Where Work Meets Life™ with Dr. Laura

Dr. Laura welcomes Dr. Esther Sternberg, M.D., a Professor, Research Director, Speaker, and Author of the books Well at Work, Healing Spaces, and The Balance Within, to the podcast to talk about wellness at work and how workplace environments impact employees. Dr. Sternberg shares her career journey from her start in medical family practice through to becoming the Research Director at the Andrew Weil Center of Integrative Medicine. She and Dr. Laura talk about what factors impact health and overall wellness at work and how these can be improved.

Dr. Sternberg delves into the insights in her book Well at Work and explains the seven domains of integrative health as defined by the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine. Sleep, resilience, environment, movement, relationships, spirituality, and nutrition are the seven domains, and they include things like how quickly we bounce back from stress, how clean our air is, and access to nature. Dr. Laura and Dr. Sternberg examine how office design, environmental location, common spaces that encourage relationships, and even temperature all play a key role in our workplace health. The conversation sheds light on how work isn’t simply a place to invest time into productivity, but can positively or negatively impact our overall lives, and how redefining workplaces is a vital part of future discussions. 

“... if you're feeling too stressed or too activated, you want to do something that will tone down that stress response so you can perform at peak... If you're too stressed, you freeze, you're unable to focus. You're unable to do the job, the task at hand. So what helps you to move that stress response from the extreme danger zone back to performing at peak is places where you can go offline a little bit, where you can effectively meditate even though you're not sitting there with crossed legs in a lotus position in a yoga studio, although having spaces where some people can do that is is also beneficial. But a space, for example, [like] the gardens. To just walk in the gardens, to just take your brain off the computer for a while and focus on the green, on the plants.” - Dr. Esther Sternberg

About Dr. Esther Sternberg, M.D.:

Dr. Esther Sternberg is internationally recognized for her discoveries in the science of the mind-body interaction in illness and healing, and the role of place in wellbeing. She is a pioneer and major force in collaborative initiatives on mind-body-stress-wellness and environment interrelationships. A dynamic speaker, she engages her audience with passion for her subject and compassion as a physician. Through stories, she provides listeners with many take-home tips to help them cope with stress and thrive, and to create wellbeing spaces wherever they work or live. Dr. Sternberg’s three popular, highly readable, informative, and scientifically based books are inspirations for lay persons and professionals alike, seeking answers to the complexities and 21st-century frontiers of stress, place, healing, and wellness. Her award-winning book, WELL at WORK: Creating Wellbeing in Any Workspace (Little, Brown Spark, 2023) was named a Top Ten Lifestyle Book for Fall 2023 by Publishers Weekly and received the OWL (Outstanding Works of Literature) Longlist Award. Her two previous science-for-the-lay public books, Healing Spaces: The Science of Place and Well-Being and The Balance Within: The Science Connecting Health and Emotions, are landmark in its field. Healing Spaces was recognized by the President of the American Institute of Architects as an inspiration for launching the AIA’s Design and Health Initiative and has inspired the implementation of healing spaces in hospitals across the country and around the world. Currently, Research Director, Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine and Founding Director of the University of Arizona Institute on Place, Wellbeing & Performance, she holds the Inaugural Andrew Weil Chair for Research in Integrative Medicine and is a Research Professor of Medicine with joint appointments as Professor in Psychology, Architecture, and Planning & Landscape Architecture, and in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, School of Nutritional Sciences and Wellness. As Senior Scientist and Section Chief, National Institutes of Health (1986-2012), she directed the NIH Integrative Neural Immune Program, Co-Chaired the NIH Intramural Program on Research on Women’s Health, and chaired a subcommittee of the NIH Central Tenure Committee. Dr. Sternberg has advised the World Health Organization; the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine; the International WELL Building Institute; the Royal Society, London; the Vatican, where she was presented to Pope Benedict XVI; and has briefed high-level U.S. Federal Government officials, including the Surgeon General, National Institutes of Health leadership, and the Department of Defence. Her two decades-long research with the U.S. General Services Administration, using wearable devices to track health and wellbeing in the built office environment, is informing healthy design standards and COVID re-entry across the federal government and the private sector.

