Mental Health at Work

Maite Otero, Chief of Staff at Superlist & host of this podcast, shares her experience of balancing work with becoming a carer for her mum, how companies can show candidates they really care about staff wellbeing at the interview stage, and why it’s important to do therapy—before something traumatic happens. HR folks & managers: check out  Tough Conversations here . Learn how to navigate s...

Lia Boyland, Co-founder of Talent Shake, shares how she builds more compassionate company cultures by being open about periods at work, how she approaches the challenges of motherhood as a working parent, and how a tragic experience with a friend helped her keep her life on track. Heads up for listeners: this episode features brief discussion of a tragedy involving drugs. HR folks & managers:...

Stuart Thorburn, People Experience Lead at Learnerbly, shares how witnessing an accident as a police officer strained his mental health, how he came to terms with PTSD, and his advice for self-confessed blokes uncertain about seeking support. Heads up for listeners: this episode features discussion of a serious road traffic accident. HR folks & managers: check out  Tough Conversations here . L...

Claire Samson, former People Director at Bumble, talks about going through divorce while working in HR, why asking people how best to support them builds trust, and how leaders can strengthen company culture by communicating with employees in the right way. HR folks & managers: check out  Tough Conversations here . Learn how to navigate sensitive topics like salary chats, periods & work, l...

Nick Jonsson, Co-founder of Executives’ Global Network, discusses the normalised drinking culture in high-pressure industries, why his drive to succeed led to loneliness & alcoholism, and how he’s now using his experience to help leaders open up. HR folks & managers: check out  Tough Conversations here . Learn how to navigate sensitive topics like salary chats, periods & work, letting...

Emma Flaxman, Wellbeing & Engagement Partner at PHD, shares how her sister’s mental health crisis impacted her own perspective of mental health, and why she’s made it her mission to bring proper wellbeing support to the advertising industry. HR folks & managers: check out  Tough Conversations here . Learn how to navigate sensitive topics like salary chats, periods & work, letting peopl...

Brad Jayakody, VP of Engineering at Pleo, shares how his experience as a mental health responder at Burning Man helps him lead with honesty & empathy, and why knowing your limits is key to protecting your own wellbeing. HR folks & managers: check out  Tough Conversations here . Learn how to navigate sensitive topics like salary chats, periods & work, letting people go, and much more 💪

Aga Bajer, Founder of CultureBrained, discusses how talking with a coach helped her understand her panic attacks, and why a sense of belonging is the key to unlocking creativity and innovation. HR folks & managers: check out  Tough Conversations here . Learn how to navigate sensitive topics like salary chats, periods & work, letting people go, and much more 💪

Indra’s relationship was faltering. As anxiety clouded his thoughts, he fell behind on workplace targets and felt the previous love for his role slipping away. He was about to experience his first panic attack—right in the middle of a sales call. Created as part of Mental Health Awareness Week 2023, exploring Oliva users’ most common wellbeing focus: anxiety. HR folks & managers: check out  To...

As a fresh arrival on the Barcelona startup scene, Tim Cakir felt energised by his new role as Head of Marketing. But the pressure of hustle culture would lead to his first panic attack—and his boss rushing him to hospital. Created as part of Mental Health Awareness Week 2023, exploring Oliva users’ most common wellbeing focus: anxiety. HR folks & managers: check out  Tough Conversations here...

In the 1990s, most people didn’t understand mental health, let alone discuss it. So even though Nicole began having panic attacks as a teenager, no one outside her family knew what she was going through—until she decided to tell her manager. Created as part of Mental Health Awareness Week 2023, exploring Oliva users’ most common wellbeing focus: anxiety. HR folks & managers: check out  Tough C...

Godard Abel, CEO & Co-founder of G2, reflects on how his early career was shrouded by a dark cloud of fear and anxiety—and how discovering the framework of conscious leadership transformed his approach to work, his mental health, and his life. HR folks & managers: check out  Tough Conversations here . Learn how to navigate sensitive topics like salary chats, periods & work, letting peo...

