Feelings Matter

Now, more than ever, a supportive environment for mental health is essential. As we strive to create a workplace environment in which everyone can talk more openly and proactively about mental health, most people struggle with how best to respond when they are concerned about a colleague.

Episode Highlights
- Dealing with the power dynamic with leadership
- "Psychological safety is not relaxing your standards, feeling comfortable, being nice and agreeable, or giving unconditional praise. Psychological safety is a culture of respect, trust, and openness where it's not risky to raise ideas and concerns" Amy Edmonson
- Listening and creating psychological safety
-- ask open questions
-- Summarize what they said and repeat it back to them.
-- Reflect: repeat a word or phrase back to them
-- Clarify: Tell me more about that...
-- Give words of encouragement: "Go on" or "I see"
-- Affirm and acknowledge and then share resources

Episode Resources
- How to support mental health at work - https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/how-support-mental-health-work
- How to Support Your Coworker Who’s Dealing With Mental Health Issues - https://www.payscale.com/career-advice/how-to-support-your-coworker-whos-dealing-with-mental-health-issues/

Original podcast theme music by Lance Keltner. https://www.youtube.com/user/lancekeltner This episode of the #FeelingsMatter Podcast was recorded at MSR Studios in Saint Paul, MN and produced by Kel Skonberg of Mossy Stone Media. Copyright 2022, all rights reserved. No reproduction, excerpting, or other use without written permission.

This episode is sponsored by
Mindful Appy, the only software suite for the Net Emotional Index
https://mindfulappy.com/

Don’t miss a moment of the conversation, subscribe to the show on your favorite podcasting platform and sign-up for the #FeelingsMatter mindfulness tracking project - Text the emoji that best represents the way you feel to (972) 778-6835

Now, more than ever, a supportive environment for mental health is essential. As we strive to create a workplace environment in which everyone can talk more openly and proactively about mental health, most people struggle with how best to respond when they are concerned about a colleague.

Episode Highlights
- Check-in with your colleagues
- Ask open ended questions and pose them as “I” questions
-- I noticed that things aren’t okay lately
-- I care about you and I’d like to make time to chat
- Make time to create enough space for a difficult conversation
- Be prepared to be uncomfortable and be ready with empathy

Episode Resources
- How to support mental health at work - https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/how-support-mental-health-work
- How to Support Your Coworker Who’s Dealing With Mental Health Issues - https://www.payscale.com/career-advice/how-to-support-your-coworker-whos-dealing-with-mental-health-issues/

Original podcast theme music by Lance Keltner. https://www.youtube.com/user/lancekeltner This episode of the #FeelingsMatter Podcast was recorded at MSR Studios in Saint Paul, MN and produced by Kel Skonberg of Mossy Stone Media. Copyright 2022, all rights reserved. No reproduction, excerpting, or other use without written permission.

This episode is sponsored by
Mindful Appy, the only software suite for the Net Emotional Index
https://mindfulappy.com/

Don’t miss a moment of the conversation, subscribe to the show on your favorite podcasting platform and sign-up for the #FeelingsMatter mindfulness tracking project - Text the emoji that best represents the way you feel to (972) 778-6835

A recent study confirmed that Americans are exercising less and sitting more during the pandemic. It may seem like no big deal, but the pandemic has impacted everyone's mental health as well. So, it's important to recognize the important and positive link between mental health and exercise. Studies have shown that exercise can be a great tool for improving common mental health issues.

Episode Highlights
Exercise enhances concentration, mood, energy and motivation with neurochemical changes that increase:
- BDNF (Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor)-the brain’s own “Miracle Gro”
- Dopamine-which helps motivate you
- Serotonin-which boosts your mood
- Noradrenaline-which stimulates your energy
- New connections between nerve cells and neurons
Exercise:
- Boosts memory
- Increases concentration
- Improves mental health
- Enhances creativity
- Slows cognitive decline
- Improves circulation
- Aids learning and memory
- Builds more brain cells
- Prevents disease

Original podcast theme music by Lance Keltner. https://www.youtube.com/user/lancekeltner This episode of the #FeelingsMatter Podcast was recorded at MSR Studios in Saint Paul, MN and produced by Kel Skonberg of Mossy Stone Media. Copyright 2022, all rights reserved. No reproduction, excerpting, or other use without written permission.

