, and the PBS show The Marketplace. Robinson's latest novel, a murder mystery called Way DEAD Upon the Suwannee River, was made into a pilot for a television series and is being produced as a stage musical in 2025. Visit his website at www.bryanrobinsonphd.com or email him at bryanrobinsonphd@gmail.com.Resources:Website: BryanRobinsonPhD.comBryan Robinson, PhD on LinkedIn“Chained to the Desk in a Hybrid World: A Guide to Work-Life Balance” by Bryan E. Robinson, PhD“10% Happier” by Dan Harris (Tenth Anniversary Edition)“Way DEAD Upon the Suwannee River: An Einstein Brad Pope Mystery” by Bryan E. Robinson Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveFor more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingSynthesis Psychology
Dr. Laura offers essential insights for leadership teams aiming to create successful hybrid work environments. She starts by reflecting on the evolution of remote work, from the early days of teleconferencing and email to the widespread use of video calls. She also examines how leadership attitudes have shifted over time and why. Drawing on her doctoral research in Organizational Psychology, where she focused on virtual team leadership, Dr. Laura shares her deep passion for hybrid work. She also discusses the pushback employees experience when asked to return to the office without consultation, emphasizing that flexibility, autonomy, and trust are what drives employees to want to continue hybrid work.As she explores the challenges of leading hybrid teams, Dr. Laura highlights the importance of clear objectives, adaptable policies, and unified team norms. She warns that rigid approaches can harm talent retention and advocates for leadership training specifically tailored to managing hybrid workforces, pointing out that many leaders haven't received formal training in this area. Looking ahead, Dr. Laura calls for a balanced approach, urging leaders to prioritize trust, collaboration, and adaptability to meet the evolving demands of the workplace and tackle larger global challenges.“Flexibility is a gift, and it's a way of saying that I trust you and work still needs to get done. There's no doubt about it, and a lot of research has shown, that people who are working remotely are 10% to 20% more productive; but again, they need to have clear outcomes and goals and great leadership.” —Dr. LauraAbout Dr. Laura:Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett is a work and career psychologist and thought leader on the evolution of work. She has always been fascinated by how work intersects with life and loves to use her expertise to improve organizations and help people thrive. Her passion for taking creative ideas and launching them into successful business strategies led her to start three counselling psychology practices (Calgary Career Counselling, Canada Career Counselling, and Synthesis Psychology), as well as six different business brands offering organizational assessment and consulting services.Dr. Laura is honoured to have been selected as a Woman of Distinction in Canada in 2014 and received a Canadian Woman of Inspiration Award as a Global Influencer in 2018.ResourcesDr. Laura on LinkedInWhere Work Meets Life™ on YouTubeLearn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveThe Smarter Working Manifesto by Philip Vanhoutte For more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingSynthesis Psychology
Dr. Laura welcomes Kelly Campbell, a Trauma-Informed Leadership Coach, keynote speaker, and author of the book Heal to Lead, to the podcast to talk about “the new TLC”, Trauma, Leadership, and Consciousness. Kelly was a successful CEO who sold her business in 2016 after a personal deep dive to learn who she was without the title of CEO. Her journey now, as she shares with Dr. Laura, is all about helping people heal unresolved trauma so they can lead from a place of wholeness. Kelly differentiates between ‘big T' and ‘little t' trauma by definition but she identifies that the continuous nature of ‘little t' trauma erodes a sense of self over time and that all trauma is deeply impactful. It is both big and little T trauma, often unaddressed, that prevents leaders from being able to lead with compassion. Dr. Laura and Kelly explore the themes in her book, Heal to Lead, and why she was first moved to write the book. With powerful insights, famous examples, and a true understanding of what is needed for healing, Kelly's message resonates powerfully with Dr. Laura and anyone who hears this episode.“So the impetus for writing this book was, wow, I think I've landed on something in this correlation between trauma, unresolved trauma, unintegrated trauma in particular, and leadership style, leadership efficacy. And why is no one talking about this? So between the work that I was doing and my first-hand experience and my training, I was like, okay, well, if that book doesn't exist, I think it's time to write it.” Kelly CampbellWatch this episode on Dr. Laura's YouTube channelAbout Kelly Campbell:Kelly L. Campbell (they/she) speaks and writes about trauma, leadership, and consciousness— ”The New TLC.” The author of Heal to Lead (Wiley, April 2024), Kelly is a Trauma-Informed Leadership Coach to emerging and established leaders who know they are meant for more. Kelly's vision is for more than half of humanity to heal its childhood trauma so that we may reimagine and rebuild the world together. Resources:Website: KLCampbell.comSubstack: KellyLCampbell.substack.com“Heal to Lead” by Kelly L Campbell Kelly Campbell on InstagramKelly Campbell on LinkedIn Kelly Campbell Leadership QuizHealing Resources: MyHealingMenu.comLearn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveFor more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingSynthesis Psychology
Dr. Laura talks with artist Tresa Gibson in Tresa's Calgary studio about overcoming adversities and listening to the call to live an authentic life. Tresa Gibson has been an artist for over twenty years, painting with oil on canvas in bright, vibrant colours with a lot of texture. She shares some of her life stories with Dr. Laura, including some of the struggles she overcame, and explains how art, combined with business acumen and problem-solving skills, helped her realize her most genuine life.Tresa understood she would somehow be in business at a young age but without knowing exactly how. As an adult, she took some art classes and stumbled into her love of painting and her true passion in life. While life threw many challenges in her path, including a very difficult health diagnosis for her son, Tresa's love of art never wavered. She tells Dr. Laura that while the path she walked looked different than she had expected, she heard the “whisper” in her ear and realized her duty in life was to heed that call. Tresa's passion for painting, her steely resolve when faced with challenges, and her openness to listening to her intuition make for a truly inspirational story. “... similar to when you get in your car to drive home from work, it's a route that you drive all the time, so you're driving along in the car. You're not really consciously thinking ‘I have to turn right here, I have to turn left here.' You're kind of just doing it. You're in a natural sort of meditative state as far as the drive home. And then you can think of other things. Well, when I'm painting a painting, I kind of open up that same way and I go into sort of an open, natural groove, and the painting just comes through me.” Tresa GibsonWatch this episode on Dr. Laura's YouTube channelAbout Tresa Gibson:Recognized for her unique impressionist style that balances colour and depth, Tresa's work has been described as a simultaneous sense of order and chaos. She has been a thriving self-taught artist for over 14 years specializing in oil on canvas. Born on the west coast in Victoria, Tresa moved around at a young age, to Britain and then to Calgary which she calls home. She runs a successful fast-paced studio in Calgary and her art can be found in collections throughout the world. Walk into her studio on any given day and there will be paint flying, music playing, and an abundance of laughter! Tresa is best explained as a fiery ball of energy & enthusiasm who throws herself with abandon into every facet of her life. Her art is an expression of her personal beliefs of optimism and spirituality. It illustrates the moments of enlightenment and positivity that we all seek. Tresa is highly dedicated to giving to her community by participating in many fundraising efforts yearly. Her connection to others, in all occupations, fuel her excitement to express herself on canvas. Resources:Website: TresaGibson.comInstagram: @TresaGibsonFacebook: Tresa Gibson Artist StudioEmail: tresagibsonfineart@outlook.comMissing Children Society of CanadaGems for GemsMark Groves“Bittersweet” by Susan CainLearn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveFor more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingSynthesis Psychology
Dr. Laura revisits the topic of toxic bosses with in-depth information about the differences between a difficult boss and a toxic boss. In conducting studies and reading research on toxic bosses for the book she's writing, Dr. Laura has gathered an immense amount of knowledge on identifying, differentiating, dealing with, and surviving toxic bosses. In this episode, she illustrates how a difficult boss is not necessarily a toxic boss and why this difference matters.One of the main differences Dr. Laura points to is that while a difficult boss can be unpleasant to work with, they are manageable and can be navigated. A toxic boss, however, is not a sustainable person to work for as they are incredibly bad for mental health, physical health, and career progression. Dr. Laura breaks down all the ways we can differentiate between a difficult and toxic boss through their personal styles of management, levels of micromanagement, whether they communicate poorly or with dishonest and manipulative intentions, and how it feels when working with them. This episode expands our understanding of toxic bosses and adds more information to our knowledge bank so that toxic bosses can be more readily identified and, hopefully, avoided.“And the biggest difference, really, is that you can find ways to manage a difficult boss, and you cannot do so with a toxic boss. A toxic boss is really damaging to your engagement, your productivity and your wellbeing.” Dr. LauraAbout Dr. Laura:Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett is a work and career psychologist and thought leader on the evolution of work. She has always been fascinated by how work intersects with life and loves to use her expertise to improve organizations and help people thrive. Her passion for taking creative ideas and launching them into successful business strategies led her to start three counselling psychology practices (Calgary Career Counselling, Canada Career Counselling, and Synthesis Psychology), as well as six different business brands offering organizational assessment and consulting services.Dr. Laura is honoured to have been selected as a Woman of Distinction in Canada in 2014 and received a Canadian Woman of Inspiration Award as a Global Influencer in 2018.Resources:Where Work Meets Life™Episode 83 | Managing Your Boss: How to Succeed, Thrive, or Know When to Leave with Mary Abbajay“Managing Up: How to Move Up, Win at Work, and Succeed with Any Type of Boss” by Mary AbbajayDr. Laura on LinkedInWhere Work Meets Life™ on YouTubeLearn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveFor more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingSynthesis Psychology
Content Warning: This episode contains frank discussions about child sex trafficking. We encourage you to care for your well-being as you listen to and share this episode about the all-too-real danger of human trafficking. Dr. Laura welcomes a return guest alongside a new expert in this challenging and vitally important episode on child sex trafficking. Alan Smyth, Executive Director of Saving Innocence (based in LA) and co-author of “MEN! Fight For Me”, returns to the show along with new guest Conroy Kanter, President of KK Ranch Productions and Producer of the movie Trafficked. Their conversation lifts the veil of secrecy on the issue of child sex trafficking, revealing how close to home it is and the current efforts to raise awareness of the tragic reality of this heinous crime.Alan Smyth reveals that his celebrated book, “MEN! Fight For Me”, written with the collaborative efforts of trafficking survivors, is now in audiobook form for even wider distribution. Conroy Kanter shares how her 2017 film, Trafficked, starring Ashley Judd and Patrick Duffy, is currently available to watch on Amazon Prime. Alan and Conroy readily share their knowledge with Dr. Laura. Awareness of the grim reality of child sex trafficking is necessary in order to combat the continuing spread of the criminal practice. To that end, everyone who hears this conversation is offered an opportunity to acknowledge the present danger of the issue and act by sharing these resources and protecting children with foreknowledge. “There's a trafficker, and then there's a trafficked victim, to coin your movie title. And all of that is exploitation. There's certainly exploitation that isn't yet trafficking, but when that third-party trafficker, controller, is forcing someone to be somewhere and receiving money for some sort of sexual, you know, exploitation or effort, then it becomes trafficking. And it's usually, according to the definition, through force, physical force, oftentimes violent force, sometimes lethal force, fraud or coercion.” Alan Smyth“And [trafficking] is not something that you just want to say, oh, that happens in another country far far away. It happens right here!” Conroy KanterAbout Alan Smyth:Alan Smyth is married and a father of two children and one grandchild. He is the Executive Director for Saving Innocence, an anti-human trafficking agency based in Los Angeles California.Alan has responsibility for Direct Services and Business Operations.Alan recently collaborated on a book with numerous survivors of Human Trafficking entitled MEN! Fight For Me. It's a book for everyone but with a special emphasis on the male audience. You can learn more about this book at www.fightforme.netWebsite: SavingInnocence.orgBook: “MEN! Fight For Me” by Alan Smyth and Jessica MidkiffAudiobook: “MEN! Fight For Me Audiobook” by Alan Smyth and Jessica MidkiffAbout Conroy Kanter:Conroy Kanter, President and Founder of KK Ranch Productions, Inc. nestled in the sunny heart of Malibu, CA, is a dynamic force in the world of film and activism. An accomplished producer, actress, speaker, and advocate, Conroy's dedication to storytelling with purpose shines through her work. Currently steering the post-production journey of the highly anticipated Romantic Comedy, “Days When The Rains Came,” Conroy's creative vision weaves tales of life, loss, and the enduring search for love. Her past endeavors include thought-provoking independent dramas like “Trafficked,” which premiered at the United Nations, igniting crucial conversations about human trafficking. Another gem in her portfolio, “A Million Loves In Me,” stands tall as Malaysia's most celebrated film, garnering accolades worldwide.Beyond the silver screen, Conroy is revered as a captivating speaker, harnessing her platform to advocate for social justice causes and empower audiences globally. Her unwavering commitment to combating human trafficking has earned her prestigious awards and widespread recognition. Driven by the transformative power of film, Conroy channels her passion into every project, striving to provoke thought, evoke emotion, and inspire positive change. With each endeavor, she reaffirms her belief in the inherent ability of storytelling to reshape perceptions and illuminate paths toward a better world.Website: KK Ranch ProductionsMovie: TraffickedResources:Episode 25 | Calling All Men to Action: Let's End Sexual Exploitation & Trafficking! – Part 1Episode 26 | Calling All Men to Action: Let's End Sexual Exploitation & Trafficking! – Part 2Watch Trafficked on Amazon PrimeFind “MEN! Fight For Me” on AmazonCanada: Human Trafficking Hotline / phone: 1-833-900-1010America: National Human Trafficking Hotline / phone: 1-888-373-7888European Commission: National HotlinesLearn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveFor more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingSynthesis Psychology
