Navigate's People First Podcast

Drew Mettille is a Human Resource Analyst and Wellness Coordinator for Polk County in Des Moines, Iowa, where he and his team have driven an 84% increase in wellbeing engagement over the past two years. Troy and Jay sit down with Drew to go behind that number, not just what the program looks like on paper, but how a single wellness coordinator earns the trust of nearly a thousand employees spread...

Ask almost anyone how they're doing at work and you'll get the same word back: fine. Meanwhile your tenured people are quietly heading for the door, claims costs keep climbing, and half your workforce is carrying financial stress, burnout, or quiet disengagement that never shows up on a dashboard. Fine isn't thriving, it's just where struggle goes to hide in plain sight. That gap between looking f...

Some wellbeing programs are built quickly, without thought or strategy. Others are built over decades. Refined, rethought, and rooted in something real. Box Butte General Hospital's story is the second kind. In this special edition webinar-turned-podcast episode, our EVP of Client Services and Experience, Jim Barclay, has a conversation with Dan Newhoff, Organizational Development Specialist, and...

If you're being asked to prove the business impact of your wellbeing program, you're not alone. Healthcare costs keep climbing. Leadership wants numbers. And somewhere between participation slides and vendor promises, the real question gets lost: Is this actually working? In this webinar-turned-podcast episode, Navigate Strategic Advisor Matt Percia sits down with three HR and wellness leaders who...

The wellbeing space is moving fast, and if you're feeling the pressure to cut through vendor noise and prove real results, you're not alone. Organizations everywhere are asking the same big question: Where is health coaching headed, and how do we get it right? In this leadership roundtable, our Navigate experts tackle the shifts happening right now in the coaching landscape. Employers are no longe...

Most employers have a women's health benefit somewhere in their stack. It probably covers fertility or pregnancy, maybe menopause. And then it stops — as if women stop having health needs the moment they step off that particular conveyor belt. In this episode, Troy sits down with Dawn DuBois, Director of Community Outreach at St. Luke's Health System, and Dr. Jen Musick, Navigate's VP of Clinical...

If your wellbeing program looks the same for every employee, it’s not a strategy — it’s a guess. And guesses don’t lower healthcare costs or fix burnout. In this episode, Troy Vincent and Jeremy Knipper sit down with Navigate’s VP of Clinical Strategy, Dr. Jen Musick  to unpack a reality most HR teams are quietly facing: wellbeing programs often fail because they ignore how people actually work. A...

If your wellbeing program can’t prove outcomes, it’s not a benefit — it’s budget confetti. In this episode, Troy Vincent and Jeremy Knipper sit down with Toby Stime , Director of Benefits at Foster Farms, and Jad Khali l, Team Lead Client Success at Navigate and for a blunt look at what actually drives measurable wellbeing results — especially in complex, diverse, frontline workforces. Foster Farm...

There’s a phrase we hear all the time in our world: "meet people where they are." And while the heart behind it is absolutely in the right place, has it led us to a place where we're accidentally overwhelming our teams with choices? We try to find a solution for every single need, and suddenly we’re juggling dozens of different vendors, and our people are flooded with information. Well, what if th...

How can a small wellness team meaningfully engage over 20,000 employees across a massive health system? The team at the University of Kansas Health System discovered the answer is not just about physical health, and that traditional programs often miss the key ingredients for deep engagement: purpose and community. By focusing on gratitude and giving back, UKH has built a program that unites its w...

Troy is joined by two exceptional leaders today - Ryan Kellogg, Senior Vice President of Sales at Talkspace and a U.S. Army veteran; and Jenn Lowry, Navigate’s own Vice President of Product and Strategy - for a crucial discussion on shaping the future of workplace well-being. Together, they explore the intersection of authentic leadership, personalized mental health solutions, and practical strate...

Today’s episode of Navigate’s People First Podcast welcomes Sarah Wheeler, Corporate Wellness Program Manager at Children's Nebraska, who discusses her organization's employee well-being strategy and its connection to patient care. This episode explores their people-first approach, as Children's Nebraska cultivates a wellness program extending beyond conventional health initiatives. Sarah details...

Welcome back to the Navigate’s People First Podcast, where, this week, Troy is joined by Brooke Ossenkop, VP of Marketing, and Dr. Jen Musick, VP of Health Solutions Services. Together, our talented trio discusses Navigate's acquisition of Health Solutions and the company's approach to employee wellbeing. Their conversation covers how integrating culture, care, and clinical engagement can create b...

