Where Work Meets Life™ with Dr. Laura

Dr. Laura welcomes productivity catalyst, highly sensitive executive coach, and international speaker Clare Kumar to the show to discuss designing workspaces for neurodivergent productivity. Clare has a wealth of insight into how spaces can best suit inclusion and differing work needs.

Dr. Laura and Clare Kumar talk about neurodiversity and exactly what sorts of behaviors and traits encompass neurodiversity. Clare explains the needs that often accompany neurodiversity, why hybrid and flexible work arrangements are so important, and how we are lacking in organizational training around the impacts of our physical spaces on wellbeing. The conversation is a welcome look into neurodiverse needs and ties into Dr. Laura’s continuing study of flexible work situations and what we all need for well-being and productivity.

“What we've seen collectively is the recognition that people can work effectively from home and that a large majority of people are fiercely clinging to the ability to be working from home and the autonomy that comes with that. So, yes, I think it's highly advantageous for the neurodivergent population, but really most humans want a degree of customizing their work experience and having some autonomy to do that, whether it be time, space, how you're doing the work, all of that has a part to play in people showing up at their best.” Clare Kumar

About Clare Kumar:

Productivity catalyst, highly sensitive executive coach, and international speaker Clare Kumar examines the intersection of productivity and inclusivity – paying attention to both being and doing. She inspires individuals to design for well-being and cultivate sustainable performance while avoiding exhaustion and burnout. Clare encourages leaders to design inclusive performances to invite the richest contributions from every member of their team. This is a topic Clare explores with innovators as host of the Happy Space Podcast.

Clare draws on a diverse corporate career that took her from Toronto to Tokyo and Montreal, with equal experience as an entrepreneur. She is a sought-after media contributor to news and lifestyle shows including the Huffington Post, Fast Company, the Globe and Mail, CBC Radio, The Social, and the Marilyn Denis Show. Whether speaking to one person or thousands, Clare loves inspiring massive shifts by inviting you to pay attention to little things that make a big difference. She welcomes all highly sensitive professionals as well as those who want to love and support them to find community in the Happy Space Pod.

Resources:

Website: ClareKumar.com

Happy Space Podcast

Huberman Lab Podcast

Samer Hattar, PhD

“The Highly Sensitive Person” by Elaine N. Aron, PhD

“Sensitive” by Jenn Granneman and Andre Solo

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 reflects on the just-finished Season 3 of Where Work Meets LifeTM, and the themes and highlights she explored throughout key episodes. She looks ahead to the upcoming Season 4 and shares the topics she wants to revisit from new angles and which new ideas she will examine in the coming episodes.

Dr. Laura addresses hot topics like AI, hybrid and flexible work, and toxic workplaces and bosses, which  she has been talking about recently and wants to explore in more depth in coming episodes. The idea of nuanced humans, embracing our intuition, heart, and inner wisdom in making career decisions, is something she cherishes discussing, as well as the brain, the neuroscience behind what we do and choose. Season 3 brought many enlightening episodes that each investigate different aspects of wellbeing, workplace and career. Dr. Laura highlights a few key guests and conversations that are worth revisiting for inspiration and advice. Thank you all for being on the journey so far and join Dr. Laura for even more insight and knowledge in Season 4. 

“...I think that intuition is an important element of our work and our lives. I would love to continue talking about that when it comes to thriving humans. And creating meaning and fulfillment in our lives is super important because it is easy to get consumed by fear and worry and constant thoughts that are churning in our heads, and to have difficulty grounding and finding purpose and meaning in this life.” Dr. Laura

About Dr. Laura:

Bringing nearly 25 years of expertise as an Industrial/Organizational and Career Psychologist and pioneer on the future of work, Dr. Laura helps organizations evolve their cultures, and leaders and employees to thrive in their work and lives.

She shares her expertise through keynote speaking, the Where Work Meets LifeTM podcast, strategic career coaching, and writing articles and books.