Among other honors, she moderated a panel with the Dalai Lama, was recognized by the National Library of Medicine as one of the women who “Changed the Face of Medicine,” served as a member and Chair of NLM’s Board of Regents, and received an Honorary Doctorate in Medicine from Trinity College, Dublin, on its 300th Anniversary. She has authored over 240 scholarly articles, edited 10 technical books on the topic of brain-immune connections and design and health, and writes a monthly blog for Psychology Today, it has garnered tens of thousands of readers on subjects including stress and illness, gratitude and wellness, and place and wellbeing. She co-created and hosted the PBS Television Special, The Science of Healing with Dr. Esther Sternberg, and is frequently interviewed in the lay press and media, including NPR, BBC, CBC radio; PBS, ABC, CBS 60 Minutes, Overtime television, the Washington Post, LA Times, U.S. News and World Report, Reader’s Digest, Prevention Magazine, The Oprah Magazine, and numerous podcasts, among others. She received her M.D. from McGill University, and trained in rheumatology at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal, Canada.

Resources:

Website: EstherSternberg.com

Book: “Well at Work: Creating Wellbeing in any Workspace” by Esther M. Sternberg, MD

Instagram: @dresternberg

LinkedIn

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations: 

Canada Career Counselling

Synthesis Psychology

Order Dr. Laura’s new book today: I Wish I’d Quit Sooner: Practical Strategies for Navigating a Toxic Boss

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Dr. Laura welcomes Kirkland Shave, co-founder of the Mountain Trek health reset retreat, back to Where Work Meets Life™ for an honest and open conversation about mindful health and steering clear of binge or bust thinking in our eating and social situations. Dr. Laura uses her own life after her experience at Mountain Trek to illustrate the kind of “falling off the wagon” thinking that we tend to catastrophize. Kirk showcases how Laura, and by extension, each one of us, can shift our thinking to offer ourselves more grace. 

Dr. Laura openly shares some of the nutritional and social choices she made that she views as falling off the health wagon and discusses with Kirk why one-off situations should not redirect our entire health focus into one of negativity. Kirk emphasizes self-compassion, a way of accepting the days when we can’t make the health choices we want to and simply allowing them to happen before getting back into our routine. Their conversation includes a vulnerable talk about alcohol and social drinking, the variety of non-alcoholic craft beer/cocktail options available, how to avoid instinctive self-judgment when we make an unhealthy choice, and ways to incorporate mindful health into events and travel. This episode offers a way forward after we’ve made a less-than-nutritious choice without the guilt that society demands we bear.

“I think contextualizing our life in what we do the most matters the most, rather than the one-offs that we should be hard on ourselves about. Okay, so, in that week, that one meal and maybe there's another one at the conference that you didn't have much control over. Those two meals are not going to be a deal breaker or a derailment for your whole life, or make you give up [your] conscious focus on eating well. So I think it's really about us having a bit of grace for what comes up day to day in our lives that is unexpected. That was an unexpected occurrence that you didn't really have control over.” - Kirkland Shave

About Kirkland Shave:

Kirkland Shave, founder and president of the world-renowned Mountain Trek program, now offers off-site interactive and eye-opening workshops — grounded in anthropological health science — to help professionals integrate lasting steps in reaching optimal wellness. With an inspiring, practical, and actionable message, Kirkland helps people see their own health through a fresh and practical lens.

With half- and full-day interactive health workshops and keynote presentations — designed specifically for a corporate audience — held at your company’s headquarters, Kirkland’s life-changing interactive presentation can be tailored to meet a number of health issues: Fitness, Nutrition, De-Stressing, Sleep Hygiene, Physical and Digital Detoxification, Habit Formation, Mindfulness.

His proven approach increases energy, productivity, and establishes long-lasting health habits. The program incorporates scientific anthropology blended with a distinctly mountain-centric approach to health. With 18 years’ experience as president and founder of Mountain Trek’s holistic health and vitality program, Kirkland brings more than 40 years of health-focused lifestyle expertise, with experience as a fitness instructor, lead hiking guide, wellness coach, Wilderness Park Manager, yoga instructor and meditation practitioner.

Kirkland’s off-site workshops for executives and employees have been hosted by leading organizations, such as Google, Young Presidents Organization of Western Canada, Fortis Gas, the CEO Network, European Entrepreneurs Organization, and more. 

