The Needs Improvement Podcast
Welcome to the Needs Improvement Podcast, your deep dive into reimagining mental health and well-being at work. Changing the narrative on what truly needs improvement in the workplace.
In every episode, we sit down with thought leaders in organizational health, as well as individuals who've navigated the complexities of mental health, well-being, and belonging in the workplace.
Our goal? To dismantle the stigma surrounding mental health, ignite meaningful dialogue, and inspire both employees and leaders to revolutionize the way performance is measured in the workspace.
Episodes are available here, and everywhere you listen to podcasts.
Interested in being a guest or sponsor for the podcast? Visit my contact page and reach out to discuss partnership opportunities!
Human Centered Workplaces | Bonnie Davis, Founder @ Huwork
Join host Nicholas Whitaker and Bonnie Davis, Founder & Keynote Speaker at Huwork, as she discusses the rising importance of Strengths-Based Organizations.
Compassion & Accountability -Two Sides of the Same Coin | Dr. Nate Rigier, CEO @ Next Element
Together we explore the notion of compassion and accountability being two sides of the same coin, rather than competing energies. Dr. Nate gives us the ORPO formula to reconcile relationships and results while tackling tough conversations in an ever-changing post-covid corporate landscape.
Rediscovering Awe & Artistic Beauty in the Workplace | Emma Laurence, CLC
Chat with Emma Laurence, Certified Life Coach, creative artist, and author, as we dive into the challenges and opportunities that come with major life transitions.
Emma’s powerful life transition story highlights the impact of an overachieving work culture on physical and mental health. She offers a creative perspective on workplace challenges, including practical keys from her illustrated Beyond Burnout Playbook.
Emma illuminates the role of creativity in helping corporate leaders and managers raise team performance to a level of artistry. And together, we explore the vibrational impact of music to help navigate life transitions with greater ease.
Becoming A ”Compassionate Agitator” | Jeff Jacobs, Sr. Director of Organizational Effectiveness @ Adobe
Listen in with Host Nicholas Whitaker and his guest Jeff Jacobs, Sr. Director of Organizational Effectiveness at Adobe and Mental Health Advocate, as he discusses navigating mental health challenges in the workplace.
We tackle the idea of being a "compassionate agitator" and challenging individuals and teams to evolve with safety and kindness. Jeff also shares some details of his mental health journey, suggesting insights for leadership behavior-modeling, and ways individuals can pursue self-care while protecting their professional brands.
His upcoming book, 'Still Coming of Age: Making the Most of Life's Lessons and Milestones,' is a collection of stories and life lessons encouraging us to embrace and learn from our challenges in service to living more authentic and successful lives.
Career Transitions & Work/Self Alignment | Jennifer Spainhour - Founder & Executive Coach
Chat with Jennifer Spainhour, Executive Coach and Founder of Position for Success Coaching, as she discusses the challenges and opportunities of career transitions.
We tackle the importance of aligning work with personal values and strengths, and the need for courage to make a change. Jen also shares her approach of helping clients create a roadmap for their career transition, using techniques such as dream storming and identifying dig sites.
Vicarious Trauma through Exposure | Hannah Storm - Journalist, Author, and Founder
Chat with Hannah Storm, media consultant and founder of Headlines Network as she opens up about normalizing mental health conversations in journalism.
Drawing from her personal experiences with complex post-traumatic stress disorder, Hannah stresses the necessity of safe spaces for discussing mental health and delves into topics like vicarious trauma, empathetic leadership, and generational differences in mental health awareness.
Throughout our conversation, we explore the impact of Headlines Network in fostering these crucial discussions within newsrooms. Hannah advocates for increased investment in mental health, underlining the significance of self-care and recovery after challenging conversations.
Redefining Success with Anya Smith | Founder, RightOffTrack
Chat with Founder & Host, Anya Smith, as she challenges the conventional definition of success and encourages you to follow your own purpose and values.
Listen in as we explore the benefits (and difficulties) of mindfulness, how to embrace rejection, and some of the difficulties that working mothers in tech face.
Anya's work focuses on amplifying voices and helping individuals build their strategies for exposure and success. She is also a super connector who wants to highlight the accessibility and willingness of people to support and collaborate when they are given the opportunity.
Mental Health Support Gaps in the Workplace | Ennis Olson - Global Innovation Lead @ Google
Chat with Ennis Olson, Global Innovation Lead at Google and fierce advocate for better mental health support in the workplace.
Ennis discusses the need for leaders to receive training and tools to create a supportive environment and highlights the importance of accessibility to mental health services and the assessment process for diagnosis.
We contemplate the long-term effects of masking behaviors at work, the lack of current support within many teams, and how to be more neuro-inclusive as a leader.
Authenticity and Secure Leadership with Sarah Devereaux | Founder & Leadership Coach
Chat with Sarah Devereaux, Leadership Coach and Strategic Advisor.
Listen in as she reflects on her time at Google and her philosophy of "yes". From an entry-level job to the Head of Executive Development, Sarah has embraced being a lifelong learner and how mindset agility is the biggest asset available.
We contemplate the nature of global changes at work, expectations on leadership, and what the future might look like for executive communication.
Create alignment between your natural skills and interests with Tijana Buric | Founder + CEO, Career Alchemist | Human Design at Work
Chat with Tijana Buric, CEO + Founder of Career Alchemist, and Human Design Strategist.
Find out what Human Design is, and how it can be used to create a natural alignment between your natural skills and interests, and yourself at work.
Hear how Tijana uses Human Design as a tool to bring all the puzzle pieces together and connect with your deeper purpose.
Moral Injury In The Workplace With Dean Yates | Author, ”Line in the Sand” | PTSD & Moral Injury
Chat with author and war-time journalist, Dean Yates, as he dives into some excerpts from his new book, "Line in the Sand."
Hear about the unique mental health challenges he faced after leading teams through the war in Iraq, the Bali Bombings, and the Boxing Day Tsunami, as well as his journey through the trenches of PTSD. Dean also introduces the concept of "moral injury" and talks about how you can overcome anything through a dedication to mental health and wellness.