Dr. Laura welcomes Brigid Schulte, journalist, think tank program director, keynote speaker, and author of the best-selling book, Overwhelmed: Work, Love, and Play When No One Has the Time. Brigid is currently the Director of the Better Life Lab and her latest book Over Work: Transforming the Daily Grind in the Quest for a Better Life, focuses on how our lives can improve by examining overwork. She and Dr. Laura discuss what contributes to overwork and how we can make meaningful changes in work in terms of policy, gender equality, and cultural attitudes and behaviors. The notion of overwork is not exclusive to Western cultures and in researching Over Work, Brigid spent time in Japan and other countries in addition to studying American work attitudes. In Japan there is a word for when people die from overwork: karoshi. Brigid wants to understand what drives people to overwork and how change can be made at a cultural level. She describes the symptoms and ultimate results of overwork with Dr. Laura and their discussion examines why all work should be good work, rewarded with a liveable wage and dignity in whatever job is being done. This episode digs deep into why we value working too much instead of valuing the work itself and how it contributes not just to our personal gain but to the common good and shared prosperity. “I argue that we need to think much differently about what work is, that work is not only what we do for pay, it is also all of the unpaid work of care and home that women have mainly done for generations … We need to consider that work. But we also need to be thinking about the contributions we make to our communities, to our society, and thinking about reclaiming the sense of why we work, not necessarily for personal enrichment or GDP growth or the stock market.” Brigid SchulteAbout Brigid Schulte:Brigid Schulte is an award-winning journalist and bestselling author. She was a staff writer at the Washington Post and Washington Post magazine for nearly 17 years, and part of a team that won the Pulitzer Prize. In addition to the Post, her work has appeared in, among other places, the Atlantic, the Boston Globe, The Guardian, Slate, Time, CNN, The Toronto Globe & Mail and Quartz. She has been quoted in numerous media outlets and has appeared on numerous TV and radio programs including NBC Nightly News, Good Morning America, BBC World News, and NPR's Fresh Air, Morning Edition and On Point.Brigid's first book, Overwhelmed: Work, Love and Play When No One Has the Time, about time pressure, gender and leisure, was a New York Times bestseller, named a notable book of the year by the Washington Post and NPR, and won the Virginia Library award for literary nonfiction.She has spoken all over the world about time, productivity, the causes and consequences of our unsustainable, always-on culture, and how to make time for Work, Love and Play by rethinking how we work so that it's effective, sustainable and fair. She is currently the director of the Better Life Lab, the work-family justice and intersectional gender equity program at New America, a nonpartisan think tank.She lives in Alexandria, Virginia, with her husband, Tom Bowman, a reporter for National Public Radio, and their two children. She grew up in Portland, Oregon and spent her summers with family in Wyoming, where she did not feel overwhelmed.Resources:Website: BrigidSchulte.comPodcast: Better Life Lab“Over Work: Transforming the Daily Grind in the Quest for a Better Life” by Brigid SchulteLinkedIn“Dying for a Paycheck” by Jeffrey PfefferHealthy Work CampaignKaroshi SyndromeLearn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveFor more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingSynthesis Psychology
Dr. Laura reflects on the past four years as she welcomes everyone to Season Five of Where Work Meets Life™. In looking back through nearly one hundred episodes, she reiterates her desire to help people and organizations thrive, find career fulfillment, and advocate for a better world. What, then, does Season Five hold for us? Dr. Laura gives a glimpse into the future and the pressing issues she will continue to research and pursue as well as those she is revisiting to shine more light on.Employee mental health concerns, burnout, and overwork are increasing in young workers and Dr. Laura's first guest of the new season, Brigid Schulte, wrote a book called “Over Work: Transforming the Daily Grind in the Quest for a Better Life” to address exactly these issues. Dr. Laura will continue to focus on growth and evolution, discussing the importance of overcoming trauma for leaders with author Kelly Campbell (“Heal to Lead”) and finding meaning in life with artist Tresa Gibson. She also revisits a terrible and difficult subject matter that nonetheless requires us all to look at unflinchingly: exploring the reality of human trafficking with producer Conroy Kanter and author Alan Smyth. Season Five will bring a wealth of insight into toxic bosses and their equally toxic leadership, as well as career fulfillment and how to thrive in this challenging but beautiful world. “So this is a warning call for organizational leaders to really double down on investing in your culture and your leadership development. And employee wellbeing declined despite a lot of talk about the importance of mental wellness; the talk is not leading to action. It's not changing things.” Dr. LauraAbout Dr. Laura:Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett is a work and career psychologist and thought leader on the evolution of work. She has always been fascinated by how work intersects with life and loves to use her expertise to improve organizations and help people thrive. Her passion for taking creative ideas and launching them into successful business strategies led her to start three counselling psychology practices (Calgary Career Counselling, Canada Career Counselling, and Synthesis Psychology), as well as six different business brands offering organizational assessment and consulting services.Dr. Laura is honoured to have been selected as a Woman of Distinction in Canada in 2014 and received a Canadian Woman of Inspiration Award as a Global Influencer in 2018.Resources:“Overwork: Transforming the Daily Grind in the Quest for a Better Life” by Brigid Schulte “Heal to Lead: Revolutionizing Leadership through Trauma Healing”t by Kelly Campbell Tresa Gibson“Men! Fight For Me: The Role of Authentic Masculinity in Ending Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking” by Alan Smyth and Jessica MidkiffTrafficked - produced by Conroy KanterDr. Laura on LinkedInWhere Work Meets Life™ on YouTubeLearn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveFor more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingSynthesis Psychology
Dr. Laura's exploration into the topic of toxic bosses continues in this episode. During her extensive research on the subject of toxic bosses, she learned a great deal that she is compelled to share and is writing a book based on her findings set to publish in 2025. Her research is continuous and each insight she gains is passed on to listeners in these solo episodes. This time Dr. Laura instructs on how to identify three specifically brutal types of toxic bosses, detailing how they operate and what they are looking to gain.The first persona Dr. Laura identifies is that of a dishonest manipulator. Bosses of this type are inherently dishonest people and create an environment of mistrust in their team due to chronic lying. The second persona of a toxic boss is that of a great divider. This type prefers to cause dissension and conflict in their teams by pitting people against each other. And the third persona identified is the unethical corrupter. This boss lacks integrity to the point of corruption. They're not just dishonest, they're corrupt and unethical. Dr. Laura breaks down the mindset and actions of each type of toxic boss, explains how they will attack and undermine us, and gives straightforward advice on how to handle their toxicity. “People are not at their best when they're reporting to a toxic boss. In fact, it depletes their energy. It depletes their creativity and innovation. They live in a state of fear with high anxiety, and their self-esteem and confidence get eroded over time.” Dr. LauraAbout Dr. Laura:Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett is a work and career psychologist and thought leader on the evolution of work. She has always been fascinated by how work intersects with life and loves to use her expertise to improve organizations and help people thrive. Her passion for taking creative ideas and launching them into successful business strategies led her to start three counselling psychology practices (Calgary Career Counselling, Canada Career Counselling, and Synthesis Psychology), as well as six different business brands offering organizational assessment and consulting services.Dr. Laura is honoured to have been selected as a Woman of Distinction in Canada in 2014 and received a Canadian Woman of Inspiration Award as a Global Influencer in 2018.Resources:Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveFor more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingSynthesis Psychology
Dr. Laura welcomes Oscar Trimboli, award-winning author, podcast host, and global expert on listening, to the show to talk about listening and how our inability to listen properly is hurting us at work and beyond. Oscar worked extensively in marketing and technology in his career and has a lot of experience in consulting with organizations, all of which give him great insight into the way people listen, or don't listen, to each other and how to change that.Oscar traces his work in listening back to a boardroom in 2008 where he was challenged by the CEO's statement to him: “If you could code how you listen, you could change the world”. He explains that the difference between hearing and listening is action. His new book, How to Listen, addresses research on the subject of listening as well as guidance into listening to what is said and not simply our interpretations of what we hear. Dr. Laura and Oscar discuss different ineffective listening styles that people often fall into and Oscar's tips on how to improve listening. Oscar's insight will resonate with everyone who hears this episode and challenge us to really listen, and not just hear, what he's saying. “So please just be conscious that you can improve your listening simply by asking people one extra question, or simply by knowing that the word listen and the word silent have exactly the same letters. So if you just wanted one tip from our conversation today, that would be it. … Therefore just be silent just a little bit longer and you'll be surprised. That breath they've taken doesn't mean they've finished what they're saying. They're just collecting their thoughts.” Oscar TrimboliAbout Oscar Trimboli:Oscar Trimboli is an author, host of the Apple award-winning podcast Deep Listening and a sought-after keynote speaker. Along with the Deep Listening Ambassador Community, he is on a quest to create 100 million deep listeners in the workplace.Through his work with chairs, boards of directors, and executive teams, Oscar has experienced first-hand the transformational impact leaders can have when they listen beyond words. He believes that when leadership teams focus their attention and listening, they will build organizations that create powerful legacies for the people they serve – today and, more importantly, for future generations.Oscar is a marketing and technology industry veteran working for Microsoft, PeopleSoft, Polycom, and Vodafone. He consults with organizations, including American Express, AstraZeneca, Cisco, Google, HSBC, IAG, Montblanc, PwC, Salesforce, Sanofi, SAP, and Siemens. He is the author of how to listen – discover the hidden key to better communication – the most comprehensive book about listening in the workplace, Deep Listening – Impact beyond words and Breakthroughs: How to Confront AssumptionsOscar loves his afternoon walks with his wife, Jennie, and their dog Kilimanjaro. On the weekends, you will find him playing Lego with his grandchildren.Resources:Website: OscarTrimboli.comOscar Trimboli Podcast: Deep Listening - Impact beyond words“how to listen: discover the hidden key to better communication” by oscar trimboliOscar Trimboli on LinkedIn“The Square and the Tower: Networks and Power, from the Freemasons to Facebook” by Niall FergusonLearn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveFor more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingSynthesis Psychology
Dr. Laura welcomes Dr. Marie-Hélène Pelletier, leadership psychologist, executive coach, and author, to the show to tackle the issue of resilience. Resilience is a quality that increases our ability to handle stress and bounce back from setbacks with greater ease. But how do we identify healthy ways to develop resilience and to tap into it when needed? How can it assist our work performance? Marie-Hélène answers these questions in her new book “The Resilience Plan: A Strategic Approach to Optimizing Your Work Performance and Mental Health” and shares key insights in this episode. In working with her clients through executive coaching and in her speaking work, Marie-Hélène would hear feedback about how helpful her knowledge of resilience was. That led her to write this book so she could share the message with a greater audience. Resilience, according to Marie-Hélène, is the skill we need to hone to deal with the chronic demands at work and life in general. In her book, she walks us through analyzing the demands on our time and how to create a strategic plan to strengthen our resilience through action. The ideas that Dr. Pelletier shares are uniquely positioned to help us survive increasing patterns of burnout and her ideas can be tailored to each of our individual needs. “Then you may have had people around you that tell you, oh, you're so resilient, we can give you anything and it always works. And then they'll start calling you the rock, the rock of the team, the rock of the family. And so you get to a point where you buy it, you associate with that idea. It feels like it's an identity. And that's a trap because we know from research [that] resilience is not a personality trait. It's a state.” Dr. Marie-Hélène PelletierAbout Dr. Marie-Hélène Pelletier:Throughout her career in business management and psychology, Dr. Pelletier has spearheaded the dialogue on the crucial issues of leadership resilience and work performance. Drawing on her extensive background in corporate, insurance, governance and public sectors, she brings an international perspective and unique expertise on leadership. She is a practicing leadership psychologist and executive coach with over 20 years of experience and holds a Ph.D. and an MBA from the University of British Columbia. Marie-Hélène is a Member of the Global Clinical Practice Network of the World Health Organization and past Director on the boards of the Canadian Psychological Association and the International Association of Applied Psychology. She has presented, authored and co-authored a number of industry and academic publications and has won numerous academic and industry awards. In 2024, Dr. Pelletier published her award-winning book, The Resilience Plan: A Strategic Approach to Optimizing Your Work Performance and Mental Health.Resources:Website: DrMarie-Helene.comDr. Marie-Hélène Pelletier on LinkedIn“The Resilience Plan: A Strategic Approach to Optimizing Your Work Performance and Mental Health” by Marie-Hélène Pelletier, PhD MBASarah Marquis booksLearn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveFor more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingSynthesis Psychology
