Head Forward Podcast
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Episode 59 – The Strength of Vulnerability at Work
How the pandemic is impacting staff members and what can be done to address the stressors. Workplace Fairness West’s Michelle Phaneuf explains the importance of being open and willing to address issues as soon as possible.
The Strength of Vulnerability at Work
Episode 58 – Feel Connected with Hugr Authentic Connections
The team behind an innovative wellness app, led by Scott Borys and Daren McLean, share how a personal mental health crisis inspired the development of the self-guided digital program. They explain how Hugr Authentic Connections fosters social connection.
Feel Connected with Hugr Authentic Connections
Episode 57 – The Cure for Loneliness
Howatt HR founder and author of the new book, The Cure for Loneliness, Dr. Bill Howatt explains his research-based approach to help build authentic connections and move away from isolation.
The Cure for Loneliness
Episode 56 – Grief on the Path to Parenthood
Conceiving and welcoming a child into a family isn’t always easy and without challenges. Pregnancy Loss Coach, Aditi Loveridge, shares the importance of not expecting time to ease pain, but to face it and work it through—to be able to live with loss.
Grief on the Path to Parenthood
Episode 55 – A Gentler Way to Restructure a Family
Registered Family Mediator and Social Worker, Beth Thompson, helps people see all of their options when exploring potential divorce. Hear how to effectively and humanely transition from marriage to separation.
A Gentler Way to Restructure a Family
Episode 54 – The Benefits of Knowing When and How to Say No
Saying no can feel daunting, especially at work. Hear from Globe & Mail columnist and workplace coach, Eileen Chadnick, as she shares how leaders and teams can benefit from learning the right time and way to say no.
The Benefits of Knowing When and How to Say No
Mental Health in Senior Years
Who the Boss can Confide in
No More One-Size-Fits-All Employee Benefits
Episode 50 – Psychological Health and Safety during Return to Work
Helping staff cope in the workplace during a pandemic. Dr. Bill Howatt shares how employees and managers can prepare as they go back into the office.
Psychological Health and Safety during Return to Work
Taking Action on Racism in the Workplace
Episode 48 – Business Health amid COVID-19 Response and Re-opening
Business as usual is impossible since COVID-19 emerged. Canadian Chamber of Commerce CEO, Honourable Perrin Beatty, explains how adapting to our COVID-19 reality can actually spur innovation in the workplace.
Business Health amid COVID-19 Response and Re-opening
Episode 47 – Maintaining Healthy Relationships during COVID-19
COVID-19 is impacting intimate relationships. Registered Marriage and Family Therapist, Michele Maurer, explains how to maintain well-balanced partnerships in these unprecedented times.
Maintaining Healthy Relationships during COVID-19
Episode 46 – Trauma Carried from Childhood into Adulthood
Stressful events including a pandemic can bring up feelings of previous traumatic events, compounding the distress we feel. Without interventions, trauma experienced in childhood undoubtedly carries forward into adulthood, explains Dr. Eboni Webb.
Trauma Carried from Childhood into Adulthood
Episode 45 – Managing Your Mental Health in a Pandemic
Learning how to deal with the challenging feelings the COVID-19 pandemic can cause. Psychologist Dr. Deanne Simms with the Canadian Mental Health Association explores how the pandemic is playing out on people’s mental health and how to ease the strain.
Managing Your Mental Health in a Pandemic
Episode 44 – Effectively Responding to Illness Outbreaks at Work
Employment Lawyer Ryan Watkins explores the implications for workplaces when it comes to illnesses like Coronavirus / COVID-19. He explains how to best plan ahead and help maintain workplace wellness for all.
Effectively Responding to Illness Outbreaks at Work
Episode 43 – Waking Up to Workplace Fatigue
Sleep and the lack of it impacts all aspects of daily life–personal and professional. Fatigue Risk Management expert Susan Sawatzky understands the true cost sleep debt can have on a person and their workplace. She shares what can be done about it.
Waking Up to Workplace Fatigue
Takeaways to Take into 2020
Episode 41 – Leading Through Personal Values
From the cleaning staff to CEO, anyone can be a leader at work. Leadership speaker and Wall Street Journal best-selling author Drew Dudley shares how to empower every member of an organization to lead by living their own personal values.
Leading Through Personal Values
Episode 40 – Courageous Workplaces
Creating a psychologically safe work environment is a challenge that takes leadership commitment and courage from everyone in the organization. When things don’t go as planned, workplace investigations can be a part of creating healthy and strong job sites. Bob Stenhouse shares how fostering courage in all staff benefits an organization’s well-being and bottom line.
Courageous Workplaces
Childhood Trauma Shapes the Brain
Episode 38 – The Importance of Asking a Coworker About Mental Health
The established trust between work colleagues can be the best starting place when addressing mental health issues in the workplace. The Grande Prairie Suicide Prevention Centre’s Shane Anderson shares how best to get talking about mental health.
