In this episode of The Health Literacy 2.0 Podcast, host Seth Serxner welcomes Eric Zimmerman, Chief Market Solutions Officer at CredibleMind, for a compelling conversation about advancing mental health literacy and proactive behavioral health solutions in the workforce and beyond.

Eric Zimmerman brings decades of experience at the intersection of behavioral science, public health, and health IT, with a passion for population health and empowering individuals to engage with their own well-being. Now at CredibleMind, Eric leads strategies to blend evidence-based resources, personalized self-care, and digital innovation to fill critical gaps in mental and behavioral health care for employers, public agencies, and communities.

Eric shares how his journey from ecology and epidemiology studies to leadership roles in workforce health shaped his belief that true progress comes from meeting people upstream—educating, normalizing, and guiding before acute problems arise. At CredibleMind, he’s focused on building an accessible, evidence-informed platform that not only provides high-quality mental health resources but also helps users find what truly fits their preferences, life circumstances, and unique challenges.

Seth and Eric dive into:

• Preventive Proactive Approach: We can’t “treat our way out” of the mental health crisis. Early education, screening, and risk reduction are essential.
• The Power of Health Literacy: Most people want to start addressing their mental well-being on their own, but need trusted guidance to know what works.
• Evidence-Based, Personalized Resources: CredibleMind curates and rates tens of thousands of resources—articles, podcasts, videos—helping users navigate the overwhelming digital health landscape.
• Bridging East and West: The platform integrates both Western medical evidence and Eastern traditions of mental and emotional flourishing, recognizing diverse paths to well-being.
• Reducing Stigma & Normalizing Help-Seeking: Making mental health support relatable, accessible, and free from judgment, especially at key life transitions and in underserved populations.
• Technology with Guardrails: CredibleMind leverages AI and machine learning—not to diagnose, but to personalize resource recommendations and conversations while keeping clinical accuracy and safety paramount.
• Community & Organizational Impact: Their coalition model brings together health systems, universities, and public agencies to create wide-reaching, community-branded solutions.
• Stepped Care and Navigation: Empowering users and care providers to take first steps in self-guided therapy, understand treatment options, and navigate complex benefit systems.
• Whole-Person Health: Mental and physical health are inseparable—addressing mental health improves outcomes and lowers costs for every part of the health journey.

As the episode closes, Eric and Seth reaffirm the importance of lighting the path—demystifying mental health, enhancing literacy, and supporting the whole person to build a healthier, more resilient future.

Learn About EdLogics

Want to see how EdLogics' gamified platform can boost health literacy, drive engagement in health and wellness programs, and help people live happier, healthier lives?

Visit the EdLogics website: www.edlogics.com.

In this episode of The Health Literacy 2.0 Podcast, host Seth Serxner welcomes Jesse Gavin, Well-Being Officer at Baylor College of Medicine, to talk about building thriving, prevention-oriented cultures and the critical role of health literacy in organizational well-being strategies.

Dr. Jesse Gavin shares his unique career journey - beginning with aspirations in veterinary medicine, pivoting to health promotion, and ultimately pioneering employee well-being at Baylor College of Medicine.

With over 11 years of leading Baylor’s acclaimed initiatives, Jesse Gavin brings award-winning experience and a passion for practical, people-centered innovation. His background spans roles in academia, major corporations, and third-party wellness organizations, recently culminating in a DrPH focused on the intersection of workplace well-being and public health.

Seth and Jesse also discuss:

• Rooting Well-being in Core Values: Baylor’s “thriving tree” approach ties every branch of well-being to institutional values like teamwork, respect, and integrity.
• Evolving from Siloes to Integration: Merging recognition programs, on-site wellness centers, and year-of-service awards under a unified mission fosters greater alignment and engagement.
• The Power of Personal Recognition: From e-cards to milestone panoramas, creating a culture of thanks builds daily motivation and connection—no job is too small to acknowledge.
• Demonstrating Value Without the ROI Burden: Consistent 2:1 ROI, national awards, and unsolicited stories of lives changed make the case for investing in people - beyond numbers alone.
• Engaging the Full Workforce: Flexibility is key—presentations are recorded, the team attends 4am meetings, and well-being is made accessible for all, from surgeons to support staff.
• Health Literacy as Essential Infrastructure: Education happens year-round, not just at open enrollment; from understanding urgent care vs. ER to navigating self-funded benefits, continual learning is the norm.
• Teaching, Not Just Doing: Beyond concierge services, employees are empowered to learn the why and how of navigating their care—moving from handholding to skill-building.
• Low/No Cost, High Impact: Health literacy and prevention don’t have to break the bank. Simple, targeted presentations and resource sessions fill critical knowledge gaps at scale.
• Reducing Barriers and Building Relationships: Onsite screenings with actionable education, incentives for physician follow-up, and open communication channels drive engagement and long-term well-being.

This episode demonstrates how organizational culture, strategy, and small but consistent actions can move the needle on health literacy and well-being - making lasting change accessible for all.

Learn About EdLogics

Want to see how EdLogics' gamified platform can boost health literacy, drive engagement in health and wellness programs, and help people live happier, healthier lives?

Visit the EdLogics website: www.edlogics.com.

In the latest episode of The Health Literacy 2.0 Podcast, host Seth Serxner welcomes Maddison Bezdicek, VP of Strategic Vendor Services at Captive Resources, for a deep dive into the evolving challenges - and opportunities - employers face in workforce health literacy, cost control, and benefit strategy.

Maddison brings a decade-plus of experience in health strategy leadership across insurance brokerage, carrier consulting, and now the captive space, where groups of employers join forces to manage healthcare risk and costs together. With a foundation in exercise science and hands-on knowledge from both the vendor and employer sides, Maddison specializes in forging partnerships and guiding organizations through the complexities of benefits, wellness, vendor selection, and data-driven decision-making.

Seth and Maddison explore:

• Unpacking Group Captives: How employer collectives are creating greater purchasing power and shared strategies for better healthcare cost management.
• Managing Rising Health Costs: Why skyrocketing benefits spending is a top pain point—and how employers are seeking stability before focusing on employee wellness interventions.
• Pharmacy as a Cost Driver: Tackling the often-overlooked impact of pharmacy spend (up to 50% of total healthcare costs) through smarter PBM relationships and contracts.
• Data-Driven Decisions: The shift from limited claims data to deeper analytics - enabling tailored interventions and more effective vendor partnerships.
• Point Solution Fatigue: The reality of too many health and wellness programs - and how narrowing focus and improving communication is driving better employee engagement.
• Reframing Engagement Metrics: Moving from utilization rates to targeting the right populations, and the rise of outcome-based (“case unit”) pricing models for vendors.
• Digital Health’s Double-Edged Sword: Opportunities and challenges in leveraging digital platforms for engagement, including the importance of understanding and respecting different employee populations.
• The Health Literacy Imperative: The growing employer interest—if not frustration—around empowering employees to better navigate healthcare, and why education often remains a tough nut to crack at scale.
• Responsible Use of AI: Balancing back-end administrative efficiency with the irreplaceable value of human connection, especially in sensitive health scenarios.

With practical perspectives on everything from vendor evaluation to the human experience behind benefit designs, this episode reminds us that while technology and strategy are vital, it’s the employee’s real-world journey that should remain front and center.

Learn About EdLogics

Want to see how EdLogics' gamified platform can boost health literacy, drive engagement in health and wellness programs, and help people live happier, healthier lives?

Visit the EdLogics website: www.edlogics.com.

In the latest episode of The Health Literacy 2.0 Podcast, host Seth Serxner welcomes Wolf Kirsten - global health consultant, workplace wellness expert, and co-director of the Global Center for Healthy Workplaces - to discuss the evolving landscape of workforce health and well-being across multinational organizations.

Wolf shares his rich journey from student athlete in the US to renowned health promotion leader bridging global cultures, markets, and strategies. As founder of International Health Consulting and co-director of the Global Center for Healthy Workplaces, he’s spent decades helping multinational corporations craft holistic, culturally relevant employee wellness programs—while also advising world institutions like the World Health Organization.