This episode is sponsored by
Mindful Appy, the only software suite for the Net Emotional Index
https://mindfulappy.com/

Don’t miss a moment of the conversation, subscribe to the show on your favorite podcasting platform and sign-up for the #FeelingsMatter mindfulness tracking project - Text the emoji that best represents the way you feel to (972) 778-6835

Moving into post-pandemic operations is still creating a wave of stress and anxiety in our homes and community. It's important for workplace teams to recognize how stress manifests itself and adopt strategies and practices that can help them navigate stress in the healthiest way possible.


Episode Highlights
- Watch out for the negative coping strategies
- Good hydration, good sleep, exercise are important
- It’s important to complete the stress cycle
-- Stressor: anything perceived as threatening and activates the stress cycle
-- Action: to complete the cycle & release stress chemicals, must engage in action
-- Relief: once stress chemicals released, your body relaxes and feels safe again
- Activities that complete the stress cycle:
-- crying, laughing, walking, deep breathing
-- hugs and affection from a partner, family member, or pet


Original podcast theme music by Lance Keltner. https://www.youtube.com/user/lancekeltner This episode of the #FeelingsMatter Podcast was recorded at MSR Studios in Saint Paul, MN and produced by Kel Skonberg of Mossy Stone Media. Copyright 2022, all rights reserved. No reproduction, excerpting, or other use without written permission.

This episode is sponsored by
Mindful Appy, the only software suite for the Net Emotional Index
https://mindfulappy.com/

Don’t miss a moment of the conversation, subscribe to the show on your favorite podcasting platform and sign-up for the #FeelingsMatter mindfulness tracking project - Text the emoji that best represents the way you feel to (972) 778-6835

Moving into post-pandemic operations is still creating a wave of stress and anxiety in our homes and community. It's important for workplace teams to recognize how stress manifests itself and adopt strategies and practices that can help them navigate stress in the healthiest way possible.


Episode Highlights
-91 percent of respondents say having an unmanageable amount of stress or frustration negatively impacts the quality of their work
- 83 percent of respondents say burnout from work can negatively impact their personal relationships.
-87 percent of professionals surveyed say they have passion for their current job but 64 percent say they are frequently stressed, dispelling the myth that passionate employees are immune to stress or burnout.
-Nearly 70 percent of professionals feel their employers are not doing enough to prevent or alleviate burnout within their organization.
-21 percent of respondents say their company does not offer any programs or initiatives to prevent or alleviate burnout.
-One in four professionals say they never or rarely take all of their vacation days.
-84 percent of millennials say they have experienced burnout at their current job, compared to 77 percent of all respondents.
-Nearly half of millennials say they have left a job specifically because they felt burned out, compared to 42 percent of all respondent


Original podcast theme music by Lance Keltner. https://www.youtube.com/user/lancekeltner This episode of the #FeelingsMatter Podcast was recorded at MSR Studios in Saint Paul, MN and produced by Kel Skonberg of Mossy Stone Media. Copyright 2022, all rights reserved. No reproduction, excerpting, or other use without written permission.

This episode is sponsored by
Mindful Appy, the only software suite for the Net Emotional Index
https://mindfulappy.com/

Don’t miss a moment of the conversation, subscribe to the show on your favorite podcasting platform and sign-up for the #FeelingsMatter mindfulness tracking project - Text the emoji that best represents the way you feel to (972) 778-6835

In this episode we explore what it means to show empathy and how a few simple actions can help create stronger connections and build a culture of honesty and openness. These are important factors for nurturing a more productive and healthier workplace as we navigate the challenges of an uncertain time.