Dr. Laura welcomes Dr. Lynn Imai, a Registered Psychotherapist, Clinical Director at Canada Career Counselling, and Assistant Professor of Organizational Behaviour at Ivey Business School, to the show to talk in-depth about careers and career changes. Lynn works at the national psychology practice Dr. Laura founded, and the conversation with Lynn digs into practical and psychological insights, delving into how to change, choose, and assess careers.Dr. Lynn Imai understands the uncertainty that can accompany a major career change as she did one herself, pivoting from being a full-time professor teaching global leadership at a business school to being a registered psychotherapist with a career counselling focus. The expectations, pressures, and anxieties of such a move inform much of how she relates to clients. She and Dr. Laura discuss what not to do when choosing a career and how to manage the worry that comes with navigating a drastic change in one's career. This episode serves as a starting point for anyone who wants to start on a new career path or is just beginning to decide what their career journey will look like. “I do think that the traditional career path [of] climbing the ladder is breaking apart a little bit in society and you see a lot of people taking career breaks or changing their careers, doing nontraditional work, you know, shared work gigs, coming back in from retirement. But what's interesting is, psychologically, people still tie their self-worth to the traditional notions of success, like money, prestige and title and those things. And so a lot of my work is helping them undo what they've learned.” Dr. Lynn ImaiAbout Lynn Imai:Lynn Imai, Ph.D., is a Registered Psychotherapist and Career Counsellor in Toronto. Many of Lynn's clients, when they first come to her, are at a critical point in their lives. They are questioning their careers and asking themselves why they do what they do. They are often feeling unfulfilled, purposeless, and stuck between the pain of staying where they are in their careers, and the pain of dealing with the confusion, overwhelm, stress, and anxiety of figuring out what comes next.Lynn's approach to career counselling draws on psychotherapy, which helps her clients manage difficult emotions and develop deep self-awareness, while at the same time, focusing on making strategic, informed decisions with practical action planning. In addition to career counselling, Lynn provides psychotherapy on personal issues such as stress, anxiety, depression, low confidence & self-esteem, relationships, and interpersonal issues. Lynn draws from a variety of evidence-based psychotherapy modalities including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT).Outside her clinical work, Lynn is a recognized expert on organizational behaviour, workplace effectiveness, culture & diversity, and global leadership. As a former professor at Ivey Business School (Western University), Lynn's research and teaching have focused on how individuals can develop as global leaders in workplace contexts such as cross-cultural negotiations, global virtual teams, and strategy consulting in emerging markets. Lynn's research has appeared in top-tier academic journals, and both her research and teaching have garnered national press coverage.Personally, Lynn is a “third culture kid” who grew up in Japan, the U.S., Canada, and Belgium, and brings a multicultural perspective to therapy. She obtained her Hon. BSc. in Psychology from the University of Toronto—Trinity College, and her M.Psy. in Clinical and Counselling Psychology from Adler Graduate Professional School. Lynn also has graduate degrees in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of Maryland—College Park.Resources:Website: CanadaCareerCounselling.comLynn Imai on LinkedInLynn Imai at Ivey Business School“Evolution to Purpose: Choosing a Life of Authenticity with Work” by Bryan Hong PhDThe Happiness Lab podcastLearn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveFor more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingSynthesis Psychology
Dr. Laura explores more on the subject of toxic bosses, a topic she is passionate about researching for the benefit of people suffering under one. In this episode, she explains some of the defining and brutal behaviors of a toxic boss. Since a toxic boss can be anyone from a first-time manager to a CEO, it's the psychological and physical health damage they cause to people working under them that makes them toxic. Understanding their behavior will help people to identify a toxic boss and, ideally, leave their sphere of control.There are fourteen categories of behaviors that Dr. Laura and her research assistant, Renee Pye, have learned through their study. Toxic bosses have many different ways of presenting themselves. Dr. Laura addresses three types of behavior in detail today: 1. Control and micromanagement, 2. Power dynamics and favoritism, and 3. Self-serving and exploitative behavior. She describes each set of behaviors in detail, addressing how the toxic boss comes across and the damage they inflict. The more information Dr. Laura uncovers and shares about toxic bosses, the sooner people struggling under them can see warning signs and get help to navigate the situation.“The only way to know if a leader is a great leader, a mediocre leader, or a toxic leader, is to find out from the people that report to him or her. So with that said, I think that whether the leader is controlling and micromanaging, whether they're creating power dynamics and divides in their team, or whether they're self-serving and exploiting others, all of these things are brutal behaviors and are causing a lot of harm to people.” Dr. LauraAbout Dr. Laura:Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett is a work and career psychologist and thought leader on the evolution of work. She has always been fascinated by how work intersects with life and loves to use her expertise to improve organizations and help people thrive. Her passion for taking creative ideas and launching them into successful business strategies led her to start three counselling psychology practices (Calgary Career Counselling, Canada Career Counselling, and Synthesis Psychology), as well as six different business brands offering organizational assessment and consulting services.Dr. Laura is honoured to have been selected as a Woman of Distinction in Canada in 2014 and received a Canadian Woman of Inspiration Award as a Global Influencer in 2018.Resources:Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveFor more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingSynthesis Psychology
Dr. Laura welcomes special guest Erin Diehl to the show to talk about radical empathy and Erin's new book “I See You!: A Leader's Guide to Energizing Your Team Through Radical Empathy”. Erin Diehl is a Business Improv Edutainer, author, and keynote speaker who hosts the improve it! podcast. Dr. Laura and Erin talk about Erin's recent journey of self-exploration and why she was called to write her book after emerging from an oppressive hustle mentality.Erin understands how people get to a place of being overloaded, stressed, burnt out, and feeling like they don't matter. Her desire through the book and her work is to help people, including leaders, give to themselves and take moments of self-reflection. She shares her journey through struggles with infertility and the physical pain that came from overwork. Erin's story of how she decluttered her life, found her purpose, and claimed inner peace is inspiring. The revelations and discoveries in her book are for everyone to apply to their own lives, especially those in management positions so toxic leadership can be replaced by leaders who are empathetic and supportive.“And it's so crazy how our thoughts really affect every cell in our body. And I'll tell you this, I didn't heal, I had chronic back pain, like shoulder pain and back pain that was so tight... I would literally cry myself to sleep at night because I was just so frustrated. … I took every ergonomic chair on Amazon into my office. I tried all the things, all the pillows, and went to all the doctors. And no one could say what was wrong. And I finally realized it was just my own mental emotions and my own thoughts that were really stagnating me. And I had not dealt with a lot of things.” Erin DiehlAbout Erin Diehl:Erin “Big” Diehl is a Business Improv Edutainer, Failfluencer, and Professional Zoombie. Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn, play, and grow. Among her many accolades, Erin is most proud of successfully coercing over 30,000 professionals to chicken dance.Erin Diehl is a graduate of Clemson University, and a former experiential marketing and recruiting professional as well as a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater and The Annoyance Theatre.Erin has spoken on global stages both virtually and in person - with companies like Uber Freight, Walgreens, Motorola, LinkedIn and The Obama Foundation (to name a few)! She is a member of The Chicago Innovation Awards Women's Cohort and a graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program. She is also the proud host of a Top 1% Global Podcast, The improve it! Podcast, which you can find anywhere you listen to pods!When she's not playing pretend or facilitating, she enjoys walking on the beach with her husband, son, and eight-pound toy poodle, BIGG DIEHL.Resources:Website: LearnToImproveIt.comThe improve it! PodcastErin Diehl on Instagram“I See You!: A Leader's Guide to Energizing Your Team Through Radical Empathy” by Erin DiehlMarie Kondo“When the Body Says No: The Cost of Hidden Stress” by Gabor Maté MDBestseller Masterclass with Gabby Bernstein“The Artist's Way” by Julia CameronLearn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveFor more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingSynthesis Psychology
Dr. Laura is pleased to welcome special guest Dr. Bill Howatt to the show to talk about mental health in the workplace and the myths surrounding it. Bill Howatt is the Founder of Howatt Human Resources Consulting and an international expert in workplace psychology and psychological health and safety. His newest book, out of 60 written throughout his career, is titled No Regrets and focuses on the very issue of workplace mental health and what can be done about it.Dr. Howatt describes how the pandemic inspired his latest book, No Regrets, by detailing how he noticed people languishing instead of flourishing and realized that we have never really been taught how to deal with the unpleasant emotions that are part of existence. His book is a strategy of sorts to help people move through unpleasant emotions and work on their mental fitness. Dr. Laura and Dr. Howatt explore why the quick band-aid fixes of pop-up wellness programs in workplaces are not addressing the underlying mental health crisis and what leaders should be doing instead. The conversation covers a lot of ground and brings fundamental issues to light, providing a roadmap for improvement.“Mental health literacy in our country, we haven't really gotten sophisticated yet in this conversation where we confuse mental illness with mental health. So mental illness is a functional impairment very much like being deaf and it impacts your potential to function to your potential. Where mental health is different. It's basically how we are actually seeing the world and experiencing the world through our emotions.” Dr. Bill HowattAbout Dr. Bill Howatt:Dr. Bill Howatt is the founder of Howatt Human Resources Consulting and an international expert in Workplace Psychological Health and Safety. He is a highly sought-after speaker on leadership, mental fitness, and creating inclusive, psychologically healthy and safe workplaces. A behavioural scientist, he is passionate about supporting employees and leaders to create thriving workplaces. Dr. Bill's 30-plus years of professional experience includes providing services in clinical mental health, teaching courses for colleges and universities, being a committee chair, and filling various senior leadership roles in Canada and the United States, including the Wall Street financial district. His firm provides HR consulting globally, focusing on employees' psychological safety. Dr. Bill has published over 60 books and 600 articles and regularly contributes to workplace mental health research like WSPS Moving to Action: Implementing Workplace Safety and Prevention Services' Mental Harm Prevention Roadmap and Boston Consulting Group's recent study, The Next Frontier of Workplace Culture, viewed by over 30 million readers. He is the founder of www.MFIQinc.com and creator of the University New Brunswick's Certificate of Completion in Psychologically Safe Leadership. He publishes a weekly workplace mental health newsletter for leaders and workers called Exploring Workplace Mental Health. Resources:Website: BillHowatt.comLinkedIn“No Regrets: How to Live Today for Tomorrow's Emotional Well-Being” by Dr. Bill Howatt“Navigating Workplace Wellness Programs in the Age of Technology and Big Data” by Hannah-Kaye Fleming for the ‘Journal of Science Policy & Governance'Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveFor more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingSynthesis PsychologySponsor For This Podcast:This episode is brought to you by The improve it! Podcast with Erin Diehl, a top 1% global podcast.Are you ready to transform your life through laughter, lifelong learning, and a little bit of improv magic?Well, get ready because The improve it! Podcast with Erin Diehl is here to add a dose of playfulness to your Wednesdays. Erin sits down with personal and professional development gurus to explore the pesky and beautiful aspects of life. They dive deep into the things that make us tick, laugh, and sometimes even cringe. You can find The improve it! Podcast on Apple, Spotify, or learntoimproveit.com. Subscribe today!
