Beyond the Checkbox

Rethinking the EAP: Navigating change in workplace mental health | #77 ft. Kin Choi

Ho ho ho! We're feeling festive before the holiday break, but this conversation is serious. HR leader Kin Choi shares hard-earned lessons on leading through constant change, adaptability, mental health, and systems-level thinking in today's workplace. Watch this episode to find out: * Why resisting change creates more risk than stability * How leaders can build a healthier mindset around uncertainty * What decades in HR reveal about employee assistance programs * Why most workplace mental health models stay reactive * How large institutions can move the “middle” through change * What post-secondary disruption reveals about Canada’s workforce future This conversation challenges conventional thinking on change management and workplace mental health, offering practical insights for leaders navigating complexity, disruption, and long-term organizational health. Guest Kin Choi is the Vice President of Human Resources at Algonquin College, with more than 30 years of senior leadership experience across Canada’s public and private sectors. He has held executive roles at TELUS Health and National Defence, leading complex organizations through large-scale change. Kin’s work focuses on workforce transformation, mental health, and building resilient systems that perform under pressure. Host Dr. Ryan Todd is a psychiatrist, mental health advocate, and co-founder of Headversity, a workplace mental health training solution. Dr. Todd combines his clinical expertise with innovative approaches to empower individuals and organizations to thrive. 👉 Connect for the latest insights directly in your feed: Headversity on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/headversity/]

Why a 100-year-old origin story still drives worker engagement | #76 ft. Stephen Fletcher

Practical strategies for employee engagement across a distributed workforce in decentralized teams. Host Dr. Ryan Todd sits down with Stephen Fletcher, CHRO of Canada Cartage, to explore what it really takes to keep people engaged, supported, and psychologically safe in one of the most decentralized and traditional industries: transportation. Watch this episode to find out: * Why meaningful work and shared purpose still drive engagement across every sector. * How economic pressures and workforce turnover are reshaping the transportation industry. * The role frontline supervisors play in employee engagement—and why they make or break culture. * How origin stories and organizational history build pride and discretionary effort. * What psychological safety looks like in a male-dominated, “toughness-first” environment. * Why isolation, access barriers, and time pressures keep employees from seeking mental health support. * How HR leaders can “meet people where they are” with practical, realistic strategies. Stephen offers a grounded look at the realities of engaging a highly distributed workforce while navigating industry change. This conversation equips leaders with a clearer view of psychological safety, modern engagement practices, and what it means to support people through unprecedented pressures. Guest Speaker Stephen Fletcher, M.B.A., CHRL, is the Chief Human Resources Officer at Canada Cartage and an award-winning HR executive known for guiding complex, decentralized organizations through growth and transformation. With deep expertise across private equity, public companies, and regulated sectors, he specializes in strategic planning, change leadership, and building scalable people systems. Stephen is also a former Board Director and Chair of the Human Resources Compensation Committee for the Human Resources Professionals Association, where he advanced governance, succession planning, and professional standards. Podcast Host Dr. Ryan Todd is a psychiatrist, mental health advocate, and co-founder of Headversity, a workplace mental health training solution. Dr. Todd combines his clinical expertise with innovative approaches to empower individuals and organizations to thrive. 👉 Connect for the latest insights directly in your feed: Headversity on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/headversity/]

Beyond Perks - Workplace Mental Health Across Generations | #75 ft. Tammy Sergie

Healthcare HR meets workplace mental health: Tammy Sergie shares prevention, engagement, and cross-generation tactics leaders can use now.  Host Dr. Ryan Todd sits down with Tammy Sergie (Chief Human Resources Officer at EHN Canada) to unpack workplace mental health in a complex healthcare landscape—burnout, engagement, and leading four generations at once.  Watch this episode to find out:  * Why “do more with less” is burning out HR—and what to do instead.  * How to read engagement signals in clinical teams and stem early nurse attrition.  * Where EAP and therapy fit—and why a preventative strategy must go further.  * How cost of living, benefits mix, and pensions shape retention beyond pay.  * Practical ways to get Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z speaking the same language (hint: more in-person, project-based collaboration).  * How to measure what matters: surveys, town halls, and tying results to ROI.  * When AI can relieve admin load so people leaders can focus on humans. A clear playbook for HR leaders to build preventative workplace mental health, improve engagement, and prove impact—especially in healthcare. 👉 Connect for the latest insights directly in your feed: Headversity on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/headversity   This episode explores practical ways HR leaders—especially in healthcare—can prevent burnout and improve engagement across a multigenerational workforce.  Guest Speaker  Tammy Sergie, CHRP, CHRL, SHRM-CP, is VP, People & Culture, EHN Canada. She brings 20+ years in HR leadership across healthcare and retail, with an Hon BA in Business Administration & International Studies (University of Toronto) and HR management studies from Seneca Polytechnic. Tammy’s focus is building preventative workplace mental health systems, engagement, and multigenerational people strategies.  Podcast Host  Dr. Ryan Todd is a psychiatrist, mental health advocate, and co-founder of Headversity, a workplace mental health training solution. Dr. Todd combines his clinical expertise with innovative approaches to empower individuals and organizations to thrive. 👉 Connect for the latest insights directly in your feed: Headversity on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/headversity/]