Contact Kirkland Shave and Mountain Trek:

Website: MountainTrek.com  

Instagram: @mountaintrek

Facebook: @mountaintrek

Instagram: @mountaintrek  

LinkedIn: Mountain-Trek  

YouTube: YouTube.com/MountainTrek  

Kirkland Shave on LinkedIn

Resources:

Website: MountainTrek.com

Guinness 0 non-alcoholic draught

Partake Brewing non–alcoholic beer

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations: 

Canada Career Counselling

Synthesis Psychology

Order Dr. Laura’s new book today: I Wish I’d Quit Sooner: Practical Strategies for Navigating a Toxic Boss

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Dr. Laura welcomes Dr. Joel Davis Brown. Chief Visionary Officer of Pneumos LLC, sought-after speaker, and author of “The Souls of Queer Folk: How Understanding LGBTQ+ Culture Can Transform Your Leadership Practice”, to Where Work Meets Life™ to talk about his journey, leadership, and what we can all learn from the queer community. Joel discusses how he worked to uncover what it means to be queer from an ethnographic standpoint, validating and understanding the community, in order to understand their leadership lessons. 

Joel and Dr. Laura explore the nine queer leadership principles from Joel’s book, including justice, verve, resilience, and interconnectedness, which are core leadership competencies everyone should embrace. Joel highlights the importance of gratitude, differentiating it from toxic positivity, the significance of coming out, how leaders must heal themselves to do transformational work, and how soulful leadership embodies the essence of an individual. The conversation illuminates the depths of experience in the queer community, the insights Joel has pulled from the community to write his book, and the power of interconnectedness and storytelling.

“Leadership is a life book. It's not a business book. So leadership applies to how you lead yourself, how you interact and engage with your family, your spouse, your children, your community, and yes, with the world. And so in that space, I think there's an opportunity for people to learn and to benefit from the wisdom of the queer community, asking: how can I be better as an individual? How can I be a better version of myself? How can I have a better relationship with my family? How can I support my organization? And also, how can we create a better planet? So that's in essence what this book is about.” Dr. Joel Davis Brown

About Dr. Joel Davis Brown Esq., Ed.D., CLC:

Dr. Joel A. Davis Brown is the Chief Visionary Officer of Pneumos LLC, a management consulting company based in San Francisco, California, and Nairobi, Kenya, specializing in cultural intelligence, leadership development, organizational strategy and change management, and strategic storytelling. Joel is also the co-owner of MetaPrinciple, a training and certification company that coaches practitioners on sustaining systems work globally using a modern theory of change.

Best known for his critical analysis, creativity, humor, and his ability to build consensus, Joel has partnered with Fortune 500 Companies, non-profit organizations, and government agencies to help them achieve sustained growth and organizational breakthroughs. He has worked with the City and County of San Francisco, Apple, Workday, UserTesting, the United Nations, Pivotal Enterprises, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, the American Civil Liberties Union, and many other Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, and institutions of learning.

Joel is a member of several professional communities, including SIETAR, SIETAR Europa, Young SIETAR, and the International Association of Cross-Cultural Management. Joel is also a certified facilitator with the Cultural Detective suite of intercultural tools. Since 2018, Joel has served as an adjunct professor at the IESEG Management school in Lille and Paris, France, where he teaches Masters courses on emotional intelligence, strategic storytelling, and story listening. Joel has also designed programs that focus on Ethics in Leadership, Cross-cultural Dialogue, LGBTQ Inclusion, and Men’s Leadership.

Joel has his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Virginia School of Law and his doctorate in educational leadership from Saint Mary’s College of California, which included domestic and international coursework in design thinking, global citizenship, innovation, and peace education. Joel has travelled to nearly 95+ countries, is conversational in Spanish, and has studied abroad in Costa Rica. Joel is also a nationally recognized spoken word artist in the United States. His award-winning and best-selling book, “The Souls of Queer Folk: How Understanding LGBTQ+ Culture Can Transform Your Leadership Practice,” was published in February 2023. Joel also curates and facilitates a Queer leadership forum, the Queer Leaders Lens, for aspiring and established LGBTQIA2S+ leaders all around the globe. 

Resources:

Website: JoelDavisBrown.com

Website: Pneumos.com

Book: “The Souls of Queer Folk: How Understanding LGBTQ+ Culture Can Transform Your Leadership Practice” by Dr. Joel A Davis Brown

LinkedIn: JoelAnthonyBrown

Instagram: @JoelABrown

Paulo Freire

Anne Frank

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations: 

Canada Career Counselling

Synthesis Psychology

Order Dr. Laura’s new book today: I Wish I’d Quit Sooner: Practical Strategies for Navigating a Toxic Boss

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Dr. Laura welcomes Kirkland Shave, co-founder of the Mountain Trek health reset retreat, and Dr. Kelly Tremblay, neuroscientist and certified coach, to Where Work Meets Life™to explore the connection between holistic health, burnout prevention, and the mind-body connection. Kelly and Kirk discuss the prevalence of stress and burnout in today’s society and our lack of meaningful connection to nature and our own bodies and minds. Dr. Laura investigates these issues from a neurological perspective and a practical wellness approach with both Kelly and Kirk, learning what can be done to reset our healing.

