In Episode 101 we chat with Mikaila Ortynsky , a PhD candidate at the University of Ottawa, to unpack her groundbreaking research on menstruation in the workplace. We explore how menstrual cycles impact task performance, emotional regulation, and organizational citizenship behaviors, and why most workplaces are still failing to provide even the most basic support. We challenges the default male workplace model and calls for inclusive, evidence-based change.

You can find her paper here: https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2026-24197-002

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We made it to triple digits! In this celebratory episode, we reflect on how the field of occupational health psychology—and our own lives— have evolved over the past 100 episodes of Healthy Work—from burnout and sleep to leadership and labor policy.

From burnout and bullying to policy and precarity, we’ve covered a lot. We talk about the shift from individual-level interventions (remember when mindfulness was 🔥?) to systemic, policy-driven change. We also look ahead to the next 100 episodes: AI, women’s health, gig work, and the future of workplace regulation.

Plus, we celebrate with a Healthy Work trivia game—play along and see how well you know the pod.

Thanks for being part of this journey. Whether you’ve been here since Episode 1 or just joined us, we’re so glad you’re part of the Healthy Work community.

The Champagne Pop is from: OWI Popping Champagne.wav by TCduP66 -- https://freesound.org/s/655981/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

The Noise Maker is from: Party noise maker _ soundstack.wav new yeears eve, party, horn, party favor by soundstack -- https://freesound.org/s/203246/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

In a special Episode 99, we have a live-recorded interview with the Winners of the 2024-2025 Best Paper Award from Occupational Health Science. Drs. Leslie Hammer, Jennifer Dimoff, Cynthia D. Mohr, & Shalene J. Allen won for their paper “A Framework for Protecting and Promoting Employee Mental Health through Supervisor Supportive Behaviors.” We chat about strategies managers can use to prevent and respond to employee mental health issues.

Read their paper here: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41542-023-00171-x

You can find them here:

Leslie Hammer: https://www.ohsu.edu/people/leslie-b-hammer-phd

Jennifer Dimoff: https://www.jenniferdimoff.com/

Cynthia Mohr: https://www.pdx.edu/profile/cynthia-mohr

Shalene Allen: https://www.k-state.edu/psych/about/people/allen/

In episode 98, we are joined by Dr. Alicia Grandey, co-author of the new book Emotionally Charged: How to Lead in the New World of Work. Together, we explored the realities of emotions, emotional labor, burnout, and how leaders can cultivate emotional intelligence to thrive in today’s demanding workplace.

Dr. Grandey shared the core principles from her book, including:

* Why emotional labor is essential in most modern jobs

* How emotions are valuable sources of information, not distractions

* The hidden costs of emotional suppression

We also got to peak behind the scenes to see what it was like writing such a powerful book with a close friend.

Whether you're a leader, employee, or anyone navigating emotional demands at work, this episode offers research-based strategies for sustainable well-being and authentic leadership.

You can buy Emotionally Charged here, and use the code “ASPROMP8” for 30% off!

You can find Dr. Grandey here, her lab here, and Dina Denham-Smith here.

https://global.oup.com/academic/product/emotionally-charged-9780197750155?cc=us&lang=en&

https://psych.la.psu.edu/people/aag6/

https://weld.la.psu.edu/

https://www.dinadsmith.com/

In episode 97, I talk with Dr. Kimberly French about her recent study on how daily stressor pile-up impacts parents’ and adolescents’ health, sleep, and cortisol patterns. We discuss surprising findings from the Work, Family, and Health Network study — including that as stress piles up, sleep first gets shorter, but at extreme levels, both parents and teens actually start sleeping more. Dr. French explains how stress crosses over between parents and teens, what these patterns mean for family well-being, and how to think about stress pile-up in daily life.

French, K. A., Smith, C. E., Lee, S., & Chen, Z. (2025). Can allostatic load cross over? Short-term work and nonwork stressor pile-up on parent and adolescent diurnal cortisol, physical symptoms, and sleep. Journal of Applied Psychology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/apl0001284

https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2026-12317-001

In Episode 96, we complete our EAOHP Spotlight Mini-Series, sponsored by a small grant from the European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology. We are joined by Dr. Marijke Verbruggen. We talk about the benefits and challenges of flexible careers, job transitions, and work-life balance. Dr. Verbruggen shares insights on how career mobility affects well-being, the role of government support and employer openness, and how technology and remote work are reshaping our ability to disconnect and thrive.

You can find Dr. Verbruggen here and you can find more about EAOHP here.

https://eaohp.org/

https://www.kuleuven.be/wieiswie/en/person/00044343

What happens when you step outside and truly take in your surroundings?

In Episode 95 we chat about a recent paper published by Hilbert et al (2025) in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology exploring how savoring the beauty of nature can help us feel more relaxed, serene, and restored during the workday. We discuss what makes this research so exciting, and what managers (and all of us) can take away to create healthier, more human-centered work environments.

Hilbert, M., Finke, M., Küpper, K., Binnewies, C., Berkemeyer, L., & Maunz, L. A. (2025). Look how beautiful! The role of natural environments for employees’ recovery and affective well-being. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 30(1), 47–61. https://doi.org/10.1037/ocp0000393

In Episode 94, we continue our bonus mini-series: EAOHP Spotlight, sponsored by a small grant from the European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology. We are joined by Dr. Bram Fleuren. We talk all about sustainable employment and sustainable employability and what it means to help people have healthy, meaningful, and fulfilling employment for as long as they want.

You can find Dr. Fleuren here and you can find more about EAOHP here.

https://eaohp.org/

https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/bpi-fleuren/education

In Episode 93 are joined by Dr. Alex Jackson. We talk about his recent paper on barriers and facilitators to healthy choices at work. We talk about how the work environment can nudge you toward or away from healthier eating and exercise!

You can find Dr. Jackson here and the paper here.

https://cohre.mtsu.edu/staff_alexander-t-jackson/

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41542-025-00220-7

In Episode 92, we continue our bonus mini-series: EAOHP Spotlight, sponsored by a small grant from the European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology. We are joined by Dr. Maria Charalampous. We talk all about remote e-work and worker wellbeing, particularly for people with disabilities and neurodiversity.

You can find Dr. Charalampous here and you can find more about EAOHP here.

https://eaohp.org/

https://www.uol.ac.cy/en/team/maria-charalambous/