#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.

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⏱️ 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

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🔔 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.

#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.

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⏱️ 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

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If you or someone you know is affected by an eating disorder, confidential support is available via

Beat: https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk

Beat Eating Disorders Helpline: 0808 801 0677 (UK)

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🔔 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 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

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⏱️ 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

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🔗 Learn more:

OnePlusOne supports individuals, families and organisations to build stronger relationships and develop the skills needed to navigate conflict in healthier ways.