Mind the (Future) Gap: Preparing for What's Next in Mental Health
Special Live Episode from Lyra Breakthrough 2025
In this special live episode of The WorkWell Podcast™, recorded at the Lyra Breakthrough Conference, Jen Fisher hosts a dynamic panel discussion exploring how AI, shifting demographics, and evolving expectations are reshaping mental health support in the workplace.
Panel Experts:
Episode Highlights:
Quotable Moments:
"AI is like the number one use of therapy. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? I put this into a timeline where I think about how we did navigation... we had these paper maps to go on a trip, and now we use GPS. The question is, are we ready for Waymo?" - Dr. Tom Insel
Resources:
This special live episode of The WorkWell Podcast™ is made possible by Lyra Health, a premier global workforce mental health solution trusted by leading companies like Starbucks, Morgan Stanley, Lululemon, and Zoom. Lyra provides personalized care to over 17 million people with fast access to evidence-based providers and tools that deliver proven results.
Learn more at Lyrahealth.com/workwell.
The TikTok-ification of Self-Care (And How to Fix It) with Dr. Pooja Lakshmin
In this episode of The WorkWell Podcast™, Jen Fisher speaks with Dr. Pooja Lakshmin, psychiatrist, mental health advocate, and author of "Real Self Care." Together they unpack the commercialization of wellness and explore why so many women feel caught between achieving everything and finding time for authentic self-care. They navigate the complexities of caregiving, adult friendships, and finding hope in challenging times.
Episode Highlights:
Quotable Moment:
"Real self-care is an internal process. Boundaries, compassion, values, and power - those four internal principles, that's the work of real self-care. And then once you've done that, then you go to yoga, then you do your meditation. But if you're not using those internal principles and not doing that internal work first, then the external tools will be empty." - Dr. Pooja Lakshmin
Lyra Lens:
In this edition, Dr. Kendall Browne, Clinical Psychologist and Director at Lyra Health, unpacks the concept of "the pause" that Dr. Lakshmin identified as crucial for boundary-setting. She explains that while pausing seems simple, implementing it proves challenging—especially for women who feel pressure to respond instantly. Dr. Browne offers practical strategies for habitualizing this pause and distinguishes between different boundary types: porous (saying yes too often), inflexible (saying no reflexively), and purposefully permeable (thoughtful decisions about when to engage).
Resources:
This episode of The WorkWell Podcast™ is made possible by Lyra Health, a premier global workforce mental health solution. Learn more at Lyrahealth.com/workwell.
That Difficult Coworker is Just a Character in Your Success Story with Tessa West
In this episode of The WorkWell Podcast™, Jen Fisher speaks with Dr. Tessa West, Professor of Psychology at New York University and author of "Jerks at Work: Toxic Coworkers and What to Do About Them" and "Job Therapy: A Psychologist's Guide to Finding Your Most Fulfilling Job Yet." Her research reveals surprising patterns about difficult workplace relationships and career satisfaction.
Episode Highlights:
Quotable Moment:
"We all are jerks. When we're tired, when we're stressed, when we're overwhelmed, we probably all got to know this person pretty well during the pandemic. Learn to identify what your inner jerk is and start looking for those red flags, and you'll be a better person for it." - Tessa WestLyra Lens:
In this edition, Keren Wasserman, Senior Manager of Organizational Development at Lyra Health, explores how workplace jerks thrive by manipulating systems - and how understanding those systems is key to overcoming them. She highlights that when we take back our power through actions like building connections and amplifying other voices, "we not only shift the power dynamics, but also improve the quality of the work itself." Keren also connects Tessa's job-person fit framework with burnout research, offering a workplace version of the Serenity Prayer to help us recognize "our needs and what we can change about our environment.
Resources:
This episode of The WorkWell Podcast™ is made possible by Lyra Health, a premier global workforce mental health solution. Learn more at Lyrahealth.com/workwell.
Stop Saying 'Hope Is Not a Strategy' (Science Proves You Wrong) with Kathryn Goetzke
Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of suicide and suicidal thoughts that may be triggering for some listeners. If you're experiencing thoughts of suicide, please know you're not alone - you can reach out to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline 24/7 by calling or texting 988.