Based in Germany and working globally, Wolf brings hands-on insights into the unique challenges, growth opportunities, and trends shaping workplace health around the world.

Seth and Wolf also discuss:

• Global vs. Domestic Wellness: Multinationals face unique challenges compared to US-only companies, from culture to regulations and governance.
• Evolving Employer Commitment: Companies have grown more cautious in investing in health, economic uncertainty, and shifting priorities drive more evidence-based approaches.
• Centralization vs. Localization: Attempts to “clone” US programs globally often run into roadblocks; success comes from balancing central strategy with local adaptation.
• Growth Markets: Countries like India, China, and Brazil are investing strongly in employee well-being, with local cultural nuances shaping programs.
• Pull vs. Push Strategies: When local sites ask for programs and recognition, competition and engagement increase - bottom-up enthusiasm drives progress.
• EAP as a Global Starting Point: Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) are consistently a global entryway for mental health and wellness efforts, sometimes siloed but increasingly integrated.
• Health Literacy’s Role: Health literacy is gaining recognition as foundational, especially as health systems become more complex and individuals take on more responsibility for their care.
• Workplace Environment Matters: Organizational culture, work pressure, supervisor relationships, and meaningful recognition fundamentally impact employee mental and physical health.
• Champion Networks: Occupational health leaders, especially corporate medical directors in places like India, have an outsized influence in driving workplace well-being.

To build a healthier workforce, companies must combine individual health choices with supportive organizational environments - and embrace the power of cultural adaptation, collaboration, and evidence-based leadership.

Wolf Kirsten: www.linkedin.com/in/wolf-kirsten

Learn About EdLogics

Want to see how EdLogics' gamified platform can boost health literacy, drive engagement in health and wellness programs, and help people live happier, healthier lives?

Visit the EdLogics website: www.edlogics.com and wolfkirsten.com.

In this episode of The Health Literacy 2.0 Podcast, host Seth Serxner welcomes Ellen Kelsay, President and CEO of the Business Group on Health, for a timely conversation on the findings of the 2026 Employer Health Care Strategy Survey and what they signal for employers heading into the next phase of workforce health strategy.

The survey offers one of the clearest snapshots available of how large employers are responding to accelerating health care costs, mounting pharmacy pressure, and growing concerns about care quality.

As President and CEO of the Business Group on Health, Ellen Kelsay brings more than 30 years of experience in employer-sponsored health care, including senior leadership roles at Mercer and Aetna. Since 2019, she has led the organization’s strategy, advocacy, and research agenda, working directly with self-funded employers as they confront some of the most consequential health care decisions of the past decade.

Drawing directly on the 2026 survey findings, Seth and Ellen explore:

• Health care costs at a critical inflection point: Employers reported a 9% increase in health care costs, the highest level in more than a decade, underscoring why cost containment alone is no longer a viable long-term strategy.
• A forced reset in health care strategy: The survey shows employers actively reassessing benefit designs and vendor ecosystems, with a growing focus on integration, transparency, and coordination as levers to improve both cost control and care quality.
• Shifting from reaction to prevention: Findings point to renewed employer attention on primary care, prevention, and healthy behaviors, alongside careful experimentation with supply-side innovations such as value-based care and alternative health plan models.
• Engagement as a make-or-break factor: Survey insights reinforce that even well-designed programs fail without sustained engagement, prompting employers to simplify offerings, improve communications, and clarify shared accountability for outcomes.
• Employers as trusted guides: The survey highlights an expanding role for employers as credible sources of health information, particularly as employees navigate misinformation, complex benefits, and rapidly changing care options.
• Wellbeing investments under scrutiny, not retreat: Contrary to expectations, the findings show continued and in some cases growing investment in wellbeing initiatives, reflecting their perceived role in addressing downstream cost and productivity challenges.
• Health literacy moving to the center of strategy: While not always named explicitly, the survey reinforces the importance of equipping employees to understand benefits, evaluate care options, and make informed decisions, especially as AI accelerates access to health information.
• Preparing for longer working lives: The findings also point to the need for employers to adapt health and wellbeing strategies to support an aging workforce with evolving needs across longer career spans.