Resources:

“The Impact of AI on Tomorrow’s Job Market” by Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett on LinkedIn

Episode 62 | The Gift of Intuition in Our Work and Lives

Episode 41 | Too Bad to Stay, Too Good to Leave: Making Purposeful Career Pivots

Episode 42 | Career Fulfillment: Making or Breaking our Work-Life Wellness

Episode 57 | The Power of Exercise to Optimize your Brain and Mental Wellness

Episode 61 | Vitamin N: The Power of Nature in Work/Life Wellness

Episode 64 | The Generous Workhome: Boosting Your Wellbeing and Productivity

Episode 47 | Tragedy as Our Teacher: Finding Silver Linings with Detective Sweet

Episode 48 | Unlikely Connections, Affirmations, and the Power to Make a Difference

Episode 54 | Special Episode on The LiLoHia Project: with guests Gerald Auger and Sass Jordan

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 records a special episode live in Bruges, Belgium, with guest Philip Vanhoutte for a tour of the Generous Workhome. Philip explains how the vital elements of nature and wellbeing were distilled into six essentials for work health, and how those six essentials were built into the Generous Workhome to create an optimal, productive environment.

Philip drew from research into the value of pulling nature into daily life and the concepts of biophilic design to create the blueprint for the Generous Workhome. His theory is encapsulated by the acronym EASI, which is defined as Energizing being the key to driving Authoring, Sharing, and Interacting. As Philip guides Dr. Laura through the prototype Workhome studio spaces, it is evident that elements of sound blocking, nature, movement, adjustable lighting, and air temperature have all been carefully curated. Dr. Laura learns more about how EASI needs are woven into a functional work layout, the intention behind every choice, and how the outdoors can be brought into daily life.  The YouTube version of this episode will enable viewers to truly see the Generous Workhome, aspects of which can be applied into our own work environments.

“In here you are hearing the sounds of a forest at this very moment. It's a biophilic sound which has no repetition or pattern in it. So it's not twice the same bird that you're hearing chirping. And that puts people at ease. What human beings and animals need is the sounds of water, wind, and birds. If they hear these things, they relax.” Philip Vanhoutte

About Philip Vanhoutte:

Leveraging a rewarding international career in the ITC industry, Philip Vanhoutte’s passion for personal productivity tools and communication & collaboration solutions morphed into a singular purpose: accelerating the realization of human potential.

Philip champions the adoption of Smarter Working: a holistic human centered work design practice that unifies space, technology, and people disciplines. He co-authored The Smarter Working Manifesto, a definitive guide on how to shape the best work style. In his quest for health and joy at work he learned that Nature Deficit Disorder has produced highest ever burnouts, work induced sickness, and a struggling workforce. He campaigned for more nature at work with Ozadi at SXSW in Austin and GCUC in Denver.

Philip graduated from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Belgium with a combined Applied Economics and Engineering degree and a major in Marketing. He started his career at Accenture Consulting, to continue with key change management roles at Engie and Wang Laboratories. In the second part of his IT career, he grew the MCI WorldCom International business, became Chief Marketing Officer at Sony-Ericsson Mobile Communications to finish a blue-chip career as SrVP and MD of Plantronics (now part of HP) Europe and Africa.

Since the Financial Crisis of 2008, Philip became a strong advocate of Agile Working with a passion for Human Dimensions of Organisations. He is known for transformational projects in award-winning offices which are acoustic temples and benchmarks for the biophilic built environment. He has advised Leesman, Veldhoen+Company and Work EvOHlution, and provided support to the founding of the Osservatorio Smart Working at the Politecnico di Milano.

Resources:

Philip Vanhoutte on LinkedIn

Website: https://smarterworking.io/

“The Smarter Working Manifesto” by Guy Clapperton and Philip Vanhoutte  

“14 Patterns of Biophilic Design” by Terrapin Bright Green

EASI

Not A Desk

Moodsonic  

Aera home fragrance  

Savanna Studio

“Forest Bathing” by Dr. Qing Li

“Spring Cannot Be Cancelled” by David Hockney and Martin Gayford

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 welcomes guest Randi Seiff, President and Chief Creative Officer of Treun, to talk about how Treun is bringing sustainability and philanthropy into luxury fashion. Randi has been in the fashion and lifestyle industry for over 30 years and values the ability to align brands with social good.