Dr. Laura welcomes best-selling author, speaker, consultant, and president of Careerstone Group, Mary Abbajay, to the show to talk about her book Managing Up: How to Move Up, Win at Work, and Succeed with Any Type of Boss. Through Careerstone Group, Mary offers different organizational and leadership solutions for businesses and government. Her vast experience with all types of bosses, which her book focuses on, compliments Dr. Laura's research into the toxic ones.Mary speaks to how the relationship with one's boss needs to be managed and requires effort to be productive. Through her work, she hears a lot of complaining from both sides without evidence that there's enough attention put towards creating a positive relationship. Mary and Dr. Laura discuss the differences between sucking up and managing up, the positive reactions from bosses and managers to her book, why HR may not be the best place to get help for dealing with a toxic boss, and how to handle toxic management in the workplace. This conversation is filled with real insight from Mary's experience dealing with all manner of leadership. “But managing up the way I see it is about not managing the person, but managing that relationship. It's like taking that power differential and turning it on its side, because in a relationship we all have agency, right? We all have advocacy. And so managing up is about making a concerted and intentional, sometimes a strategic effort to build a productive and positive working relationship so that you can succeed.” Mary AbbajayAbout Mary Abbajay:Mary Abbajay, author of the best-selling, award-winning Managing Up: How to Move Up, Win at Work, and Succeed with Any Type of Boss is the president of Careerstone Group, LLC, a full-service organizational and leadership development consultancy that delivers leading-edge talent and organizational development solutions to business and government. As a sought-after author, speaker, consultant, and trainer, Mary helps clients develop the strategies, skills and sensibilities needed for success in the 21st century. Mary is the co-host of the weekly workplace advice podcast, Cubicle Confidential, and is a highly-rated LinkedIn Learning instructor. As a frequent expert contributor for television, radio, and print publications Mary provides practical leadership and career guidance. Her work and advice have appeared in the New York Times, Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, Forbes, The Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, the Huffington Post, Money Magazine, Southwest Airlines Magazine, CNN.com, Monster, CNBC, and the BBC. Resources:Website: CareerstoneGroup.com | ManagingUpTheBook.comMary Abbajay on InstagramMary Abbajay on LinkedInMary Abbajay on YouTubePodcast: Cubicle Confidential“Managing up: How to Move Up, Win at Work, and Succeed with Any Type of Boss” by Mary AbbajayLearn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveFor more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingSynthesis PsychologySponsor For This Podcast:This episode is brought to you by The improve it! Podcast with Erin Diehl, a top 1% global podcast.Are you ready to transform your life through laughter, lifelong learning, and a little bit of improv magic?Well, get ready because The improve it! Podcast with Erin Diehl is here to add a dose of playfulness to your Wednesdays. Erin sits down with personal and professional development gurus to explore the pesky and beautiful aspects of life. They dive deep into the things that make us tick, laugh, and sometimes even cringe. You can find The improve it! Podcast on Apple, Spotify, or learntoimproveit.com. Subscribe today!
Dr. Laura explains more about toxic bosses and what they do in this episode. Toxic bosses can be at any level in an organization, from a supervisor up to the CEO, and they impact people negatively through harmful behavioural patterns. How do they impart the damage they do? And how can you identify not only their toxic behaviour but when it's time to get out? Dr. Laura draws on her own experiences and her professional expertise to offer guidance.Toxic bosses can do damage in a myriad of ways, including abusive supervision, extreme narcissism, gaslighting, and eroding your confidence. They are not leaders because leaders inspire and motivate, the opposite of a toxic boss. Dr. Laura shares the story of a friend currently engaged in a court battle against a toxic boss who tried to derail her career. How do you identify the behaviour and know it's not you at fault but your toxic boss? And when should you consider leaving the job? Dr. Laura offers insight into what to look for and the things to consider when looking at leaving. Above all, she empathizes with anyone currently suffering under a toxic boss.“And you may be suffering under a toxic boss or one of your loved ones might be. And what happens is you start to see all these impacts on the person. They're dreading going to the office on a Monday. They are increasingly not sleeping well. And when you're not sleeping well, that impacts everything! That impacts your ability to think clearly, that impacts your emotionality and your reactivity to things. It really does a lot of damage.” Dr. LauraAbout Dr. Laura:Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett is a work and career psychologist and thought leader on the evolution of work. She has always been fascinated by how work intersects with life and loves to use her expertise to improve organizations and help people thrive. Her passion for taking creative ideas and launching them into successful business strategies led her to start three counselling psychology practices (Calgary Career Counselling, Canada Career Counselling, and Synthesis Psychology), as well as six different business brands offering organizational assessment and consulting services.Dr. Laura is honoured to have been selected as a Woman of Distinction in Canada in 2014 and received a Canadian Woman of Inspiration Award as a Global Influencer in 2018.Resources:Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveFor more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingSynthesis PsychologySponsor For This Podcast:This episode is brought to you by The improve it! Podcast with Erin Diehl, a top 1% global podcast.Are you ready to transform your life through laughter, lifelong learning, and a little bit of improv magic?Well, get ready because The improve it! Podcast with Erin Diehl is here to add a dose of playfulness to your Wednesdays. Erin sits down with personal and professional development gurus to explore the pesky and beautiful aspects of life. They dive deep into the things that make us tick, laugh, and sometimes even cringe. You can find The improve it! Podcast on Apple, Spotify, or learntoimproveit.com. Subscribe today!
In this episode, Dr. Laura branches away from the specific subject of career fulfillment and speaks with her guest, country music star George Canyon, about spirituality and servanthood. George Canyon has recently released his memoir, My Country, and the book reveals the challenges and adventures he's faced, his determination to help others dealing with Type One diabetes, and the faith that keeps him going.George tells Dr. Laura that though his book is full of vulnerability and authenticity, he shied away from relating negative stories. He chooses positivity wherever he can because, as he says, “nobody needs to read more negativity”. The conversation delves into the challenges his teenage diagnosis of Type One diabetes brought him, how hard he worked to succeed in the music industry, and his spirituality and faith in The Creator that drives him day to day. It's a more spiritual conversation than is usually had with Dr. Laura's guests but it's not tied to any specific religion and it's a conversation full of hope that everyone can benefit from. “... we're humans, we put titles to everything - everybody has to title something, I don't know why. It's just, I guess, to make us feel more safe and conformed. Church, the title church, is a community. It's a community of people. The original churches were held in people's homes. It wasn't a big building you went to with four walls. It was a home where you got together to talk about your faith, to talk about what the Creator's done for you, to encourage each other, to pick each other up, not to be judgmental and condemn each other.” George CanyonAbout George Canyon:George Canyon rose to become one of Canada's hottest Country Music stars in the early 2000s and has won countless accolades and awards, including Juno Awards, CCMA Awards, and ECMA Awards to name a few. He has been inducted into the Nova Scotia Country Music Hall of Fame, recorded 12 albums, and was recently presented a certified Platinum Award for his debut album ‘One Good Friend'. With country hits like Just Like You, I Believe in Angels, Drinkin' Thinkin', Daughters of the Sun, I Got This, I Want You To Live, Slow Dance and many, many more. He is also a highly regarded humanitarian, a strong supporter of the military, and, most importantly, a proud father and devoted husband.Over the years George has also had the privilege of collaborating with fellow talents, a prime example being when he joined forces with multi-platinum pop and rock icon Richard Marx to produce two albums, 2008's ‘What I Do' and 2011's ‘Better Be Home Soon', the latter of which featured When Love Is All You Got, written for George by Marx and the legendary Kenny Rogers. ‘What I Do' was an enormous success, going Certified Gold during the first three weeks of release.George is so much more than an award-winning musical talent. Helping others has always been a huge priority for him, particularly for children with Diabetes and his work as a spokesperson for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). It's a cause close to Canyon's heart, starting from when he himself was diagnosed with Type-1 Diabetes at the age of 14. In addition to his work with JDRF, George is an ardent supporter of our military, having performed many times for troops overseas and even releasing a moving tribute with the single I Want You to Live, which touches on the very heartbreaking fact that in fighting for our country, some of our troops won't make it back home. The music video for the single features several real soldiers talking about their lives and careers, putting faces to the group of people working to make our country safe.Among his many identities, Canyon is also a proud Canadian and huge hockey fan, and roots for his team, the Calgary Flames, for which he just completed his 8th season singing the national anthem during the home games.Resources:Website: GeorgeCanyon.com“My Country” by George CanyonJuvenile Diabetes Research FoundationGerald Auger on InstagramEpisode 54 | Special Episode on the LiLoHia Project: with guests Gerald Auger and Sass JordanLearn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveFor more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingSynthesis Psychology
Dr. Laura welcomes Joe O'Connor, co-founder of the Work Time Reduction Center of Excellence, to the show to continue exploring the topic of the 4-day workweek. Joe originally served as CEO of 4 Day Week Global, the company co-founded by the last episode's guest, Andrew Barnes. Joe and Dr. Laura explore the 4-Day workweek in great detail, examining both myths and truths about the four-day week and looking at the future of this global movement.Joe O'Connor points out that the adoption of the five-day workweek and eight-hour workday over a century ago was driven by major technological advancements. Yet more recent technology, such as the internet, email, and digital communication, haven't shifted that structure despite gains in productivity. Joe and Dr. Laura discuss significant research that supports shifting to a 4-day workweek and Joe dispels common myths that prevent companies from considering the change. Joe addresses the flexibility of this possible structure, trusting and empowering employees, and why company leaders need to course correct in order for the change to work. Their conversation provides yet more eye-opening evidence that points to variations of the 4-day workweek as a compelling choice for the future of workplace productivity and wellbeing.“... we often advise leaders that are looking at this to think about it in terms of by the time you push the button to move to a shorter workweek, so by the time your trial starts or you've introduced the policy, you really want to have figured out to a pretty significant extent what are the things that we need to change in order to make this work operationally. You don't want to be doing those things after you've already started the trial. You don't want to be figuring it out, kind of building the aircraft while it's in flight.” Joe O'ConnorAbout Joe O'Connor:Joe is CEO and co-founder of the Work Time Reduction Center of Excellence, a consulting and research organization based in Toronto, which specializes in shorter workweek models and reduced-hour, outcome-focused working. Internationally acclaimed as one of the leading experts on the shorter workweek, Joe developed the world's first pilot program for the four-day workweek in Ireland at the onset of the pandemic in 2020. In collaboration with Boston College and University College Dublin, he codesigned a pioneering research project to measure the impact of the pilot. As CEO of 4 Day Week Global throughout 2020 and 2021, he expanded this model to lead the large-scale, heavily publicized trials of the four-day week in the UK, North America, and Australia. In this role, he supported hundreds of organizations and thousands of employees to shorten their work hours and optimize their productivity. Joe also led a research project on work-time reduction as a visiting research scholar at Cornell University.Resources:Website: WorkTimeReduction.comJoe O'Connor on LinkedInJoe O'Connor's 2023 reading list4-Day Workweek joint research study by Josh Bersin Company with The Work Time Reduction Center of Excellence“Work-Life Bloom” by Dan Pontefract“Irresistible” by Josh BersinLearn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveFor more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingSynthesis PsychologySponsor For This Podcast:This episode is brought to you by The improve it! Podcast with Erin Diehl, a top 1% global podcast.Are you ready to transform your life through laughter, lifelong learning, and a little bit of improv magic?Well, get ready because The improve it! Podcast with Erin Diehl is here to add a dose of playfulness to your Wednesdays. Erin sits down with personal and professional development gurus to explore the pesky and beautiful aspects of life. They dive deep into the things that make us tick, laugh, and sometimes even cringe. You can find The improve it! Podcast on Apple, Spotify, or learntoimproveit.com. Subscribe today!