Episode Highlights
- 83% of employees would choose a workplace with a healthy culture over higher salary
- We need to reframe empathy as the action of listening
- We can make assumptions about team dynamics, but we don’t know until we ask the question and listen.
- The biggest barrier to empathy in the workplace is being too busy. We are not empathetic when we are in a hurry.
- Accountability is necessary to successfully implement workplace empathy.

Episode Resource
Brené Brown on Empathy - Empathy is feeling with another person https://youtu.be/1Evwgu369Jw

Original podcast theme music by Lance Keltner. https://www.youtube.com/user/lancekeltner This episode of the #FeelingsMatter Podcast was recorded at MSR Studios in Saint Paul, MN and produced by Kel Skonberg of Mossy Stone Media. Copyright 2022, all rights reserved. No reproduction, excerpting, or other use without written permission.

This episode is sponsored by
Mindful Appy, the only software suite for the Net Emotional Index
https://mindfulappy.com/

Don’t miss a moment of the conversation, subscribe to the show on your favorite podcasting platform and sign-up for the #FeelingsMatter mindfulness tracking project - Text the emoji that best represents the way you feel to (972) 778-6835

Whether your staff is in the office or working remotely, understanding other people's emotions is a key skill in the workplace. It can enable us to resolve conflicts, build more productive teams and improve our relationships with co-workers, clients and customers.


Episode Highlights
- Empathetic companies outperform competitors by 20%
- Empathy creates the environment for a more engaged workforce
- Empathy is essential for creating a positive and productive workplace environment
- Empathy and accountability go hand in hand
- There are 3 different levels of empathy:
-- cognitive: ability to understand how a person feels and what they might be thinking makes us better communicators
-- emotional: ability to share the feelings of another person (helps build emotional connection)
-- compassionate: ability to go beyond simply understanding & sharing (move us into action-like taking a meal when someone dies)


Original podcast theme music by Lance Keltner. https://www.youtube.com/user/lancekeltner This episode of the #FeelingsMatter Podcast was recorded at MSR Studios in Saint Paul, MN and produced by Kel Skonberg of Mossy Stone Media. Copyright 2022, all rights reserved. No reproduction, excerpting, or other use without written permission.

This episode is sponsored by
Mindful Appy, the only software suite for the Net Emotional Index
https://mindfulappy.com/

Don’t miss a moment of the conversation, subscribe to the show on your favorite podcasting platform and sign-up for the #FeelingsMatter mindfulness tracking project - Text the emoji that best represents the way you feel to (972) 778-6835

What exactly is Emotional Intelligence? It’s not just empathy, it’s not just emotional awareness, and it’s more than the sum of all these components. Emotional Intelligence is a skill that one can actually improve upon through active practice. A good leader exemplifies strong emotional intelligence through openness and actively engaging employees, and even has an ethical responsibility to make sure they are utilizing positive communication.

Episode Highlights
- We often judge others by their behavior, but ourselves by our intentions. To resolve this, we need to actually ASK the other person about their intentions and find what they are actually feeling at the time
- We all have biases (gender culture, etc.) which are extremely difficult to get rid of, but emotional intelligence can impact how we deal with them
- As a leader, allowing yourself to be vulnerable will help people around you feel safe. Through we technology, we have more intimacy with customers than ever before, and it is essential that we make sure we are communicating to customers and coworkers positively

Episode Resources
“Former Facebook Product Manager Testifies Before Congress” Hypebeast, Aaron Chow, 2021
https://hypebeast.com/2021/10/facebook-whistleblower-testimony-news

Original podcast theme music by Lance Keltner. https://www.youtube.com/user/lancekeltner This episode of the #FeelingsMatter Podcast was recorded at MSR Studios in Saint Paul, MN and produced by Kel Skonberg of Mossy Stone Media. Copyright 2022, all rights reserved. No reproduction, excerpting, or other use without written permission.