Randi and Creative Founder Doug McClain met at the start of COVID, and from their alignment on philanthropy through fashion, Treun was born. Randi shares the statistic that out of 150 billion ready to wear garments annually sold, 30% and can end up in landfills! Treun seeks to reduce that waste by focusing on made to order and made to measure garments, removing inventory and poorly fit returns from the equation. Randi and Dr. Laura discuss how Treun focuses on use of natural fibers in the fabrics they make, using deadstock, eliminating plastic packaging, and Treun’s commitment to support a different foundation or charity quarterly. Through live events they seek to bring awareness to and raise funds for each charity. This conversation highlights how fashion can be re-thought with the needs of the planet and people in mind, reducing waste and harm while feeling and doing good.

“... it goes back to using sustainability as a lens through which you look at everything… and sustainability, for me, it's a vehicle for product innovation and value creation, and that can be applied to any industry. Certainly you can look at every touchpoint and try and think how you can do this differently; just because it's been done that way for a zillion years doesn't mean that's the right way for now. As we have learned with the fashion system right now, we know the industry is broken and we're slowly but surely spreading the word to get other companies on board.” Randi Seiff

About Randi Seiff:

Randi Seiff is a Creative and Strategist in one, with 30+ years of expertise in fashion & lifestyle, specializing in design, branding, & product development, building purpose-driven brands from concept to completion. Randi brings a unique perspective where marketing, brand, and design work together to streamline a cohesive brand experience. Design-driven and strategy-led, with a mission to find solutions towards circularity, she uses design-thinking as a methodology for creative problem-solving to design entire brand experiences, connecting sustainability and purpose at every touchpoint - from design to supply chain to sales. A holistic approach where every detail matters and is a deliberate piece of the overall experience ensures the customer, brand, product, marketing, and experience authentically connect. Tapping into a shared sense of community and purpose, Randi leverages collaborations for product innovation and strategic partnerships, and with empathy, entrepreneurial spirit, and imagination, communicates the story to bring the brand’s personality to life….a triple win-win-win….for people, planet and profit.

Resources:

Randi Seiff Website: randiseiffdesign.com

Randi Seiff on LinkedIn

Randi Seiff on Instagram

Treun Website: treunhouse.com

Treun Instagram

Treun LinkedIn

“Tough Titties: On Living Your Best Life When You’re the F-ing Worst” by Laura Belgray

Seth’s Blog by Seth Godin

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 hosts another solo episode to discuss the topic of intuition. A topic she is passionate about, she defines intuition as a gut instinct, feeling something is off, or a hunch that something isn’t right. Our intuition is as valuable to our lives as science and data, and Dr. Laura explains why.

Our inner voice is an accumulation of so many experiences we’ve had as a human being and it needs to be taken into account. The common perception that our intuition is “fluffy” or just “emotional” discounts our natural instincts and inner knowing.  Dr. Laura explains some of the science behind intuition, the ability to sense external cues that stems from our spinal cord and guts, and why learning to factor intuition into our daily lives gives us extra insight into decision making. Intuition is a gift; we should be conscious of honing it to the benefit of our work and lives.

“We all make decisions that we end up regretting. But I want to encourage you to turn that regret into learning. Say, what did I learn from that for next time that I'm going to put into action so that I can better trust my gut? Because again, the concrete data is important, but it does not always tell us the full story of what lies ahead.” Dr. Laura

About Dr. Laura:

Bringing nearly 25 years of expertise as an Industrial/Organizational and Career Psychologist and pioneer on the future of work, Dr. Laura helps organizations evolve their cultures, and leaders and employees to thrive in their work and lives.

She shares her expertise through keynote speaking, the Where Work Meets LifeTM podcast, strategic career coaching, and writing articles and books.

Resources:

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 welcomes guests Laura Cohen, counsellor and founder of her own nature therapy practice, and Philip Vanhoutte, ITC industry professional and author of “The Smarter Working Manifesto”, to the show to talk about the power of Vitamin N, nature. Both Laura and Philip are champions of the benefits of a connection with nature at work and in life.