Forest bathing, flow trekking and sensory health practices that involve engaging with sound, scent, and visual natural experiences are all part of the conversation. Connecting with our senses and the reality of nature while separating ourselves from screens and demands can dramatically reduce stress and enhance brain function. While Kelly shares neuroscience research linking stress to actual structural brain changes, Kirk offers transformative stories from Mountain Trek, where guests can unplug from digital overload. Dr. Laura highlights the importance of understanding the causes of our burnout and how we can take control to heal our body and mind.

“You've probably heard about it's Shinrin-yoku, a Japanese-researched way of being moment to moment, mindful of the sensorial information that's coming through our sense organs into the brain. And you're doing that in nature, and you're in a state of flow… where you're not thinking about other things. You're paying attention to what do I see? Or what do I see in motion in front of me? Or what do I hear out of this ear versus this ear? Or what do I smell as I go by the bark of this tree? Or which direction is the sun landing on my skin? These moment-to-moment awarenesses have been proven to lower the stress hormone cortisol. The Japanese researched this, and the main reason why they did this research is because in the 80s, as the tech industry took off in Japan, people were working 12-hour days already that we're working now, and the work burnout was through the roof.” - Kirkland Shave

About Kirkland Shave:

Kirkland Shave, founder and president of the world-renowned Mountain Trek program, now offers off-site interactive and eye-opening workshops — grounded in anthropological health science — to help professionals integrate lasting steps in reaching optimal wellness. With an inspiring, practical, and actionable message, Kirkland helps people see their own health through a fresh and practical lens.

With half- and full-day interactive health workshops and keynote presentations — designed specifically for a corporate audience — held at your company’s headquarters, Kirkland’s life-changing interactive presentation can be tailored to meet a number of health issues: Fitness, Nutrition, De-Stressing, Sleep Hygiene, Physical and Digital Detoxification, Habit Formation, Mindfulness.

His proven approach increases energy, productivity, and establishes long-lasting health habits. The program incorporates scientific anthropology blended with a distinctly mountain-centric approach to health. With 18 years’ experience as president and founder of Mountain Trek’s holistic health and vitality program, Kirkland brings more than 40 years of health-focused lifestyle expertise, with experience as a fitness instructor, lead hiking guide, wellness coach, Wilderness Park Manager, yoga instructor and meditation practitioner.

Kirkland’s off-site workshops for executives and employees have been hosted by leading organizations, such as Google, Young Presidents Organization of Western Canada, Fortis Gas, the CEO Network, European Entrepreneurs Organization, and more. 

Contact Kirkland Shave and Mountain Trek:

Website: MountainTrek.com  https://mountaintrek.com/

Instagram: @mountaintrek https://www.instagram.com/mountaintrek/

Facebook: @mountaintrek https://www.facebook.com/mountaintrek

Instagram: @mountaintrek  https://www.instagram.com/mountaintrek

LinkedIn: Mountain-Trek  https://www.linkedin.com/company/mountain-trek/

YouTube: YouTube.com/MountainTrek  https://www.youtube.com/mountaintrek

Kirkland Shave on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirkland-shave-66865b29/

TripAdvisor: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g499116-d223075-Reviews-Mountain_Trek_Fitness_Retreat_Health_Spa-Ainsworth_Hot_Springs_Kootenay_Rockies_British.html

About Dr. Kelly Tremblay, MSc PhD CEC-ACC:

Dr. Trembly is committed to making aging better by innovating in the areas of health, tech, and education through leadership, research, and advocacy.

She is a consultant, neuroscientist and clinical audiologist who has worked in healthcare, tech, and higher education for 25+ years. As a tenured professor, Dr. Tremblay’s NIH-funded research shed light on how we can capitalize on the brain’s plasticity to promote perceptual and behavior changes well into our later years. Her work in the areas of communication neuroscience, person-centred care, and digital health technology has been recognized with invitations to serve on many committees at the National Institutes of Health, the American Federation for Aging Research’s National Scientific Advisory Council, Mitacs Canada, and the World Health Organization. She leads advocacy initiatives and serves on many boards, including the Hearing Loss Association of America, where she was a Board Trustee and Co-Founder and Chair of the Task Force for Accessible, Inclusive Employment.

