Episodes

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    This episode is sponsored by Workplace Money Coach.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    This episode is sponsored by Workplace Money Coach.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod
    To join the Redesigning Wellness Community visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rdwellnesscommunity/

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

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

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

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

    For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod
    To join the Redesigning Wellness Community visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rdwellnesscommunity/

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

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

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

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

    For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod
    To join the Redesigning Wellness Community visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rdwellnesscommunity/

  • Does the stress and anxiety of the #COVID19 crisis have you unsure of how to communicate with employees?

    During the heightened stress and anxiety of the COVID-19 crisis, it is more important than ever to have clear, concise, easily consumable information offered from organizations to employees. Today’s guest, Wendy Reizer, draws on over 20 years of experience in marketing communications consulting to break down meaningful, palatable information specific to the challenges of communicating during this national pandemic.

    Wendy’s specialty is creating resonate brands, campaigns, and content that align with people’s values and inspire them to take charge of their health and happiness. She has a specific passion for inspirational wellness marketing and helping to brand wellness programs.

    In this episode, Wendy discusses all things COVID communication. She shares a low stress, simple strategy, as well as what things to avoid during COVID communications.

    Wendy explains how to strike a balance between too much and too little communication and how to craft pieces for both front line and work from home employees to create a sense of togetherness without breeding resentment between the two.

    Wendy brings up a few examples of good pandemic communication she’s seen recently, and finally leaves listeners with a tangible tip to use in crafting their own communications during this unprecedented time.

    For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod
    To join the Redesigning Wellness Community visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rdwellnesscommunity/

  • With so much of the wellness world focused on weight loss as the key to health, how is it possible that the science suggests otherwise? Christy Harrison, registered dietitian and author of Anti-Diet: Reclaim Your Time, Money, Well-Being and Happiness Through Intuitive Eating, believes the obsession with diet culture overshadows the actual research proving that weight loss is unsustainable and actively harmful to individual wellbeing.

    Christy seeks to turn what you think you know about health and wellness upside down while taking on diet culture and the multi-billion-dollar industries that profit from it. Her podcast Food Psych is now one of iTunes top 100 health podcasts.

    In today’s episode, Christy shares what drove her to write her book, including some of her own struggles making peace with food. She explains the science behind the health at every size (HAES) model, and how current research and funding are being swayed by diet culture.

    Christy discusses the health implications of weight stigma, as well as non-stigmatizing language to use. She disputes the common belief that obesity is unacceptable and instead offers that weight is similar to an inborn characteristic like race or height. Finally, she leaves us with a practical application to start shifting the paradigm.

    For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod
    To join the Redesigning Wellness Community visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rdwellnesscommunity/

  • As wellness professionals, we are constantly seeking ways to increase our impact and influence within our organizations. Today, Jen Arnold, our host and founder of Redesigning Wellness and Rebecca Johnson, cofounder of ViDL Solutions seek to jumpstart your path to confidently bring your organization into the next generation of wellness all while building your credibility as a thought leader within your organization or with your client.

    In this webinar turned podcast, Jen and Rebecca discuss the 4 critical keys for more impact and influence, as well as high level ideas to get you thinking about what needs to change in the wellness industry and in your own organization.

    Rebecca discusses the importance of reframing the value proposition away from cost savings toward people development, shifting from offering incentives for change to creating the ideal conditions for change, and moving away from a weight focus of health to health regardless of size.

    Jen shares her personal experience with weight focused programs and their lack of sustained success. Lastly, she explores a few methods for connecting wellness programs to business priorities, and why this is vital to increasing influence and getting a spot at the table.

    For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod
    To join the Redesigning Wellness Community visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rdwellnesscommunity/

  • The current pandemic has forced many leaders and their teams around the world out of offices and into virtual workplaces. Many are trying to transition to working from home for the first time, while also managing a workspace that now includes their families as well as a slew of new technology.

    Thankfully, Mary Abbajay, president of Careerstone Group, is saving the day with a host of tips and tricks for both managers and employees on navigating these tough times.

    Mary is a sought after author, speaker, consultant, and trainer helping clients develop the strategies, skills, and sensibilities for success no matter what comes their way, resulting in people looking to her leadership during this unprecedented global crisis.

    In today’s episode, Mary touches on some things to consider as companies transition to working from home, as well as five foundational platforms that bosses should be setting up. She talks about possible traps that both managers and employees may experience while in a virtual workplace, like overworking, social isolation, and lack of trust that work is getting done.

    Mary shares tips for fostering connection in virtual teams such as virtual happy hour and daily team and one on one check-ins. She explains how conference calls can be less painful, and how her process of managing up still works in a virtual workplace. Finally, she leaves us with tangible action steps for both employees and wellness professionals.

    This episode is sponsored by Health Enhancement Systems (HES).

    I’m thrilled to announce HES is launching a new emotional well-being campaign called Work of Art on May 1. I’ve been anticipating the release of Work of Art for a while and I’m implementing it for a client later this year. Be sure to check it out at myWorkofArt.com.

    HES has agreed to award 1 FREE Work of Art implementation to a Redesigning Wellness podcast listener. This is the only place you can get the address and enter the random drawing, go to hesonline.com/jen and register.