Peter Mann, Founder and CEO at Oransi, shares his experience of a late autism diagnosis, how it’s helped his work stand out, and how greater workplace equity helps everyone—not just neurodivergent people. HR folks & managers: check out  Tough Conversations here . Learn how to navigate sensitive topics like salary chats, periods & work, letting people go, and much more 💪

Molly Johnson-Jones, CEO & Co-founder of Flexa Careers, talks about the challenges of living & working with a long-term health condition, what flexible working really means, and why companies shouldn’t just allow flexibility—but truly enable it. HR folks & managers: check out  Tough Conversations here . Learn how to navigate sensitive topics like salary chats, periods & work, letti...

Laura Skinner, Chief People Officer at Tempo, shares why founders should embrace hiring employees with greater knowledge than them, and what it was like fighting for company culture at a business ‘waiting for a lawsuit to happen’. HR folks & managers: check out  Tough Conversations here . Learn how to navigate sensitive topics like salary chats, periods & work, letting people go, and much...

Fred Destin, venture capitalist and Founder of Stride. VC, shares how startup culture has glamorised grind, why he’s aiming to be more present in every interaction, and why empathy and communication aren’t just soft skills for managers—they’re essential. HR folks & managers: check out  Tough Conversations here . Learn how to navigate sensitive topics like salary chats, periods & work, lett...

Mel Murphy, People Lead at birdie, shares her experience of PTSD & postnatal depression, why lockdown was one of the best things that happened to her, and how companies can properly support people taking parental leave. HR folks & managers: check out  Tough Conversations here . Learn how to navigate sensitive topics like salary chats, periods & work, letting people go, and much more 💪

Ryan Bonnici, CMO at Gympass, shares how innovative psychedelic treatments have transformed his mental health, and how his openness has encouraged a proactive approach to wellbeing among his team. HR folks & managers: check out  Tough Conversations here . Learn how to navigate sensitive topics like salary chats, periods & work, letting people go, and much more 💪

Tamara Quintela, People & Experience Specialist at Toqio, shares how therapy helped her unpick the traumatic memories of her childhood, and how she now encourages her team to be open about their experiences and seek support. Quick note for listeners: this episode briefly mentions situations involving domestic abuse. HR folks & managers: check out  Tough Conversations here . Learn how to na...

Claudia Ceke, Head of People & Culture at Tailify, shares her experience of escaping workaholism and why you don’t always need an answer for someone who’s struggling—you just need to make space for them. HR folks & managers: check out  Tough Conversations here . Learn how to navigate sensitive topics like salary chats, periods & work, letting people go, and much more 💪

James Ski, Founder and CEO of Sales Confidence, shares his experience of managing bipolar disorder alongside his career, challenges misconceptions of the condition, and explains how his HR Lead knew just how to offer the right support when he was struggling. HR folks & managers: check out  Tough Conversations here . Learn how to navigate sensitive topics like salary chats, periods & work,...

Laura Holcombe, Senior Talent Partner at Faculty, shares how recruiters can create a psychologically safe interview process, how she’s managed her own experiences of imposter syndrome, and why The Wolf of Wall Street should never be used as a template for workplace culture. HR folks & managers: check out  Tough Conversations here . Learn how to navigate sensitive topics like salary chats, peri...

Garry Senff, Head of HR at FirstGroup, shares his experience of how a bold career change helped him realise that he was gay—and how coming out at 40 impacted his relationships with his family, his kids, and his job. HR folks & managers: check out  Tough Conversations here . Learn how to navigate sensitive topics like salary chats, periods & work, letting people go, and much more 💪

Jeff Riseley, Founder of Sales Health Alliance, shares his experiences of dopamine addiction, why working in Sales is an extremely vulnerable experience, and why ‘mental health’ doesn’t equal mental illness. HR folks & managers: check out  Tough Conversations here . Learn how to navigate sensitive topics like salary chats, periods & work, letting people go, and much more 💪

In this special episode, leaders and employees share how crying at work has changed them, how gender stereotypes still impact our perspectives, how managers should respond—and how they definitely should not respond. HR folks & managers: check out  Tough Conversations here . Learn how to navigate sensitive topics like salary chats, periods & work, letting people go, and much more 💪