Laura Cohen, who works with Dr. Laura through Canada Career Counselling, details studies that show people to be happiest in coastal environments and outdoors. She also cites the profound benefits of nature for those living with ADHD. Philip Vanhoutte is a proponent of Biophilic Design, which includes identifying fourteen patterns of nature that would ideally be included in a building to directly impact the wellness of individuals within. The ways in which nature improves our work lives and overall health are compelling and it becomes apparent that we need to set ourselves up to maximize our interactions with nature. Laura and Philip share their individual expertise on the transformative power of nature and how they each advise incorporating more of the outdoors into our daily lives. 

“There's also this idea that I think a lot of the time we see nature as this thing that's separate from us or that it's a commodity to fulfill us and make us feel good… it reduces our stress hormones and we see it as something that's beneficial. But the next level is kind of understanding the reciprocity and how do I give back to nature, and developing that sort of deeper relationship with nature.” Laura Cohen

About Laura Cohen:

Originally from Montreal, Laura is now based in Halifax with a 10 minute walk to the ocean. For the last 6 years, Laura has worked as a counsellor in universities, Employee Assistance Programs, and in private practice, including her own nature therapy practice and Canada Career Counselling.  

Laura holds a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology from McGill University and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications with a minor in Psychology from Concordia University. Laura has been a guest lecturer for organizations such as Dalhousie University, Concordia University, Canadian Counselling & Psychotherapy Association presenting on the mental health benefits of nature as well as, offers individual nature-informed therapy and outdoor groups therapeutic services for women and children for an embodied experience. She is also an intuitive, creative, and finds herself exploring the intersection of psychospiritual concepts and western psychology in her work as a nature therapist  guiding her clients through the lens of transpersonal psychology, polyvagal theory, creative arts, and other modalities like Acceptance & commitment Therapy (ACT), Internal Family Systems.   

About Philip Vanhoutte:

Leveraging a rewarding international career in the ITC industry, Philip Vanhoutte’s passion for personal productivity tools and communication & collaboration solutions morphed into a singular purpose: accelerating the realization of human potential.

Philip champions the adoption of Smarter Working: a holistic human centred work design practice that unifies space, technology, and people disciplines. He co-authored The Smarter Working Manifesto, a definitive guide on how to shape the best work style. In his quest for health and joy at work he learned that Nature Deficit Disorder has produced highest ever burnouts, work induced sickness, and a struggling workforce. He campaigned for more nature at work with Ozadi at SXSW in Austin and GCUC in Denver.

Philip graduated from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Belgium with a combined Applied Economics and Engineering degree and a major in Marketing. He started his career at Accenture Consulting, to continue with key change management roles at Engie and Wang Laboratories. In the second part of his IT career, he grew the MCI WorldCom International business, became Chief Marketing Officer at Sony-Ericsson Mobile Communications to finish a blue-chip career as SrVP and MD of Plantronics (now part of HP) Europe and Africa.

Since the Financial Crisis of 2008, Philip became a strong advocate of Agile Working with a passion for Human Dimensions of Organisations. He is known for transformational projects in award-winning offices which are acoustic temples and benchmarks for the biophilic built environment. He has advised Leesman, Veldhoen+Company and Work EvOHlution, and provided support to the founding of the Osservatorio Smart Working at the Politecnico di Milano.

Resources:

Philip Vanhoutte on LinkedIn

Website: https://smarterworking.io/

“The Smarter Working Manifesto” by Guy Clapperton and Philip Vanhoutte  

Laura Cohen on LinkedIn  

Website: https://lauracohen.org/

Terrapin Bright Green Publications

Bill Browning, Founding Partner at Terrapin  

“Braiding Sweetgrass” by Robin Wall Kimmerer  

“Sound Business” by Julian Treasure  

Moodsonic  

Aera home fragrance  

“Hello, Goodbye: 75 Rituals for Times of Loss, Celebration, and Change” by Day Schildkret and Elena Brower  

“SoulCraft” by Bill Plotkin 

“Returning the Gift” PDF by Robin Kimmerer

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 welcomes Tina Varughese, keynote speaker and one of Ignite magazine’s top ten notable speakers in Canada, to the show to talk about unconscious bias at work and the human side of this hot button topic. Tina has been speaking on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for many years, and unconscious bias was a natural addition to her keynotes as she recognized the critical importance of understanding it.