In this episode of The WorkWell Podcast™, Jen Fisher opens with a powerful personal reflection on her own journey with hope, challenging the dismissive phrase "hope is not a strategy" and reframing hope as both a comfort and a challenge—not just something we feel, but something we do. She then speaks with Kathryn Goetzke, CEO and Chief Hope Officer of The Shine Hope Company, whose evidence-based work proves that hope is a measurable, teachable skill with profound implications for workplace wellbeing, productivity, and retention.
Episode Highlights:
Quotable Moment:
"Hope is a strategy. We've done the research to prove that the higher in hope your workforce is, the more likely they are to show up to work, be engaged, achieve goals, and overcome obstacles." - Kathryn Goetzke
The Economy of Ease (& Why It's Making Us Miserable) with Caroline Chubb Calderon
In this episode of The WorkWell Podcast, Jen Fisher speaks with Caroline Chubb Calderon, futurist, humanist, and founder and CEO of Hello Humanity, a company dedicated to reimagining humanity in the age of machines. Caroline works with leaders worldwide to create a future where technology enhances rather than diminishes our human experience.
Episode Highlights:
Quotable Moments:
"We've been creating a world of ease where we live in an economy where everything is driven to improving the ease of life. What would it look like to move from an ease economy to a regenerative and meaning ecology?" - Caroline Chubb Calderon
Resources:
Learn more about Caroline’s work at Hello Humanity
Watch Caroline’s TEDx Talk
This episode of The WorkWell Podcast™ is made possible by Lyra Health, a premier global workforce mental health solution. Learn more at Lyrahealth.com/workwell.
Come As You Are' at Work (Terms & Conditions Apply) with Farah Harris
In this episode of The WorkWell Podcast™, Jen Fisher speaks with Farah Harris, licensed psychotherapist, workplace wellbeing expert, and CEO of Working Well Daily. Her book "The Color of Emotional Intelligence" challenges us to rethink what authenticity and emotional intelligence really mean across different cultures and identities in the workplace.
Episode Highlights:
Quotable Moment:
"If you can't take what you're learning outside of the four walls of the workplace, then is it truly applicable? Is it truly authentic?"
- Farah Harris
Lyra Lens:
We're excited to introduce Lyra Lens, a new segment with our friends from Lyra Health. "The beauty of inclusion and diversity at work is shifting from 'why do you do it like that?' to 'what can I learn from someone who does it differently?'" Andrea Holman shares this and other insights in today's Lyra Lens segment, where she joins Jen Fisher to discuss cultural humility in the workplace.
Resources:
This episode of The WorkWell Podcast™ is made possible by Lyra Health, a premier global workforce mental health solution. Learn more at Lyrahealth.com/workwell.
'Reading' Emotion in Emails & Other Ways Our Brains Mislead Us with Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett
In this episode of The WorkWell Podcast™, Jen Fisher speaks with Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett, University Distinguished Professor of Psychology at Northeastern University with appointments at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, and author of "How Emotions Are Made" and "Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain."
Episode Highlights:
Quotable Moment:
Resources:
Learn more about Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett's groundbreaking research on emotions and the brain at her website
Books: "How Emotions Are Made" and "Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain"
Your Brain On Goals: The Surprising Science of Motivation with Dr. Ayelet Fishbach
In this episode of The WorkWell Podcast™, Jen Fisher and special co-host Keren Wasserman from Lyra Health speak with Dr. Ayelet Fishbach, professor of behavioral science and marketing at the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business and author of "Get It Done: Surprising Lessons from the Science of Motivation."
Episode Highlights:
Quotable Moment:
Resources:
This episode of The WorkWell Podcast™ is made possible by Lyra Health, a premier global workforce mental health solution.
Learn more at Lyrahealth.com/workwell.
In this WorkWell podcast by Deloitte, Jen Fisher, editor-at-large for Thrive and Deloitte’s Human Sustainability Hub, sits down with Stephanie Harrison, founder of The New Happy and author of New Happy: Getting Happiness Right in a World That’s Got It Wrong. In a wide-ranging conversation, Stephanie discusses her science-backed approach to happiness, and explains how accessing our unique gifts and giving back to the community can lead to joy and fulfillment.
In this WorkWell podcast by Deloitte, Jen Fisher, editor-at-large for Thrive and Deloitte’s Human Sustainability Hub, sits down with speaker, workplace mental health consultant, and executive Morra Aarons-Mele, author of The Anxious Achiever: Turn Your Biggest Fears into Your Leadership Superpower to discuss how to manage the anxiety that comes with succeeding and leading.
