Wellbeing Talk Podcast

Does Happiness at Work Actually Improve Performance? | Matt Phelan

#workplacewellbeing #employeeengagement #happinessatwork Many employees feel they have to suppress or hide their emotions at work in order to be seen as professional - yet research increasingly suggests that emotions play a critical role in how people connect, perform and make decisions. Despite growing investment in employee engagement and workplace wellbeing initiatives, many organisations still struggle to understand what employees are actually experiencing day-to-day. So what does happiness at work really look like and how is it different from employee engagement? In this episode of Wellbeing Talk, I’m joined by Matt Phelan, public speaker, author of The Happiness Index: Why Today’s Employee Emotions Equal Tomorrow’s Business Success, and co-founder of The Happiness Index. Drawing on data gathered from more than two million employees across over 100 countries, Matt shares insights into the emotional drivers of workplace performance, why leaders often misunderstand engagement, and how understanding emotions can help organisations build healthier cultures. This episode will be particularly useful for leaders, managers and HR professionals looking to better understand employee engagement, workplace wellbeing and performance. Together we explore common misconceptions about workplace happiness, why traditional engagement metrics can sometimes give a false sense of security, and what leaders and managers can do to create environments where people feel safe, supported and able to perform at their best. ======================================================= ⏱️ Chapters 0:00 The Happiness Myth at Work - Intro 1:30 Why Workplace Wellbeing Gets Ignored 2:30 The Role of Emotions at Work 6:35 Why Leaders Should Measure Workplace Culture 10:17 The Problem with Rational Workplace Metrics 14:30 The 8 Drivers of Workplace Happiness 18:15 Finding Meaning in Work 22:37 The Most Misunderstood Happiness Drivers 26:55 Global Workplace Happiness Trends 30:08 Happiness vs Engagement at Work 32:33 Why Engagement Scores Can Be Misleading 35:00 Why Workplace Wellbeing Still Struggles 38:19 How Emotional Data Predicts Performance 42:10 The Most Neglected Human Need at Work 44:20 One Thing Managers Can Do Today 54:20 Global Workplace Happiness Data Insights 56:35 What Organisations Should Stop Ignoring 59:38 What Most Affects Employee Happiness 1:00:48 The Biggest Workplace Happiness Myth 1:01:07 Outro ======================================================= 🔔 If you’re interested in how to have more compassionate and constructive conversations about mental health - both in and outside of the workplace, don’t forget to subscribe to the @letsgowellbeing YouTube channel.

How Can Community Help with Eating Disorders? | Vanessa Longley | EDAW 2026

#eatingdisorders #eatingdisorderawareness #mentalhealth Most people only access eating disorder support at crisis point — in this episode, we explore how community can change that. Early intervention and accessible eating disorder support can make a significant difference to long-term recovery outcomes. How can community help with eating disorders and what does meaningful support really look like in practice? In this episode of Wellbeing Talk, I’m joined by Vanessa Longley, CEO of Beat, the UK’s eating disorder charity - for a conversation about eating disorder prevention, early intervention, recovery, and the role community plays during Eating Disorder Awareness Week 2026 (EDAW 2026). Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions and often deeply isolating experiences — yet recovery does not happen alone. Together, we explore common misconceptions about eating disorders, why early support matters, the vital role of families and carers alongside how workplaces, online communities and healthcare systems can better respond to those affected. ======================================================= ⏱️ Chapters 0:00 Intro - Can Community Help Eating Disorders? | Vanessa Longley 01:44 Why Vanessa Longley Joined Beat & Common Misunderstandings About Eating Disorders 04:21 The Biggest Challenges in Preventing Eating Disorders Today 07:59 Emotional Moments That Show Why Eating Disorder Support Matters 11:58 New Research in Eating Disorders That Gives Hope 14:35 What Beat’s Data Reveals About Unmet Eating Disorder Support in the UK 17:43 What People Really Say When They First Reach Out for Help 20:13 Supporting Parents & Carers in Eating Disorder Recovery 23:49 Beat’s 2025–2030 Strategy Explained — Changing the Story on Eating Disorders 26:30 Calories on Menus: What the Evidence Says About Eating Disorders 28:25 Why Early Help Matters & What Stops People Getting Support Sooner 31:00 Social Media, Online Communities & Eating Disorder Recovery 37:28 New NHS Eating Disorder Guidance for Children & Young People — What’s Changed? 43:30 How the NHS and Charities Like Beat Can Work Better Together 47:30 Inequality in Eating Disorder Care — Geography, Identity & Stigma 52:08 The Role of Employers in Supporting Eating Disorders at Work 54:35 Eating Disorder Awareness Week 2026 — Why Community Matters 57:05 How to Support Someone with an Eating Disorder (Practical Advice) 58:25 The Future of Eating Disorder Support by 2030 59:30 A Message for Anyone Struggling or Supporting a Loved One 01:01:07 Outro ======================================================= If you or someone you know is affected by an eating disorder, confidential support is available via Beat: https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk [https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk] Beat Eating Disorders Helpline: 0808 801 0677 (UK) ======================================================= 🔔 If you’re interested in how to have more compassionate and constructive conversations about mental health - both in and outside of the workplace, don’t forget to subscribe to the @letsgowellbeing YouTube channel.

