The Well-Being Manifesto

On Respect, Burnout, and the Contagion of Civility | Feat. Dr. Christine Porath

What if respect at work wasn't just "nice to have," but a critical driver of health, performance, belonging, and wellbeing? In this episode of The Well-Being Manifesto Podcast, hosts Dr. Moain Abu Dabrh and Dr. David Freeman are joined by renowned researcher, author, and speaker Dr. Christine Porath, one of the world's leading experts on civility, incivility, burnout, and workplace culture. Dr. Porath, author of Mastering Civility and Mastering Community at Work, shares decades of research showing how everyday behaviors—often small and unconscious—shape burnout, psychological safety, engagement, trust, and health in workplaces, healthcare systems, and communities. In this wide-ranging and deeply human conversation, you'll learn: * How incivility and burnout spread like contagion in organizations * What the "witness effect" is and why simply observing rudeness harms performance and wellbeing * Why stress and overwhelm are the #1 drivers of uncivil behavior * How respect, listening, and small acts of kindness improve health outcomes and patient satisfaction * The hidden costs of toxic leadership and disengaged cultures * Why community and belonging are essential for thriving at work and beyond * Practical, small-but-mighty actions anyone can take to build a more civil, supportive workplace * The challenges and opportunities of hybrid and virtual work for trust and connection This episode is essential listening for leaders, clinicians, managers, and anyone interested in burnout prevention, workplace wellbeing, organizational culture, psychological safety, leadership, employee engagement, and whole person care. At its core, this conversation reminds us that civility is not soft—it's powerful, and that how we treat one another shapes not only our work, but our health and lives. (01:36) - Dr. Christine's Personal Journey (05:11) - Early Signs of Workplace Culture Issues (06:44) - Understanding Burnout and Incivility (07:42) - The Witness Effect and Negative Contagion (14:25) - The Importance of Feedback and Self-Awareness (16:47) - Building Community and Thriving at Work (21:47) - Practical Steps to Foster Community (24:46) - Character and Core Values in Leadership (26:53) - Challenges and Opportunities in Virtual Work Environments (32:53) - Small Acts of Kindness: Making a Big Impact (41:45) - Rapid Fire Round: Personal Insights and Practices 🌐 Learn more: https://www.thewellbeingmanifesto.com [https://www.thewellbeingmanifesto.com] 📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewellbeingmanifesto [https://www.instagram.com/thewellbeingmanifesto] 🟦 BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/wellbeingmanifesto.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/wellbeingmanifesto.bsky.social] Inward with courage. Outward with compassion.

On Function, Healthspan, and Doing What Matters Longer | Feat. Prof. Scott Fulton

What does it really mean to age well—and to keep doing what matters most for as long as possible? In this episode of The Well-Being Manifesto Podcast, hosts Dr. Moain Abu Dabrh and Dr. David Freeman are joined by Professor Scott Fulton, physician-scientist and author of Wealthspan and Function, for a powerful conversation on function, healthspan, and longevity. Rather than focusing solely on lifespan, lab values, or biohacking trends, this episode explores a more human and practical question: Are we maintaining the ability to live fully, move confidently, think clearly, and stay engaged with life as we age? You'll learn: * The difference between lifespan, healthspan, and longevity * Why function may be the most meaningful marker of long-term health * How simple measures like walking speed, balance, strength, and cognition predict future outcomes better than many tests * What functional age is and how it can change * Why capability, not optimization, supports resilience and independence * Practical ways to improve function without buying gadgets or chasing extremes This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in healthy aging, evidence-based wellness, preventive medicine, whole person care, and sustainable longevity—with less hype and more truth. 🎧 Subscribe for thoughtful conversations on health, wellbeing, and living better—longer. 🌐 Learn more: https://www.thewellbeingmanifesto.com [https://www.thewellbeingmanifesto.com] 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewellbeingmanifesto [https://www.instagram.com/thewellbeingmanifesto] 🦋 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/wellbeingmanifesto.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/wellbeingmanifesto.bsky.social] Inward with courage. Outward with compassion.