Because work and health are social determinants of quality of life and healthy aging, Dr. Tremblay also works with leaders in all sectors, as an ICF-certified executive coach, to promote healthy, accessible, multi-generational workplaces where people can flourish. She’s certified by the International Coaching Federation and a Fellow of the McLean Institute of Coaching (an affiliate of Harvard Medical School), who loves helping people rewire and inspire!

Contact Dr. Kelly Tremblay: 

Website: DrKellyTremblay.com  https://drkellytremblay.com/

LinkedIn: Dr-Kelly_Tremblay  https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-kelly-tremblay  

Resources:

Website: MountainTrek.com

“Nature and human well-being: The olfactory pathway” Science Advances | May 2024 | Vol 10 Issue 20

Parks Canada Health and Wellness

Shinrin-yoku

“The Myth of Normal” by Gabor Mate

“When Things Fall Apart” by Pema Chödrön

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations: 

Canada Career Counselling

Synthesis Psychology

Order Dr. Laura’s new book today: I Wish I’d Quit Sooner: Practical Strategies for Navigating a Toxic Boss

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Dr. Laura examines how we can find calm within the turbulent and tricky times we’re in today. With geopolitical unrest, economic uncertainty, layoffs, and heightened emotions swirling around our unpredictable current times, it can be difficult to believe that calm is possible. It is still possible, however challenging it may seem, and Dr. Laura illustrates this by stressing the beauty of living in the moment and searching for gratitude in order to ground ourselves within chaos.

It isn’t a trite or contrived idea to suggest that actively searching for things to be grateful for can be a powerful catalyst for lifting our spirits. Constantly living in the past and focusing on regrets or projecting into the future with anxiety and worry does nothing to help ground us today. Dr. Laura shows how daily gratitude and finding ways to release our future fears are skills that give us the calm we need to continue navigating the stresses of life. As she reminds us, “There’s always hope”.

“So, given all of this, we need to learn how to focus on what we can control and focus on the present day that is in our grasp. And the only thing that's guaranteed is right now, as life can change in a mere moment, but we have today to work with. And we need to understand what we can do to make the most of today, which will help us stay grounded and bring down our levels of anxiety and fear to a place of groundedness and calm, realizing that there is beauty in this day.” Dr. Laura

About Dr. Laura:

Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett is a work and career psychologist and thought leader on the evolution of work. She has always been fascinated by how work intersects with life and loves to use her expertise to improve organizations and help people thrive. Her passion for taking creative ideas and launching them into successful business strategies led her to start three counselling psychology practices (Calgary Career Counselling, Canada Career Counselling, and Synthesis Psychology), as well as six different business brands offering organizational assessment and consulting services.

Dr. Laura is honoured to have been selected as a Woman of Distinction in Canada in 2014 and received a Canadian Woman of Inspiration Award as a Global Influencer in 2018.

Resources:

Dr. Laura on LinkedIn

Where Work Meets Life™ on YouTube

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations: 

Canada Career Counselling

Synthesis Psychology

Order Dr. Laura’s new book today: I Wish I’d Quit Sooner: Practical Strategies for Navigating a Toxic Boss

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Content Warning: talk of death by suicide

Dr. Laura welcomes Nick Jonsson, Certified Master Coach, keynote speaker, and author of the best-selling book “Executive Loneliness: The 5 Pathways to Overcoming Isolation, Stress, Anxiety, and Depression in the Modern Business World”, to the show to examine mental health, especially in leaders. Nick shares his personal story of loss of confidence, mental health challenges, and a spiral into addiction in a vulnerable illustration of how he learned the necessity of sharing and support to facilitate recovery. Sober and healthy today, Nick’s drive is to share his story so others can find the strength to break out of loneliness like he did. 

Nick and Dr. Laura dive deep into the truth about loneliness on an executive level, the prevalence of death by suicide among men, and why support groups are vital for a healthy life before we ever hit addiction. Nick is honest about how difficult it is to be vulnerable, but how life-changing it also proves to be. He shares stories from his coaching, his book, and the culture he currently nurtures in his company. His definition of spirituality is “accepting the things we are not in control of,” and he uses spirituality as a way to connect with people and continue to thrive in recovery and assist others to do the same.