The Importance of Asking a Coworker About Mental Health
Creating Connection by Establishing Boundaries
The Psychological Hazard of Bullying in the Workplace
Episode 35 – Hack Your Habits
Habits can boost or hamper productivity. Chiropractor and wellness consultant, Dr. Nathalie Beauchamp shares tips on how to go from just being interested in altering your behaviour to truly committing and implementing new habits, detailed in her book Hack Your Health Habits.
Hack Your Habits
Episode 34 – Recovery-friendly Workplaces are Healthy Workplaces
Workplaces can actually help those healing from an addiction. But the job site needs to be recovery-informed in order to benefit everyone, says Dr. Ray Baker. This addiction medicine specialist with more than 30 years in the field explains how and why.
Recovery-friendly Workplaces are Healthy Workplaces
Episode 33 – Boost Productivity with Self Care
Looking after yourself is vital for personal and professional success. Counsellor Kathleen Gorman leads workshops on the significance of self care and shares tips and ideas on how to integrate it into your life and work today.
Boost Productivity with Self Care
Nutrition in Mind
Episode 31 – Factoring in Failure for Success
Understanding and harnessing the benefits of failure has helped Dr. Bill Howatt, Chief of Research at Conference Board of Canada, succeed professionally and personally. He shares how to factor failing into everyday life to find success.
Factoring in Failure for Success
Episode 30 – Mobilizing Mental Health with Trauma in Mind
Canada’s first female infantry officer, Sandra Perron, continues to use her military experience as she trains business leaders and employees to focus on Trauma Informed Care and support. She shares the way trauma affected her and how she mobilizes her PTSD to help others.
Mobilizing Mental Health with Trauma in Mind
Episode 29 – Supporting Sexual Assault Survivors in Their Healing
Providing support for survivors of sexual assault, isn’t one size fits all. Monika Penner, a register provisional psychologist at the Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton (SACE) shares how coworkers, friends and family can help, not hinder, the healing process.
Supporting Sexual Assault Survivors in Their Healing
Episode 28 – The Emotional and Physical Impact of Lyme Disease
30% of Lyme Disease sufferers don’t get the distinctive bullseye rash when they’re infected. Voices of Canadians about Lyme Disease (VOCAL)’s Lesley Fleming outlines the challenges of getting a diagnosis and treatment, when the symptoms experienced only mirror that of the flu or other common ailments.
The Emotional and Physical Impact of Lyme Disease
Episode 27 – How Young Canadians Use Cannabis
Cannabis will become legal across Canada in October 2018. Curious about the impacts this will have on the country’s youth, Assistant Professor of Nursing at the University of Calgary, Dr. Jacqueline Smith led a study. She joins us to explain the findings and how they apply across the nation.
How Young Canadians Use Cannabis
Episode 26 – Real Grief: The True Impact of Losing a Beloved Companion Animal
Veterinarian Dr. Lianna Titcombe explains the substantial process required by some to grieve the death of a beloved family member – the pet. She explains how to best support a bereaved pet owner at work and at home.
Real Grief: The True Impact of Losing a Beloved Companion Animal
Episode 25 – Can Annoying Behaviour Be Grounds for Termination?
The loud talker, the over-sharer, the control freak – when do annoying habits become too much and management needs to intervene? Attorney Matthew Certosimo knows and shares – from his book, Just Cause: The Law of Summary Dismissal in Canada.
Can Annoying Behaviour Be Grounds for Termination?
Episode 24 – Not Your Grandparents’ Retirement: How to Effectively Plan Your Future Years
Retire to something, not from something – it’s the new approach to transitioning away from working life, that The Retirement Education Centre‘s Av Lieberman discusses with his clients. He shares how to successfully prepare for this important next phase in life.
Not Your Grandparents’ Retirement: How to Effectively Plan Your Future Years
Episode 23 – The Mental Impact of the Job: Cultivating Psychologically Safe Workplaces
The mental impact of the workplace is at the core of Dr. Martin Shain‘s work. Although he’s been championing safe workplaces throughout his career and contributed to the creation of the National Standard on Psychological Health and Safety, he feels there’s still more to do. He shares what Canadian workplaces have accomplished and what’s left unfinished.
The Mental Impact of the Job: Cultivating Psychologically Safe Workplaces
Episode 22 – Cancer and Work
More than 500 Canadians are diagnosed with cancer each day – many of them are actively employed. Health research and strategy consultant, Chris Bonnett, provides insight on how employers and employees can prepare and adapt to better deal with this chronic disease.
Cancer and Work
Episode 21 – Managing Diabetes: What Our Ancestors Have to Teach Us about Our Health
Diabetes is a family disease. Managing it effectively works when the whole family is engaged in learning why this disease was not epidemic to our ancestors. Certified Diabetes Educator, Devon Guy, shares how members of the Tsuut’ina Nation, southwest of Calgary, Alberta, are addressing this chronic condition. What she’s learned has potential implications for all Canadians.
Managing Diabetes: What Our Ancestors Have to Teach Us about Our Health
Episode 20 – The Value of Disability Management in the Workplace
Effective management of mental health issues and chronic conditions can bring benefits to the workplace. Judy Plotkin, a certified trauma counsellor and the Vice President of Strategy and Growth at ReedGroup Canada, explains how bridging the gap between the business world and social work uncovers the value of accommodating disabilities at work.