A Message of Reflection and Thanks

As we close out 2025, hosts Dr. Moain Abu Dabrh and Dr. David Freeman pause to reflect on a year of conversations that shaped The Wellbeing Manifesto Podcast—not through quick answers or trending hacks, but through better questions, deeper listening, and honest dialogue. This year, we sat with clinicians, scientists, journalists, humanists, and leaders who challenged easy narratives and resisted shortcuts. Together, we explored the real forces shaping health, wellbeing, care, culture, technology, trust, movement, meaning, and community—at the personal, societal, and global levels. What stood out most wasn't consensus—it was integrity. Conversations that honored complexity. Reflections that acknowledged trade-offs. And a shared understanding that health and wellbeing are never just individual choices or just systems—but always both. In a world optimized for speed and noise, choosing to slow down, think carefully, and listen deeply matters. We are profoundly grateful to our guests for their generosity and intellectual humility—and to our listeners for trusting us with your time and attention. As we move into the year ahead, our commitment remains clear: Less hype. More truth. Better living. Fewer slogans. Deeper conversations. Science, humanity, and lived experience—held in equal measure. Thank you for being part of this unfolding dialogue. One thoughtful conversation at a time. 🌐 Learn more: https://www.thewellbeingmanifesto.com [https://www.thewellbeingmanifesto.com] 📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewellbeingmanifesto [https://www.instagram.com/thewellbeingmanifesto] 🟦 BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/wellbeingmanifesto.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/wellbeingmanifesto.bsky.social]

On Evidence, Breakthroughs, and the Future of Medicine | Feat. Dr. Eric Topol

In this episode of The Well-Being Manifesto Podcast, hosts Dr. Moain Abu Dabrh and Dr. David Freeman welcome one of the world's most influential physician-scientists, Dr. Eric Topol—cardiologist, geneticist, digital medicine pioneer, and founder of the Scripps Research Translational Institute. Dr. Topol, author of Deep Medicine, The Creative Destruction of Medicine, and his latest book Super Agers, joins the conversation to explore the future of evidence-based medicine, longevity science, and how emerging breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, genomics, immunology, and lifestyle medicine are reshaping healthcare. This wide-ranging discussion dives into the critical difference between lifespan and healthspan, why genetics matter less than most people think, and how lifestyle-plus factors—nutrition, exercise, sleep, gut health, social connection, and environmental exposures—play a central role in preventing age-related disease. Dr. Topol explains why the immune system may be the single most important driver of healthy aging and how inflammation ("inflammaging") underlies cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer's. You'll also hear Dr. Topol's clear-eyed perspective on: * How AI in medicine can enable personalized prevention and early disease detection * Why multimodal AI is essential for predicting risk years before symptoms appear * The promise and limits of GLP-1 medications beyond weight loss * New insights into vaccines, including shingles vaccines and dementia risk reduction * The growing role of the gut microbiome, brain–immune connection, and metabolic health * Misinformation, medical hype, and rebuilding trust in science and healthcare * Why prevention—not just treatment—is the future of modern medicine This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in longevity, preventive medicine, digital health, AI in healthcare, Alzheimer's prevention, lifestyle medicine, healthspan optimization, genomics, and evidence-based wellness. 🌐 Learn more & connect: Visit 👉 https://www.thewellbeingmanifesto.com [https://www.thewellbeingmanifesto.com] Follow on Instagram 👉 https://www.instagram.com/thewellbeingmanifesto [https://www.instagram.com/thewellbeingmanifesto] Join us on BlueSky 👉 https://bsky.app/profile/wellbeingmanifesto.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/wellbeingmanifesto.bsky.social] Subscribe for more conversations translating science and experience into realistic, sustainable ways of living—with less hype, more truth, and better health.

On Movement, Exercise Myths, and the Small Steps to Age Healthier | Featuring Dr. Barry Franklin

In this episode of The Well-Being Manifesto, hosts Dr. Moain Abu Dabrh and Dr. David Freeman sit down with renowned cardiovascular and clinical exercise physiologist Dr. Barry Franklin to explore how movement truly becomes medicine. Dr. Franklin, a pioneer in cardiovascular disease prevention and past president of the American College of Sports Medicine, breaks down the most dangerous exercise myths, reveals the smallest effective dose of physical activity, and explains how even 1-minute bouts of movement can improve longevity and reduce the risk of heart disease. If you're overwhelmed by fitness trends, confused by VO2 max, METs, and heart rate zones, or worried about starting an exercise plan safely, this episode provides clarity rooted in decades of clinical research. Learn why: • 7,000–8,000 steps per day may be more effective than 10,000 • Stair climbing can reduce mortality by up to 30% • Walking speed predicts longevity and heart health • High-intensity exercise can be risky for sedentary individuals • Even a 5% weight loss significantly improves health outcomes • METs, VO2 max, and aerobic capacity matter for your aging process • The safest approach to movement is gradual, consistent, and individualized This conversation is essential listening for anyone interested in healthy aging, longevity, heart disease prevention, functional fitness, exercise safety, metabolic health, and sustainable lifestyle change. Whether you're a medical professional, fitness coach, or simply someone trying to build healthier habits, Dr. Franklin's insights will change how you think about exercise and aging forever. Subscribe to The Well-Being Manifesto for more expert conversations on health, resilience, optimized performance, and living longer — better.