Music is one of the most common ways people manage their emotions - yet it’s rarely treated as a serious wellbeing tool at work.

In this episode, I’m joined by Rob Stephenson, a public speaker, social entrepreneur and mental health campaigner to explore how music can support mental health, reduce stigma and help create more psychologically safe workplaces.

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⏱️ Chapters

0:00 Intro

01:54 Why Rob Shared His Mental Health Story

05:53 What Intentional Wellbeing Looks Like

07:47 Rob’s Lowest Point With Depression

11:23 Why Mental Health Stigma Persists

16:34 The Deeper Question Behind Rob’s Mission

23:35 Values Driving Activism and Creativity

24:54 Common Misconceptions About Mental Health Work

27:24 Lessons From Giving 1,000 Mental Health Talks

28:56 A Key Lesson From Rob’s TEDx Talk

33:16 Vulnerability at Work: Risk or Strength?

37:09 Managing the “Vulnerability Hangover”

46:00 Why the InsideOut LeaderBoard Was Created

49:42 What Courageous Leaders Taught Rob

53:14 How Leaders Can Start Mental Health Conversations

58:25 Harmonising the Mind: Music and Wellbeing

01:02:48 Powerful Moments From Music Workshops

01:07:05 How Music Shaped Rob’s Bipolar Journey

01:10:17 The Science That Changed How Rob Listens

01:13:22 What Rob Hopes Readers Take From His Book

01:14:54 The Future of Mental Health at Work

01:17:33 Outro

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Should Mental Health First Aid be mandatory in every workplace?

In this episode of Wellbeing Talk, I sat down with with Sarah McIntosh, Chief Executive of @MentalHealthFirstAidEngland (MHFA) England, about the future of workplace wellbeing, prevention, and the growing impact of MHFA across the UK.

Since 2007, MHFA England has trained more than 1.1 million people across 20,000 + organisations to build inclusive, mentally healthy cultures.

Yet only 29% of employers currently train managers to support mental health, contributing to a £212 billion annual loss in productivity and economic inactivity.

Sarah shares how MHFA England’s Mandate the Change campaign, new Workplace MHFA Standards, and the first-ever MHFAider Day aim to close this gap - equipping people with the skills, confidence, and structure to offer help before crisis hits.

We discuss:

Why MHFA England believes Mental Health First Aid should be as standard as physical first aid

The rise of prevention-focused workplace wellbeing

The role of employers in creating mentally healthy, productive teams

Insights from The MHFAider Effect report and the voices behind the movement

Sarah McIntosh’s personal journey as a leader driving culture change

Watch, learn, and join the conversation about how we can make mental health support the norm, not a privilege.

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⏱️ Chapter Markers:

0:00 Intro

03:18 Sarah McIntosh on what first inspired her to work in mental health

07:57 How Sarah McIntosh’s personal wellbeing journey shapes her leadership at MHFA England

09:53 Biggest misconceptions about Mental Health First Aid explained

14:54 How the CEO of MHFA England practices self-care and balance

16:45 Why the 2019 attempt to include mental health in first-aid law failed – and what’s different now

20:41 Inside MHFA England’s decision to create national Workplace MHFA Standards

23:31 Which MHFA Standards will make the biggest difference for employers?

25:41 Advice for organisations that support MHFA but haven’t embedded it yet

29:24 Beyond cost: The real barriers employers face to implementing MHFA

32:08 The Keep Britain Working Review – why prevention is key to keeping people in work

35:10 How MHFA fits into a preventative approach to workplace wellbeing

40:12 What MHFAider Day means for Sarah McIntosh and the wider MHFA community

42:50 Key findings and trends from The MHFAider Effect report

43:29 Powerful MHFAider stories that show the impact of mental health first aid

49:17 Why MHFAiders’ voices matter in shaping national mental health policy

52:50 Sarah McIntosh’s hopes for the future of MHFAider Day and the movement

54:17 What gives Sarah McIntosh hope about the future of workplace mental health

55:00 One action every employer can take to improve mental health at work

56:52 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.

How does menopause affect mental health at work and what can employers do to better support employees?

In this episode of Wellbeing Talk, I sat down with Deborah Garlick, founder and CEO of Henpicked Menopause in the Workplace to discuss how menopause impacts women’s mental health, confidence, and performance at work.

Deborah shares her own experience, explores cultural stigma, and explains how organisations can build menopause-friendly policies that boost engagement, retention, and wellbeing.

🎙️ We cover:

Deborah’s personal story and the origins of Henpicked

Why conversations about menopause at work still carry stigma

Insights from The M Factor and World Menopause Day

The psychological symptoms that most affect confidence and mental health

How to make the business case for menopause support

What leaders need to know about legislation, the Equality Act, and menopause discrimination

Practical ways to engage employees and create supportive culture

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⏱️ Chapter Markers:

00:00 Intro

01:30 Deborah Garlick: Her Journey and Why She Founded Henpicked

09:48 The M Factor - Shredding the Silence on Menopause at Work and Cultural Change

17:00 World Menopause Day - Key Themes and Global Progress

22:49 How to Boost Employee Engagement Around Menopause Initiatives

27:45 Menopause and Mental Health - Confidence, Brain Fog & Real Stories

33:30 The Business Case for Investing in Menopause Support and Employee Wellbeing

36:09 Menopause Legislation & Leadership - Equality Act, Discrimination and Best Practice

41:11 Outro

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🔔 Subscribe for more awareness days, interviews, research from the world of mental health in the workplace @letsgowellbeing