The Value of Disability Management in the Workplace
Episode 19 – Making Sure You’re Covered: The Importance of Disability Insurance
Many people don’t think or care about disability coverage until they need it. Insurance broker Dave Patriarche outlines how employees and employers can protect themselves.
Making Sure You’re Covered: The Importance of Disability Insurance
Episode 18 – A Global Perspective: Not All Health Insurance is Created Equal
Denis Garand knows medical coverage varies widely and wildly across the globe as he’s consulted and advised insurance regulators in more than 30 countries. He shares his understanding of the global landscape of health insurance and how Canada’s measures up.
A Global Perspective: Not All Health Insurance is Created Equal
Episode 17 – Building a Career by Serving the Community
Public service is at the heart of everything Dr. Charles Jago does. From starting the Northern Medical Program to being President at University of Northern British Columbia, he’s kept community as his focus throughout. He shares how and why.
Building a Career by Serving the Community
Episode 16 – Cultivating Emotional Intelligence on the Job
Everything is emotional – even on the job. Leadership development specialist David Cory explains why all issues organizations face stem from emotions, and how to cultivate emotional intelligence (or “emotional quotient” – EQ) to address them.
Cultivating Emotional Intelligence on the Job
Episode 15 – Coping When Grief Shows Up at Work
Feelings of loss can come up while you’re working at your desk, in a staff meeting or during your commute. Hospice Yukon’s Anne Macaire shares how workplaces are impacted by grief and how mourning can be facilitated.
Coping When Grief Shows Up at Work
Episode 14 – Managing Life with a Chronic Condition
Chronic conditions impact people both physically and mentally. The majority of Canadians are affected by a chronic health condition, either personally or indirectly. With his focus on inflammatory arthritis, Dr. Hani El-Gabalawy helps his patients navigate life with long-term ailments. He shares how to manage while living (and working) with a serious condition.
Managing Life with a Chronic Condition
Episode 13 – Productivity Down? Smartphones and Emails Aren’t the Enemy
What we know about productivity (or we think we know) hasn’t kept up with technology on the job. Workplace coach, Hugh Culver outlines how people can embrace new ways to boost productivity.
Productivity Down? Smartphones and Emails Aren’t the Enemy
Episode 12 – Have a Laugh! How Humour Helps Build a Positive and Productive Workplace
Fostering humour in the workplace can build trust, creativity and productivity and even lower employee turnover rate. Workplace consultant and author of the The Humor Advantage, Michael Kerr explains how having a laugh can impact all aspects of a business.
Have a Laugh! How Humour Helps Build a Positive and Productive Workplace
Episode 11 – How to Thrive on Earth – Astronaut Dr. Robert Thirsk Discusses Resiliency
Space travel has made Dr. Robert Thirsk well equipped for life here on planet Earth. The seasoned astronaut, physician, mechanical engineer and University of Calgary chancellor explains how he’s built his career through resiliency and self-management.
How to Thrive on Earth - Astronaut Dr. Robert Thirsk Discusses Resiliency
Episode 10 – Human Resources – A Necessity, Not Luxury for Business Success
Businesses are made up of people and managing them well is essential for success. Terri Harrison, co-founder of tap Strategy and HR Consulting explains how a business – no matter how small or new – can plan for their people.
Human Resources - A Necessity, Not Luxury for Business Success
Episode 09 – Beyond the Stereotypes – The Power of Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are not just a teenage phase. They can impact anyone, and at any age. Dr. Joan Johnston, a Canadian physician specializing in the treatment of eating disorders, shares the complexities of this illness and how recovery is possible.
Beyond the Stereotypes - The Power of Eating Disorders
Episode 08 – Life and Work – Experience in Resiliency
Bouncing back after personal or professional hardship can be challenging. Canadian Senator Scott Tannas shares how to cultivate resiliency, from his experience facing the devastation of his home, business and community by a massive flood in 2013.
Life and Work - Experience in Resiliency
Episode 07 – The Cost of Doing Nothing about Mental Health in the Workplace
The Mental Health Commission of Canada’s Mike Pietrus discusses the price employers and employees pay when mental health at work is ignored.
The Cost of Doing Nothing about Mental Health in the Workplace
Episode 06 – Caring for the Caregiver
28% of Canadians provide unpaid care to a family member or loved one. This support can have significant physical, mental and emotional impact on the caregiver. Audrey Miller from Elder Caring Inc. shares care for the caregiver options.
Caring for the Caregiver
Episode 04 – Role Reversal – Caring for Aging Parents
Caring for an aging loved one is a very real possibility for all of us, as more than 1 in every 6 Canadians is now 64 or older. Audrey Miller from Elder Caring Inc. shares her expertise on how to help parents transition when more assistance is needed.
Role Reversal - Caring for Aging Parents
Healthy Employers Create Healthy Workplaces
Episode 02 – Preventing Suicide – The Right Questions to Ask
The hard but necessary questions to ask when a loved one has thoughts of suicide. Mara Grunau and Robert Olsen of The Centre for Suicide Prevention get frank about what words and services can truly help.