In this WorkWell podcast by Deloitte, Jen Fisher, editor-at-large for Thrive and Deloitte’s Human Sustainability Hub, sits down with climate psychologist Renée Lertzman to discuss the emotional effects of climate change and how we can become more resilient. Lertzman, the author of Environmental Melancholia: Psychoanalytic dimensions of engagement, offers suggestions about how individuals, organizations, and leaders can work together to alleviate climate anxiety, as well as finding ways to give back and have a positive impact.
In this WorkWell podcast by Deloitte, Jen Fisher, editor-at-large for Thrive and Deloitte’s Human Sustainability Hub, sits down with user researcher, writer, illustrator, and consultant Ximena Vengoechea, author of Rest Easy: Discover Calm and Abundance through the Radical Power of Rest. In a wide-ranging conversation, Jen and Ximena talk about the importance of resting and recharging in order to lead a fulfilling and productive life. Ximena offers guidance on how to get the deep rest we need for our well-being, and explains how rest helps us reconnect with ourselves and improves every aspect of our lives, from work to relationships.
In this WorkWell podcast by Deloitte, Jen Fisher, editor-at-large for Thrive and Deloitte’s Human Sustainability Hub, sits down with grief expert Rebecca Soffer, author, co-founder, and CEO of Modern Loss. In a wide-ranging conversation, Jen and Rebecca discuss loss and resilience, and how to overcome the stigma of grief.
In this WorkWell podcast by Deloitte, Jen Fisher, editor-at-large for Thrive and Deloitte’s Human Sustainability Hub, sits down with Dr. Vanessa Patrick , Professor of Marketing and Associate Dean of Research at the Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston, and the author of The Power of Saying No: The New Science of How to Say No that Puts You in Charge of Your Life. In a wide-ranging conversation, Jen and Vanessa discuss why it can be so hard to say no, and Vanessa shares techniques for saying no that lead to clearer decision making, stronger boundaries, and better time management.
In this WorkWell podcast by Deloitte, Jen Fisher, editor-at-large for Thrive and Deloitte’s Human Sustainability Hub, sits down with Joanne Stephane, Executive Director of the Deloitte DEI Institute, and Kenji Yoshino, Professor of Constitutional Law at NYU and faculty director of the Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging. In a wide-ranging conversation, they discuss the practice of “covering,” in which people downplay aspects of their identity at work to avoid negative reactions. And they share ways that organizations can better support people and help them be their authentic selves.
In this WorkWell podcast by Deloitte, Jen Fisher, editor-at-large for Thrive and Deloitte’s Human Sustainability Hub, sits down with Dr. Kelly Monahan, Managing Director of the Upwork Research Institute. In a wide-ranging conversation, Jen and Kelly explore strategies to create flexible working environments that power the growth of organizations and the people who work for them — and that redefine productivity and success for a new era.
In this WorkWell podcast by Deloitte, Jen Fisher, editor-at-large for Thrive and Deloitte’s Human Sustainability Hub, sits down with Annie Dean, the global head of Team Anywhere at Atlassian and an expert on remote and flexible work. In a wide-ranging conversation, Jen and Annie go beyond surface-level questions of whether or not to return to the office and discuss how true flexibility at work leads to greater productivity and more meaningful connections.
In this WorkWell podcast by Deloitte, Jen Fisher, editor-at-large for Thrive and Deloitte’s Human Sustainability Hub, sits down with Tia Graham, founder of Arrive at Happy and author of Be A Happy Leader. In a wide-ranging conversation, Jen and Tia discuss the meaning of happiness and share how happy leaders can create workplaces where everyone feels valued.
In this WorkWell podcast by Deloitte, Jen Fisher, editor-at-large for Thrive and Deloitte’s Human Sustainability Hub, sits down with Selena Rezvani, author of Quick Confidence: Be Authentic, Create Connections and Make Bold Bets on Yourself. In a wide-ranging conversation, Jen and Selena talk about how to build confidence, believe in your own strengths and trust your intuition by taking small daily steps.
In this WorkWell podcast by Deloitte, Jen Fisher, editor-at-large for Thrive and Deloitte’s Human Sustainability Hub, sits down with Karen Eber, Chief Storyteller at Eber Leadership Group and author of The Perfect Story: How to Tell Stories that Inform, Influence, and Inspire. In a wide-ranging conversation, Jen and Karen talk about the art of public speaking and share advice from their own experiences on the TEDx stage.