Psychological Safety Standards in Action | #74 ft. Megan Hunter

Unpacking psychological safety standards, leadership accountability, and building resilient, inclusive workplaces.  Megan Hunter, Senior Advisor for Psychological Health and Safety at ATCO, sits down with Dr. Ryan Todd to explore how organizations can bring complex safety standards to life. With two decades of leadership in workplace wellness and as a certified national trainer, Megan shares how compliance, DEI, and leadership converge to shape healthier workplaces. Watch this episode to find out: * Why psychological safety standards matter for every workplace * How ATCO connects DEI and safety to strengthen belonging * The difference between psychological safety and psychological health & safety * Why leaders carry more responsibility for employee well-being * How to balance vulnerability, boundaries, and authentic leadership * What “weaponizing” safety standards looks like and how to prevent it * Where compliance is heading and why organizations should prepare now Megan brings both expertise and practicality, offering organizational leaders clear steps to build psychologically safe workplaces that meet standards, foster belonging, and strengthen culture. 👉 Connect for the latest insights directly in your feed: Headversity on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/headversity   Guest Speaker  Megan Hunter is a Senior Advisor for Psychological Health and Safety at ATCO, where she leads efforts to create resilient, inclusive workplaces. She brings more than 20 years of experience in employee well-being and holds a Master of Science from the University of Alberta, along with certification as a Psychological Health and Safety Advisor from the Canadian Mental Health Association. Her career includes leadership roles at Alberta Blue Cross, the Alberta School Employee Benefit Plan, and the Canadian Mental Health Association, where she advanced wellness strategies and psychological safety programs. With a foundation in kinesiology and education, Megan is recognized for bridging policy, culture, and training to empower healthier organizations. Podcast Host  Dr. Ryan Todd is a psychiatrist, mental health advocate, and co-founder of Headversity, a workplace mental health training platform. Dr. Todd combines his clinical expertise with innovative approaches to empower individuals and organizations to thrive. 👉 Connect for the latest insights directly in your feed: Headversity on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/headversity/]

AI, Empathy, and the Future of HR | #73 ft. Alysha Campbell

Thriving workplaces aren’t built by accident. They’re designed—with empathy, strategy, and a little help from AI. Alysha M. Campbell breaks down what HR leaders must do now to create culture that actually works. --- What does it take to create a workplace where people actually want to show up? Guest host Jason Gotwalt sits down with culture strategist and founder of Culture Shift HR, Alysha M. Campbell, to unpack the evolving dynamics of work—from AI integration to the mental health must-haves shaping tomorrow’s teams. Watch this episode to find out: * Why gratitude is fuel * How AI is changing HR  * What psychological safety really looks like in action * The link between retention and real leadership * How to spot a thriving culture before it burns out Alysha brings fresh perspective on what’s driving the future of work, how to lead with intention, and what it means to build a business that puts people first while fostering performance. Guest Speaker  Alysha M. Campbell is an award-winning HR strategist and Founder & CEO of CultureShift HR, where she champions inclusive, AI-informed people strategies that drive lasting culture change. Named IAOTP’s HR Compliance Leader of the Year and inducted into The BOW Collective, Alysha has led workforce transformations across industries. She also hosts Confessions of a Founder, a podcast sharing the stories behind entrepreneurship, and a contributing author in the best-selling Building Beyond the 9–5. With a decade of impact, she’s redefining compliance as a tool for trust, equity, and growth.  Podcast Host  With a decade working at the forefront of the health tech space, Jason Gotwalt is currently the SVP, Growth and Partnerships, at Headversity. He is also a MacKay CEO Forum speaker, sales trainer, private investor, and, in a past life, a professional Baseball player. Self-described as a creative connector, health-tech fanatic, servant leader, rad dad (of three daughters) and curious George, he’s built a career off failing forward and learning how to collaborate well. 👉 Connect for the latest insights directly in your feed: Headversity on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/headversity/]