Dr. Laura welcomes author, entrepreneur, and pioneer of the 4 day week movement, Andrew Barnes, to the show to examine the benefits of his innovative 4 day work week movement. Andrew explains why he originally piloted a 4 day week and how that led to a global research program involving academics from leading universities. Would this benefit us? And in what ways would we realize that benefit?Dr. Laura's conversation with Andrew Barnes starts with the big question: how can fewer days lead to more productivity? Andrew first defines what productivity is before diving into how the 4 day week can change our work-life wellness. It's clear from the statistics and research Andrew shares that the 4 day week is a viable alternative companies should be considering. Rather than reducing one's pay to 80%, people are paid their full-time salary but complete their work over 4 instead of 5 days. This reduced workweek increases productivity and efficiency, leading us to have more control over our time, in turn improving our health and wellness. Dr. Laura and Andrew Barnes have a compelling discussion that will change the way we perceive work structure.“So one of the most interesting pieces of research that we run is when we've had people on a four day week, and at the end of the pilot we ask them: how much do I have to pay you to go back to five days from four days? And about 15% say you just physically can't pay me enough, just not doing it. About another 15% will need a 75% pay rise. And then, you know, a large chunk of them are going to need about 50%. So what that says is that an employee values the time off at a higher price than you are actually paying for it.” Andrew BarnesAbout Andrew Barnes:Entrepreneur Andrew Barnes has made a career of market-changing innovation and industry digitisation leading and transforming companies in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. In 2018, he made international headlines across the world with an idea that he believed would raise productivity in the workplace, while also contributing to the personal wellbeing of his staff – a 4 day work week. Through his company – New Zealand's largest corporate trustee company, Perpetual Guardian – Andrew announced a 4 day week trial, with staff receiving an extra day off work, on full pay, each week. The trial was an undeniable success, sparking widespread international interest and winning a number of global awards. Today, Barnes is considered the pioneer and architect of the global 4 day week movement. As co-founder of 4 Day Week Global with his partner, Charlotte Lockhart, they are conducting the largest ever trials, currently taking place across the UK, US, Canada, South Africa, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. More than 250 companies around the world with over 100,000 staff are taking part in the trials to change their workplaces combined with a global research programme involving academics from leading universities including Boston College, Cambridge, Oxford and many more. Additionally, in the last 4 years Andrew has worked with companies such as Unilever and has been part of the advisory process for close to a dozen country and regional governments who are all effecting change to the way their populations will work now and in the future. Recently he was recognised Introducing The Forbes Future Of Work 50 as a leader in workplace innovation. Andrew and Charlotte's vision is to provide a community environment for companies, researchers/academics and interested parties to be able to connect and advance this idea as part of the future of work. Through this work he is on the advisory boards of both the US and Ireland 4 day week campaigns and the board of the newly created Wellbeing Research Centre at Oxford University and is a founding member of the World Wellbeing Movement.In 2019 he wrote The 4 Day Week book, as a how to guide for companies trying to reduce work hours and increase productivity.Resources:Website: 4DayWeek.comAndrew Barnes on LinkedIn“The 4 Day Week” by Andrew Barnes with Stephanie Jones“The Worst Journey in the World” by Apsley Cherry-GarrardLearn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveFor more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingSynthesis Psychology
Dr. Laura talks with guest Sterling Hawkins, a keynote speaker and the author of “Hunting Discomfort”, about the possibilities inherent in working through our discomfort. Sterling shares a bit of his story, which started with amazing opportunities, and then plunged him into the depths of discomfort. He reveals how much he learned from that experience.One of the things that spurred Sterling out of his ultimate low point was something his mother said, “the way out is through”. That piece of advice inspired him to move through the uncomfortable, the painful, and the embarrassment to get to the other side where things improve. Sterling took that advice, and all the experiences he pushed himself into after it, and channelled it into his book, “Hunting Discomfort”. He and Dr. Laura break down the five types of discomfort people experience and discuss how they can be used to one's advantage. This episode is a look at how resilient we can be if we choose to embrace discomfort and push through it. It's a key lesson with a success rate Sterling can personally attest to. “...sometimes people hear ‘hunting discomfort' or conversations about discomfort and they're like, Sterling, look at my career, my relationships, my bank account. I don't need to hunt discomfort, I'm surrounded by it. But my answer is always the same, which is if you're surrounded by discomfort, you're not hunting it, you're living with it, you're placating it. You're rationalizing why you have to live with those things in your life. When I'm talking about hunting discomfort, I'm talking about getting to the source, the root of what's driving that discomfort, and freeing yourself from that place that leaves you forever and permanently free.” Sterling HawkinsAbout Sterling Hawkins:Sterling Hawkins is out to break the status quo. He believes that we can all unlock incredible potential within ourselves, and he's on a mission to support people, businesses and communities to realize that potential regardless of the circumstances.From a multi-billion dollar startup to collapse and coming back to launch, invest in and grow over 50 companies, Sterling takes that experience to work with C-level teams from some of the largest organizations on the planet and speaks on stages around the world. Today, Sterling serves as CEO and founder of the Sterling Hawkins Group, a research, training and development company focused on human and organizational growth. He has been seen in publications like Inc. Magazine, Fast Company, The New York Times and Forbes. Based in Colorado, Sterling is a proud uncle of four and a passionate adventurer who can often be found skydiving, climbing mountains, shark diving or even trekking the Sahara. Maybe you'll even join him for the next adventure – and discover the breakthrough results you're looking for. He'll have your back, #NoMatterWhat.Resources:Website: SterlingHawkins.comBook: “Hunting Discomfort: How to Get Breakthrough Results in Life and Business No Matter What” by Sterling HawkinsSterling Hawkins on LinkedIn“The Presence Process” by Michael BrownHuberman Lab PodcastLearn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveFor more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingSynthesis Psychology
In a companion episode to Dr. Laura's last episode on burnout (E73), she addresses what we need to know to identify and treat our burnout. Rather than talking to workplaces about how to prevent burnout in employees, this episode is all about us as individuals. What does burnout look like? What contributes to it? And what can we do about it? How do we help ourselves?Dr. Laura first defines burnout as “a syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress” which means that personal and relationship stress, though impacting burnout, do not define the syndrome. She explains that mental health is on a continuum on which four main stages of depletion exist. We start off Healthy, move into Reacting, then if our needs are not addressed we enter into the Injured stage until, finally, we are deeply unwell in Illness. Each of these stages of burnout comes with increased mental and physical symptoms that must be recognized. Dr. Laura shares her insight on how we start to feel, the things we start to give up, and the ways in which we become ill. She explains how we need our work lives to foster our mental wellness so we can avoid burnout and mental illness in general.“I want to leave you with the fact that there is a way to address burnout once it happens, once you reach that end stage of burnout and you just feel a lack of energy, cynical, like you're not good enough, there is a way to get well again. And that burnout is not your fault. Oftentimes it's the organizational conditions you're in. It's the overload. It's the brutal boss that you're working for. It's the unhealthy team dynamics that are grating and wearing away at you. So it's not your fault, but you have the power to get the help you need.” Dr. LauraNote: If you wish to see the images Dr. Laura references, this episode can also be found on her YouTube channel here.About Dr. Laura:Bringing nearly 25 years of expertise as an Industrial/Organizational and Career Psychologist and pioneer in the future of work, Dr. Laura helps organizations evolve their cultures, and leaders and employees to thrive in their work and lives.She shares her expertise through keynote speaking, the Where Work Meets LifeTM podcast, strategic career coaching, and writing articles and books.Resources:Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveFor more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingSynthesis Psychology
Dr. Laura welcomes Soren Kaplan, bestselling author, founder of Praxie.com, and Columnist for Inc. Magazine, to talk about his latest book, “Experiential Intelligence”. Soren talks about the impetus behind writing his book and defines Experiential Intelligence, or XQ, as a key factor in the road to success, alongside Intelligence Quotient (IQ) and Emotional Intelligence (EQ).Soren shares examples of experiences from his childhood that have shaped into skills he uses today to explain XQ. Experiential Intelligence, or XQ, draws on experiential elements that give us understanding and abilities beyond what simple intelligence and resumés can explain. How we have lived matters to who we are. Dr. Laura and Soren Kaplan dive into elements of his book, explore how people learn and grow, and detail how leaders and managers can learn to assess XQ when hiring. Soren's insights offer a way to look at the whole of a person and what they bring to the table, as well as opening each of us up to discover skills and attributes developed from our experience to aid us moving forward.“Usually we're talking about different assets other than emotions and IQ. We're talking about different attributes that we develop, usually based on our experience. And you and I were just talking about those experiences that we had in our home life that gave us practice doing certain things that give us these higher order abilities to navigate uncertainty or be resilient or understand group norms that exist underneath the surface of teams, whatever those things might be. And that's what I mean by experiential intelligence. It's your mindsets, your abilities, and really the know-how and skills that you develop over time through experience.” Soren KaplanAbout Soren Kaplan:Soren Kaplan is a Wall Street Journal bestselling and award-winning author, a Columnist for Inc. Magazine, a leading keynote speaker, the founder of Praxie.com, and an affiliate at the Center for Effective Organizations at USC's Marshall School of Business. Business Insider and the Thinkers50 have recognized him as one of the world's top management thought leaders and consultants.His latest book, Experiential Intelligence, reveals how life experience contributes to real intelligence on par with IQ (intellect) and EQ (emotional intelligence) and can be leveraged for breakthrough in leadership and innovation. Concepts from the book have been profiled in Harvard Business Review, Psychology Today, Forbes, National Public Radio, and other media.Soren has advised and led professional development programs for thousands of executives around the world, including Disney, NBCUniversal, Kimberly-Clark, Colgate-Palmolive, Hershey, Red Bull, Medtronic, Roche, Philips, Cisco, Visa, Ascension Health, Kaiser Permanente, CSAA Insurance Group, American Nurses Association, and many others. He has lectured at the Harvard Business School, Copenhagen Business School, Melbourne Business School, Breda University in the Netherlands, and with other MBA and executive education programs globally. Soren's debut book, Leapfrogging, was named “Best Leadership Book” and The Invisible Advantage received the “Best General Business Book” distinction by the International Book Awards. He has been quoted, published, and interviewed by Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, Forbes, CNBC, National Public Radio, the American Management Association, USA Today, Strategy & Leadership, and The International Handbook on Innovation, among many others. He holds Master's and Ph.D. degrees in Organizational Psychology.Resources:Website: SorenKaplan.com“Experiential Intelligence” by Soren Kaplan“Leapfrogging” by Soren KaplanSoren Kaplan on LinkedInPraxie.comTech Nation Radio PodcastThe Drive podcastThe Ezra Klein Show podcastMaking Sense podcastPsychology TodayInc. MagazineLearn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveFor more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingSynthesis Psychology
Dr. Laura welcomes Dr. Malissa Clark, an associate professor of Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of Georgia, about workaholism and her upcoming book, “Never Not Working: Why the Always-On Culture is Bad for Business - and How to Fix It”. Dr. Clark defines modern day workaholism, and explains why it's so detrimental to both individuals and businesses.There is an aspect of workaholism that's “like water to a fish”, according to Malissa Clark, which is that we are so immersed in work that we simply don't notice it. She works to define workaholism and breaks it down into four main components: behavioral, motivational, emotional, and cognitive. Dr. Clark unpacks each of the components, which are detailed in her book, and talks about the research, interviews, and thoughts that she drew upon when writing “Never Not Working”. This episode dovetails nicely with the focus on remote and hybrid work that Dr. Laura focuses on, bringing work wellness and health into the forefront of discussion.“...we synthesized all of the research on the relationship between level of workaholism and performance ratings. And we basically find no relationship. And that is including if they were rating themselves or the bosses were rating their performance… my research and other people's research continually shows over and over again that not only do we not find that relationship… but we find that workaholism is related to a whole host of other detrimental outcomes, such as workaholics tend to be sometimes not the best coworkers and bosses for a variety of reasons.” Dr. Malissa ClarkAbout Dr. Malissa Clark:Malissa Clark is an associate professor of industrial/organizational (I-O) psychology at the University of Georgia, where she has been on faculty since 2013. Currently, Clark serves as associate head of the department of psychology and director of the Healthy Work Lab. She is a recognized expert on the topics of workaholism, overwork, burnout, and employee well-being.Clark earned her Ph.D. in I-O psychology from Wayne State University, and her B.A. in organizational studies from the University of Michigan. She has received awards for her writing and mentoring, and her work has been funded by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP). In 2023, Clark was named a Fellow of SIOP, a status that recognizes unusual and outstanding contributions that have an important impact on I-O psychology. Her first book, Never Not Working: Why the Always-On Culture Is Bad for Business—and How to Fix It, launches in February 2024. Clark's work has been published in premier outlets such as Journal of Applied Psychology, Journal of Management, and Journal of Organizational Behavior. She serves on the editorial boards of Journal of Applied Psychology and Personnel Psychology and as action editor for Journal of Business and Psychology and Occupational Health Science. Clark is passionate about bridging the scientist-practitioner gap and advocating for healthier workplaces and worker well-being through her speaking and consulting. Her work has been featured on various podcasts and in outlets such as Time, US News and World Report, New York Times, and The Atlantic. She currently serves as a member of the NIOSH Healthy Work Design and Well-Being Council. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and travelling.Resources:Pre-order “Never Not Working: Why the Always-On Culture is Bad for Business - and How to Fix It” by Malissa Clark (release date February 6, 2024)Dr. Malissa Clark on LinkedInHealthy Work Lab; Department of Psychology at the University of Georgia Workaholics Anonymous“The 4 Day Week” by Andrew Barnes, Stephanie Jones“Overwhelmed” by Brigid SchulteThriving at Work with Dr. Patricia Grabarek and Dr. Katina Sawyer podcastLearn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveFor more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingSynthesis Psychology