How Does Relationship Health Impact Work? Verity Glasgow Explains

How does relationship health really impact our wellbeing, performance and working lives? In this episode, I’m joined by Verity Glasgow, Chief Executive of OnePlusOne, to explore why the quality of our relationships is one of the strongest predictors of long-term health and happiness and why relationship health is still overlooked in most workplaces. Drawing on over 50 years of relationship science, Verity explains how concepts like relationship health and social fitness affect productivity, leadership, and employee wellbeing, especially during major life events such as separation, conflict at home, or increased caring responsibilities. We discuss: - How relationship health impacts performance at work - What leaders often misunderstand about employees under relational stress - Why social fitness matters just as much as physical and mental health - What good workplace support looks like during life events like separation - How organisations can build a healthier, more human culture at work ======================================================= ⏱️ Chapters 0:00 Intro 2:04 Verity Glasgow’s Journey Into Relationship Health Leadership 3:38 The Moment That Shaped Verity’s Approach to Relationship Support 6:13 What Is OnePlusOne? Mission, Impact & Relationship Science 7:04 Why Relationship Support Is in High Demand Today 11:44 What Is Social Fitness? Building Relationship Skills for Life & Work 14:17 What the 85-Year Harvard Study Reveals About Relationships 17:27 Divorce & Separation: What People Get Wrong About Parents 27:24 The Biggest Gaps in Support for Separating Families 28:58 Why OnePlusOne Created the Separating Better App 33:19 How Separating Better Changes Communication & Emotional Readiness 37:57 Surprising Results From the Separating Better Evaluation 41:52 What’s Next for the Separating Better App? 44:45 Relational Leadership: Supporting Employees Through Divorce 47:04 Compassion vs Performance: What Leaders Get Wrong 49:17 How Organisations Can Build a Culture of Relationship Health 55:01 How Verity Glasgow Protects Her Own Relationship Health 58:51 The Future of Relationship Health in the UK 1:00:30 One Relationship Insight Every Leader & Parent Should Know 1:02:12 Outro ======================================================= 🔗 Learn more: OnePlusOne supports individuals, families and organisations to build stronger relationships and develop the skills needed to navigate conflict in healthier ways.

