Big Hair & Glasses

Why workplace well-being is bigger than individual resilience.

In this episode, Jen and Meredith answer the question: How does burnout impact retention, productivity, and workplace culture?

We explore the impact to the organization when employees burn out. And how burnout is more effectively discussed as a business issue in conjunction with an individual well-being issue. It surfaces in turnover costs, lost productivity, strained teams, disengagement, and weakened culture.

Connect with us for more great conversations:

Jen @ Jen Werner Coaching

Meredith @ MKO Strategies

The opinions expressed in this podcast are strictly those of Jen Werner and Meredith Olsen.

The advice or suggestions offered are not intended to take the place of individual 1:1 coaching or replace mental health resources.

Music used in this episode: "Forward Motion" by Reveille. Licensed for use by Big Hair and Glasses.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why do we care so much about burnout?

After participating in a workplace mental well-being forum, Jen and Meredith continue the conversation about burnout, leadership, and the role managers can realistically play in supporting employees.

Drawing on more than two decades each in corporate America, they reflect on what they’ve learned about team dynamics, communication, leadership, and workplace well-being.

One important distinction emerges quickly: leaders do not need to become therapists. Supporting employee well-being can be as simple as practicing strong, consistent leadership—communicating clearly, listening well, understanding available resources, and creating an environment where people can do their best work.

Connect with us for more great conversations:

Jen @ Jen Werner Coaching

Meredith @ MKO Strategies

The opinions expressed in this podcast are strictly those of Jen Werner and Meredith Olsen.

The advice or suggestions offered are not intended to take the place of individual 1:1 coaching or replace mental health resources.

Music used in this episode: "Forward Motion" by Reveille. Licensed for use by Big Hair and Glasses.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does this look like in the real world?

In this episode, Meredith shares two great examples of tackling difficult conversations head on.

The first explores the tension between different communication styles and the second centers on public criticism, unclear expectations, and the difficult decision to address an executive. These examples highlight ways we might recognize when something isn't working, trust ourselves enough to express that, and trust that others will hear us.

Hard conversations do not need to be perfect to be productive. Each time we use our voice, clarify an expectation, or advocate for respectful treatment, we make the next difficult conversation a little more possible.

Connect with us for more great conversations:

Jen @ Jen Werner Coaching

Meredith @ MKO Strategies

The opinions expressed in this podcast are strictly those of Jen Werner and Meredith Olsen.

The advice or suggestions offered are not intended to take the place of individual 1:1 coaching or replace mental health resources.

Music used in this episode: "Forward Motion" by Reveille. Licensed for use by Big Hair and Glasses.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How much difference can a single word make?

In this episode, Jen and Meredith use punctuality as a surprisingly revealing example of how easily we assume other people understand words, expectations, and social norms the same way we do. When those expectations aren't met, it can be tempting to attach meaning to the behavior: They don't respect me. They don't value my time. They should know better.

We explore what can happen when we communicate our preferences more directly, stay curious about someone else's perspective, and remember that expressing a need doesn't automatically make it a universal rule. Because even something as ordinary as “on time” can remind us that clarity is kinder than an assumption.

Connect with us for more great conversations:

Jen @ Jen Werner Coaching

Meredith @ MKO Strategies

The opinions expressed in this podcast are strictly those of Jen Werner and Meredith Olsen.

The advice or suggestions offered are not intended to take the place of individual 1:1 coaching or replace mental health resources.

Music used in this episode: "Forward Motion" by Reveille. Licensed for use by Big Hair and Glasses.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are we simmering in a bowl of assumption soup?

In this episode, we explore how the same word, behavior, or situation can mean very different things to different people.

We discuss the limits of labeling things simply “good” or “bad,” the value of direct communication, and the assumptions that build when people believe they already understand one another.

Connect with us for more great conversations:

Jen @ Jen Werner Coaching

Meredith @ MKO Strategies

The opinions expressed in this podcast are strictly those of Jen Werner and Meredith Olsen.

The advice or suggestions offered are not intended to take the place of individual 1:1 coaching or replace mental health resources.

Music used in this episode: "Forward Motion" by Reveille. Licensed for use by Big Hair and Glasses.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do we armor up too quickly?

No one wants to hear, “We need to talk.”

In this episode, we examine what we may be misunderstanding in others, why difficult conversations feel threatening, and how past experiences can cause us to armor up before anything has actually happened.

We highlight how seeing people more generously and more clearly can lower defensiveness, improve interactions, and make hard conversations more productive.

Connect with us for more great conversations:

Jen @ Jen Werner Coaching

Meredith @ MKO Strategies

The opinions expressed in this podcast are strictly those of Jen Werner and Meredith Olsen.

The advice or suggestions offered are not intended to take the place of individual 1:1 coaching or replace mental health resources.

Music used in this episode: "Forward Motion" by Reveille. Licensed for use by Big Hair and Glasses.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What do weight-lifting, Ratatouille, and bulldozing have to do with growth?

This episode explores how growth often begins with discomfort, self-awareness, and the realization that the path you are on no longer fits.

Connect with us for more great conversations:

Jen @ Jen Werner Coaching

Meredith @ MKO Strategies

The opinions expressed in this podcast are strictly those of Jen Werner and Meredith Olsen.

The advice or suggestions offered are not intended to take the place of individual 1:1 coaching or replace mental health resources.

Music used in this episode: "Forward Motion" by Reveille. Licensed for use by Big Hair and Glasses.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Big Hair & Glasses. Really? That's our leadership podcast name?

Sure is!

Come meet Jen and Meredith and discover the reasons behind the name.

Connect with us for more great conversations:

Jen @ Jen Werner Coaching

Meredith @ MKO Strategies

The opinions expressed in this podcast are strictly those of Jen Werner and Meredith Olsen.

The advice or suggestions offered are not intended to take the place of individual 1:1 coaching or replace mental health resources.

Music used in this episode: "Forward Motion" by Reveille. Licensed for use by Big Hair and Glasses.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We created this podcast to share professional insights grounded in real-life experience—the major challenges, messy moments of growth, surprising moments of grace under pressure, and everything in between.

With more than 20 years of experience in corporate America, each of us has learned that leadership, communication, personal growth, and self-acceptance are not only essential to success at work—they also play a meaningful role in creating more fulfilling personal lives.

Our mission:

To help make the world a better place, one listener, one business, one team at a time.

Thanks for joining us!

Jen & Meredith

Connect with us for more great conversations:

Jen @ Jen Werner Coaching

Meredith @ MKO Strategies

The opinions expressed in this podcast are strictly those of Jen Werner and Meredith Olsen.

The advice or suggestions offered are not intended to take the place of individual 1:1 coaching or replace mental health resources.

Music used in this episode: "Forward Motion" by Reveille. Licensed for use by Big Hair and Glasses.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.