Dr. Laura talks with Dr. Bal Pawa about her book, “The Mind-Body Cure”, and her journey through the health field into her focus on integrative medicine. Dr. Pawa shares her story of being a physician and a patient on the same day after a car accident, and how that opened her eyes to an entirely new experience and perspective on medicine. Dr. Pawa discusses the science and medical background that informs her book but stresses that she made it very digestible to anyone without that background. She talks about personal healing and learning to regulate our own nervous systems, a preventative model of medicine that she says is missing from our current healthcare system. Dr. Pawa teaches Dr. Laura a breathing exercise from her book, one that helps improve oxygen saturation in the lungs and calm the nervous system. Dr. Pawa's knowledge and experience inform her message about the impacts of chronic stress and the importance of the mind-body connection. She shares her insight with as many people as possible in order to change lives.“If 75% of our physical symptoms are attributed to chronic stress and anxiety - because of the hormones I talked about, cortisol and adrenaline - and if that's the case and the other 25% are viral, infectious, injury, well, then it behooves us to make sure we pay attention to what causes stress hormones.” Dr. Bal PawaAbout Bal Pawa:Dr. Pawa has 30-plus years in the health field as a physician with a focus on Integrative Medicine and Women's Health. She obtained certification in Mind-Body Medicine at Harvard Medical School. She is also a Certified Menopause Clinician and has completed additional studies on Functional Medicine: Neuroplasticity, Gut, Brain, and Autoimmune disease. Bal is a passionate advocate for bringing evidence-based medicine to the masses and empowering them with knowledge. She has been an invited speaker on radio, television, community events, and presented health lectures to corporations across Canada, the USA, and the UK. Her TEDx talk about the role of stress and anxiety on your health has nearly 1 million views. Dr. Pawa's, international best-selling book The Mind-Body Cure provides tools for self-care, as people struggle to reclaim their health. A Clinical Instructor at UBC Faculty of Medicine, Bal continues to inspire and mentor younger physicians.Resources:Website: DrBalPawa.comDr. Bal Pawa on LinkedIn“The Mind-Body Cure: Heal Your Pain, Anxiety, and Fatigue by Controlling Chronic Stress” by Bal Pawa“Chronic Stress, Anxiety? You Are Your Best Doctor!” | Dr. Bal Pawa | TEDxSFUBrené BrownDr. Gabor MatéDeepak ChopraRumi Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveFor more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingSynthesis Psychology
Dr. Laura addresses the topic of burnout in this episode, defining exactly what it is and describing the workplace symptoms that can contribute to it. Burnout is not a category of mental disorder or a formal medical diagnosis but instead a stress response to toxic and suboptimal working conditions. How can it be prevented? Dr. Laura shares her insight. The quick fixes that organizations implement to combat burnout don't proactively solve the problem. As good as a wellness program and yoga class can be, it won't fix the root cause of employee burnout. Dr. Laura breaks down all the signs of a toxic workplace: the types of dysfunctional dynamics that directly contribute to burnout. She also explains how organizations can find out about those toxic symptoms in order to address them at the root. There is a responsibility on companies and leaders to eliminate the systemic issues leading to burnout so healthier and more productive workforces can be cultivated. Dr. Laura's expertise in organizational psychology shines a light on how this might be accomplished. “... basically burnout is a result of suboptimal working conditions. Too often we'll put the blame on the individual and we'll say, well, that individual, that person, they're just not coping very well with the workload. Or maybe they have a lot going on in their personal lives, and that's why they're burnt out. That's not actually the case. When we look at burnout, we have to put a lot of weight into the workplace situation that the person is finding themselves in ... ” Dr. LauraNote: If you wish to see the images Dr. Laura references, this episode can also be found on her YouTube channel here.About Dr. Laura:Bringing nearly 25 years of expertise as an Industrial/Organizational and Career Psychologist and pioneer in the future of work, Dr. Laura helps organizations evolve their cultures, and leaders and employees to thrive in their work and lives.She shares her expertise through keynote speaking, the Where Work Meets LifeTM podcast, strategic career coaching, and writing articles and books.Resources:Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveFor more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingSynthesis Psychology
Dr. Laura welcomes guest Carolyn Stern, President and CEO of EI Experience and author of The Emotionally Strong Leader, to the show for a conversation about emotional intelligence in leaders. Carolyn is an emotional intelligence and leadership development expert who discusses her belief that everyone needs an education in how to communicate and resolve conflict when emotional, especially those in leadership roles. Carolyn relates personal examples of how she learned to control her emotions to find the strength to communicate clearly and get her job done under stress. She explains how having emotions and being emotional is different, why emotions and feelings are not bad experiences if we can manage our responses to them, and how to identify our triggers so we can be on top of them. Dr. Laura explores how Carolyn's book offers an emotional intelligence learning process for readers to take part in and what those key steps look like. Emotional intelligence is not taught in schools but it's a vital skill for everyone to develop in life, something that will assist not only leaders but anyone in managing healthy communication and relationships.“... I think that the bottom line is our emotions are incredibly powerful. I think we overvalue positive emotions and undervalue negative emotions, but you and I both know they both provide gifts. Every emotion tells you something.” Carolyn SternAbout Carolyn Stern: Carolyn Stern is the President and CEO of EI Experience—an executive leadership development and emotional intelligence training firm. She is a certified Emotional Intelligence and Leadership Development Expert, professional speaker, award-winning author, and university professor.Since launching her book, The Emotionally Strong Leader: An Inside-Out Journey to Transformational Leadership, Carolyn has quickly gained acclaim following her appearances on The Social, CTV Your Morning, Daytime Chicago, and Global TV. Her book was awarded the Axiom Book Award for Best Business Book in 2023 in the leadership category and the 2022 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Award in the career category.She has also been featured in various media outlets across the globe, including Forbes, Fast Company, The European Business Review, The Globe and Mail, and Inc.com.Carolyn's emotional intelligence courses and modules have been adopted by top universities, and she has trained over 35,000 business leaders across the continent in highly regarded corporations.Resources:Website: CarolynStern.com“The Emotionally Strong Leader: An Inside-Out Journey to Transformational Leadership” by Carolyn Stern“Dare to Lead” by Brené BrownDare to Lead with Brené Brown podcastLearn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveFor more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingSynthesis Psychology
Dr. Laura welcomes guest Kaleem Clarkson, CEO of Blend Me, Inc., to the show to talk about the importance of remote work. Blend Me, Inc. is a consultancy that helps small businesses transform into remote or hybrid-remote workplaces. Kaleen is a passionate advocate for remote work and his conversation with Dr. Laura reveals why.Kaleem reminds us that at the start of the pandemic much of the working world went remote in just a month. He points to that as being one of the best examples of business leaders' ability to transform and be agile. But now, with a push to return to the office like before, he says leaders are falling into what he calls “leadership nostalgia”. Kaleem and Dr. Laura discuss how leaders are afraid of what the future holds and back away from remote-hybrid work because what they know is comforting. Kaleem explains how he became passionate about remote work, why office buildings are still vacant, and his desire for vacant buildings to become residential assets. The discussion sheds light on why we shouldn't move backwards away from the remote work ground we've gained.“… leaders love the way things used to be. That's what they knew, and I've been trying to gain a lot more empathy. I think that's one thing, humility, a little more humility. A little more empathy for some of these leaders because they don't know any other way. You know, that's how they moved up the ranks. They went to the golf course, they played golf. They were the chummy person in the office a lot of times, like that's how they were able to get ahead and that's all they know.” Kaleem ClarksonAbout Kaleem Clarkson:Kaleem is a husband, father, remote work advocate, and speaker. He is the Chief Operating Officer of Blend Me, Inc, a fractional people operations consultancy that helps startups and small businesses transform into high-functioning remote or hybrid-remote workplaces by improving the remote employee experience.He has been featured in Harvard Business Review, CNBC, Fortune Magazine, named to LinkedIn's Top 10 Voices in Remote Work, listed as one of the top 15 Remote Work Advocates by the All-American Speakers Bureau and named as a 2023 Top Remote Work Influencer by Remote.com. Kaleem has presented at South by Southwest, Transform HR, Make-A-Wish Foundation and has shared the stage alongside leadership from companies such as Google, United Airlines, Facebook, Visa, and HP. Kaleem is passionate about work-life integration and the remote employee experience.Resources:Website: BlendMeInc.comWebsite: RemotelylOne.com Kaleem Clarkson on LinkedInHow I Built This with Guy Raz podcastHarvard Business ReviewSmartless with Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, & Will Arnett podcastLearn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveFor more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingSynthesis Psychology
Dr. Laura welcomes guest Michelle K Johnston, executive coach and author of “The Seismic Shift in Leadership”, to the show to talk about how leadership has changed. The old way of leading with an iron fist, using command and control, is no longer how great leaders operate. Leaders today need to embrace connection, which is the focus of Michelle's book.Sharing personal stories in “The Seismic Shift in Leadership” connects Michelle with readers in much the same way as she urges leaders to connect with their teams. In order to reach people, we first have to know who we truly are and be comfortable in our own skins. Once we have that insight, we can connect authentically with others. Michelle shares her growth stories with Dr. Laura and speaks about why leaders need to listen more than talk and how coaches can foster healthy workplaces. Leadership should inspire trust and build connection, and Michelle's advice on how to achieve that is truly valuable for both work and life wellness. “… I realized that connection was key and I wanted to explore more about connecting. And that's what the seismic shift in leadership is about … the new leader today who is truly effective has an ability to meaningfully connect with their teams and to inspire them and to motivate. But first you have to step back and make sure you're connected with yourself.” Michelle JohnstonAbout Michelle K. Johnston:Dr. Michelle K. Johnston is a management professor, executive coach, and leadership expert who is the Clifton A. Morvant Distinguished Professor in Business at Loyola University New Orleans. Her first book, The Seismic Shift in Leadership, The Seismic Shift in Leadership: How to Thrive in a New Era of Connection, is now an Amazon bestseller. She was recently named A Woman of the Year by CityBusiness and one of the most influential New Orleanians.Michelle is a celebrated keynote speaker presenting at conferences and events nationwide. She received her Ph.D. in Communication from Louisiana State University and was named to the prestigious 100 Coaches Group, which consists of the top executive coaches worldwide.For speaking engagements, media, and more, visit michellekjohnston.com.Resources:Website: MichelleKJohnston.comMichelle on LinkedIn“The Seismic Shift in Leadership: How to Thrive in a New Era of Connection” by Michelle K. Johnston“The Gifts of Imperfection” by Brene Brown“What Got You Here Won't Get You There” by Marshall GoldsmithDr. Ruth Gotian weekly show “Optimizing Success”“The Success Factor” by Ruth GotianLearn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveFor more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingSynthesis Psychology