Tina Varughese defines unconscious bias as “learned behaviors, attitudes and beliefs that sit in our unconscious state”. They are not things we are both with, but things we absorb over time. She identifies seven key areas in which we hold unconscious bias: gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, age, weight, and disability (physical and emotional). Tina and Dr. Laura discuss how biases in each of these areas affect our work and workplaces, how we are largely unaware of our unconscious biases, and why leaders need to act on unconscious bias. Tina’s candor and insight shed light on things we may not have considered, things that unconsciously affect our interactions with colleagues and our experiences at work.

“I think the most common, or the ones that probably come into play in the workplace the most, would be racial bias, gender bias, parental or maternal bias, and affinity bias. Affinity bias being the one that's the most difficult to recognize in the workplace because we'll say things like, ‘Oh, she'll make a great culture fit’, or ‘he won't make a great culture fit’, when in essence, that might actually be our affinity bias at play. And that's why we really need to interrupt that, because at the end of the day we might be screening someone out when we could have screened them in, and they might have been a great organizational fit…”  Tina Varughese

About Tina Varughese:

An Indo-Canadian daughter of first generation parents, Varughese says her cultural background allows her to find “the best of both worlds” and shed light, knowledge, and, most importantly, universal humor into the changing workplace. Her highly entertaining, interactive, and practical keynotes leave attendees inspired to think, behave, act, and communicate with intention.

For fifteen years Varughese worked with immigrants in her roles with the Province of Alberta’s immigration office. She also ran her own successful relocation and settlement firm. Varughese draws from her experiences as an entrepreneur, mother, daughter, wife, sister, and friend when delivering keynotes on diversity and inclusion — topics that resonate with her both professionally and personally.

Varughese has been named one of “Canada’s Top 10 Notable Speakers” by Ignite Magazine for her ability to break down barriers and create a comfortable, inclusive, and fun space for attendees. She was the face of diversity, literally, having been chosen to participate in Dove’s campaign for Real Beauty, representing beauty in diversity.

The past-president of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (Calgary), Varughese is a contributing writer for the Human Resource Institute of Alberta’s Network magazine, Calgary Real Estate News, and Home to Home magazine. She was also profiled in Alberta’s Venture Magazine.

Resources:

Website: https://tworksforyou.ca/

Tina Varughese on LinkedIn

Tina Varughese on Twitter

“The Leader’s Guide to Unconscious Bias” by Pamela Fuller, Anne Chow, and Mark Murphy

“Sway: Unravelling Unconcious Bias” by Pragya Agarwal

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 welcomes women’s leadership coach and author Kelli Thompson to the show to talk about confidence, particularly about closing the confidence gap that many women (and minority groups) face in career growth. Kelli explains what inspired her to write her book, Closing the Confidence Gap, and how she learned to move past the hesitation she initially felt about speaking up at work. 

Kelli addresses many of the reasons people, specifically women and minorities, offer to explain why the confidence gap exists for them. She has experienced how reluctant women are to talk about money and negotiate for their salaries. She and Laura talk about the invisible extra work that women frequently shoulder and how that places women at a disadvantage when it comes to career advancement. Fear and imposter syndrome exist for many of us, but Kelli’s approach urges people to move confidently despite those feelings. Kelli’s confidence and leadership insights align well with Dr. Laura’s career coaching knowledge, and their conversation provides a foundation from which to examine where our lack of confidence comes from.