“I mean, it's uncomfortable to be vulnerable, but we can practice that. And I talk a lot about the vulnerability muscle, and that it's like going to the gym. We train our muscles. We need to do that with vulnerability as well. And it's about starting small. And I was fortunate that I had a drinking problem, because that brought me to the 12-step programs. And over the years, I've been to almost a thousand of these meetings. Perhaps the first 100, I needed the help. The rest of the 900 were for me to give back and help others. And that has kept me on this path of being vulnerable, sharing my challenges, and no matter what is on my mind, I will come in there and I will share what the challenge is and I will leave the meeting feeling better.” Nick Jonsson

About Nick Jonsson:

Nick Jonsson's narrative is a compelling tale of success, adversity, and authentic triumph. Initially driven by societal expectations and a desire to meet external standards of success, Nick led major international firms before facing a period of profound adversity. He confronted personal and professional crises, including executive loneliness, addiction, and the loss of a close friend to suicide. This sparked a transformative journey.    

From these challenges, Nick emerged with a redefined purpose and a commitment to holistic success. He authored the best-selling book "Executive Loneliness: The 5 Pathways to Overcoming Isolation, Stress, Anxiety, and Depression in the Modern Business World," which draws on his personal struggles to guide others facing similar challenges.  

As a Certified Chief Master Coach (CCMC) and a Certified ICF Coach (ACTP), Nick Jonsson excels in executive coaching, empowering business leaders to enhance their effectiveness and become better leaders in their professional environments. Through life coaching, he helps individuals discover their purpose and craft their legacies, offering comprehensive guidance that addresses both personal aspirations and professional development. Celebrating six years of sobriety, Nick is also an accredited Sober Coach by the Sober Club in the UK, specializing in supporting grey zone drinkers to make transformative lifestyle changes.  

Furthermore, Nick founded a weekly men's group, creating a supportive space for men to connect, grow, and thrive. He is also the co-founder of EGN, the largest peer network for executives in Southeast Asia. His impact extends through his roles as a coach, speaker, and Ironman Top 2% World Age Group Athlete. His advocacy for mental health, physical wellness, and emotional well-being stems from his experiences and his commitment to helping others achieve holistic success.  

Today, Nick gives back to society not only through his advocacy but also as a fundraiser and volunteer for a suicide prevention agency. He is actively involved in coaching other business executives to overcome loneliness, addiction, and to find their life purpose and write their legacy.  

Nick's dedication to mental health advocacy was recognized when he was a finalist for the International Mental Health Campaigner of the Year at the InsideOut Awards in London, in 2021, and he won the Sabre PRovoke Award for Southeast Asia in the same year.  

Nick is an award-winning keynote speaker and workshop facilitator. He has been featured on over 100 international podcasts discussing his journey to assist others and has appeared in more than 30 newspapers and magazines, as well as on radio and TV.  

Happily married and with a son aged 15, Nick Jonsson stands as a testament to the power of resilience and the human spirit. His journey from societal-induced success through adversity to a life of authentic achievement offers inspiration and a roadmap for those seeking to find their own path to genuine fulfillment.

Resources:

Website: NickJonsson.com

Book: “Executive Loneliness: The 5 Pathways to Overcoming Isolation, Stress, Anxiety & Depression in the Modern Business World” by Nick Jonsson

“The Art and Science of Connection: Why Social Health is the Missing Key to Living Longer, Healthier, and Happier” by Kalsey Killam

Rich Roll podcast

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations: 

Canada Career Counselling

Synthesis Psychology

Order Dr. Laura’s new book today: I Wish I’d Quit Sooner: Practical Strategies for Navigating a Toxic Boss

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Dr. Laura welcomes Mike Horne PhD, author of The People Dividend and an executive and organization development coach, to the show to talk about his book and why he’s drawn to making people and organizations better versions of who and what they currently are. Mike began his career in labour management relations, which led him into the world of learning and development. Mike’s driving question has always been about how he could live out his humanistic values and help people. As he says “I’m not afraid to be called a helper.”

Mike and Dr. Laura discuss organizational culture, remote and hybrid work, and the impact of helping professions. Mike describes his book, The People Dividend, as being about humanistic values as a way of creating engagement. The words he says are the most important are dignity, kindness, and respect. Dr. Laura learns how Mike guides people through growth, the impact his book is having, and how leaders can unlock the potential in people and find the best talent for the job.