Dr. Laura's 25 years of experience in career psychology informs this episode's discussion about career development trends and how you can take charge of your career. Dr. Laura shares how she chose to specialize in career development when she obtained her Master's in Counseling Psychology and how that led her to found Canada Career Counseling.In referencing the Psychological Contract: A Paradigm Shift, Dr. Laura breaks down how the old contract for obtaining and maintaining a career has given way to an entirely new contract and what that means. Defining how we individually see success is now as important as evaluating exactly what we want to do with our time. A great deal of our career satisfaction comes from understanding who we are: what our skills and strengths are, what values we hold, and our interests and passions. Dr. Laura explains how these things shape us and why they are vital to our personal and professional fulfillment and growth.“Covid brought on a lot of people reconsidering: what do I want to do? … And do I want a job that feels meaningless and doesn't give me purpose? Or do I want to have a job that I feel makes some sort of difference to humanity? A difference in the world, whether that's helping others, helping the environment, whether it's innovating to make our lives easier, whether it's exciting technology development. Different strokes for different folks. But it's important to understand this great re-evaluation is still happening and the quiet quitting movement is where people are feeling less attached to work. They're feeling [that] maybe what they're doing is no longer meaningful and they're figuring out a higher purpose.” Dr. LauraNote: If you wish to see the images Dr. Laura references, this episode can also be found on her YouTube channel here.About Dr. Laura:Bringing nearly 25 years of expertise as an Industrial/Organizational and Career Psychologist and pioneer on the future of work, Dr. Laura helps organizations evolve their cultures, and leaders and employees to thrive in their work and lives.She shares her expertise through keynote speaking, the Where Work Meets LifeTM podcast, strategic career coaching, and writing articles and books.Resources:Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveFor more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingSynthesis Psychology
Dr. Laura welcomes guest Janine Rogan, CPA and Founder/CEO of the Wealth Building Academy, to the show to talk about financial equity and her new book “The Pink Tax”. Janine's mission is to empower women to confidently grow their wealth through financial feminism, and her insight is invaluable not just to women but to everyone invested in financial equity.In “The Pink Tax”, Janine writes about the impacts of the systems we've set up in society on certain groups of people. She uses the book to educate and inform women about the financial industry and her company, the Wealth Building Academy, also has an online investing course geared towards women. Dr. Laura and Janine address salary negotiations, how financial planners are compensated, and three personas we can take on to impact change. Finances are an aspect of well-being as they affect not only our physical state but our emotional and mental wellness too. This episode shines a light on the need for financial equity and some ways to go about achieving it.“I think there are two key areas that I really want women to take away when it comes to their own personal finances … number one is negotiation. I think women under-negotiate. We know that every $5,000 that you negotiate in your early career years, in your early salaries, can translate to over $750,000 in wages over the course of your career. So we know negotiating is important. And it doesn't always have to just be negotiating salary. It can be negotiating time off. It can be negotiating work from home.” Janine RoganAbout Janine Rogan:Janine Rogan, CPA, is a passionate keynote and TEDx speaker. She is the Founder and CEO of The Wealth Building Academy Inc. and an award-winning CPA. Her mission is to educate and empower women to confidently and profitably grow their wealth, through financial feminism - financial equality for all. Janine has been featured internationally in a number of publications and has delivered keynotes to thousands of individuals and companies around the world. She currently sits on the CPA Alberta Education Foundation board, the board of FESA, and the planning committee of the AICPA Global Women's Leadership Summit. Janine is pursuing her Master's in Economic Sustainability through the University of Torrens in Australia. In spring 2023, Rogan released her debut book “The Pink Tax: Dismantling A Financial System Designed To Keep Women Broke” published by Page Two Books. In it, Janine explores the hidden ways that women are held back in our society—from overpriced women's themed items to the motherhood penalty. It debuted at #1 on Amazon for Feminist Theory books. Janine is a University of Alberta alumni, born and raised in Edmonton, Canada. She is currently based out of Calgary where she lives with her husband Andrew, son Theodore, and pup Lazer. Resources:Website: TheWealthBuildingAcademy.comWebsite: JanineRogan.com“The Pink Tax: Dismantling A Financial System Designed To Keep Women Broke” by Janine RoganPink Tax PodcastJanine Rogan on LinkedIn“Say Less, Get More” by Fotini IconomopoulosWebsite: The Trauma of Money“Cultish” by Amanda Montell“Wordslut” by Amanda MontellGoal Digger Podcast by Jenna KutcherOnline Marketing Made Easy Podcast by Amy PorterfieldLearn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveFor more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingSynthesis Psychology
Dr. Laura welcomes guest Samra Zafar - founder and CEO of Brave Beginnings, best-selling author of “A Good Wife”, and internationally renowned speaker - to the show to talk about the courage to make big life changes. Samra herself made a bold and difficult life change when she escaped an abusive marriage, as detailed in her book, and she offers insight gained from that experience. Samra shares her story with Dr. Laura. She talks about why she's pursuing her MD after a career in finance and how she has managed the pivot into medicine after escaping her arranged teenage marriage with two children. Samra addresses the idea of courage as not being the absence of fear but the willingness to do the thing even when you're terrified. Dr. Laura and Samra have a revealing discussion about believing in yourself, the psychological damage of abuse, why she wrote “A Good Wife”, and the impact telling her story has had across the world. It's an inspirational episode with a message for everyone.“It's very, very natural to feel those feelings of fear and imposter syndrome and all those things. So courage is not the absence of those things. Courage is, Yes, I am afraid right now. Yes, I'm terrified. Yes, this feels scary. But this means something to me and I care about this, so I'm going to do it anyway. Courage is trusting in your ability to figure things out.” Samra ZafarAbout Samra Zafar:Samra Zafar is an award-winning internationally renowned speaker, bestselling author, and educator for equity, mental health, and human rights. Samra is currently pursuing an MD at McMaster's DeGroote School of Medicine with the purpose of becoming a psychiatrist promoting inclusive mental health.She is the founder and CEO of Brave Beginnings, a national charity supporting women in building lives of freedom after escaping abuse and oppression.She has been recognized twice among the Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada. She is also named among the Top 25 Most Inspirational Women in Canada, and Top 25 Canadian Immigrants. She is the 2021 recipient of the Desmond Parker Outstanding Young Alumni Award at University of Toronto, in recognition of her work to advance human rights. She served as one of the youngest alumni governors for the University of Toronto. She currently serves as a board member for Women's College Hospital Foundation and a Celebrated Ambassador for Plan International Canada.Samra's book, “A Good Wife: Escaping The Life I Never Chose”, based on her journey of escaping an abusive child marriage to pursue her education and shed light on gender-based oppression, is an international bestseller, and is being adapted for television. Her work has impacted millions and has been extensively featured in national and global media.Resources:Website: SamraZafar.comSamra Zafar on LinkedIn“A Good Wife: Escaping the Life I Never Chose” by Samra Zafar and Meg MastersBrave Beginnings charity“Good Morning, I Love You” by Shauna Shapiro, PhDLearn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveFor more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingSynthesis Psychology
Dr. Laura welcomes productivity catalyst, highly sensitive executive coach, and international speaker Clare Kumar to the show to discuss designing workspaces for neurodivergent productivity. Clare has a wealth of insight into how spaces can best suit inclusion and differing work needs.Dr. Laura and Clare Kumar talk about neurodiversity and exactly what sorts of behaviors and traits encompass neurodiversity. Clare explains the needs that often accompany neurodiversity, why hybrid and flexible work arrangements are so important, and how we are lacking in organizational training around the impacts of our physical spaces on wellbeing. The conversation is a welcome look into neurodiverse needs and ties into Dr. Laura's continuing study of flexible work situations and what we all need for well-being and productivity.“What we've seen collectively is the recognition that people can work effectively from home and that a large majority of people are fiercely clinging to the ability to be working from home and the autonomy that comes with that. So, yes, I think it's highly advantageous for the neurodivergent population, but really most humans want a degree of customizing their work experience and having some autonomy to do that, whether it be time, space, how you're doing the work, all of that has a part to play in people showing up at their best.” Clare KumarAbout Clare Kumar:Productivity catalyst, highly sensitive executive coach, and international speaker Clare Kumar examines the intersection of productivity and inclusivity – paying attention to both being and doing. She inspires individuals to design for well-being and cultivate sustainable performance while avoiding exhaustion and burnout. Clare encourages leaders to design inclusive performances to invite the richest contributions from every member of their team. This is a topic Clare explores with innovators as host of the Happy Space Podcast.Clare draws on a diverse corporate career that took her from Toronto to Tokyo and Montreal, with equal experience as an entrepreneur. She is a sought-after media contributor to news and lifestyle shows including the Huffington Post, Fast Company, the Globe and Mail, CBC Radio, The Social, and the Marilyn Denis Show. Whether speaking to one person or thousands, Clare loves inspiring massive shifts by inviting you to pay attention to little things that make a big difference. She welcomes all highly sensitive professionals as well as those who want to love and support them to find community in the Happy Space Pod.Resources:Website: ClareKumar.comHappy Space PodcastHuberman Lab PodcastSamer Hattar, PhD“The Highly Sensitive Person” by Elaine N. Aron, PhD“Sensitive” by Jenn Granneman and Andre SoloLearn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveFor more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingSynthesis Psychology
Dr. Laura reflects on the just-finished Season 3 of Where Work Meets LifeTM, and the themes and highlights she explored throughout key episodes. She looks ahead to the upcoming Season 4 and shares the topics she wants to revisit from new angles and which new ideas she will examine in the coming episodes.Dr. Laura addresses hot topics like AI, hybrid and flexible work, and toxic workplaces and bosses, which she has been talking about recently and wants to explore in more depth in coming episodes. The idea of nuanced humans, embracing our intuition, heart, and inner wisdom in making career decisions, is something she cherishes discussing, as well as the brain, the neuroscience behind what we do and choose. Season 3 brought many enlightening episodes that each investigate different aspects of wellbeing, workplace and career. Dr. Laura highlights a few key guests and conversations that are worth revisiting for inspiration and advice. Thank you all for being on the journey so far and join Dr. Laura for even more insight and knowledge in Season 4. “...I think that intuition is an important element of our work and our lives. I would love to continue talking about that when it comes to thriving humans. And creating meaning and fulfillment in our lives is super important because it is easy to get consumed by fear and worry and constant thoughts that are churning in our heads, and to have difficulty grounding and finding purpose and meaning in this life.” Dr. LauraAbout Dr. Laura:Bringing nearly 25 years of expertise as an Industrial/Organizational and Career Psychologist and pioneer on the future of work, Dr. Laura helps organizations evolve their cultures, and leaders and employees to thrive in their work and lives.She shares her expertise through keynote speaking, the Where Work Meets LifeTM podcast, strategic career coaching, and writing articles and books.Resources:“The Impact of AI on Tomorrow's Job Market” by Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett on LinkedInEpisode 62 | The Gift of Intuition in Our Work and LivesEpisode 41 | Too Bad to Stay, Too Good to Leave: Making Purposeful Career PivotsEpisode 42 | Career Fulfillment: Making or Breaking our Work-Life WellnessEpisode 57 | The Power of Exercise to Optimize your Brain and Mental WellnessEpisode 61 | Vitamin N: The Power of Nature in Work/Life WellnessEpisode 64 | The Generous Workhome: Boosting Your Wellbeing and ProductivityEpisode 47 | Tragedy as Our Teacher: Finding Silver Linings with Detective SweetEpisode 48 | Unlikely Connections, Affirmations, and the Power to Make a DifferenceEpisode 54 | Special Episode on The LiLoHia Project: with guests Gerald Auger and Sass JordanLearn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveFor more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingSynthesis Psychology
Dr. Laura records a special episode live in Bruges, Belgium, with guest Philip Vanhoutte for a tour of the Generous Workhome. Philip explains how the vital elements of nature and wellbeing were distilled into six essentials for work health, and how those six essentials were built into the Generous Workhome to create an optimal, productive environment.Philip drew from research into the value of pulling nature into daily life and the concepts of biophilic design to create the blueprint for the Generous Workhome. His theory is encapsulated by the acronym EASI, which is defined as Energizing being the key to driving Authoring, Sharing, and Interacting. As Philip guides Dr. Laura through the prototype Workhome studio spaces, it is evident that elements of sound blocking, nature, movement, adjustable lighting, and air temperature have all been carefully curated. Dr. Laura learns more about how EASI needs are woven into a functional work layout, the intention behind every choice, and how the outdoors can be brought into daily life. The YouTube version of this episode will enable viewers to truly see the Generous Workhome, aspects of which can be applied into our own work environments.“In here you are hearing the sounds of a forest at this very moment. It's a biophilic sound which has no repetition or pattern in it. So it's not twice the same bird that you're hearing chirping. And that puts people at ease. What human beings and animals need is the sounds of water, wind, and birds. If they hear these things, they relax.” Philip VanhoutteAbout Philip Vanhoutte:Leveraging a rewarding international career in the ITC industry, Philip Vanhoutte's passion for personal productivity tools and communication & collaboration solutions morphed into a singular purpose: accelerating the realization of human potential.Philip champions the adoption of Smarter Working: a holistic human centered work design practice that unifies space, technology, and people disciplines. He co-authored The Smarter Working Manifesto, a definitive guide on how to shape the best work style. In his quest for health and joy at work he learned that Nature Deficit Disorder has produced highest ever burnouts, work induced sickness, and a struggling workforce. He campaigned for more nature at work with Ozadi at SXSW in Austin and GCUC in Denver.Philip graduated from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Belgium with a combined Applied Economics and Engineering degree and a major in Marketing. He started his career at Accenture Consulting, to continue with key change management roles at Engie and Wang Laboratories. In the second part of his IT career, he grew the MCI WorldCom International business, became Chief Marketing Officer at Sony-Ericsson Mobile Communications to finish a blue-chip career as SrVP and MD of Plantronics (now part of HP) Europe and Africa.Since the Financial Crisis of 2008, Philip became a strong advocate of Agile Working with a passion for Human Dimensions of Organisations. He is known for transformational projects in award-winning offices which are acoustic temples and benchmarks for the biophilic built environment. He has advised Leesman, Veldhoen+Company and Work EvOHlution, and provided support to the founding of the Osservatorio Smart Working at the Politecnico di Milano.Resources:Philip Vanhoutte on LinkedInWebsite: https://smarterworking.io/“The Smarter Working Manifesto” by Guy Clapperton and Philip Vanhoutte “14 Patterns of Biophilic Design” by Terrapin Bright GreenEASINot A DeskMoodsonic Aera home fragrance Savanna Studio“Forest Bathing” by Dr. Qing Li“Spring Cannot Be Cancelled” by David Hockney and Martin GayfordLearn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveFor more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingSynthesis Psychology
