The WorkWell Podcast™

Many organizations have perks and programs designed to enhance employee wellness, but these efforts often miss the mark in actually boosting worker well-being. On this episode, Jen Fisher talks with Dr. Richard Safeer, Chief Medical Director of employee health and well-being for Johns Hopkins Medicine and author of A Cure for the Common Company: A Well-Being Prescription for a Happier, Healthier, and More Resilient Workforce about the importance of truly building well-being into the core of an organization through peer support, leader engagement, setting norms, shared values, and more.

Time is a precious resource, yet we live in a culture that constantly makes us feel like we never have enough of it. With only 24 hours in a day, countless distractions, and growing to-do lists, how can we make sure we are spending our time on the things that matter and give us joy? On this episode, Jen Fisher, talks with Cassie Holmes, award-winning teacher and researcher, professor of at UCLA's Anderson School of Management, and best-selling author of the book, Happier Hour, about how being intentional about your time can make you happier.

Anxiety is a daily struggle for many. In fact, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 40 million Americans also live with it. To truly manage anxiety long term, you need to address your holistic well-being and better understand the root cause of your anxiety. On this episode, Jen Fisher talks with Dr. Ellen Vora, board-certified psychiatrist, acupuncturist, yoga teacher, and author of The Anatomy of Anxiety, about considering the whole person when addressing mental health.

'Reading' Emotion in Emails & Other Ways Our Brains Mislead Us with Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett

In this episode of The WorkWell PodcastTM, Jen Fisher speaks with Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett, University Distinguished Professor of Psychology at Northeastern University with appointments at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, and author of "How Emotions Are Made" and "Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain."

Episode Highlights:

• Why we can't actually "read" emotions in faces, voices, or body language
• The science behind your brain's "body budget" and how it affects workplace performance
• How social stress can impact your metabolism by up to 104 calories
• Why trust in coworkers and management significantly affects productivity
• The truth about psychological safety and why some discomfort is necessary for growth
• How to handle emotions in virtual environments and email communications
• Understanding the difference between guessing and reading emotions in workplace interactions
• Practical strategies for making yourself more predictable to reduce others' stress

Quotable Moment:

Resources:

Learn more about Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett's groundbreaking research on emotions and the brain at her website

Books: "How Emotions Are Made" and "Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain"

We often overlook one of the most important relationships we have in our life. The relationship with ourselves. On this episode, Jen Fisher talks with Nataly Kogan, emotional fitness expert, founder and CEO of Happier, and author of “The Awesome Human Project: Break Free from Daily Burnout, Struggle Less, and Thrive More in Work and Life”, about how to look at ourselves and others through the lens of our awesome humanity by strengthening five emotional fitness skills - acceptance, gratitude, self-care, intentional kindness, and compassion, and the bigger why.