The Wellfocused Podcast

Cory Walts, Director of Strength and Conditioning at the University of Pennsylvania, joins The Wellfocused Podcast to discuss exercise recovery. On the podcast, we dive into what recovery is, why it is important for people of all levels to consider, and how less is sometimes more with regards to strenuous exercise.

Dr. Noelle Ciara joins The Wellfocused Podcast to discuss the ins and outs of anxiety. Here we take a deep dive into how anxiety has many definitions, strategies for coping, and how the stigma surrounding mental health has changed in recent years.

Emily McPeak and Janna Rothschild joins The Wellfocused Podcast for the second Mailbag Episode! Here, we answered a variety of wellbeing questions directly submitted by UPHS employees on our Wellfocused platform. We touched on a number of aspects pertaining to sleep, nutrition, general wellbeing, and how to make effective changes to optimize your health.

Dr. Rameck Hunt joins the Wellfocused Podcast to discuss the ins and outs of how he approaches weight management programs. We dive into different aspects of carbohydrates, the importance of lifestyle changes, and how communication and education is pivotal to patient health.

In our first guest-less episode, I decided to analyze some research investigating how effective wrist-worn fitness devices (Fitbit, Apple Watch, etc.) are at measuring heart rate and calorie expenditure. Take a listen to determine if these devices are effective and how this information can be used to optimize your lifestyle habits as they pertain to exercise.

Lauren Hess, Wellbeing Supervisor from our Lancaster General Health location, joins the podcast to discuss the ever present topic of burnout. We talk about what new strategies are being developed to combat burnout, what employees need, and fatigue of the concept itself.

Dr. Lisa Bellini, Senior Vice Dean for Academic Affairs joins the Wellfocused Podcast to discuss some of the differences in wellbeing needs between clinical and non-clinical staff. We touch on physical, social, and cultural needs of various departments and how certain improvements can enhance the employee experience at UPHS.

Season 3 of the Wellfocused Podcast kicks off with Luke Obermann, a self-proclaimed "well-being nerd" who specializes in positive psychology. On this episode, we dive into the history and dynamics of positive psychology and how this can be implemented into everyday life in an individualized manner.

Dr. Alex Fanaroff is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and is currently conducting a clinical trial regarding behavioral economics and exercise to combat cardiovascular disease. He joins the Wellfocused podcast to take a deep dive into this study and the different motivations to participate in and avoid exercise and how this can affect general hea...

Dr. Jaya Aysola, Assistant Dean of Inclusion and Diversity at the Perelman School of Medicine and Founder and Executive Director of Penn Medicine’s Center for Health Equity Advancement, joins The Wellfocused Podcast to discuss the current state of inclusion and diversity at Penn and in the country. We also touch on the differences the last year has made and where we would like to see things move i...

Dietetics intern Kate Clark joins the Wellfocused Podcast to discuss her journey towards becoming a Registered Dietitian. We dive into the difference between nutritionists and dietitians, the psychology of nutrition, and things to look for in nutritional research.

Senior Health and Wellbeing Coordinator Janna Rothschild joins The Wellfocused Podcast for the first ever Mailbag Episode. Here, we answered a variety of wellbeing questions directly submitted by UPHS employees on our Wellfocused platform. We touched on a number of aspects pertaining to fitness and nutrition and how to make effective changes to optimize your health.

Emily McPeak, Employee Health and Well-being Coordinator, is back as our first returning guest on The Wellfocused Podcast. Emily and I dive into the topic of toxic positivity. Sometimes, it is not always ideal to find the silver linings in tough situations. Here, we discuss the dynamics of toxic positivity and strategies to combat it to help pave your way to greater wellbeing.

The Wellfocused Podcast welcomes Roy Rosin, Chief Innovation Officer at Penn Medicine. Roy shares his perspective on what innovation means to him and what draws him to his position. Additionally, Roy discusses how he views leadership, what he learned from his mentors, and how to factor in the human element into making organizations work.

Jen Brady, Associate Director of Benefits and Wellness and also the founder of the Wellfocused team, joins the podcast to discuss living through the COVID-19 pandemic with two children. We dive into adopting different roles at home as well as the different perspectives one can have while being home with your family for over a year.

Katharine Winner, a social worker at UPHS, shares with us her experiences using the Wellfocused platform and participating in our programs. She has been a frequent participant and brings a valuable perspective to viewing the benefits of the program as well as what can be improved upon.

Dr. Amanda Swain, a physician with Penn Family Care, joins the Wellfocused Podcast do discuss Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and how it is used to treat insomnia. Additionally, she shares some causes and effects of insomnia and how getting proper sleep is essential to our overall health and wellbeing.

On this episode of The Wellfocused Podcast, we are joined by Kelley Kugler, a Senior Innovation Manager at Penn and the Director of Cobalt. Kelley shares her insights on what Cobalt is, how it started, where its going, and its pivotal role in getting through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Episode 10 of the Wellfocused Podcast features Jackie Augustine, the Associate Practice Manager for the Advanced Internal Medicine Clinic within the University of Pennsylvania Health System. Jackie shares great information about this excellent resource, including primary care physicians, hypertension programs, and more that employees have access to.

The Wellfocused Podcast welcomes Clare Bennett, a registered nurse from the University of Pennsylvania Health System for this episode. Clare and I discuss the trials and tribulations of life as a frontline nurse over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as how being mindful of your health and wellbeing is essential in times of need.

This episode of The Wellfocused Podcast features Workforce Injury Prevention Specialist, Alexandra Rella. We take a deep dive into the rise of workplace injuries throughout the last year and the often holistic reasoning why these injuries occur.

Chloe Cole, the Assistant Director of Fitness and Wellness at the University of Pennsylvania joins the third episode of The Wellfocused Podcast. Chloe and I discuss various ideas about maintaining movement while life and work become increasingly more sedentary.

On this episode of The Wellfocused podcast, we are joined by Dr. Thea Gallagher, an Assistant Professor and the Director of Outpatient Clinic at the Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety (CTSA) in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Gallagher describes some current and growing challenges that society has faced over the last year and how resilience has bec...

This episode of The Wellfocused Podcast features Alberto Pascucci, a Physician Assistant in the Urology department at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Alberto was instrumental in the development and execution of CHOP's teleheath program during the COVID-19 pandemic. He shares some benefits and obstacles of the growing presence of telehealth while also touching on some larger societal issue...

Jessie Reich joins us for Episode 4 of The Wellfocused Podcast. Jessie, the Director of Patient Experience and Magnet Programs at the University of Pennsylvania Health System. We discuss the ins and outs of what it means for our nurses to achieve Magnet status and the difficulties of doing so in the midst of a global pandemic.