This week, Troy and Jay sit down with Alan Diehl, Manager of Learning and Development at Fike Corporation, to uncover how a decades-old manufacturing company became a trailblazer in employee wellbeing. Together, they discuss the critical role of personalization in driving engagement, the strategic business case for robust wellness initiatives, and how Fike has evolved its program over an incredibl...

Giving Troy a bit of a break today, Jeremy welcomes special co-host, Jenn Lowry, Navigate's VP of Product and Strategy to the podcast today. Together, they sit down with Navigate's Mental Health Coach and licensed counselor, Katie Tarbill, for a fascinating chat about embracing mental health at work - such a big deal for everyone these days.  First up? They clear up "mental health" versus "mental...

Joining Troy and Jay this week are some truly inspiring folks from Norton Healthcare in Louisville, Kentucky - System Director of Prevention and Wellness, Allison Ledford, and Data Analyst, Cameron Stelzig. They’re here to talk all about "N Good Health," Norton’s fantastic employee wellbeing program, providing a deep dive into how they're thoughtfully mixing company culture with clinical care, and...

In today’s episode, Troy and Jay welcome listeners to a discussion close to their hearts - the vital topic of supporting school employees, the educators and staff responsible for shaping young minds. Their special guest is Lindsay Waechter, the Staff Wellness Coordinator for Iowa's fast growing Waukee School District, who shares the innovative work being done for the district's nearly 2,500 employ...

Troy and Jeremy’s vital conversation here today features Ben Schultz, Navigate's own People and Culture Lead, whose experience in building a "Great Place to Work" makes him the perfect guest to discuss burnout, a challenge so many face. This episode isn't just for those feeling the burnout crunch themselves - if you're a leader, a teammate, anyone who supports others, expect takeaways, truly. Let'...

In this episode, Jeremy and Troy are joined by Christy Smith, Navigate's SVP of People and Growth Strategy, and Jim Barclay, SVP of Operations, to explore the crucial connection between organizational values and employee wellbeing. Together, they discuss the value of cultivating supportive company cultures that boost engagement and productivity, embedding values for purpose, connecting engagement...

Anne Wright, Benefits Manager at JE Dunn, offers her unique perspective on building a thriving workplace culture here today as she joins Troy and Jeremy for a deep dive into this inspiring company and how it truly embodies the "people first" ethos. Together, they explore how JE Dunn has leveraged its guiding principles to create a nationally recognized wellbeing program, demonstrating that priorit...

Troy and Jeremy are back this week along with special guests Jim Barclay, Senior Vice President of Operations, and Brooke Ossenkop, Vice President of Marketing, for a year-end review as well as a look ahead to 2025. Together, they explore Navigate's key initiatives, including personalized well-being programs, data-driven insights, and a holistic approach to employee health, along with exciting new...

Today’s special episode is hosted by Navigate Brand Experience Specialist, Kinzy Gillespie, and features Alysa Goethe, Miss Iowa 2023, as she shares her inspiring story of advocacy, resilience, and community impact. Opening up about her journey with Type 1 diabetes and how it fueled her passion for making a difference, Alysa discusses navigating the challenges of being a public figure, including d...

Troy Vincent is honored to welcome Senator Tom Harkin, a pivotal force behind the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and Dr. Matthew Reed, Executive Director of the Harkin Institute, for a conversation here today that is equal parts informative and moving. Beginning with Troy’s story of his father's inspiring journey of overcoming disability, our panel goes on to explore Senator Harkin’s perso...

Robin Bouvier, Vice President and Wellbeing Subject Matter Expert at Aon, shares details of her own personal health transformation and insights from her 25+ years of expertise in driving organizational health strategies with Troy today, as together they dive into the evolving trends in employee wellbeing for 2025.Their discussion highlights the barriers to making healthy choices, the growing empha...

Julie Develin, Senior Partner at UKG’s HCM Advisory, joins Troy and Jay to explore the crucial role of workplace culture in driving business success. Their discussion emphasizes the importance of employee engagement, leadership evolution, and creating environments where individuals can thrive. Julie advocates for moving beyond outdated practices, promoting a culture of accountability, transparency...