“I'm working on a very big project right now on Civility in an organization for a very large health care system. And I think it's just another way that we're talking about differences in the workplace. There's all kinds of backlash around diversity, equity and inclusion. It's very difficult for me to understand that, given that we have enough research that tells us that diverse teams understanding diverse customers helps you make money.” Mike Horne, Ph.D.

About Mike Horne, Ph.D.:

Mike Horne, Ph. D., is a highly experienced global corporate human resources and organization development leader, distinguished executive coach, best-selling author, and sought-after speaker. He is dedicated to empowering aspiring leaders, executives, and teams to navigate transitions, excel in new roles, and increase their effectiveness and influence. He hosts The People Dividend Podcast, which ranks in the top 10% of all podcasts globally.

Previously, for nearly three decades, Dr. Horne held pivotal human resources and organization development roles, including the Head of Human Resources for Gilead Sciences’ Research Division, Global Leader of Talent and Development for Brocade, and Head of Organization Development for Genentech. Before these positions, he served 15 years in human resources leadership roles for Nortel Networks, Marriott International, Towers Watson, and NLRB. He is the chairperson for the graduate Human Resources and Leadership Studies programs at Golden Gate University in San Francisco.

In November 2024, Dr. Horne released The People Dividend: Leadership Strategies for Unlocking Employee Potential, which outlines the “people dividend” philosophy and identifies key areas for investment, such as building trust, encouraging motivation, ensuring open communication, retaining employees, making better decisions, and enhancing the organization’s reputation. He is also the author of Integrity by Design: Working and Living Authentically, which calls readers to their higher purpose and to the aspiration to work and live authentically.

Resources:

Website: Mike-Horne.com

LinkedIn

Instagram
Youtube
Podcast: The People Dividend Podcast

“The People Dividend” by Mike Horne

The Immunity to Change method by Robert Kegan and Lisa Lahey

“The Science of Change” by Richard E. Boyatzis

“supercommunicators” by Charles Duhigg

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations: 

Canada Career Counselling

Synthesis Psychology

Order Dr. Laura’s new book today: I Wish I’d Quit Sooner: Practical Strategies for Navigating a Toxic Boss

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dr. Laura talks about spirituality and mental health in this episode, exploring the topics through the lens of the turbulent times we find ourselves in today. The uncertainty, volatility, and polarization in our modern times are creating a very real mental health crisis, especially in the areas of anxiety and depression. Dr. Laura defines these challenges and discusses how to address them through spirituality - a personal example of something that has worked for her.

Spirituality is differentiated from religion in Dr. Laura’s discussion, highlighting spirituality as an inner connection to something greater in the universe. She identifies spirituality as a growth journey, something beyond the material world, and connecting to greater love, hope, and a sense of purpose can offer relief from the anxiety and depression that plague us. Dr. Laura’s message is one of finding ways through the trauma and rocky times we’re in to a place of spiritual hope, however that may be defined for each of us. 

“Spirituality is about your connection to the divine, your connection to the universe. Having a sense of purpose. Living with unconditional love rather than fear.” Dr. Laura

About Dr. Laura:

Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett is a work and career psychologist and thought leader on the evolution of work. She has always been fascinated by how work intersects with life and loves to use her expertise to improve organizations and help people thrive. Her passion for taking creative ideas and launching them into successful business strategies led her to start three counselling psychology practices (Calgary Career Counselling, Canada Career Counselling, and Synthesis Psychology), as well as six different business brands offering organizational assessment and consulting services.

Dr. Laura is honoured to have been selected as a Woman of Distinction in Canada in 2014 and received a Canadian Woman of Inspiration Award as a Global Influencer in 2018.

Resources:

“The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment” by Eckhart Tolle

“The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself” by Michael A. Singer

Dr. Laura on LinkedIn

Where Work Meets Life™ on YouTube

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations: 

Canada Career Counselling

Synthesis Psychology

Order Dr. Laura’s new book today: I Wish I’d Quit Sooner: Practical Strategies for Navigating a Toxic Boss

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Dr. Laura welcomes Saijal Patel, Founder and CEO of Saij Wealth Consulting, to a conversation about finance and financial literacy, especially in regards to women. Saijal promotes empowering women’s financial independence and security. She has over two decades of experience in the financial industry in both North America and Asia to draw upon. Saijal’s drive comes from seeing the unique challenges women face in managing personal finances and understanding how money works. 