This episode is sponsored by
Mindful Appy, the only software suite for the Net Emotional Index
https://mindfulappy.com/

Don’t miss a moment of the conversation, subscribe to the show on your favorite podcasting platform and sign-up for the #FeelingsMatter mindfulness tracking project - Text the emoji that best represents the way you feel to (972) 778-6835

What exactly is Emotional Intelligence? It’s not just empathy, it’s not just emotional awareness, and it’s more than the sum of all these components. Emotional Intelligence is a skill that one can actually improve upon through active practice. A good leader exemplifies strong emotional intelligence through openness and actively engaging employees, and even has an ethical responsibility to make sure they are utilizing positive communication.

Episode Highlights
- The term emotional “intelligence” is a misnomer, as it implies that it is something you are born with rather than a skill that one gains through practice and exercise
- Emotions are neither good nor bad; rather the behaviors that they elicit are often what we conflate with being positive or negative.

Episode Resources
- “Bezos Wants to Create a Better Future in Space. His Company Blue Origin Is Stuck in a Toxic Past” Lioness, Alexandra Abrams, 2021
https://www.lioness.co/post/bezos-wants-to-create-a-better-future-in-space-his-company-blue-origin-is-stuck-in-a-toxic-past
- “Former Facebook Product Manager Testifies Before Congress” Hypebeast, Aaron Chow, 2021
https://hypebeast.com/2021/10/facebook-whistleblower-testimony-news

Original podcast theme music by Lance Keltner. https://www.youtube.com/user/lancekeltner This episode of the #FeelingsMatter Podcast was recorded at MSR Studios in Saint Paul, MN and produced by Kel Skonberg of Mossy Stone Media. Copyright 2022, all rights reserved. No reproduction, excerpting, or other use without written permission.

This episode is sponsored by
Mindful Appy, the only software suite for the Net Emotional Index
https://mindfulappy.com/

Don’t miss a moment of the conversation, subscribe to the show on your favorite podcasting platform and sign-up for the #FeelingsMatter mindfulness tracking project - Text the emoji that best represents the way you feel to (972) 778-6835

Mental health myths are abundant and pervasive. Dispelling myths in the workplace creates a culture in which stigma is diminished, and employees feel more confident in seeking help when they need it.

Episode Highlights
Mental health issues are common are by no means a character flaw, workplaces need to abandon the stigma that comes from expressing mental health concerns
While many managers and employers may be well-intentioned, they might not be aware of how to address mental health in the workplace

Episode Resources
“Mind the Workplace”, Mental Health America, 2021. https://www.mhanational.org/mind-workplace
“Thrive: the third metric to redefining success and creating a life of well-being, wisdom, and wonder” Arianna Huffington, 2014
“How Employers Can Improve Their Approach to Mental Health At Work” McKinsey & Company, Erica Coe and Kana Enomoto, 2021
https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/healthcare-systems-and-services/our-insights/how-employers-can-improve-their-approach-to-mental-health-at-work?cid=other-eml-dre-mip-mck&hlkid=a774e1a8976d4a078406…

Original podcast theme music by Lance Keltner. https://www.youtube.com/user/lancekeltner This episode of the #FeelingsMatter Podcast was recorded and mixed at MSR Studios in Saint Paul, MN. Copyright 2021, all rights reserved. No reproduction, excerpting, or other use without written permission.

This episode is sponsored by
Mindful Appy, the only software suite for the Net Emotional Index
https://mindfulappy.com/
NAMI Central Texas, offering workplace mental health training
https://namicentraltx.org/workplace/

Don’t miss a moment of the conversation, subscribe to the show on your favorite podcasting platform and sign-up for the #FeelingsMatter mindfulness tracking project - Text the emoji that best represents the way you feel to (972) 778-6835