    The winner will be announced Friday, May 1!

    Enter here for the Work of Art giveaway from Health Enhancement Systems

    For full show notes and links mentioned visit https://redesigningwellness.com/

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

  • The current COVID-19 health crisis has nearly everyone feeling some varying degree of anxiety. Today’s guest, Dr. Richa Bhatia, MD, board certified psychiatrist and American Psychiatric Association Fellow, is here to reassure us that anxiety during this time is completely normal, as lack of control and fear of the unknown are two of the biggest triggers to anxiety - the most common mental health condition among people.

    In today’s episode, Dr. Bhatia defines anxiety and discusses why a crisis such as COVID-19 exacerbates it. She shares a plethora of tips for self management and anxiety reduction, including self care, mindfulness practices, exercise, and staying connected, as well as how to tell when you might need professional help to get it under control.

    Dr. Bhatia talks about what organizations can do to support their employees during this time of increased anxiety, and offers a tangible tip that HR and wellness professionals can put into action. Finally, she shares a host of resources for anyone wanting to learn more.

    This episode is sponsored by Health Enhancement Systems (HES).

    I’m thrilled to announce HES is launching a new emotional well-being campaign called Work of Art on May 1. I’ve been anticipating the release of Work of Art for a while and I’m implementing it for a client later this year. Be sure to check it out at myWorkofArt.com.

    HES has agreed to award 1 FREE Work of Art implementation to a Redesigning Wellness podcast listener. This is the only place you can get the address and enter the random drawing, go to hesonline.com/jen and register.

    The winner will be announced Friday, May 1!

    Enter here for the Work of Art giveaway from Health Enhancement Systems

    For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod
    To join the Redesigning Wellness Community visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rdwellnesscommunity/

  • Organizations are much more like living bodies than the well-oiled machines that we so often imagine them to be. Helping leaders understand and utilize this difference is the life goal of today’s guest, Norman Wolfe, founder and CEO of Quantum Leaders.

    In his book The Living Organization, Norman draws on his 30 plus years of consulting and mentoring leaders to explain the core principles of how the world works and how it can be applied in businesses to create extraordinary impact and unleash the power of the human spirit.

    In this episode, Norman explains how his living organization model was born and gives us a walkthrough of its principles including the three fields of energy (activity, relationship, and context) and how the interaction of these three fields make up Wolfe’s Law.

    He takes a deeper dive through his thoughts on context and leverage, and how shifting the context is the key to making wellness an inextricable part of the organization rather than a non-essential add on. Lastly, he leaves wellness professionals with a tangible tip to start utilizing his model.

    This episode is sponsored by Health Enhancement Systems (HES).

    I’m thrilled to announce HES is launching a new emotional well-being campaign called Work of Art on May 1. I’ve been anticipating the release of Work of Art for a while and I’m implementing it for a client later this year. Be sure to check it out at myWorkofArt.com.

    HES has agreed to award 1 FREE Work of Art implementation to a Redesigning Wellness podcast listener. This is the only place you can get the address and enter the random drawing, go to hesonline.com/jen and register.

    The winner will be announced Friday, May 1!

    Enter here for the Work of Art giveaway from Health Enhancement Systems

    For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod
    To join the Redesigning Wellness Community visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rdwellnesscommunity/

  • Incorporating technology into culture doesn’t have to take away from the humanistic aspect. In fact, Colleen Reilly, Senior Vice President of Business Development for Immersive Worlds, would say it’s just the opposite. Technology opens up new worlds of possibility for creating a human centered and connected culture.

    Colleen has had a robust career in the wellness industry for over 20 years. She not only founded Total Well-being, one of the nation's leading providers of corporate well-being consulting, but has worked with corporate giants like Coors Brewing Company, Mayo Clinic, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Boeing, and Keurig Green Mountain to name a few.

    In today’s episode, Colleen shares an overview of her extensive and varied career in the wellness industry, including her start with Coors Brewing and the professional twists and turns she experienced after leaving. She discusses her thoughts on the industry’s current climate and recent shifts, including employees now looking for wellness as a cultural norm in their workplaces.

    Colleen explains how she sees technology integrating with culture and her opinion that advanced tech can increase the humanistic element of wellness rather than take away from it. She gives a few concrete examples of how virtual reality initiatives are accomplishing this task. Finally, she briefly touches on the fourth industrial revolution and its implications on wellness before highlighting a few of her most important tips and action steps.

    This episode is sponsored by Health Enhancement Systems (HES).

    I’m thrilled to announce HES is launching a new emotional well-being campaign called Work of Art on May 1. I’ve been anticipating the release of Work of Art for a while and I’m implementing it for a client later this year. Be sure to check it out at myWorkofArt.com.

    HES has agreed to award 1 FREE Work of Art implementation to a Redesigning Wellness podcast listener. This is the only place you can get the address and enter the random drawing, go to hesonline.com/jen and register.

    The winner will be announced Friday, May 1!

    Enter here for the Work of Art giveaway from Health Enhancement Systems

    For links mentioned in today's episode visit: http://bit.ly/Redesignpod
    To join the Redesigning Wellness Community visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rdwellnesscommunity/