Ellen and Seth discuss why the 2026 Employer Health Care Strategy Survey is becoming a practical guide for employers navigating rising costs, limited options, and growing complexity.

Learn About EdLogics

Want to see how EdLogics' gamified platform can boost health literacy, drive engagement in health and wellness programs, and help people live happier, healthier lives?

Visit the EdLogics website: www.edlogics.com

In this episode of The Health Literacy 2.0 Podcast, Seth Serxner welcomes Janis Davis-Street—nutritionist, educator, public health leader, and global wellness strategist—to unpack the complexities of workforce health literacy and share lessons from her impressive career.

Janis brings a unique blend of frontline experience and academic depth to the conversation, with roots in nutrition and health education, a doctorate, and advanced certifications in organizational leadership and informatics.

Her career journey spans pivotal roles at NASA, where she contributed to space nutrition science and youth outreach, and nearly two decades at Chevron, championing global cardiovascular health initiatives and adapting wellbeing programs for diverse, multinational workforces.

Seth and Janis also discuss:

• Translating science into action, highlighting the art of turning complex nutrition and health research into practical, accessible information for astronauts, students, and employees alike.
• The importance of tailored communication, noting that effective health messaging requires local context and lessons from customizing outreach for global populations to ensure representation and relevance in every region.
• Visual inclusivity, emphasizing that imagery in wellness campaigns matters and participants must see themselves reflected to feel engaged and respected.
• Cultural sensitivity, stressing that partnering with local teams—through language, context, and community stories—helps overcome barriers and drive trust.
• Peer Health Educators (PHE), describing how Chevron’s model empowers trained employees to provide basic health education, advocate for prevention, and refer peers to expert resources, expanding workforce engagement.
• Data-driven impact, explaining that participation and outcomes are tracked, with Chevron’s Enterprise Health Index creating organizational accountability and keeping leaders invested in health culture.
• The power of collaboration, highlighting that health, HR, and benefits teams must break silos and jointly nurture a culture of health for real impact.
• The growing urgency of health literacy, noting that misinformation—especially during the pandemic and now the AI era—affects everyone, making addressing it and increasing equitable access a priority.
• Responsible use of AI, emphasizing that new digital tools present both promise and risk, requiring critical thinking, source verification, and prompt engineering to combat misinformation in health.

For anyone invested in workforce wellbeing, global health, or effective communication, this conversation underscores that impactful health initiatives are not one-size-fits-all—they require empathy, inclusivity, and practical translation of knowledge into action.

Learn About EdLogics

Want to see how EdLogics' gamified platform can boost health literacy, drive engagement in health and wellness programs, and help people live happier, healthier lives?

Visit the EdLogics website.

Links:

Janis Davis-Street: www.linkedin.com/in/janis-davis-street-26232315/

In this episode of The Health Literacy 2.0 Podcast, Seth Serxner welcomes Blair Durham, co-founder and CEO of Black BRAND, to discuss the intersection of workforce health literacy, economic empowerment, and community development, with a special focus on narrowing the racial wealth gap in Hampton Roads.

Blair Durham is a dynamic leader who has spent the past decade building Black BRAND - Hampton Roads’ Regional Black Chamber of Commerce - into a powerhouse for business and professional development. With a background in psychology and sociology, and a keen passion for social equity, Blair is leading transformative initiatives in entrepreneurship, workforce preparation, access to capital, and financial sustainability that aim to strengthen and expand Black-owned businesses while fostering regional economic growth.

Seth and Blair explore the strategies and outcomes of Black BRAND’s work, touching on the vital importance of health literacy in personal and collective economic success. Their conversation offers powerful insights for anyone interested in building healthier, more resilient, and inclusive communities.

Key takeaways from their conversation:

☑️ Black BRAND is committed to addressing gaps in business development, professional advancement, and entrepreneurship for the Black community - while simultaneously promoting regional economic growth.

☑️ Black BRAND has facilitated millions of dollars in grants and loan access, and is now working to build its own financial institution to better serve graduates and local businesses.

☑️ With over 700 entrepreneurs supported since COVID and targeted initiatives for women in workforce development, Black BRAND meticulously tracks outcomes to demonstrate real impact to funders and the community.