“But I remember moving into a human resources role and the chief that I was supporting had made a comment. He's like, you know, you're really direct and people may not know how to handle you! And I remember thinking to myself, it kind of just came full circle like, oh my gosh, I've always been called too direct. And so many of the women that I work with have always been called something: too bossy, too assertive, too sensitive, too emotional. And I think … systemically this really plays into a lot of gender likability biases…”  Kelli Thompson

About Kelli Thompson:

Kelli Thompson is a women’s leadership coach and speaker who helps women advance to the rooms where decisions are made. She has coached and trained hundreds of women to trust themselves, lead with more confidence, and create a career they love.

She is the founder of the Clarity & Confidence Women’s Leadership Program, and a Stevie Award® winner for Women in Business— Coach of the Year. Kelli holds an MBA, has served as an adjunct management professor, and has more than ten years of senior leadership experience in financial services and technology organizations. Her thought leadership has been featured in Forbes, MarketWatch, Parents Magazine, HuffPost, and Working Mother. Kelli is from Omaha, Nebraska, and her favorite roles are wife to Jason and mom to Hailey. Learn more about Kelli at www.kelliraethompson.com.

Resources:

Website: www.kelliraethompson.com

“Closing the Confidence Gap: Boost Your Peace, Your Potential, and Your Paycheck” by Kelli Thompson

Kelli Thompson on Instagram

Kelli Thompson on LinkedIn

Cy Wakeman books

So Money with Farnoosh Torabi podcast

“My Life in Full” by Indra Nooyi

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 is joined by the brilliant Dr. Shawna Pandya - a Canadian physician, aquanaut, scientist-astronaut candidate with the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences, VP of Immersive Medicine with Luxsonic Technologies, and Director of IIAS’ Space Medicine Group. Dr. Pandya talks about the many facets of her career and what drives her to success and continued exploration.

It is tempting to simply call Dr. Shawna Pandya superhuman and assume she is on a level of her own, but Dr. Laura delves into the very human side of what inspired Dr. Pandya to pursue space medicine, and what continues to keep her growing. Dr. Pandya talks about resilience and the ability to see failure as growth. She has wrestled with her own perceived failures and learned how perspective shifts things for the better. Dr. Pandya explains what being an aquanaut is, her record for days living under the sea, the importance of mentorship and role models in life, and who her own mentors are. From studying to be a neurosurgeon to testing the first commercial spacesuit in zero gravity, Dr. Pandya shares with Dr. Laura how she navigates her extraordinary life.

“...so realizing the end is not guaranteed, but the journey is so incredible. Like if you told me as a kid I would get to be part of Mars simulations and get to command these missions and get to live under the sea and do really cool science as part of this and do really cool technology development, and even work with some of these companies like I do with Sonic or advise some of these companies, you know, that's a pretty cool dream to realize as an adult! And so the journey is just as important as that end goal.”  Dr. Shawna Pandya

About Dr. Shawna Pandya, BSc (Hons), MSc, MD, CFPC, DMT, FAWM (candidate), FEWM (honorary):

Dr. Shawna Pandya is a physician, aquanaut, scientist-astronaut candidate with the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences (IIAS), skydiver, pilot-in-training, VP Immersive Medicine with Luxsonic Technologies, Associate Fellow of the Aerospace Medicine Association, and Fellow of the Explorers Club. She is Director of IIAS’ Space Medicine Group, Chief Instructor for IIAS’ Operational Space Medicine course, a host with the World Extreme Medicine’s podcast series, Primary Investigator for the Shad Canada-Blue Origin student microgravity competition, member of the AIAA ASCEND Guiding Coalition, medical advisor at Astreas and Above: Space Development Corporation, and sessional lecturer for “Technology and the Future of Medicine,” at the University of Alberta. Dr. Pandya was on the first crew to test a commercial spacesuit in zero-gravity in 2015. She earned her aquanaut designation on the 2019 NEPTUNE (Nautical Experiments in Physiology, Technology and Underwater Exploration) mission. Her expeditions have been previously captured in the 2019 Land Rover short, 'Another World,' released with the Apollo 11: First Steps film, and in the 2022 FIGS Space Navy and Mauve space medicine themed campaign. She interned at ESA’s European Astronaut Center and NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Her publications include a paper on medical guidelines for commercial suborbital spaceflight, and book chapters on space technologies that have benefitted terrestrial medicine, psychological resilience in long-duration spaceflight, and reproduction and sexuality in long-duration spaceflight. In 2021, she was granted an Honorary Fellowship in Extreme and Wilderness Medicine and named to the Canadian Women’s Executive Network’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women. Her work is permanently exhibited at the Ontario Science Center alongside Dr. Roberta Bondar, the first Canadian woman in space. In 2022, Dr. Pandya was named to the Explorers' Club's “50 Explorers Changing the World."

