Rooted: A Podcast About Nature & Wellbeing

The World Health Organization  defines  social determinants of health (SDoH) as "the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age…shaped by the distribution of money, power and resources at global, national and local levels." As much as we want health to be a simple formula – eat healthy, move more – be healthy, a single factor often does not determine a health outcome; rather, th...

It's natural for humans to make judgements and have bias. Implicit bias is an unconscious association, belief or attitude toward any social group. Unfortunately, implicit bias can lead to false assumptions and stereotyping.  Organizations and their leaders can mitigate the effects of implicit bias, beginning with the recruiting and hiring process and continuing through the intentional training and...

My way or the highway leadership is likely to be a practice of the past in the most successful organizations.   Those organizations have learned through experience – there are many ways to get something done and more minds often lead to better outcomes for all involved. This episode focuses on the concept of inclusive leadership – what it looks like and how it can benefit your organization. My gue...

Culture & diversity, equity and inclusion go hand-in-hand. Those organizations that invest in DE&I are more likely to be thriving because their employees are thriving. Specifically, organizations that have taken these steps to focus on DE&I are experiencing increased employee engagement, financial performance, and reduced turnover.   My guest for the first episode this 3 part series focused on DE&...

We need to change with the change...wise words from an individual who has been teaching individuals how to manage stress and maintain resilience for nearly 40 years. Adaption and recognizing the opportunities within this experience for personal evolution and growth are key to coping with the stress.  This episode features Brian Luke Seaward, one of the foremost experts in the field of stress manag...

One of the reasons a crisis is a crisis is because it threatens the three psychological needs required to thrive. Mastering your motivation enables you to create choice, connection, and competence—and rise above real and imagined threats posed by the COVID-19.  My guest this episode, Susan Fowler is on a mission to help you learn the skill of motivation. In her latest book,  "Master Your Motivatio...

Hurricane Katrina, the Boston Marathon Bombing, the September 11 terror attacks, and COVID-19...what do they all have in common?  More than we can imagine, beginning with the stress and ending with long-term impacts we can't yet see when it comes to the current pandemic.  The other connection they have is the guest of this podcast, Bob VandePol.  Bob is the leader who was called to guide teams thr...

Checking in with yourself is key to positive mental health through tough times. Check out this summary for a quick reminder on ways you can connect with yourself. 

Long before a pandemic swept us up in a swirl of fear and negativity, much of the world was moving through life at a frenetic pace.  And now, we've been forced to pause.  While we are here, checking in with self, will be key to positively managing mental health through this time. My guest for this episode is Mark Ostach. Mark is on a mission to help professionals, teams, and leaders connect with t...

The mind is a powerful healing tool. Using our imagination, we can visualize almost anything. By creating images in the mind, a person can reduce pain and symptoms associated with his or her condition. Studies have also shown that imagery can help to improve relaxation. Gail Patricolo has a graduate degree from Oakland University in Complementary Medicine and Wellness, has studied and worked in th...

SPECIAL EPISODE: This episode is not an interview.  Rather it is a guided imagery session focused on relaxing and rejuvenation during challenging times.   Be sure to find a comfortable place to sit or lay down while listening to this session.  Feel free to listen daily and it's okay to listen while falling asleep if that is the only time in your day that works for you.   Guided Imagery created and...

As if a global pandemic wasn't stressful enough, we are also trying to make sense of how all of this uncertainty, this closure of industries and economies, and market volatility (volatility in a mostly downward-dog direction) will impact our personal finances. This interview reminds us it is never too late to plan for uncertainty, even when the uncertainty has already begun.   Jessica Willis bring...

Healthy nutrition is key to overall wellbeing. Healthy eating can boost immunity, improve mood and help you manage weight.  Eating well can be tough under normal circumstances. Eating well when you are limiting trips to the grocery store or feeding a family on a limited budget is a whole new challenge. Registered Dietitian and mom of 3, Molly Green, shares ideas for stretching out time between tri...

Stuck in a negative mindset?  Listen to this quick summary of actions you can take to do a mindset reset. 

Social distancing may be keeping you away from spending time with your co-workers and friends. However, if you live with family, the coronavirus may be having the opposite effect on your family time.  Family time 24/7, in addition to feeling as if you cannot control much of what's going on around you is a recipe for individual and relationship stress. My guest for this episode is Anton Babushkin....

Self-care is key to preparing for and surviving the challenges life throws your way.  Angela Moore reminds us of essential actions you can take to care for yourself. 

That feeling you have been feeling...just might be what it feels like to experience trauma.  New ways of interacting, cut off from activities and people we enjoy, dealing with daily change...all while the world is fighting a war on a virus. Trauma occurs in many ways, often unconsciously. Recognizing the reality is the beginning. Taking steps to manage your exposure and response to stress are key....

Individual purpose is a powerful motivator. Check out this summary on the power of purpose in challenging times. 

Research has demonstrated having a self-transcendent purpose builds resilience, helps with emotional self-regulation, and may even boost immunity.  Challenging times throughout history have led many to rise above and accomplish great things. It starts with pressing pause and asking how we can help by sharing our gifts with your family, friends...maybe the world. Davin Salvagno has spent nearly two...

Need a quick reminder of the steps you can take to move well and reduce body pain?  Check out this short summary from Sherry McLaughlin.

The human body is designed to move. Working in a new or unusual workspace can strain the body and to lead to pain. Regardless of where you are working, there are steps you can take to avoid pain and possibly eliminate it all together. The star of this episode is Sherry McLaughlin, founder of the Michigan Institute for Human Performance. Sherry explains the 5 key facts about your body's design and...

Financial wellness is essential to overall health and wellbeing.  Greenpath Financial Wellness understands thriving team members are key to accomplishment of their mission - to empower people to lead financially healthy lives and remix the American Dream so it works for everyone.  Each team member's dream matters and making a difference in the world starts with taking great care of the Greenpath t...

The number of Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) have expanded since they were established as qualified retirement plans in 1974.  ESOPs can benefit both the organization and employees including team members receiving significant retirement benefits at no monetary cost to the employee. Research shows ESOP companies are more productive, faster growing, more profitable and have lower turnover. M...

Just as diversity is essential to the health and wellbeing of a forest ecosystem, a comprehensive approach to caring for employees that includes a myriad of strategies is key to building a thriving workforce.  For the last 28 years, Rob has served as President and Co-founder of imageOne , ranked as one of the Top 25 Small Businesses in America on the 2017 list of Forbes Small Giants . Throughout R...

What do a forest and an organization have in common?  In this episode, we explore culture in metaphor. Trees and humans have a lot in common... to thrive they must be surrounded by supportive and enabling conditions.   Listen to learn more about the similarities between a healthy productive forest and a healthy organizational culture and the key elements of creating a culture to support employee t...