☑️ Blair emphasizes that Black BRAND’s focus on workforce readiness and inclusive economic development transcends political winds, serving a broad business case that benefits all.

☑️ Recognizing that health literacy is the single greatest determinant of health outcomes, Black BRAND integrates wellness initiatives - from educational forums to healthy workplace practices - into its broader economic mission.

☑️ The organization is pioneering efforts to raise awareness among business owners about the critical connection between their personal well-being and professional success.

Blair’s optimism and clear-eyed vision highlight the power of community-rooted partnerships and targeted action to advance both health and economic well-being.

Links:

Blair Durham: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blair-durham-15528a17a/

Black Brand: https://www.blackbrand.biz

Learn About EdLogics

Want to see how EdLogics' gamified platform can boost health literacy, drive engagement in health and wellness programs, and help people live happier, healthier lives?

Visit EdLogics.

About The Health Literacy 2.0 Podcast

Improving health literacy — the ability to understand and act on health information — is key to improving health outcomes and lowering costs. Together with business and community leaders, we'll explore effective, behavior-changing solutions that can improve health literacy — and drive engagement in corporate and public health and wellness programs.

The Health Literacy 2.0 Podcast is produced by the HR podcast production agency.

Employer healthcare cost inflation in the US is accelerating - yet Americans live nearly five years less than people in other developed nations. Many families now face out-of-pocket expenses that exceed their available cash, even with employer-sponsored coverage.

Garner Health analyzes roughly 75% of all claims nationwide, allowing it to evaluate virtually every doctor in the country. Their data shows that low-performing physicians can have four times the complication rates and are five times more likely to deliver unnecessary care.

Seth Serxner recently spoke with Kirk Czonstka, SVP of Strategic Alliances at Garner Health, about how the company uses claims and analytics to identify top doctors and help people get better care while spending less.

Seth and Kirk also discuss:

☑️ The Rising Cost and Declining Quality of U.S. Healthcare: Despite increased spending, life expectancy lags, and cost inflation for employers is unsustainable.

☑️ Complexity Doesn’t Equal Engagement: Adding more vendors and solutions hasn’t translated into meaningful employee action, with less than 5% using traditional tools.

☑️ The Doctor Makes the Difference: Analysis shows that individual physician performance, not just the right network or hospital, has the greatest impact on cost and outcomes. Guiding patients to high-performing providers achieves an average of 27% savings per episode of care, without compromising quality.

☑️ High Variation in Care Quality: Data reveals alarming differences even within the same facility; low-performing doctors can drive up to four times the complications, and five times more unnecessary care.

☑️ Overcoming Provider Pushback: While no doctor likes tough feedback, transparent, evidence-based performance metrics help both employers and providers identify improvement opportunities.

☑️ Driving Change in Provider Behavior: Health systems and large physician groups are leveraging Garner’s analytics to inform referrals and internal practice transformation for better performance.

☑️ Making Quality Data Consumer-Friendly: Recognizing the average employee isn’t a data analyst, Garner simplifies choices and incentivizes use by reimbursing out-of-pocket costs when recommended providers are chosen.

☑️ The Role of Health Literacy: With barely 1 in 10 Americans considered health literate, empowering people to understand and act on trusted data is as critical as the data itself, and financial incentives can be an effective catalyst.

☑️ Addressing Disparities in Care: While still aspirational, Kirk’s team is working to leverage demographic information to further personalize recommendations and address differential care by ethnicity and gender.

☑️ And much more.

If you care about cutting healthcare costs and making smarter choices, you won’t want to miss this episode.

About The Health Literacy 2.0 Podcast

Improving health literacy - the ability to understand and act on health information - is key to improving health outcomes and lowering costs.

Together with business and community leaders, we'll explore effective, behavior-changing solutions that can improve health literacy and drive engagement in corporate and public health and wellness programs.

Visit the podcast home page here: www.edlogics.com/podcast.

About EdLogics

Want to see how EdLogics' gamified platform can boost health literacy, drive engagement in health and wellness programs, and help people live happier, healthier lives?

Visit the EdLogics website: www.edlogics.com