The Needs Improvement Podcast

Join host Nicholas Whitaker and Nicole Serena Silver, Founder of Vekita Personal Development, GROWmyfuture.org and NicoleSerenaSilver.com as they discuss the impact of self-reflection and support systems on success.

Nicole discusses her journey into the professional development space, including her work with high school students through her nonprofit, GrowMyFuture.org, her contributions to Forbes, and her role as an entrepreneurial coach. She shares insights on finding career clarity, self-awareness, and adaptability, especially in the face of disruptive events like layoffs and technological advancements.

Nicole highlights the importance of aligning one's work with personal values and passions, and offers anecdotes of successful client transformations. She also delves into the challenges and strategies for older adults navigating career pivots and stepping into entrepreneurship.

Full Potential Guidebook

Website

LinkedIn

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Hello and welcome to the Needs Improvement Podcast, your regular deep dive into reimagining mental health and wellbeing in the workplace. I'm your host, Nicholas Whitaker, Coach and Co-Founder of the Changing Work Collective. 

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 and ignite meaningful dialogue. We aim to inspire employees, and leaders, to revolutionize the way performance is gauged in the workspace.

Join host Nicholas Whitaker and Jackson Kerchis, Co-Founder at Happiness Means Business (HMB) as they discuss the the impact of happiness on productivity and success.

Jackson discusses his diverse background, including his time as a Zen monk, teaching a happiness course, and creating his own Happiness major at the University of Alabama. In both the military and private sector contexts, psychological safety, social connection, and intrinsic motivation in the workplace are key motivators - how can we harness them for good?

Jackson also delves into the generational shifts driving changes in the workplace and explores practical steps that both individuals and leaders can take to operationalize happiness for better performance and wellbeing.

LinkedIn

YouTube

Happiness Means Business

Warrior Leader Training

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Hello and welcome to the Needs Improvement Podcast, your regular deep dive into reimagining mental health and wellbeing in the workplace. I'm your host, Nicholas Whitaker, Coach and Co-Founder of the Changing Work Collective. 

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 and ignite meaningful dialogue. We aim to inspire employees, and leaders, to revolutionize the way performance is gauged in the workspace.

Join host Nicholas Whitaker and Amy Luckey, Founder at Amy Luckey Coaching + Consulting as they explore the nuances of leadership and the silent burden of grief in the workplace.

Amy shares her experiences working with organizational leaders, particularly those managing complex personal and professional identities, and discusses the impact of performance metrics and AI on workplace wellbeing. Their conversation also delves into how leaders can embrace their humanity, the importance of processing grief, and actionable steps for fostering a compassionate work culture despite systemic pressures. 

Let's dive into what "Needs Improvement" 

Sign up for the Needs Improvement Newsletter

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Hello and welcome to the Needs Improvement Podcast, your regular deep dive into reimagining mental health and wellbeing in the workplace. I'm your host, Nicholas Whitaker, Coach and Co-Founder of the Changing Work Collective. 

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 and ignite meaningful dialogue. We aim to inspire employees, and leaders, to revolutionize the way performance is gauged in the workspace.

Join host Nicholas Whitaker and Aaron Fromm, Founder at AZF Business Strategy and Consulting as they discuss the responsibility of leadership in regards to workplace satisfaction.

Aaron shares his journey from software engineer to a consultant, emphasizing transparency, compassion, and coaching as critical elements for thriving teams. They touch upon challenges faced by middle managers and individual contributors, offering practical advice for navigating turbulent times, as well as a humanistic approach to leadership and the significance of caring and transparency in fostering a thriving workplace.

LINKEDIN

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Hello and welcome to the Needs Improvement Podcast, your regular deep dive into reimagining mental health and wellbeing in the workplace. I'm your host, Nicholas Whitaker, Coach and Co-Founder of the Changing Work Collective. 

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 and ignite meaningful dialogue. We aim to inspire employees, and leaders, to revolutionize the way performance is gauged in the workspace.

Join host Nicholas Whitaker and Tim Van Ness, President at Van Ness & Co as they discuss the transformative power of creativity and theater in corporate culture.

Tim shares his journey from music and theater to founding Van Ness and Company, using improvisational theater to address organizational challenges and promote conscious leadership.

Our conversation dissects the role of humor, emotional intelligence, and storytelling in revealing truths and catalyzing change within organizations, and we also emphasize the importance of connection, self-awareness, and leadership presence.

Van Ness & Co

Changing Work Collective

Leading with Self Awareness

Let's dive into what "Needs Improvement" 

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Hello and welcome to the Needs Improvement Podcast, your regular deep dive into reimagining mental health and wellbeing in the workplace. I'm your host, Nicholas Whitaker, Coach and Co-Founder of the Changing Work Collective. 

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 and ignite meaningful dialogue. We aim to inspire employees, and leaders, to revolutionize the way performance is gauged in the workspace.

Join host Nicholas Whitaker and Beck Sydow, Founder & Leadership Coach at HumanKind Business Leaders as they discuss connection in the workplace and the importance of quality feedback. 