Saijal and Dr. Laura address the stigma that surrounds talking about money and the belief that money causes problems. Saijal firmly believes it’s the values people hold that manifest through money and that money itself is neither good nor bad. She notes that financial education and wellness address voter literacy through empowerment and understanding of governments’ financial decisions, and also tackle one of the greatest sources of stress for people. Saijal and Dr. Laura examine what Saijal’s course offers, the lack of good money mentorship growing up, and how to view and visualize abundance in our lives.

“I have found with women that I'm educating, that for some reason society has told them and they have bought into this belief that ‘I need to be confident. I need to have confidence before I jump in and learn these things’. And that's the difference [that] is stopping so many women from building the skills because it's not confidence that they need. They need competence. Right? Competence actually leads to confidence.” Saijal Patel

About Saijal Patel:

Saijal Patel is the Founder and CEO of Saij Wealth Consulting, a financial consultancy and education platform dedicated to empowering women's financial independence and security.

With over two decades of experience in the financial industry across North America and Asia, she holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and has served in roles as a financial strategist and analyst.

Saijal is the renowned creator and host of Strictly Money, Canada's sole national personal finance program. Formerly a business anchor and correspondent for Canada's Business News Network (BNN) and CNBC Asia, she provided insightful commentary and analysis on global economies, stock markets, and corporate news to millions of households worldwide. Her exceptional coverage earned her recognition as one of the most influential South Asian Women Executives in the Media and Entertainment Industry.

Resources:

Website: SaijElle.com

Instagram

LinkedIn

21 Days of Abundance - Meditation Series by Deepak Chopra

Munk Debates

“Losing Cadence” and “Finding Sophie” by Laura Lovett

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations: 

Canada Career Counselling

Synthesis Psychology

Order Dr. Laura’s new book today: I Wish I’d Quit Sooner: Practical Strategies for Navigating a Toxic Boss

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Dr. Laura welcomes Julie Ann Cairns to the podcast to talk about her book, The Abundance Code: How to Bust the Seven Money Myths for a Rich Life Now, and her passion for helping people see the importance of an abundant mindset. Julie Ann was trained in economics, has an MBA, and had 30+ years running seven and eight-figure businesses. But after an economic downturn and great financial loss, she had an epiphany that turned her life around. She shares her incredible story of how she found her true calling in helping others achieve success and find fulfillment in all areas of life. 

Julie Ann addresses the limiting beliefs people harbor about wealth and abundance. She has identified ways to crack those limiting beliefs and replace those thoughts with supportive ones, an abundance mindset instead of a scarcity one. Dr. Laura and Julie Ann talk about the subconscious versus conscious mind’s processing power, common myths around success and money, and the different therapies that can open people up to an abundance mindset. This episode highlights how our own beliefs can be holding us back from embracing the abundance available to us and addresses how to affect change that will drive success. 

“Money is so powerful. It's neither good nor bad. It's completely neutral. So that's why it's important to figure out [and] get yourself in alignment so that when you add the amplification power of money, it's of benefit to you and everyone around you.” Julie Ann Cairns

About Julie Ann Cairns:

Julie Ann Cairns is the author of the best-selling Hay House book The Abundance Code: How to Bust the 7 Money Myths for a Rich Life Now and the Director of the documentary of the same name - The Abundance Code - which hundreds of thousands of people have watched since its release, now available as a 3-part series on Gaia.com.

Originally trained in Economics and having also gained an MBA, across her 30+ year career Julie Ann has run 6, 7 and 8 figure businesses. She has overseen the marketing for over $100 million in product sales.  Her greatest passion is in helping people to see how vital an abundant mindset and supportive belief system are to achieving success and fulfillment in all areas of life. 

Julie Ann's mission is to provide practical tips and powerful mindset enhancement, so that you can live a mind-blowingly abundant life full of freedom, choice and joyful celebration.

Resources:

Book: The Abundance Code book

Blog: The Abundance Code

Docu-series: The Abundance Code

Julie Ann Cairns on Instagram

Dr. Wayne Dyer

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations: 

Canada Career Counselling

Synthesis Psychology

Order Dr. Laura’s new book today: I Wish I’d Quit Sooner: Practical Strategies for Navigating a Toxic Boss

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