Dr. Laura welcomes guest Randi Seiff, President and Chief Creative Officer of Treun, to talk about how Treun is bringing sustainability and philanthropy into luxury fashion. Randi has been in the fashion and lifestyle industry for over 30 years and values the ability to align brands with social good.Randi and Creative Founder Doug McClain met at the start of COVID, and from their alignment on philanthropy through fashion, Treun was born. Randi shares the statistic that out of 150 billion ready to wear garments annually sold, 30% and can end up in landfills! Treun seeks to reduce that waste by focusing on made to order and made to measure garments, removing inventory and poorly fit returns from the equation. Randi and Dr. Laura discuss how Treun focuses on use of natural fibers in the fabrics they make, using deadstock, eliminating plastic packaging, and Treun's commitment to support a different foundation or charity quarterly. Through live events they seek to bring awareness to and raise funds for each charity. This conversation highlights how fashion can be re-thought with the needs of the planet and people in mind, reducing waste and harm while feeling and doing good.“... it goes back to using sustainability as a lens through which you look at everything… and sustainability, for me, it's a vehicle for product innovation and value creation, and that can be applied to any industry. Certainly you can look at every touchpoint and try and think how you can do this differently; just because it's been done that way for a zillion years doesn't mean that's the right way for now. As we have learned with the fashion system right now, we know the industry is broken and we're slowly but surely spreading the word to get other companies on board.” Randi SeiffAbout Randi Seiff:Randi Seiff is a Creative and Strategist in one, with 30+ years of expertise in fashion & lifestyle, specializing in design, branding, & product development, building purpose-driven brands from concept to completion. Randi brings a unique perspective where marketing, brand, and design work together to streamline a cohesive brand experience. Design-driven and strategy-led, with a mission to find solutions towards circularity, she uses design-thinking as a methodology for creative problem-solving to design entire brand experiences, connecting sustainability and purpose at every touchpoint - from design to supply chain to sales. A holistic approach where every detail matters and is a deliberate piece of the overall experience ensures the customer, brand, product, marketing, and experience authentically connect. Tapping into a shared sense of community and purpose, Randi leverages collaborations for product innovation and strategic partnerships, and with empathy, entrepreneurial spirit, and imagination, communicates the story to bring the brand's personality to life….a triple win-win-win….for people, planet and profit.Resources:Randi Seiff Website: randiseiffdesign.comRandi Seiff on LinkedInRandi Seiff on InstagramTreun Website: treunhouse.comTreun InstagramTreun LinkedIn“Tough Titties: On Living Your Best Life When You're the F-ing Worst” by Laura BelgraySeth's Blog by Seth GodinLearn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveFor more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingSynthesis Psychology
Dr. Laura hosts another solo episode to discuss the topic of intuition. A topic she is passionate about, she defines intuition as a gut instinct, feeling something is off, or a hunch that something isn't right. Our intuition is as valuable to our lives as science and data, and Dr. Laura explains why.Our inner voice is an accumulation of so many experiences we've had as a human being and it needs to be taken into account. The common perception that our intuition is “fluffy” or just “emotional” discounts our natural instincts and inner knowing. Dr. Laura explains some of the science behind intuition, the ability to sense external cues that stems from our spinal cord and guts, and why learning to factor intuition into our daily lives gives us extra insight into decision making. Intuition is a gift; we should be conscious of honing it to the benefit of our work and lives.“We all make decisions that we end up regretting. But I want to encourage you to turn that regret into learning. Say, what did I learn from that for next time that I'm going to put into action so that I can better trust my gut? Because again, the concrete data is important, but it does not always tell us the full story of what lies ahead.” Dr. LauraAbout Dr. Laura:Bringing nearly 25 years of expertise as an Industrial/Organizational and Career Psychologist and pioneer on the future of work, Dr. Laura helps organizations evolve their cultures, and leaders and employees to thrive in their work and lives.She shares her expertise through keynote speaking, the Where Work Meets LifeTM podcast, strategic career coaching, and writing articles and books.Resources:Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveFor more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingSynthesis Psychology
Dr. Laura welcomes guests Laura Cohen, counsellor and founder of her own nature therapy practice, and Philip Vanhoutte, ITC industry professional and author of “The Smarter Working Manifesto”, to the show to talk about the power of Vitamin N, nature. Both Laura and Philip are champions of the benefits of a connection with nature at work and in life.Laura Cohen, who works with Dr. Laura through Canada Career Counselling, details studies that show people to be happiest in coastal environments and outdoors. She also cites the profound benefits of nature for those living with ADHD. Philip Vanhoutte is a proponent of Biophilic Design, which includes identifying fourteen patterns of nature that would ideally be included in a building to directly impact the wellness of individuals within. The ways in which nature improves our work lives and overall health are compelling and it becomes apparent that we need to set ourselves up to maximize our interactions with nature. Laura and Philip share their individual expertise on the transformative power of nature and how they each advise incorporating more of the outdoors into our daily lives. “There's also this idea that I think a lot of the time we see nature as this thing that's separate from us or that it's a commodity to fulfill us and make us feel good… it reduces our stress hormones and we see it as something that's beneficial. But the next level is kind of understanding the reciprocity and how do I give back to nature, and developing that sort of deeper relationship with nature.” Laura CohenAbout Laura Cohen:Originally from Montreal, Laura is now based in Halifax with a 10 minute walk to the ocean. For the last 6 years, Laura has worked as a counsellor in universities, Employee Assistance Programs, and in private practice, including her own nature therapy practice and Canada Career Counselling. Laura holds a Master's degree in Counselling Psychology from McGill University and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications with a minor in Psychology from Concordia University. Laura has been a guest lecturer for organizations such as Dalhousie University, Concordia University, Canadian Counselling & Psychotherapy Association presenting on the mental health benefits of nature as well as, offers individual nature-informed therapy and outdoor groups therapeutic services for women and children for an embodied experience. She is also an intuitive, creative, and finds herself exploring the intersection of psychospiritual concepts and western psychology in her work as a nature therapist guiding her clients through the lens of transpersonal psychology, polyvagal theory, creative arts, and other modalities like Acceptance & commitment Therapy (ACT), Internal Family Systems. About Philip Vanhoutte:Leveraging a rewarding international career in the ITC industry, Philip Vanhoutte's passion for personal productivity tools and communication & collaboration solutions morphed into a singular purpose: accelerating the realization of human potential.Philip champions the adoption of Smarter Working: a holistic human centred work design practice that unifies space, technology, and people disciplines. He co-authored The Smarter Working Manifesto, a definitive guide on how to shape the best work style. In his quest for health and joy at work he learned that Nature Deficit Disorder has produced highest ever burnouts, work induced sickness, and a struggling workforce. He campaigned for more nature at work with Ozadi at SXSW in Austin and GCUC in Denver.Philip graduated from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Belgium with a combined Applied Economics and Engineering degree and a major in Marketing. He started his career at Accenture Consulting, to continue with key change management roles at Engie and Wang Laboratories. In the second part of his IT career, he grew the MCI WorldCom International business, became Chief Marketing Officer at Sony-Ericsson Mobile Communications to finish a blue-chip career as SrVP and MD of Plantronics (now part of HP) Europe and Africa.Since the Financial Crisis of 2008, Philip became a strong advocate of Agile Working with a passion for Human Dimensions of Organisations. He is known for transformational projects in award-winning offices which are acoustic temples and benchmarks for the biophilic built environment. He has advised Leesman, Veldhoen+Company and Work EvOHlution, and provided support to the founding of the Osservatorio Smart Working at the Politecnico di Milano.Resources:Philip Vanhoutte on LinkedInWebsite: https://smarterworking.io/“The Smarter Working Manifesto” by Guy Clapperton and Philip Vanhoutte Laura Cohen on LinkedIn Website: https://lauracohen.org/Terrapin Bright Green PublicationsBill Browning, Founding Partner at Terrapin “Braiding Sweetgrass” by Robin Wall Kimmerer “Sound Business” by Julian Treasure Moodsonic Aera home fragrance “Hello, Goodbye: 75 Rituals for Times of Loss, Celebration, and Change” by Day Schildkret and Elena Brower “SoulCraft” by Bill Plotkin “Returning the Gift” PDF by Robin KimmererLearn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveFor more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingSynthesis Psychology
Dr. Laura welcomes Tina Varughese, keynote speaker and one of Ignite magazine's top ten notable speakers in Canada, to the show to talk about unconscious bias at work and the human side of this hot button topic. Tina has been speaking on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for many years, and unconscious bias was a natural addition to her keynotes as she recognized the critical importance of understanding it.Tina Varughese defines unconscious bias as “learned behaviors, attitudes and beliefs that sit in our unconscious state”. They are not things we are both with, but things we absorb over time. She identifies seven key areas in which we hold unconscious bias: gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, age, weight, and disability (physical and emotional). Tina and Dr. Laura discuss how biases in each of these areas affect our work and workplaces, how we are largely unaware of our unconscious biases, and why leaders need to act on unconscious bias. Tina's candor and insight shed light on things we may not have considered, things that unconsciously affect our interactions with colleagues and our experiences at work.“I think the most common, or the ones that probably come into play in the workplace the most, would be racial bias, gender bias, parental or maternal bias, and affinity bias. Affinity bias being the one that's the most difficult to recognize in the workplace because we'll say things like, ‘Oh, she'll make a great culture fit', or ‘he won't make a great culture fit', when in essence, that might actually be our affinity bias at play. And that's why we really need to interrupt that, because at the end of the day we might be screening someone out when we could have screened them in, and they might have been a great organizational fit…” Tina VarugheseAbout Tina Varughese:An Indo-Canadian daughter of first generation parents, Varughese says her cultural background allows her to find “the best of both worlds” and shed light, knowledge, and, most importantly, universal humor into the changing workplace. Her highly entertaining, interactive, and practical keynotes leave attendees inspired to think, behave, act, and communicate with intention.For fifteen years Varughese worked with immigrants in her roles with the Province of Alberta's immigration office. She also ran her own successful relocation and settlement firm. Varughese draws from her experiences as an entrepreneur, mother, daughter, wife, sister, and friend when delivering keynotes on diversity and inclusion — topics that resonate with her both professionally and personally.Varughese has been named one of “Canada's Top 10 Notable Speakers” by Ignite Magazine for her ability to break down barriers and create a comfortable, inclusive, and fun space for attendees. She was the face of diversity, literally, having been chosen to participate in Dove's campaign for Real Beauty, representing beauty in diversity.The past-president of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (Calgary), Varughese is a contributing writer for the Human Resource Institute of Alberta's Network magazine, Calgary Real Estate News, and Home to Home magazine. She was also profiled in Alberta's Venture Magazine.Resources:Website: https://tworksforyou.ca/Tina Varughese on LinkedInTina Varughese on Twitter“The Leader's Guide to Unconscious Bias” by Pamela Fuller, Anne Chow, and Mark Murphy“Sway: Unravelling Unconcious Bias” by Pragya AgarwalLearn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.liveFor more resources, look into Dr. Laura's organizations: Canada Career CounsellingSynthesis Psychology
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