Beck shares insights into their journey from UPS management to becoming a leadership coach focusing on people-hearted, business-minded approaches, the importance of blending business advising with leadership coaching, and focusing on senior leaders in the SMB sector.

We also chat about the need for leaders to build confidence, embrace feedback, and look for the ways that business success and a healthy workplace culture are connected.

Beck believes we can do both, we don’t have to choose. And, this is represented in the tagline for HumanKind Business Leaders, People-Hearted & Business-Minded ™️

HumanKind Business Leaders

Contact Beck

Book recommendation:

Strength to Strength

Let's dive into what "Needs Improvement" 

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Hello and welcome to the Needs Improvement Podcast, your regular deep dive into reimagining mental health and wellbeing in the workplace. I'm your host, Nicholas Whitaker, Coach and Co-Founder of the Changing Work Collective. 

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 and ignite meaningful dialogue. We aim to inspire employees, and leaders, to revolutionize the way performance is gauged in the workspace.

Chat with Newton Cheng, who is lauded as a Conversation Starter in the mental health space, and serves as Director of Health + Performance at Google

Newton shares his personal journey with mental health, highlighting the stigma surrounding these topics in professional settings. Despite his accomplishments, Newton took a mental health leave, which led him to advocate for open discussions about mental health.

We explore the impact of vulnerability in leadership and the importance of bridging generational gaps concerning mental health awareness. Newton also offers insights and advice for leaders to challenge the status quo of mental health discourse.

@newtoncheng

Getting in Touch

Let's dive into what "Needs Improvement" 

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Hello and welcome to the Needs Improvement Podcast, your regular deep dive into reimagining mental health and wellbeing in the workplace. I'm your host, Nicholas Whitaker, Certified Life Coach and Co-Founder of the Changing Work Collective. 

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 and ignite meaningful dialogue. We aim to inspire employees, and leaders, to revolutionize the way performance is gauged in the workspace.

Chat with Lon Stroschein, Founder at Normal 40, as he reveals the catalyst behind his bold move out of an "ideal" career to seek something more. 

We learn of Lon's experience of feeling unfulfilled, the internal struggles he faced, and the crucial moments that led to him making a total 180. Hear about his creation of Normal 40, a community where new ventures are celebrated and refined. 

This episode delves into the nuances of recognizing dissatisfaction early, permitting oneself to explore new ventures, and garnering support from loved ones.

Normal 40

Normal 40: The Podcast

Lon's book, The Trade

Let's dive into what "Needs Improvement" 

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Hello and welcome to the Needs Improvement Podcast, your regular deep dive into reimagining mental health and wellbeing in the workplace. I'm your host, Nicholas Whitaker, Certified Life Coach and Co-Founder of the Changing Work Collective. 

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 and ignite meaningful dialogue. We aim to inspire employees, and leaders, to revolutionize the way performance is gauged in the workspace.

Chat with Laura DeCook, founder at LDC Wellbeing, as we explore her transformative journey from the film and tech industries to becoming a passionate mental health advocate.

Laura shares her personal stories of battling anxiety and perfectionism, the lack of empathy and support she encountered in demanding corporate environments, and delve into the profound impact of these experiences on her life. 

We also discuss the critical importance of mental health first aid training and how leaders can cultivate a culture of mental well-being by courageously sharing their own struggles and journeys with their teams. 

Upcoming Workshops

Mental Health First Aid

988 Lifeline

Let's dive into what "Needs Improvement" 

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----------------------------------------------

Hello and welcome to the Needs Improvement Podcast, your regular deep dive into reimagining mental health and wellbeing in the workplace. I'm your host, Nicholas Whitaker, Certified Life Coach and Co-Founder of the Changing Work Collective. 

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 and ignite meaningful dialogue. We aim to inspire employees, and leaders, to revolutionize the way performance is gauged in the workspace.

Join host Nicholas Whitaker and Dr. Delia Grenville, Founder & CEO of SLYN Consulting as she delves into workplace mobbing and group aggression.

Workplace mobbing occurs when coworkers unite to oust a specific individual, often someone seen as a change catalyst. This covert aggression includes gaslighting and gossip, making it hard for the target to pinpoint the perpetrators.

Dr. Grenville discusses the systemic changes needed to address mobbing and its profound impact on individuals and workplaces. She also shares statistics on mobbing's prevalence and introduces her guest chapter, "Triumph in the Trenches," which offers guidance for overcoming mobbing.

Additionally, she highlights her work with the Workplace Respect Network, advocating for a respectful workplace culture.

Follow Dr. Grenville on TikTok

Let's dive into what "Needs Improvement" 

Sign up for the Needs Improvement Newsletter

----------------------------------------------

Hello and welcome to the Needs Improvement Podcast, your regular deep dive into reimagining mental health and wellbeing in the workplace. I'm your host, Nicholas Whitaker, Certified Life Coach and Co-Founder of the Changing Work Collective. 

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 and ignite meaningful dialogue. We aim to inspire employees, and leaders, to revolutionize the way performance is gauged in the workspace.