Resources:

Shawna Pandya, MD on LinkedIn

Dr. Shawna Pandya at the IIAS (International Institute for Astronautical Sciences)

WEMcast (World Extreme Medicine Podcast)

Dr. Roberta Bondar

“No Ego” by Cy Wakeman

“An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth” by Chris Hadfield

Houston, We Have a Podcast (NASA podcast) 

“Another World: A Film by Land Rover” short film on YouTube

“FIGS Scrubs: Space Navy and Mauve” ad 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

Calgary 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 welcomes Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and world renowned expert in ADHD, Dr. John Ratey, to the show. Dr. Ratey has written twelve books including “Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain,” which inspires much of Dr. Laura’s conversation with him. Dr. Ratey shares his experiences and research into the power of exercise on the brain and how it can reduce stress.

The ability of exercise to combat stress and increase focus, including in those diagnosed with ADHD, is a powerful thing. Dr. Ratey refers to physical education in schools and how changing the traditional program benefits the mental wellbeing of students. Dr. Laura and Dr. Ratey discuss the increased levels of anxiety, stress, and depression in the world, the positive brain chemistry exercise produces, and the benefits of community on wellness. The knowledge shared in conversation and in Dr. Ratey’s books is inspirational and potentially life changing.  

“Let's talk about workplace. I mean, it has been a big bonus to include exercise opportunities in the workday, whether that means extended breaks or membership in the gyms or having some … yoga instructors in a couple afternoons a week during their lunch period, stuff like that to encourage wellness on the job.”  Dr. John J Ratey

About Dr. John J. Ratey:

John J. Ratey, MD, is an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and an internationally recognized expert in Neuropsychiatry. He has published over 60 peer-reviewed articles, and 12 books published in 20 languages, including the groundbreaking ADD-ADHD “Driven to Distraction” series with Ned Hallowell, MD. Their latest release, ADHD 2.0 (2021) explores new science and strategies. With the publication of his bestseller, "Spark-The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain," Dr. Ratey established himself as one of the world's foremost authorities on the brain-fitness connection in areas such as ADHD, Autism, Aging and Cognition.

Dr. Ratey’s work in Attention Deficit Disorder came after he and his former student, Ned Hallowell, recognized and diagnosed their own ADD, prompting them to write a book to raise awareness and an understanding of the diagnosis to a lay audience. Published in 1994, “Driven to Distraction” became a bestseller, with over 2 million copies in print, and is still considered one of the Bibles of ADD today. Dr. Ratey and Dr. Hallowell went on to write “Delivered to Distraction” and “Answers to Distraction”, and have become recognized around the world as authorities on the subject. They continue to collaborate and recently released ADHD 2.0, exploring new science and strategies.

Recognized by his peers as one of the Best Doctors in America since 1997, Dr. Ratey was recently honored by the Massachusetts Psychiatric Society as "Outstanding Psychiatrist of the Year" for advancing the field. Dr. Ratey and his work are frequently profiled in the media, where he’s been featured on ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS and NPR, as well as in The New York Times, Newsweek, The Washington Post, US News and World Report, Men’s Health, and other national publications. Dr. Ratey maintains an active practice in Cambridge, MA and Los Angeles, CA.

Resources:

John Ratey MD website

“Spark” by John J Ratey, MD with Eric Hagerman

“ADHD 2.0” by Edward M Hallowell, MD and John J Ratey, MD

“Driven to Distraction” by Edward M Hallowell, MD and John J Ratey, MD

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