How Music Improves Mental Health at Work | Rob Stephenson

Music is one of the most common ways people manage their emotions - yet it’s rarely treated as a serious wellbeing tool at work. In this episode, I’m joined by Rob Stephenson, a public speaker, social entrepreneur and mental health campaigner to explore how music can support mental health, reduce stigma and help create more psychologically safe workplaces. ======================================================= ⏱️ Chapters 0:00 Intro 01:54 Why Rob Shared His Mental Health Story 05:53 What Intentional Wellbeing Looks Like 07:47 Rob’s Lowest Point With Depression 11:23 Why Mental Health Stigma Persists 16:34 The Deeper Question Behind Rob’s Mission 23:35 Values Driving Activism and Creativity 24:54 Common Misconceptions About Mental Health Work 27:24 Lessons From Giving 1,000 Mental Health Talks 28:56 A Key Lesson From Rob’s TEDx Talk 33:16 Vulnerability at Work: Risk or Strength? 37:09 Managing the “Vulnerability Hangover” 46:00 Why the InsideOut LeaderBoard Was Created 49:42 What Courageous Leaders Taught Rob 53:14 How Leaders Can Start Mental Health Conversations 58:25 Harmonising the Mind: Music and Wellbeing 01:02:48 Powerful Moments From Music Workshops 01:07:05 How Music Shaped Rob’s Bipolar Journey 01:10:17 The Science That Changed How Rob Listens 01:13:22 What Rob Hopes Readers Take From His Book 01:14:54 The Future of Mental Health at Work 01:17:33 Outro =======================================================

Should MHFA Be Mandatory at Work? | Sarah McIntosh Shares Her View

Should Mental Health First Aid be mandatory in every workplace? In this episode of Wellbeing Talk, I sat down with with Sarah McIntosh, Chief Executive of @MentalHealthFirstAidEngland (MHFA) England, about the future of workplace wellbeing, prevention, and the growing impact of MHFA across the UK. Since 2007, MHFA England has trained more than 1.1 million people across 20,000 + organisations to build inclusive, mentally healthy cultures. Yet only 29% of employers currently train managers to support mental health, contributing to a £212 billion annual loss in productivity and economic inactivity. Sarah shares how MHFA England’s Mandate the Change campaign, new Workplace MHFA Standards, and the first-ever MHFAider Day aim to close this gap - equipping people with the skills, confidence, and structure to offer help before crisis hits. We discuss: Why MHFA England believes Mental Health First Aid should be as standard as physical first aid The rise of prevention-focused workplace wellbeing The role of employers in creating mentally healthy, productive teams Insights from The MHFAider Effect report and the voices behind the movement Sarah McIntosh’s personal journey as a leader driving culture change Watch, learn, and join the conversation about how we can make mental health support the norm, not a privilege. ============================= ⏱️ Chapter Markers: 0:00 Intro 03:18 Sarah McIntosh on what first inspired her to work in mental health 07:57 How Sarah McIntosh’s personal wellbeing journey shapes her leadership at MHFA England 09:53 Biggest misconceptions about Mental Health First Aid explained 14:54 How the CEO of MHFA England practices self-care and balance 16:45 Why the 2019 attempt to include mental health in first-aid law failed – and what’s different now 20:41 Inside MHFA England’s decision to create national Workplace MHFA Standards 23:31 Which MHFA Standards will make the biggest difference for employers? 25:41 Advice for organisations that support MHFA but haven’t embedded it yet 29:24 Beyond cost: The real barriers employers face to implementing MHFA 32:08 The Keep Britain Working Review – why prevention is key to keeping people in work 35:10 How MHFA fits into a preventative approach to workplace wellbeing 40:12 What MHFAider Day means for Sarah McIntosh and the wider MHFA community 42:50 Key findings and trends from The MHFAider Effect report 43:29 Powerful MHFAider stories that show the impact of mental health first aid 49:17 Why MHFAiders’ voices matter in shaping national mental health policy 52:50 Sarah McIntosh’s hopes for the future of MHFAider Day and the movement 54:17 What gives Sarah McIntosh hope about the future of workplace mental health 55:00 One action every employer can take to improve mental health at work 56:52 Outro ============================= 🔔 If you’re interested in how to have more compassionate and constructive conversations about mental health - both in and outside of the workplace, don’t forget to subscribe to the @letsgowellbeing YouTube channel.